and fail to enforce the Catholic custom of fasting, and especially of fasting before communion.  I do not believe that any Christian who is informed on these things has the right to neglect them on the ground that the Anglican Church has not enforced them.  On the basis of its own declarations the ecumenical overrides the local; and if it be said, “What is a priest, that he should undertake to set the practice of his Church right?” the answer is that he is a man having cure of souls for whose progress in holiness he is responsible before God, and if those who claim authority in such matters will not act, he must act, though it be at the risk of his immortal soul.

These things seem to be true with the truth of self-evidence.  And because they seem to be true, I have not hesitated to preach, and now to print, the sermons on the life and words of our Lady contained in this volume.  I am told by many that such teaching is dangerous, but I am not told by any of any danger that is intelligible to me.  That such devotions to our Lady as are here commended trench on the prerogative of God, and exalt our Lady above the place of a creature is sufficiently answered by the fact that the very act of asking the prayers of Blessed Mary is an assertion of her creaturehood—­one does not ask the prayers of God.  And when it is said that devotion to her takes away from devotion to her Son, one has only to ask in reply, who as a matter of fact have maintained and do maintain unflinchingly the divinity of our Lord?  Certainly the denials of the divinity of our Lord are found where there is also a denial that any honor is due or may rightly be given to His Blessed Mother; and where that Mother receives the highest honor, there we never for a moment doubt that the full Godhead of Jesus will be unflinchingly and unhesitatingly maintained.

     Wherefore in praise, the worthiest that I may,
     Jesu! of thee, and the white Lily-flower
     Which did thee bear, and is a Maid for aye,
     To tell a story I will use my power;
     Not that I may increase her honour’s dower,
     For she herself is honour, and the root
     Of goodness, next her Son, our soul’s best boot.

     O Mother Maid!  O Maid and Mother free! 
     O bush unburnt; burning in Moses’ sight! 
     That down didst ravish from the Deity,
     Through humbleness, the spirit that did alight
     Upon thy heart, whence, through that glory’s might,
     Conceived was the Father’s sapience,
     Help me to tell it in thy reverence.

     Lady! thy goodness, thy magnificance,
     Thy virtue, and thy great humility,
     Surpass all science and all utterance;
     For sometimes, Lady, ere men pray to thee
     Thou goest before in thy benignity,
     The light to us vouchsafing of thy prayer,
     To be our guide unto thy Son so dear.