rntercetfion is tobe under- the third SondayinLent. 'flood onely of -the Lining. Ser.22. 379 honour that heereceiues thereby,& the good that we reapeby it.AKing iswell pleafed that men fhould haue recourfe to his Fauorit, themore to honor him.It was agreathonour to Chrift (faithGregory Nazianzenjthat he wasthe Mediator betwixt ,God and Man. Saint Cyril giues the fame attribute to the Apoffles; andDeutrouomie,to Mofes,c 3fediurfui inter Deum&vos, ifloodbettveene the Lord andyou. But here is the differènce, That the Saints haueneedthat others fhould intercede forthem ; but our Sauiourhath no fitch need,fedacceditper teipfum,ad interpellandumpronobia,Al other Mediatorsare through our Sauior Chrift;& that prayer which bath not this mediation, Saint Aug:fline faith, That in ftead of re- moouiug finne,it reneweth finne. And Saint Ambrofe, That Chrift ought to be the Mouthby whichwe are to fpeake, theEyes by which weeare to looke,and the Hands by whichwee are tooffer. Ina word , TheSaintsof Godare verie powerful withGod, through Chriftour Lord. And therefore it isfaid,Whafo. tueryee.há11make theFather inmy namefhaIbegranteduntoyou. Somemake adoubt, Whither this betobe vnderftoodoftheSaints that are Iiuing, orthofe that aredead That it is meantof the liuing , thereare many proofes thereofin Scripture. To ids friends God faid , Goe to myferuant lob, andmyfiruant lobfhakpray foryou ;forI willaccept him, &c. 4bimileekehauing ta- tenawaySarab,and God threatnìng him with death,and the King pleading ig- norance inhis excufc;God faidvnto him, Giue e.Abrahamhis wife again, andhe .hall rayfor thee,andthou.halt lime. Mofes by hisinterceffion procuredthe pardon of fixe hundredthoufand perfons. The People faidvnto Somme l, Doe not thou craft toprayforvs. Saint. Stephenprayedfor thofe that (toned him to death ; And by his prayer(faith Saint viugufline) Paul was reduced to theChurch. In the Ship,thefame Apoftlebyprayer, preferuedthe linesoftwohundredfeuentyfix perfons. Saint Baftl citesthat placeofDauid, The eyes of the Lordare upon the Righteow,&Mearesare openvino their crie. Thofe two formes which Iofephhad in Ægypt,EphraimandManaffes,the one fignifyingforgetfulneffe, the other Pro- fperitic,Jacobadopted themfor hisown; Sicmt Reuben6. Simeonreputabuntmr mi- hi. Properties askesthe queftion,Why Jacob hawing fomany fonnes, would adopt thefetwoof tefephratherthan thereffc Andhe anfwererh itthus,that bfiphs for- gettingofhis former troubles, and the profperitie which he now enioyed, was procuredby the prayersand tearer of Jacob. Hefioodouer her andrebukedthe Feuer . Our Sauiour vied this ceremonie,faith Saint Chryfoflome,the better to couer anddiffemble the miracle, to the end that he might notas thenmake his Diuinitic fo manifeft vnto them. And as your Phyfitians arewoont ftedily to beholdthe colourandcomplexionof theSicke, looke onhis tongue, and feele his pulfe ; fo in amanner our Sauiour Chrift vfed the likekind of ceremonies, hauing avigilant eye ouer thofe that are foule-fick, and what courseis tobetaken forthecuringofa penitentSinner, and to know how to diftinguifhbetwixt leaprofie andleaprofie. ManyoftheSaintsdid, the better todiffemble their miracles,vfeceremonies,though therewas noneceflï- tieof them,nor wereeffenriallfor thatbufineffe : fo the Apoftlesbylayingtheir hands ontheSicke didheale them. Secgndly,Saintc- wathewfaith, 7etigit manmmcites, The touch of the hand was enough tocure thefick: forthe fleibof ourSauior ChrifE,forthat it was the flefh ofGod,gaue lifeand health to allthat toucht it, Virtuedei/lo exihat &ín'- ¿'it mines, 4certainevertuewent outfromhim andcuredallmen. Our Flefhwill in- fedother flefhwith it's fickeneffe, but health and life was apriuiledge appertai. nine onely toour Sauiour Chrifts flefh, which (asit is noted bySaint Aagufiine and Dent. s, lob 42. Geu.ao. EXOd.3 z. tReg.y. Prat.34. Vaine-Elorie cttermore to beauoydtd.
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