Questions of Religion, Commonplaces · Commonplace 6
The sixth Common place. Of Intercession, Inuocation, and woorshippyng of Sainctes, which now liue in heauen.
The. xxv. Question.
Whether they doe not beleeue that Christe and his members, that is to say, the Angelles and Sainctes which liue in heauen, doe pray vntounto God for the vniuersal church of Christ?
The Answere.
IT is bothe faithfully &Christ is the onelyonly intercessor with the father. manifestly taughte in ye gospell, & the wrytings of the Apostles, that Christ doth pray for his vniuersall churche, and for all faithfull, and is their only intercessor, aduocate, and mediator to God his heauenly father. For Christe himselfe in the Gospell, saythe: Verely, verely, I say vntounto you, vvhat so euer you shall aske of my father in my name, he vvill giuegive it you? Hitherto you hauehave not asked any thing in my name, novve aske and you shall receiue it. And again. Come vntounto me all you that doe laboure and are heauy loden, and I vvill refreshe you.
These woordes therfore of Christe, doe all the faithfull in the vniuersall church beléeue, & acknowledge Christe to be their onelyonly intercessor to God theHeb. 9. Rom. 8. Heb. 7. father, & therefore come they vntounto him onelyonly. For they stedfastly beléeue that he is the Christe, that is to say, the annoynted and ordained King and Priest at the righte hande of God, who hathe deliuered vsus, and hath ascended into the heauens, euen vntounto the righte hande o… God, that he mighte alwayes appear… before his heauenly father for vsus, lik… as Paule saythe, that Christe is entre… into the heau…s, that he might appear… in the s…ght of God, and make intercession, and pray for vsus.
But bicause Intercession or Prayer, is reckened amongste the chéefest partes of the office of a Prieste or Bi▪shop, and that there is but one Priest hoode, yea, and that so vnited, that it cannot be translated, giuen, or imparted t… any other, whereby it is called eternal and immutable: therefore, the faithful séeke not any other Bishop, aduocate, or intercessor besides Christ, no not vntounto the Angels, or sainctes liuing in heauen. But content them selues wt Christ alone, and vse him their onelyonly aduocate and intercessoure to God, as he which is best accepted with his father, and can moste faithfully, readily, excellently, effectually and wisely do this office. For the Angels and Sainctes can in no wise be compared to Christe. Furthermore, he bothe can, and will performe those things which we craue, knoweth our want, and calleth vsus vntounto himself, neyther can we héereby wearie him: and knoweth what is profitable for vsus, and howe all things may be done most commodiously for vsus. And all these did he confirme while hée lyued héere in this worlde, bothe with his woords and déedes. For he readily gaue care to all menne, yea, he knewe their necessities better than they could expresse them by their wordes, was neuer wearyed, but healed all diseases, holpe all menne, hadde euer inoughe for them, and althoughe he cured many, and gaue maruellous giftes, yet had he still asmuche grace, helpe & other giftes as he had before. Yea, and when his disciples wold oftentimes hauehave put men off, he tooke it not in good parte, but how muche the more they thronged vntounto him, and craued many things of him, so muche the more declared he his power, oftētimes exhorting them that they should continually come vntounto him. &c. Wherby the faithfull receiue this comforte, that euen this oure Lord Jesus Christe, being nowe at the righte hande of God i… heauen, is no lesse gentle, willing, ready, and able to helpe all those which… put their trust in him. And therefore i… all their néedes they contente them selues with the intercession and med… ation of Christe. And that chéefely sith… 1. Tim. 2.Paule sayth, in the first Epistle to T… mothe, and the seconde Chapter. The… is one God and one mediator between God and manne, euen the manne Iesu Christe vvhichwhich gaue him selfe for th… 1. Iohn. 2.redemption of all menne. And S. Jho… saith: If any man sinne, vve hauehave an ad… uocate with God the father, Iesus Chri… the righteouse, and he is the propitiation for our sinnes, and not for ours onelyonly, but for the sinnes of the whole worlde. Touching the intercession ofThe Scriptures maketh no mention of the intercession of Sainctes or Aungels. our Lorde Jesus Chryste in heauen, we hauehave the manyfest and inuincible testimonies of the holy Scriptures, but as touching the intercession of Angels and Saincts, which are in heauen, we hauehave no testimonie thereof, and therefore the godly care not for it. Yea, those whiche beléeue the worde of God, in which we hauehave taught vsus but one onelyonly intercessor Chryste in heauen, they …éeke for none other intercessor there, …ycause they hauehave the same full and …erfectly in Chryste. But they whiche …oo not beléeue nor acknowledge Christ …or their onelyonly and perfecte intercessor …nd aduocate, those Infidels shall ne…er be holpen with any prayers of An…els or Sainctes, althoughe they dyd …ray for them.
