IT is to be vnderstood, that, howsoeuer 1 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,Math 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,Ier: 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 shal we, 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 & 11▪ 5, 2 [...], Isa 29 13: Math 15.9, 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. 10.1. [...] 3. who offered in­cense, but not with the very fire which God appoynted,1 Chro. 13.10 & 15.12.13. and were therfore devou­red with fire. And as did King David, & the preists, who caried the Arke otherwise than it ought to haue been, and therefore Vzza 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 8] first institution,1 Cor. 11.22 23: saying: 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 abused, 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 were either before, or after the L. supper, wheras kneeling is in the principal part of the holy Communion. Therfore if the Apostle banished Loue feastes from the L supper, because of the abuse, & brought the Church to the simplicitie of the first institution, 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 du [...] consideration wherof, how can wee imagine, that Christ hath any honor by our kneeling? Seeing it swarueth, not only from his example, but also from the prac­tise of all reformed Churches, except in England, Concertatio Ecclesiae Ca­thol. in argu. which the Papistes them selues call Puritan-papisticall, for retainyng this, and other popish corruptions, and, S [...] ing 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 C [...]o 11.16 2. Cor. 6.15.17. Deut. 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? Come 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 demonstrations, 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,Reuel. 3.20. Math, 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 A: braham 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 is 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 fit­est [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 a­gesture altogether vnanswerable to eating And the rather, because it darkeneth the counsell of God,Iob. 38.2. 1 Cor. 11.25 26. and beyng a signe of the greatest Submission obscureth that Reioy­cing familiaritie, 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. [Page 13] 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, but in some time) the perticu­lar time is not to be obserued,Ioh, 13.4▪ 1 [...] Gen: 2, 2 3▪ except Christ had sanctified it to the communion, as God sainctified the 7. day, on which he [Page 14] rested,Math. 26.31:45 L [...]k 22 53 or (at least) chosen it of purpose, as 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 fitter 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 c [...]le­bration 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 eve [...]ing, or else they c [...]lebr [...] ­ted the communion at some other times. [Page 15] but for my alteration of the gestures [...]f 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, things re­quyred in the same sentences? And why must the people kneele, when they heare those prayers, rather than the minister who pronounceth them? But it is a questi­on, Whither those prayers be iustifiable or no. For besides that, by reason of them, Kneeling, devis [...]d and abused by Anti­christ, doth crosse the practise of Christ and his Apostles, and th [...]y may seeme a­vayne repitition: Even the adding of thē to the words of institution is contrary to the minde of Christ. For he did first blesse or pray, and after gaue the Elements, in a sacramentall forme of words,Math 6 7 & 26.26. etc. 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] I haue receiued of the Lord, 1 Cor. 11, 23 [...]4, that which I haue also deliuered, etc. So that it may seeme to be against religion and reason, that to a sacramentall forme of speach, wherin the minister should only supply the person of Christ, there should be added a prayer, as in the name of the Church. This confusion is fitter for Babilon, than for Sion. Lastly, Why is not a short prayer, af­ter other going before, aswell ioyned to the sacramentall forme of Baptisme: viz N. I baptise thee In the name of the Father etc. If then this addition of prayer to the sa­cramētall forme of words, be not of faith,Rom 14.5, [...]3 how can we, with faith and a good consci­ence, confirme, or allow the same with our kneeling?

10 Lastly for iustifiyng of Kneeling, it is affirmed. That it is indifferent whither we sitt, stand, or kneele: Seing Christ did sit, when he did eate the passover. Wheras God commaunded the children of Israel in 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 considered, 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 law full 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. 2 [...] 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 deceived In deeming the Alter at Damascus, 2. King 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 institution 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 re­g [...]rd 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.Re [...]q [...]es of R [...]me fol 98. & 99, So that immediatly after Pope Innocent decreed Tran­substantiation, [Page 21] Pope Honorius decreed kneeling.Auns. to M. Iuels chalēg 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, 5.22 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 outward elements. And the rather, because by the 21 Canon it is provided: That no bread, 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 consecration? How grevous a sinne it is to scandalize the w [...]ake,Ma [...]h, 18.6, may appeare by the wordes of Christ: viz. whosoever shall offend one of these little ones, it were better for him, that a milstone were hanged about his necke, and that he were drowned in the depth of the Sea. 1 Cro 8.13. And of Paul: If meate offēd my brother, I will eate no flesh, while the world standeth, that I may not offend my brother. What an offence or scandall is, the Apostle sheweth in the same chapter, viz. ver. 9 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 imbolde­ned 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, rec [...]iue 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 occa ion to be strengthened in their paganisme? sh [...]ll we by our corrupt p [...]actise 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, [...]ub after the com, sect 5. wheras Christ did by occasion, minister in vnleavēeed 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 p [...]t 3 a Setting vp of images in churches onely to be l [...]y mens bookes, is, by authoritie condem­ned,Levit: 19.14 because they are a [...] 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? [Page 25] 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: 10.27:28. but at a priuate table where no weake ones were, in the Apostles time: yet how doth the [...]ings 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? Suerly it must be in the [Page 26] former, or els the latter cannot be, For by scandalizing a weake brother perisheth.1. Cor 8.11. Numb: 35 3 [...] 2 Sam, 11:15 16, 17. Of whose bloud, the scandalizer is guiltie, as Ioab was of Vriahs bloud, 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 [...]ikely, 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 retaine 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 chusing 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 gre [...] ­vously to sinne, and kneeling be a shew of the greatest evils, and withall the greatest [Page 29] scandall. And (13) If it be a begging of the question to affirme, kneeling to be in­different, & the Kings commaundement (so called) doth rather increase, thā lesson scandall by kneeling, It may be averred, that kne [...]ling in the very acte of Taking, eating, and drinking the sacramentall bread & wine, in the holy communi­on, cannot be without sinne.