mystery which the Angels desire to look into and so it answers to the Oracle It is the pledge of our peace * 1 Cor. 2.16 1 Pet. 1.12 the word of Reconciliation and so answers to the mercy-Seat It is the Magazin and Armory whence we are furnished with arms and strength for our Christian warfare It puts upon us the whole Armour of God the Shield of faith the breast-plate of righteousness the Helmet of salvation This was the Israelites Palladium and Sanctuary It divided the waters of Jordan demolished the Walls of Jericho prostrated Dagon and redeemed it self out of captivity when the wicked Israelites had exposed it to the scorn and triumphs of the uncircumcised representing hereby the Majesty of the Holy Gospel which is the power of God unto salvation pulling down strong holds drying up the inundations of sin and misery which stand in our way to Heaven prompting and pressing and inabling us to work out our own salvation In a word it did not signifie less and it could not well signifie more then God did really exhibit by it It hallowed every place where it stood and blessed every person that was qualified to receive a blessing from it This makes David so enamour'd of it and all his subjects so ready to conduct it So they brought the Ark c. In this Transportation or Conduct of the Ark we have two things to be inquired after 1. Who they were that did conduct it 2. How or after what manner they did conduct it 1. Who they were The Text saith That David gathered all Israel together to Jerusalem to bring up the Ark of the Lord unto his place which he had prepared for it 1 Chron 15.3 4 5. And David assembled the children of Aaron and the Levites So David and the Elders of Israel and the Captains over thousands went to bring up the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord. Where we are to consider 1. By whose Authority and example it was Transported By David the King's 2. Under whose Inspection and Ministry The Priests and Levites 3. With what Train and Attendants Here were the Elders and the Captains over thousands and all their Companies for there were Thirty thousand chosen men of Israel 2 Sam. 6 1. when the Ark was to be Carted to the City of David and sure there were as many now 1. By whose Authority and Example the Ark was Conducted or Translated I. The King The people might not do it of their own head no nor yet the Elders they had no Warrant for it It was done by David's by the Kings Authority and Example It was observed by the Philosopher that the King ought to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Supreme Governour of things that pertain to divine Worship The Model of this Ark was at first given by God to Moses it was his Concern to see it made being the Supreme Governour and David's to see it kept The highest Honour the Royal Office entitles Princes to is to be Defenders of the Faith Indeed Princes may do much to the advantage of Religion as well by the encouragement of their Example as by their Authority and it is their interest to do their uttermost for 1. Sam. 2. Those that honour me will I honour saith the Lord And it is said of Lycurgus that he commanded nothing in his Laws that he did not confirm by his example and of Agesilaus it is said that he first of all performed that himself which he did injoin to others and David will not only make one but lead the Dance in this holy Solemnity and invite others by the force of his example I will bless the Lord at all times His praise shall continually be in my mouth Psal 34.1 2 3. My soul shall make her boast of the Lord The humble shall hear thereof and be glad O magnifie the Lord with me and let us exalt his name together When such eminent persons shall advance the Standard of Piety Ecclus. 10.2 a plentiful train will follow As the Judge of the people is himself so are his Officers and what manner of man the Ruler of the City is such are all they that dwell therein But the ill president findes most followers men learn soonest to write after a foul Copy Good examples for the most part gain more reverence then imitation It is not enough therefore for a Prince to commend Piety by his Example old Eli did so much He must Imprint it by the Royal Stamp of his Authority And to go regularly to work he must in the first place exercise his Authority in setling the Hierarchy of the Church under whose inspection and Ministry the Ark is to be conducted and thus did David 1 Chron. 