An ansvvere to a certaine treatise of the crosse in baptisme. Intituled A short treatise of the crosse in baptisme contracted into this syllogisme. No humane ordinance becomming an idoll may lawfully be vsed in the service of God. But the signe of the crosse, being an humane ordinance is become an idoll. Ergo: the signe of the crosse, may not lawfully bee vsed in the service of God. VVherein not only the weaknesse of the syllogisme it selfe, but also of the grounds and proofes thereof, are plainely discovered. By L.H. Doct. of Divinitie.

Treatise. 5. Sect.

And therefore if their Idols, may in no sort be annex∣ed to the service of our God, the Crosse in Baptisme ought necessarily, to be crossed, and cursed out of our Leiturgie.

Answere.

This is that, you haue all this while houered about, & yet can finde no fit Medius terminus to conclude. For how wil these two propositions hang togither?

The signe of the Crosse in the Church of Rome is an Idol, (which hath bin the only thing you haue proved in the former section.) Ergo:

The consignation of the Crosse in Baptisme, vsed in the Church of England, must needs be crossed and cursed out of our Leiturgie?

You vndertake to leap too far at once, there are many bankes in your way: you must proue, first that the signe of the Crosse in Baptisme, in the Church of Rome, is an Idoll, which is not granted. Secondly, you must proue, that our Crosse, and their Crosse in Baptisme is al one, in nū∣ber, nature, vse & estimation: you must lastly proue, that we may not lawfully redeeme, an ancient Ceremony, out of his abuse, nor restore him, to his auncient lawfull vse a∣gaine: al which, I feare, or any of them, wilbe too hard a

taske for you to vndertake, but your present argument is this.

The Idoll of the church of Rome, may in no sort bee an∣nexed to the service of our God, but must be crossed, & cur∣sed out of our Leiturgie.

But the signe of the Crosse in Baptisme, is an Idoll of the Church of Rome. Ergo:

The consignation of the Crosse in Baptisme, in the Church of England, must be crossed and cursed out of our Leiturgie.

The Maior is granted. The Minor is denied; for first, as was saide before, you will not bee able to proue, that their immateriall consignation with the Crosse in Bap∣tisme, was ever made an Idol: and if you chance so to do, yet sure I am you wil never proue, our consignation of the Crosse in Baptisme, to haue bin an Idoll of the Church of Rome; your conclusion therfore, and your premisses are so farre a sunder, that they wil never bee reconciled. Jt seemes your crossing and cursing hath lighted vpon your owne conclusions, they are so cursedly crossed, and crossed∣ly cursed, that they conclude nothing plainelie and di∣rectlie.