Justification of the Religion Now Professed in England, Chapter 9
CHAP. IX. Of Prayers.
NOw it followeth to ſpeake of the Prayers of our Church in England: In all which theſe two moſt neceſſary and excellent poynts are moſt worthy to bee conſidered. Firſt, that all our prayers are made to God onelyonly; and Secondly that they are all made by the onelyonly mediation of Ieſus Chriſt. Of which two poynts the former is ſuch as our Sauiour Chriſt, and all the Prophets and Apoſtles beare witneſſe vntounto it.
For, Firſt, there is not in them all, any precept, promiſe, or example for Prayer to bee made to any other. Secondly, All the commandements, promiſes and examples concerning prayer, doe expreſly direct vsus to make our prayers vntounto God.
Pſal. 50.14.15.In the day of trouble (ſaith the Lord) Thou ſhalt call vponupon mee, and I will heare thee, and thou ſhalt glorifie mee: Math. 6.9. Luk. 11.2.9.12, 3. Math 7.11.When you pray (Saith our Sauiour) Pray yee thus. Our Father which art in heauen, &c. Likewiſe, Your heauenly Father will giuegive good things to theſe that aske him. The reaſon hereof is, becauſe as the Apoſtle teacheth,Iam. 1.17. EueryEvery good grace and perfect guift proceedeth from aboue, euen from the Father of lights.
Now this being the honor of God, hee endureth not that it ſhould be giuen to any other, according as it is ſayd, I will not giuegive my glory to Idols, Eſay, 42.8.nor my honor to any other. And in the ſecond Commandement hee calleth himſelfe a Iealous God,Exo. 20 5. and ſuch as communicate his honor with any other, hee calleth his enimies, and ſuch as hate him, and threatneth to puniſh their ſinne in themſelues, and in their third and fourth generations that ſhall come after them. So highly doth it diſpleaſe God, that Prayer ſhould bee made to any other, not onelyonly for the ſpace of few dayes, according to the edict of Darius, but for any part of the whole time of our life. For ſuch is the prohibition of God,Dan. 6.7.8 9.10. publiſhed in all the Scriptures, and the threatning of his diſpleaſure, and Indignation, which is more to bee feared without all compariſon then all the dennes of Lyons. Therefore it is playne, that whereas in England all our Prayers in diuine Seruice, are directed and made to God onelyonly, that our Religion herein is that which the Scriptures teach vsus, and nam…ly which the Apoſtles of Chriſt, and the Lord himſelfe hath taught and deliuered.
In like manner, whereas all our Prayers are made in the onelyonly mediation of Ieſus Chriſt, wee are thus taught to pray by the Scripture, euen by Chriſt himſelfe and his Apoſtles. For Chriſt ſaith, Whatſoeuer yee ſhall aske of the Father in my name, Iohn 14.13. Chap. 15.16. Chap. 16.23.24. 1 Iohn 2.1.2.will be giuen you. Likewiſe the Apoſtle Iohn teacheth vsus, that the aduocate wee hauehave with the Father is Ieſus Chriſt the righteous, who is alſo the propitiation for our ſins. Likewiſe the Apoſtle Paul teacheth, that this is a principall part of the honour of his Prieſthood, and that hee liueth now for euer (as hee was ordained a Prieſt for euer after the order of Melchiſedech) that hee might make interceſſion for vsus.Heb. 7.24, 25 Moreouer, hee is ſaid to hauehave entred into the holyeſt place of the Sanctuary,Heb. 10.12. that is, into heauen by his owne blood,Heb. 9:24.25. hauing obtained euerlaſting redemption for vsus, Whereby it is declared, that after that by the offering of himſelfe once, hee had redeemed his people, hee entred into heauen it ſelfe that hee may now appeare for vsus before the face of God. Which doctrine doth manifeſtly teach vsus, that to make interceſſion for vsus, to procure, vsus and our Prayers grace and fauour with God for euer, is the proper and peculiar honor of our Sauiour Chriſt, and without high treaſon againſt his dignity cannot bee communicated with any other. For there is one onelyonly high Prieſt of the New Teſtament, which is Ieſus Chriſt; and therefore there can bee no other, neither can that office bee made common to him with any other, without high derogation to his Prieſthood. Beſide, that onelyonly high Prieſt of the New Teſtament, is made Prieſt of the order of Melchiſedech, of whoſe order none can bee, but hee that is without Father and Mother and genealogie, and therefore no other man whatſoeuer but hee that is alſo God. Againe, he that is a Prieſt of the order of Melchiſedeck, muſt hauehave beene made Prieſt by the oath of God; but this agreeth onelyonly to Chriſt, as it is ſaid,Heb. 7.21. I hauehave ſworne and will not repent, that thou art a Prieſt for euer, after the order of Melchiſedeck
Further, whoſoeuer is a Prieſt of that order, muſt bee alſo King of the Church,Heb. 7.21. as Melcheſedeck was a Prieſt, and alſo King of Salem, and as his name imported, a King of righteouſneſſe. But this honor cannot without high treaſon againſt the royall dignity of Chriſt bee communicated with any creature whatſoeuer.
