Against Symbolizing with Antichrist in Ceremonies, Part · Chapter 2 · Section 18 [i.e. 17]
#Sect. 18. The third abuſe of the confuted: which is, that the Croſſe is vrged of neceſsitie without omiſsion, euen as with the Papiſtes.
THe third thing which the vrging of the Croſſe doth, like that of the Papiſtes is the exacting of a neceſſary vſe without the leaſt omiſſion. This is it not the very ſame with the Councill of Trent, To aConcil. Trident.omit any rite in baptiſme which is auncient, and which the Church commaundeth vponupon any cauſe or pretence what ſoeuer, is a damnable ſinne. This conſidered we hauehave little cauſe to make many words of a diuerſe manner in the neceſſitie of the Croſſe. Peter Martyr, was not ignorant of this manner, who yet affirmeth of the Engliſh ceremonies, thatbPet. Martyr epiſt. ad Hoop. epiſcop. Gloceſt. quoad aliter facere non liceat, they were greuous and burthenſom.cPilkingto… in epiſt. ad comit. Le… ceſtrenſ. D. Pilkington was after B. of Dureſme, the manner of the Engliſhe neceſſitie was not vnknowne to him, yet he writeth that it deſtroyed Chriſtian libertie: for that; libertie turned into neceſſitie, is libertie no longer. But the Apoſtle (ſay our Oppoſites) the 15. act. 28 called the things [neceſſary] which they commaunded being of themſelues but things in different. Neceſſary (indeed) but how? not neceſſary as now the Croſſe is neceſſary whether he edifie or be ſcandalous, do good or deſtroy: but neceſſary ſecundum quid, ſo farre forth as then they ſerued for edification and no further, witneſſe Paules practize in the very next chapter. For though the Councill had forbidden circumciſion, yet doth he breake their decree, and boldly circumciſeth Timothie becauſe he ſaw it was the fitteſt courſe to edifie. Wot ye then, what is rightly concluded hence? That the Apoſtles themſelues cannot abſolutly commaunde in things indifferent. That things of themſelues free become [dChemnit. examin. p. 1. tit. de bon. operib. p. 203. neceſſary] to be vſed when they edifie, to be diſuſed when they edifie not, ſo that if the Magiſtrate bee diſpleaſed for our forbearance of the ceremonies, it is but ſcandalum acceptum. in him we forbeare, to edifie, and this is a neceſſary dutie to which we are bounde. Indeed vnleſſe we do this, how can we walke circumſpectly without offence, Epheſ. 5▪ 15.eſpecially in the creekes of Idolatry, of which Tertullian eTertul. lib. de Idololat.inter hos ſcopulos & ſinus inter haec vada & freta Idololatriae velificata ſpiritu Dei fides nauigat tuta ſi cauta, ſecura ſi at…onita. The fourth thing which the vrging of the Croſſe doth like that of the papiſt is compulſion through threat of heauy puniſhment, and puniſhing out right not only the obſtinate and malitious and the contemner who only are puniſhable by thefStatut. of Eliz. before communi. booke. 1. Cor. 8.9. & 9.19. & 6.12. lawe, but eueryevery one who ſhall omit it howſoeuer. Ought not our godly Gouernours to forgoe their commoditie, and ſpare their authoritie in ſo generall a perturbation of infinit conſciences, as the Apoſtle giueth commaundement, & example,gBaeza epiſt. 12. Num vero iſta tami ſunt vt propterea oporteat tam multorum conſciencias perturbari? Peter compelled to the Iewiſh ceremonieshAuguſt. exemplo only, and wee ſee how Paul withſtandeth him. WhenlEuſeb. hiſtor. li. 5. cap. 24. Victor compelled to a conformitie in Eaſter, how doth Irenaeus take him vp, vponupon this grounde:mC…talog. feſt. veritat. fol. 10. That the obſeruation of ſuch things ought to be free? Charles the great compelled to a conformitie to the ſeruice book of Rome, but how diſhonorable was it to him? for he did it, Cumminis & ſupplicijs, ſaithnNaucler. generat. 22 Iacob. de Vorngin. in legend. Gregor. & Eugen. the ſtory.oPhilip. Mornaeus de Buchariſt. lib. 1. cap. 8. Alphonſus the ſixt K. of Spaine compelled to the ſame booke of Romane rites, and how grieuous grew he, and how burthenſome to the people? who cried out, Quo volunt Reges, vadunt leges: The lawes muſt ſing, as will the King. Biſhop Ridley enforced the Surplice vponupon M. Hooper, to the great regret of his conſcience, and of this rigourpAct. & monu. in. epiſtol. annex. ad vit. Hoop. repented himſelfe a little before the day of his death. Certaine Princes of Germany to pleaſe Charles the Emperour, impoſed the Surplice with other rites vponupon the Miniſters of their ſeuerall territories, and are all condemned for this,qLibell. ſupplicator. Theolog. German. Anno 1561. That they cauſed to ſigh the ſpirit of God in the hearts of good men.