attendants were fed Mal. 1. 7 Ye offer polluted bread upon mine Altar Ans We have now no altar but Christ and no sacrifices but Spiritual therefore the Altar for sacrifice is no pattern to us under the Gospel 2ly The Altar of Old was for offerings to God the Lords Table is God's offering meat to us I hope the Author is not of that mind that we offer up Christ again as a sacrifice in the Sacrament so that there is nothing here for the kneeling required But I might add 3ly That any Reader may be surprized to find the Author quoting Scripture for this kneeling seing he will not assert that the Scriptures requireth kneeling at the Lords Supper 2 On this account the Israelites came to the Altar and worshiped before it as being Gods Table for which he quoteth 2 Chron. 6. 12. And he stood before the Altar of the Lord The Author writeth no more of this Verse but passeth to the next where he findeth kneeling I shall therefore set down the whole two Verses as they are Dictated by God and he stood before the Altar of the Lord in the presence of all the Congregation of Israel and spread forth his hands Verse 13. for Solomon made a brasen Scaffold of five cubits long and five cubits broad and three cubits high and had set it in the midst of the Court and upon it he stood and kneeled down upon his knees before all the Congregation of Israel and spread forth his hands towards Heaven The Reader may now observe that Solomon stood before the Altar but it 's not said that he kneeled down before the Altar 2. That the Scaffold whereon he stood was in the midst of the Court and therefore not so framed as to be nearest unto the Altar 3. That he spread forth his hands to Heaven and therefore directed no worship toward the Altar but to the God of Heaven It 's said he kneeled before all the Congregation of Israel Yet he did not worship them and no more is said 1 King 8. 54. The Altat was before him when he was kneeling but he kneeled not to the Altar therefore his worship being neither directed to Altar nor Congregation tho' before them both but worshiping the God of Heaven and earth he kneeled and spread forth his hands to God in that praying posture of kneeling for the spreading of his hands and kneeling was to one and the same object Another Scripture quoted by the Author is 2 King 18. 22. Ye shall worship before this Altar in Jerusalem Ans The Author should have been so just to his Reader as let him know who spake these words for they are not the words of God neither Hezekiah himself nor any inspired man of God ever uttered them and yet Page 127. It 's reiterated with confidence as God commanded them to do 2 King 18. 22. shall the words of an ignorant blaspheming Athiest be called the commands of God who as our commentators well observe knew not what he said can the Author have a quiet Conscience to allow the world to take this for the command of God which hath no authority but the rambling invective of a cheating Railer I need say no more of this it speaketh too much of it self 3ly The Communion Table is called the Lords Table 1 Cor 10. 21. Ans Quid sequitur The Author quoteth this Scripture and saith not one word more of it but leaveth his Reader to guess and so shall I too but that which is in the Text maketh against the Author the Lords Table being no Altar for Sacrifices to God 4ly Page 119. The Israelites partaking of the Altar is proposed as an Example for our partaking of the Lords Table 1 Cor. 10. 16. The Cup of blessing which we bless is it not the Communion of the blood of Christ The bread which we break is it not the Communion of the Body of Christ Verse 18. Behold Israel after the flesh are not they which eat of the Sacrifices partakers of the Altar Ans All being yeilded that is found in these Verses no gain to the Author emergeth such as Sacrificed did partake of the Altar what then we have no word of authority to Eat at the Lords Table because Sacrificers of Old did partake of the Sacrifices we have Christ's Command to eat at his Table but 2. It had been necessary to consider the Scop and sense of the Text for the Apostle is warning the people of God to â—ee from Idolatry Verse 14. Wherefore dearly beloved flee from Idolatry and not to partake of Sacrifices offered to idols for these who eat and partake of these Sacrifices offered to Idols do declare their regard to that Altar and profession unto which these Sacrifices belong therefore these who eat of these Sacrifices are said to partake of that Altar and the Apostle fully clearing the sense of his own words addeth Verse 20. The things which the Gentiles sacrifice they sacrifice to Devils and not to God and then Verse 21. Ye cannot drink the Cup of the Lord and the cup of Devils ye cannot be partakers of the Lords Table and of the Table of Devils the sense then is plain as the Israelites of Old eating of the sacrifices commanded of God did thereby declare their adherence to the True God and his Altar so these who eat of the