The Institution of Christian Religion

As touching the Saints, which being dead in the flesh do live in Christ, if we give any prayer at all to them, let us not dream that they themselves have any other way of asking, than Christ which only is the way or that their prayers be acceptable to God in any other name. Therefore sith the Scripture calleth us back from all to Christ only: sith the heavenly fathers will is to gather together all in him: it was a point of to much dullness, I will not say madness, so to ⟨p. 224⟩desire to make for our selves an entry by them, that we should be led a way from him without whom even they them selves have no entry open. But, that this hath been usually done in certain ages past, & that it is at this day done wheresoever Papistry reigneth, who can deny? Their merits are from time to time thrust in, to obtain the good will of God: & for the most part, Christ being passed over, God is prayed to by their names. Is not this, I beseech you to convey away to them the office of that only intercession, which we have affirmed to belong to Christ alone? Again, what Angel or Devil ever revealed to any man any one syllable of this their intercession which these men fame? For in the Scripture is nothing of it. What is the reason therefore of inventing it? Truly, when the wit of man so seeketh for it self succours, wherewith we are not certified by the word of God, it plainly betrayeth his own distrustfulness. If we appeal to all their consciences that are delighted with the intercession of saints, we shall find that the same cometh from no other ground, but because they are grieved with carefulness, as though Christ were in this behalf either to weak or to rigorous. By which doubtfulness first they dishonour Christ, and rob him of the title of only Mediator, which as it is given him of the Father for a singular prerogative, so ought not also to be conveyed away to any other. And in this very doing they darken the glory of his birth, they make void his cross, finally what soever he hath done or suffered they spoil and defraud of the due praise thereof: for all tend to this end that he may be in deed and be accounted the only Mediator. And therewith they caste away the goodness of God, which gave himself to be their Father. For he is not their father, unless they acknowledge Christ to be their brother.

As touchinge the Saintes, whiche being deade in the fleshe do liue in Christ, if we geue any praier at all to them, lette vs not dreame that they themselues haue any other waye of askynge, than Christe whyche onli is the way or that their praiers be acceptable to God in any other name. Therefore sithe the Scripture calleth vs backe from all to Christ only: sith the heauenly fathers wil is to gather together al in him: it was a point of to much dulnesse, I wyll not say madnesse, so to