Moreouer, ſeeing there are two parts and duties belonging to this Prieſthood, and that the one which is to bee the aduocate that maketh ſuite and interceſſion for the Church, and the other to offer himſelfe to make propitiation for our ſinnes; and that none can bee our aduocate, but hee that maketh propitiation for vsus, it is playne, that wee can hauehave no other aduocate but the ſame that dyed for vsus. And that this is ſo, may bee proued many wayes. The Apoſtle Iohn ſaith,1 Iohn 2.1.2. Wee hauehave an aduocate with the Father, which is Ieſus Chriſt the righteous, who is the propitiation for our ſinnes. By which words, it appeareth to appertaine to one and the ſame perſon to bee the aduocate, and to make propitiation and ſatisfaction for our ſinnes. But there is no creature that can make ſatisfaction for our ſinnes, this being of all parts confeſſed to belong onelyonly to Chriſt Ieſus. Therefore alſo to bee aduocate and interceſſor, for the Church cannot belong to any creature, either man or Angell, but is proper to Ieſus Chriſt. And if any ſhould deny it to bee proper to the perſon of Chriſt, to make propitiation for our ſinnes, it may bee proued by this that the Apoſtle Paul ſaith,Act. 20.28. That God redeemed the Church by his blood; ſo calling it the blood of God, wherewith the Church is redeemed, becauſe in the ſame perſon of Ieſus Chriſt, are both the nature of man, whoſe blood was ſhed; and the nature of God, which made it of ineſtimable prize and value, to bee effectuall to redeeme the Church. But the blood of no other Perſon can bee called the blood of God, therefore no other perſon can make ſatisfaction for ſinne and reconcile vsus vntounto God.
Now touching the interceſſion of Chriſt, it is to be conſidered, that it is by the ſame his owne blood, that he entred into heauen (as the High-Prieſt entred into the holyeſt place of the Sanctuary with ſtrange blood) there to appeare alwayes in the preſence of God as our aduocate, and to make interceſſion for vsus. Which being the blood of God (as hath bene declared) whereby he entered into heauen, and that becauſe hee is as it were ſprinkled with that moſt precious blood of ineſtimable value, hee is worthy to obtaine fauour for all his redeemed, and hearing for all their Prayers; It is plaine heereby, that no other Perſon whatſoeuer can bee our interceſſor, becauſe they are not entered by that blood into heauen, nor cannot preſent themſelues ſprinkled with it before the preſence of God, thereby to obtaine fauour with him for vsus and our Prayers. Finally, that Ieſus Chriſt and no other perſon can bee our interceſſor with God, is proued by this; that it behooueth him that ſhould preſent our Prayers, to know all the prayers of the Church: But this none other but God knoweth, for this is a part of the high ſtile proper to God, That he knoweth the heart. Therefore no other perſon but Ieſus Chriſt can bee interceſſor,Pſal. 44.21. 2 Chro. 6.30. Act. 1.24. Act. 15.8. Rom. 8.15. Gal. 4.6, Rom. 8.26. and to whom elſe can it agree but to him whoſe Spirit teacheth vsus to call Abba Father, and who onelyonly vnderſtandeth the meaning of the ſpirit, that teacheth vsus to pray with vnſpeakable gronings, as being his owne Spirit that ſtireth vp thoſe ſighes in the faithfull? By all which reaſons it is proued, that no perſon amongſt all creatures can bee our interceſſor, to offer our prayers to God, and by whom wee are to offer them; but on the contrary, that it is onelyonly by the perſon of Ieſus Chriſt.
