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
_Sect._ 15. Now Fifthly, If the kneeling in question be not idolatrously
referred to the sacrament, I demand whereunto is it specially intended? We
have heard the confession of some of our opposites (and those not of the
smallest note) avouching kneeling for reverence of the sacrament. Neither
can the mystery spoken of in the Act of Perth (in due regard whereof we
are ordained to kneel), be any other than the sacrament. Yet because
Bishop Lindsey, and some of his kind who desire to hide the foul shape of
their idolatry with the trimmest fairding they can, will not take with the
kneeling in reverence of the sacrament, let them show us which is the
object which they do specially adore, when they kneel in receiving of the
same; for this their kneeling at this time ariseth from another respect
than that which they consider in other parts of God’s worship, let two of
our prelates tell it out: Archbishop of St. Andrews would teach out of
Mouline that we ought to adore the flesh of Jesus Christ in the
eucharist;(726) the Bishop of Edinburgh also will have us to worship the
flesh and blood of Christ in the sacrament,(727) because the humanity of
Christ is there present, being ever and everywhere joined with the
divinity. But a twofold idolatry may be here deprehended. 1. In that they
worship the flesh and blood of Christ. 2. In that they worship the same in
the sacrament. As touching the first, albeit we may and should adore the
man Christ with divine worship, yet we may not adore his manhood, or his
flesh and blood. 1. Because though the man Christ be God, yet his manhood
is not God, and by consequence cannot be honoured with divine worship. 2.
If adorability agree to the humanity of Christ, then may his humanity help
and save us: idolaters are mocked by the Spirit of God for worshipping
things which cannot help nor save them. But the humanity of Christ cannot
save us nor help us, because _omnis actio est suppositi_, whereas the
human nature of Christ is not _suppositum_. 3. None of those who defend
the adoring of the humanity of Christ with divine worship, do well and
warrantably express their opinion. First, some of the schoolmen have found
no other respect wherefore the manhood of Christ can be said to be
adored,(728) except this, that the flesh of Christ is adored by him who
adores the word incarnate, even as the king’s clothes are adored by him
who adores the king. And thus they make the flesh of Christ to be adored
only _per accidens. Ego vero_, saith the Archbishop of Spalato,(729) _non
puta a quoquam regis vestimenta quibus est indutus, adorari_. And, I pray,
why doth he that worships the king worship his clothes more than any other
thing which is about him, or beside him, perhaps a hawk upon his hand, or
a little dog upon his knee? There is no more but the king’s own person set
by the worshipper to have any state in the worship, and therefore no more
worshipped by him. Others devise another respect wherefore the manhood of
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