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But hereby it is evident, that the religious vse of the Crosse, was even at the first sinfull, and superstitious, nei∣ther can it be shewed, that it was ever vsed by the Fathers: Religionis ergò sine admixta superstitione, and this in∣ventiō
did no sooner creepe into the Sacramēt, but it drew vnto it selfe such superstitious conceipt of efficacie & ne∣cessity, that without it, the meanes which God appointed for the consecration of the Elements, seemed over weake, yea vnavaileable, according as somea 1.1 amongst vs, account not their children lawfully Baptized yea, will haue thē re∣baptized, if the Crosse haue bin omitted.
This is that which you adde, by way of Corollary, to your answere, importing thus much in effect, as J con∣ceiue: That though the signe of the Crosse be very anci∣ent, yet antiquity could not free it from sin, and supersti∣tion: we doe not alleadge the antiquity of the Crosse, as an argument to free it from sin and superstition, which we thinke in our vse, and in the vse of the Ancients, it is not infected with. But we alleadge it, as an argument why it should not be rashly changed, and taken away, as you would haue it, both because it was ordained vpon good reason, and advise at the first, and hath bin vsed ever since, with no small profit to the Church. As for the evi∣dence you talke of, it doth not yet appeare, the vse of it in actions of religion, without opinion of vertue and effica∣cie, was ever free from sin & superstition. But to this your accusation, J shal neede to speake nothing in this place, because J haue answered it before against you, & against your grand Master T. C. Especially seeing here you bring no matter, but repeat your former equivocation of religious vse, and repose vnto vs your olde Crambe of Religionis ergò, so often recocted.
Your second obiection, that this inuention did no soo∣ner creepe into the Sacrament, but it drew vnto it selfe such superstitious conceit, of efficacy &c. Is likewise answe∣red
in the last section, the conceite of superstitious neces∣sity, that, you say, it drew vnto it, that without &c. is the fault of the persons that so conceiued of it, & not of the signe it selfe: For this signe of the Crosse perinde est, at{que} is qui vtitur, bene vtentibus bonum est, male vtentibus malū est, And therfore the best way to reforme this mis∣conceite, is to instruct them aright, that doe thus super∣stitiously conceiue of it, A farr better way then vtterly to abolish it, as may appeare euen by your owne exam∣ple of a childe lately rebaptized in Surrey, because the Crosse was omitted: For if this be true, it is manifest, that the taking of the vse of the Crosse cleane away, would scādalize & alienate more mens minds frō our church, then the retaining of it still can doe; for seeing that they that will take offence at the remouing of it, are the weak∣er and you that knowe what belongeth to matters of such indifferency are the stronger, it is much more a∣greeable to the rule of Christian charity, that you in the spirit of mildnesse should beare with their infirmities, by allowing the lawfully established vse therof, thē they should haue any cause of offence giuen vnto them, by the vtter abrogating and remouing of it. Jf any man a∣mong vs, vppon such conceite of necessity of this signe, as you intimate, haue caused his Child to be rebaptized, because the Crosse was omitted, Charity bids me not to doubt, but that the wisdome, & authority of our chiefe Gouernours, haue had an eie vnto it, & the Minister that gaue the offence, hath bin hartely sorry for his omission: For, Take heed, saith the Apostle, in another thing indif∣ferent, least by any means this liberty of yours,* 1.2 be an occasiō of falling to them that are weake: But now we will con∣sider your two obseruations.
Lately in Surrey a child rebaptized, because the Crosse was o∣mitted.
1. Cor. 8.9.