put out as Bellarmine p. 78. l. 2. for facts r. fasts p. 81. l. 35. for Antichrist r. Antichrists p 84. l. 35. for conscience of some r. conscience of sinne p. 85. l. 18. put out not in the title of the Chap. p. 96. l. 34. for tollerent reade tolerent A TRIPLE ANTIDOTE AGAINST CERtaine very common Scandalles of this time which like infectious and epidemicall diseases haue generally annoyed most sorts of people amongst vs poisoned also not a fewe and diuers wayes plagued and afflicted the whole State CHAP. I. Containing the names natures and manifold kinds and differences of Excommunication EXcommunication beeing the highest censure of all Ecclesiasticall power from which the other two of Subscription and the Crosse with all such decent and profitable ceremonies doe naturally arise and the lawfulnes and necessity of these latter depending for the most part vpon the former I haue placed the same in the forefront as it were of those many battels and encounters which by all kind of people almost in this complayning and murmuring age haue beene made against them all but especially against the trueth power and vse of excommunication Which according to the name and nature thereof I haue first of all endeuoured to define after this manner Namely as the word expoundeth it selfe Excommunication in the most generall sense and acception thereof is nothing els but a separation from some common benefite of which any formerly haue beene Excommunicatio a communi bono separatio or otherwise might haue been partakers which is the common receiued definition by the Schooles and Canons Which being somewhat too generall for our purpose after certaine diuisions of these larger termes wee hope at the length to comprise the full summe and substance thereof in as short a compasse as so great a matter may be These common benefites and priuiledges therefore enioyed in this life being either Ecclesiasticall or Ciuill this terme of Excommunication hath beene alwaies by all sufficient writers restrained to those speciall graces and fauours which belong properly to the Church and so this censure is to be defined accordingly to be a debarring and separation from the Church which also being either visible or inuisible the trueth and nature of this excommunication must be in like manner examined and distinguished to be a separation from the visible or inuisible Church Of which distinction sundry reasons may be giuen which briefly may be comprised in these two positions from which many more particulars may easily be collected first that the knowledge order and proceeding in either of these kindes are very much differing both in respect of the persons censuring accusing or offending as also of the defaults and punishments thereunto belonging the one being alwaies certaine after one manner because God as Augustine well obserueth who is the high Iudge in that priuy Court doth see all things euermore as they are and iudgeth accordingly by his present mercy and present iustice taking all actions and persons as he findeth them and so his word and ministry thereof with all other meanes belonging to this Excommunication proceed by the same order and degree the other very variable from the visible Church and vncertaine Primo secundum praescientiam 2. Causam 3. Operationem 4. retributionem sol 2047. taking knowledge and giuing order for personall causes according to particular allegations and proofes as they say which Hugo de sanct in his booke de Sacramentis legis naturalis scriptae doeth more largely expresse making foure kindes of iudgements Secondly because one and the selfe same person may be admitted and allowed for a communicant in the one which happily hath no interest nor fellowship in the other and so contrarily the same persons may by course and order of lawes and proceeding in some cases be remoued from some part of the visible Church which keepe their place firme and sure in the inuisible as 1. Timothy Chap. 5. verse 24. and 2. Samuel Chap. 16. verse 7. is plainely auouched that God seeth not as man seeth and that some mens sinnes goe before vnto iudgement and some follow after Now this Excommunication from the inuisible Church is onely infallibly known and exercised by God who alone knoweth who are his 2. Tim. chap. 2. vers 19. And how at all times euery one standeth or falleth to himselfe the great master of all Rom. 14. vers 4. yet hath hee appointed certaine persons to whome a speciall commission is directed to proceede in this inward and high Court of conscience and by which speciall meanes as by certaine signes and best coniectures the knowledge of euery one his estate and freeholde as it were in the inuisible Church and true fellowship with God and his Saints may be discerned which meanes the learned haue called voluntatem signi being indeed signa voluntatis subordinate to that infallible prescience and predestination of God by which together with these signes and meanes which for that end are prepared and appointed by God all are deliuered from their miserable estate and fellowship with the diuell and Church malignant and receiued into this inuisible Church and company