Against Idolatry and Superstition, Sermon 2 · Part 3
III. Kneeling at the Lords Supper.
THis is an Idol too, for it is contrary to the Institution, & to the second Commandment: Christ and his Apostles did use a Table gesture, and therefore so should we. For it is said, whilest they did eat, edentibus illis, Math. 26. 28. Ma…k. 14. 22. But if whilest they did eat, then also whil…st they did sit, for these two are conjoyned, Mark 14. 18. whilest they sate and did eat, and though they did not sit upright, but with leaning, yet it was the Table gesture then used in Feasts and Ba…quets; and uperth. A…sen b… proc…ed n… … 38if we sit according to the Custome of the Country where we live, we imitate aright, and it were apish imitation to sit otherwise, as it is indiff…ent to …se white wine, or r…d, the wine of Iudea, or the wine of France.
Objection, But we may pray in the act of receiving, therefore we may kneel.
Answ. Kneeling is not the only prayer gesture, for the publican stood and prayed, Luk. 18. 13. Though Moses and Samuel stood before me, Jer. 15. 1. The Prophet Elijah as it seemeth sate, 1 King. 18. 42. neither is prayer the principal exercise of the soul in the act of receiving, but rather meditation, the eye not only beholding, but the mind attending upon the Sacramental Elements and actions, making present use of them by meditation, upon the Analogy between the Signs, and the thing signified, in which, though the wP…rth. Assemb▪ page 52soul may send up short Ejaculations, and d…rts of prayer to Heaven, to strengthen her own weakness, yet this need not take her off from her principal work of meditation and application of the things represented in the Sacrament, neither doth Ejaculatory Prayer require any change of gesture.
Objection. But no gesture can be too reverend, great and reverend, dreadful mysteries, (saith one) must be received with great and dreadful humility of Soul, and humiliation of body.
Answ. Groveling upon the ground with their faces in the dust, is a more forlorn, dejected posture then kneeling. And therefore by this Argument they ought not to kneel, but rather to hide their faces in the dust. But the Apostle condemns voluntary humility, Col. 2. 18.▪ for it is no true humility, but hypocrisy and Superstition disguised with the name and vizard of humility. It is gross hypocrisy for us to pretend to more holiness, reverence, and devotion in the act of receiving then Christ himself, or then the Apostles did, when Christ himself was there bodily present with them, x…erth. Ass…mb. page 37we must follow the Example of Christ and his Apostles, except where they had special Reasons, which do not concern us: for the Apostle alleadgeth the Institution against all abuses, 1 Cor. 11. 23. and he propounds to us for imitation the Example and Custom of the primitive Churches, for those Churches were intended by Christ as patterns to succeeding Ages, 1 Cor. 11. 16. and 1 Cor. 14. 33. and 1 Cor. 16. 1. 2 Tim. 3. 14. there is sometimes in Superstitious persons a legal bondage, and slavery of Spirit, and this they take to be dreadful humility. But a Spirit of Adoption is more suitable to the Sacrament, then such a legal Spirit, and obedience is the best humility. That which comes nearest to the Rule and to the Institution, is the best and humblest way, and most accepted of the Lord. Peter it is like, though himself very humble, when he said to Christ, thou shalt never wash my feet, but it was a foolish and proud humility, and Christ reprov… and checks him sharply for it: therefore let kneelers take heed of such deceitful, proud humility. It is the manner of all Feasts and Banquets, even when Subjects are invited to a Princes banquet, they do not use to kneel while they are eating, but they sit down with Him, as David and Ionathan did at King Sauls Table. The Sacrament of the Passover was an holy Supper, and yet they did not kneel in the act of Receiving, though the Paschal Lamb was slain in manner of a real Sacrifice, and the slaughter of Beasts, and the shedding of blood was more dreadful then the pouring out of wine, but yet they were not wont to kneel at the Sacraments, and Sacrifices of the old Law.
It is a dangerous Symbolizing with the papists, who kneel before their breaden God. It gratifies and hardens them, by giving Countenance to that Errour, but grieves and offends many a precious Saint. And indeed it was the opinion of the bodily presence that brought in this Custom of kneeling, and to deny that, and yet to kneel, is such a piece of Idolatry and Contradiction that some of the Papists professed that they would be torn in pieces with wild Horses, rather then do it, if they did not believe that Christ is there bodily present. Costerus the Jesuite confesseth, that if the substance of bread remain, the Idolatry of the Papists zCosterus Echir. C…p 8: apud Am… …re…h Suit… part 1 pag… 521is more intollerable then the Egyptians was, in worshipping of an Ox, or a Crocodile.
And it is a going backward in Religion, for the first Reformers in the very dawning of the day did reject this Popish practise. aReexam… of 5 Articles of Faith pag… 1, 2Mr. Knox one of the first and chief Instruments of the Reformation in Scotland, calls the Cross in Baptism, and kneeling at the Lords Supper, diabolical Inventions, and being demanded by the Council of England, why he did not kneel? He answered, because Christs action was perfect, and it was surest to follow his example, and when they said, they were sorry to find Him of a mind contra…y to the Common order, He replied, and I am sorry that the Common order is contrary to Christs Institution. And in King Edwards time, in those first glimmerings and breakings forth of light, there is this Rule in the Book of Common Prayer, set forth in hisb Book o… Common Prayer anno 1549 fol 157 Time, Anno 1549. as touching, kneeling, knocking the breast, and other gestures, they may be used, or left, as every mans devotion serveth, which was a very necessary Indulgence for tender Consciences. And shall we be more violent in these Times of greater light, when we should be more tender, more light should work more love.