then, would we deny this of the saints? "O Lord of hosts,"
said the angels, "how long wilt thou not have mercy on
Jerusalem and on the cities of Judah, against which thou hast
had indignation? And the Lord answered the angel that talked
with me comfortable words." Zech. 1:12, 13. Job likewise
testifies: "If there be an angel with him speaking, one
among a thousand, to show unto man his uprightness, he will
pity him and say, Deliver him from going down to the pit."
Job 33:23, 24. This is clear besides from the words of that
holy soul, John the Evangelist, when he says: "The four
beasts and the four and twenty elders fell down before the
Lamb, having each one of them harps and golden vials, full of
odors which are the prayers of saints," Rev. 5:8; and
afterwards: "An angel stood at the altar, having a golden
censer, and there was given unto him much incense, that he
should offer it with the prayers of al saints upon the
golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of
the incense, which came up with the prayers of the saints,
ascended up before God out of the angel's hand." Lastly, St.
Cyprian the martyr more than twelve hundred and fifty years
ago wrote to Pope Cornelius, Book I, Letter 1, asking that
"if any depart first, his prayer for our brethren and sisters
may not cease." For if this holy man had not ascertained that
after this life the saints pray for the living, he would have
given exhortation to no purpose. Neither is their Confession
strengthened by the fact that there is one Mediator between
God and men, 1 Tim. 2:5; 1 John 2:1. For although His
Imperial Majesty, with the entire Church, confesses that
there is one Mediator of redemption, nevertheless the
mediators of intercession are many. Thus Moses was both