whosoeuer they are that are at any time so receiued as Saint Augustine in many places learnedly sheweth which signes and meanes specified in the word of God and commonly called and vnderstood by those generall graces of faith and repentance being found in any or testified by any outward signes to those Commissaries of God as I may so terme them aboue named so farre as they can or ought to iudge according to their rites of commission and proceeding to be in any or otherwise to be wanting so are they iudged and allowed for meete partakers and communicantes with that heauenly society being qualified thereunto by the former graces or els to be wholly vnworthy and out of the same and so being admitted or excluded by these stewards Gods ministers whome God hath appointed and none other as shall be shewed hereafter to deale in that high Court of his or pronounced priuately or more openly so to be whatsoeuer they shall doe in that behalfe according to the tenour of their commission and order of their court roules which is the truth and scope of holy scriptures shall be ratified and confirmed in heauen both for the pardon of sinne which is the kingdom of grace in this life Ioh. 20. vers 23. and the full state of glory for euer in heauen Mat. 16. vers 19. In regard whereof this excommunication from the inuisible Church so farre foorth as it may be awarded or any way iudicially proceeded in by man Definitio excommunicationis ab inuisibili ecclesia may thus be described to bee that part of the power of the keyes whereby vpon the signes and euidences of infidelity heresie irrepentance or such like euery true minister doth pronounce any to be in the state of Gods wrath and out of the fellowship and communion of Saints Which power albeit Saint Augustine
alicubi extent In quibus etiam tam magnis quod facilè largientur credo omnes subarduis voluisle tentasse aliquid satis erit praesertim mihi haec primò adniteÌ„ti aliis bene multis iam diu occupato nimium praepedito dum haec ab initio mediarer tantuÌ„ non obsesso penitus oppresso Quae si quod voluimus effectum minùs dederint quod medicantibus in hoc potissimùm genere perrarò obtingit qui vt Galenus curare multos sed sanare paucos solent illud tamen hinc commodi euenturum autumo bene spero quod vt tertium illud Crucis verè iam Contradictionis Signum nuperos quod audio multum gratulor nactum esse patronos bene multos verè Aesculapios sic alios nostra haec forsitan excitabunt qui depositis illis penè desperatis de Excommunicatione Subscriptione curis medelis extremam quod aiunt manum quamprimum addant imponant Quae denique quoniam tibi in Excelsissimo Episcopalis dignitatis culmine magno tuo merito virtute prudentia constituto quae exhibeantur minora esse longè indignissima satis intelligaÌ„ meipsum si placet cum aliis pro strenaruÌ„ more indole postmodum insequuturis vnà offero adiungo adeoque se totum ditioni tuae dicat consecrat hisce demum pauculis consignat in perpetuum Honoratissimae Amplitudinis tuae obseruantissimus IOHANNES TICHBORNVS The Epistle to the Reader IT was well saide of that Italian Merchant Machiauel de repub for all refined pollicies of this last age That the world must be sicke and purged also before it die Wherein what the great Physition hath from time to time practised vpon that vaste bodie somtime by fire sometime by water generally by many great coÌ„mon destructions euery generation and story are perpetuall witnesses and Saint Hierome most passionately doth expresse and bewaile writing thus against Iouinian Libro primo contra Iouin Succrescit silua vt succidatur Howbeit a better Prophet prognosticated of some more speciall diseases which should befall and possesse the wayward crasie most disteÌ„pered old age of the world auouching by the spirit 2. Tim. 3. v. 1. that in the last dayes men should bee full of selfe loue couetousnesse pride wantonnesse and such like which the learned haue obserued and found to be the root and causes of all heresies as also disobedient and breakers of oath and promises from whence haue proceeded the manifold Sects Schismes and personall separations disturbing alwaies the outward peace quiet gouernment of the Church of God For the mitigating and repressing whereof because they can neuer wholly be cured or taken away 1. Cor. 11. Math. 13. for there must be heresies and Coccle tares and darnell will be sowed and must grow amongst the best corne and croppe vntill the end it hath pleased Christ the soules sole Physition and great protector of his Church to substitute the Ministery and Magistracy whereby as Chirurgians and his owne hands in those his ordinances to apply sundry kinds of remedies to so many and diuers maladies both which working diuersly yet to one and the same end partly by the word and spirit and partly by the ciuill sword doe hold vp as well the generall frame and compage of the whole body as the estates of all particular Churches and Common wealths vntill the day of perfect recuring and restoring all things come Now the physicke and Cure committed to the hand of the Church which is the subiect matter of my treatise ensuing may for our better