A14227:467
An answer to a challenge madeAn ansvver to a challenge made
An answer to a challenge made by a Jesuit in Ireland Wherein the judgement of antiquity in the points questioned is truly delivered, and the novelty of the now romish doctrine plainly discovered. By James Usher Bishop of Meath.An ansvver to a challenge made by a Iesuite in Ireland Wherein the iudgement of antiquity in the points questioned is truely delivered, and the noveltie of the now romish doctrine plainly discovered. By Iames Vssher Bishop of Meath.
Dublin: printed by the Society of Stationers and Eliot's Court Press, 1624Dublin: printed by the Societie of Stationers and Eliot's Court Press, 1624
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Thus in the days of the Apostles themselves, under the pretence of cHumility some laboured to bring into the Church the worshipping of Angels: which carried with it da show of wisdom, (as S. Paul speaketh of it) and such a show as was not far unlike unto that wherewith our Romish Doctors do cozen simple people now a days. For ethis (saith Theodoret) did they counsel should be done, (namely, that men should pray unto Angels) pretending humility, and saying, that the God of all things was invisible, and inaccessible, and incomprehensible▪ and that it was fit we should procure G•ds favour by the means of Angels. whereas S Chrysostom treating of Christian humility •heweth that the faithful who are furnished with that grace do notwithstanding fascend beyond the highest tops of heaven, and passing by the Angels, present themselves before the Regal throne it self. yea gby earning thus to speak with God in prayer, he showeth that the man himself is made a kind of an Angel the soul is so set loos• from the bonds of the body; the reasoning is raised up so high; he is so translated into heaven, he doth so overlook these worldly things, he is so placed by the Regal throne it self: although he be a poor man, although a servant, although a simple man, although an unlearned Neither is it to be forgotten, that the heathen Idolaters also, to cover hthe shame of their neglecting of God, were wont to use this miserable excuse; that by these they might go to God, as by officers we go to the King: which is the very self same rag our Romanists have ⟨p. 414⟩borrowed from them to cover their superstition with, that the nakedness thereof might not appear. But S. Ambrose (or who ever else was author of those commentaries upon S. Pauls epistles that are found among his works) hath met well with them, and sufficiently discovered the vanity of these gross and carnal imaginations.