Christ cā be let in It is but folly to professe thy faith in him and hast not repented of that I speak not of their order which of these is first but of their inseparation All therefore who haue not this spirituall hunger and see not in the elementall and ceremoniall signes this holy union haue some invisible Idoll in them even some secret corruption or bosome sin which lies lurking in the heart the custome or continuall fume whereof hath so darkned the sight and flattered the taste of the soule as it cannot discern or iudge truly in this controversie but esteemes of one gesture as good as another that which Antichrist devised as that which Christ approued hallowed As Gods worship even for the substance of it is partly inward and partly outward so this sacrament being a speciall part of his worship is of the same nature The inward substance is the spirituall things signified the outward substance or essence is the visible signes signifying or having relation to those spirituall things signified Now whatsoever in Gods worship is conformed unto as having relation to these spirituall things signified whether it be purity or holinesse of life or humility devotion or whatsoever must of necessity be cōfessed to be in the acceptation of these that so use it a part of Gods outward worship which consists of outward and visible things as actions gestures and ceremonies signifying and having reference unto some invisible thing signified True indeed every thing used in the worship of God is not I confesse of this nature as our usuall apparrell places of assembling seats in those places and the like which therefore come within the termes of indifferency and decency but to say and defend that any one thing of significant use in the divine service of God is either not of the essenc of his outward worship or is indifferent and variable is I dare say a fault more then remarkeable yet true it is that he who makes such a part of Gods worship of this or that spirituall use and signification may verily vary and alter it But as no mortall or created power can giue the spirituall gift or grace signified and therfore may not devise the thing signifying so if God haue approved and sanctified any action gesture or ceremony of such holy significancie none but he can alter the same and therefore to hold that such a thing is or can possibly bee indifferent or may in any case be conformed unto is sin But the Table gesture in the act of receiving the sacrament of the Lords body and bloud is of divine signification assuring us that as verily as we take and partake of those visible signes so verily in that very action we by faith take and partake of the very body and bloud of Christ signified and represented yea truely exhibited in and by them And this gesture onely was hallowed by the Lord in the institution of the Supper in the action of all his Apostles who were the types of all communicants to the end of the world to that very end and purpose therefore none but Christ may alter it who was authour of it and to hold that it is variable whatsoever sence and reason babble for it is a fearefull sin As the inward substance of the sacrament and the outward signes elementall or ceremoniall having relation thereunto even the whole sacramentall action is holy and heavenly which nothing can possibly be but that which is of divine institution so let thy care in partaking thereof bee faithfull and zealous according to knowledge and godlinesse Look not so to the inward substance as thou neglectest the outward signes and ceremonies as if divine reverence belonged not to them being Gods divine instruments or holy mysteries and so might be varied according to the will pleasure or determination of man Neither yet let it suffice that thou commest with a right gesture unlesse thou come with a right heart also lest in stead of receiving a blessing thy heart be hardned and thou goe away with a curse for even as not to use Gods ordinances with divine reverence is the mother of Apostasie and Atheisme so to use mans ordinances with divine or holy reverence in Gods divine service as every thing of divine signification ought is the father of superstition and heresie to conforme therfore to a ceremony of divine signification not being established by God must needs be wicked and sinfull As no person may meddle with the administration of a sacrament but such as are called by God in the word thereunto so may not they who are truely called of God presse to any thing therein but what the Lord hath in his word required or commanded For howsoever it is God onely that giues the spirituall grace or heavenly things signified so yet he is pleased to use the ministery of man in the dispensation thereof by those meanes or instruments which himselfe hath appoynted and as wee cannot haue the blessing but from him nor from him by any other meanes then those which himselfe hath appoynted so to receiue the signes at the hands of such as he hath not sent or called or to conforme to or approue of any ceremonies of significancie in the worship of God though it bee at the hāds or by the advise of such as are truly called of God which himselfe hath not ordained is to be convocated or gathered together against the Lord as Corah though not every one in the same degree for as the best ministers in the world can exhibite and giue no more but the outward and visible signes and yet even in such their exhibition the inward and invisible thing and grace signified is given by God through Christ by the effectuall working of the holy Ghost so to professe that either they haue power to giue more then the signe or haue warrant to devise any signe to represent or exhibit or to receiue grace by is meere and high presumption against the Lord Conformity therefore for the approbation thereof must needs be abhominable upon what tearmes or in what case soever it bee Let vs content our selues with the holy Counsel and determination of God concerning the right administration of this sacrament euen whatsoeuer is of ministeriall elementall or ceremoniall vse therein concerning all which the institution is without all exception and seing it was to be the verie patterne and president to all Churches for euer as Christ his precept Doe this vndeniable includes let vs neuer conforme to any thing of the nature of any of these therein vnles wee haue from the patterne or from some other part of the word Christs warrant so to doe And howsoeuer wee shall hereby procure great dammage to our selues yet seing nothing that is in the flesh or is not of Gods own ordaining and appointment can possibly please God let vs remember it is farre lesse danger to offend those that for not conforming to their Canons can but depriue vs of our
of their owne devising yea though all the learning and wisedom in the world do never so well intend therby or religiously esteem therof Even so this gesture or that ceremony in divine worship is not therefore done unto God because in conformity thereto it is simply and seriously intended to doe it onely unto him but if it be not warranted by the word it is wicked and Divellish what good intent soever be in it Hereto the better sort of these graue and reverend Rabbins reply and tell you that though it be true that the law is as direct for the ceremonie as for the substance and that the Church is as strictly tied to the direction and warrant of the word for every one of them as for the most fundamentall poynt in the doctrine of Iustification or the substance or inward worship and may not vary one iot therefrom no not in any thing whatsoever without warrant thereof yet seeing it is not in their choyce to use or not to use them but a very great necessitie is layd upon them by the Magistrate and the Church who for some secret causes and State considerations haue in a most solemne Convocation or Assembly considerately by an vniversall consent determined the lawfulnesse and fitnesse of the ceremonies of these golden Calues and therefore haue decreed that whosoever will not conforme thereunto shall be after Canonicall admonition deprived and no longer suffered to minister before the Lord. In this case of extremiâ—y therefore utrum horum yea seeing the Magistrate professeth open detestation of all manner of Idolatry in these things and the Church condemnes all Idolatrous or superstitious use of them and they themselues understand the use of them in a sincere sence which qualifies whatsoever can be obiected against them Therfore rather then they will be contentious and breake yea or disturbe the quiet peace of the holy Church and leaue their flockes and charges so deere unto them unto woolvish or ambitious or carnall teachers and so be deprived of their ministery as deere unto them as their liues they are perswaded from these grounds that in this case they may very warrantably undergoe conformity doing it unwillingly as the Lord in whose pressence they stand beares them witnesse and bearing it as a