Master Bezaes sermons upon the three chapters of the canticle of canticlesMaster Bezaes sermons vpon the three chapters of the canticle of canticles

8 There remaineth the point of Intercession, which is as much to say, as Intervention, or a coming between, to put himself between God his father & them who call upon him in spirit and in trueth, which these goodly doctors do so expound, as if Jesus Christ were upon his knees, before his father, receiving our requests and supplications according unto the manner & fashion of the princes of this world, who have their Referendaries or masters of Request, contrarying herein themselves, who in their Litany say not unto Jesus Christ, Pray for us, as they crave of their saints departed this mortality, but have mercy upon us. And that upon great right. For Jesus christ having in the execution of his priesthood here below, prayed so earnestly and fervently for us, and for the whole Church unto the end of the world, as we see him to have done, especially, Joh. 17. and having been without doubt heard for ever (mediating the oblation once made afterward by him for the full abolishing of that which put a division between God and ⟨p. 427⟩us) hath no need any more to make new prayers for us, seeing he hath now all power of the father to govern us & to grant us all things we require: but it is said that he maketh still Intercession for us, because the virtue and force of his oblation is always present before God, as also because all the prayers of the Church which is yet here below are made in his name, in whom alone also they be received and sanctified by his mediation and Intervention between the father and us. Now in lieu of this Doctrine testified and verified throughout the Scripture, having made notwithstanding a Referendary and master of Requests, turning themselves suddenly clean backward, and considering of his majesty & glory, they teach that it were marvellous presumption to go directly unto so great a Lord of Lords, and King of Kings: and therefore say they, we must first speak unto others to have access unto him, as a man that will have access unto a King, will speak first with the Ushers of his presence, or with the groom of his chamber, or other his favourites. And who are they? Here now every man according unto his private devotion hath power to choose himself a particular patron, beside the general, amongest which they attribute the sovereign place unto the blessed virgin, & that by her motherly authority to command.

8 There remaineth the point of Intercession, which is asmuch to say, as Interuention, or a comming betweene, to put himselfe between God his father & them who cal vpon him in spirit and in trueth, which these goodly doctors doe so expound, as if Iesus Christ were vpon his knees, before his father, receiuing our requests and supplications according vnto the manner & fashion of the princes of this world, who haue their Referendaries or masters of Request, contrarying herein themselues, who in their Letany say not vnto Iesus Christ, Pray for vs, as they craue of their saintes departed this mortality, but haue mercy vpon vs. And that vpon great right. For Iesus christ hauing in the execution of his priesthoode here belowe, prayed so earnestly and feruently for vs, and for the whole Church vnto the end of the world, as wee see him to haue done, especially,