which lyes upon their hearts And in the Orison following Hear the prayers which we offer unto thee to take away the blindnesse of that people that knowing Jesus Christ the light of thy Truth they may come out of their darkness And in the next Let us pray also for the Heathen that the Almighty God may root out the iniquity which is in their hearts And on Holy Saturday after the first Prophecy Grant that our hearts and minds may remaine stedfast against the allurements of sin And after the tenth Prophecy Give us both to be willing and to be able to perform that which thou commandest us And in the Orison which is said at the Altar taken out of S. Basil's Liturgy of which almost the whole Eastern Church makes use as Petrus Diaconus witnesseth in the eighth Chapter of his Treatise De Incarnatione Gratia Lord give us vertue and enable us to keep it Cause that the wicked may become good and continue the good in their goodness For thou art able to do all things and none can withstand thee Thou savest when it pleaseth thee and no man resisteth thy Will This made S. Augustin say in cap. 7. De Praedest Sanctorum Let not the Church expect long Disputes from us but consider the prayers which she offers daily to God she prayes to him that the incredulous may believe therefore 't is God that converts them to the Faith She prayes that they who believe may persevere and consequently 't is God that gives them perseverance to the end of their lives And he concludes in these words What man having a sound and vigilant Faith can listen to humane Reasonings against what is taught him by this loud Trumpet of Truth Many other like prayers there are made by Saints and dispers'd everywhere in the Holy Scriptures such as this Create a new heart in me O God And this God open your heart to understand his holy Law and make you walk according to his Commandments And this other God give you all such hearts that you may serve him and perform his will with affection and zeal And this other of S. Paul God incline you to every good thing by working in you that which is well-pleasing to himself And we beseech him not only that you may not do evil but that you may do good From all which passages this Argument may be form'd He who prayes to God for all the things above-mention'd namely to graffe his love in our hearts to reduce our rebellious will to himself by his goodnesse to give us the will and the power to perform what he commandeth to create a new heart in us to make us walk in the way of his Commandments to take out of us the heart of stone which hinders us from performing thereof and to give us a heart of flesh which may cause us to perform the same to cause that no temptations may be able to alter the holy desires which he inspires into us not only that we may not do evil but do good He I say who prayes for all these things doth not pray for a sufficient Grace whereby we may be able if we will which leaves it at the disposal of our Free-will to will or not will but he asks an effectual and victorious grace which causes us to will invincibly and as far as is needful to perform that which we will But the Church asks all these things of God in its ordinary prayers Therefore c. On the contrary it cannot be said that the Church ever thought of praying to God for such Grace as the Molinists fancy For supposing that God has given a just man the Grace to persevere but such a Grace as doth not make him persevere though he might persevere can any one be so senslesse as to say that such Grace is the Grace of perseverance which the Church asks of God in its prayers and whereof the Apostle saith We pray God that you do not evil but that on the contrary you may do good Hence therefore we may argue against them in this manner The Grace which the Church never asks of God is not the true grace of Jesus Christ necessary and sufficient to every action of piety Now the sufficient Grace of the Molinists by which most frequently we neither will nor do good can neither be that Grace which the Church implores of God Therefore this kind of grace is not the true Grace of Jesus Christ necessary and sufficient to every action of piety but a false fictitious and illegitimate grace Wherefore M. H. F. If this Grace be ever acknowledg'd to be the true Grace of Jesus Christ all the prayers of the Church must be chang'd those holy prayers which having been left to it by the Apostle are repeated every day in the same manner upon Altars consecrated to God over all the World For God according to the opinion of Molina and his Disciples giving us by his grace to be able if we will or rather ability to will and leaving it to our own Free-will to will it is evident that we should have nothing to ask further of God and that no other Grace is to be expected from him Whence every Christian will for the future be oblig'd to speak to God in this manner Lord give me a Grace whereby I may will that which thou commandest me For as for to will and to do it that I ask not of thee because it depends upon my self Leave that to my Free-will let not the power and efficacy of thy celestial Grace extend further for then the liberty of my will would be violated I desire a grace which may give me a possibility and the progresse of that possibility which may invite me call me and sollicite me to good but I desire not such a grace as should give me the affection of the will and the effect of cooperation I desire not such grace as should determine me to will apply me to action lead me to act by its invincible force and operate in me both to will and to do On the contrary I would have a grace which I may apply or not apply according as I please Good God ' Can any Christian endure to hear such language as this What is more unworthy of the School of Jesus Christ more remote from all sort of piety and more insupportable to the eares of the faithful then this manner of praying since sinners would never be converted to God if they waited till they had the will to be converted and if by the omnipotence of his grace he did not work in their hearts that good will and that conversion Moreover the Church doth not beg for them a grace whereby they may be converted if they will but a Grace which may make them willing which may soften their hardnesse and take away their heart of stone to give them one of flesh We pray saith S. Augustin not only for those wbo are unwilling hut also for
that we spoke a little too vehemently against the persons of whom we complain'd I answer'd him that it was necessary to speak so that nevertheless we did it with great circumspection weighing all our words and taking heed whether it would be easie for us to prove what we found our selves oblig'd to alledge And to shew him more particularly all that we had said therein I offer'd him a copy of them which he willingly accepted As for the principal affair he told me the Pope intended to have the Votes of the Consultors in writing examine them himself caus'd the Congregation held at Cardinal Spada's house to assemble before his Holiness to dispute the same matters in his own presence which were debated there That the examination ended he would appoint publick prayers make a Jubilee and other such solemnities before the resolution which he was to take in this so important occasion That he would also first assemble all the Cardinals with their habits of ceremony Rochets and otherwise That himself would appear in his Cap and cloath'd with his other Pontifical ornaments In brief that the business would be very solemn But that he the Ambassador could not tell me all that he knew yet we should assuredly see the affair determin'd with perfect solemnity that in the mean we ought to trouble our selves about nothing else but to get ready to appear before that venerable Assembly and represent all that we conceiv'd necessary for justification of the cause we defended possibly too as he hop'd in presence of our Adversaries that nothing might be wanting to our contentment or the discussion of the affair I testifi'd to the Ambassador great satisfaction for the hope he gave me and told him that course would be admirable and afford great edification to all the Church provided it were follow'd and put in execution He answer'd that I need not doubt of it and that sometimes Popes ill-lik'd for other reasons perform'd extraordinary and important things in which God's protection and direction was manifestly seen and which oblig'd such as were otherwise not well pleased with them to heap all sorts of applauses and benedictions upon them The Ambassador added that nevertheless he must advertise me that many at Rome disapprov'd our carriage That it was mere disobedience that we would not be heard except after our own fashion That we had no reason to pretend a necessity of hearing us as Parties in the affair That they would not so much as hear of that word that there was nothing in the points which concern'd the Faith and that the aime both of the one side and the other was to seek the truth and contribute what every one could towards finding it I answered the Ambassador that the Faith of every one being that which might be dearest to him there was nothing in which he might be a party with more reason then when that is concern'd That a man assaulted therein had more reason to defend himself then his goods life and honour That it was the most ordinary matter of contests that could spring up in the Church and that if in other judgements it was fit to beware of suspect Judges and to procure the observation of forms more ought to be taken in such cases wherein a man's faith is in question The Ambassador reply'd that the offers of hearing us in the Congregation appointed for our affair made us culpable of our own wrong and since we would not accept them perhaps we would wonder that a Cardinal should come to him to make a publick Memorandum or Act of those Offers and of our refusal and disobedience That consequently thereunto a Decree would come forth and that for his part he could not but give way to the Act demanded of him and write into France how things pass'd That verbal processes would be made at Rome of the whole transaction enter'd into the Registers of the H. Office and found there to the end of the world I answer'd the Ambassador that the offers made to us of hearing us were not pure and simple no more then our refusals but we were offer'd to be heard in a secret and private Congregation in which there was a Secretary and Consultors our profess'd Adversaries in which they were to be Iudges and we to be heard severally instead of obliging our Adversaries to appear there in our presence to answer the accusations which we had to make against them and also to produce their defences before us and their charges against us That provided the Act were made not only of the Offer and our Refusal but also of the circumstances pertaining both to the one and the other it could never be but to our advantage and glory but if the circumstances were omitted and the Act nakedly enter'd into the Registers I should endeavour and I added that I had done it already not to omit them in the Letters which I was oblig'd to write into France to give an account of our negotiations at Rome and I hop'd those Letters would become publick and remain monuments to posterity as authentick and permanent and more credible than the Registers of the H. Office since they would shew their defect and want of fidelity and exactness As for the Ambassador if he were oblig'd to send word into France concerning the said Offer and Refusal I hop'd from his justice and generosity that he would not deny my most humble request to send the circumstances of them too as also to consider that 't was no disobedience to request so just and necessary a thing of the H. See as we demanded of being heard pro con by word of mouth and writing in presence of our Adversaries upon the matter in question especially being oblig'd thereunto as we were by the Commission given us by the Bishops who sent us That if the Pope had at first done us this justice and grace together as we might have hop'd or rather if the Declaration which he made to us by Cardinal Roma that he had granted the same to us had been perform'd we should not have been constrain'd to renew our instances so long and so often but we had been oblig'd to reiterate the same and endeavour to surmount all the difficulties lay'd in our way from time to time and thus it was not through obstinacy but necessity that we acted in this manner The Ambassador seeing me so couragiously defend our proceeding against his exceptions told me He was not alwayes so bad as he appear'd but spoke all this to let me know how things were constru'd at Rome and because the Pope and Cardinal Spada were wholly surpris'd and astonish'd at the resolute manner wherein I had spoken to his Eminence about this Subject I answer'd the Ambassador that in all I said to Cardinal Spada I did not think I had any wayes violated the respect which we ow'd to his Eminence and the H. See The Ambassador reply'd that he had nothing to blame me for thereupon but
fraudulent practises of our Adversaries prove them the Authors of the Propositions which they have obtruded upon us require an act thereof declare that although they be not ours yet we conceive that they way have a very Catholick sense in which we undertake to defend them Demand that judgment be pass'd upon this sense Accuse our Adversaries of Impostures and delusions accusing them of troubling the Churches peace by prosecuting tho condemnation of the Propositions in the sense of Effectual Grace and add that if it pleases the Pope to receive them as accusers it may be permitted you to impeach their doctrine as pernicious and erroneous This is requisite Sir if you expect to have justice done you Men may speak high when they demand nothing beyond the Rules of sincerity and Truth c. However Sir Supposing the Pope resolv'd to pass such a Bull as the Molinists speak off yet if you be heard he cannot but grant you two things whereof one concerns our Persons and the other the Doctrine As to our Persons We are oblig'd to let the whole Church and posterity know that we are not the Authors of the Propositions but they were maliciously forg'd by our Adversaries to make us odious by being charg'd with them Your first Memorial presented to his Holiness is to this effect And concerning the Doctrine That the sense of the Necessity of Grace effectual by it self is a Catholick sense free from all Censure and that alone wherein we defend the Propositions If these two conditions be added I shall be contented and the Church will have peace Vpon any others we shall be so far from enjoying a calm that on the contrary we shall fall into a higher storm of dissention then before We shall be oblig'd to make known the sincerity of our intentions we shall complain of the wrong done us and Posterity shall be inform'd of the truth of things Be pleas'd to consider upon all this and remember that I have long ago told you that upnn this decision will depend the reviving of Richerism in France whereof I am greatly afraid c. An other Doctor of Sorbon a very able and moderate person to whom I had often writ during the time that we desir'd our Lords to send us two or three persons more to help us in the managing of the matters especially in the conferences which we expected to have before the Pope the Congregations to desire him to be one of the number because I judg'd him very fit for it return'd the following answer to my invitation May 31. Sir I Have receiv'd three Letters from you almost altogether though they be of very distant dates One is of the 30th of September The supply you have receiv'd by the arrival of the persons who are gone to joine with you may serve for answer to a good part of what you writ to me and expect from me If I perform not to you or rather to Truth the same service which they are going to do 't is neither through want of zeal or affection or else I understand not my self Proportionably to my knowledge of Truth increases the honour and esteem I have of it and I learn to know my self in it which renders me alwayes more backward to speak or treat of it for fear of hurting it whilst I think to defend it especially when I see not my self plainly engag'd therein Although to defend it that is to withstand the violences and stratagems of those who go about to oppress it shewing openly their unfaithful dealing their calumnies and the injustice of their proceeding seems to me more easie and lesse hazardous because this consists more in matters of fact then in Questions and Controversies But to pretend to examine it to clear it to commit it to the dispute and censure of its enemies and