Thus both theſe poynts in the prayers of our Church in England are ſhewed to bee grounded in the Doctrine of Chriſt, and of his Apoſtles.
Now it followeth, to ſhew that contrary to this Doctrine of Chriſt and of his Apoſtles, the Church of Rome maketh prayers to other then to God onelyonly, and by other Mediators and interceſſors, then by the onelyonly Mediator and interceſſor Ieſus Chriſt the righteous, who is the propitiation for our ſinnes; which is firſt to bee ſhewed.
Now if the liturgie vſed in the Church of Rome bee compared with the diuine Seruice in England in theſe two principall poynts concerning Prayer, it will bee cleare to all that hauehave eyes to ſee, that as our practiſe in them is directly that which was taught by our Sauiour Chriſt and his Apoſtles, ſo that which is vſed in the Church of Rome, is directly contrary to Chriſts moſt holy doctrine, and that was deliuered by the Prophets and Apoſtles. For touching the former poynt which is that all prayers, petitions, requeſts, ſupplications, and thankſgiuings, are to bee made and yelded to God onelyonly: In the Liturgie of the Church of Rome, there are many prayers, petitions, and thankſgiuings, that are made and yeelded vntounto Creatures, and euen vntounto the Images and repreſentations of them. They are made protectors and patrons to bee prayed vntounto, for helpe by ſeuerall Countryes, Cittyes, Kindreds, States, orders, profeſſions, artificers, houſes, perſons.
Their helpe is prayed for ſeuerally according to diuers ſtates of men, Knights, men of ſtudy, Phyſitians, Lawyers, artificers, as Painters, Shoomakers, Smithes, Potters. Likewiſe according to ſundry occaſions of the liuing Creatures they poſſeſſe diuerſly, as for Geeſe, Sheepe, Horſes, Oxen. They pray alſo to ſundry Patrons, to bee deliuered from ſtormes, and tempeſts, from Earthquakes, Fyres and blaſtings. And in caſe of diuers ſickeneſſes they pray to ſundry helpers againſt the Peſtilence, Feuer, Toothach, Gout, Falling ſickneſſe and ſuch like.
In their Letany and Maſſes they pray to Angels, to the Mother of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, to the Apoſtles, to Martyrs, to diuers confeſſors, Biſhops Doctors of the Church, and to Saints of the Popes Cannonizing and ſaynting. In their prayers to them they pray them to ſaue their ſinfull ſoules, to deſtroy their enemies, to heale them of their diſeaſes, to deliuer them from all aduerſities, and all impediments of Soule and body, at the howre of death to receiue their ſoules, and to bring them to euerlaſting life. An infinite number almoſt of examples of ſuch prayers might be rehearſed, which they make vntounto Creatures. And to them likewiſe they offer their thankſgiuing, vowes incenſe, guifts and oblations, yea they ſay the Lords Prayer beginning Our Father &c. Before eueryevery picture and Image of them in their Churches or houſes, ſo fulfilling that which was ſayd to the old Idolaters, that they ſay to the block, and to the ſtone, thou haſt begotten me.Eſay 44.17: Hab. 2.19. But to the bleſſed Mother of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, they doe more wrong in this kinde then to any of the ſoules of the faithfull that are departed out of this life, for they magnifie her with the names of our Lady, the Queene of Heauen, the Lady of the Angels, the mother of mercy, the hope of the Church, our life, our ſweetneſſe, our hope; ſome of them ſay, that God hath giuen her, the one halfe of his Kingdome, that is, of mercy, and hath reſerued to himſelfe the other which is of iudgment: they ſay alſo vntounto her, By right of a mother, commaund thy ſonne: they abuſe the Salutation of the Angell, beginning in latine with Aue Maria; as a prayer vntounto her, or to doe her honor with the rehearſing of it, and ordaine that it bee ſayd at a knell of the bell. They vſe Roſaryes in her honor, that is, ſaying Aues vponupon their beades, & for eueryevery ten of them, one Pater noſter, that is in all 55 to a Roſary. Of three ſuch Roſaryes they made a Pſalter for her, wherein ſhold be 150 Aues according to the number of the pſalmes.