15.11 12. And David called for Zadok and Abiathar the Priests and for the Levites for Uriel Asaiah and Joel Shemaiah and Eliel and Aminadab And said unto them Ye are the chief of the Fathers of the Levites sanctifie your selves both ye and your brethren that ye may bring up the Ark of the Lord God of Israel unto the place that I have prepared for it II. The Hierarchy of Priests and Levites This was the Hierarchy under whose Inspection and Ministry the service of the Ark was to be accomplished wherein three things are considerable 1. Their Consecration and Sanctity 2. Their Subordination and Inequality 3. Their Regulation and Conformity 1. Of their Consecration and Sanctity It was not enough for them to be of the Tribe of Levi though God had taken that Tribe instead of the first-born * Numb 3.6 with 12. of every Family to minister unto him there was a solemn separation of their persons to the sacred Office They were to be solemnly Anointed Consecrated and Hallowed to minister in the Priests Office a Exod. 19.1 Numb 3.3 and the Levites were to be cleansed solemnly dedicated before the Lord that they might execute the service of the Lord b Numb 8.3 11. and this was required indispensably under pain of death c Numb 3.10 And besides this Consecration of their persons there was a prefatory sanctifying by way of preparation unto the address before they did officiate 1 Chron. 15.14 So the Priests and Levites sanctified themselves to bring up the Ark of the Lord God of Israel 2. For their Subordination and Inequality this commenced with the Ark it self by Gods own immediate Order Aaron as a Type of Christ was head of all but Eleazar and Ithamar no such Types to be sure in Aarons life time though under him had very large jurisdictions all the Levites were under their inspection and command Numb 3.4 Besides the family of Aaron there were the Families of Cohath Gershon and Merari Of Cohath there were four Families and each family had its Chief or Ruler and over all these was Elizaphan d Numb 3.30 Of Gershon there were two families and each of them had its head and over both these was
for that Ministry And well might they undertake it for the Ark of God was not like the Idols of Egypt a burden to the weary Beast †Isa 46.1 it did not oppress or wring the Priests shoulders for the Text saith The Lord helped them to bear it 1 Chron. 15.26 Such is Gods goodness if we will but seriously endeavour it we cannot want a sufficient assistance to perform our expeâ—ted duty Thus you see with what Carriage or Instruments the Ark was transported But 2. With what pomp and solemnity and of this we may observe that it was very great but withal very pious very decent very delightful and very cordial 1. A pious solemnity It began with an accustomed Form of Prayer for so Moses had taught them when the Ark advanced to say * Num. 10 3â— Rise Lord and let thine enemies be scattered To their Prayers they added Sacrifice Psal 68.1 2. 1 Chron. 15.26 A Sacrifice of thanksgiving that God did vouchsafe not only to spare the Levites whereas he had smitten Uzzah but also to assist them in their Ministry and that their devotions might be the more rational they make them intelligible by a Psalm of praise newly penn'd on purpose to adorn the pomp of this solemnity 1 Chron. 16.7 c. 2. It was a decent Solemnity 1 Chron. 15.27 for David was clothed with a robe of fine linen and all the Levites that bare the Ark and the Singers and Chenaniah the Master of the Song with the Singers David also had upon him an Ephod of linen See Eng. Annor on Judg. 8.27 1 Sam. 2.18 on 2 Sam. 6.14 The Ephod was an habit appropriated to Gods Service And there were two sorts of them one very rich and costly peculiar to the High-Priest made of blew purple scarlet and twined linen cunningly wrought and embroidered with gold of which Exod. 28.4 6. the other was a vestment of linen for Priests and Levites which others might freely use also though we finde it no where prescribed to them and such a one David used at this time say the English Annotators not only as being more light and fit for motion on 2 Sam. 6.14 but also to shew his devotion in his religious Service Here was decency and a signification of devotion in the use of this garment I pray observe and carry that home with you and hereupon the Votaries of the Lamb of God are represented to St John See Dr. Ham. Notes upon Rev. 19.8 as celebrating the solemn Service of God in the Christian Church in this habit Revel 19. 3. It was a delightful Solemnity For There was shouting and the sound of the Cornet and Trumpets and Cymbals making a noise with Psalteries and Harps 1 Chron. 