Against Symbolizing with Antichrist in Ceremonies, Part 2 · Chapter 6 · Section 6
#Sect. 6. The ſecond ſorte of Oppoſites confuted, affirming no inconvenience in Cerem. nor any aptnes to breede ſcandall or offence.
A Second ſorte of our Oppoſites there are who ſtoutly avowe there is no incōvenience in the ceremonies, nor any aptnes to breed ſcandall or offence, It is but aaExam. o… the declara. of the Miniſters of London. fancy that they be rockes or flattes. I acknowledge here the popiſhe careleſneſſe of ſoule bloud, & their hardines in hazarding ſoules; who plead the ſame for the reſt of their jmages, there is nobNichol. Saund. de imagin. ca. 17. ag. Fulk pag. 606. incōvenience in them: no, nor feare of any ſcandall in the worſhipping of them; ſo that no other reply here needeth, but that which our writers hauehave made to them, this dD. Fulke. reioynd. to Mart. art. 10. pag. 216argument holdeth frō the place of ſtoutnes, for other conſequence there is none in it. And leaſt we ſhould ſeeme to offer wrong in this compariſon, make we a pararell betwene the reaſons, which Saunders bringeth for no ſcandall in Images,cMart in reply. art. 10 and thoſe which our Oppoſites bring for no ſcandall in the croſſe. Thus Saunders firſt. The new Goſpell hath ſo much prevayled, that there is no feare that Images ſhould be honoured too much. Thus theſe. The preaching of the Goſpell may ſo much prevayle, that the croſſe, & the reſt of the ceremonies controverſed, may not be abuſed. Thus Saunders for his ſecond reaſon. The Images are often polluted with cobwebes, & ſuch like ſtuffe, and ſo made vile in the eyes of the people. Thus theſe. the croſſe is a baſe thing, and of litle account in the eyes of the people, and therefore vnlikely that any wil put holines in it. Thus Saunders for his third reaſon. It is leſſe evill that ſome one ſhould doe amiſſe, then to falſifie the right of the whole lawe. Thus theſe: better that ſome be ſcandalized, then that the law of the ceremonies be repealed. Thus Saunders for his 4. reaſon. If the faith and intent be good, the worſhipping of an Image cannot be amiſſe. Thus theſe. Our vſe of the croſſe and ſurplice are without ſuperſtition, and the lawe intendeth a good end in them, therefore their vſe is good. Thus Saūders for his 5. reaſon. Chriſtians now muſt not be iudged weak as were the Iewes, but ſtrong according to Iſaies propheſie, & full of knowledge. Thus theſe. The people of England muſt not be iudged either weak or ignorant, as they were in time of popery to hurt themſelues with theſe old popiſh ceremonies. Thus Saūders for his ſixt reaſon. Though ſome of the people may be weak, yet it is beſt to let images alone, leaſt they ſeeke to worſe ſuperſtitiō. Thus theſe. The people muſt be pleaſed with Croſſe and Surplice, leaſt in diſcontent, they wiſhe for their old mumpſimus altogether. Thus Saunders for his 7. reaſon. becauſe the people hauehave not the ſacrifices of the Iewes, it is fit they hauehave before thē the Martyrs Images, who did ſacrifice their bodies. Thus theſe. The people want their old Crucifixes and wonted Images, to put them in minde of Chriſtes ſacrifice on the croſſe, therefore the croſſe muſt ſteed them. Thus Saunders for his 8. reaſon. Images are not giuen to the people for their weaknes, but for the exerciſe of their ſtrength, and not to hauehave them, were puſilanimitie. Thus theſe. To feare hurt by the Croſſe and Surpliſſe were puſilanimitie. to remoue them vponupon this feare a diſhonour, and to iudg the people not of ſtrength to beare them, a greater diſcredit to our Church, then it deſerueth. Thus (laſtly) Saunders for his ninth reaſon. The place of Iohn 4. which commaundeth ſpirituall worſhipping is not againſt Images, becauſe they increaſe ſpirituall deuotion. Thus theſe. The worſhipping of God in ſpirit and truth, not only not excludeth, but alſo requireth ſuch outward helpes of inward devotion, as are the Croſſe and Surplice. There being ſuch a neere alliance betweene theſe two diſputes, I relye on the anſwer of D. Fulke, for what heeD. Fulke 95.61. pag. ibid. 696. ſpeaketh againſt this popiſh Magnanimitie (as he calleth it) in the vſe of the Images, that lighteth down right vpō this our magnanimitie in the vſe of the Croſſe and Surpliſe. Saul denyeth in vaine to Samuel his diſobedience, all-while the bleating of the ſheepe, & the lowing of the Oxen, Sam. 15.14did evict him. So all in vaine is it nowe denyed, that an Amalakitiſh beaſt is liuing in the Croſſe, ſith the dinne of his crying and of his lowing, yea of his ſtamping, nay of his goring, (whereby he hurteth both ſheepe and ſheepherds) doth dayly evict vsus.