There hath alſo beene made a ſpeciall Letany to her, and a Pſalter wherein throwout all the Pſalmes, the name Lord is turned into Lady, and whatſoeuer is ſpoken to God in all the Pſalmes, is attributed vntounto her. But it were endleſſe to rehearſe all the meanes whereby God is robbed of this high p…rt of his glory, of Prayers and prayſes, by ſuch as are of the Church of Rome, and namely by their pſalters, canonicall howres, Letanies, Collects, antiphonyes, miſſals, and ſuch like parts of their Liturgie, and diuine Seruice.
This may ſuffice to ſhew how that which was intended, that whereas in our diuine Seruice in England, wee offer prayers and thankes vntounto God onelyonly according to the Doctrine of Chriſt and his Apoſtles, they offer them to Creatures, paſſing by the Creator bleſſed for euer, Amen. Wherein contrary to the Doctrine of Chriſt, they hauehave not onelyonly according to the number of their Citties multiplyed their Gods, as it is ſayd, According to the number of thy Cittyes are thy Gods O Iudah; but of townes, ſtreets, Churches, Chappels, houſes, perſons, diſeaſes, and other occaſions, euen to praying to dumbe ſtockes and ſtones, to the aſtoniſhment of heauen and earth, as it is in the Prophet Ieremy: O yee Heauens, Iere. 2.12.13.bee aſtoniſhed at this, bee affrayd and vtterly confounded ſaith the Lord; for my people hauehave committed two euils, they hauehave forſaken mee, the fountaine of liuing waters, to dig them pits, that can hold no water.
The other poynt is like vntounto this. For whereas in our Engliſh Church, as Chriſt and his Apoſtles hauehave taught vsus, we hauehave but one God to whom wee pray, and but one Mediator and interceſſor by whom and in whoſe name and merits wee preſen… our Prayers to God: So on the contrary part, the Church of Rome directly contrary to the doctrine of Chriſt, and of all the Scriptures, prayeth to men and Angels, as hath beene declared; ſo doth it likewiſe offer vp Prayers to God, by the interceſſion of Angels and of men.
