rs, he concludes the Oration with this
prayer: _I entreat thee, O holy, faithful, and blessed woman, pray for me
to the Saints, saying; Intercede ye that triumph in _Christ_, for the most
little and miserable _Ephraem_, that he may find mercy, and by the grace of
_Christ_ may be saved_. Again, in his second Sermon or Oration on the
praises of the holy Martyrs of _Christ_, he thus addresses them: _We
entreat you most holy Martyrs, to intercede with the Lord for us miserable
sinners, beset with the filthiness of negligence, that he would infuse his
divine grace into us_: and afterwards, near the end of the same discourse;
_Now ye most holy men and glorious Martyrs of God, help me a miserable
sinner with your prayers, that in that dreadful hour I may obtain mercy,
when the secrets of all hearts shall be made manifest. I am to day become
to you, most holy Martyrs of _Christ_, as it were an unprofitable and
unskilful cup-bearer: for I have delivered to the sons and brothers of your
faith, a cup of the excellent wine of your warfare, with the excellent
table of your victory, replenished with all sorts of dainties. I have
endeavoured, with the whole affection and desire of my mind, to recreate
your fathers and brothers, kindred and relations, who daily frequent the
table. For behold they sing, and with exultation and jubilee glorify God,
who has crown'd your virtues, by setting on your most sacred heads
incorruptible and celestial crowns; they with excessive joy stand about the
sacred reliques of your martyrdoms, wishing for a blessing, and desiring to
bear away holy medicines both for the body and the mind. As good disciples
and faithful ministers of our benign Lord and Saviour, bestow therefore a
blessing on them all: and on me also, tho weak and feeble, who having
received strength by your merits and intercessions, have with the whole
devotion of my mind, sung a hymn to your praise and glory before your holy
reliques. Wherefore I beseech you stand before the throne of the divine
Majesty for me _Ephraem_, a vile and miserable sinner, that by your prayers
I may deserve to obtain salvation, and with you enjoy eternal felicity by
the grace and benignity and mercy of our Lord and Saviour _Jesus Christ_,
to whom with the Father and Holy Ghost be praise, honour and glory for ever
and ever_. Amen.

By what has been cited out of _Basil_, the two _Gregories_ and _Ephraem_, we
may understand that Saint-worship was established among the