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
To be short, the case of a penitentiary standeth thus, that not in his
kneeling _simpliciter_, but in his kneeling publicly and in sight of the
congregation, he setteth them before him purposely, and with a respect to
them, whereas our kneelers do kneel in such sort that their kneeling
_simpliciter_, and without an adjection or adjunct, hath a respect to the
elements purposely set before them, neither would they at all kneel for
that end and purpose for which they do kneel, namely, for worshipping the
flesh and blood of Christ in the sacrament,(749) except the elements were
before the eyes both of their minds and bodies, as the penitentiary doth
kneel for making confession of his sin to God, when the congregation is
not before him.
And if one would say, that in kneeling at the sacrament he worshippeth not
the flesh and blood of Christ, but the Lord his God only, yet is the same
difference to be put betwixt his kneeling before the elements, and the
kneeling of a penitentiary before the congregation, for the very kneeling
itself (simply considered) before the elements, respecteth them as then
purposely set in our sight that we may kneel before them, whereas, in the
case of the penitentiary, it is not his kneeling to confess his sin to God
which hath a respect to the congregation as set in his sight for that
purpose, but some circumstances of his kneeling only, to wit, _when_? At
that time when the congregation is assembled. And _where_? Publicly in
sight of the congregation! In regard of these circumstances, he hath the
congregation purposely in his sight, and so respecteth them, but in regard
of the kneeling itself simply, the presence of the congregation is but
accidental to him who kneeleth and confesseth his sin before God. As
touching giving thanks before the meat set on our common tables, though a
man should do it kneeling, yet this speaketh not home to the point now in
controversy, except a man so kneel before his meat, that he have a
religious respect to it as a thing separated from a common use and made
holy, and likewise have both his mind, and his external senses of seeing,
touching, and tasting, fastened upon it in the act of his kneeling. And if
a man should thus kneel before his meat, he were an idolater.
Lastly, Giving thanks before the elements of bread and wine, in the
beginning of the holy action, is as far from the purpose; for this giving
of thanks is an immediate worship of God, wherein we have our minds and
senses, not upon the bread and wine as upon things which have a state in
that worship of the Lord’s supper, and belong to the substance of the same
(for the very consecration of them to this use is but then _in fieri_),
but we worship God immediately by prayer and giving of thanks, which is
all otherwise in the act of receiving.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account