KNEELING IN THE VERY acte of taking, eating and drinking the Sacramentall bread and wine, in the holy Communion cannot be without sinne.
1 IT is to be vnder stood, that, howsoeuer Kneeling may (in it selfe considered) be esteemed a naturall gesture of the body, as standing, sitting, etc. yet in this case, it is by Institution of man. For neiher nature nor custome, doth teach vs ordinarily to knele when we eate & drinke neither doth the word require Kneeling in this case. 2 If it be by Institution, it must be either in respect of a more reuerēt receiuing, or Not. But if the most soleme signe of reuerence (vsed in theis partes of the world) be with out all respecte of reuerence, and that by Institution of authority, in so high a part of Gods seruice may not suche Kneeling be iudged, if not a grosse mocking of Christ, as was the souldiours their bowing of knes before him,M [...]h 27.29 Mal. 1.6 7. yet a taking of the name of god in vaine. Seing all significatiōs of honour, in Gods seruice, ought to be to the honour [Page 6] of his name,T [...] 4.2 2 King 5.18. and an othe not religiously intended (as in the nature therof it ought to be) to the honour of God, is the taking of Gods name in vaine. Did Naaman newly brought to the knowledge of God, attribut so much to bowing in the house of Rimmō when his master leaned on him, so that it was not his volūtary act? And shalwe, who haue had the Gospel long, kneeling by institution and determination, in a principall parte of Gods seruice, make no accoūpt whether wee honour god, or no, by such kneeling?
3 If kneeling be Instituted for a more reuerent receuing, then it must be either in regard of God, or of bread and wine If in regard of god then must wee be well perswaded that such kneeling is an acceptable seruice vnto his Maiestie.Rom 12.1 & 1, 23. Isa 29 13. M [...]h 1 [...]. [...]. And that this may be, we must consider, whether such kneeling be a wilworshipp or a seruice reasonable, and according to Gods will. Least otherwise we finde our selues so far from honoring God, as that we provoke him. As [Page 7] did Nadab and Abihu, Levit. [...]0.1.2 3 who offered in [...]ense, but not with the very fire which God appoynted,1 Chro 13.10 & 15.12.13. and were therfore devou [...]ed with fire. And as did King David, & the preists, who caried the Arke otherwise than it ought to haue been, and therefore Yzza died for it, with a sodaīe death. For God wilbe sanctified (if not By yet) In all them that come neere him.
4 But kneeling is contrary to the example of Christ, and his Apostles,Luke 22.14. 1 Cor: 11.1. who ministred & receiued sitting, or in such a gesture, as in those countryes was most vsed at eating. From which example to differ, without warrant from Gods word cannot be without fault. Seeing examples of holy men, much more of Christ, are to be followed, except there be some reasonable cause to the contrary. And the Apostle to reforme an abuse which crept (even in their times) into loue feastes, which were immediatly before, or after the Lords supper, did banish them thence, & reduced the manner of administring the Lords supper to the [Page 6] [...] [Page 7] [...] [Page 8] first institution, saying:1 Cor. 11.22 23. shall I prayse you in this? I prayse you not. For I haue receiued of the Lord that which I haue also delivered vnto you etc. Wherby it is apparant, that that forme of administration, which differeth frō the first institution, is worthy no prayse and therfore no acceptable service to God. For if the Apostle would not tolerate an indifferent thing (as was a loue feast till then) to continue so nere the L. supper, whē it was abus d, how would they allow the chaunge of sitting into kneeling, especially in these two considerations?
