and no such difference can be pretended in the Christian Churches many hundred years after. And I think it is a naked pretence (having no show of reason to cover it) of them that against all this will plead a necessity of kneeling, because of our unworthiness: For, 1. The Churches of so long time were unworthy as well as we. 2. We may kneel as low as the Dust (and on our bare knees, if we please) immediately before in praying for a blessing and for the pardon of our sins, and as soon as we have done. 3. Man must not by his own Conceits make those things necessary to the Church, which Christ and his Church for so long thought unnecessary. 4. On this pretence we might refuse the Sacrament it self: for they are more unworthy to eat the Flesh of Christ, and to drink his blood, than to sit at his Table. 5. The Gospel is Glad Tidings; the Effects of it are Faith and Peace and Joy: the Benefits are to make us one with Christ, and to be his Spouse and Members: the work of it is the joyful Commemoration of these Benefits, and living in Righteousness, Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost: And the Sacramental Signs are such as suit the Benefits and Duties. If therefore Christ have called us by his Example, and the Example of all his Church, to sit with him at his Table to represent Our Union, Communion, and joyful redeemed State, and our everlasting sitting with him at his Table in his Kingdom, it as little beseems us to reject this Mercy and Duty, because of our Unworthiness, as to be our own Lawgivers. And on the like Reasons men might say, [I will not be united to thee, nor be a Member of thy Body, or married to thee, nor sit with thee on thy Throne (Rev. 3. 21.) according to thy Promise, because it would be too great sauciness in me]. Gospel Mercies, and Gospel Duties, and Signs, must be all suited, and so Christ hath done them, and we may not undo them.
4. I must profess that upon such Considerations, I am not certain that sitting is not of commanded Necessity (as I am sure it is lawful); nor am I certain that kneeling in the Act of Receiving, when done of choice, is not a flat sin. For I know it is not only against Scripture Example (where though Circumstances apparently occasional bind not, as an upper Room, &c.
and no such difference can be pretended in the Christian Churches many hundred years after. And I think it is a naked pretence (having no shew of reason to cover it) of them that against all this will plead a necessity of kneeling, because of our unworthiness: For, 1. The Churches of so long time were unworthy as well as we. 2. We may kneel as low as the Dust (and on our bare knees, if we please) immediately before in praying for a blessing and for the pardon of our sins, and as soon as we have done. 3. Man must not by his own Conceits make those things necessary to the Church, which Christ and his Church for so long thought unnecessary. 4. On this pretence we might refuse the Sacrament it self: for they are more unworthy to eat the Flesh of Christ, and to drink his blood, than to sit at his Table. 5. The Gospel is Glad Tidings; the Effects of it are Faith and Peace and Joy: the Benefits are to make us one with Christ, and to be his Spouse and Members: the work of it is the joyful Commemoration of these Benefits, and living in Righteousness, Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost: And the Sacramental Signs are such as suit the Benefits and Duties. If therefore Christ have called us by his Example, and the Example of all his Church, to sit with him at his Table to represent Our Union, Communion, and joyful redeemed State, and our everlasting sitting with him at his Table in his Kingdom, it as little beseems us to reject this Mercy and Duty, because of our Unworthiness, as to be our own Lawgivers. And on the like Reasons men might say, [I will not be united to thee, nor be a Member of thy Body, or married to thee, nor sit with thee on thy Throne (Rev. 3. 21.) according to thy Promise, because it would be too great sawciness in me]. Gospel Mercies, and Gospel Duties, and Signs, must be all suited, and so Christ hath done them, and we may not undo them.
4. I must profess that upon such Considerations, I am not certain that sitting is not of commanded Necessity (as I am sure it is lawful); nor am I certain that kneeling in the Act of Receiving, when done of choice, is not a flat sin. For I know it is not only against Scripture Example (where though Circumstances apparently occasional bind not, as an upper Room, &c.
