Opinions Dominicans Iesuites c. had been caus'd to come thither That besides so much had been written and printed on either side touching this matter that it was not possible to be ignorant of any thing that could be said therein That the very writings which we had composed were to passe through so many different hands both of Consultors and Copists that they could not but reciprocally come into the hands of either party and that this gave power enough to each side sufficiently to answer thereunto The Abbot of Valcroissant reply'd that although very much had been written upon this matter yet it might be said that the Propositions had not yet been written upon as was requisite that they had been least of all medled with that besides this matter was so vast so intangled so subject to ambiguities and equivocations that it was more needfull to discuss the same in the presence of the parties than any other whatsoever That for want of so doing great broyles and occasions of division and scandal might arise as it was easie to foresee by the professions of Pelagius and Caelestius which were received as Catholick whilst they were not opposed by Adversaries who understood and discovered the doubleness of their hearts and words I know not how Cardinal Spada constru'd those acts of Pelagius and Caelestius but he told us that our Adversaries had more reason to complain of those equivocations than we but however that it was one thing to say that it would be expedient to hear the parties in that manner if the Pope pleas'd and another to speak of it as a thing necessary and he added one word more to give us to understand that it was unprofitable harping upon the same string to speak of it so much as we did Nevertheless I forebore not to speak two things to the Cardinal which we had hitherto let passe without answering One was touching his repeating this day a question which he had made to us in a former conference namely How we would have done if no Doctors had come of the contrary party Whereunto I answered 1. That they were come and we acted with them as being there 2. That turning over my Papers some dayes before I observed that in a visite which I made to his Eminence Aug. 1. 1651. after I had spoken to him of the hope I had of the establishment of the Congregation and the purpose of the Bishops who sent me to send other Doctors the Autumn following he askt me whether there would also come Doctors of the contrary party and that I answer'd him that it was not necessary for any to come to the end we might have Adversaries because they were already upon the place namely the Jesuites 3. That the affair deserv'd the designing of a time in which the Congregation should begin and in the mean while that notice of it were given in all parts by the Nuntio's which his Holinesse had resident with Christian Princes to the end such learned men as found themselves interessed therein were minded to engage in it might repair to Rome by that time and there represent their reasons their interests The second thing was in reference to the Cardinal 's saying That they knew well that we resorted to inform the Consultors on either side and I told him that we had not visited any of them in that quality That that which occasion'd my visiting them incontinently after my return to Rome was this being come to advertise the H. See of the shamefull and dangerous surprize intended to be put upon it I conceived that after advertising his Holiness and their Eminences of it it was fitting that I advertis'd all persons whom I could understand were usually imploy'd at Rome in affairs of Doctrine by that means to obstruct such surprize as much as I could and make others as diffident as possible who might be tempted for the future by the same people whom I knew to be the Authors of this That in my Visits to them having met with divers able persons and commended them to my Collegues they became desirous of knowing them and thus we afterwards visited them sometimes and were reciprocally visited by some of them who repay'd our visites but we never visited them in the quality of Consultors of our Congregation nor to give them any Information That we had not yet made any upon the Propositions nor produced others besides the two writings and their Summary which we had presented to him and to the Cardinals Ginetti Cechini and Ghiggi in the month of September and to the Pope about ten or twelve dayes before During the course of this audience Cardinal Spada's Maistre de chambre came to advertise him aloud in all likelihood on purpose to hasten us away that several persons attended for him neverthelesse we took no notice of it but continu'd what we had to say and at length as we parted we told the Cardinal that as to the manner of our demanding the communication of Writings and publick audience in presence of our Adversaries we conceiv'd that we did it with all due decorum and respect to the H. See The same day we visited Cardinal Ginetti and gave him account of the contents of our Memorials for which he thank'd us Thursday January 2. we visited Cardinal Barberin before he went to Monte Cavallo He fell to speak concerning books upon which occasion I mention'd that which F. Annat had printed at Paris the Cardinal excused it as if it had been no great matter to have caus'd it to be printed at Paris Stampato in Parigi notwithstanding the orders which the Pope had given that it should be suppress'd at Rome VVe also said something to his Eminence concerning the two Memorials which we had presented to the Pope as well against that Book as for the communication of our Writings But the hour of going to Monte Cavallo being come our conference was broken off In the afternoon we went to see Cardinal Cechini We acquainted him with our two Memorials but had scarce told him the summe of the first but he interrupted us with some compassion telling us that we did not come any thing near the matter which was to be consider'd That he had read all the writings which we had given him from one end to the other but they did not touch the point in question Nolunt said he considerare quid actum est vogliono cercare la verità abstrahendo c. They will not consider what hath been acted in reference to the Propositions but seek the truth nakedly and by abstraction determine them according to the terms whereof they consist and I would to God added he I might tell you with what care intention and sincerity the work is carried on I answered the Cardinal that the affair was of greater importance then their Eminences apprehended That the Propositions which they examin'd were only the occasion but not the principal motive of our comming to Rome That
that purpose whatever importunity he made to the said Cardinal whatever perfect intelligence there was between them about all things else and although the Cardinal would otherwise have been glad to oblige M. Hersent both for his own sake and that of his Nation After which certainly I will never wonder that the mysteries of things which passe in that Congregation are so hidden and impenetrable for there can scarce be imagin'd a person more industrious to penetrate into what he desires then this Ambassador nor one more beneficent and civil then that Cardinal nor two persons more united together then they CHAP. VIII A visit of Cardinal Lugo The falsification of the Bull of Urban VIII The eagernesse of M. Albizzi against S. Augustine The Censure of Vallidolid THE favour done me by the abovesaid Cardinal in putting me upon a discourse with Cardinal Lugo caus'd me to conceive my self oblig'd after this conference with him to go and wait upon him in his own house lest I might be lyable either to be charg'd with disrespect to them both or suspected of secret aversion against the said Cardinal Lugo for his being a Jesuit So I went to visit him five or six dayes after and found him at home He receiv'd me very civilly and after some discourse touching the studies of Divinity follow'd aâ— Paris he told me that there were some that studied too much there I understood him well but I was willing to oblige him to speak more clearly and to put himself into the matter of his own accord Wherefore I answer'd That excesse was to be avoided in all things and that though the profession of Literature requires great assiduity with Books yet it was well enough known at Paris how to use moderation and due temper therein At length he declar'd himself and objected to me the Book Of the Authority of S. Peter and S. Paul as a Rhapsodie of passages quotations the interpreting and applying of which proceeded from that excesse he spoke of c. That the Censure upon it had follow'd c. these c. c. are usual in Italy there is great use made of them in speaking and that in the most polite discourses and they are utter'd for the abridging and supplying of what might be added for a more large explication it being suppos'd also that he who is spoken to understands well what is imply'd and is able to supply it I answer'd that as to the passages of that Book M. Bourgeois at his being at Rome had shew'd his Eminence the strongest and clearest of them and that he might have judg'd thereof As for the Censure that we at Paris did not conceive it to touch that Book at all it condemning only the Equality between those two Apostles sine ulla subjectione without any subordination but there were Chapters in that Book wherein several kinds of subordination were set down He told me that the Book spoke not of any besides that which concerns point of Time I answer'd that I had often heard those that had read it make account that there were several others and that as to the foundation of Equality of Power between those two Apostles people not at all interessed for the Book lookt upon it as a thing very honourable and advantageous to the H. See He continu'd firm in this that there was no other subordination mention'd in the said Book besides that of Time and then pass'd to speak of Sufficient Grace the ground of which he drew from Jesus Christ and S. Paul with as much certainty as 't is possible for that which is alwayes Victorious to be deduc'd from them I told him that the Disciples of S. Augustine made no difficulty to admit the same as those of S. Thomas do namely granting a certain posse but never the velle to wit perfect nor the facere besides which Graces there needs another Effectual one to produce the action but as for Sufficient Grace subject to the Will as that was which the first man receiv'd in the state of Original Righteousnesse it could not be admitted because it is conceiv'd contrary to the Doctrine of the Scripture and the Church In fine I told him that this was the thing in controversie amongst Divines for the clearing and pacifying of whose divisions it was to be wisht that the reasons both of the one side and the other might be heard that every thing might be examin'd c. He much dislik'd the Expedient saying that there needed no examination of a businesse which was already judg'd and for proof of his assertion he brought me the Bull of Pius V. I told him that I assented to the truth of that Bull but that all the Propositions contained therein were not thereby condemn'd and upon my alledging the Exception Quanquam earum aliquae possint aliquo modo sustineri in rigore proprio verborum sensu ab autoribus intento he told me that these last words ought to be referr'd to that which follows and that the sense was that Quamvis aliquo modo sustineri pâ—ssent tamen in proprio autorum sensu erant Haereticae c. I answer'd that this sense never came into my mind when I read the Bull notwithstanding the different pointing us'd in the several impressions thereof and that the words did not comply therewith He reply'd that he had consulted the Original of the Bull and found the commaes thus placed Hoc dato non concesso I said that the first words of the Exception were not put into the Bull without cause and that there must needs be some sense at least in which those Propositions may be maintain'd in the rigour and that this was it that was to be consider'd viz. what that sense was He could not gainsay it but chang'd his battery and recurr'd to the Scripture the H. Fathers and the Popes upon whose Authority he pretended that Sufficient Grace was establisht I answer'd him that we judg'd the Scripture Fathers and Popes on our side that if the case were as he said if the opinions of S. Augustin were not such as were to be follow'd the number of those who maintain them as well amongst the antient Doctors of our Faculty as among the younger would not encrease every day as it did Here he fell to mention pensions benefices and money given as he said to make those disciples adding that they were very well inform'd thereof and had receiv'd certain intelligence of all those practices I reply'd that this was so farr from being true that the Court being averse from those Tenents the way for any one to obstruct his own temporal advancement was to maintain them That a greater injury could not be done the Doctors then to accuse them of adhering to the truth upon so low and servile conditions and interests and that they who know and love truth embrace the same only for it self He betook himself to the infallibility of the H. See and cited this passage Ego dixi tibi
makes Images it doth nothing contrary to this commandment of God because it makes them not to adore them but onely to render to them the worship cultum which is due unto them And by this means the Catholick people are deliver'd from the fallacies and false explications and reproaches of Hereticks whereas if they were not thus instructed Hereticks might circumvent and seduce them That if these reasons be not accounted sufficient to take away all the suspitions that may be rais'd against the good intentions of the Author of this Work but your Eminences judge it necessary to adde to the Book some Preface or Explication or other like thing for greater assurance of this Authors sincerity and good purposes what your Eminences shall in prudence please ta appoint therein shall be punctually perform'd the book shall be brought to you within three moneths reprinted with such new declaration and shall never be printed otherwise hereafter Moreover the book is of very great profit and edification to Christians containing nothing but the principal and most necessary Maximes of Christian life drawn out of the H. Scripture and the H. Fathers of the Church It would be a sad and deplorable thing if people should imagine that your Eminences condemn them as the enemies of the said book will endevor to perswade if it receive any impeachment though it be not possible for their malice to hinder the great applause which it receives from all the world Wherefore besides the good which your Eminences will do and the scandal which you will prevent you will also oblige very many pious and knowing persons who will endevour to acknowledge this favorable dealing by all means possible and will pray to God for the long and happy preservation and exaltation of your Eminences whom God blesse c. My purpose was to be on Wednesday morning July 12. at la Minerve half an hour before the time which I understood the Cardinals were to meet there for their Congregation that so I might salute them as they came partly to excuse the necessity there was of my leaving the Memorial at their Houses the foregoing Evening having not time to return thither to present the same to themselves and partly to inform them of what I read the precedent night in the Catechisme of the Council of Trent But they repaired thither much sooner this day then ordinary by reason that Cardinal Pamphilio who was to take his first sitting there that day could not come thither later and so they were all enter'd before my comming except Cardinal Roma to whom I presented a Copy of the said Memorial which I could not deliver to him in the evening I was afraid too lest M. Albizzi should think himself slighted and be incens'd against us if I did not present him one in particular for which reason I inquir'd whether there were no means to get him out of the Assembly for a moment to present the same to him I was answer'd No but if I had a mind to speak any thing to the Assembly I might enter in for they would presently be call'd who had any thing to propose to it I was something scruplous of resolving upon it fearing lest by my presenting my self there I might give the Congregation ground to pretend that a Frenchman and a Doctor of Sorbonne acknowledg'd its jurisdiction However I determin'd to enter with the same mind and manner as I intended to addresse a Memorial to it namely not as acknowledging any jurisdiction or superiority in the said Congregation either in respect of France or of the book or of the Author for whom I interceded but onely for preventing if possible the scandals which might arise from the Decrees of a Company of persons who indeed held a very considerable rank in the Church in regard of the manner wherewith many Catholicks in France look upon those Decrees the bad use which sundry particular persons make of them and the false and pernicious consequences which they draw from them They were seated about the Table in this order The Cardinals Roma and Barberin were at the upper end on their right hand on one side of the table were the Cardinals Ginetti S. Clement Lugo and Pamphilio over against these two last M. Albizzi and the F. Commissary of the H Office sat upon lower seats and before them there was a barre joining to the Table Along the wall opposite to the Cardinals sat seven or eight of their Consultors I drew neer to speak at the end of the table which was empty and I told them in Latin That to avoyd troubling them by repetition of what I had represented to them as well by word of mouth as by my Memorial I should adde nothing thereto but that having the foregoing night read the Catechisme provided for Curates by order of the Council of Trent translated into the vulgar tongue and printed by the command of Pius V. I observed that the Commandment touching Images was there express'd in the same words as in the Houres and that in a higher and more dangerous manner if the reasons of those who made the said Objection against the Houres deserved to be received For the Catechisme hath these expresse word Non tifarai alcuna imagine sculpita Thou shalt not make to thy self any graven image Sculpita which seemed most to offend the accusers of the Houres And whereas in the Houres it is onely said that they shall not make them to adore them it is in the Catechisme that they shall not adore them yea which is more that they shall not honour them Non le adorerai ne le honorerai Wherefore if the Houres deserv'd to be condemn'd for that translation the Catechisme deserves it much more for this and on the contrary if the Catechisme hath not been condemn'd in these hundred years since its printing the Houres deserve it far lesse I added that if there were any thing else to be objected against the Houres besides what I had already heard I noe onely hop'd that it would not be harder for me to answer solidly thereunto then it had been to answer the objections made hitherto but also that if their Eminences desir'd any thing else from the Authors of the Houres for a more ample justification of their right Belief honest management and submission to their Eminences I assur'd them that they should give them full satisfaction within what time it pleased them to prescribe Cardinal Roma speaking in the name of all answer'd that they would consider what I had represented to them by word of mouth and by writing and then give me an answer dabimus responsum As I retir'd I left a Copy of my Memorial to M. Albizzi and layd upon the table before him the Catechisme translated into Italian which I procur'd the day before and lookt upon as a Piece that abundantly determin'd the capital difficulty brought against the Houres I waited for M. Albizzi at his comming out of the Assembly partly to
H. See since we accounted it a visible effect of the divine vigilance that it pleas'd God to inspire the Bishops of France with the thought and care to advertise his Holinesse of the conspiracy which was made against the Doctrine of S. Augustin and the Church which we undertook to justify before his Holinesse in presence of our adversaries by unreproachable witnesses and invincible proofs That if it pleased his Holinesse to bring it to the tryall we hop'd he should understand our sincerity and their foule dealing that this might be known by the sole reading of the sixty passages of S. Augustin which they produc'd against the first Proposition whereof there was not one but was a proof either of their ignorance or unfaithfulness some being alledg'd impertinently others misconstructed and some mutilated and corrupted as we were ready to demonstrate in presence of our Adversaries and to convince them thereof before the H. See You alwayes suppose said the Pope that you have adversaries to encounter 't is not so The other Doctors who are here to have judgement upon the five Propositions call not themselves your parties nor desire to be heard contradictorily We answer'd they must needs be our parties because they produce objections against the Doctrin which we maintain to be Catholick But besides your Holinesse will give us leave to say that we account all such our Adversaries and parties who impugne S. Augustin's authority and Doctrin Now these are visibly impugn'd and that by the Doctors who forg'd the five Propositions by those who prosecute their Censure with them but principally by the Jesuites whose books printed with the approbation of superiors and publick declamations tend utterly to ruine the Establisht authority and Orthodox Doctrin of that great Saint 'T is no wonder if our adversaries demand not of your Holinesse to be heard contradictorily in presence of S. Augustin's disciples they fear to be convinc'd of subverting a Doctrin whose defenders have so often found a sanctuary in the H. See which hath Canonis'd it by its Decrees Hence it is than employ at this day all their artifices and intrigues to keep your Holinesse from obliging them to defend themselves before you from the just accusations which we have to charge upon them and their pernicious Doctrin But reply'd the H. F. there 's no need of entring into disputation with those you call your parties 't is no Law-Processe that is in debate but the determining of Propositions This suffices to produce peace to the Church and we hope the Contests rais'd about these five will cease as soon as the H. See shall have spoken as it hapened in the Controvesie touching the authority of S. Peter and S. Paul Should I appoint such a conference as you ask disputes would be infinite Divines would come here from all parts I will speedily end this business without noise After using all the diligences I think necessary to understand it throughly 't is not to be doubted but the H. Ghost will communicate such light to me as I shall need to judge thereof according to truth Here we took the Liberty to say We most humbly beseech your Holinesse to adde one diligence to all those which you have us'd namely the establishment of a a solemn Congregation wherein the important truths in question may be clear'd and confirm'd The Orthodox doctrin of S. Augustin is at this day in contest our adversaries imagine the same by the bad sense which they put upon the five Propositions whose Censure they presse and sollicite to the end to disparage by the conseqences which they shall draw from thence the authority Catholick sentiments of that H. Doctor of grace We have many things to represent to your Holiness against our Adversaries both matters of fact and upon the several senses of the Propositions This cannot be well done but in their presence when they may contradict us and reflect the falshood if we alledge any and we also make good exactly and without exception all that we have to produce against them We shall shew in that Congregation that the belief of the Jesuites touching the five Propositions tends to overthrow the foundations of Christian Religion The demand which we reiterate to your Holiness in the name of our L. L. the Bishops to be heard contradictorily is legal conformable to the practice of the Church authoriz'd by the H. Fathers and allow'd by the Predecessors of your Holinesse What will the Faithful say when they see the H. Father deny the Sons of the Church all S. Augustin's disciples a thing most just not wont to be deny'd to any person not even to Hereticks And what will Posterity say when it shall know that Bishops of France could not obtain of the H. See after long and urgent sollicitations that which ordinary Priests have obtain'd without difficulty The Pope answer'd that all these considerations had been represented to him already that 't was to no purpose to repeat the same things that 't was our part onely to consider whether we would be heard before him without our adversaries and without disputes or no that in case we would he offer'd to receive our writings and hear us with patience and benignity as much as we pleas'd quanto vorrete We reply'd again that we were loath to be importune to his Holinesse but the affair committed to us being of extream importance oblig'd us to reiterate our most humble instances for obtaining a means which we conceiv'd necessary for the right treating of it In fine perceiving the Pope press'd us to answer precisely we thought it our duty to say to him H. Father we desire withall our hearts and most humbly demand the audiences which your Holinesse offers us but we demand them alwaies with the just and legal conditions which we have expressed and which are imported by our Commission the limits whereof we may not exceed Whereupon finding our H. Father not disposed to grant us a conference and that neverthelesse he pressed us to appear before him to represent the things whereof we desir'd to informe him we insisted no further but pray'd him to permit us to report to our Collegues what it pleas'd his Holiness to propose to us to the end we might all together testifie the submission and respect which had for his Orders In this disposition my Lords we left his Holinesse The same Evening we had certain notice of the draught of a Bull upon the five Propositions we know not whether it be to condemn them in general or in particular or whether it be onely to deprive the parties of Liberty to dispute of them by imposing silence to both yet 't is most likely to be for condemning them in some manner However it be all consider'd we have conceiv'd my Lords that we are oblig'd to appear before the Pope when it should please his Holinesse to send for us and hear us in presence of our adversaries In the first place to the end to
THE JOURNAL OF Mons r. de Saint Amour Doctor of SORBONNE CONTAINING A full Account of all the Transactions both in France and at Rome concerning the Five Famous PROPOSITIONS Controverted between the JANSENISTS and the MOLINISTS From the beginning of that Affair till the POPES Decision Faithfully Rendred out of French A like Display of the Romish State Court Interests Policies c. and the mighty influences of the Jesuites in That CHURCH and many other CHRISTIAN STATES being not hitherto extant ACT. IV. Verse XX. Non enim possumus quae vidimus audivimus non loqui LONDON Printed by T. Ratcliff for George Thomason at the Rose and Crown in S. Paul's Church-yard 1664. To the Right Honourable ROBERT Earle of ELGIN Baron of WHORLETON c. MY LORD IF the Greatnesse of the Subject may serve to justify the Inscription of a Book to so Great a Name I may with reason affirme that none ever treated of an Argument of more weight extent and difficulty then This and consequently hope that the Considerableness of the Matter will supply for the little Title which the Translation hath given me in it and upon which I have presumed to present it to your Lordship Fatality and Liberty were disputable Points in all Ages of the World and in all Religions But the Controversies about them have been infinitely multiply'd amongst Christians and scarce any Questions agitated with greater heat both in the Purer and the Vnreformed Church The Hypothesis of Absolute Predestination and Physical Predetermination of all Events hath engaged its Promoters in the defence of sundry Consequent doctrines of very great importance yet no lesse controverted then their foundation Of which no more need here to be mentioned besides those contained in the Five Propositions of late years with incredible subtlety and artifice contested between the Jesuites and Jesuitical Faction on one side and the Jansenists on the other in the Romane Church viz. touching The Possibility of keeping Gods Commandments The Resistibility of Grace The Liberty of the Will The Efficacy of Preventing Grace and The Vniversality of Redemption In these Points the doctrine of the Jansenists is in some respects different from that of the Calvinists yet not so much but their subtle Adversaries took advantage of the Conformity to contrive Five Propositions capable of a double Construction namely both according to the opinions of Jansenius and those of Calvin that by this means they might involve the former in a Censure of the latter which they doubted not to obtain as being equally condemned for heretical by either dissenting Party the Adherents of the Jesuits and the Disciples of Jansenius or as they style themselves of S. Augustin The Intrigues Confederacies and solicitations for the accomplishment of which design are the matter of this Journal as some Manuscript Pieces concerning the same affair are of the adjoyned Collection I know not whether at any time so ample an Account hath been given the world of the manner of Proceeding held by the Roman See in passing a Decision of Doctrine But I perswade my self that whosoever shall impartially peruse This cannot have any great opinion of the Popes Infallibility which yet is the Basis at least of all points held by the Romanists in opposition to the Protestants when he finds that the Pope professeth himself no Divine and the Cardinals pretend to no more but a Prudential Judgment that is such as is requisite to be pass'd in point of interest that the Popes meaning in his Constitution is as much controverted as the Cause it determines while one Party adheres to what he writes and the other to what he speaks and that the Authority of the Church as well as that of the Fathers is made use of to establish Contradictions That I mention not the disparagement of the so much pretended Unity of that Church Nor can any Exception lye against the Relator who was a principal Agent in the Affair and upon all occasions makes as great profession of zeal and affection for the Roman Church as he doth of Truth and sincerity I pretend not my Lord to exhibite your Lordship a Patron of the Cause by dedicating the History of it to your Honorable Name 'T is not more indubitable that the Church of England hath delivered her sense upon these Points with singular prudence caution and moderation then that your Lordship hath been always a most firme Propugner of that Church even in the worst of times And truely the late happy Revolution in which your Lordship was so active as to venture all earthly Interests hath redounded highly to the advantage of the Church as to these very Doctrines Since whatever Ecclesiastical Government might have been established during our Distractions no Termes of Communion could be more rigid and unreasonable as to these Points then those required by the two most prevalent Factions of those Times as appears by the publisht Confessions of Faith of the Assembly and the Congregations Should I here take occasion to mention your Lordships indefatigable Industry and Assiduity Fidelity and Disinteressedness in the Service of the State certainly no man could be more justly accused of a superfluous undertaking since I should speak no more then what is already most perfectly known to the whole Nation at least in its Representative Nor is it to be doubted but that being now in a higher sphere your influences will be as great for the Publick Good since you are still accompanyed with the same Vertues which rendered you a Peer of both Kingdomes by Merit before you were so by Inheritance Nor shall I attempt to give a Character of your Lordships personal accomplishments as an Extraordinary Measure both of Divine and Humane Learning Perfection in the Moderne and ancient Languages together with singular Generosity and Beneficence of which a more illustrious proof could not be given then your late vigorous actings for relief of the Sufferers by the late times It may suffice me to say that I have found particular effects of your Lordships goodness and that I should but little care to own the Translation of this work so publickly did it not give me so fair an opportunity to declare the honour I have to be MY LORD Your Lordships most humble obedient and obliged servant G. HAVERS THE AUTHOR'S PREFACE Giving an Account of the publishing of this JOURNAL THe Affair of the Five Propositions being become by its Consequences so considerable that it is at present the principal part of the Church-History of this Age those very consequences which were soon foreseen and by divers of the most eminent Bishops of the Gallicane Church committed to me to represent to the H. See caus'd me alwayes to consider it as of very great importance and the exact Account I conceiv'd I ought alwayes to be ready to render to those Bishops and the Church of all that I had done and could observe had pass'd therein oblig'd me to apply my self about it with so much
the same to the Faculty in the Assembly following which was to be on the first of July M. Guillebert perform'd his Charge and on that day presented to the Faculty a Paper in which he had reduc'd what he found worthy of Censure in the said Libel to three principal Heads The first of which contain'd what F. Veron had there written to destroy Confession The second what he had urg'd against Pennance And the third what he maintained against the authority of Councils M. Cornet made himself likewise in this Assembly F. Veron's Protector as he had done in the former He took upon him to justifie F. Veron in that he oppos'd the Propositions of the Bishop of Ipre which he maintained it would also be necessary to examine if this Libel were examin'd although that which M. Guillebert reprehended therein had no affinity with those Propositions Which also he formally made a request for for fear if the Faculty should examine and disallow the Libel alone it might be a kind of Fore-judgement in favour of those against whom it was written Hereupon M. Pereyret failing not to represent at large as he had done in the foregoing year the length of time and greatnesse of pains it would be requisite to spend in that examination insomuch said he that to do it well Jansenius S. Augustin and sundry other Books must be read from one end to the other and after ten years imploy'd therein there will be no great Progress made The Faculty concluded that for the interest of peace it was fit to forbear examining both F. Veron's Libel and the Propositions opposed I have lightly passed over this affair omitting sundry very considerable Circumstances that I might not stay upon any thing but what makes to my purpose yet Two there are which I cannot passe in silence One that M. Cornet drew up the said Conclusion on the first of July 1648. as he liked himself and when it was read on the first of August following M. Guillebert moved the Assembly that the same might be corrected as being neither true nor correspondent to what he had represented to the Faculty touching the Libel Yet this was hindred by the artifices and slights of M. Cornet The other is a clause annex'd to the said Conclusion importing that if notwithstanding the difficulties which render'd the examination so laborious at that time that it was not to be thought on it should please God to inspire any one to present to the Faculty any Propositions to be examined and decided by them it should be free for him to do so after two months In which besides the manifest contradiction appearing in the thoughts of these people who make semblance of being lovers of the tranquillity of the Faculty and neverthelesse are ready to disturbe the same within two months who at this present judge an examination so difficult which yet they are at the same instant dispos'd to undertake two months after It is visible that they had already in their breasts a setled purpose of attempting the Five Propositions the performance of which they deferr'd till July in the following year only by reason of the broyles of Paris For when the proposal thereof was made in Sorbonne on that day M. the Abbot de l' Isle Marivault Doctor of Navarre told one of his friends from whom I learnt it that M. the Bishop of Rhodez had told him before the Kings departure from Paris on the day of the Three Kings 1649. that the said Propositions had been already shewn him to be censur'd on the first day by the Faculty CHAP. IV. Of sundry things which pass'd in several Assemblies of the Faculty in the same year 1648. touching the number of such of the Mendicant Orders as might be admitted into Licenses and Assemblies IN the same Assembly of the second of May 1648. wherein complaint was made of F. Veron's Libel another seed of division brake forth which was of much longer continuance Almost all the Religious Mendicants Doctors of the Faculty were so link'd to M. Cornet and Pereyret that they had no other rule of judgement in any matter under debate but the opinion of the said two Doctors insomuch that their Suffrages were almost alwayes conceiv'd in these terms Sequor sententiam Domini Pereyret Idem cum Domino Pereyret In acknowledgment of which good offices and to multiply voyces they were so well assur'd of these Doctors conspir'd with such other Secular Doctors as they could draw to their party to get receiv'd into Licenses and advanc'd to the degree of Doctor as many Religious Mendicants as they could introduce above the number prescrib'd by the Statutes of the Faculty and Arrests of Parliament In this Assembly two Jacobins desir'd to be receiv'd as Supernumeraries besides three Cordeliers and another Jacobin who had been already receiv'd as such I signified to the Assembly the Statute which hindred us from doing them this favour and declar'd that if they proceeded to effect it I would oppose it neverthelesse it was carri'd by the plurality of voyces I oppos'd the Conclusion and M. de Roux Doctor of the house and society of Sorbonne joyn'd with me in the opposition We presented our Petition to the Parliament and an Arrest pass'd thereupon whereby the parties that pretended to take benefit of the said Conclusion were summoned to the Court on the first day and in the mean time prohibited to make use of it This Arrest was signified to the Faculty on the third of June and all the Secular Doctors excepting perhaps M. Cornet and his intimates who had consented to do that favour to the said Religious Mendicants only out of complyance and had not been instructed in the matter follow'd joyfully with one voyce the judgement of M. Messier which was That the Arrest was to be obey'd leaving the Religious to present themselves if they thought good before the Kings Ministers and represent to them their reasons if they had any The four Mendicant Orders interpos'd in behalf of their Batchelors who were concern'd in the cause which was pleaded on the eleventh of August The said Arrest was confirm'd and besides it was enacted That without regard to our Petition but in justice according to the Arguments of the Kings Attorney General the Arrests of the year 1626. whereby conformably to the Statutes and other Arrests the number of Mendicant Doctors that might be admitted into our Assemblies is restrain'd to two of each Order should be read every year on the first day of October in our Assembly to the end the memory and performance of the same may be perpetual with injunction to the Dean and Syndic to see to the observation of the same as they would answer the contrary at their peril The University having heard the report of this Processe and consider'd the importance of it concluded on June 13. to interpose therein if need were but the Arrest pass'd without mention made of their interposing or concerning themselves in the
he could not conceale from me that his opinion was that I should do very well if I could resolve not to go thither The Gentleman with whom I departed from France was very desirous I should continue with him the intended Journey to Italy and knew I had no other businesse there nor any concernment with that of M. Hersent yet he was mov'd with these reasons to condescend to my return into France in case my self inclin'd so to do But he was very glad when he saw me oppose to all M. Matharel's reasons the testimony of my Conscience which did not reproach me with any thing that might be justly objected against me and to see that as it left me no regret for all that I had done in time past so it gave me no fear for the future but that on the contrary I was resolv'd to maintain and justifie at Rome and everywhere else upon all occasions that might happen all whatsoever I had done in France Wherefore after thanks to M. Matharel for his affection and good counsel and for the civilities which we had receiv'd from him during our abode at Venice we took leave of our other friends and departed thence towards Rome the 30th of October but arriv'd not there till the 20th of November partly because we took our way by Loretta and partly because the reliques of my sickness occasion'd some dayes slownesse in our Journey CHAP. II. Of the Letter of M. de Vabres The design of the Jesuits against the Houres translated into French How odious at Rome they were whom they call Jansenists BEing arriv'd at Rome towards the end of November 1650. I found Letters directed to me there the oldest of which were written at Paris on the 7th of October They gave me notice of the first discovery made of one penn'd by the Bishop of Vabres to move the Pope to condemn the Propositions which M. Cornet had the year before endeavour'd to get censur'd by the Faculty excepting the two last It was signifi'd to me that M. de Vabres had canvas'd as much as he could in the Assembly of the Clergy to get them to subscribe the said Letter but perceiving at last that if it were brought to the Vote there it would undoubtedly miscarry by the opposition which would be made by the most judicious and zealous Prelates of the Assembly who very well understood the iniquity and injustice whereof all people of honour had condemn'd M. Cornet's enterprise still fresh in memory he resolv'd not to propose it but to particular Bishops with whom he thought he might prevail and whose subscriptions he hop'd to make good use of A Copy of the said Letter was sent me taken from a printed one which a Doctor visiting M. Hallier found by chance upon his Table Which shews said my corespondent that he must needs bear a part in this businesse because he is acquainted with the secret of it Wherefore I was intreated to observe at Rome the most carefully I could during my residence there whether this Letter had been sent thither and how it was receiv'd because there were many Prelates very eminent for Learning and Piety who fore-seeing many sad consequences from the same would not fail to advertise the Pope to take heed thereto as soon as they were assur'd that he had receiv'd it The Copy sent was a Manuscript and in Latin as followeth Beatissime Pater MAjores causas ad sedem Apostolicam referre solemnis Ecclesiae mos est quem fides Petri nunquam deficiens perpetuò retineri pro jure suo postulat Aequissimae huic legi obsequentes de gravissimo circa Religionem negotio Sanctitati tuae scribendum esse censuimus Decennium est â—…x quo vehementissimis turbis Gallia magno nostro moerore commovetur ob librum posthumum doctrinam Reverend Cornelii Jansenii Iprensis Episcopi Tales quidem motus sedari oportebat tum Concilii Tridentini auctoritate tum Bullae illius quam Urbanus VIII foelicis memoriae adversus Jansenii dogmata pronunciavit decreta Pii V. Gregorii XIII in Baium edita confirmarunt Atque hujus quidem Bullae veritatem ac Robur novo diplomate vindicasti sed quia nulli sigillatim Propositioni certa Censurae nota inusta fuit locus etiamnum aliquis quorundam cavillis effugio relictus est Intercludendum autem penitus speramus si ut precamur Sanctitas tuae quid in hac re sentiendum sit clarè distinctéque definiat Obtestamur ergo ut has praesertim Propositiones de quibus disceptatio periculosior ac contentio ardentior est Sanctitas tua expendat ac perspicuam certam de unaquaque sententiam ferat I. Aliqua Dei praecepta hominibus justis volentibus conantibus secundum praesentes quas habent vires sunt impossibilia deest quoque iis Gratia qua possibilia fiant II. Interiori Gratiae in statu naturae lapsae nunquam resistitur III. Ad merendum demerendum in statu naturae lapsae non requiritur in homine libertas à necessitate sed sufficit libertas à coactione IV. Semipelagiani admittebant praevenientis Gratiae interioris necessitatem ad singulos actus etiam ad initium fidei in hoc erant Haeretici quod vellent eam Gratiam talem esse cui posset humana voluntas resistere vel obtemperare V. Semipelagianum est dicere Christum pro omnibus omnino hominibus mortuum esse aut sanguinem fudisse Experta est nuper Beatitudo tua quantum Apostolicae sedis in Gemini Ecclesiae Capitis errore profligando valuerit auctoritas continuò sedata est tempestas atque ad Christi vocem imperium venti mare obedierunt Quamobrem flagitamus Beatissime Pater ut clarâ firmâque de Propositionum istarum sensu prolatâ sententiâ cui etiam Reverend ipse Jansenius morti proximus Opus suum subjecit caliginem omnem discutias animos fluctuantes componas dissidia prohibeas Ecclesiae tranquillitatem splendoremque restituas Dum haec spes mentibus nostris affulget Sanctitati tuae multos prosperos annos saeculorúmque beatissimam aeternitatem Rex saeculorum immortalis adjiciat optamus ac vovemus Besides this businesse word was sent me that F. Annat the Jesuit then the French Assistant with the General at Rome had written to F. l' Abbé one of his Brethren that undoubtedly he should obtain a Condemnation of the Excellent Prayers with the translation of the Hymnes in verse newly collected and presented to the King by M. du Mont and that the Calendar afforded him a great argument to get them censur'd Wherefore I was desir'd to enquire how the case stood and to do what lay in me to secure the said Book from a blow so unworthy and unjust and which might give so great advantages to the enemies of truth and even to them of the H. See I answer'd these Letters as one that sufficiently understood the importance of the affaires recommended to me and