5 First, because the abuse of loue feasts (viz. superfluity) was never so great, and scandalous, in the Apostles time, as the abuse of kneeling (viz. Idolatry) was and is in the sinagogue of Rome: And besides, Loue feastes w [...]re either before, or after the L. supp [...]r, wh [...]ras kneeling is in the principal part of the holy Communion. Therfore if the Apostl banished Loue feast [...]s from the I supper, because of the abuse, & brought the Church to the simplicitie of the first in [...], Is it not a tempting sinne to retaine [Page 9] the Idolatrous kneeling of Papistes, and reiect the exemplary sitting of our M. Christ? And the rather, because it is in that sacrament, & in that part of the sacrament, which especially setteth forth our communion with Christ, & his Church, and is therfore called The communion. 1 Cor: 10.16 17. In due consideration wherof, how can wee imagine, that Christ hath any honor by our kneeling? Seeing it swarneth, not only from his example, but also from the practise of all reformed Churches, except in England, Concertatio Ecclesiae Cathol [...]n argu. which the Papistes them selues call Puritan-papisticall, for retainyng this, and other popish corruptions, and, Seing it may be an argument (especially to a papist not vnderstanding our tongue, that we haue communion with Antichrist, & & his sinagogue, at least in the Idolatry of bread worship. Which our failing, or carelesnes to avow our communiō with Christ and his church, and not abhorring all cō munion with Antichrist & his sinagogue cannot be without grevous sinne. Or els [Page 10] Paul sinned,Gal 2.11, 12 1 Co [...] 11. [...]6 2 [...] 6.1 [...] [...]7. D [...]t. 12, 30, 3 [...]. when he rebuked Peter for not holding communion with the Gentils converted, and wrote without good warrant, where he saith: If any lust to be contentious, we haue no such custome, neither the Churches of God. & in another place: VVhat communion hath Christ with Beliall? Com [...] out, and touch no vncleane thing. Doth not God streightly forbid vs to serue him, as Idolators doe their gods. These things cō sidered, Can kneeling wherwith Papistes doe honor their breadē God, be honorable to Christ, in his holy sacrament?
6 Secondly, whereas the end of a sacrament is to informe the outward man, by sensible d [...]monstrations, it pleased our M. Christ to vse such a gesture, as, agreably with bread and wine, setteth out our communion and spirituall familiaritie with him, and reioycyng in him. And therfore as he saith, [...]en [...]l. 3.20. [...]ath, 8.11, If any heare my voyce, and open the dore, I will come in to him, and sup with him and he with me, so he saith, Many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit with Abraham etc. By which places it appeareth that as by supper, so by sitting, familiar reioycing, [Page 11] or rreioycing familiarity is expressed. In which respects the cōmunion [...]s called the Lords supper & not A Sacrifice, & we are said to be pertakers of the L. table, & not of an alter. 1 Cor. 11.20 & 10:21 And therfore not kneeling, and sitting is for receiving. Wee read not of any gesture of bodie prescribed, or observed in Circumcision, and Baptisme as in the Passover & L. supper Because there needeth no materiall regard to be had of any certaine gesture in the 2.Exod 12.11 Numb. 9, 3.11.12. Math 5 17. & 26.20. former sacraments, so the foreskynne were cut of, and water be vsed: But in the other two, a gesture, answereable to the action is requisit. And therfore God prescribed to his people: when they were to flie out of Egeipt, the gesture of loynes gyrded, & staues in their hands, because the eating then of the passover was in hast. But that gesture being but for that time, as may appeare by the omission therof, when the observation of the passover was established, our Master Christ, who came not to break but fulfill the law, and knew what was sitest [Page 12] to be done, did not eate the passover sitting, a gesture more answerable to eating in peace, than the former vsed in Egeipt. Wherby kneeling is convinced, as being a-gesture altogether vnanswerable to eating And the rather, because it darkeneth the counsell of God, and beyng a signe of the greatest Submission obscureth that Reioycing familiaritie,Iob. 38.2. 1 Cor. 11.25 26. which the L. supper signifieth, and sealeth. Doe we not condemne the papists for ministring the communion in one kinde, because such an administration is against Christ his example, and doeth not liuely demonstrate the Lords death? Here a caveat is to be given, that none take occasion by this discourse, to iustifie the childish paedagogy of signifiynge ceremonies devised by man, Seeing sitting was vsed by Christ, and the signification thereof is found in scripture. And therfore that childish paedagogy is not iustified by that worthy servant of Christ, M. Cartwright, his iudgment, viz. That sitting doth signifie our rest in Christ Iesus.
