CHAPTER V.—OF THE ADORATION, WORSHIP, AND INVOCATION OF GOD THROUGH THE ONLY MEDIATOR JESUS CHRIST.
We teach to adore and worship the true God alone. This honor we impart to none, according to the commandment of the Lord, ‘Thou shalt adore the Lord thy God, and him alone shalt thou worship,’ or ‘him only shalt thou serve’ (Matt. iv. 10). Surely all the prophets inveighed earnestly against the people of Israel whensoever they did adore and worship strange gods, and not the only true God.
But we teach that ‘God is to be adored and worshiped,’ as himself has taught us to worship him—to wit, ‘in spirit and in truth’ (John iv. 24); not with any superstition, but with sincerity, according to his word, lest at any time he also say unto us, ‘Who hath required these things at your hands?’ (Isa. i. 12; Jer. vi. 20). For Paul also says, ‘God is not worshiped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing,’ etc. (Acts xvii. 25).
We, in all dangers and casualties of life, call on him alone, and that by the mediation of the only Mediator, and our Intercessor, Jesus Christ. For it is expressly commanded us, ‘Call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me’ (Psa. l. 15). Moreover, the Lord has made a most large promise, saying, ‘Whatsoever ye shall ask of my Father, he shall give it you’ (John xvi. 23); and again, ‘Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest’ (Matt. xvi. 28). And seeing it is written, ‘How shall they call upon him in whom they have not believed?’ (Rom. x. 14), and we do believe in God alone; therefore we call upon him only, and that through Christ. For ‘there is one God,’ says the apostle, ‘and one mediator between God and men, Christ Jesus’ (1 Tim. ii. 5). Again, ‘If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous,’ etc. (1 John ii. 1).
Therefore we do neither adore, worship, nor pray unto the saints in heaven, or to other gods; neither do we acknowledge them for our intercessors or mediators before the Father in heaven. For God and the mediator Christ do suffice us; neither do we impart unto others the honor due to God alone and to his Son, because he has plainly said, ‘I will not give my glory to another’ (Isa. xli. 8); and because Peter has said, ‘There is no other name given unto men, whereby they must
