ought to make question but that these humane inventions being performed not in superstition but in a good Intention are most acceptable well pleasing unto God and therefore ought of verie conscience to be conformed unto In which respect I do stryue gladly to dryue them from this deceitfull and conceited kinde of pleading by a Iudicial proceeding to the triall of their faith for so shall wee quickely discern what they are Infidels or Vnbeleevers for profession of the truth though never so fundamentall no nor practise of it also makes not a true beleever though a true professor for even that man of sin himselfe and many other of like ambitious humour know and acknowledge professe and practise many excellent truths but faith onely puts the difference and proues who is for the Lord and who bolds on the other side against him What action or ceremony then soever of Religious use is not conformed unto in faith is conformed to in infidelity unlesse we must admit of Agrippa his almost a Christian halfe faithfull halfe infidell halfe Papist halfe Protestant halfe of God and halfe of the Divell halfe Turke and halfe Christian not that I aime at any other perfection but that which is Evangelicall even sincerity and truth in all things but to declare that all are shut up under unbeliefe though they be never so wise and learned great and many till they bee enlightned But these men say and sweare they haue faith yea a iustifying living and saving faith as well as the best of them all and in their conformity do liue and walke thereby This is soone said but not so soone proved Let us therefore come to the tryall Faith consists not in good opinion or well meaning or preventing inconueniences For though I intend in kneeling before an image onely to stirre up my heart to devotion that I may with greater feeling and fervency call vpon God in the confession of my sins and craving pardon for the same yet this is not done in faith no though I finde that in my conceit such effect therein even as I did purpose and desire for nothing that is in nature as wisedom reason sence discretion iudgement experience or whatsoeuer can bee by any possible meanes in any respect the true object of saving faith for the learned and devout of all nations haue these and yet all in the true churches though true professors haue not faith but onely the word of God is the obiect of faith yea true and saving faith in all things of holy and religious use in the divine service of God rejects not onely what is forbidden therein but conformes to no thing but what in the evidence of the spirit is plainly grounded on the Scriptures for without the warrant and commandement of the word subscription to or approbation of any thing of divine use cannot bee an act of the faith of Gods elect but of some other counterfet faith transformed I confesse into the likenesse or appearance thereof which like Will with wispe ar Megg with Lanthorn or some other hob-goblin with a false light having dazled their sight or darkened their iudgement will by degrees lead them into the boggs and quagmires of Armenius his inherent grace free-will or other like deceiueable fables and damnable errors So that this is not an argument of true faith if I doe not conforme the people will bee untaught or the church overtbrowne and the like or it is not forbidden in the scripture therefore though it be of religious use in the worship of God and be onely devised by man yet thou mayest yea being commanded oughtest to conforme unto it but directly it is a plaine doctrine of infidelity For whereon I pray you is faith grounded in such a case but onely upon meere and wilde vncertainty a sea whereof this sluce will open As therefore it is the property of fooles to doubt of any thing which the Scriptures teach so it must needes be a speciall branch of infidelity in matters of conformity to things of religious use in Gods publicke worship to ground our faith therein for hope they will not say but they doe it in faith on any thing but the sacred Scriptures Now the Word telleth vs plainely that a table gesture was sanctified by our Lord in the institution are they not fooles then by Christs owne doome who will not beleeue that it is a good boly gesture that our faith in cōforming thereto is plainly grounded on the scriptures and seing no other gesture is warranted by the Scripture is not the doctrine of conformitie to any other whatsoeuer our faith therein being grounded on vncertainty a direct doctrine of Infidelity may not the Evangelists justly crie out Lord who hath beleeued our Report why so I pray you will some say what do they reporte euen this that in the first institution by Christ him self the sacramentall gesture in the act of taking or receving the holy bread and wine was onely a table gesture and no other will the professing and beleeving many other truthes though thou willfuly against the plane ouidence of the truth refuse to beleeue this euer prooue the to be a sound Christian hath Christ honoured a table gesture and do men onely honor another gesture will you say then conformity to them is an action of faith and yet refuse thereby that gesture which Christ by his presence approbation honored is not this to loue the praise of men or that which men praise more then the praise of God or that which his word commends true it is I knowe that men do preferre those that conforme vnto them and will not Christ doe so also Yea is it not a marke of infidelity to receiue such honour one of another and seeke not the honour that commeth from God alone Will you feare the displeasure of man if you doe not conforme and will you not feare the displeasure of God if you do not conforme to his gesture in the act of receiving I say his gesture for so none can deny but it was in the institution I meane of his direct appoynting and did he ever cashiere it or did his Apostles or true churches ever dislike or refuse it Take heed therefore for hee that beleeues not every place of Scripture beeing made known unto him will not be bound to be subject to any scripture further then hee lusts or likes They that will not beleeue Moses or his writings will not beleeue the doctrines or practise of Christ himselfe reject one place wittingly and in effect thou renouncest all Let us then beleeue the word of Iesus in this controversie he tels us by the Scripture that a table-gesture is a holy gesture of divine institution let us never therefore conforme to any other without like warrant For whatsoever hee hath done it shall be for ever unlesse himselfe alter it to it can no man add such deepnesse of learning is the very
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
