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 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 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 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 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 , I 〈◊〉 such as are commited in their Devotions to the B. Virgin Mary .

Here we have a new scene opened , and a very strange one . They have put a Sceptre into the hands of this Handmaid of the Lord , as she calls her self e e Luk. 1 . 3● ; they have advanced her into a Throne by God himself ; and , without asking his ●ea●e , call her the Queen of Heaven . Some of them give her the name of a Goddess , and if we may judge of them by the Worship they pay to her ( which is the way the Scripture takes in the description of Idolater ) f f Esa. 44 . ●… & ca●●… , ●… , 16 , &c. she is the Goddess of this Church . They doat so much upon her 〈◊〉 Excellencies , that they ●adly God himself to fall in Love with her , as his Spouse : And a late bold Jesuit h h In. ●… Convelt . Theatr. excellent , 〈◊〉 p. 20. da●es to g●…e this for a Reason , why she is not a Goddess , because there can be but Three persons in the Deity , otherwise , Deus Deam ve●et , si posset ; God has kindness enough to make her one , if he could .

Who can forbear , when he considers the madness of this Worship , from crying out , Lord ! into what extravagant folly and heights of impiety does that Superstition 〈◊〉 , where the wisdom of Men prescribes the way of their Religion , without once consulting their Maker ? For we may as well 〈◊〉 the Question to this Church , as Epiphanius of old 〈…〉 Collyridians , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , &c. What Scripture hath told us any thing of this ? What Prophet has 〈◊〉 leave to worship any Man ; much less a Woman ? The great silence of the Scripture in this matter is acknowledged by themselves ( as we shall see by and by ) and the Reader will meet with admirable Reasons ; why this Church is so copious in giving an account of her , when the Scripture says nothing of it . In the mean time , I cannot but mention a Complaint that Pet. Cla●iacensis once made ( as Espencan● k k In 2. Ep. ad Timoth. c. 4. §. 21. relates it ) of the Service of St. Benet . That among the false Canticles in the Church of God , and among the loud trifles that were odious to him , on the Feast of the great Father 〈◊〉 he heard a Hymn sung , and was compelled to bear a 〈…〉 it , in which Song he found at least Four and twenty Ly●… . This Trade you see went pretty forward in this Church 〈◊〉 Five hundred Years ago ; but since that time it is va●…ty improv'd , and in the case of the B. Virgin , above all other 〈◊〉 the fictions are far more numerous and bold ; because 〈◊〉 bear proportion to that height to which their fanci●… 〈◊〉 advanced her . This plain dealing our Adversaries 〈◊〉 bear , and no wonder , since nothing can more vex a 〈◊〉 than to be discovered . All that have remarkably com● to this , have been loaded with their Calumnies , alive or dead ▪ no matter which . Thus they have told the World , that ●…ther l l Cochlaeus in actis Intheri . like a jolly Glutton , having made a large meal at ●upper , the Devil , the same night , strangled him in his 〈◊〉 That Calvin m m Hier. Bolsec in vit. Calv. rotted alive , and died of the Lousie Disease : And a Cretian Lyer n n Andr. Eudaemon Johan . forces the Learned Casa●bon to prove , in almost half a Chapter of his Book p p Exercit. 1. Sect. 4. that his Father was not hanged , as the Jesuit had reported of him . But the most spiteful charge against us , and , if it were true , not to be answered , is , That Protestants cast contempt upon the B. Virgin her self . Bellarmine says q q De Sanct. Beat. c. 13. The Hereticks now give no honour to the Virgin. And Coster the Jesuit r r Praef. ad Med. de vit. & Laud. B. Virg. accuses us , That we reduce the Mother of God into the rank of ordinary Women ; and with impure Tongues fear not to blaspheme her , as one obnoxious to sin , to vicious perturbations of soul , and to the wrath of God. Wherein they deal with us , as they did with the Opposers of their Superstition heretofore ; for thus Th. Raynaudus s s Diptycha Marian. p. 233. reports of the Albigenses , That they called the B. Virgin Monoculam & meretricem . But our Adversaries themselves in another mood will be our Compurgators in this matter . Carthagena t t Lib. 6. de Arcan . Deip. Homil. 17. §. 