Rome ruin'd by VVhite Hall, or, The papall crown demolisht

CHAP. V. Treateth of their invocation of Angels and Saints departed, with a confutation thereof.

SECT. 1.

THe manner of Invocation used by the holy men of* 1.1 God ought to be our patterne to immitate, but they never invocated any but the Lord Jehovah, and Christ in him, as the Scriptures doe plenti∣fully prove; therefore the Adoration, or pray∣ing to Angels, is a superstitious, and new device of Doctrine, and ought to be rejected, Isa. 63. 16.

Object. Jacobs Ladder on which the Angels ascended, and de∣scended from heaven, doth intimate, that they did not only reveale unto us the counsells of God, and execute his will, but also report unto God our prayers, vowes, and necessities.

Ans. We grant that the Angels doe report unto God the af∣faires of the world, the Acts and Gests of men, and so their sup∣plications

in generall; but this they doe as Messengers, not as Mediators: the Prophet Zachary sheweth a distinct office of the Angelicall Spirits, and Jesus Christ (there called the Angell of the Lord,) where they, (viz. the Angels) returns this answer to God, We have gone through the world, and behold, all the world sitteth still, and is at rest. But the Angel of the Lord, Christ (the Mediator of the Church,) steppeth forth and prayeth, O Lord of Hoast, how long wilt thou be unmindfull of Jerusalem; so that al∣beit the Angels are witnesses of our devotions, and beholders of our teares and plaints, yet have they no office of Mediatorship, neither have we any warrant to pray unto them.

SECT. 2.

Object. IT is said, Gen. 17. 3. that Abraham fell upon his face and talked with God, which doubtlesse was an Angel, by the like expressions in the 18. Chap. &c.

Ans. If that were an Angell in the person of God which talk∣ed* 1.2 with Abraham, then was it no gesture of Adoration (in that Abraham fell on his face) for the Angels will not suffer men to worship them, Rev. 22. 9. but if they will needs have it Adora∣tion, then it was God that talked with him, as the words of the Text intimateth.

Again, though Abraham had said to his Servant, that the An∣gel should goe before him, Chap. 24. ver. 7. yet read we not, that the Servant did pray▪ to the Angel that was appointed to be presi∣dent of his journey, but solely directeth his prayer unto God, as in the 12. vers. which example our Saviour himself urgeth, Mat. 4. 10. Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

Obj. Jacob prayeth, that the Angel blesse the children, Gen. 48. 16. and Moses wisheth the good will of him that dwels in the Bush, to come upon the head of Joseph, Deut. 33. 16.

Ans. We deny not but that Angels as well as men, may in∣strumentally pronounce the blessings of God as from him, and in his name; but not originally, and so to be resorted and prayed unto, as the Authors and fountaines of blessings.

2. It is without example in Scripture▪ to wish any blessing

but from God the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ, as the Apo∣stle Paul confirmeth, Rom. 15. 30. & 2 Cor. 13. 11. Phil. 4. 6, 7. Col. 5. 15.

3. The Angel whom Jacob there speaketh of, is in the same place called, the God of his fathers, Exod. 3. 6.

4. Moses also calleth him that dwelleth in the Bush Jehovah, verse 13.

SECT. 3.

Object. IOhn wisheth grace, and peace to be given to him that was, and is, and is to come, and from the seven Spirits which is before the Throne, that is, from the seven Angels. There∣fore Angels though they blesse not as the authors of Grace, yet a blessing may be asked of them as impetrators, and intercessors of the same, at the hands of God; as also Gen. 32. 29. where the Angel is said to blesse Jacob.

Ans. That was not an Angel, but the Son of God, which* 1.3 wrestled with Jacob, because it belongeth not to Angels to blesse, but to God himselfe; for spirituall blessings are either conferred by the Author thereof, which is only God, or by the Mediator thereof, which is Jesus Christ, or by the messengers, or instru∣ments thereof, which may be as well Angels and Men; for as Isaac blessed Jacob, and Jacob his sonnes ministerially, only as being Gods mouth to pronounce them; so Angels likewise may be the Messengers, or instruments of Gods blessing, and not otherwise. For the Apostle saith, that every good and perfect gift commeth from God, Jam. 1. 17. neither are the Angels to be s••ed unto for any spirituall or temporall blessing, but only God; for if any one Lack wisdome (saith the same Apostle) let him aske it of God, Jam. 1. 5. and so consequently in any other thing, yea the promise is made only to such as aske in Christs name, Joh. 16. 23. and no otherwise; and as to that place in the Revelations, (where mention is made of the seven Spirits,) we must understand the Spirit of God with his manifold graces, for the seven Spirits are also said to be the seven lamps of fire burning before the Throne; they are also termed the seven eyes of the Lambe, all which doe intimate as formerly.

SECT. 4.

THe arguments which the Papists use to justifie their Invoca∣tion of Saints departed, are chiefly these which follow, to which I shall return an answer.

Obj. Saints doe pray for us, and therefore we may and ought to pray to them; that they pray for us is proved by these places of Scripture, viz. Exod. 32. 13. where Moses desireth God to remem∣ber Abraham, Isaac, and his servants. And Baruch. 3. 4. where he saith, O Lord God Almighty, heare now the prayer of the dead Israelites, with 2 Maccabees 14, 15. where Onias spake and said, this is a lover of the Brethren, who prayeth much for the people, Jeremiah the Prophet of the Lord.

