munion, they not only piously may, but in 14. 2. What if by this means, a Good A. In that Cafe he ought to Confider what it is that puts him in doubt of it; and having fo done, let him take the Advice of fome Perfon whom he can Rely upon, but especially of his Minifter, about it: That fo being freed from his Scruples, he may Go with a Quiet Mind, and a full Perfuafion of Confcience to this Spiritual Feast; and with Comfort Receive the Benefits of it. 15. 2. What if, upon the Examination, it hall appear, that He is not in a State of Going to this Sacrament? &c. A He muft then, for the prefent, Refrain Mat. v. 23, from it, and make all the hafte he can to Re- 24. xxii. 11, move the Impediment, and Reconcile himself to God, that fo He may be in a Condition both to Come worthily to it; and to be made Partaker of thofe Graces, which are thereby Communicated to every Faithful Receiver of it. them worthy of it, and without Repentance, will certainly confign them over unto it. 4. 2. How does the Bread, and Wine, become to the faithful and worthy Communicant, the very Body, and Blood of Chrift? A. As it intitles him to a Part in the Sacrifice of his Death, and to the Benefits thereby procured to all his faithful, and obedient Servants. 5. 2. How does every fuch Communicant Take, and Receive the Body, and Bloed of Chrift, in this Sacrament? A. By Faith: And by means whereof he, who comes worthily to the Holy Table, is as truly intitled to a part in Chrift's Sacrifice, by Receiving the Sacramental Bread, and Wine, which is there deliver'd to Him; as any Man is intitled to an Estate, by Receiving a Deed of Conveyance from One who has a Power to deliver it to his Ufe. 6. 2. What are the Benefits whereof Thofe who thus Receive this Holy Sacrament, are made Partakers thereby! A. The Atrengthening and refreshing of their Souls by the Body, and Blood of Christ, as their Bodies are by the Bread, and Wine. 7. 2. How does fuch a Receiving of this Holy Sacrament ftrengthen our Souls? A. As it adds a New Confirmation to Us, every time we Receive it, of God's Mercy towards us, through the Sacrifice of Jefus Chrift; and thereby Fortifies, and Corroborates Us, more and more, both in the Discharge of our Duty; and to a Refiftance of all fuch Temptations as may be likely to draw Us away from it. 8. 2. Does it Strengthen Us in any Other Refpect befides this? A. Yes, A. Yes, it does: For being thus fecured of a part in Chrift's Sacrifice for Us, we are thereby fortified against all Doubts and Fears, of our Sal vation: Are confirm'd against the Apprehenfion of any prefent Dangers, or Sufferings, for Righteousness fake; which we shall Reckon not worthy to be compared with the Glory which shall be Revealed in Us: And finally, are strengthened against the Fear of Death itsfelf, which we are hereby taught to look upon as a Paffage only to a Moft Belfed, and Everlasting Life. SECT. XLIX. Of Tranfubftantiation, or the Real 1.2. TS this the only way in which you fup. Prefence, pofe Chrift's Body and Blood to be Really maintain'dby the Church of Rome; Prefent in this Sacrament? A. It is the only way in which I conceive it and the ma poffible for them to be present there. Divine Nature, that being Infinite, he is by virtue thereof Every where prefent. As for his nifeft Abfurdities and Impoffibilities But in of it. his Human Nature, and particularly his Body, he is in Heaven only; nor can that be any. otherwise present to Us on Earth, than by Acts i. 9,116 Figure and Reprefentation; or elfe by fuch a Communion, as I have before been speaking 1 Cor. x. 16. of. 2.2. Does not Chrift exprefly fay, that the Bread is his Body, and the Cup his Blood?· A. He does fay of the Bread and Wine, fo taken, bleffed, broken, and given, as they were by Him in that Sacred Action, that This is my Body, &c. and fo they are. The Bread which we break, is not only in Figure, and Similitude, but by a Real, Spiritual Communion, his Body: The Cup of Bleffing which we bless, is, by the 1 Cor. x. 16, fame Communion, his Blood. But this does not hinder but that, as to their own Natural Sub ftances fances, they may, and indeed do, ftill continue to be what they appear to Us, the fame Bread, and Wine, that before they were. 3. 2. What think you of those who believe the very Elements of Bread and Wine, (by the Words of Chrift) to be really Changed into the Body and Blood of Chrift; and to have nothing of their own Remaining, but the mere Species, or Appearance, of what they were before? A. If any do Really believe this, I think they contradict both Senfe, Reafon, and Scripture, in fo doing. 4. 2. Do you fuppofe that we ought to judge of a Thing of this Nature by our Senfes ? A. I know no other way of judging of Senfible Objects, but by our Senfes. And if I muft not believe what I See, and Tafte, and Smell, to be Bread, and Wine; to be truly Bread, and Wine; I may as well Refolve not to believe any thing at all. 5. 2. Is not the Word of God more to be Rely'd upon than Our Own Senfes ? A. I do not at all doubt but that We ought without all Controverfy, to believe whatever the Word of God propofes to Us. But where does the Word of God require me to believe any thing in Oppofition to my Senfes, which it is the proper Bufinefs of my Senfes to judge of? 6.2. Does not the Word of God, fay, This is my Body? A. It does fay fo of the Bread, So Bleffed, Given, and Received, as it ought to be, in this Sacrament; and accordingly I believe that it is fo. But does the Word of God, any where fay, that it is not Bread? Or that I am not to believe it to be Bread, though my Senfes never fo evidently affure me that it is? the most part, Infants; and fo conftrain'd to make Ufe of Others to become Sureties for them at their Baptifm; it was certainly very Reasonable that there fhould be fome Solemn Time appointed, when fuch Perfons (being come to Years of Difcretion) fhould Themfelves Ratify their Baptifmal Covenant; and Acknowledge their Obligation to believe and do what their Godfathers and Godmothers, had before promifed for them. 10. 2. What are the Benefits of this Inftitution to those who are Confirmed?· A. Befides the Benefit of God's Grace, which we reasonably prefume to be thereby procured to fuch Perfons, by the joint Prayers of the Bishop and the Church on their Behalf; these two Advantages do Evidently accrue to them: That, First, They are by this means fecured of the Care of their Godfathers and Godmothers, to fee that they be duly Inftructed in the Principles of their Chriftian Religion; and in which, (were this Ordinance ftrictly obferved) they could not be deficient, without being certainly found out, and cenfured by the Church for their neglect. And, Secondly, That by being thus Solemnly called upon to Ratify their Baptifmal Vow and Covenant; They are engaged to begin betimes, both to Confider their Duty, and to apply themfelves to the ferious Discharge of it. 11. 2. How does this Ordinance give a Satisfaction to the Church of Christ, as to these Matters? A. As by this means Care is taken to have all thefe Things openly tranfacted before it. The Perfon, who perhaps was privately Baptized, being Now publickly Confirmed in the Face of the Congregation. The Vow which was made by Others in his Name, being here Solemnly Renew'd and Ratified by Himfelf. The Child who was |