nostras per te qui (sc.) filius natus ex Virgine Maria pro nobis (sc.) miseris peccatoribus tulit, id est, sustinuit esse tuus filius.”  It must be observed, that this work was expressly written for the purpose of explaining these parts of the ritual according to the use of Sarum.  It was printed by the famous W. de Worde, at the sign of the Sun in Fleet-street, 1508.  The passage occurs in p. 33. b.  This is by no means the only book of the kind.  I have before me one printed at Basil, in 1504, and another at Cologne the same year.  They are evidently all drawn from some common source, but are not reprints all of the same work, for there are in each some variations.  The Cologne edition tells us, that it was the reprint of a familiar commentary long ago (jamdudum) published on the hymns.  All these join in construing the passage so as to represent the prayer to the Virgin to be, that she would show and prove that she was mother by appeasing her Son, and causing him to hear our prayers.  Nor can any other meaning be attached to the translation of the words as given by Cardinal Du Perron (Replique a la Rep. du Roy de la G. Bretagne.  Paris, 1620, p. 970).  “Et pourtant quand l’Eglise dit a la saincte Vierge, ‘Defends nous de l’ennemy, et nous recoy a l’heure delamort,’ elle n’entend pas prier la Vierge qu’elle nous recoive par sa propre virtu, mais par impetration de la grace de son Fils, comme l’Eglise le temoigne en ces mots:  ’Monstre que tu es mere, recoive par toy nos prieres celuy, qui ne pour nous a eu agreeable d’etre tien!’” This novel interpretation I have not found in any one book of former days.] {341}

Another prayer runs thus:  “Under thy protection we take refuge, Holy Mother of God.  Despise not our supplications in our necessities; but from all dangers ever deliver us, O glorious and Blessed Virgin.” [Sub tuum praesidium confugimus, sancta Dei Genetrix; nostras deprecationes ne despicias in necessitatibus, sed a periculis cunctis libera nos semper, Virgo gloriosa et benedicta.—­AEst. cxlvi.]

Let us suppose the object of these addresses to be changed; and instead of the Virgin let us substitute the name of the ever-blessed God and Father of us all.  The very words here addressed to the Virgin are offered to Him, and spoken of Him in some of the most affecting prayers and praises recorded in the Bible[128].

[Footnote 128:  The identity of the prayers offered to the Virgin with those offered in the Book of inspiration, or in the Roman Ritual to the Almighty, becomes very striking, if we lay side by side the authorized language of the Roman Liturgy, and the only translation of the Scriptures authorized by the Roman Church.

    Roman Ritual in addressing the Roman Ritual, or Translation
    Virgin_ of the Bible, in addressing
                                             the Almighty_.

    Sub tuum praesidium confugimus.  Dominus, firmamentum meum et
                                             refugium meum.  Ad te
                                             confugi.—­Ps. xvii. 1; cxlii.
                                             11.