forasmuch as JESVS mediates as well by his Nature and Substance as by his Office and Operation being God and Man in One Person then because he pays a condign Price to the fullness of our Debt and not only prays for us also that he pleads in virtue of his own Merits not in right of Adoption but of Filiation whereas the Mediation of holy Mary is only by way of Supplication Conc. Chalced. act 11. Synod 6. c. 7. originally depending on her Adoption by preserving Grace through Gods free Gift and Christs foreseen Merits though with pre-eminence to all Pure Creatures and therefore to a most sublime degree of insuring our Hopes Protecting our Persons and obtaining Gods Mercies by the Efficacy of her Prayers according to the proportion of that Her pre-eminent acceptableness LVIII Neither doth Gods absolute Soveraignty over all Creatures unquestionable Power to relieve all their wants and Miseries and Fatherly invitation of All to come to Him and to plead at the Bar of his Mercies make void that Duty of Servitude all owe to their Betters according to the several degrees of their Civil or Sacred preference or restrain that charming force of the Mediation of the Saints in their sub-ordinate Stations of Glory which Christ allows to the Prayers of Sinners however detestable through their Crimes and Rebellions against God or absolutely interdict our Addresses to God by his Favourites considering on the one side the awfulness of Gods Majesty and mans unworthiness by sin and on the other all the due Qualifications of glorious Creatures to obtain of God what through the Merits of JESVS we petition by Them either from the reflection on our own Demerits or from the efficacy of our Communion with them in our Requests For which Reason the great Apostle of the Gentiles thought it not in the least to derogate from the Absolute Dominion of God the Efficacy of his Power or the condescendency of his Fatherly Care for us when with repeated Instances he begs his Converts to pray to God for Him Rom. 15.30 Eph. 6.19 Col. 4.3 1 Thes 5.25 Hebr. 13.18 Much less can it Eclipse the Majesty and Lustre of Gods Royalties that Sinners conscious of their unworthiness and dreading Gods Holiness humbly Venerate and Pray to Holy Mary to offer up her Requests unto Her so gracious Father Son and Spouse for our relief since Gods excessive Love hath so copiously qualifi'd Her with the most sublime Prerogatives of her Divine Maternity and a proportion'd Innocency and Holiness whereby to render Her Person and Petitions more acceptable to himself and her Devotes more active in their Addresses and more confident of success in their humble and reasonable Suits This is a Demonstration drawn from the Intrinsick Merits of the Cause and frequently insisted upon by the Holy Fathers in their Doctrine and Practice concerning this super-eminent Sacred and Religious Worship of holy Mary Though still with an indispensable subordination to and dependency on JESVS the Son of the eternal God our Soveraign Mediator and Peace-maker and the head spring of all our Hopes and of all Mercy Grace and Glory and also of the several sub-ordinate degrees of the acceptableness of the Saints in their Petitions to God for us and consequently of that first Rank the holy Mother of JESVS challenges thereby in the Hierarchy of our glorious Petitioners and of all those superlative Praises Titles of honour Marks of internal Worship and Mediation of Intercession asserted and practic'd in our Innocent Contemplations 1. as Pious in giving due Veneration to a glorified Creature of her Excellent Stile and Grandeur without offence to the God of all Grace and Glory 2. And useful by inviting all the Disciples of JESVS to worship God so glorious in the Queen of Saints and Angels and to seek Mercy from JESVS through the powerful Mediation of the holy Mother of JESVS Sect. XV. That the Exaltation of the Holy Mother of JESUS above all the Choires of glorified Creatures renders not the Contemplations useless to Christians LIX HAving clearly evidenc'd from the true Motive Rule and proper End of the Worship of the Saints That our Catholick Devotions address'd to Them and upon more pressing Arguments super-eminently due to the holy Mother of JESVS can no way prejudice the undispensable Right Measure and terminative Object of our Divine Worship due to God and to Him only and moreover that they are Pious in themselves due to the Saints and useful to the needy humble and confident Petitioner I shall finish this Apology with a further Illustration of two Material Points First That the transcendent Glory of the holy Mother of JESUS above all the Choires of Saints and Angels can be no just Plea against the use and benefit of the Contemplations Secondly That the Contemplations are only a Continuation of the Ancient Practice of the Catholick Church recommended unto us by the Consent and Tradition of the Holy Fathers through all past Ages LX. As to the first Position The Opposers of the Contemplations do allow first That the Saints in Heaven do pray for us here on Earth then That Sinners may also pray unto the Saints still their Fellow-Citizens in this World wherefore thirdly if the glorious Saints in Heaven can know by any Means the Requests we Sinners here make to them It will demonstratively follow That it is both lawful and beneficial to invocate those glorious Citizens of Heaven Gods Favourites and our Friends To the same intent that they now pray for us and after the same manmer we now pray to the yet living Members of Christ LXI Now That it is possible The Saints in Heaven should know our Petitions here made to Them seems easily enough conceivable without giving those glorious Creatures either a Divine Being or a Con-subsistence in a Divine Person or any Divine Attribute of All-presence or All-knowingness First from the Amplitude of Gods Power to which we must allow some Operations whose Means and Methods the most subtile created Capacity comprehends not especially Mans by Nature or Sin confin'd to sensible and sublunary Productions as is manifest in the System of the heavenly Bodies Generation of Winds Motion of Seas Convayance of Sounds c. which wonders of Nature Philosophy however clear-sighted could never discover to the satisfaction of All. Secondly From the successful Attempts of Art especially in this Ingenious Age in the discovery of Acustick Tubes and Ophthalmick Instruments for the convayance of very distant Material Objects to the Ear and Eye Thirdly From most certain Matter of Fact bearing proportion with our Lemma For Samuel knew the Secrets of King Saul Elizeus of his Servant Giezi and of the King of Syria Daniel of Nebuchodonozor St. Peter of Ananias and the holy Prophets of Persons Places and Times distant 1 Reg. 9.19 l. 4.5.25 cap. 6.9 Dan. 2.26 Act. 5.1 LXII Fourthly From the Manner How this knowledge of our Petitions may probably be convay'd unto or acquir'd
HER humble Clients though con-naturally engrafted on and inseparable from the Sacred Stock of HER Divine Maternity Innocency and Holiness whereby SHE incomparably transcends the Highest Choires of the Glorious Angels As the Kings Daughter amongst the Trains of Honourable Women and as the QVEEN standing at his Right Hand clad in a Mantle of Gold embroider'd with Jewels of an Infinite Variety Ps 44. ver 9. Whom the brightest Seraphim by a Divine Commission proclaims Blessed above All Luke c. 1. v. 28. Whom the Holy Ghost commands to be pronounced GLORIOVS by all Tongues and through all Ages Ib. v. 48. Whom The Daughters of Tyre shall present with their richest Offerings To whom the Powers of the Earth shall bend their Knee and offer their Prayers Ps 44. v. 12. Whom the Daughters of the Heavenly Sion admire amidst the Splendors and Perfumes of HER Glory And whom the QUEENS of the Earth with their Troops of Ladies and Maids of Honour have praised as the Glory of their Sex their Myrour of Perfection and the liveliest Idea of Christian Majesty and Grandeur Cant. c. 6. v. 8. It may indeed be some ground of just Admiration to the Criticks of this curious Age who nicely pry into the hidden Causes of all Truths however lock'd up in the privatest Closet of Gods All-knowing Breast who reveals Them Why the Evangelists who by Divine Inspiration compiled the Sacred Gospel of JESUS for direction of our Christian Faith and Worship speak so sparingly of the many stupendious Mysteries of the Life and Glory of Holy MARY the Mother of JESUS Whereas they so exactly enlarge themselves in reporting the Grand Mystery of Christian Religion the most transcendent Sacrament of Gods Love to Man the Prodigy of the Almighties Power and Providence for Mans Sanctification and Glory the Incarnation of Gods only Son Equal and Con-substantial to Himself especially since Holy MARY had so near a Report to that amazing Wonder of Mercy and did thereby lay the Noble Foundation of our Christian Faith of all our Religious Duties open the rich Source of our Sanctification and super-natural Felicity and erect the Basis of all the sublime Grandeurs of Her own surpassing Innocency Holiness and Glory But Madam this Grand Motive of Mans Admiration is the very True Reason of those Divine Scribes profound Silence If that Voice may be call'd Silence which with loudest Ecchoes proclaims Holy Maries Immense Prerogatives and fills Heaven and Earth with a Sacred Amazement of the Prodigy of Gods Love in the Amplitude and Magnificence of her Excellency Perfections and Splendour For her Divine Maternity once allow'd it by a connatural sequel of a Wise and Gracious Providence ushers in all the stupendious Train of super-eminent Gifts and Priviledges Catholick Tradition and the most ambitious Affections of HER devout Clients can attribute to the most Innocent most Holy most Glorious Mother of JESUS Thus the design of the sacred Publishers of the Gospel of JESUS being to proclaim to the World the Mysteries of JESUS and therein to create a Belief of the Divinity of the Son of Holy Mary of the Sacraments of his Mercy and of the Wonders of his Grace This marvellous Alliance of Divine JESUS to Holy MARY is the most lofty the most voluminous and most illustrious Panegyrick possibly to be utter'd to the Majesty of the most excellent and most perfect PURE CREATURE and will extend the Glory and Veneration of the Mother of JESUS as far as any Apostle or Preacher of Christian Truth ever did or ever shall carry the Empire Majesty and Glory of the holy Name of JESUS This St. Matthew seems openly to express when having reckon'd up the renown'd Genealogy of JESUS as Man descending from the most powerful Monarchs the most illuminated Prophets and most Victorious Captains the Sun ever beheld He makes a brief Transition to his Divine Nature according to the Prediction of Esay c. 7. v. 14. thence to shew in short what an Eminent Creature how richly qualified in all degrees of Excellency Holy Mary must be since JESUS that great God-Man was born of MARY Matt. c. 1. v. 16. So that Madam this one Glorious Title of the Mother of JESUS summs up in a word whatever Excellencies possibly by the Almighty Power of God may meet in One PVRE CREATVRE whereby suitably to Gods miraculous Design to fit Her to that Ineffable Grandeur of a Mother of GOD which con-naturally creates the most Illustrious Idea of a Creature by Birth the noblest and most Beautiful by Grace the Holiest and most Innocent and by Predestination the Happiest and most Powerful the Providence of an Omnipotent God of all Glory the Wisdom of a most endearing Lord of all Majesty and the Tenderness of a most liberal Father of all pure Lights could prepare in the Divine bosom of holy MARY for the Reception Inauguration Espousals and Priest-hood of his Son JESUS No wonder then that the Evangelists of the Glory of JESUS having proclaim'd holy MARY the Mother of JESUS and thereby laid a most solid Foundation whereon to build up a most Magnificent Temple of Glory to the holy Name of MARY They leave the Superstructures of all Her Super-eminent Praises Titles of Honour Worship and Invocation to be propagated and finish'd by the holy emulous Tongues Pens and Affections of all succeeding Ages And herein the sacred Design of Providence hath been already so stupendiously successful that there seems to have been an holy Envy in the most Illustrious Persons of all States Nations and Times of the Catholick Church even from the first blossoming of Christianity to these days wherein through the Mercy of our good God the Zeal of our gracious Soveraign and the Piety of your Sacred Majesty the Buds and Blossoms of Christian Religion begin again to appear in these Lands and the Brittish Empire speaks the Language of the Saints in her publick Oratories and Liturgies to Magnifie the Name of holy Mary the Mother of JESVS to Worship Her Prerogatives and Royal Power and to crave Her Prayers and Protection Every True Christian inspir'd with the Spirit of the Discipleship of Her Son JESVS accounting it his special Duty to Praise and Honour the Memory of the Sacred Mother since they daily offer their Sacrifices at the Altars of the Son and to Petition holy Mary to become their Advocate at the Throne of Gods Mercy while they adore JESVS with their TEARS and AFFECTIONS These Madam be also the sublime Thoughts the Seraphick Desires the zealous Exercises of your Sacred Majesties Royal and Religious Breast in Imitation of your Illustrious Ancestors whose stately Fabricks rich Endowments and Exemplar Lives consecrated to the Memory of holy MARY the Mother of JESVS and who to propagate Her Grandeurs ennobled your Rising Sun at the Sacred Font with the Magnificent Name of MARY wherewith you now ennoble the Imperial Crown of the British Monarchy have enrich'd Your generous and lofty Soul with a pious Emulation of Her imitable
