chase to themselves damnation,
as Saint Paul saith.

XXVI. Of the Unworthiness
of the Ministers, which hin-
ders not the effect of the
Sacrament.

ALTHOUGH in the visible

Church the evil be ever mingled with the good, and sometimes the evil have chief authority in the Ministration of the Word and Sacraments, yet forasmuch as they do not the same in their own name, but in Christ's, and do minister by his commission and authority, we may use their Ministry, both in hearing the Word of God, and in receiving of the Sacraments. Neither is the effect of Christ's ordinance taken away by their wickedness, nor the grace of God's gifts diminished from such as by faith and rightly do receive the Sacraments ministered unto them; which be effectual, because of Christ's institution and promise, although they be ministered by evil men.

Nevertheless, it appertaineth to the discipline of the Church, that inquiry be made of evil Ministers, and that they be accused by those that have knowledge of their of fences; and finally being found, guilty, by just judgement be deposed.

XXVII. Of Baptism.

B APTISM is not only a
sign of profession, and
mark of difference, whereby
Christian men are discerned
from others that be not chris-
tened, but it is also a sign of
Regeneration or new Birth,

whereby, as by an instrument, they that receive Baptism Church; the promises of forrightly are grafted into the giveness of sin, and of our adoption to be the sons of God by the Holy Ghost, are visibly signed and sealed; Faith is confirmed, and Grace increased by virtue of prayer unto God. The Baptism of young Children is in any wise to be retained in the Church, as most agreeable with the institution of Christ.

XXVIII. Of the Lord's
Supper.

THE Supper of the Lord is

not only a sign of the love that Christians ought to have among themselves one to another; but rather is a Sacrament of our Redemption by Christ's death: insomuch that to such as rightly, worthily, and with faith, receive the same, the Bread which we break is a partaking of the Body of Christ; and likewise the Cup of Blessing is a partaking of the Blood of Christ.

Transubstantiation (or the change of the substance of Bread and Wine) in the Supper of the Lord, cannot be proved by holy Writ; but is repugnant to the plain words of Scripture, overthroweth the nature of a Sacrament, and hath given occasion to many superstitions.

And

The Body of Christ is given, taken, and eaten, in the Supper, only after an heavenly and spiritual manner. the mean whereby the Body of Christ is received and eaten in the Supper is Faith.

م

and lawfully consecrated and no jurisdiction in this Realm ordered. of England.