AN APOLOGY FOR THE Contemplations On the LIFE and Glory OF Holy Mary MOTHER of JESUS SHEWING The Innocency Equity and Antiquity of the Honour and Veneration given to the Blessed Virgin Mother by the Holy Catholick CHURCH MARY of whom was born JESVS Matt. c. 1. v. 16. The Daughters of Tyre shall present Thee with their Offerings and the powerful of the people shall pray unto Thee Psalm 44. v. 12. By J. C. D. D. With Allowance of Superiours LONDON Printed by Nath. Thompson at the Entrance into Old Spring-Garden near Charing-Cross MDCLXXXVII To Her Most Excellent Majesty MARY OF England Scotland France and IRELAND QUEEN MADAM THE Souls of Sovereign Princes who under God govern the Empires of the World give Laws to Mortals and with their beck force the loftiest Cedars to bend and pay Homage to their Royal Crowns and Scepters are amongst the rest of Creatures as the Meridian SUN amidst the Stars of whatever Brightness and Magnitude They are the Visible Images of the Majesty of God Ministers of his Power and Representatives of his Infinite Adorableness And therefore are by the Divine Oracles called GODS Psal 81.6 and a strict Injunction is issued forth to all that we Love their Persons Obey their Commands and support their Crowns and Dignities under severest Penalties Rom. 13.1 seqq The consent of all Mankind by Divine Instinct conspicuous in the Laws of Nature and Nations hath so engrafted this Sacred Principle of Loyalty in Mans Heart That Time and Custom as St. Austin observes hath past it into a Natural Covenant for the well-being of Humane Society in regard of their Royal Power and Majesty to pay Obedience to their Laws and to Venerate their Person Aug. l. 3. Conf. c. 8. n. 2. As the Civil Excellency and Jurisdiction deriv'd from the Light of Nature confirm'd by the consent of all Ages and Nations and authoriz'd by the Sacred Pandects of Gods positive Law doth render Princes Illustrious and Awful in their Royal Thrones and Pavillions by a due Administration of the Sword of Justice in Peace and War for the Tranquility of their People and the Terrour of their Enemies So hath wise and gracious Providence furnish'd their vast Souls with a more copious Train of Natural Endowments of Wisdom Fortitude and Vigilancy with a deeper Penetration into the Arcana Imperii the Maxims of State Interests of Nations Humours of People and other secret Mysteries of Government and with more abundant Influences of Super-natural Lights and Helps whereby to prosper their Realms propagate their Crowns and secure their Royal Persons and Prerogatives That being accomplish'd with all Natural Moral and Super-natural Supplies they may become more Illustrious Stars of Piety in the Firmament of the Church more Renown'd Champions of the Rights and Mysteries of Religion and most impregnable Bullwarks of true Faith and Holiness against the publick Assaults and private Ambushes of Worldly Wisdom And therefore the Prophet Esay cap. 49. vers 23. gives them the Illustrious Characters That Kings are the Nursing Fathers and Queens the Nursing Mothers of the Church And our Blessed Lord tells us That the several Interests of the Church and State are so rivited to each other That we give not God his Due unless we obey Caesar Matt. cap. 22. vers 21. These Madam be the stately Columns which support the Majesty of Earthly Princes But if they also be fix'd on the Sacred Bases of Religion and Christian Fortitude That Majesty becomes much more Illustrious and Adorable In your Royal Person They are enrich'd too with the Magnificent Sculptures of a most Illustrious Birth whereby you are link'd to the Noblest Royal and Imperial Families of the Western World and actuated with the lofty Blood of the Dukes of Ferrara and the Spirit of the most Renowned Countess Matildis of Modena They are adorn'd with a most Majestick Reliev of a propitious Fortune whereby you are Espoused to the Greatest of English Monarchs JAMES the JUST the VALIANT and the VICTORIOUS and thereby are QUEEN of England Scotland France and Ireland of the Terra Firma and Islands of the North-East of America of the Golden Coasts of the Southern Africa of a large Tract of the Indian Asia and of the vast Seas and Oceans which wash their rich Shores and opposite Banks And they are atchiev'd with the rarest Cornu-copia's of Super-natural Blessings whereby to render your Soul Holy your Virtues Transcendent and your Examples astonishing and attractive But Madam All these sublime Excellencies which conspire to render your Most Sacred Majesty Great and Illustrious makes