The Works of Mr. George Gillespie (Vol. 1 of 2)Gillespie, George
Religion
The Works of Mr. George Gillespie (Vol. 1 of 2)
Gillespie, George
Church of Scotland -- History; Gillespie, George, 1613-1648
participation itself, because _extra usum sacramenti_, the bread cannot be
called a sacrament. Honorius commanded that the priest should frequently
teach his people to bow down devoutly when the host is elevated in the
celebration of the mass, and that they should do the same when it is
carried to the sick. All this was ordained in reference to the
participation. _Ad usum illa instituta sunt_, says Chemnitius,(567)
speaking of this decree, _quando scilicet panis consecratur, et quando ad
infirmos defertur, ut exhibeatur et sumatur_. So that that which was
specially respected in the decree, was adoring in the participation.
Lastly, Here we have to do with Dr Burges, who will have us to think, that
adoration in receiving the sacrament(568) hath not been idolatrously
intended to the sacrament in the church of Rome, neither by decree nor
custom. Not by decree, because albeit Honorius appointed adoration to be
used in the elevation and circumgestation, yet not in the act of
receiving. And albeit the Roman ritual do appoint, that clergymen coming
to receive the sacrament do it kneeling, yet this was done in veneration
of the altar,(569) or of that which standeth thereupon, and not for
adoration of the host put into their mouths. Not by custom; for he will
not have it said that kneeling in the time of receiving was ever in the
church of Rome any rite of or for adoration of the sacrament, because
albeit the people kneel in the act of receiving, yet I “deny (saith he)
that they ever intended adoration of the species, at that moment of time
when they took it in their mouths, but then turned themselves to God,” &c.
_Ans._ 1. As for the decree of Honorius, I have already answered with
Chemnitius, that it had reference specially to the receiving. 2. When
clergymen are appointed in the Roman ritual to receive the sacrament at
the altar kneeling, this was not for veneration of the altar, to which
they did reverence at all times when they approached to it, but this was
required particularly in their receiving of the sacrament, for adoration
of it. Neither is there mention made of the altar as conferring anything
to their kneeling in receiving the sacrament; for the sacrament was not
used the more reverently because it stood upon the altar, but by the
contrary, for the sacrament’s sake reverence was done to the altar, which
was esteemed the seat of the body of Christ. It appeareth, therefore, that
the altar is mentioned, not as concerning the kneeling of the clergymen in
their communicating, but simply as concerning their communicating, because
none but they were wont to communicate at the altar, according to that
received canon, _Solis autem ministris altaris liceat ingredi ad altare et
ibidem communicare_.(570) The one of the Doctor’s own conjectures is, that
they kneeled for reverence of that which stood upon the altar; but I would
know what that was which, standing upon the altar, made them to kneel in
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