such Holinesse as denominates them just that these Commandements are not absolutely impossible to them but only in respect of the state wherein they are having yet but weak and imperfect Grace which they are suppos'd to have volentibus conantibus and which gives them no other power for performance of the same but imperfect desires and weak endeavours which is yet more clearly exprest by the remainder of the Proposition from which the beginning ought not to be consider'd as separate but as referring thereunto Deest quoque illis gratia quâ possibilia fiant And that the Grace namely Effectual such as is necessary to the Commandments in question which renders them possible is not yet given to these just persons in the state of weaknesse wherein the Proposition supposes them in the time and circumstances of those first Graces with which they only will and endeavour weakly that this is the whole Doctrine of Effectual Grace according to the mind of S. Thomas and S. Augustine his Master That the four other Propositions cannot be consider'd but with relation to the first together with which they are presented for examination and that if there be any obscurity in the other four it ought to be clear'd and judg'd of according to the first and the interpretation put upon it The solid reasons which led this learned and pious Cardinal to speak and judge so favourably of the Propositions by taking them as he did in the sense of Effectual Grace I cannot so well repeat as himself deduc'd them to me for I remember he did it with a strength of reason perfectly great but I expresse his conceptions the best and the most faithfully I can as well as those of all others which I mention and I know he attributed the speaking of these Propositions after another manner then his own only to the little understanding there was of these matters either at Rome or Paris Indeed he spoke of them with so great energie and affection that I ceas'd to wonder at what was told me of his having defended them so stoutly before the Pope and if I could have doubted of the intelligence or sincerity of him who inform'd me how that story pass'd before the Pope the vigour wherewith this Cardinal himself discours'd with me would have perfectly confirm'd me therein Wherefore having this full perswasion of the truth of the businesse I went again to him that first acquainted me with it and he told me a circumstance which he had omitted in his first narration believing perhaps that I was not then fitting to hear it He told me that the Pope who although he highly esteem'd this Cardinal had neverthelesse a little secret jealousie against him seeing him speak of the Propositions with so much heat and vivacity on this occasion and considering himself backt by all the rest that were present being of contrary sentiments his Holinesse in a manner rang'd himself on their side by saying Guardate il Cardinal N. chi dice che nostri Consultori sono Eretici Take notice of Cardinal N. who sayes that our Consultors are Hereticks To which the Cardinal without being mov'd made answer Vostra Santità mi scusi Beatissimo Padre non dico questo Non dico che questi Signori Consultori siano Haeretici mà che le loro Censure sono Haeretiche Mà è ben vero che loro lo sarebbono se vi fossero pertinaci I beseech your Holinesse to excuse me most Blessed Father I do not say that I do not say that my LL. the Consultors are Hereticks but that their Censures are Heretical But withall 't is true that they also would be Hereticks should they continue obstinately therein Which according to his sense was most true for being he took all the Propositions to be meant of Effectual Grace he had reason to accuse those Censures of Heresie which should condemn the said Propositions in this sense This particular not having been told me at the first time of our discourse about the debate before the Pope is wanting in the account given above of what stopt his Holinesse in the quandary they had put him in for the confirmation of the false Censure so often mention'd About this time other news was written to me from Venice namely that the Pope's Nuntio there had caus'd the Decree against the Catechisme of Grace to be printed there in great numbers and sent the Copies into all the Monasteries not only of Venice but of the whole Venetian state I was surpriz'd at this news both for that the Jesuits do not reign in that place and because neither of the Books condemn'd by that Decree having appear'd there at all I did not see what ground there was for publishing this Decree there with so great diligence and by the reading of it I could not find any instruction or edification afforded thereby unto the faithfull But I let this intelligence passe as well as many others without being more scandaliz'd thereat and continu'd my inquiry into affaires at Rome as far as my condition gave me liberty so to do In the Covent de la Minerve I occasionally saw a very devout upright and judicious Monk nam'd F. Barelier who was assistant for France to his General We discours'd together of our concernments with such caution as is us'd by persons that do not yet well know one another and he spoke with as great prudence and equity as was possible for a man that till then had had no light of all the things that were pass'd Afterwards as I was professing to one better inform'd my wonder how it was possible that F. Barelier a man of great parts of an Order so much engag'd as the Dominicans for the opinions about Grace and of so considerable an imployment in that Order should be so much a stranger to all the contests in the Church touching the same He told me that I had much more reason to wonder that I found any that were not so in the place where I was That F. Barelier for example was indeed in a considerable imployment in that Order but that this imployment so wholly took him up in receiving all the Letters concerning the businesses and contests of Monasteries and particular persons of the Order dispers'd through France that being scarce sufficient thereunto he could not give much heed to other things not alli'd to his own affaires That others besides their occupations which requir'd their care and personal attendance had designs of advancing every one himself to the several degrees whither they aimed which taking up likewise a good part of their time left them not much to mind other matters Moreover that since the last Congregations de Auxiliis which after so long and diligent examination concluded only upon imposition of silence to the parties there was great care us'd to keep such matters husht and in oblivion lest the like feuds might arise which make much stir and bring no profit That the minds of the greatest
page of the same Book Those who persecuted these Propositions oppos'd them at first absolutely in themselves and he that maintain'd them did it with so great strength and successe that he disarm'd his Adversaries and convinc'd his Judges of the things which he undertook to prove to them But I was told that it was not without great reluctancy which was such in reference to the first Proposition that he became engag'd to maintain a third upon which he made a particular dissertation as well as upon the two other though it was not extracted out of the Sermon namely That all actions perform'd by the sole strength of nature are sins At length the Judges who examin'd the Apologies presented to them in defence of these three Propositions consider'd in themselves became perfectly satisfi'd and convinc'd thereby and the accusers of the Sermon were consequently forc'd to silence and a retreat But being not of the humour to acquiesce so easily against their engagement they devis'd to say that though the Propositions might be maintain'd as they were explicated by him that defended them neverthelesse they are bad in that Sermon and Book because it makes but one body with the Epistle which is before it with reference to which it is just and necessary to consider the two Propositions in question that considering them in this manner they would no doubt be found worthy of censure for that in the said Epistle Jansenius is spoken of with an Elogium being an Author condemn'd by the Bull of Vrban VIII and whose opinions this Preacher hath borrow'd and maintain'd as is evident by the Epistle I was told that they who contriv'd this project had the greater hope of successe because they saw him who maintain'd the Propositions absolutely in themselves as they are in the Sermon wholly out of the businesse he being that Monastical person upon whose faith the Master of the Sacred Palace gave permission for printing it and the Epistle not being mention'd in his License but only the Sermon and he professing openly that he saw none but the Sermon nor heard any thing of the Epistle which was an addition made by M. Hersent purely of his own head without speaking one single word to him of it or his own having the least ground to suspect it Whence they took for certain that the Apologies of the Licenser having been very well receiv'd and he seeing himself deliver'd from all the combustion and honour'd also with the commendations of some of his Judges for the elegancy and solidity which they found in his writings would not care to engage himself in a new labour the successe of which was incertain and not only more dangerous then the first but likely to make him lose all the benefit thereof But this Ecclesiastick deceiv'd them because this new assault giving him the curiosity to search Jansenius upon the subject of these Propositions and finding nothing there but the same Doctrine himself had lately defended and the same Judges before whom he was to maintain it again approved although his interest in no wise engag'd him to the defence of the Propositions interpreted with relation to the said Epistle and the opinions of Jansenius yet he thought himself oblig'd thereunto by the love of truth and by gratitude towards his Judges And for these reasons he became then actually imploy'd therein It was told me that this Monastick was nam'd F. du Four and that he was a very intimate friend of M. the Abbot de Loiac Chamberlain of honour to the Pope and nominated by his Holinesse to the Bishoprick of Toul with whom it was known that I had great commerce there was also some hope given me that by his means I might have a sight of his Writings which I was certifi'd were worthy to be read and very compendious and determinative I had a very great curiosity to see them and to get a Copy of them in regard of the nature of the businesse and the commendations I receiv'd of them Wherefore I had recourse immediately to the Abbot de Loiac who very gladly and willingly brought me to the knowledge of the said Father I found him of a great wit a very agreeable and copious conversation very clear in Doctrine but as prudent too in management as a man of that quality could be after having pass'd almost sixty years in the world whereof the twenty last were spent at Rome I was alwayes very welcome to him when I visited him and receiv'd with very great civility but I found him so close as often as I went to put him upon these matters and he so constantly diverted the discourse thereof that I could not without great rudenesse make the least mention of his Writings because indeed he had been utterly undone should his Judges have known that he communicated them so inviolable will they have the secrecy of all things which they handle There was nothing but M. Hersent that he spoke freely of when he was put upon this subject because the fact was publick and he could not forbear complaining of his not having told him so much as one word about his Epistle having been treated with honour as he was for his Sermon I excus'd M. Hersent a little by the custom in France and likewise in our Faculty of not shewing any thing but the Theses and the Books to the Approbators but adding Epistles and Prefaces according to prudence and discretion But he lik'd not these excuses because the custom was otherwise at Rome which ought to be understood and follow'd and because he said if M. Hersent had shew'd him his Epistle he would have put it in a condition by changing and blotting out some words for being printed without being lyable to any exceptions or complaints more then the Sermon it self But to return to his Writings I believe he would not have granted the reading of them to M. de Loiac though living with him in the closest friendship and correspondence that can be between two persons of parts honour and piety Such sacred things are secrecy and the Excommunication under penalty whereof they are oblig'd to keep the same in that Congregation in that Country I shall in due place mention what successe follow'd the generous resolution of the F. du Four to defend those two Propositions even considering them with reference to that Epistle and the Doctrine of Jansenius only this exquisitenesse of secrecy call'd to my mind a thing told me by the Ambassador in one or two converses on purpose about M. Hersent's businesse namely that secresie was so religiously observ'd that himself often endeavouring to get some light from Cardinal d' Este who was one of the Congregation concerning the posture wherein that affair stood and whither his Eminence judg'd it might tend that so he might tell M. Hersent something of it who was much in pain about it he could never draw from him the least word or sign whereby to conjecture any thing whatever industry he us'd to
on the other side he seeth not what can be reply'd to S. Augustin's doctrine which hath been so often approved by the H. See This doubt and seeming combat in which he placeth on one side the Bulls of these two Popes and on the other the doctrine of S. Augustin so often approv'd by the H. See though he really accords and reconciles together those Bulls and this Doctrine sufficiently and with a very particular respect towards the H. See hath given so great advantages to the Jesuites against him and his book that it not onely facilitates any meanes which they will use to make him lookt upon as a declar'd enemy of the H. See by persons preposses'd with the false zeal of those Fathers but also they have thereby render'd him suspected by others whom I found very intelligent judicious equitable and likewise well affected towards this Prelate in all other things so that expressing their dislike of this point alone they have testifi'd their sorrow that he expos'd himself to this disadvantage so powerfull is the conceipt of the Pope's infallibility over the minds of the Romans and so heynous a crime and mortal offence in their eyes is every thing that grates upon it more or lesse But having seen how admirably the said Bishop is clear'd from it by Aurelius Avitus in the 22. Dissonance of his Molinomachie which was lent me by a Cardinal to whom it was sent by the Post I as often wish'd I could dispel those suspicions and dislkes entertain'd at Rome against that place of Jansenius's book as I heard it spoken of which was very frequently but this was a work reserved for others The Prejudices hereupon were so great and strong that should I have said all I could in Apology for the Bishop of Ipre touching this matter I should rather have made my self criminal then justifi'd him And indeed 't was a thing I abstain'd from the more willingly and necessarily for that not being at Rome for that purpose nor otherwise engag'd in any thing that had affinity therewith I contented my self with speaking of those which were recommended to me or fell into discourse according as the visites I hapned to make permitted I made one to Cardinal Barberin on 27th of January in which he spoke among other things something largly of the great services which S. Bernard did to the H. See and the ardent affection wherewith he was always animated towards it I acknowledg'd to the Cardinal the truth of those commendations and withal beseech'd him to observe that that affection having been the primum mobile which set a going all his other motions and actions in behalf of the H. See he used a notable liberty and franknesse towards the same H. See when he saw himself oblig'd to admonish the Popes that fill'd it of such things as might give cause to complain of their government and Decrees I added also that all such as are zealous for the service of the H. See ought to testifie the same cheifly in such occasions wherein its interest lyes so much in understanding the things in which it hath been or may be surprised That the Popes themselves for remedying mischiefs possible to arise from surprises have ordain'd in the Cannon Law C. 5. de rescriptis that their Decrees be not yeilded unto when there is difficulty in them but that the same be represented to themselves to the end they may use such order and remedy therein as is necessary The Cardinal profess'd to like this discourse and confirm'd it by a decision or Maxime which he said is follow'd in the Rota Yet he added that the books of S. Bernard De Consideratione are not those of his works which are most in esteem at Rome having sometimes been in danger of being if not condemned at least suppress'd or retrench'd which possibly might have been done had it not been for the consideration of his eminent Sanctity I gave him another visite on the 17. of February and left with him the Observations made upon M. de Vabres's Letter which he sent me back after two dayes seal'd having read and made his extract out of the same Ten dayes after I gave him another he then professed to me that he approv'd those observations but made more account of the Reflections upon the Censure of the Catechisme He said also that himself was made to speak well therein that is to say that he was well pleas'd whith what was there related of him but that the Letter of M. Albizzi which is produc'd there and the other things spoken of that Assessor troubled him and his Eminence gave me to understand that they were mutually concern'd for one another and reputed the offence done to one of their Officers as done to their proper persons To which I answer'd that no doubt it was with unwillingness that M. Albizzi was reflected upon and that it had not been done if he had not given ground for it and the writer conceiv'd himself constrained so to do Happing to be in the company of the same Cardinal in the beginning of March he told me plainly enough that when themselves or their officers are not treated with the respect which they think their due they are apt to become rigid and suspicious and to find fault with many things of which otherwise they should take no great notice c. That it behooved so to order the matter in the present case as not directly to thwart Decisions and amongst others the Bull of Vrban VIII of happy memory but to shew that what the Adversaries pretend to be contained therein is not there indeed and that the same is to be understood with this or that restriction c. That it is fit to allow something to Popes great incumbrances which hinder them from being so exact in every point c. To which I answer'd two things First that sometimes there is no way to deny the words which are expresse therein nor to admit the same but by alledging a surprise Secondly That S. Augustin's disciples are full of great love and sincere respect towards the H. See and the Popes That I doubted not but that they are alwayes ready to interpret their meanings and words in the most benigne sense that is possible That if his eminence would think thereon and give me light of a fit expedient how to put a favorable exposition upon that Bull at Rome I doubted not but it would be accepted most willingly by all the disciples of S. Augustin provided it be not prejudicial to truth which with them is absolutely inviolable Our discourse of this businesse pass'd so far and the Cardinal profess'd himself so satisfi'd therewith that I believ'd he would think in good earnest of procuring a clear declaration from the H. See of the motives and extent of the Bull of Vrban VIII which he had explicated to me before on several occasions and also of making use of my mediation to bring it about that they who found difficulties
July 9. I went in behalf of the Houres to visite Cardinal Ginetti in the moring and Cardinal Roma in the afternoon which last made me new instances upon the scruple about the Translation of the first Commandment touching Images On Tuesday morning I finish'd the Memorial which I presented to their Eminences about this matter I caus'd copies to be made of it and carry'd them in the afternoon to the Cardinals Genetti S. Clement Spada and Barberin Which last further advis'd me to look a little into the Catechisme of the Council of Trent and see how it speaks concerning Images And because the time for their Assembly was neer it being to meet on Wednesday morning and there being no order as I knew of to suspend the publishing of â—he abovemention'd Catalogue I left my Memorial at the Palace of those Cardinals whom I could not meet with to present the same personally In the said Memorial having said something about the drift of the Houres I pass'd thus to the answer of objections brought against it This Book having been receiv'd almost universally by all the world with so great applause that there have been six several Editions of it within lesse then a year it hath stirr'd the jealousie of certain persons who not being able to find any thing considerable in it to gainsay have been reduc'd only to blame it for three slight matters First of neglecting to translate out of the Latine the word Redempteur de tous Redeemer of All as if the translator omitted it out of design and set purpose But the Authors of this work know too well what S. Paul saith in 2 Cor. 5. that Jesus Christ dyed for all and what also is said in the first Epistle of S. John chap. 2. that he is the price and ransome for our sins and not for ours only but also for those of the whole World They acknowledge too well That Jesus Christ our Lord is the Saviour of all to retrench maliciously the word Redempteur de tous or conceal a truth which they own de fide and for which they are ready to shed their blood And indeed the said Authors having been very diligent in the Work to translate the Hymnes verse for verse which is very difficult considering the confinement of the French rimes it may have hapned that it hath been put in the French verse which corresponds to the Latin wherein the said word is by reason of the rime which would not fall right in the course of Poetry but the said word is restor'd in the following verse and hath likewise been inserted in sundry other places where the Latin wants it This is seen particularly in the Hymne Lustris sex qui jam peractis in which these six verses Crux fidelis inter omnes Arbor una nobilis Nulla sylva talem profert Fronde flore germine Dulce lignum dulces clavos Dulce pondus sustinet are thus translated O Croix arbre d' amour de salut de grace Arbre vraiment divin qui tout arbre surpasse En miracles divers O bois plus sacré per ce Corps adorable Tu portes le doux fruit le fruit inestimable QUI GUERIT L' UNIVERS In the Hymne Ad coenam Agni providi Et stolis albis candidi Post transitum maris rubri Christo canamus Principi The Translation runs thus Vaincucurs de la mer rouge eschappés de son onde Allons parés de blanc au festin de l' Agneau Publions dans nos chants du REDEMPTEUR DU MONDE Le triomphe nouveau In the Hymne Veni Creator Spiritus the last verse Gloria Patri Domino Natoque qui a mortuis surrexit is thus translated Gloire a Christ par sa mort DES MORTS LE REDEMPTEUR And in the Te Deum this verse Tu ad liberandum suscepturus hominem non horruisti virginis uterum is also translated into these words Tu n'as dedaigné pour SAUVER TOUT LE MONDE D' entrer dans l' humble sein d' une vierge feconde Thus in divers places of the Hymnes speaking indefinitely and generally it is said that our Lord Jesus Christ is the hope of the whole Vniverse the price of the world the invaluable fruit hanging on the tree which heals the Vniverse the Redeemer of the world the salvation of men and that he shed his precious blood for the infinite price of the guilty Vniverse That he came to deliver man from his misery to heal all our evills to save the guilty to break thc chaines of sinners to wash the world to purchase the Vniverse that we are purchased by his blood That he came to be born and to dye for us That he dy'd for guilty man And more such manners of speech there are in the French which are not found even in several places of the Latine The second objection made against this Work is that the Cardinal de Berule is put in the Calendar with the title of Bien-heureux blessed To which it is answer'd that this is not the fault of the Author who well knows that it pertaines only to the H. See to declare the Saints and the Blessed but a simple devotion which he who corrected the second impression of the said Book had for that Cardinal And accordingly the Author taking notice of the Corrector's fault blotted out the tittle of Blessed from that Cardinal in the four other Ediitons which have been made since the second The third Objection consists in that the Adversaries pretend that the Translator hath interpreted according to the conceptions of Hereticks that passage of the fifth chapter of Deuteronomie Non facies tibi sculptile neque similitudinem omnium quae in caelo sunt desuper c. But those Censors are greatly mistaken in this particular because the Heretiks aime in that translation is to show that the Church do's ill in the laudable custome which it hath of making and having the Images of Saints for which purpose they leave out the word Idol and the end which is to adore them But the Translator hath faithfully put both into this book making expresse mention of the word Idol and of the end for which it is forbidden to make any namely to adore them The Translation is thus Vous ne ferés point d' Idole ny d' Image taillee ny aucune figure pour les adorer You shall make no Idol nor graven Image nor any figure to adore the same which version is not onely sutable to the text of H. Scripture but also necessary for France and it is found so in all the Catechismes printed for the instruction of children and plaine people And all Curates and such as teach the Catechisme to Children and the vulgar have great care when they expound this commandment to recite it thus to them and to make them take notice of it that so they may know the reason for which God made that prohibition and knowing it may also know that when the Church
had spoke them in some private audience where I might have reply'd to him before those that heard them but in a place so publick as this was before so great a multitude and at a time when there was no room for much reply for it was in the middle of the way and we were already almost at the foot of the stairs which leads up to the Pope they were a sufficient rude taste of the haughty and imperious treatment which I was to look for when I should be oblig'd to visit M. Albizzi But notwithstanding the just commotion which they caus'd in me yet through a secret fear I had lest he spoke them only to incense me and force me to some more vehement answer as indeed he deserv'd but from which he might have taken advantage against me I did not address my answer to him but to Cardinal Panzirolo though so loud as to make it heard by most of those that took notice of the affront telling him that his Eminence would see whether I jested or no when he perus'd the Memorial which I presented to him That I address'd my self to him to beseech him to acquaint his Holiness that some of the Bishops whose Letters I had presented to him and who knew what the Book was would account the treatment it received as done to themselves and that I did not mention the same to the Pope when I presented him their Letters because I did not then fore-see that it was fit to speak of it at least so soon to his Holiness Whilst I was speaking this to Cardinal Panzirolo M. Albizzi was still behind him a little on one side and having taken hold of a corner of the Book he held it up very high and shew'd it to all the company shaking it and threatning saying I had spoken of it what seem'd good to me but they were going to see above whether I had reason or no. Leaving Cardinal Panzirolo to pass on I answer'd M. Albizzi That that was it which I waited for but I wonder'd in the mean time at this his usage both of the Book and of my self M. Albizzi angerly reply'd That I thought I had done a great matter yesterday when I had spoke of the above mention'd Catechism but I ought to have first lookt all along the place I cited which is clearly expounded as the Catholick sense requireth which the Author of the Hours hath not done I answer'd That the Catechism was more large and extendeth it self further in the exposition of the said Commandment then the Translation of the Hours doth yet in the few words it containeth it is well enough and clearly enough explicated without needing other comment to make it more intelligible M. Albizzi reply'd That the generality of the world could not well understand it being so compendious I told him That it was very easie for any person to understand of how mean capacity soever He reply'd That women did not understand it I said That the meanest women understood it well and that all such as teach the Catechism every day to little Girles and Children were too carefull in expounding it to leave obscurity in it and that in France there was no Catholick ignorant of it He continu'd speaking to me in a muttering way and as offended at the care I took for the defence of the Hours as if I went about thereby to do some violence to Religion and to the H. See and to oblige it to tolerate a thing which might not be I answer'd That it was not my intention nor thought to engage the H. See to any thing whatever against its inclinations and interests but to serve it by letting the Pope know the ambushes prepar'd against it by the equivocal Propositions whose Decision is pursu'd and by informing him the most carefully I could of the true state of all the things wherewith I was incharg'd And as for himself I beseecht him that he would vouchsafe to hear what I had to say to him with some kind of equitableness and not reject the evident justification which I could make both of the purity of the Doctrines contain'd in the Hours and of the purity of their intentions who publisht them which is very easie to be judg'd since even in the whole Book there can hardly be found any rational ground for the least suspition M. Albizzi reply'd That it was too manifestly seen how bad that Authors intention was and that all that is reported of the evil designs of such people against the Holy See whereof they are enemies is but too true Finding by this Answer that he was absolutely corrupted against us and that the moderation and patience which I us'd in all this discourse did only exasperate him and make him break out the more against me I fell into the just indignation which his carriage constrain'd me to and told him with confidence That what he said would not be found true and that I would never endure that any person do such a high Injury as he had done to the worthy persons whose sound Piety and sincere intentions I was acquainted with without protesting against the Injustice shewing the wrong done them by so false and prejudicial a belief which can have no other foundation but calumnies and frauds M. Albizzi reply'd not to this discourse but mutteringly between his teeth so that hearing none of his words and seeing mine very unprofitable with him I stop'd there which silence was more easie to me for all that we spoke was upon the way going up to the Popes apartment where we arriv'd when we ceas'd speaking On Friday July 14. I was present at Masse with the Cardinals in the Chappel of the Cordeliers in the place Colonna upon occasion of the Feast of St. Bonaventure and I heard an Oration in Latin made there by a young Cordelier at the end of Masse in praise of the aforesaid Saint In the afternoon I went to visit three Cardinals to whom I spoke about the affair of the Houres The first was the Cardinal of S. Clement in conference of whom I discover'd two remarkable things First that what I said represened in the Congregation of the H. Office on Wednesday was very well receiv'd there yet that I had better not have appear'd in person in that Congregation and that for keeping the greater circumspection and gravity in my Conduct And secondly that the grand occasion of complaints and prosecutions made against the Houres was not any ill observ'd in them but the bad opinion taken up against those people who put them forth The second Cardinal whom I visited was Roma who told me that my Memorial was not read in their Congregation on Wednesday but it should be in a private one held in his House for that purpose to be reported afterwards to the General but in the mean time I should not trouble my self that nothing would be done but after mature and serious deliberation And as I took occasion to tell him what
pass'd on Thursday between M. Albizzi and me whose animosity and power to hurt me I consequently ought to fear his Office of Secretary of their Congregation affording him so many occasions of speaking to the Pope and their Eminences about affairs of that nature the Cardinal acknowledged that he had done amisse yet excus'd him with greater kindnesse bidding me not heed it saying that it was his humour that he acted very often with their Eminences so impetuously and that I must not forbear to visit him as if what was past had never hapned The third was Cardinal Lugo to whom I omitted not to carry a Memorial notwithstanding his alliance wiâ—h the Jesuites Saturdayes Sundayes and Mondayes were not usual dayes of much sollicitation with me because the Courrier departing on Saturdayes for all the titles of Italie almost all persons whom I could go see were employ'd about their dispatches and the Courrier of France going away on Monday I many times began the Letters in Sunday afternoon which I was to write to give account of what pass'd about the affaires wherewith I was encharged Wherefore I could not before Tuesday July 11. continue the sollicitations which I had began in the behalf of the Houres having been oblig'd the foregoing dayes to send word exactly to the Bishops and the other persons who recommended the same to me how all pass'd hitherto about that matter I also drew a second Memorial touching the Houres by which the Cardinals of the Congregation of the H. Office were entreated to give way to the justification of the right faith and sincere intention of those who put them forth and for this end to cause the whole Book to be read and an Extract to be given of all that could be found blameable in it that so if after the objected difficulties were explicated they thought meet to correct any thing in the Book or add any explication to it for taking away the slightest suspitions and clearing the least doubts performance might be made of whatever their Eminences ordain within a set time and that with all the diligence which their Eminences can expect from persons perfectly full of submission and obedience The desigâ—… of this second Memorial I communicated on Tuesday July 18. to persons very intelligent of the management which ought to be us'd in that Country in those kind of affaires It was assur'd to me that according to the Lawes and Customes of the Tribunal of the Inquisition they could not deny what I requested by this Memorial nor proceed further before they do right to it So I was counsel'd to deliver it but told it would be sufficient to carry it the next morning to Cardinal Roma for the whole Congregation before he came forth of his Palace to repair thither I had also time that day to visit Cardinal Barberin and he permitted me to read to him the Copy of the Letter which I told him I had writ the day before to the Bishops concerning what had pass'd hitherto touching the Houres which I could not but think very advantageous for their defence in that this Cardinal might consider and tell the rest what interest was taken in this Work by Persons so Illustrous throughout all France for their dignity and merit and how all that was done at Rome about this matter was punctually signify'd to them On Wednesday morning I went to carry the second Memorial to Cardinal Roma He told me that it was not yet time to give it to him because my businesse would not be spoken of that day but that I should bring it to him against the next day that the private Congregation which he told me of before was to be holden I learnt that it would be the next day in the afternoon and so did not fail to carry the Memorial to him half an hour before the Congregation was assembled I waited patiently for justice to be done upon all that I had represented but on Friday afternoon July 21. as I was going to Cardinal Barberin to fortifie what I had said to him in favour of the Houres by undeniable examples of Books which I procur'd at Rome I saw fixt up at the Apostolical Printing-house the new Decree of Books prohibited by the Inquisition during the course of that year the publishing of which I knew was defer'd only in expectation of what should be ordain'd touching the Houres At first I was very glad to see it fix'd up in no wise imagining that they were compris'd in it but on the contrary perswading my self that they were wholly exempted or that at least the publishing of this Decree was resolv'd upon only for that it was foreseen that the discussion of what concern'd the Houres would take up more time then was fit according to their custome to delay the publication but my reading of the said Catalogue of prohibited Books inform'd me that the Houres were comprehended in it 'T is in vain to speak of the extreme astonishment wherein I was at so unexpected an Event but how great soever it was it did not hinder me from presently considering the use that I ought to make of it and the benefit which I might draw from it in reference to the principal affair wherewith I was encharged And whereas it is no little advantage to understand as wel as possible the people we are to deal with I respited my intended visit to Cardinal Barberin and return'd back to Cardinal Roma I spoke to him as if I knew nothing of the publishing of the Decree and ask'd him plainly whether he had lookt upon my two Memorials and whether I might hope for justice from what I had represented to him The Cardinal answer'd me with perfect sincerity That the businesse was order'd and concluded nor would it be any more spoken of and of his own accord he related to me how the matter past in the Conference which they had about it He told me that there was no more mention of the title B. given to M. de Barule in the Calender nor of the Translation of Redemptor omnium but that the speech was about Images and that seven or eight French Catechisms were produc'd amongst others that of Cardinal Richelieu in which the Commandment is not translated in the words that it is in the Houres that on the other sâ—de an Heretical Catechism was lookt into and there it was translated just as in the Houres But for all this it was acknowledg'd that the version of the Houres in this point might have a good sense and be well understood He told me in the second place that the bare Title of the Hours styl'd The Office of the Church taken in the rigour displeas'd and was judg'd worthy of blame because the Office of the Church properly cannot be other then what is ordained by the Church it self and that a collection of Prayers through all the Churches made by any one whatever without the order and allowance of the Church it self cannot be call'd The Office