The .xxvj. Question.
If Chryste be our onelyonly inter…ssor, why did he then teach vsus this prayer which we call the Lordes prayer, which was also vsed of the apostles, and so with one accord continued in prayer, as it is written in the first Chapter of the Actes of the Apostles.
The Answere.
YT may very easily appeareHowe wee praye in Christes name when wee saye the Lordes praier. by this question, that those wicked men whiche were the authors of these questions, did neuer rightly vnderstande this holy Prayer common vntounto all men, and commonly called the Lords prayer. For they speake thereof, as though wée dyd…e pray the same of ourselues without Chryste, when as muche rather it is the prayer of Chryste, and is so named, not onelyonly for that he made the same, but also for that wée nowe pray the same as euen by his mouthe. For when wée say the Lords prayer, we then with those wordes pray euen as it were with Chrysts owne mouth: therefore the father, who loueth hys sonne, acknowledgeth his wordes and prayer, and those are moste acceptable vntounto him, & therefore euen for his sons sake he heareth vsus. And therfore in the Lords prayer Chryst is made the only intercessor, and although wée pray the same with the Apostles, yet are we not herd for their sakes, but for Christs: for euen their prayers are made effectuall & acceptable vntounto god through Chryst. In the Acts they require the gift of the holy ghost, of whō the Lord before had spoken in the gospel, saying that his father would send him in his name: and therfore it eueryevery where appeareth, that Chryst is the true aduocate and intercesser of all the faythfull. And it were not a little to be wondred at, why these men sho… more set by and regard the intercession of sa…c…s, than of Chryst, on lesse they did man…festly declare thē selues to be of that number of whome Paule speaketh in the …ste Chapter to the Romanes, saying. which worship and serue the creatures more than the creator, &c.
The .xxvij. Question.
Whether the charitie and louelove of the Angelles and Sainctes whiche are nowe in heauen, bee cleane put out and taken away from vsus, when as Paule yet sayth, that Charitie neuer fayleth.
The Answere.
CHaritie or louelove can neuerWhether the Saincts in heauen do pray fos vsus bicause they hauehave charitie in heauen, nor yet in earth, bring to passe, that the Saincts should chalēge that vntounto them selues, which is onelyonly due to Chryst: that is to say, his priesthoode and the office of a mediatour to make intercession to God the father. Furthermore in the Saincts all things are purged and perfected after they bée departed out of this lyfe and fleshe, vntounto eternall felicitie, and therefore Charitie, which in this life reioyceth not in the miserie of the vngodly, is not in the lyfe to come troubled, nor sorroweth not for their damnation And bycause that God in heauen is all in all, and that the saincts hauehave giuen them selues all wholly ouer vntounto the will of God, so as his will is their chéefe felicitie or ioy (and therefore wée pray, thy wyll be done in earth as it is in heauen) therfore no kinde of charitie moueth them to make intercession. For why, they perfectly knowe, that in Chryst is the fulnesse of all, and that in him wanteth nothing belonging to intercession, but that he moste perfectly dothe all things with his father, and that therefore hys onelyonly intercession is sufficiente for the faythfull: yea they see that the father loueth mankinde, and woulde that all men which obteine grace, mighte bée made partakers therof by Chryst. And therefore is it written, that the elders fall downe before the throne of God, and giuegive all glory & honour vntounto him, and that amongest other thinges they say vntounto the Lambe, Thou onelyonly arte worthy to take the booke, and open the seales thereof, for thou arte slayne, and haste redeemed vsus by thy bloud. Apo. 5. Neither dothe our charitie ceasse towardes the Apostles, althoughe wée pray not to God for them. For wée beléeue that they are blessed, and hauehave no néede of our prayers. Wherefore in lyke sorte, when they nowe in heauen see that nothing is wanting to the intercession of Chryste, and that there néedeth no mo intercessors, but him alone, dothe not then their charitie still remayne, althoughe they make no intercession for vsus?
