Mixture of Scholastical Divinity with Practical Part 2, Excerpt and reply 20
Dr. Hammond.
In the forehead particularlycTom. 10. p. 289. B. in fronte sigat ubi sedes pudoris) because the seate of shame is there, which wee render, in token that the baptised shall not bee ashamed.
Jeanes.
This weighs little or nothing, unlesse withall you can prove, that the Apostles command of decency enjoyneth, that the seate of shame in the baptized should be marked with the sign of the Crosse, in token that he should not bee ashamed. Doubtlesse Saint Pauls practise was suitable unto his precept, and you doe not, you cannot pretend, that ever hee was signed in the … with the sign of the Crosse, either by himself or any other: he … his example for imitation, and gives this for a reason, that his pattern was that of our blessed Saviour, 1 Cor. 11. 1. Be ye even followers of me, as I also am of Christ. We shall not then think that so requisite unto Baptisme which hee never used; so so long as wee follow so great a …, wee shall not bee much …, though we swarve from the advice of Augustine, that hath no warrant from the Word of God. Paul makes large professions, that he was not ashamed of the Gospel, which held forth a crucified Christ, Rom. 1. 16. Phil. 1. 20. … Tim 1. 12. But no man can say that he ever expressed this his profession by the sign of the Crosse; and therefore we shall make no other account of the Signe of the Crosse, than as of a supernumerarie in Gods service; and those Beleevers that want it, may have confidence when Christ shall appear, and not be ashamed before him at his comming, 1 Joh. 2. 28.
But perhaps you think we must stoop unto the bare words of Augustine, though not seconded with any reason; and this is more then Augustine himselfe would have expected from us: for after this manner the holy Scriptures alone are to be entertained, as Bishop Jewel proveth against Harding, Def. Apol. Chur. Englpart. 1. p. 55. out of several places of Sr. August. Therfore St. Aug. saith, Alios Scriptores ita lego, ut quanta libet sanctitate doctrinâque praepolleant, non ideo verum putem, quod ipsi ita senserint, sed quod id mihi, vel per alios Authores Canonicos, vel probabili ratione persuadere potuerint. Other Writers or Fathers (besides the holy Scriptures) I read in this sort, that be their learning and holynesse never so great, I will not think it true, because they have thought so, but because they are … to perswade me so, either by other Canonical Writers, or else by some likely reason. Likewise again he saith, Hoc genus literarum non cum credendi necessitate sed cum judicandi libertate, legendum est: This kinde of Writings (of the holy Doctors and Fathers) must bee read, not with necessity to beleeve each thing, but with liberty to judge each thing.
… …. Augustine disputing against the Arians, …, as I have said before, both Councils and Fathers, and appealeth onelyonly to the Scriptures: Nec ego … … tibi, nec tu mihi Ariminensem debes objicere: … …, res cum re, causa cum …, ratio cum ratione concerter. Neither will I alledge the Council of Nice against you, nor shall you alledge the Council of Ariminum against me. By the authority of the Scriptures let us weigh matter with matter, cause with cause, reason with reason.
I shall conclude all that I have to say unto the foregoing Testimonies of … (and you may apply it also unto those which …) … the … of Whitaker, Tom. 1. pag. 293. unto a place … out of the 118 …. of Aug, ad Januar. Respondeo, Magnum esse … … in … Dei, & … quidem: Sed … debemus, hominem fuisse, … … … …. Et licet hoc loco quidem videatur favere Traditionibus, tamen in … …, scripturae … … defendit, ut postea melius patebit. Sensit enim apertissimè, nullum … … esse, quod non scripturis nitatur. … de … non … loquitur, aut fibi … non consentit.