when they perceived their fault, which unawares they had committed in consenting to Idolatry, they ran forth into the streets professed their religion, testified them selves to be Christians, affirming that their hands only had consented unto Paganism,1 and that their hearts did nothing agree thereunto, and whereas their hands had offended unadvisedly, they wished to bestow their whole bodies to be tormented for Christ, although with torments and pains most cruel and horrible. I trust we need not to labour any further for the proof. By the use of the surplice men are initiate in to the Popes clergy, as it appeareth by ye Pontifycall, De clerico faciendo. If the Galatians by circumcision rather lost their liberty in Christ, then profited any thing, by initiating ⟨image 25⟩them selves in to Judaism. How may you retain the liberty in Christ, and profit in his religion by wearing the Popes livery, we can not perceive? But by the use of the surplice, is maintained an Hypocritical opinion of holiness, the Pontifical termeth it Habitum sancte religionis, the habit of an holy religion. Durand lib. 3. De rationale divinorum, saith, That it is Vestis linea, the linen garment, in which they that serve about the services of the alter and holy things, ought to use upon their clothes, a surplice, it is for the whiteness of it, or it signifieth the purity or chastity, according to that saying: Let your garments, that is, your works, be white at all times, that is clean:2 but for his name, it figureth the mortification of the flesh. It is called a Surplice, because that in the old time they did wear it upon skinny coats, made of the skins of the dead, which is used to this day in certain Churches, representing that Adam, after he had sinned,3 was clothed with such garments. Thirdly, it noteth Innocency, and therefore it is put on before all other holy vestures, because that they that are deputed to worshipping, ought to excel in life and in all virtues, according ⟨image 26⟩to the saying of the psalm: Innocencies do rightly cleave unto me. Fourthly, for the breadth of it, it betokeneth Charity, wherefore they are worn upon profane and common vestures, it is to be marked that charity covereth the multitude of since.
when they perceuyd theyr faute, whiche vnwares they had commytted in consentyng to Idolatri, they rane forthe into the streats professede theyr relygion, testifyed them sealues to be Christians, affyrmyng that theyr handes only had cōsentyd vnto Paganisme,1 and that theyr hartes dyd nothyng agre thervnto, and whereas theyr handes had offendyd vnadvysydlye, they wyshyd to bestowe theyr whole bodyes to be tormentyd for Christ, althoughe wyth tormentes and paynes moste creuell and horyble. I trust we nede not to laboure any further for the profe. By the vse of the surples men are iniciat in to ye Popes clergye, as it aperith by ye Pontifycall, De clerico faciendo. Yf ye Galathians by circumcision rather loste theyr lyberte in Christ, then profytyd any thynge, by iniciatinge ⟨image 25⟩them sealues in to Iudaisme. How maye you retayne the lyberte in Christ, and profyt in his religion by wearinge the Popes lyuerye, we can not perceaue? But by the vse of the surples, is mayntaynyd an Ipocritycall opinion of holynes, ye Pontificall termithe it Habitum sancte religionis, the habyt of an holy religion. Durand lib. 3. De rationale diuinorum, saythe, That it is Vestis linea, the lyuyne garment, in which they that serue about the seruices of the alter and holy thinges, ought to vse apon theyr clothes, a surples, it is for the whitnes of it, or it signifieth the puryte or chastete, accordinge to that sayinge: Let your garments, that is, your workes, be white at all tymes, that is cleane:2 but for his name, it figurith the mortificacion of the fleshe. It is callyd a Surples, because that in the olde tyme they dyd weare it apon skynny coates, made of the skynnes of the deade, whiche is vsyd to this daye in certayne Churches, representynge that Adame, after he had synnyd,3 was clothed with suche garments. Thyrdly, it notith Innocenci, and therfore it is put on before all other holye vestures, because that they that are deputyd to worshippynge, ought to excell in lyfe and in all vertues, accordyng ⟨image 26⟩to the sayinge of the psalme: Innocencies do ryghtly cleue vnto me. Fourthely, for the bredthe of it, it betokenythe Charite, wherefore they are worne apon prophane and cōmon vestures, it is to be markyd that charite coueryth the multitude of synnes.
- 1the nature of true Christian.
- 2Mark what lying signs is in the surplice inuentyd by Papists.Marke what lying signes is in the surples inuentyd by Papistes.
- 3with what good conscience can the godly weare yt, judge good Brother.with what good conscience can the godly weare yt, iudge good Brother.