and Design being only a new model'd Continuation of the Devotions of our Fore-Fathers in several Ages Tongues and Nations supported by an uniform Tradition of Holy Fathers Doctors and Preachers and co-herent with the un-interrupted Authority of the suceeeding Chief Eminential and Representative Governours of the Catholick Church who are the Fathers of our Faith under Christ And certainly it must appear to any Rational and considering Christian to be an extream Folly and Insolent Madness according to St. Augustine's Rule Epist 118. ad Jan. to dispute a Catholick Doctrine and Duty which the whole Church hath canoniz'd as holy and profitable by her perpetual Acceptance and Practice and whose Opposers have still been branded with the vilest Notes and Characters of Ignominy by the undoubted Rulers and Pastors of that Church and accounted Violators of the Majesty Innocency Holiness and Glory of the Son while they abrogate or impair the Honour of his Divine Sanctuary Holy Mary the Mother of JESVS For the Ignominy and Scorns past on the Parent is also the contumely of the Child Eccl. 3.13 LXXIV Nor may we abridge the Veneration due to Holy Mary since her Son JESVS would not infringe a Rule of Honour to Her engrafted by Nature in All Children and by Grace confirm'd and recommended to all Luc. 2.51 Since the Holy Ghost hath through all States of Gods People since Adams Fall by the Pens of the Divine Writers pronounc'd the lofty and Magnificent Panegyricks of the Mother of JESVS Gen. 3.15 Psalm 86.3 Matt. 1.16 and since our Soveraign Lord has by a special Commission made all Christians adoptive Children of the Mother of JESVS and by his last breath oblig'd all to accept Her as such and to pay all those Marks of Honour to Her which may become that Duty and report we have to JESVS Jo. 19.27 So that there cannot be a greater Reproach cast upon a Christian next to his Apostacy from Christ by Heresie or Schism than to contaminate this holy Sanctuary of Christ by ravishing the Honour and Veneration due to Holy Mary who gave to JESVS those rich Springs of peace-making Blood which was the price of the World the Laver of our Souls and purchase of our Glory and by whom all Nations are bless'd In pursuance of which Magnificent Favours all Generations of the Catholick Church have been ever busie in the Praises Honour and Worship of that rich Fountain whence those precious Streams of super-natural Blessings issu'd and in courting Her by their humble Addresses for Protection and Intercession to God for us Whence such copious Blessings have already flow'd in the Souls of the Saints the living Images of God and Temples of his Sanctity Grace and Glory All which will manifestly appear by the following Testimonies of the Fathers in the several Ages of the Church carrying in themselves and handing unto us the sense and Practice of the Diffusive Church holding Communion with and Obedience to the Eminential and Representative Sect. XVII Illustrious Testimonies of the Reverence of the first Age of the Church towards the Holy Mother of JESUS as a Rule to all succeeding Ages thereof LXXV THE first Age offers to us the sacred and venerable Testimonies of the holy Evangelists Apostles and some Fathers of the Infant Church of Christ though only glancing briefly at the eminent Priviledges Perfections and Merits of this Divine Creature and the consequent efficacy of her Power at the throne of Mercy of her Son JESVS Under which Heads they have left unto all following Ages the most Illustrious and pithy Panegyricks on the Mother of God that could ever be proclaim'd by the Tongue of Men or Angels that have served to all succeeding Doctors and Preachers through all Nations as Theams for their Sermons and Orations and which are of that Majesty and efficacy as to bend the knees of all Pure Creatures unto her as their powerful Queen and Advocate LXXVI First then as to the Illustrious Prerogatives of Holy Mary she is stiled the Spouse of the Holy Ghost (a) What is born in Mary is of the Holy Ghost Matt. 1.20 The Holy Ghost shall come down upon Thee and the Virtue of the most High shall over-shadow Thee Luke 1.35 Matt. 1.20 Luc. 1.35 The Mother of JESVS (b) Of Mary is born JESVS Matt. 1.16 This is the Son of Mary Mark 6.2 Matt. 1.16 Mar. 6.2 and the Miraculous Instrument of the ineffable Vnion of Con-subsistence of God and Man in the Person of the eternal Word and the Rich Fountain of the Blood of JESVS saving on the Cross sanctifying in the Sacraments and pleading at the Tribunal of Gods Justice (c) Thou shalt call his Name JESVS for he shall save his People from their sins Matt. 1.21 He healed many of their Sicknesses and Sores and of evil Spirits and gave sight to many blind Luke 7.21 Neither is there any other Name under Heaven given to Men in which we have Right to be saved Act. 4.12 God fent his Son made of a Woman made subject to the Law that he might redeem those who were under the Law that we might receive the Adoption of Children Gal. 4.4 5. Thou wert slain and didst redeem us in thy blood Apoc. 5.9 Matt. 1.21 Luke 7.21 Act. 4.12 Gal. 4.4 5. Apoc. 5.9 Titles far above those of Queen of Angels and Refuge of Sinners LXXVII Next for the most sublime virtues of holy Mary The Evangelists recommend unto us Her fervent Practice of Divine Contemplation of Extatick Prayer and of giving praises to her Almighty Benefactor (a) Mary conserv'd all these words meditating on them in her heart Luke 2.19 All persever'd in Prayer with one accord with Mary the Mother of JESVS Act. 1.14 Let my Soul magnifie my Lord c. Luke 1.47 Luke 2.19 Act. 1.14 Luke 1.47 Her exeellent Faith. (b) Blessed art Thou who hast believed Luke 1.45 Luke 1.45 Admirable Purity (c) The Angel was sent to a Virgin espoused unto Joseph and the Name of the Virgin was Mary Luke 1.27 How shall this be done for I know not Man. 34. Let it be done to Me as thou hast said 38. Luke 1.27.34 38. Profound Humility (d) Behold the Handmaid of our Lord. Luke 1.38 Mary arising went to the Mountains 39. Luke 1.38 39. Perfect Obedience (e) Mary went to the Mountains in great hast Luke 1.39 Mary big with Child goes from Nazereth to Bethleem to obey the command of Caesar Luke 2.5 Luke 1.39 2.5 Her Fidelity and Obsequiousness (f) They found JESVS with Mary his Mother Matt. 2.11 Mary remained with Elizabeth about three months Luke 1.36 Matt. 2.11 Luke 1.56 Her incomparable Fortitude and Patience (g) Joseph goeth from Nazareth to Bethlehem with Mary his Spouse then big with Child Luke 2.4.5 Mary the Mother of JESVS stood near the Cross Jo. 19.25 The Sword of the Sorrows of JESVS shall penetrate thy very Soul. Luke 2.35 Luke 2.4 Jo. 19.25
that we sacrifice to any of the Saints but to the God of the Saints only though we erect Altars to God in remembrance of the Saints St. Isidore oft dilates himself in the Praises and Worship of holy Mary and shews that the Catholick Saint-Servitude derogates not from that Worship which is due to God only (d) Ildefons l. Virginit Mar. c. 12. Venio ad Te sola Virgo Mater Dei Procido coram Te humilior coram Te Rogo Te ut obtineas deleri facta peccati Mei ut jubeas mundari me ab iniquitate operis Mei ut facias me diligere gloriam Virtutis tuae ut reveles mihi multitudinem Dulcedinis Filii tui ut mihi des loqui defendere Fidei sinceritatem Filii tui Concedas etiam mihi adhaerere Deo Tibi Illi sicut factori meo Tibi sicut Genitrici factoris Mei c. I approach to Thee O only Virgin Mother of God I prostrate my self before Thee I humble my self before Thee I beseech Thee obtain the cancelling of all my sinful Works command me to be cleansed from the Iniquity of my Crimes make me covet the Glory of thy Virtues reveal unto me the Plenty of the sweetness of thy Son Grant that I may profess and defend the true Faith of thy Son and that I may adhere to God and Thee To Him as my Creator to Thee as to the Mother of my Creator c. And St. Ildephons prostrating himself before the holy Mother of God conjures her by whatever is Sacred and Mysterious in the Conception of the eternal Word to obtain of Him the Remission of his Sins to command his delivery from all Iniquity to render him emulous of her own transcendent Vertues and to give Him a relish of the delicious Treasures of the Love of JESVS XCI The Opposers of our Catholick Saint-Servitude as taught and used by Christians of all Ages and Nations of the Apostolical Church regarding more the rind and Criticism of Words than the Spirit and Truth of Christianity discover'd by the Holy Fathers are much offended at the Phrase of Command sometimes us'd in our Addresses to the Mother of JESVS in order to his Divine and Theandrick Operations appertaining to Mans Redemption and Sanctification by Grace as in this passage of St. Ildefons Thence inferring our manifest Idolatry in Worshipping and Invocating Holy MARY as the chief and absolute Soveraign over Souls and Author of Grace and Holiness Calvin l. 3. Instit c. 20. n. 22. Answer p. 25. Specul p. 17. XCII But as the erecting of Temples and Consecrating Altars therein under the Patronage and Protection of Holy Mary the Mother of JESVS and the Ordaining Priests to offer Sacrifice there upon Her Festivals or the Imposing her Sacred Name in Baptismal Regeneration or making Holy Vows of Evangelical Perfection in a Religious Society establish'd in Memory of some Excellent Mystery of her Life c. cannot be reputed Idolatry because none of these Acts are design'd immediately properly and absolutely to Holy Mary but to God only the Supream Lord of all Creatures though by Appropriation performed in Remembrance of Her or of some Mystery relating to Christ or of some signal Favour obtain'd of Christ by her more powerful Intercession and Protection as by a super-eminent Saint a more glorious Image of the Divine Perfections and most endear'd Favourite in the Court of Heaven gratefully piously and duely acknowleg'd by those our external Acts So neither can those sensible Marks of that great Confidence Catholicks conceive of the power of the holy Mother of JESVS within his Spiritual Empire in Requesting Her to bestow Temporal or Spiritual Gifts or even to command us to be cleansed from sin which cannot be done but by the power of JESVS only in the known sense of the holy Church he esteem'd an Invasion of Gods Imperial Power or a Giving to Holy Mary that Religious Worship which is proper to JESVS the Son of the eternal God who alone is the absolute Creator and Giver of Life Light Grace and of all Good Things Eph. 2.8 Jac. 1.17 And the Soveraign Lord of All by Essence and indispensably in whole and in part Levit. 19.4 Ps 23.1 Insomuch that although God covenanting with his Church to assist her Governours Eminential or Representative in Teaching all Truth to co-operate with her Ministers of Sacraments in Sanctifying well-dispos'd Believers and to give Life everlasting to Faithful Laborours in his Vineyard with proportion to their Merits in Christ by Virtue of his Fidelity whereby his promise and performance still run parallel Matt. 28.20 Jo. 20.23 Scot. 4. d. 1. q. 5. n. 12. 2 Tim. 4.8 Trid. Sess 6. c. ult Yet in Right of Gods Essential Supremacy over all Creatures and Independency on all no Creature of whatever Spiritual magnitude can claim any Gift of his Mercy or power over his Will upon any strict Obligation of Justice Alens p. 1. q. 39. m. 1. D. Thom. q. 21. a. 1. D. Bon. 4. d. 46. a. 2. q. 1. Scot. q. 1. n. 4. 11. Smif tom 1. disp 4. q. 5. n. 45. But as St. Aug. 1. Conf. 4. says he gives what 's due though Debter to none because as St. Anselm remarks Prosolog c. 10. God is Just not giving as due but doing what becomes his Infinite Goodness upon his promise passed in his Gospel of Truth and Grace under the Seals of his most tender Love to Believers XCIII Whence 't is manifest according to the Doctrine and Spirit of the Catholick Church First that Faith Remission of sins and sanctifying Grace are not the principal proper and Physical Gifts of any however glorious Creature Secondly that God is not rigorously subject to any power beneath himself as to the dispensing his Gifts and Graces to us Thirdly That therefore whatever the Forms of our Prayers are their design is only to desire Gods gracious and glorified Servants to pray for us and according to the amplitude of their participated super-natural Dignity and the acceptableness of their Prayers according to the Measure of that Dignity covenanted for in the Gifts of Grace earnestly and effectually to obtain of God those Gifts for us purely by their Mediation of Intercession with God according to the known Decree of this Sixth General Council under Pope Agatho c. 7. Vnusquisque Christianus solo Deo adorato invocet Sanctos ut pro se intercedere apud Divinam Majestatem dignentur Having given Divine Worship to God only let every Christian pray to the Saints that they would vouchsafe to interceed to the Divine Majesty for them Syn. Constant Gen. 6. c. 7. And according to the practice of the Fathers of the Fourth General Council under Pope Leo the Great act 11. Flavianus post mortem Vivit Martyr pro nobis oret Flavian though dead lives Let the Martyr pray for us Syn. Gen. Chalced. act 11. XCIV Wherefore although according to the true Spirit of the Gospel of JESVS Catholicks
