A defence of our arguments against kneeling in the act of receiving the sacramentall elements of bread and wine impugned by Mr. Michelsone

Defence of our sixth Argument.

KNeeling taketh away the resemblance of a 〈◊〉〈◊〉: because ••h••t guests invited to a banket kneele not in the act of ba••ketting no not at the banket of a Prince. It is called a Supper, and in what respect it is so called, we have alreadie declared in the defence of the second Argument. Hee saith that the analogie betwixt the two feasts standeth chiefly in eating, drinking and making merry. It is standeth chiefly and not onely in th••se, he reasoneth not to the purpose. He discourseth upon the perpetu∣all feast which a Christian hath inwardly, and of that glorious and solemne feasting in heaven, which is not doubted of. He saith, that there is great difference betwixt the spirituall feast of the Sacrament, and a common corporall banket; this also is not de••yed. He saith, hee who entertaineth▪ us at this banket is not a man, or earthly Prince, but God and man▪ and his enter∣tainement is spirituall serving for the soule, that bee giveth himselfe to be the food of the soule; that Calv••n will have us to think it the Supper of the Lord, and not of men. All this is true; and hath been already an∣swered in the two former Treatises d We acknowledge both the Giver and the Gift, but beside we acknowledge, that honour whereunto hee hath advanced us, that so great a Prince will entertaine us, not as ser∣vants

any longer, but as friends; and this advancement he hath expressed in the Sym∣bolicall Supper, representing our spirituall advancement at the spirituall Supper. Hee who inviteth us, it is true, is not a simple man, like an earthly Prince, but God and Man; but that setteth forth the greatnesse of our dignity. The food whereon we feed is not earthly, it is true, but that ministreth matter of greater joy to us. But the manifesta∣tion of his will and pleasure, is not to be obstued in the outward resemblance of the feast, seeing it hath pleased his Majestie to set forth his neerenesse and communion with us by the formes of feasting. In the old Law, the Lord sate between the Cheru∣bines, and eat of the sacrifice (to speak af∣ter the manner of men) at his Table, to wit, the Altar, which is so called, Malach. ••▪ 12. Ezech. 41. 22. and the people eat of the remaines of the peace-off••ings before the Lord at their Tables. Christ God and Ma•• set forth our spirituall feasting, and commu∣nion with him in the forme of a feast also yea, hee took a part of the Paschall feast and translated it to that use. Whatsoever bee the excellency of the spirituall feast the outward resemblance thereof being s•••• forth, under the forme of a banket, ••o•• under the Law and under the Gospell, gesture competent to the outward resem∣blance should be chosen; Kneeling was ne∣ver used in any nation to this purpose. It to be observed also, that their Argument smell greatly of reall presence, or of a g••n••∣rative

force, and vertue in the Sacraments. They speak, as if we had never received Christs body, but when we receive the Sa∣crament, and as if Christs body were pre∣sent. The holy Mysteries, saith e Iewel, doe not begin, but rather continue and confirme this in∣corporation. As soon as ever we began to beleeve Christs body was given to us. The Symbols when they are added to the Word, while the Mysteries are celebrated, I doubt not, saith f Martyr, serve very much for assurance; for they seale the promises. But that they make Christ more present to us, then hu Word and Pro∣mises doe, I utterly deny. Christ hath set down a forme, how we should conforme our ges∣ture at this Feast, to wit, according to the sacramentall manner of taking, which is common to all. The spiritual is proper to the faithfull. See more of this Argument, in the answer to Doct. Resolutus.

Notes

• d

  P. A. pag. 54. •• Sol. pag. 22, 25. 27.
• e

  Reply to Harding art. 1, p. 136.
• f

  Contra Gardin. col. 735. edit. Ba∣sil. 1581. Tamen illa Christum no∣bis praesentë mag••s consti∣tuere, quant verba, aut promissiones constanter pernego.
• (g) pag. 22. 23. 24.