Order of St. Augustin according to the custome to be rais'd to that dignity and Office But I must render this testimony to F. Morel that being blam'd by the said Signor Sacrista for the sharpnesse wherewith he spoke in that Writing against people who not without reason made profession of inviolably adhering to the doctrine of S. Augustin whereof they stile themselves Defenders and being advis'd by him to correct it F. Morel thinking he did enough for satisfaction of the said Signor Sacrista if he added something to sweeten it therefore added the two last Sections which are after these words quod omen avertat Deus with which he concluded at first and besides those two Paragraphs he added also to what is there said of M. Loysel Cure of S. John's and Chancellor of the University at the end of the Paragraph Debet sancta sedes summè cavere The whole Writing is to be found at the Journal both as it was at first and with the alterations The Prayers of Forty Houres which are alwayes at Rome in several Churches in different quarters were begun at S. Lewis as usually on the day of the Feast and they retain'd me there till they were ended namely till the 28th of August the Feast of S. Augustin when I left my residence at S. Lewis to go take possession of the lodging which I had procur'd for my self and the other Divines who were to come to me it being ready some dayes before Assoon as I was setled there the King's birth day being come which is September 5. I took occasion that day which ought to be dear and in veneration to all Frenchmen to invite to Dinner some Priests of S. Lewis whom I had seen most familiarly during my stay there and F. Guerin Canon Regular of S. Augustin and Procurator of the Order at Rome whose neighbourhood I got by this new lodging which was also near to that of the Priests of the Mission in the Gregorian street We had scarce done Dinner but I receiv'd a new visite from F. le Maire the Jesuite who entertain'd me very copiously with the sentiments of his Society touching Grace which he said never failes the Will when it is oblig'd to do well but the Will rejects or accepts it according as it liketh or liketh not to make use of it He spoke also of the Censure which was made at Vallidolid of 22 Propositions contrary to the doctrine of S. Augustin as of a Chimera or Romance made at pleasure although it was very certain and printed authentical Copies of it were brought from Vallidolid to Rome In fine he spoke of the manner how he was confident the Pope would judge this whole Controversie telling me as he had done formerly that we must deliver our memoires withdraw and leave the Church to do the rest The death of Cardinal Panzirolo hapned the day aforegoing and he was inter'd this day with the ceremonies accustomed at the Funerals of their Eminences Cardinal Barberin carried me again to his Library on Wednesday afternoon being the 6th I restor'd to him that day some manuscript Quires of an Author nam'd Paludanus which he oblig'd me to read I told him that I found therein an Expedient sufficiently favourable to remove all scruples of receiving the Bull of Vrban VIII namely in the place where he examines the greatest reason brought against it which is because it saith that there are in Jansenius's Book Propositions condemned by the Bull of Pius V. But saith this Author speaking to those that make this difficulty You are agreed and Jansenius too for he and you trouble your selves to explicate the diversity of senses of your Propositions and of those of Bavis which needed not to be done unless the words were alike Now saith he the Bull of Vrban VIII doth not say that those Propositions which are in Jansenius contain the same sense with those of Bavis 't is enough therefore for the validity and reception of it that they are correspondent in words though the senses of them be different and this suffic'd for a just ground to Vrban VIII to make his Bull assoon as that Book appear'd out of the apprehension he might have that they agreed also in sense with a Salvo to discharge it from this condemnation when upon exact examination the truth and sincerity of his sense and the difference between the same and those condemn'd in the person of Bavis were made evident Cardinal Barberin was so well-pleas'd with this discourse that he answer'd pleasantly Quando riceverela la Bolla laglierete le gambe alli Giesuiti That the way to ham-string the Jesuites was to receive the Bull. I told him that this was the principal thing that I had read in the Papers which he gave me of that book and he return'd me an answer which denotes his nimblenesse and great diligence in reading books viz. That he read it almost throughout in his Coach as he went to the seven Churches During this interval of time which pass'd between my settlement in my new lodging and Sunday the 10th of September besides those two visites of which I have now given account I made sundry others wherein there occur'd nothing remarkable I visited the Bishop of Cavaillon a Gentleman of Avignon of good quality and parts the Marquis Del Buffalo General of the Pope's Artillery with whom I had contracted in my first voyages a particular acquaintance and friendship M. Michel Angelo Rici and F. Mariana his intimate friend M. Paolo di Rossi a great Civilian and who heretofore knew M. Pegna Dean of the Rota Monsignor Sacrista M. Ricciardo de Alcoltis Curè of S. Saviours at Rome a Florentine Gentleman by birth Qualificator of the Congregation of the Index a great Divine well seen in the Hierarchy and Ecclesiastical Discipline which he learnt he said in S. Cyprian and not in our flattering Doctors who have wholly disfigur'd it in their writings but eminent above all things for his knowledge and hatred of the whole politick menagery of the Jesuites and of their pernicious maximes in Morality and Religion M. Dorigny superior of the Priests of the Mission at Rome F. Barelier French Assistant to the General of the Dominicans the F. Commissary of the H. Office such of these Personages as I had not before saluted I acquainted with the ground of my Return and Negotiation at Rome and as for such as knew it before to them I lent or gave of our Latin Manifestoes and the Antitheses or Differences between the Doctrines of Calvin and St. Augustin which is ours they being newly sent me from France This I did after long debating in my self but always with reluctance because the name of Jansenius was inserted in the first of those Writings which name alone was enough to make them suspected or despised But I considered the necessity there was to make known our sentiments at Rome the soonest and to the greatest number of persons that I could as also that if
possible and that the H. Spirit may be resisted But this is ridiculous too it being alwayes lawfull to utter such truths as are certain and not contested by any person 3. Because the Church was already engag'd to find errors in Jansenius Quia jam Ecclesia oppignorata est cùm definierit multas ex Jansenianis Propositionibus esse damnatas damnabiles proinde hujus controversiae materia non est amplius indifferens It appears hence that the principal artifice of the Jesuits hath alwayes been to engage the Pope and the Bishops to make ambiguous Decrees and afterwards to drive them further then they desir'd at first by supposing that it is a thing decided They obtain'd at first a little Decree against Jansenius then they engag'd Pope Vrban VIII to make a provisional Bull into which they procur'd ambiguous words to be slipt By favour of the ambiguity of which provisional Bull themselves have made a Doctrinal Bull of it and at length have begun to seek for errors in Jansenius because as they pretend the H. See hath affirmed there were some in his book 4. Because those Propositions were maintain'd in France which is very false the Propositions having been fram'd by themselves and no person there having ever maintain'n them saving so far as they may be reduc'd to the sense of Effectual Grace which is not to maintain them but to maintain Effectual Grace 5. Because it was meet not to let passe the occasions of confirming to the H. See the possession of defining controversies touching Faith Expedit non praetermitti opportunas occasiones hujus possessionis confirmandae And that this occasion was the more favourable for that the King was ready to cause obedience to be given to the Pope and the Principal persons of the Parliament had likewise declar'd that his Decision should be obey'd It is not improbable but this reason hath been considered as much or more then the rest Lastly to take away all scruples they maintain'd that there was nothing in this controversie that had reference to the controversie de Auxiliis Hanc esse causam Thomistarum Jesuitarum qui dicunt errant toto coelo Nihil proponitur Summo Pontifici de quo fuerit contentio inter illos duos Ordines nihil quod non sit inter ambas familias summo consensu constitutum We shall see in its due place how farr the Dominicans were from this thought When I had quitted F. Mulard I went up to Cardinal Barberin but because he had many audiences to give and I had not much to say to him I continu'd with him but a moment After which I went to visit F. Delbene who told me he believ'd there would be erected a full and solemn Congregation and that when he gave me the advertisement which he did from Cardinal Barberin it was out of the affection which his Eminence had for me and that he had also render'd his Eminence very advantagious testimonies of my deportment and discourse with him in all the conferences that we had had together Yet it is certain that those charitable advertisements gave occasion to the Jesuits to spread the rumor in many parts of Rome that I was already become suspected by the Inquisition which rumor seem'd to me so unreasonable and importune that I was sometimes in the mind to make a free and authentick complaint thereof to those Officers but persons more intelligent then my self in the genius of the Country whom I acquainted with that thought counsell'd me not to do any thing about it but to lift my self above such false reports On Thursday after noon I return'd to Cardinal Barberin and finding that he was gone abroad I went up to the chamber of M. Holstenius I found him with a book in his hands which the Pope had given him a few dayes before at an audience which he had of him wherein he told me his Holinesse spoke very advantagiously of me and that he was well pleas'd therewith As for the Five Propositions he pray'd me not to take it ill if he freely told me his thoughts of them which were that he wonder'd that we would maintain the same absolutely because of the Catholick sense which they might admit notwithstanding the Heretical inherent in them and he spoke as if our intention were not draw out of each of those Propositions a clear and plain Proposition expressing in evident and unsuspected terms the sentiments we had upon each I answer'd him that he had reason to say that it ought to be so done and assur'd him that it was our intention I told him that it behooved to unravell and put into the fire those Propositions and of each to make two whereof one to contain explicitly the Catholick sense which we held the other the Heretical which was worthy to be condemned and then to apply to each of those Propositions so express'd and exempted from all ambiguity and obscurity the judgement which it deserved I told him that if he would take the pains to read the book of Victorious Grace and our Latin Manifesto he should find that we had no other aim then what I had declar'd to him He answer'd me that he would willingly see them and upon occasion he fell to speak of the book intitul'd De Ecclesia praesentis temporis which he accounted highly of I agreed with him as to the goodnesse of the book so farr as it pretended to prove the unity and perpetuity of the Church and as to the stile and manner of expression but as for the false suppositions which it made in attributing to us such opinions as we own'd not thereby to take occasion to impugne them I told him that Author was a falsifier and a wicked person M. Holstenius reply'd as if we were much too blame then that we did not discover those falsities and complain of those calumnies and as if that silence had been an effect of the difficulty we had to manifest our sentiments I answer'd him that we desir'd nothing more cordially then that they were known by all the world for such as they are that we wisht they were written with letters as visible as the Sun-beams that in occasions that seem'd worth it we complain'd of the impostures and accusations invented to blacken us but we had not so many hands nor so much authority and friends as the Jesuites to divulge our books throughout Rome where those Fathers disperst theirs We ended this conference with a new assurance that he gave me more positive and indubitable then formerly that the Pope would not make any new determination telling me that we ought to comply with that inclination of his Holinesse and ought not to presse the H. See further to take part in those contests and become engag'd in the toiles and cares that the discussion of the same required The next day Novemb. 17. I went to carry our Latin Manifesto to M. Holstenius and not the book of Victorious Grace because I
Gentleman of great worth whom I had mention'd to him that we might go abroad to take the air or repair to his Library according as to the time should permit On Saturday the 25th as I was going accordingly with the said M. de Balagni to wait upon the Cardinal Barberin I receiv'd very sad newes but thanks be to God it prov'd untrue It was that the Deputies whom I waited for were taken at Sea by the Pirates M. de Valeran Master of the French Couriers to Rome came purposely to tell it me with all the circumspection and condolence accustomed in such cases as having receiv'd the same from Florence and esteeming it true though not altogether certain I was not dismay'd at it and it did not hinder me from going to Cardinal Barberin and spending the rest of the day with him and M. de Balagni in entertainments upon indifferent matters I was blam'd the next day for having been so cold and negligent after the receipt of the above-mention'd newes and for not going the same day which was that on which Letters are dispatcht from all Italy to advertise the Ambassador of it and beseech him to write by that Poste to Constantinople for the procuring of my Collegues their liberty or at least some comfort in their captivity But I clear'd my self by alledging that I did not judge M. de Valeran's intelligence very true and that I conceiv'd it was fitting to be sure of the truth before I took the allarm and communicated it to the Ambassador And accordingly I found that I had taken the best course for I receiv'd Letters from them on Sunday the 26th in the afternoon by which I understood not only that M. de Valeran's newes could not be true but also that they would probably be at Rome within a very few dayes and so they were as I shall relate in the following Chapter but I shall first observe here two or three things which come into my mind and whereof I have made no mention in my Notes of this time The first is that hapning occasionally since my return to Rome to be in the Profess'd House of the Jesuites under the Cloister or Gallery which is at the entrance there pass'd by one of those Fathers whose hand was very white and when he was gone my friend that was with me a Roman Citizen told me it was F. Santarel This put me in mind of his book and made me desirous to buy it if it were to be sold At my comming away from the Jesuits I went purposely towards the Quarter of Pasquin where are the most Book-sellers and the first of whom I inquir'd for it sold it me at a very ordinary price I admir'd that that book was so commonly to be had at Rome after having been censured by all the Universities of France with so unanimous and universal consent and it containing such pernicious doctrine that the Author wanting more solid foundations for it was forc'd to corrupt the H. Scripture so openly that he retrencht a Negative particle out of the sacred Text to make it speak quite the contrary to what it speaks of it self 'T is in that passage where S. Paul speaking of the Spiritual power which Jesus Christ gave to his Apostles for the Edification of the Faithfull he saith they received it ad aedificationem non in destructionem For their edification and instruction and not for their destruction and ruine But this Jesuite on the contrary applying the said passage to the pretended Temporal power of the Pope over Monarchies to make it beleev'd that God hath given it to him as well to ruine and overturn them as to edifie them he takes the Non out of the place and cites it thus Ad aedificationem in destructionem Notwithstanding all which I found that the book was stâ—…l in great applause and free sale at Rome The second thing which I remember but did not set down was that in my visites to Cardinal Spada I us'd one argument which I conceiv'd would have been most prevalent at Rome I told him that one way to fix in the minds of the world a great opinion of the Equity of the H. See would be to grant us the equitable things which we requested and to make a Decision favorable to our cause in case they found that that we defended the truth Because by that meanes pronouncing in favour of persons which had been represented very suspected and odious to them and had no support in the world but their learning and virtue against others that had a very great credit and were recommended by all the Princes of Europe and openly profes'd an absolute dependance on the Pope every body would be oblig'd to acknowledge that the H. See had no other rule in its Decision but Truth it self I added further that should it consider onely the interests it self hath to keep within their duty those persons that were the most dependant on it and boasted themselves the most devoted to it it ought in this occasion to humble the Authors of those Propositions and of that whole Designe because indeed they had forgotten the respect and fidelity which they ought to preserve towards it forasmuch as they had fram'd the same Propositions so capable of equivocatious and full of ambiguities onely to circumvent the H. See and engage it in the scandalous protection of their pernicious doctrine and their vaine reputation which they saw they could no longer uphold but by sacrificing that of the H. See for that end I told him also that they would find the truth and sincerity of the submission and respect which the said persons pretended for the H. See when it was not favorable to them The Cardinal heard this discourse which I renew'd and urg'd to him several times as he heard all the rest which I said to him without answering any thing in particular I represented the same also upon occasion to others but more or lesse largely according as it was expedient The third and last thing which I have to adde here of all that were observable during the six months that I spent alone at Rome in giving the Pope and his Ministers the first adviso's of this great affaire concernes another which hath almost no affinity with it but yet is very considerable in it self It is touching the violent persecutions which the Jesuites have practis'd for this long time against a learned and pious Bishop of America who made a representation of them to the Pope in a letter written to his Holinesse in the beginning of the year 1649. M. Cosimo Ricciardi gave me a Copy of it a little after my returning to Rome and in many of the visites which I made to him frequently and familiarly he alwayes mention'd it with just indgnation He got the Copy of it from that Bishops Agent who brought it to Rome and deliver'd it to the Pope He had a great desire to have it printed that all the world might be
We went on Fryday to see the master of the Pope's Chamber and know of him when we might be admitted to the audience of his Holinesse He desir'd one of us to take the pains to repair to him within a few dayes and then he would satisfy our question We intended to visite all the sacred Colledge after we had saluted the Pope but in the mean time we thought fit to visite the Cardinals of the French Faction as we had done the Ambassador Wherefore we visited the Cardinals Barberin and Vrsin The latter first gave us audience on Fryday Decemb. 15. Assoon as he saw us he shew'd us the book of Jansenius de S. Augustino c. pessimè meritus We spoke of it to him as of an iâ—famous Libel and nothing but a heap of falsities and impostures which would have been easy for us to prove because in realty it was such One amongst the rest I shall take notice of here by the way to shew how the boldest lyes and most artifical impostures sometimes destroy one another For at the same time that they imputed to the Bishop of Ipre the second Proposition which is That in the state of corrupted nature a man never resisteth internal grace they attribute to him in that libel with no lesse falsity an Error wholy contrary viz. That sinners resist divine Grace through an impossibility not to resist it This is the second of the Propositions which they there charge upon Jansenius Peccatores omnes qui divinae gratiae resistunt illi resistere ex impossibilitate assentiendi quam habet similiter adjunctam status in quo tunc reperiuntur quando resistunt But in stead of noting to Cardinal Vrsin particularly any of the Calumnies of that book we contented our selves to tell him in general that we had no more design to complain of that then of many others the same nature which were daily printed because all the commission which we had receiv'd from the Bishops who sent us was onely to advertise the Pope of the Dis-ingenuity wherewith the Equivocal Propositions presented to him were fram'd to represent to him what danger there was lest the holy truths included in those Propositions might receive some wrong if the said Propositions were absolutely censur'd because of the Heretical senses whereof they were also capable without having first separated and distinguisht the different senses which they may admit and to beseech him not to suffer the H. See to be circumvented nor Truth to be oppressed in this cause but to provide both for the one and the other by establishing a solemn Congregation in which the whole affair might be discuss'd with care and the parties heard vivâ voce and by writing touching the matter of the Propositions before his Holiness made any decision thereof The Cardinal apprehended all this very equitable and askt whether there were not a Congregation establisht already I answer'd him that we had understood so and that we knew at least four Cardinals that were designed to be of it He askt who they were I named them to him viz Roma Spada Ginetti and Cechini He said he believ'd there would be Divines joyn'd with them I answer'd that I had heard some nam'd Hereupon he nam'd to me the Father Procurator of S. Marcel and F. Aversa as it were to aske me whether they were not the persons whom I had nam'd I told him they were It being late and we disposing our selves to take leave of his Eminence he told us that for his own part he wisht the affair were terminated in the manner we desir'd and if he could do any thing in it he offer'd us his service and his recommendation That little book of Jansenius pessimè meritus was in great vogue at Rome and it had been distributed to abundance of people For going that morning to la Minerve one of their Eminent Fathers spoke to me about it and told me we must have a care of it for it would produce very evil effects But I answer'd him that that was not our businesse at all that if Jansenius had vented the Propositions which that book imputed to him they might condemn him if they would we were not concern'd that we were at Rome onely to obtaine of the Pope a solemn Congregation for examining the affair of the five Propositions before the Pope made any decision upon them Which this Dominican was well pleased with and that we declar'd our selves openly in this manner and took no part in the defence of Jansenius On Saturday the 16. I was in the Pope's presence-Chamber and spoke with his Maistre de Chambre something more particularly touching the subject of my Commission He told me that there came a Cordelier thither F. Mulard to present certain Propositions in a printed book to the Pope and that before he introduc'd him he desir'd to know what it was That Cardinal Cecheni told him there was no danger in offering it to the sight of his Holinesse He said also that the Cordelier told him that he was one of the Sorbon I answer'd him to this that most certainly he was not and so took occasion to give him an account of the whole Fraud He admonisht me also to take heed of giving the Pope alcuni travagli any cause of disturbance and pains I told him that we would be as careful in that respect as possible and that this consideration had already been the cause that I had represented to my Collegues that between that day and the Festivals there was onely the Tuesday following in which we could hope to have audience that the Pope would be much incumbred that day and that if we would stay till after the festivals we should with more ease and conveniency be admitted The Maistre de Chambre was well pleas'd with this moderatenesse and proms'd me to procure audience for us assoon after the Festivals as he could Sunday the 17. we went to the Pope's Chappel and Monsignor Sacrista placed on one side of the Altar just upon the passage where the Pope was to come in and go out so that his Holinsse casting his eye upon us considered us very wistly both at his coming in and going out M. Cosimo Ricciardi de Alcoltis Cure of San Salvato della Copella and Qualificator of the Congregation of the Index sent to me to come to him in the afternoon which I did He gave me notice that F. Annat was about to print a Book against the five Propositions and that the book was committed by the H. Office to some persons to examin it and see whether it were fit to give it approbation and permission to be printed which might prove of very great prejudice in this affair as I shall relate hereafter when I come to mention what we did to hinder it On Tuesday the 19. we went to waite upon Cardinal Barberin who fell into high commendations of the Faculty which were seconded by our applauses but least the same might be constru'd as if we
is in Jansenius's book Ptopositions condemned by Jansenius that is to be understood as they were condemn'd by the Pope and not otherwise but amongst those which he there condemnes there are some excepted and it was not said that those which were excepted were not the same that Jansenius taught So that the difference not having been made by the H. See there was reason to forbid the book and the reading of it by provision till it were made But yet all that was in it might be true to the least line and yet the said Bull have its full and intire execution Thus this learned Monastick engag'd us to speak much of Jansenius but before we parted we told him let the affaires of that Bishop go as they would it was nothing to us who had nothing to propound either for his defence or against the Bull and that we stuck onely to the affair of the five Propositions in question Of which we gave him the reasons namely the Catholick sense concerning Effectual Grace included in them which we explicated to him He was well pleas'd therewith and acknowledg'd every one for Catholick which we mention'd telling us he believ'd they could be in no danger as to that sense And at last he invited us to come the fourth sunday of Lent to see those rare and precious Reliques which are in that House whereof he is Superior The same day Fryday the 16th we went to visite Cardinal Rapaccioli according as we were advised He professd much desire to be instructed concerning our affair whereof we inform'd him punctually enough and when we told him we were not come for the defence of Jansenius's book but onely for the clearing of the different senses which might be given those Propositions he answer'd that we did prudently because Jansenius malè audiebat Romae That in this affair he should be set aside and the Propositions examin'd without taking notice of him To which we reply'd as we had done in former visites That when the senses of those Propositions were distingush'd and cleared and the Pope had pass'd a particular judgment of them it would be easy to find whether the doctrine of Jansenius upon this subject were Catholick or Heretical onely by comparing those senses so cleared and judged with what is contain'd in the book of that Bishop We also visited Cardinal Ludovisio who heard our account of this affair with great civility Besides the general things which we represented every where else we testifi'd to him that notwithstanding the necessity of it yet we were very backward to bring this new incumbrance upon the Pope besides those which molested him already To which he answer'd that the Pope was not a temporal Prince but by accident that God had not establisht him such but as for matters of Faith and Truth they ought to be his first care We beseecht him to remember the justice of our sute for a Congregation for the discussion of this affair and to favour this sute with his approbation and recommendation in such occasions as he might have to do it He told us that by what we had said he sufficiently understood the importance of it but the same would be more apparent when the Pope had appointed Judges to examine it and if he were of the number he would do all in his power in behalf of truth and justice The Procurator General of the Augustines receiv'd the next visite from us we instructed him soundly and amply of our intentions and confirm'd to him altogether what I had formerly acquainted him with alone The same day I endevor'd to speak with Monsignor Ghiggi but was told some other houre in the day would be more proper then the Evening yet I could not obtain to have one expressely assign'd me because Monsignor they said was not at his own dispose I durst not go thither again on Saturday in regard of the Dispatches for Italy but I design'd that day for some particular visites amongst which one was to F. Dinel the Jesuite we talked much more of the ancient acquaintance which he and I had at Court while he was the late King's Confessor and of the singular good will which he acknowledg'd his Majesty had for me then of the affairs of the time saving that we spoke something about my return and my Commission to Rome of which he acknowledg'd with me the fruit could not be but advantageous to all the world On Sunday the 18th after we had been to accompany the Ambassador to Chappel I went to Monsignor Ghiggi's house but not finding him I return'd thither in the afternoon and stay'd to speak with him till six a clock at night I told him we were constrain'd to have recourse to him for our Memorial by reason of the difficulty and delay of audience from the Pope and the fear lest the book should come forth in the mean time He said it was a matter that did not belong to him yet he had spoken of it to the Pope who told him he had given order that the book should not come forth without having been first well perus'd c. I did not think fit to give Monsignor Ghiggi such an answer as would have been more material then that which I made him I ought to have told him that it was difficult to weigh the consequences of the impression of that book without having first examin'd things to the bottome as we desir'd they might be and the parties heard But having thank'd him for his good office I onely said That with what ever care it might be perused we had to do with people that had many wiles and subterfuges that explicated their writings on way to the Examiners before printing and afterwards understood them another and made what use of them they pleas'd That for instance they took this course to draw the Dominicans into the same complotment with themselves perswading them that they both defended the same kind of Grace which they call sufficient though they knew very well that that which the Dominicans hold besides which learned Divines maintain that there is requisite Effectual Grace to determine the Will to a good action is wholly different from their own which they so subject to the Will as to make the good or bad use of it wholly to depend upon that Faculty Monsignor Ghiggi fell upon the Political reason that there was not to permit either side to print such sort of books and that it was requisite to forbid all the world equally so to do I answer'd that it would be good in the interim but at length it was requisite to manifest which side had reason which defended the Truth and the Faith and so come to a solemn decision which would bring all parties to accord He made great difficulties as to this in regard he saw that while the H. See remembred and consider'd that Clement VIII Paul V. had labour'd so much in these matters without determining any thing it would be loth to reassemble
new Divines to labour therein I acknowledged that certainly it would be very difficult but I told him that it was the more necessary in regard those two Popes forbore to define any thing or to publish their definitions only to spare the Jesuites upon hope that they would by degrees return to the good and holy doctrin of the Church which they had forsaken but instead of doing so they were become more and more remote from it and therefore it was time to reduce them Tempus faciâ—ndi Domine dissipaverunt legem tuam Monsignor Ghiggi would not believe what I said but I added that it would be very easie to verifie it by most clear reasons and indubitable proofs that we knew how all things passed under those two Popes that we had the Memoires thereof either the Originals or such as were compar'd therewith and that amongst others we had at Paris many Pieces concerning these matters signed by Clement VIII his own hand Monsignor Ghiggi was astonisht at this but I assur'd him of the truth it Then we fell to speak of our Memorial and he confirm'd to me again that the Pope told him he would take order in it and that he believ'd the impression of the book was stopt till his Holinesse further signify'd his pleasure about it He said we might neverthelesse continue our diligences in the ordinary manner and that for his part he could do no more in it then what he had done He spoke also of prohibiting either side to print any thing touching these matters I answer'd that we could not consent to prohibitions that were common to us with them that the same would be ineffectual with them and prejudicial to the cause which we maintain'd that they would not obey the same on their part but make use of them for a pretext to oppose and persecute us I added that the shortest course most honourable for the H. See most edifying for the Church most expedient against the reproaches of its enemies and most advantagious for our adversaries and our selves was to examine and declare which of us was in the right That we did not endeavour absolutely to hinder the impression of the said book that we should be glad it were publisht because to judge by the other outrages which that party hath divulg'd it might be presumed that this would give us new advantages against them as well as their former Libels but all we propos'd to our selves in our prosecution against it was only to hinder it from coming forth as authoris'd and approv'd by the H. See Provided this particular were secur'd we were not further sollicitous This Conference ended as it began with very great reciprocal civilities with telling the newes of the time as he was doing me the honour to reconduct me to the stairs CHAP. IV. Concerning our transactions till the end of February A Promotion of Cardinals amongst whom was Monsignor Ghiggi Of a Memorial which we presented to the Pope against a book of F. Annat under the Presse and of the Visits which we began to make to all the Sacred Colledge THE next day after the abovemention'd Visit Munday the 19th of February Monsignor Ghiggi was created Cardinal with nine other persons whose merit was publickly and unanimously acknowledged in Rome by all people It was not remembred that there had been seen a promotion of such commendable Churchmen not only in reference to those whom the Pope made of his own choice but also to them who were nominated to him by the two Crownes It is not credible how all people striv'd to give the Pope applauses and benedictions for having so worthily fill'd the vacant places of the Sacred Colledge Besides Monsignor Ghiggi their names were my LL. the Cardd Homodei Santa Croce Corrado Ottobone Lomelino Aldobrandino who were at Rome and the Cardinal of Hassia Cardinal Pimentelli and Cardinal de Rets who were not there When I receiv'd the newes of this promotion I was with one of my Friends who came to me to advertise me that Cardinal Spada had received many Letters from Paris which were very sharp against those that are called Jansenists that it was urg'd vehemently in these Letters that unlesse the Jansenists were suppress'd all was lost and that the Letters being in French the Cardinal caus'd him to translate them into Italian in order to present them so translated to the Pope What could we now do against all these Cabals and calumnies besides what we had done already and continu'd to do It behooved us to receive that intelligence from the hand of God as well as the news of the Promotion blessing him both for the one and the other and partaking in the publick joy I had caution'd with the Master of the Sacred Palace for a permission for us to have and read all books made pro or con about the matters of Grace In the afternoon I went to remind him of it and to congratulate with him and F. Fani his Companion for the promotion of Cardinal Pimentelli who was of their Order Returning I found F. Hilarion at our lodging In his discourse he confirm'd again to us that the Bull of Vrban VIII against Jansenius might hold in the whole extent which the makers of it intended and could equitably be allow'd to it and yet nothing at all be in the book of that Bishop but what was most true and most Orthodox That the Jesuites had not so great credit at Rome as was imagin'd That the Propositions as we understood them could not run any hazard That he had lookt upon the book of F. Annat That F. Modeste Procurator General of the Conventual Cordeliers was he that read it and made report that it might be printed and if it were judg'd otherwise he would answer it and many other things of this nature which that learned Monastick told us with great gentlenesse and sincerity On Tuesday the 20. one brought me very early as many sheets of F. Annat's book as were printed and after we had perus'd some of them M. Brousse and I went to the Pope's presence-chamber to endeavour to get audience and present him our Memorial against that book But we were frustrated because the Pope that day expected the Ambassadors of Princes who were to come and thank him for the Cardinals newly made at the recommendation of their Masters Wherefore we went to wait upon the Kings Ambassador to accompany him to the ceremony and also to beseech him to move the Pope either to give us audience or appoint his Maistre de chambre to take our Memorial in order to shew it to his Holinesse The Ambassador told us he should not speak of any businesse in this visit but on Friday following which was the day of his usual audience he would not sail to do what we desir'd On Wednesday the 21. I went to F. Fani to tell him how many things there were contrary to Effectual Grace in the sheets which I had seen of F. Annats
answer'd in Latin which thereby became the language us'd in all the rest of the entertainment We ended this day with a Visit to the Abbot Charrier to congratulate with him for the happy success of his Vigilance in negotiating for the Cardinals Hat for my L. the Coadjutor of Paris notwithstanding all the Artifices and obstacles employ'd by divers persons to cross it and to testifie to him the joy and hopes arising to us from that promotion in reference to the good of the Affairs of the Church of France On Wednesday we learnt that the Jesuites were advertis'd and alarm'd at what we had done to hinder the publication of F. Annat's Book We made a Visit to Cardinal Corrado who receiv'd our Complements upon his promotion with great Christian humility and very exemplary sentiments of Piety He well understood our Affair and told us with great modesty that in this and in all others he should always endeavour to do what the service of the H. See required of him He said also that if what we reported of the Exorbitances of the Jesuites and others against St. Augustin were true it was necessary that his Holiness took some course therein and that it was not possible to suffer the Authority of that holy Doctor to be shaken but the Faith and the H. See must receive prejudice thereby Monsignor Sacrista shew'd us in the Afternoon the rich Ornaments and pretious Reliques of the Popes private Sacristy or Vestry As we return'd we went to see F. Campanella at the Carmelites de la Transpontine And at night I went to see one of my particular friends who inform'd me that the General of the Augustines was added by the Pope to the number of Qualificators who were to be employed afterwards in the examination of the Five Proportions The next day I left my Collegues with F. Lezzana an antient Monastick and Professor in Divinity Author of some works in print and went to the Company of the Commissary of the H. Office who told me that the Jesuits made a great clamour about a Book newly printed by a Minister of Holland nam'd Desmares at Groning That they took occasion from thence to redouble their instances for the condemnation of the Propositions which they demanded even without hearing the Parties and as a thing very urgent and necessary not only for retaining us for that lash and humiliation in the submission and obedience which we ow'd to the H. See but also for the reuniting to the Church several Provinces withdrawn from it and continuing in their rebellion and separation by our example That there was much talk in Rome about this Matter and that those Fathers omitted not to allarm the Pope and the Cardinals with it I had not yet seen that Book but I understood by Letters from Paris of the 26. of January what it was and that there was an Answer intended to be made to it I had already answer'd to those Letters as not being much surpris'd at that work by the fear of what advantages might be made of it against us for some time since after this Agitation we might make greater of it against the Jesuites and the Hereticks themselves that produc'd it I told this good Father the substance of all those Letters with which he was satisfi'd so that he plainly acknowledg'd that he needed but a little time to dispell all the Umbrages and Suspitions that might be given or taken by the said Book He informed me also of another remarkable thing namely that in the year 1612. the H. Office made a Declaration by which it was judg'd that the Books printed before the Prohibition of Paul V. were not comprehended in that Prohibition and might be reprinted without obtaining a new permission I return'd to F. Lezzana to call my Companions from whom I learnt that that Father had a great desire to be inform'd of all that he carefully read all the Writings he could on this Subject that he was at work about the Propositions that he profess'd to follow the Doctrine of St. Augustine and held the necessity of Effectual Grace ad singulos actus that the reading of S. Augustine had caus'd him to embrace those sentiments and that it infus'd piety In the afternoon we visited Cardinal Capponi who testifi'd to us a very high veneration for St. Augustin and an equal astonishment at the detractions and calumnies which we told him were spread against that H. Doctor and against us As for the Congregation which we required he said his opinion was it ought rather to be establisht sooner then later that so the matters in question might be manag'd with all fitting leasure and exactnesse Stabilirla quanto prima è poi ben maturarla CHAP. V. Of the Visites which we made during the first dayes of March as well to the sacred Colledge as to the Consultors and Qualificators who are usually employ'd at Rome in matters of Doctrine I Learnt on the first day of March a very remarkable thing namely that before the Bull of Vrban VIII Cardinal Barberin himself took the paines to make sundry accusations against the book of Jansenius in the Assembly of the H. Office and that his Eminence caus'd it to be brought thither on divers occasions to shew that assembly the erroneous opinions whereof he accus'd it That one time amongst the rest he accused him for having written that Original sin was the sole cause of the damnation of the reprobate as if it were the only cause and actual sins contributed nothing at all thereunto But that it always hapned that it was evinc'd to his Eminence by examination of the places which he cited that the Memoires deliver'd to him against that book were not well grounded and that in this point particularly they were without any appearance since as Cardinal S. Clement who was then but Master of the sacred Palace shew'd in a full assembly that Bishop expresly saith that actual sin is the radical cause thereof causa radicalis damnationis which is very true Whereupon during some time that book was no more spoken of in the said Congregation but a little after when it was least thought of the Bull of Vrban VIII decreed against the same book was publisht In the afternoon we visited Cardinal Giori to whom we had scarce begun to speak but one came to advertise him that the Pope was going to S. Peter's Church whither he was oblig'd to repair to receive his Holinesse and so we were constrain'd to take leave of him without further communication My companions and I went to visite F. Modeste who made as if he were ignorant of our affair and of the Five Propositions though I had formerly acquainted him therewith whilst I was at Rome alone He gave us but general and popular answers concerning the diversity of Hereticks with whom S. Augustin had to deal and said that the vehemence wherewith he opposed them making him sometimes speak with Exaggeration all his sayings were not to
