The general subject is the conduct of those who have professed celibacy, whilst of the invocation of saints no trace whatever is to be found.  The passages most closely bearing on the point before us are to the following effect: 

The writer urges Christians to be careful to maintain good works, especially in the cause of charity, visiting the sick and afflicted, praying with them, and praying for them, and persevering always in prayer; asking and seeking of God in joy and watchfulness, without hatred or malice.  In the Lord’s husbandry, he says, it well becomes us to be good workmen, who are like the Apostles, imitating the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, who are ever anxious for the salvation of men.

“Therefore (he adds, at the close of the first of these Epistles) let us look to and imitate those faithful ones, that we may behave ourselves as is meet in the Lord.  So shall we serve the Lord, and please him, in righteousness and justice without a stain.  Finally, farewell in the Lord, and rejoice in the Lord, all ye holy ones.  Peace and joy be with you from God the Father, by Jesus Christ our Lord.”] {83}

Ch. 21.  “Take heed, beloved, lest the many loving-kindnesses of the Lord prove our condemnation, if we do not live as is worthy of him, nor do with one accord what is good and well-pleasing in his sight....  Let us consider how nigh to us he is, and that nothing of our thoughts or reasonings is concealed from him.  Justice it is that we should not become deserters from his will....  Let us venerate the Lord Jesus, whose blood was given for us.”

Ch. 29.  “Let us then approach him in holiness of soul, lifting up holy and undefiled hands towards him; loving our merciful and tender Father who hath made us a portion of his elect.” {84}

Ch. 36.  “This is the way, beloved, in which we find Jesus Christ our salvation, the chief-priest of our offerings, our protector, and the succourer of our weakness.  By him let us look stedfastly to the heights of heaven; by him let us behold his most high and spotless face:  by him the eyes of our heart are opened; by him our ignorant and darkened minds shoot forth into his marvellous light; by him the Supreme Governor willed that we should taste immortal knowledge:  who, being the brightness of his magnificence, is so much greater than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.”

Ch. 49.  “He who hath love in Christ, let him keep the commandments of Christ.  Who can tell of the bond of the love of God?  The greatness of his goodness who can adequately express?...  Love unites us to God....  By love the Lord took us; by the love which he had for us Christ our Lord gave his blood for us by the will of God, and his flesh for our flesh, and his life for our lives.”

Ch. 56.  “Let us pray for those who are in any transgression, that meekness and humility may be granted to them; that they may submit, not to us, but to the will of God; for thus to them will the remembrance towards God and the saints, with mercies, be fruitful and perfect[29].”