Ans. To the testimony cited out of Baruch and the Macca∣bees, they prove nothing, because they are no Books of the Can∣nonicall Scripture. 2. The other testimonies are impertinently alleadged, for Moses maketh not mention of the prayers which Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob should make for the people, but of the Covenant which the Lord made with them; true, the Saints doe pray to God by their generall wishes that the kingdome of God were accomplished, as Rev. 6. 10. but our particular necessities they know not, and so doth not make particular requests for us; therefore the argument followeth not (that they pray by their generall desires for the Church) that therefore they pray for us in particular.

Again, seeing these Papists hold that the Patriarcks, and Fa∣thers of the Old Testament were in Limbus Patrum, a dungeon of darknesse, and a member or part of Hell, they doe absolutely contradict themselves, in making them Mediators, and Interces∣sors in heaven; neither was Moses request for the merits, or worthinesse of the Fathers, but in respect of the Messiah which was promised; for neither was Abraham himself justified by his merits, but by faith, as Paul sheweth, Rom. 4. 30.

SECT. 5.

Obj. GOd telleth Abimelech that Abraham was a Prophet, and should pray for him, Gen. 20. 7.

Ans. That place doth not make for the invocation of Saints that are departed, for God sendeth not Abimeleck to Noah, or any other departed to pray for him, but to Abraham then li∣ving; which duty may be mutually performed in charity, whilst one knoweth anothers necessities, but for the living to pray to, or for the dead (which knoweth not their wants, being already certainly disposed of, in an unchangeable estate, as the living are not; as also in that the Prophet telleth us, that Abraham is dead, and Isaac is ignorant of us, Isa. 63. 16.) is such a conceit as hath no warrant from Scripture, or any sound reason, because they are not present to heare our prayers, neither doe they know our hearts; and we have one sufficient Advocate and Mediator, Jesus Christ, 1 Ioh. 3. 1. and therefore need we not the mediation of any other, neither will they assume unto themselves any part of* 1.4 Christs Office; for as the perfume, Exod. 30. 8. was alwayes be∣fore the Lord (which doth signifie the prayers of the Saints) so God only through Christ must be invocated, which honour he will not give to any other, for God must only be beleeved upon, as our Saviour saith, Ye beleeve in God, beleeve also in me, Joh. 14. 1. and the Apostle saith, that men cannot call upon him on whom they have not beleeved, Rom. 10. 14. and certainly they would not have us beleeve in Saints departed.

Obj. Abs••lon could not be admitted to his fathers presence un∣till Joab had mediated for him, and Bethshaba, Solomons mother, intreated for Adoniah, so it is necessary to have Mediators unto God.

Ans. 1. We have one sufficient Mediator, Jesus Christ, who is able sufficiently to reconcile us unto God. 2. Though many me∣diators are used in Princes Courts, because either they are igno∣rant of our affaires, or their affections is estranged, yet it is not so with God who knoweth all things; besides the love of Christ to us, exceedeth the love of all other inferiour Mediators which men can seeke unto. 3. The example of Bethshaba is unfitly alledged, for she obtained not her suite.

SECT. 6.

Obj. ELiphas saith to Job, Job 5. 1. Call now if any will answer thee, and to which of the Saints wilt thou turne thee. 2. David exhorteth to praise the Lord in his Saints, Psal. 150. 1. 3. It is said in Ezekiel, I sought for a man amongst them to make up the hedge, &c. but I found none.

Ans. Eliphas in that place speaketh of the Saints, and righte∣ous living, to see if Job could finde amongst any of them a pa∣tron to defend his cause. 2. The place in the Psalmes is, Praise God in his holinesse, or in his sanctuary; neither doth it follow that because God is praised in his Saints, that therefore we are to pray to Saints; as it followeth in the next words, praise him in the firmament, will they therefore have the firmament prayed unto. 3. The place in Ezekiel is spoken of men living, and not* 1.5 of men dead; the answer therefore which Jacob gave to Rachiel (when she called to him for children, saying, Give me children, &c. Am I in Gods stead) may fitly be applyed (by the Saints de∣parted) to such prayers, or desires made unto them. And as our Saviour said to the Jewes, There is one that accuseth you, even Moses in whom ye trust; so the Saints which these men so super∣stitiously worship, will at the last day be their accusers.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Against the invocating of Saints and Angels. Judg. 13 15, 16. Mat. 4. 10. Act 10. 25, 26. & 11, 12. 1 Col. 1 13. & 2. 18. 1 Cor. 3. 5, 6. Heb. 7. 25. & 9. ••••.
• * 1.2

  Angels will not be wor∣shipped.
• * 1.3

  •••• was no An∣gel but Christ that wrestled with Jacob.
• * 1.4

  We ought to confesse our fins only to God. 1 King. 8. 47. Psal. 19. 120. & 33. 5 & 41. 44. Jer. 14. 20. D••n. 9. 15. Mat. 15. 18. 1 Ioh. 1. 9.
• * 1.5

  The Saint•• to whom the Pa∣pists pray, shall be their ac∣cusers.