and if we found any ill in it after it was printed it would be easie for us and all others to complain and the remedy would not be difficult We answer'd the Ambassador that since it was so and after this declaration of the Pope it would be more advantageous for us that the book were publish't then suppress'd The Ambassador reply'd that yet he doubted whether in would come forth because though the Pope was averse and made semblance of not much regarding it yet he perceiv'd that the Pope mus'd upon it and made some reflexion upon our instances and that he believ'd it would be no ill way for us to continue the same by the mediation of some of the Cardinals That for his part he could not speak in it any otherwise then by way of advertisement and representing to the Pope of what consequence we said it was but not with that zeal and importunity which he should have done if he had receiv'd order from the King to meddle in it We gave the Ambassador our humble thanks and acknowledg'd that he had done all we could hope from a very obliging and equitable person That according to his advice we would endeavor to speak to some of the Cardinals as we had done already to Roma and Ginetti but rather for forme then otherwise because the Pope having declar'd that he took no part in it we were satisfi'd and secure as to the rest In the afternoon we went to see Cardinal Barberin He was ready to go to S. Peter's Church when we came there however he caus'd us to enter into his Chamber and askt us whether we would accompany him thither In the mean time before any thing was spoken concerning our businesse he askt us whether we had instructed the persons whom it was requisite I answer'd that we endevor'd it as much as possible and M. Brousse added that we had had audience of the Pope and were well satisfi'd with the reception which he gave us But without staying to hear any of the particulars he askt us what was the first Proposition I told it him He askt whether we had writ nothing upon that subject I answer'd that something was written at Paris which he had seen but for our parts we had compos'd nothing about it but a Memorial which we left with the Pope at the end of our audience wherein we mov'd his Holinesse for a Congregation in which the Divines of different opinions might be solemnly heard in defence of their opinions The Cardinal further put us upon speaking of the different senses of the first Proposition but to prevent it I told him we would give the explications thereof when the Congregation was assembled the Cardinal reply'd that the Italians were molto tristi that is very untoward and è grande la nostra tristitia added he that at Paris they say for accomplishing affaires it is requisite to sollicite them well but at Rome it required more paines to make those on whom they depended onely to remember them I reply'd to his Eminence that we had no order to act otherwise then we did nor should we what ever resolution were taken at Rome in this affair That provided we acquitted our selves of that commission it was sufficient for us That it belong'd to the Pope or their Eminences to see to the rest M. Brousse confirm'd the same and spoke of F. Annat's book and our Memorial to hinder its coming forth Which he said we resolv'd upon cheifly because of the affront that seem'd to be done to the Bishops who sent us by letting a book of that nature come forth own'd and approv'd in which the present contest was determin'd in favour of one of the parties at the same time that we were suing in the name of those Bishops for a solemn Congrregation to examine it in pretence of the parties and to decide it after they had been heard M. Brousse urg'd this very well when one came to advertise the Cardinal that it was time to go to S. Peter's Upon the way we mention'd the Bishop of Geneva's book term'd an Introduction to a devout life I told him that I understood by the Bishop of Belley in what outragious manner many Mendicant Fryers and the Capucines especially oppos'd it at its first apearance that their zeal became so vehement against that book that some carri'd it into their pulpits and after they had declar'd against it threw it down in the pulpit and trampled upon it with great demonstrations of indignation others carri'd it into the pulpit loosestitcht and after the like declamations broke the thred that held the leaves together and scatter'd them among their auditors and lastly that others burnt it after the same tragical manner I told the Cardinal that M. Hallier and M. Hermant were present when M. du Belley told us these passages at a Visite which we made to him together at the beginning of and concerning the opposition that was made against the book Of Frequent Communion That therefore it was not to be wonder'd that good books were sometimes disparag'd and persecuted by ignorant Fryers but that the event will be sooner or later like that which the same Bishop told us befell the Introduction to a Devout Life which having by that meanes been much more read then otherwise it would have been at length merited so general an approbation that its Persecutors finding that the laughers were not on their side became oblig'd to betake themselves to that of the laughers and to be at last themselves the approvers of it with all the rest of the world which the prodigious multitude of its several Impressions testifi'd We ended our journey to S. Peter's as we were speaking of the book of the Minister of Groning of the advantages which the Jesuites might pretend to derive from it and of those which on the other side we conceived more reasonably might accrue to us when the answer to it preparing by one of our friends was publisht Wherewith Cardinal Barberin testifi'd to us sufficient satisfaction We left him at S. Peter's and repair'd to Cardinal Lanti who receiv'd us courteously heard us and answer'd us prudently vigorously On Saturday the 9th I made a private visit in which I learnt two considerable things One that the Congregation of Consultors and Qualificators design'd to confer together upon the first Proposition was appointed to meet again on Thursday following and that this was the cause that persons well instructed and qualifi'd were employ'd to visite those Consultors and give them some light upon the Propositions The other that the Preacher of the Jesuites Profess'd House having a few dayes before taken occasion to speak in his Sermon of the immaculate conception of the Virgin which he did besides his purpose too he went about to prove it by certain Plates of Copper that spoke of it which had been found in a Cave in Spaine during the Papacy of Vrban VIII who being advertis'd in what veneration they began
It is that which was in the middle it being likely that the two ends have been broken off since neither the word Jesus nor Rex Judaeorum are found there but only Nazarenus which takes up almost the length of the wood The same day being Sunday March the 10th all of us visited M. Albizzi together He conducted us into his Chamber where having taken our places we prevail'd with our selves to make him the most cordial Declaration we could in hope to have him favourable to our designes when he found how conformable they were to Truth and Justice which we knew he lov'd He answer'd us also on his part very civilly and told us the service of the H. See should be alwayes his inviolable Rule that he should alwayes be a profest enemy to all those that should offend it but he had much confidence that we would alwayes have it in great veneration and he would do for our service what was possible for him He interpos'd some very unpleasing things in his Discourse which we dissembled or mollify'd the best we could only one thing M. Brousse took up as it deserv'd namely that if the Pope heard us before passing his Decision he would hear us if he pleas'd tanquam aliquos de populo as he would do any ordinary people He told us that should the Pope hear and consider all that we intended to represent as he conceiv'd his Holiness would do yet he believ'd that he would not grant us the Congregation which we demanded We answer'd that then we had nothing to represent because we could not deliver any instruction by writing or word of mouth but before such a Congregation that without that our hands were bound and we could not go beyond our Commission He told us the Pope had put into his hands the first Memorial which we left with his Holinesse wherein we supplicated for the Congregation he spoke also of the second touching F. Annat's book in reference to which he said the Pope did no more but remove the Prohibitions formerly made of writing concerning those matters that if any thing were found in the book not right it should be censur'd as well as any other We answer'd that the case being so we desir'd nothing more then that it came forth because it furnisht us with advantageous hold against its Author M. Albizzi added that himself was the Compiler of the Bull against Jansenius that it was made upon a belief that it would appease the troubles and Disputes arisen about those matters and reduce things to silence and the former peace That if what hath follow'd since had been foreseen instead of making a simple prohibition of that book the doctrine perhaps would have been examin'd and possibly condemn'd too but that moderate course was thought sufficient the rather to spare a Bishop who was dead in the Catholick Communion That it was himself M. Albizzi that suggested that Counsel After this he spoke of the Minister of Groning's book which he said was sent him from Brussels and from Paris and having in anger fetcht the Book he read to us out of the Preface that the Author saith they were of S. Augustins opinion touching Grace as Jansenius is too M. Brousse answer'd that there was no need of being angry that we knew nothing of that Book that Hereticks are not alwayes to be believ'd when they say an Author is for themselves otherwise the Bible must be burnt which they all say is on their side that F. Annat in his Book de scientia media cites four or five Hereticks who say that St. Thomas is for them ought they therefore to be believ'd and S. Thomas to be burnt Besides that it behoveth not to be angry if it be true that they are of S. Augustin's mind touching Grace as they alledge on the contrary we ought to thank God because they are Catholicks in this point and they need only to be instructed in the rest wherein they erre For do not you believe said he that one is a Heretick because he is not a Molinist on the contrary I account that to be a Molinist is to be an Heretick But to satisfie him further upon this subject I shew'd him Letters written to me on the second and 9th of February which promis'd an answer to the said Book of which M. Albizzi profess'd himself glad and told us that that was done as it should be He spoke disadvantageously enough of St. Augustine taxing him of excesses or flyings out in his encountring Hereticks He added that these matters were not necessary to salvation That they caus'd despair c. To all which we return'd such answers as it deserv'd He complain'd very much that the Bishops of Machlin and Gaunt could not be prevailed with to receive the Bull. He spoke also of M. Bourgeois We told him all those businesses were different from ours which was only to obtain a solemn Congregation of the Pope in which these matters might be examin'd in the Ecclesiastical formes that besides we were sorry that the Bull was so ill receiv'd but the abuse which the Jesuites made of it was the cause of that mischief Other things were spoken of in this Visite among the rest the place of Haereo fateor in Jansenius which M. Albizzi objected to us twice as a certain conviction of that Prelate's bad sentiments to which we said nothing but these are the principal and at last our Conference ended very calmly and civilly both on his part and ours After we left him we visited the Commissary of the H. Office who was not there when we arriv'd there but his Companion receiv'd us and while he was entertaining us the Commissary return'd to his lodging We discoursed with either of them only about Theological matters in reference to the first Proposition till night broke off the Conversation CHAP. VI. The continuation of our Visites and what pass'd till the end of March M. Brousse constrain'd to return into France in regard of his health Two Copies of the Memoires of M. Pegna which we caus'd to be compar'd very exactly with the Original What successe our Memorial had against F. Annat's Book ON Monday the eleventh of March we visited F. Luca Vadingo our chief Discourse with whom was he already understanding our Affair enough touching the Assembly of Consultors and Qualificators appointed on Thursday following For though as we told him we doubted not of their capacity understanding and good intention and that almost all those whom we visited appear'd favourable to the sentiments of S. Augustin for which we had reason to be satisfy'd and to praise God yet as we told him too a matter becomes more clear and is more throughly discovered after hearing the Contesting Parties upon it then when it is barely examin'd by it self especially when it is intricate as that in question was and when besides the difficulties which are inseparable from it it is industriously embroyl'd and obscur'd as the Authors of those Propositions
had intangled and clouded this Moreover That a man is more in his own power and more fit to passe an equitable and dis-interested judgement when he has had time to meditate upon a matter and make all necessary reflexions upon it beforehand then when he has already chosen a side by framing a false Idea to himself of it and is become engag'd by declaring himself too soon in maintaining the first Impressions he hath had of it and the first sentiments which he hath discovered to witnesses before whom he is very loth to retract and acknowledge his being deceiv'd So that to keep those persons free and equitable without engagement and prepossession before they came to passe Judgement we conceiv'd that it would be good that before all things else they heard the Divines of either side who were to oppose or defend the Propositions and that their own interest as well as ours oblig'd them to declare to such as importun'd their assembling for delivering their sense of the first Proposition that this was the right way to begin And the rather because the Propositions to be consider'd were subject to more ambiguities then we had represented and those expresly affected by their Authors That therefore for an orderly and due proceeding the first thing to be done was to distinguish the different senses whereof they are capable and in order to do that well to make of each Proposition as many several clear and plain Propositions as it included different senses that so we might declare first of all which those are that we will not maintain and for such as we will hold expect who will oppose them to hear both the one side and the other according to the usual and necessary formes and after this was done then it would be a fit time to ask of them their Sentiment But to require it of them beforehand seem'd a little precipitous and contrary not only to all order of justice but also to the Request which we had made to the Pope in the name of the Bishops upon which his Holinesse had caus'd us to hope he would give us satisfaction F. Luca Vadingo approv'd these reasons but told us these things were to be represented and desired of the Pope because for their part they could only desire them of God and when they were summon'd to deliver their judgement upon any Propositions they could do nothing else but deliver it In the afternoon I accompani'd M. Brousse to Cardinal Ginetti who had promis'd him the Reliques He askt us what tidings of our Affair and we told him we waited for the Pope's resolution upon the Letters and Memorial which we had deliver'd to him On Tuesday the 12th I went to see F. Vbaldino who wonder'd we had such correspondence at Rome as to be advertis'd of that Assembly of Consultors He approv'd the reasons which I alledg'd for deferring it till after both parties were heard as formerly to F. Vadingo But he said too that he could do nothing at least openly to get them consider'd underhand he would do his utmost I went also to represent the same to F. Delbene who knew not how to satisfie me but by telling me that we shovld be heard undoubtedly and it would not be prejudicial to us though they gave their opinion beforehand because they review'd it several times and might correct in it what they pleas'd or change it wholly I told him it would do better if they gave it not till after they had so well examin'd things as to have no occasion to change any thing I mov'd him also that he would demand to hear us before giving his own and also to encline the rest in their Assembly if thete were occasion to make the same demand But I obtain'd nothing of him as to this point no more then I had done of the FF Vadingo and Vbaldino Rejoyning my Collegues we went to see Cardinal Colonna By the way we met the Ambassador who seeing our Coach stopt caus'd his own to stop too and had the goodnesse to speak to us so long that he gave us time to testifie to him our sorrow for his late losse of one of his Nephews who dy'd at Anger 's Whereunto he made a very generous and Christian answer I l n'importe combien il en meure pourveu que ce soit pour le service du Roy que Dieu leur face misericorde It matters not how many of them dye so it be for the Kings service and God be merciful to them We arriv'd at the Palace of Cardinal Colonna in which there are most magnificent apartments He receiv'd us with very great civility We laid forth our Affair to him at large and he heard it with attention and satisfaction Our Conference with him was ended by the arrival of the Ambassador of Bologne who came to see him and with a Complement that I made to him as he reconducted us upon hope that our cause should finde in him a Protector amongst the living as it had amongst the dead in Aegidius Romanus who was his neer Kinsman and whose memory was still very fresh with him In the afternoon we went to Cardinal Costagusti and finding him busie for some time we went to Signor Camillo Piazza Procurator of the Accused to whom we declar'd our Affair suitably to what I had formerly said to him He receiv'd our Visite for a great honour and told us what we demanded was so just that it could not be refus'd to any person After which we return'd to Cardinal Costagusti who was ready to go abroad So after some short Discourse which to avoid being inconvenient to him we broke off he profess'd his regret for his being otherwise engag'd and the satisfaction he should have if we pleas'd to see him another time Thence I went to Cardinal Roma where I stay'd till night to see him and after the Litanies were done at which I was present and which were said daily there during Lent his Maistre de Chambre inform'd me that the Domesticks of the Cardinals who were with their Masters obtain'd the same indulgences as if they were present at them The first thing Cardinal Roma spoke of was our Memorial against F. Annat's Book which he offer'd to give me I pray'd him to keep it that he might have it ready to shew the next day to the Cardinals at la Minerve if they hapned to speak of it because though the Pope told the Ambassador that his Holinesse had no Interest in the book and that when it was printed it should be censur'd if it deserv'd it yet I knew the Pope had given the Memorial to M. Albizzi and perhaps it was to communicate the same to their Congregation to which it was likely M. Albizzi had no great stomach The Cardinal reply'd that he would carry it thither to have recourse to in case of need Falling then to speak of othes matters of the times I told him of the Minister of Groning's book and of
the answer preparing to it as also of the malice and ignorance of those who would make use of S. Augustin against us objecting to us passages out of Pelagius's Confession of Faith as if it were S. Augustin's and this with such obstinacy that after having been fully convinc'd thereof by books publisht in answer to them yet they produc'd the same thing again in a late book as if they had never heard of our clearing it in former Writings The Cardinal could not think it possible for people to be transported to such enormities and testify'd great indignation at it At length I mention'd the principal cause of my coming to his Eminence which was the approaching Assembly of the Consultors on Thursday following the danger we fear'd from it and how advantagious it would be both for them and those that defended the truth if they heard the parties before declaring their opinions The Cardinal answer'd that that ought not to dismay me because the Pope would not hasten to conclude any thing and his Holiness well knew that not only his own Reputation but also that of the H. See was concern'd in this Affair That all that the Qualificators could do was of no consequence That it was not seen and that the reason of their meeting before hearing us was that they might ventilate and open the matter a little and become more capable to hear it and deal with it when we came before them But otherwise I might be certain that nothing would be decided till the Parties were first heard as much as they could desire that all this paines of the Consultors was only to give the Pope and their Eminences some preliminary knowledge for their better enlightning and disposing to hear what we had to say to them I signify'd to the Cardinal that I was much heartned by his Discourse but still I insisted that it would be better if before that labour the Consultors heard what might be said by the Parties on either side The good Cardinal shew'd a reluctancy no doubt elsewhere infus'd into him to grant the Parties such an audience and publick Congregation as I maintain'd was most expedient and profitable for truth and the pretext suggested to him was that it would make more noise and retard and intangle the affair instead of facilitating and advancing it as he sincerely desir'd which desire induc'd him to ask us whether we were ready whether we had our Memoires all prepar'd to deliver to them when requir'd adding that it was very expedient that we were ready to present our selves to the Congregation when we should be Advertis'd of it I answer'd that the Bishops by whose order we sue'd for a Congregation purposed to send some other persons with us when the Congregation was resolv'd upon and the matter came to be handled in earnest The Cardinal reply'd though gently and mildly that it was something unpleasing that we were not ready so he interpreted it and neverthelesse he lookt upon the slownesse to which I seem'd to incline as a thing not to be debated on but necessary to be granted But I told him that that should cause no delay and when the Congregation was ready we would forthwith begin to deliver some informations upon the Affair to employ the Divines of whom it consisted sufficiently till others came to assist us to treat it solemnly and thoroughly But without that too the Consultors might in the mean while be too much busied if they would seriously apply themselves to what was most necessary in order to the getting of a clear and certaine understanding of those difficulties namely to read well in the first place the principal works which S. Augustine hath written expresly upon these matters The Cardinal assented hereunto and added that it was very fitting since S. Augustin should be the rule of those Disputes and of the decisions to be made upon them I reply'd that it was our hope and when we came to speak and write before that Congregation we would employ no other weapons but those which that H. Doctor made use of against the Hereticks whom he overcame but till it were establisht and its establishment dâ—clar'd to us our whole Commission was only to sollicite for it That from some slight passages we presum'd it was preparing but we had not yet receiv'd any authentical advertisement of it and till we were so advertis'd all that should be done and nothing were the same in reference to us On Wednesday the 13. we visited the Cardinals di Santa Croce and Homodei to neither of whom we spoke much because our visits were interrupted We visited also at la Minerve F. F. Alvarez and Nolano very zealous and able Dominicans In the Afternoon we visited the Abbot of S. Peter in vinculis who receiv'd us very cordially and civilly The remembrance he had of what I had formerly signified to him touching our Affair hindred us from entertaining him further with it We spoke of the Exorbitances of the Jesuites against S. Augustin both in their Books and Sermons at which he was fill'd with horrour and indignation He told us a considerable Cardinal lately visited him and finding that he was so well inform'd of things and so sincere for the defence of S. Augustin's Doctrine embrac'd him with great affection He spoke to us of the Nomination made by the Pope of the Cardinals Roma Spada Ginetti and Cechini as a certain and known thing and said he had receiv'd no intelligence of the Assembly of Qualifitators which we were advertis'd was to be the next day By which we gather'd that he was not chosen to be one of them though he was one of the Qualificators of the H. Office and of the most intelligent in Theological matters He askt us what danger there was in censuring the Propositions in general seeing according to our selves they might admit a bad sense We shew'd him the danger by explicating the first for that the Adversaries desir'd the condemnation of them only to reflect it upon the Necessity of Effectual Grace which we maintain'd in that Proposition which account satisfy'd him At length after a long and agreeable entertainment he shew'd us the chiefest Rarities of his House and his Church and amongst the rest the sacred Chaines which are in so great veneration in that place for having been sometimes the Instruments of S. Peter's captivity Leaving him we went to visite F. Aversa at S. Laurence in Lucina We explicated our Affair to him which he took very well and touching the Congregation he askt us whether we had had any answer about it and whether it would be erected We answer'd that we had learnt by the common rumour the names of some of those that were to be of it but for that nothing had been signify'd to us from the Pope we did not hold our selves assured nor make any great account of what we had learnt because de iis quae non erant qua non apparebant erat idem apud
stopping an evil in its fountain Principiis obsta and that if some one had done the same Office for Janseniu's book when his executors caus'd it to be printed he should have done both him and them a good office but they had been the Murderers of his work and done him great wrong that himself Cardinal Ghiggi had read the whole book that besides about half a page which they might have left out or explain'd there was nothing in it to be excepted against because we had in mandatis to speak nothing that might relate to Jansenius and had made it a chief point to abstain as much as possible even from pronouncing his name we answer'd nothing to this discourse of Cardinal Ghiggi concerning him But the Abbot of Valcroissant returning to what concern'd our Impression gave his Eminence an account of the number and order of the books which we purposed to get printed and upon his mentioning the Epistle of Celestine the Council of Orange and the Epistle of Sardinia the Cardinal stumbled a little at it and askt us why we did not put those other works into a little book apart But when the Abbot of Valcroissant had answer'd that those works had been formerly printed together with those of S. Augustin as pertaining thereunto and treating of the same matter he was satisfi'd At length I beseecht his Eminence to believe that in procuring this Impression we had not had the least thought of any bravado or ostentation but onely design'd to clear the things in question by the most solid short and innocent way that we could chuse But I added further that though we had been too blame in beginning it as we conceiv'd there could not be the least pretext yet things being to come to this passe it seem'd expedient not to stop it or interrupt it longer in regard of the occasions which thereby might be taken to say That S. Augustin began to be no longer in esteem and approbation at Rome as formerly but to avoid the scandalous sequels which such discourse might produce The Cardinal reply'd that he lookt upon this argument as something yet not as unanswerable for then it would follow said he that a man might engage thus upon what he please and plead afterward such inexpediency to hinder him I answer'd that I judg'd such proceeding in the general as unreasonable as himself did but in this case and in the affair under question this argument appear'd to me very strong and convincing because the thing undertaken was profitable just and holy and from whence we could not reasonably presume the least probability of any inconvemence That we had us'd all circumspection and observ'd all the formes and rules that could be wishâ— before we began and that the Obstruction of the work would be of no profit but draw prejudicial sequels after it His Eminence was in haste and so it behov'd us to break off and we accompany'd him discoursing of other indifferent things as far as the apartment of Cardinal Cherubini On Thursday morning April 18. the Abbot of Valcroissant and M. Angran went to wait upon Cardinal Barberin who had been in the Country the two preceding dayes and so could not be informed before touching this Impression But I went alone to Cardinal Spada and assoon as his Eminence was in condition to be seen I told him that when we presented our Memorial to him we acquainted him only with reasons alledged for obstruction of our work That we accounted our affair so clear and so just that we doubted not but we should have had after the foregoing daies congregation the liberty to continue it but having had no answer in the morning we went in the afternoon to M. Albizzi who raised new scruples to which I was come to acquaint him in two words what we had to answer That M. Albizzi told us in the first place that he had cross'd us out of the fear he had of a Table which he intended to adjoyn to the book and secondly that in the works of S. Augustin selected by us there were Crudities which had been digested and refin'd in his latter works That as to the first difficulty I was to tell his Eminence that we had not so much as the least thought of annexing a Table to the intended Volumn And as to the second 1. that the word Crudities could not be applyed to S. Augustin's works without failing in the respect which is due to him and to the Popes who have approved them 2. That there was really neither crudities nor obscurities nor excesses nor perplexities in his works And thirdly that in case there were such crudities obscurities and perplexities in others of his works yet not in these which we have chosen to print that are resolv'd and cleard as being the last which he compos'd upon this matter and when the greatest difficulties and strongest objections which his adversaries had to alledge against the doctrine of the Scriptures and the Church which he maintain'd hâ—d been propounded to him and he had destroy'd and confounded the most perplexing subtilties I gave the Cardinal an account of the order and substance of those Books as well as the shortness of the time permitted He heard with gravity and decency all that I represented to him After which he accompanied me only to his Chamber door but answered me not so much as one single word In the afternoon we went to M Albizzi no know what was resolv'd upon in the Congregation before the Pope that morning But upon the way I was inform'd there had been no mention of our business That M. Albizzi before the Popes comming to the Assembly talkt much with Cardinal Pamphilio and Cardinal Barberin apart and that it vvas determin'd at length amongst them to defer propouning it to a particular Congregation at the Palace of Spada M. Albizzi ending the conference with their Eminences with these words Non daremo fastidio al Papa questa matina ne parlaremo nella Congregatione particolare alla Casa di Spada However we proceeded to M. Albizzi to see what he would say to us He had not leisure enough the day before to hear what we had to tell him concerning the order and subject of the books whereof we had made choice The Abbot of Valcroissant gave him account thereof during which M. Albizzi held in his hand the little Volumes of S. Augustin printed by M. Vitré and read the titles of them and after what M. de Valcroissant had said to him he seemed to make no great difficulty about out affair telling us he believ'd it would be terminated at the House of Cardinal Spada where a Congregation was to be held that day that the Pope should afterwards be acquainted with it in a word That perhaps Cardinal Spada would send for us to tell us that we might continue our Impression that he was not certain of it but he told us this by way of advice He askt us whether M. Brousse were gone
and said he would do well to stay I know not why M. Albizzi said so but I answer'd him that M. Brousse was not yet gone but intended it th◠next day without fail his health not permitting his longer residence at Rome When he departed from M. Albizzi I sent a Laquay to Cardinal Spada's Palace to see who came to that Congregation He brought me word at night that only Cardinal Ginetti and M. Albizzi were there that he heard the Cardinals Pamphilio and Ghiggi wete to be there but they came not being oblig'd to accompany the Pope abroad to take the aire that afternoon On Saturday the 20th I went to restore a book to Cardinal Barberin Our conference was very long and we spoke sufficiently at large concerning our Impression He told me the business lay in the hands of the Cardinals Spada and Ghiggi and that for his part he saw no difficulty in it On Monday the 23d I went to the Anti-chamber of Cardinal Pamphilio where I found M. Albizzi I took occasion to tell that since the last visit we made to him I had heard nothing either from himself or Cardinal Spada and that in the mean time our Imperssion stayed without going forward He answer'd me that he would take care of it the next day la sollicitarinò domani I told him the Answer to the Minister of Groning was going forward at Paris that the first letter of that answer was already printed that the Minister was well refuted in it c. M. Albizzi answer'd me that it was well done faranno bene In the afternoon I went again to Cardinal Ghiggi and shew'd him several small Impressions formerly made of those little works of St. Augustin and represented to him with what gentleness and moderation we had govern'd our selves in this matter that so long as we could we set the Printer to sollicite M. Albizzi that so our selves might not appear in it without necessity and that we had not resolved upon presenting our Memorial to their Eminences till we perceived M. Albizzi was inexorable to all the Printers instances and till we fear'd he might give the Pope and their Eminences unhandsome suspitions and diffidences against St. Augustin and our selves The Cardinal receiv'd very pleasingly and courteously what I said to him Turning over these little Volumns of S. Augustin he lighted upon some places which he read with pleasure amongst others upon that of the 14th Chapter of the Book de Gratia where it is said Si ergo sicut veritas loquitur OMNIS QVI DIDICIT VENIT quisquis non venit profectò nec didicit He spoke of that Holy Doctor with very great esteem and gave me hope that we should have liberty to continue our Impression I went also to visit Cardinal Roma but the Gout had confin'd him to his bed On Wednesday the 24th I learnt that the Jesuites had procur'd new instances to be made as from the King of Spain to obtain a Decree from the Pope in favour of the immaculate conception of the Virgin that Cardinal Trivultio had earnestly sollicited all the Cardinals of the H. Office that it would be propounded the next day before the Pope and that his Holiness would have this matter handled in a very secret manner The Abbot of Valcroissant and my self went again to Cardinal Pamphilio to beseech him to get the affair of our Impression dispatcht He answer'd us very civilly but remitted us to Cardinal Spada for a determination The Ambassador came back from Tivolo on Thursday the 25. and civilities to him took up all the morning of the next day The Bishop of Bethlehem whom we had visited excus'd himself to us by the suspition of Jansenism that he had not yet repay'd our visit Monsignor Sacrista told me that the Congregation of the day before which without doubt was touching the business of the Conception lasted three hours and that Cardinal Lugo went away from it with a high colour and discontent in his face The Printer came to tell me that M. Albizzi had signifi'd to him the day before that the Cardinals of the H. Office gave way to the finishing of our Impression but he must review the Apostills On Saturday the 27. we consulted with some intelligent persons what course to take in this matter and concluded for avoidance of new difficulties to treat with Mr. Albizzi about the renewing of those Apostilles Accordingly on Sunday the 28. in the afternoon we went to him for that purpose with the Tome of S. Augustin printed at Paris anno 1635. out of which we intended to take the Treatise de Perfectione Justitiae having as yet only the first Tome of the Impression of Lovain of the year 1647. in which the Treatise is not which first Tome we carri'd too intending to take out of it the book de Gratia Christi and the 105 and 107. Epistles and we left both the books in his hands After which we were present at an Act dedicated to Cardinal Ghiggi at the Covent of our Lady de la Victoire whereunto we were invited But the Cardinal sent to desire that it might be defer'd to another day because the Pope went abroad to take the air and took him with him In the Garden of that Covent we met with the Bishop of Bethlem who told me that the Superior of the Jesuites of Nevers visiting him upon occasion of some affair relating to his Bishoprick which is near that City had in his discourse about the matters in contest drawn from under his Cassoke a Copy of M. de Vabres's Letter to cause him to subscribe it which he refusing they had proclaim'd him a Jansenist On the 30. of April being the day of S. Peter the Martyr the Cardinals and Consultors of the H. Office were at a Mass which was said at la Minerve for the solemnity of that Festival And because it hapned to be this year on a Tuesday and Wednesday would be taken up by that of S. James and S. Philip they held their Congregation at the end of Mass during which the Printer told me that he had spoken to M. Albizzi who said he had not yet done our business but he would dispatch it and give us contentment Vaglio dar gusto à questi signori Wherefore to see whether he would give us the satisfaction he pretended and to win him as much as possible by respects and submissions I went to visit him on the first of May and carri'd him a printed Copy of the first Letter against the Minister of Groning I shew'd him one of the principal places which spoke of the Pope the Council of Trent and the Errors of Hereticks touching the matter of Grace The two books of S. Augustin which we carried to him the Saturday following lay by his Chair he told me he had not yet dispatcht them but he would do it the next day I told him it might be done in a moment He assented and further acknowledg'd that it was a great
