ve bowed
before the offerings, and that in the very act of offering, yet how shall
it be proved, that in the act of their kneeling they had the offerings
purposely before them, and their minds and senses fixed upon them in the
very instant of their worshipping.

This I make clear by the last place, 2 Chron. xxix., out of which no more
can be drawn but that the people worshipped whilst the priests were yet
offering the burnt-offering. Now the burnt-offering was but accidentally
before the people in their worshipping, and only because it was offered at
the same time when the song of the Lord was sung, ver. 27. Such was the
forwardness of zeal in restoring religion and purging the temple, that it
admitted no stay, but eagerly prosecuted the work till it was perfected;
therefore the thing was done suddenly, ver. 36. Since, then, the song and
the sacrifice were performed at the same time, we must note that the
people worshipped at that time, not because of the sacrifice, which was a
mediate worship, but because of the song of the Lord, which was an
immediate worship. Now we all commend kneeling in an immediate worship.
But this cannot content our opposites; they will needs have it lawful to
kneel, in the hearing of the word, purposely, and with a respect to the
word preached (though this be a mediate worship only). Their warrants(751)
are taken out, Exod. iv. 30, 31; Exod. xii. 27; 2 Chron. xx. 18; Matt.
xvii. 6. From the first three places no more can be inferred but that
these hearers bowed their heads and worshipped, after that they heard the
word of the Lord; neither shall they ever warrant bowing and worshipping
in the act of hearing.

In the fourth place, we read that the disciples fell on their faces when
they heard God's own immediate voice out of the cloud. What maketh this
for falling down to worship at the hearing of the word preached by men?
How long shall our opposites not distinguish betwixt mediate and immediate
worship?

Lastly, It is alleged(752) that God, in his word, allows not only kneeling
at prayer, out also at circumcision, passover, and baptism. The reason of
this assertion is given to be this, that a bodily gesture being necessary,
God not determining man upon any one, leaves him at plain liberty. _Ans._
Whether we be left at plain liberty in all things which being in the
general necessary, are not particularly determined in God's word, it shall
be treated of elsewhere in this dispute. In the meant