Concerning the Unlawfulness of Common Prayer Worship, Question 2
I Proceed now to the Second Enquiry,
VIZ.
VVhat Reason have you to Scruple the Lawfulness of laying the Hand on the BIBLE, and Kissing the Book in Sivearing?
I Answer briefly.
1. We do not find in the Scripture that the Lord's Servants were wont to Swear after that Manner.
There we read of Lifting up the Hand in Swearing, which is like lifting up the Hands or Eyes in Prayer, a natural sign of Worship. To lift up the Hand to Heaven is a proverbial Expression of a solemn Oath, Gen. 14. 22. Ezek. 20. 23. Rev. 10. 5. In many Nations they used this gesture. The Judges in France say to Him that is to Swear, Lift up your Hand, except it be an Ecclesiastick Person, and they bid him put his hand to his Breast. The Romans of old, so the Italians and Spaniards, have used to lift up the Finger when they Swear solemnly.
I cannot justifie the practice of the Germans, who in taking an Oath, lift up three Fingers, as thereby intimating, that they invoke the Sacred Trinity.
2. Laying the hand on the Book is a symbolizing with Popish Idolaters, and Superstitious Jews.
This Ceremony is immediately derived from the Papists, who are wont as they lay the hand on the Book in Swearing, to say, So help me God and these holy Evangelists, which is gross Idolatry; and it is not much better when it is said, So help you the Contents of this Book. The judicious Rivet, in Psal. 24. p. 308, 309. wisheth that custom of touching the Book, were not at all used: He saith, The abuse of it by Idolaters, makes it to be a Ceremony not fit to be retained as an indifferent thing: See him also in Gen. 24. Exercit. 110. p. 541.
Some have observed, that the Jews when an Oath was to be Administred, did produce either the Book of the Law, or of the Psalms, or some other sacred thing.
And that Superstition of theirs has given occasion to the Papists to bring either the Holy Evangelists, or else some Sacred Relique, and set it before him that is to swear, thereby to stir up his dull mind to the more Reverence and Religion.
Pareus saith expresly, That it is Popish Superstition, for men in taking an Oath to touch the Gospel with their fingers. Comment. in Gen. 24. 2.
3. Kissing in a Religious way is a gesture of Adoration.
When 'tis said, Psalm 2. 12. Kiss the Son, the meaning is, Worship Him: Job saith, he did not when he beheld the Sun and the Moon Kiss his hand, Chap. 31. Verse 26, 27. because Idolaters not being able to reach the Sun, in token of Adoration were wont to Kiss their hands, as many Learned men have out of Tertullian, Pliny and others truly noted. The Worshippers of the Calves at Dan and Bethel kissed them, 1 Kings 19. 18. Hos. 12. 2. And so did the Heathen Idolaters, kiss their Images, a sign of Worship. Minutus Felix Reports, That Caecilius kissed the Image of Serapis, thereby testifying his Veneration and Adoration of that false God: Cicero tells us, that the worshippers of Hercules, had by their frequent kissing of his Statue, caused it to be much worn.
And from the Heathen have the Papists learned to Kiss their Images, yea and to Kiss the Book too. For the Priest in Celebrating the Mass, is not onelyonly to Kiss the Altar nine times, but he must also take the Book of the Gospel and Kiss it. This is Clearly to worship a Book; and so to give unto a Creature that Honour which is due to God alone.
The most Learned Voetius, in his Disputation, de Superstitione, p. 156. writeth against this practice: And whereas some have objected, that Dr. Ames in his Cases, and in his fresh Suit against Ceremonies, has pleaded for this Ceremony; Voetius saith, that what Ames speaks, is rather an Excuse than an Approbation of that Practice.
Mr. Burroughs on Hosea 13. 2. observes, that it is false Worship, to give Religious Respect to any Creature, whatever the Creature be, by kissing as well as by bowing to it: And (saith he,) I know no reason why a Book may not be set up to bow to, as well as to be kissed in taking an Oath.
That Searching and Acute Divine, Dr. Thomas Goodwin, has sometimes professed, that of all the Ceremonies, he looked upon that of Kissing the Book in Swearing to be the most Idolatrous and Abominable, and that he often wondred that it had been no more witnessed against.
And now Sir, you have my Thoughts concerning both your Questions; and you see the grounds I go upon: If you judge that any of your Friends will receive Light and Confirmation in the Truth thereby; you may privately Communicate what I have written to you, only let my Name (which can add no Authority to the Truth) be concealed: So I commend you to the Grace of Christ, praying that his Holy Spirit may lead us into all Truth.
FINIS.
End of the text · Increase Mather, Concerning the Unlawfulness of Common Prayer Worship (1689)