A Christian Directory

As the Crucifix for ought I know might thus have been arbitrarily used as a seal, or as a transient arbitrary Professing sign, as the Cross was by the ancients at the beginning. If any man had scorned me for believing in a Crucified Christ, I know not but I might have made a Crucifix by art, act or gesture, to tell him that I am not ashamed of Christ; as well as I may tell him so by word of ⟨p. 876⟩mouth. But if mens institution or custom shall make this a symbol or badge of a Christian, and twist it in Baptism, or adjoin it, as a Dedicating Sign, and as the Common professing Symbol that every baptized person must use, to signify and declare that he is not ashamed of Christ crucified, but believeth in him, and will manfully fight under his banner against the flesh, the world, and the Devil to the death: Though he call it but a Professing Sign, and say, He doth but signify his own mind, and not Gods act and grace: I should wish him to distinguish between a private or arbitrary act of Profession, and a common public badge and professing Symbol of our Religion: And tell him that I think the instituting of the latter belongs to God alone: And that he hath made two Sacraments to that end; which Sacraments are essentially such symbols and badges of our Profession, and are dedicating signs on the receivers part; And that Christ crucified is the chief Grace or Mercy given to the Church, and his Sacrifice is his own act; And therefore objectively, the Grace, and Act of God also, is here signified: And therefore on two accounts set together, I fear this use of the Crucifix is a sin: 1. As it is an Image, (though it should be transient) used as a medium in Gods Worship, and so forbidden in the second Commandment, (For it is not a mere circumstance of Worship, but an outward act of Worship). 2. Because it is a new humane Sacrament, or hath too much of the Essence of a Sacrament, and so is an usurpation of his Prerogative that made the Sacraments: For as I said, It belongeth to the King to make the common badge or symbol of his own subjects, or any Order honoured by him. And the General giveth out his own Colours. And though one may arbitrarily wear another Colour, yet if any shall give out common Colours to his Army, Regiment or Troop, beside his own, to be the symbol or badge of his Soldiers, I think he would take it for too much boldness.

As the Crucifix for ought I know might thus have been arbitrarily used as a seal, or as a transient arbitrary Professing sign, as the Cross was by the ancients at the beginning. If any man had scorned me for believing in a Crucified Christ, I know not but I might have made a Crucifix by art, act or gesture, to tell him that I am not ashamed of Christ; as well as I may tell him so by word of