The Cross in Baptism, Treatise

The Cross in Baptism · Treatise

p. 1OF THE SIGNE OF THE Croſſe in Baptiſme. The vſe of the Croſſe in Baptiſme is not a thing indifferent, but vtterly vnlawfull. For this reaſon.

IT is againſt the Apoſtles precept 1. Io. 5.21.PROOFES OF THE MAIOR. Babes keepe your ſelves from Idolls. For the explanation wherof two thinges are to be ſcanned firſt: what is meant by an Idoll. Secondly: how farr we are to keepe our ſelues from the Idoll. An Idoll iswhatſo euer beſides God is worſhiped with divine honor. quicquid preter deum diuino colitur honore: and though ſome reſtraine an Idoll to a viſible forme: becauſe it is deriued of apotou eidous …et as a learned writer obſeruethZanch. de redem P. lib. 1. cap, 17, Thſ. 5: Qui de omnibus Idolatrie generibus acturi …unt, latius nomen Idoli accipiant neceſſe eſt Idoli igitur nomine intelligiur quicquid homo tanquam deum vel …mpliciter vel ^katati ſibi extra verum Deum proponit fingitque colendum. Neither is this ſpoken without good rea…n, for nothing is properly an Idoll,as it is a viſible forme▪ but as it is religiouſly worſhiped. quate …s eſt viſibilis forma, ſed quatenus reli…oſe colitur If therefore it be worſhipped it p. 2m…y be an Idoll though it be no viſible ſhape otherwiſe the worſhipping of Angells and the ſoules of the iuſt men were no Idolatry, ſeeing theſe are inviſible ſpirites. and therefore the ſigne of the Croſſe. If it be religiouſly worſhipped, may proue an Idoll though it be tranſiens quiddam a thinge vaniſhing in the Ayre and no permanent forme. For as that learned Zanche ſpeaketh there is a duplexA twofould Idol the on reall the other imaginarie conceiued only in the minde Idolum, the one reall the other imaginarium et tantum mente conceptum.

For anſwer to the Second queſtion. Men may keepe themſelues from Idolls two wayes viZ. a cultu, et ab vſu Idoli from the worſhipp, and from the vſe of the Idoll. For the firſt,How farr we are to keepe our ſelues from an Idoll, 1 Cor. 10.15, to 23.1 Cor 10:15–23 S. Paule is ſo ſtrict that he alloweth not the chriſtians ſo much as to be preſent in the temple at the Idolatrous feaſts, though they did it without any internall opinion, or externall action of worſhippinge the Idoll.

But Iohn in this place doth not ſpeake ſ… much of the worſhip as the vſe of the Idoll for (as Aug. in pſalme 113. well obſerueth) th… p. 3Apoſtle commaundeth vt caueant non tantum a cultu ſimulacrorum, ſed a ſimulacris ipſis. that they a voyd not only the worſhipp of the Images, but alſo the images or Idolls themſelues.

Now the vſe of an Image, or Idoll, may be ciuill or religious, and both of them publike or priuate.

That an Image, even ſuch an Image as is Idolatrouſly worſhipped, may be made & retained for cyvill reſpects of ornament, ſtory or ſuch like: we make no queſtion. though the tollarating of them in open and publick places, even extra cultum be offenſiue and turne into a ſnare, as Gideons Ephod was to his poſteritie: when it was abuſed to Idolatrie. And vppon this ground we yeld, that though the Croſſe be apparantly an Idoll, yet in Princes Banners, Coronations, Coyne, Crowne, or any other cyuill reſpect it may hauehave a lawfull vſe. But that any thinge of mans deuiſinge being worſhipped as an Idoll ſhould be uſed religionis ergo & in the worſhipp p. 4of God, ſeemeth directly againſt S. Io… precept, for, how doe I keepe my ſelfe from the Idoll, or how doe I ſheew my Zealous d… teſtation of that filthy Idolatry: when I r… tayne it: and vſe it ſo honorably, as in th… Temple, in the Sanctuary, in the ſervice o… God. Which interpritation of this place of S. Iohn, the Church of EnglandeeHomil. …ga, perill of Idolatrie part 2 doth on th… warrant of Tertullian approue & comend.