heavy burthen till it please the Lord to visit his Churches with his salvation and to take from the shoulders thereof this heavy load which even bends the backe and at length will breake the necke thereof For prevention whereof they will teach and maintaine preserue and defend the substance and foundation sound and sincere from error and corruption and therfore though the Magistrate and Church do grivously sin in coÌ„manding yet they in conformity unto them are meere patients and not agents and therefore in so doing incline rather to martyrdome for God then rebellion against God Hereunto you reioyne and tell them in louing yea in most wise and learned termes that if their case had been indeed as yours is they had well sayd and most sufficiently answered and all the Vniversities in the whole world could never haue confuted them but they having so direct lawes for all manner of ceremonies of religious use and direct prohibitions against any other though an Angel from heaven should ioyne with the Magistrate they ought rather to haue followed that holy remarkeable and matchlesse president of their zealous fellow-Priests and learned Levies and other devout and iust persons who had set their very hearts to seeke the Lord and with them to haue left their suburbs and possessions their livings and free-holds and so to haue gone to Iuda and Ierusalem to haue offered to the Lord God of their fathers according to the warrant of the word and so to haue strengthened the kingdom both with peace and prosperity whereas the varying from the warrant of the word in the doctrine and practise of these ceremonies of religious use in the worship of God hath the cleane contrary effect and strongly yea strangely weakens the kingdom and Church by breeding diversity of opinions schismes divisions oppositions heart-burnings and grudges with infinite other muddy perturbations according to the variety of humor which men experienced in fishing can tell how to make use of therefore are content to foresee and further therefore conformity in such a case though never so unwillingly undergone yea though with all reasonable and wise considerations tempered and iudicious expositions and honest intentioms qualified is so farre off from looking after or inclining unto martyrdom as it opens the very widest gate to mutinie and rebellion both against God and man If then wee haue as direct warrant for the lawfulnesse of a table gesture as ever the Iewes had for their worship at Ierusalem and that the word of the Gospell bee as sure and certaine being spoken by Christ and his blessed Spirit as that under the Law which it cannot be unlesse it giue as certaine and sound directions for the ceremonies under the Gospell as that by Moses did for the ceremonies under the Law For if it bee an unsure word in the ceremonie how can we be sure it is sure in the substance then I say to erre from the practise of Christ in the institution without a direct precept or warrant from the sure word of God though you haue the same holy intent in such gestures and the like reverend respect to such ceremonies as you haue to Gods own ordinances yet conformity thereto even in them that do it ignorantly is sinfull but in those that doe it wilfully against their knowledge it is dangerous to the State and Church and breeds carnall worldly yea divellish dispositions and practises in such hearts when time and opportunity shall call for the effectes thereof Will any man be content that his liuely Image shall in any part thereof bee defaced The whole action of this sacrament both in signes and ceremonies and not some parcels thereof without the rest is the most liuely Image and representation of the most precious body and bloud of our Lord Iesus as God the Father hath ordained and appoynted to exhibit and giue it to be the spirituall nourishment of our soules even meat and drinke indeed unto eternall life Suppose the gesture be but the meanest part of this Image of Christ yet if without his warrant it be altered from the first institution the very patterne for the pourtraying of all others afterwards is there not iust cause of offence And dare any by conformity to any alteration therein professe vow that though it doe directly differ in this and that yet if we thinke so then it is his very true Image though something bee superfluous or out of the first order Is not every errour though not in the same degree opposite to truth and every defect contrary to perfection As there is difference betwixt the substance of the sacrament Christ Iesus our Lord and the fruits and benefits of the sacrament our holinesse sanctification and
the word truely administred are the vndoubted markes or proper Cognizances of the Churches communion both with Christ the head with all the saints making one entire misticall body and by these they may be known where these are is a true Church whosoeuer say to the contrary Let vs therfore preserue not some fundamentall partes onely but all things of essential vse herein uncorrupted and vndefiled euen pure and vnspotted and therfore neuer conform to wordly rudiments carnall innovation human invention in any part of Gods worship lest we decline from our first loue wherein we vowed and professed to haue a sincere respect not to some principall but to all the parts of Gods worship euen to all his commandements and so shall wee rteaine the infallible markes of the true Churches of Christ vpon vs but if wee forsake the gesture or ceremonie of the purest Church that euer was wherein the heavenliest order diuinest decency that euer was vpon the earth was by our Lord and Sauiours owne presence and practise in the institution sanctified and proposed for all succeeding Churches to follow for euer as this neuer being repealed nor any other approued by the scriptures doth plainly testifie do we not bespot and obscure this marke of our visibilitie especially by conforming to the ceremonie or the likenes thereof of the falsest most perfidious bloodiest and most Apostate Church that euer was or can be is not euery thing which is of religious vse in Gods publicke worship being without warant froÌ„ the word erronious and doth not error in any one part though but in the ceremonie prooue a direct defect in the whole sacrament being an entire and an inseperable action if therefore we wittingly subscribe to the lawfullnes of that which we know wee are defectiue in we haue no promise of God for his blessing vpon vs in our so doing yea the very hoping of mercie in such a case I meane where there is no ground for it in the word but onely in our owne intentions is a main cause of Apostacie Atheisme and like abominable presumptions Rytes and signes of religious vse in the publike worship of God which are not ordained by him to be seales for as all the parts of the seale make but one seale so euery part not being deuided may truly be faid to be the seale of his covenant and instruments of his grace are not the true marks of the true Church though the true Church vse them to that very intent and indowe them with the verie same properties and intentions for none can ordain a sign in Gods worship whethere actions gestures or any kinde of ceremonie of holy or religious signification which indeed are peculiar marks of Cognisances but he onely that is able to giue that spirituall grace or heavenly invisible blessing which is represented therein or signified thereby Seing then the holy gesture in the act of receauing the most pretious body and blood of our Lord Iesus sacramentally is on all sides confessed to be significant and a part of the individuall seale it cannot be denied that none of what condition of quallitie soeuer may ordaine it but hee onely who is able to giue the thing signified or receaved thereby If then kneeling in this very kinde manner order as it is vrged be not ordained by the Lord and yet haue a spirituall signification as all men agree though all the wisdom of the world labor to grace it with all the complements than art wit and learning or authority can possibly conferre vpon it wee may not conforme vnto it neither is it a marke or seale of the true Church but a blot and staine thereof for the precept and promise of Christ haue no relation therevnto but onely to those gestuers and other ceremonies in his worship which himselfe hath ordained and therefore no other may be with safety of conscience conformed vnto Nothing of religious vse but what is of divine institution can be holy and all such are holy to the beleeuer though wicked persons administer them or be pertakers of them but if God haue not ordained it to be of religious vse in that very manner and order of his worship it is profane to the beleeuing receiuer though the holiest men in the world administer it and approoue thereof for therefore onely is any thing in divine service Gods instrument because he hath ordained it so to be whether it be a ceremony of pâ—aier or of praise of receiving a blessing or shewing