15.28 God requires that his people should serve him with joy and gladness * Deut. 28.47 and as well to blow up and inflame that sacred fire as to entertain and discover it he allows the use of these bellows Musical Instruments as well as Voices When our melody is spiritual and does not degenerate into carnality and looseness when the Holy Ghost is the Master of the Musick it is so great an advantage to our devotions that we are exhorted even under the New Testament John 4. where all the Worship of God is to be performed in Spirit and in Truth even here under the dispensation of the Gospel we are exhorted to use it to raise up our devotions to the edification of our selves and others Eph. 5.18 19. Col. 3.16 Be not drunk with wine wherein is excess but be filled with the Spirit speaking to your selves and admonishing others in Psalms and Hymns and spiritual Songs singing with your voice and making melody with musical instruments with grace in your hearts unto the Lord. And accordingly 4. This was a cordial Solemnity There are a sort of men in the world so rash so uncharitable so censorious that they condemn all the Service that is performed to Almighty God with pomp and ceremony or any shew of solemnity as meerly formal and hypocritical Let the practice of David upon this occasion confute their vain and false imaginations It is a contradiction to say the more there is of delight the less there is of the soul in any service David perform'd this duty not only with joy and gladness * 1 Chron. 15.25 2 Sam. 6.12 but with all his might and the holy extasies of his soul caused a religious transportation and rapture in his body in these exercises for he danced before the Lord with all his might †2 Sam. 6.14 When his heart danced so for joy his body could not chuse but sympathizâ— in the passion and dance in grave and comely measuâ—es with it My heart and my flesh cryeth out for the living God Psal 84.2 When I went with the multitude into the house of God I poured out my soul in me saith he Psal 42.4 i. e. I emptied my self of all earthly and carnal delights Bellar. ad haec verba Psalmi that I might be filled with the pleasures of Gods house I expatiated and enlarged my desires and faculties that I might be capable to receive the influences of so great a blessing His body was in the dance with the decency of an Ephod but his very heart and soul were in the joy of this holy procession so cordial and so delightful so decent and so pious was this Solemnity And thus we have done with the first general part of the Text the Transportation or Conduct of the Ark So they brought the Ark of God We come now to the second 2. The scituation of it And they set it in the Tent that David had pitched for it This was in the City of David a part of Jerusalem 2 Sam. 6.12 where the Court was kept David knew there was need of a sovereign Amulet against those temptations that do usually â—aunt and follow greatness The splendour of a Court might possibly dazzle his eyes and make him forget his duty 't is good therefore to have the light thereof eclipsed by the greater splendour of a divine Majesty The bands of Religion may be drawn so close and tyed so fast about his soul upon the frequent sight of such a sacred Shrine as the Ark was that nothing could easily puff it up or make his spirits flye out into dissolution The sight of this was apt to strike the heart with awe and reverence 2. But besides David was certainly inform'd that the presence of the Ark had brought signal blessings evidences of Gods favour upon the Family of Obed-Edom and why should not he endeavour to share in the benefit who had at least as good a Title as Obed-Edom to the Ark it self 1 Cor. 12.31 To covet the best gifts and that earnestly is a very commendable part of our duty To hunger and thirst after righteousness after spiritual blessings is a holy thirst and hunger To be ambitious to
perform'd before the Ark of God that is our Second Caveat 3. You must not invade and prophane the Ark God would not allow that any person should Minister about the Ark but such as were of the Tribe of Levi and duly ordained and ballowed for that service Every man might expect a blessing from the Ark but every man might not officiate about it at his own pleasure the highest Gifts gave him no Commission procured him no Authority for this work without a special Consecration for no man taketh this honour unto himself Heb. 5.4 but he that is called of God as was Aaron without this warrant the greatest Zeal though directed by an eminent degree of knowledge in the management of this sacred Function had been no better then a Sacrilegious prophanation When the Oxen stumbled and shook the Ark UZzah put forth his hand out of devotion without all