In closing these brief extracts I would observe, that by almost every writer in support of the worship of the Virgin, an appeal is made to St. Bernard[140] as their chief authority.  Especially is the following passage quoted by many, either whole or in part, at almost every turn of their argument:—­

    [Footnote 140:  The present Pope, in the same manner, refers to
   him in his Encyclical Letter.—­A.D. 1840.]

“If thou art disturbed by the heinousness of thy crimes, and confounded by the foulness of thy conscience, {379} if terrified by the horror of judgment thou begin to be swallowed up in the gulf of despair, think of Mary, invoke Mary; let her not depart from thy heart, let her not depart from thy mouth.  For whilst thinking of her, thou dost not err; imploring her, thou dost not despair; following her, thou dost not lose thy way; whilst she holds thee, thou dost not fall; whilst she protects thee, thou dost not fear; whilst she is thy leader, thou art not wearied; whilst she is favourable, thou reachest thy end[141].”

    [Footnote 141:  See Bern.  Sen. vol. iv. p. 124.  The passage is
    found in Bernard, Paris, 1640. p. 25.]

If the Virgin Mary is thus regarded as the source and well-head of all safety and blessing, we cannot wonder, that glory and praise are ascribed in the selfsame terms to her as to the Almighty.  Cardinal Bellarmin closes the several portions of his writings with “Praise to God and the blessed Virgin Mary[142].”  It is painful to reflect, that either the highest glory, due to that God who will not share his glory with another, is here ascribed to one of the creatures of his hand (however highly favoured and full of grace), or else that to the most high God is ascribed an inferior glory and praise, such as it is lawful for us to address to an exalted fellow-creature.  Surely the only ascription fitting the lips and the heart of those who have been enlightened by the bright beams of Gospel truth, is Glory to God alone through Christ his Son.

[Footnote 142:  Such ascriptions are very common.  Joannes de Carthagena, a most voluminous writer of homilies, adopts this as the close of his sections:  “Praise and glory to the Triune God, to the Humanity of Christ, to the Blessed Virgin Mary his mother, and to St. Joseph her dearest spouse.”—­Catholic Homilies on the Sacred Secrets of the Mother of God, and Joseph, p. 921.  Paris, 1615.] {380}

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SECTION V.—­MODERN WORKS OF DEVOTION AMONG ROMAN CATHOLICS.