g0$ W tMl 
 
 
ASHORTE 
 TREATISE OF 
 
 Jit crofTe in Bapti/me Con 
 
 traded into this fyllogifme . 
 
 No religious <vfe of afofifh idoll^inGods 
 
 -pub. ke feruice : is indifferent > but vtterly 
 
 e vnla\vfdl. 
 
 But tbevfe ofthecro([e inBaptifine isa- 
 
 religious vfe of afopifh idoll wGods fub- 
 
 like feruice. Ergo. 
 
 The vfe of the croffe in Bafiifrne is not in- 
 different but vUaiyunldxifdL 
 
 Printed/^. 
 
OF THE SIGNE OF THE 
 
 Crofle in Baptifmc . 
 The vfe of the Crofle in Baptifme is not a 
 thing indifferent, butvtterly vnlawfull. 
 For thisreafon. 
 
 T T is againft the Apojlles precept i.Iohn 
 A .W/. Babes keepe yourfelues frooiPKOFE 
 Idolls. For the explanation whereof two S a'ior . 
 thinges art to be fcanned y frfl: what is 
 ment by an idoll . Secondly: how farr we 
 are to keepe our feluesfiom the Iodll.An I- 
 dolliswhatfoeuerbefids God is worshipped 
 with divine bonor. And though fome re- 
 Jlraine an Idoll to a vifible forme: becaufe 
 it is deriued apotou eidous yet as a learned 
 writer obferueth (a)They which will treat zjnch.de re. 
 of all fortes ofldolatrie , mufl needes take ca^rhe* 
 the name of an lodll in a la rger Jignifica- 5 ■ 
 tion. By the name therefore of an idoll is 
 vnderjlood whatfoeuer befides the true 
 God a man doth fropofe or frame to him- 
 fe/fe to be worjlnpped, either fimplie, or in 
 A fome 
 
2 
 
 fome refyeci. 
 
 Neither is thisfpoken without good rea- 
 son, for nothing is properly an idoll, as it 
 is a vifible forme, but as it is religiouflye 
 rvorfnpped. if t her fore it be rvorf hipped it 
 may be an idoll , though it be no vifible 
 fhape,otherwife the rvorfhipping of Angels 
 and the faults of iuft men were no ido- 
 latrie, feeing theft are invifible fpirites, 
 and ther fore the figne of the Croffejfit be 
 religiously worf hipped, may prone an Idoll 
 though it be tnmfiens quidd&m a thinge 
 vanifhing in the Ay re and no permanent 
 forme. For as that learned Zanche ftpea- 
 keih there is A two fould Idoll, the on reall 
 the other imaginare,conceaued only in the 
 mindc. 
 
 Fcranftver to the Second qaeflion. Men 
 may keepe themfelues fro idolls two wayes: 
 
 ©urfeiues le,apA rro;n thevfc oftheldolL 
 
 rom * o ^ fhejtrft, (b) S. Pau!e isfo (Iricl that 
 I^oi"' $* alloweth not the chriflians fo much as 
 
 to 
 
io be prefent in the temple at the idolu 
 from 'feajles, though they did it without a- 
 ny int email opinion, or extemall aclion of 
 worf hipping the Idoll. 
 
 But Iohn in this place doth not (peak: Co 
 much of the worf hip as the vfe of the idoll 
 for (as Aug.inpfa.n^.v^ellobferueth) J :he 
 Apofle commaundeth that they a voyd 
 not only the worf hip of the Images, but al- 
 fo the-images or idolls themfelues . 
 
 Now the vfe of an Image, or idoll, may 
 he ciuyllor religious } and both ofthempub 
 like orpriuate. 
 
