Euchologia: or, The doctrine of practical praying.: By the Right Reverend Father in God, John Prideaux, late Bishop of Worcester. Being a legacy left to his daughters in private, directing them to such manifold uses of our Common Prayer Book. As may satisfie upon all occasions, without looking after new lights from extemporal flashes.

CHAP. IV. Of External Ge∣stures beseeming Religious Devo∣tions.

HOwsoever Supersti∣tion, as praying in an unknown tongue upon Beads, before a Cruci∣fixe, or the like, be as wild Goards; * 1.1 that throwne in a∣mong good herbs makes the pottage deadly, yet a di∣stinction must be ever made between that and due reve∣rence. This is required not only of the mind, but also

of the Body. * 1.2 Moses and Jo∣shuah must put off their shooes when they approach near to have conference with God. Job, * 1.3 that was somewhat too forward upon his integrity, when the Lord had schooled him, was quickly brought to professe, that he abhorred himself, and repented in dust and ashes. And it may well be thought, that the heavy doome pronounced against the Intruder at the Kings Marriage Supper for his Son, * 1.4 without a Wedding garment, was especially inflicted up∣on him for his irreverence in that behalf. For would an earthly Prince endure a Tradesman invited by him to a Feast, to come regardless out of his shop, in his worst Apparrel, without respect of

the Person, or place, or honor of his Superiour, that vouch∣safed so much to owne him? Joseph must not be present∣ed to Pharaoh without trim∣ming, * 1.5 and changing his rayment. And what adoe was there with the Purifica∣tion of the Virgins, * 1.6 before they were thought fit to come into Ahasuerus his presence? To this purpose God himself lessoneth grie∣ved Aaron for the unexpect∣ed death of his two rash sons Nadab and Abihu, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified. It is a plot of Satan to brand due reverence of the body with the scandal of Supersti∣tion: Bowing at the name of Jesus, standing up at the

Creed; kneeling at the Recei∣ving of the Blessed Sacrament of the Lords Supper, must be held with some Superstitious, & to smel of Popery, as though it were too much for him that created the body aswel as the soul, to have the due reverence from both. And because Papists are too peevish in over acting, we should performe nothing at all. That mean therefore must be kept be∣tween warrantable Ceremonies and superstitious fooleries; that in detesting the one, wee prove not profane in the o∣ther. Herein our Church hath been very careful and judicious, in giving a reason of Ceremonies, in a Preface to our Leiturgy, why some be abolished, and some retain∣ed: which those that dislike,

will dislike any thing that comes not out of the forge of their owne fancies, and that most commonly (as our fashions) endures no longer then the starting up of a∣nother whimzy, whose no∣veltie takes more with the people; * 1.7 such clouds without water, fruitlesse trees, ra∣ging waves of the sea, foam∣ing out their owne shame, gifts without grace, shifts withont blushing, drifts with∣out the least touch of consci∣ence and Christianity, our late experience hath taught us how ruinous they prove to Church and Commonwealth. The smarts whereof should rather make us to recollect our selves, and recover that we have lost both in exter∣nal and internal Devotions,

then to proceed in such dan∣gerous wayes which in the end must needs undo us; for this falleth in with that of the Prophet, * 1.8 Because my peo∣ple have forgotten me, they have burnt Incense unto va∣nity, and they have caused them to stumble in their wayes from the ancient paths to walk in paths in a way not cast up, to make their Land desolate, and a perpetual hissing. E∣very one that passeth thereby, shall be astonished, and wag his head. But mark the issue if timely repentance prevent it not) I will scatter them as with an East wind before the enemy, I will shew them the back, and not the face in the day of their calamity. A∣mendment therefore for the present, and prevention for

the future, will prove at this time especially, more sea∣sonable, then complaints for that which is past, and can∣not be recalled.

That which the Apostle requireth, * 1.9 [Let all things be done decently and in order,] is of a large extent, and hath a more evident reflex in our devotions upon the outward postures of our body, then the inward affection of the mind.

Such Gestures therefore as these;

(1. Casting our eyes on the earth, and smiting our brests as unworthy to behold hea∣ven by reason of our false∣hearted exorbitancies.

2. Standing up at the Creed in token of our free profes∣sion of it, and resolution

ever to stand to it.

3. The lifting up of our eyes and hands to heaven, as to the Mercy-Seat of that only God, to whom only our prayers are to bee direct∣ed.

4 Strong cryes and tears, * 1.10 which make our Supplicati∣ons prevalent with him that puts them in his bottle, and is able to save us from death, provided they be as well meant, as they are oftentimes expressed.