in the doctrine of Saint Augustin whom he had not read He told me that I ought not to fear and that their wishes or wills would be in no consideration at all After this I withdrew but I remember that in the course of this conference I told Cardinal Ghiggi of the approbation which M. Hallier had given not two years since whilst he was Syndic to the first and third Proposition taken in the sences in which alone we held them and after that approbation so freshly and solemnly given new interests having made him change his mind he now prosecuted the condemnation thereof I remember also that one told me in the Pope's Presence-chamber that M. Hallier and his Collegues were gone that day to wait upon Cardinal Spada that before their parting from him they had spoken something to him in private wherefore reflecting upon his staying with the Pope after the Congregation of the H. Office it seem'd not improbable but he stay'd so in reference to them and the affair about which they came On Friday June 14. I carri'd Cardinal Ghiggi the Copy of our Memorial which he told me he would gladly see lo vedrò volontieri and in the afternoon we went to la Minerve to see the Procurator General of the Dominicans whom we found to be a very intelligent and resolute man We visited also the F. Prior of the Covent who receiv'd us in the Sacristy whilst M. Hallier and his Collegues were under the Cloyster with F. Molano whom they were come to visit After they had left him F. Molano told us that M. Halier had assur'd him that they would maintain Effectual Grace and F. Fani whom we met told us also that they had declar'd the same thing to the Master of the Sacred Palace He profess'd that he did not otherwise impeach the Propositions than in Calvin's sence and that this was correspondent to the discourses which he had held upon the way in divers places amongst others at Lyons where he said That he was not going to Rome to dispute but only to let the Pope know that the Doctrin contrary to that of the Propositions was the Doctrine of the Church which could not be opposed without Error and that they who contradicted it were guilty of as pernicious tenents as those of Calvin as he said he would prove to his Holinesse by the Book of the Minister Maresius which he carri'd with him and made a great stirre with everywhere All this is out of a Letter written to me from Paris May the 10th upon the testimony of People of Honor who heard him discourse in that manner and sent the Intelligence from Lyons thither On Saturday the 15th I went to see F. Luca Vadingo I put him to speak of M. Hallier and his Collegues He said he would not tell me what they had spoken to him as neither would he tell them what we should speak to him but he would serve both the one and the other alike That he had profess'd to them how just our Demands were And upon my urging him to speak by saying that theirs did not agree with ours he told me at length though with some hesitation that they had affirm'd to him that there was danger lest we might embroyle and perplex things in a Congregation whereunto he had answered That men were as quick-sighted at Rome as in any place of the world Tanto oculati quanto si voglia in altro luogo and that there was one thing there which was not anywhere else namely the infallibility of the Pope by the assistance of the H. Spirit From thence I went to the Master of the Sacred Palace where I saw his Companion who told me that M. Hallier and his Collegues spread a report that we were all enemies to those of Religious Orders that we set upon the Jesuites to ruine them by doctrine because none but they were able to resist us and when we had once pull'd down the Jesuites we would soon dispatch the rest I had no need to satisfie him concerning these accusations because he was so already but he told me it were good that we remov'd such evil Impressions out of the minds of others more credulous We purpos'd to demand Audience of the Pope the next day to speak to his Holiness concerning these new Comers and to renew the Requests which we had formerly made to him I went to his Presence-Chamber ro facilitate the procuring thereof but I was advis'd in the afternoon to defer these instances till there were greater necessity In the afternoon I went to Cardinal Roma I complain'd to him 1. what false things and remote from the business M. Hallier and his Collegues as we understood spread every against us 2. What their profess'd design was namely to get a pure and simple condemnation for that the things in question were already determined The Cardinal answer'd And where are they so we must see how I told him that perhaps they believ'd their word would be sufficient and that if they saw they could not compass a condemnation of that nature we fear'd they would then aim at an Imposition of silence which would be unprofitable and prejudicial rather then come to a Congregation He reply'd that every one doth his utmost for the accomplishment of his designes I answer'd that we all ought to have but one and the same to wit the clearing of truth the establishment of Peace amonst Divines and that sutably to the honor and dignity of the H. See The Cardinal reply'd that the clearing of Truth included all the rest I answer'd that what he said was very true but a Congregation was necessary for that clearing of Truth He reply'd that it was a thing already resolv'd and decree'd I profess'd my joy for it We arose up and I askt him what persons were of it that we might visit them He told me this was not yet to be known and that it was fit that they were visited before-hand I know not whether M. Hallier had got some inkling hereof elsewhere but the Cardinal said that they were not altogether Strangers to it when they came to him and that they had spoken very reasonably Mi pare said he che parlano molto a justamente I did not certainly understand that they had had audience of the Pope till Thursday the 17th but then I learnt that it was very short and that there could not have been many things spoken of I learnt also that they were displeased at the Lodgeing where they were and had seen another which had likt them better that they had agreed about the price but the difference between them and the owner was that they would take it but for three Months and the Owner would not let it except for a year and that it was at length compounded by a Friend of theirs who perswaded them to take it for six Months Tuesday in the afternoon I went to see a Discalceated Carmelite Professor in Theology a Person of great
to be made of the Consultors for our Congregation and told me he had learnt from a good hand that before they were pitched upon some Persons did their utmost to oblige them to declare themselves for Molinisme The other considerations upon which as I related above the Cure of S. Savior had counselled us to retain an excellent Advocate well vers'd in the Court of Rome least we might do any thing contrary to form joyn'd to those first difficulties about hearing us in presence of either side and those petty reproaches of intending to impose Law while we desir'd to be heard the Parties present oblig'd us at length to retain one who when occasion requir'd might plead the justness of our Demands with more earnestness than we durst our selves and press his Holiness and their Eminences with more liberty than we might take being accustom'd as they are to repair to them about affairs which they lay forth to them at large and lastly who might sometimes draw some secrets and intimations from them which their shyness kept from us For these reasons we went on Wednesday July 24. in the afternoon to Signor Eugenio of Perugia a man of great parts and of a very solid and free spirit I went next to give half a dozen of our books to the General of the Augustines who told me that himself was appointed for the examination of the Propositions but with injunction of secresie I heard also at the same time that Cardinal Roma was the cause that this General was put into the number of the Consultors We went on Monday Aug. 5. to la Minerve M. Valeroissant and I to give some to the General of the Dominicans but not finding him we left them for him and gave some to divers of his Order In the afternoon I went to carry a couple to M. Albizzi who receiv'd the same with civility enough and said there could be nothing but good being S. Austin's and that he would shortly peruse them I told him we design'd nothing else in procuring this Impression but the clearing of things that when he understood us perhaps we should be more in his favour then we were but the calumnies of all sorts spread against us were so numerous that I wonder'd we were not less He answer'd me that credit was not given to all reports that he had lately been told of things alledg'd against him by us to deprive him of the Secretaryship that he did not value the suggestion that neither money nor preferment nor any other interest could engage him to procure the condemnation of the Propositions I reply'd that neither had we any other interest but the service of Truth and that of the H. See that I hop'd he should find it so but indeed I had said upon some occasions that hitherto we had been much in disfavour with him and that I wonder'd we were not more considering the ill impressions suggested to him of us In fine that both he and I were to give account to God of the things which we should do in this world that the time would speedily come and that it behov'd us to endeavour to do nothing whereof we might be asham'd before the Tribunal of his Divine Justice I offer'd him as many of our books as he pleas'd and left him with fifteen or twenty Letters newly brought him which put an end to my visit The same day I made another particular visit wherein I learn'd that the custome of the Rota allow'd us to print our writings in as great number as was needful to deliver to the Judges and that M. Hallier and his Collegues were taken in many places of Rome for people that attempted the ruine of S. Austin's Doctrine On Tuesday Aug. 6. I went to present our book to Cardinal Pamphilio and withall to give him thanks as the Popes Nephew for the establishment of our Congregation He receiv'd all with satisfaction and civility Thence I went to present one to Cardinal Cechini and though he was weary with a Congregation that had been held at his house all the morning yet I forbore not to tell him that the book presented to him contained all the Fundamentals requisite to be known for the clear comprehending of the present Controversies in the Church and in what manner it was fitting to determine them Cardinal Ginetti to whom I deliver'd one in the afternoon put me in mind to present a couple to each of the Cardinals of our Congregation one bound in red Spanish Leather with their Arms stamp'd in gold upon the Cover and the other in Parchment both of the best binding that could be had in Rome For having receiv'd these two he told me that one of them was to give to Monsignor Ginetti his Brother I signifi'd to his Eminence that I had another for him but that second was for their Divine or such other person as they pleas'd to favour with it and whose assistance their Eminences perhaps might be willing to use in the Study whereunto they would be oblig'd for the discussion and decision of the Propositions He askt whether this was all the informations that we purpos'd to deliver to them I answer'd him No but that this book was the main foundation of them Accordingly I went to present one to Monsignor Ginetti who told me he had already read some of our Adversaries Papers and should be very willing to read this work also Thence I went for the same purpose to Cardinal Barberin's Palace but not finding him there I carried one to M. Holstenio who testified very great satisfaction therewith He much commended our design and told me that after our example he would get printed some little Treatises of S. Cyprian and S. Augustin De Unitate Ecclesiae De Uâ—ilitate credendi c. On Wednesday Aug. 7. I went to la Minerve to give some Books to such persons there as had not yet receiv'd any and to whom we were oblig'd to do it I gave two more to the General of the Dominicans who told me that M. Hallier said in a visit to him That he did not intend against S. Austin nor against S. Thomas nor against Effectual Grace That he would not meddle with the matters that had been handled in the Congregations De Auxiliis in a word that he aimed onely against Calvin When I gave one on Thursday Aug. 18. to the Procurator General of the Capucines he told me he had been very glad to see the Latine explication of the Propositions which was made shortly after M. Cornets enterprise and begins In Nomine Domini c. and that he was well edified therewith He received it from the F. Capucine Assistant of France nam'd F. Brisse to whom I had sent it having fallen into his acquaintance by going together once or twice to his General When I gave one the same day to the Procurator General of S. Marcel he told me that M. Hallier had made a second visit to him in which he talkt after
um ex earum lectiene litterarum absolutae fidei Pelagium fuisse Herotem Lazarum delatores Pelagii tanquam calumniatores habitos fuisse ut constat ex Epistolis Zozimi ad Episcopos Africae See where M. Hallier fixes as to this point see his language in the year 1652. See with what boldnesse he dares speak in a Writing which he presents to the Ministers of the H. See in a businesse wherein the Catholick Faith is concern'd affirming a thing for true which himself knew long ago to be altogether illusory and full of falsity and lying For in truth this confession of Pelagius was receiv'd and approv'd by Zozimus for Catholick and those French Bishops were decry'd and defam'd as calumniators by the Letters which that Pope writ upon this subject to the Bishops of Africa But those Bishops of Africa having by their answer given the Pope to understand that he had been surpris'd by the ambiguity of the words of that Heretick's confession of Faith and by the apparence of his submission to the H. See the same Pope afterwards revoked the Approbation which he gave to the said Confession of Faith and those Bishops whom he had decry'd as Calumniators were acknowledg'd for very holy and zealous Bishops Ought M. Hallier to produce before the H. See a Piece as approv'd by a Pope which he knew very well the same Pope afterwards disapprov'd by revoking his Approbation Ought M. Hallier to defame those two Bishops once again in this Writing after himself had justify'd them sundry times in his printed works as well as the Card. Baronius and Bellarmine And how could he resolve to speak of them again in secret as Calumniators in the year 1652. after himself had been in the yeares 1632. and 1644. a publick witness of their innocence and merit He was so in the year 1632. in a Book which he dedicated to Pope Vrban VIII intitl'd Defensio Ecclesiasticae Hierarchiae in the Preface whereof being to show that Bishops have oftentimes censur'd Errors which sprung up far from their Diocesses he proves the same chiefly by the examples of those of France and descending to the two in question behold how he speaks of them in that Advertisement to the Reader p. 34. Quid quod saith he Lazari Herotis Episcoporam Galliae delationibus Celestius Pelagius Heretici qui Africam praesertim suis erronibus infecerant Galliam vix ac ne vix quidem attigerant toti orbi propalati fuerunt Quos tamen cum falsis accusationibus apud Sanctam Sedem Celestius accusasset accusatus ipse ut Catholicus ILLI VERO INJVSTE Ã ZOZIMO PAPA INFAMATI SVNT VT INIQVI ACCVSATORES QVAMVIS HEROTIS NOMEN VT SANCTISSIMI VIRI Prosper Aquitanicus summis laudibus extulerit Vtriusque de Pelagio Celestio fugiendis missas litteras Carthaginensis Concâ—lii sub Innocentio Primo Patres approbarint ZOZIMVS VERO SENTENTIAM POSTEA SVAM DE CELESTIO ET PELAGIO REVOCARIT c. And in the year 1643. the Jesuites exasperated at the zeal which M. Hallier testify'd in behalf of the interests of the University whose Priviledges those Fathers endeavor'd to invade having publish'd a Book under the borrow'd name of the Abbot of Boysic in which they aspers'd M. Hallier's person with calumnies and proclaim'd him an heretick a calumniator and one of the greatest enemies of Religious Life they maintain'd that he was likewise an enemy to the H. See it self and prov'd this last charge amongst otâ—ers by the passage which I have newly transcribed out of his Advertisement to the Reader M. Hallier to answer to the Accusations of those Fathers in the year 1644. publish't a Book intit'd A Defence of the doctrine of M. Fransois Hallier Doctor and King's Professor in Sorbonne By himself And in the 36 page of that Book he answers to the abovesaid Accusation in these words The Accusation saith he wherewith you charge me when yoa blame me for taxing Pope ZOZIMUS as if he had unjustly defam'd two Bishops HEROS and LAZARUS falls upon a person as eminent for his learning as for the Purple wherewith his merits were sometimes acknowledg'd I mean the great Cardinal Baronius who sath the same expresly in his 5th Tome upon the year of Jesus Christ 517. It would be ridiculous in yâ—u to pretend that that Illustrious Cardinal could be injurious to the person of Popes and the honour of the H. See which he hath so worthily upheld Do not finde fault then that I write boldly that which he hath Affirm'd and that without losing any thing of the respect which I shall alwayes inviolably render to the Soveragin Pontiffs I relate one Act which cannot be dishonourable to Pope ZOZIMUS who it is known was surpriz'd in that Affair I might further add here that if the approbation which Zozimus through surprize gave to that Confession of Faith of Pelagius authoriz'd all that it conrain'd the same Pope having likewise by the same surprize approv'd the request which Celestius presented to him containing a Doubt contrary to the Faith in the matter of Original sin it would be lawful to bring in doubt the Catholick Faith concerning Original sin by alledging that Zozimus approv'd the request of Celestius in which he expresly declar'd that he doubted of it as may be seen by that which Saint Augustine saith thereof lib. 2. ad Bonifac. cap. 3. I spoke part of this to the General of the Augustines and observ'd to him many other falsities and extravagances in the other reflections of M. Hallier and his Collegues upon that single passage This good General could scarce believe and comprehend how it was possible that persons of knowledge and probity should suffer themselves to be led into such enormities but he acknowledg'd yet more by this example how greatly the Conference demanded by us viva vice and by writing with people that us'd such practices would be on the one side advantageous to all the Consultors and Cardinals and to the Pope himself since it would save them much trouble which was requisite otherwise to be taken before they could discover in the Writings of our Adversaries the like blemishes which flew into our eyes assoon as we cast sight upon them so present and familiar were these matters to us and which they might all easily acknowledge after we had discover'd them and on the other side how decisive the same Conference would be between our Advesaries and us since it would give us the advantage to reduce them publickly before all the Congregation and in presence of his Holiness to confusion and silence Nevertheless I must adde something here in defence of M. Hallier since I professe to set down as well what I finde favorable as disadvantageous to our Adversaries and likewise to our selves having no other design but exactly to report the truth of all passages I met with both on their part and ours in the course of this affair Now all that can be said to diminish the
much started M. Hallier and his Collegues by telling them that they could not gain any thing hereafter by their pursuites to get the Propositions condemned because the Pope having already declar'd that he would not have Grace Effectual by it self medled with though it should come to pass that the Propositions were condemned yet it would be nothing to the connexion which they have with such Grace so that since we held them only in the sense according to which they have such connexion the condemnation pass'd upon them would give them no advantage against us The antient Procurator General of S. Marcel had desired of me to let him see our Writing de Gestis I carried it to him this morning and askt him by way of Exchange whether he had no sort of Writing which M. Hallier and his Collegues had shew'd him He told me that they had been to see him several times but never left half a line with him He told me also that in Cardinal Spada's Congregations they were upon the fourth Proposition That hitherto they had only given their sentiments by speeches in few words in poche parole That he believ'd their Eminences would see their sentiments in writing at length per extensum but he was not certain of it We gave our Writings thus freely and indifferently to be seen by all such as testified to us the least desire of it whether they were Consultors or not For we considered no person under that quality no notice having been given us of them excepting that we acted a little more reservedly towards such as we knew were Consultors by the private intelligence of our friends Thus I carried our writings de Gestis to this antient Procurator of S. Marcel who was one of the Consultors his lodging being in the way by which I was to go elsewhere and I sent the same some days before to F. Bordone who was none and who liv'd in a remote place off the City But the Letter written to me by this latter the next after he had received the said writing deserves to be reported here because of the singular esteem it professes of S. Augustin and shews what pity it was that a man so full of esteem for that H. Father and who by his charge of Qualificator of the H. Office should by all right have been of the Congregation was yet excluded with some others as well affected towards St. Augustin as he The Contents of the letter were these Illustris Signore Tengo copia del fatto sopra le controversie de gratia del quale S.V. Illustris mâ— hâ— honorato confarmete partecipe ammirando la flaccielagine e temertea di quelli che vogliono combattere la doctrina di sant Agostino DELLA QVALE S. CHIESA NEL DEFINIRE LE CONTROVERSIE DI SIMILI MATERIE COME REGOLA INFALLIBILE SEMPER SI E SERVITA Di S. Cosmo di Roma li. 5. Decembre 1652. Di. V. S. Illustris devotissimo servo nel Signore Signed thus F. Francisco Bordone I have received said he the copy of your writing concerning Facts in reference to the controversies about Grace which you have done me the favour to send me I admire the Impudence and rashness of those who go about to impugn S. Augustines doctrine of which the H. Church hath alwayes made use as of an infallible rule for deciding the controversies of these matters I thank you and kiss your hands c. Your most affectionate in our Lord c. Tuesday the 17. M. de Valcroissant and M. Argran continu'd to sollicite for audience to present the Book of our Writings and the Memorial above mentioned to the Pope wherein we petition'd that they might be communicated And moreover a second Memorial which we had sign'd on Fryday before Decemb. 13. wherein we advertised the Pope of sundry things which we conceiv'd his Holiness would find very important in themselves and yet more regard of their consequences which I will not trouble the Reader with here but leave him to judge thereof by the reading of the said Memorial whereof the translation follows To the H. Father Pope Innocent X. touching some orders given by his Holiness to M. Albizzi and violated both by him and the Jesuites and F. Modeste Consultor of the H. Office Most Holy Father YOur Holiness having consider'd the Memorial which was presented to you in Lent last against the impression wbich was making of a Book of the Jesuites whereof F. Annat was Author touching their sufficient Grace and other like matters against Jansenius with the authority of the sacred congregation of the H. Office your Holiness judg'd the reasons for not permitting the said impression so considerable that although the Book was already finished yet your Holiness forbad proceeding in it and appointed that all the sheets of it which were printed should be supprest and carried to the H. Office The orders most H. Father could then be no otherwise then obey'd but since the same orders have been sleighted and your Holinesse's intentions frustrated and despised inasmuch as though the course of the impression of the said book was stopt nevertheless they have caus'd another to be printed at Paris concerning the same matter against the same Advesary for the same ends and by vertue of the same permission of the H. Office albeit the same permission had been at least suspended and hindred by those orders of your Holiness And although the said Book be printed at Paris yet neither can M. Albizzi nor the said Author with his Companions nor F Modeste Consulter of the H. Office who approv'd it quit themselves of having contemned transgressed and voluntarily and with deliberate purpose violated the express and formal pleasure of your Holiness touching this matter which was to them sufficiently known as your Holiness may evidently see if you please to consider the following reflexions The said permission of the sacred Congregation of the H. Office was granted at the request and sollicitation of M. Albizzi on May 13. in the last year 1651. The Memorial against the Book which was printing here was presented to your Holiness in Lent last your Orders given to M. Albizzi at the same time were by him executed upon H. Thursday and Saturday and the same Memorial put into his hands Lastly the Approbation of F. Modeste was sign'd the 14. of July last and this new book was not published at Paris till towards all Saints with the said permission and approbation in the Front If M. Albizzi most H. Father had had a sincere desire to obey your Holiness he would not have fail'd to have recall'd and requir'd from F. Annat the permission which had been given him since himself having sollicited and got it expedited he must needs know that it was general not only for that Book but for others like it and since he might have perceived clearly by the Memorial that among the reasons which your Holiness had to prohibit the said book there was not any which concern'd it in particular
but all were generally as much against any other book of the same nature and subject as against that But moreover most H. Father the said Sieur Albizzi hath manifested clearly with how great repugnance he executed the orders which your Holiness gave him He hath shown how much more he valu'd his passions and his intimate leagues with the Jesuites then your Holiness's commands We have made it appear that though he executed them yet he did not approve them that his own were very different from those of your Holiness and that indeed if it had been possible for him he would willingly have avoided the necessity of executing them which seem'd so hard to him Your Holiness judg'd by the said Memorial that it was expedient for your service to suppress the said book M. Albizzi made great complaints that your Holiness was advertis'd of its impression he was sorry that the book was not publisht before the news of it came to your Holiness and he was so full of resentment for it that the Printer repairing to him often during that time and above a month after about other business M. Albizzi always made new reproaches sometimes for the unprofitable expence sometimes for other disadvantages which the Jesuites had suffer'd by the suppression of the said book which was not done but because he had not been either secret or diligent enough to get it publisht before we could give notice of it to your Holiness There cannot be imagin'd most H. Father a Minister more opposite and contradictory to the commands and service of his Prince then he and it is not to be doubted but having demean'd himself after this manner in reference to this book he hath as much and mare conniv'd or positively contributed to the other As for F. Annat is it credible most H. Father that when he saw his first book prohibited by your Holiness's order he knew not the reason why That he did not acquaint his Companions with it who were in continual expectation of his work and that none of them had heard tidings of our Memorial which was in the hands of the said Sieur Albizzi who along time hath acted nothing in those Affairs but with their privity Is it credible that when F. Modeste gave his approbation to the second book above three months after the suspension of the first which he had also approw'd he had not the curiosity to know what was become of the first if at least he was then to learn It must needs be acknowledg'd most H. Father that all the persons we speak of have had a hand in this misdemeanor though perhaps not all equally but M. Albizzi more then any It is beyond all doubt that they well enough knew what they did but they never thought that it would come to the ears of your Holiness but perswaded themselves that we would not have either vigilance enough to discover them or resolution enough to advertise your Holiness of their Miscarriage But what can F. Modeste alledge for himself to whose care fidelity and judgement the examination of the said books was committed How can he excuse himself for having made a Panegyriek of the latter as a work most worthy to be publisht and the most agreeable to the H. Fathers to the Councils and to the Doctrine of S. Augustin that can be imagin'd if under vain pretexs there be found in the said Book more injurious contempts towards S. Augustin then in any other if therein Principles are establisht most prejudicial to his authority if therein his sentiments are perverted after a most odious manner and if those of the H. Fathers Councils and Popes are treated therein with disguisments full of deceit and imposture Certainly he will not be excus'd by having pretended to the General-ship of his order nor because M. Albizzi promis'd him as it is publickly reported in Rome to make use of all his credit for his promotion thereby to draw and embark him in the practises of the Jesuites and if this excuse be not receiveable we believe he cannot find any other to justifie what he hath done in this matter Many other reflections most H. Father might be made upon things so important but to avoid being tedious to your Holiness we refer them to your prudence and most humbly beseech you to believe that all which we say is only for your service and that of the H. See and that it will be as easie to make it all good against any whosoever shall be found concern'd therein as it is to promise it provided it please your Holiness either to hear us your self touching this matter or in the Congregation which you have appointed for us when it shall be held or in presence of whatever other Judges who shall hear us aecording as so weighty and difficult a thing requires After which referring all to the good pleasure of your holiness we beseech God to multiply the number of your years and shour upon you all sort of Benedictions Signed thus Noel de la Lane Docto in Diviniiy of Paris and Abbot of Valcroissant Lovis de Saint-Amour Doctor of the sacred Faculty of Paris and of the Society of Sorbonne Lovis Angran Licentiat in the same sacred Faculty of Paris and Canon of the Cathedral Church of Troie CHAP. XVI In what manner we were at length constrained to take occasion of the Pope's return from taking the aire to present our Writings and Memorials to him A Conference with the Ambassadour and other things which I learnt till the Festivals of Christmasse in the year 1652. VVHilst my Collegues waited in the Pope's Presence-chamber for an opportunity to present our Writings and Memorials to him I was with the Ambassador to see whether he intended to go to his usual audience upon Friday following and if so to beseech him to procure one for us in order to the presentation of these Papers and to desire him to read them The Ambassadour told me that he did not know whether he should go to audience on Friday or no and that he would not go without being first assur'd that the Pope would receive him as he ought to receive the King of France's Ambassador but in case he did go he would certainly obtain for us our desired audience I signifi'd to him all that we had formerly said to the Pope and that the Memorials and Writings which we were to present to him were so clear that there was no need of our adding thereunto any thing by word of mouth saving a request to read them for which in case we had no admittance during his audience it would suffice us if we could by his mediation present the said Writings and Memorials to the Pope during the approaching Festivals at the ending of a Chappel or other solemnity After this all that we did out of our Lodging till Sunday the 22d consisted in three familiar visits of which I made one to the General of the Augustins upon Thursday the 18th who told
Condemnation were likely to ensue much to the prejudice of the Church's truth and to ours it would not be expedient that we yielded to inform them after their mode rather then let such a Censure come forth The reasons for either part above-mention'd at large were again consider'd with additions of new but we were divided now as formerly We writ therefore severally into France our opinions and the reasons of them Not one of our Friends or Bishops thought fit that we should recede from any thing of our demand and proceeding they judg'd it so equitable and were so perswaded that if Justice were not done us in this point we could not hope it in anything This their judgement I shall extract out of a Letter written to him of us three who was of the same mind March 7. 1653. Reflecting upon the debate which you have had again with M. D. M. the more I consider the affair the more I am on your side and cannot yield to his reasons I cannot think that if the resolution be taken to censure the Propositions 't is in the power of any thing that you can produce to alter it For the Condemnation will be concluded upon Politick reasons to which you shall never be put to answer and so never cut the knot of the affair But if on the contrary the consideration of truth be more prevalent then human reasons and they will not condemn it you will be happy in having persisted so stedfast You see how I incline according to my weakness and little intelligence but I find not humility enough in my self to say that I submit to everything I confess I cannot do it upon the reasons of M. D. M. though I have all imaginable respect for him Continue firm I beseech you and do not all three give out whatever happens If you do you will be lookt upon as persons that had some good resolution at the beginning of the enterprize but relinquisht it upon the first difficulties Christians are not crown'd but upon perseverance But to summe up all my intelligence of this Month I shall here only insert what was signifi'd to us March 21. in the name of the Bishops who sent us My Lords are enga'd in an Affair of great importance which concerns the Archbishop of Sens and hath wholly taken them up this fortnight All that they had given me in charge to tell you is That there are parties enough there since M. Hallier Joysel and Ragault are there who demand an absolute Censure of the Propositions in the name of the Bishops by whom they pretend themselves sent and that you defend them in the sense of S. Augustin which is the Catholick sense That those Doctors cannot excuse themselves from appearing in your presence to justifie their demand and give account why they pursue the condemnation in such manner as they do If they refuse you must remonstrate to his Holiness what an injury it is to the authority of the H. See since the grand causes of the Church amongst which this is one ought to be treated before the H. See and consequently according to all the forms of Ecclesiastical Judgements whereof the meanest require that the parties be heard to argue their rights that so the judgement may be receiv'd without contradiction CHAP. XII The intelligence of M. Hallier and his Collegues with the Jesuites manifest by the Writings which those Doctors presented to the Consultors and were printed at Paris in F. Annat's name which I endeavour to discover to the Card. Ghiggi and Spada but to no purpose A discovery of another Writing of M. Hallier upon the third Proposition F. Annae's printed Book intituled Jansenius à Thomistis damnatus I receiv'd on the first of March which occasion I took too visite Cardinal Ghiggi whom I had not seen since our great Conference above related This Book and the Title-page fix'd upon the corners of the Streets of Paris I made use of as a manifest proof to let him see a truth otherwise but too certain yet not admitted by him namely That the Jesuites were our principal Adversaries in this affair seeing the Doctors who appear'd against us were supply'd by those Fathers with the Writings which they were to present to their Eminences and the Consultors The Cardinal answer'd me that the Jesuites had not meddled in the business since their defending the Theses in Flanders that he heard indeed that those of France had done some thing but it was not considerable that it behoov'd all star quieto to be quiet I reply'd that it was not we who set a foot the Propositions from whence all this trouble arose but that we were come only to advertise the H. See of the practises against it and the Catholick doctrine of Grace contain'd in the Propositions and to intreat that nothing might be done without hearing us thereupon in a solemn Congregation After which falling to speak of the bad sense which the Propositions admitted I said that we were agreed as to that and that it was not our intention to maintain them in those senses but yet we endeavoured to hinder an absolute condemnation of them in regard of the evil use which might be made of it and least they who pursu'd it might afterwards apply it to the Catholick truths whereof they were capable That a Proposiiion ought to be look'd upon twice and all its circumstances and sequels weigh'd before it be condemn'd that if 't were sufficient to the condemnation of a Proposition that it admitted a bad sense taken in the letter or the evil construction according to which they who dislik'd it pleas'd to understand it many in the H. Scripture would not escape Censure For example of which I alledg'd these Non est justus quisquam Qui in carne sunt Deo placere non possunt Peccatores Deus non audit and those which the Church delivers every day in the Gloria in excelsis addressing to the person of our Lord Tu solus Sanctus The Cardinal answer'd that they consider'd all this that nevertheless we did well to discharge our minds con tutti with all as he believ'd we did The supposition which I perceiv'd he intended apparently to make by this discourse that we had represented all our reasons to all the Cardinals and Consultors too con tutti increas'd my suspition of their proceeding in the two last Assemblies towards the Consultors namely that they would really pass to the condemnation of the Propositions and take the visits which we had made to them to obtain a conference and communication of Writings with our Adversaries as judicial and sufficient informations to condem us formally Wherefore I told his Eminence that what I had now said was only to shew him the necessity and advantage of hearing us according as we desir'd for a thorough examination of all things that we had spoke nothing to them but for this end that his Eminence I believ'd was the only person to whom I had spoken so much
Jesuites he answer'd me that the condition of a Doctor were very unhappy if it oblig'd to renounce the acquaintance and commerce of the Jesuites Thursday the eleventh I carri'd Cardinal Spada a Copy of the printed Preface of F. Annat's Bibliotheca to confirme to him further how those Fathers interessed and carri'd themselves in this affair And the next day I shew'd the same to our Advocate that he might see by the thing spoke of himself therein the extrem impudence and shamelesnesse of that Writer Our Advocate scarcely beliving his own eyes desir'd to transcribe what concern'd himself that he might keep it as a proof of the spirit of Lying and bitternesse of those good Fathers But I say'd him the labour promising to send him an intire Copy As for the Memorials deliver'd to him to be presented to our Cardinals of which I askt him tidings he said he had been with but two namely Ginetti and Cechini and not with the others because those two refused to receive a of Copy those Memorials after as they alledg'd the Pope had declar'd his pleasure and signifi d that he would not grant the contradictory audience and reciprocal communication of writings demanded therein So that our Advocate return'd the same to me saving one Copy which he kept for himself But to comfort me in some sort for the trouble it might be to me to see things so remote from our hopes he told me one out of friendship which he hap learn't in discourse with Cardinal Ginetti who was his great friend and open'd his mind to him namely that his Emincence believ'd that nothing would be done or if any thing such as would do neither hurt nor good questo non portareble ne nocumento ne grovamento and that we had reason to be not a little satisfi'd because we had sav'd a Bull which our Adversaries would undoubtedly have extorted from the H. See had not we come to Rome Fryday the 14th after accompanying the Ambassador to the Pop's Palace we went to that of Cardinal Pamphilio to try whether we could present our book to his Eminence before the Ambassador came thither but we could not In his Antichambre we found the Bishop of Borgo who in a long converse told us that being lately in a company where F. Palavicini was this Jesuite said of S. Augustin that he was no great Divine che sant ' Agostino non era gran Theologo I made a visite in the evening wherein I learn't two things First that an Officer Of the Pope's chamber said that if his Holinesse could condemn us he would willingly do it because he saw all France wholly dispos'd to receive and cause to be executed all the Decrees which he should make if they were against the Jansenists but if nothing could be done against them nothing should be done at all Secondly that there had been a Congregation the Wednesday foregoing at the Pope's Palace which lasted three houres and that one of the most sagacious Consultors had said to a Cardinal who told it me that all things went alla peggio were in a very bad posture there that there was another appointed on Tuesday following and that all who knew his Holines's accustom'd circumspection and slownesse and the heavy and long manner of proceeding of the Court of Rome which occasion'd the Anagram and Proverb Roma Mora wonder'd extremely at this extraordinary speed and presag'd no good from it because it was wholly contrary to the genius of Rome and yet amore to that of his Holinesse We spent all the morning of Tuesday the 18th in the Antichamber of Cardinal Pamphilio to see whether we could present our Book to him But his door was so inviron'd with persons desirous to speak with him amongst whom were the Generals of the Sommasques the Conventual Cordeliers and the Jesuites crowding to use M. Albizzi's words tanquam aliqui de populo as all the rest did to enter where his Eminence was that all we could do was to get out of the throng and in expectation till it was over talk with some Prelates whom we found in the Antichamber amongst which was the Bishop of Borgo At length the multitude diminish'd and many who were as earnest as we were at last constrain'd to return as well as we without speaking to the Cardinal the Resident of Genua comming to his Eminence after he had done his audience with his Holinesse Thursday the 20th as I was going to Cardinal Barberin I met F. Reginald in the street who told me that a Consultor ask'd whether he might safely affirm in the Congregation that we acknowledg'd the Sufficient Graces held by the Thomists because he hop'd to make great advantage of such a Declaration for if we would do this he hop'd that M. Hallier and his Collegues might make one in favour of Effectual Grace I answer'd F. Reginald that there was no difficulty between the Divines of his Order and us as to the substance of those imperfect Graces which they term Sufficient but that before making a Declaration of so much before a Congregation there ought to be such a one establish'd as we demanded and that while this continu'd to act as it begun we could not make any before it being resolved not to own it As for M. Hallier and his Collegues we would not hear of any Treaty with them When I came to Cardinal Barberin I told him that the last time I had the honour to see his Eminence he askt me whether we agreed with the Thomists and I was now come to satisfie him For which purpose I presented to him the third Chapter of the Information which we had prepar'd upon the first Proposition He answer'd me that those Writings were very long that all the world could not see them That if we would present a little Memorial and thereby declare that we held Sufficient Grace as Alvarez and Lemos I reply'd that we could not give any such private Memorial but this and every thing else should be seen in the progress of the Congregation when it should be held He told me that the Congregation made hast I answer'd his Eminence that it was without our partaking in it and so long as it was held in that manner we could do no otherwise I spent the afternoon at Cardinal Ghiggi's apartment but he would not give me audience The things considerable which I learnt there were these First That the Pope had promis'd F. Lezzana a while since to give him permission to write and print concerning the matter de Auxiliis as this Father told me and that he came to desire his Eminence to put his Holiness in mind of it To which the Cardinal answer'd that he must have patience till after Easter and that in the mean time it would be seen what would be the result of those Congregations And Secondly That a Fourth Congregation was to be held before the Pope upon Saturday following in the afternoon which I discover'd by a Bill which