And this poynt is further ſtrengthened by the ſecond commaundement:ffExod. 23 & 34 13 Deut▪ 7.5, Pſ, 16, 4Exod 23Deut 7:5 which forbiddeth not only to worſhipp: but even to make any Image, or any ſimilitude whatſoeuer, to witt, ad cultum, or for religious vſe: as according to the ſcripture the beſtggCaluin, inſti. li : 1 cap. 11 V… …in. cathe. in expoſ…t, ſecundi, precept. Petr. Martyr loc comclaſ 2 cap 5; sect 22 Hooper in 2 precePt. Zanch: de redemp… …. lib 1 c…p. …5 interpret… ors, partly againſt Images in Churches, partly on the words of the precept doe moſt naturally expound it. for ſuerly, if Idolatry it ſelfe as amoſt execrable thing be forbidden, then all occaſions and meanes leading therevnto are likewiſe prohibited. And what ſtronger prouocation to that ſpirituall whordome: then erectinge Images in the place of p. 5Gods worſhipp? Plus Babington on the 2. commaundement. Perk. ſet: cauſ. ca, 21 Allen on the 2 Com. Dod on the 2. com,enim vt rectu Avguſtinus in pſal. 113. Valent ſimulacra ad…uruandam infelicem animam, quod os …abent, oculos habent, aures habent, …ares habent, manus habent, pedes ha…ent, quam ad corrigendam quod non …oquentur, non videbunt, non audient, …on odorabunt, non tractabunt, non …mbulabunt.

And therefore without doubt the mea…ing of the commaundement is to bynde …he Church: from all ſuch ſnares and al…uerments to ſinne, and therefore doth Au…uſtyne in queſt. ſuꝓ Leuit. q. 68. well …onclude from this commaundement that …uch making of an Idoll can neuer be iuſt or …awfull.

Now if no ſimilitude at all be tollarable …n Gods ſervice, then much leſſe any that …ath bene and is worſhipped Idolatrouſly.

Tertullian againſt the Gnoſtickes: ac…ompted them Idolaters not only which wor…hipped, but thoſe alſo which made and retained p. 6Images (nemppe ad cultum or for holy vſe) and in his booke de Idolatria, he vehemently reproued the very makers of Images, though they did not themſelues worſhipp them, which ſheeweth in what execration the primitiue Churches held any religious vſe of an Idoll.

The like we may finde in Epiphanius ad… Iohannem Epūm Hicroſal. Where he reporteth, that finding an image of Chriſt, or ſome Saint, hanging at a Church dore, he… rent it in peeces, avouching that to hang a… picture in the Church of Chriſt, was contra autoritatem ſcripturarum contra religionem chriſtianam: contrary to the authoritie of the ſcriptures and the chriſtian religion.

From hence I conclude, that if the godly fathers were ſo vehement againſt erecting… Images of Chriſt, and of Saintes, even a… that time: before any worſhipp was giuen vntounto them. Much more would they withſtand it now after men hauehave made Idolles of p. 7them. And if they would not ſuffer an Idoll ſo much as in the place of Gods worſhip: would they endure themſelues to vſe ſuch an …doll as the Croſſe: in the ſeruice and ſacramentes of God. Their Zeale againſt that ſpirituall fornication: would neuer permitt …hem ſo highly to honor, ſuch an execrable thing: neither was their Zeale herein without ground of knowledge: For the ſpirit of God in Pſa. 115.8. ſpeaking of Idolls, They (ſaith he) that make them, are like vntounto them, and ſo are all they that truſt in them. Where a plaine difference is made: betweene makers: and worſhippers of Idolls: and both condemned, as curſſed tranſgreſſors of the law, ſhall any then make the Idoll of the croſſe and that religionis cauſa and yet be innocent?

Qu…ſtionleſſe by DauidsPſa 16, 14Ps 16:14 example we muſt make no mention, that is keepe no honorable memory of an Idoll, and therfore with out doubt: not giuegive it ſo much honor as to vſe it: or the memoriall thereof in the houſe p. 8of God, and in his holy worſhipp, but as Iſai ſaithIsai 50.22Isa 50:22, We muſt pollute the reliques: and the very couering, and ornament of the Idoll, & caſt them away as amenſtrous cloth, and ſay vntounto it gett thee hence.

