Untitled - Rore Sanctifica

Introductory Essay.
Ixiii
It is, indeed, absolutely impossible that Luther
could have believed that we are, through the
Holy Eucharist, partakers of CHRIST Himself,
since he wished that he could disbelieve the
Presence of His Body and Blood altogether,
because it would enable him a to give such a
thrust to the Papists;" "but," he added, "I dare
not;
it stands written." As far as one can think
anything fixed of one so variable, one should
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have thought that his highest belief resembled
a recent misbelief, that what is present, what is
received, is His Body and Blood, in some way,
apart from Himself. But then more reverent
far was the devouter form of Calvinistic belief,
which denied indeed any Real Presence whatever
in the Sacrament, yet, disbelieving this, believed
in something which is real spiritual com
munion with GOD. Both alike were in error
as to the Holy Eucharist; but the Calvinist
believed something else which was real, a com
munion with GOD, only that he erred in con
necting his
"
spiritual communion
"
in any
special way with the Holy Eucharist; since
"
his spiritual communion
"
might be at any
time or place, with every breath we breathe.
People wondered at the union between the
worn-out Lutheranism and the nerveless Cal-
ed here. And as the word was delivered to excite this
faith, so the sacrament was instituted, that that visible
form meeting the eyes may move hearts to believe. And
this is the principal use of the sacrament."