31. Of The State Of Man After Death, And Of The

2 LONDON BAPTIST CONFESSION 1689 67 of the things they represent, in other words, the body and blood of Christ470 , albeit, in substance and nature, they still remain truly and only bread and wine, as they were before471 . 6. That doctrine which maintains a change of the substance of bread and wine, into the substance of Christ’s body and blood, commonly called transubstantiation, by consecration of a priest, or by any other way, is repugnant not to Scripture alone472,9 but even to common sense and reason, overthrows the nature of the ordinance, and has been, and is, the cause of manifold superstitions, yea, of gross idolatries473 . 7. Worthy receivers, outwardly partaking of the visible elements in this ordinance, do then also inwardly by faith, really and indeed, yet not carnally and corporally, but spiritually receive, and feed upon Christ crucified, and all the benefits of his death; the body and blood of Christ being then not corporally or carnally, but spiritually present to the faith of believers in that ordinance, as the elements themselves are to their outward senses474 . 8. All ignorant and ungodly persons, as they are unfit to enjoy communion with Christ, so are they unworthy of the Lord’s table, and cannot, without great sin against him, while they remain such, partake of these holy mysteries, or be admitted thereunto475; yea, whosoever shall receive unworthily, are guilty of the body and blood of the Lord, eating and drinking judgment to themselves476.13 31. Of The State Of Man After Death, And Of The

Resurrection Of The Dead

1. The bodies of men after death return to dust, and see corruption477; but their souls, which neither die nor sleep, having an immortal subsistence, immediately return to God who gave them478. The souls of the righteous being then made perfect in holiness, are received into paradise, where they are with Christ, and behold the face of God in light and glory, waiting for the full redemption of their bodies479; and the souls of the wicked are cast into hell; where they remain in torment and utter darkness, reserved to the judgment of the great day480; besides these two places, for souls separated

470 1 Cor. 11:27 471 1 Cor. 11:26-28 472 Acts 3:21; Luke 14:6,39 473 1 Cor. 11:24,25 474 1 Cor. 10:16, 11:23-26 475 2 Cor. 6:14,15 476 1 Cor. 11:29; Matt. 7:6 477 Gen. 3:19; Acts 13:36 478 Eccles. 12:7 479 Luke 23:43; 2 Cor. 5:1,6,8; Phil. 1:23; Heb. 12:23 Luke 23:43; 2 Cor. 5:1,6,8; Phil. 1:23; Heb. 12:23 480 Jude 6, 7; 1 Peter 3:19; Luke 16:23,24