Anglican Communion -- Apologetic works; Church of England -- Apologetic works
We say that Baptism is a Sacrament of the remission of sins, and of that
washing, which we have in the blood of Christ; and that no person which
will profess Christ's Name ought to be restrained or kept back therefrom;
no, not the very babes of Christians; forsomuch as they be born in sin,
and do pertain unto the people of God.
We say, that Eucharistia, that is to say the Supper of the Lord, is a
Sacrament; that is to wit, an evident token of the body and blood of
Christ, wherein is set, as it were, before our eyes, the death of Christ
and His resurrection, and what act soever He did whilst He was in His
mortal body: to the end we may give Him thanks for His death, and for our
deliverance: and that, by the often receiving of this Sacrament, we may
daily renew the remembrance of that matter, to the intent we, being fed
with the [true] body and blood of Christ, may be brought into the hope of
the resurrection and of everlasting life, and may most assuredly believe
that the body and blood of Christ doth in like manner feed our souls, as
bread and wine doth feed our bodies. To this banquet we think the people
of God ought to be earnestly bidden, that they may all communicate among
themselves, and openly declare and testify both the godly society which
is among them, and also the hope which they have in Christ Jesu. For
this cause if there had been any which would be but a looker-on, and
abstain from the Holy Communion, him did the old fathers and bishops of
Rome in the primitive Church, before private mass came up, excommunicate
as a wicked person and as a pagan. Neither was there any Christian at
that time which did communicate alone, whiles other looked on. For so
did Calixtus in times past decree, "that after the consecration was
finished, all should communicate, except they had rather stand without
the church-doors; because thus (saith he) did the Apostles appoint, and
the same the holy Church of Rome keepeth still."
Moreover, when the people cometh to the Holy Communion, the Sacrament
ought to be given them in both kinds: for so both Christ hath commanded,
and the Apostles in every place have ordained, and all the ancient
fathers and Catholic bishops have followed the same. And whoso doth
contrary to this, he (as Gelasius saith) committeth sacrilege. And
therefore we say, that our adversaries at this day, who having violently
thrust out, and quite forbidden the Holy Communion, do, without the word
of God, without the authority of any ancient council, without any
Catholic father, without any example of the primitive Church, yea, and
without reason also, defend and maintain their private masses, and the
mangling of the Sacraments, and do this not only against the plain
express commandment and bidding of Christ, but also against all
antiquity, do wickedly therein, and are very Church robbers.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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