this my Approach to the Throne of your Grandeurs more rash and unpardonable That at so vast a Distance I presume with a Vulgar Eye to view so bright a Sun and to interrupt your Royal Thoughts with so Mean an Offering your Seraphick Soul being already fix'd in Contemplation and Admiration of the Immense Grandeurs of your Super-Seraphick Patroness Holy MARY the QVEEN of Queens unto whose Rich Sanctuaries of all Super-eminent Virtues this Apology is ambitious to lead You. The Summ of my Plea is First That the Design of this Apology is Magnificent Secondly That the Matter is Holy And Thirdly That the giving it a publick View is a Just Debt For It expounds the Super-eminent Mysteries of the Life and Glory of the Holy Mother of JESUS It shews in little the Immense Perfections of Nature Grace and Glory drawn to the Life by the Power of the Almighty in the exactest Copy of the Infinite Original possible amongst Pure Creatures And It justifies to a Mis-believing Generation the Rights and Priviledges of that Divine Creature chosen above All and therefore qualified above All to be the Mother of JESUS whose Blood therefore in JESUS was Satans overthrow Mans Ransom and Heavens Purchase Thus far the Merits of the Cause humbly sues my Pardon and your Majesties Protection My further Plea is Three great Excellencies wherein your Sacred Majesty communicates with the Divine Mother of JESUS At the Font you were Ennobled with the Illustrious Name of MARY by your Espousals you are dignified with the Majesty of a QVEEN and by your Education you are Endowed with the brightest Characters of Clemency which are ever Active in you Royal Breast for Relief of the Oppressed All these Perfections seem to imply a Generous Inclination in your Sacred Majesty to protect the Assertors of the Prerogatives of your CHIEF the Divine MARY the QVEEN of Men and Angels the most CLEMENT Advocate of afflicted Christians especially assaulted within your Kingdoms by your Subjects by those who presume to stile Themselves Disciples of JESUS while they brand the Just Rights and Prerogatives of His Divine Mother with the most Infamous TEST of a prophane IDOLATRY and rob Her of the noblest Perfections of her Mysterious Life of the choicest Priviledges of Divine Grace of the richest Pearls of her Crown of Glory HER most just Claims to all Super-eminent Praises Titles of Honour Veneration and Power to aid
and Intercession we give Them are so pressingly commended unto Us as most eminent Idea's of Christian Perfection proportion'd to our Capacities and Imitation 1 Cor. 11.1 Heb. 13.7 Trid. Sess 25. de Invoc § Illud vero Aug. Serm. 47. de Sanct. Hier. Serm. de Assumpt B. V. XII It is doubtless an eminent Obligation of Christian Perfection not only to be always busy'd in the exercise of Moral and Supernatural Virtues but also therein to imitate Holiness in its liveliest Images So also is it a most Excellent Virtue to be Just even to the Saints those blessed Citizens of Heaven by giving Them what 's due to Them by all the Laws as well of Divine as of Moral Justice both Laws own their Spiritual Excellencies both own a Debt of Praise Honour and Worship to Excellent and Sacred Persons as well as they prescribe Rules for our Imitation of what is good and perfect And if we may follow the profound Maxim of Scotus 3. d. 27. n. 4. That goodness is amiable and that therefore according to the degrees of goodness each Thing is to be loved and God above all because he is Infinite Goodness Then also Holiness Grace and Glory being just Motives of Praise Honour and Veneration these actions are due to the Glorious Saints according to the several Excellencies of each Ones Station in Heaven and therefore Super-eminently to the Mother of JESVS though to God only above All who alone by Essence is Holy and Glorious Neither is it less beneficial towards the Advancement of Mans Sanctification and Perseverance in all the Duties of a Virtuous Life by means of those previous acts of Christian Justice and humble Prayer to sollicit the Protection and Confederacy of those victorious and compassionate Champions of Piety those Heavenly Courtiers those Divine Images Temples and Favourites amidst the manifold and perilous Assaults of Satan and Sensuality and their Mediation of Intercession to God for Supernatural Lights and Aids for the avoiding of Sin and the practice of Virtue then by neglecting and defaming this comfortable and just Communion with the Saints we so frequently profess in our Creed to aim at the exact Imitation of those their Sublime Moral and