699. Does any true Christian fail to acknowledge that those two sacraments are holy, in fact the holiest rites of worship in Christianity? But does anyone know in what their holiness resides, or what is its source? There is no more to be learned from the natural sense of the description of the institution of the Holy Supper, than the fact that Christ's flesh is given for us to eat, and His blood for us to drink, and the bread and wine stand for these. This can only lead to the thought that the sole reason why they are holy is that they were ordered by the Lord. The cleverest theologians in the church have therefore laid it down that when the Word approaches the element, it becomes a sacrament. But this origin of its holiness is not apprehensible by the understanding, neither is it visible in its elements or symbols, but is only held in the memory. For this reason some attend it because they trust that their sins are by its means forgiven, some because they believe it sanctifies, some because it strengthens faith and so also conduces to salvation. Those, however, who treat it lightly, attend only because they formed that habit from childhood; and some give up the practice because they can see no reason for it. But the irreligious turn their backs on it and say to themselves: 'What are they but ceremonies given an air of holiness by the clergy? What is there in it but bread and wine? What is it but a pretence that they are the body of Christ which hung upon the cross, and that His blood which was then shed is distributed together with bread and wine to the communicants?' And more besides.