158 The LIFE ofthe L B. I, cy and unmannerlinefs ( to fpeak eafily ) to call that unreverence and fawcinefst ( as many do ) which Chrift and the Apoftles and all the Church fo long ufed with oneconfent. He better knewwhat pleafeth himfelf than we do : Thevain pretended difference between the Apoftles Gefture and ours , is nothing to the matter : He that ftteth on the Ground, ftteth as well as he that fitteth on a.Stool : And if any difference were, it was their Gefture that feems the more homely: and no fuch difference can be pretended in the Chriftian Churches many hundred years after. And I think it is a naked pretence ( having no Thew of reafon to co- ver it) of them that againft all this will plead a necellityof kneeling , becaufe of our unworthinefs: For, a. The Churches of fo longtime were unworthy as well as-we. 2. We may kneelas low as the Dull ( and on our bare knees, ifwe pleafe) immediately before in praying for a blefling and for the pardon of ourfins,and as loon as we have done. ;. Man muff not by his own Conceits make thofe things neceffary to the Church, whichChrib and his Church fdr fo long thought unne- ceffary. 4. On this pretencewe might refufe the Sacrament it fell: for they are more unworthy to eat the Flefhof Chrift, and to drink his blood, than to fit at his Table. q. The Gofpel is Glad Tidings ; the Effe&sof it are Faith and Peace and Joy : the Benefits are to make us onewith Chrift, and to be his Spoufe and Mem- bers : the work of it is the joyful Commemoration of thefe Benefits, and living in Righteoufnefs, Peace andJoy in the Holy Ghoft : And the Sacramental Signs are fuch as fuit the Benefits and Duties. iftherefore Chrift have called us by his Ex- ample, and the Example of all hisChurch, to It with him at his Table to repre- fent our Union, Communion, and joyful redeemed State, and our everlabing fit- tingwith him at his Table in his Kingdom, it as little befeems us to rejeet this Mercy and Duty, becaufe of our Unworthinefs, as to be our own Lawgivers. And on the like Reafons men mightfay, ( I will not be united to thee, nor be a Memberof thy Body, or married to thee, nor fit with thee on thy Throne ( Rev. 2 r. ) according to thy Promife, becaufe it wouldbe too great fawcinefs in me]. Gofpel Mercies, 'and Gofpel Duties, and Signs, mutt be all fuited, and fo Chrift bathdone them, and we may not undo them. q. I muff profefs that upon fuch Confiderations , I am not certain that fitting is not of commandedNecefity (as I amPure it is lawful) ; nor am I certain that kneeling in the A&of Receiving, when done ofchoice, is not a flat fin. For I know it is not only againft Scripture Example ( where though Circumftances ap. patentlyoccafional bindnot, as anupper Room , &c. yet that's nothing to others ) but alfo it is againft the Canons ofCouncils, yea a General Council ( at Trull. in Conianrinople) and againft fò concurrent a Judgment and Pra&ice of the Church for many hundred years, that it Teems to fight with Vincentiar Lerieeenf. Catholick Rule, good limper, ubique & ab omnibus receprum, &c. Let them therefore juftifie kneeling as lawful that can, for I cannot; and therefore dare not do that which Thall be an owningof it, when we may freely do otherwife. í. Yet for all this, I fo much incline to Thoughts of Peace, and Clofure with others, that I will not fay that fitting is of neceilley, nor that kneeling is unlaw- ful (unlefs where other Circumftances make it fo) nor condenso any that differ from me herein : Yea, if I could not otherwife Communicate withthe Church in , the Sacrament, I would take it kneeling myfelf, as being certain that the Sacra- ment is a Duty,and not certain thit kneeling is a fin : and in that Cafe I believe it is not. 6. As for them that think kneeling a Duty, becaufe of the Canons of the late Bilhops enjoyning ir, I have more to fay agpmft their Judgment than this Paper will contain. Only in áword, t. If it be theSecular Powers eftablifhing, thole Canonsthat binds their Confciences, Why do they not obey the prefent Secular Powers inall other things ? It is known the King confented to relax this : And how- ever, this is little to themthat goon the Ground of Divine or Ecclefiafical Right,. Andif we muff foplunge our felves into Enquiries after the Rights of Secular Go- vernours, before we can knowwhether to band or let at the Sacrament, weare all uncertain what to do ingreater Matters : for there are as apparent grounds for our uncertaintyof five hundred years old and more , which this is no place to live into. And it wouldbe as unlawful on this ground to read any other Pfalmor Chapter, but what was of old appointed for the Day, as toforbear kneeling at the Sacrament. And perhaps on the Opponents grounds, it would be bill as fulfill to reftrain a Child or Servant fromDancing on the Lord's Day. And if it be Ec- clefiaftical Authority that they flick ar, that muli be derived from Chrift, and fo Originally Divine, or it is none. And then (not to wade fo unfeafonably into the
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