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

SECT. 3. An Obiection taken from the common Table-gesture, answered.

IT may bee replyed, that seeing there is a materiall Table whereon very bread, and very wine are set, and seeing we eate that bread, and drinke that wine externally, as wee doe other bread and other wine, why should we not vse that same externall Gesture that wee vse at other com∣mon-Tables, as most decent for the outward action? I answere, first, there is a great difference be∣twixt eating and drinking, and the Gesture and Sitting of body, that men vse when they eate and drinke: Eating and drinking are naturall ac∣tions,

in stead whereof, no other action can bee vsed in receiuing meate and drinke, but the gesture is Moral, and voluntary, and change∣able, according to the custome of Times, Places, and Persons, and the nature of the action, wherein it is vsed: and therefore although wee eate and drinke externally at this Ta∣ble, as we doe at other tables, be∣cause wee can eate and drinke no o∣ther way, it will not follow that wee should vse no other gesture, then that which we vse at other tables, if the nature and qualitie of this Table require another Gesture then that which is common, seeing the Ges∣ture is voluntary, and may, and should be altered, as the nature of the action requireth. Next, I answer, that although the Bread and Wine bee materially the same with com∣mon bread and wine, yet after the Consecration they are no more for∣mally the same; that is, they are to

be esteemed no more for common food, but for the mysticall symbolls of the Bodie and Bloud of the Lord. And as for the Table, in matter and forme is like other tables, but in vse differeth, as farre as a spirituall Table from a carnall, a celestiall from a terrestriall: And who knoweth not, that our manners and gestures must bee composed, neither accor∣ding to the matter, nor forme of the Table, but according to the vse wherefore it is appointed? For what is the cause when men come to the table of Exchange, for to receiue money, that they vse other forme and gesture then at a table appoin∣ted for meate? Is it because they differ in matter and shape? No ve∣rily, but because the vse is different: Therefore at these wee vse such ges∣tures, and motions, as is meete for receiuing of money; at this, such as are most commodious for easing of our bodies, and receiuing of

meat: Euen so, our gesture at this sacred Table, whereon our spirituall food is set and presented, is not to bee proportioned to the matter and forme of the Table, which is com∣mon; but to the vse wherefore it is appointed: that is, to the giuing and receiuing of the sacred Mysteries, and the communion of the Bodie and Bloud of the Lord Iesus, which thereby are offered and deliuered to all worthy receiuers. To this diuine and holy vse, as all our manners, behauiour, and carriage should bee framed, so should the Gesture and position of our bodies bee; Other∣wise if any man thinke that wee should vse the same gesture & man∣ners at this Table, that are decent to bee vsed at other Tables: What is the cause that at this Table wee vse no speech nor conference one with another, but in silence meditate with our selues? Why sport we not, nor are merry, but carry a modest and

graue countenance? Why are our heads bare, and not couered? What is the cause that wee touch nothing presented on this Table, before that it be offered vnto vs? Take nothing before we be commanded? Neither eate nor drink before we bee instruc∣ted what to eate and drinke, and for what end? Why are all our maners, rites, and gestures vsuall at other Ta∣bles, so changed at this? Why is this silence, this grauity, this medi∣tation, the reuerence of the bare∣head, this abstinence from touching, from taking, from eating, from drinking, before the offer, the com∣mand & word of instruction? Why? Because the vse of this Table being meerely Religious, Spirituall and Diuine, is so farre different from the vse of other Tables: For heere, be∣sides the materiall Table that the eye of the bodie sees, there is another spirituall Table that should be obiec∣ted to the minde, and beside the ex∣ternall

elements and other celestiall and eternall food, which thy heart should perceiue. These are but 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the symbolicall vestures wherein Christ is wrapped vp; but that is Christ himselfe, his Bodie and his Bloud; therefore is it that we feare, or should feare, to touch the sacred things, before our hand and our mouthes be sanctified by that diuine Precept, Take, eate, and drinke yee all hereof, and to receiue, before our mindes and hearts bee prepared and sanctified with knowledge and faith, by the Sacramentall word, This is my Body that is broken for you, This cup is the new Testament in my Bloud, &c. Doe this in remembrance of mee: By the which word the vaile is remo∣ued, the Mysterie is opened vp, the garments and symbolicall vestures are taken away, Christ is made na∣ked, and is exposed as really to the eye of our minde, and to faith, the

hand of our heart, as the sacred symbols are to our externall senses. The respect therefore that is due to him who is the spirituall Table, and the bread of Life, whom the hid man of the heart sees and perceiues there really present, makes all our deuotion and religious reuerence; for this respect a choyce is made, not of a common, but of a sacred time & place for this actiō; for this respect we come fasting, preferring our spirituall food to our naturall: for this respect all our manner and carriage is holy and reuerend. What then? Shall wee esteeme Sitting a common Ta∣ble-gesture, and therefore dis-con∣forme to all the rest of our carriage, that is sacred, more decent for this heauenly Table, then Kneeling, a Religious gesture, and therfore most conforme both to the nature of the Table, and to all the rest of our Re∣ligious manner and behauiour, that wee vse thereat?