3. has mustered up the sayings of many of the first Reformers , giving large Encomiums to the B. Virgin , such as any Catholick might repeat after them ; and particularly cites this saying of Calvin , I trust in God it shall never be said of me , that I have an aversion to Mary , towards whom not to be well affected , I esteem it a certain sign of a reprobate mind . And Canisius u u Citante eod. ibid. gives singular thanks to immortal God , who not only out of the mouth of Babes and Sucklings , but even of Adversaries , has perfected his Mothers praise . There needs but a little Charity to make any one believe , that it is no ways likely , while we profess to adore the Son , that we should think meanly , much less speak contemptuously or blasphemously of the Mother . No , we are so far from it , that we are always ready to own her as a most blessed person ; and that she was endued with Excellencies far above the common size of her Sex : And though we cannot determine the measures of her Vertue and Sanctity , yet we are sure they were such as deserve always to be admired by us , and imitated : We admire particularly her singular privilege in being chosen to be the Mother of our Lord ; and acknowledge , that she wanted no Gifts nor Graces that might qualify her thereunto . But as we are perswaded , that we come not short in giving her all due praises ; so we think it both possible and dangerous , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , to advance her above what is meet , as Epiphanius speaks x x In Haeres. 79. and we bewail the sad instances of this in the Roman Church , and are not to be blamed if we avoid this rock , as well as that other 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , of those that undervalue the Holy Virgin. The same Father has cautioned us , That we are not to honour the Saints above what is befitting , but to honour him that is their Lord y y Epiph. ibid. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . : and we unfeignedly consent to what he says , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , Let Mary be honoured ; adding withal , Let the Father , Son and Holy Ghost be adored , but let no Man adore or worship Mary . z z 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . In a word , we heartily subscribe to what one of their one Poets says of her . a a Mantuan . Fast . l. 12. de Concept . Virg. Non est laudis inops Virgo , tot floribus Hybla Non redolet — segetes non tot spicantur aristis Per Libyam , quot sancta parens praeconia laudum Verarum si quaeris habet ; figmenta relinque , Et 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 b Joh. 20.31 . the Son of God ; that our eternal Life depends upon our knowing him who is the only true God , c c Joh. 17.3 . and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent ; that there is no Salvation in any other , nor no other name d 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 . Here now the door is set wide open to give admittance to all the throng of Fables , that any one will invent , under pretence to advance her Honour : The Evangelists have said Truth enough to make Jesus glorious ; and they are resolved to try what may be done for Mary in the other way : And every Monk or Nun of a busie Fancy , is perpetually teeming forth some new privilege to grace the B. Virgin withal . Albertus Magnus p p De Land . Virg. super missus est . had got them up to Fourteen . Vinc. Bandelis q q De Concept . Virg. Part. 2. p. 183. reckons Twelve Privileges bestowed on her from the Fourteenth Year of her Age and afterwards , which considering this date of them is an increase : But Spinellus has made them up above a Score , r r Mariae Thronus Dei. c. 20. p. 252 , 253. which I will set down out of him , that the Reader may try how many of them he could have Collected by perusing the Four Gospels , without the help of those forenamed Principles . They are these . 1. She was not only elected by God , but pre-elected before all others , Cantic. 6.8,9 . There are Sixty Queens , and Eighty Concubines , and Virgins without number : My Beloved , my undefiled is but one , the only one of her Mother , the choice one of her that bare her . 2. That she was promised by Heaven to the Fathers , prefigured by mystical Miracles , foretold by Prophetick Oracles , and by the Sybils was honourably predicted . 3. That she sprang by the kindness of God from barren Parents , that vowed to give to God the Off-spring he should bestow on them ; that an Angel foretold her Nativity to her Parents , which we do not read in the Scriptures concerning any other Woman , ( no nor of her neither there . ) 4. That she only of all the Children of Adam , that descended from him by the ordinary way of Propagation ( per seminalem rationem ) was free from Original Sin. 5. That in the very beginning of her immaculate Conception , she was so confirmed in Grace , that ever after she was without stain of actual , though but venial , Sin. 6. That the Fomes peccati , that which like Tinder so soon kindles in us , was extinct in her ; so that she never was sensible of that Tyrannous Law of the Members , or the Rebellion of the lower Part. 7. That in her very Conception she had the use of Reason , and made a Vow of Virginity to God ; from which instant also she began to merit , and that the merit of her Works was never interrupted , no not so much as in her sleep . 