722. 第4节 配领圣餐者是那些拥有对主之信和对邻之仁的人, 即重生者
神, 仁, 信是教会的三个共性, 因为它们是得救的普遍方法, 凡学过圣言的基督徒都知道, 承认和理解这一点。 为了使人拥有宗教信仰, 或教会的东西在他里面, 神必须被承认, 若理性还有一丝属灵成分, 那么它本身就会坚持宣称, 为了人能拥有宗教信仰, 心里有教会的东西, 神必须被承认。 所以, 若人不承认神却领受圣餐, 就是对它的亵渎。 他眼看饼和酒, 用舌头品尝它们, 而心里却在想: “这不就是一个没用的仪式吗? 这饼和酒跟我桌子上的有什么两样? 尽管如此, 我还得领受它们, 免得被祭司与大众指责, 背上无神论者的骂名。 ”
继承认神之后, 使人配领圣餐的第二个方法就是仁, 这一点从圣言和整个基督教界领受圣餐前宣读的劝诫明显可知。 从圣言的这段经文也明显可知:
第一诫命就是爱主超过一切, 且爱邻如己。 (马太福音22:34-39;路加福音10:25-28)
保罗书信:
有助于救恩的有三样, 其中最大的是仁。 (哥林多前书13:13)
还有:
我们知道神不听罪人, 唯有敬奉神, 遵行祂旨意的, 神才听他。 (约翰福音9:31)
凡不结好果子的树, 就砍下来丢在火里。 (马太福音7:19-20; 路加福音3:8-9)
整个基督教界领受圣餐前宣读的劝诫表明, 他们处处被严厉训诫, 要通过和解与悔改持守仁爱。 我从英国读给领圣餐者的祷文中只引用以下一段:
配领圣餐的道路和方法是: 先按照神的诫命检查自己的生活和话语; 你要觉察自己犯了哪一条, 是从意愿上冒犯的, 还是从话语, 行为上, 要为自己的罪悲愁, 向全能的神忏悔, 以达到修正生活的目的。 若你意识到自己的冒犯不但违背神, 而且还违背邻舍, 那么你必须与他们和解, 尽你所能准备好退赔与补偿, 因为一切伤害与罪过都是你给他人造成的; 同样要准备好宽恕冒犯你的人, 如同神宽恕你在祂手里的冒犯; 否则领受圣体只会增加你的罪孽。 所以, 如果你们当中有谁是神的亵渎者, 圣言的妨碍或诋毁者, 通奸者, 或心怀恶意, 嫉妒, 或犯下其它严重罪行, 就必须悔改你的罪, 否则, 不要领受圣餐; 免得领受之后, 魔鬼象进入犹大那样进入你里面, 使你充满罪孽, 给你带来肉体与灵魂的双重毁灭。
配领圣餐的第三个方法是信主, 因为仁与信是一体, 就象春天的热与光一样, 由于二者的结合, 每棵树得以再生。 同样, 使每个人存活的, 正是属灵之热 (即仁) 和属灵之光 (即信之真)。 信主会实现这一切, 这一点从以下经文明显可知:
凡信我的人必永远不死, 必永远活着 (约翰福音11:26)
父的意愿是叫一切信子的人得永生。 (约翰福音6:40)
神爱世人, 甚至将祂的独生子赐给他们, 叫一切信祂的得永生。 (约翰福音3:15-16)
信子的人有永生, 不信子的人不得见永生, 神的震怒常在他身上。 (约翰福音3:36)
我们在那位真实的里面, 就是在神儿子, 耶稣基督里面。 这是真神, 也是永生。 (约翰一书5:20)
722. We Come Forward Worthily to Take the Holy Supper When We Have Faith in the Lord and Goodwill toward Our Neighbor - That Is, When We Have Been Regenerated
Every Christian who studies the Word knows, acknowledges, and perceives that the three universal elements of the church are God, goodwill, and faith. These are universal elements because they are the universal means of being saved.
Before we can be said to be religious and before anything of the church can be established in us we have to acknowledge the existence of God; any reasoning that has anything spiritual within it affirms the necessity of this. Therefore if we come forward to take the Holy Supper but do not acknowledge the existence of God, we desecrate the Holy Supper. We see the bread and wine with our eyes and we taste them with our tongue, but our mind is thinking, "This ritual is pointless. How do these elements differ from what I have on my table at home? I am only going through this to avoid the shame of being accused of being an atheist, first by the priest and then by everyone else. "
[2] Once we have come to acknowledge the existence of God, goodwill is the second means that allows us to take the Holy Supper worthily. This is clear both from the Word and from the statements that are read throughout the Christian world before people come forward for the Holy Supper.
