altars. For what Bishop, among the repositories of holy bodies, assisting at the altar, was ever heard to say: To thee, Peter, to thee, Paul, or to thee, Cyprian, do we make this offering? To God, alone, who crowned the Martyrs, is Sacrifice offered in the places where their Relics rest; that the sight of these places may excite a warmer sentiment towards those whom we should imitate ; and towards him, by whose aid it can be accomplished. We venerate, therefore, the Martyrs, with that veneration of regard, with which holy men are here treated upon earth, who are disposed, we know, to suffer for the truth of the gospel. When they have suffered, and have conquered, our veneration is more devoted and more firm, as they are translated from a state of conflict to a state of permanent happiness. But with that worship, which the Greeks call larpeia, and which in Latin cannot be expressed by one word—as it is a worship properly due only to the Divinity-with that worship we worship God alone. To this belongs the offering of Sacrifice; whence they are idolaters, who sacrifice to idols. We offer no Sacrifice to any Martyr, nor to any Saint, nor to any Angel; and should any one fall into the error, sound doctrine will so raise its voice, that he be corrected, or condemned, or avoided. The Saints themselves, whether men or angels, reject that worship, which is due, they know, to God alone. Thus, Paul and Barnabas (Acts xiv.)--when, moved by their miracles, the Lycaonians would sacrifice to them as Gods-rending their garments, and confessing that they were mortal men, like to them, forbad it to be done. The same was seen in Angels, as we read in the Apocalypse (xxii. 9.) where the Angel refused adoration, saying, I am thy fellow servant and of thy brethren: adore God.” L. xx. c. xxi. contra Faustum. T. viii. p. 347.-—“If any one say to you, do you worship Peter ? Return him for answer what Eulogius said of Fructuosus: I worship not Peter, but worship him,
