A papist mis-represented and represented, or, A twofold character of popery the one containing a sum of the superstitions, idolatries, cruelties, treacheries, and wicked principles of the popery which hath disturb'd this nation above an hundred and fifty years, fill'd it with fears and jealousies, and deserves the hatred of all good Christians : the other laying open that popery which the papists own and profess, with the chief articles of their faith, and some of the principle grounds and reasons, which hold them in that religion / by J.L. one of the Church of Rome ; to which is added, a book entituled, The doctrines and practices of the Church of Rome, truly represented, in answer to the aforesaid book by a Prote

XXIV. Of Praying in an Unknown Tongue.

HE it counsell'd by his Church, to be present at Sermons, but never permitted to hear any he is able to un∣derstand; they being all deliver'd in an unknown Tongue. He is taught to Pray, but it must be in Latin. He is commanded to assist at the Church Ser∣vice, and to hear Mass, but it must be without understanding a word; it being all perform'd in a Language of which he is altogether Ignorant. And thus is mi∣serably depriv'd of all the comfortable Benefits of Christianity: Hearing, but without Understanding; Praying, but without reaping Fruit; assisting at Pub∣lick Assemblies, but like a Stock or a Stone, without feeling, or any the least sense of Devotion.

HE is counsell'd by his Church to be present at Sermons, such as he is able to understand, they b••ing always deliver'd in the Vulgar Language of every Country: In France, French; in Spain, Spanish; in Italy, Italian: in England (if permitted) English: they being purely intended for the good In∣struction of the Congregation present. He is taught to Pray, and alw••ys pro∣vided of such Books of Devotion as he is capable of understanding; every Na∣tion being well furnished with such helps, extant in the Language proper to the Country. He is commanded to assist at the Church-Service, and to hear Mass; and in this he is instruct∣ed, not to understand the Words, but to know what is done. For, the Mass be∣ing a Sacrifice, wherein is daily commemorated the Death and Passion of Christ by an Oblation made by the Priest. of the Body and Blood of the Imm••culate Lamb, under the Symbols of Bread and Wine, according to his own Institu∣tion:

'tis not the busines of the Congregation present, to imploy their Ears in attending to the Words, but their Hearts in contemplation of the Divine Myste∣ries, by raising up fervent affections of Love, Thanksgiving, Compassion, Hope, Sorrow for sins, Resolutions of amendment, &c. That thus having their Heart and Intention united with the Priests, they may be partakers of his Prayers, and of the Sacrifice he is then offering, than which he believes nothing is more acceptable to God, or beneficial to true Believers. And for the raising of these affections in his Soul, and filling his Heart with the extasies of Love and Devotion, he thinks in this case, there's little need of Words; a true Faith, without these, is all-sufficient. Who could but have burst forth into Tears of Love and Thanksgiving, if he had been present while our Saviour was tyed to Pillar, Scourg'd and Tormented, though he open'd not his mouth to the By∣standers, nor spake a word? who would have needed a Sermon to have been fill'd with Grief and Compassion, if he had seen his Saviour expos'd to the scorn of the Iews, when he was made a bloody spectacle by Pilate, with, Ecce homo, Lo the Man? Who could have stood cold and senseless, upon Mount Calvary, un∣der the Cross, when his Redeemer was hanging on it, though he had heard, or not understood a word that he spoke? Does any one think that those Holy Women, who follow'd their Lord, in these sad Passages, and were Witnesses of his Sufferings, wanted Holy Affections in their Souls, because he spoke not: or were they scandaliz'd at his silence? Was not their Faith in him that suffer'd, by which they believ'd him to be Christ Iesus, true God and Man, laying down his life for the Redemption of Man, sufficient to excite in their Souls all the Pas∣sions due from a sinful Creature, to his bleeding Redeemer, to his Crucified Ie∣sus? The like Faith also is sufficient to fill him with Devotion, when he is pre∣sent at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass: For believing, that Christ is there really present before him, under the Species of Bread and Wine, and that He that lies upon the Altar, is the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the World; What need of more, to quicken in his Soul all the Affections of a Devout Lover? Can he behold his Redeemer before him, and not break forth into Love and Thanks∣giving? Can he see him, that gives sight to the Blind, health to the Sick, and life to the Dead, and yet stand still senseless and un-mov'd, without putting any Petition to him, without asking any thing, for his blind, sick and sinful Soul? Can he believe that he that gives his life for the World, and died for our sins, is there before him, and not be touch'd with sorrow and contrition for his Offence? Can he see commemorated every doleful passage of his Saviour's sufferings, in the several Mysteries of the Mass, and yet not be fill'd with grief and compassion? Is not Iesus welcome to a devout Soul, although he come in silence? Is not the Presence of Christ, a more forcing motive to a Christian, than any Humane

Words could be? And if he must needs have Words, let him behold with the eye of Faith the gaping Wounds of his Redeemer, and see if those speak nothing to his Soul? If they do not, 'tis because he wants Faith. It nothing therefore con∣cerns his Devotion, that the Mass is said in Latin: If the Church has order'd it thus, so to preserve Unity; as in Faith, so in the External Worship of God, and to prevent alterations and changes, which it would be expos'd to, if in Vulgar Languages, and other good Reasons; What's that to him? He should receive but little advantage if it were in his Mother Tongue. For besides, that the greatest part is said in so low a Voice, that it is not possible he should hear it; the Words do not belong to him, That's only the Priest's Office; and the Obligation is, to accompany the Priest in Prayer, and Spirit, to be a joint-Offerer with him, to contemplate the Mysteries there represented, and to excite in his Soul De∣votions according to the exigency of every Passage; according to the Directi∣ons he finds in his English Prayer-Books, of which there are extant great vari∣ety, set forth for the help of the Ignorant; by which they are taught the mean∣ing of every Part and Ceremony of the Mass, and how to apply their Devoti∣ons accordingly. And if at any time he be present at other publick Devotions, as the Church Offices, the Litanies, solemn Thanksgivings, Exequies, &c. which are all perform'd in Latin; or should say any private Prayers, or sing an Hymn in the same Language, which he understands not; yet is he taught that this may be done, with great benefit to his Soul, and the acceptance of God; if at these occasions he does but endeavour to raise his thoughts to Heaven, and fix his Heart upon his Maker. For that God does not respect the Language of the Lips, but of the Heart, does not attend the motion of the Tongue, but of the Mind; and if these be but directed to him in Thanksgiving, in Praeising, in Pe∣titioning, in Humiliation, in Contrition, and such like Acts, as Circumstances require, he need not doubt but that God accepts his Prayers and Devotions: It being an undeniable th••ng, that, to say Prayers well and devoutly, 'tis not neces∣sary to have attention on the Words, or on the Sense of the Prayers; but rather purely on God: Of these three Attentions, this last being approv'd by all, as of greatest Perfection, and most pleasing to God. And this he can have, whether he understands the Words or no: it being very usual and easie for a Petitioner to accompany his Petition with an earnest desire of obtaining his suit, tho the Language in which it is worded be unknown to him.