As for the Word, it teaches that the first commandment and rule is to love God above all and to love our neighbor as ourselves (Matthew 22:35-40; Luke 10:25-28). Paul teaches that there are three things that contribute to our salvation, and the greatest of these is goodwill (1 Corinthians 13:13). "We know that God does not hear sinners, but if people worship God and do his will, he hears them" (John 9:31). "Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire" (Matthew 7:19-20; Luke 3:8-9).
[3] As for the statements that are read throughout the Christian world before people come forward for the Holy Supper, these statements sternly warn people to find goodwill through reconciliation and repentance first. The only example that I will copy out here is the statement read in England to people about to partake of the Holy Supper:
The way and means of becoming a worthy partaker in the Holy Supper is first to examine your life and your conversations by the rule of God's commandments. In whatever regard you notice that you have committed an offense of will, speech, or act, then bewail your own sinfulness and confess yourselves to Almighty God, with full purpose of amending your life. If you observe that your offenses are not only against God but also against your neighbors, you shall reconcile yourselves to them, being ready to make restitution and satisfaction to the utmost of your power for all injuries and wrongs done by you to any other, and being likewise ready to forgive others who have offended you, just as you wish to have forgiveness from God for your offenses. Otherwise receiving the Holy Supper does nothing but increase your damnation. Therefore if any of you is a blasphemer of God, or a hinderer or slanderer of his Word, [or an adulterer,] or someone taken with malice or ill will, or involved in any other grievous crime, repent of your sins. Or else do not come to the Holy Supper; otherwise, after you take it the Devil may enter into you as he entered into Judas, fill you with all wickedness, and bring you to destruction of both body and soul.
[4] Faith in the Lord is the third means of worthily enjoying the Holy Supper, because goodwill and faith act as one, like heat and light in spring; every type of tree comes back to life when heat and light work together. Likewise, it is spiritual heat (goodwill) and spiritual light (truth related to faith) that bring us all to life.
The following passages make it clear that faith in the Lord has this effect:
Those who believe in me will never die; they will live. (John 11:25-26)
This is the will of the Father, that all who believe in the Son should have eternal life. (John 6:40)
God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son so that everyone who believes in him would have eternal life. (John 3:16)
Those who believe in the Son have eternal life. Those who do not believe in the Son will not see life; instead God's anger will remain upon them. (John 3:36)
We are in the truth in Jesus Christ, the Son of God. He is the true God and eternal life. (1 John 5:20)
722. VI. The people who worthily approach the Holy Supper are those who have faith in the Lord and charity towards the neighbour, so those who have been regenerated.
God, charity and faith are the three universals of the church, because they are the universal means to salvation. This is known, acknowledged and grasped by any Christian who studies the Word. Reason itself, at least if it contains any spirituality, insists that God must be acknowledged, if a person is to have any religion and any part of the church in him. If therefore anyone approaches the Holy Supper without acknowledging God, he profanes it. His eye sees the bread and wine, he tastes them on his tongue; but his mind is thinking: 'This is surely a matter of indifference. How are the bread and wine any different from what I have on my table? However, I do this to avoid being blamed by the priesthood, and so by the common people, as being an atheist.'
[2] After the acknowledgment of God the second means which makes one worthy to approach is charity. This fact is established both from the Word and from the exhortations read before people approach throughout the Christian world. We learn from the Word that the leading injunction and commandment is to love God before all else and one's neighbour as oneself (Matthew 22:35-40; Luke 10:25-28). Also in the epistles of Paul, there are three things which contribute to salvation, and the greatest of these is charity (1 Corinthians 13:13). Also:
We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone worships God and does His will, He listens to him, John 9:31.
Everyone who 1 does not produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire, Matthew 7:19-20; Luke 3:8-9.
