A treatise of miscellany questions wherein many useful questions and cases of conscience are…A treatise of miscellany questions wherein many usefull questions and cases of conscience are…

I answer. 1. 'Tis gratis dictum, that sitting at the Table was occasional, or such as hath not a standing, but a temporary reason for it, and there is this reason to the contrary: occasional circumstances in that action, which are not to be imitated by us, were such as Christ was limited unto by the law, or by the providence of God, so that therein he was not left at a liberty or latitude to choose to do otherwise. For instance, it was not allowed by the Law to have any other bread in Jerusalem, during the feast of passover, but unleavened bread only. The upper room was the place assigned by the Master of the house, God so ordering. After supper it must be, because it must succeed to the passover, being also the Testament, or latter will of Jesus Christ. There was also a providential limitation, to such and so many communicants, that is, not exceeding the number which was allowed to eat the passover together. Let some such reason be brought to prove that sitting at table, was occasional, else let it not be called so. Sure if Christ had not thought it fittest, and chose ⟨p. 220⟩it as the best way, that his Disciples should receive his last Supper at the table, it was free to him to have changed their posture without encroachment upon any law of Moses, or upon any providential limitation. Secondly, I am herein the more confirmed, because Christ himself, as it were on purpose to show, that the sitting and receiving at Table was not occasional, but such a thing as he meant to commend unto us for our imitation, he gives this standing and permanent reason for it, that it is a piece of honour that he will have put upon those whom he inviteth, calleth, and alloweth to eat and drink with him, Luke 22. 27. for whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? Is not he that sitteth at meat?

I answer. 1. 'Tis gratis dictum, that sitting at the Table was occasionall, or such as hath not a standing, but a temporary reason for it, and there is this reason to the contrary: occasionall circumstances in that action, which are not to be imitated by us, were such as Christ was limited unto by the law, or by the providence of God, so that therein he was not left at a liberty or latitude to choose to doe otherwise. For instance, it was not allowed by the Law to have any other bread in Ierusalem, during the feast of passeover, but unleavened bread onely. The upper room was the place assigned by the Master of the house, God so ordering. After supper it must be, because it must succeed to the passeover, being also the Testament, or latter will of Jesus Christ. There was also a providentiall limitation, to such and so many communicants, that is, not exceeding the number which was allowed to eat the passeover together. Let some such reason be brought to prove that sitting at table, was occasionall, else let it not be called so. Sure if Christ had not thought it fittest, and choosed