 That an Image, evenfuch an Image as 
 is idolatroufly worf hipped, may be made & 
 retaynedfor ciuyll reflects of ornament, 
 slory or fuch like : we make no queflion, 
 though the tollarating of them in open & 
 pub !i eke places, even extra cultum he of 
 fen fine and turne into a fnare, a* Gideons 
 Ephod was to his poferitie , vhen it was 
 akufed to idolatrie.Andvppon tkisgrclid 
 we yeald, that though the Croffe be appa- 
 rently 
 
4 
 
 apparamly an Idoll, yet in Princes Ban* 
 ners,Cronnations, Coyne, Crowne, or any 
 other cyvill reject it?nay bane a law full 
 vje. But that my t hinge of mans devifmg 
 being worflnppedas an ldoll,fhouldbe vf- 
 edrz\\£JLoms:ergo: and in the worfbipp of 
 God, feme th directly again f S. Johns pre- 
 cept, for, how doelkeepe myfelfefrdm the 
 ldoll,or how doe Ijheew ?ny zealous detef- 
 tation of that filthy idolatrie: when Ire- 
 tayne it, andvfeit fo honorably, as in the 
 temple ,in the Sanctuary, in the fer nice of 
 God. Which interpretation of this place of 
 S. lohn, the Church of England (c) doth 
 j/om!t, .1 - on the warrant of'Tertullian approue and 
 
 gjinft periJ! cOM'-n^l. 
 
 of Idolatrie /'"/• • r J n 7 l 
 
 p .-,: 1 2 , And this poynt is further Jtrengthened 
 
 .. . „ by the (icon i commanndement: which for 
 
 fcxod. J ? : & J J J 
 
 i 4,i ? ,z>c«t- bidietu not only to worlnpp : but even to 
 4. make an-/ Image,pr any fimmtme whatjo- 
 
 calmt infti. eirr y t0 wfy> a d cultures , or for religions 
 } r t Rn' ? \ * v fe : * $ {iCCOl '- tn Z t0 ^ e fcripturethe bejl 
 inexro : n fe mt&pr&tors, ( d) partly azainft Im.t?es in 
 
 5*»~ ' ""J™ chicks 
 
s 
 
 Churches partly on the wordes of the pre- f e c tr ^f^ r 
 ceptydoemofi naturally expound it. For ft* **9&$&te 
 trljyif Idolatry itfilfe:a,s a mojl execrable Kwpcvm » 
 thing be forbidden , then all occafens arc) z^.Xjt re 
 meanes leading thereunto are likcirife fro jj«»pnHUi. 
 hibited. And what flronger provocation BaVinguw 
 to that Jpiritua/l who? 'dome: then creeling Xia^e 
 Images in the place of Cods mrjhtfp? For ^? t:rr]Cn 
 as Aucuftinc wellobferuethy in pfal.ui . «yrc 3 p. a ,.- 
 
 , ,, ° J l J ■*■ Alien on the 
 
 Idolls or Images , haue greater power to i.ccm, 
 corrupt a filly foule , in that thy ham a %££ lhe 
 mouth, eyes y eares y nofic.handes \,feete,thcn 
 to correal it ? in that they neither heare y 
 fimelly &c. 
 
 And therefore without doubt, the men- 
 vinge of the commaundement is to bynde 
 the Church from allfuchfnares and alln- 
 trments tofinne, and therefore doth Aug. 
 in quejlfuj) Leuit.qJS. well conclude fro 
 this c ommaun dement y that finch makinge 
 of an Idollcan ncuer be iufi or lawfidi 
 
 Now if no fimilitude at all be tollarablc 
 in Gods fier nice , then much le fleam that 
 
 hath 
 
6 
 
 hdth bene and is worjlrippcd idolatrcufly. 
 Tertullian again f the Gnoftickes accomp. 
 ted them Idolaters , not onlj which wor- 
 /hipped, but thofe alfo which made and re- 
 tained Images (nemppe ad cultum or for 
 holy vfe) and in his booke de idolatria, he 
 'vehemently reproued the very makers of 
 Images , though they did not themf elites 
 ivorjhip them, which peeweth in what ex- 
 ecration the primitiue Churches held any 
 religious vfe of an Idoll. 
 The like we may fnde in Bpiphanius ad 
 Iohannem Bpum Bier of al, where he repor 
 teth, that fndinge an image of Chrifl, or 
 feme Saint, hanging at a Church dor e, he 
 rent it inpeeces, a vouching that to hange 
 apiciure in the Church of Chrifl, ivas con- 
 trary to the authority of the fcriptures & 
 the chriftian religion. 
 jr rem hence I con elude, that if the godly fa\ 
 the?- werefo vehement, againjl ereclinge 
 Images cf Chrif;,and of Saints, even at 
 thai tyme: before any worfiip wasgiuen 
 
