A Brief and Pithy Sum of the Christian Faith

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 to