to submit it to the judgement and determination of persons whom you hold suspected and who in their best construction never had the light and knowledge which is necessary for the comprehension of the matters in question which are very difficult and for the most part very remote from humane sense and reason as the same is corrupted by sin and to distinguish them from the apparences of Truth under which Errors are oft-times hid all which is necessary in order to pronounce upon and fully determine the questions at this day in controversie so that there remain no seed of future combustion This is that which I find most difficult dangerous and much above my abilities 'T is neither expedient nor necessary to define these questions in the Church they are already sufficiently defin'd for such as seek the Truth without passion and interest And others will not stand to what shall be now determin'd in case it be conformable to Tradition and contrary to their new opinions Believe me Sir if you please 't is neither timorousness nor indifference that detains me 't is rather the respect and love which I have for the Truth Had I less knowledge and experience of the state of the present affaires perhaps I should be more bold and I know not whether I should do better However should I fail in something I hope God will not impute it or else easily pardon it whilst I keep to keep to his Lawes the guidance of the Church and the common rules of prudence humane and divine Adoring always with all submission his extraordinary wayes by which he absolutely effecteth whatever he pleaseth and how he pleaseth sometimes even by means and ways wholly contrary to those which he hath establisht If it be a kind of little miracle as you say that he on whom the judgement of your affaires depends hath at present an inclination to be inform'd thereof whereas formerly he was troubled to hear the same mention'd no doubt you will confess that there needs another much greater miracle whereby he may in a little time have the understanding and conduct which is necessary for pronouncing certainly and conformably to the Truth and Tradition upon Questions so difficult and embroyl'd by the mixture of humane reasonings as those are whereof you seem to demand the decision I have formerly told you my mind upon this Point and the occasion leads me to tell it you again here I could not sollicite and demand the definition of the affaires which you manage and of the Propositions whereunto your conference is reduc'd If God hath thought fit to make use of you to hinder the truths of Grace and S. Augustin's Authority from receiving any prejudice or disparagement I account you very happy and cannot but honour your zeal and fidelity in upholding them against the attempts and artifices of their enemies but I believe 't were the best you could do for the present if you could stop affaires at that point not to be overcome is to triumph in these occasions and the confusion which your enemies would have in seeing themselves fallen from their pretensions all their cabals without effect
the Master of the sentences understood it And predestination is here taken absolutely not for it effects neither is Free-will therefore destroy'd but operates in its time and place freely meritoriously and without coaction as I speak clearly concerning the same in my said VVriting so farre as the scantnesse of the time permitted Nor do I deny that the goodnesse of God who hath purposed to shew mercy or not to shew mercy as I have noted in my Tract is the cause why God predestinates or reprobates And lastly I do not reject the use of Free-will which serves to the obtaining of sanctifying grace when God gives the same to the predestinate to the end that using it well he may merit glory VVhich being so it may be truely said that predestination depends onely upon the promises which God hath made to us Nor will there be any contradiction in this although predestination should be taken here for its effects which draw their original and their force from the merits of Jesus Christ which grace conferres upon us in consequence of the Promises made to those that believe in him What I say concerning the promises we learn out of the 11th and 36th chapter of Ezekiel the 32d of Jeremiah and many places of S Paul's Epistles and S. Peter teaches us that all things which appertain to life and godliness are promised and given us by the almighty power of God so that good works themselves are part of the promises which God hath made to us I will give you an heart of flesh saith the Prophet and will take away the heart of stone and will cause you to do c. He hath given us a strong assurance of his promises God is become our debtor because he hath pleased to make his promise to us VVe have therefore in the H. Scripture a most ample witnesse of the Divine promises Yet do not these promises destroy Free-will or hinder from concurring meritoriously to good works S. Augustin in the third Treatise upon S. John is of this opinion That life Eternal is given us onely by grace which would be false if S. Augustine's words were not consider'd with reference to the original of this life because they would take away meritorious works And S. Paul Life Eternal is a grace of God and grace for grace VVhich place he understands and expounds as the grace which God hath done us in Electing us to eternal life being the cause of the grace which he doth us in giving us good works which may merit the same This opinion therefore doth not exclude Free-will which as I said before is establish'd in my Treatise much lesse good works but rather includes and requires above all things both Free-will and good VVorks III. PROPOSITION Speaking of the Reprobate that he cannot be saved because he is the Son of perdition as our Saviour saith The Son cannot disclaime the nature which he hath receiv'd from his Father and therefore Jesus Christ saith Ye are of your father the Devil because ye do his works and these are properly they whom God never beholds in Jesus Christ with an eye of mercy ANSWER Our Saviour call's the perfidious and obstinate sons of perdition all that time the Jews were murderers and persecutors of the truth VVhich place I alluded to and called them sons of perdition because our Saviour so term'd them Ye are of your father the Devil because ye do his works I say the same and no more But they who are not destinated simply and properly to eternal life nor written in the book of life although they may appear to be the Children of God neverthelesse they are the Children of the Devil by imitation and not by substance as S. Augustin speaks This I said in reference to their last end of damnation and final impenitence which God foreknows and alwayes foreknew most certainely I said that God never looks upon them with the eye of his mercy though a most just and incomprehensible judgement as I said it was in Judas whom Pope S. Leo in his Sermon of the Lords passion calls an inconvertible man that is one who could not be converted This is the scope at which my words referre not to certain intermediate things not to the justification of the present life in which they may be for some time and during which God sundry times beholds Judas and other reprobates with his eye of mercy namely when they do well and are upright IV. PROPOSITION God doth not elect us onely to relinquish and leave us in the hand of our own Counsels because he well knows into what condition we would soon bâ—ing our selves but in consequence of his election he makes appear in due time all the gifts which were comprehended in his Election ANSWER If I knew sufficiently where the doubt concerning this fourth Proposition lyes perhaps I should better explain my mind My intention was to say that God bestows many gifts upon the Elect who by peculiar love are under the divine care as is seen by the following words where I say that God prepares a right or good will for us according to the testimony of the Apostle 'T is God that works in us to will and to do and the rest which followes to which I referre Therefore God doth not leave his Elect destitute without Grace nor in the hand of their own counsels Nor do I design hereby to contradict the saying of the VVise-man in any wise for it would be ridiculous so to do Deum reliquisse homâ—nem in manu consiliorum suorum But all that I intended to signifie by it is that God leaves not Free-will in his Elect without assisting it by his Grace and that it being assisted thereby happily performes all the things which are enumerated in my Treatise S. Augustin patronizes this opinion in abundance of places And I desire the Reader not to believe that I here make Free-will to be necessitated or compelled for this would be an injury to truth In the same Treatise I dispute against such as follow the false lights of a perverse spirit and reason in the model which they forme to themselves of the holy gift of predestination whilst through negligence and malice they referre the greatest liberty of Free-will assisted by God to a shameful and damnable necessity contrary to the expresse doctrin of all the Doctors and principally of S. Augustin which Father is the most terrible to those kind of people VVherefore I conclude with the truth received in the Church and with the authority of the same S. Augustin That predestination doth not take away Free-will but rather establish it as I have said expressely in my Treatise to which I referre the Reader V. PROPOSITION And in like manner cannot prevaile against the structure built with living stones which is the H. Church and the determinate number of the Elect. ANSWER In this Proposition those things which precede and follow in my Treatise must be considered because otherwise naked and
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
oftimes so prejudicial to new-commers they oblig'd me to come and give him this first advertisment thereof I deliver'd the Cardinal a Letter written particularly to himself by M. d' Anger 's in recommendation of me to him and of the affair which I was to follow and I beseecht him to countenance the prosecutions I should use with his Authority and to believe that next the service of God of Truth and of the Church which principally induc'd me to return to Rome in obedience to persons of so Eminent worth and dignity who oblig'd me thereto notwithstanding my particular desire and interest to go home into France I became ingaged to do so by the affection which I have for the service of the H. See which his Eminence would at length find more concern'd in this affair then any other I found a great difference as indeed there was reason between Cardinal Spada's deportment in this visite and in another which I made to him of civility in the Lent preceding for he was as reserved in this as he was communicative in the former he heard all that I said to him just as I have since experienc'd to be the usual way in Italy in all audiences with great silence attention and gravity He receiv'd the Letters which I had for him and after signifying some testimonies of his esteem of the Bishops of France and particularly of him whose Letter I presented he told me He hop'd the Pope would not fail to take such course in this affair as was necessary for its succeeding to the honour of God and his Church to which end for his own part should his Holiness employ him in it he should contribute his utmost care and endeavor I arose up from the chair set for me at my entrance right against that of his Eminence in order to depart and himself arose also to conduct me which he did from the chamber wherein he receiv'd me till we came into the Dining room where he left me although between it and his chamber there were two Anti-chambers to passe through When he had quitted me I was saluted by some of his Court who accompany'd me to the doore This I take notice of not as an extraordinary thing but to intimate to such as know it not in what manner these audiences use to be given it being very civil and convenient for the Visitant is receiv'd alone and hath time to deduce at length and at his pleasure what he mindeth to represent At my departing from Cardinal Spada I went to wait upon Cardinal Barberin and I was likewise so fortunate as to find him at his Palace and to declare my mind to him as much as I desir'd the same day I shall not recite here or elsewhere what I then said to his Eminence touching my return For in all the visites which I made to speak of this busines it was nothing but a continual repetition sometimes amplifi'd more or lesse according to occasion both of I what I said to Cardinal Spada and of what I have formerly related to have been done ar Paris and at Rome about the Propositions And as for what pass'd at Rome sometimes I met with people who hearing me speak thereof and thereby conceiving me better inform'd then indeed I was not onely confirmed to me what I knew before but also instructed me in some particulars of which I was ignorant by which means I came to understand things so well as not to fear to assure the Pope even in Papers signed with our hands of the truth of all those which I have above related But to return to Cardinal Barberin I told him all that I had said to Cardinal Spada though not altogether in the same order and without interruption For the great familiarity wherewith Cardinal Barberin us'd me in all the entertainments which I had with him during my residence at Rome the foregoing winter and his more exact knowledge of all the things and persons of whom I spoke caus'd him sometimes to interpose answers and interrogations to me concerning what I said I was oblig'd to continue my discourse according to the matter and leisure which he afforded me but I constantly resum'd the series of my affair and omitted nothing at all in giving him account of what I had said to Cardinal Spada Besides which I spoke something concerning another business namely about the Houres touching which I formerly had some discourse with him and they were now recommended to me by the Bishop of Anger 's to take care of and maintain and justify as much as I could against the prosecutions and accusations which he understood were made against them Cardinal Barberin answer'd that it was a long while since he heard any speech of them that he conceiv'd they were thought of no more that the Bishop of Anger 's had recommended them to him by a Letter which he receiv'd from him some dayes ago and that he hop'd the answer which he intended to return thererunto the next day would give M. d' Anger 's content I do not at present remember the particulars thereof which he was pleas'd to impart to me nor can I find what I then writ down in my Notes but I remember that according to what his Eminence then said I Judg'd the Houres out of danger and wholly secure from calumny CHAP. III. Visites made in the end of June and beginning of the moneth of July wherein I discover'd the objections made against the Houres Notice of putting me into the Inquisition I spent Monday the 17th of June in answering the Letters I receiv'd at my arrival and I advertis'd the Prelates who writ the same to me of what had pass'd since in the visites which I made about the affair wherewith they did me the honour to charge me I spent Tuesday the 18th in providing me a Lodging in the society of the French Priests which are at S. Lewis that so I might be in a place more sutable to my condition and employment then I could be in an ordinary Inne such persons as it was requisite for me to addresse to for the obtaining of the said Lodging I acquainted with the occasion of my return amongst others M. du Noiset Dean of the Rota on whom it absolutely depended as being the superior of the said Society On Wednesday I went to Tivoly where M. le Bailly de Valancey the King's Ambassador to the Pope was still retir'd to salute him and inform him also according as I was oblig'd of the Commission I had the honour to be charg'd with He made me a very courteous reception and promis'd to do what he could at that distance to facilitate and hasten my audience of the Pope whereunto I signifi'd to him my great desire to be admitted without delay in regard of the importance there was in the Pope's being speedily advertised of the nature of the affair whereof I was to speak that so surprisals and circumventions might be prevented which were otherwise much