sacrifices offered to Idols and Devils do in so far abandon the profession of Christianity and betake themselves to an idolatrous Altar and profession let the Author cast up our Commentators and he will see what is now said besides that the Text of it self makes it plain And again I say however it be taken there is nothing in it for the Author's purpose of worshiping before the Altar so that I am surprized to see it adduced for that end 5. In allusion to this religious Eating with bodily worship it is prophesied of our Saviour Psal 22 29. all they that be fat upon earth and Verse 26 The meek shall eat and worship since then Scripture sets forth to us religious Eating at the Lords Table with worship and the Holy Communion is such an Eating at his Table it follows that the Scripture warrands our worshiping when we eat Ans This is a prophesie of the conversion of Heathens as appeareth Verse 27. all the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the Lord and all the kindreds of the Nations shall worship before thee Let the Reader remark that the worship is to be performed to God neither before Altar nor Table but they shall worship before thee the eating here spoken of is partaking of Christs benefits and being turned to the Lord they shall worship him but that it shall be either before Altar or Table is manifest adding to the Text so this argument faileth also tho' the Author sayeth that the Scripture sets forth to us a religious eating at the Lords Table with worship for which he hath brought no proof nor never will Page 120. We
House and this being religious Worship let the Author consider how this practice can be reconciled to the second Command Page 116. Vncovering the Head is a common work of respect and then followeth a digression concerning covering the Head which is not material to the purpose in hand But Page 117. However being an honour payed to men there is no reason why it should not be payed to God Ans Custom having prevailed among us to make uncovering the Head a sign of Deference and conferring honour on others is therefore practiced by us in acts of religious Worship as Prayer Praises and hearing the immediat Words of God read as a part of his Worship but this is no argument to uncover the Head to any Creature when thereby religious reverence and worship is designed but at length other pillars failing as not able to bear up the honour conferred on Churches the Author hath recourse to his rich Magazine where there is no want And it is one of the Articles of our Church that the Church has power to order Rites and Ceremonies that is to determine what particular things comes under the Apostles general word of Decency Ans Here it s to be observed that the Author is defending religious bowing when they enter the Church which is worship and for proof of its lawfulness fairly maketh this his Argument Our Church has power to order Rites and Ceremonies it followeth then that by this power the church may appoint new worship the inference is native seing according to the author it s therfor lawfull to bow the head religiously because the church hath this power I desire he would review his first preliminarie position that it belongs to God only to give rites how he will be worshiped how can these two stand it belongeth to God only and yet the church hath the power to institute new worship If the Church hath such power it were a most necessary service and justice to the World to discover and make once that commission appear whereby the Church is invested with this power and if no man can make it appear why is such a power assumed That the Church hath power to order external circumstances necessarly belonging to the Worship of God and determinable by the prudent use of natures light and the general rules of Scripture is readily yielded but what is this to a power of prescribing worship which God hath not prescribed as to bow the head religiously unto or before any creature as sharer in the worship here the Author overstretcheth the article Page 118. We stand at our praisings thanksgivings c. at our confessions of sin and at our prayers we present our selves before God on our knees Ans That there ought to be signs of religious reverence in all acts of immediat commanded worship we are agreed but there appeareth no reason why the Author should make such a difference between confession of sin and prayers for confession of sin and thanksgivings are performed in prayer and for confessions of Faith I demand by what rule they are made any part of worship except as they may be comprehended under the heads of Prayer or Praises As for kneeling in the time of Prayer which I know is most noticed let the reader understand that we are far from offending at the kneeling of others in publick assemblies but standing is also a warrantable praying posture which is our practice and in numerous Congregations such as by the Lords Mercy we have conveniency for kneeling cannot be had