[3] The exhortations read throughout the Christian world before people approach the Holy Supper show that everywhere they are sternly admonished to be in a state of charity by reconciliation and repentance. I will quote only the following passage from the prayer read to communicants in England:
The way and means to become worthy partakers of the Holy Supper is this. First, to examine one's life and conversations by the rule of God's commandments; and whereinsoever one perceives oneself to have offended, either by will, word or deed, there to bewail one's own sinfulness, and to confess oneself to Almighty God, with full purpose of amendment of life. And if one perceives one's offences to be such as are not only against God, but also against the neighbour, then one shall reconcile oneself unto him, being ready to make restitution and satisfaction to the uttermost of one's powers, for all injuries and wrongs done by one to any other; and being likewise ready to forgive others that have offended one, as one would have forgiveness of one's offences at God's hand; for otherwise the receiving of the holy Communion cloth nothing else but increase one's own damnation. Therefore if any of you be a blasphemer of God, an hinderer or slanderer of His Word, [an adulterer,] or be in malice, or envy, or in any other grievous crime, repent you of your sins, or else come not to that holy Supper; lest, after taking of that holy Supper, the devil enter into you, as he entered into Judas, and fill you full of all iniquities, and bring you to destruction both of body and soul. 2
[4] The third means to the worthy enjoyment of the Holy Supper is faith in the Lord. This is because charity and faith make one, as heat and light do in springtime, so that their combination makes every tree to be reborn. Likewise it is spiritual heat, which is charity, and spiritual light, which is the truth of faith, which make everyone alive. It is established from the following passages that faith in the Lord has this result:
He who believes in me will never die, but will live, John 11:25-26.
This is the will of the Father, that everyone who believes in the Son should have everlasting life, John 6:40.
God so loved the world, that He gave His only-begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in Him should have everlasting life, John 3:15-16.
He who believes in the Son has everlasting life. But he who does not believe the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God rests upon him, John 3:36.
We are in the truth, in the Son of God, Jesus Christ. He is the true God and everlasting life. 1 John 5:20.
Footnotes:
1. The original in both Gospels has 'Every tree which,' and elsewhere it is so quoted by the author.
2. This passage is given in Latin in the original, but is a fairly close translation from the Book of Common Prayer, the language of which is here followed.
722. VI. THOSE COME TO THE HOLY SUPPER WORTHILY WHO HAVE FAITH IN THE LORD AND CHARITY TOWARD THE NEIGHBOR, THAT IS, WHO ARE REGENERATE.
That God, charity, and faith are the three universals of the church, because they are the universal means of salvation, is known, acknowledged, and perceived by every Christian who studies the Word. That God must be acknowledged in order that one may have religion, or that anything of the church may be in him, is declared by reason itself when there is anything spiritual in it; consequently, if one comes to the holy supper without acknowledging God, he profanes it; for he sees the bread and wine with the eye and tastes them with the tongue, while the thought of the mind is, "What is this but a useless ceremony, and how do this bread and wine differ from that on my own table? Nevertheless I partake of them, lest I be charged by the priesthood, and so also by the common people, with the infamy of being an atheist."
[2] That after the acknowledgment of God, charity is the second means which enables one to come to the holy supper worthily is evident both from the Word and from the exhortations read before approaching the communion in the whole Christian world. It is evident from the Word in this:
That the first command or precept is to love God above all things, and the neighbor as oneself (Matthew 22:34-39; Luke 10:25-28).
Again in Paul:
That there are three things that contribute to salvation, and the greatest of these is charity (1 Corinthians 13:13).
Also from these passages:
We know that God heareth not sinners; but if any man is a worshiper of God and doeth His will, him He heareth (John 9:31).
Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire (Matthew 7:19, 20; Luke 3:8, 9).
[3] It appears also from the exhortations read throughout the whole Christian world before coming to the holy supper. Everywhere men are thus earnestly admonished to be in charity by reconciliation and repentance. From these I will only quote the following passage from the exhortation read to communicants in England:
"The way and means" to be worthy partakers of the holy supper "is, first to examine your lives and conversations by the rule of God's commandments; and whereinsoever ye shall perceive yourselves to have offended, either by will, word, or deed, there to bewail your own sinfulness, and to confess yourselves to Almighty God, with full purpose of amendment of life. And if ye shall perceive your offences to be such as are not only against God but also against your neighbors, then ye shall reconcile yourselves unto them, being ready to make restitution and satisfaction, according to the uttermost of your powers, for all injuries and wrongs done by you to any other; and being likewise ready to forgive others who have offended you, as ye would have forgiveness of your offences at God's hand; for otherwise the receiving of the holy communion doth nothing else but increase your damnation. Therefore if any of you be a blasphemer of God, a hinderer or slanderer of His Word, an adulterer, or be in malice, or envy, or in any other grievous crime, repent ye of your sins, or else come not to that holy table; lest, after the taking of that holy sacrament, the devil enter into you as he entered into Judas, and fill you full of all iniquities, and bring you to destruction both of body and soul."
