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FOUNDATIONS*81**unclean* spirits* were* bidden* to* come* out* of* the* child* and* leave* it* alone* in*future),*the*giving*of*candles,*and*other*things*which*made*baptism*appear*more* like* the* initiation* ceremonies* for* ancient* Greek* and* Roman* mystery*cults.* “How* much* better* it* would* be* to* omit* from* baptism* all* theatrical*pomp,*which*dazzles*the*eyes*of*the*simple*and*deadens*their*minds,”*said*Calvin. 62 *Influenced* also* by* the* Continental* Reformed* theologians* Vermigli*and*Bucer,*Cranmer*had*actually*done*away*with*almost*all*such*ceremonial*accretions*in*the*baptismal*rite.*In*1549*there*remained*several*places*in*the*service*marked*with*a*black*cross,*to*indicate*the*sign*of*the*cross*should*be*made,*as*well*as*both*anointing*with*oil*and*the*“white*vesture”*or*“crisome”*for* each* child. 63 *In* the* reformed* service* of* 1552* (and* hence* 1662)* these*were*all*abolished*and*the*signa#crucis* replaced*by*this*one*signing,*of*the*child,*explained*by*the*minister. 64 **The*Puritans,*however,*saw*that*this*appeared*to*be*“a*sacrament*within*a*sacrament.”*Since*it*was*not*part*of*the*biblical*institution*of*baptism,*they*said,* it* would* be* better* not* to* confuse* the* central* matter* by* adding* a*ceremony* which* might* imply* the* baptism* itself* was* incomplete.* Indeed,*some* complained* that* not* only* did* Roman* Catholic* theologians* ascribe*numerous* supernatural* effects* to* signing* with* the* cross,* but* “the* common*people* in* many* parts* of* the* land...* hold* that* their* children* are* not* rightly*baptized*without*it.” 65 *A*clarifying*Canon*was*promulgated*in*an*attempt*to*address*this*concern, 66 *but*whatever*legal*canons*say*is*in*practice*irrelevant*to* ordinary* people* attending* and* observing* a* church* service,* and* so*practically* many* felt* (and* may* still* feel)* that* the* signing* was* a* potentially*misleading* distraction,* like* other* distractions* added* to* baptism* then* and*now. 67 *Martin*Bucer*told*Cranmer,*however,*that*he*considered*the*sign*here*********************************************************************62*Calvin,* Institutes#of#the#Christian#Religion#trans.* F.* L.* Battles* (Philadelphia:* Westminster*Press,*1960),*II.*1319*(Book*IV,*chapter*XV).*63*The*child*also*had*to*be*dipped*three*times:*first*on*its*right*side,*then*its*left,*and*finally*“dypping*the*face*towarde*the*fonte.”*Threefold*dipping*is*commended*in*Common#Worship,*as*indicating* the* Trinitarian* faith* into* which* the* child* is* baptised,* though* a* single* dip* is* still*considered*legal*and*valid.*64*See* Buchanan,* The#Savoy#Conference#Revisited,* 34* n33* who* suggests* that* both* Bishops*and*Presbyterians*seem*to*have*forgotten*this*historical*point*by*1661.*In*1549*the*child*was*signed*with*the*sign*of*the*cross*before*the*actual*baptism,*on*both*forehead*and*breast,*as*well*as*being*exorcised*of*an*“uncleane...*cursed*spirite.”*65*An# Abridgement# of# that# booke# which# the# ministers# of# Lincolne# Diocesse# delivered# to# his#majestie#upon#the#first#of#December#1605*(Leiden,*1617),*38:39,*52.*66*Canon*30*of*1604.*The*current*Canon*B25*likewise*says*“The*Church*of*England*has*ever*held*and*taught,*and*holds*and*teaches*still,*that*the*sign*of*the*Cross*used*in*baptism*is*no*part*of*the*substance*of*the*sacrament:*but,*for*the*remembrance*of*the*Cross,*which*is*very*precious*to* those* that* rightly* believe* in* Jesus* Christ,* has* retained* the* sign* of* it* in* baptism,* following*therein*the*primitive*and*apostolic*Churches.”*67*Paul*F.*Bradshaw*(ed.),*Companion#to#Common#Worship*(London:*SPCK,*2001),*165:166*only*strengthens*these*anxieties*in*a*discussion*of*both*1662*and*Common#Worship.* Both*the*!

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