A defence of the innocencie of the three ceremonies of the Church of England viz. the surplice, crosse after baptisme, and kneeling at the receiuing of the blessed Sacrament. Diuided into two parts: in the former whereof the generall arguments vrged by the non-conformists; and, in the second part, their particular accusations, against these III. ceremonies seuerally, are answered, and refuted. Published by authoritie.

SECT. XXVI. Their first Confirmation of the aforesaid pretended I∣dolatry, by relatiue worship, in Kneeling.

Yea there hat•• bene f••un•• in a•••• age••, the roote of Idolatry (if not grosse Idolatry it selfe) to ••iue to the signe that shew of outward Re∣uerence and A••oration, which is du•• to the thing signified,* 1.1 and to the giuer hims••lfe.

Our Answer.

What a sinister supposition is this? as though that the Reuerence, due to Ch••ist, were giuen vnto the Sacra∣ment of Christ? this, we confesse, were true Idolatry.

You may not thinke much, if our Church do now sharpen her Censures and Co••rections against you, who thus multiply your Calu••niations against her, es∣pecially in this branding her with no lesse heynous a Crime than Idolatry, which is (as being the most vile of all other) called in holy writ, not onely abominable, but also abomination it selfe. It will therefore concerne you to make good your godlesse aspersion, by some manner of reason; for this, which you deliuered in the last place, is rather a reproofe of your supposed guiltines, than any proofe thereof.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Ab••idg Linc. p. 6••.