thankfulnes for the same whether it be of humiliation or of ioyfulnes or whatsoeuer is aimed at therein there is no blessing to be obtained where none is promised for if God had appointed the forme of the altar of Damascus it had beene as good and holy as that at Ierusalem they were both altars and the same sacrifices to the same God offered thereon yet differing in the very forme made the whole worship abominable therefore those who dare so confidently affirm that God will blesse our conformity to ceremoniall signs being some in matter some in manner of mans meere deuising is directly with the grossest idolators to adiure the holy ghost to sanctify or make of holy vse our owne carnall deuises because wee aime at nothing but deuotion therein is not this to goe a whoring after our owne Inventions The end of all Gods ordinances is to vnite vs to himselfe not carnally locally ot naturally but spiritually mystically sacramentally or holily after the manner of contracts or covenants What beleeving heart then dare conform to any essentiall Ryte in this holy sacrament a most speciall and effectuall instrument of increasing our assurance of this our spirituall vnion with God through Christ which is not commanded or warranted by the scriptures may mortall men yea or Angels of heaven ordain any thing to be done in remembrance of Christ and without a gesture in the act of receiving this whole action of his remembrance vanisheth or to put vs in mind of what he hath done for vs or to vnite and knit vs more firmely vnto him doth not the opening of this gap in the gesture approue of and not whisperingly recall alwaies provided that a Canon wash and wype away their superstition and Idolatry all those fleshly and carnall abhominations which our forefathers and Churches both Princes and people haue cast out as the notorious workes of that infamous Beast Is conformity then to this humane devices in the gesture the very best way you can devise to preserue the Churches from utter ruine Are carnall inventions I say in this cleare light of the Gospell the very best course to preserue holy Assemblies and Ecclesiasticall Ministery will God else quite forget to be gracious Doth the moisture hereof onely preserue his hand of helpe and power from withring and his arme of protection from being shortened do you verely beleeve indeed that as the case doth stand conformity to the liknes of Idolatrous vncleane ceremonies
the outward so the outward is the instrument of the soule to expresse the inward yea both these without those affections of the third commandement even holines to the Lord are in vaine and all three if possibly that can be without a conscionable observation of the Sabboth are abhominable Now as all the inward graces of the first commandement are the meere and free gifts of God and not at a mans command so all things essentially necessary in his outward worship as a gesture in the act of receiving the Sacrament is are Gods instruments for the edification of his Church even his conduits to convey those inward graces by which supernaturall vertue or divine property they cannot possibly haue from the canons or precepts of men though all the Christian world ioyne together therein but onely from the free will of God in making choyce of them and so appointing and ordaining them to such holy ends and purposes As therefore nothing ought to bee conformed unto in his outward worship but what is for edification so nothing can possibly be for edification in any degree or respect but what the Lord himselfe hath appointed for that use and purpose Either then kneeling for matter and manner as it is urged is for edification as indeed is pretended or else it may not bee conformed unto but for edification it cannot be unlesse God haue commanded it and therfore either proue by the word that God hath commanded it in the act of receiving or else though he haue commanded it in other parts of his worship and though you say it is not forbidden in this it is a humane device which never edifies but destroyes and therefore of absolute necessity to conforme thereto in the act of receiving the L. Supper is sin The Iewes silled the outward worship of God with actions and ceremonies deuised by them selves or by some other bordring people whose affinity they desired and whose conuersion they perhapps intended not hauing the least thought of setting vp another God or of declining from the true God but to stirre vp them selues with greater zeal and deuotion to serve the Lord their God and to draw others also to ioyne therein with them Yet did not this turne still to theire confusion many times to the ouerthrow of their state The Papists with the same consideratiō haue ordained new sacraments others in like humane boldnes ordain new sacramentals or ceremonies in the administration of the true sacraments you refuse conformity to theirs iustly as you speake because they are additions to the word and may wee conforme to yours without good warrant from the word you Conclude against them that of necessitie the word must come to the elements to prooue and make it plaine that God hath ordained these verie visible signs to be his instruments of grace for the edification of his Church or els though they haue all the devoutest significations that man can deuise there can be no sacrament and haue your ceremoniall signes such a supreame prerogatiue as without direct warrant from the word they ought ipso facto to be conformed vnto Indeed if a Reall presence which in the scriptures sence we acknowledg had destroyed the nature as it changeth the vse of the elements then the breaden gesture or the gesture of kneeling vsed to the breaden god had beene an vnavoidable consequence God is the God of the order as well as of the substance of his worship yea the verie outward order is a speciall parte of the substance of his outward worship and a principall parte of the proper subiect of the second Commandement which honor of ordaining ordering his owne ceremonies in his own worship he neuer committed to Angell prophet or Apostle but laid the gouernment thereof only vpon Christ and will not giue it to any other Now Christs gouernment for order in the act of receving we see to be a table gesture dare we then forsake this and conforme to your order of kneeling without any warrant from the word of Christ no not so much as from an Angel a prophet or an Apostle or Apostolicall Churches In the Institution the Ceremonies of the sacrament had the same warrant from Christ that the signes had If then it be an infallible marke of Antichrist to take away or alter the Elementall signes in which spiritually Christ is Really exhibited how can you Iustifie the alteration of the ceremoniall signe by which euery faithfull beleeuer doth really receaue him are not both these signs together sacramentally vnited to be those verie visible grauen Images or most liuely and reall representions whereby as by his selected and predestinated instruments God the father doth giue Iesus Christ his son all his graces to his children according to the measure of euery man by the effectual working of the holy ghost yea are not these together for without both nothing can be effected I meane the elementall and ceremonial signes by Gods owne ordinance efficient instrumentally to exhibit and receaue whole Christ and all his benefits and yet will you O what will not the Rebellious will of man presume to do against his direct Commandement make vnto your selues other Images and alter these Hereto you reply and say they are but ceremonies and thereto say I no more was the calf in Horeb or those in Dan and Bethel yea these are Christs Ceremonies and the very Ark or Cherubims were no more These are not therefore Idle or for state and ornament or vpon any respect or consideration to be varîed but purposely ordained and in the most absolute perfection of the divine wisdome in the verie institution for the help and strengthening of our weak faith vsed and established being therefore by Christ vnited and Ioyned with the word to make a perfect sacrament and a compleat maner of pertaking spiritual food how may they by any humane authority ever bee altred doth not such a graunt strike mainly and fundamentally at the authority of the second Commandement yea is it not high presumption when the Lord offers this heavenly food not by peeces but in fullnes neither seuering his graces from the substance nor the substance from the graces but even whole Christ and all his merits for us to alter not the placing or order onely which himselfe used and therefore being never repealed thereby established which yet were a fault foule enough but the very dishes or ceremonies themselues wherein this spirituall food is prepared tendred and received as some in restraining the cup others in altering the very elements and you in altering the gesture for so much doth conformity professe wherewith it is received As therefore no one part of Christ wrought our salvation but whole Christ and as where there is no more but the body and bloud of Christ received if that possibly could be yea though really there is no Christ received because it is the spirit or divine grace that quickneth unto eternall life and therefore the true receiving