Supernatural Perfections XIII The other Opposers of the Contemplations would seem with much Civility to give me Thanks for this so seasonable a Treatise First as owning the Doctrine and Practice of so Idolatrous a Worship of the Mother of Jesus as if the whole draught and design were new and singular Then for publishing both with Superiours allowance And lastly that in English too both the Doctrine and Practice so own'd and publish'd being expresly against the Word of God and the whole sense of Christianity The World being thus now manifestly convinc'd of Catholicks Idolatry and Damnation too I suppose and their Confusion being hereby become manifest and irreparable Answ p. 29. Spec. p. 10. 21. and after this courteous mark of Grace They go on decrying the whole substance and purpose of the Contemplations as Idolatrous and abominable For giving so much to the Virgin Mary that more cannot be given to the Son of God in our Nature Answ p. 27. Spec. p. 21. And to prove this mark a great piece of Skill For that all said in the Contemplations may sound to his own Note the Answerer purposely leaves out these most Energical and discriminating words In the Soul of a PVRE CREATVRE Answ p. 26. lin ult compar'd with Contempl. Epist Dedicat. p. 4. l. 11. Which words are the Key Rule and Measure of all those Super-eminent Perfections given to the Holy Mother of JESVS and exacting due Acknowledgments from Us and are a manifest distinctive Badge of that vast disproportion there is between the Prerogatives due to Her and those incomparably greater proper to JESVS the Consubstantial Son or God as well as the true Consubstantial Son of Holy MARY both Natures in-confusedly con-subsisting in the One Person of the Eternal Word XIV Neither is there any One single Attribute Property or Perfection either due to JESVS as God or appropriated to Him as Man in right of the reciprocal Exchange of Divine and Humane Appellatives grounded on the Vnion of those Natures in the Person of JESVS applied to the Holy Mother of God as the Speculator imposeth Spec. p. 10. l. 33. All Perfections of Nature Grace and Glory due and given unto Her being of a far inferior Rank proportion'd to the Capacities of a Pure Creature though of the First Form they being necessarily such as may stand with the Dignity and may be fit Qualifications and Appendents of her Transcendent Maternity Thus the Contemplations being bounded by the Excellencies of Holy Mary as the Mother of God and She being too a Pure Creature though of a superlative Degree in Right of that ineffable Priviledge 'T is manifest first that no Praises Titles of Honour Acts of Worship or Addresses for Intercession are given unto HER as a Deity as the Speculator doth impose Spec. p. 17. l. 27. And secondly that there is not any single Attribute of the Divinity ravish'd from the Son of God and confer'd on the Mother of JESVS as the Answerer affirmeth Answ p. 28. l. 13. XV. This only Reflection on the Answerers injurious dismembring the very stile of the Contemplations in a most weighty Article as it plainly discovers the usual fraud of the Adversaries of the Catholick Church in lopping the Sacred Councils themselves thereby to support a drooping Party and Passion complain'd of early by the Grecian Fathers Conc. Constantinop 3. act 2.6 14. Synod 7. act 5. so doth it extreamly justifie these Innocent Contemplations impugn'd by such mean and un-allowable shifts since the whole being duly perus'd and measur'd with that Line of a pure Creature so oft repeated it will be manifest that no One Supernatural Gift is lodg'd in the Holy Mother of JESVS no Title of Honour is confer'd upon Her nor is any one Act of Veneration or Intercession directed unto Holy Mary by virtue of those Gifts or these honorable Titles but what agree with and are qualified unto the Condition of a Pure Creature none exceed this inseparable Standard of all her Magnificent Superlative and Super-eminent Perfections So that however excellent they be in Her in right of her Divine Maternity yet does not any one of Them derogate from or approach unto the immense and un-accessible Attributes of God or even the Exuberant Excellencies of the Humane Nature of Jesus in right of its consubsistency in the same Person of God with his Divine Nature Which for this very reason in our Sacred Doxologies Timologies Liturgies and Prayers directed to JESVS is not distinguish'd by any sensible specifical Character from the Holy of Holies the Eternal Word Constantinop 1. coll 8. c. 9. Ephes 1. c. 8. Athan. libr. Incarn Orat. contr Arrian Ambr. l. 3. de Sp. Sanct. c. 12. Aug. ps 98. D. Thom. p. 1. q 25. Scot. 3. d. 9. n. 6. Herinx
