loving expression.

"Oh, Florry! need I implore you in future to look to Christ alone as
the author of our salvation?"

"One more question, Mary. Is there not a passage in Revelations
substantiating the doctrine of intercession? Father Mazzolin assured
me the testimony was conclusive in favor of that practise."

"The passages to which you allude are these: 'And another angel came
and stood at the altar, having a golden censor; and there was given
unto him much incense, that he should offer it, with the prayers of
all saints, upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And
the smoke of the incense which came with the prayers of the
saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand.' No word of
intercession occurs here; and are we not as free to suppose that the
prayers so offered were in their own behalf as that of their friends?
Had it been as the Padre tells you, would not St. John have said
intercession or prayers in behalf of others?"

"Mary, can you have mistaken the passage? This cannot be his boasted
testimony."

"I know that these two verses are highly prized by Papists, as
establishing the doctrine in question; yet I cannot see them in that
light--can you?" "No, no; and if these are the strongest arguments
they can adduce in the defense of invocation, I reject it as a remnant
of the dark ages, during which period it certainly crept into the
church."