Pope and that they had no other conditions to request but what the Pope should appoint That in what manner soever the Pope declar'd they should not be troubled because he was the Judge both of Doctrine and of the Conditions wherewith he would decide it But I said to him Do not you conceive that the Congregation which we have demanded is to be wisht for in reference to the greater satisfaction of all the world Will not you help us in the assistances which we are oblig'd to make for it M. Hallier answer'd that they would not hinder us from making such instances but as for themselves they had in charge to desire of the Pope barely a Decision without being sollicitous concerning the Conditions He did not yet speak clearly enough wherefore seeing him hesitate in what he said I let slip these words You see they seek only a Judgement made in secret such as it may be and without the antecedent discussion of things M. Hallier finding himself a little pinch'd with this Reproach went about to avoid it by saying that there was no need of a Congregation or Examination because the question was about things already decided and that they had order to act thus The Abbat of Valcroissant interpos'd and said it was not true that they had order to act thus because the Letter upon which he could ground this pretence was publick and testify'd the contrary And as for what M. Hallier said that these things were already decided M. de Valcroissant told him that it was abundantly visible what they design'd That upon this supposition they would not only be contented with demanding a decision but hinder to their utmost its being made with the requisite solemnities and hearing of the Parties That we would not according to this intelligence which be gave us of their purposes oppose the same as much as possibly we could That besides we maintain'd and that with more reason then he that the matters we were to defend were decided and judg'd in our favour as we should shew him but this was it that was to be examin'd whether he had reason to affirm the same or no whereas according to his mind there was no need of a Congregation to hear the parties and lesse of any examination because things already judg'd us'd not to be examin'd and this was it undoubtedly at which they aym'd namely to hinder all hearing and all examination That on the contrary for our parts it was that we should endeavour to obtain according to the order which had been given us and the necessity we saw so to do That we hop'd to effect it too because it never hapned in the Church that considerable persons such Bishops as commission'd us requir'd the hearing of Parties and it was deny'd either by the H. See or in Councils But M. Hallier reply'd that it never hapned in the Church that Parties were heard upon matters already judg'd and decided and that it could not and ought not to be done Assoon as M. Hallier had thus opened his mind M. Joysel and Lagault testify'd that they were dissatisfy'd with it M. Joysel who sat next M. Hallier pusht him several times to hold his peace and M. Lagault who was separated from him by M. Joysel made signes to him with his eyes and hands to speak no further The Ambassador also endeavor'd to divert this Discourse and said that it made such ado about the manner of being heard in that Congregation there was danger lest at Rome where they are very scrupulous this demand might be interpreted as if we meant to give Law to them by prescribing to them the wayes of acting and the order which they ought to hold and as if we pretended to instruct them undrr the pretext of being heard That the matter ought to be contracted as much as possible That the King who hitherto was but young beginning to grow up would end these Disputes and perfectly redresse them The Abbot of Valcroissant answer'd the Ambassador that we wish't nothing more then this were done the most spedily that could be but yet to that speed other conditions and precautions were to be attended to in order to do it well And that our demanding to have it done in a regular and solemn Congregation wherein the Parties might be heard according to the usage of the Church and all Tribunals both Ecclesiastical and Secular was no prescribing of Law to any person But we demanded as a thing just and advantageous and perhaps necessary in the present conjunctures for the disentangling and clearing of all the difficulties wherein Truth was endeavour'd to be oppress'd That moreover we could with as little reason be reproacht that we pretended to instruct the people at Rome by being heard in a Congregation that the same might be retorted upon all parties that demanded of their Judges time and convenience to inform them who for all that do not thence infer that their parties account themselves wiser then they That when in Councils and particularly in that of Trent Divines had contested and disputed in presence of the Council for the clearing of things those Divines did not thereby presume to be more knowing then all those Bishops nor to instruct an Oecumenical Council wherein the Pope precided by his Legats and the H. Spirit invisibly by its assistance But whereas M. Hallihr Joysel and Lagault declar'd that they would not concur to a thing so just and which would be so advantageous to themselves as well as to us if they were in the right it shew'd that they distrusted their own cause and would continue to hold the truth in unrighteousnesse That we doubted not after this declaration of theirs in his presence and before us but they would do their utmost to hinder so great a Good But this should not hinder us from doing all that possibly we could to procure it M. Hallier was in some kind of little confusion for having declar'd himself so much in behalf of a thing so unjust and so unheard of to make amends for which he said that as for themselves they were come to Rome to declare to his Holinesse that they were ready to acquiesce in his orders howsoever they were pass'd the decision effected That the Pope had several wayes to do it and that he might do it of his own proper motion without hearing any person That he might consult the Universities to have their sentiments in the matter and know what judgements were made of it by all Europe before he pass'd his own That he might erect a Congregation if he thought good That he might hear us apart one side after the other or publickly in presence of either Party vivâ voce only or only by writing either one way or the other That they were ready for all and should be pleas'd with any But at length falling to his former strain he said that yet they were oblig'd to follow their orders That the Bishops who sent them had no
sides present and that one of the reasons which they alledg'd was that it would take up too much time whereas on the contrary said the Cure to me there is no more compendious and clear way then to speak in presence one of the other because should we do it apart they would go one way and we another and so we should put all into confusion CHAP. II. Of the first Suspitions we had that our Adversaries endeavoured to obstruct what was most essential to the Congregation viz. an open hearing in the presence of either side Of the sollicitations we made thereupon the rest of this Month and our discovering of a design to get Persons wholly suspected by us appointed for this Assembly A very considerable Letter which I received about this time THe jealousies continually given us for whose entertainment we were but too apt that M. Hallier and his Collegues imploy'd all their cares and the credit of their Patrons the Jesuites and others to quash the condition of mutual appearance in the Congregation ordained oblig'd us to go on Sunday morning July 21. to the Pope's Maistre de Chambre and tell him that we thought fit to defer our thanks to the Pope because we conceiv'd we should have occasion to addresse to his Holiness within a short time about some businesse and we were willing to do both together Wherefore we beseecht him to reserve till that time the courtesie which he had promis'd us in introducing us that day to have audience of his Holiness Our design in this delay was to free our selves from being oblig'd to speak to the Pope about this difficulty and circumstance and to get it handsomely rectified by the Cardinals without needing to move his Holiness concerning it when we should give him our thanks for the Congregation which he had granted us that so our acknowledgement might be serene and fair as the Declaration of it made to us by Cardinal Roma was But before I mention our sollicitations about this matter I cannot forbear to insert a Letter here which I intreat the Reader to look upon as a thing by it self and which I transcribe not although it hath much reference to sundry things before and hereafter related but because I find it very elegant and apt in this place about the time in which I receiv'd it at Rome from a Doctor of Sorbon one of my intimate Friends who writ the same to me from the place where he then was June 16. 1652. The Contents follow June 16. 1652. SIR I Receiv'd together the two large Letters you writ to me full of testimonies of the confidence and Friendship wherewith you are pleased to honour me If I durst I should find fault with your going too far therein for I can make no other construction of your too favourable judgement of me than that it proceeds from a singular affection which gives you an opinion of me far above what I acknowledge in my self I have alwayes written to you with sincerity and freely signify'd to you my thoughts and sentiments concerning your journy to Rome about the affairs which you manage there and concerning the Proposals which you have made to me And because I see things not alter'd or at least vari'd only in appearance and some circumstances I cannot change my judgement or disposition 'T is true which you tell me that the voyage and residence at Rome is dangerous and more for regard of the corruption of the mind then of the body because that of the latter is sensible and visible and the other being spiritual is indiscernible and ofttimes carries its poyson into the bottome of the heart without being taken notice of insensibly corrupting Faith and Reason it self by humane prudence and a manner of life and deportment altogether Political which people contract there unlesse they be prevented by God's special protection and favour And to tell you true though I am much averse from that vice which passes for vertue in the world yet I account not my self so strong but that I think fit to avoid even the occasions of it Nevertheless 't is not this alone which keeps me from comming to you and taking upon me that part which you would assign me in the affairs wherein you are engag'd and labour with the care and zeal which you have ever professed for the Church and the Truth If I conceiv'd I could be as serviceable therein as you apprehend and could it reasonably be hop'd matters would be so carri'd and have such effects and issues as you aime at solitude should no longer detain me nor the danger of the wayes or residence at Rome keep me from offering my self to God to do him service and second you in that which you endeavour to perform to him But I am so strongly perswaded of the contrary both by potent considerations taken from humane prudence as well as from reasons divine and founded upon the present posture of things that all the Remonstrances in your Letters have not mov'd me although otherwise I may say I think without flattery I am very prone to resign my self and submit to my Friends and so devoted to satisfie and content them as far as my ability reacheth that I can scarce deny any thing to them without doing violence to my self especially in things wherein the service of God and honour of Truth are concern'd and to persons with whom I have some particular league and engagement of Friendship as I have with you No Sir I cannot believe that ever there will be a regular and free conference about the matters in contest at this day and should there be one appointed and persons found capable of debating the questions on either side and Judges intelligent enough of the truth and sufficiently impartial to determine them which is very difficult not to say morally impossible I could not promise to my self the success which you aim at and seem to hold for certain All that could be hop'd so far as I see from such a Conference and most upright Judges deputed to preside in it is that things would remain as they are and Truth not be more wounded and oppressed than it hath been formerly should the Arbitrators be dispos'd to do something more and to pronounce in favour of Truth they who have been inveigled into the contrary part the Temporal Powers engag'd with them and the Spiritual who at the best that can be hop'd from them if we may judge by things past are indifferent as to these matters would quite stop the passing of such judgement thereby to avoid offending so many of the world and under pretence of eschewing Division and maintaining the Church's peace leave things in the same state in which they are If you judge my conjectures and the consequences I draw from them disagreeing from your own thoughts yet I am confident you cannot but say that the suppositions which I make and from whence I draw those consequences are very favourable and that I
and Qualificators of the H. Office were indifferently taken that so the businesse might clearly appear to be done without any partiality And should it be conceiv'd that I made this Proposal because there were many Dominicans of it I was willing that they should be excluded as well as the Jesuites The Cardinal excepted VVhy so VVhy not a Dominican and a Jesuite I answered that as for the Jesuites it could not seem reasonable to admit them for Judges in a cause wherein they were Parties that we had declar'd them such at first that 't was they who had excited all this contest by their intrigues in our Faculty to get S. Austin's doctrin condemn'd and that by the most strange and unequal proceedings imaginable That when the same should come to be laid open in the Congregation it would scarce seem credible how such projects could enter into the minds of men who ought to have some Piety and Learning The Cardinal reply'd that others might say as much of us but that the truth of all would be seen in the sequel At the end of this Conference he reommended two things to me First to endeavour as much as we could to make our writings short and intelligible and secondly to do all things with patience and moderation I answer'd that I conceiv'd we had hitherto acted according to that temper and in case it hapned we fell into any other it would be an obligation to cause us to be advertis'd thereof to the end we might take a better course The next day in the afternoon I went to wait upon Cardinal Roma I told him that my Collegues remain'd at our Lodging to prepare our Papers against the Congregation and that in the mean time I was come to acquaint him with some things which troubled us as to that particular I repeated to him almost the same which I have newly set down He made not so large answers thereto as formerly yet he satisfied my scruples as courteously as he could and as for the point of being heard in the presence of both parties he readily acknowledg'd the benefit of it and the necessity there would be for it sooner or later However he advis'd me to repair to the other Cardinals to tell them as much as I had said to himself in reference to this Article The same Evening about ten a clock I receiv'd a visit from an Archbishop who chose that hour purposely to come and see me incognito and could not longer defer telling me some news which he conceiv'd would be very acceptable to me He told me that he had confer'd with the Pope that morning about our affairs That his Holinesse himself gave occasion to the Discourse and told him that he still remembred the time when the Congregations de Auxiliis were held under Clement VIII and Paul V. that he knew all the world was then for the Dominicans against the Jesuites that for a long while together the publication of the Bull whereby the Jesuites were condemned was daily expected that neverthelesse it was not publisht though they well deser'vd it But it was conceiv'd that the H. See acted prudently Fìc stimato allora grand prudenza said the Pope in not publishing their condemnation because though the said Definition would have appear'd with the general satisfaction of all intelligent Persons yet those matters surpass'd the reach of the unlearned and the generality of the Faithfull That moreover the Pope said that he knew the Jesuits Sentiments were not good and that if he condemn'd them there were no Persons of Learning Ability throughout Europe but would be satisfied and well pleas'd therewith But that these Truths were so far above the ordinary capacity of Man and the weak being much more numerous than the strong more would be scandaliz'd than edifi'd with such condemnation Whence this Archbishop concluded that if