A reply to an answer made of M. Doctor Whitgifte Against the admonition to…A replye to an ansvvere made of M. Doctor VVhitgifte Against the admonition to…

But here I will note the cause whereupon I suppose this use of crossing came up in the primitive church / whereby shall appear / how there is no cause now why it should be retained / if there were any why it should be used in the primitive church. It is known to all that have red the Ecclesiastical stories / that the heathen did object to the Christians in times past in reproach / that the God which they believed of / was hanged upon a cross. And they thought good to testify that they were not ashamed therefore of the same God / by the often using of the sign of the cross / which carefulness and good mind to keep amongst them an open ⟨p. 171⟩profession of Christ crucified / although it be to be commended: yet is not this means so: for they might otherwise have kept it / and with less danger / then by this use of crossing. And if they thought the use of the cross to be the best means / yet they should not have been so bold / as to have brought it into the holy sacrament of baptism / and so mingle the ceremonies and inventions of men / with the sacraments & institution of God. And as it was brought in upon no good ground / so the Lord left a mark of his curse of it / and whereby it might be perceived to come out of the forge of mans brain / in that it began forthwith / while it was yet in the swaddling clouts to be superstitiously abused. For it appeareth by Tertullian also in the same book De corona militis, that the christians had such a superstition in it / that they would do nothing / nor take nothing in hand / unless they had crossed them when they went out / when they came in / when they sate or lay down / and when they rose / and as superstition is always strengthened / and spreadeth it self with the time / so it came from crossing of men / unto crossing of every thing that they used. Whereupon Chrysostom commendeth the crossing ¹of the cup before a man drink / and of the meat before it was eaten. But if it were granted that upon this consideration which I have before mentioned / the ancient christians did well: yet it followeth not / that we should so do. For we live not amongst those nations which do cast us in the teethe / or reproach us with the cross of Christ.

But heere I will note the cause whervpon I suppose thys vse of crossing came vp in the primitiue church / wherby shal appeare / how there is no cause now why it shuld be retained / if there were any why it should be vsed in the primitiue church. It is knowne to all that haue red the Ecclesiastical stories / that the heathen dyd obiect to the Christians in times past in reproche / that the God whych they beleued of / was hanged vpon a crosse. And they thought good to testify that they were not ashamed therefore of the same God / by the often vsing of the signe of the crosse / whych carefulnes and good minde to keepe amongst them an open