 vnto 
 
 i 
 
. 7 
 Unto them . Much more would they with- 
 stand it now y after men haue made Idolls 
 if them. And if they would not fujfer an I~ 
 doll fo much as in the place of Gods wor- 
 Jhip : would they endure themfelues to njfc 
 fuch an Idollas the Croffe ; in the feruice 
 & facraments ofGod.Their zeale againjl 
 that (jtirituall fornication , would neuer 
 permiti themfo highly to honor , fuch an 
 execrable thing : neither was their zcale 
 heerein without ground of knowledge :for 
 thejpirit of God in pjal. n$.$. peaking of 
 Idolls, they (faith he) that make them: are 
 like vnto them 3 &fo are all they that trull 
 in them Where aplayne difference is made 
 hetweene makers : and worshippers of Idolls 
 And both condemned^ cur fed trarfgref 
 fors of the law 7 jh all any the make the I doll 
 of the croffe y andthat for religious vfe/ 
 md yet be innocent ? pfJ ^ 
 
 ^jieftionlejje by Dauids example we 
 
 mttfl make no mention jhat is keepe no ho. 
 
 rable memory of an Jdoll^ thcr fore with 
 
 B out 
 
Iiai' 50: 2 
 
 s 
 
 cut doubts ??otglue it fo much honor <u to 
 i'fe it , or the memoriall thereof in the 
 houfe of God, and in his holy worjhif , but 
 ' as ijai faith, we mujlfollute the r cliques: 
 and the very coueringe , and ornament of 
 th e Idoll, andcajl the away as a menflrcus 
 cloth, and fay unto it,gett thee hence. 
 New if any doubt, whether the figne of 
 P f ° h E e ^ K cro $ e ^ e a< dored, andfo made an Idoll: 
 m 1 n o a . let them wellconfider the tratl of JSellar- 
 myne de a doratione cmcisjvhere difin 
 gui fringe the Croffe on which Chrijlwas 
 hanged, f cm the fmilitude thereof, he 
 faith: other croffes like to this: are accoun- 
 ted facreed images . dnd after he difiin- 
 guifheth thofe fmilituds of Chrifls croffe ^ 
 into the image , andfigne of the crofje,fo 
 that if the image of the croffe be taken for 
 an idoll ( and who knoweih not that it is 
 the vniuer fall idoll off of cry: and to be a- 
 dored,even ctdtu latri<e (which worfhif as 
 they themfdues hould , is due onely vnio 
 Cod) :the figne of the croffe rnitfi needes be 
 
 taken 
 
9 
 
 taken for no better. Befides,thefaid Bellar- De 7 ™ 3 & 
 mine hauing(as is /aid) dijlinguifhedthe 
 cro(fe:into three fortes, the true crojp, the 
 Image of the crojfi , and the figne of the 
 croffe: he layeth downe this doctrine gene- 
 rally of them all, we adore allcro(fes,&per 
 tkulerly, of the figne ofth* crojfe he faith 
 The figne of the crofle which is made in 
 the forehead,or in the ayre,is facreed and ve- 
 nerable. To this agreetb Vortiforium Sarijh. 4* 
 where it is thus profejfecf, we adore the figne 
 of the Croffe,by which we haue receaued the 
 Sacrament ofSaluation. 
 And that the Image and figne of the croffe 
 is of one, & the fame account mthpapifis y 
 appereth evidently as by diners :fo perticu- 
 larlyhyHart . For Docier Raynoldes (e) HanJ^*. 
 jl)eewingthat the Church of En^lad,hath duul4 
 iujlly left the figne of the croffe out of the 
 fupper for the idolatrie therof, doth proue 
 that it is wor [hipped 'as an ldoll,by fuch te~ 
 Jimmies as indeede belong to the Image 
 of the crojp, which Hart no way excepting 
 again fl , doth imply , that looke what efii- 
 mation th:y hxu: of the Image , thefami 
 
