Popery condemned by scripture and the fathers - End Time Deception

could
SCRIPTURE AND THE FATHERS. 339
the consolalTon of Papists, she is not at ail
squeamish in the choice of her votaries. " Sin-
*•
,ners,'^ says Crasser, " being her subjects,
'
make
up her crown and glory ; and it is for
" that she loves them with the tenderness and
" "sweet compassion of a mother, let them be
" ever so wicked *.'^ " Know thou,'* said the
Virgin herself to St. Bridget, " my dearest
'-
child, that there is no man in the world so
•'
lewd and accursed of God, that he is entirely
*'
forsaken of him while he lives ; no sinner so
*'
desperate, but he may return and find mercy
'*
with him, provided he have recourse to
- met."
Crasset has related many edifying proofs of
her extensive benevolence to the chief of sinners.
A certain young Gascon soldier, having spent
his fortune, afterward, for particular reasons, sold
himself to the devil, and renounced the Saviour.
No temptation, however, . induce him to
sacrifice his interest in the Virgin ;
and this con*
hdence in her mercy secured him protection
from his old acquaintance Satan, who began ta
be troublesome, notwithstanding their former
friendship. On prostrating himself before an
image of the Virgin with Christ in her arms, he
was greatly comforted by the following dialogue
between the two idols. " O my sweet son,
* r. 77, f Brig. Herela. Lib. 6. c. lo.
**
have