discerning and handling the same for this present not vnfitly bee matched with the termes and parts made and giuen by the learned to that happy art whereby the life and health of the lesser world mans body is procured and maintained Which being by the vsuall account three in number namely 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 may for breuity order sake be reduced to the three special heads to which I haue referred this my so termed threefold Antidote and desired to apply the same to our present state in England being now by God his blessing if all had eies or grace to see it as was sometimes said of Rome and Athens 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 euen a little world or a briefe and Epitome of all God his mercies elsewhere bestowed vpon all the Churches and Common-wealths in the world Vnderstanding by the first thereof Excommunication which comprizeth vnder it as a part for the whole exhortations admonitions reprehensions threatnings confession absolution and such like all these meanes which the ministery and power of the keies may by the word and spirit prescribe at any time for the purging and healing so many soules sicknesses which the whole Church for this life and euery member thereof is continually subiect vnto And by the second termed Subscription answering to that second general part of physicke called Hygeine in respect of the nature end and manifold vse therof we meane all wholsome decrees Councils priuate or publique and constitutions of the Church by which the trueth of doctrine amidst the manifold differences and contrarily minded people in the world may be preserued and maintained the inward peace of each conscience more fully and safely secured and the outward order of euery particular Church better established and defended against al manner of oppositions by turbulent spirits in that behalfe and the iust temper of the whole body of Christ by all good meanes wise foresight cont nued throughout the world And lastly by the Crosse which I haue made the noble Hierogâ—yphicon of all other decent ceremonies to bee vsed at any time in the Church of God I vnderstand all comely ornaments whereby as well Christ his Ministers according to their differences degrees dignittes as all other things belonging to the least performance and holy administration in God his seruice may and ought to be beautified decked and adorned all scarres and defects naturally or by euill euent incident to any Church healed and supplyed and the most naturall sweet colour vigour and beautie of Christ his Spouse be made resplendent and apparant to the whole world with all other properties and effects which that decoratiue art and last part of Physicke is knowne and celebrated to bring to passe in mans body all which as in those last dangerous dayes they haue been much incombred by the hands and meanes of Schismatikes Atheists Churchrobbers and such like of the prophane cursed crue of so many heathenish people that haue rushed into Gods inheritance as Psal 80. v. 1. and no lesse tortured and afflicted now a long time with all kind of spirituall diseases and enormities and euen brought as they say to the last casâ— so stand they now in need if euer to be releeued with all the best antidotes and electuaries which from both hands of Ministery and Magistracy the Lord is willing
giueth sometimes to priuate mens admonishments and exhortations saying thereupon cohortatoriè as Luther obserueth him and the other learned fathers to speake many times Ligasti aut soluisti fratrem yet is this no whit of this nature and kind whereof we intreat this being an exhortation or counsell and a common worke of charity belonging to all Christians the other a iudgement or a solemne and peculiar iudiciall proceeding performed alwayes by Gods ministers onely and lieutenants in this behalfe wherein God deales by them as a King doth by his Iudges and other immediate officers for any state occasion wherein although many haue skill and can giue counsell and aducie yet are no charters quoadius as wee say pardons or iudgements whatsoeuer of validity and force to carry or confirme any thing for or against any except they be pronounced or otherwise sealed and warranted by those who are called and designed to represent and supply the Kings place and person in any of the same And thus much briefly of this first kinde of excommunication which respecteth indifferently all kindes of people that haue soules to be saued and may yea ought to be exercised in all places where any true minister is found albeit there be no order or power established according to the nature of a visible Church or other ordered gouernment whatsoeuer For so is the nature of the other excommunication which wee made to be from the visible Church wherein alwayes is required some company liuing vnder forme of outward gouernment by which lawes may be made and enacted for this or at the least some other kinde of separation from the same for so Saint Paul speaketh of a company to be gathered together as from which that incestuous person was to be remoued by his owne censure which also may appeare by all