7 That kneeling may be more soundly conuinced as a wilworship, obiections are to be answered. Therfore where it is supposed that Christ and his Apostles ministred & receiued sitting but by occasion, and not of purpose: because they were sitting before in eating the passeover wheras if Christ had sitten down of purpos to administer the cō munion, then all that is said is graunted to be some purpose. The answer is short, yet full: Christ did sit of purpose, when he ministred his last supper. For after the passeover he rose, washed his disciples feet, and sat downe againe.
8 If it be demaunded, why the Church is not bound to the time of evening, as well as to the gesture of sitting, sith Christ obserued the one, as well as the other? It may be answered: Time being a common circumstaunce to every action (for nothing can be done,Ioh. 13.4.1 [...] Gen. 2, 2 3. but in some time) the perticular time is not to be obserued, except Christ had sanctified it to the communion, as God sainctified the 7. day, on which he [Page 14] rested,Math 26.31: [...]5 Lek 22.53 or (at least) chosen it of purpose, a [...] he did sitting. But wheras it was vpon speciall, and necessary occasion, for the passeover must eaten before the L. supper could be instituted insteed therof, and presently after supper the hower came, when Christ was to be betrayed, therefore if the Iewes transgressed not the institution of the passover, by chaunging a gesture, at the first prescribed by God according to that their present occasion, in another sitter for a tīe of rest, much lesse doe christians transgrese the institution of the L. supper, by chaunging the time taken by Christ vpon occasion, but not prescribed, into some other fitter (in discretion) for the ordinarie celebration of the L. supper. As probably the Primitiue Churches did. For every first day of the weeke (viz. the L. day) the brethren came togither to breake bread,Act 2:42. & 20.7: 1 Cor: 16, 2. Revel: 1.10: id est, to minister the communiō. So that either th [...]y never met vpon the L. day, but in the evenning, or else they celebrated the communion at some other times, [Page 15] but for [...]y alteration of the gestures of sitting, especially into kneeling there is not the least probabilitie.
9 It is further obiected. That we may kneele in regard of prayers to be vsed, by prescription of authority, at the deliueryng of the bread and wine. viz. The bodie of our Lord Iesus Christ which was giuē for thee, preseru thy bodie and soule into eternall life, and take and eate this. etc. Heere vnto these answers may be returned. Seing we reiect Christ his example of sitting for kneeling, we must not stand vpon what we may doe, but humbly consider what we must doe. For if there be not a necessary, and a iustifiable cause both of those prayers, and of Kneeling in regard of them, doe we not presume vpon Christ his patience, in reiecting his example? Now, what necessitie is there of those prayers, at that very time? Seeing prayers goe before, and follow after. Againe, must we needs kneele at every bitte of a prayer? Is their more necessity to obey a needlesse direction to kneele at those prayers, than to follow the example of Christ, In sitting [Page 16] when we take eate and drinke, [...]hings r [...] quyred in the same sentences? And w [...] must the people kneele, when they hea [...] those prayers, rather than the minist [...] who pronounceth them? But it is a quest [...] on, Whither those prayers be iustifiable o [...] no. For besides that, by reason of them, Kneeling, devised and abused by Antichrist, doth crosse the practise of Chri [...] and his Apostles, and they may seeme a [...] vayne repitition: Even the adding of th [...] to the words of institution is contrary t [...] the minde of Christ. For he did first bless [...] or pray, and after gaue the Elements, in a sacramentall forme of words,Math. 6 7 & 26 26. c. [...]. Mark 14.21 Luk: 22.19, etc: without any addition, saying, take, eate, etc. Which order of administration, and forme of words, Mathew, Marke, Luke, and Paul doe so constantly, precisly, and sincerely relate, that any may perceiue the meaning of the spirit to be. That the sacramentall forme of words ought precisely to be obserued, without any addition. And the rather because Paul beginneth his relation thus, [Page 17] [...]aue receiued of the Lord, 1 Cor. 11, 23 [...]4, that which I [...]aue also deliuered, etc. So that it may [...]me to be against religion and reason, [...]at to a sacramentall forme of speach, [...]herin the minister should only supply the [...]rson of Christ, there should be added a [...]rayer, as in the name of the Church. This [...]fusion is fitter for Babilon, than for [...]on. Lastly, Why is not a short prayer, af [...]r other going before, aswell ioyned to the [...]cramentall forme of Baptisme: viz. N. [...]aptise thee In the name of the Father, etc. [...] then this addition of prayer to the sa [...]ramētall forme of words, be not of faith,Rom 14.5, 23 [...]ow can we, with faith and a good consci [...]ce, confirme, or allow the same with our [...]neeling?
