A defence of the innocencie of the three ceremonies of the Church of England viz. the surplice, crosse after baptisme, and kneeling at the receiuing of the blessed Sacrament. Diuided into two parts: in the former whereof the generall arguments vrged by the non-conformists; and, in the second part, their particular accusations, against these III. ceremonies seuerally, are answered, and refuted. Published by authoritie.

SECT. XXXI. The first opinion of Romish Relatiue worship, and our difference from it.

Some Romanists are produced, by Bell. to hold only this

respect in their worship, by an Image; namely,* 1.1 to fall downe Before it, and By it, and In it, to honour the person that is represented thereby: which opinion he attributeth vnto Alexander, Durand, and A••pho••sus de Castro: vnto whom Suarez the Iesuit adioyneth Hel••••t,* 1.2 and Picus Mi∣randula. Amongst these, Durand may speake for the rest. This kind of wo••ship of an Image (saith ••e) is but improper∣ly and abusiuely so called, because, by the image, we haue a re∣membrance of the person; wh••ch is worsh••pped as well in the presence of the Im••ge, ••s if he w••re real••y present.

This opinion, among many other intollerable con∣ceits of the Papists, about their relatiue worship, seemeth most tollerable; and yet I may aske any ingenuous man, whether he euer heard (I do not say our Church, but) any ••pproued Doctor therin, teach, that we do, or ought to Kneele before the Sacrament; that By it, or In it, we may personally worship Christ, as if he were re••lly present.

But you peraduenture will aske me, what is then the respect, that we haue to Christ in this receiuing? Haue patience a while, vntill we shall come to this point; & be not too hasty to vrge vs, to deliuer all at once. It is a dan∣gerous thing for men to gallop in rough & rocky waies.* 1.3

For the present, be content to know, that whereas the Papist doth directly prostrate himselfe to the Crucifix or Image, with an opinion of holines and efficacy in that ob∣iect, to make his prayers more acceptable; and therefore hath some cōfidence In-it, & by-it, to be more easily heard of God: this cannot but be exceedingly superstitious. But our Kneeling is not so directed, that either In h••c ob∣iecto, vel per illud, we may be more acceptable, but we vse it, tanquàm obiectum à quo, that vpon sight of this Sa∣crament, as a visible Word, (euen as at the hearing of the audible words of Gods booke) our hearts may be

moued to a spirituall contemplation of God, and of Christ, vnto whom we pray. The Papists adoration is somewhat Inhaesiuè in obiecto, or adhaesiuè per obiectum; but ours is, abstractiuè, ab obiecto. Thus much of the first manner of Relatiue Worship.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Bellar. l. 2 de Imag. Sanct. c. 20.
• * 1.2

  Su••r. Tom. 1. in Thom. q••ae••t. 2•• di∣s••u. 54. ••ect. 3.
• * 1.3

  B••ll••rm. Ce∣remoniae ••on∣sunt re•• in∣differentes, sed sunt ••es vtiles, merito∣riae, & pars quaed••m cul••∣••us diuini. lib. 2. de effect∣••ac••am c. 31. ••••ct. Quint••▪ ••rop.