must be spirituall and of whole Christ God and man or else no benefit is received even so the visible instruments corporall substances or bodily exercises which in the institution our Lord united for the exhibiting and receiving this spirituall food may not be separated omitted altered or displaced Seeing then the Lord himselfe for the effecting of this divine and spirituall worke hath ioyned them together is it not high presumption I say to alter them or put them asunder True it is that the spirituall eye hand and mouth onely seeth receiveth and pertaketh this heavenly food and I dare appeale to any who haue this eye to bee iudge in this case even which gesture is most decent and seemly that which out blessed Lord and Saviour in the institution of the Sacrament made choyce of as the very best of all other whatsoever for I hope you will not deny but that if he had known a better I mean would he ever haue had his Churches to haue a better opinion of any other as more decēt or in any respect more useful or as fit he would either then haue chosen it for some of his disciples to haue used or else left warrant in the word for our conformity thereto or whether that gesture in case of deprivation be rather to be conformed unto for so much you inferre notwithstanding your distinctions of unwillingnesse and I know not what which many hundred yeares after was devised by Antichrist were his doctrines doctrines of Divels because they were of his owne devising and are not his ceremonies of the same disposition And yet must we conforme unto them or by your own confession to the likenesse of them Is there no transgression in this haue we no precept for things of good report Doth no commandement forbid all appearance of evill yea the use of any thing not being commanded by God for then the abuse indeed is onely to bee taken away which hath been an instrument of Idolatry This Sacrament was ordained not to nourish to a carnall or temporall life but to a holy and spirituall that so in all the occasions and occurrences of this world we might liue by faith and be made able more and more to bring forth the fruits thereof it must of necessity therefore follow that this ceremonial signe or gesture or any thing essentially necessary in the act of receiving this holy nourishment may not be carnall or of humane devising but holy and spirituall not onely in the intention of the party for so was theirs to the Calfe but of divine ordinance or else whatsoever the world esteemes of it it is most abhominable unto God and dare we then conforme unto it so that what gesture soever is proposed if Christ haue not ordained it it is strange and vnlawfull and so not being holy conformity thereto is hatefull for none can make a gesture for the sacrament holy but onely he that may ordaine a sacrament As the elementall signe being delivered hath relation to the spirituall thing signified so the ceremoniall signe or significant gesture in the act of receiving hath relation to the very true and assured partaking of that heavenly feast and spirituall food which is the thing signified and whereunto the Lord hath invited us as his most welcome guests and deerely beloved friends even to his owne Table to haue communion and fellowship with him in partaking of his divine nature in the act of receiving this sacrament Therefore as in cases of extremitie to use other signes herein is erroneous and wilfully to persist therein is directly heresie and as the Papists in ordaining an other manner of union or coniunction betwixt the elementall signes and the spirituall things signified then the nature of them will suffer do destroy the Sacrament and by changing it into a sacrifice commit most damnable Idolatry so you in iustifying defending or excusing without warrant from God this gesture of kneeling as it is urged altogether disproportionall to a Feast or Supper and to a Table wherein the visible signes are set apart and prepared though you wash your hands neuer so often to giue testimony of your innocency doe giue sentence against Christ his own practise in the institution the sole president of the whole action and doe directly inferre that you hane a more fit and decent gesture then he could finde out and make choyce of As the sacrament admits no other coniunction betwixt the visible signes and the things signified then a sacramentall which is not subiect to sence and reason but is meerly misticall secret and spirituall so the gesture by the same ordinance of Iustitution is of the very same nature and may not without grievous sin vpon any terms or consideration whatsoeuer admit of any Innouation or alteration though all the reason wisdome learning common sence and vnderstanding in the whole world do neuer so highly approoue thereof but must be misticall secret and spirituall perpetually euen hold proportion with and haue relation vnto a table and to a feast and a great supper set and to be communicated thereon Whosoeuer therfore shall bnt ad any other misticall signification therevnto or translate this to any other gesture then was in the institution seeme it neuer so full of decencie deuotion and humilitie yea though the godly themselues protest they can as comfortably receiue the sacrament there with as with that of the institution yet shall they be Iudged as those that add vnto the ordinances of Christ and therfore shall receiue an additiō of his indignation Therefore no gesture but a sacramentall and such in this case is the table gesture only which our Lord him self in the institutiō being author thereof may vpon any termes or in any respect in the act of receiving be conformed vnto Vnles you hold that Christs institution is herein defectiue and therefore variable without his own warrant which we haue for the alteration of the time who but that blasphemous man of sin and his louers or freinds dare professe they haue power to ordaine a sacramentall gesture or any other essentiall propertie of a sacrament for it that of the institution by Christ be sufficient and els you deny his sufficience in this then any other is superfluous and therefore a humane addition which admitted to haue dominion in one thing will be resisted in nothing Is not this a speciall parte of the foundation of our Comfort and stay in all occasions that whatsoeuer God hath done must needs be good and iust and to open our mouthes against it is to call in question his wisdom goodnes and truth and yet dare flesh and bloud with voyces of trumpets or the flashing report of a thundring Canon proclaime that though Christ haue done it euen approued of a table gesture onely in all his disciples in the institution and neuer gaue warrant for any other yet kneeling is better more significant and decent yea do not the best of you by your vnwilling conformity willfully admit
imperfection and defection in the gesture of the institution seing you haue no warrant from Christ to varie from it As the misticall spirituall and secret Coniunction betweene the signes and things signified is not seene with the Corporall eye nor can possibly be apprehended or demonstrated by humane learning wisdom or sence so I do verely beleue that they cannot chose but grievouslly err be they neuer so wise learned Iudicious zealous and holy who take vpon them to Indge and discerne the fitnes decencie and lawfulnesse of this sacramentall gesture or the gesture in the act of receiving the sacrament by the iudgement of reason and sence without warrant from the word of God For as the blind cannot iudge of colours no more can the quickest or most learned and best qualified sence in the world discerne or iudge of that which is sacramentall or is of a significant or spirituall use in the sacrament or publick worship of God but as the blinde esteemes every colour alike so doth sence thinke every gesture indifferent onely the spirituall eye is able to put this spirituall difference and to discerne of the mistery or spirituall secresie of the Table gesture which in and by the institution onely hath â—â—e seale and brand of Christ set upon it which must needes be relatiue or respectiue even according to that which on the Table is tendred and by the guests or communicants receiued and so holds due Analogy likenesse or proportion therewith There bee three things considerable concerning this blessed sacrament First that which goes before secondly the action it selfe thirdly that which followes after Now as to omit any of these is a grievous sinne so to displace them is wicked and abhominable As for example preparation must go before thanksgiving is to come after and meditation properly belongs to the action it selfe he that leaues his preparation and