in the process of time I obtain'd not my design'd condemnation of the pernicious opinions of Molina and his Brethren yet I was sure the Pope would never pronounce any thing in favour of them and consequently those whom I defended were no wise in danger of being condemn'd He told me also that hereupon he had made a motion to his Holiness that considering the Jesuites were so violent in their exorbitances against S. Austin's doctrine he would please to make a Decree by which all the Faithfull might be injoyn'd in general to follow that great Light of the Church and embrace his Sentiments That his Holiness paus'd upon this Overture and as he believ'd would take it into consideration I had told Cardinal Ghiggi something of what I heard from Cardinal Roma about the changing of the Consultors June 17. which he did not so expresly confirm to me in my visit of the 22d Wherefore I thought fit to advertise Cardinal Ghiggi of what I had understood from him in both conferences For which purpose I went to him on the 23d and passing from one Discourse to another he held me about an hour in speaking sometimes about our affairs and sometimes about other indifferent matters Amongst other he told me That we and our Adversaries endeavoured to ingratiate with those who sent us by making a great stirre and giving them a punctual account of all our Diligences Whereunto I answered That as for M. Hallier he had profess'd to us that those by whom he was sent to Rome were so little anxious about any thing that was done there that he offer'd me to forbear writing any thing touching our affairs into France if we would forbear too But we could not accept the Offer because the Bishops in whose name we were there were concern'd for the least circumstances of what pass'd either well or ill in our negotiations so great interest did they take in the affair wherewith they had encharged us and accounted the same of such high importance I had received by Letters of June 28. a new Order precisely to proceed in this manner and therefore told the Cardinal that we could not disobey in this point but we should certainly satisfie this Duty every eight dayes Yet I added that by writing nothing but the Truth we did our utmost to eschew the exasperation of things and rather to qualifie and sweeten whatever passages we had reason to be scandaliz'd and discontented with That moreover we sought not to make a stirre without necessity because we could scarce be sufficient for such things as were indispensible and therefore had intreated my LL. the Prelates to send two or three Persons more to assist us that so we might better acquit our selves of what was to be transacted both by Speech and Writing in the Congregation Going the next day to speak with sundry persons whom I conceived were then to be met with at la Minerve I hapned to light upon a Dominican of great age yet of a vigorous health and mind who I afterwards understood was call'd F. Galassini he advis'd me to take care to the nomination that was
be more assur'd what was his and act without fear of proceeding contrary to his intentions He told us that that was not his meaning but when it should be time to communicate them if the Congregation judg'd it expedient they should be communicated reciprocally at the same time to the end there might be neither advantage nor disadvantage on one side or other acciò non sia nc vantaggio ne svantaggio On Monday the 16th towards evening I went to see F. Melchior who inform'd me that since some dayes they had been much troubled in their Covent about a Thesis which was to be maintained there of which the Doctors our Antagonists and the Jesuites having had notice endeavoured to hinder the Impression by M. Albizzi's means and made a great stirre about it That M. Albizzi for that purpose sent for the Procurator General of their Order to whom assoon as he saw him he made great reproaches for that the Professors of the Covent de la Victoire taught Jansenisme the greatest proof whereof alledg'd by him was that they convers'd with us and for this consideration he threatned them to give them a Mittimus to depart out of Rome That all the day preceding though it were Sunday was employed in goings and commings to and from M. Albizzi about the said Thesis That M. Albizzi had a design to have seiz'd all the Copies that were wrought off but he to whom they belong'd had been more diligent in getting them from the Printer than M. Albizzi had been in sending to take them thence That M. Albizzi seeing himself prevented herein sent to their Covent in the Pope's name to prohibite the Person that had them to part with any of them and afterwards sent order to their Procurator-General with threatning that he should remain responsible for them In fine all this bustle was made against the said Thesis because it was known to be compos'd conformably to the mind and doctrine of Councils S. Augustin and S. Thomas ad mentem Conciliorum Sancti Augustini Sancti Thomae and that it was almost wholly fram'd in their very words F. Melchior told me likewise what diligence they had us'd both in addresses to the Master of the Sacred Palace who licenced the Impression and to Cardinal Ghiggi from whose good will and protection they promis'd themselves assistants in this affair and all that had pass'd therein he related to me more distinctly and particularly than I do here because I set down only the most remarkable things which I writ thus confusedly when I returned home after their visite On Tuesday morning being the 17th we sent up our prayers to God for the eternal rest of the Soul of Cardinal Roma whose death hapned the evening or the night preceding It was a great loss both to the H. See and the Sacred Colledge He was a man of known and generally esteem'd integrity throughout the world He was of very easie accesse very equitable and unmoveable by favour or faction He had a very sedulous care of his Bishoprick of Tivoli and divided himself between the administrations of it and those whereunto he was oblig'd in reference to the Offices he had at Rome with indefatigable pains His charity and liberality towards the poor and his Church were so large that they left him no thought of laying up of treasure upon earth either for himself or any of his kindred and he gave them no part of his Ecclesiastical goods besides one furniture for a Table which he gave to one of his Brothers as he would have given the same he said to any other Stranger if he had not had that Brother to the end he might have in the time of repasts some company and conversation But this is not a place to speak of the particular actions and vertues which render'd him so commendable during the whole course of his life it shall suffice to adde here in reference to our affair that he was more intelligent of and better affected to St. Augustin's doctrine than he ever profess'd to be But I was inform'd above a year before that he studied it with particular affection and that he was enlightned in it by the informations which he caus'd to be given him by a very learned Dominican who had such confidence in me and in the secrecy which he promis'd himself that I would keep for him and the good use that I would make of the knowledg which he imparted to me of the correspondence which he had in this affair with Cardinal Roma that assoon as he had finisht a Writing to give him he shew'd me a Copy of it and when they had conferr'd together about it advertis'd me likewise how his Eminence took and apprehended the matter and in what sort he accounted himself convinc'd of it I kept secrecy herein so faithfully that I never spoke so much as a word of it to my Collegues themselves who only knew that this Cardinal being very pious and equitable it was very advantageous to us that he was Dean of our Congregation But now there is no longer any danger in speaking it I preserv'd and still keep the Copies of those informations which Cardinal Roma believ'd peculiar to himself and lookt upon as his own labour having therein imploy'd that of a man whom he knew very intelligent and impartial whom he otherwise consider'd as his antient friend and who undertook the same by his motion having nothing else in his view but God and the Truth The Propositions in question were consider'd and handled in these Informations as we had alwayes consider'd them capable of several sences very opsite but as pertaining to the faith of the Church when they were purg'd from their equivocations and reduc'd to the sence in which they would be necessary sequels and clear dependances of the Efficacity of Grace This may be seen in those Writings themselves which I have thought fit to place at the end of the Collection because they deserve to be kept to posterity It may be judg'd thereby whether the death of this great and pious Cardinal was not a signal losse to the H. See the Sacred Colledge and indeed to the whole Church it depriv'd us of a considerable Prop both in the Congregation whereof he was Dean and in all other dependances of our affair to which he was sincerely affected and of which he said a hundred times to the Ambassador as well as of that of the Bishopricks of Portugal that it was a shame they were not ended VVherefore his death which according to the judgement we were able to make of it was very unseasonable for us could not but be resented by us with particular sorrow but having consider'd that our affair was more God's than ours that he had not remov'd this prop without secret but just reasons of his inscrutable judgements and that he could if he pleas'd deliver it from oppression and instead of one man whom he took from us give us a thousand others with
to the Doctors against whom they were made to the end they might be ready to answer thereunto when their Eminences should think fit that we appear'd with them in the Congregation And lest they might forget this request after our departure from them we made a short Memorial of it of which we transcrib'd and sign'd as many Copies as were requisite to present the same to each of them The Memorial was thus inscrib'd on the outside Eminentissimis ac Reverendissimis Dominis Dominis Cardinalibus congregationis institutae pro negotio quinque Propositionum And within side thus Eminentissimi Reverendissimique Domini Cardinales Eminentiis vestris humillimè supplicamus uti jubeant Adversariis nostris communicari duo scripta eorumque summarium ante quindecem dies obtulimus Eminentiis vestris Quas Deus c. This c. is the ordinary stile and form wherewith Memorials are concluded comprehending all the words of respect affection and good wishes that they may be added by extending more at length After the c. the Memorial was thus sign'd Natalis de la Lane Doctor Theologus Facultatis Parisiensis Abbas beatae Mariae de Valle Crescente Ludovicus de Saint-Amour sacrae facultatis Parisiensis Doctor ac Socius Sorbonicus Ludovicus Angran ejusdem sacrae Facultatis Parisiensis licentiatus ac insignis Ecclesiae Trecersis Canonicus We went first to Cardinal Spada whom we found not at home and thence to Cardinal Ginetti with whom we spoke VVe had little time to speak with him when we presented our writings to him and therefore upon this occasion we gave him an ample account of what was contained therein after which he answer'd us in Latin as M. de Valcroissant had spoken to him and said nothing about the Communication which we requested but gave us some genral terms of Assurance that nothing would be done in this Affair without first considering the whole exactly Next we went to Cardinal Ghiggi who retured not till night from taking the air with the Pope VVhen we had acquainted him with the subject of our coming to him he answer'd us that he knew not whether that course would be judg'd expedient that this business would not proceed so fast that it would go forward with leaden feet that nothing would be done therein but very leisurly molto posatamente After which touching the word Adversaries he said that he did not like the using of it between us because he believed that both sides sought the Truth we reply'd that he did not like the using of it between us because he believ'd that both sides sought the truth We reply'd that did we know a gentler word whereby to denote the people with whom we were in contest we would willingly use it and as for the scruple that he made about the Communication of our writings it surpris'd us extremely because Cardinal Roma had promised the same to us in the Popes name after we had been a whole year in suing for it Cardinal Ghiggi answer'd that he knew not what Cardinal Roma might have said or done but however it should be taken into consideration what course would be expedient He had some conceit that this Request and Memorial were address'd to himself alone but we told him that we should present the same also to the other three Cardinals whereupon he answer'd us that they would confer about it together and after they had done so perhaps it would be found requisite to consult his Holiness Saturday the fifth we went in the forenoon to Cardinal Spadas house to present our Memorial to him but not finding him there we went to that of Cardinal Cechini to whom we presented it having first acquainted him with the cause why it was made Cardinal Cechini answer'd that he had not as yet perus'd all our Writings that they were much longer then those of our Adversaries and the days already very short and that his eyes no more allowed him to read any thing by a Candle But that he gave us one Advice namely to beware in the other instructions or informations that we should have yet to make of falling upon the matters of Grace which had been heretofore controverted between the Dominicans and the Jesuites because according to what he had heard he believ'd it was not the Popes intention that the same should be medled with in any sort considering that after the long conferences and disputations about them under Clement VIII and Paul V. all the Regulation that could be effected therein was that Paul V. imposed perpetual silence to both parties upon that Subject We answered that we beseecht his Eminence to give us leave to assure him that the silence imposed to the Parties by Paul V. was not to be perpetual but only a Provisional Order to hinder the parties from preventing his Judgement and taxing one another of Heresie till such time as the posture of things permitted him to publish his Decision which was already made in favour of the Dominicans against the Jesuites and whereof there was a Bull drawn up as appears by sundry undenyable Records at Rome That since that time the Jesuites instead of making right use of that Silence which was injoyn'd principally in their favour for a Condemnation was the thing first intended and returning by degrees to the doctrine of the Church whch they were convinc'd to have deserted on the contrary they have alwaies receded further and further from it and have at length so spread their erroneous imaginations everywhere in the Church that they dar'd now a dayes to cry them up as the doctrine of the Church and thereby gave an occasion to Hereticks to reproach the Church of forsaking Tradition and the dictates of the Scripture in these matters That it was time to remedy this Disorder and for the H. See and the Church to make known to all the world what was their common Doctrine and Belief as to these points That it was the duty and interest of the one and the other no more to keep under a Bushell by a longer silence the Light which ought to be set upon a Candlestick or upon a Hill to give light to the whole world and teach every one the true way of his salvation That this mystery of Grace was one of the principal points of the Churche's Faith the knowledge whereof was most profitable to the Faithfull to keep them in the acknowledgement of what they owe to God and in the Christian humility which is so necessary to them That for this reason the great Apostle of the Gentiles writing to the Romans to expound the same to them tells them that he would not have them ignorant of it least they might leave some entrance for vanity into their minds Nolo enim vos fratres ignorare mysterium hoc ut non sitis vobis ipsis sapientes That hence S. Fulgentius had taught us that the blessed Apostle intended not to have that Doctrine kept in silence which he had left in writing Beatus
