The whole treatise of the cases of conscience distinguished into three bookes: the first whereof is revised and corrected in sundrie places, and the other two annexed. Taught and deliuered by M. W. Perkins in his holy-day lectures, carefully examined by his owne briefes, and now published together for the common good, by T. Pickering Bachelour of Diuinitie. Whereunto is adioyned a twofold table: one of the heads and number of the questions propounded and resolued; another of the principall texts of Scripture vvhich are either explaned, or vindicated from corrupt interpretation.

Sect. 2.

The second Circumstance, is the Gesture. * 1.1 Concerning which it is demanded, what kind of gesture is to be vsed in praier? whe∣ther kneeling, standing, sitting, or the holding vp the hands, or head to heauen, or bowing the body to the earth?

Answ. God in his word hath not prescri∣bed any particular gesture of the body: and therfore our consciences are not bound to a∣ny in particular. Besides that, Religion stands not properly in bodily actions, and gestures. Yet touching gesture, the word of God giues certaine generall rules to be obserued in prayers, both publicke and priuate.

In Publicke praier, these rules of Gesture are prescribed. First, when publicke praier is made in the congregation, our gesture must alwaies be comely, modest, & decent. Secōd∣ly, all gesture vsed publickely, must serue to expresse, as much as may be, the inward hu∣mility of the hart without hypocrisie. Now these kinds are manifold. Some concern the whole body, as the bowing thereof, the ca∣sting of it downe vpon the ground; some a∣gaine concerne the parts of the body, as lif∣ting vp of the head, the eies, the hands, bow∣ing the knees, &c. Touching these, the scrip∣ture

hath not bound vs to any particulars; but in them all, we must haue regard, that they serue alway to expresse the humilitie of our hearts before God. Thus haue the Holy men of God behaued themselues; yea the Holy Angels standing before the Arke, doe couer their faces, in token of reuerēce of the maiestie of God, Esay. 6. 2. Thirdly, we must in publicke praier, content our selues to fol∣lowe the laudable fashion, and custome of that particular Church, where we are. For, to decline from customes of particular Church∣es, in such cases, often causeth scisme and dissensions.

In priuate praier, done in priuate and se∣cret places, there is more liberty. For in it we may vse any gesture, so it be comely, and de∣cent, and serue to expresse the inward humi∣lity of our hearts. An auncient writer is of o∣pinion, that it is an vnreuerent, and vnlawfull thing, to pray sitting. But both the learned before, in, and after his time, haue iudged his opinion superstitious; specially conside∣ring that Religion stands not in the outward gesture of the body, and it skills not much what that is, so the inward humility of a syn∣cere heart be expressed therby.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Of Gesture in prayer.