PROOFE OF THE MINORNow if any doubt whither the ſigne of the croſſe be adored: and ſo made an Idoll, lett him well conſider the tract of Bellarmine de a doratione crucis, where diſtinguiſhing the Croſſe on which Chriſt was hanged, from the ſimilitude thereof he ſaith,other croſſes like to this, are accounted ſacred Images cetere cruces illi ſimiles inter ſacras imagines numerantur and after he diſtinguiſheth thoſe ſimilytudes of Chriſtes Croſſe into the Image and ſigne of the Croſſe, ſo that if the Image of the croſſe be taken for an Idoll (& who knoweth not that it is the vniuerſall Idoll of popery: and to be adored, euen cultu… latrie (which worſhipp as they themſelues hould is due only vntounto God) the ſigne of the croſſe muſt needes be taken for no better. Beſides the ſame,De Image lib, 1… 3…. Bellarmyne hauing as is ſaid diſtinguiſhed the croſſe: into three ſortes: the p. 9croſſe, the Image of the croſſe, and the ſigne of the croſſe, he layeth downe this doctrine generally of them all, omnes cruces adoramus and perticulerly of the ſigne of the croſſe he ſaith,we adore all croſſes de Imag. lib, 2 cap. 29. ſignum crucis quod in fronte vel in aere pingitur eſſe ſacrum et venerabile. To this agreeth Portiformus Sariſb: 4 where it is thus profeſſed adoramus crucis ſignaculum per quod ſalutis ſumpſimus ſacramentum.

And that the Image and ſigne of the croſſe is of one, and the ſame account with papiſts, appereth evidently as by diuers: ſo perticularly by Hart: For Docter RaynoldesConfer: with Hart Cap; 8: diuiſ-4 ſheewing that the Church of England, hath iuſtly left the ſigne of the croſſe out of the ſupper for the Idolatry thereof, doth proue that it is worſhipped as an Idoll, by ſuch teſtimonies as indeede belonge to the Image of the croſſe, which Hart no way excepted againſt, doth imply, that looke what eſtimation they hauehave of the Image: the ſame they hauehave of the ſigne, and what honor is due to the one: is p. 10due to the other. For in very deed, they carefully teach,Andra. orthod: e…pli lib 9. Bellarm. de imag, l…b, 2 cap, …0 Tho. Aquin part 3. q. 2 art. q…art. & d…uers other that it is not in regard of th… matter, wherein the croſſe is painted, or th… couler whereby it is ſhaddowed, but only an… ſimply for the expreſſing of the liknes o… Chriſtes croſſe, and for the repreſenting o… Chriſt crucyfied (which the ſigne performeth as well as the Image) that the adore th… croſſe with the ſame honor, that is due vnt… Chriſt himſelfe. And this no doubt was th… meanning of Aquinas when he ſaith th… every effigies or liknes of the croſſe (wherof the ſigne is one) is to be adored cul… latrie and Coſterus doth avouch that th… ſame worſhipp is due to the ſigne,Ibidem as belongeth to the very croſſe of Chriſt, when … ſaith (though falſly)Coſter. En…h…, cap 11, chriſtiani a Chriſ… temporibus ſemper ſumma venerati… ne coluerunt ipſum ſignum dominic… crvcis et ſignum crvcis qvo ſe qvotidi… maniunt Marke that the ſigne of the cro… is worſhipped ſumma veneratione with t… higheſt degee of honor, and asO…thod. expl…ce. lib, 9: Andra… …s p. 11in expreſſe words ſaith in the ſame man…er, that the Image of Chriſt himſelfe is …orſhipped, then the which what can be …ore clere to proue that not only the Image: …ut the ſigne of the croſſe is by the papiſtes …oſt Idolatrouſly worſhipped?

Yf any ſay that to the ſigne of the croſſe …one boweth the knee or vaileth the bonnet, …nd therfore it is not adored. I anſwer. Firſt …hat adoration is interne and externe: and …he externe adoration is therfore Idolatry, …ecauſe it proceedeth from the interne, as …ancheusZanch: de redempt. lib 1 ca: 17 Theſ: 5 very learnedly, and largely, …eeweth.

