ERRATA.

Page 89, line 16, for of glory, read, of her glory. "133, line 6, for safe, read, safely.

66

66

135, line 3, for He even, read, Heaven.

148, line 15, for unceasing, read encreasing.

INTRODUCTION.

A FEW Words will explain the origin and aim of this little book. It contains the substance of a course of lectures, delivered during the month of May, 1850, in the church to which the author is attached; together with a few discourses, belonging to some of the principal festivals of the Blessed Virgin. The whole has been so arranged as to present, in a connected and simple form, the chief arguments in support of Mary's glory, afforded by Scripture. The idea of such an arrangement was suggested by the reflection that while the Christian world is divided into two great sections, in regard to the holy Virgin, namely, into those who offer her the highest honour next to that due to God, and those who denounce such honour, as encroaching on his Supreme worship; the principal facts of the case, as represented by one party, are, in all essential particulars, undisputed by the other. They are preserved in a volume which all agree in receiving and venerating as divinely inspired; as the repository of unerring truth. Upon this sacred volume, those who deny the glory of Mary profess to found conclusive arguments; they represent their adversaries as not only unable to derive from the same source any counte

nance for their belief and practice in regard to her, but as condemned by every line of Scripture; and as therefore most anxious to keep its pages concealed from perusal and examination. Catholics, on the other hand, are firmly convinced that there is no doctrine which stands out in stronger relief, on the pages of the Old and New Testaments, than this, which relates to the past and present glory of Mary; and they are further assured that no language sanctioned by the church, in regard to her, attributes more honour to her, than is found in the pages of the written Word of God.

To a calm examination of these conflicting claims, this little book is principally devoted. Its author has endeavoured to join issue with those who deny Mary's glory, on the ground of Scripture; to draw out its testimony at length; and to test its real value and strength. In doing so, the object proposed to himself is defined by the title of his undertaking. He aims at reconciling what is claimed for Mary by the Catholic church, and refused by every one else, with what of her history is common property; at establishing the conformity of the one with the other. And, advancing a step further, he hopes to show that what is said of her in Scripture is equivalent to any eminence assigned to her now, by the Catholic church; and that it also clearly points to an accession and development of her glory, in its effects, such as only correspond with that pre-eminence. Scripture, indeed, may not say of Mary all that

is said of her by Catholics; but what it does say is not only perfectly in harmony with their habit of regarding and speaking of her; not only leads naturally to the expectation that she should be so honoured; but is in itself as full and unqualified an expression of her dignity as any subsequent form sanctioned by the church. If it might be thought difficult to prove from Scripture alone that Mary's glory is as great as it is represented by Catholics, there is no allusion to her in Scripture that disproves it; that does not fully justify it; that does not prepare one to expect it; that does not proclaim its existence at the moment of the Incarnation, and from that time till the present.

For the purposes of this argument, the language of ancient prophecy will be first examined, in its bearing on the Mother of Jesus. Then all that is known of her will be consulted, and its details applied to throw additional light on the subject of inquiry. Her claims to immunity from the disabilities and penalties of the first transgression; her union of action, and of suffering with her Son; her share in his great mission; the circumstances of her reunion with him will in succession be tested by their conformity with the written word; and will then be applied to confirm the probability and the justice of her original pre-eminence and of her subsequent reward; of their magnitude; and of the high consideration which they confer upon her.

Thus far, as regards the written Word of God.