TO 
 
 they haue of the figne, and what honor h 
 due to the one, is due to the other. 1? or in vt 
 -y„ j. r J deed, they carefully teach , that it is not 
 thod . ev P ii. in regard of the matter, wherein the crojji 
 Beibikn de & pay n ted, or the couler whereby it is food- 
 c™3 g ' Kb " 2 ' dowed, but only andfimflyfor the expref- 
 Tho, Aquin: ftm ofthe Uknes ofchritls croffe, and for 
 
 p.irtjq.ieft.-' r r • r^r -n r 1, /• r 
 
 a -a: c-4 & di : the representing of Chrijt crucified (which 
 
 ue" otfcer ' the figne per f or meth as well as the Image) 
 
 that they adore the croffe with the fame ho 
 
 nor, that is due vnto Chrifi himfelfe. And 
 
 this no doubt was the meanning <?/Aqui- 
 
 ibidcin nas when he faith , that every effigies or 
 
 liknes ofthe croffe (wherof the figne is one) 
 
 is to be adored culm latrk, and Cofients 
 
 dath avouch, that the fame worfinpp is due 
 
 coder En- t0 the figne, as belongeth to the very croffe 
 
 chri ca P ,n, ofchriffwhen hefaith( though falfly (f) 
 
 The chriftiansfrom Chrifts tyme hithervnto 
 
 haue worfhiped with the higheft honor, both 
 
 the wood ofthe Lords croffe , &the figne of 
 
 the crofl"e,with which the dayly fece thefelues 
 
 Marke, that the figne ofthe croffe is wor- 
 
 (Inpped, with th: highef degree of honor, 
 
 and 
 
II 
 
 and as Andradius (?) in expreffc wordes Oxthod ■ <*- 
 
 r . t • / r t • r plica s lib. «: 
 
 laithjn the (am? manner, that the Image. 
 cfChrifl himfelfe is worshipped, then the 
 which , what can be more ckere to proue, 
 that not onely the Image :but the figne of 
 the crojfe is by the papifls moft Idolairoufiy . 
 worjhipped? 
 
 Tfanyfay:that to the figne of the crojje 
 none boweth the knee , or vaileth the bon- 
 net, and ther fore it is not adored: Ianfver 
 Firfi that adoration is interne ejr externe, 
 and the extern adoration is therefore ido- 
 latrie,hecatife it procecdeth fro the intern, 
 asZancheus (h)very learnedly ,and learg Jj™*"^?^ 
 lyjheeweth * cap^rfee 
 
 Tfa man invocate to an Angel/, orgiue 
 any honor internallto a creature , fhallit Epfeel j.^ 
 not be called Idolatry, exceept he borve oat- Colof ' * 
 tvardly vnto it? How then doth Vaullfay, Mar k Ia 24 
 that couetouGm is >. Idolatry ? For a rich l - T ^.6 J9 . 
 -wan doth not outwardly worship his goods 
 yet, becattfe hegiueth vnto it intern confi- 
 dence which is due vnto God,it is truly cal 
 
 led 
 
12 
 
 Vb^p-v^y called his Mollis vnto the Sardanapali(q 
 their belly is termed thier god. Right fo the. 
 papijls ascribing to thefigne of the Crojp, 
 that honor & confidence which belongeth 
 to God y doe mike it an execrable ldo!l y and 
 fo mifl vnfit tofiad in the fanB nary y or to 
 be annexed to the holy t hinges of God. For 
 firjl they afcribe vnto thefigne of the crojje 
 ti^d<?vi P Zil ?0lvsr A'tdvertue, to meryt pardon at leajl 
 i*^ , for veniallfinnes y as appear eth by (k) Tho. 
 cramencii.-z dmmat, Bellermine and Rhemifis. 
 I^h, 4 * ea ^|S it is held to partake of power efficient y 
 f^f^i^dimediatly(l) operative y and that to co- 
 a «M«, mrtfinners Martiallde cmcefol.i 14.11$. 
 7ea togaine fahition y Hofins cotra Brent. 
 pag. 22J .faith vnto a rude clowne whofe 
 dull vnierfianding cannot reach to hig- 
 her things y this only (faith he)fufficethfor 
 bis filiation, and generally the whole ra- 
 hie of Romijh Dottors doe teach to putt 
 great affiance in this figne for chafinge a~ 
 way deuils y and curing d>feafes,andfan£li- 
 fiyng both man and other creatures, to the 
 vfe of man. 
 
