CHAPTER XXV.

That the Virgin Mary is the Queen of Heaven, the door of Paradise, and the Salvation of the living and the dead; as it is said in the Litanies, which they address unto her, and in the Psalter of Bonaventure.

But what does the Bible teach on this subject? It teaches thus: Luke 1:46. "And Mary said, my soul doth magnify the Lord." Note, that she acknowledgeth Jesus Christ for her Lord; so far is she from calling herself his Lady, according to the blasphemy of the Litanies.

Verse 47. "And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour." Note, that she embraces Jesus Christ as her Saviour; so far is she from calling herself the salvation of others.

Verse 48. "For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden, for behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed." Note, that she doth not say, all ages shall adore me, and shall address their prayers to me; but, all generations shall call me blessed. We, following this prophecy, do declare her to be the most blessed among all women.

Chap. 11:27, 28. "A certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked. But he said, yea rather,

blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it." The Virgin is blessed for having borne Jesus Christ in her body, but still she is more blessed for having borne him in her heart. She is blessed for having suckled our Lord, but still she is more blessed for having sucked herself the milk of godliness.

John, 2:4. "Jesus saith unto her, woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come." Note, that our Lord Jesus Christ speaks to the blessed Virgin in this manner, not for want of love to her. For in the strongest of his agonies he testified his tender affections to her, recommending her to his beloved disciple, John, 19:26, 27. But he would go to prevent the abuse and superstition, and to hinder us from putting the creature in the place of the Creator.

Matt. 12:47, 48, 49, 50. "Then one said unto him, behold thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee. But he answered and said unto him that told him, who is my mother? and who are my brethren? And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and saith, behold my mother and my brethren. For whoso ever shall do the will of my Father, which is in Heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother." Note, that Jesus Christ doth not bring out his holy mother before the people that stood round about, nor doth he say unto them, behold the

Queen and Empress of Heaven and earth, before whom every knee should bow. Behold the ladder by which you shall ascend into Heaven, and the door by which you shall enter into Paradise, see that you place your hope and confidence in her. But on the contrary, to turn them gently from so gross an imagination, he teaches them, that he prefers the spiritual relation before the bodily; and that if they would have the honor of being his mother and his brethren, they ought with a good heart to make the prayer of David, Psalm 143: 10. "Teach me to do thy will, for thou art my God."

Acts, 4:12. "Neither is there salvation in any other," (save in our Lord Jesus Christ;) "for there is none other name under Heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." We find in the Blessed Virgin an example of faith, and of admirable virtue, which we ought to imitate; but we ought not to place our faith or confidence in her; for it is not by her name that God doth save us.

CHAPTER XXVI.

That we ought to worship Angels, and to give religious service to Saints. Bellarm. de cultu Sanctor. lib. 1. cap. 11, 12, 13, 14.

In the Holy Bible it is written, Matt. 4:10."Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him

only shalt thou serve." Note, that 'tis in vain that they make a distinction here between the worship of Latria and Dulia; seeing all religious adoration, whatsoever name one can give it, belongs to none but God; and that he will be served alone with religious worship and service.

Col. 2:18. "Let no man beguile you of your reward, in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind." Note, that those who give unto angels religious service, did not equal them to God, seeing they did it through humility, as esteeming themselves unworthy to address themselves immediately to God. Notwithstanding, the Apostle condemns it, because this service was the invention of man.

Heb. 1:14. "Are they not all ministering spirits? sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation." Note, that God hath ordained angels for the service of the Church; but he has not ordained that any one should render unto the angels religious service.

See here the examples of Saints and angels, who would not that any should fall down before them to worship them. Acts, 10:25, 26. "And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him. But Peter took him up, saying, stand up; I myself also am a man."

Chap. 14: 14, 15. "Which when the Apostles,

Barnabas and Paul, heard of," (viz. that they would sacrifice to them,) "they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out, and saying, Sirs, why do ye these thing? We also are men of like passions with you."

Rev. 19:10. "And I fell at his feet," (viz. of the Angel,)" to worship him; and he said unto me, see thou do it not; I am thy fellow-servant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God."

Chap. 22:8, 9. "And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which showed me these things. Then saith he unto me, see thou do it not. For I am thy fellow-servant, and of thy brethren the Prophets, and of them which keep the saying of this book : worship God."

Judges, 13:16. "And the angel of the Lord said unto Manoah, though thou detain me, I will not eat of thy bread; and if thou wilt offer a burnt offering, thou must offer it unto the Lord."