10 Lastly for iustifiyng of Kneeling, it is [...]ffirmed. That it is indifferent whither [...]e sitt, stand, or kn [...]l [...]: Seeing Christ did sit, when he did eate the pass [...]r. Wher [...]as God commaunded the ch [...]dren of Israel [...]n Egipt to eate the passover standing, and some reformed churches receiue standing, [Page 18] for all that Christ did sit at his last supper: Therfore the King may appoynt Kneeling, as the most reverend gesture, and best beseeming so holy an action. For answer whervnto, howsoever that which is alreadie said, may suffice, Yet it may be further co [...]sidered, That though it be admitted, that it is indifferent to sit, or to stand, yet it doth not follow, that Kneeling is indifferent, For sitting is the example, and standing is a gesture sometimes vsed in ordinary eating, and (in the obiection) it is said to be prescribed at a sacramentall feast. Againe, It doth not follow, That because Christ vsed a gesture fitter for eating in his time, insteed of a gesture prescribed vpon occasion, it is therfore lawfull to vse a gesture nothing answerable to eating, and that taken out of the Synagogue of Antichrist (as though the word of God came out of it,1 Cor. 14.36 or to it onely) instead of a gesture most answerable to eating, & of purpose vsed by Christ at the institutiō of the sacrament. So that, notwithstanding [Page 19] all that is said for Kneling, His Maiestie (vpon whome the burthern as of this gesture so of other ceremonies, is layde) may remember,2 Chro▪ 29 25, That Hezekiah appoynted Levites in the house of the Lord with Cī balls, etc. according to the commaundement of David, and Gad the Kings Seer, and Nathan the Prophet, for the cōmaundement was by the hand of the Lord, and by the hand of his prophets. And withall consider, that if Kneeling were the most reverēt gesture, & best be seming the holy cōmuniō, our L. & Master would not haue sitten downe of purpose, at his last supper. And that Ahaz was deceiued In deeming the Alter at Damascus, 2 K ng 16 10, 12:14 15 more honorable for Gods service, thā the alter of the Lord.
11 Having said that which may be sufficient to a man reasonable, and not contentious, against the iustitution of kneeling for supposed reverence in regard of God, it remaineth that somewhat be said against the institution of Kneeling, for reverence in regard of bread and wine. [Page 20] Which need not be much, For no sound protestant, of any knowledge, will affirme it, but rather presently consider, That if kneeling be instituted for reverence in regard of bread and wine, It must be either because they represent the body & bloud of Christ, though remaining bread and wine touching there substaunce: And then for like reason, we may worship the crucifixe, and image of God, as the papists doe: Or, because Christ is really, bodily, & locally, though invisibly, present in thē, either by Transubstātiation, according to the herisy of the papists, or by consubstantiation, according to the herisy of the Lutherans. These things cannot but be considered, And then it must needs follow, that if we abiure these herisyes of Papists, & Lutherans, we must also abhorre idolatrous, & superstitious kneeling, their daughter and Nurse, which was never hearde of before Transubstantiation was hatched in the sinagogue of Antichrist.R [...]q [...]s of R [...]. [...]. So that immediatly after Pope Innocent decreed Transubstantiation, [Page 21] Pope Honorius decreed kneeling.Auns to [...] Iuels ch fol. 111 Therfore if Harding doth graūt that it is not well to kneele: but in regard of a reall, & bodily presence, a sound protestant should infer, But I detest your reall presence, therfore I abhorre your Idolatrous kneeling.