Yf a man invocate to an Angell or giuegive a …y honor internall to a creature, ſhall it not …e called Idolatry,Ephe. 5.6 Coloſ. 3 5Eph 5:6Col 3:5 exceept he bowe outward… vntounto it? How then doth Paull ſay that co…etouſnes is Idolatry? For a rich man doth …ot outwardly worſhipp his goodes, yet be…auſe he giueth vntounto it interneMark 10 24 1 Tim 6 19 Luke 12: 15Mark 10:241 Tim 6:19Luke 12:15 confidēce …hich is due vntounto God, it is truely called his …doll, as vntounto the SardanapaliPhii 3.19 there belly p. 12is termed there god: Right ſo the Papiſtes aſcribinge to the ſigne of the croſſe, that honor and confidence which belongeth to God, doe make it an execrable Idoll: and ſo moſt vnfitt to ſtand in the ſanctuary, or to be annexed to the holy thinges of God. For firſt they aſcrybe vntounto the ſigne of the croſſe: power and vertue, to mcryt pardon at leaſt for veniall ſinnes,queſt, disputat, de venal pecto as appea-reth by (r) Tho. Aquinus (s) Bellermine and (t) Rhemiſtes.

de effect sacrument. li 2 1 Tim 4 ſect 13.14 Bellar. de effect sacr. lib 2. cap, 31 VntoUnto a rude clowne whos dull vnderſtandinge cannot reach to higher thinges, this only (ſaith h…) ſufficeth for his ſa…uatiō.1 Tim 4Alſo it is held to partake of power efficient, and imediatly (v) operatiue, and that t… conuert ſinners Marſhal de cruce fol. 114 115. yea to gaine ſaluation, Hoſius (x) contra Brent. p. 227. and generally the whole rabl… of Romiſh Doctors do teach to putt great affiance in this ſigne for chaſing away deuils, and curinge diſeaſes, and ſanctifiynge both man, and other creatures, to the vſe of man.

Secondly, I ſay indeed they doe giuegive outwarde, aſwell as inward worſhipp to the croſſe. For it is apparant that they invocate p. 13it in the ſame manner, that they invocate ſaints whē they ſay per crucis hoc ſignum fugiat procul omne malignum by this ſigne of holy Croſſe let euills all flie farre frō vsus. Againe, by the ſigne of the holy Croſſe,In officio ſanct. cruce printed in Engliſh anno 1599. from our enimies dcliuer vsus o Lord our God Alſo in another place, victorious Croſſe and admirable ſigne, make vsus triumph and ioy: in heauenly courtes divine. Yea in prayers they ioyne it with Ieſus Chriſt, as in officio miſſae is to be ſeene, where they ſupplicate:By the mercy of Ieſus Chriſt, by the a…de & ſigne of the croſſe, by the interceſſion of the blessed virgine, …per miſe ecordiam Ieſu Chriſti, per aux ilium et ſignum crucis, per interceſſionem beate Mariae &c. They couple it alſo with the bloud of Chriſt in theſe words defend me Ieſu ab omnibus vitiis, malis preteritis, preſentibus et futuris, per ſignum ſanctae crucis, hor. preſent ad uſ…m sarum Pariſijs impre…s. anno 1498.et per ineſtimabile pretium iuſti et pretioſi ſanguinis tui. All which doth moſt manifeſtly proue, that amonge the Papiſtes it is religiouſly honored …oth with inward confidence, and outwarde reuerence. And therfore if their Idolls may p. 14in no ſorte be annexed to the ſeruice of ou… God, the croſſe in Baptiſme ought neceſſarily to be croſſed & curſed out of our liturgy Neither is it a ſufficient anſwer to ſay, tha… the croſſe amongſt vsus is neque numero n… que vſu, the ſame that theirs is, and thoug… their croſſe be an Idoll, yet ours is not. Fo… when God commaunded his people to break… downe the Images of the heathen and to extinguiſh the very name of them, had they performed that charge if they had burnt al… the Idolls of Canaan, and afterwarde mad… newe of the ſame forme, and to another vſe… though not Idolatrous: yet religious? or how hauehave we diſcharged our dueties and ſheewe… our deteſtation of that filthy Idolatry, if hauing defaced all the popiſh crucifixes and Idolls, we erect them newe in our Church though not to worſhipp them, yet to any other holy vſe whatſoeuer. It is true that our croſſe and theirs is the ſame, both in name, and forme, but not in vſe, for then were it Idolatrous, now I doe not ſay that the church of England, doth commit Idolatry: but that p. 15it ought to abſteine not only from the Idolatry or worſhipp, but euen from all religious vſe of ſuch humaine ordinances and inventions, which others hauehave and doe Idolatrouſly adore. For, if to erect crucyfixes, and other popiſh Images for holy vſe be (cōtrary to the commaundement) a keeping of an honorable memory of the Idoll,Exod: 23.15 Deut: 12:3. Hos. 2.17.Hos 2:17 howe can the religious vſe of the croſſe in Baptiſme being aſwell an Idoll as any of their Images be reteyned without breach of the law, Babes keepe your ſelues from Idolles.

obiection.

