Wesley Corpus

Thus St. Ambrose, on 1 Cor. xiv.: “It is evident that the mind is ignorant where the tongue is not understood. The unskilful person, hearing what he doth not understand, knows not the conclusion of the prayer, and doth not answer, Amen.” Q. 32. What are the objects of worship in the Church of Rome? A. Besides the blessed Trinity, angels, the Virgin Mary, and saints. REPLY. Our Saviour says, “Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.” (Matt. iv. 10.) As divine worship is due to God, so it is not lawful to give it to any other. The Church of Rome doth acknowledge this, but says the worship they give to saints and angels is not of that kind (Catech. Rom., par. 3, c. 2, n. 8, par. 4, c. 6, n. 3.) But what worship is peculiar to God, if prayer is not? So thought St. Ambrose: “Thou only art to be invocated.” (De Obitu Theodos.) For God alone can receive our prayer, or can give what we pray for, or be the object of our faith and trust. Q. 33. What honour do they give to the angels? A. (1.) The Church of Rome teaches that angels are to be worshipped, (Catech. Rom., par. 3, c. 2, n. 8, 9, venerari, adorare, colere,) invoked, and prayed to. (Ibid., n. 10.) And they have litanies and prayers composed for this purpose. (Litaniae, sec. Angelorum, vid. Horologium Tutelaris Angeli a Drexelio. p. 84, Duac. 1623.) A. (2.) They teach, that as every particular person hath a guardian angel from his birth, (Catech. Rom., par. 4, cap. 9, sec. 1, n. 4, 6,) so it is fit to commit themselves more parti cularly to him, (Horolog. Drex., p. 108,) after this manner: “Blessed angel ! to whose care our loving Creator hath committed me, defend me this day, I beseech you, from all dangers, and direct me in the way I ought to walk.” (The Child’s Catechism, 1678.) REPLY. We honour the holy angels, as they are God’s ministers, and are “sent forth to minister unto them that shall be heirs of salvation.” (Heb. i. 14.) But, to worship or pray to them, we dare not, as it is what they themselves refuse and abhor, (Rev. xix.