ex J 
 
 Seconly I fay indeed they doegiue outward, 
 afwellas inward worship to the crojje. For 
 it is apparant that they im'ocate it in the 
 fame manner , that they imocate Saints . 
 when they Jay , by this f gne of holy cicflc Jetftna.cruce 
 cuiJJs ail flie farre frcm vs. %Agayne 3 by thcP r, jj"j* in 
 figne of the holy crofle, frcm cur en:myes de™^ anco 
 Jiuer vs o Lord our Go6.*dlfo in another pldce 
 viclorious erode and admirable fgne, make 
 v$ trihumph and ioy c*. in heauenly courts di- 
 vine . Tea in prayers they ioynett with lefus 
 Cbri(l e as in officio milTse is to he fcene 3 where 
 they fppplrcate: By the mercy of lefus Chrift, 
 by the ayde and f gne of the creffe, by the sn^ 
 tercetfion of the blefled virgine 5c c. They ecu-' 
 fie it alfo with the hloudcf Chriji in thefc words 
 Defend me Jefu,ficm all cuill vices paft, pre- Hor, rrefntt 
 fentrand to ccme,by the figne of holy crcfTe: ;ui vi £ m * a " 
 and by the in eflimable price of thy iuft and mpd&m 
 pretious bloud. M?$» 
 
 A 'II which doth mojl wanifcftly prone jh at 
 among thepapifls: it is religioujly honored 
 both with inward confidence > and outward 
 reuerencc.And therfore if their I dolls may 
 in no forte be annexed to the fer nice of our 
 Cody the crojje in Baptifme ought neceffari 
 
 b 
 
*4 
 
 Ij to be crofjedejr curfedout of cur liturgy. 
 Neither U it afufficient anfwer to fay, that 
 the crojft amongfi vs is neither in number 
 nor in vfe, the fame that theirs is , and 
 though their crojfe be an Idoll , yet ours U 
 not J or when God commaunded his people 
 to breake downe theJmages of the heathen 
 and to extinguifl) the 'very name of them: 
 bad they performed t^iat charge: if they 
 had burnt all the idolls of Canaan, and a f 
 terward made nerve of the fame forme, and 
 to another vfe: though not Idolatrous, yet 
 religous ? Or how haue we difchar ged our 
 dueities andjhewedour deteflation of that 
 filthy idolatrie, if hatting defaced all the 
 popijl) crucifixes and idolls, we creel them 
 netvc in our Church though not to worfup 
 the yet to any other holy vfe whatfieuer.lt 
 is true that our Croffc, ejr theirs is thefae, 
 both in name , and forme, but notinvfe, 
 for then were it Idolatrous , now I doe not 
 fay that the Chusch ofEnglaud,doth com- 
 mit ldohtrie:but that it ought to abfeine 
 
 not 
 
mt only from the idolatry or worfrifp } but 
 even from all religeous vfe offuch bum ale 
 ordinances and inventions, which others 
 haue & doe idolatroujly adore. For if to e- 
 reel crucifixes, and other popifr images for 
 holy vfe be ( contrary to the commaunde- 
 ment) a keeping of an honorable memen £vod 2 ■ 3 
 if the IdoUfhow can the religious vfe of the £ en ^ e * ^ 
 crojje in Baptimfe being as well an I do 11 as 
 any of their Images be retained without 
 breach of the law , Babes keepe your 
 felues from Idolls. 
 
 obieciion. 
 The flgneof thecrofle in the firft inftituticn 
 was free from fuperftition and Idojatry^and 
 iff the abufe which grewe after be remooued, 
 why fhould it not Tecouerhis auncient v fe & 
 indifirency, like as the bread in the Lords (up 
 per which thepapiftes doe rehgioufly adore ^ of tWj Ra . 
 
