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
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
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
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