Auxilium sufficiens fuit necessarium in natura integra in natura lapsa non datur 3. Omnia opera humano modo facta ab homine existente in peccato mortali sunt peccata mortalia 4. Non datur libertas quoad indifferentiam actus sed quod coactionem 5. Christus mortuus est solum pro praedestinatis I do not remember whether I shew'd this Paper to the Ambassador but I remember well that he told me he could not believe what I said concerning those new Propositions but I Answered that I was well assured of what I spoke having receiv'd them from a most veracious person to whom a Consultor communicated them to intreat him to help him to reduce his judgment upon them into Writing On H. Saturday F. Lezzana sent me a Copy like the foregoing and desir'd me to furnish him with some Writing touching the matters if we had any The next morning I went to him and askt him what was the design of broaching these new Propositions He told me that he himself did not understand it but he had barely receiv'd order to set down his judgment of them in Writing before the end of the Festivals I apprehended that the time of the end of the Festivals extended to a fortnight after Easter but he told me 't was no more then the two Holidays of Monday and Tuesday and that the satisfaction which he should give to the person who lay'd that taske upon him might be of some importance to our affair I gave intelligence hereof to M. de Sainte-Beuve by the next Port April 7. I spoke but obscurely to him of the manner how I came by them telling him that they dropt out of a Consultos pocket least speaking more clearly and my letter coming to be intercepted the Consultor who gave them to my friend whose assistance he desir'd might believe himself and the whole secret of the privacy between him and my friend discover'd M. de Sainte-Beuve's answer was as followes SIR A Second information in facto is not thought of here every one says you have all the Memoires for it and that 't is a piece whch requires your care As for the Answer to F. Annat's book I shall tell you that 't is under so good a hand in Flanders that that Good Father will have no great cause to please himself in the excellency of his work The Answer is begun to be printed here I think you will be as well satisfi'd with it as I am but you must have a little patience for the work is long Were we capable of being astonisht at the reports of the Molinists we should be quite disheartned with these which are dispers'd here The most moderate amongst them affirme that they shall speedily have a Bull by which all the Propositions will be absolutely condemn'd and that the Pope is resolv'd upon it This discourse was made in Sorbonne and is dispers'd by the Jesuites The Bishop of Rennes tells me he heard it from them but the braggadocioes adde that the Ambassador has forbidden you to stirre out of your house that the Pope accounts you unworthy of his audience and that you have in vain offer'd the Pope 400000. Crownes to suspend his Judgment This talk comes from Lyons by a Letter of a Fueillant To speak ingenuously to you I never saw any thing like their discourses nor more resolution then there is in the minds of ours If some are in fear because the Pope has held so many Congregations in so little time others rejoyce at it considering that being himself takes such paines t is a sign that he will be fully inform'd of the affair which is the only thing we wish For it is fit that truth be manifested and the whole Church see that M. Cornet maliciously fram'd the five Propositions to raise an universal disturbance amongst Catholicks I pray God make him understand the greatnesse of his fault which is such that I know not a greater I cannot tell whether you have contracted an obscurity by contagion of the place of your residence or whether you affect it but I assure you there is a great deal in your Letter in part of which you tell me of the note which contains the Propositions dropt from a Consultors pocket What think you is the design of them Are they to be substituted in stead of the former If so 't will be easy for you to come off For as for the first there needs no more to be said but that we conceive that the Repugnancy by reason of which humane nature cannot be created without supernatural gifts proceeds not from the Omnipotence but from the Goodnesse Providence and Justice of God As for the second we say that the sufficient aide such as was in uncorrupted nature is not an aide which is granted to our corrupted Nature for that aide was subject to the Will The third Proposition is an Heresy As also the fourth and fifth We all subscribe to this sentence if there be no more in question but this I am c. Four Congregations were held before the Pope in the seven first dayes of this moneth each of which lasted about foure whole houres namely Tuesday Thursday and Saturday of the Passion week and H. Monday I heard on H. Tuesday that in that of the day preceding there was great contest among the Consultors Of the other four and the six foregoing in the three weeks before that of the Passion we could discover no more then what is above related which is almost nothing CHAP. XV. The arrival of F. Desâ—mares and M. Manassier at Rome A notable Change of a zealous disciple of Molina who became an ardent one of S. Augustin by reading the little volume which I gave him of the twelve principal Maximes of the Christian Faith touching Grace which he reduc'd into as many Latin Disticks A calumnious Memorial dispers'd in Rome and all Italie as presented to the Pope by the Clergy of France about this affair Another Writing of our Adversaries fram'd to delude the Dominicans and full of impostures ON H. Wednesday we were much comforted by the arrival of F. Des-mares and M. Manassier at Rome whom our Bishops sent to share with us in the paines which we foresaw this affair was likely to require in the progress of its examen and which M. de Valcroissant Angran and I could never have undergone alone without sinking under them for the examen was not yet begun and we were already overcharg'd This re-enforcement and succour was as acceptable to us as necessary and the more because we had long desir'd it and been much troubled to obtain it But in truth we could not by any means have been without it had the affair been carri'd as it ought to have been especially considering the various dispositions of those with whom we had to do all agreeing this point to drive on that affair with unimaginable speed for which purpose it was rumor'd that we aim'd at nothing
to be accounted as our Judges we enter'd into the second Antichamber with them and sate down by them Here we stay'd near half an houre expecting the comming of the Cardinals and in the mean time doubting whether at our introduction to the Pope we should go to kisse his feet because we knew not in what posture we might find him I proposed doubt to a Chambelain of honor who could not absolutely resolve it but intimated that if we had done it when we saluted the Pope first he did not judge it necessary in this case neverthelesse so further satisfaction he refer'd me to the Maistre de Chambre and he to M. Albizzi But having no mind to consult the latter about any thing we resolv'd to do as we should see expedient A little while after the coming of the Cardinals the Consultors were call'd and enter'd one after another according to their Seniority Soon after we were call'd and advertis'd to leave our Hats behind us We found the Assembly in this order being in the secret Antichamber which is but a narrow place The Pope sat in a Chair like that in which he usually gives audience but so plac'd towards the door that at our entrance his Holiness's face was directly upon us at the distance of about ten paces One pace distant from his Holiness's Chair were on each side two Benches with backs of carved and painted wood capable of three persons In the midst a Turquy Carpet was spread upon the floor and at a little distance from thence was a Table at which M. Albizzi who otherwise stood kneel'd down to write when he pleas'd The four Cardinals sat upon the Benches with their Caps on Cardinal Spada sat first on the Pope's right hand Cardinal Ginetti next to him on the same side Cardinal Ghiggi on the other side right over Cardinal Spada and Cardinal Pamphilio opposite to Cardinal Ginetti But their order was as in a Circle beginning from the Pope's right hand Cardinal Spada being the first Cardinal Ginetti the second Cardinal Pamphilio the third and Cardinal Ghiggi the fourth The same order was observ'd among the Consultors They stood all successively according to their degrees beginning from the Pope's right hand round to his left and F. Tartaglia who was the last in degree stood nearest his Holinesse's left hand The square made by the benches and persons thus dispos'd was open on the side of the door right against the Pope and was just large enough to receive my Collegues and me all five in a row The Abbot of Valcroissant stood in the middle of us in a direct line to the Pope F. Des-mares on his right hand I on his left M. Manessier on the right hand of F. Des-mares and M. Angran on my left Being thus rank'd at the edge of the Foot-Carpet we all made a Genuflexion and at the same instant the Pope made a signe with his hand to us to rise up and spoke this word to us Proponele say what ye have to say The Abbot of Valcroissant having taken breath when he began his Oration made another genuflexion as he pronounc'd Beatissime Pater and we all with him We rose up immediately and he continu'd his Oration gravely and deliberately and animated it in a very sprightly and agreeable manner I subjoin here a most faithful and exact translation of it An Oration pronounc'd before the Pope by the Abbot of Valcroissant MOST HOLY FATHER THere is nothing more reasonable and just as Possessor an African Bishop sometimes said to Pope Hormisdas then to have recourse to the Head when the members are sick to the end to draw from it the strength which they need in their languishment For who can have more care of the soules which are subjected to him or from whom can greater support be expected to confirm the tottering Faith then from his successor who having first sat upon the Apostolical Thrones heard Jesus Christ himself say to him with his own mouth Thou art Peter and upon this Rock I will build my Church We are oblig'd M. H. F. to represent to Your Holinesse by how many Artifices and secret Ambushes some persons employ certain obscure equivocal and maliciously contriv'd Propositions to undermine the Church at this day by assaulting and endangering the doctrine of S. Augustin touching the Grace of Jesus Christ so often approv'd by the H. See and authoris'd without discontinuance by the universal consent of the whole Church Upon which we shall speak M. H. F. with the now assurance and confidence for that we speak before the H. Apostolick See and before the Roman Church which being founded upon the immobility of a Rock preserves with invincible constancy and intire purity the unshaken firmnesse of its Faith and Doctrine without ever suffering that to be violated which it hath once confirm'd by its approbation and whereof it hath declar'd it self protectresse We have then the advantage of speaking before the Roman Church concerning the doctrine and authority of him who hath always had the supream Pontifs for approvers admirers and defenders and alwayes found so powerful protetection from them as often as complaint hath been made to them of such as impugned wounded oor despis'd his authority and doctrine Now haply is never came to passe that the authority and sentiments of that H. Father were more dangerously invaded then at this day but certainly never more maliciously or with more artifice Yet we praise God M. H. F. for that the danger is pass'd since those ambushes are discover'd For to have given the Romane Church knowledge of them is to have dissipated them and it being advertis'd of the danger wherein S. Augustine's doctrine is there remaines no doubt but the same will be secur'd and authoris'd as much as ever But this our confidence in the H. Apostolick See is further augmented because besides the authority of S. Augustin so powerfully establisht the doctrine in question carries a priviledge with it which is wholly peculiar to it self For though there be none of the Truths of the Catholick Faith whereof this first See of the World is not the illustrious Depository neverthelesse it attributes to it self by proper right the care of preserving the Grace of Jesus Christ inasmuch as according to what S. Augustin observes in his sixth Letter to Sixtus 't is principally to this Church that the great Apostle S. Paul spoke and taught the mysteries of the Grace of God which is given us by Jesus Christ our Lord. And the same S. Augustin in another Book shewing at the same time both that the Grace of Jesus Christ ought to be preacht throughout all the earth and that this Church is the head of all others with these words This great Apostle hath shown the power of Grace principally in his Epistle to the Romanes to the end that the preaching of the heavenly Doctrine might passe from this prime City of the World into all places of the Earth Which manifests that the
Faith concerning the grace of Christians may be said by a special priviledge to be the Faith of the Roman Church 'T is also for this reason that S. Augustin its greatest Doctor and Defender next the Apostle never was oppos'd concerning this matter but the Roman Church ardently undertook his defence and attributed his doctrine to it self as its own and as its peculiar inheritance according as a a In a Discourse which this Pope made in the first Congregation de Auxiliis held before him in the Vatican March 20. 1602. S. Clement VIII speaks And certainly 't is not without ground that the Apostle gave this first Church of the World such sublime instructions of the mysteries of the Grace of Jesus Christ since it is the fruit of his blood the bond of God with men the spirit of Jesus Christ and Christian Religion and that which truly establishes the new Law and the Gospel This Grace is not that which is taught by those who retain only its name to avoid the indignation and scandal of the faithful should they deny it absolutely but 't is that which was in question between S. Augustin on one side fighting in the name of the Church and Pelagius and his followers on the other that as S. Augustin saith writing to Pope Innocent the first b b Epist 95. which the Christian faith teaches and publishes to be proper and peculiar to Christians that c c De gratia Christi cap. 10. which the Catholick Bishops were wont to read in the books of God and to preach to God's people that d d Q. q. contra Jul. cap. 40. which Pelagius ought to acknowledge if he would not only be call'd a Christian but be truly one and lastly that as he saith in another place upon which are supported the principal fundamentals of Faith and Christian Piety which will subsist as long as it stands and be in danger to be overthrown when it is shaken Wherefore when in these last times some have attempted to overthrow the true Grace of Jesus Christ they conceiv'd nothing more expedient to advance their design then to dilacerate as e e Contra collatere in Epist ad Rssinum S. Prosper speaks in dilacerating S. Augustin with outragious words the most learned of all the Fathers in the Doctrine of the Church and the most powerful Defender of the grace of Jesus Christ then to weaken the authority of his Writings which impugn the error of the Pelagians and to despoil him of the belief which he hath in the minds of the faithful they who form'd so unhapdy a design not doubting as the same S. Prosper saith again to be able at length to overthrow all the authorities Which uphold the purity of the doctrine of Grace if they could once beat down with all their Engines of Pelagianism this strong and potent Tower which serves for defence to the truths of Faith This enterprise against the Grace of Jesus Christ hath proceeded so far that in regard of the close union of S. Augustin with S. Paul in what concerns this matter we see that at this day the Enterprizers fear not to attaque them both together by daring to accuse them of having pass'd even into Excesses For at the same time that the five Propositions in question were contriving for the overthrow of S. Augustin's doctrine F. Adam a Jesuite printed a Book in which he flyes out with no less fury against S. Paul himself then against S. Augustin having the boldnesse to maintain therein that either of them leaving themselves to the blind impetuosity of their temper have gone beyond the bounds of the Truth and Faith Is it then to be wonder'd that this Jesuite who treats Apostles and Prophets in this manner has had the boldnesse to declare S. Augustin's doctrine impious and heretical But who can without horror see pronounc'd against this great Saint without any palliation the most outragious Censure that can be imagin'd This Book so injurious to S. Paul and to other Canonical Writers and chiefly to S. Augustin hath been printed publisht with the approbation of their Provincial of Paris and three other Divines of their Society and receiv'd with a publick joy of all the Jesuites in France What then ought not to be fear'd M. H. F. from the enterprises of this Society For if to discredit S. Augustin they dare assail S. Paul because 't is from that Apostle that S. Augustin deriv'd what he writ what remaines but that they rise up against Jesus Christ himself since 't is from him that S. Paul learnt what he teaches us of the mystery of Grace Behold M. H. F. whereunto tends their design who in reference to the belief which ought to be had in Christian Religion touching Grace follow not the traces which are show'd us by the Church but measuring these mysteries by their own sense judge of them rather by conjectures and seeming reasons then by the perpetual and most certain authority of the tradition of the Church 'T is not M. H. F. by vain Imaginations but by invincible proofs that we shall manifest to Your H. this publick Conspiracy of the Jesuites form'd against S. Augustin Behold in my hands above a hundred Propositions against that Saint drawn out of several books made since 50 yeares by the Jesuites which shew that the boldnesse wherewith they assault him encreases daily in such sort that they incessantly charge him with new greater outrages We know M. H. F. that though our Adversaries have and do still testifie to manifest an aversion against S. Augustin yet they make semblance of reverencing his authority and dare commend him even in presence of your H. and boast themselves to be his defenders and disciples But this is onely to put a colour of feigned respect upon their real disdain and carrie it more free from blame 'T is onely to avoid the punishment of the insolence wherewith they outrage him 'T is onely to hide their aversion of his Doctrine under the Commendation of his person 'T is only to dimish the care which in these contests ought to be taken for examining which are the true sentiments of that H. Father and to make it believ'd that the same are not concern'd in the Propositions which have been presented to your H. because they who oppose them make profession of following the Doctrine and revering the authority of that Father that so avoiding the condemnation of their temerity by such feigned and fallacious elogiums of S. Augustin and the obligation of subscribing any thing in this matter by your Holinesses order they and their partisans may reject his authority with more boldnesse then ever condemn his Doctrin and continue to banish it out of their Schools as Calvinistical and dangerous especially if it happen that your H. be led under any pretext to condemn these Propositions because they will not fail afterwards to reflect the censure of them upon S. Augustin as a
will have the whole advantage and in which 't is necessary that all things be first exactly examin'd and discussed before any certainty can be pronounc'd or establisht Wherefore we cannot sufficiently admire that in the midst of so many occupations wherewith your H. is in a manner overwhelm'd under the weight of the Churches affaires God through a singular providence has inspir'd you with a purpose to examine this important question with so much care and diligence that you may decide it fully after having weighed searcht and consider'd all things and we cannot too much thank his divine goodnesse that he hath pleas'd to increase the strength and confirme the health of your H. and together with this vigor of body and mind in so venerable an old age to inflame you with the same zeale wherewith through his most celestal favour for the deciding of this very cause he fill'd the Innocents Zozimes the Bonifaces the Celestines and other great Popes your Predecessors We confesse M. H. F. and your H. knows sufficiently that this matter is spinose and deserves a long and most attentive discussion Nature which flatters us never ceases to oppose in us the mystery of the grace of Jesus Christ Our Reason seekes meanes on all sides to free it self from that absolute submission which we are oblig'd to have for God it forgets nothing to induce ever our faith to embrace these opinions it insinuates every thing that favours this connatural pride in us S. Augustin himself confesses that without thinking of it he remain'd a long while in the error of the Semipelagians and got not perfectly out of it till after a deep meditation of the H. Scriptures particularly of S. Paul an exact reading of the H. Fathers which preceeded him which hapned but a little after his being call'd to the Episcopacy And therefore 't is no wonder that in all times there have been found so many difficulties and repugnances to cure the minds of the faithfull of the error of Pelagianisme Besides all which M. H. F. there is a determinate resolution for Molina's defence of the whole Society of Jesuites who by their Sermons printed books publick Lectures and many other wayes have mightily endeavour'd to embroile obscure alter and ruine the heavenly Doctrine of S. Augustin touching the grace of Jesus Christ have perverted the minds of so great a number of persons and amongst so many clouds and obscurities 't is difficult to discern the truth and to get clear of the Jesuites Principles and Doctrines which many even Divines too have embrac'd and through custome remain insensibly therein either loth to take the pains which is necessary for their undeceiving or affraid of the shame of changing their judgement or through some other secret and hidden inclination But this difficulty is further increased by the malicious artifice wherewith the Propositions have been contriv'd only for the secret ruining of the true Grace of Jesus Christ by their equivocal expressions The Pelagians as Innocent 1. relates made use of the same artifice when they began to sow their heresie as that H. Pope calls it which was the first that condemn'd it and approv'd S. Augustin's Doctrine Behold in what manner he speaks of them c c In the Epistle to the Bishops of Carthage which is the 91. amongst those of S. Augustin Their words being full of dangerous subtleties they took for pretext of their dispute the defence of the Catholick faith to the end to poyson their mindes whose sentiments were Orthodox by causing them to embrace the bad side and thus they endeavor'd to subvert the Catholick belief of the true Doctrine of Grace This is what the Event will show and your H. will further find that the Bishops who sent us were induced by consideration of the H. See and the defence of S. Augustin's authority and of the grace of Jesus Christ to demand as they do of your H. a Congregation in which the parties may he heard viva voce and by writing in presence one of the other and wherein after reciprocal communication of all their Writings all the points of this controversie may be fully and plainly clear'd by resuming things from their original and examining them a new one after ather But M. H. F. though Nature and Reason are very unapt to comprehend what is the grace of Jesus Christ and though this Doctrine be invelop'd as with so many clouds by the various new inventions of new Divines and by the equivocations and ambiguities of the Propositions in question neverthelesse we dare boldly affirm that albeit this mystery is very profound yet it is not so difficult to understand provided the meanes be used and the rules followed which the Church hath establisht for clearing and deciding the Doctrines of our faith and if according to the Custome of the Church and the H. See practised and confirmed lately in the Council of Trent the H. Scriptures the supream Pontifs the Councils and Fathers particularly S. Augustin as the principal minister and defender of the grace of Jesus Christ be consulted If your H. uses this course we hope you will clearly know that the Doctrine of Grace maintain'd by us is so certain and well grounded that no doubt can remain concerning it For we shall shew your H. so many passages and such clear testimonies drawn out of these sources of Divine Wisdome that we believe our Adversaries cannot solidly refute so much as one of them whereas on the contrary we undertake by Gods assistance that among those which they shall produce against our opinion and the sense wherein we defend these Propositions there shall scarce be one which we will not fully destroy And we here again maintain without fear in presence of your H. and this whole assembly what we have subscrib'd with our own hands in the conclusion of the two writings in forme of Memorials which we have presented to your H. that our Adversaries with all their endeavours cannot forme any objection against the Propositions as we understand them nor propose any argument drawn from the H. Scripture or Reason which we cannot manifest to have been us'd by the Pelagians or Semipelagians against S. Augustin either expressely or in words wholly equivalent and which he hath not refuted by his answers as we hope to destroy theirs by the most powerfull and solid reasons of that H. Doctor Whereunto we shall adde M. H. F. that of all the arguments which we shall produce against them there shall not be one where to it may be said that S. Augustin hath answer'd in any wise so consistent he is alwayes with himself so manifest it is that he favours us so wholly he is on our side and so true and evident it is that the controversie renew'd at this day is not onely the same which was agitated under Clement VIII between the Dominicans and the Jesuites but likewise the very same which was between S. Augustin and Pelagius under your
Discourse not prepar'd like his Oration but only a sequel and proof of it For he further remonstrated that the design of this whole Affair was nothing else but to subvert S. Augustin's authority doctrine To which purpose he made a short recapitulation of our Writings de Gestis and laid open to the Pope's eyes the chief projects of our Adversaries mention'd therein Neverthelesse that it might not be said that he declin'd the main matter by standing too long upon one thing which yet was very important to be known to his Holinesse and so reserving himself to speak more largely both of his Writing and that concerning the authority of S. Augustin's doctrine in another Consideration wherein this matter should be further consider'd he began to give the Pope a General Idea of the five Writings above-mention'd which we were to present to his Holinesse at this time Then returning in particular to the first of those Writings which is the first part of the second Information touching Fact containing a hundred and six Propositions extracted out of the Jesuites Books against S. Augustin he read a great number of them and amongst the rest those out of F. Adam's book in which S. Augustin's doctrine is term'd heretical and Calvinistical and S. Paul and other Canonical Writers accus'd together with S. Augustin of being transported in their Writings bryond the bounds of Truth During this reading M Angran and I observ'd how at every Proposition that was read F. Palavicini hearkned attentively and shak't his head either as approving it or intimating that it was not worth speaking of When M. de Valcroissant had done reading he represented the circumstances of the time at which this book of F. Adam was printed namely at the breaking open of M. Cornet's enterprise of whom he also related with what confidence he had blotted out this Proposition out of a Thesis whilst he was Syndic That S. Augustin's doctrine in the matter of Grace may safely be follow'd But for that I observ'd that this book of F. Adam made great impression upon the minds of some in the Assembly and that M. de Valcroissant for compendiousnesse sake considering the multitude of things which he had to say did not to my conceit sufficiently set forth the circumstances of that book 's coming forth I first offer'd to suggest something to him which he had not observ'd which not taking effect because he could not mind it and speak to I desir'd him to permit me to speak whilst he took a little breath Having made a genuflexion to the Pope I said that I conceiv'd his Holinesse would not be displeas'd to hear me tell him that this book of F. Adam's whence all those horrible Propositions were extracted was printed in the vulgar tongue and very common to be had that its Author preacht the same Maximes in one of the most eminent Parishes of Paris near the profess'd House of the Jesuites before a numerous Congregation the whole Society knowing and approving it I also beseecht his Holinesse to remember the prodigious boldnesse of their Father Labbe mention'd by M. de Valcroissant who dar'd to write that Rome would suddenly pronounce of what opinion S. Augustin was and ought to have been not dissembling that their design was to get him condemn'd by the Constitution which they aim'd to extort from his Holinesse and holding themselves as sure not to misse of it as if they were the masters of his Pen and Tongue or had the supream disposal of those whose ministry they knew his Holinesse us'd in his deliberations and decisions This I press'd with such indignation as the knowledge of the prepar'd Bull animated me to and a sudden design to give the Pope some diffidence of those who were about him and counsel'd him to so sad a resolution All was heard as the rest neither the Pope or any else replying ought thereunto I made a second genuflexion and M. de Valcroissant resum'd his discourse In which he further urg'd to the Pope how great reason we had to summon our Adversaries to acknowledge S. Augustin's authority solemnly by signing the six Propositions at the end of our Writings de Gestis to which he summon'd them again and beseecht the Pope to oblige them to declare themselves thereupon But To enter further into the main of the matter in question M. de Valcroissant left this Writing and pass'd to that of the Distinction of the senses of the Propositions He spoke largely upon the substance of the Preface in which we with all the Bishops of France beseecht his Holinesse to pronounce upon the Controversie between the Molinists and us We read the words of the Letters of either side to show the Pope that the question was not about any Calvinistical or Lutheran opinions which we condemn'd and had alwayes condemn'd nor against these Propositions as they were couch'd under ambiguous terms which render'd them capable of different senses since we were not the authors of them and knew no other authors of them but our Adversaries themselves who contriv'd them thus to involve the Catholick Faith with Error in one condemnation and to put all things in the Church by this means into a general confusion but onely about the Propositions reduc'd to the Catholick senses which we defended and which were those alone that our Adversaries impugned Hereupon M. de Valcroissant read the explication of those senses and the declaration of our sentiments upon each of them as they follow a little below in three columes Which when he had done and declar'd at every Proposition that it was that alone to whose defence we adher'd he made an evident reduction of them to the point of Grace Effectual by it self showing as clear as the day that nothing but the connexion which these Propositions rightly understood and purg'd from their bad senses had with that capital point of the Churches faith and S. Augustin's doctrine in this matter induc'd us to endeavor to prevent an absolute and confus'd condemnation of them in regard of the consequences When he was at the conclusion he spoke something concerning our declaration and protestation to the Pope alwayes to maintain the Propositions reduc'd to the Catholick senses which we defended or rather those senses and Catholick Truths which lay hid under the terms of these Propositions whilst it appear'd not to us that these truths had been expresly condemn'd by a positive and solemn judgement whatever condemnation might otherwise befall the Propositions consider'd in themselves as M. Cornet propos'd them to the Faculty and as they were presented the Pope by the Bishops of France who first writ to him Being this distinction of Senses was read throughout and word for word before the Pope it will be expedient to insert the same here though it was printed since apart as it follows as well in respect of the Titles as Contents and Subscriptions Beatissimo Patri Innocentio Papae X. brevissima quinque propositionum in varios sensus distinctio
every pious action if he would not be barely a nominal but also a real Christian Now before I engage further in this discourse I humbly beseech Your Holiness to give me leave to observe two things by the way First That the understanding of the true Grace of Jesus Christ and its efficacy upon the will of men doth not concern only Doctors Bishops Priests and Monasticks but also the Laicks of what sex and condition soever for S. Augustin hath address'd his principal works against the Pelagians to Lay-persons to the end they might not be drawn into their Error by their subtilties and vain Philosophy For we see that he hath written a Book intitl'd De Spiritu Litera to Marcellinus and that De meritis remissione peccatorum to the same that De natura Gratia to Jacobus Fimasus that De Gratia Jesu Christi of which I make use for the framing of this Argument to Albinus Pinianus Melanius that De gratia libero arbitrio to the Monks of Adrumetum for in those dayes Monks were reputed amongst the Laicks and afterwards to the same that De-Correctione Gratia Wherefore 't is no wonder if the same S. Augustin in his 120 Epistle reckons those in the number of the foolish virgins that are excluded from the Kingdom of heaven who bear not in thir hearts the understanding and love of Grace and who are ignorant as he saith in chap. 37. that none can be continent unlesse God give him continence The second thing which I draw and observe from thence is that this single book is more then sufficient to decide all the controversies that can arise touching the grace of Jesus Christ For Pelagius ever after the Council of Diospolis where he was constrain'd to renounce his error constantly acknowledg'd with the Catholicks that the grace of God by Jesus Christ is necessary to every action of piety But the difficulty was what is to be understood by the terme Grace Which was the cause that S. Augustin continually repeates the sense thereof in his book When Pelagius saith that Free-will hath always need to be aided by the grace and assistance of God the question is what grace and assistance he means wherefore 't is not sufficient to denominate a man a Catholick that he acknowledges a Grace of God necessary to every act of piety since hereticks themselves believe or make semblance of believing as much but we must moreover agree upon the true Grace of Jesus Christ without contriving another in stead of it Now being S. Augustin compos'd that book of the Grace of Jesus Christ to take away all ambiguity which might be found in the word Grace we have nothing else to do but to weigh and consider with great care what he understood by the word Grace when he disputed against Pelagius in the name of the whole Church and what that Grace is which he would oblige that heretick to confesse necessary to every act of piety that he might be held a Catholick In which we cannot be mistaken being S. Augustin hath unfolded the meaning of it in a great multitude of definitions whereof I shall briefly recite some of the principal to Y. H. 'T is that saith he whereby God inspires a holy delectation to the end to cause us to do all that which we know we ought to do chap. 3. 'T is that whereby God operates in us not only the power but the will and the action chap. 3. 'T is that whereby God inspires the ardour of love into the will chap. 6. 'T is that whereby every good thing is not only enjoyn'd but perswaded to us chap. 10. 'T is that which is not common to all because all have not faith and swasion is not alwayes accompany'd with perswasion Ibid. 'T is that which is intimated in those words No man can come unto me unlesse he be drawn by my Father who sent me Ibid. 'T is that which we ought to believe God diffuses from above into the soul with ineffable sweetnesse not only by causing it to know the truth but by inspiring charity into it chap. 13. 'T is that whereby God together gives to such whom he calls according to his purpose both to know what they ought to do and to do what they know their duty Ibid. 'T is that whereby God's commandments seem not terrible but easy Ibid. 'T is that whereby all who are drawn and taught by the Father come to the Son according to those words of the Gospel whosoever hath heard and learned of my Father commeth to me chap. 14. 'T is that whereby God teacheth men inwardly insuch a manner that not only their mind knows what they have learnt of him but their will desires it and their actions perform it Ibid. 'T is that whereby not only the natural possibility of willing and operating is assisted but also the will and operation it self Ibid. 'T is that which together gives the advancement of the possibility and the affection of the will and the effect of the action Ibid. 'T is that whereby God with an internal hidden admirable and ineffable power works in the hearts of men not only a true knowledg but also a right will chap. 24. 'T is that which the Apostle pray'd for in these words we pray God not only that you may not commit evil but that you may do good chap. 25. 'T is that whereby the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the H. Spirit which is given us so that without it we cannot do any good relating to piety and true righteousnesse chap. 26. 'T is that whereby God gives us not the spirit of fear but that of vertue charity and continence chap. 33. 'T is that whose assistance giveth the will and the action by the infusion of the H. Spirit chap. 34. And lastly 't is that which by the inspiration of a most ardent and pure love is a help and furtherance to do well added to nature and instruction chap. 35. These are the conditions and properties of the true grace of Jesus Christ by which it distinguishes it from whatever other grace can be feigned or imagined and which 't is evident cannot quadrate but to grace effectual by it self From whence I draw this argument The Grace whereunto S. Augustin attributes all these Properties is the true Grace of Jesus Christ necessary to every action of piety But Grace Effectual by it self is that whereunto S. Augustin attributes all these Properties Therefore Grace effectual by it self is necessary to every action of piety The same Argument which establishes the Effectual Grace of Jesus Christ overthrowes the Molinistical Grace subject to Free-will as I am going to make good by four several proofs First the Grace necessary to every act of piety is according to S. Augustin a help to doing well added to nature and instruction by the inspiration of a most ardent and pure love But Molinistical Grace is not such And by consequence c
The Minor I prove thus The Will cannot receive the inspiration of a most ardent and pure love without it begin to be good But Molinistical grace may subsist without the will 's being good in any sort but the same may alwayes remain bad because this Grace leaves it still in a state to be good or bad Therefore Molinistical grace is not by an inspiration of a most ardent and pure love Hence being S. Augustin affirms in the 31. Chap. de Grat. Christi that he never found Pelagius acknowledge in any of his Writings such help added to Nature and Instruction by the inspiration of a most ardent and pure love And being Molina acknowledges the same no more then he did it followes that he agrees with Pelagius to overthrow the true Grace of Jesus Christ Secondly The Grace of Jesus Christ is an heavenly teaching whereby God so instructs the heart of man with such inexpressible sweetnesse that he who receives that instruction hath not the knowledge only of what he sees but also the will wherewith he desires it and the action whereby he performs it Chap. 14. But the Grace whose use is left to Free-will is not such Therefore c. Thirdly We cannot say of the Grace of Jesus Christ that by it man learns of God what he ought to do but that he will not do what it teaches him Now this may be affirm'd of the Molinistical grace Therefore the Molinistical grace is not the Grace of Jesus Christ Chap. 14. My fourth proof is this Whosoever receives from God the Grace of Jesus Christ comes to the Son of God whosoever comes not to him hath not that Grace Ibid. chap. 14. But many have the Molinistical grace who come not to the Son of God Therefore the Molinistical grace is not the Grace of Jesus Christ and consequently is not that Grace which S. Augustin saith was necessary to be acknowledg'd by Pelagius if he would be a real and not a nominal Catholick Now let any one of the upholders of such Molinistical grace appear in presence of Your Holinesse let him vaunt as much as he pleases that he holds not the opinions of Pelagius let him say I am not a Pelagian because Pelagius acknowledg'd no other grace but an external aid of the Law and Doctrine or Instruction But I moreover confesse an internal and supernatural Grace whereby God enlightens the Understanding and moves the Will but whose use is left to Free-will Certes I should answer him 'T is very brave I am extreamly glad you are not altogether a Pelagian But what are you the better if you depart from Pelagius but cloze not with the sentiments of the Church And what advantage is it to you to reject the Pelagian grace if you do not admit the Christian For how remote soever you are from Pelagius whatever Grace you admit whatever colours you paint it withal and whatever Title you give it of internal and supernatural if this Grace be not the same which S. Augustin saith Pelagius must confesse to the end he may be not only in name but in Truth a Catholick the Confession which you make of such other grace may perhaps keep you from being wholly a Pelagian but it can never make you passe for a Christian For I grant it true as you say and this is no place to dispute it that Pelagius deny'd that there is any internal and supernatural Grace contrary to what S. Augustin maintain'd viz. That there is an internal and supernatural Grace But S. Augustin moreover maintain'd That this Grace is Effectual and subdues the Free-will to it self While you hold against Pelagius that there is an internal supernatural Grace you hold at the same time against S. Augustin that the same Grace is subject to Free-will So that by your acknowledging an internal and supernatural Grace perhaps you are not a Pelagian therein but inasmuch as you acknowledge not that the same is Effectual you are not yet a Catholick You are as yet neither Pelagian nor Catholick or rather you are not at all a Catholick but you are a Pelagian in that you agree with Pelagius to oppose that Effectual Grace which you will not acknowledge to be the true Grace of Jesus Christ Whereunto I add That your sentiment in the confession of this internal supernatural Grace is not far from that of Pelagius which I prove by Chap. 13. of the same Book of S. Augustin He who knows what he ought to do and doth it not is not yet instructed of God by Grace but only by the Law he hath not been taught by the Spirit but only by the Letter And in Chap. 14. Jesus Christ speaking of this manner of teaching saith Whosoever hath heard the words of my Father and hath been taught by him cometh to me And it cannot with truth be said of him that comes not to Christ He hath known and learnt that he ought to come but he will not do what he hath learnt he ought to do No certainly this cannot be said of that manner of instruction according to which God teaches us by his Grace Now he who hath onely the Molinistical grace hath not been taught of God by grace and by the Spirit but onely by the Law and by the Letter and consequently the Molinistical grace is no other then the Pelagian which consists only in the Law and Instruction Whereby it appears that the terms of internal and supernatural Grace are only simple words made use of by the Molinists to cover and hide their Pelagian grace to the end to avoid the indignation which the same would excite against them and by this difference of words to obscure the Truth and to keep themselves from being so easily convinc'd of their Error After this Argument I shall proceed to S. Augustin's third proof taken out of the same book de Grat. Christi where he throughly treats of the assistance of the possibility of the will and of the action which he maintains to be the true Grace of the Redeemer and which was the subject of the whole Dispute between him and Pelagius For see how that great Saint speaks of this Heretick Pelagius establishing three several things whereby he saith Gods Commandments may be fulfilled viz. Possibility Will and Action Possibility whereby a man is able to become Righteous Will whereby he is willing to become Righteous and Action whereby he is actually Righteous He confesses that the first viz. Possibility is given by the Creator of our Nature and depends not upon our selves since we cannot but have it whether we will or no. But as for the two others namely Will and Action He holds that they are in our power and that we have so much the dominion of them that they depend only upon our selves Whence Pelagius concluded that a man deserves to be commended for his good will and his good actions or rather that God and man deserves to be commended for the same because God
