A17219:184
Questions of religion cast abroad in Helvetia by the adversaries of the sameQuestions of religion cast abroad in Helvetia by the aduersaries of the same
Questions of religion cast abroad in Helvetia by the adversaries of the same: and answered by M. H. Bullinger of Zurick: reduced into .17. common places. Translated into English by John Cox. 1572Questions of religion cast abroad in Helvetia by the aduersaries of the same: and aunswered by M. H. Bullinger of Zurick: reduced into .17. common places. Translated into Englishe by Iohn Coxe. 1572
London: printed by Henry Bynneman for George Byshop, 1572London: printed by Henrie Bynneman for George Byshop, 1572
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
The Answer.
The Answere.
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?