doth not examine himselfe till after the action is an unworthy receiver and eates drinks iudgement yet I confesse that these are so united as they are inseparable and that not any one of theÌ„ caÌ„ be alone in the faithfull but that they are all mixed one with another onely the soule is properly to haue respect unto these in this manner and order and so accordingly we are to esteeme the fittest and most proper time for preparation to be before for meditation to be in the time of the action for thankesgiving after which shewes that howsoever there is thankesgiving in all these yet it cannot properly be said that the whole action is a thankesgiving and yet if it might kneeling is not the fittest gesture for thankesgiving in this action There be two sorts of signes in this sacrament Elementall that is bread and wine and Ceremoniall that is actions and gestures some of these concern or are proper to the past or alone some to the people alone some common to both and euery one of these haue divine significations peculier and seuerall to themselues euen haue a misticall and seetet Relation to an invisible grace or heavenly thing not by the appointment of any morall power but by the ordinance of God for all the Churches in the world cannot make or ordain any thing of Religious vse to haue a spirituall signification this power is proper and peculiar vnto Iesus Christ so that howsoeuer wyse honest learned and godly men thinke this or that may very well haue such a holy vse and signification and that they can with as good deuotion and heavenly meditation receaue with this gesture of kneeling as with a table gesture and from their owne experience professe as much yet all this is no more then Ieroboams pretence for the calues the inward substance he held and established the outward substance of action and ceremonie he mixed with these diuises of his owne which yet had by his appointment reference and relation to the same heauenly thing in their intention that the arke had euen to be the visible representations of God presence and not to signifie or to haue relation to any other thing els whatsoeuer But yet the Lord calls them deuils and why because they did signifie any diuelish thing nothing lesse But though they signified by common consent and publicke decree and Ecclesiasticall canon the presence of God euen Iehouah and many with great deuotion and feeling made that comfortable vse of them as they thought euen as well as if they had gon to IerusaleÌ„ yet because they were not warranted by the word of the Lord therfore they were deuills all the deuotion that the people Imagined they found themselves stirred vp vnto by their spirituall signification and mysticall relation was meerly of a divellish disposition leading from God Seeing then not man but Christ himself is author both of the Elementall and Ceremoniall signes and also vnited them sacramentally together in this mysticall action that by our worthy pertaking thereof we might haue an inseperable vnion and euerlasting fellowship with him how dare we conform to any alteration or innouation herein If we reiect the gesture which Chaist vsed or approved in the institution what right can wee plead to the sacrament which then and therewith he ordained Christ vnites and ioynes himselfe to his own ordinances in the administration of the word and sacraments not fantastically or doubtfully but truly really and verily that partaking in sincerity of them we might be assuredly conioyned unto him even as certainly as the elementall signes are united unto us and the ceremoniall signes are performed by us Let all Christians therefore who loue the Lord Iesus and desire to partake of this heavenly and spirituall union with him take heed that they never yeeld to conforme to a fantasticall gesture or doubtfull ceremony in the act of receiving especially having so essentiall a property as the gesture hath lest by casting off the Lords gesture or that gesture which our Lord himselfe caused his Apostles to use in the institution of the sacrament they cast off the benefit of the Lords sacrament or at least be found authour of an anti-gesture which our Lord never warranted and therefore cannot to the conformers thereunto be ever sanctified It is our happinesse to bee united unto Christ in the sacrament and is it our misery to cleaue fast to that gesture which in the institution thereof was by all his Apostles used and by himselfe blessed for that very end Here is spirituall meat come thou with spirituall hunger here is a holy table come thou with a holy gesture and who can make a gesture holy or of holy use but the Lord Not that a right gesture is sufficient unlesse thou come with a right heart also examined or prepared and purged not onely from Popery Non-residency Atheisme usurie ambition oppression murder covetousnesse blasphemy whooredome drunkennesse and other bloudy and abhominable vices but from every worldly lust or fleshly pleasure which thy soule longeth after that I doll I say must be thrust out before
goods and comfortable conditions exposing vs to open disgrace and contempt or at worst can but take a way our liues then to offend him that can do all this then cast our bodies and souls into hell Let no mā therefore by conformity to kneeling intimate disability in the institutor or insufficiencie in the institution for either is a blasphemous sin He that is sole author of the sacrament is sole author of all the ceremonies and significant signs therein either concerning minister or people for he that is the sole author of the blessing must needs be sole author of the means and instrument wherby he wil giue it therefor seing the Lord onely giues the spiritual blessing signified represented and verily exhibited by the gestures and ceremonies therein and his word neither by precept nor example giues any warrant for any other gesture in the act of receaving then that of the Institution which on all sides is graunted to be a table gesture how dare wee by conformitie varie from Christs owne practise without Christs owne warrant It is said and that truly but how fitly and wisely let others iudge that God is the author of kneeling euen in his divine worship therefore we ought to conform vnto it in the act of receiving I answere that God is the author of images euen in his diuine worship as the Arke and Cherubims yea differing from the first institution as the brasen serpent therefore wee may conforme to the calues at Dan and Bethell which are but images and consecrated onely to his worship and diuine service but either let the Lord be God in the order of the outward ceremonies as well as in the inward substance of his worship or if you will conforme to Ball in the gesture or in the order follow him euen in all for God is the God of the order as well as the God of the substance of his worship Inward or outward let him be therfore either all in all or els not God at all By the word of God and by it onely the minister knowes what to deliuer and what not how to deliuer and how not to whom to deliuer and to whom not the guests also or communicants doe thereby vnderstand at whose hands to receaue and at whose not what to receue and what not and with what gesture to receaue and what gesture not to conforme vnto in the act of receiving for the word of God is the life or soule as I may say of the sacrament and that not onely in generall but even of euery particular of absolute necessity required therein as a gesture is so that whatsoeuer is ordained to be of holy vse therein as the gesture in the act of receauing is if it receaue no life or quickning warrant from the word of God it is absolutely dead or vncleane and defiles and therfore may not vpon any terms be conformed vnto as good and lawfull The word of institution sets forth first the precept of Christ Doe this secondly the promise of Christ This is my body Thirdly the practise of the Apostles having relation to the comandement or precept in their obedience and in their faith having reference to the word of promise now this being the type of all the true administrations of this sacrament to the end of the world doth plainly and vndeniably teach this truth that what soeuer is of absolute necessity in the sacrament as a gesture in the act of receauing is must both in minister and people haue relation to the precept of Christ that so it may be donne in obedience and also to the promise of Christ that so it may be donne in faith or els it is absolutely sin and then though kneeling which in that act manner as it is vrged hath neither precept nor promise of Christ would convert Turke and Pope too yet I hope you wil confesse we ought not to conforme thereto Is kneeling in the act of receaving the sacrament of the altar the gesture of the masse let all that abhorre the grosse Idolatry of that neuer conforme to the likenes of this vnlesse they haue dispensation from the scripture so to doe because in similitude though not in intention it