other such separations which euer haue beene read of or are as yet practised in the world wherein by some kind of power established amongst some company liuing vnder gouernement be it of one kind or other certaine persons haue beene excluded oftentimes according to the discretion of the gouernours thereof from the face and fellowship of some visible Church Which also according to the causes and diuers kinds of operation and proceeding by or against any this kinde of excommunication must againe be diuided into that which by violence without cause and against all order and reason is oftentimes denounced and that which vpon iust cause or by some kinde of order at the least is commenced and executed for the separation of any from the visible Church the first whereof may be called excommunicatio violentiae such as were exercised by Tyrants against many a true member both of the visible and inuisible Church the other not vnfitl termed excommunicatio ordinis in which by some orderly proceeding and vnder some course of Lawe and constitutions iust or vniust any are remoued from any such company and priuiledges belonging thereunto which also being as all iudgements are as the Schooles distinguish them vsurped or defiled and tainted with some in iustice and wrong or els direct and regulated according to trueth and equity so likewise is this excommunicatio ordinis whereby good Ieremie and our Sauiour Christ himselfe Iohn 7. were by such orders as those times did afford Abstentes as the word in Ieremie importeth and debarred at the least from many priuiledges of that Church and time as the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 may by Erastus his own acception or any others signifie as well as that incestuous person most iustlie by Paul from the company and priuiledges of the Church of Corinth But to tye our selues to that excommunication which by good order and vpon iust and necessary cause is alwayes awarded resting in the hands power of euery true Church and company gathered together in the name of Christ to professe his name and seruice that also hath it differences and distinctions for so by the Schooles and Kanons many such haue beene inuented whereof that of excommunicatio maior minor the greater and the lesse may very well fit our purpose According to the vse of this greate censure by all Christian Churches in the world Which vpon the assistance at the last of Christian magistracy and by their owne speciall decrees and constitutions thereabout haue extended the power of this censure to the debarring of those that are separated thereby from many common priuiledges whereof the ciuill estate maketh them otherwise partakers as appeareth by many ciuil constitutions and statute Lawes in force at this present amongst vs de excommunicato capiendo and such like to that purpose For which cause this excommunication by order as we haue termed it for the better setting downe the true nature of it must once againe be diuided into that which is meerly ecclesiasticall as proceeding onely and wholly from that power of the keyes which are giuen to the Church for the ruling and sauing of soules or els into that which is ciuill abusiuely so called and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as we say or lastly partly ecclesiastical and partly ciuill according to which are most proceedings therein for the outward gouernement of any Church at this day That which is called ecclesiasticall is so wholly estated in the persons of Church gouernours as that if there were no ciuill Magistrate in the world yet would and ought they to claime and shew their authority and power if according to the true ends and vses thereof hereafter more particularly to be set downe the Church shall iudge it fit or necessary so to be awarded Author of late assertions for Church Discipline And no ciuill power hath any more to doe with it then as the latest exceptor and pleader himselfe against many things therein confesseth and proueth by the authority of Bishop Horne and Doctor Bilson both reuerend fathers of one Sea in our Church it hath to doe with making ministers consecrating Churches immediate making of Church Canons for doctrine cases of cōscience administration of the word and Sacraments and such like In the prefaces to certaine Iniunctions made in Henry 8. and Elizabeth their raignes which some princes of this kingdome and all other wisely possessed with the trueth of these matters haue euermore disclaimed Howbeit for the other which concerne first the bodies and outward estates and condition whatsoeuer of any and secondarily and consequently the soule and inward man and so also respect for the most part the outward peace of the common state both ecclesiasticall and ciuill they all must haue their consideration determination and proper place accordingly as proceeding first from ciuill power may be intended or remitted continued suspended or changed and sometimes exercised or inhibited by ciuill magistrates soueraigne or subordinate Of which sort I make all temporall punishments commutation of pennance outward shame and all other bodily afflictions whereof notwithstanding that of being giuen ouer to Satan some haue made one Erastus out of some
