The-papacy-its-history-dogmas-genius-and-prospects-wylie

;DULIA AND LATRIA.SG3upon the minds of her people, that the only service they areto expect at the hands of the saints is thatof intercession.She has used expressions of a vague character, if not purposelydesigned, yet obviously fitted, to seduce into grossidolatry ;nay, she allows and sanctions idolatry, by teachingthat saints may be the objectsof a certain sort of veneration,namely, dulia^ and instituting a distinction which isutterly beyond thecomprehension of the common peopleso that, in point of fact, there is no difference between theworship which they offer to the saints, and the worshipwhich they offer to God, unless, perhaps, that the formeris the more devout and fervent, as it is certainly the morecustomary of the two.In the Papal Church, millions prayto the saints who never bow a knee to God.The Council of Trent* teaches that " the saints who reigntogether with Christ offer their prayers to God for men ;"and that " it is a good and useful thing suppliantly to invokethem, and to flee to their prayers, help, and assistance ;"and that they are " impious men" who maintain the contrary.The caution of the council will not escape observation.It teaches the dogma, but does not expressly enjointhe practice. It is usual for Papists to take advantage ofthis in arguing with Protestants, and to affirm that theChurch has not enjoined or commanded prayers to saints." -f-This may be true in theory, but not in practice. Prayersto saints form part and parcel of her liturgy ; so that no mancan join in her worship without joining in these prayers ; andthus she practically compels the thing.Moreover, they areobliged, under the penalty of being guilty of mortal sin, tocelebrate certain fetes,—those, for instance, of the assumptionof the Virgin, and All Saints' Day.J The Catechism ofus that we were to adore them.' " (Vol. i. pp. 154, 155.) These simpleChristians received uo initiation into the mystery of dulia, hyperdiilia, andlatria.* Concil. Trid. sess. xxv.+ Mornings among the Jesuits at Rome, p. 107.t Reasons for Leaving the Church of Rome, by C. L. Trivier, p. 191Lond. 1851.