o 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
the participation, if it was not the host itself? Now, whereas he denies,
as touching custom, that people did ever intend the adoration of the
species, I answer: 1. How knows he what people in the Roman church did
intend in their minds? 2. What warrant hath he for this, that they did not
in the participation adore the host, which was then put into their mouth?
3. Though this which he saith were true, he gaineth nothing by it; for put
the case, they did not intend the adoration of the species, dare he say,
that they intended not the adoration of that which was under the species?
I trow not. Now, that which was under the species, though in their conceit
it was Christ's body, yet it was indeed bread; so that, in the very
participation, they were worshipping the bread. But, 4, What needeth any
more? He maketh himself a liar, and saith plainly,(571) that after
transubstantiation was embraced, and when all the substance of the visible
creature was held to be gone, they did intend the adoration of the
invisible things, as if there had been now no substance of any creature
left therein, whereby he destroyeth all which he hath said of their not
intending the adoration of the species.

_Sect._ 20. Last of all, for the other part of my assumption, that the
ceremonies have no necessary use in God's worship, I need no other proof
than the common by-word of Formalists, which saith they are things
indifferent. Yet the B