Against Symbolizing with Antichrist in Ceremonies, Table of contents 1
A Table of the contents of the ſeverall Chapters, and Sections of this booke.
The Idolatrie of the Croſſe. CHAP. I.
THe Croſſe in Baptiſme is Idolatrie againſt God, and teacheth that God is delighted with wil-worſhip, Sect. 1.
The doctrine of the croſſe teacheth merit, ſatiſfaction, and pardon for ſinne, ſect. 2.
The effectes of the croſſe ſpiritual, great & marvellous. Two obiections to the ſame anſwered, Sect. 3.
In grace given and received by men, as alſo in formes of Oathes, the croſſe is not only ioyned and matched with Christ, but ſometime overmatcheth him as being more effectual then he, Sect. 4.
The ſigne of the croſſe, a part of the Devills worſhip: A character to effect things ſupernaturall and deviliſh miracles. An instrument of witchcraft: an inchaunting rodd, a magicall ſigne, Sect. 5.
The Surplice as a Priestly and holy vestiment, is to be adored, Sect. 6.
The Croſſe, Surplice, &c. incurable and irrrecoverable Jdolothites: the croſſe no creature of God, therefore vtterly to be aboliſhed, ſect. 7.
Two ſeverall ſinnes committed in retayning the croſſe: the first reſerving it as a speciall and ſcandalous monument of Jdolatrie past: with ſix reaſons against the retayning of it, ſect. 8.
The ſecond ſinne committed in retayning the croſſe, is the daunger of Idolatrie in it for time to come, Sect. 9.
How ſome contrarie to the Papists meaning and writing denie adoration to be giuen to the aereall croſſe, ſect. 10.
How the ayrie ſigne of the croſſe is Jdolized and worſhipped tho tranſeant, ſect. 11.
Reaſons with obiections anſwered, why the croſſe may not be entertayned by vsus, &c. ſect. 12.
We commit Idolatrie in receyving the croſſe, becauſe we doe not zealouſlie baniſh it, ſect. 13.
The ſecond kinde of participation with Jdolatrie is, when we may hinder it, and doe not, Sect. 14.
Three obiections fully aunſwered, whereby the Oppoſites endevoureth to proove that to communicate with our Croſſe, is no Idolatrie, ſect. 15.
An obiection of the Oppoſites anſwered, ſaying, they may vſe the Croſſe, becauſe they hauehave chaunged the croſſe. Though there bee foure ſortes of things that may be chaunged, yet the croſſe is none of them, Sect. 16.
An enlargement and continuance of the matter contained in the former ſection, ſect. 17.
Our Croſſe not chaunged from the Papisticall croſſe, whilest ours as alſo theirs reſemble Christes death: and whilest the olde peece of his figure and forme remaineth, ſect. 18.
The Oppoſites firſt difference, why our croſſe not the ſame with the Papistes, ſz becauſe not the ſame Numero, ſect. 19.
The oppoſites ſecond differēce why our croſſe not the ſame with the Papiſtes, ſz. becauſe ours is made at the fount only: theirs at the church doore alſo, ſect, 20.
The oppeſites third difference of our croſſe and theirs, is in the meaning, end and vſe, ſect. 21.
Our vſe of the Croſſe, the ſame with the Papists in ſeaven reſpectes. The oppoſites distinction of effectivè and ſignificativè in defence of it, anſwered, ſect. 22.
Evills occaſioned by the croſſe it ſelfe, people, Minister, and Governours that vrge it, ſect. 23.
Five defences of the croſſe obiected by the Oppoſites: The first whereof is anſwered in this ſection, and that which followeth, ſect. 24.25.
Obiections of the oppoſites for the croſſe confuted in this ſect. and in the 27. following. Ceremonies honorable in their auncient beginning, must bee corrected, not remooved. ſect. 26.27.
The abuſe of the Croſſe can not be remooved, the Croſſe it ſelfe remayning, Sect. 28.
Preaching as it is now vſed in England, is not ſufficient to remove the abuſes of the croſſe, the croſſe it ſelf remayning, Sect. 29.30.
