other thing which our kneelers require to the making up of
idolatry is, that the creature before which we adore be a passive object
of the adoration; whereas, say they,(695) the sacramental elements are "no
manner of way the passive object of our adoration, but the active only of
that adoration which, at the sacrament, is given to Christ; that is, such
an object and sign as moves us upon the sight, or by the signification
thereof, to lift up our hearts and adore the only object of our faith, the
Lord Jesus; such as the holy word of God, his works, and benefits are, by
meditation and consideration whereof we are moved and stirred up to adore
him." _Ans._ 1. That which he affirmeth is false, and out of one page of
his own book I draw an argument which destroyeth it, thus: If the
sacramental elements were only the active object of their adoration who
kneel before them in the receiving, then their real presence should be but
accidental to the kneelers. But the real presence of the elements, in the
act of receiving, is not accidental to the kneelers; therefore, the
proposition I draw from his own words: "We can neither (saith he(696))
pray to God, nor thank him, nor praise him, but ever there must be, before
the eyes of our minds, at least something of his works, word, or
sacraments, if not before our external senses." He confesseth it will be
enough, that these active objects of worship be before the eyes of our
minds, and that their real presence, before our external senses, is not
necessary but accidental to us, whose minds are by their means stirred up
to worship. And so it is indeed. For _esse scibile_, or _rememoratiuum_ of
an active object of adoration, is that which stirreth up the mind to
worship, so that the real presence of such an object is but accidental to
the worshipper. The assumption I likewise draw out of the Bishop's own
words. For he saith(697) that we kneel before the elements, "having them
in our sight, or object to our senses, as ordinary signs, means, and
memorials, to stir us up to worship," &c. Now if we have them in our sight
and before our senses for this purpose, that they may be means, signs, and
memorials to stir us up to worship, then, sure, their being really before
our senses, is not accidental to us when we kneel. Since Dr Burges(698)
hath been so dull and sottish as to write that "signs are but accidentally
before the communicants when they receive," he is to be ignominiously
exsibilat for m