5. Bowing of the head and body.

6. Kneeling on the knees.

7. Prostrating our whole body upon the earth;) have pattern and warrant in Scri∣pture, and may be used of us in our private or publick de∣votions, as variety of oc∣casions

shall be offered.

1 For casting down the eyes to the earth, as unwor∣thy to look on heaven, and smiting his brest, * 1.11 were the pe∣nitent Publicans postures, that went home more justified thereby, then the self-plea∣sing, vaunting Pharisee. 2. * 1.12 Phineas stood up and pray∣ed, therewith executing judg∣ment (the word bears both senses) and so the plague cea∣sed. * 1.13 Eglon the fat King of Moab had so much goodness in him, as to rise from his seat when he was to hear a Message from God. And may Christians hold it su∣perstitious to rise up reve∣rently when their Faith is to be professed? And Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost,

in acknowledgment of the blessed Trinity, to be given unto God?

3. Moses holding up his hands that purchased victo∣ry against Amalek: * 1.14 Davids practice and prayer, I have lift up mine eyes unto the hills from whence cometh my help. * 1.15 And let the lifting up of my hands be as the eve∣ning sacrifice. Our Saviours confirmation in that excellent prayer for his disciples, [These things spake Jesus, * 1.16 and lift up his eyes to heaven, and said] are uncontrollable patterns for the lifting up of our eyes and hands to God in prayer. 4. And he that obser∣veth Davids watering his couch with tears by night, * 1.17 and mingling his drink with weeping by day: * 1.18 Jeremies

wishing his head to be a foun∣tain of tears: * 1.19 St. Peters bit∣ter tears, * 1.20 and Marie's bath of tears for our Saviours feet, and towel of her locks, to wipe them, must acknow∣ledge that tears with prayer, make a happy mixture to procure pity from him who shed tears over Jerusalem, and wept in compassion with the sisters, * 1.21 that lamented their dead brother Lazarus. [ 5] For bowing the knees and bo∣dy; that humble posture of the afflicted Israelites, when they received the hopefull message of their deliverance, may be a lending case to bee imitated, when they heard that the Lord had visited the children of Israel, and that he had looked upon their affli∣ction: Then they bowed

their heads (saith the Text) and worshiped. * 1.22

And what can be the mea∣ning of that prohibition from falling down, and wor∣shiping images, or any other similitudes in the second com∣mandment? but that God hath retained unto himself, such a religious worship of the body.

[ 6] Those that make scruple of such kneeling in prayer, must needs set themselves a∣gainst that solemne procla∣mation of the King of hea∣ven; I have sworn by my selfe, the word is gone out of my mouth in righte∣ousnesse, * 1.23 and shall not return; That unto mee every knee shall bow, and e∣very tongue shall swear; The same posture, when we find

allowed to our Saviour in∣carnate [that at, * 1.24 or in the Name of Jesus, every knee should bow, of things inheaven, and things on the earth, and things under the earth] con∣firmeth the Onenesse of the Son with the Father; which novellists now question, and make it their glory to cavil at, where confutation is impos∣sible. * 1.25 Solomon (with these now masters) for kneeling on his knees, and spreading of his hands toward heaven, in his dedication prayer of the Temple, * 1.26 shall be held unwise. Daniel, for praying on his knees three times a day, shall be scarce thought worthy to be beloved. And Saint Paul might save his labour for bowing his knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus * 1.27

Christ, in the behalfe of the Ephesians, because sitting (as many doe at Sermons with their heads covered) would be farre more easie, and in those mens discipline, doe as well.

And last of all, [ 7] when I find my Saviour falling on his face, * 1.28 and praying [O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup passe from me; never∣thelesse not as I will, but as thou wilt.] I should hold him far from superstition, that in time and place, and where it may be fitly performed, shall pro∣strate his whole body, or doe more (if it were possible) put his face between his knees (as Elias did on mount Carmel) in adoring him in whose book are all our mem∣bers written, * 1.29 and day by day

were fashioned when there was yet none of them. * 1.30 With great judgment therfore is the 95 Psalm, set in the fore front of our leiturgy, as a preface to the ensuing devo∣tions; wherein that passage [O come let us worship & fal down and kneel before the Lord our maker] consorting with that in the 132. [we will go into his Tabernacle, we will fall low before his footstoole] should shame the irreverent behavi∣our of too many in the house of prayer; which Turks and Infidels would hold abomi∣nable to be used in their I∣doll Temples. Moreover (wherein women most of∣fend) Gods house is not a place for the displaying of plaited hair, * 1.31 or wearing of gold, or putting on of apparel,