still although her super-natural Excellencies be exceedingly sublime as becomes the Person of the Mother of God yet are they all created Perfections and the free Gifts of a gracious Father of pure Lights bestow'd on a PVRE CREATVRE and therefore as they in themselves are infinitely beneath the Majesty of an Independent Creator So likewise admit they only such Acts of Worship as directed by our Reason and Will transcend not the acknowledgment of a most excellent dependent Creature Sect. XI Three Singular Motives of the Super-eminent Veneration due to the Holy Mother of JESUS XL. FOR the further clearing this Christian Truth having first observ'd with St. Bern. Epist 174. That the Mother of JESVS needs not our feigned Praises or Applauses being proclaim'd by a Seraphim Full of Grace and the Mother of JESVS Thcn with the subtil Scotus 3. d. 3. q. 1. n. 10. That whatever is most Excellent may be allow'd to Holy Mary if not repugnant to Divine Revelation and Church-Authority We must suppose All the special Prerogatives of the Sacred Virgin to be either previous and preparatory Dispositions fitting her in Body and Mind to that Ineffable Mystery of her Divine Maternity or concurrent Qualifications or con-natural Atchievements of that stupendious Dignity To which purpose S. Ambr. l. 2. Virg. sayes That Holy Mary being prepar'd with those excellent Endowments of Purity and Holiness was made worthy â—o become the Mother of God. S. Hierom. Epist ad Eustoch de Custod Virg. speaks in the same Phrase The Purity and Innocency of Holy MARY saith he was so extream and sublime that she deserv'd to bring forth the Son of the Eternal God in our flesh S. Anselm l. Conc. Virg. c. 18. follows in the like strain of Admiration at her unparallel'd Excellencies when he tells us That 't is requisite above all Exception that the most Holy Virgin should be endow'd with such a transcendent Purity that nothing beneath God himself may be conceiv'd Greater Wherefore As the several Perfections which con-naturally accompany the Humane Nature of Jesus Christ are proportion'd to that Immense Priviledge of its Con-subsistency with the Divinity in the Person of Gods co-eternal and con-substantial Son Jo. 1.14 So the Mysterious Excellencies which embellish'd Holy Mary are exactly suitable to the high Prerogative of her being truly and properly the Mother of DIVINE JESVS Luc. 11.27 This singular and most sublime Dignity is the very Basis Motive and Measure of all her previous concurrent and subsequent super-natural Perfections which may be reduc'd to Her incomparable Innocency Her fulness of Grace and Her most sublime State of Glory above all the Choires of Saints and Angels even as to all their most Excellent Perfections of Nature Grace and Glory since by the Dignity of her Predestination she transcends the whole Sphere of the Elect and is seated next to the Throne of the Divinity as S. Greg. speaks l. 1. Reg. 1. XLI First then as to the Fundamental Excellency of Holy Mary her Divine Maternity which is a Prerogative of that vast Magnitude that no Perfection in the order of Grace can be more Illustrious more Magnificent more Honorable It s co-efficient cause with her fecundity was the Virtue of the most High Its Progress and all its Operations were full of Miracles and its product is JESVS God and Man by Her united in One Person of God. And all these Prodigies were begun and finish'd in the very first positive instant of her active Conception of JESVS wherein Holy Mary is an unspotted Virgin and the stupendious Mother of God. Whereupon Tertull. observes libr. Resur Carn That the whole Wisdom Counsel and Power of God were engag'd in finishing this great Mystery of the Maternity of Holy Mary And by consent of Holy Fathers and Doctors this Divine Mother is not therefore only proclaim'd Blessed above Women because dignify'd with the Priviledge of being the Mother of JESVS Luc. 1.42 48. but moreover that by Virtue of that Generation she hath a most special Influence into the Salvation of Mankind for Of Mary was born JESVS that is the Saviour of All Matt. 1.16 Aug. Serm. 2. Annunc Bern. hom 3. Sup. Missus Andraeas Cretens Serm. in Salut Angel. And also a special Jurisdiction over Jesus as to the Application and Extention of his saving Grà ce through a most benign Condescention of the Mercy of JESVS in subjecting Himself to her Commands Luc. 2.51 Less l. 2. Just c. 37. n. 28. Her. p. 4. tr 1. d. 4. n. 52. Abelly p. 1. tr 5. c. 8. Sect. 3. n. 5. Gualter Chron. saecul 1. Verit. 