But  what  would  follow  from  this  "privilege  of
immense  value  "  ?  Evidently  this, — that  she  could
not  have  been  saved  by  the  merits  of  her  Son,  but
would  have  been  saved  by  her  own  innocence  and
virtues !  She  could  have  had  no  interest  or  concern
in  His  obedience  or  sufferings !  and  while  the
whole  Church  is  united  in  singing  the  never-
ending  song,  "  Unto  Him  that  loved  us,  and
washed  us  from  our  sins  in  His  own  blood"
(Rev.  i.  5) ;  "  Thou  wast  slain,  and  hast


334  ROMISH    IDOLATRY.
redeemed  us  to  God  by  thy  blood  "  (v.  9),  she
could  never  join  in  it ! — she  would  be  for  ever
excluded  from  uniting  with  the  ransomed  of  the
Lord  in  their  peculiar  and  exalted  praises  and
thanksgivings  ! — she  could  not  be  a  member  of
Christ's  Church,  bought  with  His  blood  !

I  cannot  but  think  that  the  blessed  Virgin  will
for  ever  bless  God,  that  no  such  privilege  was
ever  bestowed  upon  her,  as  these  wretched  Anti-
Christian  Idolaters  have  so  fondly  and  falsely
ascribed  to  her.
