A discourse of schism

5thly. The Sign of the Cross is not merely an addition to Baptism, but it is a mystical Teacher, and looks very like a Sacrament. It is a mystical Teacher; as the Sacraments teach Christ crucified by God's Ordination, so doth the Cross by Man's. But is not the Scripture sufficient, and Christ the great Prophet? And may Man invent new ways of teaching; or if he do, may any one look for the illuminating Spirit in such ways? Christ is the one Master, the one Teacher by way of excellency; all other Teachers that teach truly, do but teach ministerially under him;¹ he hath ordained the perfect means of teaching the Church, and all other means are as none at all. The Cross not teaching under him, teacheth not truly; and being none of his means, hath none ⟨p. 71⟩of his blessing. If the Cross might be a true Teacher, then the standing Images of Christ might be so too, which though called by the Papists Lay-mens Books, do yet but make men forget God. Again, the Sign of the Cross looks very like a Sacrament. Baptism is a Symbol of our Christian Profession, so is the Cross. Baptism hath a word annexed to it; I baptize thee in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. So hath the Cross, We sign this Child with the Sign of the Cross, in token that he shall not be ashamed to confess the faith of Christ crucified. Baptism points out Christ crucified, so doth the Cross. Baptism enters the baptized into the Church, so doth the Cross. We receive this Child into the Congregation of Christ's flock, and sign him with the sign of the Cross. As Baptism admits into the Church Catholic, so the Cross admits into a particular Church. Baptism dedicates the Infant unto Christ, so the Cross dedicates him to the service of him that died on the Cross.² And what now is wanting to make it a Sacrament? It ⟨p. 72⟩is not vehicalum gratiae; It's very true, it is not: Neither can any Human Invention be such. It therefore looks as like a Sacrament as any Human thing can do, no such thing being capable of conveying Grace unto men.

5thly. The Sign of the Cross is not merely an addition to Baptism, but it is a mystical Teacher, and looks very like a Sacrament. It is a mystical Teacher; as the Sacraments teach Christ crucified by God's Ordination, so doth the Cross by Man's. But is not the Scripture sufficient, and Christ the great Prophet? And may Man invent new ways of teaching; or if he do, may any one look for the illuminating Spirit in such ways? Christ is the one Master, the one Teacher by way of excellency; all other Teachers that teach truly, do but teach ministerially under him;