Wesley Corpus

xix. 10,) and the Scripture doth condemn as “a sign of a fleshly mind, vainly intruding into those things which we have not seen.” (Col. ii. 18.) Theodoret, upon this text, saith, that the practice of worshipping angels continued a long time in Phrygia and Pisidia; wherefore the Synod of Laodicea doth forbid praying to angels: “For Christians ought not to forsake the Church of God, and depart aside and invocate angels, which are things forbidden.” (Conc. Laod, Can. 35.) Q. 34. What religious honour do they give to the saints? A. They pray to them as their intercessors, make confessions to them, offer incense, and make vows to them, venerate their images and relics. Q. 35. For what reason do they pray to saints? A. That by their help they may obtain benefits from God, (Concil. Trid, Sess. 25, de Invocat.,) who doth confer many favours upon mankind, by their merit, and grace, and inter cession. (Catech. Rom., par. 3, c. 2, sec. 12.-Missal. Rom. proprium Missarum de Sanctis.) Q. 36. After what manner do they pray to saints? A. They pray to them as favourites with God, that they would take them into their protection, and would obtain those things of God for them which they want. Therefore they plead that they have two different forms of prayers; for to God they properly say, “Have mercy upon us, hear us:” To a saint, “Pray for us.” (Catech. Rom., par. 4, c. 6, n. 3.) Q. 37. But have they not those forms in their Missals, Breviaries, and common books of devotion, which are parti cularly and immediately applied to the saints for obtaining what they want? A. Yes; it is too manifest to be denied; and though they have been more sparing of late years, yet nothing formerly more frequent. As, for instance: In a Missal printed at Paris, an. 1520, fol. 51, there is this prayer to St. Agnes:-- “O Agnes, woman of the Lamb, do thou enlighten us within | Destroy the roots of sin, O excellent Lady. After the grievances of the world, do thou translate us to the company of the blessed!” REPLY. “There is one God, and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus; who gave himself a ransom for all.” (1 Tim. ii. 5, 6.) “Who is he that condemneth?