Cross Purposes with Satan 



which cross belongs to which onion ; and this no doubt 

 makes considerable confusion in the dates of salvation in 

 particular souls ; and probably some unlucky ones who 

 happen to die while the pigs are in the garden are cast 

 away altogether." 



" But why is the devil obliged to overturn crosses by 

 deputy ? " 



" You see, my son, if the devil were to touch one of 

 these sacred emblems, it would cleave to him for ever. If 

 the cross were so large and heavy that he could not carry it 

 away with him, he would be held there in shame and 

 torture to the end of time. That is the reason why it is so 

 much the custom to have huge stone crosses in the centre 

 of market-places ; for where men are selling and buying, 

 and gossiping and lying, there the devil always would like 

 to be in the midst of them. But in the case of the smaller 

 crosses, of this size for instance, if he touched it, it would 

 stick to him, and brand him for ever among his execrable 

 brethren with a mark of the most indelible shame ; and 

 moreover, its holy influence would neutralise a great part 

 of his malign efficacy in doing mischief." 



" It seems a pity that some saint did not, in times past, 

 find an opportunity of clapping a cross on the devil's back 



unawares." 



" It has often and often been tried, but Saint lago himself 

 is not man enough to take Satan at a disadvantage. This 

 desirable climax is reserved for the triumph of the last day. 

 Then the angels Michael and Gabriel will pin him between 

 the crosses of the good and bad thief. These will stick to 

 him like pitch. They will cast him down headlong into 

 the darkest bottom of hell, where he will lie between these 

 crosses, gnashing his teeth in great anguish, for all the rest 

 of eternity." 



355 7. 