peradventure to uphold it that it might not be overthrown but his good meaning would not excuse his rashness for whether his hand and shoulder withered or he were struck suddenly with a thunder-bolt I shall not take upon me to determine but this I am assured of upon the Credit and Authoriâ—y of the holy Story thaâ— the anger of the Lord was kindled against UZZah and God smote him there for his errour and there he died by the Ark of God 2 Sam. 6.6 7. Eli trembled for fear of the Ark. Shall I give you Mr. Calamy's Application of this accident We have had great disorder heretofore saith he and God is now punishing us for that disorder there were abundance of well-meaning men that usurping the Ministerial Office and forsooth they were afraid the Ark was falling and they laid to their shoulders but their touching the Ark undid the Ark and themselves too and brought a scandal on the Gospel This is Mr. Calamy's Application But if we examine the matter thorowly we shall find him with many others that inveighed fiercely against such as usurped the Ministerial Office involved in the same guilt with UZZah and consequently they fall under the same condemnation For what was Uzzah's crime Oz a percussus est quòd attigisset arcam Domini Id enim ne Levitis quidem fas erat Arcam enim ab illis tantùm gestari non contingi aut spectari oportuit saith Peter Martyr Uzzah was smitten In 2 Sam. 6.6 7 8. because he touch'd the Ark of God for the Levite's Office was to carry the Ark but they were under a severe prohibition neither to touch it not to look into it for so the Lord had ordained Numb 4.15 When Aaron and his Sons have made an end of covering the Sanctuary and all the vessels of the Sanctuary as the Camp is to set forward after that the Sons of Kohath shall come to bear it but they shall not touch any holy thing lest they die and Ver. 20. They shall not go in to see when the holy things are covered lest they die But it might have been alledged on the behâ—lf of Uzzah that what he did was upon an extraordinary occasion in a case of necessity and out of zeal to save the Ark from falling Ibid. but as Peter Martyr hath very well observed his touching the Ark is assigned by many as the cause why he was so suddenly smitten Sed erat alia causa prior major quòd ille arcam imposuisset in currum dedisset causam huic necessitati But there was another a former and a greater cause for it his putting the Ark upon a Cart and so betraying it to that danger and necessity So the English Annotations The anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah because he had caused his holy Ark to be carried in a Cart which they should have born on their shoulders and for touching it with his hand being but a Levite and no Priest On 2 Sam. 6.7 The Levites might not be their own Carvers in the holy function might not invade what part of it they had a fancy to no Aaron and his sons shall go in and appoint them every one to his service and to his burden †Numb 4.19 If they had an ambition to usurp any other part of the sacred Office that was not so assigned them by their Superiours though they did create a present necessity for it yet that necessity of their own making could not justifie them in such their Sacrilegious Usurpation And this is directly the Case of the Presbyterians It was their duty we confess to bear the Ark of God to Minister unto it in some parts of the sacred Office such as were assigned them by their Superiours but they could not keep their hands off the Ark their ambition spur'd them on to Usurp other parts of that Office to lay on hands for the Ordination of others lest forsooth the Ark of Gods worship should fall to the ground for lack of a Ministry to attend it which they had no Commission for no Warrant at all but a pretended necessity of their own making by pulling down Aaron and his Sons the holy Order of Bishops who alone were invested with that power So that these Presbyterians have followed Uzzah in the imitation of his errour and temerity and hath not a suitable judgment overtaken them a punishment Analogical to that of Uzzah are not those hands that were stretched out without any Authority to perform this Office are they not withered hath not the anger of the Lord as Mr. Calamy in part confesseth smitten them for this Sacrilegious Usurpation we see they are dead before the Ark in this capacity and therefore you must not invade and profane the Ark that is the third Caveat 4. You must not slander and belie the Ark. There are and have been in all Ages false Prophets who have suggested their own Dreams Fancies and Designs for the