holds proportion with and hath Relation to the Coporall and Reall presence locally Yea let all faithfull Christians holde themselues onely to the name and gesture and to what soeuer els in the institution and word of God is established and was therein by our blessed Lord sanctified and ordained to be of perpetuall vse unles him selfe in the word shall teach otherwise The sacraments even whatsoever is sacramentall were ordained of God not to giue any novelty or new thing by way of tran or con-substantiatiō or like humane devise but having respect to our weaknesse to bee a helpe unto us in sealing up that righteousnesse which is by faith even to increase that assurance of faith which we haue through the word in a greater measure and degree then is had by the ministery thereof let every one labour to haue the feeling of this use if then it be dangerous to add unto the doctrine of the word being the hand writing of the King even his most gracious pardon for all our sins and offences and his patent also for our liuelihood and hope of eternall life Surely it cannot in any respect be lesse dangerous seeing nothing passes by the writing alone without the seale I speake herein after the manner of men to make or conforme to any innovation in the Kings seale even in any thing which is of sacramentall institution being speciall and effectuall parts instrumentally of our spirituall Evidences or assurance which is by faith through the word But if such cōformity be committed against our knowledge I leaue it to the iudgement of the godly learned whether the wilfull persisting therein doe not though not alter the outward essentiall forme yet diminish and lessen every time more and more the powerfull effect and comfortable benefit of this blessed and most holy sacrament For seeing in the institution this ceremoniall signe hath relation to that spirituall supper and most heavenly food or divine nourishment it is most apparant to all that will not winke lest they should perceiue that in the very manner of a table gesture there is by intimation a grounded expectancie and good assurance of partaking that holy and divine nourishment visibly represented unto us a thing which in the matter the Lord saw to be needful for his blessed Apostles and therefore purposely caused them to use this very manner to be a helpe herein unto them and so to every communicant though never so learned and well instructed This sacrament is called a communion sealing up unto us our holy communion with God in Christ by the holy Ghost and our fellowship with all the Saints faithfull children of God Can there bee by any possible meanes therefore any good discretion or decencie humilitie or devotion to leaue a Table gesture which
of a spirituall or holy use and such none can be but those gestures and ceremonies onely which are ordained by our holy God In all and euery one of which being faithfully vsed as there is certeinly and infallibly a blessing to be obtaind so whatsoeuer of religious vse is known not to be ordained by God but onely by man it is at least vtterly voide of all spirituall blessing if not filled with contrary effects and therefore not in any respect to be conformed vnto But such is this ceremony and therefore vnlawfull They that conforme to a right gesture or ceremonie in the sacrament and want the inward eye mouth and hand of the soule receiue onely the elements with Iudas not the spirituall things signified by which vnworthines they eate and drinke their owne damnation because they discern not the Lords body though they truly discerne vse the Lords gesture wil not by any means conforme to any other for they trample vnder foote the blood of Christ as an unholy thing not that they esteem it so in their minde for this trampling is inward or spirituall but where faith is wanting there is unworthy partaking and faith is as necessary in the action or gesture of taking as in the act it selfe for this whole action of the sacrament and not some speciall or principall parts therin is the evidence or seal of our assurance of partaking the divine mysteries or holy things signified even of our true and spirituall cōmunion with Christ To conforme then to a wrong gesture having no promise of any blessing cannot be an action of faith aud therefore sin Eating and Drinking are sacramentall phrases applying that to the soule which is proper to the body but doe necessarily imply that there must of absolute necessity be a spirituall eating and drinking in the very act of the corporall eating or els no benefit or spirituall blessing can possibly be sealed up by that action which necessarily inferres that such a gesture is onely lawfull in this action as in the nature thereof holds proportion with eating and drinking and hath relation thereunto which onely a table gesture doth and therefore was selected and chosen by Christ the Lord of the sacrament and sanctified in the institution and so not onely by his using preferred before all other but no other being commanded in the word it is thereby made onely usefull in the act of receiving and no other to be conformed unto If a corporall or visible and locall coniunction which yet cannot profit the soule or any other learned device of the spiritualtie were sufficient to bee conceited or with strong imagination to be beleeved then indeed any gesture or ceremony of carnall devising were indifferent or good enough and might safely be conformed unto but faith being invisible lookes according to the nature thereof not to reason and sence wisedom and discretion or other like humane considerations but to the things that are invisible and therefore in all the actions and ceremonies of Gods worship dare onely conforme to such as by his appointment who is invisible haue an inseparable relation by his divine institution to the invisible things signified or represented yea and verily exhibited in them and dare not conform to any other though by the learned Cleargie the same relation be appointed thereunto Reason and Sence even in Nicodemus cry mainly out How can this be It is impossible And in others Can this man giue us his flesh This is a hard saying who can choose but be offended at it So also in Naaman Why should not the rivers of Damascus being used with the like good intention and purpose be as full of vertue to wash away sin or leprosie as that of Iorden it is but an idle conceit of guiddy heads that makes this difference yea what good argument can any such finde out that is able to assure their consciences they do well in suffering for refusing conformity herein Even so concerning this blessed sacrament some cry out How can a peece of bread or a suppe of wine nourish my soule or increase my faith or patience humility and contentment Others which is a branch springing from the same root with open mouth exclaim Why should not all gestures in the act of receiving be alike or any gesture in the worship of God though deuised by man be indifferent What reason can bee given that one should be better then another and therefore why should not kneeling be as good as the table-gesture Here wisedom learning discretion reason and experience in a temperate and graue modesty lay hand upon their mouthes and for peace sake in this case of extremity by silence doe subscribe but faith knowes full well as a thing never denied unlesse by carnall and worldly minded persons that every thing is therefore onely good and better then all other because God hath commanded it and that nothing can possibly be of good or holy use in the holy worship of our most holy God but that onely which himselfe hath commanded instituted or ordained and therefore that whatsoever of religious use in his service is not in the word directly commanded is by direct consequence by the same word forbidden my reason is because every action of Gods worship is either performed in obedience or disobedience if it be in disobedience though in a case of extremity and danger or in case of commodity and advantage is it not if performed against our knowledge direct rebellion as in Saul And you cannot for shame say that your conformity is obedience unlesse a commandement from God go before For if our holy intentions and good considerations and purposes or zealous devotions could make our devised gestures and actions in Gods service works of obedience which of all the Kings of Iuda had not iust cause to punish and kill the Prophets for reproving them for their inventions which had as many good intentions as any in these dayes can haue But the old rule holds Whatsoever is not done in faith especially in actions gestures and ceremonies of religious use is sinne If then you bring faith to make triall of the lawfulnesse of these things in question it will not hearken what Canons this Convocation made nor regard what that Councell decreed or what such a State commanded or such reformed Churches practised or those reverent preachers godly people conforme unto but what God commands or what saith the Lord in his word and in this particular controversie faith retires to the institution wherein is set downe upon divine record what the Apostles received of the Lord concerning the gesture for their direction in laying the foundation for the ceremony in the act of receiving the Sacrament in any Church whatsoever yea faith dare not conforme to any thing of divine use in Gods publicke worshippe without Gods direct warrant in the word though all the wise and learned men in the world do never so highly commend and extoll it So that if it be