maintain this pious and useful point of Saint-Servitude in General and in a special Manner do encourage Christians to a super-eminent Worship and Invocation of the holy Mother of JESVS while they not only recommend unto us an Imitation of the sublime Vertues of the Saints Trid. Sess 25. Decr. de Invoc § Illud vero and a Veneration of their Persons and Representatives by reason of those Vertues by which they are the Living Members and Temples of the Holy Ghost § Sanctorum (b) Declarat Sancta Synodus non esse suae Intentionis comprehendere in hoc decreto ubi de peccato Originali agitur Beatam Immaculatam Virginem Mariam Dei Genitricem sed observandas esse constitutiones Sixt P. 4. quas innovat This Holy Council declares that it intends not in this Decree of Original Sin to comprehend the Blessed and Immaculate Virgin Mary Mother of God but that the Constitutions of Sixtus the Fourth be observed which are hereby renewed Vid. Const 1. Cum praeexcelsa where Holy Mary is call'd the Queen of Heaven Way of Mercy Mother of Grace Friend of Piety comfort of Mankind and the earnest and watchful Petitioner of the King of Hcaven her Son for the Salvation of the Faithful oppressed with the burthen of their Sins But moreover lays a most solid Foundation and Motive of all the super-natural Grandeurs and consequent duty of super-eminent Worship and Invocation of the holy Mother of JESVS for as much as that in regard of her inneffable Priviledge of her Divine Maternity they will not conclude Her under the General Curse of Original Sin Sess 5. Decret de peccat Orig. § declarat whereby they shew their high Opinion of the exuberant Amplitude of the Grace Holiness and Glory of the Blessed Virgin her super-eminent Merits and Acceptableness to God and of that Veneration upon such pressing Motives due to Her with a firm Confidence in the Success of her Protection and Prayers (c) Vid. Beauxamis l. de Cult Sanct. c. 24. Castro Verb. Sancti Lindan l. 3. Panopl Eck. Euchyr c. 15. Perez p. 3. de Tradit Grysald Decis q. 27. Jod Cocc t. 1. Thes l. 3. seqq Caenis Marial l. 5. c. 6. Besides these Fathers this Learned and Zealous Age affords innumerable eminent Doctors who abundantly maintain this Article of Saint-super-eminent Servitude against the Assaults of Luther Calvin and other Innovators as most Ancient Pious and Vseful to all who believe confide in and hope for the Communion of Saints Sect. XXXIII That the Innocency Equity and Antiquity of the Super-eminent Veneration and Invocation due to Holy Mary with Magnificent Praises and Titles of Honour ought to be acknowledg'd by all True Believers CVI. AS for this present Age wherein we now live if we humbly cast an Eye back on the Chain of this Doctrine and Devotion which links us fast to the Apostles Times and to the Oracles of the Evangelists Angels and Christ deliver'd by them in favour of the Excellencies of holy Mary which are thence handed to us and are from intrinsical Causes supported by the super-eminent Priviledges of the ever-Innocent most holy and Glorious Mother of JESVS the Soveraign Mediator of Men and Angels can we believe and hope in JESVS and not bless holy Mary by whom we have JESVS can we love JESVS and not Honour his Sanctuary wherein the power of the Almighty made â—â—e Word Flesh to abide with us Can we apprehend the Idea of a Mother of JESVS beautified with all the Excellencies of Nature and Grace con-naturally sitting her for so stupendious an Operation and now glorious in Heaven next beneath JESVS and not bend our knee with an humble acknowledgement of that her unaccessible Grandeur Or can we conceive her nearness to God Her clear sight of the infinite Myrrour of all Creatures Her co-operation to Mans Redemption and Holiness and Her exuberant fullness of Charity and yet deny that she offers her Prayers still to JESVS for us and knows those Wants Tears and Prayers which we powre forth in the presence of her Son JESVS Surely such impregnable Motives drawn from Authorities Reasons and Obligations so convincing should effectually induce any sincere Enquirer of Truth and not prepossessed by Passion or Party to confess the Innocency Equity and Antiquity of the Veneration and Invocation of holy Mary asserted in the Contemplations on her Life and Glory and that its propagation and practice through the Christian World of all Tongues Ages and Manners must be according to St. Augustine's Rule l. 22. Civ c. 7. An effect of Gods Power and not of Mans Perswasion And that as Richard of St. Victor speaks l. 1. Trin. c. 2. If it be an Errour it proceeds from the irrefragable Authority of Truth it self speaking by such Signs and Wonders as are proper to God only CVII Yet further even in this Critical Age which nicely searches the most authentick Records of Time Monuments of Councils and Fathers Authorities of Miracles and Opinions of School-men Panegyrists and Mystical Divines there be so many Illustrious Assertors of this true and solid Devotion towards the holy Mother of JESVS so many conspicuous Testimonies of the Judgement of our Chief Bishops amplifying the Sacred Mysteries of holy Mary erecting Monuments in Honour of her Name establishing Festivals for an encouragement of the Doctrine and Practice of this super-eminent Saint-Servitude and in condemning the pretended Zeal of some few scatter'd Members who against the whole torrent of the Catholick World have lately endeavour'd to asperse this Worship and Invocation through a pretended Indiscretion of some too credulous Devotees finally there be so many convincing Arguments of its Innocency Equity and Antiquity drawn from the constant Practice of the Catholick Church diffusive in solemnizing the Mysteries of the holy Mother of JESVS frequenting Oratories dedicated to God under her Memory and registring themselves Disciples of Christian Perfection in Religious Orders Confraternities and Sodalities establish'd by Church-Authority under some Illustrious Mystery of Holy Mary for the improvement of Virtue with marvellouâ— Success through all Nations of the Christiaâ— World That it were too great an Insolency to impeach this Truth and Custom either of Novelty or Superstition CVIII Conclude we then That super-eminent Praises Titles of Honour Veneration and Invocation of Prayer are due to the holy Mother of JESVS being drawn from Motives so Just of the Almighties Love and Bounty to Her and Her thence ensuing Excellencies and Perfections above all other PVRE CREATVRES and being convey'd unto us by a perpetual Series of Classical Fathers Pastors and Doctors from the Apostles time without possibility of shewing their beginning in any later Age or any Opposition from any but such as besides their guilt of other Heresies decried even by our Antidicomarians have been even for that Cause cut off from the Vnity of the Catholick Communion as appears in the Manichees Eustathians Vigilantians Claud of Turine Pseudo-Apostles Waldensians Almaricus Wicleff
each in their proper Station Since then next under God by Essence as the Holy Trinity One God blessed for evermore or by Con-subsistence as JESVS God and Man to whom Divine Worship is due the Holy Mother of JESVS in right of Her Maternity con-naturally qualify'd exceeds all the Choires of Angels and Saints in participated supernatural Perfections by the consent of all Doctors Fathers and Church-Authority for which reason St. Athanasius Serm. de Deip. applies to Her the prophetick Vision of David ps 44.10 of that Illustrious Queen he saw standing at the right hand of God whom therefore St. Gregory Nazianzen Traged Christi patient calls 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or pre-eminent above heavenly Orders Lady and Queen of All the proof and practice of which Excellency and Magnificence is the chief design of the Contemplations for this reason that Saint-Servitude or Worship in Right of that Excess is by the same Consent properly called Hyperdulia or super-eminent Servitude Contempl. n. 9. and this same surpassing Excellency of supernatural Endowments of Holy Mary as she is the Mother of JESVS is the precise Motive and Measure of all those superlative Praises Titles of Honour and sensible Marks of our internal Worship address'd unto Her As also of that lively and strong Confidence we have of Her Protection and Relief in our Mediation of Her Intercession for Us when we humbly offer up our Petitions either to God graciously to regard her Merits or to harken to her Requests according to the proportion of her excellent Acceptableness to Him or immediately to her self as the Mother of JESVS Queen of Angels Lady of Saints and Refuge of Sinners and therefore highly qualify'd to become a most efficacious Advocate at the Throne of Mercy for Us. XXI Wherefore All Christians believing holy Mary to be the true Mother of JESVS Symb. Apost art 3. Matt. 1.16 Conc. Ephes 1. c. 13. it seems very rational according to the regular and con-natural order of Gods Providence First That Holy Mary is the most sublime and most exact Original of all practical Perfection which the Omnipotency of God-ever drew in the Soul of a PVRE CREATVRE Contempl. Epist Dedic p. 4. l. 9. and Secondly That for this reason she claims the utmost Duty of every Christian as a proper Homage to her Greatness Ibid. p. 5. l. 10. Which Duty thirdly is explain'd to be an Act of super-eminent Servitude Contempl. n. 9. And fourthly brancheth it self by degrees into Praises of Holy Mary for her surpassing super-natural participated Perfections Illustrious Titles of Honour suitable to those Perfections Protestations of a cordial Esteem of her Excellencies of Congratulation for her just possession thereof of Submission to Her Grandeur so high above all other Pure Creatures and so nigh and acceptable to God by reason of those her exuberant Perfections of Holiness Grace and Glory so liberally communicated to Her and of humble Petition of her Intercession and Protection through her Maternity and her thence flowing Prerogatives efficaciously procuring those Divine Blessings upon us which may according to the Rules of his Sacred Providence be fit objects of his gracious Liberality towards us Contempl. n. 8. 18. Sect. VII What sensible Actions may lawfully express that inward Worship we owe to Holy Mary XXII AS the Voice is a sensible Representative of the hidden Notions and Passions of the Intellectual Soul Aug. 15. Trin. c. 11. Arist 1. Periherm 1. So also other outward actions may be Signs sensibly declarative of our inward Affections But those by which we express in our publick Worship our high esteem of and respect to the Majesty and Attributes of God which are Infinite and of the Persons and Perfections of the Saints in their several subordinate Stations though finite and dependent are frequently the same as to the Material or Physical Act. For as we uncover our Head bend our knee or lift up our Eyes or Hands to Heaven in our Latreutick or Divine Worship So also in our Saint-Servitude offer'd to Holy and Glorious Creatures without the least offence of the Creator because there is no usurpation of Gods Divine Prerogatives in the use of those indifferent Actions upon those finite Motives and also without any just cause of Scaendal to a weak Believer because nothing Divine is acknowledg'd by those sensible Marks of Worship to be intrinsick to the Saints to whom they are exhibited as to their immediate Terminative Object XXIII To clear which suppose First That as in the Old Law there was a severe Precept under penalty of Death Deuter. 17.8 So in the New under pain of Separation from the Church that Gods People should learn Divine Truths and Duties from his Commissioners the Eminential or Representative Church and therefore also the Nature Rules Design and Practice of publick Worship Matt. 18.17 1 Cor. 11.34 And this with a Spirit of Vnity by assent to reveal'd Verities and of Obedience to sublimer Powers in Matters relating to Manners and Discipline Sacred But then secondly suppose as manifest to All that those sensible Signs us'd in our Religious Worship have of themselves a manifold Signification though with a Subordination to one chief Analogate And therefore thirdly those Signs by direction of our Judgment and command of the Will are applicable to several Ends or Objects according to those divers Significations and the Nature of the Motives apprehended and guiding as their Immediate Rule and Measure so that according to the Quality of the Motive Divine or participated those general Signs are directed and specify'd and their Vse is justify'd XXIV Thus if our bended Knee by direction of our Spirit and mov'd by the apprehension of the infinite Majesty Wisdom Goodness or Power of God protests an acknowledgement of those Divine Perfections and our absolute dependence on God in our Being Motion and Happiness it is an exterior Act of Divine Worship But if it ariseth only from the apprehension of a participated Excellency of some glorify'd Creature and by our judgement be only directed to acknowledge their State of Holiness and Glory and to protest a Submission thereunto by reason of the vast Chaos betwixt a Mortal Sinner and a glorious Saint even in those their participated super-natural Blessings and consequently their acceptableness to God whose gracious Images Sanctuaries and Favourites they thereby are and our need of their Protection over us and Intercession for us then the bended Knee and other Religious Postures of Head Hands and Eyes are only Marks of Saint-Servitude or Worship suitable to the Motive and End and derogate not at all from our Latreutick Duty to the most High. XXV But because these sensible Acts by the help of our Reason and Will may profess a greater acknowledgement of the Grandeur of a Saint and a firmer confidence of their Aid by how much more Illustrious their super-natural Endowments are these being their exact Motive Rule and Measure therefore if they be directed to