or out-vying one another, in more then the 24 fashions of the daughters of Sion, (taxed particularly by the prophet) but for meek and quiet spirits, * 1.32 to humble themselves before God, to set forth his most worthy praise, to hear his most holy word, and to aske those things that be requisite as well for the body as the soule. And that is not to be slighted, * 1.33 which the Apo∣stle reproves in the Corinthian Assemblies; that men presu∣med to pray with their heads covered, and women, with their heads uncovered. I would have you (my daugh∣ters) so to look to your feet, when you enter into the hous of God, that your devotions through irreverent unseemli∣nesse, prove not the sacrifice of fools.

It was the modesty & humility of some of your fore-mothers not to seat themselves in the Church, before they had performed a reverent respect to the Minister then officia∣ting: which howsoever the high spirits of these times hold derogatory to their greatnesse; yet the Son of God will take it as done to himself, if it be done to the meanest of his, * 1.34 for his sake: And the B. Virgin his mo∣ther will informe the state∣liest, that God will exalt the meek and humble, when the mighty shall be put down from their seat, * 1.35 and the rich sent empty away. This submisse and religious deportment of the body in Gods worship, hath been too shamefully negle∣cted amongst us; surely

such, that slight Gods Mini∣sters so much, would hardly be induced to wash their Ma∣sters feet with their tears, * 1.36 and wipe them with their curled locks; but those that have ears to hear will hear.

1. Bowing of the head. And,

2. The body to the earth. * 1.37

3. Kneeling.

4. Prostration or falling on the face.

5. Lifting up of the eyes to heaven.

6. And spreading forth the hands to the same place: * 1.38 as also,

7. Smiting of the brest with the penitent publican, are postures of the body warranted to be used by precept and practice, * 1.39 out of the word of God; which

if they were seasonably and devoutly frequented more of us, * 1.40 in our private and pub∣lick prayers, according to the example of our religious predecessors, * 1.41 would better then any Jewish phylacteries, or fringes, put us in mind of the weight of the business we are about, set an edge on our dulnesse, * 1.42 and stirre up others to offer violence (as it were) and take by force the king∣dome of heaven; * 1.43 but this sa∣cred fervency will meet with many Impediments to be considered in the next place.

Notes

• * 1.1

  2 Kin. 4.40
• * 1.2

  Exod. 4.5. Josh. 5.15.
• * 1.3

  Job 42.6.
• * 1.4

  Mat. 22.13
• * 1.5

  Gen. 41.74
• * 1.6

  Esth. 2.12.
• * 1.7

  Jude.
• * 1.8

  Jer. 18.15 16, 17.
• * 1.9

  1 Cor. 14.40
• * 1.10

  Heb 5.7.
• * 1.11

  Luk. 18.13
• * 1.12

  Ps. 106.30
• * 1.13

  Judg. 3, 26
• * 1.14

  Exod. 17.11.
• * 1.15

  Psal. 123.1 Psal. 141.2
• * 1.16

  Joh. 17.1.
• * 1.17

  Psal. 6.6.
• * 1.18

  Psal. 102.4.
• * 1.19

  Jer. 9.11.
• * 1.20

  Luk. 7.38.
• * 1.21

  Luk. 19.41 Joh. 11.35.
• * 1.22

  Exod. 4.31.
• * 1.23

  Isa. 45.23
• * 1.24

  Phil. 2.10.
• * 1.25

  1 King. 8.54
• * 1.26

  Dan. 6.10.
• * 1.27

  Ephes. 3.14
• * 1.28

  Matth. 26.39
• * 1.29

  1 King. 18.24.
• * 1.30

  Psal. 139.16.
• * 1.31

  3 Pet. 3.3
• * 1.32

  Isai. 3.16
• * 1.33

  1 Cor. 11.
• * 1.34

  Matth. 10.41
• * 1.35

  Luk. 1.52.
• * 1.36

  Luk 7.38.
• * 1.37

  Gen. 24.26 52 Psal. 9 6.
• * 1.38

  Mat. 26.39 Jo. 17.1.
• * 1.39

  1 King. 8.22.
• * 1.40

  Luk. 18.13
• * 1.41

  Mat. 23.6
• * 1.42

  Deut. 6.8.
• * 1.43

  Jam. 5.16. Mat. 11.12