not done in obedience it is not done in faith and then you will confesse it is sinne and then you know we may not conforme unto it though we might prevent thereby never so great and fearefull mischiefes and procure never so many benefits blessings it cannot be done in obedience of faith unlesse a commandement goe before for looke whom you obey his servants you are that therefore cannot be Gods divine service which God doth not by his divine word command or that cannot be an action of faith which is not commanded by the word and every action of religious use which is not of faith is expressely forbidden Try your selues therfore whether in conforming to kneeling in the act of receiving the Lords holy Supper you stand in the faith or no if you say you looke to God and haue powred out your soules before him as your consciences and many other can beare you witnesse and you dare appeale to him how deere your ministery is unto you and how loath you are to leaue your flockes to a company of roaring boyes or raging beasts c. I answer if you looke to God then you must look to him in his word for else whatsoever you intend he doth not intend to be God unto you if you haue not his warrant therein you do not looke to the true God no more then the Barbarian or Turke doth but do make a very Idoll of him I meane our God doth not blesse or approue of any thing of religious use in his worship as good and lawfull to bee conformed unto but onely those things which himselfe requires in his word and he that will accept of any thing which is not commanded in the word is an Idoll and not the true God for all things concerning him or his worship are onely made known to his Church by the scriptures and the Churches never erre in these things but when they want the commandement or warrant of the word the defect whereof all the learning devotion wisedom authority and zeale of the whole world cannot supply I confesse you make goodly shewes for excusing your conformity but what haue you sayd or what can you pretēd which Ieroboam would not haue accepted at the hands of those Priests who left their places and charges because they would not conform to the ceremonies of the calues And if it be lawfull in you why not in them I confesse that which you obiect that their conformity overthrew the very substance of Gods worship but not that you will not say which was inward but that only which was outward and which is required in the second commandement for the doctrine of the inward substance was in the intention of that provision preserued sound but the forme of Gods outward worship was mainly and diversly I confesse perverted and I also acknowledge that your conformity is nothing so grosse and abhominable as theirs yet this I dare say and testifie that it is of the same nature and that it corrupts and perverts this part of Gods worship in the act of receiving the body and bloud of Christ so that though they differ and differ very greatly yet it is onely in the Species and not in the Genus Without further contention therefore let us bring it to the true rule Whence doth your conformitie come It is a matter concerning Gods outward worship and divine service and so appertaining to the second commandement What must bee the cause of this for if the cause be good the effect is good faith is the cause of all true obedience and that obedience or conformity which is not an effect of faith cannot by all the trickes and devises in the world ever be made good for where the cause is there is the effect and where the effect is there is the cause the effect can never bee in truth whatsoever is conceited or pretended where the cause is not If therefore kneeling as it is urged bee an effect of faith then haue you a precept a promise for it is in the word upon which your faith is grounded and so your obedience and conformity is holy but if it bee not in this very kinde required therein it cannot possibly be an effect of faith and therefore set the best face you can upon it it is but an Idoll of mans invention and therefore conformitie thereto upon what pretence or in what case of extremity soever is unlawfull and wicked It is confessed and professed publikly by some of you that the magistrate sins greevously in requiring this conformity but yet you do well in yeelding thervnto rather then to suffer such a world of incōveniences which you wisely carfully foresee wil otherwise fall vpon Church Cōmonweale Cōpare your case with former times Dauid sinned grevously though not presūptuously as I think some of you do not in bringing the arke from Gibeah in a new Carte this Arke or outward worke the glory of Israell in this iorney was so dangerously shaken by the oxen at the threshing floore of Ornan as if Vzza had not put to his hand it was like to haue bin broken all to peeces did not Vzza cōmendably therfore in putting forth his hand to preuent such a mischeif is not this your very argument many inseparable euils cleaue to this cōsequence he was not stricken for touching the ark for that the Leuits might do but onely for the manner and order of touching it being in a cart which was not warranted by God and I tell you the best and most learned men in the whole world are but as oxen and put the Arke of Gods word into the most temperate Cart of their newest and best reformed Invention they will grieuouusly shake the verie substance of it Seing then the sacraments and whatsoeuer is sacramentall as a gesture in the act of receaving is are ordeined not by man but by God not for any worldly carnall or civill respects as to testifie our obedience to the magistrate which yet I confesse must most cheerfully be manifested but meerly and properly for spirituall vses euen to nourish our soules by sealing vp unto our hearts the assurance and certeintie of the couenant of grace in the free pardon of all our sins through the sole merit of the most pretious blood of our Lord Iesus Christ most liuely represented and truly or effectually exhibited to every faithfull beleeuer herein let vs hold fast the right order and forme of administration thereof in all the signs elementall or ceremoniall euen in all the actions gestures or ceremonies which by Christ himself in the first administration being vsed and neuer after repealed not any other by his warrant established come within the compasse of diuine institution Ieast wittingly though wee pretend vnwillingly conforming to the alteration of the signe though but ceremoniall wee depriue our selues of that which stands in relation therevnto which is substantiall The sacraments with all the essentiall properties therein together with the scepter of
therefore may bee farre fetcht and deere bought but yet not good for Lord nor Lady nor any Invitant at this heavenly banquet Whatsoever of essenciall necessity was in the first institution no alteration therof is in the word of God recorded nor any varying therefrom warranted or so much as mentioned must needs be for imitation yea the approbation therof by Christ our Lord is not onely a sufficient warrant for the lawfulnes holines or decencie and goodnesse thereof but a direct binding precept to use it yea it onely and a plaine prohibition for ever upon any occasion or condition whatsoever to conforme to any other For as Christ his using it made it holy and good so none but hee onely can either make it unseemly or any other gesture lawfull or comely Consider therefore yet not by reason and sence for they though never so wise and learned are but blind Iudges in matters of Religion but by the unerring iudgement of true faith which begins where these end whether any gesture can beseeme a guest a friend a familiar yea a sonne or daughter of yeares and good understanding at the Table and feast yea at the great supper of the immortall King indeed but yet of our deere loving and well pleased Father so well as a table gesture being not onely directly intimated in these mysticall phrases of significant vse viz. Feast Supper Table Communion and the like but purposely also recorded to be the practise of Christ and of all his Apostles in the institution and never altered or questioned till the manifest declaration of Antichrist which was many hundred yeares after who indeed by solemne decree or canon did ordain that a table gesture should be left in the act of receiving and having set up another Christ in his breaden devise he appoints kneeling in the