deny it So that to have M. Albizzi for Secretary is to have a person whom we have had all reason to suspect ever since M. Halliers Declaration before the Faculty Moreover Sir every one knows that in Flanders it is loudly complain'd of in Books that M. Albizzi inserted something into the Bull touching M. de Ipre which was not in the sense of the late Pope of happy memory This alone ought to hinder him of being suffer'd to exercise the Office of Secretary without complaint and remonstrance to his Holiness against it Perhaps they will say That a Secretary is neither Judge nor Consultor 't is true but then it cannot be deny'd that he hath very great power in a congregation And besides though he could do no great matter yet it is not suitable to order at Rome especially where all things are done so exquisitly that the very adversaries of the Church are constrain'd to acknowledge the prudence of the proceedings wherewith things are carried there But if Sir they will not do you justice in these points I conceive it will be more expedient to produce nothing then to submit to such a congregation as that which is contrary to the intention of his Holiness And in this case leave them to ordain what they think good we shall very well know how to acquit our selves in all things Let them perplex and intangle the whole matter as much as they will yet it must be reduc'd to three points 1. VVho are the Authors of those Propositions 2. VVhether it be true that they consist of equivocal terms which is the cause that they have sundry bad senses And 3. VVhether they be condemnable according to the sense of the necessity of Grace Effectual ad singulos actus which is the only sense in which we have maintained them hitherto and pretend to maintain them for the future Now being we know that they cannot be condemned in this sense hence it is that we have no reason to apprehend any thing If they will make a Gallimawfry of them it will be easie to let all Europe see both the goodness of our cause and the bad proceedings taken to disparage a Doctrine which they durst not openly condemn Those persons will twice think what they shall do and I can scarce believe that they will contribute to the oppression of Truth and of the persons who defend The Doctors of the Faculty of Paris ought to be more considered then to be sleighted and it is not needfull to alienate the minds of those who have all possible devotion for the H. See which will be done undoubtedly in case they do not do them justice in an Affair which speaks for it self ' I have often said it to M. Duvel and I know not whether he hath told it to the Nuncio There are many persons very little affectionated towards the Holy See who wish that justice be not observed towards us hoping thereby to draw us to their party For my part I hope God will not so abandon me but I know not whether this will not much diminish the high esteem which ought to be had for what proceeds from so venerable a Throne But this Sir is enough touching that point I cannot end this Letter without letting you know that M. de Marca nominated to the Archbishoprick of Tholouse being in court last week said to M. Nain de Beau. Master of the Requests and to M. Queras our Confrere that when he consented to the setting of his name to the Letter sent to his Holiness he did it only at the entreaty of F. Petave and M. Hallier who writ to him about it and that it was never his intention to demand of the Pope a condemnation of the Propositions but only that it would please his Holiness to pronounce upon the present controversies And when the abovenamed persons reply'd to him that the Letter subscrib'd with his name demanded of the Pope the condemnation of the Five Propositions he was amazed at it and desired to see a copy of the Letter which was promised him And accordingly one being found in the hands of M. Lovistre Curée of Mantes where the court then was M. de la Militire tooke upon him to transcribe and present it to him You see Sir how the Prelates have been inveigled and how the Pope is imposed upon when it is represented to him that all the Prelates whose names are at the bottom of that Letter demand of him the condemnation of the Five Propositions as being the causes of all the stir and contentions Moreover these two Gentlemen have had the honour to confer with him about the senses of the Propositions and he acknowledg'd that ours was not condemnable and he said only that his opinion was that whosoever hath Faith hath all that is necessary from God to pray actually and he advanc'd this Doctrine founded he said upon that word of S. Augustin Fides impetrat You may judge by this what sentiment the Thomists have upon this point The Book of F. Martinon came forth here some days ago 'T is a Transcription of all that hath been written against us by our Adversaries but not a confutation of all that we have opposed to their sentiments It hath abundance of evil and unjustifiable Propositions It bears a Warlike title It may easily be rendred a pitiful piece in one printed Quire or a work like to Vulpes capta We are given to hope for one from M. Annat shortly we expect it with joy not doubting but that it will be of use for the manifesting of the Truth I am Sir c. The beginning of this Letter shews the truth of what I said to Cardinal Ghiggi in the andience he gave me on July 23. that I was not hasty to send word into France of such things as might cause dissatisfaction there so long as necessity and our obligation of informing our friends and our Bishops of what pass'd at Rome permitted me to defer or wholly dissemble them VVhen I writ touching this matter to M. de Sainte Beuve the last day of September I said nothing of the delay of communicating our writings nor of the dubiousness signified to us whether it would be granted or no nor of the Memorial which we had resolv'd to present as a more express demand thereof which might knock at the door of justice of the Cardinals chosen by the Pope to render the same to us and which might leave to posterity more express monuments of the prosecutions and unheard-of difficulties whereunto we were reduc'd in case we should one day be oblig'd to acquaint the world with such irregular proceedings I thought it sufficient to tell him only that we were solliciting their Eminences to ordain the Communication of our writings to our Adversaries and to let them know that we were ready to appear at the Congregation when it should please them to assemble it And I us'd this reservedness out of hope that we should obtain justice at
us as the prepossession and precipitation wherewith they seem'd to proceed caus'd us to mistrust But it could hardly enter into our minds that they would so lightly passe over our writings and give so little attention to our words in a cause of so great importance both to the H. See and themselves as this Wherefore it seem'd to us a safe course to present our writings to them and visit them severally to inform them thereby to prevent the mischievous judgement which they might passe then to wait till it were given against us to provide against it in a more favourable time which perhaps would never happen But we were further to fear lest if after having made so great instances both for the communication of our writings and for a common hearing with our Adversaries we came to comply and took another way we might never obtain either the one or the other of those things both which appear'd to us so necessary But against this fear we question'd with our selves what advantage we could draw either from such eommunication or Hearing if they continued to deny the same to us till judgement were passed as it was likely they would do by the present proceedings Wherefore all these considerations made us conclude that it was requisite to comply with the time and disposition of the persons with whom we had to do But on the other side the reciprocal communication of writings on which alone we insisted in expectation of a common audience and concerning which alone the question had been in all the sollicitations which we had made since Septem seemed to us a thing so just in it self and so equitable to all persons that had the least degree of reason that it might seem we could not hope for justice in any thing whatsoever if we could not obtain it in this What reason then was there to go and deliver writings about Propositions obscure and intricate difficult to be unfolded and comprehended and yet more to be resolved to persons who seemed so unmov'd and regardless of our most earnest and respectfull suit for a thing so evident and pleading so highly for it self We considered that not onely equity and the light of nature were violated herein but also the customs from all time observed in Councils and before the H. See it self That this secret and dangerous proceeding into which we were consulting to engage destroyed Ecclesiastical liberty and the confidence of such as might oppose themselves to novelties and errors in hope to find countenance from the H. See when they laid forth their complaints and remonstrances unto it in presence of such as they found themselves oblig'd to accuse That the very interest of the H. See and the sincere affection we bore towards it ingag'd us to preserve the avenues and recourse thereunto free and open to all the Faithfull in whatsoever needs might arise in all ages and consequently not to comply with this hugger mugger proceeding which would be of ill example and dangerous consequence to all Christendome That if any justice were to be hopt from this Congregation upon the account of writings and particular informations vivâ voce those were sufficient which it had already receiv'd from us touching the evil designs of the Authors of the Propositions and the authority of S. Augustin's doctrine That till this Congregation had done us reason upon those writings by obliging our Adversaries to acknowledge the said Authority in such manner as was requisite to the due examen of the Propositions we could not hope thar it would do us more upon the other writings and informations vivâ voce which it might receive from us That if we could flatter our selves with hope that our writings would be so clear and invincible the reasons which we should alledge so palpable and the productions of our Adversaries so easie to be confounded that it would not be possible but that all the Cardinals and Consultors must yield thereunto and become favourable to us yet we ought to consider that amongst the same persons who compos'd the Congregation there were divers Consultors who though perhaps not so experienc'd and exercis'd as we either in the matter of Fact or Right relating to our contests yet were sufficiently instructed therein by all that had been already deelar'd thereof to regulate themselves and inform othets That there might be many of them well affected to S. Augustin and his doctrine touching Grace Effectual by it self who might represent to their Confreres and the Cardinals as solid and unmovable foundations as we our selves were able to represent to them if not with as much force and largenesse because we were a little more vers'd therin yet well enough to supply what might be defective on our part and effectually enough to perswade the Congregation of the evidence of the justness of our cause or at least of the necessity of hearing us more amply in the forms which we demanded before they hazarded their own reputation and that of the H. See by a precipitated judgement if it were capable as we undoubtedly suppos'd it by the reasons which inclin'd us to the resolution of delivering our writings and informations in private to suffer it self to be prevail'd with and fully perswaded in our favour by those which they saw in our writings and heard from our mouths That if on the contrary we flattered our selves too much when we thought that it was morally impossible for all the Consultors not to be convinc'd of the evidence of our reasons and the truth of the Propositions reduced to the sence in which we defended them if old prepossessions of many were stronger upon their minds than the reasons propounded in this manner for defence of those truths if they were capable notwithstanding such reasons to continue in their antient sentiments and conclude the condemnation of the same truths it were better to leave the other Consultors who understood those truths as well as we to alledge the reasons for them unprofitably to their brethren than to make a vain attempt our selves and by so doing abandon the right which we had to require a Proceeding in the Open and Universal way which had been both prescribed and promised us and to defend truth in the accustomed forms which had been also promised us and according to which they that maintain'd it had no reason to fear any thing So that it was more expedient that we persisted in our former demands and pretensions against the manner of Proceeding held by the Congregation which appear'd so unjust and prejudicial to us in case it were continued to the end then to acknowledge it for lawfull by condescending to submit to it that we had ground to hope from the equity of the Pope and the Cardinals that after they had held the private Congregations at Cardinal Spada's house as often as they conceived necessary for their own satisfaction they would afterwards give us the like by according the justice of our suits Thas
22. whereof the Copy follows I Received all your Packets in Normandie whether I went about some affairs I have read your two writings one of which is an abridgement the other a Narration at length of all things which have pass'd in the affair of the Five Propositions I find the Narrative very well compos'd saving that it seems to give too much advantage against the Propositions by speaking of them frequently as equivocal I expected to find it extremely high and fear'd it might be a little too vehement by so much of it as you signifi'd to me but it seems extraordinary moderate and the person who you tell me is not spar'd in it hath no reason to complain except perhaps he may believe that you speak not seriously in the commendations which you allow him I am willing to believe that you have done it with knowledge of the cause not to prejudice that of the Truth which you defend by speaking with more smartness of the persons who oppose it and of the violences and artifices wherewith they carry on their opposition I cannot but wholly approve your resolution of declining to proceed further or deliver any new writing till answer and satisfaction be given to what you have already offer'd If the communication of your Adversaries writings be deny'd to you together with the conference viva voce which you have demanded to have with them for representing of your Pleas and Refutations that so things may be laid open before your Judges who cannot otherwise take a right Cognisance of your differences so as to pass judgement and determine them according to Truth and Justice 't is an evident sign that they are not dispos'd as you sometimes believ'd to do justice to you and the cause which you manage This is the universal opinion of all intelligent men concerning their strange proceeding And methinks it obliges you to keep firm and not to advance further by producing new Pieces till reason be done you upon your first productions They would be glad to have you write always and to receive from you as many Requests Informations and other writings as you please provided they be not oblig'd to answer and satisfie you and all those writings would serve for nothing but to give them more liberty to condemn you and the condemnation would be the more dangerous for that it would seem in the world to have been pass'd with cognisance of the cause and after hearing you and receiving all the requests and justifications which you presented to your Iudges c. Another of Decemb 26. was writ to me from Grodna in Poland by M. Fleury the Queens Confessor which though not relating to the manner of the Congregations proceeding yet shew'd that in all places the Iesuites already promis'd themselves an approaching and indubitable condemnation of the Propositions It had this passage A few days ago a Father Iesuite in this Court writ to an Officer of the Queens that which follows If the news from Rome be true before our Return the Truths which I have preached to you will be again confirm'd by the H. See I say again because they are already compris'd in the Council of Trent and some others He to whom this Letter was written made a good answer to it thus I have always believ'd that the Council of Trent would be receiv'd at Rome as it is by all the faithful I will not perplex my self with questions which surpass my capacity VVhen I am taught a Doctrine agreeabie to that of St. Paul and as it is explicated by S. Augustin I shall believe it and not otherwise The Holy sacred Oecumenical Council of Trent confirms me therein and teaches me what I ought to believe I beseech God to give me Grace to be willing and able to practise it 'T is from that Grace alone that I expect my salvation I intreat you reverend Father to pray to God that I may obtain it and that when I have it I may persevere in it He who returned this answer is a wise and prudent person and though no great Book-man yet God hath well instructed him in these Truths of which many who believe and call themselves Divines are very ignorant Decemb. 