word And had not God himselfe made this order and difference in all publique and politique proceedings as by the places aboue named and many other of the old and newe Testament which we haue elsewhere vsed for the differences and dignities of Ministers in generall may appeare yet common experience reason and necessity would haue inforced the same as we may see in all pollitique bodies Ecclesiasticall and Ciuil which haue euer beene in the world which otherwise through a generall confusion none ruling nor any obeying would fall downe of themselues as Saint Paul saith if euery member were a head where were the hand the feete the smelling c euen all without order and difference a monstrous confusion And therefore these men themselues in their exercising and awarding this high censure or any part of their new deuised pollicy and discipline reduce all such proceedings to Consistorial throne and iurisdiction and that in far greater soueraignty and peremptory vnreuerseable power then wheresoeuer vnder Christian Magistracy any lawfull Ecclesiasticall body doth execute their iurisdictions and power And herein it differeth not whether the immediate mannagers and Actuaries in this Excommunication be good or bad as the Donatists and Anabaptists sometimes excepted against Baptisme it selfe and some of our homebred Schismatickes haue often reuiued those quarrells or els Laickes sometimes and in some cases as the next question will better inquire so long as they haue this externall order and power by lawfull authority vnder Christian Magistrates put vpon them because therein they doe not their owne worke or actions as Augustine hath abundantly aunswered against the Donatists but the speciall functions of the Church by which they are moued and in euery particular directed and no way carried so farre foorth as they performe any Ecclesiasticall seruices by their owne priuate motions and spirit as appeareth also in baptisme ordination of ministers and many other things appertaining to Ecclesiasticall power and censures And indeede the summe of this obiection is none other then the demand of Corah and his confederates challenging equall power and holinesse in this kinde to all the Leuites and ministers in common Num. 16. v. 34. which God had made then for the order and gouernment of that Church proper to the Priests which is all one with the matter and question we haue in hand For the conclusion whereof I desire all to reade that with iudgement and to translate the Latine of it into good true English diuinity or Christian and godly pollicy if they will which that graue learned and true Christian politician wrote sometimes by way of councell and Theologicall determination to certayne like minded with these Questionists Obiectors Melancthon in Consiliis theologicis Et Consistoria ideo coÌ„stituta sunt ne indocti pastores aut malidaÌ„nent homines sine legittima cognitione sicut manifestum est iracundos pastores saepe hoc modo iniuste turbasse ecclesias notum est plurimos pastores nescire ordinem cognitionum satis est pastors quod ad ministerium iurisdictionem suam attinet quando crimen est notorium admonere reum si non obtemperet arcere cum a communione c. Which speciall power also is by the wisedome and appointment of our Church thorough some delegate power left many times in the hands of euery the meanest minister who also for the most part alwayes hath his ministery and vse in the inflicting this censure and absoluing any persons from it To which the same author addeth the practise and iudgement of other learned men and Churches at that time more directly to this question Anâ—â— Annum in ditione Naumbergensi magna contentio fuit inter quosdam an singuli pastores armandi essent hac potestate Nominatim sine cognitione Consistorii excommunicandi aliquos responderunt autem Dr. Sneppius Casper Aquila idem quod nos nunc scribimus Now for the third and last question and obiection vsually made against the meanes and manner of executing this censure Quaest 3. namely that oftentimes meere Laicks or such at the least as were neuer fully admitted into holy orders doe not onely intermeddle therewith but haue for the most part the greatest stroke therein Plea of the Innocent pag. 49. 50. To which I first answer that which some of these exceptors and pleaders make contrary vse of alledging as the truth is and the order thereof by our Canons and common practise of our Church that the mayne sentence of Excommunication is euermore reserued to bee denounced by the Bishop or some other minister as from whose care and power this whole proceeding doth originally descend by whome and by what means soeuer it be managed Which secondly if it were not so I answer that whatsoeuer is performed herein by any such persons either for the better more safe preparation to the finall sentence it selfe or els practised in the very denouncing of the same are to be accompted for no other then the actions of the sacred ministery it selfe or if you will rather speake with Cyprian and Ierome of the Church and whole power any