12 We are to abhorre kneeling, not onely because we abhorre the herisyes of worshipping images, Transubstantiation, & Consubstantiation, but also, Because it is the shew of the greatest evils that ever were, viz Idolatry in worshipping a God made of a peice of bread,1 Thess. 5 1 [...] and of communiō with Antichrist, rather than, with Christ, and therfore the greatest scādall that ever was or can be, both in regard of those evils it doth occasionally teach, or confirme, As also in regard of multituds (indeed the most part of people) either not sufficētly instructed in the right vnderstanding, & vse of the sacrament, and therfore caried with a blinde devotion learned by tradition, or corrupted (more or lesse) with the leaven [Page 22] of poperie. Who all in regard of their weaknes, are indangered by this gesture, either grosly to commit the Idolatry of papists, or to haue a superstitious estimation of the cutward elements. And the rather, because by the 21 Canon it is provided: That no b [...]ead, and wine newly brought, shalbe vsed, but first the words of institution shall be rehearsed, when the said bread & wine be present vpon the Communion table. As if the words were incantations, & the table like the aulter which sanctifieth the sacrifice. May not this prouiso seeme (at least to the simple) to make way at least to the Popish cons [...]ration? How grevous a sinne it is to scandalize the make,Ma [...]h, 18.6. may appeare by the word [...] of Christ [...] viz. whosoever shall offend one of these little ones, it were better for him, that a milstone were hanged about his ne [...]e, and that he were drowned in the depth of the Sea. C [...]o 8.13. And of Paul: If meate offēd my brother. I will ea [...]e no flesh, while the world standeth, that I may not offend my brother. What an offence or scandall is, the Ap [...]s [...]l [...] shew th in the same chapter, viz. An occasion of fallyng to the weake. [Page 23] The perticular offence he speaketh of is this: Notwithstāding the gospell was preached a convenient time, and that by the Apostles, yet many wanted knowledge, &,vers 7:10. even vnto that time, did eate as a thing sacrificed to an Idoll. Of whome if any should see a man indued with knowledge sit at table in the Idols temple, his weake conscience might occasionally be imboldeued to eate those things which are sacrificed to Idols. If Paul would never eate flesh rather than he would offend in this case, because in so doeing he should sinne agaīst Christ, how dare a christian,ver. 12 hauing knowledge, kneele in the presence of any, who, for want of knowledge, receiue superstitiously. Of which sort, seing there be so many even vntill this hower, and ever likly to be, that we know not when, and where to communicate without some such, either old, or young: it followeth, that as sitting at table in the Idols temple, could not be with out sinne, in the Apostles time, so kneling cannot be without sin in these dayes, [Page 24] when the number of faithfull teachers is much decreased, but of papists much increased, & by our kneeling much confirmed in their bread worshipe.Sum of the confe. pa. 74 Therfore If his Maiesties iudgment be sound, that the surplice is not to be worne, if Heathenish men were commorant among vs, who, therby, might take occasion to be strengthened in their paganisme? shall we by our corrupt practise of kneeling, strengthen the papists, who swarme among us, in their Idolatry? If the State doth well, in ordeining the sacrament to be administred in vsual bread to take away superstitiō,Rub. after the com, sect 5. wheras Christ did by occasion, minister in vnleavēed bread, shall not we doe ill, In teaching, or confirming superstition by kneeling, whereas Christ did of purpose minister sitting?Hom. agaist peril of Idol part 3 a Setting vp of images in churches onely to be lay mens bookes, is, by authoritie condemned,Levit: 19.14 because they are as stumbling blockes in way of the blinde So that they haue been, are still, and will be hereafter worshipped by ignorant persons. Is not kneeling as scandalous? How can it then be iustified?
