mens vanitie and no veritie Now we intend not at this present to speake of other points for they are appointed and shall be God willing handled else where in ample manner but this instant occasion imposeth a needefull taske to speake of insupportable abuse committed by them concerning the Crosse to the ende all men may learne how to furnishe them selues against the poyson of idolatric which the deuill comes to vomite foorth againe in this time of neere neighbourhood furthering his purpose with the iuglings of diuers his instruments who by wordes and writing labour to rebuilde vp idolatrie againe as the walles of Iericho which notwithstanding by the sound of Gods trumpets are fallen and that by good numbers in these quarters We consider that they who brought hither diuulged those two writings which they send flying abroad in forme of Placards doubted not to greeue make many good Christians among vs shed teares for whatis he who beholding the follies absurdities and idolatries in them contained that can refraine from lamenting seeing the sonne of God dishonored a number of soules withdrawne from true christianitie an infinite multitude to fortifie theÌ„selues in ignorance and falshood Yet this lamentation marcheth not alone for we accoÌ„pany it with our daily sighes and prayers drawne froÌ„ the entire depth bottom of our harts to the onely true God by the intercession of him that was crucified dyed for our sinnes and rose againe for our iustification that hee will confirme in his trueth such as it pleased him alreadie to call thereto and withdrawe from errour those whome the false preachers of idolatrie labour to blinde therewith First then it is to be noted that the word Crosse signifieth sometime a kinde of libbit which in elder times they vsed for the greatest and most infamous malefactours Sometime it signifieth the punishment which those offendours were to endure In the historie of our redemption these two significations are oftentimes found For when it is said that Christ caried the crosse and was fastened thereon it is easie to be gathered that it was the Crosse of wood he bare and that thereto hee was nayled and fastened In like manner when it is said Colos 1. ver 20. That by the blood of the Crosse of Christ our peace is made it cannot bee doubted but that these wordes haue reference to those sufferings which it pleased the sonne of God to endure for vs. This distinction being well obserued wee shall the more easilie and Christianlie determine the matter handled in those placards For if by the word Crosse the death and passion of Christ is vnderstood it will follow by the confession of all true Christians that the vertue of that Crosse is such as is no way to bee comprehended by the vnderstanding of men nor Angels For it is the Crosse and death of Christ Iesus that witnesseth the loue which God beares to his elect which Loue passeth all vnderstanding saith Saint Paule Philipi 4. ver 7. In this Crosse is our life light health defence strength joy perfection and our all whatsoeuer for there is no good or hope for vs elsewhere but in the Crosse of our Lorde Iesus Christ Heereof may wee saye with S. Paule Galat 6. ver 14. God forbid wee should glorie in any thing but in the Crosse of our Lord Iesus Christ whereby the worlde is crucified to vs and we to the world wherevppon the same S. Paul saith 1. Cor. 1. ver 25. That he desired to know nothing but Christ Iesus and him crucified But if by the worde Crosse we vnderstand the wood or libbit whereon the sonne of God was hanged for the sinnes of the elect we may boldly say that wee finde no testimonie in the word of God written by the Prophets Apostles nor any examples or practise of theirs that either may or ought induce vs to attribute any vertue to the wood it selfe For albeit wee doubt not of Gods omnipotencie to whom nothing is impossible yet ought wee to conceiue of this almightinesse by that which appeares to vs of his owne will according to that in the 115. Psalme God hath done all whatsoeuer him pleased Then safely may wee conclude that God had no will such vertue should be adherent to the wood or crosse of hâ—s sonne for then hee woulde doubtlesse haue witnessed the same by his word Among true Christians whatsoeuer is not written in the worde of God is helde as a matter of no estate or beeing as wee may gather from the 7. to the Hebrues verse 3. where it is said That Melchisedech was without father without mother c. for this only reason because the scripture no where at all speaketh of his father or mother although it be most certaine that he had a father mother like to other men Of the Crosse we read that Iesus Christ carried it so likewise did Simon the father of Rufus beare it that Iesus went out of