And consequently it followeth that the prayers which be made to any1 other intercessor and advocate, then to the only Mediator between God and man, which is Jesus Christ, doth extreme dishonour to God, and ⟨p. 29⟩to all his Saints, for there is not written in all the holy Scripture any one word of such manner of doings, but contrariwise expressly commanded to desire all in the only name fof Jesus Christ our only perpetual advocate. gMoreover, if we have need to seek an intercessor which loveth us (as we have in deed) who shall we find that loveth us so well as he that gave his life for us, yea, even then when we were his enemies? hAnd if it be needful to have one that hath credit and power (as we have in deed) then who hath such power as he that sitteth, and reigneth on the right hand of God?. And who shall5 be sooner heard of God the Father then his own dearly beloved Son, in whom he most delighteth, and without whom nothing is kacceptable. It appeareth then that only diffidence and mistrust, hath brought in this custom, not to bonour but to dishonour the Saints, in doings that ⟨image 52⟩which they never did, nor willed other to do. And if they do allege our unworthiness▪ I answer, that for as much as our requests be not grounded of any worthiness that is in us, but only upon the excellency, and dignity of Jesus Christ, only the which is promised and communicated to us by faith, with all his benefits, so this objection is to no purpose. For as we can never sufficiently humble and esteem our selves unworthy in our own sight, so on the contrary, before we pray (except we will pray in vain) let us be assured that forasmuch as we be reconciled to God by his son, which is our only sufficient intercessor and advocate, we can not fail but to obtain those things which we desire by him, so that it be expedient for us▪ and without this confidence it is impossible to7 be heard. Touching this matter Saint Chrysostom saith (speaking of the woman of Cananee) • tell me woman ⟨p. 30⟩how darest thou be so bold to approach unto him? for as much as thou art a sinful Woman, and full of iniquity. I know saith she, what I do:
And consequentlye it followeth that the prayers whiche bée made to any1 other intercessour and aduocate, then to the onelye Medyatour betwéene God and man, whiche is Iesus Christe, doth extreame dishonour to God, and ⟨p. 29⟩to all his Saynctes, for there is not wrytten in all the holye Scripture any one woorde of suche manner of doinges, but contrarywise expressely commaunded to desyre all in the onelye name fof Iesus Chryste our onelye perpetuall aduocate. gMoreouer, if we haue néede to séeke an intercessour whiche loueth vs (as we haue in déede) who shal wée fynde that loueth vs so well as hée that gaue hys lyfe for vs, yea, euen then when wee were his ennemies? hAnd if it bée needefull to haue one that hath credyte and power (as wée haue in déede) then who hath suche power as hée that sytteth, and raigneth on the ryght hande of God?. And who shall5 be sooner hearde of God the Father then hys owne dearelye beloued Sonne, in whome hée moste delyghteth, and without whome nothynge is kacceptable. It appeareth then that onelye dyffedence and mystruste, hathe brought in this custome, not to bonour but to dishonour the Sayntes, in doinges that ⟨image 52⟩which they neuer dyd, nor wylled other to doo. And if they doo alleadge our vnworthynesse▪ I aunswere, that for as much as our requestes be not grounded of any worthynes that is in vs, but onelye vppon the excellencie, and dignity of Iesus Christe, onelye the which is promysed and communicated to vs by fayth, with all his benefytes, so this obiection is to no purpose. For as we can neuer sufficientlye humble and estéeme our felues vnworthy in our owne sight, so on the contrarye, before we praye (except wée wyll praye in vaine) let vs bée assured that for asmuch as we be recōcyled to God by his sonne, which is our onlye sufficient intercessour and aduocate, wee can not fayle but to obtayne those thynges whiche wee desyre by him, so that it bée expedyent for vs▪ and without this confydence it is impossyble to
- 1e Roma. 8. Math. 20.
- fJohn. 14.Iohn. 14.
- gCimo. 2. b
- hJohn. 15. bIohn. 15. b
- 5i Math. 26. d
- kEphe. 1. b.
- 7Homili. 12 de Cananitide.
