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

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faith, but knowingly persist in sins contrary to their consciences, is<br />

something which in no manner whatever is taught by us. For among us<br />

men are seriously admonished that those who do not repent, but who<br />

persevere in sins against conscience, eat <strong>and</strong> drink judgment to themselves,<br />

<strong>and</strong> become guilty of the body <strong>and</strong> blood of the Lord. For the offence<br />

against God is aggravated by their taking the Eucharist in impenitence,<br />

<strong>and</strong> treating with indignity the body <strong>and</strong> blood of the Lord. In order that<br />

the eating may profit men, it is necessary that they, should have penitence,<br />

the fear of God, which works dread of sin <strong>and</strong> of His wrath against it <strong>and</strong><br />

destroys the purpose of evil-doing. Faith also is necessary, which seeks<br />

<strong>and</strong> accepts remission of sins in the promise." "Inasmuch as in the<br />

Eucharist we receive that body of Christ which was delivered for us, <strong>and</strong><br />

that blood of the New Testament which was shed for the remission of sins,<br />

who can deny that believers there receive the treasure of all the benefits of<br />

Christ? For they receive that in which sins are remitted, in which death is<br />

abolished, in which life is imparted to us; that by which Christ unites us to<br />

Himself as members, so that He is in us, <strong>and</strong> we in Him....'Not only does<br />

the soul rise through the Holy Ghost into a blessed life, but the earthly<br />

body is brought back by that food to immortality, to be raised to life in the<br />

last day' (Cyril). In the Eucharist, therefore, we receive a most sure <strong>and</strong><br />

admirable pledge of our reconciliation with God, of the remission of our<br />

sins, of immortality, <strong>and</strong> of the glory to come. And in very deed Christ hath<br />

abundantly poured out in this sacrament the riches of His divine love<br />

toward men; for that body which He delivered for us unto death, He gives<br />

to us in the Supper for food, that by it, as divine <strong>and</strong> life-giving food, we<br />

may live, may be nurtured <strong>and</strong> grow, <strong>and</strong> strengthen, <strong>and</strong> so turned to Him<br />

as never to be separated from Him, as Augustine piously says, on the<br />

Person of Christ: 'Thou shalt not change me unto <strong>The</strong>e, but Thou shalt<br />

change Thyself unto me.'"<br />

Gerhard sums up the benefits of the Lord's Supper as either principal<br />

or secondary: "<strong>The</strong> principal fruits are: the showing of the Lord's death,<br />

the forgiveness of sins, the sealing of

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