8. That in the same Conception of hers she was adorned with all Theological and Cardinal Vertues ; and that in that Heroick Degree , as well as with all the gratiae gratis datae , graces freely given . 9. That at the Age of Three Years she was in the Temple , according to her Parents Vow , consecrated to God , and there was most holily Educated . 10. That this Blessed Person among Women , escaped all that Curse to which mankind , by reason of Adam's Sin , was obnoxious . 11. That she alone , that had conceived without any lustful Pleasure , did not undergo the Irksomness that other Women with Child are subject to . 12. That by a Virgin Birth she brought forth God without pain . 13. That the Lord's Body exhibited in the H. Eucharist , is formed of her Blood in her Virgin Womb , which therefore is compared , Cant. 7. to a heap of Wheat set about with Lilies . 14. That she in a singular manner did many ways co-operate to our Salvation . 15. That the Fruit of Christ's Passion was in a singular manner communicated to her , and standing courageously by the Cross of her Son , was pierced through with the Sword of grief , and therefore she first of all saw Christ when he arose from the Dead . 16. That she was the Instructer and Mistress of the Apostles and Teachers . 17. That her Body did not see Corruption ; but being assumed and taken up to Heaven in Body and Soul before the common Resurrection , she was placed above the Choires of Angels and Orders of Saints , at the Right-hand of her Son , where she makes a distinct Order ( Chorus ) above them all , and she alone obtained more glory than all the rest of the Saints and Angels put together . 18. That her presence brought a great deal of accidental Joy to the Blessed in Heaven . 19. That she is the Queen of Heaven , and Lady of all the Angels and Saints . 20. That she is the common Advocate of Sinners , the Mother of Mercy , the Mediatrix to intercede for them ; and that she is also the Mother of the Living , and promotes the Salvation of all Men. 21. That she is so formidable and terrible to the Devils , that they presently fly away at the mention of her Name , and much more at her Command ; and that she hath powerfully broken their Head. 22. That all the Graces and Privileges that are dispersed among other Saints , are found united in her , after a far more perfect manner . Thus far he . But others * * Paul Comitolus reckons up 130. Privileges . Alegambe Bibl. p. 363. have enlarged her Privileges to above an Hundred .

These are a few Instances , among many , which will afterwards occurr , that give the Reader a taste of the New Faith and Gospel , concerning the Virgin Mary , which is taught in this Church . With such particulars as these , the Hymns , and Lessons of their Breviaries are stuffed : For to establish the believe of them , many of their Festivals are Instituted ; and to the Scandal of Christianity , as well as the eternal reproach of their Missions , Hierome Xaveri●s a Jesuit , in the History of Christ , which he published in the Persian Tongue , An. Dom. 1602. being commanded to give an account of the Life and Actions of our Saviour by the Great M●gol ; he , not contenting himself with an Impartial delivery of that Faith which the Apostles taught , and was once delivered to the Saints , has , together with the Gospel Story , interwoven idle Tales , and fabulous Legends , derived from Gossiping Tradition , or taken out of Books confessed by themselves to be Apocryphal , and the Fictions of ancient Hereticks , especially what refers to the Bl. Virgin ; which I suppose he intended for this end , that all his Converts should set her up for an Object of their Religious Veneration ; otherwise that first Faith might have been sufficient for them , which served those first Christians , and made them wise to Salvation , who only worshipped God the Father , Son , and Holy Ghost .

From all that has been said it cannot but appear , that this Church has made a very bold attempt , for which they must answer one day to God , among the , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , the many that have Adulterated the Word of God , and corrupted it by their bad mixtures : And there shame will still more appear , when their sorry pretences for doing all this are laid down and examined , which I shall now give a further account of .

