Therefore the Faithful, that believed in Christ, in all their talks, & in their whole life, & conversation, used so much the more to extol, & magnify the same, in reproach of the enemies of the Cross of Christ, both Jews, and Gentiles. For that cause S. Paul saith, I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ: 1for it is the Power of God unto Salvation. And, God forbid, that I should rejoice in any thing, 2but only in the Cross of Jesus Christ: And, I reckon me self to know nothing, but only Jesus Christ, 3and the same Christ Crucified upon the Cross. Thus S. Paul triumphed of that thing, ⟨p. 501⟩that in the world was so deeply despised: As if he would have said, This is that infirmity,4 that hath conquered the world: This is that villainy, and reproach, that hath lead captivity away captive, that hath spoiled the Principalities, & Powers of Darkness. Thus, as Theodorete recordeth,5 the Christians everywhere, in their common resorts, and in the open market places published, and Proclaimed the Victory, and Triumph of the Cross: Which, as Chrysostom saith,6 they were not ashamed to set, as a pos•e, to any thing, that they did, and to any thing, that they possessed. Likewise God, that the world might the more deeply think of the Death of Christ, wrought oftentimes strange Miracles by the same, as he did by Pauls Napkins,7 by Elisha bones, and by Peters shadow. Then the first Christened Emperor Constantinus, seeing that thing became so glorious, that before had been so slanderous, to increase the estimation thereof, commanded straitly by a Law,8 that from thence forth no offender should suffer upon a Cross. These things had in remembrance, we grant all that M. Harding hath here alleged: The Vision of Ezekiel,9 & the marking of the mens foreheads with the Hebrew letter TAV: The sight of a Cross offered unto Constantinus in the air: The staining of Crosses in the Soldiers Coats,10 in the time of the Renegate Emperor Julian: The printing, or burning of the Crosses in the apparel of the Jews at Jerusalem:11 The finding of the holy Hieroglyphical letter bearing the form of the Cross in the Temple of Serapis in Egypt:12
Therefore the Faithful, that beléeued in Christe, in al their talkes, & in their whole life, & conuersation, vsed so much the more to extolle, & magnifie the same, in reproche of the enemies of the Crosse of Christe, both Iewes, and Gentiles. For that cause S. Paule saith, I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christe: 1for it is the Power of God vnto Saluation. And, God forebidde, that I should reioice in any thinge, 2but onely in the Crosse of Iesus Christe: And, I recken mee selfe to know nothinge, but onely Iesus Christe, 3and the same Christ Crucified vpon the Crosse. Thus S. Paule triumphed of that thing, ⟨p. 501⟩that in the world was so deepely despised: As if he would haue saide, This is that infirmitie,4 that hath conquered the worlde: This is that vilanie, and reproche, that hath lead captiuitie away captiue, that hath spoiled the Principalities, & Powers of Darkenes. Thus, as Theodorete recordeth,5 the Christiās euerywhere, in their common resortes, and in the open market places published, and Proclaimed the Uictorie, and Triumphe of the Crosse: Whiche, as Chrysostome saithe,6 they were not ashamed to set, as a pos•e, to any thinge, that they did, and to any thinge, that they possessed. Likewise God, that the worlde might the more deepely thinke of the Death of Christe, wrought oftentimes strange Miracles by the same, as he did by Paules Naptkins,7 by Elizeus boanes, and by Peters shadowe. Then the first Christened Emperour Constantinus, séeinge that thinge became so glorious, that before had béen so sclaunderous, to increase the estimation thereof, commaunded streitely by a Law,8 that from thence foorth no offender should suffer vpon a Crosse. These thinges had in remembraunce, wée graunt al that M. Hardinge hath here alleged: The Uision of Ezechiel,9
- 1Roman. 1.
- 2Galat. 6.
- 31. Corin. 2.
- 4Ephes. 4. Colossians. 2.Ephes. 4. Collossen. 2.
- 5Theodoretus li. 3. Cap. 27.
- 6Chrysostom. in homi. Quòd Christus est Deus.
- 7Actorum. 19. 4. Regum. 13. Actor. 5.
- 8Cassiodorus lib. 1. cap. 9.
- 9Ezekiel. 9. Euseb. li. 9. ca. 9.Ezechiel. 9. Euseb. li. 9. ca. 9.
- 10Sozomen. lib. 5. cap. 50.
- 11Rufinus lib. 10.
- 12Socrates lib. 5. ca. 17.