2. § 3. XLII Thus this most transcendent Dignity of the Maternity of Holy Mary gives Her an unquestionable Right to a suitable most sublime Degree of Praises Titles of Grandeur and Veneration above whatever can be conceiv'd due to all other Pure Creatures And doth moreover demonstrate to any considering Man a super-eminently efficacious Power of Patronage over Her special Clients and also of Mediation or Intercession to JESVS for her humble and earnest Petitioners through the filial Love Respect and Condescention of JESVS to his Divine Mother as the most Excellent Idea and Patern of filial Observance and Christian Perfection Whence the Angel of the Schools S. Thom. p. 1. q. 25. art 6. ad 4. tells us That Holy Mary in Right of her strict Alliance with JESVS in Quality of a Mother hath also a participated Infinity of Power and Majesty and consequently by Virtue of these super-eminent and Illustrious Prerogatives she has also a special Jurisdiction in the Courts of Claims of her Clients and of Gods Mercies Bern. Serm. Sup. Signum magnum XLIII Secondly From this prevision of the Predestination of Holy Mary to be the Mother of JESVS there follows another most sublime and peculiar Priviledge Her Preservation in a most perfect Purity and Innocency from all stain and blemish of sin so that she was neither defil'd with any Actual offence against God by a free consent of her own Will even as to the least surprize of a venial defect Nor branded with the Infamous Characters of Original sin and of a Child of Wrath albeit she was a Natural Child of the Guilty ADAM Nor was she any wayes wounded with the fatal Sting of sinful Concupiscence the dreadful effect of Original sin and Incentive of Actual Thus the Great Soul of Holy Mary was most perfectly pure and spotless resembling its excellent Idea pre-conceiv'd by the Wisdom of God even such ever as when she first issu'd forth the Hands of Her Divine Creator Prov. 8.22 Cant. 4.7 Thus Holy Mary in Right of her eternal Predestination to be the Mother of JESVS is dignifi'd with that most accomplish'd Purity whereby she incomparably surpasseth all Mortals Aug. l. Nat. Grat. c. 36. Is the most exact Image of the Innocency of JESVS possible to a Purâ— Creature is a fit Sanctuary of the Son of God and of the Theandrical Operations of his Divine
are much more insur'd in this Confidence while our Petitions are offer'd up to JESVS by the Greatest of the Saints And our Hope is yet further enforc'd from the Contemplation of that Excellent Obedience which Christ though Mortal yet a God as observ'd towards Josue 10.14 was pleas'd to pay unto Her Commands Luc. 2.51 Jo. 2.8 not only as an Illustrious Pattern left to all Children Disciples and Subjects of their Duty but also as a strong Encouragement to the Devotes of the holy Mother of JESVS to petition Her with a special Hope of success by Her pleading for us to so kind a Son and so gracious a Friend and Father So that if the Horrour of our sins saith St. Bern. Serm. sup Signum magnum makes us dread to appear in the presence of an Angry and Just God let 's have recourse to holy Mary a most proper Mediatrice to our Mediator JESVS Through whom sayes the same holy Father Serm. Nativ Mar. all our Hope all Grace all Salvation flows down upon us Sect. XIV That the Mediation of Holy Mary derogates not from the Dignity of our only Mediator JESUS LIII HEnce it seems manifest to any calm Considerer That no one Expression or Practice used in the Contemplations on the Life and Glory of the holy Mother of JESVS or by her Devotes with the Approbation of Church Authority detracts in the least either from the Infinite Majesty and Perfections of God or from the all-sufficient and most effectual Mediation of JESVS Christ Whom all still acknowledge with the Apostle 1 Tim. 2.5 The One Mediator of God and Men who gave Himself a Redemption for many And thus as the same Great Apostle speaks Colos 1.20 pacifying all by the Blood of the Cross and by the consequent Fruits deriv'd from that attoning Sacrifice the proper Act of the Office of our One Mediator JESVS for that End clad in our Flesh which could shed its blood dye and appease the Justice of an offended God through the Dignity of his Divine Person wherein it subsists Heb. 9.12 15. LIV. Wherefore if Deeds or exteriour Acts much rather Words have divers significations appliable to their several Analogates by attribution to one Chief whose property they in some measure imitate Thus As with the same bended knee