Downame - BV209_D69_G6_1640_v1

6z That Saints departedare not to be prayed unto: 8. Reafon. I I I. To leave God, who hath commanded us to call upon him, and hath promifed to heare us, and is moft willing and onely able to help us, and to xun to the Saints, who neither have commanded us, as having no fuch authoritie, nor have promifed to heare and help us, as having no fuch power, yea are fo farre from hearing and helping that they neither know us nor our defres, and fo farre from com- manding us to call Upon them as they have forbid= den us fo to do, and always direéìed us to call upon God, Ads i o. 26. and 14, r 5, is a thing in religion impious and in reafon abfurd. 4.Reafon. I V. To call upon Saints is a thing molt injuri- ous unto God and Chrift our Saviour : derogatorie from the glory of God, as though they were either more ready to heare, or more willing or more able to help us; or that we had more confidence in their love then in the mercies of God and interceffion of Chrift our Saviour. -objet!. But it is lawful! to intreat the Saints upon earth to pray for us ; why then may we not delire the Saints in heaven much more to pray to God for us: Info. i To intreat the Saints `living on earth to pray for us hath warrant in the Scriptures, as having been a dutie injoyned by God, Gen.2o.7. Job 42.8. Jam. 5.14.,i 6. and an prac`Iiced by the faithfull,Rom, 5. 30. Ephef. 6. ¡9. But praying to Saints departed hath no warrant in the Scriptures , as the Papifis themfelves are forced to confefi'e. Nay, it is dire- - ly forbidden; and thofc which do it commit two evils, forfaking God the fountain of living waters, 4nddigging out to themfelves cifferns, broken ciflerns that