the cittle of Ierusalem bearing it that it was brought to the mount of Caluarie where it was prepared Iesus nayledthereon and likewise the inscription Iesus of Nazareth king of the Jewes that thereon Iesus had his side pearced rendred vp his spirit thereon and when night came that the bodie of Iesus was taken downe from the crosse ouer and beside these poynts we read nothing whereby appeareth that God was willing to forestall idolatrie which neuerthelesse Sathan wold needes bring into the world For as he had no will that the Sepulchre of Moyses should be knowne so is there not any witnesse recorded that God was willing his sonnes crosse shuld haue any notice among men for to say that it was kept or enterred in the place where it had beene erected which was as ones aith the place where Adam was buried this hath no semblance of any certaintie for if we shall beleeue our elders Adam was buried in Hebron not neere Ierusalem Likewise seeing the Disciples Apostles of Iesus Christ were scattered at his death that after his ascention they were prohibited to speake of or name Iesus Christ that they were made prisoners and scourged that Saint Stephen was stoned that great persecutioÌ„ was in the church of Jerusalem and soon after that Jerusalem was brought to totall extremitie and ruine what apparance can there bee that this crosse was hidden and honoured by them that followed Christ Iesus In like maner we reade not any where that the Disciples and Apostles of Iesus did euer recommend this crosse and yet they said in the 13. of the Hebrues verse 13. Let vs go foorth after Jesus out of the campe bearing his reproach And Christ himselfe said That whosoeuer would be his Disciple must take vp his crosse follow him Math. 16. verse 24. And as for that where he saith the enemies of Christ haue gone about to abolish his crosse and yet they could not do it such would lighteÌ„ darkenesse by darknesse For where one reports that they endeuoured to
when the woord of God marcheth not before vs. Nor need we demaund who hath done or said this heere or there but what hath Christ Iesus instituted what hath his Apostles saide and doone nor ought we so much seeke what is done as what is to be done Againe it is to be noted that our elders speaking of the death and passion of our redeemer haue most spoken of his Crosse and of the signe therof together neuer meaning what at this day is vnderstood by the woord signe but they likewise called it the Standard or Ensigne of the great King and Captaine who ouercame the deuill and hell in bringing thence the spoiles drinking of the torrent by the way and lifting vp his head as is said in the 110. Psalme So did Fortunatus take it in his Himne beginning thus Pange lingua gloriosi Praelium certaminis Et super Crucis trophaeum Dic triumphum nobilem That is to say Tongue declare the combate of a glorious fight And tell the noble tryumphes on the Crosse And Theodulphus Vexilla Regis prodeunt Fulget Crucis misterium That is The Standards of the King march foorth Shining with the misteries of the Crosse So that the Crosse then vsed was made in forme of a Standard or Banner By the signe then those reuerend predecessours of ours vnderstood the Crosse and passion it selfe but since ignoraunce hath deuised that that should be seperate which ought to bee conioyned setting the passion of Christ apart and the signe of the Crosse apart making small account of the one speaking the litle of the passion but enough of the signe witnesse the passion death and woundes of Christ which are dayly and hourely in the mouthes of blasphemers who thinke neuerthelesse to be warranted from all euill when they doe but make the signe of the Crosse Thus hath bin declared what our elders vnderstood by the signe of the Crosse to wit the exteriour testimony of the christian faith which euidently appeared in them who were conuerted from dumbe Idols to true seruice of the liuing God This may be discerned more clearely by the saiing of S. Cirill answerering the obiections of the Emperour Iulian sirnamed the Apostata in his sixt booke For Iulian magnifying the antiquity of the Pagane religion said that the Oracles were giuen by Jupiter as the escutchions or bucklers fell from heauen and Jupiters saddle which was giuen or sent to Numa and made this comparison that the Pagans kept the Armour which great Iupiter the Father of Mars had giuen them as a warranted gaege that he would alwaies haue a care of the Citty of Roome All this notwithstanding the Christians desisted from honouring and worshipping these thinges whereupon Iulian said that they honoured the wood of the Crosse and painted the Crosse on their foreheades and before their houses Whereto Cirill answered thus Albeit the Lord and Sauiour