did Method of Proceeding, and a fair Compromife, tho' difapproved by the Puritans and their Hiftorian, that each fhould enjoy his own Senfe, without fixing it upon the other.

ce

"Indeed (fays Mr. Fuller) most of the p. 72. Compofers of the Articles had formerly been Sufferers themselves, and cannot be faid in compiling these Articles (an acceptable Service no doubt) to offer to God what cost them nothing, fome having paid Imprisonment, others Exile, all Lofs in their Eftates for this their experimental Knowledge in Religion, which made "them the more merciful and tender in ftating thofe Points; feeing fuch, who themfelves have been the most patient in bearing, will be moft pitiful in burthening the Confciences of "others." But as was obferved before, the Difference as to Doctrines was not great, and confifted chiefly in this, that the Sentiments in the Eftablishment were more charitable and comprehenfive than those of the Calvinifts.

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But fince the Sacrament is mention'd, upon Account of the real Prefence, it may not be improper to take Notice of another Circumftance attending that Ordinance. It feems kneeling was enjoin'd, as being thought a Pofture most

proper

proper to exprefs a due Senfe of the great Love and Goodness of our bleffed Saviour in dying for Mankind: That Kneeling is a Scriptural Pofture of Worship is not deny'd. The Question therefore is, Whether in fo folemn an Act of Worship as Humiliation for those Sins which were the Occafion of our Saviour's Death, and Thanksgiving for his wonderful Goodness in laying down his Life; whether in fuch Acts of Worship any Posture can be too refpectful and submiffive? There are no Chriftians who have not departed from the original Inftitution in fome Circumstances, such as the Time, the Place, the Manner, the Company; nay, and the very PoVol. II. p. 170.flure. Bishop Burnet obferves,

it was

CC apparent in our Saviour's Practice, "that the Jewish Church had CHAN→ CC GED the Pofture of that Inftitution "of the Pallover, in whofe Room the "Eucharift came: For, tho' Mofes "had appointed the Jews to eat their "Pafchal Lamb, ftanding with their

Loins girt, with Staves in their "Hands, and Shoes on their Feet; yet "the Jews did afterwards change this

Сс

into the Common-Table-Pofture; of " which Change, tho' there is no men"tion in the Old Teftament, yet we "fee it was fo in our Saviour's Time.

"And

"And fince he comply'd with the common Custom, we are fure that r Change was not criminal. It feem'd " reasonable to allow the Chriftian "Church the like Power in fuch things "with the Jewish: And as the Jews "thought their coming into the pro"mised Land might be a Warrant to lay afide the Pofture appointed by Mofes, which became Travellers " beft; fo Chrift being now exalted, it "feem'd fit to receive this Sacrament "with higher Marks of outward Re"fpect, than had been proper in the first

tr

Inftitution, when he was in the State "of Humiliation, and his Divine Glory not yet fo fully reveal'd. 'Tis true, Kneeling was abused, and fo was the Feafting Pofture, as 'tis call'd by Mr. N. p. 238. Of this the Exceffes at fome Love Feafts are too good a Proof. But Mr. N. mentions ftanding at the Sacrament; whereas the Puritans as ftrictly enjoin'd fitting as the Church did kneeling. The Injunction they made on this Head is in thefe Words. "The Exhortation ended, The Service, "the Minister coming down from the the English "Pulpit, fitteth at the Table, EVERY Church of Ge"Man and Woman in like wife, taking approved by "their Place, as Occasion beft ferveth; the Most Revd "then he taketh Bread, and giveth, and the John CalThanks, &c." This then is the State of Church E the Scotland,p.48.

c. ufed in

neva, as it was

of

the Cafe. The Pofture of fitting enjoin'd by the Puritans was calculated for none but themselves, and must have excluded many others; whereas the Posture of kneeling was not only approv'd by the Friends of King Edward's Reformation, but was neceflary to keep the Lutherans, and many who, in the Reign of Queen Mary, had been feduced to Popery (to whom fome Regard and Compaffion was due) in the Communion of the Church. This humble and decent Posture of kneeling is sometimes call'd Popery and Idolatry; upon which Cenfure Bifhop Burnet makes "In the pri

Vol. II. p. 171. the following Remark.

mitive Church they received ftanding and bending their Body in a Po"fture of Adoration. But how foon that Gefture of Kneeling came in, is not fo exactly obferved, nor is it "needful to know. But furely there

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is great Want of Ingenuity in them "that are pleased to apply these Or"ders of fome latter Popes for kneel

ing at the ELEVATION, to our kneeling; when ours is not at one fuch "Part, which might be more liable to Exception, but during the whole "Office: By which it is one continued Act of Worfhip, and the CommuniCC cants kneel all the while.

There

There is another very important Difference, that makes it easy to judge on which Side Chriftian Charity and Forbearance lay. The Rubrick of the Church, which relates to the Admiffion of the Communicants, is in these Words. And if any of these [who have fignified their Intention to partake of the Holy Communion] be an open and notorious Evil Liver, or have done any Wrong to bis Neighbour by Word or Deed, fo that the Congregation be thereby offended, the Curate having Knowledge thereof, fball call him and advertise him, that in any wife he prefume not to come to the Lord's Table until, &c. Let us now fee what was the Method fettled upon the Principles of their Discipline for the Admiffion of Men and Women to the Church and Sacrament. "Tis as follows. "The Manner of Receiving all Sorts of Perfons into the faid Congregation. "Firft, for the avoiding of all Hcrefiés and Sects in our Churches, every one, as well Men as Women, which defire to be received, fhall make a Declaration, or Confeffion of their "Faith before the Minifters and Elders, fhewing himself fully to con"fent and agree with the Doctrine of "the Church, and fubmitting them"felves to the Difcipline of the fame, E 2

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"and