Egressa es, Virgo, in salutem populi tui: in salutem cum Christo tuo. O Benedicta, in manibus tuis est reposita nostra salus; recordare, pia, paupertatis nostræ. Quem vis, ipse salvus erit, et a quo avertis vultum tuum, vadit in interitum.--G.P., &c.] The song of the Three Children is altered in the same manner. In it as well as in the Canticle of Zacharias, these prayers are introduced; "O Mother of Mercy, have mercy upon us miserable sinners; who neglect to repent of our past sins, and commit every day many to be repented of." [Miserere, misericordiæ Mater, nobis miseris peccatoribus, qui retroacta peccata poenitere negligimus, ac multa quotidie poenitenda committimus.] {362} The Te Deum is thus lamentably perverted: "We praise thee, Mother of God; we acknowledge thee, Mary the Virgin. [Te Matrem Dei laudamus; Te Mariam Virginem profitemur.] "All the earth doth worship thee, spouse of the eternal Father. "To thee all Angels and Archangels, Thrones and Principalities, faithfully do service.... "To thee the whole angelic creation with incessant voice proclaim, "Holy! Holy! Holy! Mary, parent, mother of God, and virgin!... "... Thou with thy Son sittest at the right hand of the Father.... "O Lady, SAVE THY PEOPLE, that we may partake of the inheritance of thy Son. "And rule us and guard us for ever.... "Day by day we salute thee, O pious One; and we desire to praise thee in mind and voice even for ever. "Vouchsafe, O sweet Mary, now and for ever, to keep us without sin. "Have mercy upon us, O pious One; have mercy upon us. "Let thy great mercy be with us, because we put our trust in thee, O Virgin Mary. "In thee, sweet Mary, do we hope, defend thou us eternally. {363} "Praise becomes thee, empire becomes thee; to thee be virtue and glory for ever and ever. Amen." [SALVUM FAC POPULUM tuum, Domina, ut simus participes hæreditatis Filii tui, Et rege nos et custodi nos in æternum. Dignare, Dulcis Maria, mine et semper nos sine delicto conservare. Miserere, Pia, nobis! miserere nobis! Fiat misericordia tua magna nobiscum, quia in te, Virgo Maria, confidimus. In te, Dulcis Maria, speramus, nos defendas in æternum. Te decet laus, te decet imperium, tibi virtus et gloria in sæcula sæculorum, Amen.] Can this by any the most subtle refinement be understood to be a mere request to her to pray for us? The Athanasian Creed is employed in the same manner; and it is very remarkable that the Assumption itself of the Virgin into heaven is there specified as one of the points to be believed on pain of losing all hopes of salvation. "Whosoever will be saved, before all things it is necessary that he hold firm the faith concerning the Virgin Mary: which except a man keep whole and undefiled, without doubt he shall perish everlastingly.... [Quicunque vult salvus esse, ante omnia opus est ut teneat de Maria firmam fidem.]