The reasons of a pastors resolution, touching the reuerend receiuing of the holy communion: written by Dauid Lindesay, D. of Diuinitie, in the Vniuersitie of Saint Andrewes in Scotland, and preacher of the gospell at Dundy

THE EPILOGVE.

THen to conclude this point, wee see the gesture vsed by our Saui∣our to bee vncertaine, and that there∣fore no necessarie imitation can bee founded thereon. Moreouer, that it cannot be more necessary (although it were certaine) then the rest of the circumstances of Time, Place, and Order.

First, because it was occasioned, as these, by the Paschall Supper.

Secondly, because it hath the na∣ked example of Sitting, or rather of lying, without any practice follow∣ing thereon, which the rest of the circumstances haue, and notwith∣standing are not thought to bee ne∣cessarie.

Thirdly, because the example of the Apostles can no more enforce a necessitie for the gesture of Sitting, then for the externall habit and pre∣paration

wherewith they receiued the Sacrament, videlicet, of bare and cleane washed feet, which is a more significant Ceremonie, and hath better warrant in Scripture then Sitting.

Fourthly, because Christs exam∣ple can import no greater necessitie for the vse of Sitting, in one part of the action then another; and our practice prooues, that wee thinke it not necessarie to bee obserued in all the parts: for in one wee Stand, in one wee Kneele, and in one we com∣mand the people to Sit.

Fifthly, because it is no more ne∣cessary to bee obserued by the peo∣ple, then by the Pastor: And our practice sheweth that wee thinke it not needfull to bee vsed by the Pas∣tor, who most commonly receiueth Standing.

Sixthly, if wee esteeme not all to be necessary, which our Sauiour is mentioned expresly to haue done, as

to giue thankes, and to blesse twice, first, the Bread, and then the Cup; much lesse shold we think Sitting to be necessarie, wherof nothing is men∣tioned in the Institution: and there∣fore cannot be necessary at all, see∣ing all things necessarily belonging to the Sacrament, are so fully con∣tained in the doctrine of the Institu∣tion, set downe by Paul, and the Euangelists, that it were great temerity to affirme any thing to bee lac∣king.