the Holy Mother of JESVS they signify a super-eminent Saint-Servitude towards Her Esteem of her super-natural State and Confidence in her Protection and Mediation Bed. Serm. de S. Mar. Inter Varia German Patr. Constant Theoria Rer. Eccles These Rules and Limits being ever observ'd in our Catholick Addresses to the Mother of JESVS what hazard can there be of dis-respect to God by usurping the Rights of his Sacred Throne and Dignity What of scandal to the Godly by equalling a Creature to the Creator Such however is the Innocent Catholick Doctrine and Practice mis-represented through Love of Party and heat of Passion mis-guided by private false Lights Sect. VIII That the Worship given to the Holy Mother of JESUS is Religious and Laudable XXVI THe Opposers of the Contemplations cannot conceive How a Worship can be Religious and not begin from a Divine Motive tend to and end in God God only So that if Religious Worship be given by us to Holy Mary they conclude our Worship to be Sacrilegious because it invades the Rights of Gods Throne and makes her a DEITY To disperse this Mist of Misrepresentation 't is confess'd That Religion though not a Theological but Moral Virtue and a branch of Justice yet hath it for its chief Act and End To give due Worship to God for his own infinite Glory whereby he is our Supream and absolute Lord our first Cause and last End. The exact and adequate Object of Religious Worship in chief is a Collection of all those sensible Signs which are apt most effectually to testify to the World our sincere Esteem Love and Submission to God in Right of those his Infinite Excellencies and therefore those Divine Perfections are the original Motive and Measure of the whole Collection of those Signs Now because those Divine Perfections so conspicuous in God do as manifestly argue in us an unavoidable dependence on God as to our whole Being Motion and Rest therefore do they create in us an indispensable obligation of using those Signs under fit Circumstances wherefore they are not only the ultimate but also the Immediate Motive and Measure of this our Religious Worship and the End of this Religious Worship is God for his own infinite Excellency by those outward Signs blessed by us who in himself is blessed for evermore XXVII Within this Collection of sensible Signs of our Religious Worship the Offering of Sacrifice is one so proper so due to God only because it manifestly testifies His and His only absolute power over Life and Death That This in all States of the Church hath been specially reserv'd as the Holy Test of Mans dependence on and Duty to God his Creator and last End as both Laws and all Fathers and Divines do affirm Malach. 1.11 1 Cor. 11.26 Aug. l. 20. contr Faust c. 21. l. 10. Civ c. 4. Nic. 2. act 6. Trid. Sess 22. c. 1. D. Th. 2. 2 q. 83. Bell. l. 1. Miss c. 6. Less l. 2. Just c. 38. n. 19. Her. p. 4. tr 3. d. 8. n. 3. Therefore do the Fathers condemn the Arabian Collyridians of a gross Idolatry in offering their Cake-Sacrifices to the Mother of JESUS Epiph. haeres 78. 79. Baron ad Ann. 373. n. 30. Sander haeres 92. Gualter haer saec 4. c. 32. which no ways reflects on those Lights and Perfumes Catholicks do sometimes burn to the honour of the holy Virgin since by none look'd on as Sacrifices or as Protestations of a Supream Dominion but only as outward Symbols of their own lively Faith and of the ascent of a clean Soul to God by Prayer For this Royal Virgin needs not our Vain and Counterfeit Honours Bern. Epist 174. being dignify'd with real Excellencies of the first Magnitude next beneath the Majesty and Attributes of the Son of the Eternal God. Greg. in 1. Reg. 1. Anselm l. Excell Virg. c. 4. Suar. de Myster Christ d. 18. Sect. 4. Her. 4. tr 1. d. 4. n. 15. XXVIII But as to other sensible Actions by Us us'd in our Worship of God as Tests of our inward Value of Gods Omnipotency and Protestation of our own absolute dependence though they may be indifferently us'd by us as well in our Civil as in our Sacred acts of Veneration we owe to our Betters in either States Yet being assum'd and directed by the Virtue of Religion and having the Majesty of God for their Motive and the acknowledgement of his Omnipotency and of our dependence for their Ends They are properly and perfectly Acts of Religious Worship Yea these same Acts by reason of the aforesaid Indifferency to signify any Civil or Sacred Worship even as us'd in our Saint-Servitude only to express our acknowledgement of their Holy and Glorious State may proceed from the Motive End and Inclination of Religion whereby whether Immediately or only Mediately we do ever ultimately make profession of Gods Glory to which all knees must bow So that all these indifferent Actions even when refer'd to the Saints may be call'd Religious without giving the Saints any Divine Homage or otherwise invading the Just Limits of Gods Sanctuary XXIX For clearing this Truth and for removing the Ismaelites Rock of Scandal Observe That the participated Excellencies of Holiness Grace and Glory of the Saints may be consider'd two ways First absolutely and as those super-natural Gifts are habitually inherent in them and being diffus'd through their Souls do intrinsically imbellish Them and render them really Holy Just and Glorious Creatures Secondly Relatively or as those Excellencies do confer on these blessed Spirits a special super-natural and transfigurating Report to God whose accomplish'd Images they now are by consummated Holiness Grace and Glory and by Divine Vision Fruition and Tention made One Spirit with God intentionally in that blessed State. 2 Cor. 3.18 1 Jo. 3.2 2 Petr. 1.4 Aug. tr 2. in 1 Jo. Dion l. Div. Nom. c. 4. Bon. p. 4. Centiloq Sect. 1. For thus Divine Grace as the Seed of God 1 Jo. 3.9 transforms glorified Creatures into a Divine Being by participation of Authentick Marks and Covenants of Gods intimate Presence within Them of indelible Badges of his Friendship to Them and of their powerful Acceptableness to Him in his Sacred Courts and Councils for the promoting and propagating the Communion of the Saints and consequently by These Excellencies Seals the Saints with a super-naturalizing Character of Gods Image dignifies them with the Tale of his Temple and Sanctuary and adorns them with the stupendious Prerogatives of his Friends Favourites and adoptive Children XXX Now although the Super-natural Perfections of the Saints positively or absolutely consider'd as their glorious Endowments do challenge from us Mortals in this our State of Exile some Servitude or Worship and this far above Civil Respect by the Rules of Moral Politicks due to the Grandees of this World because they confer a degree of Excellency transcending the whole Sphere of Moral Vertue Civil power and Imperial Majesty Jo.
Ripar Athan. l. Virg. fin Leont Dial. in Nic. 2. act 4. Dam. l. 3. c. 16. Sect. IX That the Worship of the Saints being Religious the Doctrine and Practice thereof in a Super-eminent degree in the Contemplations asserted to the Mother of JESUS is Pious and Just XXXV FRom these premises That the Worship of the Saints as such by Participation of Grace and Glory Imitation of Gods glorious State and Transfiguration into a Divine Being by reason of their beatifical Union is properly though not principally Religious It followeth evidently That the Praises Titles of Honour outward Signs of Worship and Forms of Prayer us'd by Catholicks according to the Rules of Church-Authority in their Saint-Servitude are Pious and Just Acts becoming and oblidging a Christian Not by reason of any Portion of the Deity or Divine Attributes inherent in the Saints as Pagans fancied in their Heroes they therefore worshipped as Gods but in Right of their super-natural Endowments of Grace and Glory whereby they incomparably transcend the whole Sphere of Civil Worship especially as they have under that consideration a special reference to Gods Majesty and Holiness which they thereby partake imitate and involve and this according to the true degree of each ones acceptableness to God in that their glorious State. XXXVI For in the first place the formal Motive of those several Actions imports an objective Honesty practically inclining a Christian to their use according to the Dictates of Reason and Faith which mov'd the Royal Prophet to cry out Psal 83.1 How amiable are thy Tabernacles of Virtues O God And when again Psal 138.16 speaking to God he sayes That his favourites are exceedingly honored and their Majesty confirmed The End also of the devout Christian Worshippers is not only an emulous Imitation of their Virtues for the advancement of their own Piety but moreover an Accumulation of Gods own Glory extended to and abiding in the Saints and therefore not only the Holy and glorious State of those Blessed Creatures but even our Esteem Love and Veneration of Them doth render Gods Glory more Magnificent and Illustrious And again these Actions are a just Debt all owing to those glorious Creatures by reason of their super-natural and Unifying State of consummated Happiness as acknowledgments of the Majesty and Glory they actually possess through Gods Bounty above the rank of the best of Mortals XXXVII All these Boundaries of a Christians Saint-Servitude to the glorified Spirits are exactly observ'd in all the Praises honourable Titles Expressions of Veneration and Methods of Prayer us'd in the Contemplations on the Life and Glory of the Holy Mother of JESVS therefore they are Religious Pious and Just Nothing in the whole is given to Her which is either due to God only or which derogates from the infiniteness and independence of his Majesty Wisdom Love Power or Glory Nothing which is above either her Capacity as a glorious Creature or her super-eminent Priviledges as the Mother of JESVS or our Duty as we yet are banish'd Mortals and exceedingly oblidg'd to Her for that part she perform'd by her acceptableness to God and her consent and co-operation with the Holy Ghost in the Mysteries of the Conception Birth and Life of JESVS Wherein she seems preferrable above the highest Quires of Angels however glorious Coadjutors they be in the Ministery of the Elect so Religious Vertuous and Just are those Homages we pay to the Sacred Virgin above the troops of other glorified Creatures and therefore at all times have been perform'd with stupendious Advantages to the Devotes of Holy Mary Nor may we deny That the Practice of Christians is the true Interpreter of Divine Revelations and the most Faithful Conserver and Conveyancer of Christian Duties according to their Original Intent and purpose according to that so renowned saying of St. Basil What we learn'd from our Holy Fathers we teach our Disciples whence the great Vincent Lyrin l. contr profan Nov. who ever departs from the Communion of their Doctrine let thom hearken to the Voice of the Apostle we worship a God of Peace and not of Dissention 1 Cor. 14.33 Sect. X. That a Super-eminent Veneration is due to the Holy Mother of JESUS XXXVIII NOW as to the Degree of Honour due to and Confidence in the Protection and Mediation of Intercession of the Sacred Virgin and glorious Saints we must observe That as the personal participated super-natural Perfections of the Saints whereby they are Images of Gods Divine Life and transfigur'd into God by beatifical Vision and Fruition is the Motive of our Praises and our other acts of Saint-Servitude So the Disparity of those Perfections is the exact Rule and Measure of their dis-proportion For in all Moral Actions their Motive specifies them and measures their Perfection So that as the Majesty and Attributes of God being Infinite and Independent require such acts of Worship as are naturally in themselves or by the direction of our Judgment and Intention apt to express a Worship suitable to that Divine Grandeur So also the Excellency of glorious Saints being finite only and infinitely beneath that of God whereof they are only limited Idea's admit of such Actions only as are expressive of a respect to their limited Greatness according to the proportion of Divine Gifts wherewith God hath endow'd them Wherefore however Magnificent our Praises of the Saints be however Illustrious our Titles of Honour whatever outward signs we show of inward Worship of those super-naturaliz'd Spirits they may not transcend the exact Measure and proportion allowable to glorious Pure Creatures They must not be such Actions as by the Consent of All are Latreutical and specially appropriated to signifie and protest Gods Majesty Perfections and Soveraignty So neither may our Prayers to them exceed a confidence in their Protection and Intercession though assured enough as relying on Gods free Promise of relief for their sake supported by his own Truth and Fidelity as far as may be useful to us XXXIX Since then Holy Mary the Mother of JESVS by the Consent of All Church-Authority and of all Christians who duly apprehend the Prerogative of her Divine Maternity in its self and all its previous concomitant and consequent Perfections doth incomparably surpass all the Quires of Angels and Saints in the amplitude and stupendious Effects of Gods Love whereby she is the most Excellent Image holiest Sanctuary and choicest Favourite amongst all Pure Creatures we may rationally conclude That the highest Praises most Illustrious Titles of honour most excellent Acts of Religious Worship and the Expressions of strongest Confidence in her protection and Intercession which may be conceiv'd possibly due to a PVRE CREATVRE dearest to God may be addressed to the glorious Mother of JESVS above whatever can be claim'd by all the Saints and Angels next beneath what 's due to JESVS the Son of God. And all this without any strain of Imagination Figure of Rhetorick or Vsurpation on Gods unaccessible Prerogatives For
still although her super-natural Excellencies be exceedingly sublime as becomes the Person of the Mother of God yet are they all created Perfections and the free Gifts of a gracious Father of pure Lights bestow'd on a PVRE CREATVRE and therefore as they in themselves are infinitely beneath the Majesty of an Independent Creator So likewise admit they only such Acts of Worship as directed by our Reason and Will transcend not the acknowledgment of a most excellent dependent Creature Sect. XI Three Singular Motives of the Super-eminent Veneration due to the Holy Mother of JESUS XL. FOR the further clearing this Christian Truth having first observ'd with St. Bern. Epist 174. That the Mother of JESVS needs not our feigned Praises or Applauses being proclaim'd by a Seraphim Full of Grace and the Mother of JESVS Thcn with the subtil Scotus 3. d. 3. q. 1. n. 10. That whatever is most Excellent may be allow'd to Holy Mary if not repugnant to Divine Revelation and Church-Authority We must suppose All the special Prerogatives of the Sacred Virgin to be either previous and preparatory Dispositions fitting her in Body and Mind to that Ineffable Mystery of her Divine Maternity or concurrent Qualifications or con-natural Atchievements of that stupendious Dignity To which purpose S. Ambr. l. 2. Virg. sayes That Holy Mary being prepar'd with those excellent Endowments of Purity and Holiness was made worthy â—o become the Mother of God. S. Hierom. Epist ad Eustoch de Custod Virg. speaks in the same Phrase The Purity and Innocency of Holy MARY saith he was so extream and sublime that she deserv'd to bring forth the Son of the Eternal God in our flesh S. Anselm l. Conc. Virg. c. 18. follows in the like strain of Admiration at her unparallel'd Excellencies when he tells us That 't is requisite above all Exception that the most Holy Virgin should be endow'd with such a transcendent Purity that nothing beneath God himself may be conceiv'd Greater Wherefore As the several Perfections which con-naturally accompany the Humane Nature of Jesus Christ are proportion'd to that Immense Priviledge of its Con-subsistency with the Divinity in the Person of Gods co-eternal and con-substantial Son Jo. 1.14 So the Mysterious Excellencies which embellish'd