by the direction of our Reason and Will taking their Measures from several Motives we give Divine Worship to God Saint-Servitude to glorifi'd Creatures and Civil Veneration to our Parents and Princes because the Saints in Heaven by Grace and the Monarchs of this World by a Commissive Power partake with God in his Sanctity and Soveraignty and by appropriation are dignifi'd with Titles proper to the Divinity Exod. 7.1 22.8 1. Reg. 28.13 Ps 46.10 81.6 Jo. 10.34 albeit the name of God at its first sound creates in us an Idea of a most Excellent Independent and Immortal Being Aug. l. 1. Doctr. Christ c. 6. So likewise the voice Mediator refers us to several Persons as represented to us under their several Characters and Merits An Vmpire in a Reference betwixt disagreeing Parties is a Mediator finishing differences between Man and Man A Messenger in a Treaty of Peace betwixt warring Kingdoms is a Mediator reporting Articles of Limits and Commerce between People of different Interests a Petitioner in a breach of Duty betwixt a Subject and his Superior is a Mediator pleading Pardon for past Crimes and Protection of his Person for the future LV. All these wayes Christ is properly our Mediator first as an Vmpire judging that Peace may be re-establish'd with God if he remits our faults and we obey his Laws S. Ambr. 1 Tim. c. 2. Then as Gods Messenger proclaiming under what Conditions Heaven is settled upon Believers Hebr. 9.15 Next as our Advocate still pleading at Gods Bar for Grace and Mercy Rom. 8.34 and yet by Appropriation Priests in the Tribunal of Repentance are Vmpires Preachers in their Pulpits are Gods Messengers and the Ministers of the Propitiatory Sacrifice at Gods Altars and the Prayers Groans and Tears of a Penitent sinner in his private Oratory are Petitioners at the Throne of Grace And thus at least not only the living Moyses Deut. 5.5 Rom. 15.30 but the glorified Saints also Apoc. 5.8 are truly Mediators between God and his guilty People Hier. l. contr Vigilant Much rather the Mother of JESVS and Queen of all Saints and Angels unless the more acceptable they be to God and the greater their Glory their Power should be less and their Prayers more Fruitless which is very inconsequent to that glorious State and coheirship with Christ our great Advocate Apoc. 2 26. 8.3 and to the Communion of Saints and that compassion of the Heavenly Citizens which they so eagerly practic'd towards their once Fellow-Captives LVI But that other Mediation by way of Sacrifice and Propitiation through the blood of the Cross cancelling Gods Sentence drawn up against us by the exuberant Dignity of the Person suffering this is so proper to JESVS that he alone is the One Mediator In substance because the Person of God substantially unites the Natures of God and Man and by Operation because the Merits of his Humane Nature con-subsisting with the Divine paid the whole Debt of our Crimes establish'd Seals for our Sanctification and through them gave us a co-heirship to Heaven 1 Tim. 2.5 6. ubi Chrys Ambr. Theophylact. Theodoret. Aug. l. 9. Civ c. 19. Fulgent l. de fid ad Petr. c. 2. Hilar. l. 9. Trin. Cyril l. 12. Thes c. 10. So that although Priests at the Altar do offer the Propitiatory and Satisfactory Sacrifice of our Mediator and the Saints in Heaven may commemorate its efficacy to move Gods Clemency to pardon our Crimes through the Merits of that our Mediator offer'd and commemorated yet not by their personal Mediation otherwise than by way of Application and Prayer to God. Apoc. 5.8 seqq LVII In like manner The several Expressions us'd by the Devotes of holy Mary of their Hope of her Aid for their freedom from present or future Calamities of Sin Sickness Captivity For her Protection against the Powers of Darkness from manifold Temptations and the dreadful Casualties of this wretched Life in imploring Her Mercy to pitty and bless them and to shield them from the severity of Gods Wrath in the day of his Vintage and height of his Justice against rebellious Criminals whereof the Offices of the Church and Writings of the Fathers are full can raise no other Idea in the Mind of a Right Believer than of the peculiar efficacy of her Prayers upon our earnest Suit made to God for us for those Ends grounded on those super-eminent Prerogatives of her Maternity Innocency and Holiness whereby first her Person then her Mediation of Intercession according to Gods Rule in the Case of Abel Gen. 4.4 hath a most sublime Acceptableness to God for us And thus too at a vast degree beneath the Mediation of JESVS