What greater blasphemy to Christ could they have uttered? It is clear that saint Paul saith there is but one God, and one Mediator between; God ⟨image 56⟩and men, the Man Christ Jesus, 1. Tim. 2.5. But the Papists be not content with him, but will have many Mediators. Saint Paul saith moreover, that by him we have b•ldnes and access unto God, Eph. 3.12. And therefore what foolish fear is it of the Papists to appoint to themselves other Mediators? Sith therefore the Church of Rome doth not repute the once Oblation of Jesus Christ, and his Intercession to be perfect, but accuse them of imperfection (as appeareth by their doctrines) it cannot possibly be the true Church. Christ himself biddeth to ask in no other name than in his, and promiseth that whatsoever shall be asked in his name, it shall be done, Joh. 14.13.14. Chrysostom, 1speaking of the woman of Canaan, who though she were a sinner was hold to come unto Christ, saith thus, En prudentiam huius mulieris non precatur Jacobum non supplicat Johanem, non adit ad Petrum, nec Apostolorum caesum respicit, aut ullum eorum requirit, sed pro his omnibus penitentiam sibi comitem adiungit & ad ipsum fontem progreditur. Behold the wisdom of this woman. She doth not pray James, she doth not beseech John, she goeth not to Peter, she looketh not to the company of the Apostles, neither doth request any of them, but for all this she taketh repentance for her companion, 2and goeth to the very fountain it self. And again he saith, that to have access unto God, Nihil opus est atriensi seruo vel intercessore, sed dic miserere mei Deus, is enim te audit quocunque sis loco & undecunque innocetur. VV have no need of any Courtly attendant or intercessor, but say, have mercy upon me O God, for he heareth thee in what place so ever thou art, and from what place soever thou callest upon him. Ambrose likewise ⟨image 57⟩answereth the carnal reason of the Papists,3 solent (saith he) misera uti excusatione dicentes, per istos posse ire ad Deum sicut per comites itur ad reges, ideo ad regum per tribunos & comites itur quia homo utique est rex: ad deum autem, quem utique nihil latet, suffragatore non est opus sed mente devota. Ubicunque enim lelis locutus fuerit & respondebit illi. That is, They are wont to use a pitiful excuse saying, by these (Saints.)
What greater blasphemy to Christ coulde they haue vttered? It is cleare that saint Paul saith there is but one God, and one Mediatour betwéene; God ⟨image 56⟩and men, the Man Christ Jesus, 1. Tim. 2.5. But the Papists bée not content with him, but will haue many Mediatours. Saint Paul saith moreouer, that by him wée haue b•ldnes and accesse vnto God, Eph. 3.12. And therefore what foolish feare is it of the Papists to appoint to themselues other Mediatours? Sith therefore the Church of Rome doth not repute the once Oblation of Jesus Christ, and his Intercession to bee perfect, but accuse them of imperfection (as appeareth by their doctrines) it cannot possibly be the true Church. Christ himselfe biddeth to aske in no other name than in his, and promiseth that whatsoeuer shall bée asked in his name, it shall bée done, Ioh. 14.13.14. Chrysostome, 1speaking of the woman of Canaan, who though shée were a sinner was hold to come vnto Christ, saith thus, En prudentiam huius mulieris non precatur Iacobum non supplicat Iohanem, non adit ad Petrum, nec Apostolorum caesum respicit, aut vllum eorum requirit, sed pro his omnibus penitentiam sibi comitem adiungit & ad ipsum fontem progreditur. Behold the wisedome of this woman. She doth not pray Iames, shee doth not beseech Iohn, shee goeth not to Peter, shee looketh not to the companie of the Apostles, neither doth request any of them, but for all this shee taketh repentance for hir companion, 2and goeth to the verie fountaine it selfe. And againe he saith, that to haue accesse vnto God, Nihil opus est atriensi seruo vel intercessore, sed dic miserere mei Deus, is enim te audit quocunque sis loco & vndecunque innocetur. VV haue no need of any Courtly attendant or intercessor, but say, haue mercie vpon me O God, for hee heareth thee in what place so euer thou art, and from what place soeuer thou callest vpon him. Ambrose likewise ⟨image 57⟩answeareth the carnall reason of the Papists,3 solent (saith he) misera vti excusatione dicentes, per istos posse ire ad Deum sicut per comites itur ad reges, ideo ad regum per tribunos & comites itur quia homo vtique est rex: ad deum autem, quem vtique nihil latet, suffragatore non est opus sed mente deuota. Ʋbicunque enim lelis locutus fuerit & respondebit illi. That is, They are wont to vse a pityfull excuse saying, by these (Saints.)
- 1Chrisose. homil. 12. de Cana• neae.
- 2Jadem • mil.Iadem • mil.
- 3Ambro. in Rom, 1.
