Synopsis papismi, that is, A generall viewe of papistry wherein the whole mysterie of iniquitie, and summe of antichristian doctrine is set downe, which is maintained this day by the Synagogue of Rome, against the Church of Christ, together with an antithesis of the true Christian faith, and an antidotum or counterpoyson out of the Scriptures, against the whore of Babylons filthy cuppe of abominations: deuided into three bookes or centuries, that is, so many hundreds of popish heresies and errors. Collected by Andrew Willet Bachelor of Diuinity.

THE TENTH GENERALL CONTROVERSIE CONCERNING THE INTERCESSION AND MEDIA∣tion of Christ, whether he be onely our Mediatour and Intercessor.

The Papists.

THey seeme in these very words to confesse, that Christ is the onely singu∣lar [error 86] aduocate and patrone of mankinde, that by himselfe alone, and by his owne merites procureth all grace and mercie, none asking or obtaining either grace in this life, or glorie in the next, but by him. But this letteth not, but that there may be other inferiour mediatours, though not in that singular sense, Rhemist. annot. 1. Timoth. 2. sect. 4.

Argum. Christ is the only Sauiour and Redeemer of the world, yet the name of Sauiour and Redeemer is giuen to men in the scriptures, as Iud. 3.9. Othniel is called a Sauiour, Act. 7.35. Moses a Deliuerer or Redeemer: and all this with∣out derogation to him, that in more excellent manner is the onely Sauiour of the world: Ergo, there may be also many mediatours, in an inferiour degree to that singular mediatour, to offer vp our praiers, Rhemist. ibid.

Ans. 1. If Christ be sufficient to procure all grace and mercie vnto vs, what neede then the mediation or inuocation of Saints? for wee must either doubt of his power, in ioyning other helpers with him, or make question of his good will and readines to helpe vs, in making other mediatours vnto him.

2. They make other mediatours and intercessors beside Christ, euen in that high and singular degree: for not onely Christ by their doctrine, by his merites procureth grace, but other Saints also by their merites are our mediatours: as it is plaine to see in that popish praier, Tu per Thomae sanguinem, &c. By the blood of Thomas, which for thee he did spend, make vs, Christ, to climbe, whither Tho∣mas did ascend. In this blasphemous prayer and a thousand such, they pray on∣ly to Christ as God, not as mediatour, men departed, and many of them no Saints, they make their onely mediatours by their owne proper merites. See Fulk. ibid.

Againe, their Saints are not onely intercessors for grace, but conferrers of grace and helpe, which is the highest degree of mediation. They appoynt se∣uerall patrones amongst the Saints for all purposes: S. Apollonia for the tooth∣ach: Saint Rooke for the pestilence: Saint Petronill for the ague: Saint Gregorie

for Schollers: Saint Morris for Souldiers: Saint Luke for Painters: Saint Crispin for Shoomakers: Saint Nicholas for the sea: Saint Iodocus for corne: Saint Vr∣bane for wine. And thus doe they not onely (as they beare vs in hand) pray for these graces and blessings, but they haue power themselues to bestow them.

Ans. 3. Concerning the name and title of Sauiour and Redeemer, we an∣swere: first, men are called in the Scripture, Deliuerers and Sauiours, in respect of some temporal deliuerance, not of the spiritual or eternal redemption, which belongeth onely to Christ: but you make your Saints mediators of eternall re∣demption. Secondly, they whom the Scripture calleth Redeemers and Saui∣ours, were appoynted by God for such temporall deliuerance: but you cannot shewe the like appoyntment for Saints to be mediators of eternall saluation, though in an inferiour degree to Christ. Thirdly, seeing the name of God and Christ is giuen to men in the scriptures, as to Princes and Prophets: why may you not as well say, that there may be many Gods and Christs properly, though in an inferiour degree to him which is only God and Christ, as to appoynt other inferiour Redeemers, Sauiours and Mediators?

The Protestants.

WE acknowledge but one onely Mediatour as well of intercession as re∣demption, euen Iesus Christ our Lord: to whom and through whom all our praiers & supplications ought to be made: to him we only pray, as being one God with the Father and the holy Ghost: by him and through him we only pray, as being the only Mediatour betweene God and man.

Arg. 1. S. Paul saith, There is one mediatour of God and men, the man Iesus Christ, 1. Tim. 2.5. Hence we doe frame this argument: The mediator betweene God and men, must himselfe be both God and man: but so is none but Christ: Ergo, he is the onely Mediatour.

Arg. 2. He is onely the aduocate and mediatour for our sinnes, that is the pro∣pitiation for our sinnes, 1. Ioh. 2.1. Christ only is the propitiation for our sinnes: Ergo, the onely mediatour.

Augustine thus writeth vpon this place: Si Apostolus ita diceret, &c. If the A∣postle had sayd thus: If any man sinne, you haue me a mediatour with the fa∣ther,* 1.1 and I doe by my praier obtaine pardon for your sinnes (as Parmenianus in a certaine place maketh the Bishop a mediatour betweene the people & God:) Quis sicut Apostolum Christi, & non sicut Antichristum intueretur? Who would behold him as an Apostle of Christ, and not as Antichrist? It is then Antichri∣stian doctrine, in Augustines iudgement, to make any other mediators or inter∣cessors beside Christ.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Cont. Par∣men. lib. 2. cap. 8.