Reason II. To pray unto Saints departed, to bow the knee unto them while they are in heaven, is to ascribe that unto them which is proper to God himself: namely, to know the heart, with the inward desires and motions thereof: and to know the speeches and behaviours of all men in all places upon earth at all times. The Papists answer, that Saints in heaven see and hear all things upon earth, not by themselves (for that were to make them Gods) but in God, and in the glass of the Trinity, in which they see mens prayers revealed unto them. I answer first, that the Saints are still made more than creatures; because they are said, to know the thoughts and all the doings of all men at all times, which no created power can well comprehend at once. Secondly I answer, that this glass, in which all things are said to be seen, is but a forgery of mans brain: and I prove it thus. The angels themselves, who see further into God then men can do, never knew all things in God: which I confirm on this manner. In the temple under the law, upon the ark were placed two Cherubins, signifying the good angels of god: & they looked downward upon the mercy seat covering the ark, which was a figure of Christ; & their looking downward figured their desire to see into the mystery of Christs incarnation and our redemption by him; as Peter alluding, no doubt, to this type in the old Testament saith, 1 Pet. 1.12. which things the angels desired to behold: and Paul saith, Eph. 3.10. The manifold wisdom of God is revealed by the Church unto principalities and powers in heavenly places, that is, to the angels: but how and by what means? by the Church; and that two ways, first by the Church, as by an example, in which the angels saw the endless wisdom and mercy of God in the calling of the Gentiles. Secondly by the Church, as it was founded and honoured by the preaching of the Apostles. For it seems that the Apostolical ministry in the new testament revealed things touching Christ, which the angels never knew, before that time. Thus Chrysostom upon occasion of this text of Paul saith,1 that the angels learned some things by the preaching of John Baptist. Again, Christ saith, that they know not the hour of the last judgement, Math. 24. 23. much less do the Saints know all things in God.
Reason II. To pray vnto Saints departed, to bowe the knee vnto them while they are in heauen, is to ascribe that vnto them which is proper to God himselfe: namely, to knowe the heart, with the inward desires and motions thereof: and to know the speeches and behauiours of all men in all places vpon earth at all times. The Papists answer, that Saints in heauen see and heare all things vpon earth, not by themselues (for that were to make them Gods) but in God, and in the glasse of the Trinitie, in which they see mens praiers reuealed vnto them. I answer first, that the Saints are still made more thē creatures; because they are said, to knowe the thoughts and all the doings of all mē at all times, which no created power can well comprehend at once. Secondly I answer, that this glasse, in which all things are said to be seene, is but a forgerie of mans braine: and I prooue it thus. The angels themselues, who see further into God then men can do, neuer knewe all things in God: which I confirme on this manner. In the temple vnder the lawe, vpon the arke were placed two Cherubins, signifying the good angels of god: & they looked downward vpon the mercieseat couering the arke, which was a figure of Christ; & their looking downward figured their desire to see into the mystery of Christs incarnation and our redemption by him; as Peter alluding, no doubt, to this type in the olde Testament saith, 1 Pet. 1.12. which things the angels desired to beholde: and Paul saith, Eph. 3.10. The manifold wisdome of God is reuealed by the Church vnto principalities and powers in heauenly places, that is, to the angels: but howe and by what meanes? by the Church; and that two waies, first by the Church, as by an example, in which the angels saw the endlesse wisdome and mercie of God in the calling of the Gentiles. Secondly by the Church, as it was founded and honoured by the preaching of the Apostles. For it seemes that the Apostolicall ministerie in the new testament reuealed things touching Christ, which the angels neuer knewe, before that time. Thus Chrysostome vpon occasion of this text of Paul saith,1 that the angels learned some things by the preaching of Iohn Baptist. Againe, Christ saith, that they know not the houre of the last iudgement, Math. 24. 23. much lesse doe the Saints knowe al things in God.
- 1Prologue. in Joh.Prolog. in Ioh.
