THE PRAYER FOR CHURCH

FOR CHURCHING WOMEN.

The Virgin, though blessed and "highly favoured among women," is nowhere in God's word mentioned in the capacity of mediatrix! Is it not paying divine honours to a deceased mortal, to hope "by her merits and mediation, to be received into the joys of everlasting happiness?" Christ is "the door," by whom alone we can enter heaven. "He it is that openeth, and no man shutteth, and that shutteth, and no man openeth!" (Rev. iii. 7.) Apply to Him alone, and you are safe -choose another mediator, and He will reject you likewise; for, as "there is but one God," the triune Jehovah, so "there is but one Mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus," the ever-blessed Son of God.

(43) ON FASTING.

Nothing, indeed, is so efficacious against the assaults of the devil as fervent heartfelt prayer. "Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." "Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you." (James iv. 7, 8.) The more we pray and struggle against yielding to temptation, the less likely are we to be overcome. "Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors (but through whom?) through Him that loved us." I would not be thought to condemn fasting. St. Paul says, (Col. ii. 16,) "Let no man judge you in meat or in drink, or in respect of an holy day," &c. See also, Rom. xiv. 3, 6, indeed to the end of the chapter. Observe verse 17, For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost." Therefore, "Let not

ON FASTING.

ON FASTING.

him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth; for God hath received him." See also, 1 Cor. viii. 8.

THE CATHOLIC CHURCH;

ALSO OF THE HOLY WEEK, AND THE CEREMONIES

THEREOF.

Page 218.-Candlemasday. The Church makes a solemn procession with lighted candles, blessed by the priest before mass, carried as an emblem of Christ, the true light of the world.

(45) On Palm-Sunday we go in procession round the church, bearing also branches of palms in our hands, to celebrate the triumphs of our victorious King.

(46) Q. What is the meaning of the Tenebræ Office in Holy Week?

A. Because towards the latter end of the office all the lights are extinguished, in memory of the darkness which covered all the earth, whilst Christ was hanging upon the cross; and at the end of the office a noise is made, to represent the earthquake and splitting of the rocks, which happened at the time of our Lord's death.

THOLIC CHURCH; ALSO OF THE HOLY WEEK, AND THE CEREMONIES THEREOF.

Where, in the whole Bible are these ceremonies prescribed? calculated to dazzle the weak and impose upon the vulgar. As the apostles do not name them, here at least, the so often styled apostolical tradition fails! ...

Oh! if instead of these vain outward ceremonies and formalities, nowhere commanded in Scripture, you would but bring your Saviour what you are therein directed to offer, "a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price," and " a broken and a contrite heart, which He will not despise," you would far more effectually celebrate His triumph over the enemy of your souls.

(45) What devotion can there be in scenic effect? .... Who would not rather deem they were in a theatre, than in the house of God?....

(46) Shall the Redeemer's unparalleled sufferings be indeed made the subject of theatrical representation ? Does not this look more like a solemn mockery of the dying agonies of the Son of God?

ON THE FESTIVALS OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH; ALSO OF THE HOLY WEEK, AND THE CEREMONIES THEREOF.

(47) Page220.-On Maunday Thursday, prelates and superiors wash in church the feet of their subjects.

(48) The place where the blessed Sacrament is reserved in the Church, in order for the office of Good Friday, (on which day there is no consecration,) is, by the people, called the sepulchre, as representing by anticipation the burial of Christ; and, where there are many churches, the faithful make their stations to visit our Lord in these sepulchres, and meditate on the different stages of His passion. On Good Friday creeping to the cross, and kissing it. On Holy Saturday is blessed the paschal candle. The Invention kept in memory of the miraculous finding of the cross by the Empress Helen, mother of Constantine the Great.

(49) ON THE INVOCATION

OF SAINTS AND ANGELS.

Page 224.-Q. What is the doctrine and practice of the Catholic Church with regard to the invocation of saints and angels ?

A. We hold it to be pious and profitable to apply ourselves to them, in the way of desiring them to pray to God for us; but not so as to address ourselves to them, as if they were the authors or disposers of grace, pardon, or salvation; or as if they had any power

ON THE FESTIVALS OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH; ALSO OF THE HOLY WEEK, AND THE CEREMONIES THEREOF.

Is

(47) Query, "subjects.” there not "a pride that apes humility?" even though thus publicly affecting to imitate the meek and lowly Jesus.

(48) The design of all these truly theatrical and fruitless ceremonies, “The Invention" of man, is evident: viz., to seduce the senses, to captivate the imagination, to bewilder the judgment, and to enslave the heart! A religion of sentiment is not the religion preached and practised by the apostles; it is the shadow, not the substance; it may wear a faint semblance, but has none of the genuine characteristics of Christianity, whose most distinguishing mark is simplicity! .... but pomp and external show are more gratifying, more congenial to the pride of man; that which is "first pure, then peaceable," revolts. What hurled Satan from heaven? That which is also our bane,-Pride.

(49) ON THE INVOCATION OF SAINTS

AND ANGELS.

"Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, He will give it you." "And ye will not come unto me that ye might have life." Cannot these gracious assurances suffice us? Or can we reasonably expect an answer to our petitions when we choose to address ourselves to others, in preference to going direct to "Him who giveth life and breath and all things?" as He has commanded. Is it not superfluous, as well as an act of positive disobedience, to worship, or, if you will, "address ourselves" to saints and angels! when through Christ alone we have access

66

ON THE INVOCATION OF SAINTS AND ANGELS.

to help us, independently of God's good will and pleasure.

(50) Page 236.-Q. But why do you call the blessed Virgin the mother of God? A. Because she is truly the mother of Jesus Christ, who is true God and man, and consequently she is truly the mother of God ; not by being the mother of the divinity, but by being mother of Him who, in one and the same person, was both God and man. Hence she is called by Elizabeth, "the mother of our Lord."

ON THE INVOCATION OF SAINTS AND

ANGELS.

to the Father?" Why provoke Him by choosing for yourselves a way not appointed in His word? You cannot call it apostolical tradition; for (Col. ii. 18) the apostle says, "Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels.". Can this be a pious practice, and profitable to the soul? And shall man oppose his judgment to God's will?

(50) With what a flimsy veil do you clothe your reasoning, and how contradictory your statements! If not the mother of Christ's divine nature, how could she be "mother of God?" which it is blasphemous to affirm! She was the mother of Christ's fleshly nature only, "His divinity was of God." How could she be the mother of God! when God, the adorable Trinity, created all things? She could not create, and be created! The Son of God, begotten of His Father, not created, was, and is, from everlasting to everlasting; the Virgin was a created being. It is plain you neither understand nor distinguish between the two separate yet united natures of the God-Man, Christ Jesus, whose divinity had no mother to precede Him, as His humanity had no father. The stupendous union of the two natures, God and man, is yet most visibly and strikingly distinguished in the Holy Scriptures, which pourtray his sufferings as man, and His omnipresence, His omniscience, and His omnipotence as God. "When thou wast under the fig-tree, I saw thee." "And Jesus perceiving their thoughts." "Lazarus, come forth." View Him in His transfiguration, when the Godhead was so visibly manifested that the disciples were sore afraid." Behold Him in the Garden of Gethsemane, when His humanity required an angel to be sent from heaven to strengthen Him. Compare then the Virgin with Emmanuel ;