d why,
then, are not all significant and holy ceremonies to be accounted images?
Now, the second commandment forbiddeth images made by the lust of man
(that I may use Dr Burges's phrase(806)), therefore it forbiddeth also all
religious similitudes, which are homogeneal unto them. This is the
inference of the _Abridgement_, whereat Paybody starteth,(807) and
replieth, that the gestures which the people of God used in circumcision
and baptism, the rending of the garment used in humiliation and prayer,
Ezra ix. 5; 2 Kings xxii. 19, Jer. xxxvi. 24, lifting up the hands,
kneeling with the knees, uncovering the head in the sacrament, standing
and sitting at the sacrament, were, and are, significant in worshipping,
yet are not forbidden by the second commandment.

_Ans._ There are three sorts of signs here to be distinguished. 1. Natural
signs: so smoke is a sign of fire, and the dawning of the day a sign of
the rising of the sun. 2. Customable signs; and so the uncovering of the
head, which of old was a sign of preeminence, hath, through custom, become
a sign of subjection. 3. Voluntary signs, which are called _signa
instituta_; these are either sacred or civil. To appoint sacred signs of
heavenly mysteries or spiritual graces is God's own peculiar, and of this
kind are the holy sacraments. Civil signs for civil and moral uses may be,
and are, commendably appointed by men, both in church and commonwealth;
and thus the tolling of a bell is a sign given for assembling, and hath
the same signification both in ecclesiastical and secular assemblings.
Now, besides the sacred signs of God's own institution, we know that
natural signs have also place in divine worship; thus kneeling in time of
prayer signifieth the submission of our hearts and minds, the lifting up
of our eyes and hands signifieth the elevation of our affections; the
rending of the garments signified the rending of the heart by sorrow;
standing with a religious suspect to that which is before us signifieth
veneration or reverence; sitting at table signifieth familiarity and
fellowship. "For which of you (saith our Master), Luke xvii. 7, having a
servant ploughing, or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he
is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat?" All these signs have
their significations from nature. And if it be said that howbeit sitting
at our common tables be a sign natural to signify familiarity amongst us,
yet nature hath not given such a si