"V. Now the foundations on which we rest in this controversy with the Sacramentarians are
the following, which, moreover, Dr. Luther has laid down in his Larger Confession concerning the
Supper of the Lord: —
"The first foundation is an article of our Christian faith, to wit: Jesus Christ is true, essential,
natural, perfect God and man in unity of person, inseparable and undivided.
"Secondly: That the right hand of God is everywhere; and that Christ, in respect of his
humanity, is truly and in very deed seated thereat, and therefore as present governs, and has in his
hand and under his feet, as the Scripture saith (Eph. 1:22), all things which are in heaven and on
earth. At this right hand of God no other man, nor even any angel, but the Son of Mary alone, is
seated, whence also he is able to effect those things which we have said.
"Thirdly: That the Word of God is not false or deceiving.
"Fourthly: That God knows and has in his power various modes of being in any place, and
is not confined to that single one which philosophers are wont to call local or circumscribed.
"VI. We believe, teach, and confess that the body and blood of Christ are taken with the
bread and wine, not only spiritually through faith, but also by the mouth, nevertheless not
Capernaitically, but after a spiritual and heavenly manner, by reason of the sacramental union. For
to this the words of Christ clearly bear witness, in which he enjoins us to take, to eat to drink; and
that this was done by the Apostles the Scripture makes mention, saying (Mark 14:23), ’And they
all drank of it.’ And Paul says, ’The bread which we break is the communion of the body of Christ;’
that is, he that eats this bread eats the body of Christ.
"To the same, with great consent, do the chief of the most ancient doctors of the
church—Chrysostom, Cyprian, Leo the First, Gregory, Ambrose, Augustin—bear witness.
"VII. We believe, teach, and confess that not only true believers in Christ, and such as
worthily approach the Supper of the Lord, but also the unworthy and unbelieving receive the true
body and blood of Christ; in such wise, nevertheless, that they derive thence neither consolation
nor life, but rather so as that receiving turns to their judgment and condemnation, unless they be
converted, and repent (1 Cor. 11:27, 29).
"For although they repel from them Christ as a Saviour, nevertheless they are compelled,
though extremely unwilling, to admit him as a stem Judge. And he no less present exercises his
judgment over these impenitent guests than as present he works consolation and life in the hearts
of true believers and worthy guests.
"VIII. We believe, teach, and confess that there is one kind only of unworthy guests: they
are those only who do not believe. Of these it is written (John 3:18), ’He that believeth not is
condemned already.’ And this judgment is enhanced and aggravated by an unworthy use of the
holy Supper (1 Cor. 11:29).
"IX. We believe, teach, and confess that no true believer, so long as he retains a living faith,
receives the holy Supper of the Lord unto condemnation, however much weakness of faith he may
labor under. For the Lord’s Supper has been chiefly instituted for the sake of the weak in faith, who
nevertheless are penitent, that from it they may derive true consolation and a strengthening of their
weak faith (Matt. 9:12; 11:5, 28).
We believe, teach, and confess that the whole worthiness of the guests at this heavenly
Supper consists alone in the most holy obedience and most perfect merit of Christ. And this we
apply to ourselves by true faith, and are rendered certain of the application of this merit, and are
tuis.
(Tuis.)
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