In the latter he remained as medieval as Luther, never getting beyond the question of the mode of the presence of the body and blood of Christ in the bread and wine.

His endeavor to rationalize the doctrine of Augsburg, especially with reference to the Zwinglians, had disastrous results.

Only two {166} positions were possible, that the body and blood were present, or that they were not.

By endeavoring to find some middle ground Calvin upheld a contradiction in terms: the elements were signs and yet were realities; the body was really there when the bread was eaten by a believer, but really not there when the same bread was eaten by an infidel.

The presence was actual, and yet participation could only occur by faith.