Charity or love can never1 in heaven, nor yet in earth, bring to pass, that the Saints should challenge that unto them selves, which is only due to Christ: that is to say, his priesthood and the office of a mediator to make intercession to God the father. Furthermore in the Saints all things are purged and perfected after they be departed out of this life and flesh, unto eternal felicity, and therefore Charity, which in this life rejoiceth not in the misery of the ungodly, is not in the ⟨p. 63⟩life to come troubled, nor sorroweth not for their damnation And because that God in heaven is all in all, and that the saints have given them selves all wholly over unto the will of God, so as his will is their chief felicity or joy (and therefore we pray, thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven) therefore no kind of charity moveth them to make intercession. For why, they perfectly know, that in Christ is the fullness of all, and that in him wanteth nothing belonging to intercession, but that he most perfectly doth all things with his father, and that therefore his only intercession is sufficient for the faithful: yea they see that the father loveth mankind, and would that all men which obtain grace, might be made partakers thereof by Christ. And therefore is it written, that the elders fall down before the throne of God, and give all glory & honour unto him, and that amongest other things they say unto the Lamb, Thou only art worthy to take the book, and open the seals thereof, for thou art slain, and ⟨image 74⟩haste redeemed us by thy blood. Apo. 5. Neither doth our charity cease towards the Apostles, although we pray not to God for them. For we believe that they are blessed, and have no need of our prayers. Wherefore in like sort, when they now in heaven see that nothing is wanting to the intercession of Christ, and that there needeth no mo intercessors, but him alone, doth not then their charity still remain, although they make no intercession for us?
CHaritie or loue can neuer1 in heauen, nor yet in earth, bring to passe, that the Saincts should chalēge that vnto them selues, which is onely due to Chryst: that is to say, his priesthoode and the office of a mediatour to make intercession to God the father. Furthermore in the Saincts all things are purged and perfected after they bée departed out of this lyfe and fleshe, vnto eternall felicitie, and therefore Charitie, which in this life reioyceth not in the miserie of the vngodly, is not in the ⟨p. 63⟩lyfe to come troubled, nor sorroweth not for their damnation And bycause that God in heauen is all in all, and that the saincts haue giuen them selues all wholly ouer vnto the will of God, so as his will is their chéefe felicitie or ioy (and therefore wée pray, thy wyll be done in earth as it is in heauen) therfore no kinde of charitie moueth them to make intercession. For why, they perfectly knowe, that in Chryst is the fulnesse of all, and that in him wanteth nothing belonging to intercession, but that he moste perfectly dothe all things with his father, and that therefore hys onely intercession is sufficiente for the faythfull: yea they see that the father loueth mankinde, and woulde that all men which obteine grace, mighte bée made partakers therof by Chryst. And therefore is it written, that the elders fall downe before the throne of God, and giue all glory & honour vnto him, and that amongest other thinges they say vnto the Lambe, Thou onely arte worthy to take the booke, and open the seales thereof, for thou arte slayne, and ⟨image 74⟩haste redeemed vs by thy bloud. Apo. 5. Neither dothe our charitie ceasse towardes the Apostles, althoughe wée pray not to God for them. For wée beléeue that they are blessed, and haue no néede of our prayers. Wherefore in lyke sorte, when they nowe in heauen see that nothing is wanting to the intercession of Chryste, and that there néedeth no mo intercessors, but him alone, dothe not then their charitie still remayne, althoughe they make no intercession for vs?
- 1Whether the Saints in heaven do pray fos us because they have charityWhether the Saincts in heauen do pray fos vs bicause they haue charitie
