Foure sermons, lately preached, by Martin Fotherby Doctor in Diuinity, and chaplain vnto the Kings Maiestie. The first at Cambridge, at the Masters Commencement. Iuly 7. anno 1607. The second at Canterbury, at the Lord Archbishops visitation. Septemb. 14. anno 1607. The third at Paules Crosse, vpon the day of our deliuerance from the gun-powder treason. Nouemb. 5. anno 1607. The fourth at the court, before the Kings Maiestie. Nouemb. 15. anno 1607. Whereunto is added, an answere vnto certaine obiections of one vnresolued, as concerning the vse of the Crosse in baptisme: written by him in anno 1604. and now commanded to be published by authoritie

Answere.

That all outward formes and likenesses ordained by man in the worship of God, to edifie, teach, or sturre vp our affecti∣on towards God, should bee forbidden in the second com∣mandement, I doe vtterly denie: and I wonder that either your selfe, or any other Christian should affirme it; no word of the commandement making for it, and the minde of the commandement making cleane against it. The iudg∣ment both of Caluin and Beza, and of other Diuines I haue shewed against you, pag. 21.45. The place which you cite Exod. 20.4. Thou shalt make thee no grauen image, &c. if you distract it from his meaning, which followeth in the next words, Thou shalt not bowe downe to them, nor worship them, doth make rather against the making of all images (which errour I thinke you will not maintaine) then against the ap∣plying them to so good an end, as you (in this place) seeme to condemne. Should any thing whatsoeuer be thought vn∣lawfull, which instructeth our mindes, and sturreth vp our af∣fections truly towards GOD? Surely if you were able to make good, that euen Heathen Idols could truly and pro∣perly produce these effects, I would not doubt to affirme, euen them to bee lawfull. So farre am I from thinking that any thing is in this commandement forbidden, which either inlightneth our vnderstanding, or inflameth our affection to∣wards God. I rather hold it for a certaine truth, that Idols are here forbidden, vpon a contrary supposition, namely, that they blinde our vnderstanding, and auert our affection away from God. And therefore your proposition wanteth some

better proofe, then your bare assertion: for (as I said) I doe simply deny it for false.

For your Assumption, that The crosse is an image or••ained by man for our better instruction and affection towards God: I may simply grant, and yet grant it not therefore to bee for∣bidden in the second commandement.

This whole obiection is fully and suffic••ently satisfied, in my former answere, both vnto your fourth and your tenth obiections: but that answere is not sufficiently taken away by this reply; and therefore thether againe I returne you.

That place of Saint Paul, 1. Cor. 14.26. Let all things bee done vnto edification, that it is principally intended of gifts, and not of ceremonies, I doe not deny: but that it may bee extended vnto ceremonies, as well as vnto gifts, I hope you will confesse, because all Diuines doe: amongst whom is T. C. for one, as authenticall an expositor of your presbyte∣rie, as Maister Hooker is of our ceremonies. That ceremonies ought to bee without all signification, I take it to bee your sole and propper opinion, wherein you haue no Diuine of any worth to bee your riuall. And therefore I wonder you should so dote vpon it, as here (in a second place) to ob∣trude it, it hauing beene before sufficiently confuted, Pag. 8.9.

Notes

• Ab impossibi.
• T.C. Whitg. 256.
• Whitgift. pag. 86.