The ſigne of the croſſe in the firſt inſtitution was free from ſuperſtition and Idolatry, and if the abuſe which grewe after be remooued why ſhould it not recouer his auncient vſe & indiffrency, like as as the bread in the Lords ſupper which the Papiſtes doe religiouſly adore?

Anſwer.Of this nature are Churches, Pulpets &c. thinges of neceſſarie vſe and warranted by God himſelfe. but the reteyning of the brazen ſerpent was noe where commaunded.

There is great difference betweene that which God hath created and commaunded p. 16and that which man hath ordeyned, for … one is neceſſary and no abuſe can alter t… nature of it, the other indifferent and by … buſe may become vnlawfull; and therefo… Hezekia did worthely breake the braſen ſe… pent not ſeekinge to redreſſe the abuſe of i… Now howſoeuer Bellarmyne would inſinu… that the croſſe is founded on ſcripture, y… the weaknes of his argumentes doe bewray the vnſoundnes of the matter,aut enim ſgnum crucis habere vim ſperitualem Potiſſimum ex inſtituto Dei li. 2. de effect: ſacra. et li. 2. de Imag ca: 29 conatur venerationem, crucis scripture autoritate ſtabilire de coronami!. and therfor… Tertullians iudgment is to be preferre… which plainly ſaith, that there is no warran… in ſcripture for it horum inquit (7) ſi legem poſtules ſcripturarum nullam in v… nies, traditio tibi pretenditur autrix co… ſuetudo confirmatrix fides obſervatrix