27. M. de Sainte Beuve writ a large letter to me again from Paris in which he gave me a particular account of what had pass'd in the affair of M. de Chavigny which the Jesuites spread abroad at Rome as an authentick proof of the confederacy and Cabal of the Directors of Port-Royal but was really an illustrious proof of their unconcernedness and evangelical vigour for the salvation of the great as well as the small whom God in Mercy committed to their safe guidance After M. de St. Beuve had ended this story in his letter he spoke thus to me touching our affairs I consent with you that an affair of Doctrine ought not to be brought into negotiation You must keep firm and insist upon the pronouncing of a decisive judgement None but such as defend a lye desire accommodations and say with the Harlot before Solomon Non mihi nec tibi sed dividatur The furthest we can go is in case the Propositions be condemned to require that it be exprest in the Bull that they are not ours and we neither do nor ever did pretend to maintain them otherwise then in the sense of the necessity of Effectual Grace As also that it be added That nothing shall be inferr'd from such condemnation against this Doctrine And at the end of a Letter of the same date he writ these words to the Abbot of Valcroissant I have signifi'd to you or M. de S. Amour that my advice was that in case you could obtain neither the communication of Writings nor a hearing in the Congregation you ought to withdraw M. de Chaalons is not of the same mind but thinks it best that you remain firm and stay for a definition which cannot be disadvantageous to us since the necessity of Effectual Grace cannot be condemn'd But now follows the Letter which was writ to us Novemb. 28. by the two Bishops above mentioned and the Answer which we returneâ— thereunto Decemb. 30. A Messieurs Messieurs de la Lane de S. Amour and Angran Doctors of the sacred Faculty of Paris and our Deputies at Rome ALthough by continual experience testimonies we find that the most important affairs may be safely entrusted to your fidelity learning and courage and nothing appears in your Conduct below either the judgement which we made of you or the esteem which you have publickly acquired in the world nevertheless as we have deputed you to the H. See with our Letters recommendation and authority so the cause of the whole Church now in agitation leads us to animate you frequently by our exhortations and remonstrances VVe have with satisfaction understood and the first labours which you underwent in this contest have manifested to us how careful you have been in the beginning this
with it the publick tranquillity will be well pleasing to the whole world But if some of those who are now at Rome so give up themselves to be led by their own passion as to employ all their endeavours to obtain a Censure in any sort of these Propositions which have been fraudulently invented if they decline all examen conducible to the discrimination of what is precious from what is vile and despicable of truth from error and of faith from perfidiousnesse all their humane artifices tend only to hinder the communication of writings in order to a serious discussion if only the name of a publick Dispute makes them so to tremble that they use all sorts of means to secure themselves from it Doth not this Tergiversation manifest to the world how little sincerity and integrity there is in their pretended design of seeking the clearing of Truth and may it not be concluded that they have just reason to distrust the goodness of their cause since they are afraid to maintain it in the presence of their Adversaries May it not be conceiv'd that they are seiz'd with a secret fear of letting all the world see in the open day-light of a Congregation how remote they are from S. Augustin's doctrine since they fear being oblig'd to dispute with those who know all the windings and fallacies of the new Authors not only by domestick study and private intelligence but also by a long experience of many years being ready to discover and refute the same upon the place In the mean tâ—me 't is of this very thing that the Iesuites and their Partisans boast and glory at Paris and all their business is to declare openly that they will bring it to passe that there shall be neither publick disputation nor communication of writings at Rome The truth is we should hold their discourses worthy of nothing but slighting if we had not to do with men who use all imaginable endeavours and stirre all sorts of engines to bring about their designs But for that reason we being at Paris have writ this Letter to quicken your courage and fidelity and we should have caus'd the same to be sign'd by many Prelates of the Gallican Church had the case admitted longer delay and allow'd us to advertise the LL. our Confreres who are dispers'd into several Provinces of this Kingdom Continue therefore to act as you do tread in the same way vvhich vve have prescribed you and keep such a course as is advantageous for the stifling of all deceits and for the procuring of peace Demand vvith urgent suite a Congregation in vvhich things may be examined and treated viva voce and by vvriting in a mutual conference not in private and secretly Thus minding you of the orders which you have receiv'd from us we pray that you may be cloathed from Heaven above with the strength of God himself whilst you defend the Cause of his Spouse Paris Nov. 28. 1652. Signed M. N. The answer made by us to this Letter is here subjoyn'd My Lords THe Letter which we lately receiv'd from you hath much comforted us in that it informed us of your approbation of the first Informations which we presented to begin the Instruction of the weighty cause which you have committed to us as also of the course which we have observed hitherto therein We alwayes remembred My Lords that the principal and most express design for which you writ your first Letters to his Holinesse touching the Five Propositions in question was to obtain of his Holinesse that before passing of judgement upon them it would please him to establish a solemn Congregation in which all the interessed parties might be heard in presence one of the other vivâ voce and by writing together with mutual communication of all their writings to the end that the H. See having taken exact cognisance of all that either side pretended and had to say it might pronounce an authentick judgement by means whereof all the differences in the Church touching these matters might be regulated truth and falshood perfectly distinguisht and a firme and solid peace as to these important points establisht amongst all Catholicks The advantage and needfulness of this your design My Lords we ceased not to represent to his Holinesse their Eminences and all persons of Literature to whom we could fairly address for that purpose since our arrival in this City till the eleventh of July last when we were sent for by the late Cardinal Roma to understand from his mouth by order of his Holiness that he had establisht the Congregation which we had so importunately demanded After which my Lords we spent some dayes in rendring our first respects and the testimonies of our acknowledgements to those Cardinals designed by the Pope for this Congregation conceiving there would be more leisure than we desir'd for all necessary preparations because it would be ready to take the cause in hand as well by reason of the ordinary heats of the season wherein it was establisht as before we consider'd that it required time to advertise and get ready all the interessed parties the Consultors who were to be of it not being yet nominated All which consider'd we might have remain'd so for some time and not so soon have us'd the power which you committed to us in beginning to give his Holinesse and the Congregation a general Idea of the state of the affair in expectation till all the other persons who were to come whether from you or elsewhere were assembled in this City and then to enter further into the matter But we were strangely surprized when MM. Hallier Lagaut and Joysel who had hitherto endeavoured to hinder the establishment of the Congregation by demanding alwayes only and purely an absolute condemnation of the Propositions as of things already condemn'd and needing no examination hastned ten or twelve dayes after to carry writings to the Cardinals as their Instructions to their Eminences out of a design as we then suspected and afterwards found to be quit of it so and reduce all our contestation to an information which cost them but a few hours in private and without any witness of what they alledged whether touching matter of doctrine or the actions opinions and designs which they might impute to their adversaries We took notice also of a rumor spread abroad almost at the same time namely that this Congregation was very contrary to our intentions and designs that we had not demanded it but only for form and out of a conceit that it would not be granted that we sought only how to get away after it was establisht which discourses we suspected that our Adversaries publisht to engage to take the same course which themselves intended to hold and to deliver tumultuary writings upon which the affair might be judg'd without hearing us otherwise This was it my Lords which oblig'd us to set upon the cause according to the power which you had given us in case
judgement will be pass'd without the communication which we demand yet not to omit any thing of our duty to Truth the H. See and your Orders we are preparing a new Memorial wherein to represent with the strongest reasons the justice and importance of such communication And because we otherwse find that if our Adversaries once see things in such a posture that they shall be oblig'd to appear they will endeavour to shift it off and urge among others two most false suppositions which they have broacht namely first that the present difficulties are not the same with those which were under Clement VIII and Paul V. And in the second place that touching those Matters silence is impos'd for ever we have likewise another Memorial ready to present to his Holiness whereby we clearly shew the Falshood of either allegation VVe shall probably present these two Memorials before the next month be past sooner or later according as we shall see it expedient In fine my Lords we have not remain'd idle the rest of the time which we have had free we have still been preparing some writings before-hand as well upon the subject of the Propositions as upon other things whereof we are to inform the Congregation in the progress of the affair that so both may be produc'd the most speedily we can when time for it shall come and by the extreme diligence which we shall use in all occasions we may quash the conceit which our Adversaries endeavour to beget in the world that we seek protraction designing by this means to derive upon us the odium of the lasting of these contests which we desire with all our hearts to see terminated and which they themselves first rais'd and still keep afoot 'T is true my Lords the weight which lies upon us is very great especially hitherto inasmuch as not appearing yet in the Congregation we cannot wholly rid our selves from fear of the surprizes wherewith we are threatned by the rumours which are spread abroad that they will hinder it from ever coming to pass and that it cannot be but these fears must greatly perplex us by the sollicitudes which they create in us and by the diligences to which they oblige us in order to understand their designs and projects as much as we can in the darkness wherewith the affair is still cover'd We shall have great need of the assistance of those whom you have design'd hither that so we may be able to discharge all that we shall see expedient to do as well in the present disposition of things as in those whereunto we hope to bring them But however neither the multitude of the adversaries we have nor the abundance of things we are to do astonish us we shall go into the field which is open to us with all possible diligence circumspection and industry and we hope that God on the one side and his Holiness and their Eminences on the other will supply what shall be wanting on ours as for the desire of getting out of affairs we believe there is not more either in our Judges or our adversaries then we know there is in you my Lords and in our selves unless perhaps there be this difference between our adversaries and us that their desire of hastning things and their importunities for that purpose are effects of their design of obscuring and embroiling them and our desire of hastning the same also how great soever and though as we conceive it surpass theirs is nevertheless accompani'd with a constant resolution not to hasten more then the perfect clearing and solid establishment of them will permit with this mind we shall act in all that we shall do write and speak in this affair We beseech you my Lords to be assur'd of it and rendring you again the most humble thanks which we owe you for the approbation wherewith you have receiv'd what we have done till the time of your Letter and for all the other care which you take to encourage us by your advertisements we beseech you also once more to believe that we will not depart from the same in any thing and that in this as in all other things we shall always be mindful of the respect which we owe to your Sacred Character and of the high Obligations which we have to be My Lords Your most humble and most obedient Servants De la Lane Abbot of Valcroissant De S. Amour Angran Rome Decemb. 30. 1652. The Memorial spoken of in this Letter which we say we had ready to present to the Pope against the two most notorious Falsehoods which our Adversaries endeavour'd to make pass with his Holiness for most current Truths namely that in our contests there was no relation to the matter which was treated of under Clement VIII and Paul V. and that perpetual silence was impos'd upon this matter was not presented to the Pope as we suppos'd it would when we writ this Letter because there arriv'd no necessity and occasion for it afterwards as shall be seen in the Sequel Nevertheless we sent the same a while after to the Bishops and this is the reason that it is sometimes spoken of in the Letters written to me from Paris after it was receiv'd there which I shall insert in their proper time to denote the Sequel of other things mention'd in those Letters But being this Memorial though prepar'd was neither sign'd by any of us nor presented to the Pope and for that the substance of the principal things mention'd therein is contain'd in divers places of this Journal amongst others in a visit which we made to Cardinal Cechini Octob. 5. 1652. and in the writings of the Dominicans I shall wholly omit it for brevities sake and proceed to what remains THE SIXTH PART Containing what passed during the first six Months of the Year 1653. CHAP. I. New Sollicitations in the beginning of the Year 1653. for the communication of our Writings Discourses touching that matter with several Persons particularly with Cardinal Spada and the Ambassador AS Soon as the Festivals of Christmas were past we renew'd our sollicitations to the Cardinals appointed for our Congregation to obtain of their Eminences that our Writings might be communicated to our Adversaries which we found our selves oblig'd to do partly because it was likely the Pope had referr'd to them the two Memorials which we had presented to his Holiness December 21. for that purpose and partly by reason of the Answer which we had lately made to the Bishops who sent us which was a new obligation to us to redouble our diligences in an affair so just and necessary The same day that we returned that Answer we went to visit Cardinal Ghiggi The Abbot of Valcroissant acquainted him how we became oblig'd to present those two Memorials to the Pope he related to him what they contain'd particularly the first and as mention was made of Cardinal Roma this Cardinal told us that the Pope had substituted Cardinal Pamphilio for which
