Appello Cæsarem A iust appeale from two vniust informers· / By Richard Mountagu.

CHAP. XXVI.

The testimony of S. ATHANA∣SIUS vilified by the Informers. The testimonies of other Fa∣thers concerning the efficacy & power of the signe of the Crosse.

INFORMERS.

HE citeth and approveth the testimony of one of them. By the signe of the

CROSSE of CHRIST, all Magick spells are disappointed, sorcery and Witchcraft commeth to nothing, all Idolls are abandoned and forsaken.

MOUNTAGU.

QVàm contemptim! One of them? And was not that One worth the naming? Deserved hee no respect from your Great Selves? Your uncircumcised lips might well be sweetned with the name of that cer∣taine quidam, as you call him out of contempt. Goe to it roundly, quid haesitatis? and with those prophane ones, call him without more adoe, SATHANASIUS: for ATHANASIUS was the man there named to your hand. A man deserving better of GOD'S Church, than you and all YOUR Divines, put them all together. If you misdoubt the Testimony to bee forged, because it was forgotten to name the place; it is in his Book de Incarnatione verbi, pag. 61. and was formerly remembred by him in the Tract against the Gentiles, pa 1. If you call the truth of the Relation into question, ATHA∣NASIUS Word will passe where your Bond will not goe currant. But you shall have mo witnesses to speake to the same purpose. EPI∣PHANIUS relateth of a Christian young Gen∣tlewoman, * 1.1 that was quitted from the wanton

assaults of a young man, by signing herselfe with the signe of the Crosse; 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, that in it GOD might remonstrate his wondrous power. And againe the same Father saith, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. The Magicians and Sor∣cerers prevailed not: 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. for the woman found helpe in the SIGNE of CHRIST, and through faith in him. which is gladius 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 against Puritan and Papist: against him, for the bare signe; a∣gainst you, for the signe. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. where the name of CHRIST was invocated, and the signe of the CROSSE made, there Sorcery and Witch∣craft could do nothing. If you list to see more, and hear more evidence to this purpose, you may look upon that which NAZIANZENE hath of IULIAN the Apostata, in his first Invec∣tive. which THEODORET hath of a certaine Iew, lib. 3. cap. 3. which EPIPHANIUS of another * 1.2 Iew, IOSEPHUS by name. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, saith CHRYSOSTOME, we have also spirituall conjura∣tions, the Name of our Lord IESUS CHRIST, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and the power of the CROSSE. Nec mirum est quòd haec signa valent, cùm à bo∣nis Christianis adhibentur; quando etiam, cùm u∣surpantur ab extraneis, qui omnino suum nomen ad istam militiam non dederunt, propter honorem ta∣men excellentissimi Imperatoris, valent; faith S. AUGUST. or whosoever wrote the LXXXIII. Quest. to DULCITIUS. Now what say you to * 1.3

that Testimony of one of them? If you will not admit the Doctrine, because M. MOUNTAGU delivereth it, I can name you one will say and approove as much, whom you dare not deny to be of credit, or stile a certain one of them. The SIGNE of the CROSSE, saith B. IEWEL, was had in great regard among Christians; and the more, both for the publick reproach and shame that by the common judgement of the world was conceived against it; and also for that most wor∣thy price of our redemption that was offred up∣on it. Therefore the faithfull which beleeved in CHRIST, in all their talk, in their whole life and conversation, used so much the more to extoll and magnifie the same. Thus, as THEODORET reporteth, the Christians every where, in their common resorts and open market-places, published and proclaimed the victory and triumph of the CROSSE. The which, as CHRYSOSTOME saith, they were not ashamed to set as a Posie to any thing that they did, and to any thing that they possessed. Likewise GOD, that the world might more deepely thinke of the death of CHRIST, wrought oftentimes strange miracles by the same. Now is not this as good Popery as M. MOUN∣TAGU'S alledging and approving ONE of them? See more, if you be so disposed, in his XIV. Article against HARDING.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Haeres. 30. quae est E•• 10.
• * 1.2

  Ho. 8. ad Rom.
• * 1.3

  Qu. 79.