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

And what is this to the invocation and praying unto of Saints, the spirits of whom are in heaven in their rest not able to be conceived of us, & their bodies are in the dust waiting together with us for the latter day? Therefore when such as are yet living demand & crave the mutual prayers of their brethren, this is not to make them Intercessors, or to adjoin them for companions unto Jesus Christ, or as subordinate mediators between Jesus Christ and us, to rank them and cause them to march in procession as they do in their Litanies. But this is to join our selves and them together, to address and direct our selves to one and the self same God and father in the name of this sole and only mediator aswell of Intercession as also of Redemption, which are two points altogether unseparable, as saint John witnesseth calling Jesus ⟨p. 429⟩Christ our Advocate in the same sense that he called him our propitiation meaning to exclude all other Advocates and all other propitiators towards God. 1. John. 2.1.2. being none besides him in whom our prayers, or other works whatsoever are acceptable. Hereupon they reply again that so they also adde, Per Christum Dominum nostrum, that is to say, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Yea but this is after they have joined with him subordinate companions, both in the merits of these and those, as also in pardons and whatsoever else cometh into their thought (which is nothing else but to derogate as much from the mediation of Redemption) and besides in the Intercession of others towards him: yea with their motherly authority, falsely attributed unto her, who never thought upon any such usurpation. In a word therefore this is nothing else but to do as they did who in Pilates house called Jesus Christ by the name of Prophet and king: but it was when they buffeted and scourged him, Joh. 19.1.2.

And what is this to the inuocation and praying vnto of Saintes, the spirites of whom are in heauen in their rest not able to bee conceiued of vs, & their bodies are in the dust waiting together with vs for the latter day? Therfore whē such as are yet liuing demaūd & craue the mutual praiers of their brethren, this is not to make them Intercessors, or to adioine them for companions vnto Iesus Christ, or as subordinate mediatours between Iesus Christ and vs, to ranke them and cause them to marche in procession as they doe in their Letanies. But this is to ioine our selues and them together, to addresse and direct our selues to one and the selfe same God and father in the name of this sole and onely mediator aswell of Intercession as also of Redemption, which are two pointes altogether vnseparable, as saint Iohn witnesseth calling Iesus