under the pretext of some bad senses in vvhich the Propositions might be understood That thus the Propositions vvere not the primary object of our thoughts and cares but having been taken by our Adversaries as a very plausible means to ruine the whole Catholick Doctrin concerning Grace and knowing very well that they could not be toucht without immediately falling amongst all the difficulties which are in the Church touching this matter not to divert out of the way which our Adversaries put us upon to obtain that they might at length be terminated we judg'd it sufficient if the Congregation which we demanded were establisht for deciding the Propositions to the end it might be oblig'd to decide all the remainder to the bottome That in fine not to enter further into the discussion of what we said if the Propositions did not relate to the matter of our Grace we had nothing to do in the business because we were sent only upon that account and that was it which caused the present divisions in the Church that we came to the H. See to seek a sovereign remedy which might conduce to the establishing of a solid peace amongst Catholicks by perfectly clearing the truth that the Congregation which we demanded was esteem'd the remedy most suitable and proportionate to the present circumstances that could be us'd that having demanded it so expresly and for so long time together and it having been signifi'd to us without any restriction we had all reason to presume pretend and believe that it was establisht if it were we desir'd the execution of it if not all that we had to do was to demand the establishment of it The Cardinal urg'd to us the delivery of our Writings to the Congregation by which we had in a manner own'd it and profess'd to be satisfi'd with the institution of it and he ask'd us wherefore we scrupled to proceed in the manner already begun since we were certain regard would be had to all which we should represent as well this way as an other besides that His Holinesse was not oblig'd to receive from us what rule he should hold in the conduct of this Judgement We answered him that we delivered those Writings out of a reasonable presumption that the Congregation having been purely and unconditionably granted us it was establisht according to the terms wherewith we demanded it otherwise we should have delivered no Writings but continu'd our Instances for its establishment and besides many reasons which we had represented for the obtaining of it and the obligation impos'd on us by the Bishops to prosecute it till we obtained it we had yet a most powerfull one namely that as far as we could understand after throroughly examining our selves and considering the cause we maintain'd we saw not that our Adversaries could charge us with any thing which we could not very easily wipe off whether in fact or opinion but we did not perceive the Case so fair on their side that therefore having to oppose to them none but most certain Truths which we are ready to make good by most convincing proofs and conceiving them to have nothing considerable to charge us with but what was false fictitious and calumnious we were not resolved to weigh what they had to say with what we had to say as it would be if we have not the means solidly to refute their allegations and manifest to the Congregation that they can give no solid answers to what we shall object against them Now whereas his Eminence several times urged that it was not necessary for the Pope to comply with whatever we demanded in this affair we declared to him that we no wise doubted of the Pope's plenitude of power and the universal sollicitude which he ought to have for all the Churches enabled him with a right to suppress of his own accord a Heresie either newly sprung up or already increased in any part of the world whatever not only without hearing of parties contradictory in judgement but also without the secret Congregations which had been held to the present as Cardinal Spada himself said before and as we could easily prove by the example of Celestin the first when upon the advertisement whieh he received from S. Prosper and S. Hilary he vindicated S. Augustin against the contempt cast upon his Doctrine by the Priests of Marseille though in a lesse degree than that of the Jesuites and their Imitators at this day That if a Pope took this course in every case and made a good Constitution to repress the boldness of whosoever perverted the Maximes of Faith and Good manners such Constitution would be very legitimate and valid and all the Faithfull would be obliged to revere and obey it according to the laws and customs of the Church but as our affair stood at this day we conceived it just and for the interest of the H. See as vvell as our ovvn and that of the Church to do vvhat vve requested of the Pope vvith all importunity submission and respect That it was a demand from which we could not recede in any thing being but Commissioners And being we apprehended this stedfastness of ours might be somewhat displeasing that we might not seem to persist in it out of obstinacy we declar'd that in reference to any other course after the orders which we had received from the Bishops it was requisite to write to them to know whether they continu'd in the same resolution that if they alter'd it which was not likely we might also take another way than what we now held but till they chang'd their Orders we were oblig'd not to depart from them His Eminence askt us by the way whether we desired this Expedient to prolong the affair to which it might have been answer'd that if we had such a purpose we should have embraced the offer he made us of giving us as many audiences and receiving as many Writings as we pleased but we assured him that if we were put to the proof in the way we demanded it should be seen how extremely desirous we were to see the affair speedily ended and that never any delay of the Decision would be caus'd on our part As we proceeded to assure him that if he were the chief in the business we were so respectful of his Sentiments and submissive to his wayes that we should consult him what he conceived fit for us to do the Cardinal reply'd that we might do as we thought good either accept or not accept the offer'd favour of hearing us as he propounded That if we would take that evening to deliberate with M. de Valcroissant he would allow us that time to advise together but he desired to know our last resolution the next morning before he went to the Pope at the Assembly of the H. Office We scrupl'd not to refuse this favour from his Eminence Thus my Lords we rested upon this Visite His Eminence no doubt spake many other things in confirmation
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
that yet the cause hath need of them for 't is the cause of truth and God is sruth whe needeth not either our goods or care I read their Letter to M. de Chaalory but I see not that it is requisite to think of what you propose till his Holinesse have granted a Congregation like that de Auxiliis if I flatter not my self methinks what is hitherto done is a perfect preparation to it We are threatned here with a Censure within eight dayes and 't is bruited that the Pope is to passe it in coena Domini but we are very undaunted I am c. Another Doctor of my friends writ to me on the 15th of the same Month in these terms The Molinists affirm that we are condemn'd and that all which is done with so great solemnity is done only to make the Judgment more notorious powerful against us I never heard them speak to us so as they have done since the arrival of the last Post I have sure conjectures that their three Antagonists have written hither The same person making a general reflexion in another Letter upon the manner of proceeding in our affair at Rome after many complaints and regrets wherewith he affirm'd his heart was full spoke thus to me Is it possible for Truth to be so ill treated in the place where it ought to be as in its Throne and where its enemies ought not to behold it but with trembling It must be hop'd that God will confound all those who so oppresse it and that one day it will be like a mighty Rock to overwhelm them if not in this world at least in that wherein all the most hidden things shall be revealed CHAP. XVIII Of the first certain intelligence which I receiv'd May 4. that the Constitution was made against the Propositions And of the Audience which F. Des-mares and M. Manessier had of the Pope the same day THe first of May being come I understood that the feast of the two Apostles solemnis'd that Day did not hinder the Assembly of the H. Office before the Pope Also that M. Hallier and his Collegues went not only to Cardinal Spada's Palace to wait upon him to Monte Cavallo but also waited his return and reconducted him home after which they went to le Giefu to visite some Jesuites All which implyes the most intimate correspondence and dependence between them that can be imagin'd Sunday â—he 4th I receiv'd a visit in the morning from a well inform'd person who assut'd me that there was a Bull or Constitution prepar'd by which the Propositions were condemn'd and I cannot doubt but it was the same which was since publisht F. Des-mares and M. Manessier and I were ready to go to the Pope's audience I took with me the Bishops Letter of Febr. 24. which we had forborn to deliver for fear of exasperating minds and I resolv'd alone to present it to his Holinesse if we were admitted seeing there was no more time to sollicite for any thing I would not dismay my new Collegues with the bad newes which I had lately receiv'd But saying nothing to them about the same desir'd them to go before to the Pope's Presence-Chamber where I should be as soon as they intending to make a short visit by the way The person whom I visited was one who had disswaded us from delivering the said Letter for fear of producing ill blood I told him that I was going to deliver it seeing the Condemnation was already made and nothing was likely to avert it but such an earnest and powerful Remonstrance as this Letter My friend was amaz'd at my confident asserting the notice which I gave him and supposing it true as I assur'd him he consented to the delivering of it since it could do no hurt Immediately I came to F. Des-mares and M. Manessier in the Pope's Presence-Chamber and the Maistre de Chambre to go back to the Pope and to tell him that I desir'd to be admitted with them and so I retir'd into the common Antichamber with the Letter in my hand which I had deliver'd to the Pope if I had been admitted to audience and let F. Des-mares and M. Manessier go alone they were there three quarters of an hour I cannot better relate what pass'd in this audience then the following Letter doth which they writ concerning it the next day to our Bishops My Lords SInce our coming to this City we have been employ'd chiefly in two things First To peruse the Writings prepar'd by our Collegues that we might sign the same jointly with them and have them in readinesse to present to the Pope when it should please him to hear us And secondly to obtain audience of his Holinesse Whereunto being admitted yesterday morning we told our H. Father that our Collegues having represented to you my Lords that in hope that his Holinesse would establish a solemn Congregation wherein they might contradictorily defend the true sense of the Five famous Propositions according to S. Augustin's doctrine in presence of their Adversaries and before the Apostolical Tribunal of his Holinesse they foresaw that in the progresse of the Conferences they might have need of some assistance for the more easie and speedy discharging of the duties of their Commission and you had sent us not only for that purpose but also to make new instances in your name to his Holinesse for the establishment of such a Congregation as you had caus'd our Collegues to demand several moneths before Our H. Father answer'd us that to satisfie the desires of the Bishops of France who demanded his judgement touching the Five Propositions he had assembled his Divines and heard them sundry times with great care and patience upon the senses of those Propositions and that not contented herewith he had appointed publick prayers to obtain such light from God as was necessary for passing his judgement upon them That moreover he hop'd to restore peace to the Church by other wayes then Disputes We reply'd that we had recourse to the H. See to obtain the same peace but that these Bishops of France who sent us to procure it desir'd with all good men that it might be a true sound and permanent peace which was not to be hop'd in the present circumstances without the establishment of the solemn Congregation which we most humbly demanded of his Holinesse He answer'd that the prime and supreme Vicar of Jesus Christ was not oblig'd to examine all things by Disputation That 't was sufficient that he took such meanes as he judg'd fitting to form his judgement upon the controversies propounded to him and that after this we ought to believe that the inspiration of God would not be wanting to him for understanding the bottome thereof and deciding the same infallibly and the truth of those Decrees depended onely salamente upon that Divine inspiration Our reply was my Lords that our demand agreed very well with our beliefe that God watches particularly over the
Jesuite hath plainely declar'd in a late published work wherein he hath been so bold as to write Have a little patience dear Reader Rome will shortly tell you what S. Augustin's sentiments are or ought to have been in this matter O most presumptuous word yet fallen from this pen by a wonderful judgement of God who overrules by his Providence even the darknesse and disorders of men since the Jesuites M. H. F. give you clearly to understand thereby that the Doctrine of S. Augustin is included in these five Propositions and that they expect not the condemnation of them from your H. but that they may afterwards condemn S. Augustin which Christian eares cannot hear without horror But though our Adversaries speak honourably too sometimes of S. Augustin yet in their Writings they cannot forbear to declare themselves his enemies by insinuating that his Doctrine is contrary to the sentiments of the H. Apostolick See We are not ignorant M. H. F. with what boldnesse they dare affirme that what S. Augustin teaches * * De Corr. Grat. c. 1. constantly to be the principal Doctrine of the Grace of Jesus Christ and a certain indubitable Propheticall Apostolical and Catholick faith is onely a dubious and uncertain opinion and may consequently say they be rejected without fear For this end they strive to perswade that S. Augustin do's not agree with himself that he contradicts himself that there are some things in his Writings which favour our sentiments others on the contrary which favour theirs In which M. H. F. 't is not so much S. Augustin whom they so insolently outrage as the H. Apostolick See and the Universal Church since they would thereby cause men to believe that being the H. See approves and ownes contradictory sentiments it is not regulated and govern'd by the H. Ghost who is the spirit of unity and truth but hath chosen a blind guide to encounter the enemies of Grace and proposes him for a director to the Divines and the Faithfull though contradicting himself he cannot make us know what we are oblig'd to believe and follow The true Disciples of S. Augustin and the sincere venerators of the H. Apostolick See are very farre M. H. F. from having a thought so rash and unworthy of the respect which ought to be borne to that great Doctor of the Church Let our Adversaries choose either to take him wholly or leave him to us wholly He is all theirs or all ours if he be not all ours we do not envy them with him being so far from desiring to do him and the H. See so much wrong as to wish him divided in pieces that we might have a part Your H. sees that the present difference between our Adversaries and us hath great resemblance with that of the two mothers upon which Solomon pronounc'd so wise a judgement that it hath been ever since and shall be to all ages in admiration Our contest concernes S. Augustin who is our Father and Master either part pretends him on their side and our Adversaries perceiving they cannot challenge him wholly to themselves being forc't to confesse that many of his sentiments are contrary to them and favour us they say he must he divided in halfe and either of us have a part But we who are the true children and disciples of that Father cannot suffer this partition We maintain that he must either be all theirs or all ours inasmuch as to divide him were to destroy him because his authority would fall to the ground if he were found contrary to himself or rather the H. See would be torn and pull'd in pieces by this division of S. Augustin since it should have approv'd and own'd sentiments perfectly opposite between themselves Wherefore we conjure Your H. with all the power and tendernesse of affection which children can have for their Father not to suffer that S. Augustin be divided And if it be lawfull for me to use the words of the Scripture in this occasion rather give him wholly to them and alive then stay him by dividing him between us Can any other judgement be expected from your Holinesse in this contest then that of Solomon Can you repute those S. Augustin's true disciples who would have him divided and not rather those who would sooner be depriv'd of him altogether then that he were divded your H. will undoubtedly pronounce this sentence in our favour Give S. Augustin alive without dividing and slaying him to these latter for they are his true disciples By this meanes M. H. F. the whole Church will know that the wisedom of God directs Innocent 10. to render justice And indeed M. H. F. 