Nowe it is further to be noted that a double vſe of the Croſſe is mentioned in antiqu… tie, one ciuill, the other religious, againſt th… former we doe not diſpute yeldinge all reuerence, to thoſe chriſtians which by that not… ſheewed their reioycinge and glory, in that which the heathen counted their ſhame, bu… p. 17now, that abuſe hath turned both the Image and the ſigne of the Croſſe into an Idoll, it ſeemeth thereby to be made execrable. For Gideons Ephod beinge firſt a ciull monumēt of victory, when the people went a whoring after it, was it lawfull for the Magiſtrate to erect in the tabernacle or ſinagogue though not the ſame, yet the like, both in name and forme to any religious vſe? would it hauehave ſufficed to ſay this is not the ſame Ephod that Iſraell maketh an Idoll of neither is it ſett heere to be worſhipped (for your brethrē doe grevouſly ſinne therin) but only to keepe …n minde they great victory that God by Gideon gaue to Iſraell? Right ſo the croſſe vſed by the auncients to ſheew that they were not …ſhamed of Chriſt crucified being meerely …yuill, and yet expreſſinge a moſt chriſtian …eſolution, hauing bene abuſed, yea, continu…ng to be worſhipped, both in imagine and …n ſigno, it ſeēeth that this filth hath made …t vnfitt, on any pretence of reſtoringe it to his auncient vſe to be annexed to the holy p. 18thinges of the ſanctuarie: eſpecially wh… their are ſo many papiſts that ſuperſtition… a…uſe it among vsus. Now for the religio… vſe of the croſſe by the auncientes, it was n… uer free from ſinne and ſuperſtition as afte… wardes is ſheewed, and if it were, yet it bei… an humaine ordinance, and now not only … buſed to Idolàtrie, but becominge it ſelfe … moſt abominable Idoll, no water can clen… it, nor any pretext purifie it for the holy ſe… vice of Iehouah. But in very deed to ſpea… as the truth is, the croſſe is reteined among vsus with opinion very ſuperſtitious and er… nious, for in the late Canons it is ſaid, th… the childCanon 30. is therby dedicated vntounto the ſ… uice of him that died on the croſſe. What … this but to equall mans ordināce with God… and to aſcribe that vntounto the croſſe, which … due vntounto Baptiſme? a conceite fitter for ignarant papiſtes, then learned chriſtians … aſſent vntounto. Neither doe we vſe it as the au… cientes did, for Cyprian, Auguſtine, Chriſ… ſtome & others,Turtul…. de bapti; ca. 7.8 Euseb. li 6, ca. 48, Innocent 1, epiſt, cap. 3. Rab. ma…de inſti. cleric. cap, …. Durand. de ritib. eccles. li. 1. cap. 20, it is apparant that thoſ… p. 19times did conſecrate the elimentes therwith …nd did not croſſe the childs forhead at all, …ut referred that vntounto the Biſhopps confir…ation, ſo that our croſſing the Infants for…ead and not the element of Baptiſme, is a …eere noueltie without any warrant of that …ntyquitie,Our vſe of the croſſe a Noveltie of ſome 60-yeares ſtanding. neither will that place of Tertul…ian de reſurrectione carnis proue the con…rary. The fleſh is waſhed that the ſoule may …e purged, the fleſh is annoynted, that the ſoule may be conſecrated, the fleſh is ſigned, …hat the ſoule may be guarded, the fleſh is …hadowed by the impoſition of handes, that …he ſoule may be by the ſpirit inlightened, …he fleſh doth feed on the bodie and bloud of Chriſt, that the ſoule may be filled and far…ed of God. In which wordes he ioyninge to…eather diuers cerimonies of the chriſtians, …oth indeede mention the ſigninge of the …aithfull, but it may as well be referred to …onfirmatiō expreſſed by impoſition of hāds …s to Baptiſme, vnderſtood by the waſhinge …f the body, and that one better reaſon, for it p. 20is more than probable that the ſigne of t… croſſe was not yet vſed in Baptiſme, ſe…ing Iuſtin Martyr in defenſ. ad Antonin a & Tertull. de Baptiſmo et de corona miltis, As for Martial his epiſt are iuſtly ſuspected:doe deſcribe the forme of Baptiſme vſe… in thoſe times and yet make no mention o… the croſſe therin, which in all liklyhood the… would not hauehave omitted if it had bene vſe… therin eſpecially Tertullian, who in that very place ſpeaketh of the croſſe, as vſed out o… Baptiſme in the ordinarie bleſſing of them ſelues.

obiection.

But the ſigne of the croſſe is not vſed i… Baptiſme, but when baptiſme is ended.

Anſ. Yf you take Baptiſme only for tha… dipping & ſprincling of the partie it is tru… and ſo none of the popiſh additions, whereby they defile that holy ſacrament are in bapti… me, for thoſe which Apud Bellar. Baptiſ… comitantur are not impious, but if you tak… baptiſme as indeed we doe: for the adminiſtration of that ſacrament, then both th… prayers before and the prayers after, the actions p. 21after the dipping: doe all indifferently belong to one and the ſelfe ſame thinge, yea it is all vna et) on continual action of the adminiſtration of the …acrament.continua actio adminiſtrationis ſacramenti.

Sure it is that it muſt be ſaid to be, either in baptiſmo extra baptiſmum aut nullibi, if it be out of baptiſme,In Baptiſme or out of Bapr. or no where, how is it by common conſent of all, ſaid to be ſignum crucis in baptiſmo.

Obiect. The ſigne of the croſſe is very auncient.

Anſ. So are many other popiſh traditions. And if on that ground we are to retaine it, why doe we not giuegive the baptiſedmilke & ho lactis …et mellis concordiam. Why doe we not bring offrings for the dead. For Turtullian the firſt of the Fathers that euer mentioned the Croſſe: doth eſtabliſh theſe, and the ſigne of the croſſe by one and the ſelfe ſame warrantie. Beſides, if vponupon the fathers tradition we vſe the croſſe, then muſt we receaue and vſe it as they hauehave deliuered it vntounto vsus that is, with opinion of vertue and efficacie, p. 22not only in the act of bleſſing our ſelues, an… in the expelling of diuills, but even in t… conſecration of the bleſſed Sacramente… For the firſt, Tertullian is w…nesde coron mil … omnem progreſſum, ad omnem promotum… ad omnem ad … ad veſtitu… et calce atum, frontem crucis ſignaculo ferimi… For chaſinge of deuills, Ierom councelle… Demetrius to vſe the croſſe.Ep…ſtol. 1 ad Demetriam. Et crebro …9 inquit ſignaculo crucis munias frontem tua… ne extermmator Aegipti in te locum reperia… Lactantias (de hoc ſigno ſcribens)lib. 4 cap. 17 ait clirit… ſactatores, inquinatos ſpiritus, ſigno paſſioni… excludere Chriſoſtom: in pſal. 108. (11… crux inquit munit mentem: ea Demones v… cilcitur ea tollit morbos anime.

