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. II. The Kneeling offendeth not the weake Brethren.

AS for our weake brethren, it is not the introduction of Knee∣ling that maketh them to offend, of whom I haue heard many affirm, that there is no gesture that can sufficient∣ly expresse the reuerence and respect that in this action they owe to God: If patiently wee can abide to heare the truth, the verity is, there is nothing that giueth such offence to the people, as our contentions a∣mongst our selues, while we pretend the offence of the people. When they see Cephas incensed against Paul, and Paul against Cephas, Pastor a∣gainst Pastor, for Sitting and Knee∣ling; what can the simple people thinke, but that in these Ceremonies the substance of Religion consisteth,

and that the change of these is the al∣teration of Religion, seeing we make so much adoe about them? If we did informe our people, as our duty is, that the Kingdome of God is nei∣ther in Sitting, Standing nor Knee∣ling, but that these are indifferent Ceremonies, that may bee vsed and not vsed; vsed in some Churches, and not vsed in others; vsed in some ages, and not vsed in others; vsed by some persons, and not vsed by o∣thers; as may serue best for edificati∣on: That the reformed Church of France that Standeth, when they re∣reiue the Sacrament, differeth not in any substantiall point of Religion, from our Church that Sate; and the Church of England that Kneeleth, differeth not from the Church of France, nor vs when we Sate, and they stood: And therefore that now when we shall Kneele, wee shall differ no∣thing from our selues, when we Sate, in any substantiall and necessarie

point or Ceremony, that belongeth to this sacred action. If this wee would informe the people, and cease from contention, there would be no scandall taken by them. Caluin. Inst. lib. 4. cap. 10 sect. 30. God would not (saith the learned Diuine) in externall Ceremonies and Discipline prescribe particularly what we ought to follow, be∣cause he foresaw, that to depend from the condition of times, neither did he iudge one forme agreeable to all ages. Heere then (saith he) wee must flye to the gene∣rall rules, which God hath giuen, that according to them may be defined what∣soeuer the necessity of the Church requi∣reth to bee appointed for order and de∣cency. Finally, seeing God hath set downe nothing expresly, because they are nei∣ther necessary to saluation, and are di∣uersly to be applyed to the manners of e∣uery age, and for the edification of the Church: It is lawful, as the vtility of the Church shall require, as well to change and abrogate those that haue beene in

vse, as to appoint new Ceremonies. I con∣fesse indeed, that we should not run rashly and for light motiues to nouation: but what may hurt, & what may edifie, cha∣rity can best iudge: Quam si moderatricē partiemur, salua erunt omnia. Which charity if we can suffer to be modera∣trix, all things shal be in safety and go well. The same Author immediately before speaking of Kneeling, saith, that in the generall, it is commanded by God, but the speciall determination when and where, and in what cases it is to be vsed, is left to the arbiterment of the Church. If the vse of this Cere∣mony, which is appointed by God himselfe, be left to the determination of the Church, shall Standing or Sit∣ting be exempted from their iudge∣ment, Ceremonies that are not pre∣scribed by God? It is true, that for Standing wee haue some examples, but no rule nor precept, except it bee for the Priests Standing at the Altar, when he did offer the Sacrifice. In

the publike worship of God, such as sacrificing and praying, I find not Sitting to haue been vsed. As for the Passeouer, it was sacrificed publike∣ly, but was eaten in priuate houses, as another ordinary supper, whereat for commodity and ease, they were ac∣customed to Sit. Moses, when he was wearie of Standing, Exod. 17. 12. was set on a Stone. Heere the Cere∣mony giueth place to Charity, and the seruice was not ordinary, but mi∣raculous and extraordinary, 1. Kings 19. 4. Elias likewise being wearie, did sit downe vnder a Iuniper Tree, vbi expetebat cum animo suo: Tremelli∣us interprets Secum, where he desired in his heart to dye, and said, It is e∣nough, Lord, take my soule. This pray∣er is made in a secret place, and see∣meth to haue been a priuy Meditati∣on, 2. Samuel 7. 18. Our Translation hath, that Dauid went in, and Sate be∣fore the Lord. The Marginall note hath, remained. 1. Chronicles 17. 16.

Tremellius translateth the word Resti∣tit, and noteth in the Margent, Con∣sedit Catachresis. And wee know the word to bee often taken for Manere, to remaine: This gesture of Sitting, neuer commanded and neuer, or very seldome practised in Gods publike worship; must bee far more subiect to the Iudgement of the Church, and the power that she hath to abrogate and change Ceremonies (as Caluin saith) then Kneeling. And yet wee finde, the Primitiue Church to haue discharged the vse of Kneeling at Prayer on the Lords Day, and on e∣uery day from Pasche till Whit-sun∣day, and in stead thereof to haue ap∣pointed Standing. If after this man∣ner the Church might haue lawfully interchanged Kneeling, a gesture or∣dained by God himselfe, with Stan∣ding, touching the which there is no precept: How much more may our Church interchange Sitting, a ge∣sture neuer cōmanded in any publike

Act of Diuine worship, with Knee∣ling, a gesture comanded by God, and most agreeable to this Sacra∣ment in euery respect, without gi∣uing of Scandall, either to Pastor or people?