But forasmuch as god dwelleth in a light inaccessible, and is a consuming fire, and hateth all impiety and uncleanness, and we be blind, stubble, grass, ⟨p. 98⟩hay and nothing but filthy, unclean and sinful: and because that therefore as we may not, so we dare not approach to his presence: it hath pleased this good god and father, of his love, to send a spokesman and mediator, an in tercessor and advocate between him and us, even Jesus Christ his dearly beloved son: By whom we might have free entrance with boldness, to come before his presence and Throne of mercy, to find and obtain grace and help in time of need. For this our mediator and advocate 1is with his father of the same substance, power, wisdom and majesty, and therefore may way well with him in all things: and with us he is of the same substance which we are of, even flesh and man, but pure and with ⟨p. 99⟩out sin, in all things being tempted like unto us, and having 2experience of our infirmities, that he might be merciful and faithful on our behalf, to purge us from our since, and 3to bring us into such favour with the father: that we might be not only dearly beloved through him, the only darling of the father, 4but also obtain whatsoever we shall ask according to his word and will, in the name of this same our mediator, saviour, intercessor and advocate. So y• easy it is to see, that as it is an obedient service to god the father, to call always upon him in all 5our need: so to come to his presence through Christ, is to the honour of CHRISTS mediation, intercession, and ⟨p. 100⟩aduocatship. And therefore, as it cannot be but against the almighty God and father, to ask or look for any thing else where, at the hands of any that be departed this life, as though he were not the giver of all good things, or as though he had not commanded us to come unto him: so we see, it is manifestly against Christ Jesus our lord, by any other saint, angel or archangel, to come and move any thing at our fathers hands: As though he were not our mediator, advocate and intercessor, or else not a sufficient advocate, mediator and intercessor, or at leest not so merciful, meek, gracious, loving and ready to help, as others.
But for asmuche as god dwelleth in a lighte inaccessible, and is a consumyng fyer, and hateth all impietie and vnclennes, and we bee blynde, stubble, grasse, ⟨p. 98⟩haie and nothyng but filthy, vncleane and synneful: and because that therfore as we maye not, so we dare not approche to his presence: it hath pleased thys good god and father, of his loue, to sēd a spokesman and mediator, an in tercessor and aduocate betwene hym and vs, euen Iesus Christe his dearely beeloued sonne: By whom we mighte haue free entraunce wyth boldnes, to come before hys presence and Throne of mercye, to fynde and obteyne grace and helpe in tyme of nede. For thys our mediator and aduocate 1is with his father of the same substaunce, power, wisdōe and maiestye, and therfore maie way wel wyth him in al things: and with vs he is of the same substaunce whyche we are of, euen flesh and mā, but pure and with ⟨p. 99⟩oute synne, in all thynges beyng tempted lyke vnto vs, and hauing 2experyence of our infirmytyes, that he myght be mercyfull and faythfull on our behalfe, to pourge vs from our synnes, and 3to bryng vs into such fauor with the father: that we might be not onely dearely beloued throughe him, the only dearlyng of the father, 4but also obtayne whatsoeuer we shal aske according to his worde and will, in the name of this same our mediator, sauiour, intercessour and aduocate. So y• easy it is to see, that as it is an obedyente seruice to god ye father, to call alwayes vpon hym in all 5our nede: so to come to hys presence throughe Chryste, is to the honoure of CHRISTES medyacyon, intercessyon, and ⟨p. 100⟩aduocatship. And therfore, as it cannot bee but agaynste the almightie God and father, to aske or loke for any thyng els where, at the handes of any that be departed this life, as thoughe he were not the geuer of all good thynges, or as though he hadde not commaunded vs to come vn to hym: so we see, it is manyfestli against Christ Iesus our lord, by any other saynte, aungell or archangel, to come and moue any thyng at our fathers handes: As though he were not our mediatour, aduocate and intercessoure, or els not a sufficiente aduocate, mediatour and intercessour, or at leest not so mercyfull, meke, gracyous, louing and readye to helpe, as others.
- 1Hebru. 2. 4
- 2Heb. 3. 4.
- 31. Pet. 2. Math. 3. 17.
- 4Math. 7. 1. John. 5. John. 14.Math. 7. 1. Iohn. 5. Iohn. 14.
- 5Psal. 50.