 AnfWSr. t.ureare 
 
 There is great difference betweene that v ^f^c. 
 
 which God hath created c:T commaunded !(i ;? 2Sof r nc 
 
 and that which man hath ordeyned , for andWr*- 
 
 the one is nccefpiry, andn-o abnfe can alter hUfrii^btf 
 
 C tk 
 
is 
 
 |J* T * e J£ the nature of it, the other indifferent and 
 Bi azen ser - ^y abufe may he come inlaw juii, and ther- 
 vherc a com°- jW Hezckia did nor the/y breake the bra- 
 bMunded. y^ ^^^ not feeking to ndreffe the abuji 
 tutenim % of it. Now howjbeuer Bcllarmyne would in- 
 
 VJbeT C vLfi mate f ^ at f " c cro ffi. i* founded cn fcrif- 
 ipiri tunicm ture,yet the wcaknes oj his arguments dot 
 ex inifceuto bewray the twfoundms of the matter, and 
 d£a/«ra de therfore Tertullians iudgment is to be pre 
 etijb 2 de t £ T /W n^/V^ plainly faith, that thereis no 
 
 mag capipJ . r I. A* / , . 
 
 conacur ve n warrant m j capture jor tt. Bis words be, 
 cn!cis°?cn ^ It then feeke any law for this in fcripture, 
 tuicoutonta thou fhalt find none. Tradition is a vouched 
 te ftabiiirem ro fc e t b e 2U thor, cuftome the confirmer, and 
 m j i&nh the obieruer. 
 
 Now it is further to be noted that a double 
 %fe oft he crofje is mentioned in antiquity, 
 one cyuill, the other religious, agairfv the 
 former we doe not dilute yetting all reue- 
 rence to thofe chrijiiaus , which by that 
 note fieewed their reicy ring and glory, in 
 that which the heathen coiited their jlae, 
 hut now , that abufe hath turned both the 
 Image and thefgne of the crofje into an I 
 
 doll 
 
*7 
 doll j itfeemeth thereby to be made execra- 
 bk. For Gideons Ephodbeingfirfta ciuill 
 monument of victory, when the people wet 
 a whoring after it > was it law full for the 
 Magiflrate to erect in the tabernacle orfi- 
 nagogue though not the fame y yet the like, 
 both in nam 3 , and forme to any religious 
 vfe? would it haue fufficed to fay this is not 
 the fame Ephodthat ifradlmakethanl- 
 doll of neither is itfett here to be worjhip- 
 ped (for your brethren doe grevoujly fnne 
 therin)butonly to keepe in minde the great 
 victory that Cod by Gideon gaue to ifrae/l. 
 Right (b the crojje v fed by the auncients to 
 Jhew that they were not ajhamedofchrifi 
 crucified being meerly ciuill \md yet expref 
 fngamofl chriflian refolution, hauinge. 
 ben abufed, yea, continuing to be worjhip- 
 ped,both in Image and in figne, itfeemeth 
 that this filth hath made it vnfit , on any 
 pretence of reforing it to his aiwcient vfe 
 to be annexed to the holy t hinges of the 
 fmct;t.irie:efpecially while there arefo ma- 
 ny 
 
ny pacifies that fopsrftitioufly abufe it 4-* 
 mon$ vs. Now for the religious vfe of the 
 croffe by the auncients ,. it was never, fret 
 from finne ejr- ftperftition as afterwards is 
 fhewjd,cr if it were, yet being an hum aim 
 ordinance, and now not only abufed to ido- 
 iitrie, but becoming it felfe a mofl abomi- 
 nable Idoll, no water can clenfe it, nor any 
 pretext purife it for the holy fervice ofle- 
 houxh . But in very deed to Jpeake as the 
 truth is, the croffe is reteained among vs 
 with opinion very fuperflitious anderroni 
 om, for in the late Canons it is faid, that 
 canon. 3 3 the child (c) is therby dedicated vnto the 
 feruice of him that died on the cr off What 
 is this but to equall mans ordinance with 
 Gods, and to afcribethat vnto the croffe, 
 which is due vnto Baptifm:?a conceite fit- 
 ter for ignorant papijls, then learned chri- 
 stians to confent vnto . Neither doe we vfe 
 it as the auncients did ,for Cyprian, Ait- 
 rertuitan ds gufunc,Chrifoflome cjr others, (m)itisap 
 toeWM^! $*i $°fi ttnr:S did conf crate 
 
