Sacramentarians

Sacramentarians, a term used in more senses than one. (1) Ordinarily in England it means one who holds a 'high' or extreme doctrine of the efficacy of the sacraments, especially of the Eucharist (see LORD'S SUPPER). (2) Technically, however, the word is used in church history in an almost diametrically opposite sense for persons holding a 'low' doctrine on the subject of the sacraments—for the party among the Reformers who separated from Luther on the doctrine of the Eucharist. Luther taught the doctrine of the real presence of the body and blood of Christ along with the bread and wine (see LORD'S SUPPER). Carlstadt, Capito, and Bucer were the leaders of those who called this doctrine in question. This sacramentarian party became so considerable that in the diet of Augsburg they claimed to present a special confession known in history by the name of the Tetrapolitan Confession—so called from the four cities, Strasburg, Constance, Lindau, and Memmingen. The Tetrapolitan Confession rejects the doctrine of a corporeal presence, and although it admits a spiritual presence of Christ which the devout soul can feel and enjoy, it excludes all idea of a physical presence of Christ's body. Simultaneously with this German movement, yet independent of it, was that of the Swiss reformer Zwingli, whose doctrine on the Eucharist was identical with that of Carlstadt, and who himself presented a private confession of faith to the Augsburg diet in which this doctrine is embodied. The four cities named above continued for many years to adhere to this confession presented to the diet of Augsburg in their name; but eventually they accepted the so-called Confession of Augsburg, and were merged in the general body of Lutherans. On the contrary, the article of Zwingli upon the Eucharist was in substance embodied in the confession of the Helvetic Church.