Downame - BV209_D69_G6_1640_v1

That Saints departed are not to be prayed unto. that can hold no water, jer. a. 13. They worfhip the creature 7rrte.9 7LP ;t7;Td 1a, Rom. r. 25. prxterito Crea- tore, palling by the Creatour, ut Hilarius interpreta- tur De Trinitate lib.' 2. 2. The Saints living with us are acquainted with our perfons and our wants, and therefore may pray in particular for us,. and fo cannot the Saints de- parted. 3. The requeft made in this behalf to the faith - full living is a civil intreaty of a Chriftian duty,but as it is made to the Saints departed, it is a religious invocation of them to do that for us which is the peculiar office of the Mediatour. Neither do they onely intreat the Saints to pray for us, and delire God that for the merits & interceílion of the Saints he would grant their defires, which is to give the office of Chrift to them : But alfo they delire the Saints themfelves to beftow upon them fuch blef- fings as they delire both fpirituall and temporal!, and to avert from them fuch evils as they fear. Wherein the Papifts have made the Saints to fuc- ceed the heathen gods, afcribing unto them their fe- verall offices and fun6ions, infomuch that there is no countrey, citie, or town, but hath certain Saints to patronize them,as the heathen had their tutelares deos: no trade or occupation which bath not a pecu- liar Saint ; no kind of cattel or tame fowl which have not their patrones; no kind of difeafe but fome Saint or other is called upon for the curing thereof, as the dii averrunci,or gaPTP677M4015 among the heathen. So that ifthere were no other fault in Popery, their idolatry were fufíîcient caufe of feparation from them. But