But here I will note the cause, wherevppon I suppose, this vse of crossing came vp in the Primitiue Churche, whereby shall appeare, howe there is no cause nowe why it it should be re∣teyned, if there were any why it shoulde be vsed in the Primitiue Churche. It is knowne to all that haue read the Ecclesiasticall stories, that the Heathen did obiect to the Christians in tymes past in reproche, that the God which they beleeued of was hanged vpon a Crosse. And they thought good to testifie that they were not ashamed therefore of the same God, by the often vsing of the signe of the Crosse, which carefulnesse and good mynde to keepe amongest them an open profession of Christ crucifyed, although it be to be commended: yet is not this meanes so: for they might otherwise haue kept it, and with lesse daunger, than by this vse of crossing, and if they thought the vse of the Crosse to be the best meanes, yet they shoulde not haue beene so bolde, as to haue brought it into the holy Sacrament of Baptisme, and so mingle the ceremonies and inuentions of men, with the Sacramentes and institution of God. And as it was brought in vpon no good grounde, so the Lord left a marke of his curse of it, and whereby it might be percey∣ued to come out of the forge of mans brayne, in that it beganne forthwith, while it was yet in the swadling cloutes to be superstitiously abused. For it appeareth by Tertullian also in the same booke de Corona militis, that the Christians had such a superstition in it, that they woulde doe nothing, nor take nothing in hande, vnlesse they had crossed them, when they went out, when they came in, when they sat or lay downe, and when they rose, and as Superstition is alwayes strengthned, and spreddeth it selfe with the time, so it came from crossing of men vnto crossing of euerie thing that they vsed. Wherevpon Chrysostome commendeth the crossing of the Cuppe before a man drinke,* 1.1 and of the meate before it was eaten. But if it were graunted that vppon this consideration which I haue before mencioned, the auncient Christians did well, yet it followeth not, that wee shoulde so doe: for we liue not amongest those Nations whiche doe cast vs in the teeth or re∣proche vs with the Crosse of Christ. If we liued amongst the Turkes it were an other matter, and then there might peraduenture some question be, whether we shoulde doe as they did, and ha∣uing the same sore, vse the same playster. But nowe we liue among the Papistes, that doe not contemne the crosse of Christ, but which esteeme more of the woodden crosse, than of the true crosse of Christ, (which is his sufferings,) we ought nowe to doe cleane contrariewise to the olde Chry∣stians, and abolishe all vse of these crosses, for contrarie diseases, must haue contrarie remedyes: if therefore the olde Christians to delyuer the crosse of Christ from contempt, did often vse the crosse, the Christians nowe to take away the superstitious estimation of it, ought to take away the vse of it.
I thinke your supposition in parte to bée true: I am also perswaded that the originall cause of vsing this signe was lawfull and good, and yet the thing if selfe afterwardes abused, and the cause of vsing is cleane altered, and wholy conuerted to superstition: but the abuse béeing taken away, I sée no cause why it may not be vsed in Baptisme, in that manner and forme, as it is in this Churche of Eng∣lande, that is, In token that hereafter he shall not be ashamed to confesse the fayth of Christ crucified, and manfully to fight vnder his banner, agaynst sinne, the worlde, and the deuill, and to continue Christes faythfull Souldiour and seruant vnto his lyues ende. And though there be no Turkes among vs or Iewes, yet is it lawfull to vse suche Christian ceremonies to put vs in minde of our dutie. And notwithstanding the same might be done by other meanes, yet it hath pleased the Churche to thinke this meanes also conuenient, and therefore hath vsed hir libertie therein. As for Pa∣pistes,* 1.2 we are farre enough off from them, for they pictured the signe of the crosse and did worshippe it, so doe not we: they vsed it to driue away spirites and diuels, so do not we: they attributed power and vertue vnto it, so doe not we: they had it in theyr Churches, so haue not we: they vsed it dayly and nightly for religion sake, we onely in Baptisme for a signe and token, as I haue sayde before: so that their ab∣using of it is sufficiently corrected. Neyther is there any man that knoweth not to what ende and purpose we vse it.