[4] Faith in the Lord is the third means of worthily enjoying the holy supper, because charity and faith make one, like heat and light in spring, from which two conjoined every tree is born anew; so from spiritual heat, which is charity, and from spiritual light, which is the truth of faith, every man has life. That faith in the Lord effects this is evident from the following passages:
he that believeth in Me shall never die, but shall live (John 11:26).
This is the will of the Father that everyone that believeth on the Son shall have eternal life (John 6:40).
God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on Him should have eternal life (John 3:15, 16).
He that believeth on the Son hath eternal life but he that believeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him (John 3:36).
We are in the truth, in the Son of God, Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life (1 John 5:20).
722. VI. THOSE WORTHILY APPROACH THE HOLY SUPPER WHO HAVE FAITH IN THE LORD AND CHARITY TOWARDS THE NEIGHBOR; THUS THOSE WHO ARE REGENERATE.
Every Christian who studies the Word knows, acknowledges and perceives that God, charity and faith are the three universals of the Church, because they are the universal means of salvation. Reason itself, if there is anything spiritual in it, teaches that God must be acknowledged in order that a man may have religion and anything of the Church in him. Therefore, whoever comes to the Holy Supper and does not acknowledge God profanes it; for he sees with his eyes the bread and wine, and tastes them with his tongue, but in his mind he thinks, "This is but a profitless ceremony. How do the bread and wine differ from their like on my own table? Yet I do this, lest I should be accused by the priesthood, and then by the common people, of the infamous crime of being an atheist."
[2] After the acknowledgment of God, charity is the second means whereby one worthily approaches the Holy Supper. This is evident from the Word and also from the exhortations that are read throughout the whole Christian world before coming to it. It is clear from this passage in the Word:
The first commandment and precept is, that men should love God above all things, and the neighbor as themselves, Matthew 22:34-39; Luke 10:25-28;
And in Paul it is said,
That there are three things profitable to salvation, and the greatest of these is charity, 1 Corinthians 13:13.
Also from these passages:
"We know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him He heareth" John 9:31.
"Every [tree] that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire" Matthew 7:19-20; Luke 3:8-9.
[3] It is evident, too, from the exhortations that are read throughout the whole Christian world before coming to the Holy Supper; for in these people everywhere are earnestly admonished to be in charity by reconciliation and repentance. I will quote only the following words from the exhortation to communicants in the Church of England:
"That the way and means for any one to become a worthy partaker of the Holy Supper is, first to examine the deeds and conversations of his life by the rule of God's commandments; and whereinsoever he perceives that he has offended either by will, word, or deeds, there to bewail his own sinfulness and make confession to Almighty God, with full purpose of amendment of life. And if he perceives his offences to be such as are not only against God, but also against the neighbor, then he shall reconcile himself to him; being ready to make restitution and satisfaction to the uttermost of his power, for wrongs and injuries done to any other; and being likewise ready to forgive others their offences, as he would have forgiveness of his offences at God's hand; for otherwise the receiving of the Holy Communion doth nothing else but increase his damnation. Therefore, if any of you be a blasphemer of God, a hinderer or slanderer of His Word, [an adulterer], or be in malice or envy, or in any other grievous crime, repent of your sins, or else come not to the Holy Supper; lest, after the taking of the Holy Supper, the devil enter into you, as he entered into Judas, and fill you full of all iniquity, and bring you to destruction both of body and soul."
[4] Faith in the Lord is the third means whereby one may worthily obtain the benefits of the Holy Supper, because charity and faith make one, like the heat and light of springtime, from the union of which every tree has new life. In like manner every man lives from spiritual heat, which is charity, and from spiritual light, which is the truth of faith. That faith in the Lord effects this is evident from these passages:
"He that believeth in me... shall never die," yet shall he live. John 11:25-26.
This is the will of the Father, that every one which believeth on the Son, may have everlasting life, John 6:40.
"God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him, should have everlasting life" John 3:16.
"He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: but he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him" John 3:36.
"We are in the truth, in the Son of God, Jesus Christ. (A.V., in Him that is truth, even in His Son, Jesus Christ). This is the true God, and eternal life" 1 John 5:20.
722. Quod illi ad Sanctam Coenam digne accedant, qui in fide in Dominum et in charitate erga proximum sunt, ita qui regenerati sunt.
