that_o my_o friend_n hear_v what_o i_o say_v and_o will_v grant_v my_o desire_n but_o i_o have_v no_o manner_n to_o assurance_n that_o the_o saint_n in_o heaven_n hear_v or_o know_v the_o request_n which_o i_o make_v to_o they_o nay_o we_o may_v be_v sure_a that_o they_o be_v finite_a creature_n be_v not_o present_v every_o where_o nor_o can_v attend_v to_o thousand_o of_o suppliant_n in_o several_a part_n of_o the_o world_n who_o may_v all_o be_v make_v their_o address_n to_o they_o at_o the_o same_o time_n l._n but_o he_o say_v that_o they_o now_o see_v god_n do_v see_v as_o in_o a_o clear_a looking-glass_n whatever_o touch_v he_o t._n this_o be_v bold_o say_v but_o without_o the_o least_o proof_n and_o therefore_o need_v no_o confutation_n yea_o certain_o it_o be_v most_o false_a since_o the_o angel_n who_o behold_v the_o face_n of_o god_n be_v yet_o ignorant_a of_o many_o thing_n which_o it_o do_v not_o please_v god_n to_o reveal_v to_o they_o and_o by_o the_o way_n this_o be_v direct_o contrary_a to_o the_o general_a opinion_n of_o the_o ancient_n which_o be_v that_o the_o soul_n of_o good_a man_n do_v not_o attain_v the_o blissful_a sight_n of_o god_n till_o after_o the_o resurrection_n and_o therefore_o they_o make_v mention_v of_o the_o holy_a and_o best_a man_n in_o their_o prayer_n that_o they_o may_v have_v a_o joyful_a resurrection_n and_o that_o this_o glorious_a day_n may_v be_v hasten_v for_o their_o comfort_n as_o we_o have_v show_v now_o thus_o to_o pray_v for_o they_o do_v not_o seem_v very_o consistent_a with_o their_o pray_n to_o they_o at_o the_o same_o time_n nor_o be_v there_o any_o evidence_n of_o such_o prayer_n use_v among_o they_o only_o this_o be_v general_o grant_v that_o some_o of_o the_o father_n about_o three_o or_o four_o hundred_o year_n after_o our_o saviour_n time_n in_o funeral_n oration_n or_o speech_n make_v to_o the_o honour_n of_o decease_a saint_n and_o martyr_n be_v wont_n sometime_o in_o a_o rhetorical_a manner_n to_o make_v apostrophe_n to_o the_o dead_a turn_v their_o speech_n to_o they_o as_o be_v common_a with_o orator_n even_o to_o thing_n inanimate_a as_o to_o the_o heaven_n the_o earth_n or_o the_o like_a but_o it_o do_v not_o appear_v that_o even_o these_o father_n themselves_o be_v full_o persuade_v that_o the_o soul_n of_o their_o friend_n hear_v these_o discourse_n nor_o do_v they_o use_v to_o make_v solemn_a address_n to_o they_o in_o the_o same_o posture_n and_o at_o the_o same_o time_n that_o they_o make_v their_o prayer_n to_o god_n much_o less_o be_v it_o the_o custom_n of_o the_o church_n in_o those_o day_n so_o to_o do_v though_o perhaps_o such_o form_n of_o speak_v use_v by_o eminent_a man_n may_v prove_v some_o occasion_n of_o it_o in_o aftertime_n l._n but_o he_o add_v that_o the_o angel_n in_o zachary_n chap._n 1._o pray_v for_o the_o people_n of_o israel_n and_o jeremy_n the_o prophet_n after_o he_o be_v dead_a do_v the_o same_o for_o which_o he_o quote_v 2_o mac._n 15._o t._n there_o can_v be_v little_a force_n in_o argument_n draw_v from_o appearance_n of_o thing_n to_o prophet_n in_o vision_n and_o much_o less_o from_o that_o story_n of_o iudas_n dream_n in_o the_o 15_o of_o maccab._n it_o be_v very_o uncertain_a by_o the_o relation_n there_o give_v whether_o he_o have_v such_o a_o dream_n or_o whether_o he_o do_v not_o devise_v it_o for_o the_o encouragement_n of_o the_o people_n but_o be_v it_o true_a or_o false_a it_o be_v of_o very_o little_a consequence_n since_o neither_o from_o these_o or_o any_o other_o place_n do_v it_o appear_v after_o what_o manner_n either_o angel_n or_o saint_n do_v pray_v for_o those_o here_o on_o earth_n for_o though_o particular_a angel_n have_v knowledge_n of_o those_o particular_a person_n and_o nation_n about_o who_o by_o god_n appointment_n they_o be_v employ_v yet_o be_v it_o no_o way_n probable_a that_o any_o one_o angel_n have_v knowledge_n of_o all_o person_n in_o all_o place_n and_o much_o less_o can_v we_o think_v that_o any_o saint_n have_v such_o a_o vast_a and_o infinite_a understanding_n nay_o we_o have_v no_o assurance_n that_o they_o be_v acquaint_v with_o we_o and_o our_o affair_n the_o word_n of_o the_o prophet_n seem_v to_o teach_v the_o contrary_a isa._n 63._o 16._o but_o let_v we_o take_v all_o for_o grant_v that_o he_o assert_n about_o angel_n and_o