Oppoſites obiection aunſwered, which is, the abuſes of the Croſſe are ſufficiently reformed, becauſe the Altars, Shrynes, Images, &c. be vtterly removed, &c. Sect. 31.
Reaſons why the aereall croſſe ought rather to be aboliſht then the materiall, Sect. 32.
It avayles nothing to remoove the materiall croſſe, retayning the myſticall, ſect. 33.
Another Oppoſites obiection aunſwered: which is, we vſe it as a civill ceremonie, not religious, ſect. 34.
Pretence of a civill ende of the croſſe, excuſes not the croſſe vſed in the worſhip of God, ſect. 35.
The vſe of the Croſſe is religious not civill, as the Oppoſites prooved in this ſection, and that which followeth, ſect. 36.
The 5. obiection of the Oppoſites aunſwered: which is, he is not worſhipped in the Sacrament, but is only an attendant vponupon the ſacrament, ſect, 39.
The ſuperstition of the Croſſe. Sect. 1. CHAP. II.
THE Croſſe is an Image flatly forbidden by the ſecond commaundement, ſect. 1.
The Croſſe is directly an Jmage, ſect. 2.
The Oppoſites ſaying, the ſecond commaundement forbiddeth onelyonly materiall Images, are confuted. The croſſe now vſed is not ſimply aereall, ſect. 3.
The Oppoſites ſaying our croſſe is no Image, becauſe they intend no expreſſion, are confuted, ſect. 4.
The opinion confuted, which not able to denie the croſſe to be an Image, affirme Images to be lawfull in caſe the Magiſtrate commaunde them, &c. And the aereall croſſe is worſt of all Images, ſect. 5.
The aereall croſſe is a new ſigne directly againſt the entendement and rule of Gods worſhippe. The daunger of retayning old popiſh ceremonies, Sect. 6.
The croſſe ſinneth againſt this maine principle of the worde, hee that addeth or taketh from it, &c. Popiſh ceremonies worſe then Iewiſh, ſect. 7.
The Oppoſites that affirme their ceremonies to come from the primitiue church immediatlie, and not from poperie, are confuted, ſect. 8. and 9.
The ſecond defence of the croſſe confuted: that is, we receiue it not as ſuperſtitiouſlie abuſed by the papiſtes, but as firſt vſed by the Fathers, ſect. 10.
Its no good defence of the croſſe to ſay wee hauehave it from our Fathers, not from the papistes, becauſe the fathers alſo abuſed both, the ſimple vſe of it, and as it is mixt with oyle, ſect. 11.
The Croſſe is condemned as a ſuperstitious ceremonie: as ſuperstitious wil-worſhip, and for a ſuperstitious ceremonie, and will-worſhippe ſacramentall, ſect. 12.
The croſſe is a Wil-worſhippe, prooved by three reaſons. ſect. 13.
The holines and neceſſitie of the croſſe, cauſe it to ſmell very ranklie of ſuperstition, ſect. 14.
The Oppoſites first reply aunſwered: which is, that the law commaundes not the croſſe as an holy worſhip like the Papistes, ſect. 15.
The ſeconde pretence for defence of the croſſe, is neceſſitie, ſect. 16.
We can hardly accuſe the Papistes of any abuſe of the croſſe, becauſe we abuſe it almost as much as they, ſect. 17.
The third abuſe of the croſſe confuted: which is, that the croſſe is vrged of neceſſitie without omiſſion, even as with the Papistes, ſect. 18.
The preſſing of the croſſe confirmes popiſh principles: the vrging of the croſſe, eſtabliſheth a popiſh neceſſitie, Ex conſequenti, ſect. 19.
The croſſe as the Oppoſites vſe it, is prooved to be ſacramentall, ſect. 20.
The Oppoſites ſaying the croſſe is Sacramentale, is foure wayes faulty, ſect. 21.
The Fathers vrge a neceſsitie of the croſſe verie ſuperstitiouſlie: the Papistes more indifferent then they, therefore their authoritie is of no value for the croſſe, ſect. 22.