13 But it is said, that the Kings cōmaūdemēt taketh away scandall, in things indifferēt. And it may be averred that this is a begging of the question, except it be proued by the word, that kneeling may be without sinne, and that notwithstanding it be an institution of man, contrary to the example of Christ, a signe of communion rather with Antichrist and his sinagogue of Rōe, than with Christ and his Church, it haue no proportion with sacramentall eating, and haue beene, is, and will be bread worshipe. But suppose that in it selfe it wereas indifferent as was eating of flesh sacrificed to an Idol, not in the Idols temple,1 Cor: 10.17 28. but at a priuate table where no weake ones were, in the Apostles time: yet how doth the Kings commaundement take away scandall from kneeling in publicke places? Doth it make all so sure, that none can be scandalized? Or, if that cannot be, doth it take away guiltines from the scandalizer, as if all the blame of scandalizing, were in the Kings commaundement? Su [...]rly it must be in the [Page 26] former, or els the latter cannot be, For by scandalizing a weake brother perisheth.Cor 8.11. [...]mb: 35 Of whose bloud, the scandalizer is guiltie, as Ioab was of Vriahs bloud, [...]am, 11:15 [...], 17, notwithstanding the Kings commaundement. Here his Maiestie knowne to be of a gentle disposition, & to haue learned, yea professed better thinges in Scotland, is most humblie prayed, to take this word (King) as spoken in imitation, and vnderstood of Cantor: who knowne to be of a violent disposition, did cary matters in the Convocation, and published Canons not orderly, & fully concluded, as some of his suffragane prelates report, But it is impossible, that the Kings commaundement should make all so sure, that none can be scandalized, the generall ignorance of the people, the disposition of the ignorant vnto superstition, the old leaven of popery not purged, & the multipliyng of papists, all well considered. Nay rather, It is likely, that by the commaundement, the scandall will be the greater. Especially in regard of the 27 Canon, where [Page 27] ministers are commaunded, vnder paine of suspension, Not wittingly to administer the sacrament to any, but such as kneele. May not simple, & superstitious persons take occasion thus to argue? Why should kneeling be thus vrged by authoritie, if the sacramentall signes of the bodie, and bloud of Christ, be no more to be reverenced, than water applyed in baptizing children? Seeing that is also a sanctified signe of Christ his bloud, that w [...]sheth away our sinnes, and iniquities.
To conclud, If kneeling in the very acte of taking, eating & drinking the sacramentall bread & wine, in the holy communion, be (1) an institution of man. (2) If it be the taking of Gods name in vaine, when it is without all respecte of reverence (3) If God be not honored thereby, except it be according to his will. (4) If it swarue from the example of Christ his sitting, & therfore deserueth no prayse. (5) If it be a provoking sinne to reiect the exemplary sitting of christ, wherby we sh [...]w our selues [Page 28] to be in communion with Christ, & the reformed churches, and to r [...]taine kneeling, which for bread worship, ought to be banished, & wherby we seeme to be in cōmunion with Antichrist, & his sinagogue. 6) If it obscureth that reioycing familiaritie in & with Christ which the L. supper signifieth (7) if the argument from Christ his example be made the stronger, in that he sat of purpose. 8) If the lawfulnes of chasing a fitter time than the euening cannot iustify our reiecting Christ his exemplary sitting (9) if the bittes of prayer ioyned with the words of institutiō do make kneling the more sinfull (10) If kneeling be not as indifferent, as standing, nor best beseeming the holy communion, and the King must appoynt nothing but by the hand of the Lord. (11) If we ought to abhor kneeling, as we abhorre the worshipping of Images, Transubstantiation, & Consubstantiation (12) If to scandalize be greevously to sinne, and kneeling [...]e a sh [...]w of the greatest evils, and withall the great [...]st [Page 29] [...]candall. And (13) If it be a begging of be question to affirme, kneeling to be indifferent, & the Kings commaundement [...]so called) doth rather increase, thā lesson [...]candall by kneeling, It may be averred, that kneeling in the very acte of Taking, eating, and drinking the sacramentall bread & wine, in the holy communion, cannot be without sinne.