 the 
 
*r< 
 
 theeliments theirwith,anddid notcroffe ^jjf ?JJ5 
 the childs for head atall,but referred that « ? j c Rab', 
 iwta f A* Bijhops confirmation, fo that our ciericfe"?. 1 ] 
 eroding the Infants forhead and not the e- ^Sfyfc. 
 limznt ofBaptifme,is a mere noueltie with iu>.i,cap. 2 © 
 out any warrant of that antiquitie, neither 
 will that place of TertulliandereCawc&i the croife 
 one czmisyproue the contrary. The fleft is ^f^°^ 
 wafhed that thefoule may be purged, the g*^ ftaa " 
 flefh is annoynted that the foule mvf be 
 confecrated, the flefh is finned that the fou 
 may be guarded , the flefh is fhadowed by 
 the impofition of hands, that thefoule may 
 he by the fpirit inlightened, thefifh doth 
 feed on the body and bloud of Ghrifl , that 
 thefoule may be filled and fatted of God. In 
 whkh words he ioyning togeather diuers 
 Ceremonies of the chriflians,doth i/ideede 
 mention the figning of the faith full, but it 
 may as well be referred to confirmation ex 
 pre (fed by impofition of hands as to Baptifl 
 me, vnder flood by the waflmg oft he body 
 and that one better reafon, fir it is more 
 
 than 
 
20 
 
 than probable that the fignt of the crofft 
 
 was not yet v fed in Baptifme feeing Iuftiri 
 
 ^sfor Mar- ^ ar ty r ^ defenf^d Antoninum ct Ten 
 
 t,jl h' s «rpift, tull. de Baptifmo ec de corona militxs, 
 
 speaa y a doe defer ibe the forme of Baptifme t fed in 
 
 thofe times mdyet mah.no mention oft he 
 
 croffe their in , which in all Ukly hood they 
 
 would not haue omitted if it had ben vfed 
 
 therein efpecially Tertullian, who in that 
 
 'very place \}eaketh of the croffe y as vfed 
 
 eut of Baptifme in the ordinary bleffmg 
 
 nfthemfelues. obiefiion. 
 
 But the figne of the Croffe is mt vfed in 
 Baptifme y but when Baptifme is ended. 
 Aaf If you take Baptifme only for that 
 dipping (jrjp rinding of the party it is true 
 andfo none ofthi po^ifly additions, wherby 
 they defile that holffacrament are in bap- 
 tifme y for thofe which Be liar mine ace op a- 
 ny Baptifme are not impious Jbut if you tak 
 baptifme. 4s indeed we doe y for the admini- 
 /? ration of the facrament , thin both the 
 'prayers before and the prayers after > the ac 
 
 tions 
 
21 
 
 tions after the dipping: doe all ' indifercrtly 
 belong to one andthefelfe fame t hinge y yea 
 it is all on continuall attion of the adminu 
 flration of the facrament. 
 Sure it is that it mufl he f aid to be, either in 
 Bap i fine or out of Baptifme : or no where, 
 if it be out of baptifme, Low is it by common 
 tonfent of all, f aid to be the figneof the 
 crojje . 
 
 obiecl. Thefigne of the crojfe is t 'ery aun- 
 cient. 
 
 ylnf. So are many ctlerpopijh traditions. 
 And if on that ground we ere to rctaine it, 
 why doe we not giue the Baft fed mi Ike 
 andhony accordingly . Why doe we not 
 bring ojjringsfor the dead. For Turlvllian 
 thefrfl of the Fathers that ettcr meniicned 
 the Crojje: doth efabhjl) theje,andthefgne 
 of the crojje by one and the Jelfe fame war- 
 ran tie. Be fides, ifvpon the fathers traditi- 
 on we vje the crojje , then mujc we rcccauc 
 and vje it as they haue deli uer edit "into vs 
 that is, with opinion ofvertue and cjficacie^ 
 
22 
 
 not only in the aft of bleffwg ottrfdues^ 
 in the expelling ofdiuills, but even in the 
 
 . confecration of the blejjed Sacramentes . 
 
 ni For the firjl, Tertullian is witnesfayinge y 
 At every paffage, at euery fetting forward, at 
 at euery coming in and gocing out,at putting 
 on of our clothes, fboes, &c. We ftarape our 
 forhead with the figne of the crofle. 
 For chafwre of deuillsJerom councelkth 
 
