compofed a Salutation to her, partly with the Words of the Arch-angel and holy Elizabeth, and partly with a Form of her own: Thus,

O God-bearing Virgin! Hail Mary, full of Grace! The Lord is with thee: Bleed art thou among Women, and blessed is the Fruit of thy Womb, for thou hast brought forth the Saviour of our Souls.: QUESTION XLI. What are we to think concerning this Salutation?

ANSWER.

First, Thou must believe, that this Salutation was originally appointed by God himself; though it was taught unto Men by the Arch-angel Gabriel, who had not dared to have used it, unless he had been fo commanded by God. The Words of the holy Elizabeth were alfo infpired by the Holy Ghoft, as is evident from the Evangelift's Account. (Luke i. 41.) Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghoft, and she spake out with a loud Voice, and faid, Bleffed art thou among Women, and blessea is the Fruit of thy Womb. Alfo the Words, which the Church hath added, are of the Holy Ghost.

And the Church, by the Authority with which she is vefted, doth command us, that when we pray, we should frequently honour and praise the bleffed Virgin with this Salutation.

₹

QUEST. XLII.

What is taught us in this Salutation.

ANSWER.

In this Salutation is contained a Commemoration, that the Son of God became Man, and of

the

;

the Benefits which we receive thereby: And also we learn hereby, that when the eternal Word of God, which is without Beginning, came down from Heaven, he brought not Flesh with him but received it in the Womb of the most holy Virgin, formed of her pureft Blood, by the Operation of the holy Spirit; fo that he was born of her as of his proper Parent. And this we must moft truly and firmly believe; for the Church doth condemn, as Heretics, all fuch as hold, that the Saviour came down from Heaven already cloathed with Flesh, wherewith he paffed through the holy Virgin as through a Door. (Cyrill of Fe-. rufalem his Catechis. xiii.) We are, farthermore, taught herein, to call the bleffed Virgin God-bearing, according to the human Nature of Chrift; and that Chrift, who was born of her, was perfect God, and perfect Man. Moreover, this Salutation, in calling the Virgin full of Grace, teacheth us, that as fhe is the Mother of God, fhe is made more abundantly a Partaker of the divine Grace than any created Being: Wherefore the Church rightly extolleth her above the Cherubim and Seraphim. For fhe, far above all the Choirs of Angels, is at the right Hand of her Son, with all Honour and Glory; according to David, (Pfal. xlv. 10.) Upon thy Right Hand did fand the Queen, in a Veure of Gold wrought about with divers Colours. Every orthodox Chriftian ought to repeat this Salutation with the utmoft Reverence, and implore the Interceffion of the Virgin; for the Prayer of the Mother availeth much with

the

the Son. And whofoever would be a devout Honourer of the Virgin, let him (always standing, not fitting) repeat the Hymn call'd Akathifton, and other Supplications and Hymns, which the Church hath compofed in Honour of the Mother of God.

QUEST. XLIII.

What is the Fourth Article of the Creed?

ANSWER.

Who was Crucified for us, under Pontius Pilate, be fuffered, and was buried.

QUEST. XLIV.

What doth this Article teach?

ANSWER.

Chiefly fix Things. First, That the Word verily, and indeed, fuffered on the Crofs for our Sakes, and truly and really died, according to that fame Humanity which he received from the Virgin Mary: As is manifeft from the holy Book. (Luke xxiii. 46.) And when Jefus had cried with a loud Voice, be faid, Father into thy Hands I commend my Spirit; and having faid thus he gave up the Ghost. And that he truly poured out his precious Blood for us, wherewith he redeemed us, as the Apostle witneffeth (Eph. i. 5, 7.) Who bath predeftinated us unto the Adoption of Children, by Jefus Chrift, in whom we have Redemption through his Blood, the Forgiveness of Sins according to the Riches of his Grace.

QUEST. XLV.

What is the Jecond Thing contained in this

Article?

ANSWER.

That Chrift fuffered the Punishment of us Sinners, having no Sin in himself; as the Apostle, St. Peter teftifieth. (1. Pet. i. 18.) Forafmuch as ye know ye were not redeemed with corruptible Things, as Silver and Gold, from your vain Converfation taught you by your Fathers, but with the precious Blood of Chrift, as of a Lamb, without Blemish and without Spot. In like manner doth John the Baptift bear Witness, that Jefus, who was perfectly innocent, and free from any Stain of Sin, fuffered for our Sins. For thus faith he, (John i. 29.) Behold the Lamb of God, who taketh away the Sins of the World. And this was voluntarily, and of his own free Will, as himself faith. (John x. 18.) I have Power to lay down my Life, and I have Power to take it again.

QUEST. XLVI.
What is the third Thing taught?
ANSWER.

That Chrift fuffered on the Crofs, according to his human Nature, not according to his Divinity. For his divine Nature fuffered not; that was not faftened to the Crofs; that did not give its Face to be spit upon, nor to the Smiters; that died not. And that Chrift was crucified only in the Flesh, the Apostle manifefteth, faying, (Coloff. i. 22.) Now bath he reconciled in the Body of his Flesh through Death, to prefent you holy, and unblameable, and unreproveable before him. Nevertheless his divine Nature, having taken to it the Humanity, was never again feparated from it: Not in the Time

.

Time of his Paffion and Death upon the Crofs; not even in Death; although his Soul was feparated from his Body, yet did not his Divinity ever depart from his Body or his Soul. So that in Death itself, Chrift ftill continued one and the fame Perfon.

QUEST. XLVII.

What is the fourth Part contained in this Article?

ANSWER.

That the Death of Chrift was abundantly more excellent, and of far greater Benefit, than could be the Death of all other Men: For these especial Reasons. First, Because of the heavy Burden of our Sins, as faith the Prophet. (Ifai. liii. 4.) He hath borne our Griefs, and carried our Sorrows, yet we did efteem him ftricken, fmitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our Tranfgreffions, he was bruifed for our Iniquities. Alfo the Prophet Jeremiah, fpeaking in the Perfon of Chrift, (Lament. i. 12.) Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by? Bebold and fee, if there be any Sorrow like unto my Sorrow, which is done unto me. Secondly, For that on the Cross he fulfilled his priestly Office, offering himself to God and the Father, for the Redemption of Mankind; as the Apostle speaks concerning him. (1.Tim. ii. 6.) Who gave himself a Ranfom for all. And again, (Eph. v. 2.) Chrift loved us, and bath given himself for us, an Offering and a Sacrifice to God, for a fweet-smelling Savour. Alfo in another Place, (Rom. v. 8) While we were yet Sinners, Chrift died for us. Thirdly, Becaufe H 2

on