24, 25; Isaiah xlii. 8.) But, secondly, the Papacy is an idolatrous empire, because it encourages the worship of saints and angels.

It is obvious that the Virgin Mary comes first under our notice. The worship of the Virgin is grounded upon the words of the Angel to her, "Blessed art thou amongst women." But is it not said of Jael, "Blessed shall Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite be; blessed shall she be above women in the tent"? Why then do Papists worship the Virgin, and not Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, who was blessed above women? If however Papists deny that they worship the Virgin, we will refer them to the Encyclical letter of the present Pope, Gregory XVI., in which the Virgin is called the whole ground of our hope.' The Pope's words are remarkable for their gross idolatry.

'Sed ut omnia hæc prospere ac feliciter eveniant, levemus oculos manusque ad sanctissimam Virginem MARIAM, quæ sola universas hæreses interemit, nostraque maxima fiducia, imo tota ratio est spei nostræ. Suo ipsa patrocinio in tanta Dominici gregis necessitate studiis, consiliis, actionibusque nostris exitus secundissimos imploret.' But that all these things may have a prosperous and happy issue, let us lift up our eyes and hands to the most Holy Virgin MARY, who alone destroys all heresies, and is our greatest reliance, yea, the WHOLE GROUND OF Our HOPE. May she, in so great necessity of the Lord's flock, implore by her patronage favourable results upon our endeavours, counsels and actions.' Whilst the

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present Pope exhorts his followers to lift up their eyes and hands to the Most Holy Virgin MARY,' we prefer to follow the advice of Jeremiah, "Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto GOD in the heavens." (Lam. iii. 41.) This idolatrous letter is dated September 1832, in the second year of the present Pope's Pontificate.

We might refer our readers to the Liturgies, Missals and Breviaries published at Rome by the highest authority, in which the Virgin Mary is continually called The Queen of Heaven,' The Mother of Mercy,' 'The Hope of the World, The only Trust of Sinners.' In 'The Garden of the Soul,' the following prayer is offered to the Virgin: Hail! Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness, and our hope, to thee we cry, poor banished sons of Eve, to thee we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears! Turn then, most Gracious Advocate, the eye of mercy towards us!' In 'The Poor Man's Manual,' the following prayer is offered: We fly to thy patronage, O holy Mother of God, despise not our petitions in our necessities : but deliver us from all dangers, O ever blessed and glorious Virgin!' The Latin Church had a favourite chaunt in honour of the Virgin Mary :

these words: There is no one who can be saved, O most holy Virgin, but through thee! there is no one who can be delivered from evils, but through thee! there is no one from whom we can obtain mercy, but through thee! Mary opens her bosom of mercy to all; so that the whole universe receive out of her fulness-the captive, redemption; the sick, health; the afflicted, comfort; the sinner, pardon; the just, grace; the angels, joy; the whole Trinity, glory!' Papists address the Virgin on their knees as the Refuge of Sinners,' the Ark of the Covenant,' 'the Gate of Heaven,' the Health of the Weak,' 'the Comfort of the Afflicted,' the Throne of the Trinity.' In the Rosary they are instructed to offer TEN prayers to her for every ONE which they offer to God. 'The Creature' is thus commanded to be worshipped' ten times more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.' It appears from this that Rome Papal too nearly resembles Rome Pagan. (Rom. i. 25).

The Virgin is put on a footing with the Saviour. It was said by Augustine, that there were many excellent sayings in the writings of Cicero, and in other books, but that in no book was there a saying to be found like that of Christ, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." The Papists, however, have such a book in the Psalter of the Virgin.' In that blasphemous work we find it written, Come unto HER, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and SHE will refresh you.'

The Virgin is also put on a footing with the Saviour by the Council of Trent, which declares that she was born without original sin. Thus the Virgin was immaculately conceived as well as Christ! In that blasphemous composition, above referred to, 'the Psalter of the Virgin,' divine attributes are ascribed to her. The Psalms are therein altered in such a manner that where the name of GOD occurs, the name of the Virgin is substituted. Thus, instead of, "Bless the Lord, O my soul!" we have, Bless the Mother of Jesus Christ, O my soul!' Instead of, " In thee, O Lord, have I hoped," we have, In thee, my Lady, have I hoped.' Instead of, "Sing unto the Lord a new song,' we have, 'Sing unto our Lady a new song.' Instead of, thing that hath breath praise the Lord," we have, "Let every thing that hath breath praise our Lady.'

"Let every

How gross is the idolatry contained in that scandalous form of devotion which is said to have been revealed by an angel to St. Bernard ! Witness the following extract: 'Hail, Mary, handmaid of the Holy Trinity! Hail, Mary, Salvation and Comforter of the living and the dead! Be with me in all my tribulations, necessities, straits and infirmities, and procure for me pardon for all my sins; and especially in the hour of my departure be not wanting to me, O most pious Virgin Mary! I adore and bless thy most blessed feet, with which thou didst bruise the head of the old serpent with all his monsters. I adore and bless thy most chaste womb, like to a heap of wheat set about with lilies.

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adore and bless thy most noble heart. I adore and bless thy most prolific breasts, like to clusters of grapes. I adore and bless thy polished hands, full of hyacinths. I adore and bless, &c.'

In this form of devotion adoration is expressly offered, not only to the Virgin herself, but to every individual member of her body. Can any thing be conceived more grossly idolatrous ? All the attributes of Deity are assigned to a finite created woman. She is worshipped with the highest possible veneration. She is made omnipresent, omniscient, and omnipotent. And in some respects she is exalted above the Saviour, at least, if we may judge from that prayer, 'Jure Matris, impera Redemptori.?

By a Mother's right, command the Redeemer.'

Nor is this idolatrous worship confined to the Virgin. No later than the year 1807, Pius VII. instructed Romanists to say, 'Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! assist me in my last agony!" And in the Litanies for the dying such exclamations as the following abound, Holy angels, pray for us! Holy archangels pray for us! Holy Abel, pray for us! Holy Abraham, pray for us! Holy Paul, pray for us! Holy Peter, pray for us! Holy Francis, pray for us! Holy Monks and Friars, Holy Virgins and Widows, pray for us!' (see Sermon on the Invocation of Angels, Saints, and the Virgin Mary, by Rev. W. F. Vance.)

But, thirdly, the Papacy is idolatrous, because it makes an idol of a little flour and water! Papists profess to create their Creator: what they create they