The .xxviij. Question.
Whether the Saincts in heauen be inferior to mē liuing here on earth? Therfore sithe Paule commaunded vsus to pray one for another: and the Apostles eche where required others to pray for them: whether ought we not to desire the praiers of the Apostles being in heauen, as more worthy and more effectuall?
The Answere.
IT appeareth by thys question,Whether the sainctes bycause they prayed here on earth doe the same for vsus nowe in heauen. that they goe aboute to defame vsus, that we think no better of the Sainctes in Heauen, than wée doo of sinnefull men lyuing héere on the earthe: and as thoughe wée affirmed them to bée subiecte to infirmitie and myserie. But héerein they doo vsus great wrong. For wée include not the Sainctes in heauen as subiecte to any corruption or infirmitie: but rather their doctrine is to bée suspected hereof. For we teach and beléeue that the Sainctes whiche are in heauen are far better than they which lyue héere in this worlde: bycause they are frée from all infirmitie, and are perfecte and pure, subiecte to no sorrow, but without all care and trouble liue with God, reioycing in euerlasting ioyes, and therfore are they ignorant of our miseries, which else would vexe, trouble, & make them sorowfull. And that they be frée from al cares and all things that might trouble them in any thing, we may read in the. 7. andThe glorie of the saincts which are in heauen. 21. Chapters of the Reuelation. And as touching the miseries of this worlde, they are onelyonly knowen to God, and to his sonne our Lorde Jesus Chryst, and yet without all manner of gréefe and sorrowe vntounto them. But the Sainctes knowe not all things which are done eueryevery where through the worlde, nor are not omnipotent to help, neither are they presente in all places, nor knowe the harts of men, for the secret thoughts are secrete, and hydde from them: and where as they say that the Saincts doo beholde and sée all things in God as in a moste brighte and cleare mirror: this is more foolishe than néedeth confutation. And as touching these thinges aforesayde, they are onelyonly proper to the maiestie and wisedome of God. And as touching the Sainctes, they enioy all glory moste perfectly of the heauenly lyfe. And whereas the Saincts in this lyfe hauehave commaunded vsus to pray one for an other, and hauehave also here prayed for others, and required others to pray for them, yet héereby it followeth not, that they which are in heauen pray for vsus, or that wée ought to desire them to make intercessiō for vsus, that they might nowe pray for vsus in heauen, bycause they prayed for vsus when they were here on the earth. And yet notwithstanding we ought to pray one for an other so long as we liue héere. And there is also (as we hauehave sayde) an other state of the saynctes in heauen: for they doo not all that there, which they did héere on earth. We are expresly commaunded to pray one for an other in this life. But let them shewe vsus one worde or sentence in the holy Scripture, where the Saincts which now liue in heauen, are commaunded to pray for vsus: or else shewe where the Apostles did cōmaund vsus to pray vntounto the Angels and Saincts to make intercession for vsus: or let them bring one example where any of the Apostles dyd pray vntounto any Angell or Saincte, to make intercession for him. Wherefore if they can bring foorth no one example (as in déede it is impossible so to doo) bicause the inuincible veritie testifieth, that they prayed to one God onelyonly, and were contented with the intercession of Chryste: then should they also contente them selues with Chryst, and byd that their intercession fare well, for which they are not able to bring foorthe any one worde or testimonie of the holy Scripture. And no doubt, if there were any intercession of Sainctes in heauen, the Scripture would in some one place or other make mention of it.
The. xxix. Question.
Whether the riche man which was condemned, dyd not in hell pray for hys kinsefolkes? Althoughe he were not heard bycause of hys sinne and damnation, which thing the Saincts and Angels hauehave not.
The Answere.