Holy Mary are exactly suitable to the high Prerogative of her being truly and properly the Mother of DIVINE JESVS Luc. 11.27 This singular and most sublime Dignity is the very Basis Motive and Measure of all her previous concurrent and subsequent super-natural Perfections which may be reduc'd to Her incomparable Innocency Her fulness of Grace and Her most sublime State of Glory above all the Choires of Saints and Angels even as to all their most Excellent Perfections of Nature Grace and Glory since by the Dignity of her Predestination she transcends the whole Sphere of the Elect and is seated next to the Throne of the Divinity as S. Greg. speaks l. 1. Reg. 1. XLI First then as to the Fundamental Excellency of Holy Mary her Divine Maternity which is a Prerogative of that vast Magnitude that no Perfection in the order of Grace can be more Illustrious more Magnificent more Honorable It s co-efficient cause with her fecundity was the Virtue of the most High Its Progress and all its Operations were full of Miracles and its product is JESVS God and Man by Her united in One Person of God. And all these Prodigies were begun and finish'd in the very first positive instant of her active Conception of JESVS wherein Holy Mary is an unspotted Virgin and the stupendious Mother of God. Whereupon Tertull. observes libr. Resur Carn That the whole Wisdom Counsel and Power of God were engag'd in finishing this great Mystery of the Maternity of Holy Mary And by consent of Holy Fathers and Doctors this Divine Mother is not therefore only proclaim'd Blessed above Women because dignify'd with the Priviledge of being the Mother of JESVS Luc. 1.42 48. but moreover that by Virtue of that Generation she hath a most special Influence into the Salvation of Mankind for Of Mary was born JESVS that is the Saviour of All Matt. 1.16 Aug. Serm. 2. Annunc Bern. hom 3. Sup. Missus Andraeas Cretens Serm. in Salut Angel. And also a special Jurisdiction over Jesus as to the Application and Extention of his saving Grà ce through a most benign Condescention of the Mercy of JESVS in subjecting Himself to her Commands Luc. 2.51 Less l. 2. Just c. 37. n. 28. Her. p. 4. tr 1. d. 4. n. 52. Abelly p. 1. tr 5. c. 8. Sect. 3. n. 5. Gualter Chron. saecul 1. Verit. 2. § 3. XLII Thus this most transcendent Dignity of the Maternity of Holy Mary gives Her an unquestionable Right to a suitable most sublime Degree of Praises Titles of Grandeur and Veneration above whatever can be conceiv'd due to all other Pure Creatures And doth moreover demonstrate to any considering Man a super-eminently efficacious Power of Patronage over Her special Clients and also of Mediation or Intercession to JESVS for her humble and earnest Petitioners through the filial Love Respect and Condescention of JESVS to his Divine Mother as the most Excellent Idea and Patern of filial Observance and Christian Perfection Whence the Angel of the Schools S. Thom. p. 1. q. 25. art 6. ad 4. tells us That Holy Mary in Right of her strict Alliance with JESVS in Quality of a Mother hath also a participated Infinity of Power and Majesty and consequently by Virtue of these super-eminent and Illustrious Prerogatives she has also a special Jurisdiction in the Courts of Claims of her Clients and of Gods Mercies Bern. Serm. Sup. Signum magnum XLIII Secondly From this prevision of the Predestination of Holy Mary to be the Mother of JESVS there follows another most sublime and peculiar Priviledge Her Preservation in a most perfect Purity and Innocency from all stain and blemish of sin so that she was neither defil'd with any Actual offence against God by a free consent of her own Will even as to the least surprize of a venial defect Nor branded with the Infamous Characters of Original sin and of a Child of Wrath albeit she was a Natural Child of the Guilty ADAM Nor was she any wayes wounded with the fatal Sting of sinful Concupiscence the dreadful effect of Original sin and Incentive of Actual Thus the Great Soul of Holy Mary was most perfectly pure and spotless resembling its excellent Idea pre-conceiv'd by the Wisdom of God even such ever as when she first issu'd forth the Hands of Her Divine Creator Prov. 8.22 Cant. 4.7 Thus Holy Mary in Right of her eternal Predestination to be the Mother of JESVS is dignifi'd with that most accomplish'd Purity whereby she incomparably surpasseth all Mortals Aug. l. Nat. Grat. c. 36. Is the most exact Image of the Innocency of JESVS possible to a Purâ— Creature is a fit Sanctuary of the Son of God and of the Theandrical Operations of his Divine
Soul and is a most powerful Advocate for Sinners at the Tribunal of his Mercy Cant. 4. 12. 13 Bern. Epist 174. Aug. Serm. 11. Nativ Dom. Anselm Libr. Conc. Virg. c. 18. Damian Serm. Assumpt Ildef l. de M. Virg. Ambr. l. 2. Virg. Aug. Medit. c. 40. n. 5. The efficacy of her Merits soaring above the Quires of the flaming Seraphims and approaching the Throne of the Eternal Trinity Greg. in 1. Reg. 1. XLIV Thirdly These two most Excellent Prerogatives of Holy Mary Her Divine Maternity and her super-seraphical Innocency lead us to the consideration of the stupendious Treasure of Super-natural Gifts of Original Justice Sanctifying Grace and of the whole Train of Moral and Theological Virtues transfus'd through Her Illustrious Soul with that fullness intensively as to its own Perfection in its self and extensively as to all its Operations of Holiness in this World and blessedness in the state of Glory That therein she incomparably surpasseth the Holiest and Happiest of all the Glorifi'd Saints and Angels as far as is possible for the most perfect amongst Pure Creatures Cant. 4.8 All which seems con-naturally to follow from the eternally pre-design'd priviledge of her being over-shadow'd impregnated and enrich'd by the Virtue of the Holy Ghost of her Conceiving the Holy of Holies Gods Consubstantial Word within her Chaste Bowels of her bringing forth into this World that stupendious Light of the Divinity inclosed in our Nature prepar'd for the Glory of Israel and the enlightning all Nations to Truth and Grace Luc. 2.32 Jo. 1.17 Sect. XII That these Three most Excellent Priviledges of Holy Mary do challenge a Super-eminent Servitude from us as they are Her Super-natural Perfections XLV THE Practice of the Saints and the Authority of Divine Oracles are most un-resistable Rules of our Christian Faith and Duty not only as to all radical Truths and Precepts but also as to the con-natural consequences of both so that if Majesty Innocency and Goodness be aimable and honorable they exact a most passionate Love a most profound Veneration where they are in their highest Meridian possible to a Pure Creature such they are in Holy Mary such likewise should our Love and Reverence be towards Her as a Just Homage due to her for these Her charming Grandeurs To train Christians up to these sublime Acts the Holy Ghost hath set us a most exact Copy when he proclaims Her blessed above All and to be blessed by All Luc. 1.41.48 49. Blessed above All because she shall crush the Serpents head as the Mother of JESVS shall be free from all sin by Gods preserving Decrees and shall be full of Grace for the dignifying the Temple of JESVS and for these her Excellencies All shall bless Her by celebrating her Praises by giving Her magnificent Titles by venerating this Her Majesty Purity and Holiness and by imploring Her Protection and Prayers Now and in the Hour of our Death by whom we have aceess to JESVS says S. Bern. Serm. ult de Assumpt and for the confirming us in this Belief and Duty The Holy Church in her sacred Councils pronounces an eternal Curse against all those who confess not Holy Mary to be the most excellent above all Visible and Invisible Creatures Synod 2. act 5. XLVI In pursuance of this great design of the Holy Ghost That all Generations should confess the Grandeurs and bless the Name and Power of the Mother of JESVS The venerable Pastors of the Church Holy Fathers and great Masters of our Christian Schools and Pulpits have through all Ages studiously pen'd lofty Panegyricks full of her Praises with the most Illustrious Titles of Honour possibly to be given to the most Excellent of Pure Creatures asserting Her fullness of super-natural Gifts the swiftness and clearness of her Intellectual Operations with those Gifts her undoubted Right to all those sensible Marks of internal Worship possibly due to their Chief in the most exquisite Prerogatives of Nature Grace and Glory and her surpassing Acceptableness to her Son JESVS for the effectual obtaining of whatever Favours fit for us to beg and God to grant through the Mediation of the Best amongst Pure Creatures Hence these burning and shining Lights of the Catholick World frequently entitle this Divine Creature The Miracle of the World Ark of the living God Abyss of Grace and Glory the Immense Treasury of Holiness stupendious Master-piece of Gods Omnipotency transcending the whole Sphere of the Elect in the Gifts of Grace and Fruits of Meritorious Actions And thus acknowleding her Right to the Worship of Hyperdulia or Super-eminent Saint-Servitude they stile Her our Advocate and Mediatrice and do with a most enflam'd Affection beg her Protection and Intercession Chrysost Orat. in Hypapant Epiph. Serm. de Laud. Deipar Damasc Orat. 2. Assumpt Anselm l. Excel Virg. c. 8. Greg. in 1. Reg. 1. Ephrem Serm. Laud. Virg. Gregor Neocaes hom Annunc Ambr. in 2. Luc. Chrysol Serm. 143. D. Th. p. 3. q. 25. Bern. Serm. Nativ Mar. sup Signum magnum Innocent 3. Serm. 2. Assumpt Mar. Bern. Serm. 2. Adv. Ephrem Orat. ad B. Virg. XLVII Upon the Authority of these Illuminated Oracles of the Church some Catholick Doctors of an eminent Rank do piously conclude That the Gift of Sanctifying Grace infus'd into the Immaculate Soul of Holy Mary in the first positive Instant of her passive Conception was more intense than the Beatifical Grace of the holiest and happiest of all other Pure Creatures But if the first Beams of her Grace were of that prodigious Beauty and Lustre how much greater were they at the last Moment of her Holy Life Since her whole Life was intensely apply'd in actuating her Illustrious and Flaming Soul with Divine Affections and Ravishments of Love to a most sublime Degree of Acceptableness to God and addition of new Lights of Grace and streams of Merits even to the comprehending of all those Graces which through all the Moments of time have been and shall be dispers'd amongst Pure Creatures And farther since all Divines agree that the Glory of the Holy Mother of JESVS is proportion'd to her State of accomplish'd Grace as a bountiful Gift and just Reward of a holy Life is suitable to the Merits and Right thereof therefore is she before the universal Resurrection of All to each ones Happiness deservingly Assum'd to Glory and exalted above all the Choires of Saints and Angels to a super-excellent Fullness of the Vision and Fruition of God in his full Splendor communicable to Pure Creatures and to most copious Dowries of Clarity Agility Subtility and Impassibility which irradiated from the glorious Lamp of her flaming Spirit through her Immaculate Body compleats her Intensive and Extensive Happiness above All only beneath JESVS XLVIII These three Excellencies the Maternity Innocency and Sanctity of Holy Mary thus Illustrated by the Holy Ghost and the Authority of the great Lights of the Christian World consider'd precisely as Perfections inherent in Her and raising her
Soul to a most sublime Degree of Majesty and Holiness through Gods over-flowing Bounty We may justly conclude First That the holy Mother of JESVS is worthy of the most super-lative Praises which the Tongue Pen or Spirit of Man or Angel can express or conceive In Emulation whereof the Holy Catholick Church doth at special times set forth Her Majesty Glory and Magnificence in her sacred Liturgies Offices and Litanies even all Generations of Believers have ever conspir'd by a secret but most wonderful Instinct with a constant Zeal and Fervour to proclaim Holy Mary Blessed above all Pure Creatures Secondly That the Sacred Virgin hath an undisputable Right to the most Illustrious and most Magnificent Titles of Majesty and Honour which may be possibly conceiv'd due to Any of whatever Stile Rank or Dignity amongst pure Creatures and this with a most lofty pre-eminence above all the glorious Trains and Pomps of Men and Angels in their richest and most beautiful Stations of Glory Thus is she by the Holy Catholick Church in her Hymns Anthems and Canticks of Honour and by the holy Fathers and Doctors in their Panegyricks Entitled Lady Queen and Empress of Men Angels Heavens and of the whole World Mother of Mercy and beautiful Love The Hope Trust and Safeguard of Mortals amidst the tempestuous Seas and Hurricans of their foaming Concupiscences The Palace of the Eternal Light and most magnificent Gate of Heaven and Glory Thirdly That Holy Mary is more Worshipful than the loftiest and most Illustrious created Potentates of Earth or Heaven in the highest Altitudes of their Majesty Power and Pomps and this by most Cordial Acts of Internal Esteem Love and Submission and by the most expressive sensible Marks of this inward Reverence which may most fitly testifie a real and sincere acknowledgment of her super-eminent Grandeur above all Pure Creatures in Right of the most incomparable Priviledges of her Maternity Innocency and Holiness Whence St. Anselm well acquainted with the Doctrine Practice and Stile of the Catholick Church resolutely affirms That the whole Body of Christianity is agreed That the Holy Mother of Jesus is exalted in Glory above all the Choires of Angels 1. Excel Virg. c. 4. Therefore if any Worship be due to Creatures our Saviours Rule directs us to the true Meridian when he tells us That the least and lowest of the glorious Courtiers of his Kingdom are incomparably more Glorious than the brightest Majesty that ever shin'd amongst Mortals Matt. 11.11 All allow a civil Worship even to the empty Thrones of earthly Kings and Princes and shall the adoptive Children of JESVS refuse a Sacred Worship to his own Throne full of Majesty Innocence Grace and Glory Sect. XIII That the same Excellencies of Holy Mary as most sublime Images of