them to that purpose in the dayes following We declar'd to their Eminences our purpose to appear before the Pope and that the Pope had given us order by the Ambassador to be in readinesse by the first dayes of the week ensuing Tuesday evening the Ambassador passing by our lodging advertis'd us that the Monday next was the day appointed and that we must be at the Pope's Palace by 20 a clock that is about three after noon Accordingly we repair'd on Monday to the Pope's Palace in Mont Quirinal and were call'd for a little after three a clock and introduc'd into the Pope's presence On each side of his Holinesse's Chair were two Benches upon which the Cardinals sat Spada and Ginetti on the right hand and Pamphilio and Ghiggi on the other The thirteen Divines of several Orders whose names M. de S. Amour signify'd to you by his Letter January 27. stood bare-headed on each side behind the Benches M. Albizzi Assessor of the H. Office was there also to perform the Office of Secretary Besides these no other persons were present at this Assembly At our entrance we made our accustomed genuflexions to his Holinesse who gave us his benediction and made a sign to us to rise and begin We stood in the space between the two Benches right against the Pope it being just capable of us all five afront The Abbot of Valcroissant began and show'd in general the importance of this Affair in a speech of about three quarters of an hour We speak nothing of what it contain'd because we send you My Lords a Copy of it as it was pronounc'd After his speech was ended he spoke of the two first Writings which we had presented the last year the former whereof is concerning what hath been acted about the affair of the Five Propositions and the other is touching S. Augustin authority He spoke succinctly some principal things of the former Writing to let his Holinesse understand the foul dealings frauds and the conspiracy of our Adversaries against S. Augustin by contriving and presenting to our Faculty those captious and equivocal Propositions But conceiving it more material to say something concerning the main businesse of doctrine in this first Audience he did not think fit to be particular in laying matters of fact open to his Holinesse and therefore proceeded to the Writing concerning S. Augustin's authority wherein we shewd that nothing is so much establisht in the Church as this Authority since we justifie it by above two hundred Testimonies of twenty Popes fifteen Councils threescore and ten Fathers of the Church or illustrious Divines of all Ages and the reception of the whole Church with unanimous and universal consent He laid forth the reasons which oblig'd us to deliver this Writing first in imitation of S. Prosper and Hilary of France when they came to Rome against the Priests of Marseille and to tread in the steps which we saw markt out in the first judgement which was made touching S. Augustin under Pope Celestine the first and in the last examen which was made under Clement VIII He added that we did not insist upon proving more largely this authority of S. Augustin being perswaded that his Holinesse was willing that the doctrine of this Saint should serve for a Rule in this whole Dispute of Grace according to the Ordinances of his Predecessors Reserving therefore to speak more at length of what had been done in France upon occasion of the Five Propositions when it should be expedient in the progresse of things and supposing the authority of S. Augustin receiv'd and establisht as we had agreed together M. de Valcroissant proceeded to the Writings then to be presented and told his Holinesse that to let him see that we complain'd not unnecessarily of the Jesuites outrages against S Augustin's authority we had one Writing to present to him into which we had collected above a hundred Propositions against S. Augustin drawn out of the books of Jesuitical Writers since Molina that above fifty of them were publish'd within these last four yeares and that 't was a great evidence of a conspiracy against S. Augustin in the contrivance of the five Pelagious Propositions that F. Adam a Jesuite at the same time was preparing a bloody work against S. Augustin which came forth on the first of January 1650. with the permission of the Provincial of Paris and with the approbation of three Jesuites Divines M. de Valcroissant read to his Holinesse those Propositions of F. Adam wherein the express doctrine of S. Augustin is plainly handled as Heretical and Calvinistical and S. Paul and other Canonical Writers accus'd of having been exorbitant in their Writings and gone beyond the bounds of Truth through humane weaknesse from which as that Jesuite saith They were nor free You may judge My Lords with what astonishment his Holinesse and their Eminences heard these horrible injuries of that Jesuite against S. Augustin which carried to reprehend S. Paul himself and the Prophets He also read this Proposition which is in a book printed at Paris three moneths ago Expecta tantisper Lector brevi loquetur Roma quid senserit Augustinus aut quid sentire debuerit Which as you see My Lords implyes that the Jesuites expect shortly at Rome the condemnation of S. Augustin's Doctrine In the next place M. de Valcroissant explicated the Distinction of Senses and caus'd his Holinesse to observe with how much sincerity the proceeded in this Affair by declaring plainly what we rejected and what we held touching all the Propositions He remonstrated first that they were fram'd by the Molinists in equivocal terms capable of heretical senses thereby to expose them to Censure and afterwards reflect the same Censure upon Grace Effectual by it self and upon S. Augustin's Doctrine to which the Propositions are reducible by being explicated in the particular senses which they may admit as we had done that we were not the authors of those ambiguous Propositions That they could not be shewn in any book in the direct terms wherein they are conceiv'd excepting the first which is mutilated and maliciously separated from the words that precede and follow it which being added to the Proposition as it is found in the Author from whom it is taken is not only not capable of any evil sense but is the Catholick and Apostolick doctrine of S. Augustin and the Church That it cannot be found in any works Latin or French publisht in France within these four yeares that they have been defended purely as they are express'd but that on the contrary it hath alwayes been declar'd that in the generality of their terms they are susceptible of heretical senses and may according to those senses be condemn'd generally as heretical and that never any other sense but the Catholick alone which they admit hath been maintain'd that is to say none ever absolutely maintain'd these five general Propositions but the particular Propositions expressing the Catholick sense of them which we
Title pages beginnings of F. Annat's book entitled Jansenius à Thomistis damnatus c. according to my promise the last time we visited his Eminence altogether I told him this Jesuites deceitful way of writing so full of impostures and disguises that the same were not to be unridled and discover'd but by one that was throughly inform'd of the matter I did not dissemble the purity and clearness of his style but withal I presented his Eminence the Preface of that work in which I assur'd him he would of himself discover many lyes touching things which his Eminence understood and this Writer advanc'd with as much confidence and boldness as if they had been most certain truths The Cardinal neglected what I said to him concerning this subject and did not deign to read the Preface though it was but of two little pages I told him also that the body of this book was full of the like falsities and yet it was one of the Writings of M. Hallier and his Collegues presented to the Congregation How said the Cardinal have they presented it to the Cardinals I answer'd that I did not affirm so much of my own knowledge though I could not doubt but they did being I knew that they gave it to a Consultor who lent it to a friend of mine from whom I had it and for fear of never seeing it again copied it out The Cardinal reply'd hereunto with a careless accent as telling me 't was a thing sufficiently superfluous to present Writings to the Consultors because the Pope never intended to admit of a contestation between the Parties in this Affair nevertheless as 't were correcting what he had said he added that yet 't was good that they saw what both the one and the other had to say which I interpreting as if he meant that we had presented two Writings to the Consultors I answer'd that for our part we had not given to any pas mesme un seul morceau de papier not so much as one scrap of Paper Nor any thing upon the Propositions to any one but the Pope at the end of our grand Audience The Cardinal said we presented some at the beginning I answer'd him that we gave none then but that de Gestis and another concerning S. Augustin's authority nor these to any but the Cardinals and that upon a certain presumption that the same would forthwith be communicated to our Adversaries The Card. said that Cardinal Spada had shew'd them to the Consultors I answer'd nothing to this but told him that we had not yet presented to Cardinal Pamphilio the copy which we got ready for him because 't was a long time ere we knew of his being of the Congregation and when we knew it some time was requisite for preparing a copy and since it was ready we had gone several times to present it to him but could not find him at conveniency to receive it till the time of doing it was insensibly pass'd that it remain'd still in our hands and we kept it to present to him in case a fitting time return'd Whereupon I took occasion to ask this Cardinal whether he knew that any thing was appointed concerning the permission to print our Writings which we requested He answer'd that he accounted it a difficult thing I told him what Offices the Ambassador and Cardinal Pamphilio had done for us to the Pope about it and that his Holinesse answer'd He would consult with their Eminences concerning it during the Festivals I reminded him of the conditions and restrictions of our Request and beseecht him to be favourable to us therein whereof he gave me some hopes Then I shew'd him F. Brisacier's Book the Archbishop of Paris his censure upon it and the Letter which the Jesuites publisht against this censure I told him that these Fathers said of those of the Faculty of Paris Non transeant Sequanam of those of Rome Quid Romanae Censurae cum Gallia That they term'd Rome a forraign Power even in matters of Doctrine as I shew'd him that M. Hallier had complain'd in the Defence of this Doctrine which he publisht against them Anno 1644. in which work also this Doctor complain'd that the Jesuites decry'd him as a Calumniator a Heretick and an enemy of Religious life I likewise shew'd him that passage of F. l' Abbè Brevi loquetur Roma quid senserit Augustinus aut quid sentire debuerit Whereunto the Cardinal answer'd that the Jesuites might say that by Augustinus they meant Jansenius in regard of his Book intitled Jansenii Augustinus I shew'd him clearly by the reading of some words both at the end and beginning that this was spoken of the true S. Augustin of Hippo that great Doctor of Grace He read over F. l' Abbe's Advertisement to the Reader and persisted in his ingenuous subtilty and put-off that the Jesuites might say it was meant of the Augustin of Ipre after which I gave his Eminence the good night When I was return'd to our Lodging M. Angran told me that F. Reginald had sent to acquaint him that he understood by two or three hands that the Bull was printing and would come forth the next day Saturday May 31. I learnt in a Visit that the report of the Bull was renew'd on Thursday morning and come to the eares of the Procurator General of the Dominicans by whom his General was advertis'd thereof who seeing Cardinal Pimentel already engag'd in the ceremony of his entrance yet forbore not to go to Monte Cavallo to acquaint him therewith in two words at the end of the Ceremony to the end he might speak to the Pope about it That this General having afterwards sent F. de Terrasanta to his Eminence to know the successe the Cardinal gave him the account above related namely that he had remonstrated to the Pope the danger of this Affair and the sad consequences to be apprehended from it and that the Pope answer'd him that every thing had been carefully examin'd in Congregations before himself That 't was certain the Propositions had no relation to S. Augustin and S. Thomas their Doctrine or the matter de Auxiliis That the Cardinal offer'd to reiterate and presse his Remonstrances but found the Pope so fix'd in this mind and resolution that he saw not how to proceed and that his Holinesse was absolutely perswaded that it was requisite to do something against Jansenius The same Friend told me further tdat he had newly sent to the Apostolical Printing-house to discover whether the Bull was at the Presse but the doors were all shut and he believ'd it was a printing That therefore he had some suspition that it would be publisht after Vespers or in the Chamber of Presence I went to Vespers in the afternoon and to the Presence-Chamber both before and after Vespers to be a witnesse of all that pass'd there in case any thing were done about publishing the Bull but I saw nothing there more then usual saying
state wherein the matters hitherto related were at Paris as well as at Rome But because the passages of the latter place were diffus'd likewise into other Cities of Italy I shall here produce one of those which I receiv'd from thence touching the businesse of our so feign'd Audience after which Cardinal de Este to whom I had given account of it hop'd with great reason which is a reflexion worthy of remark that the relations of things which pass'd at Rome would every day become more considerable and therefore commanded me to continue my begun intelligence to his Highnesse I did so and the satisfaction he testify'd therewith by his Answers was a great engagement unto me to do it See the Copy of his courteous Letter Sir UNderstanding by your last that I was to expect another together with a b b viz. The little Volume of S. Augustin Book touching the matters which you negotiate I defer'd my answer thereunto till this present that I might thank you at the same time for your Present of which indeed I make great esteem as of a thing which upon several accounts and motives ought to be highly valu'd 'T is a new proof of your extraordinary courtesies which you cease not to exercise in favouring me as you do with the continuation of the exquisite knowledge which you give me of your management and how exceeding well you acquitted your selves in your Discourse at the feet of his Holinesse which no doubt you accompany'd with your perfect eloquence and excellent learning besides the ardor which you have for the issue of an Affair of so great importance and which by all right and reason requires the diligence which we hear is employ'd therein by our H. Father Henceforward your Relations will from day to day be more considerable which I hope you will not cease still to confirm to me your most particular affection in consideration whereof I am obliged to be eternally Sir Your affectionate friend to serve you Card. d' Este CHAP. XXVII Of the things we learn't and the Visites we made from the first of June to the thirteenth Of the manner how the Constitution against the Five Proposittons was publisht With what restriction and circumspection we resolv'd to subscribe to their condemnation in case the Pope had requir'd it of us CArdinal Pimentel having not been at the Chappel of the Papal Masse on the day of Pentecost and the affaires whereof we were to speak with him being sufficiently sacred and urgent we went to wait upon him in the forenoon after Masse When we had given him an ample account of our business we told him that the Authors of this black enterprize had still subtilty and credit enough to perswade the Pope that the matter de Auxiliis was not at all concern'd therein 'T is true said the Cardinal the Pope believes it is not he profess'd as much to me and thereupon he inform'd us himself of his above-related conference with the Pope We reply'd that the whole aim of our Adversaries was to embroyl this Affair as much as possible under the name of Jansenius which was become extremely odious The Cardinal said that the Pope was possess'd with this resolution that it was requisite to destroy and abolish the work of that Prelate His words were That according to the Pope's resolution Jansenius est revocandus est rejiciendus We discours'd largely to him concerning the necessity of Effectual Grace to every action of piety whereunto he assented and we assur'd his Eminence that 't was the only Point which we endeavor'd to defend against the Machinations of all those who sought its subversion Although we were with him more then an hour in this Conference yet we did not remember to recōmend◠one thing to him which I took care to get signify'd to him the next day by one of his most intimate friends namely that although he had found the Pope inflexible by what he had represented to him and there was no more encouragement for him to speak again to his Holinesse yet that he would not altogether neglect the Affair but in the Visites which he should render to the Cardinals Spada Ginetti Pamphilio and Ghiggi remember to tell them and that with some earnestnesse that he could not prevail with the Pope by what he had represented to him Tuesday the 3d I went to S. Augustin's Church to say Masse By the way I met F. Mulard who told me two things One was that M. Hallier and his Collegues began to be very weary of Rome The other that he had a contest with them wherein he maintain'd That it imported their interest and their honour to speak before the Pope and that they on the contrary would not demand it but expect till they should be call'd upon in which case they said they would take but a quarter of an hour to prepare themselves The General of the Augustines said Masse almost at the same time with me and coming to me afterwards in the Vestry he exhorted me to continue acting as we had begun and said he hop'd God would give his blessing to our labour F. Reginald came to see us this day and inform'd us of three things which the Pope had said to Cardinal Pimentel First That it was needful to do something against Jansenius Secondly That the Propositions did not concern S. Augustin's Doctrine which was upheld by unmoveable foundations and ought to remain in its integrity Thirdly That the same Propositions did not relate at all to the matter of Grace and that all this had been well and duly examin'd The same F. Reginald told me when I visited him the next day at la Minerva that some Persons assur'd him that all that had been spoken concerning the Bull was nothing but ayrie discourse delle forfenterie c. The same day F. Guerin advertis'd me that M. Gueffier bid him tell me that he heard from divers persons that I said there needed a General Council to judge of these Propositions which was a thing whereof I never spoke the least word Thursday the 5th the Sacristan of the Minimes told me that M. Hallier and his Collegues had gotten M. de Valcroissant's Oration to the Pope which indeed we had neither from them nor any other person no more then any thing else And another person told me the same day that M. Albizzi had revok'd the Order which he had given to the Apostolical Printing-house for dispatching the printing of the Bull. After we had accompany'd the Ambassador to his ordinary Audience on Friday the sixth we went to see the Master of the sacred Palace who congratulated us for the vigorousnesse and modesty wherewith this good Ecclesiastick said we spoke He discours'd with great devotion and humility and being perswaded of the holy Truths which we defended and of the justice of the rest of our demands he regretted that we could not obtain all that we demanded Upon all which he said several times not daring to
Engines on work and redouble their pursuits after that first audience to deprive us of time and power to dispell all those shadows by the Light of Truth This is the particular reason My Lords which caus'd them to urge the speedy publishing of the Decree and they were not contented to alledge this reason in their visits to the Consultors and Cardinals but they mention'd it also in their Writings which by good hap came to our hands though communication of them could never be obtain'd They endeavor in these Writings to insinuate this wicked false conceit to all such as shall read them they impute such opinions to S. Augustine's disciples as are held neither by us nor any Catholick in the Church and they labour to confute what no body ever controverted Thus My Lords having suggested this false conceit both in their Writings and secret Sollicitations they easily prevail'd that to prevent the holding of the Propositions in the Heretical and Calvinistical senses in which they said many held them in France and to extinguish this new pretended heresie which was nothing but a vain fantasm of which they rais'd a fear in the Court of Rome it was necessary for the good of the Church to condemn them But you know My Lords that no Catholick Doctor or Divine of S. Augustin's disciples in France ever accounted these Propositions other then ambiguous equivocal and captious fram'd about four years ago by one of Molina's subtilest Partisans as also that the two first of them were censur'd by S. Augustin's disciples in the Tract intitled Considerations and in the Book Of Victorious Grace as admitting three senses all three heretical and each of the other one heretical sense You know My Lords that we never held the condemn'd Propositions in the formal terms whereof they consist That in the first Memorial which we presented to the Pope when he gave us Audience upon our coming to this City we demanded of his Holinesse that the senses which were in controversie might be distinguisht and that the examination and judgement which was sollicited to be made upon the Propositions might be made upon the said senses That in our first Information in facto representing to his Holinesse and their Eminences the state of the Controversie we declar'd that the Dispute was not at all concerning the Propositions as they were presented And lastly that in the publick Audience we had before the Decree was made we renew'd the same Declarations to his Holinesse and profess'd sudry times that without insisting upon the Propositions which our Adversarries had maliciously contriv'd we defended only the Catholick senses or the particular Propositions fram'd by our selves in perspicuous terms and reduc'd to the pure doctrine of Grace Effectual by it self as S. Augustin hath defended the same in all his works against the Pelagians and Semipelagians Whereby you see My Lords most evidently that not only the Pope's Constitution which pronounces upon the Propositions in their general ambiguity purposely affected to make them obnoxious to Censure and his Holinesse's formal Declarations that he had no intention to prejudice S. Augustin's doctrine which is no wise different from the particular and most Catholick sense which they admit and we defended alone in France and at Rome but also the Writings of our Adversaries who have imputed to S. Augustin's Disciples errors and heresies which they never held justifie that those Censures cannot fall but upon those heresies and errors and that the Catholick sense explicated by us to the Pope in such express and formal terms remains without impeachment and as Catholick as ever it was For 't is beyond all doubt that this sense of Grace Effectual by it self is that of S. Augustin which if there were ground to question our Adversaries needed only to desire a publick Audience of the Pope to demonstrate to his Holiness in our presence either that this sense in which we maintain the Propositions is not that of S. Augustin or else that S. Augustin's doctrine is not that of the Church but the light and evidence of so many express passages of this great Doctor and the secret force of Truth which is terrible to all its opposers hath made them fear to enter into Conference with us touching thts subject in presence of his Holinesse or the Cardinals They were contented My Lords as we have before observ'd to tell them in their secret sollicitations as we discover'd they did at first in their secret Writings that we who were deputed to Rome by Catholick Archbishops and Bishops defended S. Augustin at Rome but others defended Calvin in France which you know they publisht formerly in France by many Libels and false reports against all S. Augustin's Disciples in general And therefore this calumnious Accusation which they fram'd at Rome before the Decree is at this day our justification after the Decree and his Holiness's formal Declaration It remains then My Lords That they can be no other then the publick Enemies of S. Augustin and the H. See who dare pretend that the Propositions are condemn'd of heresie in the proper and particular sense defended by us before his Holinesse and explicated in our Writings since the Pope by the Oracle of his Speech vivae vocis oraculo as they speak in this Court vouchsaf'd to declare to our selves That he intended not to prejudice S. Augustin whose Doctrine having been approv'd by so many Popes cannot be condemn'd of heresie without overthrowing the Authority of the H. See Ecclesiastical Tradition and the perpetual succession of one and the same doctrine in the Church nor without violating the Respect which is due to his Holinesse who would hereby be accus'd of contradicting himself since he hath declar'd in sundry occasions and particularly to us since the publication of this Decree That he meant not to touch Grace Effectual by it self nor the Doctrine of that great Saint and we have already noted that his Holinesse made the same expresse Declaration to the Ambassador sundry times who as we have before said writ this very day to the Court to inform their Majesties thereof All these considerations My Lords have caus'd us to blesse God since this Decree That his Holy Providence brought us into this City to the end that by the Distinction we made in presence of the Head of the Church of Truth from Error when we had the honour to speak publickly to him before the Constitution and by so true and important a Declaration as he was pleas'd to make to us since the same in our last Audience the Censure of Error might be hinder'd from falling upon the Truth and it might not be attributed to Innocent X. contrary to his express intention that he design'd to condemn by his Decree or at least by his silence the Catholick Apostolick and Roman Doctrine of the grand Master of Grace which his Predecessors for twelve hundred years together have admitted approved commended and Canoniz'd by their formal words and most solemn
never attempted to make a Body of Religion separate from that of the Synagogue how deprav'd soever it were but were contented with preaching against those Corruptions even so far as to expose themselves to death for their condemning the same from God That the like ought to have been done by those who pretended to reform the Church If they found themselves call'd of God for so great a work they ought to have undertaken the same in the Church it self whatever should have befallen them but if they knew themselves too weak to venture martyrdom they ought to have been contented with reforming and correcting themselves but not have medled with the abuses which they could not amend in others Upon occasion we told the Ambassador what was spoken concerning this matter on either side between M. Du Puy and our selves He was sorry that he was not present at the Conference and desir'd us to give him notice in case we could foresee a like occasion for another But for that we staid at Venice only till the great Heat was pass'd and had receiv'd an answer to the Letter which we writ from Florence to our Bishops and were not certain of seeing this M. Du Puy again before our departure for he would not tell us his Lodging although we askt him to the intent to repay his Visit we told the Ambassador that it would be great contentment to us to procure what we desir'd but we saw no great probability of it Nor indeed had we any opportunity to do it during all our stay at Venice which lasted till about the middle of August In all which time nothing memorable occur'd but the Letters which I receiv'd both from Paris and from Rome touching the Popes new Constitution which I shall insert here in regard of the further light which they give of the manner how it was pass'd of the Popes intentions in passing it and of the sincerity and humility wherewith we submitted thereunto I shall begin with those of Rome because they were the first which were written to me and appear to me the most considerable CHAP. II. Containing the Letters which I receiv'd from Rome during our residence at Venice touching the Popes new Constitution THe first of the 30th of June written by a person of one of the most considerable Orders in the Church and one of our most intimate friends whom I had encharged at our departure to make our excuses to some of those of whom we had not time to take leave or did not meet withal He told me in his Letter That the next day after our departure he began to acquit himself of what he had promis'd us That he had seen the F. Library-keeper of the Augustines who accounted himself much oblig'd for some books which we promis'd to send to him for the service of the publick in that Library That he had seen F. Lezzana who was solliciting for the Permission formerly promis'd him to print a book which he had made concerning Effectual Grace and that upon telling him what the Pope said to us in our last Audience he answer'd him that Cardinal Pimentel told him as much before as having understood it from the Pope himself Il giorno dopo che V. S. si parti con gli altri suoi signori compagni e miei padroni comminciai ad esseguire i suoi ordini Parlai co'l Bibliotecario Di S. Agostino il quale restò appagatissimo del suo buon desiderio di compiacerlo di qualche cosa per la sua libraria perche può servire per util publico e far vedere qual cosa di buono e bello a chi vi va à studiare mastime contra inimicos gratiae Christi c. Ho perlate co'l Padre Lezzana e l' ho riscaldato a procurar la licenza di stampare la sua prima secundae colla materiè della Gratia efficace e gl' ho suggerito molti motivi per disponere c. Gl' ha appresi e già hà duo to un memoriale a Ghiggi a nostro Signore Lo riscaldero c. Li rigratia della memoria c. Havendoli raccontato quel ch' è successo col Papa e Coro Signori mi hà replicato ch' altre tanto gl' hà detto il Card. Pimentelli che gl' hà detto nostro Signore The same friend sent me word also by the same Letter that they could not conceive at Rome that the Constitution could have good sequels That one of the Consultors whom he nam'd to me but I conceal told him that the Jesuites complain'd of F. Palavicini conceiving that he had not succeeded in this Affair as they expected and that he gave thanks to God that he had had no hand in making this Constitution though he had been invited to it That M. N. M. writ to him that at his return he would tell him his thoughts of it and that he was very joyful to see that it did not at all touch the doctrine which we defended That Cardinal Pimentel told F. Nolano that he would desire the Pope to declare for which senses he had condemn'd the Propositions That F. Luca Vadingo said to F. Reginald that he could not conceive how so rigorous a Censure came to be pass'd upon the Propositions since not any of the Consultors censur'd them so vigorously in the Congregations not even F. Palavicini himself He told me also that the same day he writ to me the Nephew of Barberini was made Cardinal And lastly he saluted us all heartily and made an humble reverence to the Bishops the undaunted lovers of the perfect Grace of Jesus Christ Qua à nissun piace la Costitutione per più capi ne si sà capire che posse apportar buon essito Il P. D. N. N. mi diste che li Padri della Compagnia si lamentano assai del P. Palavicinii parendoli che non sia riuscito in questo negotio come pretendeano Rigratia Dio di non esser stato à parte in stabilir la'Costitutione come gl' era stato significato Il signor M. N. mi scrive che nel ritorno mi manifestarè i suei sentimenti intorno la Costitutione il era tutto allegro perche li per che non tocchi c. Il Card. Pimentelli hà detto hieri al Padre Nolano che vuol far instawza à nostro signore che dictriari il senso delle Propositioni Il Padre Vadringhi hà detto al Padre Reginaldi che si sia fatta la Censura con tanto rigore perche nelle Congregationi niuno l' hà censurate con tanto rigore ne meno il P. Palavicini c. Questa matricas ' è fatto Cardinale il nepote de' Barberini Riverisco è salato tutti ex toto corde è fo humilissima riverenza à i Vescovi intrepidis perfectae gratiae amatoribus The second is of the same date written by F. Petit Priest of the Oratory who likewise assur'd me that divers
of the Consultors affirm'd that in their suffrages none of them not even F. Palavicini himself qualify'd the Propositions with those rigorous terms which are in the Censure The third was dated June 28. and written by F. Guerin who amongst a thousand other good Offices which his inexhaustible charity and singular affection to Monseigneur d' Anger 's and to us induc'd him to do for us both during our residence at Rome and after our departure acquainted me with some which I shall here relate in his own words I have presented your books to wit our little tomes of S. Augustin to the Cardinals Franciotti Trivultio and Omodei who receiv'd them with great joy and expressions of acknowledgement especially the first and the last But the two first particularly Trivultio profess'd that they were much surpriz'd when he saw the Popes Censure forasmuch as there was great likelyhood and reason that you should be heard Trivultio said he did not think that it would any wise conduce to the establishment of peace but rather the contrary because though his Holiness seems in appearance not to have touch'd S. Augustin yet he hath done it indirectly and will cause much trouble The two others earnestly prest the Oration and the Dictinction of the senses of the Propositions which all three judg'd should have been in the Censure Franciotti hath made them already and I shall carry them to Omodei afterwards He had put off our House to Monsignor Caffaretti and sold our furniture presently after our departure and therefore understanding our offer to the Bishops to return to Rome if they pleas'd he offer'd us his own in that case till another could be provided in this obliging manner If you return to Rome be sure you alight nowhere else but at my house if you will have me your friend The fourth is of the same date June 28. written by F. Petit Priest of the Oratory and superior of these which are at Rome in Saint Lewis's Covent Sir I Have received yours of the 21. of June with the inclosed which I have distributed I have seen as many of your friends as I could and presented your recommendations to them they are all glad to hear of your health and pray our Lord Jesus Christ to continue strength and health to you till you come to the end of your Voyage where I doubt not but you will have great Encounters to undergo for the cause of Truth Now F. Dinet is grown so potent at Court by his guidance of the Kings conscience he will not fail to make use of that Authority for persecuting the Truth and those who defend it As for newes here none is spoken of saving that your Adversaries walk with something more stateliness and carry their heads higher then they did formerly The Jesuites proclaim openly that you are condemn'd together with S. Augustin and the whole School of the Thomists and a Divine of the Romane Colledg hath begun to argue from the Censure of the third Proposition that Jesus Christ had indifference in reference to his actions to prove which when he alledg'd the Censure of the third Proposition they say a Student answer'd him Sed illa propositio est de natura lapsa in qua non erat Christus which put him to a nonplus Nevertheless the intelligent sort of people have no great respect for this Censure they see so much partiality and passion and so little justice in it 'T is affirm'd to me that F. Aversa some other Consultors never saw your Writings and was not call'd after your Audience and that this Censure is certainly the same which was made towards the beginning of Lent The same person assures me too that the first beginning of the Congregation 't was a fixt and determinate resolution to censure the Propositions at what rate soever And therefore 't is no wonder that the Jesuites spoke of it so confidently from the first He tells me likewise that none of the Consultors at least the Molinists care not much for S. Augustine's Authority but I hope that God and his Church will uphold the same above all those who go about to diminish it At Rome this whole week hath been spent in Bonfires and publick rejoycings both for solemnity of the Mariage and alliance of the Pamphilian Family with that of Cardinal Barberin and for the Promotion made on Monday of the Prince Prefect who took the Hat on Thursday last but with the publick Panegyricks of the Pope and Cardinals T is believ'd that Cardinal Barberin shall resume the Helm of Government Cardinal Antonio is certainly reported to be at Sea and is expected every day M. Hallier and his Collegues make no shew of departing yet 'T is said they stay here to see how the Censure will be receiv'd at Paris and in your University that so they may sollicite his Holinesse for such course and means as shall be necessary to enforce its reception The fifth was written to me on June 29. by that person without whose counsel I have said in one place of this Relation that I did very few things Both the Original and the Translation are here subjoin'd Il pensiero di non uscire d' Italia fin che habbiano riposta di Francia à me all' amico piace sommannente E la parterera Di Roma come fu ' necessarea così non può essere ripresa ne il fermarsi poteva pastorire niuno buon effetto è nella presente congiuntura si è cavato della bacca ai Papa quel piùs che si può sperare è sarà sempre imprudenza tentare la cognitione d' una causa presso un giudice che non intende li termini Si che non bisogna riguardare quello che ponno dire gli auversarie circa la partenzi ma li sogna con prudenza ponderare li nostri disvantaggi li loro vantaggi altro che l' Aliero in tutti li circoli dove si trova predica che ei tiene la gratia efficace de se è la dottrina di sant ' Agostino è che la decisione del Papa non effende ne l' una ne l' altra è che li Molinisti sono in errore come ancora quei della predeterminatione physica si riscalda in modo sopra di ciò che più non si può dire è chi l' hà sentito più volte à me lo riferisse è persona à Giesuiti affectionata Che il Decreto sia per fape rumore in Francia non si crede perche il Rè adopreà la forza autorità perche sia ricevuto con race che così hà promisso è lo so io Che il campo sia aperto in Roma è meglio perche sino che qui si stava la Corte perretrava tutto l' intemo di vosignoria è sprezzava Memoriali come sè berrissimo ma estendo absenti se sentiranno rumori potranno forzi comparire magiori