without forcing many of the Congregation to such a distance as they could not hear the Prayers which in their hearts they should offer up to God Ibid The Author asserteth another sort of kneeling than kneeling in prayer viz. a kneeling before the Elements of Bread and Wine in the Lords Supper We celebrat the Holy Sacrament of the Body and Bloud of Christ in a worshiping posture I know that many except against this Ans Many do except against it and of all the Arguments you have mustered not one of them passeth muster and no wonder others make exception seing your self makes the first exception before ever you bring them to the field as by your appended marginal Not appeareth saying the Authors intention is not to assert that the Scriptures require kneeling at the Lords Supper I see a bad cause will sometimes make the courage of a Champion to faint If the Scripture require not kneelling at the Lords Supper with what confidence can any man require it why are we charged as deficient seing the Scripture doth not require To what purpose did the Author write these words in his Preliminaries That the holy Scriptures contain the revelations of Gods will concerning his worship and yet by the Author the Holy Scriptures contain not this kneeling as any Revelation of his will it followeth undenyably therefore kneeling at the Lords Table is no Revelation of Gods will if this conclusion be displeasing blame the Authors two propositions his marginal Note that can admit of no other conclusion and thus he yieldeth the Cause leaving kneeling before the Elements of Bread and Wine deprived of any Revelation of Gods will let him advise us now what name we shall give it the Authors own words constraineth me to place it among the meer unwarrantable Inventions of men But the Author will not yet let it pass therefore addeth in his marginal Note but to shew that it is not contrary to the institution of Christ or practice of the Apostles who compare our receiving it with the Jews partaking of their Altar to which they approached with adoration Ans We shall have the Author answering himself in this also by his first Position Page 3d That it belongeth only to God to give Rules how he will be worshipped For if it belong to God only then there is no place left for mans prescribing of Worship whether the worship prescribed be contrary or not contrary yet it s an encroachment on Gods peculiar Prerogative to prescribe his own worship 2ly We find the Lord charging guilt on this account because he did not command Jer. 7. 31. They have built the high places of Tophet c. which I commanded them not neither came it into my heart Their wicked practices of burning their Sons and their Daughters in the fire was contrary to Gods Law yet the way that God taketh to express their guilt is because God had not commanded it So Jer. 14. 14 and 19. 5. and 23. 32. which the Reader may peruse and shall find in all these places the displeasure of God discovered because they acted without his command so that the Author's endeavours to make it appear that kneeling at the Lords Table is not contrary to the Institution of Christ will not deliver it from the reflection of being a meer invention of man However the Author essayeth what the Scriptures will do for him First The altar was of Old the Lords Table from whence his
are commanded in Scripture to receive the holy Eucharist in remembrance of Christs Death c. the same Scriptures command us to worship our Saviour Psal 45. 11. for he is thy Lord and worship thou him Ans We are commanded to worship Christ therefore we are oblidged to worship him as represented by the Elements of bread and wine where is the consequence worshiping of Christ is not the dispute but to worship him before these consecrated signes of his body and blood set before us designedly to worship Christ by them there are many ways of worshiping Christ tho' not by such representations This consideration prevailed with the protestant Church of Poland to oblidge all their members to receive kneeling or standing Ans We will give them all due deference that is as far as they are followers of Christ and the Apostles sought no more and that Synod shall get no more Page 122. We are commanded to do what Christ did and he Instituted and his Disciples received it in a Table posture and therefore so ought we This is the Author's objection against himself He answers that we are not required nor is it convenient to imitate all that Christ did Ans How is it then that our Author Page 107. Sayeth our Saviour undoubtedly is the best example we can propose to our selves for the worship of God and we ought to imitate what he did and approved What hath made his example so bad in the Sacrament seing he sayeth it 's undoubtedly the best There is nothing to obstruct our imitation in this tho' some of Christs practices are unimitable by us and it were not only inconvenient as the Author Termeth it but blasphemous to attempt an Imitation but