the Divine Attributes confirm Her Right of Super-eminent Servitude XLIX BUT if these super-natural Endowments of the holy Mother of JESVS be consider'd not precisely as Absolute Perfections intrinsically adorning and beautifying Her Soul and rendring Her Illustrious Holy and Glorious above all Pure Creatures but moreover as they are Relative Excellencies refining the Souls Natural Image of God into a Divine by an Imitation of the Infinite Rays of his Majesty Holiness and Glory communicated ineffably by the Signet of Beatifical Grace together with a stupendious Representation of the Divine Production and Glorious Operations in the Order of Grace and Glory whereby she is dignify'd with the Capacity of a Religious Worship in a most sublime manner transcending the precise Terms of Civil and Sacred Thus the Divine Mother of JESVS being the highest Signet of the Divine Similitude amongst all Pure Creatures by her surpassing fulness of Grace and splendours of Glory hath an unquestionable Right to our most profound Respects Homage and Veneration even under the notion of a Religious Obligation and Duty L. And first by amplifying the Theames of her Praises according to the several Forms approv'd by the Authority of the Church and recommended to our use by the Practice of her pious and prudent Devotes who know how to distinguish betwixt God and the Holiest of his created and Glorious Images Secondly by elevating her Dignity and Perfections with most Illustrious Titles of Honour suiting to the Excellency of this Chief of all the Glorious Images of the Divinity amongst all Pure Creatures Thirdly by acknowledging our vast distance beneath her by reason of that transcendent Image of Gods Majesty Attributes Productions and Operations wherewith she is dignifi'd by her special Prerogative of Beatifical Grace above all Pure Creatures though still infinitely inferiour to the infinite and independent Majesty and Perfections of the Deity the absolutely Immense Abyss Original Cause and unparallel'd Exemplar of Hers and of all others participated finite and dependent Perfections of whatever Stile Lustre or Magnitude even in the most sacred and transcendent Order of Innocency Grace and Glory LI. Fourthly Upon the same Motive of Dei-forme Grandeurs of holy Mary the Mother of JESVS she is Religiously address'd unto by Her pious Devotes struggling against sinful Concupiscences in this their Earthly Exile with an humble Confidence in her Acceptableness to God as a chief Favorite in his Courts of Requests a powerful Mediatrice at the Bar of his Justice and a most efficacious Advocate in all our Claims at the Throne of Gods Mercy for protection against the Powers of Darkness and Communion with the Children of Light. For by virtue of her transcendent supernatural Perfections whereon the clearness of this participated Image of the Majesty and Perfections of the Deity is grounded she more intimately receives the Irradiations not only of the Beauty of God and the delights of his Glory but also of his Knowledge Will and Power as to the Merits of Christ the efficacy of Sacraments the Operations of interiour Grace and Communion of the Saints especially as to all the Concerns of Gods Servants relating to their blessed State. For all Divines agree in this priviledge of the glorious Saints Conc. Senonens Decret fid 13. Greg. l. 2. Mor. c. 2. Aug. l. 20. civ c. 21. 22. c. 29. Anselm l. Similitud c. 57. Greg. l. 2. Dial. c. 35. D. Th. 2. 2. q. 180. art 5. ad 3. Bon. Soliloq c. 4. Smising tr 1. â—â—6 n. 220. Less l. 2. Sum. Bon. c. 9. which therefore must be allow'd super-eminently to the Queen of Saints as to her perfect knowledge of all the Petitions of Her Devotes And Gods marvelous Bounty to Her abundantly convincing us of her wonderful Acceptableness to God for the confirming this our Confidence of succeeding in those Prayers we offer by Her through Gods gracious condescendence to our Requests accordingly made for us LII Wherein we are further confirm'd from Gods Sacred Promises graciously to harken to the Prayers of the Saints and actually granting many Favours to their Clients upon their account Gen. 26.5 Exod. 32.13.3 Reg. 11.12 4. Reg. 19.34 Isaiae 37.35 Eccl. 44.24 Apoc. 5.8 But we
are much more insur'd in this Confidence while our Petitions are offer'd up to JESVS by the Greatest of the Saints And our Hope is yet further enforc'd from the Contemplation of that Excellent Obedience which Christ though Mortal yet a God as observ'd towards Josue 10.14 was pleas'd to pay unto Her Commands Luc. 2.51 Jo. 2.8 not only as an Illustrious Pattern left to all Children Disciples and Subjects of their Duty but also as a strong Encouragement to the Devotes of the holy Mother of JESVS to petition Her with a special Hope of success by Her pleading for us to so kind a Son and so gracious a Friend and Father So that if the Horrour of our sins saith St. Bern. Serm. sup Signum magnum makes us dread to appear in the presence of an Angry and Just God let 's have recourse to holy Mary a most proper Mediatrice to our Mediator JESVS Through whom sayes the same holy Father Serm. Nativ Mar. all our Hope all Grace all Salvation flows down upon us Sect. XIV That the Mediation of Holy Mary derogates not from the Dignity of our only Mediator JESUS LIII HEnce it seems manifest to any calm Considerer That no one Expression or Practice used in the Contemplations on the Life and Glory of the holy Mother of JESVS or by her Devotes with the Approbation of Church Authority detracts in the least either from the Infinite Majesty and Perfections of God or from the all-sufficient and most effectual Mediation of JESVS Christ Whom all still acknowledge with the Apostle 1 Tim. 2.5 The One Mediator of God and Men who gave Himself a Redemption for many And thus as the same Great Apostle speaks Colos 1.20 pacifying all by the Blood of the Cross and by the consequent Fruits deriv'd from that attoning Sacrifice the proper Act of the Office of our One Mediator JESVS for that End clad in our Flesh which could shed its blood dye and appease the Justice of an offended God through the Dignity of his Divine Person wherein it subsists Heb. 9.12 15. LIV. Wherefore if Deeds or exteriour Acts much rather Words have divers significations appliable to their several Analogates by attribution to one Chief whose property they in some measure imitate Thus As with the same bended knee by the direction of our Reason and Will taking their Measures from several Motives we give Divine Worship to God Saint-Servitude to glorifi'd Creatures and Civil Veneration to our Parents and Princes because the Saints in Heaven by Grace and the Monarchs of this World by a Commissive Power partake with God in his Sanctity and Soveraignty and by appropriation are dignifi'd with Titles proper to the Divinity Exod. 7.1 22.8 1. Reg. 28.13 Ps 46.10 81.6 Jo. 10.34 albeit the name of God at its first sound creates in us an Idea of a most Excellent Independent and Immortal Being Aug. l. 1. Doctr. Christ c. 6. So likewise the voice Mediator refers us to several Persons as represented to us under their several Characters and Merits An Vmpire in a Reference betwixt disagreeing Parties is a Mediator finishing differences between Man and Man A Messenger in a Treaty of Peace betwixt warring Kingdoms is a Mediator reporting Articles of Limits and Commerce between People of different Interests a Petitioner in a breach of Duty betwixt a Subject and his Superior is a Mediator pleading Pardon for past Crimes and Protection of his Person for the future LV. All these wayes Christ is properly our Mediator first as an Vmpire judging that Peace may be re-establish'd with God if he remits our faults and we obey his Laws S. Ambr. 1 Tim. c. 2. Then as Gods Messenger proclaiming under what Conditions Heaven is settled upon Believers Hebr. 9.15 Next as our Advocate still pleading at Gods Bar for Grace and Mercy Rom. 8.34 and yet by Appropriation Priests in the Tribunal of Repentance are Vmpires Preachers in their Pulpits are Gods Messengers and the Ministers of the Propitiatory Sacrifice at Gods Altars and the Prayers Groans and Tears of a Penitent sinner in his private Oratory are Petitioners at the Throne of Grace And thus at least not only the living Moyses Deut. 5.5 Rom. 15.30 but the glorified Saints also Apoc. 5.8 are truly Mediators between God and his guilty People Hier. l. contr Vigilant Much rather the Mother of JESVS and Queen of all Saints and Angels unless the more acceptable they be to God and the greater their Glory their Power should be less and their Prayers more Fruitless which is very inconsequent to that glorious State and coheirship with Christ our great Advocate Apoc. 2 26. 8.3 and to the Communion of Saints and that compassion of the Heavenly Citizens which they so eagerly practic'd towards their once Fellow-Captives LVI But that other Mediation by way of Sacrifice and Propitiation through the blood of the Cross cancelling Gods Sentence drawn up against us by the exuberant Dignity of the Person suffering this is so proper to JESVS that he alone is the One Mediator In substance because the Person of God substantially unites the Natures of God and Man and by Operation because the Merits of his Humane Nature con-subsisting with the Divine paid the whole Debt of our Crimes establish'd Seals for our Sanctification and through them gave us a co-heirship to Heaven 1 Tim. 2.5 6. ubi Chrys Ambr. Theophylact. Theodoret. Aug. l. 9. Civ c. 19. Fulgent l. de fid ad Petr. c. 2. Hilar. l. 9. Trin. Cyril l. 12. Thes c. 10. So that although Priests at the Altar do offer the Propitiatory and Satisfactory Sacrifice of our Mediator and the Saints in Heaven may commemorate its efficacy to move Gods Clemency to pardon our Crimes through the Merits of that our Mediator offer'd and commemorated yet not by their personal Mediation otherwise than by way of Application and Prayer to God. Apoc. 5.8 seqq LVII In like manner The several Expressions us'd by the Devotes of holy Mary of their Hope of her Aid for their freedom from present or future Calamities of Sin Sickness Captivity For her Protection against the Powers of Darkness from manifold Temptations and the dreadful Casualties of this wretched Life in imploring Her Mercy to pitty and bless them and to shield them from the severity of Gods Wrath in the day of his Vintage and height of his Justice against rebellious Criminals whereof the Offices of the Church and Writings of the Fathers are full can raise no other Idea in the Mind of a Right Believer than of the peculiar efficacy of her Prayers upon our earnest Suit made to God for us for those Ends grounded on those super-eminent Prerogatives of her Maternity Innocency and Holiness whereby first her Person then her Mediation of Intercession according to Gods Rule in the Case of Abel Gen. 4.4 hath a most sublime Acceptableness to God for us And thus too at a vast degree beneath the Mediation of JESVS
Kingdom of JESVS and accordingly implores her Protection and Prayers LXXXVI To the same purpose speaks in this same devout Age (b) Omnes tibi advolvimur omnes te imploramus erue nos O Intemerata ab omni necessitate à canctis Diaboli tentationibus esto nostra Consiliatrix Advocata in horâ Judicii Libera nos à futuro igne tenebris tui Filii Gloriâ Virgo nos dignare S. Ephr. Lament Virg. ad Cruc We all prostrate our selves before Thee we all implore thy protection free us O thou unspotted Virgin from all want from all the Temptations of Satan be thou our Counsellor and Advocate at the hour of our Judgement preserve us from those future flames and darknesses and grant unto us O Virgin the Glory of thy Son. Vid. Orat. de Laud. Deip. St. Ephrem (c) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 S. Basil Liturg. Sanctifie our Souls and Bodies and grant that we may serve thee in Holiness all the days of our Lives through the Intercession of the Holy Mother of God. St. Basil (d) Vid. n. LXXX b. Where he calls the Mother of JESVS Queen and Lady super-eminent above all the heavenly Spirits then adds 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Naz. Trag. cit preserve us and free us from eternal fire and darkness St. Gregory Nazianzen (e) Vt efficax sit haec mea deprecatio Beata Mariae Virginis suffragia peto quam tanti meriti esse fecisti ut prima intar mulieres Novum munus offerret nulla praeter ipsam tam Novum acciperet S. Ambr. Orat. 2. ante Miss That this my Petition may be acceptable to thee I beg the Prayers of the blessed Virgin Mary whose Merits were so great through Thee that she was the First of Women who offer'd a New Gift and none besides her self receiv'd it St. Ambrose (f) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 S. Epiph. Serm. de Laud. Mar. Mary is superior to all God only excepted for she is the Mediatrice of Heaven and Earth St. Epiphanius (g) Haec est virgo quae sola interimit universam haereticam pravitaetem sola post Deum quae nos confirmet in omni veritate suisque commendet meritis precibus auxilietur Amate quam colitis eolite quam amatis quaecunque virgo tibi ab eâ optat praemium implorat auxilium debet imitari exemplum S. Hier. Ep. 10. ad Paul. Eustoch This is that Virgin who alone hath overthrown all Heretical Impiety she alone next to God is able to confirm us in all truth can recommend us to God through her own Merits and can aid us by her Prayers love Her whom you Worship worship Her whom you love what ever Virgin expects a Reward from Her and craves her Protection she must follow her Example and St. Hierom all eminent Doctors renown'd Saints and unreprovable Witnesses of Catholick Truth and singular Champions of the Prerogatives Veneration and Invocation of holy Mary the Mother of JESVS Sect. XXI Testimonies of the Fifth Age. LXXXVII THE Fifth Age of the Catholick Church supported by its own Grandeur under the Conduct of its Apostolical Pastors and Teachers against the Heresies of Vigilantius Nestorius Eutyches and other Enemies of the Mother of JESVS give us a conspicuous Continuation of the Sacred Chain of the Primitive Doctrine and Practices of Christians towards Her. The Council of Ephesus gives Her the transcendent Title of the Mother of God Ephes c. 13. from which time the Church salutes her with that known Prayer Holy Mary Mother of God pray for my Sinners now and in the hour of our death Coriolan Annot. ad Can. 8. Ephes And thus the Most Illustrious Mother of JESVS (a) Conc. Ephes c. 13. In tali sensu sanctos Patres fuisse comperimus ideoque non dubitârunt sanctam Virginem dicere Theotocon This we find to have been the Tradition of the Holy Fathers who for this cause doubted not to call the Holy Virgin the Mother of God. whose due Praises were envy'd by the treacherous Serpent was honour'd with more magnificent Titles and Addresses (b) Chrysost Liturg. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Accept O Lord this Sacrifice on thy heavenly Altar to the Honour and Memory of our highly blessed and glorious Lady Mother of God and ever Virgin Mary through her Mediation S. Jo. Chrys offers to God the Divine Sacrifice through the Memory and to the Honour of the most blessed and glorious Lady the ever-Virgin Mother of JESVS and begs Gods acceptance thereof through her Mediation Liturg. S. Chrysost And again He attributes the Reparation of Mans Spiritual Life to the Merits of Holy Mary Serm. de Lign vetit (c) Aug. Med. cit Sancta Immaculata Virgo Dei genetrix Maria Mater Domini nostri JESU Christi intervenire pro me digneris apud illum cujus meruisti effici Templum O holy and spotless Virgin Mary Mother of God and of our Lord JESVS Christ vouchsafe to pray for Me to Him whose Temple thou deservedst to be made and Serm. 18. cit O beata Maria admitte nostras preces intra sacrarium Exauditionis tuae reperta nobis Antidotum Reconciliationis O blessed Mary admit our Prayers into the Sanctuary of thy Compassion and obtain an Antidote of Reconciliation for us S. Augustin in like Manner implores the Protection and Prayers of the blessed Virgin under most excellent Attributes of respect Med. c. 40. n. 5. And elsewhere He admires the Priviledges and Miraculous Operations of this Divine Creature in promoting Mans redemption acknowledges his own unworthiness to become her Petitioner and craving to be admitted to the number of her Clients he concludes with that Excellent and well known Anthem Holy Mary succour the distressed aid the timorous comfort the sorrowful pray for the People intercede for the Clergy mediate for all devout Women and grant that whoever honours thy Festivals may experience thy Favours Serm. 18. Sanct. then he calls her the Miracle of Gods power Serm. 34. and the Mediatrice of the World. Serm. 35. LXXXVIII Many other Holy Fathers of this Learned and Pious Age do in like manner dilate themselves in their Panegyricks on the Mysteries of the Holy Virgin and their humble Requests of Her Mediation to God for his super-natural Blessings as appears in the devout Monuments of (d) S. Proel Serm. de Nativit Christ Ecce terra Mare Virginem honorat donisque cumulat Hoc mitia Navigentibus dorsa substernens Illa Viatorum vestigia inoffense dirigens sacra Deipara Maria in unum nos coegit Behold how the Land and Sea pays Homage to the Virgin and heaps up their Offerings unto Her The Sea becomes smooth to our Ships and our Travellers find safe passage by Land Holy Mary the Mother of God this day calls us together St. Proclus of Constantinople (e) Cyril hom 6. contr Nestor Salve Sancta Deipara preciosus orbis totius Thesaurus inextinguibilis
do piously and confidently covet the Patronage and Protection of the Saints as subordinate Ministers of manifold Favours not exceeding their Power such as are Illuminations or Suggestions of holy thoughts and desires Restraining or destroying the Illusions of Demons Diverting of many evil Accidents of Mans Life which are the proper Effects of the Ministery of the Angels and Saints Gen. 48.16 Ps 90.11 with Matt. 22.30 Since the Saints are as the Angels of God and therefore do offer up our Petitions to God and joyn their Prayers with ours Yet is it not lawful to Invocate the Saints of whatever Excellency they be as chief Authors of Mans Redemption from sin or of his Sanctification by Grace or of his Glory with God this being uncommunicably proper effectively to the Omnipotency of God meritoriously to the Mediatorship of JESVS Christ whereof neither is properly and strictly subject to the Empire of any Creature otherwise than through a free condescention and Covenant of the Divine Goodness for the raising and supporting a Sinners Confidence in the super-abundant Aides offered for Mans Salvation and thus Man Conjures his Friend to command his affections and Josua's Faith commands God to arrest the Sun in its Meridian Jos 10.14 And Christ assures us upon his Fidelity that whatever the true Believer asks in Prayer God will grant his request Matt. 21.22 Whence the devout St. Augustine l. 5. Conf. c. 9. Dignaris enim quoniam in saeculum Misericordia tua eis quibus omnia debita dimittis etiam promissionibus tuis debitor fieri Because thy Mercy O God is for ever thou vouchsafest to become a Debter to thy own promises even in regard of those whose sins thou forgivest Much rather when a glorified Soul asks for a penitent Sinner dreading the Justice of an offended Father and fearing the foulness of his own Crimes and therefore making his Addresses by the heavenly Courtiers but with the strongest confidence by the holy Mother of JESVS as his chief Favourite by priviledge 1. of her Divine Maternity Innocency and Holiness and 2. of the filial Love of JESVS through which confidence St. Ildefons St. Bonaventure St. Bernardin and other Illuminated Servants of God beg holy Mary to command the dispensing of Divine Favours in Right of Christs gracious promise to the Church and of his super-abundant Love to his Mother though they still own Her as a Pure Creature and therefore as a meer Petitioner though of a most super-eminent Acceptableness with God. Sect. XXIV Testimonies of the Eighth Age. XCV THis pious and learned Age abounds with many Illustrious Witnesses of the received Doctrine and Practice of the Church as to that Worship and Invocation of the holy Mother of JESVS with Praises of her Heroical Vertues and giving Her such Titles of Honour as are suitable to her Excellent super-natural Prerogatives asserted in the Contemplations on her Life and Glory (a) Ven. Bed. in 1. Luc. Eadem Voce Maria ab Elizabeth quâ à Gabriele benedicitur quatenus Angelis Hominibus veneranda cunctis merito faeminis praeferenda monstretur Mary with the same words is proclaim'd Blessed by Gabriel and Elizabeth to shew that she is to be worshipped by Angels and Men and that she is incomparably more Excellent than all Women tom 7. Serm. de Deip. Serviamus semper tali Reginae quae non derelinquit sperantes in se cum diligat Jesus orationes sanctorum exaudiat multo magis Matrem suam exandit pro peccatoribus exorantem Let us ever serve this Illustrions Queen who forsakes not those who confide in Her since JESVS loves the Prayers of the Saints and grants their demands much rather doth he hearken to his own sacred Mother praying for Sinners Our holy Country-man Venerable Bede sayes Holy Mary is to be Worshipped by Men and Angels as their Queen that she forsakes not those who confide in her Protection and since God delights in the Prayers of the Saints that he will not reject the Petitions of his own Mother (b) S. Germ. Patriarch Constant Theor. Rer. Eccles 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Because we offer up the Divine Mystery for the Salvation of Souls and the Pardon of our Crimes we address our Supplications in the first place to the Mother of God being more Excellent than all the Saints and super-celestial Powers next we have recourse to those who are more gracious to her Son. And a little after he calls Her most Holy and Immaculate and that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That we all must praise this Lady of the Universe And Scrm. de Assumpt Mar. he sayes Omnia observas Maria inspectio tua ad omnes se perrigit Sanctissima Virgo dignis Teipsam patefacis neque Spiritus efficaciam caro moratur That she observes the Condition of all her Clients extends her care to all discovers her self to all and that her Immaculate Flesh hinders not the Vivacity and Power of her Spirit St. German Patriarch of Constantinople tells us That even in the holy Sacrifice of the Mass offer'd to God for the Remission of sins and the Sanctification of our Souls we in the first place implore the Prayers of the Mother of God as One in all Divine Favours and Gifts transcending all the Saints and Heavenly Spirits And elsewhere he acknowledges her Vniversal super-intendency over Christians Wants and Petitions (c) Jo. Dam. Orat. 1. Nat. Deip. Domina peccatoris Orationem accipe ardenter tamen amantis colentis teque solam gaudii spem habentis Vitae Antistitem in gratiam cum filio me reducentem firmamque salutis Arrham Receive O Lady the Praycr of a Sinner who still passionately Loves and Worships Thee reposes his hope of Joy in Thee as the Guide of my Life my Reconciler to thy Son and the Earnest of my Salvation Vid. Orat. de Dormit Mar. Carm. de Nativ Christ St. Jo. Dam. frequently dilates himself in the Praises of the sacred Virgin giving her magnificent Titles professing his Veneration towards Her and humbly craving her Prayers and Protection XCVI The same Tradition of our Christian Worship and Invocation of the holy Mother of JESVS is yet further supported by the cleer Testimonies of other Holy Fathers and Illustrious Writers of this Eighth Age. (d) S. Cosm Hieros t. 8. Bibl. Patr. hymn 6. in fer 5. Misericordiae Januam aperi nobis benedicta Deipara liberemur per Te à Calamitatibus pete à filio tuo Deo modo dari mihi remissionem malorum quae feci serva me sub protectionem suam Blessed Mother of God open to us the Gate of Mercy Let us be freed by Thee from all Calamities beg of thy Son and God even now the forgiveness of all my sins Keep me under thy Protection Cosm Hieros (e) Alcuin tr de Usu Psalm Rogo sanctam Beatissimam Matrem Mariam in auxilium Meum I beseech Holy Mary the most blessed Mother of God to aid me
Alcuinus (f) Synod Nicen. 2. in Defin. fid Sanctorum nostrorum divinorum Patrum Dotrinae insistentes Catholicae Ecclesiae in qua Spiritus Sanctus inhabitat Traditionem observantes definimis Venerandas Imagines in templis sanctis Dei collecandas maximé autem Imaginem Domini Dei servatoris nostri JESV Christi deinde Intemeratae Domina nostrae Deiparae quo scilicet per hanc Imaginum inspectionem omnes qui contemplantur ad prototyporum memoriam desiderium veniant ill sque salutationem honorariam Adorationem exhibeant Adhering to the Doctrine of our Holy and Divine Fathers and observing the Tradition of the Catholick Church in which the Holy Ghost abideth we define That venerable Images shall be placed in the Holy Temples of God principally of our Lord and God our Sabiour JESVS Christ then of our Immaculate Lady the Mother of God to the end that beholding the Images all may have a Memory and Affection towards their Originals and offer unto Them a Saluation and honorable Adoration The Fathers of the Seventh General Council under Adrian 2. (g) Caral Magn. Sanct. pragm Decebat ut templum quod cunctis Monasticis aedificiis in regno nostro formâ structurâ praeesse videtur in honorem sanctae Dei Genetricis à nobis regali studio fundatum dignitate Consecrationis praecelleret sicut ipsa Virgâ— super omnes choros sanctorum pracellens exaltata est It behoved that that Temple by our Royal Order erected to the Honour of the Holy Mother of God and which excels all other Monastical Buildings within our Dominions in Workmanship and Beauty should as much surpass all others in the Magnificence of its Consecration as the Holy Virgin her self excels and is exalted above all the Choires of Saints And Charlemain in his Laws for the observance of the Feast of the Assumption of our Lady and in his Pragmatical Sanction for the Immunity of the Church of the Holy Virgin in Aquisgran Sect. XXV Testimonies of the Ninth Age. XCVII THe Piety of the Catholick Church towards the Holy Mother of JESVS supported by an uninterrupted Tradition of the Doctrine and Practice of all former Ages is confirm'd by the Fathers of this Ninth 1. In their Censure of Claudius Bishop of Turin who in this Age revived the Heresies of Nestorius the Iconoclasts and Vigilantius all great Enemies of the Holy Mother of JESVS and as such are proscribed by Church Authority Jonas Aurel. Tom. 4. Bibl. patr Baron an 825. n. 58. 2. In their repeated Veneration and Prayers to the Saints Niceph. Constant Patr. Ep. ad Leon. p. 3. Haym hom de Laz. Raban Ep. ad Otgar And 3. in the Decree of the Eighth General Council justifying the ancient Tradition of giving that Derivative Honour and Veneration to the Images of Saints which is given primitively to the Originals they represent Conc. Constant 4. And in order to the Holy Virgin (a) Eorum bonorum haredes efficiamur quae in Christo vero Deo reposita sunt non indignis Idque Immaculatae inculpataeque Matris ejus omnium sanctorum Intercessione That we may become Heirs of those Blessings which are prepared in Christ the true God for the Worthy and that through the Intercession of his Immaculate and spotless Mother and of all the Saints S. Niceph. cit St. Nicephorus Epist cit gives an account of the constant practice of the Greek Church agreeing with that of former Ages and with the Custom of the Latin. Sect. XXVI Testimonies of the Tenth Age. XCVIII THe same received Doctrine and Practice of the Veneration and Invocation of Holy MARY we find supported by the Concord of the Writers of the Tenth Age relating the Zeal of those Times in propagating the Glory of the Saints and requesting their Protection and Prayers Windechin l. 1. Annal. Regino Chron. An. 655. 773. 