SUrely it had bene muchWhether the rich mā in the 16. of Luke did praye for his brethren. better for these myserable wretches, if they had let slippe this Question, sithe they hauehave no better argument & testimonie, than that they hauehave from this damned rich man. But this is Gods iudgement, for that they are not content with that most sure, excellent, faythful and perfect intercession of Chryste. For if they thought this intercession onelyonly sufficiente, why then make they mention of any other intercessors? And bycause they often speake of other intercessors, whiche yet, notwithstanding are none, neyther would they bée, and bycause they set foorth rather the intercession of creatures than of Chryste, as not contente with him, therefore are they iustely for their desertes punished with so greate blyndenesse. Furthermore it is not written in the Scripture, that the riche man dyd call vppon GOD, and pray for hys brethren, that GOD myghte hauehave merciemercy ouer them: But rather defired, that him selfe mighte bée deliuered to the ende that he mighte warne them. And therfore was it denied him, bycause God will not hauehave the lyuing to hauehave any respecte to the deade, as to looke for any Doctrine, Reuelation, or saluation, from them, but to content them selues with the doctrine of the holy Scripture. Wherefore if our Aduersaries acknowledge thys, then on Gods name let them contente themselues with the intercession of Chryst, which the holy Scripture dothe allow and commende vntounto vsus onelyonly. And this similitude maketh quyte agaynst themselues.
The. xxx. Question.
Whether they beleeue that the blessed virgin and mother of Chryst, the Angels, Apostles, Martires, and the other saincts in heauen, be not to be worshipped, honored, and prayed vntounto, to helpe vsus, and make intercession for vsus?
The Answere.
WE must here touchingOf the worshipping of sainctes. this worde woorship, make a certayne distinction. For if by this worde worship, is vnderstanded adoration, inuocation, prayers, holy dayes, fasting dayes, gyftes, sacrifices, almes, dedicating of Churches, lyghting of Candles, and such lyke, then saye wée that God alone is to bée worshipped, inuocated, and honoured, and not the Sainctes. Yea, the Sainctes wyll not bée worshipped and serued in this sort. But if this worshippe signifie, to reuerence, and honestly and reuerently to thynke of them, and acknowledge them, prayse and commende them, as the deare frendes of God, and to imbrace them as the singular Ministers and members of Chryste, then doo wée gladly beléeue, and truely confesse that all the godly, the blessed virgin Mary, the Angels, Apostles, Martyres, and all other Sainctes, oughte by good right to bée worshipped. Furthermore wée condemne all those which contemptuously thinke any thing of the Sainctes whiche lyue in heauen. And chiefly, weWhat wee ought to think of the blissed virgin Mary. confesse, that the blessed virgin Mary is woorthy all prayse, and that shée is a pure vndefyled virgin, bothe before, in, and after the birthe of Chryste: and that shée is blessed aboue all other women, and that of hir wombe was borne the sonne of God, and therefore may very well be called the mother of GOD. Yea wée also acknowledge and confesse, that shée was the dearely beloued handemayden of God, who for hir…faythe, louelove, puritie, lowlinesse, holynesse, pacience, hope, and suche lyke vertues, can neuer bée sufficiently praysed, and that shée was aboue all others beautified with moste singular gifts of grace, and therfore we ought to thinke mo…e reuerently of hir.
And as touching the Apostles of ourWhat we ought to think of the Apostles and other Sainctes. Lorde Jesus Chryst, we acknowledge them to bée the chosen and singular frends and seruaunts of God, indued with most excellent giftes, by whom it was his pleasure that the gospel should bée preached vntounto vsus, that thereby the worlde mighte receyue lighte, and wée bée delyuered from the mouthe of Sathan, and adopted in Chryste into the number of the children of God. Yea wée defende the doctrine, faythe, louelove, vertues, and example of lyfe, bothe of the Apostles, Martyres, and all other the godly agaynst all the enimies of GOD, and of the Sainctes, yea wée prayse God in them, and louelove them as the very members of the selfe same body with vsus vnderunder our onelyonly heade Chryste, wée studie to followe the example of their lyues and faythe, that wée may togither with them after this lyfe, hauehave the fruition of eternall ioyes with God. Furthermore, whatsoeuer the holy Scripture teacheth, or God commaundeth to bée done vntounto them, we muste readily and willingly yéelde it vntounto them. But nowe, whyHow the saynctes are to be worshipped wée doo not attribute and giuegive vntounto them those honors, which the Papists require, that is, to aske & séeke helpe of them in time of trouble, as from our intercessors, & sauiors, I wil héere bréefly render the reasons: and further also shew why we so earnestly teache and affirme that god alone ought to be worshipped, called vppon, and serued, & our lord Jesus Chryst to be acknowledged the onelyonly euerlasting mediator and intercessor before god the father in heauē.
