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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	discover_v	eternal_a	great_a	83	3	2.1564	3	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
B04950	The Virgin Mary misrepresented by the Roman Church in the traditions of that church, concerning her life and glory; and in the devotions paid to her, as the mother of God. Both shewed out of the offices of that church, the lessons on her festivals, and from their allowed authors. Part I. Wherein two of her feasts, her conception and nativity, are considered.	Patrick, Simon, 1626-1707.; Patrick, John, 1632-1695.	1688 (1688)	Wing P863A; ESTC R19085	135,709	190

the Commendation of his Piety how far he had proceeded in this Affair out of a Desire to bring some Comfort to him and his Kingdoms But then he adds in the former canting Strain That the Reason why he did not determine any thing new at present was the weightiness of the Affair and the Example of the Popes his Predecessors For we who are placed by God over the Christian World in the Chair of Christian Wisdom ought to hearken to the Voice of the holy Spirit and not examine the Matter by the Poises of humane Reasons Wherefore seeing the eternal Wisdom has not yet discovered to the Church the Recesses of so great a Mystery the faithful People ought to rest satisfied in the Authority of God and the Roman Popes c. The King sent his Letters of Thanks to the Pope dated July 14. 1622. P. 453. and in like manner to the Cardinal Inquisitors intreating them to use the same Endeavours in what remained till his Holiness would vouchsafe to define the Controversy And now all Spain sounded their Gladness and erected their Trophies and nothing but Expressions of Joy were seen or heard for several Months together But all this Joy was interrupted at Barcenona Caesar-Augusta and other Parts of the Kingdom P. 455. by reason of a Grant the Pope made and which was publickly affixed according to the Clause of the foregoing Constitution excepting those to whom the Pope should give a special Indulgence wherein he gave this Privilege to the Dominicans notwithstanding the former Decree That in any of their private Conferences among themselves and none else they might freely and lawfully handle the Matter of the Blessed Virgins Conception without incurring the Penalties contained in the said Decrees Which was dated 22 July 1622. This Grant says the Author of the History troubled many who would have had the pious Opinion secured and put beyond all Doubt but he hopes that those to whom the Pope gave this last Indulgence will not abuse it nor break out into open Scandals when the Permission reaches no further than to private Colloquies Thus we have seen the busy Management of a Four Years Embassy ending just where it began and made a pleasant Piece of formal Pageantry Great Charity and Piety pretended by Two Kings answered with Deceit and pious Frauds apparently intended by Two Popes We have seen pretended Infallibility sitting in a Chair of State and saying nothing A fierce Controversy brought before an unerring Judge who will let no body determine such Matters without or besides himself and when all earnestly expect how he will end it he tires them with Delays or deceives them with doubtful Answers In a Word I verily believe that this Judge of Controversies has set a foot Ten for one he has ever decided For though he calls this last his Office yet he is as hardly brought to this Work as a Bear is to the Stake and when he is he is either fearful of the Consequents and dares not speak out or sullen and will not or crafty and puts it off and says he cannot do it yet as in the Case before us which I suppose he will leave for the day of Judgment to decide or if it happens that once in an Age he gives us a Cast of his Office as he hath done in this Age in the Case of Jansenius the contending Parties might have done as wisely to have referred the Matter to a Lottery or the Chance of a Die as bound themselves to stand to this blind Award for after his Decision they find such manifest Defects either of Skill or Honesty That those who are condemned see no reason to retract or alter their Opinion and oftentimes are so bold as to declare and prove him to have been mistaken But though the Popes are resolved not to define the Opinion of the Immaculists to be de fide yet it is a great Comfort to them that the Church has shewed a greater Propension and Inclination to this than the contrary The Fathers of the Council of Basil c Sess 36. spake all their Mind when they determined plainly for it That she was free from all Sin original and actual and declared that this Opinion ought to be approved held and embraced of all Catholicks as pious and agreeable to the Churches Worship to the Catholick Faith right Reason and Holy Scripture and that it shall be lawful for none to preach and teach the contrary What an unlucky Chance was it that this Decree was not anticipated Three Sessions for then their Work might have been effectually done Whereas having in the Thirty fourth