The Memoirs of Charles-Lewis, Baron de Pollnitz Volume IV Part 16

I say, that we ought also to call more particularly upon the Holy Virgin than the other Saints: Because she is the Mother of G.o.d, would it not be impious to say, that she deserves not to be invok'd? Who is more proper than a Mother to obtain Favour from a Son? Who can better reconcile us with G.o.d than the Virgin? She flies to the Holy Altar of Reconciliation, and does not only repair thither as a Supplicant, but as an Empress, according to the very Words of St. _Peter Damien_, Serm. xliv. Nativ.

Virg. _Accedis ante illud aureum reconciliationis humanae Altare, non solum rogans, sed imperans, Domina, non Ancilla_, i. e. _Thou presentest thyself before that Golden Altar of Mankind's Reconciliation, not only pet.i.tioning as a Servant, but commanding as a Sovereign._ What can excuse us from honouring and reverencing the Being, by whom we receive our Deliverance, our Preservation, and our Life? As St. _Augustin_ says, (_De Sancta Virginitate_, Chap. VI.) _Per Evam Mors, per Mariam Salus_, _i. e._ By _Eve_ came Death, by _Mary_ Salvation.

I have no Reason to doubt but the Saints hear us, because I believe the Testimonies of the Holy Fathers: St. _Gregory_ of _n.a.z.ianzen_ was of this Opinion, when he says in his Twentieth Epistle, _Illud persuasum Sanctorum animum res nostras sentire_, i. e. I am persuaded, that the Saints are sensible of our Affairs; and St. _Gregory_ of _Nissa_, in the Nineteenth Prayer which he makes to St. _Theodore_, says; _Quanquam tu vitam hanc transcendisti, humanas tamen molestias et necessitates non ignoras; impetra n.o.bis pacem_, i. e. Altho' thou art got beyond this Life, yet thou art not ignorant of the Troubles and Necessities of Mankind; intercede for Peace for us. There are several other Holy Men, who have believ'd and declar'd, that the Angels meet those that pray, in order to receive and conduct them to the Throne of Glory, _Et suspicientes eos usque ad Thronum Gloria sancti Dei perduc.u.n.t._ Because the Saints hear our Prayers, I infer, that we are obliged to pray for them: And indeed if the Saints did not hear us, 'twould be to no more Purpose to invoke them, than it would be for their hearing us, if we did not call upon them.

I honour therefore and call upon the Blessed, who enjoy celestial Glory, and I will invoke them even to the last Breath of my Life, at which time I shall have more need of their a.s.sistance: I will invoke them as long as I live: The Holy Scripture teaches me that G.o.d himself has given Praise to some of the Saints. In fine, upon their Protection do I found my Hopes; if it be true, that the Saints in Heaven rejoice when but one Sinner is converted and repenteth, how can I doubt but the Saints, when they are invok'd by Penitents, will relieve them, and obtain that Pardon for their Sins, and that Grace which they stand in need of?

x.x.xVIII. Since we ought to call upon the Saints, and since they hear our Prayers, I believe, that I am oblig'd to honour their Images, their Tombs, as well as their sacred Relics; and if I have a Respect for a Piece of Painting that represents the Likeness of my King, or of any Sovereign, hew much more Reason have I to venerate whatsoever represents to me the Saints, who are far above the Princes of this World, because they are the Friends of G.o.d, and our Protectors with him?

The Use of Images has been allow'd at all times: G.o.d himself order'd the making of Figures and Images: For Example, the Cherubims of Propitiation and the Brazen Serpent were made by his Command. And when the Heretics say, that G.o.d forbids Images, they are in the Wrong: G.o.d indeed forbids us to make Images to wors.h.i.+p them, but this is what I am not guilty of; for the Respect which I pay to Images is not for the Sake of what they are, but for what they represent to me: 'Tis not to the Images that I address my Prayer; and whenever I fall on my Knees before an Image, 'tis because I am willing to honour and pray to the Saint, whom it represents to me.

Images put me in Mind of the History of the Old and New Testament: They remind me of all the Favours G.o.d has bestow'd upon me; which engages me the more fervently to love and serve him. Finally, the Images of the Saints create a Desire in us to imitate the Sanct.i.ty of their Lives and Actions.

x.x.xIX. As to _Merit_: 'Tis certain that Heaven cannot be won but by good Works: Heaven is only promis'd to us, as a Reward: In order to be convinc'd of this Truth, I need only have Regard to the Words which Jesus Christ says to the Righteous, _Matt_. xxv. Ver. 34, 35. _Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the Foundation of the World: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me Meat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me Drink; I was a Stranger, and ye took me in._ Our Lord calls the Righteous into his Holy Paradise, because they gave him to eat, when he was hungry; and to drink, when he was thirsty: From these Words I infer, that Heaven is not a mere Gift, it must be won by good Works: Does not Jesus Christ say in another Place, _Mark_ ix. Ver. 42. _That if but a Cup of Water be given to drink in his Name, the Giver shall not lose his Reward_, but shall have a Torrent of Delights? Nothing can be more clear, nothing more evident to prove, that we are capable of meriting with G.o.d, than what St. _Paul_ says in his first Epistle to the _Corinthians_, Chap.

iii. Ver. 8. _And every Man shall receive his own Reward, according to his own Labour_: This is my Reason for thinking, that he who has done most, shall receive the greatest Reward. 'Tis therefore that Jesus Christ says, _In my Father's House are many Mansions_, John xiv. Ver. 2. I do therefore believe, that I ought not to be idle nor slothful, and that, on the contrary, I should strive without ceasing to acquire the Kingdom of Heaven by my good Works. Jesus Christ says in St. _Matthew_, Chap. xi. Ver. 12.

