After what sort the faithful in the primitiue Church, vsed themselues when they met with spirits. I haue declared out of the word of God how good and godly men ought to behaue themselues, when soeuer any spirites appeare vnto them. And truly the auncient Christians behaued themselues after this sort. For they were couragious and without feare, they gaue themselues to godlinesse, and all good workes, they diligently auoyded all things which were displeasing vnto God: and they were also very circumspect, not to attribute too much vnto spirits and visions. [Sidenote: The signe of the Crosse.] [Sidenote: Tertullian.] [Sidenote: Hierome.] [Sidenote: Origen. &c.] [Sidenote: Athanasius.] It was a common custom amongst them, to blesse themselues with the signe of the Crosse, when they mette with these things, which many also vse at this day. =Tertullian= writeth in his booke _De corona militis_, that the auncient Christians did many times marke their foreheades with the signe of the Crosse. S. =Hierom= exhorteth =Demetriades=, that he often crosse his foreheade, least that the destroyer of _Egipt_ finde any place therein. =Origen= also, =Epiphanius=, =Chrisostome=, and =Augustine=, write many thinges of the vertue of the holie Crosse. S. =Athanasius= writeth in his booke _De Humanitate verbi, eiusque corporali aduentu_. _Fol._67. In times past (saith he) the diuels by vaine shewes, and mockerie, ensnared men, abiding somtimes in wels, sometime in riuers, in stones, and woods, and so by craftie deceytes, brought vnwise men into sottishnesse. But nowe since Gods word hath appeared vnto vs, suche sightes and vaine fantasies haue surceased. Fol. 56. and 72. and in other places also he handleth the same matter. =Lactantius= writeth of the same in his fourth booke _Diuinarum Institutionum_ 26. Chapter, and also throughout the 27. Chapter. He saith that the diuel can haue no accesse vnto those, nor any wayes hurt them, which signe their foreheads with the Crosse. He addeth moreouer, that the Christians vsed this ceremonie in old time, in casting out diuels and healing diseases. [Sidenote: Whether the bare signe of the Crosse haue anie force.]