Lord's Supper. For Christ instituted both parts, and instituted them
not for a part of the Church, but for the entire Church. For not
only the presbyters, but the entire Church uses the Sacrament by the
authority of Christ, and not by human authority, and this, we suppose,
the adversaries acknowledge. Now, if Christ has instituted it for
the entire Church, why is one kind denied to a part of the Church?
Why is the use of the other kind prohibited? Why is the ordinance of
Christ changed, especially when He Himself calls it His testament?
But if it is not allowable to annul man's testament, much less will
it be allowable to annul the testament of Christ. And Paul says, 1
Cor. 11, 23 ff., that he had received of the Lord that which he
delivered. But he had delivered the use of both kinds, as the text,
1 Cor. 11, clearly shows. This do [in remembrance of Me], he says
first concerning His body; afterwards he repeats the same words
concerning the cup [the blood of Christ]. And then: Let a man
examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread and drink of that
cup. [Here he names both.] These are the words of Him who has
instituted the Sacrament. And, indeed, he says before that those who
will use the Lord's Supper should use both. It is evident, therefore,
that the Sacrament was instituted for the entire Church. And the
custom still remains in the Greek churches, and also once obtained in
the Latin churches, as Cyprian and Jerome testify. For thus Jerome
says on Zephaniah: The priests who administer the Eucharist, and
distribute the Lord's blood to the people, etc. The Council of Toledo
gives the same testimony. Nor would it be difficult to accumulate a
great multitude of testimonies. Here we exaggerate nothing; we but
leave the prudent reader to determine what should be held concerning
the divine ordinance [whether it is proper to prohibit and change an
ordinance and institution of Christ].