The Oppoſites giuegive that to the ſigne of the croſſe, which is onelyonly proper to an eſſentiall part of the ſacrament, ſect. 23.
The oppoſites obiection ſaying the croſſe in Baptiſme is inferior to the water, becauſe it comes after, confuted, ſect. 24.
A third fault wherein the oppoſites vſurpeth vponupon ſacramentall offices, ſect. 25.
Though the deviſing of new ſignes corrupt the ſimplicitie of Sacramentes ordayned by Chriſt, yet it hindereth not but ſomething is left to the Church concerning circumſtances, as time, place, order, &c. ſect. 26.
Though it were lawfull for the Church to deviſe newe ſignes, yet not for religious vſe, eſpeciallie where God hath ordayned ſignes for the ſame purpoſe alreadie, ſest. 27.
And although it were lawfull there to ordaine new ſignes where God hath alreadie ordayned, yet is it not lawfull to annex them to the holy ſignes of God, as with vsus the Croſſe, Sect. 28.
No outwarde ſigne ought to bee added by the churh to Christes institution, ſect. 29.
Though it were lawfull to deviſe newe ſymbolicall ſignes in the Sacrament where God hath ordayned alreadie, yet not to take a Croſſe from the brothelhouſe of ſuperstition, Sect. 30.
Obiections of the Oppoſites: the croſſe is ſooner to be vſed in that it teacheth good things, and hath a profitable ſignification: therefore everie ceremonie is ſignificant, or els vains: that the Lorde delighted much in ſignes which the woman ſhewed, and blamed Simon for not ſhewing the like, &c. ſect. 31.
The ſeconde obiection of the oppoſites: there bee manie ſimilitudes in ſcripture drawne from Gods creatures, which imploy ſo many ſignes, &c. ſect. 32.
The thirde obiection of the Oppoſites: there bee divers ſignes added in the ſcripture by man lawfully as the knife of ſtone, and ſuch like, ſect 33.
The fourth ſigne alleadged for the defence of the Croſſe, is the impoſition of handes: and why ſhould not the ſigne of the croſſe bee as lawfull as it, ſect. 34.
Foure offices which the croſſe performeth in baptiſme, ſect. 35.
The fourth ſinne that maketh this croſſe Sacramentale, in theſe words: We receiue this childe into the congregation of Christes flocke, ſect. 36.
It followeth not, becauſe wee vſe the Lords prayer and Creede in Baptiſme, that therefore wee may vſe the croſſe. For the worde croſſe implyeth three ſenſes contrarie to the word, ſect. 37.
The oppoſites ſaying, that the croſſe is the ſigne of Christ crucified, confuted, ſect. 38.
Though Tau were in the text, yet can not acroſſe be collected from it, vnles we ground doctrine vponupon the mysteries of letters, which the Gnoſtickes, Valentinians, and the Cabalistes vſe, ſect. 39.
That the ſigne of the croſſe, is not the ſigne of the Sonne of man, ſect. 40.
An anſwere to the argument of the Oppoſites, which is taken from Viſions and Apparitions, ſect. 41.
Anſweres to the arguments, which the oppoſites take from miracles, ſect. 42.
the refuge which the oppoſites ſeeke to hauehave by the Fathers, remooved, both becauſe they paſſed meaſure herein, as alſo, that the caſe and time is now farre chaunged, ſect. 43.
The Hypocriſie of the Croſſe. Sect. 1. CHAP. III.
That the vſing of the Croſſe, is but an idle apiſh toye, and lighter then the Surplice, which is alſo too light, Sect. 2.
That the croſſe is vnprofitable, fleſhlie, ſmelling of Idolatrie, and of too light a colour, Sect. 3.
The profits alledged to accompanie the croſse, for commendation thereof, as to keepe from ſinne, confuſion, cauſe zeale, and to helpe in the inſtant of temptation, are refuted, ſect. 4.
That the croſse is nowe not onelyonly vnprofitable, but alſo verie hurtfull, ſect. 5.
