Hear the church, or, An appeal to the mother of us all to all the baptized believers in England, exhorting them to stedfastness in the truth, according to the scriptures : together with some farther considerations of seven queries, sent to the baptized believers in Lincolnshire, concerning the judge of contriversies in matters of religion : in three parts / by Thomas Grantham.

Of the Reverence due to Saints, Angels, and to the Blessed Virgin in particu∣lar, according to the usage of this Mother-Church.

It was in this Church where the Holy Virgin, Mother of our Lord, had her Conversation and Society, being with that select Company, con∣sisting of an hundred and twenty names, Acts 1. 15. among whom this most blessed Woman is expresly named, and by whose Presence this Mother-Church was honoured above all others. And here is the last mention that is made of her in the holy Scriptures. And this honou∣rable mention of her by name, and as the Mother of our Lord, (which doubtless calls for great Reverence in the hearts of all God's People) is all the honour that the Word of God does here confer upon her. This Church makes no Prayers to her, nor to Christ in her name, nor taught the succeeding Churches to do so; yet surely she was the greatest Saint that ever was; and if we have no ground from any direction, nor Presi∣dent in the Scripture to perform such Devotion to Her, we cannot with

any shew of Reason, or pretence of Truth, do it to any other Crea∣true, Saint or Angel, whatsoever.

And it is remarkable, that though this Church had occasion to make express mention of David in their Prayers, Acts 4. 25. yet do they not use his Intercession at all: But this Honour they give to Jesus Christ, that through his Name such things might be done, as might confirm the Truth against all Opposers. Nor does the Holy Ghost give any notice of the Worshipping of Angels, Saints, nor the Holy Virgin in particular, in that Sacred Epistle, which was sent to this Church after the death of Blessed Mary, the Mother of Jesus; so that this Mother-Church▪ seems alto∣gether unacquainted with such Devotions: And much more may we assure our selves, they paid no such Devotion to the Images of these, or of any of them. If any affirm the contrary, we answer them in the words of Jerom, Non Credimus quia non Legimus. And with Apolli∣narius, we dare add nothing to the perfect words of the New Testament, whereto nothing may be added; and wherefrom nothing may be taken away, by him that will lead a life agreeable to the Gospel. Euseb. Hist. l. 5. c. 14.

Thus Brethren I have for your sakes (as well as others) taken a fresh view of the State of this most Primitive Church, to whose holy pattern, through the Grace of God, you have diligently laboured to conform your souls, her Principles are yours, her Government in good measure is yours, if in any thing any of them be otherwise minded, my hearts desire is, that God would speedily reveal even the same unto you, and then it is to be hoped that all well disposed, will in time see themselves concerned to adhere to the truth of your Principles, in the very Order wherein you maintain them.