This appeareth in like manner in their Letanies, Miſſalls, Anthemes, Collects and ſundry parts of their Liturgie. For in them they deſire all the Angels and Arch-Angels to pray for them, and by name Gabriel, Michaell, Raphaell. They deſire the mediation of all the Apoſtles in generall, and of eueryevery one in particular. This petition they make alſo to all the Martyres in common, and to diuers by their proper Names; to the Doctors of the Church, to Confeſſors, to ſundry Popes, Biſhops, Abbots, and other Canonized Saints, both men, and women, that they would pray for them to God, that by their interceſſion, yea and alſo by their merrits, they may bee freed from their ſinnes, and the puniſhment due for the ſame, and may obtaine all grace to euerlaſting life. In ſo many ſundry ſorts doe they diſhonor the Sonne of God, and rob him of that high glory and preheminence of his Prieſthood, which ſtandeth in making interceſſion for his people, in communicating it with ſo many others, to whom it cannot in any ſort belong. For it is hee alone that was made the High-Prieſt of the new Teſtament, and that with an oath, and the ſame for euer, for which cauſe alſo his Prieſthood is ſayd to bee foreign, ſuch as paſſeth not from his owne perſon to any other. Hee obtained this honor to enter into heauen,Heb. 7.16.17.20.21. Heb, 7.23.24 to make prayer and interceſſion for vsus by the ſhedding of his moſt pretious blood, by the mer…it whereof hee preſenteth himſelfe continually in the preſence of God, to obtaine all grace needfull for his Church;Heb 9.7.12. Ver. 12.14 which honor hauing beene obtained by blood, it cannot agree to Angels which are only ſpirits, & neither hauehave fleſh nor blood. This blood whereby hee obtained this honor,1, Pet 1.19. Iohn, 1.29.36. Heb, 9.14. is the blood of the Lambe immaculate & vndefiled, without ſpot or blemiſh, that is, of one perfectly innocent and righteous in the ſight of God, But ſuch is not the ſtate of any man whatſoeuer.Eſay. 53.6. Pſal. 14.3.2. Wee hauehave all erred and gone aſtray ſaith the Prophet Eſay: And the Propher Dauid likewiſe, Enter not into Iudgement with thy Seruant (O Lord) for no fleſh ſhall bee iuſtified in thy ſight; Pſal. 14.1.3. Rom. 3.10.And againe, There is none that doth good, no not one: Which is alſo the teſtimony of all the Prophets and Apoſtles: wherefore all men are ſubiect to death by reaſon of ſinne, and are not able to procure fauour for themſelues, how then ſhould they bee mediators and interceſſors to procure fauour for others, who themſelues ſtand in neede to bee ſaued by the interceſſion and merrits of Ieſus Chriſt?
But if there were any of them righteous, yet the ſhedding of their blood could no more procure fauour for vsus with God then the ſhedding of the water in the ſtreetes. For it is by the blood of God (as ſaith the Apoſtle) whereby the Church is bought and purchaſed,A … 20.26. by which blood as hee made propitiation for our ſinnes, ſo it is by the ſame blood, (being of ineſtimable value becauſe of the infinite dignitie of his perſon) by which hee is entered into the preſence of God, to make interceſſion for vsus.
It is therefore of no vſe that is ſaid, that hee is the onelyonly mediator of propitiation but not of interceſſion. For as it hath bene ſhewed by theſe reaſons, hee hath as good right to bee honored with this glory, to bee the onelyonly interceſſor for his Church, as hee hath to bee the onelyonly giuer of all ſatisfaction for our ſinnes. Finally it behooueth that our interceſſor bee God, that hee may know the neceſſities of this people, and vnderſtand their groanes which cannot bee vttered; but this agreeth not to any creature onelyonly, much leſſe to men. Thus then it appeareth in how high degree the Liturgie of the Church of Rome is contrary to the Doctrine of Chriſt and his Apoſtles and derogatory to the honor of God, and of his onelyonly Sonne, in that prayers are made to any other then to God onelyonly, and that reſting vponupon the Prayers and interceſſion of many others and not onelyonly of Ieſus Chriſt.
Contrarywiſe hereby it may appeare, that our Religion and diuine Seruice in England, in theſe two laſt and excellent poynts concerning Prayer, is according to the Doctrine of Chriſt and of his Apoſtles, that wee pray to God onelyonly, and that by the onelyonly mediation of Ieſus Chriſt the righteous, who is alſo the propitiation for our ſinnes.
Thus it hath beene ſhewed, both in the word whereunto the Sacraments are annexed, and alſo in prayer, in which two parts principally conſiſteth the whole ſeruice of God; that our Religion profeſſed in England, is the ſame which was taught by Ieſus Chriſt and by his Apoſtles, which was deſired to be proued; and further that the Liturgie of the Church of Rome, in all the poynts heere debated, is directly contrary to the Apoſtolicall Doctrine, and that which was deliuered by the Lord Ieſus himſelfe.
Which being ſo performed, heere might bee an end …f this Treatiſe, but that it is further deſired to bee ſhewed, if any of the Martyres hauehave giuen teſtimony to that Religion which in England is profeſſed: For ſatisfaction wherein, here is added that which followeth.