of all was not in shewe yet equall in all with his father and seated on the throne of his diuinitie neuerthelesse he was abased and tooke on himselfe the shape of a seruant despising allignomie bare the crosse to abolish the power of corruption and one onely dyed for all to the end that being raised againe from the dead he might deliuer all mankinde from the snares of death destroye the tyrannie of sinne ruling in vs appease the lawe which exercised his tyrannie in our members making vs spirituall woorshippers killing in vs the feelings of the fleshe that they might be made the sonnes of God which beleeued in him and were sanctified by his spirit so to despoile Sathan of his tyrannie the author of euils the mort all beast those wicked powers which our calumniator called the Prince of nations and Gods defenders The wholsome wood made vs remember all these things and aduised vs to thinke that as S. Paule saith Euen as one is dead for all so ought they to knowe that the liuing could liue no more by them selues but by him who dyed and rose againe Which answer shewes that the Christians painted the crosse not as attributing any vertue to the visible signe but to let the Pagans see how they hauing forsaken theyr Idolatries wherewith they hadbin before enchaunted imbraced Iesus Christ of whome the crosse which they placed before their houses was the true marke and publique ensigne And the same Cyrill expoundeth himselfe in his third booke of adoration made in spirit and trueth manifesting the vnbelecuers by this marke that they would neuer receiue the crosse that is to saye acknowledge Iesus Christ They saith he that haue no will to receiue the Crosse are vanquished and ouercome by the deuill and they are such as Christ spake to saying Verily verily J say vnto you if you will not beleeue that I am he you shall dye in your sinnes So that to receiue the Crosse is nothing else but to beleeue in Iesus Christ For so likewise Saint Cyril speaking of the comming of Christ shewes it by these wordes the comming of the Crosse vnderstanding by the word Crosse all that which the sonne of God did and suffered in the worlde for our saluation These things thus breefely touched may suffice to answer the allegations contained in the first placard Come we now to the second which is entituled How the Crosse ought to be honoured which likewise at this present wee must consider on How the Crosse ought to be honoured FIrst of al it is a matter most manifest that the punishment of the Crosse was not onely one of the cruellest but likewise the most ignominious of all them which was practised by any nation For it was called a death most infamous and accursed and for this reason our Lord Iesus Christ was put to the Crosse that he being made accursed we might bee deliuered from the cursse of the law Yet for all this it was not without great reason that himselfe speaking of this kinde of death calleth it his exaltation Iohn 8. verse 28. and 12. ver 32. for his Crosse is the great victory the trophee and glory which hee obtained against Sathan against death See now why we can neuer sufficiently honor the crosse death and passion of our Lorde Iesus Christ For it is the meanes whereby the Sonne of God drawes all men to him as himselfe saith in Saint Iohn 12. verse 32. But the manner how to honor it ought likwise to be learned from our Lord and maister himselfe He plainly expressed it when he taught vs that whosoeuer would be his disciple ought to take vp his crosse follow him for by this means being conformed to his sufferings we shall likewise be semblable to his glorie When he instituted his holye Supper saying Doe these things in remembrance of me how often so euer you doo them you shall shew the death of the Lorde euen vntill his comming This S. Paule sawe when hee writ to Timothe his 2. Epistle Chapter 2. ver 8. 12. Remember that Iesus Christ was raised from the dead
the cause being taken away there remaines no more of the effect Last of all because it seemes that wee would haue no Images of the crucifixe nor the Cross we declare that we desire all our dayes Iesus Christ should be painted before oureyes in the same manner as S. Paule Gal. 3. ver 1. painted Iesus Christ before their eyes for the pensill wherwith God ought to be paiÌ„red is his word which himself calleth the word of truth where coÌ„trariwise all the doctrine of Images is but the doctrine of lying and vanity So then the Crosse of Iesus Christ is as the chaire wherout we purpose to preach on the one side the multitude and ennormity of our sinnes on the other the seuerity of Gods iustice and depth of his mercy The greatnesse of our sinnes is shewen vs in that they could not be borne nor abolished by any other then he who was very