I Have yet 2. points, for the 11. & 12. the which I will touch in brief.1 The first is concerning the prayers which they make in the mass, wherein we find 2. faults. The first is concerning those which they make for the dead, §1the which we can not accept by mean of the reasons which I have already alleged, concerning the points which have not at all any certain foundation in the holy scriptures. From whence it followeth also, that faith may have no place in them, by mean of the reasons which I have already yielded. §2The other is touching the invocation of men & women saints, against that which we have also like reason. Whereunto I yet add the great dishonour & outrage which is done to God, & to Jesus Christ our Lord in such prayers, in that that they be not addressed to ⟨image 83⟩God only, by our only mediator & advocate Jesus Christ,2 & by his merit, but also to dead men, and by their intercessions & merits: the which by this mean are put in the place of Jesus Christ the son of God, which only is given to us for mediator and advocate towards the father, according to the express testimony of the scriptures: or at the least are substituted or joined unto him for companions. And by this mean Jesus Christ i• robbed if not in all, yet at the least of a great part of his office. Wherefore they may well allege that they do always say, Note. By Jesus Christ. For it is not enough that they take him for mediator & advocate, but they must also give this honour to him alone, without joining unto him any other fellows, or any other merit to his. And they may not here allege their distinction of advocates,3 & mediators, of reconciliation, & of intercession, attributing the first to Jesus Christ, & the second to men and women Saints which are dead. For by what testimonies of the Scriptures may they prove & maintain it?4 For the conclusion which they make from the living to the dead, is not good at all. For it followeth not at all, that if the living do pray and may pray the one for the other in this life, that they may in like sort pray for the dead, & the dead in like sort for them, be they men or women. Saints, or of what condition soever else they be. For we have commandment ⟨image 83⟩and promise for the first concerning the living, in a great number of passages,5 and such as are very plain in the holy scriptures: But we have not one, only for the other two. Note.
I Haue yet 2. points, for the 11. & 12. the which I wil touch in briefe.1 The first is concerning the praiers which they make in ye masse, wherein we finde 2. faults. The first is concerning those which they make for the dead, §1the which we can not accept by meane of ye reasons which I haue already alleaged, concerning the points which haue not at al any certaine foundation in ye holy scriptures. Frō whence it foloweth also, yt faith may haue no place in them, by meane of ye reasons which I haue already yelded. §2The other is touching ye inuocation of men & womē saints, against yt which we haue also like reasō. Wherunto I yet adde ye great dishonor & outrage which is done to God, & to Iesus Christ our Lorde in such praiers, in that that they be not addressed to ⟨image 83⟩God only, by our only mediator & aduocate Iesus Christ,2 & by his merit, but also to dead men, and by their intercessions & merits: the which by this meane are put in the place of Iesus Christ the sonne of God, which only is giuen to vs for mediator and aduocate towards ye father, according to the expresse testimonie of the scriptures: or at ye least are substituted or ioyned vnto him for companions. And by this meane Iesus Christ i• robbed if not in al, yet at the least of a great part of his office. Wherfore they may wel alleadge yt thei do alwaies say, Note. By Iesus Christ. For it is not enough that they take him for mediator & aduocate, but they must also giue this honor to him alone, without ioining vnto him any other felowes, or any other merit to his. And they may not here alleadge their distinction of aduocates,3 & mediators, of reconciliatiō, & of intercession, attributing the first to Iesus Christ, & the second to men and women Saints which are dead. For by what testimonies of ye Scriptures may they proue & mainteine it?4 For ye cō clusion which they make from the liuing to the dead, is not good at al. For it foloweth not at al, yt if the liuing do pray and may pray the one for the other in this life, that they may in like sort pray for the dead, & the dead in like sort for thē, be they men or womē. Saints, or of what condition soeuer els they be. For we haue commā dement ⟨image 83⟩
- 12 poi••
- 2[…] 3.8. ••n 2. […]. 9.10. ••hn. 2.〈…〉 3.8. ••n 2. 〈…〉. 9.10. ••hn. 2.
- 3distinction aduo•tes.•istinctiō aduo•tes.
- 4•emaund.
- 5Co•• deme•• promiseCo•• deme•• promi•