height of dark ignorance from it can none diminish to assume such power is direct presumption Hath Christ sanctified a Table-gesture Come let us worship and fall downe and kneele before the Lord our Maker euen giue this honour of devising his owne worship and service both in matter and manner both in substance order to him onely to non other for his is the kingdome in devising his own service and the power in making it effectuall to his church and the glory of praise and honour for making known and exhibiting his eternall loue thereby for ever and ever Amen The Egyptians by reason of the grievous plagues which God sent amongst them were content to let Israel goe so that they would leaue their hoofes or cattell behinde them We haue thrust the Egyptians out let us send their hoofes after them lest they come to fetch them and God by a more grievous hand then ever yet we felt make us willing through experience of their blouddy cruelty to be rid of all their Reliques and Remainders whatsoever ROM 1. 16. I Am not ashamed of the Gospell of Christ saith the Apostle nor I of that gesture which the Gospell mentions that our Sauiour Christ approued in the Institution of his Supper Philip. 3. 17. Be followers of me looke on them which walke so as yee haue vs for an exsample 1. Cor. 11. 1. Be yee followers of me as I am of Christ But Christ and all his discriples vsed a table gesture and therfore vnles our adversaries can proue that they vsed some other gesture we may not followe or conforme to any other then a table gesture in the act of receaving 1. Cor. 3. 11. For other foundation can no man lay then that which is laid which is Iesus Christ We haue this foundation for the elements and for the gesture to conforme therefore to other elements or another gesture is to lay another foundation and so to follow some other Christ then our Christ or his Apostles but we haue not so learned Christ Hebr. 4. 14. Seing then wee haue such an high priest let us hold fast our profession Euen professe him to be our high preist as well in the gesture as in the elements in the ceremonie as well as in the substance 1. Cor. 11. 24. Do this in remembrance of me Master speakest thou this to vs also All actions of Institution are for Imitation 1. Ioh. 1. 6. 7. If we say we haue fellowship with him and walk in darknes whether it be in substance or in ceremonie wee lie and do not truely 1. Ioh. 2. 4. He that saith I knowe him and kepeth not his commandements is a lyar the truth is not in him Yea but how may wee know in this controversie what his commandement is Vers 5. He that kepeth his word in him is the loue of God perfect indeede hereby we knowe that we are in him And hereby we know are assured our reverent pastors are of him and our godly brethren are in him bycause they keep his commandements refuse Conformity to nothing but what is not in his word nor groūded thereon whosoeuer therefore professeth or saith he remaineth in him ought even so to walke both in substance and in Ceremonie as he hath walked Vers 6. and so haue they doone in these Controuersies neuer broaching or reviving any new commandement but the old which was from the beginning even the Word vers 7. which directs alwayes to the institution and never so much as inferrer any kinde of alteration from the same Math. 12. 50. Whosoever doth the will of my father which is in heaven the same is my brother and sister and mother Christ preferres spirituall kindred before carnall because they heare and obey the word of God And we preferre this spirituall gesture of the table being according to the Scriptures and warranted by Christs own practise in the institution before that carnall gesture of kneeling having no warrant from scripture and therefore cannot be the will of our father which is in heaven Accept my willing endevours heerein good Reader choosing rather to expose my selfe the malice of the ambitious then the light of this truth shall not be maintained All that loue the truth helpe me with your prayers DEMONSTRATIVE REASONS AGAINST conformity to kneeling in the act of receiving the Lords Supper HAVE you not read in the Scripture The stone which the Builders refused is become the head of the corner And must a Table-gesture which Christ himselfe and all his Apostles in the first institution used as the very sole foundation for all future ages to build upon bee therefore now reiected and another conformed unto as farre more seemly and significant because it pleases learned and wise men of speciall note and eminencie in the Church by profession and reputation even chiefe pillars and arch-builders to lay that imputation upon it so by their canons to conclude and determine against it I beseech you rather to to consider whether this disgracefull foundation thus openly laid upon the divine doctrine of the holy ceremony presage not though they pretend the contrary some evill intendment closely to depraue and corrupt by degrees the very heavenly substance Looke to their positions obserue their discourses compare their pretences and practises together and so proceed to sentence May any thing appropriated to religious use in the publick worship of God be prophane or carnall And are not the best devised devotions of the holiest and devoutest persons that ever were or ever possibly can be of this very nature yea doth not the Scripture usually set in direct opposition unto God himselfe whatsoever being essentially necessary in his worship as a gesture in the act of receiving is which is not ordained by God or warranted by his word stiling them with the titles of Novelty Innovation or devises imaginations of their own hearts new gods strange or other gods c. not that ever thereby in the Church especially any other Deitie was once imagined or any foundation concerning the doctrine of the blessed Trinity shaken or controverted but though they held the doctrine of the inward substance sound as Ieroboam did yet in the outward actions and ceremonies of his worship or outward manner of his service they erred not onely from the particuler directions of the ceremoniall law but from the generall scope of the second commandement viz. to serue God onely as hee requires in his word Gods worship is either inward or outward that concernes the soule and is contained in the first commandement this pertaines to the bodily exercises and is taught in the doctrines appertaining to the second commandement forbidding all other not required therein not that these may bee separated though distinguished for as soule and body make an entire person so do these two make an entire worship and neither of them can in this world be performed alone for as the inward is the life and soule of