Chap. I. the H 1S T OR Yofthe Pular A ns, 44,E " received it from the immediate hand and perfon of Chrift himfelf. KingJames L " They (to be fure) had the corporal prefence of Chiift and yet did not r6 °s " kneel; why then fhould it be enjoined the church, when the corporal " prefence of Chrift is withdrawn? This has been thought an argument " of great force by our chief divines, as Calvin, Bollinger, Beza, Chem- " nitius, bi(hopPilkington, Wllet, and others, who declare ftrongly for " the pofture of fitting, or at molt ftanding at the communion. " Befides, kneeling at the facrament is of very late antiquity, and was " not introduced into the church till antichrift was in his full height; " the primitive chriftians (according to Tertullian) thought it unlawful " to kneel at prayer on the Lord's day ; and the firft council of Nice, " Ann. Dom. 327. made a folemn decree, that none might pray kneeling, " but only ftanding on the Lord's day, becaufe on that day is celebrated " the joyful remembrance of our Lord's refnrrection. To kneel is a geflure " of forrow and humiliation ; whereas he that praysfianding (hews him- " felf thankful for the obtaining fome mercy or favour. So that either " the primitive church ufed a geflure of greater reverence and humility at thefacrament, which is a feaft, and a joyful remembrance of the death " of Chrift, than they did at prayer, or elfe they received it in another " pofture. Befides, it is Paid, that the ancient councils commanded, that " no man fhouldkneel downat thecommunion, fearing it fhould be an occajion p. sg. " of idolatry. Mr. Fox fpeaking of the ufage of the primitive church fays, ,te-n and " they had the communion not at an altar, but at a plain table of boards, Man. p. rg. " when the whole congregation together did communicate, with reve- " rence and thankfgiving; not lifting over the prieft's head, nor wor- " (hipping, nor kneeling, nor knocking their breafts, but either fitting " at (upper, or (landing after (upper. Eufèbius (peaking of a man that I-II/t. Ere. " had been admitted to the communion, fays heflood at the table, and Lib. VII.. " put forth his hand to receive the holy food. And bi(hop jewel fays, cap. 8. " that in St. Bafil's days [ann. 380.1 the communion table was of boards, " and fo placed, that men might Hand round it, and that every man was " bound by an apoflolical tradition to(landupright at the communion. " ° Befides, the geflure of kneeling is contrary to the very, nature of the Lord's (upper, which is ordained to be a banquet and fign of that " fweet familiarity that is between the faithful and him, and of that fpiri- " tuai nouri(hment we are to receive by feeding on his body and blood by faith ; and in what nation is it thought decent to kneel at banquets ? " Where do men eat and drink upon their knees ? Further, the proper " difpofition of mind at the Lord's table is not fo muchhumility, as en- " rance offaith, and cheerful thankfulneffor the benefits of Chrift's death. " For thefe reafons, and becaufe kneeling at the facrament had an idola- " trous
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