A Golden Chain

The third point is, that Christ alone and none with him makes intercession for us. And this I prove by induction of particulars. First of all this office appertains not to the angels: They are indeed ministering spirits for the good of Gods chosen: they rejoice when a sinner is converted; and when he dieth, they are ready to carry his soul into Abraham's bosom: and God otherwhiles useth them as messengers to reveal his will:¹ thus the Angel Gabriel brings a message to Zechariah the priest, that God had heard his prayer: but it is not once said in all the scriptures, that they make intercession to God for us. As for the Saints departed, they can not make intercession for us, because they know not our particular estates here on earth, neither can they hear our requests. And therefore if we should pray to them to pray for us, we should substitute them into the room of God, because we ascribe that to them which is proper to him, namely, the searching of the heart, and the knowledge of all things done upon earth; though withal we should say, that they do this not by themselves but of God. As for the faithful here on earth indeed they have warrant yea commandment to pray one for another: yet can they not make intercession for us. For first, he that makes intercession must bring something ⟨p. 411⟩of his own that may be of value and price with God to procure the grant of his request: secondly, he must do it in his own name: but the faithful on earth make request to God one for another not in their own names, nor for their own merits, but in the name and for the merits of Christ. It is a prerogative belonging to Christ alone to make a request in his own name, and for his own merits, we therefore conclude that the work of intercession is the sole work of Christ God and man not belonging to any creature beside in heaven or in earth. And whereas the Papists can not content themselves with his intercession alone, as being most sufficient: it argues plainly, that they doubt either of his power or of his will: whereupon their prayers turn to sin.²

The third point is, that Christ alone and none with him makes intercession for vs. And this I prooue by induction of particulars. First of al this office appertaines not to the angels: They are indeede ministring spirits for the good of Gods chosen: they reioice when a sinner is conuerted; and when he dieth, they are readie to carrie his soule into Abrahams bosome: and God otherwhiles vseth them as messengers to reueale his will: