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PROP. XVII. God alone is the object of our worship and adoration : but Catholics shew honour to the relics of Saints, and they place images and pictures in their churches, to reduce their wandering thoughts, and to enliven their thoughts towards heavenly things. They shew , besides, a respect to the representations of Christ, of the mysterious facts of their religion , and of the Saints of God, beyond what is due to every profane figure ; not that they can believe any virtue to reside in them , for which they ought to be honoured; but because the honour given to pictures is referred to the prototype, or the thing represented . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
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PROP. XVIII. They maintain also, that honour and respect are due to the Bible, to the Cross, to the name of Jesus, to churches, &c. as things peculiarly appertaining to God; and to kings, magistrates, and superiors; to whom honour is due, honour may be given, without any derogation from the majesty of God, or that divine worship which is appropriate to him. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
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The Invocation of Angels and Saints. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
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PROP. xix. Catholics are persuaded , that the Angels and Saints in Heaven , replenished with charity , pray for us, the fellow members of the latter here on earth ; that they rejoice in our conversion ; that, seeing God, they see and know in him all things suitable to their happy state ; and that God may be inclined to hear their requests made in our behalf, and for their sakes may grant us many favours — therefore, we believe, that it is good and profitable to invoke their intercession. Can this manner of invocation be more injurious to Christ our Mediator, than it is for one Christian to beg the prayers of another here on earth? However, Catholics are not taught so to rely on the prayers of others, as to neglect their own duty to God-in imploring his divine mercy and goodness ; in mortifying the deeds of the flesh ; in despising the world ; in loving and serving God and their neighbours; in following the footsteps of Christ our Lord, who is the way, the truth, and the life : to whom be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
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The Creed of Pope Pius IV. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
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