They confess s s Carthagena de S. arcan . Deip. l. 13. hom. 1. that it has been the complaint of many , and who have taken it very ill ( aegre forentium ) that the Canonical Scriptures have given us no History of the Nativity , Gests , and Death of the B. Virgin. Strange ! say they , that they should be silent in matters of so great moment : For , says Pelbartus t t Stellar . Coron. l. 7. p. 1. art. 1. Matthew ( Cap. 1. ) writing the Genealogy of Christ , says only , Jacob begat Joseph the Husband of Mary , of whom was born Jesus , who is called Christ . I thought he ought to have said , the Husband of Mary , who was the Daughter of Joachim , whom he miraculously begat of Anne his Wife , an Angel being imployed to foretel it , and who was a most chast Virgin , &c. Which complaint seems the more reasonable , because the Evangelists in the case of his Fore-runner John the Baptist , have described his Birth , and the Dignity of his Parents , the Holiness of his Life , and the difficult and famous Passages of it , unto the end of his Life and Martyrdom ; therefore much more ought they to have done thus of the Mother of God , &c.

It 's very easie for us to assoil this Objection , by telling these bold men , that it is not needful for us to know any thing further in this matter , when God thinks fit to say nothing to us : And let them prove , if they can , concerning John the Baptist , whose Story the Scripture has told , that it was unnecessary for us to know that . We may also add ( if we had a mind to be guessing ) What if the cause of the Scriptures silence about her Birth , &c. be the same , which one of their own Jesuits u u Bonfrerius in Deut. 34.6 . gives about the place of Moses's Burial , which God would let no Man know of , least the Israelites , who were prone to Idolatry , should take so admirable and almost divine a Man , for a God , and Worship him ? Who also adds , That this in all probability was the subject of the Contest betwixt Michael the Archangel and the Devil ( which S. Jude mentions v. 9. ) about the Body of Moses , that the Devil would have had the Sepulchre in which his Body lay , to be discovered , that thereby he might draw the Israelites to Idolatry ; and Michael would have it hid , to prevent it .

But they who must have the matters that concern the B. Virgin discovered , will find the solution of it a harder task . Yet something they will say , though little to the purpose , to unfold them Mystery of this spiritual Omission , as Pelbartus phrases it x x Loc. Citat . . The Author of the Pomaerium says , That this Omission was , to excite the Devotion of the Faithful more towards her , that they might more greedily inquire after her Actions , her Life and Death . So indeed we see foolish Children cry the loudest after that which cannot be had : But I think those Devotions had better go out than flame , where God affords not his holy Fires to kindle them , nor any fuel to maintain them . Otherwise , as a Sorbon Doctor y y Claud. Joly . Traditio antiqua adv. Jac Gaudinum . p. 178. wisely notes , When Devotion only governs the Church , though it be the best ( i. e. in the fervency and degree of it ) yet it may sometimes speciously deceive . Gregorius Gallicanus z z Mariale , p. 4. would bring off the matter thus ; Many , says he , are of this Opinion , That Christ resolved that he himself , and no other Pen or Tongue besides , would explain the Praises of his Mother : Therefore in the Canticles he has elegantly drawn her from head to foot , when he put the Pencil into Solomon 's hand to describe her . Which indeed is a good reason to prove that a Thousand of their Books concerning her might be burnt , since theirs must needs be superfluous , after that Draught of her to the Life in the Canticles of Christs own doing . Aloys . Novarinus a a Umbra Virg. p. 58. n. 187. thought himself no doubt very Witty , when he gave this Answer to the Objection : Credo rei magnitudine pressos , &c. I believe the Evangelists , says he , being oppressed with the greatness and difficulty of the thing , abstained from medling with that , which by no labour or skill of theirs they could perform , wherefore , like skilful Painters , they drew a veil , that under the covering and shade of silence , we might conjecture the more concerning her , because they had expressed nothing . To which reasoning I shall only make these two demands . 1. How come they to have the presumption to undertake that , which the inspired Writers found too heavy for their Shoulders , and would not meddle with ? 