 Epjftola ad _ J . & J rr r - a J 
 
 Dcmetriam, Demetrius to vjethe croJJe.Jaying. And 
 with ofteft croflmg guard thy forhead^that 
 the deftroyer of Egipt find no pkceinthee. 
 
 lib 4- cap.17 La&antids f4ttb,Chri&s followers doe by the 
 figne of the crofTe* (hut out the vndeane fpi- 
 rits. Cfoifollom:in$fa. loQ.ThecroflTeguar- 
 deth the minde, it taketh revenge on the de- 
 mil, it cureth the defeafes of the foule &c. 
 But thefc fuferflitions arefmallin re garde 
 cfthat efficacie which in the facra?nets > an 
 tiquitie afcribedvyto the crojfefor Cyfri- 
 an (being the auncientefi that maketh men 
 tion of the crojje in Baftifme)(feaking of it 
 
 Cyprian de Whofe venue, perfefteth all facramentes, 
 
 patione ♦ without which figne nothing is holy, nor any 
 confecration taketh eflfeft , and whofoeuer 
 are the Minifters of the fecrarucms > what- 
 
 fo 
 
2$ 
 
 foeuer hands doe dypp or annoym the com- 
 mers to Baptifme, out of whatfoeucr mouth 
 the facred word doe proceed > the authoritie 
 of operation doth by the fignc of the erode* 
 makeefle&uall Sacraments. 
 
 It were fuperflums to reherfe the reft. Bui 
 hereby it isevidet that the religious vfe of 
 the crojp, was even at the frft fmnfull '& 
 fuperftitious ^neither can it befhewed, that 
 euerit was v fed by the Fathers ;religionis > 
 ergo fine admixtafuperftitione,and this in 
 ventiodid me fooner creepe into the facra 
 ment but it drew vnto it felfe fuch fuperfti 
 thus conceite ofejficaeie andnecefsitijhat 
 without it, the meanes which God appoin- 
 ted for the confecration of the elements ft- 
 medover makeyeayvnamilableaccordi* 
 as fome (e) among ft vs account not them L *% $/£ 
 children lawfully baptifed, yea, will haue hi P^ dh ^ 
 them rebaptffedjf the croffi haw ben omit «f*R 
 ted,out of which may be obferuedfrft haw "* 
 dangerous a thing it is to bring in any hu. 
 ® mane 
 
 xvi* o 
 
 micrcit. 
 
24 
 mane imtntion into the ferula ofGod,fith 
 in the very pure age of the Churchy it was 
 punijhedwithfuchaftirituallcurfe of hor- 
 rible fuperfiition. 
 
 Secondly, though at this time popery was 
 not hutched, yet the mifteric of iniquity was 
 then a working,and the begining as it were 
 of the whorijh fornications was found even 
 in the Fathers times, fo that, as worjhipping 
 r t ofAnrells in Paules time, prayers & oblate 
 ******* onsforthedead inTertullmtime,be right 
 ly counted popifi and Antichrifkian, though 
 as yet that monfter was not borne :So this & 
 ether Ceremonies ratified by, the, popifh Ca- 
 nons dr conftitutions, may well be taken for 
 popijl) & Antichriftian,euen in the Fathers 
 times, feeinge they then made away for the 
 beafl,*ndfime haue receaued further impi- 
 etie and autoritie from him:wherfore to co- 
 ;Esai ' $a ' ,,# elude as ifai exhorteth Gods people, to keepc 
 themfelues from the rites and pollutions of 
 
the heathen faying,depart depart ye, goe out 
 from them & touch noe vncleane*thinge:So 
 thejpirit in the fame manner chargeth the 
 Church not to medle with the corruptions A QCi ,, 
 cfAntichrijlian Babilon, butgoe out of her ? ° C 
 my people faith hejhatye may not be parta- 
 ker of her fwnes, and that ye receiue not of 
 herplagues. 
 
 Thzfeare of which curfe doth keepe us from 
 all the fuperftitious and Idolatrous cerim9- 
 nies of that rvhorijl) fmagogue.