First, we hauehave a manyfest commandement, that in all necessities God only is to be prayed vntounto, and called vppon, and that he alone is sufficient for vsus, and that he bothe can and will giuegive vntounto vsus all things necessarie bothe for our bodies and soules: for he him selfe calleth vsus vntounto him, and promiseth vsus all good things, and is displeased so often as wee seeke vntounto others, and not vntounto him: and therfore when we come vntounto him, we greatly delight him, and thereby worshippe him.
Secondely, by the examples of all Sainctes, and in the Psalmes also wée are taughte, that God alone in all cases is to be called vponupon, and to be thanked for those benefites whiche we receiue, what so euer they be.
Thirdely, that common and holy prayer, called the Lordes prayer, can onelyonly be sayde and offered to God the father, and to no maner of creature. Wherefore if we had no other thing but this prayer of our Lorde, yet might wée thereby sufficiently knowe that none other is to be called vppon but God only. Last of all S. Paule saith, heRom. 10. We hauehave neede of an aduocate for vsus to God. ought to be called vppon, on whome we doe beléeue: but we doe beléeue in God only: and therfore we ought to call vponupon him only, as he who alone knoweth, is able and will helpe vsus. And yet we do not reiecte the intercession of Christ, neither say we, that we hauehave néede of no intercessor with God. But like as God alone is to be called vponupon, so ought we to vse none other intercession, nor any other aduocate or intercessor before God, than Christe Jesus onelyonly, bicause the father hath appoynted him alone to this function, & therefore in him he heareth and receiueth oure prayers, as I hauehave héeretofore sufficiently preued. Wherfore if we would doe obedientThe Angels and saynctes send vsus from themselues to Christ. seruice to the Sainctes, then should we content oureselues with God, and Christ our sauioure only. For vntounto this marke hauehave the Sainctes alwayes sent all menne, and would not suffer themselues to be worshipped or called vponupon. Wherfore, if they suppose yt the saincts did not send men to Christe alone, but to others also, then let them shewe vsus who they were, to whom they sent thē. For we hauehave our opinion confirmed by the manifest scriptures. For when S. John twice, as appeareth in the Reuelation. 19. &. 22. fel downe before the Angell to worship him, the Angell answered: Take heede thou do it not, for I am thy fellovve seruaunte, and of thy brethren the Prophets, worship thou God. Againe, at the mariage in Cana a citieIohn. 2. of Galelei, when there lacked wine, the mother of Jesu saide vntounto him, They hauehave no vvine: Iesus ansvvered vntounto hir, and sayde: vvoman, vvhat hauehave I to doe vvith thee? mine houre is not yet come His mother said to the seruaunts, vvhat so euer he sayth vntounto you, doe it. And this is the only will of the virgine Mary, that what so euer hir sonne commaundeth, we should do it. And bicause he commaundeth vsus to come vntounto him, to cal on him, to pray in his name, doutlesse the blessed virgin wold hauehave vsus so to do, & to serue him and not hir, which thing we do when we call vpō hir son, & not vppon hir. In the Actes also it isAct. 3. written of Peter and John, that when they hadde healed the lame at the gate of the Temple, the whole multitude being amazed, ranne vntounto them: but the Apostles sent the people from them selues vntounto Christe, saying: vvhy meruell you at this? Or vvhy looke you so on vsus, as thoughe by our povver or vertue, vve had caused this man to vvalke? God hathe in this sorte glorified hys sonne. &c. Likewise Paule and Bar…abas, when they had healed the man that was, as is wrytten in the foure & twentienth of the Acts of the Apostles, and that the menne of Lystra woulde hauehave done Sacrifice vntounto them: Paule refused it as a thyng horyble in the sighte of GOD, and so renting hys garmentes, diligently taughte them, that God onelyonly was to be woorshipped, and not the Apostles which were …ut menne.
In lyke manner John the Baptiste, (than the which there was neuer any holyer amongste men) whome Christe also commēdeth, sent his disciples from himselfe vntounto Christe, as to the true sauioure, yea he rebuked them, bycause they attributed more vntounto him, than was conuenient, althoughe they yet attributed vntounto him nothing so muche as these men nowe adayes attribute to the Sainctes. Reade the first and seconde Chapter of S. John his gospel. Wherfore sith it is moste sure yt the Sainctes in heauē hauehave not altered their minds, then is it withoute all doubt, that God is to be called vppon, and prayed vntounto through Christ only, and that from him all things necessary are to be asked for, and not from any Saincte.