where established for so they speake plainly albeit very impertinently Nichols in his plea pag. 59. and as ignorantly cited by one of these grand exceptors against many things in our Church gouernment and this one we haue in hand amongst the rest Clauium potestas non vnised vnitati conceditur And so indeede the intermedlers herein are not merely Laikes or wholy Ecclesiasticall in that behalfe and their assistance herein or pronouncing this sentence at any time is no otherwise then as the Clerke of the peace at any commoÌ„ Sessions doth reade denounce or any way assist the Iudges thereof to whome properly and principally the whole commission is directed Thirdly many things incident and especially belonging to this greate censure of Excommunication as it is now for the most part exercised by any Church being externall and primarily respecting the bodies and outward estates of the offendors as also the common peace and externall pollicy of both Church and common wealth together as we aboue shewed they are by all reasonable consideration to be mannaged and discussed by their proper professors and best experienced therein Neither lastly were it meet as the whole councell of the Apostles conclude in the like case that the ministers of the word and Sacraments should attend vpon tables or taking knowledge of all criminall causes in this kind and nature In respect whereof our new masters of their Church policy haue found it very necessary to appoint diuers sorts of lay persons as Elders Deacons Widdowes and such like making them essentiall parts of all welordered Church policy Acts. 6. v. 2. according to Christ his word rules and kingdome as they say who yet notwithstanding in the trueth of those termes being according to the vse thereof in the first Churches and Paul his mentioning of such kind of helpers 1. Cor. 12. v. 26. vnder the
there rendred by him to the simpler sort Insomuch as the great obseruer of state-proceedings aswell Ciuill as especially Ecclesiasticall Melancton wrote these words with great aduice no doubt to one Loneras a very scrupulous exceptor and seuere and hasty censurer of his neighbour Churches Nunquam poterit esse tranquillitas nisi in ritibus dissimilibus adde etiam dissimulanda aliqua infirmitate aequitatem moderationem adhibebimus mihi crede nobis etiam illi multa condonat And indeed besides the former reasons euen nature and common reason doe vrge and call for the same it being all one in a manner to see a naked body without clothes as any such solemnity for sacred or Ciuill administration without ceremony And therefore as the Schooles say well that circumstances doe cloath the humane actions for the morality thereof be they good or bad so outward rites and seemly ceremonies giue the beauty true decency to the same Which being most requisite in all publiques for their better grace according to their grauity and auoyding all contempt which otherwise doth easily follow such proceedings so most of all in Gods seruice whose house and euery the least meanes of his presence with vs and our dealing with him holynesse becommeth for euer and all decency is too little In which respect the Apostle himselfe doth not only leaue it arbitrarie to the Church of Corinth and so to other Churches to doe and see all things done in comelinesse and order much lesse directeth and prescribeth thereby how things already precisely and particularly commanded in the word for euery circumstance and euery ceremony ought to be mannaged and performed as some of late are bould to interpret and define the meaning of the words to be so and no otherwise but indeed as the text sheweth and common reason conuinceth commandeth and enioyneth the gouernors of that Church and so of euery particular Church to appoint and ordaine all such things as by the iudgement of such gouernours and not of euery priuate humor or fancy might best make for the comely ordering all things in publique performable to God as also for the greatest edifying of the whole Church first and then of euery particular member thereof Implying that without ceremonies and outward accomplements there were no comlinesse in any of our actions which without the same were like bare walles without any seeling varnish or painting Secondly that without order this colour and beauty of ceremonies is no better then a fayre face or sweete complexion with a most mishapen and monstrous body Lastly all such meanes be they neuer so seemly and so orderly are little worth vnlesse they be referred to edification the end of all no more then a sweet sauour and most comely proportion do profit one that hath an Atrophia or hectick feauer and consumption in his bones that no one part can doe his office or right vse for the good of the whole body For indeed to speake with the Apostle doth not very nature common reason and experience teache that as Aristotle long since obserued no speciall rules can euer be giuen I may say with truth and reuerence by God or man in writing In the sixt book of Ethicks or any other meanes of direction whereby this comlinesse and good order for edification may generally be giuen for all particulars which are infinite and accordingly continually practised for all times Countries Churches and congregations alike but that which is thought and is comely in one and so may serue for order and edifying to the same is not so nor can be so to another besides that as the Apostle saith we haue no such custome 1. Cor. 11.16 which many times in any politick body becommeth another nature as we say as well as in the state of any naturall body I intimating that most of these things for outward ceremony tending to comlinesse order are very much determined and ouerswayed by custome Augustinus Epistol 118. 