Oracles of God The Prophets Prophesie lies in my name as the Lord himself complains by the Prophet Jeremy Chap. 14.14 I sent them not neither have I commanded them neither spake I unto them they prophesie unto you a false vision and divination and a thing of nought and the deceit of their heart Jâ—r 14.14 and Chap. 23 16 17. Thus saith the Lord of Hosts hearken noâ— unto thâ— words of the Prophets that prophesiâ— unto you they make you vain they speak a vision of their own heart and not ouâ— of the mouth of the Lord they say still unto them that despise me the Lord hath said ye shall have peace and they say unto every one that walketh after the stubbornness of his own heart No evil shall come upon you And hath not the lying spirit given out his Oracles by the mouths of a multitude of such Prophets amongst us in these times of our distraction One of them gâ—ve out this for an Oracle * Mr. John Goodwin's Anti-Caval See Dr. Ham. of Resisting the lawful Magistrate c. pag. 22. c. about 18 or
the Ark. 6. The sixth and last Caveat is you must not rifle and plunder the Ark. The Apostle tells us Heb. 9.4 That with the Ark there were not only the Tables of the Covenant but also the golden pot that had Manna and Aarons rod that budded The Tables of the Law are of indispensable necessity to salvation for the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him to such as keep his Covenant and think upon his Commandments to do them Psal 103.17 18. And Aarons Rod is requisite to excite and quicken the Pot of Manna to strengthen and encourage unto the duty There is a mixture of severity and sweetness Lib. 2. pastoral Cressol Anthol Dec. 2.161 as Gregory hath observed Rigor disciplinae dulcedo humanitatis quae sacrosanctas legum Tabulas custodiunt There must be Discipline and there must be Sacraments else the Law cannot be observed The one to awe the other to enable us to that observation All the Service performed before the Ark under the Law was not Typical though the Sacrifices of fowls and beasts be out of date and abolishâ—d yet the Sacrifice of hearts and souls is in force still There was incense to be offered and God was to be solemnly thank'd and praised Morning and Evening * 1 Chron. 23.30 and this continues still though the other be extinguished Nay as they had their Sacrifice prefigurative to protest their hâ—mage and devotion to awaken their repentance upon a suggestion of their guilt and their demerits and to excite their faith to lay hold upon the passion and death of Christ to come for their expiation and atonement so we have our Sacrifice representative to protest our devotion to awaken our repentance and to excite our Faith to lay hold upon the Passion and Death of Christ already past Mal. 1.11 See Mr. Meade upon this Text and the Ancient Fathers by him cited For from the rising of the Sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles and in every place Incense shall be offered unto my name and a pure offering For my name shall be great among the Heathen saith the Lord of Hosts This is that solemn Commemorative Oblation of the Sacrifice of the Cross with our Adorations Laudes and Prayers in that Sacramental Eucharist of Christs own Institution Christ is given us in pretium saith that Learned Bishop * Bishop Andrews Ser. 2. of the Nativity for a price a price either of ransome to bring out de loco caliginoso or a price of purchase of that where without it we have no interest the Kingdom of Heaven For both he is given non habentes oblationem majorem neque puriorem quae Deo posset offerri quà m Eucharistiam eam in omni offerunt loco Dignam planè Deo oblationem cujus respectu jam holocaustae bostiae omnes antiquae Deo non placent tantopere illa placet sc Eucharistia Paul de Palacio in Mal. 1.11 offer we him for both He was given us to that end we might give him back We wanted we had nothing valuable that we might have this he gave us as a thing of greatest price to offer for that which needeth a great price our sins so many in number and so foul in quality We had nothing worthy God This He gave us that is worthy him which cannot be but accepted offer we it never so often Let us then offer him and in the act of offering ask of him what is meet And a little after This his flesh he gave for us in sacrifice and this he giveth us in the Sacrament that the Sacrifice may by the Sacrament be truly applied to us What an irreligious what a scandalous neglect of the Ark of God in respect of this part of our Solemn worship hath been throughout this Kingdom I need not tell you you cannot but remember it But I wish there were