A Defense of our Arguments Against Kneeling in Receiving the Lords Supper, Title page – To the reader
A DEFENCE OF OUR ARGUMENTS against kneeling in the act of receiving the Sacramentall elements of bread and wine impugned by Mr. Michelsone.
CYPRIANVS. lib. 2. epist. 3.
ET de hoc quoque ad collegas nostros literas dirigimus, vt vbique lex evangelica, & traditio dominica seruetur, et ab eo quod Christus et docuit, et fecit, non recedatur. Quae vltra iam contemnere, et in errore pristino perseuerare, quid aliud est, quam incurrere in objurgationem Domini.
Imprinted Anno. M D C XX.
DE CONSECRATIONE dist. 2. c. 3. Cyprianus Caecilio.
SEd vide frater charissime si quis de antecessoribus nostris vel ignoranter, vel simpliciter non hoc seruavit et tenuit, quod nos Dominus, et exemplo et magisterio suo docuit, potest simplicitati eius de indulgentia Domini venta concedi: nobis vero non poterit ignosci, qui nunc a Domino admoniti et instructi sumus.
BUt see, most dear brother, if any of our antecessours either through ignorance or simplicity, hath not kept, or holdē that which our Lord taught us, both by his example, and precept, his simplicitie may be pardoned of the Lords indulgence, but we cannot be pardoned, who are now admonished and instructed.
TO THE READER.
I Have found nothing (good Reader) in Mr. Michelsons confutation worthie of any answere, but that which is borrowed from D. Morton or D. Denison, and hath been already answered in Perth assemblie. What is his owne, is new, but so absurd, that just lie he hath deserved the change of his surname frō Michelsone to Nihilsone. The judicious Reader may finde as much in Perth assemblie untouched, as may serve for defence of that which he hath lightly touched: and may find further in the Solution of D. Resolutus his resolutions for kneeling. I have now added this defence of our reasons, not so much for reply to his confutation (for that was needlesse) as for illustration, and confirmation of that which hath been alreadie written in the two former, and to obviat such cavillations, as perhaps may be used by some other of our opposites. I will keep the same ordour, which our Antagonist hath set down̄e: howbeit he hath divided our arguments, to make them seeme the weaker, as Medea rent, and scattered the members of her brother, that ther by she might the more safely flee: which fault Peter Martyr objected to Gardinerus. His arguments for kneeling shal be answered in the defence of our reasons, as occasion shall offer … self: for his answers and arguments are all alike, and of equall strength. I will also, so farr as I may, eschew repetition of any thing already written in the two former treatises …ent this argument: yet so that this Defence shalbe, as I …ope, sufficient without them. Mr. Michelsone hath chosen a worthy Patron to his Pamphlet, my Lord of Scoone. The one keeped the doore sometime, when the other did execute the ordinance of the high Commission. Such …pps, such …tuce. He hath given so notable proofe of profound knowledge in Divinitie, and subtilitie in handling this controversie in this worthie work of his, that the Bishop of St. Andros, (a man as voyd of learning, as of good manners,) hath made him a Doctor. He hath been sorning at the Treasurers gates for his wages, but he will not rest contented, till he get that which he gapeth for, a fatt bishoprik, the hope wherof will sharpen the witt of very mules and asses, lett be of so fine a witt, as Doctor Michelson hath.
P. A. for Perth assemblie.
Sol. for Solution of Doct. Resolutus resolutions.