f*IETIlO GIANNONE." ^.if 



the everlafting fire. It is the token of falvation, de- 

 liverance in dangers, a band of peace, and of an ever- 

 lairing covenant. — As I can perfectly rely on the word 

 of the virgin Mary, I will Itick by the fcapulary, and 

 however I am oppreffed by the burden of fins, I will 

 never fear hell. Perhaps it may like wife defend me 

 from purgatory. At leaft, our civilians fay : He who 

 promifes the greater, grants alfo the lefs : becaufe the 

 fmaller fum is comprized in the greater. What can 

 confirm me more in my hope, than what you tell me 

 of the miracles wrought by the fcapulary, efpecially 

 that of the foldiers in the army of Louis XIII. I only 

 wonder at the fhipidity of that king, in neglecting 

 immediately to provide all his foldiers with that fcapu- 

 lary : in a very fhort time he would have got the maf- 

 tery of the world. I do not allow myfelf to be difturbed 

 by the contradiction of M. Launoi and your Papebro- 

 chius, who call in quefbion the apparition of the 

 mother of God, and the granting of the fcapulary i 

 for pope John XXII. and, after hirn, feven other 

 popes, have confirmed this truth by infallible bulls, as 

 you inform me in your moral and theological reflec- 

 tions. To the firft the mother of God even appeared 

 herfelf, and recommended to his care the fcapulary- 

 friars. I believe the pope more than a thoufand wit- 

 neffes and experiences, though they proved the con- 

 trary as clear as the fun. In this I refemble him, who, 

 when it was palpably proved to him, that the nerves 

 do not take their origin from the heart, but from the 

 brain, Ihut his eyes, and faid he could not believe it, 

 becaufe Ariftotle taught the contrary. \ 



voi,. ii. EE VIL As 