2. Whence should arise this difficulty of describing her to them who had drawn the lines of our Saviour's Life , and finished it ; unless he imagine greater Glories and Excellencies in the Mother , than in the Son of God ? Canisius is very angry with us b b Lib. 4. de Deip. c. 22. p. 478. and charges us with a heinous Error , for denying at this time so many things concerning Mary and her Dignity , which though not taken notice of in the Scriptures , nor presently delivered in the time of the Apostles , yet have been revealed by God to the later Ages as certain , and at length recommended for such by the Church . This indeed is somewhat to the purpose ; for no Man can reasonably require , that God should manifest a thing sooner than he has a mind to , nor complain that that was not known in a former , which he reserved for a latter Age : Only that we may avoid being cheated , we expect as good evidence for the later that they are Divine , as God has given for the former ; but without this the Church's recommendation will not create Faith in us , especially not that of their Church ; which has plaid so many tricks in Religion . Poza c c Elucidar . lib. 2. tract. 7. c. 1. has this farther fetch , By this silence we are told , that there is nothing written in the Gospels , nothing in the Law and Prophets , which does not , after a sort , appertain to Mary . And in another place d d Ibid. tract. 6. c. 1. , If you would comprise in short , what is more largely diffused in the Scriptures , know that Mary is the summ and brief of them all . Carthagena e e De arcan . Deip. l. 2. hom. 2. thinks , that this is a contrivance of the Divine Wisdom ; because this silence does commend her Excellencies more fully , than the most eloquent Tongue can do ; since her Dignity and Sanctity , supposing her to be the Mother of Jesus , is a first Principle , of which there need be nothing said . And so too the Author of the first Reason f f Author Pomaerii loc. citat . says , Whatsoever belongs to her Dignity , &c. is per se notum , known of it self by those who have an entire Faith in Jesus . This I see is the solution they most insist on . So Suarez , g g Praefat. ad Tom. 2. in 3. partem . Few things are said in the Gospels of her , because the intention of the Evangelists was wholly carried out to Christ , ( thus far we are of his mind , and wish that they also had made him their scope more , and her less ; ) but he being known , and his Faith enough established , her Excellencies could not be unknown or hid . Or as Sherlog the Jesuit expresses it , h h Anteloq . 3. in Cantic . n. 142. It was necessary for us to know that Mary was the Mother of Christ ; this the Evangelists sufficiently declared , and this her Honour being manifested , the rest might be collected there-from , though they said no more . The force of this reasoning will appear , if you only change the name of Jesus for Mary , and put it thus : It was requisite for us to know that Jesus was the Son of God ; ( as necessary as that Mary was his Mother ) this the Evangelists sufficiently declared , and this Dignity of his being manifested , the rest might be collected , though they said no more . We should have had an admirable Gospel , if this had been the way of writing it ; much what I suppose like the History of the Seven Champions ; for that Writer did not feign the Men ; their worth and excellency was abundantly declared to the World before ; he only collected , as every Writer of Romances does , what was proper for such worth to accomplish ; and his Fancy ran much upon inchanted Castles and Gyants with huge Maces in their Hands , which he makes his Hero's to dissolve and overcome . However , we have discovered , by what these Authors have told us , a secret which they had better have kept so still ; that now we know what way has been taken in writing the History of the B. Virgin , and the Lives of other Saints ; Two or Three Truths have been given , like a Ground to a skilful Musician ; upon these they have run what Division they best fansied , and according to the skill of the writer , the Descant has been agreeable or otherwise ; and it is remarkable , that commonly where any faithful and certain Records have said the least , there they have given the World the most large and compleat Story . Which we are beholden to the aforesaid Greg. Gallicanus i i Marial . p. 3. for confessing the most plainly , and without any disguise , as the sence of some in this very case of the Scriptures silence concerning the B. Virgin ; Dicunt aliqui , immensum esse laudum B. Virginis campum , ideoque liberum unicuique relinquere voluisse ( sc. Deum ) ut de eâ dicerent quod vellent : i. e. The field of her Praises is wide and immense , and therefore God would leave every Man at liberty , to say of her what he pleased .