gain in that posture, whether it was before, or at, or after the Administration of the New Sacrament. For after the Paffover-Supper, our Lord fpent much time in the upper Room with his Disciples; fome, in inftituting this Mystery; fome, in giving hints to Judas, and in difcovering the Treachery of his Heart by degrees: Some, in difcourfing upon the neceffary Virtue of Humility; fome in comforting the Spirits of his forrowful Retinue; fome in teaching them Love and Charity; fome in Prayer; and fome in finging an Hymn before they departed. Now we cannot certainly tell what particular point of time it was, yet St. John and his Fellow-Difciples lay upon their Pallets the second time; and therefore it is not evident, whether they communicated of the Symbols of their Master's Paffion, in that Recumbent pofture or no.

Some a

gain are of Opinion, that the Disciples received the Sacrament in a Standing pofture; because the Jews were wont to ftand when they Blessed, and gave Thanks to God; and they were acts of Worship which the Lord Jefus performed at the Institution of this Ordinance; and therefore he might perform them perhaps after the accustomed manner: but ftill this is only Opinion and Probability; it is not

certain

certain, because the Scripture gives us no account of it; 'tis altogether filent as to this matter; and therefore we dare not (we must not) define pofitively, or fubscribe to the truth of it. Upon the fame (and poffibly better) reafons, what if fome fhould affirm, that the Disciples received in a kneeling pofture? I know the notion will seem to be new; but yet it seems to be built upon as fair an Hypothefis, as any of the former; at least that they communicated in an Adoring and Worshipping manner. This I am fure of, that there are as fubftantial and certain grounds for this opinion, as for any of the reft: This plainly appears, that divers Perfons being furprised with a sudden apprehenfion of our Saviour's dignity, of the greatnefs of his Power, did (after the accustomed manner in that Country) fall down before his Feet, fo that St. Peter himself did it, upon the miraculous Draught of Fish, Luke 5. And why might not all the Difciples do this, at his institution of the Blessed Sacrament (which he told them was the reprefentation of his own Flesh and Blood) efpecially after he himself had Preached unto them a Lecture of Humility, when he had washed their Feet Indeed, the Sacred Story gives us no Authority to affirm this pofitively

pofitively and dogmatically; but yet there are probable Arguments for Mens Conjeture this way: And as far as I can fee, all other Opinions are but Conjectures; and I hope we may have leave to opine as well as other Men.

BUT we cannot be fo confident, as to determine this matter, in regard that we want the Teftimony of Scripture, though Reafon may be on our fide. And herein. we would give a Pattern to our Diffenting.Brethren, to be modeft in O pinions, for which they have no folid Foundation; where, I pray, is the ground they go upon, touching the unlawfulness of Kneeling, as a thing repugnant to the Example of the Apoftles; fince it cannot be proved, what that Example was? It might be a posture of Kneeling and Ado ration, for ought they know. Sitting it was not (I dare confidently affirm:) In all probability, 'twas not a ftanding pofture neither; perhaps it was the pofture which we cuftomarily ufe; if not, it was a leaning posture upon Pallets: And no body now infifteth upon that for an Example

to us.

3. AND yet, Thirdly, were the Examples both of Chrift's Difciples, and of Christ himself, apparently fuch, as fome * Men conjecture, they would not yet be

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leading

leading and Authoritative Precedents to us in this point. For 'tis generally agreed by all Chriftian Divines, that the Example of Chrift is not univerfally to be followed (much less the Example of his Difciples.) In fome things 'tis not poffible, in other things 'tis not proper, in' many things 'tis not neceffary for us to follow that Copy. Where we have the Example and the Precept too, there indeed we are bound (and I wish Men would confider of thofe weighty things, rather than of Matters of lender importance.) But where we have no Command, there, to take an Example for our Rule, is to make our felves guilty in fome inftances of Folly, and in fome of Superftition, and Prefumption, The Practice of our Lord and his Difciples is no Rule for us in Circumftantials and Rites,, unless they are made neceffarily Practical by fome Pofitive Direction and Command. Now we have no Command in this Cafe, the one way, or the other (no, not evi dent Example) to direct us, and therefore they talk vainly and impertinently, who Condemn Kneeling at the Sacrament as an unlawful •Pofture;. fince no Law can be derived either from Chrift's Precept, or from His or his Difciples Practice, that doth evidently rife up in Judgment against it.

THE

THE Church then being left to her Liberty what pofture to use, thought fit to chufe that of Kneeling, for these three Reasons chiefly.

L. TO teftifie our belief of our Sa viour's Godhead. Had he been a meer Creature, as all other Men are, we might have had some encouragement to present our selves at his Table, as his Fel. lows, and, in a common Table-Gesture, as those are wont to do, who deny the Doctrine of his Divinity. But being the Eternal Son of God, and equal to the Father, he hath a Right and Claim to the humbleft Services we can think of, to express in some measure the sense we fhould have of his Infinite Greatness and Majefty; especially at an Ordinance which was inftituted in Honour to him.

2. AS a Pofture that is most suitable to the Nature of the Mystery it felf. Here we Commemorate the Lord's Infinite Goodness and Love, his unexpreffible Sufferings for us, and his humbling of himself to Death, even the Death of the Crofs. Here we feed upon the Symbols of his Body and Blood for the Pardon of all our Sins. Here we Seal anew unto God our Covenant of Faith, Mortification, and Obedience; and God reneweth unto us his Covenant of Grace and Mer

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