Session deposed the lawful Pope Eugenius IV. the Council when it held this Session which decreed the immaculate Conception was it self Schismatical and so it became invalid not having the Pope's Confirmation herein It is a great Comfort to them That though as a Jesuit d Jo. Bonifa c. de vit mirac Mar. Virg. l. 1. c. 4. says our Mother the Church of Rome is dumb he means the Pope especially who is the Churches Mouth in this Question yet with Zachary she sometimes takes the Writing-Tables into her Hands and does even as good tantum non as subscribe to the Opinion of Divines that contend for it Even those dumb Popes have made very broad Signs of their Good-will towards it Witness their Approbation of the Feast of the Conception which if it had not been without Sin we are told e Raynaudus Dyptic Mar. p. 135. had not deserved to be celebrated being not worthy of Veneration for it self yea hated by Job and Jeremy because of the original Stain annexed to it Bernardinus de Busto composed an Office of the Conception which the Pope approved and gave Indulgences to those that celebrated that Office as he himself tells us f Marial ser 3. p. 40. and cites several Passages out of it g Ibid. p. 51. Pope Sixtus IV. as appears by his extravagant Cum praexcelsa commanded and approved another Office of the immaculate Conception composed by Leonard de Nogarolis to be seen in the old Roman Breviary and though Pius V. ordered this Office to be the same with that of the Nativity yet even there in the eighth Responsorio h Raynaud ibid. p. 136. it is said Let all perceive thy Help who celebrate thy holy Conception There was also a religious Order erected by S. Beatrix in Spain under the Title of the immaculate Conception and approved by Innocent VIII And in the time of P. Alexander VI. many Fraternities i Wadding Legatio de Concept p. 219. were instituted and Temples erected in honour of the immaculate Conception especially in Portugal and Catalonia Also a Rule of Nuns k Raynaud ibid. p. 154. under the same Title approved by Julius II. in divers Chapters of which Rule the immaculate Conception is asserted as Cap. 2. Where a Form of Profession is proposed and said that it is made for the

Mother cry out when she was born Ibid. That her Body shone with Brightness and breathed a Perfume from her Birth Ibid. and 116 A great Question whether she had a Guardian-Angel assigned and who he was 116 117 Their Harangues about the Nobleness of her Birth Ibid. The Devotions of the Church of Rome to the blessed Virgin 's Parents 118 c. Many Authors assert their Sanctification from the Womb. 123 S. Anne made the Mother of more Children besides the Virgin. 124 Devotions to the Virgin and her two Sisters whose Names were Mary Ibid. Concerning the Feast of her Nativity this confessed to be Novel 125 France contends for the Glory of first observing this Festival 126 The Jesuit Inchofer would give it to the City of Messina ingratitude for a Letter the blessed Virgin wrote to them 127 The Virgin 's Letter being a Rarity set down out of him 128 The Foundation of this Feast was a private Revelation to a Man without a Name 129 Mel. Canus censures such Revelations 〈…〉 Ibid. The Calumny of Saunders and Th●… 〈◊〉 that this Feast was blotted out of our Kalendar to make room for Queen Elizabeth's Birth-day 130 Several scandalous and profane Meditations upon the blessed Virgin 's Nativity set down out of their Authors 131 c. An Office of the Name of the blessed Virgin. 134 c. Nothing extraordinary in the Name of Mary it being the same with Miriam 140 How many significations they give of it and pitch upon that which has least probability viz. Stella Maris Star of the Sea. 141 Chrysologus his admirable Conceit about Maria. 142 Saints pretend to have found sweetness in her Name both as to their Smell and Taste Ibid. Bonaventure's Reason why she is called a bitter Sea. 143 The Mysteries they find in every Letter of her Name 143 144 Mysteries in this Name as consisting of Five Letters Ibid. So there is also supposing it to consist only of Four Letters 145 S. Gerard taught the Hungarians not to pronounce it or with great Reverence uncovering the Head c. Ibid. In Poland a Crime to name any Woman Mary Ibid. Their Fancy that Angels admire this Name and love to hear it procounced 146 And that the blessed Virgin her self delights to hear it also Ibid. The manner of reciting Jesus Psalter 147 They lay great stress upon the repeating meerly the Name of Mary without any other sence adjoined 148 The extravagant story of a converted Japan Woman 149 Saying an Ave Maria seventy two times with Genuflections a prescribed Exercise of Devotion Ibid. Another Exercise of repeating Five Psalms that begin with the Five Letters of her Name 150 Brussels Charity in Honour of her Name 151 Beggars in the Mogul's Country ask Alms in her Name Ibid. They conclude her Name to be more sweet than that of Jesus 152 And in some respects more powerful and prevalent 153 The great Effects that follow the use of her Name 154 155. ERRATA PAge 10. line 30. read their p. 26. l. 