_That the Kingdom of Heaven suffereth Violence, and the Violent take it by Force._ He says also in another Place, _If thou wilt enter into Life, keep my Commandments._ Now, in order to enable us to do these good Works, I believe the Grace of G.o.d to be necessary for us; and this Grace of G.o.d is obtain'd by the Fervency of our Prayers, and the Steadiness of our Faith.

XL. I proceed to the _Authority of the Visible Head of the Church_: By this Head I understand, as I have already said, the Pope, who is the lawful Successor of St. _Peter_; and, as such, I believe, that he is infallible, not only in the Government of the Church, but also in all Matters of Faith: I rely solely upon what Jesus Christ said upon this Subject, when he gave the Keys to St. _Peter_, _Thou art Peter, and upon this Rock will I build my Church_, Matt. xvi. Ver. 18. By this Act Jesus Christ establish'd St. _Peter_ for the Head and Prince of the Church: The following Words of Jesus Christ are an intire Confirmation of this Truth, _Matt._ xvi. Ver. 18. _And the Gates of h.e.l.l shall not prevail against it_, that is to say, against the Church, and by Consequence against its Head. 'Tis therefore true, that G.o.d granted an absolute Authority to St.

_Peter_ and his Successors, which Authority has a Resemblance with that which G.o.d granted under the Old Law, to _Aaron_ and his Family.

In Consideration of this supreme Dignity I believe, that I cannot pay Respect and Submission enough to the Pope; and I think what I advance is prov'd in the first Place, because to honour the Vicar of Jesus Christ, is paying Devotion to himself: Secondly, 'tis honouring St. _Peter_, to honour his Successor; and lastly, I believe, that I am the more worthy to be a Member of the Church, when I honour him who is the Head of it.

I therefore kiss his Feet, as I would those of Jesus Christ himself: I fall prostrate before him, as I would before St. _Peter_; and am intirely persuaded, that this Token of Adoration, so far from being liable to the Charge of Idolatry, as the Heretics think, can, on the contrary, be only deem'd a Thing agreeable to G.o.d, and what tends to his Glorification. We are told in the Old Testament, that Jacob _bowed himself to the Ground to_ Esau _seven times_, Gen. x.x.xiii. Ver. 3, 7. His Children, with _Leah_ and _Rachel_, also ador'd him: _Joseph_ was ador'd by his Brethren: _Abigail_ ador'd _David_, and _Bathsheba_ _Solomon_. None of these Acts of Adoration were made to G.o.d, but to Men; why then shall we refuse to adore the Head of _Christendom_? Tho' St. _Peter_ refus'd to be ador'd by _Cornelius_,'twas because he was very sensible, that _Cornelius_, being a Gentile, would pay him Obeisance and Wors.h.i.+p little inferior to that which was due to G.o.d; but this is no Argument that St. _Peter_ did not receive the Honours that were due to him, as being the Head of the Church: In fine, when I cast myself at the Pope's Feet, I have a Share in his Benediction, I humbly desire it, and I adore in him the Power which he has to bless me. I am also persuaded, that none but the Pope has a Right to a.s.semble a Council; and I believe, that every a.s.sembly which is held by the Name of a Council, without the Partic.i.p.ation of the Pope, cannot be deem'd an c.u.menical Council. A Body is incapable of acting without its Head, for 'tis the Head by which the Body is always directed: Consequently the Church cannot a.s.semble, act, nor decide, without the Pope, who is its Head, and who, by Consequence, has the sole Right of Decision; because he is the Rock on which Jesus Christ has founded his Church, and because without him there would be no Church. I therefore with Submission receive all the Decisions of a Council where the Pope either presides in Person, or by his Legates; and I look upon all a.s.semblies of Priests that are met, or are held by the Command of any other Power than the Pope, as mere a.s.semblies of the Clergy.

Thus, my Lord, have I given you the sincere Declaration of my Faith, such as it is imprinted on my Heart: I believe it Holy, and I believe it Canonical; and hope, that when your Lords.h.i.+p sees it in Writing, you will give it the same Approbation that you were pleased to honour it with when I had the Favour of making it to you by Word of Mouth. If, contrary to my Intention, I have deviated from the Track of Truth, I intreat you, my Lord, to lend me your Hand, to vouchsafe to be my Guide, and to lead me to that Piety which you profess, and by which all Mankind is edified: Make me worthy of the Dignity of the Priesthood, of which I am ambitious. But this is trespa.s.sing too far upon your Eminency's Attention, and 'tis high time to put an End to a Letter, which nothing can excuse the Length of, but the Sacredness of the Subject whereof it treats. I shall think myself exceeding happy, if I have explain'd myself with sufficient Perspicuity, and if the Sentiments I lay before your Lords.h.i.+p can render me deserving of the Honour of your Esteem. I am, with infinite Respect,

_My_ LORD, _Your_ LORDs.h.i.+P'S _Most Humble, and_ _Most Obedient Servant_, Charles-Lewis, _Baron_ de Pollnitz.

END of VOL. IV.