XXXVIII. Since we ought to call upon the Saints, and since they hear our Prayers, I believe, that I am oblig’d to honour their Images, their Tombs, as well as their sacred Relics; and if I have a Respect for a Piece of Painting that represents the Likeness of my King, or of any Sovereign, hew much more Reason have I to venerate whatsoever represents to me the Saints, who are far above the Princes of this World, because they are the Friends of God, and our Protectors with him?
The Use of Images has been allow’d at all times: God himself order’d the making of Figures and Images: For Example, the Cherubims of Propitiation and the Brazen Serpent were made by his Command. And when the Heretics say, that God forbids Images, they are in the Wrong: God indeed forbids us to make Images to worship them, but this is what I am not guilty of; for the Respect which I pay to Images is not for the Sake of what they are, but for what they represent to me: ’Tis not to the Images that I address my Prayer; and whenever I fall on my Knees before an Image, ’tis because I am willing to honour and pray to the Saint, whom it represents to me.
Images put me in Mind of the History of the Old and New Testament: They remind me of all the Favours God has bestow’d upon me; which engages me the more fervently to love and serve him. Finally, the Images of the Saints create a Desire in us to imitate the Sanctity of their Lives and Actions.
XXXIX. As toMerit: ’Tis certain that Heaven cannot be won but by good Works: Heaven is only promis’d to us, as a Reward: In order to be convinc’d of this Truth, I need only have Regard to the Words which Jesus Christ says to the Righteous,Matt. xxv. Ver. 34, 35.Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the Foundation of the World: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me Meat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me Drink; I was a Stranger, and ye took me in.Our Lord calls the Righteous into his Holy Paradise, because they gave him to eat, when he was hungry; and to drink, when he was thirsty: From these Words I infer, that Heaven is not a mere Gift, it must be won by good Works: Does not Jesus Christ say in another Place,Markix. Ver. 42.That if but a Cup of Water be given to drink in his Name, the Giver shall not lose his Reward, but shall have a Torrent of Delights? Nothing can be more clear, nothing more evident to prove, that we are capable of meriting with God, than what St.Paulsays in his first Epistle to theCorinthians, Chap. iii. Ver. 8.And every Man shall receive his own Reward, according to his own Labour: This is my Reason for thinking, that he who has done most, shall receive the greatest Reward. ’Tis therefore that Jesus Christ says,In my Father’s House are many Mansions, John xiv. Ver. 2. I do therefore believe, that I ought not to be idle nor slothful, and that, on the contrary, I should strive without ceasing to acquire the Kingdom of Heaven by my good Works. Jesus Christ says in St.Matthew, Chap. xi. Ver. 12.That the Kingdom of Heaven suffereth Violence, andthe Violent take it by Force.He says also in another Place,If thou wilt enter into Life, keep my Commandments.Now, in order to enable us to do these good Works, I believe the Grace of God to be necessary for us; and this Grace of God is obtain’d by the Fervency of our Prayers, and the Steadiness of our Faith.
XL. I proceed to theAuthority of the Visible Head of the Church: By this Head I understand, as I have already said, the Pope, who is the lawful Successor of St.Peter; and, as such, I believe, that he is infallible, not only in the Government of the Church, but also in all Matters of Faith: I rely solely upon what Jesus Christ said upon this Subject, when he gave the Keys to St.Peter,Thou art Peter, and upon this Rock will I build my Church, Matt. xvi. Ver. 18. By this Act Jesus Christ establish’d St.Peterfor the Head and Prince of the Church: The following Words of Jesus Christ are an intire Confirmation of this Truth,Matt.xvi. Ver. 18.And the Gates of Hell shall not prevail against it, that is to say, against the Church, and by Consequence against its Head. ’Tis therefore true, that God granted an absolute Authority to St.Peterand his Successors, which Authority has a Resemblance with that which God granted under the Old Law, toAaronand his Family.
In Consideration of this supreme Dignity I believe, that I cannot pay Respect and Submission enough to the Pope; and I think what I advance is prov’d in the first Place, because to honour the Vicar of Jesus Christ, is paying Devotion to himself: Secondly, ’tis honouring St.Peter, to honour his Successor; and lastly, I believe, that Iam the more worthy to be a Member of the Church, when I honour him who is the Head of it.
I therefore kiss his Feet, as I would those of Jesus Christ himself: I fall prostrate before him, as I would before St.Peter; and am intirely persuaded, that this Token of Adoration, so far from being liable to the Charge of Idolatry, as the Heretics think, can, on the contrary, be only deem’d a Thing agreeable to God, and what tends to his Glorification. We are told in the Old Testament, that Jacobbowed himself to the Ground toEsauseven times, Gen. xxxiii. Ver. 3, 7. His Children, withLeahandRachel, also ador’d him:Josephwas ador’d by his Brethren:Abigailador’dDavid, andBathshebaSolomon. None of these Acts of Adoration were made to God, but to Men; why then shall we refuse to adore the Head ofChristendom? Tho’ St.Peterrefus’d to be ador’d byCornelius,’twas because he was very sensible, thatCornelius, being a Gentile, would pay him Obeisance and Worship little inferior to that which was due to God; but this is no Argument that St.Peterdid not receive the Honours that were due to him, as being the Head of the Church: In fine, when I cast myself at the Pope’s Feet, I have a Share in his Benediction, I humbly desire it, and I adore in him the Power which he has to bless me. I am also persuaded, that none but the Pope has a Right to assemble a Council; and I believe, that every Assembly which is held by the Name of a Council, without the Participation of the Pope, cannot be deem’d an Œcumenical Council. A Body is incapable of acting without itsHead, for ’tis the Head by which the Body is always directed: Consequently the Church cannot assemble, act, nor decide, without the Pope, who is its Head, and who, by Consequence, has the sole Right of Decision; because he is the Rock on which Jesus Christ has founded his Church, and because without him there would be no Church. I therefore with Submission receive all the Decisions of a Council where the Pope either presides in Person, or by his Legates; and I look upon all Assemblies of Priests that are met, or are held by the Command of any other Power than the Pope, as mere Assemblies of the Clergy.
Thus, my Lord, have I given you the sincere Declaration of my Faith, such as it is imprinted on my Heart: I believe it Holy, and I believe it Canonical; and hope, that when your Lordship sees it in Writing, you will give it the same Approbation that you were pleased to honour it with when I had the Favour of making it to you by Word of Mouth. If, contrary to my Intention, I have deviated from the Track of Truth, I intreat you, my Lord, to lend me your Hand, to vouchsafe to be my Guide, and to lead me to that Piety which you profess, and by which all Mankind is edified: Make me worthy of the Dignity of the Priesthood, of which I am ambitious. But this is trespassing too far upon your Eminency’s Attention, and ’tis high time to put an End to a Letter, which nothing can excuse the Length of, but the Sacredness of the Subject whereof it treats. I shall think myself exceeding happy,if I have explain’d myself with sufficient Perspicuity, and if the Sentiments I lay before your Lordship can render me deserving of the Honour of your Esteem. I am, with infinite Respect,
MyLord,YourLordship’sMost Humble, andMost Obedient Servant,Charles-Lewis,Baronde Pollnitz.
Endof VOL. IV.
Decoration.