The suruey of popery vvherein the reader may cleerely behold, not onely the originall and daily incrementes of papistrie, with an euident confutation of the same; but also a succinct and profitable enarration of the state of Gods Church from Adam vntill Christs ascension, contained in the first and second part thereof: and throughout the third part poperie is turned vp-side downe.

The answere.

I say first, that we haue cōmandement, promise, & examples [ 1]

to pray one for another while we are yet liuing on earth, but we haue no such thing in the holy scriptures, neither in the olde nor in the new testament, concerning the inuocation of saints departed. I say secondly, that if the saints departed could heare [ 2] and vnderstande our prayers as the liuing do; then might wee without dishonour and iniurie to God, desire them to pray for vs as wee doe the liuing; neuerthelesse such kind of praying should be in vs great temeritie and presumption, because wee haue neither cōmandement nor example in gods word so to do. I say thirdly, that if the liuing should desire the prayers one of [ 3] another, as the p••pists desire the prayers of saints, they shoulde not onely derogate greatly from Christs holy mediatourship, but withal commit flat idolatrie. For the papists desire (as is alreadie proued) to be saued by the merites and blood of saints, for the cōplement wherof, I wil here adde a memorable testi∣monie. The vsual practise of the papists, especially of the Ie∣suites, is to adde in the ende of their absolution these words; Passio D.N.I. Christi, merita B.V. Mariae, & omnium sancto∣rum & quicquid bonifeceris vel mali sustinueris,* 1.1 sit tibi in re∣missionem peccatorū tuorum in augmentum gratiae, & praemium vitae aeternae. The passion of our Lord Iesus Christ, the merits of the blessed virgin Mary, and of al saints, & all the good thou shalt do and punishment thou shalt suffer, be to thee for the re∣mission of thy sins, for increase of grace, & for the reward of e∣ternal life. I say fourthly, that to inuocate saints departed, be∣leeuing [ 4] that they can & do heare our praiers, is to make them gods. And euen so shuld we make the liuing, gods, if we did in that maner cal on thē in their absence. I may therfore wel con∣clude, that though the one kind of praying be godly and imita∣ble; yet is the other damnable and flat idololatricall; for God is zealous,* 1.2 and wil not giue his glorie to another.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Polanchus de modo a••d. con∣fess.
• * 1.2

  Esa. 42.8.