119. as in those two famous Epistles for this purpose of Ambrose to Augustine and Augustine againe to Ianuarius doth very plainly and plentifully appeare And lastly to end this point of ceremonies in generall Magistrates Ecclesiasticall are not only bound to make wholsome Lawes determining many particulars and the right vse thereof for the ends aboue named but also all such Lawes and constitutions made by them not repugnant to any part of Gods word whether originally inuented and deriued from the primitiue Church or more lately and particularly deuised since for any more speciall forme of gouernment by the immediate magistrates thereof both for quality and in some good proportion of equality also aswell bind all liuing vnder those gouernments Ecclesiastical or Ciuil to a due respect and obedience thereunto as the ceremoniall and Iudaicall Lawes did bind the Iewes for those times or any Ecclesiastical Lawes and traditions made by the Apostles themselues as 1. Cor. 11.2 and that by vertue of the fift commaundement which tyeth all to obey in such indifferent points which afterward becommeth necessary to euery subiect neither must the Church now looke for immediate oracles or Apostolicall directions and extraordinary assistance and reuelations for the ordering euery particular as at the first founding of Christian societies vnder Moses and the Apostles vntill all things were fully setled for the legall seruice state of Churches vnder the Gospel at what time God was pleased himselfe to be superintendent King and Priest for both gouernments before there was any setled forme in the world vnder the Law or Gospel and so many things were extraordinarily carried by the Apostles as in Simon Magus Ananias and the excommunicated person giuen ouer to Satan and euen Moses himselfe in sundry punishments for the breach of the Saboth and such like by speciall counsell and directions from Gods voice and spirit speciall for those times But the gouernors of the Church them selues hauing now the spirit and word of God together Esay 59. v. 21. and so many precedents of Christian Churches for all state deliberations and proceedings may and ought to the end of the world determine of all such meanes within the compasse of Gods word as they shall iudge to serue best for their seuerall times and states to comlinesse order and edification of the whole Church or any part thereof as in the treatise of Subscription we haue more specially shewed CHAP. II. Shewing of the Crosse and findeth it to be of it selfe in the number of indifferent and lawfull ceremonies yea and in the right vse thereof necessary also being once commanded by the Magistrate NOw in the second place this position I hope shall be found and allowed to be as true that not only amongst the tolerable conuenient but most seemly orderly and edifying ceremonies of the Church the signe of the Crosse in speciall may very lawfully and safelie be reckoned and esteemed The truth whereof may thus appeare first because the vse of it in
English nation I presume none will refuse them in this or any other argument the one making the Crosse an indifferent ceremonie and in regard of some of the reasons aboue rehearsed of good and necessary vse whose particular words for one place amongst the rest I thinke good to set downe out of his answer and Reioynder to Martiall his reply Article 5. pag. 173 The Christians among the Pagans marked themselues with the signe of the Crosse in token that they professed him that was crucified afterward to put themselues in mind of the death of Christ In controuersia de baptismo these were tollerable vses of an indifferent ceremony The other of Docter Whitakers in his last readings almost that euer he had in the vniuersity of Cambridge which many heard as well as my selfe auouching that not only the signe of the Crosse but also salt hony and oyle might very safely be vsed in the administration of baptisme without conscience of some if there were the like reason to vs for the vse thereof as was to those speciall primitiue Churches or else the gouernors of any Church should iudge the same fit or requisite to be vsed And thus much for the reasons shewing the lawfulnesse fitnesse and good vse of the Crosse to which I will adde the excellent conclusion of Cassander in the place aboue named Hoc tantum hoc loco efficere voluimus antiquissimas has lōgo vsu confirmatas caeremonias quae citra impietatem seruari possunt non esse temere insectandas nec pertinaciter violandas nec earum causa Ecclesias in quibus