Systematic Theology (Vol 3) - Hodge - XXXVI - Chapter 20 (The means of grace) continued

Required reading
Systematic Theology by Charles Hodge (Vol 3) (Available from Amazon or free here) - Continue Chapter 20 by reading up to the subheading '16. Doctrine of the Reformed Church on the Lord's Supper'.

My summary
This week Hodge moves to speaking about the Lord's supper.

After citing relevant Bible passages, Hodge himself gives a good summary of the matters that are generally agreed upon by the Reformed community:
'Apart from matters of doubtful interpretation, these passages plainly teach. First, that the Lord's Supper is a divine institution of perpetual obligation. Second, that the material elements to be used in the celebration, are bread and wine. Third, that the important constituent parts of the service are, (1.) The consecration of the elements. (2.) The breaking of the bread and pouring out of the wine. (3.) The distribution and the reception by the communicants of the bread and wine. Fourth, that the design of the ordinance is, (1.) To commemorate the death of Christ. (2.) To represent, to effect, and to avow our participation in the body and blood of Christ. (3.) To represent, effect, and avow the union of believers with Christ and with each other. And (4.) To signify and seal our acceptance of the new covenant as ratified by the blood of Christ. Fifth, the conditions for profitable communion are, (1.) Knowledge to discern the Lord's body. (2.) Faith to feed upon Him. (3.) Love to Christ and to his people.'

What grabbed me
I was interested to read the reason for Roman Catholicism withholding the cup: '(4.) The most flagrant violation of the integrity of this sacrament is that of which the Church of Rome for the last seven hundred years has been guilty, in withholding the cup from the laity. This is inconsistent not only with the command of Christ, and the example of the Apostles, but also with the practice of the Universal Church for eleven hundred years. This is not denied by Romanists themselves. They do not pretend to claim the authority of antiquity for this custom. They fall back on the authority of the Church. They deny, indeed, that the words of Christ include a command that the wine as well as the bread should be distributed in the Lord's Supper ; but they affirm that after consecration, the whole substance of the bread is transmuted into the substance of Christ's body ; and that as his body and blood are inseparable, they who receive the bread do thereby receive his blood ; and, therefore, that the whole benefit of the sacrament is experienced by the laity although the cup be withheld from them. This being the case, they maintain that it is wise in the Church, for prudential reasons, especially to avoid the danger of the blood of Christ being spilled and profaned, to confine the administration of the cup to the clergy...Withholding the cup from the laity is therefore founded on the doctrine of transubstantiation, and must fall with it.'

One error invariably leads to another...

Next week's reading
Continue Chapter 20 by reading up to the subheading '17. Modern views concerning the Lord's Supper'.

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.