way, the truth, and the life.’  And here, Florry, is another extract from the same book still more conclusive—­’Whom shall I look to as my mediator?  Shall I go to angels?  Many have tried this, and have been fond of visions, and have deserved to be the sport of the illusions which they loved.  The true mediator, whom in thy secret mercy thou hast shown to the humble, and hast sent that by his example they might also learn humility, the man Christ Jesus, hath appealed a mediator between mortal sinners and the immortal Holy One, that he might justify the ungodly, and deliver them from death.’  Yet in your manuals you are directed to say ’Mother of God command thy son;’ and one of your prayers, Florry, is as follows:  ’Hail, Holy Queen!  Mother of Mercy—­our life, our sweetness, and our hope!  To thee do we cry, poor banished sons of Eve, to thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in the valley of tears.  Turn thee, most gracious Advocate, thy eyes of mercy toward us.’  And at vespers you say,

  ’Hail, Mary! queen of heavenly spheres,
  Hail! whom the angelic host reveres!’

Florry, in all candor, let us investigate this subject; we will consult both the Bible and the Fathers, or, if you prefer it, by the words of the latter only we will decide; for truth we are searching.”

“Mary, let me read a second time those passages from St. Augustine.  Strange I should have been so deceived,” she continued, as, having perused them, she returned the book to her cousin.

“Florry, can you perceive any encouragement there given to the practise of invocation?  Does not St. Augustine expressly denounce it?”

“There can be no doubt of his sentiments on this point; but, Mary, this is only one decision, when I have been assured that the united voices of many Fathers established it without a doubt, even supposing there was no authority in Holy Writ for such a custom—­which, however, we have, for did not Jacob wrestle with an angel and did not his blessing descend upon him?”

“But Christ had not then died; neither had the Christian dispensation succeeded to the old Jewish rites and customs.  If you will turn to Jeremiah, you will also read how the curse of God was pronounced against the idolaters who offered incense to the Queen of Heaven:  yet you do the same.  Still, by the tradition of the elders, we will judge.  Hear the words of Paulinus on this subject—­’Paul is not a mediator; he is an ambassador for Christ.  John intercedes not, but declares that this mediator is the propitiation for our sin.  The Son of Almighty God, because he redeemed us with the price of his blood, is justly called the true Redeemer,’ Again, the great and good Ambrose—­’We follow thee, Lord Jesus, but draw us up that we may follow.  No one rises without thee.  Let us seek him, and embrace his feet, and worship him, that he may say to us, Fear not.  I am the remission of sin, I am the light, I am the life.  He that cometh to