and I pray God there may be such a sense of our miscarriages in these particulars as may produce a Salutary shame a Cordial and thorow humiliation There is nothing else can fit us for so lovely a prospect as is the external Beauty of Gods house and solemn worship To this purpose it is very remarkable what the Lord saith to the Prophet Ezekiel Chap. 43.10 11. Thou Son of man shew the house to the house of Israel that they may be ashamed of their iniquities and let them measure the pattern And if they be ashamed of all that they have done shew them the Form of the House and the fashion thereof and the goings out thereof and the comings in thereof and all the Forms thereof and all the Ordinances thereof and all the Forms thereof and all the Laws thereof and write it in their sight that they may keep the whole Form thereof and all the Ordinances thereof and do them And this will lead me to the last Stage of my Discourse which is the end of my Design viz. to give you some directions how you are to demean your selves in reference to the Ark of Gods solemn worship But these Directions should be usher'd in with a word or two of admonition to such as are in highest Authority over us 1. The First is To support and countenance the Hierarchy that Order of men who are set apart by a special act of Consecration to attend the service of the Ark the Ark of God cannot appear glorious under the Ministry of a contemptible Priesthood It is the Learning and Piety the Prudence and Gravity the Splendor and Authority of the Episcopal Order that must keep up the Ark in a steady posture amongst us Aspiring Novices will run it into bogs and precipices and leave it without a guard to be overlaid with Superstition or exposed to the rude hands of Sacriledge and Prophaness Where there is such a Hierarchy as keeps every one to his Station and Office there the people are instructed by the example of their regular subordination to keep their Order and Decorum and this is the Apostles Bulwark opposed to seduction Col. 2.5 and such as keep to it are impregnable For as that Reverend and Learned Bishop observes Bishop Daven ad Colos 2.5 Rarò in errores praecipitantur qui ordinem obedientiae Praepositis debitum observant è contrà ubi ordo praecipiendi parendi negligitur ibi tanquam per disjectam aciem facile perrumpitur They seldom fall into Errours that observe the order of obedience due unto their Prelates * Not one Ranter or Quaker or Anabaptist of all that adhere to the Bishop nor an Antitrinitarian c. but on the contrary where the order of commanding and obeying is neglected there the enemy easily breaks in as into a routed Army To this purpose we may observe that Holy Martyr St. Ignatius very full and pressing 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Be ye subject unto the Bishop as unto the Lord
For he watcheth for your souls as he that must give account Epist. ad Trallian And a little after 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It is necessary that you do nothing that you attempt nothing without the Bishop And a while after 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Reverence your Bishop even as Christ according to the precept of the blessed Apostles For he that is within the Altar within the communion of the Church is an intire pure Christian and for this cause obey your Bishop and the Priests But he that is not within this communion he that acts of his own head without the Bishop not in conformity with him and the Priests and Deacons is polluted in his Conscience and is worse then an Infidel * 1 Tim. 5.8 thus Ignatius The Hierarchy therefore of the Church is by all means to be kept up and all due veneration and obedience is to be paid to it But this belongs chiefly to the Higher Powers and yet something you may all do towards it It is Recorded that when Chrysostome was to be banished from Constantinople the people were so affected with him that they all went to the Emperour and Petitioned for Chrysostome professing they could no more miss Chrysostome then they could miss the Sun out of the Firmament and yet which I desire you to observe and carry home with you Chrysostome was not the peoples mercenary Curate or flattering Heb. 13.17 Lecturer but the Bishop of the Diocess and his See was Constantinople And I suppose this might be one reason why Mr. Calamy as he saith was so loth fully to tell that story But 2. There is a second Admonition directed to all that are concern'd herein to take care that this Hierarchy be really such as the name importeth A Holy Order or Governance Holy in their persons and conversation