stead thereof to bee onely conformed unto Now as Christ his using that gesture the word no where commanding any other is a divine warrant for the goodnes thereof so Antichrists ordaining this and the word of God not commanding it is a divine prohibition never in the worship of God to conforme unto it upon any tearmes or in any case whatsoever Wee do not conforme to the blessed Apostles Paul or Peter or to our most godly and learned pastors in vsing a table gesture but onely followe them because they follow Christ whose most holy and vnerring practise not any where in all the scripture altered we hold to be his expresse will and directly contained in his commandement Doe this wherein he left it not to the discretion of the Apostles or their successors to dispose of the gesture as times or occasions should require but to prevent al colour of innouation which he ful well foresaw matchlesse Ambition would audaciously presume to bring in Machiuillian pollicie would arrogantly contend to continue he purposely administred this sacrament first himself both in the elements and gesture that as to the verie best and moste vnreproueable president in all controuersies about this or any other ceremonie herein the Churches might retire and haue recourse still to his owne practise for their safe direction and full satisfaction for euer so that as in matter of doctrine you do most worthely answer the papists with Thus saith the Lord ' or the Lord neuer required this so we say to you in the ceremonie thus did our Lord he vsed a table gesture there is no mention in the scripture that euer kneeling in the act of receiving was vsed therefore seeing Non fuit sic ab initio wee dare not with any limitation or fauorable construction conforme vnto it It was not nowe a time in the act of institution to vse gestures at randome or ceremonies of indifferencie but only that which is primarily or principally and therfore vnlesse himself giue warrant to the contrary perpetually necessary for euen now was he to set vpon the greatest worke that euer he did Hath he then at this verie time by his owne personall practise bequeathed to all his Churches for ever in this leagacie of his infinite eternall and incomprehensible loue the ceremoniall signe of a table gesture where is then the faith and vnderstanding of these learned scribes and the deepe wisdom of these great disputers become who reuerently lapping vp the table gesture in a faire white Cloth cast it aside into a corner of their vestrie that if it euer come in request againe they know where to fetch it and most eagerly contend for kneeling in the stead thereof which in the act of receaving this blessed sacrament was neuer approoued of in any Catholike Church thorow the whole world till the darknes of the grossest Idolatry that euer was or can be had brought confusion into the whole publicke worship and service of God through the Ambitious Tyranny of that man of sin yet doe I not by any means inferre that those who being ignorant of the abhomination that lies lurking in this very gesture and being therefore perswaded of the indifferency or lawfulnesse thereof do conform thereto doe not also receiue comfortably and effectually by the hands of faith the very things themselues which are signified onely I hold it a sin of their ignorance which God regardeth not and therfore beseech them better to consider of it hereafter seeing the table gesture had been indifferent yea unseemly yet the practise of Christ in the institution using onely it and no other makes it now most decent and without all exception yea onely to be conformed unto before all other unlesse a divine warrant can bee brought to the contrary Suppose that all gestures in the act of receiving were indifferent Christ he makes choyce of a table gesture and so by his very using it sanctifies it and makes it of holy use Antichrist he mislikes it and takes up in the stead thereof kneeling and by his very using of it profanes it and makes it uncleane for he being the greatest Idolater that ever was appropriated it ro the grossest Idolatry that ever was Now I beseech all you that are indifferent utrum horum Did CHRIST our Lord blesse the whole action or some principall partes thereof onely Consider therefore not by naturall reason but by the eye of supernaturall aith how far this precept Do this extends whether to the whole action of the sacrament or to the elemetall signes onely or if so be to some of the ceremoniall signs as setting aparte breaking powring out and giving why not to the rest also in taking or receaving or if to some of them as to the considerate beholding or looking on reuerent taking cheerful eating and comfortable drinking why not to the very gesture also or if you cannot but grant that a gesture or some gesture is included within the compasse of this precept why then not that gesture which our Lord and Sauiour vsed at the very time of geving this precept rather then that or the similitude thereof which that man of sin the
verie child of perdition invented and ordeined for this is a most undoubted truth looke how farre the commaundement extends so farre doth the blessing of the commander euen of Iesus Christ our Lord extend and no further Therefore whatsoeuer in the same sacrament you haue not a commandement for and is of necessary vse therein you haue no promise from Christ for his blessing thereon dare wee then conforme to a gesture which the Lord hath not promised to blesse yea which being not warranted by his word he will verely curse and bring contempt vpon though all the world blesse it I confesse the table gesture doth not so liuely expresse and call to remembrance the death of Christ his torments and breaking of his body his greevous passion and sheading of his most pretious bloud as some other ceremoniall signes do for which cause it was not ordained to that end and the breaking of the bread and powering out of the wyne were appointed as perfectly sufficient for that purpose and vse but no other gesture in the world can possibly so liuely expresse our communion with Christ our Lord through our assured pettaking truely and really the verie things themselues and the whole merit thereof which spiritually are represented and exhibited to euery faithfull receauer in the visible elements assuring vs that they are as verely ours as if wee had done and suffered the same things our selues which are herein called to our remembrance Let not conformity therefore to any other gesture intimate a grevous indiscretion in Christ either in leauing this waightie matter vncerteine and to be varied according to the humors of times or if making it certeine then in choosing and so causing all his Apostles representing all the communicants to the end of the world to conforme to a gesture in the act of receaving nothing so deâ—rnt and seemly as that which Antichrist ordained especially nothing so comely and significant as the similitude thereof which others hauing purged haue also canonized In the institution of this holy sacrament there was nothing vsed or approued by our blessed Lord but what was holy necessary and neuer being by him repealed is still most pretious Let all that loue him labour to keepe it from the vile and neuer conforme to any humane deuise in the stead thereof which all the canons of all the learned men in the world cannot possibly make a holy or pretious vse It is necessary for al that desire to be saued or to haue by worthy pertaking this sacrament assurance of falvation to haue good assurance for their certeine persvvasion in these things vvhom therefore in al hearty humility pray and beseech that they labor and striue to get the vvedding garment and it vvill quickly teach them the supper gesture Revel 14 3. And they sang as it were a new song before the throne and before the fowre beasts and the Elders and no man could learne that song but the hundred forty and fowre thouand which were bought from the earth Verse 4. These are they which are not defiled with woemen for they are Virgins these follow the Lamb whither soeuer he goeth these are bought from men being the first fruits vnto God and vnto the Lamb. Verse 5. And in their mouth was found no guile for they are without spot before the throne of God Ezek. 16. 2. Sonne of man cause Ierusalem to knowe her abominations Ps 64. 2. 3. Hide me from the conspiracie of the wicked and from the rage of the workers of iniquity which haue whet their tongue like a sword and shoote for their arrowes bitter words Hebr 2. 8. Thou hast put all things in subiection vnder him and left nothing that should not bee subiect to him Epes 1. 22. FINIS 1. Ioh. 5. 19 Eph. 5. 8. Ioh. 12. 35. Ioh. 8. 12. Ioh. 17. 17. Gal. 2. 11. Numb 15. 30 heb 3 13. 15 with Act. 3. 22. Ioh. 4. 25. Ro. 4. 23. ver 24. Phil. 2. 13. ps 119. 113. ps 119. 104. 120. Heb. 4. 2. with 3. 19. Act. 26. 28. Rom. 11. 32 Luk. 24. 25 Esa 53. 1. Ioh. 12. 43. Ioh. 5. 44. vers 47. Ioh. 4. 50. Eccles 3. 14. psal 95.