Ilifiory ofthe Puritans, ex°amsn'cí! I 37 ng afore the middes of the Altar, fhall fay the Lord's-Prayer, &c. And as to the Antiquity of the Word Altar, the late learned Mr. fohnfn * informs us, ' That Al- ' tar was the Name, by which the Holy Board was confiantly diftinguifh'd for Soo Years after Chrift ; during which Time, it does not appear, that it was ever above once call'd a Table : and that was in a Letter from Dionyfius of Alexandria, to Xyfius of Rome. Andwhen, in the Fourth Cen- ' tury, Athanafius call'd it a Table, he thought himfelf oblig'd to explain the Word, and let the Reader know, that by Table he meant Altar, that being the conftant and familiar Name.' For a further Defence of which, I refer the Reader to the t Margin. Neal, p. 258. The Court Clergy were vehemently fufpetted of an Inclination to Popery, becaufe of their fuperftitious bowing to the Altar, not only at the time ofDivine Service, but at their going in and out of the Church ; this was a Pralice unknown to the Laity of the Church ofEngland, before this time : but Arch- biJhop Laud introduc' it into the Royal Chappel at Whitehall, and recommended it to all the Clergy by his Example ; for when he went in and out of the Chappel, a Lane was always made to fee the Altar, and do Reverence to it. Archbifhop Laud defends his PraEtice very well in his Speech in the Star-Chamber, at the Trial of Bafwick, Burton, and Pryn. God forbid Mays he) that we fhould worfhip any Thing but God himfelf: For if to worship, when we enter into his Houfe, or approach his Altar, be an Innova- * Johnfon's Unbloody Sacrifice, Vol. I. p. Soo. + Dr. Pocklington's Altare Chriflianum, printed 1637. Dr. Reylin's Coal from the Altar, 1636. And his Antidotum Lin- colnienfe, 1637. Archbiíhop Land's Remains, Vol. II, p. 77, 78. Lion,
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