The second office of Christ is to pray and to make intercession for his people. This office Johan writeth ⟨image 27⟩of in his first epistle, if any man sin we have an advocate with the father Jesus Christ that maketh intercession for us. And as Paule saythe. Christus qui mortuus est, imo qui & suscitatus, qui etiam est ad dexteram dei, qui & intercedit pro nobis, in his name and in the believe and confidence of his meritis we may obtain the mercies of god and life ever lasting as Paul say the▪ Accedamus cum fiducia ad tronum graciae, ut consequamur misericordiam & gratiam inueniamus ad oportunum auxilium, Ebre. 4. this intercession of Christ only sufficeth no man should seek any other mediator of intercession or expiation of sin as Paul saith declaring the sufficiency and ability of Christs death and intercession Christus manet in aeternum, perpetuum habens sacerdocium: Unde & saluos facere ad plenum potest qui per ipsum adeunt deū ⟨image 27⟩semper uivus ad hoc ut interpellet pro illis. Unto this intercession and prayer in Christs name he bound his church by express commandment. Petite & accipietis. Ask and it shall be given you. and in the same place he showeth the cause wherefore it shall be given. Quicquid petieritis patrem in nomine meo, dabit uobis, What so ever ye ask in the believe and confidence of my merits it shall be given unto you saint Paul, calleth Christ Sitting at the right hand of god the minister and servant of the saints to say of such as be here living in this troubled and persecuted church to solicit and do all there affairs as a faithful Ambassador with the father of heaven until the consummation of the world this doctrine of Christs intercession must be all ways diligently preached unto the people, and like wise that in all necessities calamities ⟨image 28⟩and trouble the afflicted person to sick none other means to offer his prayers unto God but Christ only according as the scripture teacheth, and as we have example of holy saints in the same. Not only in the new testament were as he commandeth us to pray in his name, and Stephen in his martyrdom, Acto. 7. commended his spirit unto this only mediator saying domine Jesus: Accipite Spirituū meum, But also in the old Testament thus prayed the patriarchs and Prophets Jacob, Gē. 48. benedicat pueris istis Deus & Angelus qui eripuit me de cunctis malis. & David Psal. 71.
THe second office of Christ is to pray and to make intercession for his people. This office Iohan wrytithe ⟨image 27⟩of in his fyrst epistole, if ony man synne we haue an aduocate withe the father Iesus Christ that makithe intercession for us. And as Paule saythe. Christus qui mortuus est, imo qui & suscitatus, qui etiam est ad dexteram dei, qui & intercedit pro nobis, in his name and in the belyue and cōfidens of his meritis we may optayne the mercis of god and liffe euer lasting as Paule say the▪ Accedamus cum fiducia ad tronum graciae, ut consequamur misericordiam & gratiam inueniamus ad oportunum auxilium, Ebre. 4. this intercession of Christ only sufficithe no man shuld secke ony other mediatour of intercession or expiacion of synne as Paule saythe declaring the sufficiency and abilite of Christes deathe and intercession Christus manet in aeternum, perpetuum habens sacerdocium: Vnde & saluos facere ad plenum potest qui per ipsum adeunt deū ⟨image 27⟩semper uiuus ad hoc ut interpellet pro illis. Vnto this intercessiō and prayer in Christes name he bound his churche by expresse commaundement. Petite & accipietis. Aske and yt shalbe yeuen youe. and in the same place he shewithe the cause wherfore it shalbe yeuen. Quicquid petieritis patrem in nomine meo, dabit uobis, What so euer ye aske in the belyue and confidence of my merites it shalbe yeuen unto youe sainct Paule, callith Christ Sytting at the right hand of god the minister and seruant of the saynctes to say of souche as be here lyuing in this troblyd and persecutyd churche to solicitat and do all there affars as a faythfull Embassadour with the father of heuen untill the consummacion of the worold this doctrine of Christes intercessiō must be all wayes diligently preachyd unto the people, and like wyce that in all necessites calamites ⟨image 28⟩and troble the afflictyd person to syke none other meanes to offre his prayers unto God but Christ only according as the scripture teachithe, and as we haue example of holy saynctes in the same. Not only in the new testamēt were as he cōmaudithe us to pray in his name, and Stephin in his martyrdom, Acto. 7. commendid his sprit unto this only mediatour sayng domine Iesu: Accipite Spirituū meum, But also in the ole Testament thus prayed the patriarks and Prophetis Iacob, Gē. 48. benedicat pueris istis Deus & Angelus qui eripuit me de cūctis malis. & Dauid Psal. 71.