God and very man His iustice in that God who hateth iniquity did punish it with all extreamity His mercy in that himselfe gaue vs the price to acquit vs withall euen vs that were his vtter enemies for this is to vs a most certaine gaege of the merciful affection of our God discerned thorow the woundes of his onely Sonne And the liuely contemplating of those wounds is the balme to heale the hurts of our soules His feete and handes were pierced his side opened and thence issued the price of our redemption as also the washing away of our filthynesse bloud I say and water alwaies streaming to deface our sinnes past present and to come to the ende that hauing our harts washed from an euil conscience wee should goe by the fresh and liuing pathes towardesour God with certainty of faith and keep ing the confession of our hope Heb. 10. ver 22. 23. that is to say in following after Iesus Christ Which is nothing else saith S. Carill but renouncing the world for the loue of Christ preferring the goodes which we hope for by faith before all other in this bodily life In like manner saith S. Bernard The ioyfull hope and assuraunce is that which is affirmed by application to the death and passion of Christ For since the Father hath giuen vs his Sonne how shall he not with him giue vs all thinges also Rom. 8. ver 32. And bee is giu en vs of the Father to be our iustice wisedome redemption and sanctification 1 Cor. 1. v. 30. It is Iesus that iustifies the faulty it is Iesus that paies for the indepted that strengthens the weake illuminates the blinde bindes vp the hurtes of the wounded recalles home by-wanderers giues life to the dead in a word it is Iesus that destroies the workes of the deuill beateth downe Sathan vnder our feete Such is the memory which wee continually obserue of the perfect obedience which the Sonne of GOD deliuered vpon the Crosse to God his Father for vs poore miserable wretches and not the ridiculous and I dolatrous deuotion which the ignoraunt so gladly would make vs beleeue that they honour the death and passion of Iesus Christ in saying during their great weekes space before the crosse and beholding the face of the Crucifixe with handes eleuated and knees bended to wit On Palme Sunday thirty three Paters Aues the Munday the beades of our Lady the Tewsday forty Peters Aues the Wednesday thirty Paters and Aues the Thursday twelue Paters and Aues the Fryday sixty Paters and Aues the Satturday forty Paters and Aues on Easterday twelue Paters and Aues Likewise during their twelue white Fridayes the first three Paters and Aues the second seauen Paters and Aues the third sixty times Paters Aues in honor of the sixty thornes in the crowne the fourth forty Paters and Aues the fift forty Paters and Aues the sixt twelue Paters and Aues the seauenth thirty Paters and Aues in honour of Iudas his thirty pence the eight thirty Paters Aues the ninth fiue Paters and Aues the tenth three Paters and Aues in honor of the three nayles the eleuenth fiue Paters and Aues the twelft fifteene Paters Aues in honour of the fifteene horrible signes which shall come before the day of iudgement Such is the summary of the stile obserued in the booke by them called Houres But true worshippers indeed entreate of God that it may please him to make them feele the efficacy of the death and passion of Iesus Christ and desire to beare the Image of him to the end that as wee haue borne the Image of the earthlie Adam so we may carry the Image of the celestiall Adam in our hearts that the holy Ghost would be the Temple therof and so by this meanes we shall bee knowne by the same Iesus Christ at his great and last comming Truely it is thou Lord Iesus whome wee honour whome wee blesse and thanke because thou dying on thy Crosse hast thereby giuen vs assurance of life To thee be all honour and glory with the Father and the holy spirit Amen Jt is sweete to beare the Crosse with Christ and for Christ FINIS A Sonnet annexed to the former Treatise in French WE are vndone Sathan hath vs destroyde Sinne death and hell is our due portion Ah wretch recant for Christ his passion Sinne death and hell hath vtterly made voyde Thereby our first rights are to vs regainde Thereby health victory and life we holde Thereby we see the light so manifolde Thereby heauens highest secrets are attainde It is the death of death the hell of hell The steele that hath rebated Sathans steele Opening the gate where blessednes doth dwell Happy is he this death by faith doth fellc But he that worships wood or stone procures Those paines on him which euer more endures There is no deâ—eipt nor subtilty which Sathan hath not adâ—â—sedly studied thereby to make men commit Idolatry whereby his power is no way ruynated but established