and holy in their ministration and address Lev. 10.3 God will be sanctified of all those that draw nigh unto him Be ye holy ye that bear the vessels of the Lord upon the bells of the horses Zach. 14.10 saith the Prophet shall be holiness to the Lord. But there must be holiness not upon Aarons Bells only in the purity of his Doctrine but the inscription upon his forehead must be so too Holiness to the Lord Psal 132.9 let the Priests be clothed with righteousness he must be white and pure in his conversation as well as in his vesture And 2. Because Sancta sanctè holy things must be performed after a holy manner therefore a special sanctification is requisite unto the address if a beast should rush in to the holy Mount Heb. 12.10 he should be transfixed with some dart or other for it hereupon the Psalmist I will wash my hands in innocency Psal 26.6 and so will I compass thy Altar O Lord. And now for Directions to the people All the mysteries of the Ark are comprehended and unfolded in the Festivals of the Church and such as do constantly frequent them can be ignorant of nothing that is necessary to their Salvation But your address must be duly qualified that it may find a gracious acceptation You must approach with Humility with Alacrity with Unanimity with Uniformity These four will make your approach welcome to the Ark or Ordinances of God 1. It must be with Humility and Reverence There are some that bear no more reverence to the Ark of Gods worship then if it were but an Ark of Bull-rushes But holinesse becometh thy house for ever saith the Prophet Ye shall observe my Sabbaths and reverence my Sanctuary I am the Lord Lev. 19.31 God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the Saints and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him Psal 89.7 Psal 89.7 and Psal 68. O God thou art terrible out of thy holy places Psal 68. ult c. therefore serve the Lord with fear and rejoyce before him with trembling Psal 2. We will go into his Tabernacles we will worship at his footstool Psal 132.7 and Psal 99.5 Exalt ye the Lord our God and worship at his footstool Psal 132.7 And as that expression had reference to the Ark then * See Josh 7.6 so hath it to the holy Sacrament now as we are taught by St Ambrose a De Spir. Sancto l. 3. c. 12. and St Austin Per scabellum terra intelligitur per terram autem caro Christi quam hodie quoque in mysteriis adoramus By footstool we are to understand the earth and by the earth the flesh of Christ which at this very day we adore in the sacred mysteries And St Austin b In Psal 98. to the same purpose Quaero quid sit scabellum pedumejus dicit mihi Scriptura terra scabellum pedum meorum not to do it at his name nay at the holy Mysteries c. Bishop Andr. Serm. 9. of the Resur Fluctuans converto me ad Christum quiaipsum quaero hic invenio quomodo sine impietate a loretur terra sine impietate adoretur scabellum pedum ejus Suscepit enim de terra terram quia caro de terra est de carne Mariae carnem accepit Et quia in ipsa carne hic ambulavit ipsam carnem nobis manducandam ad salutem dedis NEMO AUTEM ILLAM CARNEM MANDUC AT NISI PRIUS ADORAVERIT inventum est quemadmodum adoretur tale scabellum pedum Domini non solum NON PECCEMUS ADORANDO sed PECCEMUS NON ADORANDO I demand what is his footstool and God in the holy Scripture tells me the earth is my footstool But being in some fluctuation and doubtfulness I turn me unto Christ for him I am to seek here and in him I find how the earth may be adored without any impiety how without any impiety I may adore his footstool For he took earth from the earth for flesh is of the earth and of the flesh of the blessed Virgin Mary he took flesh And because in that flesh he conversed here amongst us and gave that flesh to us to eat for our salvation AND NO MAN EATETH THAT FLESH UNLESSE HE HATH FIRST ADORED We have here found how such a footstool of the Lord may be adored and we should not only NOT SIN IN A DORING but WE SHOULD SIN certainly IN NOT ADORING Thus St Augustine And above all others the Apostle expecteth that this service should be worthily perfomed 1 Cor. 11. otherwise sad effects did many times follow for whosoever shall eat this bread and drink this cup of the Lord unworthily shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord Ver. 27. He eateth and drinketh damnation to himself not discerning the Lords body Ver. 29. and for this cause saith the Apostle many are weak and sickly among you and many sleep that is they are struck dead Ver. 30. It is considerable in the Bethshemites they took notice that the Ark of God had been in Captivity