saint_n pray_v for_o those_o on_o earth_n yet_o do_v this_o make_v little_a for_o his_o purpose_n since_o their_o pray_v for_o we_o do_v not_o depend_v upon_o our_o pray_v to_o they_o so_o to_o do_v nor_o shall_v we_o have_v the_o less_o benefit_n from_o any_o prayer_n they_o may_v put_v up_o for_o mankind_n because_o out_o of_o honour_n to_o god_n we_o dare_v put_v up_o none_o to_o they_o if_o in_o the_o mean_a time_n we_o do_v constant_o and_o devout_o worship_v almighty_a god_n with_o a_o humble_a dependence_n on_o the_o intercession_n of_o our_o bless_a saviour_n who_o we_o be_v sure_a live_v for_o ever_o to_o appear_v in_o the_o presence_n of_o god_n for_o we_o l._n yes_o he_o say_v christ_n be_v the_o principal_a advocate_n but_o yet_o he_o will_v not_o take_v it_o ill_a that_o we_o do_v honour_n to_o his_o saint_n for_o his_o sake_n no_o more_o than_o the_o king_n son_n will_v be_v displease_v with_o the_o people_n for_o honour_v those_o who_o be_v he_o and_o his_o father_n favourite_n t._n our_o lord_n will_v not_o be_v displease_v with_o we_o for_o give_v to_o his_o saint_n that_o honour_n which_o be_v due_a to_o they_o which_o be_v that_o we_o honour_v their_o memory_n bless_v god_n for_o they_o and_o above_o all_o that_o we_o follow_v their_o good_a example_n but_o it_o must_v needs_o be_v displease_v to_o he_o for_o we_o to_o give_v they_o any_o part_n of_o that_o honour_n which_o be_v due_a to_o himself_o the_o only_a mediator_n betwixt_o god_n and_o man_n as_o we_o be_v plain_o teach_v 1_o tim._n 2._o 5._o l._n it_o be_v true_a they_o say_v there_o be_v only_o one_o mediator_n of_o redemption_n but_o there_o be_v more_o for_o intercession_n viz._n angel_n and_o saint_n t._n this_o distinction_n be_v pure_o of_o their_o own_o coin_n without_o any_o ground_n from_o holy_a scripture_n and_o therefore_o just_o to_o be_v reject_v nor_o yet_o do_v they_o keep_v true_a to_o this_o when_o they_o talk_v of_o saint_n merit_v not_o only_o for_o themselves_o but_o for_o other_o which_o be_v to_o make_v they_o in_o some_o measure_n mediator_n of_o redemption_n but_o to_o our_o purpose_n whatever_o prayer_n either_o saint_n or_o angel_n may_v put_v up_o for_o we_o we_o have_v no_o warrant_n from_o god_n to_o put_v up_o any_o to_o they_o nor_o be_v we_o allow_v to_o make_v use_n of_o any_o other_o mediator_n but_o jesus_n christ_n alone_o by_o who_o our_o person_n and_o service_n be_v recommend_v to_o god_n acceptance_n l._n but_o they_o common_o plead_v that_o we_o may_v fit_o make_v use_n of_o angel_n and_o saint_n to_o present_v our_o prayer_n to_o god_n as_o when_o we_o have_v a_o petition_n to_o the_o king_n we_o desire_v some_o of_o his_o courtier_n to_o present_v it_o for_o we_o and_o this_o they_o say_v show_v more_o humility_n t._n there_o may_v be_v a_o show_n of_o humility_n in_o the_o worship_v of_o angel_n col._n 2.,18_o 23._o but_o this_o do_v not_o make_v it_o lawful_a since_o there_o be_v not_o in_o it_o that_o true_a humility_n which_o be_v best_a express_v by_o obedience_n for_o god_n require_v no_o such_o thing_n at_o our_o hand_n nor_o have_v give_v we_o allowance_n for_o it_o and_o obedience_n be_v better_a than_o sacrifice_n better_a than_o such_o voluntary_a humility_n and_o will-worship_n neither_o do_v the_o comparison_n he_o bring_v fit_v the_o present_a case_n for_o it_o be_v a_o difficult_a thing_n for_o mean_a man_n to_o have_v access_n to_o prince_n and_o therefore_o they_o be_v glad_a of_o the_o assistance_n of_o courtier_n to_o present_v their_o petition_n but_o the_o god_n who_o we_o serve_v be_v most_o easy_a of_o access_n always_o near_o at_o hand_n a_o present_a help_n in_o trouble_n most_o infinite_o merciful_a and_o gracious_a ready_a to_o hear_v and_o receive_v the_o humble_a petition_n of_o the_o mean_a of_o his_o servant_n who_o come_v to_o he_o in_o the_o name_n of_o his_o son_n jesus_n our_o only_a mediator_n and_o advocate_n who_o will_v effectual_o intercede_v for_o all_o devout_a supplicant_n and_o a_o great_a dishonour_n it_o be_v to_o he_o to_o join_v other_o mediator_n with_o he_o as_o if_o he_o want_v their_o assistance_n for_o thus_o in_o a_o king_n court_n if_o it_o be_v make_v the_o peculiar_a privilege_n of_o the_o son_n to_o deliver_v all_o petition_n to_o his_o father_n he_o may_v just_o look_v on_o it_o as_o a_o neglect_n