no such thing appeareth by his sitting at a Table and feasting his Friends therefore there being no reason against the Imitation his example is a most safe rule for us considering 2ly That this our Saviours sitting at Table was not accidental or fortuitous but of choice by him who is the wisdom of the Father 3ly And that this posture of sitting was in it self most suitable to a comfortable communion and Feast seing Christ hath determined to dignifie them with a Feast of Love in his own presence before his departure But our Author must needs have a better posture than by Christs example Page 123. The Apostle Paul having occasion to mention what he had received of the Lord mentions only our Saviours taking bread giving thanks c. Without the circumstances of the number of receivers his posture c. Ans It 's not safe to Excogitata difference between the master and his faithful servant in Spiritual Institutions as if the master were for sitting and the servant for another posture but 2ly Try if you can make it appear that ever the apostle Paul did prescribe or practise another posture at the Lords Table than sitting 3ly The Evangelists having so fully asserted this posture of sitting there was no need nor occasion for the Apostles mentioning of it and all these records of the Evangelists were by the command of Christ and inspired by his Spirit this is new and dangerous Divinity that tho' Christ caused record a practice for the Instruction of his followers yet if an Apostle record not the same thing without need what Christ hath inspired his pen-men to write formerly shall be of no value Page 124. It 's certain our Saviour did not sit but lay at Table Ans The Author sayes it's certain he did ly but giveth no reason whereby his Reader may be certain also I have better authority to assert his sitting than he hath for lying not only all our Translations have it sitting whose authority and understanding the Original will be thought as good as some other mens but our best Greek Lexicons and Arias Montan translate the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 discumbere accumbere to sit not to ly all that can be said is that the Jews used to lean on the Table with their left Elbow which cannot be called lying and however it was their table posture which sufficeth us Aquinas giveth account of a common Verse long before his time Rex sedet in caena turba cinctus duo dena Page 124. We have this further to say for our practice that our Saviour was not at a common Supper when he instituted this Sacrament but at the passover Ans It 's hard to Divine for what end the Author bringeth this in for I can perceive no colour of an argument only to acquite us that Christ was not at a common Supper but it 's yet sub judice not determined whether there was any common supper that night besides both the passover and the Lords Supper Many able Divines affirming there was and many denying and so it is safest to leave it altiori indagationi neither doth the purpose in hand depend on it's determination as for Luke 22. 20. The Author doubtless knoweth that the matter of that Verse is not placed as both the other Evangelists Matthew and Mark have it nor doth he infer any thing from it argumentative Page 125. But 4ly The full answer to the argument is that it goes on a false supposition that our Saviour instituted this Sacrament in the common posture of eating which no wise appears in Scripture neither can it be inferred from any thing said or intimated by the Evangelists or St. Paul but rather the contrary Ans How full or sound it is will soon appear if we consider First that the Evangelist Matthew remarketh their sitting down Matth. 26. 20. Now when the even was come he sat down with the twelve and Verse 16. as they were eating Jesus took bread and blessed it c. so mark 14. 18. and as they sat and did eat Jesus said verily I say unto you one of you which eateth with me shall betray me and Verse 22. and as they did eat Jesus took bread and blessed and brake it so Luk. 22. 14. and when the hour was come he sat down and the twelve apostles with him and Verse 19. and he took bread and gave thanks and brake it so Joh. 13. 12. after he had washed their feet and had taken his garments and was set down again after this the apostles are sitting with him at Table Verse 23. Now there was leaning on Jesus bosome on of his disciples c. Here it 's to be observed that all the four Evangelists make mention of their sitting at Table with Christ and that it 's expresly said by two of them as they did eat he took bread and blessed it all which maketh it most evident that they were in a sitting posture at Table when this Sacrament was instituted and celebrated But the Author objecteth how could they be eating when Christ was blessing Ans The plain words of the Text cannot be questioned without a profane contempt of Scripture it 's not warrantable then to toss It as a disputable problem whether he took bread as they