A Christian instruction, containing the law and the Gospel Also a summary of the…

How that our prayers cannot be agreeable unto god without a mediator, and by what mediator it behoveth us to present them.

Hovv that our prayers cannot be agreable vnto god vvithout a mediator, and by vvhat mediator it behoueth vs to present them.

P. In no wise.

M. Why shall it not be lawful for us then to take one among the Saints which reign with God?

M. Why shall it not be lawfull for vs then to take one amōg the Saincts whiche raigne with God?

P. Forasmuch as we cannot have access unto him without a mediator & advocate, it is not for us to chose him at our pleasure, but for him to give such an one as he himself hath chosen and appointed.

P. Forsomuche as we cannot haue accesse vnto him without a mediator & aduocate, it is not for vs to chose him at our pleasure, but for him to giue such an one as he himselfe hath chosen and appointed.

M. He may very well know better than we, what mediator and advocate we need, and which is most agreeable to him and most meet for us.

M. He may very well know better than we, what mediator and aduocate we néede, and whiche is most agreable to him and most méete for vs.

P. And therefore it is very reasonable that therein we be governed by him. Now thou hast already understood heretofore how he hath given us his own son to do that office, in whom only we must repose, if we will not fully deny god, and provoke him to anger against us in stead of appeasing him, and reject Jesus christ his son, the which he hath given us.

P. And therefore it is very reasonable yt therin we be gouerned by him. Now thou hast alredy vnderstood heretofore how he hath giuē vs his owne sonne to do that office, in whome only we must repose, if we wil not fully deny god, and prouoke him to anger against vs in stead of appeasing him, and reiecte Iesus christ his sōne, the which he hath giuē vs.

How that none other advocate nor mediator may be joined to Jesus christ, without greatly dishonouring of him.

Hovv that none other aduocate nor mediator may be ioyned to Iesus christ, vvithout greatly dishonoring of him.

M. But what inconvenient is it if that we take Jesus Christ for the principal mediator and advocate by whom we are made at one with the Father, and that then we take either man saint or woman saint, which reign already in Heaven with him concerning their souls and spirits, to be also our mediators and advocates with him, or else towards himself because of our unworthiness?

M. BVt what inconuenient is it if that we take Iesus Christ for the principall mediator and aduocate by whome we are made at one with the Father, and that then we take either mā saint or womā saint, which raigne alredy in Heauen with him concerning their soules and spirites, to be also our mediators and aduocates with him, or else towards himselfe bycause of our vnworthinesse?

Pet. The same cannot be done without taking from him the office which belongeth only to him.

Pet. The same cannot be done without taking frō him the office whiche belongeth onely to him.

M. Why so?

P. Forsomuch as either he is sufficient for the office which the father hath appointed him, or else he is not sufficient: if he be sufficient, then needeth it not to appoint him a fellow: if he be not sufficient, he is not then the true anointed of the Lord, and the office which is appointed unto him, belongeth not to him at all.

P. Forsomuch as either he is sufficient for the office which the father hath appointed him, or else he is not sufficient: if he be sufficient, then néedeth it not to appointe him a fellowe: if he be not sufficiente, he is not then the true annoynted of the Lord, and the office which is appointed vnto hym, belongeth not to him at all.

Mat. This were an horrible blasphemy, not only to speak such words, but to think them.

Mat. This were an horrible blasphemie, not onely to speake suche wordes, but to thinke them.

P. And therefore if we had none other reason but that that we have not in all the holy Scriptures neither commandment nor example, ⟨p. 398⟩which doth command and teach us, we ought to take any other mediator and advocate than Jesus Christ toward the father, but it is forbidden us expressedly to take any other: that same should suffice us, seeing that there is neither invocation nor prayer that can please god, if it be not made in faith. Now there can be no faith where there is no certain word of God, nor commandment, nor promise of the same to ground it upon.

P. And therfore if we had none other reason but that that we haue not in all the holy Scriptures neyther commaundement nor example, ⟨p. 398⟩which doth commaund and teache vs, we ought to take any other mediator and aduocate than Iesus Christ towarde the father, but it is forbidden vs expressedly to take any other: that same shoulde suffise vs, seing that there is neither inuocation nor prayer that can please god, if it be not made in faith. Now there can be no faithe where there is no certayne word of God, nor commaundemente, nor promise of the same to ground it vppon.