The ſeconde excuſe, that the croſse is impoſed by Christian Magistrates, is taken away in divers reſpectes, eſpeciallie becauſe it is taken as a conſenting in a part to the ceremonies of the church of Rome, ſect. 6.
That the croſſe fostereth hypocriſie in the middes of our church, and hindereth ſpirituall worſhipp, ſect. 7.
The hipocriſie of the croſſe in preposterating, evacuating, and polluting the vnderstanding, which is the first part of the ſoule reaſonable, is proved, ſect. 8.
That the croſſe is not a monitorium to the memorie, but defileth it with the hipocriſie of preposteration, with vacuitie of the remembrance pretended, and with forgetfulnes of God and his word, ſect. 9.
That the croſſe occaſioneth, and breedeth canker in the conſcience, and that which the Oppoſites alleadge, that conſcience is but a pretence, is anticipat, Sect. 10.
The hipocriſie and preposteration of the croſſe, in the Will, in respect of the meanes for attayning to the right end, is proved, Sect. 11.
How the croſſe is vrged by our Oppoſites for ſininister end, and not in ſynceritie, Sect. 12.
That the croſſe preposterateth, evacuateth, and polluteth the affection of feare, ſect. 13.
How the ſigne of the croſſe is an enimie to our affiance in the merites of Christ, ſect. 14.
That the croſſe evacuateth and polluteth faith, ſect. 15.
That the Croſſe evacuateth and polluteth louelove & zeale, both for matter, and meaſure, ſect. 16.
The hipocriſie of the croſſe in prayer, is prooved in respect it is thought to be operatiue, ſanctificatiue, and helpefull thereto, ſect. 17.
The ſpeciall hipocriſie of the croſſe, is evidentlie declared in the life and converſation of thoſe that did beare it, ſect. 18.
The Impietie of the Croſſe. Sect. 1. CHAP. IIII.
THAT the Croſſe mocketh the Lords Sabboths, in darkening them: guiding the popiſh Proceſſions, and with whoriſhe braverie, in the worſhip of God, Sect. 2.
That the croſſe corrupteth the ſimplicitie of the Sabboth, ſect. 3.
That the ſigne of the croſſe defileth the ſanctitie of the Sabboth, ſect. 4.
That the ceremonies, and the croſſe in ſpeciall, ſteale away true devotion from the heart, and are occaſions of irreverence, ſect. 5.
That the ceremonies controverſed, not onelyonly defile, but hinder the worſhipp of the Sabboth, ſect. 6.
The Ceremonies hinder the Preaching of the Sabboth, both in parte and in the whole, ſect. 7.
That the Ceremonies controverſed, hinder the word in whole, ſect. 8.
That the Ceremonies with their ſubſcription, ſhutt out good ſhepheardes, ſuffers and fosters hyrelinges, ignorance, pluralitie, and non reſidencie, ſect. 9.
That the Ceremonies controverſed, hinder preaching, ſhutting out the Preachers, and putting the light vnderunder a buſhell, ſect. 10.
An aunſwere to the reproche of the Oppoſites, which is, that theſe who ſtande for Diſcipline, are vnlearned, ſect. 11.
That the fault why faithfull Ministers are cast out of their Ministerie, lyeth not vppon them ſelves, ſect. 12.
The calumnie of peeviſhnes and fooliſhnes imputed to the Ministers, for not receyving Cappe and Surplice, is aunſwered, ſect. 13.
The calumnie of leaving the Ministerie, is anſwered, and the ignorantes and others, who ſubſcribe, to abide in the Ministerie, are by the way chalenged and convicted, ſect. 14.
That the loſſe of the Ministerie, vntounto the faithfull Ministers, rather then to approove the Ceremonies, ſhall be the Lords gaine alſo, as the iudgement of our best Divines, is ſo to doe, Sect. 15.
That the ſmall estimation of Preaching, vnderunder pretence to care for praying, as the oppoſites alleadge, is the abaddone or murthering ſinne of theſe dayes, and takes away the right vſe of the Sabboth, ſect. 16.
The ende of the contentes of the ſeverall Chapters and Sections of the firſt part of this booke.