close with
this collection. Whatsoever gesture in process of time crept into the
Lord's supper otherwise than sitting, of it we may truly say, "from the
beginning it was not so."

CHAPTER V.

THE FIFTH ARGUMENT AGAINST THE LAWFULNESS OF THE CEREMONIES TAKEN FROM THE
MYSTICAL AND SIGNIFICANT NATURE OF THEM.

_Sect._ 1. That mystical significations are placed in the controverted
ceremonies, and that they are ordained to be sacred signs of spiritual
mysteries, to teach Christians their duties, and to express such holy and
heavenly affections, dispositions, motions and desires, as are and should
be in them,--it is confessed and avouched by our opposites. Saravia
holdeth,(784) that by the sign of the cross we profess ourselves to be
Christians; Bishop Mortoune calleth(785) the cross a sign of constant
profession of Christianity; Hooker calleth(786) it "Christ's mark applied
unto that part where bashfulness appeareth, in token that they which are
Christians should be at no time ashamed of his ignominy;" Dr Burges(787)
maintaineth the using of the surplice to signify the pureness that ought
to be in the minister of God; Paybody(788) will have kneeling at the
Lord's supper to be a signification of the humble and grateful
acknowledging of the benefits of Christ. The prayer which the English
service book appointeth bishops to use after the confirming of children by
the imposition of hands, avoucheth that ceremony of confirmation for a
sign whereby those children are certified of God's favour and good-will
towards them. In the general, our opposites defend(789) that the church
hath power to ordain such ceremonies, as by admonishing men of their duty,
and by expressing such spiritual and heavenly affections, dispositions,
motions, or desires, as should be in men, do thereby stir them up to
greater fervour and devotion.

_Sect._ 2. But against the lawfulness of such mystical and significant
ceremonies, thus we dispute: First, A chief part of the nature of
sacraments is given unto those ceremonies when they are in this manner
appointed to teach by their signification. This reason being alleged by
the _Abridgement of the Lincoln ministers_, Paybody answereth,(790) that
it is not a bare signification that makes a thing participate of the
sacrament's nature, but such a signification as is sacramental, both in
what is signified and how. _Ans._ 1. This is but to beg the question; for
what other