28. r. Salute p. 32. l. 1. r. which p. 34. l. 4. r. division p. 36. marg r. quiliae p. 38. l. 16. r. Hic p. 134. dele Sect. I. p. 140. l. 8. r. make THE INTRODUCTION Giving an account whence the Roman Church has so much to say concerning the B. Virgin when the Scriptures and the Ancient Writers of the Church say so little of Her. THAT Infallibility which the Church of Rome only challenges and so much boasts of can signifie no less than this That she expects that all Christians should securely commit not only their Faith but also their Devotions to be conducted by her For it is not so necessary in Religion to be instructed in all its Articles and to believe aright as it is duly to obey and serve God nor is every wrong Opinion so dangerous as false and mistaken Worship If a Physician should proclaim himself for infallible the reputation of his skill would quickly sink if he failed ordinarily in the Regiment of Health and made more Distempers than he cured And no wise Traveller would chuse him for the Guide of his way who though he perfectly knew every step of it yet was wont to lead those whom he conducted to repose themselves under Tree of unhealthful shade and influence and to bring them for the quenching their thirst to those Springs whose Waters were neither clear nor wholesome A learned person a Serarius in Litaneut 2. Quest 11. 〈…〉 of this Church is so sensible of this truth that he is fain to defend that their Infallibility extends as far as to the Canonization of Saints and that there can be no mistake committed herein for says he If in this matter the Church can be deceived and deceive the pillar and ground of T●…th would tatter and fall the Lord Christ would forsake his Spouse the Holy Ghost would not teach those that are his all necessary Truth Peter would not in his Successors feed the Flock of Christ with the necessary food of Religion no nor Jesus Christ himself the Prince of Shepherds For he to whom the Pope gives his Testimony and pronounces that he is authentically to be venerated with Religious Worship and to be invoked with publick Prayers if such a one may prove to be no Saint is it not plain that a false Testimony is given deadly poison lying worship c. Another great Spanish Preacher says b Carthagena de arcan Deip. l. 14. Hom. 13. Nihil re ipsa falsum Ecclesia Catholica quae spiritu veritatis regitur colendum potest praecipere fidelibus The Catholick Church which is govern'd by the Spirit of Truth cannot require the Faithful to Worship any thing really False And Cardinal Bellarmine c De Sarct Beat. l. 1. c. 9. gives us a great many reasons to prove that the Church cannot err in Canonization of Saints But how false this Assertion is has been shown them in numerous instances d V. Reflections on the Devotions of the Roman Church not long since That a great many of the Saints they venerate are Fabulous and no evidence that such were ever in being some Canonized for Saints that were ●o●tesens and Traytors ●eady and high-minded such as spake evil of Dignities and ●njustly opposed the Powers ordained of God. The Reader will see false Miracles and false Tales advanced to give them reputation and credit and which is worse still the Falsity so apparent that those who make use of them to abuse the simple thereby must needs if they be but tolerably knowing in History be self-condemned In ●…e he will see so clearly that the interests of the World and not those of true Piety both makes many of their Saints and warms their Devotions to them that he may well suspect that in this Church Faith has not been well preserved when he sees so little regard had to the keeping of a good Conscience Yes I must show you far greater a●…es than these

quod scire nequis ne divinare labora Incassum That is The Virgin lacks no praise not Hybla yields More Flowers nor Ears of Corn in Libyan Fields So fair and thick as her true Vertues rise Think not to grace her then with specious Lyes Nor give her those perfections by fond guess Thou ne'er canst find and only make her less Herein indeed lies one great difference betwixt us and them That we observing that it is the plain design of the Holy Writers in the particular account they give of the wonderous Birth and Life Death and Resurrection of Jesus to engage all Men to believe That he is the Christ b Joh. 20.31 the Son of God that our eternal Life depends upon our knowing him who is the only true God c Joh. 17.3 and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent that there is no Salvation in any other nor no other name d Act. 4.12 under Heaven given among Men but his whereby we must be saved and that having the power of Judging all the World committed to him all Men are bound e Joh. 5.22,23 to honour the Son even as they honour the Father we I say finding this to be the great concern and scope of the Gospel are well satisfied with those few words of Truth and soberness we meet with there that relate to the B. Virgin his Mother and are not needlesly curious to enquire any farther It 's plain it was him they designed to advance and not her