871. Rather vit S. Ursmar Luitprand l. 4. hist c. 14. S. Odo Cluinac l. Transl S. Mart. c. 5. tom 7. Bibl. patr The words of St. Odo are very expressive Tu ergo ô bone Martine pie Pater Pastor Patrone noster nobis filiis alumnis nec non VENERATORIBVS tuis more tuo bona confer noxia submove ORATIONVM jugi instantia gaudia nobis Interminabilis Vitae obtine Thou therefore O Holy Martin our Pious Father Pastor and Patron continue to grant unto thy Children Disciples and Worshippers thy accustomed Favours defend us from all evils and by the efficacy of thy earnest Prayers obtain for us the Joys of a never-ending Life Sect. XXVII Testimonies of the Eleventh Age. XCIX IN the Eleventh Age (a) Suid. V. Leo. Adjecit homo profanus ne Mariae Intercessionem quisquam petat This profane Man added to the rest of his Crimes that none should presume through his Empire to beg the Intercession of Mary And V. Constantius Eo vesaniae Vecordiae redactus ut lege sanciret ne Mariae quidem Intercessionem quisquâ—m petat neque eam juvare quempiam posse neque Deipara nominetur O audacem blasphemiam Saracenicae Religionis Judaicae Sententiae He at length grew to that degree of Insolency and Madness that he enacted a Law that no Person should presume to beg the Prayers of Mary that she was not able to succor any one and that she should no more be called the Mother of God O presumptious Blasphemy of Saracenism and Judaism Suidas reproaches Leo Isauricus and his Son Constantine Emperours of profane Insolency and Madness in forbidding the honorable Title and Invocation of the Mother of God and by asserting her want of power to relieve her Clients and Petitioners (b) Coccius l. de Deip. art 4. Hermannus Contract shews his Piety to Holy Mary in the Anthems Alma Redemptoris and Salve Regina used in our Church Office and canoniz'd by its Authority though severely inveigh'd against by our Modern Vigilantians First Answ to Misrepres p. 19. as other Pious Hymns and Prayers to our Blessed Lady us'd by the same Spirit and Authority are Also Specul B. M. p. 11. (c) Petr. Dam. Serm. 1. Nat Mar. Virgo Dei genitrix cujus pulchritudinem sol luna mirantur subveni Domina clamantibus ad Te jugiter O Virgin Mother of God whose beauty astonishes the great Lights of the World help O Lady all those who earnestly have recourse to thee Serm. de Assumpt Caro Virginis Maculas Adae non admisit The Flesh of the Holy Virgin was so pure that it was not blemish'd with the least uncleanness of the sinful Adam St. Peter Damian a Holy and Learned Prelate frequently dilates himself in the Praises Encomiums Veneration and Invocation of the Holy Mother of JESVS And (d) S. Anselm l. Conc. Virg. c 18. Decens erat ut sanctissima Virgo eâ purîtate niteret quâ major sub Deo nequit intelligi It was but reasonable that the most Holy Virgin should be adorn'd with
Council of Basil asserting as Pious Holy and according to Divine Revelation the Doctrine of the preservation of the ever Immaculate Mother of JESVS from all stain and liableness to Original Sin Conc. Basil Sess 36. And in recommending in a most special manner the Veneration and Invocation of Holy Mary as a most effectual Means for the obtaining of God the Blessings of Peace and Vnion between Christian Princes Sess 43. CIV The same Religious Practice is confirm'd (d) Jo. Gerson Colloq de Mendic Spir. p. 2. Virgo gloriosa spes certa Refugium singulare peccatorum tu Sancte Angele Dei Custos bone ac caeteri alii sancti caelestes estote adjutores defendite consulite associate propellite Canes illos Infernales O glorious Virgin my secure Hope and singular Refuge of Sinners and thou O Holy Angel of God my good Guardian and all the other Saints of Heaven be my Helpers defend me direct me be present with me drive from me those Infernal Dogs by the devout Chancellor of Paris who calls the holy Mother of JESVS The firm Hope and special Refuge of Sinners (e) Dion Carth. Serm. 4. de Omnib Sanct. Dion Carthus humbly begs the Protection and Prayers of the Saints (f) B. Laur. Justin Serm. Nat. Mar. Igitur ad honorem hujus Virginis praecinamus in Confessione Jesum veneremur in matre matrem honoremus in filio utrisque vota nostra fideliter exolvamus quatenus filium Genitrice interpeliante pro nobis vincamus mundum Therefore let us sing in Confession to the Honour of this Virgin Let us worship JESUS in his Mother and honour the Mother in JESUS Let us with all Fidelity pay our Vows to both that the Mother interceding to the Son for us we may conquer the World. Blessed Laurence Justinian having heaped up many Excellent Praises and Honourable Titles as an Illustrious Monumeni of his Piety to Holy Mary offers up his Vows of Fidelity to Her beseeching God that he may become victorious over his sensual Passions by her Mediation (g) S. Bernardin Serm. 15. de Fest Virg. Eo actu fidei obedientiae plus mercuit quam meruerint omnes sancti omnibus actibus ac meritis suis That act of Faith and Obedience wherewith holy Mary professing her self the Hand-maid of our Lord consented to become the Mother of JESUS she merited more then all the Saints did by all their Acts and Merits Serm. 61. Oportuit ut sic dicam faeminam elevari ad quandam aequalitatem divinam per quandam quasi infinitatem perfectionum gratiarum Non timeo dicere quod in omnem gratiarum influxus Jurisdictionem quandam haebuerit Quandam Jurisdictionem habet in temporalem Missionem Spiritus Sancti It behoved If I may so say that that Woman should be exalted to a certain degree of Divine Likeness as to a kind of resemblance of an Infiniteness of super-natural Perfections and Graces I may presume to say that she had granted to Her an Exuberant Power over the Influences of Grace and that she had a Kind of Jurisdiction in the temporal Mission of the Holy Ghost The devout St. Bernardine in his sublime Panegyricks frequently exhorts his zealous Hearers to a super-eminent Esteem of the Excellencies of Holy Mary and specially to confide in her Protection and Prayers as being singularly priviledg'd above all PVRE CREATVRES the most powerful Advocate Patroness and Mediatrice of Christians The holy Sanctuary of Propitiation and the most indulgent Refuge and Safe-guard of penitent Sinners 'T is very remarkable what he affirms Serm. 15. de S. Mar. That the high acts of Faith and Obedience which this Divine Creature used in her assent to the stupendious Mystery of the Incarnation were incomparably more Meritorious and acceptable to God than the Collection of all the most inflam'd Operations of the Saints And again Serm. 61. That she was endow'd with a kind of Immenseness of Sanctity Grace and Perfection and with an almost unconfin'd Jurisdiction over the Treasuries of heavenly Grace (h) Thom. à Kemp. Petr. de Alliac S. Vincent Ferrer Alphons Tostat S. Jo. Capistr Nicol. Cusan S. Antonin Nicol. Orbâ—ll Heur Harph. Biel. Trithom Bapt. Mantuan To these we might add an Immense Catalogue of Illustrious School-men Controvertists Preachers and Historians of this flourishing Age of the Church who oft repeat this Primitive Doctrine and Practice and with exemplar Zeal do humbly Venerate and Invocate the holy Mother of JESVS as their most potent Advocate at the Throne of her Son JESVS for the Blessings of this and the next Life Sect. XXXII Testimonies of the Sixteenth Age. CV IN this Age the Fathers of the Illustrious Council of Trent manag'd by a special Providence of God for securing the Ancient Doctrine and Customs of the Catholick Church receiv'd from above against the Innovations of Schism and Heresie by monstrous super-fetations invading Gods Sanctuary and polluting whatever is Sacred with their unclean private Spirit (a) Trid. Sess 25. Decret de Invoc Mandat Sancta Synodus omnibus Episcopis caeteris docendi munus curamque sustinentibus Vt juxta Catholicae Apostolica Ecclesiae usum à primavis Christiana Religionis temporibus receptum sanctorumque Patrum consentionem sacrorum Consiliorum decreta fideles diligenter instruant Sanctos una cum Christo regnantes Orationes suas pro hominibus Deo offerre bonum atque utile esse suppliciter eos invocare ob beneficia impetranda à Deo per filium ejus JESVM Christum Dominum nostrum qui solus noster Redemptor Salvator est ad eorum orationes opem auxiliumque confugere The Holy Synod commands all Bishops and others whose Office and Care it is to teach That according to the Practice of the Catholick and Apostolick Church receiv'd from the first Ages of Christian Religion the unanimous Consent of Holy Fathers and the Decrees of Sacred Councils they diligently instruct the Faithful that the Saints who Reign with Christ do offer to God their Prayers for Men that it is Good and usefull humbly to Invocate them and to have recourse to their Prayers Help and Assistance for the obtaining Benefits from God through his Son JESUS Christ our Lord who only is our Redeemer and Saviour Again Sanctorum corpora quae viva membra fuerunt Christi templum Spiritus Sancti à fidelibus veneranda esse per quae multa beneficia à Deo hominibus praestantur Imagines porro Christi Deiparae Virginis aliorum Sanctorum retinendas eisque debitum Honerem Venerationem imperiendam That the Bodies of Saints which were the living Members of Christ and the Temple of the Holy Ghost are to be worshipped by the Faithful and that thereby God bestows many favours on us Also that the Images of Christ of the Holy Virgin Mother of God and of other Saints be retained and that due Honour and Worship be given unto Them. do with great earnestness
Luther and Calvin Enemies of the Glory of the Saints of their acceptableness to God and of their Communion with the Just as if they who sometimes pray'd with us should now either not pray or to no purpose do pray for us and that they who here reliev'd us by their Prayers should now not know us nor mind us nor have any power with God to assist us Cassiodor l. 1. Institut c. 13. CIX So that nothing doth offer it self further to incapacitate the Glorious Saints and above all these the most Innocent Holy and Glorious Mother of JESVS to hear our Praises Honourable Appellations Expressions of Veneration and humble Petitions and to help us in our Wants since 't is possible Pious Authoriz'd and Beneficial and this more effectually in order to holy Mary by how much more glorious she is whom we Petition and by how much the greater Authority this Doctrine receives from its ancient Tradition as to matter of Right and Duty and its antient Practice and the many undeniable stupendious Benefits thereby obtained Trid. Sess 22. c. 3. de Sacrif Miss Sess 25. decret de Invoc above all exception evidenc'd in matter of Fact from the Histories of a Times and of Classical Writers living in those times agreeing both to the Doctrine receiv'd and Devotions used and Benefits granted and consequently obliging us to the like Practice and this most Eminently towards the holy Mother of JESVS because most excellent in all communicable Perfections above all however glorious PVRE CREATVRES and therefore deserving super-eminent Praises Titles of Honour most profound Veneration and our humblest and most confident Addresses that she vouchsafe to become our Advocate to JESVS The God of all Glory the Giver of all Grace the Forgiver of all Sin and the Saviour of Men and Angels from whom ever begins and to whom finally are directed all Praise Honour Worship and Supplication through the Mediation of the Glorious Queen of Men and Angels as from and to the Head-spring of all super-natural Light Grace and Glory Amen FINIS Books Printed and sold by Nathaniel Thompson at the Entrance into the Old Spring-Garden near Charing-Cross A Manual of Controversies clearly demonstrating the Truth of the Catholick Religion By Texts of Holy Scripture Councils of all Ages Fathers of the first 500 years Common Sense and Reason And fully answering the principal Objections of Protestants and all other â—ectaries Price bound 1 s. 6 d. A Manual of Devout Prayers Fitted for all Persons and Occasions To which is added the Rosary Latin and English Prayers to the Blessed Virgin Mary c. The Prayers of St. Bridget and other most devout Prayers upon several Occasions never before published With a Catholick Kalendar and Exposition of all the Holy-days A most excellent way of hearing Mass with profit and Devotion Containing the whole Mass in Latin and English with divers choice select Prayers before and after Confession and Communion and an Examen of Conscience To which is added the Rosary of our Blessed Lady Prayers to the Blessed Virgin Mary the Prayers of St. Bridget c. And several other most Devout Prayers to our Blessed Redeemer Also the Vespers or Even-Song in Latin and English as it is Sung in all Catholick Churches Newly Corrected Veritas Evangelica Or the Gospel Truth asserted in Sixteen Useful Questions which being seriously searched into will open the way to find out assuredly the True and Saving Faith of Christ which is but One as the â—postle affirms Eph. 4. One Lord one Faith one Baptism written by T. K. and now published by R. C. Price 1 s. 6 d. A brief Discourse of Confession to a Lawful Priest wherein is treated of the last Judgement 24o. Price bound 1 s. Janua Scientiarum Or a compendious Introduction to Geography Chronology Government History Phylosophy and all gentile sorts of LITERATURE price bound 1 s. The Sucession of the Church and Sacraments from Christ and his Apostles from the end of the World cleared and stated according to the antient Doctrine oâ— the Greek and Latine Churches price 6 d. A brief Explanation of several Mysteries of the H Mass and of the Actions of the Priest Celebrating Very necessary for all Roman Catholicks for the better understanding thereof Together with certain Reflections upon the Apostles Creed touching the B. Sacrament and also divers Meditations and Prayers botâ— before and after Communion price 1 s. Popery Anatomis'd Or the Papists cleared froâ— the false Aspersion of Idolatry price 4 d. A Papist mis-represented and Represented Or 〈◊〉 two-fold Character of Popery c. price 1 s Ordo Recitandi Divini Officii pro Anno Domini 168â— price 6 d. A Net for the Fishers of Men being the same whicâ— Christ gave to his Apostles wherein the points coâ—troverted betwixt Catholicks and all Sectaries are brieâ—ly vindicated by way of Dilemma By two Gentlemeâ— Converts the Second Edition Corrected price 4 d. An Explanation of the Holy Ornaments and Ceremonies which the Priest uses at Mass price 2 d. The State of the Church Affairs in this Island of Great Britain under the Government of the Romans British KINGS Written by a Person of Quality anâ— Published by Authority price 4 s. A Sermon Preach'd before the King and Queen at Their Chappel at St. James's on the Feast of the Holy Patriarch S. Bennet By J. Cross D. D. of the H. Order of St. Fraâ—â—â—â—