A Learned Treatise of Traditions, Treatise · Chapter 26
CHAP. XXVI. Three ancient Cuſtomes which wee are blamed to have forſaken.
THere are three Cuſtomes, and ancient obſervations, which are caſt upon us for a reproach, that we have left them; that is to ſay, the ſigne of the Croſſe in the forehead; prayer for the dead; and Lent. Our anſwere is, that theſe are Cuſtomes which have not alwaies been, and which the Apoſtles have not obſerved; and laſtly, which were diverſly practiſed in divers Churches, and in divers ages: ſo as if wee were to chuſe what age, and what Church we ought to adhere unto, we ſhould find our ſelves much puzled. The beſt is, the Church of Rome hath changed theſe Cuſtomes, and under a ſhadow of keeping the words, hath wholly perverted the thing it ſelfe: having turned the ſigne of the Croſſe, Auguſt. de verb. Domini Serm. 8. Ne de cruce Chriſti erubeſcat, in frō te illam figat, vbi ſedes puderis.(which was but a marke of the Chriſtian profeſsion) into ſuperſtition and idolatry, into conjuration, preſervatives, and ſpels, to repulſe the Devils temptations, not onelyonly of men,Efficit ſuper ea crucis ſignaculum, vt per crucis virtutē omnes comitatus diabolieae malignitatis effugi…ne contra …cerdotem vel ſacrificiū aliquo modo prevaleat. N adiouſte que l'encens ſert auſsi à chaſſer les diables. but of Ieſus Chriſt: For, In the Maſſe they make ſignes of the Croſſe by a preſcribed number, not onelyonly upon the Bread not confecrated, but alſo upon the conſecrated Hoſte, for feare leſt the aſſaults of the Devill ſhould prevaile against it: as Pope Innocent the third doth teach, in his 2. booke of the myſteries of the Maſſe, chap. 58.
It is the ſame concerning prayer for the dead, whereof the firſt mention is found to be ſome two hundred yeeres after the birth of our Saviour: which was made for the Saints, Apoſtles, Prophets, Martyrs, and for the faithfull, to the and they might bee raiſed at a better houre then the reſt, or bee the more lightly ſcalded with the fire … the laſt judgement, and after …ome refreſhment in the ſleepe of …eace, they might riſe joyfully to …verlaſting Salvation. But the Pope …ath changed theſe into prayers for …ormented ſoules in Purgatory, …king this occaſion to eclipſe the …erfection of the benefit of Ieſus Chriſt, Whoſe blood purgeth us …rom all ſinne. 1. Iohn 7. and ſo to …ake a trade and trafficke, whereby …o heape up riches innumerable.
The ſame abuſe is crept into …ent, which the Pope maketh uſe …f, to advance his Empire, uſuring thereby the power to mode…ate the Bellies, Kitchens, Markets, …nd Tables; to give diſpenſations; …nd to change faſting into a diffe…ence of meats, and an exerciſe of …umility in matter of Merite and of ſatisfaction, as well for him that faſteth, as for another. And wheras heeretofore this abſtinence was free, and every man did faſt before the Paſchal as many dayes as hee thought good, and that theſe reglements were made by ordinances of the Biſhops in every Church; the Pope hath thereto impoſed a preciſe neceſſity, unleſſe a diſpenſation bee obtained from him, or his Miniſters. And laſtly, he hath drawne to himſelfe a power that hee had not formerly, but only in the Biſhopricke of Rome, which was a particular Church.
This is our beliefe; that the things neceſſary to ſalvation ought not to bee aboliſhed, by reaſon of the abuſes which are, and may bee thruſt into them, but we muſt take away the abuſe, and returne to the fountaine, which is the word of God. But as for things not neceſſary, nor perpetuall, nor obſerved from the beginning, and without which the Chriſtian faith may …ubſiſt in its integrity; when corruption is infuſed amongſt them; and the uſe is transformed into abuſe and idolatry, or tyranny, or ſuperſtition; it is prudently done to ſhave off the occaſions of abuſe, and firmely to ſhut this gate againſt the Devill.