A dispute against the English-popish ceremonies, obtruded upon the Church of Scotland Wherein not…A dispute against the English-popish ceremonies, obtruded vpon the Church of Scotland Wherein not…

But thirdly, did not Rachel make Jacob an Idol, when she ascribed Sect. 4 to him a power of giving children? Am I in Gods stead saith ^xJacob? And how much more reason have we to say, that the Ceremonies are Idols, and are set up in Gods stead, since an operative ⟨p. 51⟩virtue is placed in them, for giving stay and strength against sin and tentation, and for working of other spiritual and supernatural effects? Thus is the Sign of the Cross an Idol, to those who conform to Papists in the use of it. ^yM. Ant. de Dominis holdeth, Crucis signum, contra Daemones esse praesidium. And ^zthat even ex opere operato, effectus mirabiles signi Crucis, etiam apud Infideles, aliquando enituerint. Shall I say, saith ^aMr. Hooker, that the Sign of the Cross (as we use it) is a mean in some sort to work our preservation from reproach? Surely the mind which as yet hath not hardened it self in sin, is seldom provoked thereunto in any gross and grievous manner, but natures secret suggestion, objecteth against it ignominy, as a bar. Which conceit being entered into that palace of mans fancy (the Forehead) the Gates whereof have imprinted in them that Holy Sign (the Cross) which bringeth forthwith to mind whatsoever Christ hath wrought, and we vowed against sin; it cometh hereby to pass, that Christian men never want a most effectual, though a silent Teacher, to avoid whatsoever may deservedly procure shame. What more do Papists ascribe to the Sign of the Cross, when they say, ^bthat by it Christ keeps his own faithful ones contra omnes tentationes & hostes? Now if ^cthe covetous man be called a Idolater, because, though he think not his money to be God, yet he trusteth to live and prosper by it, (which confidence and hope ^dwe should repose in God only) as