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The Conservative Reformation and Its Theology - Saint Mary ...

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appointed media of the distinctive blessings of the communion, then you<br />

accept the Lutheran doctrine that Sacramental communion is oral, for by<br />

oral communion is meant no more than this--that that which is the organic<br />

medium of the communion is received by the mouth, that through the<br />

natural we reach the supernatural. Our theologians, when they speak of a<br />

reception by the mouth, mean no more than this--that he that receives the<br />

bread <strong>and</strong> wine by the mouth naturally, thereby, as by an organ, receives<br />

the humanity of Christ sacramentally <strong>and</strong> supernaturally, just as when faith<br />

cometh by hearing, the ear receives the outward word naturally, <strong>and</strong><br />

thereby organically receives the Holy Spirit, mediately <strong>and</strong> supernaturally,<br />

who conveys Himself in, with, <strong>and</strong> under that word.<br />

Fourth Proposition.<br />

4. Dr. Gerhart says that the view of his Church is that the<br />

communion "in the Lord's Supper" is "with the flesh <strong>and</strong> blood of Christ<br />

no less than with His Spirit." Here there seems to be a great advance on<br />

the Zwinglian view. A communion involves communication on the one<br />

part, <strong>and</strong> reception on the other. It is the Reformed doctrine apparently that<br />

the flesh <strong>and</strong> blood of Christ are communicated <strong>and</strong> received no less than<br />

His Spirit. <strong>The</strong> Reformed have insisted that to the question, What is<br />

communicated <strong>and</strong> received in the Lord's Supper? their answer is identical<br />

with ours. Christ's body <strong>and</strong> blood are given <strong>and</strong> received. This, Dr.<br />

Gerhart says, "was not at issue in the sixteenth century. On this point,<br />

Reformed <strong>and</strong> Lutherans were agreed." Even Zwingli, in his letter to the<br />

German princes, says: “We have never denied that the body of Christ is in<br />

the Supper."<br />

Calvin on the Lord’s Supper.<br />

Far more strongly, Calvin, in his Institutes, says: "We are fed with the<br />

flesh <strong>and</strong> blood of Christ. Christ refreshes us with the eating of His flesh<br />

<strong>and</strong> the drinking of His blood. <strong>The</strong>re is a true <strong>and</strong> substantial<br />

communication of the body <strong>and</strong> blood of our Lord." "This mystery is in its<br />

own nature incomprehensible...<strong>The</strong> body of our Lord was once offered for<br />

us that we may now eat it (nunc eo vescamur), <strong>and</strong> by eating, may<br />

experience in us the efficacy of that one only sacrifice...Thus sound the<br />

words of promise...We are comm<strong>and</strong>ed, therefore,

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