adhuc earum vsus retinetur perturbandas sed ex Christiana charitate pacis vnitatis studio obseruandas adhibitis his cautionibus vt superstitionis periculosae siquid immineat occurratur nihilominus huius Sacramenti institutio vsus mysterium fidelibus studiose explicetur amplissime commendetur vt Christo suus ex fide honos Ecclesiae sua ex charitate reuerentia tribuatur CHAP. IIII. Examining and answering those many reasons which are vsually alledged against the Crosse or any other such ceremonies to be simply wicked and to be not in themselues and in their owne nature vtterly vnlawfull NOw it followeth to consider of such reasons as haue beene vsually and of late more especially obiected against it and the vse of it in our Church the which for order sake may thus be deuided Namely to be such as would argue it to be vtterly vnlawfull in it owne nature euery way or els respectiuely and by accidentall abuse and scandall thereupon since first it hath beene deuised and vsed in the Church and Sacrament of Baptisme Of the first kind the first and worst of all I thinke is that strange assertion broched by some of late sort but originally deriued from the Manichees sometimes but in a more scholer-like sort cause taken vp by that learned Lutheran Illiricus that nothing in the world for choyce or vse and whole nature of it is indifferent to any but either simply and particularly forbidden or commanded and so not only the crosse but all other ceremonies inuented by man and orders in ciuill things for any good vse in the Church especially or common wealth to be vtterly vnlawful To which a double answer may be rendred First that the very ground of this kind of building is very sandy vnsound taking away and euen abolishing the very nature of things and order of Gods creation whereas the trueth is both many actions of men much more the quality and condition of some things in themselues are neither good nor bad but indifferent and so are left to mans choice or refusall so that if he do them or do them not vse them or vse them not more or lesse no conscience of sinne as Luther speakes out of Augustine can arise from them Mat. 15. such are to vse or not to vse this or that meate drinke or apparrell which defile not the man to exercise this or that kind of recreation and to doe the one and not the other or none of them both oftner or more seldome longer or lesse while and such like Yea in morall and will actions themselues to giue thus much or thus little to that man rather then another as acts of curtesie and gratuity and such like a thousand Ecclesiasticall also as singing ceremonies more or lesse In Opusculis Insomuch as some and euen master Beza himselfe not without good shew of trueth and reason for it haue spoken and written the cleane contrary and made all actions whatsoeuer in themselues to be neither good nor bad but indifferent as the actes of the foulest sinnes murther and adultery in the matter of warre and extreme punishment and matrimoniall duties are then good and therefore not simply wicked being once clothed with their due circumstances as the Schooles speake which make euery action good or bad The morality whereof Aristotle that great Master maketh to consist in the manner of doing Lib. 2. of his Ethicks and end for which it is done including therein the intent of the doer and due circumstances thereunto belonging Which point being somewhat nyce and easily drawne into abuse I wish should very warily be handled and wisely harkned vnto for feare of that which experience hath shewed in some to cast all hand ouer head as in Iob. 22. and Mala. 3. vers 14. and such like howbeit if their meaning be of any action already done or any thing already vsed as being determined of before in our choice to any end accompanied with circumstances necessarily following the same then we ioyn with them against all indifferency and the disputation were very friuolous and de non ente as we say Secondly we answer that in case such expresse commandement were necessary for euery particular thing action especially in all matters of Gods seruice there is sufficient expresse warrant as we haue aboue shewed for this and other ceremonies to make them good and necessary also being once commaunded ex necessitate mandati at the least vt scholae to be vsed as namely that place in the Corinthians which chargeth the Church gouernors to ordaine all things tending to decencie 1. Cor. 14. v. 26. and 40. compared together order and edifying in the church and not only as these newe Masters would haue it to see all things particularly expressed in the word to be done with such decency and due circumstances according to the speciall commandements of GOD herein which were infinite and so impossible and answerably all vnder authority to obey and vse the same for otherwise a man might preache in his doublet and hose or any other more disguised apparell for any thing is any where particularlie commanded or forbidden to the contrary And as it is most credibly reported of one of these rather wilfull then weake refusers of our ceremonies in Northhamptonshire that lighting from horseback in trauellers