è più considerabili è mi credache bisogna preoccupare qualche favore ulla corte di Parigi che questo paventarà più che altro perche il brazzo regio è stato quello che hà triato il Papa à quella risolutione à che non saria mai venuto In fatti l' amico conclude che il partire sia stato prudente il ritorno infrutuoso è senza un giudice ch' intenda la materia ogni causa sarà sempre pienadi disorenie Roma li 29. Giugno Which sounds thus translated Your intention not to leave Italy till you receive an answer out of France is extreamly approv'd by me and also by our friend Nor can your departure from Rome be reprehended because it was necessary To have stay'd longer here could have been to no advantage and in the present conjuncture you have drawn the utmost from the Popes mouth that could be hop'd for 'T will ever be imprudence to bring a cause to be examin'd before a Judge who understands not the terms of the matter in question So that it need not be regarded what the Adversaries may say of your departure but our disadvantages and their advantages must be weigh'd with prudence Besides M. Hallier in all Companies where he comes preaches to all the world that he holds Grace Effectual by it self and S. Augustin's Doctrine and that the Popes Decision hurts neither the one nor the other and that the Molinists are in the error as also those who hold Physical Predetermination A person who hath heard him several times and who is well affected to the Jesuites assures me of this As for the Constitution 't is not likely that it will cause any stir in France because the King will make use of force and authority to cause it to be receiv'd for so he hath promis'd I am certain of it Whereas your Adversaries at Rome are absolute masters of the Field 't is the better for all the while you stay'd here the Court penetrated into your secret thoughts and made mock of your Memorials as you know full well But now you are absent if any stir be heard from any place it will appear to them greater and more considerable Have this perswasion that you must endeavor to find some favour and support in the Court of France and this will frighten them more then any thing else because 't is meerly the Kings authority which drew the Pope to this Decision otherwise he would never have made it In a word our friend concludes that your departure was prudent that your return will be unprofitable and so long as there wants a Judge that understands the matter in contest all will be in disorder From Rome June 29. The sixth is of the 4th of July written by the same person who writ the first The sum of this was That the Jesuites made no great exultations of the Constitution at Rome either because no body applauded them upon it or because many and particularly the more intelligent persons said openly that it was not any wise advantageous to them Quà i Giesuiti non si vedono troppo tripudiare o perche non si applaudisce â loro per la Costitutione uscita o perche si dica che non è a lor favore per niun conto e cosà dicono i dotti The seventh is of the fifth of July written by F. Petit. Amongst other things which he signify'd to me he told me these Your differences are scarce any more spoken of here so little care there is of Truth and what concerns it M. N. M. who salutes you told me yesterday that the Jesuites are not very much pleas'd with this Decision and that one of the hottest of them in this contest before the Decision with whom M. Hallier had many conferences having been with him two or three days ago he found him very cold and little pleas'd with this Decision as conceiving that no great advantage could be made of it in reference to the Controversies concerning which you were here nor against Effectual Grace F. Annat's book De libertate incoacta is sold publickly The Master of the sacred Palace made some scruple to give him his Publicetur but he was constrain'd to do it by his Holinesse's Order Cardinal Barberin grows every day to be of great power and consideration with the Pope The Marquis del Buffalo is fallen out of his Holiness's favour who 't is believ'd intends to give his place of Captain of his Guard to the Commander Colonna because the Marquis follow'd the motions and inclinations of the Cardinal of Florence who would not make any rejoycing and Bonfires at the promotion of the Cardinal Prefect Barberin wherewith his Holiness was extreamly offended I fail not to receive every day new intelligence of threatnings by the Jesuites and their adherents to send me to the H. Office F. Richeosme related a pleasant story the other day to some of his friends which was That in the House of S. Louis a wench was found in mans cloaths and that upon examination of the authors of this prank they had no other excuse but to say That they had not the grace of chastity And hereupon he said You see what what an ill effect this is of the Jansenian Doctrine in the Fathers of the Oratory 't is fit they were expell'd least they infect others One that was present and heard this abominable fiction and calumny came in kindness and charity to advertise me of it Now after such a loud untruth judge what they may not attempt since neither the Majesty of the place nor the presence of the H. Sacrament and the bodies of the Apostles S. Peter and S. Paul and the Tribunal of Truth where he was sitting on the part of Jesus Christ to condemn sinners and lyars hinder'd him from relating such a falshood But I neither fear him nor all his adherents God be thanked I hope God and Truth will be stronger then their lyes and impostures Nevertheless I shall endeavor to make my complaints hereof to the Cardinals Barberin and Ghiggi and to the Commissary of the H. Office in order to prevent their malice The 8th hath no date but I believe it was about the same time with the former It was from a very able and prudent Dominican who testify'd much satisfaction in hearing of our welfare and touching the Affair writ the following words Quanto al negocio nel Collegio Romano si lege de merito Christi subito si stabilisse la necessità della indifferenza con la terza propositione Quindi si deduce che niuno atto di Christo era meritorio se non per quella circonstanze rispetto alle quali era indifferente S' è fatto penetrare al Papa e questo hà mandato ordine al Generale Giesuita che scriva per tutta la Compania e faccia osservare nelli studii che niuno si vaglia della Bolla sua per
it or me that therefore I need not be afraid of any rumors or menaces and of this I I might assure our General Upon my mentioning the abuse which the Jesuites made of this Declaration he told me their General had written to their Fathers to forbear doing so That himself had written to F. Annat to that purpose whose printing of his book at Paris Jansenius à Thomistis damnatus he did not approve nor that which he printed de incoacta libertate with the decree and approbation of the H. Office that had no esteem at all of these books but that one of his intitled Augustinus à Baianis vindicatus was a book of great learning whence you may judge how requisite it is to have an answer made to it and seen here The day before I was with Cardinal Ghiggi to complain to him of the threatnings of the Jesuites and assure him that our Congregation would be alwayes obedient to follow the doctrine of the Church and the H. Councils And having also told him that because our Congregation adher'd to the doctrine of S. Augustin and Thomas this gave occasion to the Jesuites to calumniate our doctrine He answer'd me that he had heard nothing of it that indeed he had heard a talk of some union of F. Bourgoing our General with the Jesuites touching doctrine but of nothing besides To which I reply'd that this union was only an union of charity and not of doctrine that we adher'd in Divinity and doctrine to S. Augustin and S. Thomas and should not recede from them in regard his Holinesse had plainly declar'd to have a great respect for this doctrine and that he intended to do nothing against it But the Cardinal answer'd me with sufficient coldnesse that his Holinesse intended not to do any thing against it and that so long as we follow'd the Scholiastick authors approved by the H. Church we should never be blam'd By his discourse I judg'd that he was one of those who had done most hurt to the truth and contributed most to this decision I am inform'd that amongst many other praises which F. Tartaglia gave this Cardinal in a certain company for his wit learning and piety one was that he was the penman of this admirable Constitution in which he said nothing could be added or whereof every word was as so many oracles of the H. Ghost c. I must confesse to you I have been much mistaken in this Cardinal and the credit respect and esteem which I formerly had for him is much abated I forgot to tell you that I found M. Hallier with this Cardinal before me to whom himself and some others of his family made great caresses whereby I perceived that the Molinists were more wellcome there then the Augustinians His Holinesse gave M Hallier this week a Priory of 800. Crownes motu proprio that is to say this Priory which is in Bretegne and known by the name of the Priory de Rieux having been desired of his Holiness by some persons potent in credit of which some were Cardinals the Pope askt what it was worth and being answer'd that it was worth 800. or 1000. Crownes his Holinesse said he would have it for M. Hallier and accordingly commanded the Datary to expedite the same for him This will encrease the number of his Benefices but not of his merit 'T is said He looks for a Mitre as the reward of his glorious labours for defence of the Church They lodge still at the three Kings in a hir'd chamber c. F. Reginald is talkt of to be Divine and Preceptor to the young Cardinal Barberin If his General stirre in it he may have this employment otherwise the Jesuites will obstruct him I wish it him for the benefit which would thereby arise here to Truth I shall adde one reflexion here which I hear was made upon the Censure by a person of capacity viz. he saith he found in a Canonist that when ever his Holinesse us'd the word declaramus in his Bulls and Decrees 't was an infallible token that his Holinesse by such Bull or Decree non constituebat novum jus censuram sed tantum confirmabat stabiliebat jam factum stabilitum licet adderentur ista verba definimus quae semper considerantur ut habentia ordinem ad declaramus And consequently in the Censure of the Five Propositions this word declaramus being repeated at every Censure of every one of the said Propositions 't is an infallible sign that by it his Holiness hath not made a new Censure of these Propositions but onely declar'd or renew'd those which were formerly made against them in the Council of Trent onely in the sense of the Calvinists and Lutherans and no-wise in the sense of S. Augustin S. Thomas or of him whom you follow The Eleventh was of July 18. and contain'd no other newes saving that the Pope was much displeas'd with the Spaniards and amongst other causes thereof complain'd that the Bishops of Flanders refus'd to obey him and contemn'd his authority which he threatned to revenge and made great complaints of it to Cardinal Trivultio in the last audience which his Holinesse gave him Non ho cosa particolare di nuovo salvo che il Papa si da per disgustatissimo da spagnoli è frà l' alhe occasioni del suo disgusto si duole che li Vescovi di Fiandra non obediscano è s' avanxano al dispreggio della sua autorità onde minaccia sissentimenti è nell ' ultima audienza data a Trivulsio fece longa dolianza The twelfth is of the 19th of July written by F. Petit wherein after some private affair he tells me thus As for the Menaces of Jesuites I care little for them by God's help I shall dissipate them without their doing me any mischief Neverthelesse I shall follow your counsel and endevor not to fall out with any person about these matters although I shall have much ado to forbear from quarrelling with those who take advantage of this Censure to say that the doctrine of S. Augustin and Thomas touching grace effectual by it self is censur'd and that you are condemn'd considering that ever since your first arrival and since the Decision the Pope plainly protested the contrary and that you never held these Propositions but with reference to Effectual Grace three days ago I had a brush about it with F. Marinari who asking me news of you fell to tell me that you were condemn'd I could not suffer it but answer'd him that you never held these Propositions otherwise then in the sense of S. Augustin and of S. Thomas and of Grace effectual by it self which his Holinesse profess'd he meant not to prejudice by this decision but I could get no more reply from him saving that they were condemn'd absolutely and without exception of Effectual Grace And when I press'd him to tell me whether S. Augustin S. Thomas and Effectual Grace were condemn'd he
answer'd me plainly that they are absolutely condemn'd Yes said I in the bad and heretical sense which they contain but not in the Catholick You see hereby what evil consequence the enemies of the Grace of Jesus Christ draw from this Censure Cardinal Antonio hath been receiv'd here with the publick acclamations of Vivat le Card. Antonio His Holinesse receiv'd him with open armes All your friends salute you and desire me again to put you in mind that 't is necessary that you make a brief Narrative or History of all which hath pass'd and you have negotiated in your affair of the Instances Memorials and writings which you presented to his Holinesse the audience which you had and all the rest of the transactions in the decision of the Consultors and Cardinals c. also what your Adversaries both spoke and acted and this plainly yet respectfully speaking of the H. See and this Court though without omission of any thing of the truth and of the repulses which were given you The History may be concluded with the Decision and what the Pope said to you at your taking leave of him and as for the Decision it self you must allow it in the sense and meaning which his Holinesse put upon it which is against the sense of Luther and Calvin wherewith your adversaries and the malice of the Jesuites have alwayes falsely charged you The Thirteenth of the same date in which F. Guerin tells me of some calumnious extravagant discourses which M. Hallier and his Collegues made concerning us The Molinists saith he still lodge at the three Kings a place of sufficiently ill note but the good men know not so much as I believe although in the little time that I was there I was but ill pleas'd with it They have many untoward discourses of what they say the Pope said to them concerning your behaviour in Rome and theirs your expence and theirs their poverty and your riches by help whereof you have spent in Rome thirty seven thousand Crownes c. That you endevor'd to corrupt by presents one of his Officers of the Palace that you brib'd one of the Consultors That his Holinesse knew whom you frequented and who came to you That you were call'd the rich Doctors and they the poor Doctors with a thousand other fopperies I cordially salute your Collegues and am c. All that I learnt considerable out of the Fourteenth which is of the 26th of July is that the face of Cardinal Antonio's affairs was already a little chang'd and that the kindred of the new bride fell very short in performance of the conditions promis'd in reference to her marriage That some persons being incensed at the excesses of F. Adam's book and that of F. Annat against S. Augustin indevor'd to get them Censur'd and that the number of the Disciples of this great Doctor of the Church encreas'd every day in that first City of Christendome Non so che me der altro per fine ch' i Discipoli di sant Agostino non minuiscono ma crescona qua CHAP. III. Containing the Letters which were written to me from Paris assoon as the certain intelligence of the Pope's Constitution arriv'd there and the Answer of F. Morin Priest of the Oratory to one of his Confreres who consulted him concerning the said Constitution I Have four Letters dated the fourth of July Neither my Lords nor our friends understood any thing concerning the Constitution at first but by the rejoycings of the Molinists which good people being wont to tell wonders of their Affairs the rumours which were spread abroad thereof were not believ'd because it did not appear how the same agreed with the state of ours and what we had written but assoon as the newes became certain I receiv'd these four Letters The first of which was written by the order and command of my Lords who conceiv'd us still at Rome whereby they sent us word to return the most speedily we could and to testifie their submission to the Bull in very general terms although they made no difficulty upon the condemnation of the Propositions because they sent us not to maintain them as they are condemned in the Bull but only to hinder least by occasion of the five equivocal and maliciously contriv'd Propositions the doctrine of S. Augustin and S. Thomas might be condemned chiefly in what concernes the necessity of Effectual Grace The second was from the most ancient and considerable Doctor of our Faculty and is here subjoin'd Sir my dear Friend AT length the thunder is fallen and has discharged its bolt The allarmes formerly given us have been follow'd with their effect and the success shews that our Adversaries have had more interest then you in the secret Counsel and made the better part of it if at least they did not wholly model it by their management and subtilty VVe wait impatiently for Monday to understand from you the order and series of the whole Affair whilst in the mean time we hear in the streets houses Companies no other noise but that of Molinistical triumphs and for my part I believe artificial Fire-works will be made thereupon in the Colledges of Sorbon and Navarre as well as at S. Louis not to mention S. Germain de l' Auxenois and S. Sulpitius The Pamphleters have not yet cry'd up and down the streets but I look to hear them to day or to morrow You see I have been a Prophet and that when I told you this back-blow-would be given upon pretence that you were not parties because you were not accus'd by any body and 't was only about the Propositions in general that his Holinesse was consulted who might answer by himself it seems the H. Ghost spoke by my mouth Well Sit nomen Domini benedictum I know not in what estate Rome is but I desire to understand from you I assure you that in this Countrey the news doth not dismay us on the contrary 't is an Antiperistasis which redoubles strength in the true Defenders of Evangelical Truths to defend and maintain the same more vigorously then ever both by speech and writing in spight of the intrigues of their enemies and the persecutions wherewith they threaten us from the temporal Powers The Providence of God seems not to have deserted us in this occasion For before this news we printed the Distinction of the senses of the Propositions which you presented to the Pope in a full Congregation which made almost all the world judge of the effect of this Bull before they saw it and as I am told even M. the Penitentiary and Amiot have been heard to say that it was in such a manner as it did no hurt saving among the vulgar and ignorant But this is enough for them and if they triumpht upon a Decree of the Inquisition no doubt they will make Bonefires with invented squibs when the Pope as they think hath spoken so well in their favour All this moves not me and
several occasions that he is so incens'd against me that I have reason to fear that he seeks to decry and mischief me by all wayes that he can Nor can I doubt but that in a hundred places where I am not present to defend my self he makes the same discourses which he dar'd to make before me in your hearing Sir who might soon know by the long experience you have had of my deportment and ancient engagements to the Kings service how little probability there is in this accusation God grant the distrust I have of M. Hallier's evil designes against me be as ill-grounded and that his charity towards me of which he gave you so ample a testimony at the beginning of our discourse be true and solid but the speeches which he hath utter'd concerning me since his arrival at Paris the leaven which remains in his heart ever since I went about as he saith to make him guilty of high Treason by accusing him of having approv'd Sanctaret's book and a design which perhaps he suspected I had at Rome tending not so much to his advantage have given me great grounds to conceive this distrust Wherefore I hope Sir you will approve my proceeding in this case and add this new favour to the many former for which I am oblig'd to you that this business between M. Hallier and me may be clear'd before you not so much in reference to my justification in your opinion for I conceive you are already perswaded of my integrity as to prevent him from venting the like calumnies in other places against me and I believe you will be ready to afford me the meanes to prove before all the world hereafter if M. Hallier gives me occasion for it by continuing the like speeches by the discussion of this fact I am not only clear from all fault in this kind but that he hath not the least ground to charge me with any But least such as may see this Letter hereafter should imagine that there is some exaggeration in what I have spoken above in general of the other falshoods which M. Hallier vented before you and I clearly refuted upon the place because they see none particularis'd give me leave to remind you of half a dozen of the principal of which this good Doctor was convicted 1. He affirm'd as a certain thing that we have had great intelligence familiarity and conference with the Ministers of Geneva and that he was inform'd hereof by the Deputy Syndic of the City but I cut him short by telling him that we came not within three dayes Journey of the place which I was ready to prove by the Messenger who conducted us and by the testimony of all the Innes at which we lodg'd upon the Road that we came 2. He call'd me a seditious person and to prove it said That I had rais'd sedition upon sedition viz. by moving sedition in our Faculty when I saw Paris in combustion with the Barricadoes But to refute this I alledg'd that the day when I made my opposition to the violation of the Statutes of our Faculty the pretended sedition wherewith he reproacht me was the second of May 1648. and that the Barricadoes were not made till four Moneths after to wit the 26th of August following 3. He contended most obstinately that the Faculties Censure of the first of April 1626 against Sanctarel was revok'd by the Faculty And I told him I would put it to the trial and undertake that he could not shew me any valid act of this Chimerical revocation but on my part I would produce this Censure into the day newly extracted out of our Registers 4. To lessen the shame which he receiv'd by the opposition which was made to his Syndicship because he had given his approbation the same year to that pernicious Doctrine which he also solemny approv'd again in your presence Sir declaring that though he believ'd it false he woule rather depart the Kingdom then subscribe to the Censure which the Faculty had made of it because it condemn'd the said doctrine of heresie which he said had been suppos'd follow'd and practis'd by five general Councils He affirm'd that he had the whole Faculty for him excepting seven young Doctors who oppos'd his Election But I askt him whether he accounted the Curé de S. Roch and M. Brousse young Doctors and I told him that the five others who oppos'd him were as old as himself that is to say of the ancientest of the Faculty 5. He said he had right to send F. Mulard to Rome as Deputy of the Faculty though he added that he did not send him because the Faculty had given him and three other Doctors power to prosecute the Affair before all sort of Tribunals And I askt him whether the word quomodolibet which they had slipt into the Faculties Conclusion purposely to countenance this pretended power afterwards signify'd all sorts of Tribunals And I averr'd that in the Faculties deliberation the question was never other then about joining in the appeal of the Irish to the Parliament and that the Faculty had not the least thought of all sorts of Tribunals much lesse of giving him power to send Deputies to Rome 6. Lastly Sir Assoon as you were gone out of the Room he complain'd in presence of M. de Sablonniere and another person who I believe was one of your Officers that I sent you word in the Letters which I writ to you from Rome that the Pope had repuls'd him and that you told the King so both which things as you know are equally contrary to the Truth All the other injuries and Discourse I pass over in silence though I penn'd an ample Relation thereof last night to make use of when need shall be both because the rest may be judg'd of by those which things I have here mention'd because I consider that I ought not to abuse the honour of the Audience which you give me especially since this Letter is only in order to my justification against the most considerable of the calumnies whereof I complain in order to the clearing of which I once more renew my humble Requests to you with as much instance as the dearnesse of my Reputation and my innocence require with sentiments as full of sorrow and compassion for M. Hallier as his were violent against me and with as much respect to your person as my obligation is to be Sir Your most humble and obedient servant De Saint-Amour December 16. 1651. I sent this Letter to M. de Souvré the same day but he not being at home I sent it again the next and the next after went my self to reiterate my Request to him that he would oblige M. Hallier to this Conference He advis'd me to consider the Genius of the person with whom we had to deal saying that he was a heady man with whom there was no pleasure to contend because there was no moderation in him That therefore it was best to
them since become very common and authentick in Copies dispers'd abroad perfectly agreeing with that publish'd by the Bishop of Montpellier I conceiv'd it requisite that they accompany'd the Journal VII I have not thought fit to insert all the Writings made by us at Rome because they would have too much swell'd the Volume they being many and divers of them very prolix VIII Neverthelesse I have inserted the Answer to the Sixty passages of S. Augustin produc'd by M. Hallier in reference to the First Proposition because the said Answer may serve to shew what would have been the success of a Conference wherein those Passages might have been clear'd and what reasons we had to desire it and our Adversaries to decline it IX Where Latine or Italian Pieces are found at length in the Journal translated into French as sundry Memorials are and the Speeches of M. De la Lane and F. Desmares in the audience which we had of the Pope I have not thought needfull to repeat them in the Collection in their Original Language partly for the sake of Compendiousness and partly because I consider'd that the Journal might one day come to be translated into Latin and then the said Latin pieces might be set in their due Place and Language X. Yet I have inserted the Letters of my LL. the Bishops having conceiv'd my self oblig'd by respect to them not to be contented with the Versions thereof though most faithfully made and plac'd in the Journal but to represent the same in their own words and form XI Mention having frequently been made in the Journal of a Latine Explication of the Propositions made and publish'd at Paris almost two yeares before the Constitution and styled by me as often as I had occasion to name it our Latin Manifesto I have thought the placing of it here expedient for its Preservation to Posterity because it admirably sets forth that the same doctrin was held by us both before the Constitution and since namely that Of Effectual Grace and that the Propositions were never otherwise accounted than as things maliciously contriv'd by the Adversaries of S. Augustin's doctrine XII The same reason hath induc'd me to annex the Conditions which were presented to the Faculty in Order to examination both of the Propositions produc'd by M. Cornet and of others extracted out of Molina's Book And because this Writing is the first of all those that are mentioned in the Journal therefore it is likewise plac'd first in the Collection It follows with a short Preface wherewith it was printed soon after M. Coppin had presented it to the Faculty as I have related Part. 1. Chap. 14. CONDITIONES Ad examen Doctrinae de Gratia oblatae Facultati Theologiae Parisiensi apud Sorbonam Kal. Decembris congregatae Anno 1649. QUi Magistri Nicolai Cornet consiliis rogationi ab ipso latae prima Julii restitere eo ducti animo ne quid veritas aut B. Augustini doctrina detrimenti pateretur ut palam esset quam non abhorrerent a legitimo de doctrina judicio saepius quaestionem aequis conditionibus de illa constitui postularunt Sed postquam adeo justam petitionem nullus recipiebat visum ipsis est e re sua fore si postulationis formulam conscriberent quam deferrent ad Facultatem si forte de examine mentio fieret Igitur cum M. Jacobus Pereyret Kalendis Decembris frequentissima Facultate sententiam dicens de pace inter Doctores revocanda censuisset discutiendas esse propositiones illas quae totius dissensionis caput ac origo essent atque ut ne quis minus mature tanta de causa statutum quereretur totis mensibus tribus quatuorve rem expendendam tum denique Doctores in suffragium mittendos M. Petrus Coppin ne haec opinio valeret apud plurimos illius assectatores atque etiam ne de illa ante comitia convenissent ejus orationem excipiens ita locutus est Si de propositionibus illis videretur constituendum judicium legem quamdam ferendam esse ex qua tota haberetur quaestio controversia finiretur illius se non solum auctorem sed alios etiam sapientissimos Doctores plurimos quorum nomine loqueretur Cum vero tabulas eduxisset e sinu in quibus descripta erant rogationis capita jam legere inciperet ut omnes intelligerent in quas examinis conditiones decretum fieri vellet repente per vim a quodam e Doctoribus ereptae sunt Statim de illa vi conquesti sunt M. Petrus Coppin aliique plures eviceruntque tandem sibi reddi has tabulas quas cum M. Petrus Coppin a se per tumultum hunc legi non posse animadverteret ad Scribam detulit ut eas ille publicis Commentariis consignaret Conditiones vero postulatae sunt quae nulli iniquae videri possint Judicium enim non defugiunt B. Augustini defensores sed liberum postulant grave prensationibus non obnoxium cujusmodi videlicet ad causam adeo difficilem arduam dijudicandam requiritur POstquam ex scriptis quae circa Magistri Nicolaï Cornet consilium edita sunt omnibus innotuit quà m periculosè propositiones quasdam de Gratia ambiguas aequivocas à nullo auctore in sensu quem prae se ferre videntur assertas vocaverit in medium examinandas Facultati exhibuerit postquam satis etiam Senatûs judicio comprobatum est quà m sapienter justè omnibus hac in re actis jam septuaginta Doctores Seculares intercesserimus ad Senatum provocaverimus quantùm Ecclesiae ac Facultatis paci ab omni hoc examine abstinere conduceret totum hoc negotium alto silentio comprimendum ab inceptis cessandum pacem reddendam spes fuerat Neque verò his sic obstitimus ut examen aequum declinaremus sed ut paci Ecclesiae B. Augustini auctoritati doctrinae quas impeti nemo non videbat consultum esset Verùm cùm quidam quod semel aggressi sunt perficere omni conatu laborent atque iterum propositionum examen à Facultate postulent et si hoc consilium toti Ecclesiae ac summis Pontificibus maximè verò Clementi Octavo ac Paulo Quinto injuriosum putemus ne quis tamen nos doctrinae examen ac judicium effugere putet examen judicium si facto opus esse videbitur non respuimus modò cum omni aequitate fiant atque his conditionibus à nobis propositis sicut tanti in Ecclesia Fide momenti res exigit Cùm M. Nicolaus Cornet propositiones de Gratia quas libuit non nominato auctore primâ Julii Facultati obtulerit examinandas atque tunc querentibus nonnullis plura alia esse nou minùs examine digna responsum fuerit licere cuilibet alias etiam examinandas Facultati propositiones exhibere Cùm si examen aggredi placet Christianae paci quae non parum hâc dissensione violatur maximè
imply'd the Necessity of Effectual Grace that by this meanes the Bull would be favourable to us and moreover make our Adversaries passe for calumniators and successors of these Semipelagians as well in their manners and proceedings as in their doctrine But the Jesuites and their Adherents did not stop at these threatnings of future things they already made advantages as well at Rome as at Paris of the Victories which they had not yet obtain'd They assur'd their Partisans at Rome that the Decree which they made against the Propositions would be received with applause in France by all the Court and all the great persons of the times and in France they animated all the powers both Ecclesiastical and secular against the learned and pious persons of whom they were jealous as against person already condemn'd and declar'd Hereticks the affairs of M. Manessier and M. Cordon whereof one had been elected for the place of Regius Professor of Divinity in the University of Caen and the other for that Principal of the Colledge of Montaigu who were both cast out of their charges are two memorable examples thereof which I than insert here with the circumstances wherewith I understood the same in a Latin letter written to me the 29th of this month For that it contains nothing but affairs of the University I shall leave it in the language of that place Terrent minis Molinistinae quos ratione vincere non possunt Hac se arte putant Romae plurimùm authoritatis habituras si potentiam secularem ostentare possint Timeri volunt quando persuadere vi argumentorum vincere nequeunt Ita profecto ni fallor Romae agent quemadmodum Lutetiae Hic de futura ut aiunt Censura triumphant illic de Optimatum protectione gloriabantur Enimvero non semel ad vexandos adversarios Romano nomine abusi sunt eviceruntque ut irascerentur ex Optimatibus Principibus aliqui in homines Romae damnatos tollendos censerent quos Pontificium fulmen ferisset Nuper hac usi sunt calumnia ut D. Manessier Cadomensi Cathedra de Cordon Montis acuti Primatu dejicerent nefas aiebant in eos conferre suffragium quorum doctrinam Papa proscriberet Quam artem ubi non procedere senserunt ad vim apertam versi utrumque suo loco pellere voluerunt Litteras quasi à Rege miserunt ad Gubernatorem Cadomensem Lettres de cachet i. e. under the Privy Seal quibus mandabatur juberet protinus D. Manessier urbe cedere sive lectiones orsus esset sive non seseque conferre ad Comitatum Regi actionum suarum rationem redditurum Invigilaret quoque P. de Folleville Oratorii Sacerdotis Professoris Theologi lectionibus et doctrinae Delata res ad Cadomensem Academiam movit indignationem omnium Causam D. Manessier suam fecere Academeci Proceres Rescripsere ad Parisiensem Academiam ut suo alumno patrocinaretur obstaretque ne Theologi Professores paterent impotentissimorum hominum libidini Nondum res conclusa est apud D. Rectorem Moras nexuit D. Morel qui Decani loco illis Comitiis interest causatus rem esse periculosam Regiae voluntati intercedere ingratiam nescio quorum hominum perditae doctrinae quorum reliquiae et Romae et in Gallia Regia auctoritate brevi conterendae sint Non impediet tamen ne Parisiensis Academia Doctoris sui defensionem suscipiat De D. Cordon res ita se habet Mortuo de Canel Bursarii palam fecere quà m propenso in illum animo essent Hoc malè habuit Molinistas Statim illi advolare ad Poenitentiarium qui nomine Capituli inspector est ut electionem istam disturbaret Itur ad Carthusianos item illius Collegii inspectores convenitur Prior. Doctores scrupulum movent videret nempe ne grande piaculum committeret reusque esset violatae Religionis si hominem haereticum daemonis filium daemonem ipsum et quid non Collegio bene Catholico praefici sineret omnia mala bonaque justa injusta tendanda esse ad Dei gloriam Ille egregie animatus hisce declamationibus Bursarorum animos tentat Vbi non potest ad suam pertrahere sententiam quid agat Molitur facinus indignum indignissimum Tres ex iis sex autem omnino sunt habentes jus suffragii hactenus ut Bursarios ab ipsis quoque Carthusianis à Capitulo à Primario ab omnibus habitos ipso electionis pervigilio bursa dejiciunt nescio quid causati Non cedere illi abdicati quoque de vi queri appellare interesse velle Comitiis ferre suffragium eligunt D. Cordon semel iterum biduo enim repetita suffragia Opponunt sese Prior Procurator Carthusianorum Inde ad Senatum Nam cum periculum esset ne Capitulum Parisiense rei indignitate motum adversus Carthusianos sentiret obtinuerunt placitum libello supplici oblato quo rei totius cognitione judicio Capitulo interdicitur Tum alio libello supplici obtiuuere ut de Marlier quem Carthusiani Primarium volebant licet non electus Primarium lite pendente ageret Duo Consiliarii sese contulere in Montanum Collegium ut in illud novum Primarium inducerent Restitere Bursarii intercessere decreto facto non auditis partibus Inde quod summae aequitatis judicium est abiere ad Cathusianos duo illi Senatores ad paratum convivium Tertium etiam habere voluerunt quo non obstante intercessione prius illud Decretum firmarent sed rejecta est à Senatoribus importuna petitio quorum magna pars graviter tulit tam praecipitanter rem illam actam esse ab uno aut altero Senatore inconsultâ Curiâ Nam ita duo prima illa decreta facta sunt Rem aliàs persequar Sed non omittam Principis Senatûs dictum quo rem dixit ad Regiam auctoritatem pertinere necesse esse ut mos ipsi in Montano gereretur quasi Regium edictum sit ne quis adversùs injustam Monachorum tyrannidem reclamet Vale. 29 Novemb. 1652. CHAP. XV. The continuation of our Solicitations during December to obtain the audience of the Pope which we desir'd for presenting our Writings with two Memorials to him one for communications of the said Writings and the other against F. Modeste M. Albizzi and the Jesuites THe first day of December the first Sunday of Advent upon which the Pope usually went to Chappel but some indisposition hindring him from doing so and yet permitting him to give particular audiences his Holiness appointed this day at Cardinal Vrsin's request to give audience to divers Polonians who were returning into their own Country VVe endeavoured also to get opportunity to present the Book of our VVritings to his Holiness but some obstacle hinder'd him from giving audience either to the Polonians or to us They return'd thither on Tuesday and we likewise but they were so long at audience that they left none for us though it appear'd that
the greatest affair which the Pope had with them was to give them his Benediction and indulgences In the afternoon I went to visite the Ambassador who was going to see Cardinal Albieri whither I accompani'd him VVe had been once or twice before to visite this Cardinal and that we might be no more disappointed I took this occasion to agree upon an hour for the next day with his Maistre de chambre In going and coming I spoke to the Ambassador touching the communication of our writings He told me that all the fear was of protractions which might happen thereby I answered him that so much must be resolv'd upon as was absolutely inseparable from a legal examen and besides such we sought none I manifested to him by the whole course which he knew we had kept hitherto that we had not caus'd any and I gave him all reasonable assurances that we would never occasion any On the contrary I shew'd him that our interest as well as our intention was to see this affair assoon ended as we could procure it that if after a thorough discussion it were found that we were in the wrong we should be glad to see a solemn and authentick condemnation and that were favourable to truth pronounc'd against us that the Pope the Consultors our Adversaries and we ought to aim at no other that likewise if it were found that the sentiment of the Jesuites and M. Hallier and his Collegues were not conformable thereunto it behoov'd to spare them no more then us to the prejudice of truth The Ambassador acknowledg'd the truth of all this and told me two things sufficiently remarkable to let posterity know what infamous and shameful means were made use of to decry us and disparage a holy and wholsome doctrine He told me that M. Hallier and his Collegues had shew'd him a Letter of M. de Marca Bishop of Conzerans newly nominated to the Archbishoprick of Tholouze whose hand the Ambassador said he knew well having receiv'd many Letters from him whilst he was in Catalonia in which that Prelate signifi'd to them that the Jacobins had inform'd him that a certain woman being at Confession confess'd that she had forgotten herself in the conjugal fidelity which she ow'd to her husband and alledg'd that Grace fail'd her three times The second thing which the Ambassador told me about the same matter was that a certain man being sick in the quartier of the Jocobins viz. the Reform'd in the Street S. Honore receiv'd the Viaticum from M. de S. Roch in the usual manner That yet afterwards being visited by two of that Order who went so comfort and exhort him telling him that it behoov'd him to think upon God and his Grace The man answer'd that he did not believe himself to be one of those for whom God had prepar'd it That thereupon the Jacobins told him that he must begg it of God and that he answer'd that he had not so much as the Grace to pray They reply'd that he ought to have confidence that God had merited it for him by his death the man answer'd that he could not perswade himself that he was one of those for whom our Lord died That the man was recover'd a little that yet it was not known what would become of him in the end but the Jacobins and M. de S. Roch were much troubled about it and that it made a great noise in his Parish But in the mean time it was manifest what evil effects had been caus'd by spreading in the Church the difficult and strange Questions of the Mystery of Grace namely Libertinisme and Despair I could not this day give the Ambassador the Answers which these examples or rather fictions deserv'd because we arriv'd at his House and the Discourse broke off But being the next day at S. Louis one told me in the Sacristie in presence of sundry Ecclesiasticks who stood about the Fire that the talk was in Rome that the Confession a la mode was to say instead of I have fail'd Grace hath fail'd me whereupon conceiving that this Discourse proceeded from the Letter which M. Hallier had show'd the Ambassador I first remonstrated to the Company as well as I could and the place permitted the injuriousness and impiety of those who thus sought to make ridiculous the prime maximes of the Gospel by false and senceless consequences After which I went to dine with the Ambassador that I might have occasion to speak to him both privately and at his Table and by answering those foolish and temerarious objections ruine them in the same place from whence in probability they first began to be disperst I said as I had done at S. Louis touching the first That when it is said that Grace is necessary to all actions the meaning is not for the doing of them simply because there are many other motives of civil honesty and natural equity obliging us thereunto which are sufficient for the doing of them as is clear by the examples of so many Pagans who receiv'd no Christian graces who had not so much as the smallest light of Faith and who nevertheless were chast just charitable faithful and generous out of the consideration of what they ow'd to the interests of their honour their friends and their Country But the meaning is That Grace is necessary for the doing of the least action upon the principles of Christian love and profitably for salvation c. And as for the second example to take away the scandal it might give in case it were true I affirm'd that it was not an effect of the sound doctrine of Grace whereof Christian Piety oblig'd men not to be ignorant but of the ill use and false consequences drawn from it by its enemies That from this example we ought to take occasion to humble our selves before God for avoiding the like error That men ought to spend all their lives in fear and confidence to work out our own salvation and hope in God with trembling That S. Paul who did not find himself culpable for any thing nevertheless did not presume that therefore he was justifi'd but although he had no such presumption yet he had a holy hope of his salvation by the strength of him through whom he could do all things that it behoov'd to follow his example in either respect that every one ought to labour after his salvation as if it wholly depended on himself and yet hope in God's mercy and grace as being unable to do any thing but by grace I also caus'd the Ambassador to read about two pages of S. Prosper's Epistle to S. Augustin wherein he acknowledg'd was contain'd and reduc'd the ground of all the ordinary Objections brought against the doctrine of Grace which we defended But he askt me whether S. Augustin answer'd to all that as I assur'd him and if so how was it possible that the Pereyrets the Halliers and other famous Doctors of the Faculcy had not read it