But theſe ſuperſtitions are ſmall in regard of that efficacie which in the ſacraments, a… tiquitie aſcribed vntounto the croſſe, for Cypr… an (being the auncienteſt that maketh me… tion of the croſſe in Baptiſme) ſpeaking of … (12) cuius vertus omnia peragit ſacramenta… ſine quo ſigno nihil eſt ſanctum, neque aliqu… conſecratio meretur effectum. & againe, Cyprian de pa…o…e.Qui cunque ſunt ſacramento ruin miniſtri, quale… p. 23cunque ſunt manus que vel mergunt acceden…es ad baptiſmum vel vngunt qualecumque …ectus de quo ſacra exeunt verba, operationis …utoritas in figura crucis omnibus ſacramentis …rgitur effectum, Auguſtine in Ioh: tract. 18. Quod ſignum inquit niſi adhibeatur ſiue …ontibus credentium ſiue ipſe aque qua regene …antur fiue oleo quo chriſmate inunguntur ſiue …crificio quo aluntur nihil eorum rite perficitur …t were ſuperfluous to reherſe the reſt. But …ereby it is evident that the religious vſe of …he croſſe, was even at the firſt ſinnfull and …uperſtitious, neither can it be ſheewed,without admixtvre of ſupertition: that …uer it was vſed by the Fathers, religionis, …go ſine admixta ſuperſtitione, and this in…entiō did noe ſooner creepe into the ſacra…ent but it drewe vntounto it ſelfe ſuch ſuperſti…ous conceite of efficacie and neceſsitie, that …ithout it, the meanes which God appoin…d for the conſecration of the elements ſee…ed over weake, yea, vnauailable according …s ſomeLatly in Surey a child… rebaptiſed becauſe the croſſe was omitted, amongſt vsus account not theire …hildren lawfully baptiſed, yea, will hauehave …hem rebaptiſed, if the croſſe hauehave bene omit…ed, out of which may be obſerued, firſt how p. 24dangerous a thing it is to bring in any h… mane inuention into the ſeruice of God, ſi… in the very pure age of the Church, it w… puniſhed with ſuch a ſpirituall curſe of ho… rible ſuperſtition.

Secondly, though at this time popery w… not hatched, yet the miſterie of iniquity w… then a working, and the begining as it wer… of the whoriſh fornications was found eve… in the Fathers times, ſo that, as worſhippin… of Angells in Paules time,Coloſ: 2.18: prayers & oblations for the dead in Tertulliās time, be righ… ly counted popiſh and Antichriſtian, thoug… as yet that monſter was not borne. So this & other Ceremonies ratified by the popiſh Canons & conſtitutions, may well be taken for popiſh & Antichriſtian, euen in the Father times, ſeeinge they then made away for th… beaſt, and ſince hauehave receaued further impl… etie and autoritie from him:Esai. 52, 11,Isa 52:11 wherfore to co… clude as Iſai exhorteth Gods people, to keep… themſelues from the rites and pollutions o… the heathen, ſaying, depart depart ye, goe o… p. 25from them & touch noe vncleane thinge. So the ſpirit in the ſame manner chargeth the Church not to medle with the corruptions of Antichriſtian Babilon,Apoc, 18, … but goe out of her my peoplc ſaith he, that ye may not be partaker of her ſinnes, and that ye receiue not of her plagues.

The feare of which curſe doth keepe us from all the ſuperſtitious and Idolatrous cerimonies of that whoriſh ſinagogue.

Faultes eſcaped.

pag. 10. ſignum, for lignum, pag 11. inuocate to, for inuocate, 15 inuentions of, for inuentions.

End of the text · William Bradshaw, The Cross in Baptism (1604)