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. 10. Wee strengthen not Papists in their Ido∣latry, by our Kneeling at the Sacrament.

FInally, it may be obiected, that by introducing this gesture of Knee∣ling in stead of Sitting, vsed in our

Church before, wee strengthen our aduersaries in their idolatry, weaken the faith of our infirme brethren, and condemne those that reformed our Religion. Vnto the first I answere, that the Idolatry of Papists consist∣eth no more in Kneeling at the actiō of the Sacrament, then at the action of publike prayer: And as their Ido∣latry in praying standeth in this, that they direct their prayers, and bow their knees to the Saints and Idols whom they adore, and not to God: So in this Sacrament, their Idolatry is, the adoring and bowing of their knees to the Element of Bread, and not to their Sauiour, the Bread of Life. And therefore, as the bowing of our knees, when wee pray to God, confirmeth them not in their Idola∣try in praying to Saints, no more in this action doth the bowing of our knees to Christ, confirme their Idola∣try, in adoring the Bread: And so themselues esteeme, whose writings

are no lesse vehement against our Kneeling at the Sacrament, then a∣gainst our Sitting: for it is not the Kneeling, except it be before an Idol, (which God forbid wee should e∣steeme the Sacrament to bee) that maketh the worship Idolatrous: but the opinion, affection, and profession of the Idolaters, if they beleeue the Bread to bee God, and bee in their hearts affected, and deuoted to it as to God, and openly in the doctrine and profession, auouch it to be God. Then it being manifest, that by Knee∣ling, they worship it, their bread is an Idoll, and their Kneeling Idola∣trous: for an Idoll is not made by the operation of the hand, but by the o∣pinion of the heart, and confession of the mouth, that is, not by the crafts∣man, but the worshipper. By the con∣trary, the Bread which wee breake, and the Cup which we blesse, is not made an Idoll, when at the recei∣uing we bow our knees to God: Be∣cause

in our confession of faith, and in our publike Doctrine, in the thanksgiuing that goeth before our receiuing, and in our Exhortations we openly professe and affirme, that the Bread is not materially the Bo∣dy it selfe, but the Sacrament of the Body of Christ, that the Cup is not materially, the Bloud it selfe, but the Sacrament of the Bloud of Christ: And therefore that our adoration and Kneeling is erected to God and our Sauiour, who sitteth in Heauen at the right hand of the Father. And thus by our Kneeling, Idolaters are not confirmed▪ but confuted.