Quod Deus, Charitas et Fides, sint tria universalia Ecclesiae, quia sunt universalia media salutis, scitur, agnoscitur et percipitur a quovis Christiano, qui studet Verbo. Quod Deus agnoscendus sit, ut alicui sit Religio, et in illo aliquid Ecclesiae, ipsa Ratio in qua aliquid spirituale est, dictat; quare qui ad Sanctam 1 Coenam accedit, et Deum non agnoscit, illam profanat, oculo enim videt Panem et Vinum, et lingua gustat illa, at mens cogitat, quid hoc nisi adiaphoron, et quid differunt a similibus 2 super mea mensa, quod tamen facio, ne a Sacerdotio, et inde a vulgo infamiae, quod atheus sim, inculper.
[2] Quod post agnitionem Dei, Charitas sit alterum medium, quod facit ut quis digne accedat, constat tam ex Verbo, quam ex orationibus praelectis ante accessionem in toto Christiano Orbe; ex VERBO, Quod primarium mandatum et praeceptum sit, ut Deum super omnia ament, et proximum sicut seipsum, Matthaeus 22:34-38, 3 Luca 10:25-28. Tum apud Paulum, quod sint tria, quae conferunt ad salutem, et quod illorum maxima sit Charitas, 1 Corinthios 13:13, ut et ex his, Scimus quod peccatores Deus non audiat, sed si quis Deum colit, et voluntatem Ejus facit, hunc audit, 4 Johannes 9:31. Omnis qui non facit fructum bonum, exscinditur et in ignem conjicitur, Matthaeus 7:19-20; Luca 3:8-9:
[3] ex ORATIONIBUS PRAELECTIS ANTE ACCESSIONEM AD SANCTAM COENAM IN TOTO CHRISTIANO ORBE; in illis ubivis serio admonentur ut sint in charitate per reconciliationem et poenitentiam, ex quibus hic solum transcribam haec ex Oratione ad communicantes in Anglia. 5 "Haec est via, et hoc est medium, ut quis fiat dignus particeps Sanctae Coenae: primarium est, ut exploret suae vitae facta et commercia secundum normam praeceptorum Dei; et in quibuscunque animadvertit se offendisse voluntate et loquela, aut factis, tunc deploret vitiosam suam naturam, et confessionem faciat coram Omnipotente Deo, cum pleno proposito emendandi vitam; et si animadvertit offensas ejus esse tales, ut non modo sint contra Deum, sed etiam contra proximum, tunc reconciliabit se illi, et promptus erit ad restitutionem et satisfactionem ex omni potentia sua, propter injurias et mala alicui facta, et similiter 6 promptus erit ad remittendum aliis offensas, quemadmodum vult ut offensae suae remittantur a Deo; alioquin receptio Sanctae Coenae non facit nisi quam aggravet damnationem. Quapropter si quis vestrum est blasphemator Dei, obtrectator et sugillator Verbi Ipsius, [aut adulter,] 7 aut in malitia vel in malevolentia, aut in alio enormi crimine, poenitentiam a peccatis age; si non, ad Sanctam Coenam ne accedas: alioquin post receptionem Sanctae Coenae diabolus intraturus est in te, sicut intravit in Judam, et impleturus te omni iniquitate, et destructurus et corpus et animam."
[4] Quod Fides in Dominum sit tertium Medium dignae fruitionis Sanctae Coenae, est quia charitas et fides unum faciunt, sicut calor et lux tempore veris, ex quibus duobus conjunctis renascitur omnis arbor; similiter ex calore spirituali, qui est charitas, et ex luce spirituali, quae est 8 veritas fidei, vivit omnis homo. Quod fides in Dominum hoc faciat constat ex his locis, Qui credit in Me, non morietur in aeternum, sed vivet, Johannes 11:25-26. Haec est voluntas Patris, ut omnis qui credit in Filium, habeat vitam aeternam, Johannes 6:40. Adeo dilexit Deus Mundum, ut Filium suum unigenitum dederit, ut omnis qui credit in Ipsum habeat vitam aeternam, Johannes 3:15-16. Qui credit in Filium, habet vitam aeternam; qui vero non credit Filio, non videbit vitam, sed ira Dei manet super illo, Johannes 3:36. Sumus in veritate, in Filio Dei Jesu Christo; Hic est verus Deus et vita aeterna, 1 Johannes 5:20. 9
Footnotes:
1. Prima editio: Sanctum.
2. Prima editio: simillbus.
3. Sic Schmidt, sed 22:35-40 apud Novum Testamentum Graecum and Biblia Anglica. Prima editio: 22:34-39.
4. Prima editio: audiat.
5. In prima editione hic textus totus signis citationis inclusus est.
6. Prima editio: sinaliter.
7. Sic Vera Christiana Religio 526 et DVit 6.
8. Prima editio: et [symbol].
9. Prima editio: I Johannes 5:20, 21.