x and number of communicants, Dr Fulk(1252) rightly
observeth, that it is not certain from Scripture that twelve men only, and
no women, did communicate (as Bishop Lindsey(1253) would have us certainly
to believe); but suppose it were certain,(1254) yet for this, and all the
other circumstances, which are not exemplary, there were special reasons
either in the urgency of the legal necessity, or in the exigency of
present and accidental occasions, which do not concern us: whereas the
gesture of sitting was freely and purposely chosen, and so intended to be
exemplary, especially since there was no such reason moving Christ to use
this gesture of sitting as doth not concern us.

The Bishop saith,(1255) that his sitting at the former supper might have
been the reason which moved him to sit at the eucharistical supper; but if
Christ had not purposely made choice of the gesture of sitting as the
fittest and most convenient for the eucharistical supper, his sitting at
the former supper could be no reason to move him, as may appear by this
example: There are some gentlemen standing in a nobleman's waiting-room;
and after they have stood there a while, the nobleman cometh forth; they
begin to speak to him, and, as they speak, still they stand. Now, can any
man say that the reason which moveth them to stand when they speak to the
nobleman, is, because they were standing before he came to them? So doth
the Bishop come short of giving any special reason for Christ's sitting
which concerneth not us. He can allege no more but Christ's sitting at the
former supper, which could be no reason, else he should have also risen
from the eucharistical supper to wash the disciples' feet, even as he rose
from the former supper for that effect. Wherefore, we conclude, that
Christ did voluntarily, and of set purpose, choose sitting as the fittest
and best beseeming gesture for that holy banquet.

Finally, Hooker's(1256) verdict of the gesture of Christ and his apostles
in this holy supper is, "That our Lord himself did that which custom and
long usage had made fit; we, that which fitness and great decency hath
made usual." In which words, because cause he importeth that they have
better warrants for their kneeling than Christ had for his sitting (which
is blasphemy), I leave them as not worthy of an answer. Howsoever, let it
be noted that he acknowledged, by kneeling they depart from the example of
Christ.

CHA