Even the Holy Spirit 's over-shadowing her Virgin Womb was rather intended to proclaim the Glory and Majesty of his Incarnation than of her Conception The Scripture mentions some other instances of her Faith and Piety wherein it places her chief Happiness as St. Austin's known saying expresses it f Tom. 6. lib. de Sanct. Virgin. Beatior ergo Maria percipiendo fidem Christi quam concipiendo carnem Christi Mary was more blessed in receiving the Faith of Christ than by Conceiving the Flesh of Christ For Materna prop●nquitas nihil Mariae profuisset nisi felicius Christum corde quam carne gestasset Her nearness to him as a Mother had not profited her if she had not been more happy in bearing Christ in her Heart than in her Womb. Which also our Saviour confirms in that saying of his g Luc. 11.28 Yea rather blessed are they which hear the Word of God and keep it As for other matters concerning her where the Scriptures have not gone before us we are contented to remain in the dark concluding that we are not one way or other much concerned in them for if we had God would no doubt have declared them to us We think it necessary for the honour of our Lord to believe that his Mother remained a Virgin till she bare him and brought him forth We think it highly probable too that the Honour of our Lord preserved her a Virgin ever after and we detest the bad Spirit of Helvidius that made a contest of it and brought it into dispute in the Church But yet we are of the great S. Basil's mind h Homil. de humana Christi generatione that if she had not remained a Virgin afterwards 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Doctrine according to Godliness would not have suffered by it and therefore we lay not such stress upon it as upon the former 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 We leave it without anxious inquiry about it But 〈◊〉 this Church having as much business with the Virgin as with Christ himself and making indeed more stir about her the modesty of the first Faith and the silence of the Scripture give them but little comfort if they cannot find in the old Gospel enough to proclaim her a fit object of Mens worship and to engage their Religious addresses to her rather than fail of this which they are resolved upon they will make a new Gospel which the Apostles never Preached and venture the Curse that is threatned to them that do so Gal. 1.8 First indeed the words of the Scripture must be Wire-drawn and Every Syllable of it that relates to her stretched and set upon the Tenters but still they find that the Bed is shorter than that a Man can stretch himself on it and the Covering narrower than that he can wrap himself in it i Esa 28 20. They are therefore resolved to add where that is defective and to feign those privileges for her which they cannot find there To shew a little their fine way of proceeding in this Matter They have laid down this for an undoubted Rule as any Aphorism in Hippocrates that Mensura perfectionum B. Verginis est maternitas Dei. Her being the Mother of God is the measure of the Perfections of the Blessed Virgin. Not to dispute at present the Truth of it which may be granted in a sober Sence let us see what Conclusions they draw from it Aquinas k P. 1. qu. 25. art 6. ad 4tum infers That the Blessed Virgin because she is the Mother of God has a kind of infinite Dignity belonging to her from that infinite good which is God and that in this respect nothing better than she could be created as there can be nothing better than God. Ant. Spi●…lus the Jesuit says l Maria Deip. thronus Dei c. 5. s 4. From this Motherhood of God that Maxim owned by all Divines is drawn viz. That there is no gift of Grace that was ever granted to any pure Creature which was not bestowed upon the Virgin in a like or more perfect manner unless it were repugnant to her Sex. Wherefore all the Graces Vertues and Privileges divided among other Saints are found collected in her alone And they are very fond of that saying of S. Bernard m Epist ad Can. Lugdun Quod itaque vel paucis mortalium constat fuisse collatum fas certe non est suspicari tantae Virgini esse negatum Whatsoever has been granted to other Saints though but to a few we are not to suspect that it has been denied to so glorious a Virgin. Aquinas n Part. 3. qu. 27. art 1. 4 5. in another place from these principles has deduced her Sanctification before she was Born the Privilege never to have committed any Sin mortal or venial and a fulness of all Graces above all others This one would judge is pretty fair but a daring Jesuit o J. Baptista Poza Elucidar l. 3. tr 16. p. 1050. resolving to enlarge the Charter of her Privileges has advanced this position That all true Theology does require That in those things that belong to the greater glory of Jesus and his Mother if the Church does not prohibit it and they are sure it will not interpose to the hindrance of the Mother at least we are not to look what Two or Three Five or Ten Doctors have said in the Case but what will best defend and secure the Honour of Mary and Jesus