The other thing which our kneelers require to the making up of Idolatry, is, that the creature before which we adore, be a passive object of the adoration; whereas usay they, the Sacramental Elements are no manner of way the passive object of our adoration, but the active only of that adoration, which at the Sacrament is given to Christ, that is, such an Object and Sign as moves us upon the sight, or by the signification thereof, to lift up our hearts, and adore the only Object of our faith, the Lord Jesus: such as the holy Word of God, his works, and benefits are, by meditation and consideration whereof, we are moved and stirred up to adore him. Answ. 1. That which he affirmeth is false, and out of one page of his own book I draw an Argument, which destroyeth it, thus: If the Sacramental Elements, were only the active object of their adoration who kneel before them in the receiving, then their real presence should be but accidental to the kneelers. But the real presence of the Elements, in the act of receiving, is not accidental to the kneelers. Ergo. The proposition I draw from his own words: We can ⟨p. 58⟩neither (saith xhe) pray to God, nor thank him nor praise him, but ever there must be, before the eyes of our minds at least, something of his Works, Word, or Sacraments, if not before our external senses. He confesseth it will be enough, that these active objects of worship, be before the eyes of our minds, and that their real presence before our external senses is not necessary, but accidental to us whose minds are by their means stirred up to worship. And so it is indeed. For esse scibile or rememorativum of an active object of adoration, is that which stirreth up the mind to worship, so that the real presence of such an object is but accidental to the worshipper. The assumption I likewise draw out of the Bishops own words. For yhe saith, that we kneel before the Elements, having them in our sight, or object to our senses, as ordinary Signs, means, and memorials, to stir us up, to worship, &c. Now if we have them in our sight, and before our senses, for this purpose, that they may be means, signs, & memorials to stir us up to worship, then (sure) their being really before our senses, is not accidental to us when we kneel. Since zDr.
The other thing which our kneelers require to the making up of Idolatry, is, that the creature before which we adore, be a passive object of the adoration; whereas usay they, the Sacramentall Elements are no manner of way the passive object of our adoration, but the active onely of that adoration, which at the Sacrament is given to Christ, that is, such an Object and Signe as moves us upon the sight, or by the signification thereof, to lift up our hearts, and adore the onely Object of our faith, the Lord Iesus: such as the holy Word of God, his workes, and benefites are, by meditation and consideration whereof, we are moved and stirred up to adore him. Answ. 1. That which he affirmeth is false, and out of one page of his owne booke I draw an Argument, which destroyeth it, thus: If the Sacramentall Elements, were onely the active object of their adoration who kneele before them in the receiving, then their reall presence should be but accidentall to the kneelers. But the reall presence of the Elements, in the act of receiving, is not accidentall to the kneelers. Ergo. The proposition I drawe from his owne words: We can ⟨p. 58⟩neither (saith xhe) pray to God, nor thanke him nor praise him, but ever there must be, before the eyes of our minds at least, something of his Workes, Word, or Sacraments, if not before our externall sences. He confesseth it will be enough, that these active objects of worship, be before the eyes of our mindes, and that their reall presence before our external sences is not necessary, but accidentall to us whose minds are by their meanes stirred up to worship. And so it is indeed. For esse scibile or rememorativum of an active object of adoration, is that which stirreth up the minde to worship, so that the reall presence of such an object is but accidentall to the worshipper. The assumption I likewise draw out of the Bishops owne words. For yhe saith, that we kneel before the Elements, having them in our sight, or object to our sences, as ordinary Signes, meanes, and memorialls, to stirre us up, to worship, &c. Now if we have them in our sight, and before our sences, for this purpose, that they may be meanes, signes, & memorialls to stirre us up to worship, then (sure) their beeing really before our sences, is not accidentall to us when we kneele. Since zDr.
- uLindsey ubi supra pag. 81.
- xIbid. pag. 92.
- yIbid.
- zOf the lawf. of kneel. cap. 32. pag. 115.Of the lawf. of kneell. cap. 32. pag. 115.
