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

Of the commandment which the faithful have to pray one for another, but not to address them selves to any dead saint.

Of the commaundemente vvhiche the faithfull haue to pray one for another, but not to addresse them selues to any dead sainte.

M. IF it be so as thou sayest, it shall not then be lawful to require that any man pray for us, not in deed among the living. For so much as we take as for advocates and mediators those same unto whom we give such charge to pray for us.

M. IF it be so as thou sayst, it shall not then be lawfull to require that any man pray for vs, not in déede among the liuing. For somuch as we take as for aduocates and mediators those same vnto whome we giue suche charge to pray for vs.

M. Have we no such commandment nor promise touching the prayers of dead saints?

M. Haue we no such commandement nor promise touching the praiers of dead saints?

P. Not at all in all the holy scriptures which are given unto us for a rule in all things which concern the service of God. Wherefore we may not address us to dead men or women saints to call upon them or to pray unto them, to the end they may be our intercessors, and that they may pray for us, as we may address us to the living, and require their prayers for us.

P. Not at all in all the holy scriptures which are giuen vnto vs for a rule in all thinges whiche concerne the seruice of God. Wherefore we may not addresse vs to dead men or women saints to call vppon them or to pray vnto them, to the end they may be our intercessors, and that they maye praye for vs, as we may addresse vs to the liuing, and require their prayers for vs.

What regard the faithful have the one for the others in their prayers.

VVhat regard the faithfull haue the one for the others in their prayers.

M. IT followeth then by thy saying, that if we may not have the dead Saints for our advocates and intercessors, yet may we have among the living, provided that they be faithful.

M. IT followeth then by thy saying, that if we maye not haue the deade Saintes for our aduocates and intercessors, yet maye wée haue among the lyuing, prouided that they be faithfull.

Pet. Albeit that God doth bind us by the charity which we owe the one to the others, to pray in this life the one for the others, it followeth not for all that, that we must ⟨p. 400⟩take for our mediators and advocates in the stead of Jesus Christ, or towards him, those same whose prayers we do require, and that do pray for us, as the superstitious and Idolaters, do take for their mediators and advocates the dead saints.

Pet. Albeit that God doth binde vs by the charitie which we owe the one to the others, to pray in this life the one for the others, it followeth not for all that, that we must ⟨p. 400⟩take for our mediators and aduocates in the stéede of Iesus Christe, or towardes him, those same whose prayers we do require, and that do pray for vs, as the superstitiouse and Idolaters, do take for their mediators and aduocates the deade saincts.

M. What difference is there then touching this point?

P. If there were non other difference, but that we have the expressed word of God for the one, and not for the other, it were sufficient: but there is yet this more, that when the superstitious and Idolatrous sort do take for their advocates the dead saints, they put them in the place of Jesus Christ, as though he alone were not sufficient, or else at the least they take them as mistrusting that they should not be hard, neither towards the father nor yet towards Jesus Christ, if they have none other mediators & advocates by whom they may have better access, as well to the father as to Jesus christ.

P. If there were non other difference, but that we haue the expressed worde of God for the one, and not for the other, it were sufficient: but there is yet this more, that when the superstitiouse and Idolatrous sorte do take for their aduocates the dead saincts, they put thē in the place of Iesus Christ, as thogh he alone were not sufficient, or else at the least they take them as mistrusting that they should not be hard, neyther towards the father nor yet towards Iesus Christ, if they haue none other mediators & aduocates by whome they may haue better accesse, as well to the father as to Iesus christ.

M. And they which desire the prayers of the living, do they not the like?

M. And they which desire the praiers of the liuing, do they not the like?

P. If they do it to that end, they commit great fault, for God doth not only command ⟨p. 403⟩us to pray one for another, to give us to understand, that he will not hear us at all, when we shall our selves call upon him in faith, if there be not also other faithful ones, which may pray unto him for us, be they more holy or more perfect than we, or no.

P. If they do it to that ende, they committe great faulte, for God doth not only commaund ⟨p. 403⟩vs to pray one for another, to giue vs to vnderstand, yt he will not heare vs at al, whē we shal our selues cal vpō him in faith, if there be not also other faythfull ones, which may pray vnto hym for vs, bée they more holy or more perfecte than wée, or no.

For what cause God hath commanded us to pray one for an other.

For vvhat cause God hath commaunded vs to pray one for an other.

M. IF then God do hear us when we our selves pray for us, whereunto do the prayers of others serve us?

M. IF then God doe heare vs when wée our selues pray for vs, whervnto do the prayers of others serue vs?

P. There be chiefly two points to consider in that.