Wesley Corpus

8.) REPLY. We honour this blessed Virgin as the mother of the holy Jesus, and as she was a person of eminent piety; but we do not think it lawful to give that honour to her which belongs not to a creature, and doth equal her with her Redeemer. Q. 39. Have they not some singular forms of devotion to l:er ? A. Yes; for apprehending her to be in glory superior to all created beings, they offer a service to her, beyond what they give either to angels or saints. Q. 40. After what manner do they apply themselves to her? A. According to some Missals, they ask her to command her Son, by the right and authority of a mother; (Missal. Paris. Anno 1520, folio 65;) or, as it is in the Breviaries used at this day, “Show thyself a mother.” (Brev. Rom. Fest. Assump.) They pray to her, that she would loose the bands of the guilty, bring light to the blind, would make them mild and chaste, and cause their hearts to burn in love to Christ. (Officium B. M. in the hymn called Planctus B. M., Antwerp, 1641.) In a book printed lately in London, the author saith, that “whatever gifts are bestowed upon us by Jesus, we receive them by the mediation of Mary; no one being gracious to Jesus that is not devoted to Mary; that the power of Mary in the kingdom of Jesus is suitable to her maternity; and though the condition of some great sinners may be so deplor able, that the limited excellency and merits cannot effectually bend the mercies of Jesus to relieve them; yet such is the acceptableness of the mother of Jesus to Jesus, that whoso ever is under the verge of her protection, may confide in her intercession to Jesus;” that the person devoted to her, is to beg of her to accompany him as his “sacred guide, advocate, and champion, against the assaults of sin and sensuality.” (Contemplations of the Life and Glory of Holy Mary, &c., pp. 7-9, 14. Printed anno 1685.) Much after the fore-cited manner did the Council of Con stance invoke the blessed Virgin, as other Councils used to do the Holy Ghost, calling her the “mother of grace, the fountain of mercy;” and they call on her for “light from heaven.” REPLY.