't is so certain that S. Augustin is not in any place on our Adversaries side that they cannot produce one sole passage which is favourable to their sentiments unlesse they cut it in the middle maime and mulilate it taking it out of its proper place and putting another sense upon it then it hath of it self Your H. will find it so M. H. F. by the confutation of the Writing which they presented to you wherein having cited sixty passages of S. Augustin against the first Proposition we have related them all in the answer which we have to present to your H. upon those passages wherein we shew that scare one of them is truely and fairly alledg'd But our Adversaries would have not onely S. Augustin but also the Grace of Jesus Christ divided though neither the one nor the other can admit division or partition because a a Epist. ad Demetriadem S. Prosper saith they reject Grace wholly who do not wholly confesse it And elsewhere he useth these words b b Cant. Collat. cap. 44. We will not suffer that any member of the body of that so justly condemn'd Doctrine rise up in the Church because 't is certain the disguisements and artifices of that falsehood are so subtle that if under pretext of a feign'd recantation it may preserve the least root of opinions that favours it that root will like a quick-set cause it all to spring up againe For when there is nothing else in the whole then in each part 't is not a sign of piety to reject almost the whole but to retaine never so little portion thereof is an argument of insincerity Hence it is M. H. F. that our Adversaries so vehemently wish that your H. would pluck up some small part of True Grace that is to say of the Effectual Grace of Jesus Christ by giving them leave not to retain it all intire in as much by this meanes it will be easie for them to ruine it all to abolish all S. Augustin and to revive the whole Pelagian Heresie by one of its parts You may judge hereby M. H. F. how important this affair is in which S. Augustin's Doctrine and authority even the true Grace of Jesus Christ is concern'd in which nothing can be decided in favour of one party but it
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
S. Augustin were true or no as he would not fail to have done if he had doubted of it since 't was the particular point of the Contest which we manag'd against Molina's disciples For in the same Audience we granted as it hath been alwayes declar'd in all the French Writings publisht and printed at Paris upon this subject before the Affair was brought to Rome that if the Propositions were consider'd only in general and without applying any distinction to them they were susceptible of heretical senses and might accordingly be condemn'd of heresie in this universality as they were censur'd by all S. Augustin's disciples who writ upon them And being his Holinesse gave us this Audience that he might understand the truth of our Sentiments from our own mouths and by the writing of Distinction of Senses which we presented to him afterwards he found that they were so different from the heretical senses which the Propositions generally taken might receive and that they were so reduc'd to Grace Effectual by it self which is the Catholick truth maintain'd invincibly by S. Augustin in the name of the whole Church that he thought not fit to assemble the Consultors again because he intended to pronounce only upon the Propositions as taken generally and not upon this particular point of Grace Effectual by it self in which all the Catholick explications of the Propositions meet as in their Centre and which would need a long Examen and many Assemblies and Conferences like those which were held under the two great Popes Clement VIII Paul V. who undertook to discuss them throughly and for this purpose caus'd them all to be particularly examin'd in the publick disputations of both parties and in their own presence after having declar'd That S. Augustin's doctrine was the Rule by which they would decide this Controversie and regulate their judgements And therefore since the Pope hath declar'd his Constitution that he hath caus'd these Five Propositions to be examin'd by the Consultors the Censure falls only upon the Propositions in general which the Consultors examin'd in general and which we acknowledg'd in our first and only Audience to be susceptible of heretical senses and cannot fall upon the particular explications which we propos'd and establisht in presence of his Holinesse by our Discourse and our Writing since his Holinesse hath judg'd them so Catholick that he made no scruple at all about them nor assembl'd the Consultors so much as once to have their advice concerning the same as an obscure and dubious thing as he did in reference to the Propositions in general but found by his own judgement that they were free from all Censure which he also testify'd to us in the last Audience which it pleas'd him to give us since his Decree inasmuch as he not only reprehended nothing of all that we said and maintain'd in his presence but also declar'd to us as we have already related that he had present in memory all that we had argu'd and approv'd the same in as advantageous and honourable terms as we could hope for And which is yet more he made to us this so favorable declaration not before his Decree when it might be said that his Holiness was not yet fully inform'd and convinc'd of every thing and was not to discover the secret of his Sentiments and intentions which all Judges usually suppress before their sentences but even after his Judgement and his Decree which was the time wherein he was perfectly free and conceiv'd himself oblig'd to declare the same to us with all the sincerity of a successor of S. Peter and of a Vicar of Jesus Christ who is Truth it self You see My Lords by all these eonsiderations that his Holinesse's Censure falls not upon the Five Propositions but inasmuch as they are consider'd according to the bad sense which may be put upon them according to which S. Augustin's disciples rejected them three or four years ago as vehemently as we did in the writing which we presented to the Pope and distributed in this City the next day after our Audience to divers Cardinals and other persons of Note It remains now to observe to you My Lords whence it came to passe that these Five Propositions were consider'd according to the heretical sense that so they might be condemn'd in general which we take one of the most important points and a kind of secret of the Affair 'T was because the Consultors and Cardinals were made to believe that we spoke otherwise at Rome then they did in France where there were persons who held the Propositions in their bad sense and therein publisht a new Heresie condemn'd by the Council of Trent with the errors of Luther and Calvin Cardinal Rapaccioli whom we visited after our publick Audience and carry'd him the Distinction of Senses presented to his Holiness told us among other things concerning this matter That our thoughts and intentions were good and commendable but we had this unhappinesse that many of those who were united with us held the Propositions in the bad senses wherein we profess'd to condemn them that instead of receiving help from those persons they did us great â—hurt and would be the cause of the condemnation of the Propositions but should have this advantage that that condemnation would fall only upon those persons and not upon us We knew My Lords that the Doctors who came hither against us had visited this Cardinal one or two days before and so we had cause to believe that they had infus'd this falsity into him as a most certain truth Wherefore we answer'd him that it was a most malicious fiction and device of our Adversaries the better to obtain their designed Censure and that we could assure him there was no Catholick in France who held the Propositions in any other sense then we do But this conceit was so far imprinted upon his mind as if it had been a certain truth that we cannot think that we have remov'd it although in our Conference we twice or thrice made him the abovesaid answer Whereupon we had propos'd to our selves to undeceive this illustrious Cardinal and with him many other persons according as occasion should have been presented if this Affair had had a longer course as we and almost all Rome besides believ'd it would We hop'd also My Lords to evidence clearly to the Pope the falshood of this conceit in the following Audiences which we expected not being longer sollicitous to disswade him from it in reference to our selves after our first publick Audience at the end of which we have understood since that his Holinesse said These Doctors are not Heretecks as I was inform'd But our Adversaries who fear'd nothing more then these Audiences and durst not appear in our presence to declare their Sentiments plainly as we did ours with the greatest sincerity and clearnesse and to maintain in publick before the Pope the falshoods and fictions which they dispers'd in secret set all their
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
Decrees and that he rejected as impious and heretical the most Catholick and Augustinian sense included in the first of those Five Propositions which you know My Lords was so fully and clearly defin'd by the Council of Trent Can. 22. Sess 6. where it saith That the Righteous eannot persevere in the Righteousnesse which he hath receiv'd without special assistance And before by Innocent I. when writing to the Council of Carthage he pronounces these excellent words recited in the Letter of S. Celestin to the Bishops of France a a Caelestinus Epist ad Episcop Galliae cap. 6. As we are victorious in temptations when God succours us so we must necessarily be overcome when he ceases to help us Necesse est ut quo auxiliante vincimus eo iterum non adjuvante vincimur For were it thus My Lords should we not have cause to cry out with Saint Prosper who defended the same Doctrine of S. Augustin which we defend at this day Then Innocent the first who so worthily fill'd Saint Peter's Chair is fallen into Error ERRAVIT ergo Innocentius Petri sede dignissimus But we hold our selves more happy My Lords in that it hath pleased God to make us instrumental to hinder the victorious Grace of his Son and the invincible Doctrine of his Church from being overthrown by the attempts of humane presumption and we acknowledge that if our weak interposition hath contributed any thing towards the diverting so great an evil this effect is due only to the generosity of your zeal the Authority of your Orders and the uprightnesse of your Directions Not but that we believe My Lords that Molina's Disciples who by above a hundred Propositions which we extracted out of their Books and presented to the Pope declar'd even before the Constitution open VVar against S. Augustin although they disclaim this boldnesse in Companies where they are reproacht with it at Paris and in this City will publish their false Victory everywhere and put a false construction upon the words of the Decree which speaks not of S. Augustin and upon the expresse intention of the Pope who hath so often declared the esteem he hath of the admirable and divine Doctrine of that great Saint 'T is fit My Lords That as this whole Affair hath had no other original on their part but an unworthy Artifice in prosecution whereof they have for these four years thought in the Censure of certain several and equivocal Propositions a suppott of their new Doctrine of Molina first hatcht in the Church but about seventy yeares ago so it should be terminated with impostures and delusions unworthy of Divines and Catholicks and with imaginary triumphs But we hope My Lords that all intelligent persons and well-affected to the divine interests of Jesus Christ's Effectual Grace and to the true honour of the H. See and the Church which ought to be precious to us will easily discern the general and equivocal sense from the certain and particular that which we have rejected as heretical from that which we maintain'd as Catholick that which is express'd in the Constitution from that which is not express'd in it and lastly the false and most unjust pretensions of passionate men from the true and most commendable intention of his Holinesse It remains My Lords That we prepare our selves to depart from hence to morrow morning and we beseech you in the mean time to continue to us the honour of your good will and to believe that as the sole love of Truth and the defence of S. Augustin's sacred Doctrine which our adversaries have endeavor'd to involve amongst errors that they might also involve it in a Censure caus'd us to undertake this long voyage so it will render us more and more submissive to your Orders and Authority which we shall alwayes respect most heartily and as much as they ought who are My Lords Your most humble and obedient Servants De la Lane Abbot of Valcroissant Des-mares Priest of the Oratory De Saint Amour Manessier Angran Rome June 16. 1653. CHAP. XXVIII M. Hallier and his Collegues desire an audience of the Pope to complaine of the publick joy we testifi'd in Rome for the Declaration made to us by the Pope at our taking leave of him which his Holinesse again confirmes to them The General of the Augustines gives us Letters of Association to his Order The Ambassador in a letter to the Count de Brienne Secretary of State gives the same account of the manner wherein we spoke of the Propositions and the Pope condemn'd them that is declar'd in this whole Relation IT would be hard for me to expresse what comfort we receiv'd from the so advantageous declaration in favour of S. Augustin's doctrine and effectual Grace which the Pope made to us in this audience The joy which appear'd in our countenances testifi'd the same to all that saw us go abroad and 't was a remarkable accident that M. Hallier who was in the Pope's Presence-chamber when we came forth from his Holinesse receiv'd at that very moment the first mortification by it But he receiv'd more by the noise which this declaration of the Pope made immediately in Rome as well through our care to publish it as through the satisfaction with which those who lov'd our cause and persons the number of whom was very great communicated so agreeable newes one to another Being there remain'd very few dayes before our departure which we determined to be on Monday or Tuesday following we took occasion to tell it to all those friends and persons of greatest respect of whom we were oblig'd to take leave before our going away and we did it as particularly as the scantnesse of time permitted to the end we might have them as witnesses in case of need to certify that they heard us publickly and openly proclaime it before our departure and that when the abovemention'd letter which we intended to write to the Bishops should be seen in France our ordinary calumniators might not alledge that it was a feigned thing invented at pleasure to delude the world and secure us in some measure from the condemnation of our opinions which they boasted to have obtained We related it not only to those whom we went to visite but to many others of our acquaintance who occasionally meeting us congratulated us for what they had heard others speak advantageously of it and desir'd us to confirm to them our selves and particularly relate to them what had been told them but in grosse The report of the applauses which we received and the publick joy which we testified hereupon to all the world so vehemently confounded M. Hallier and his Collegues that they thought themselves oblig'd to go and complain thereof to the Pope on Monday following to the end it might please his Holinesse before our departure by some mortification to quash the advantages which we took from the said Declaration already and might afterwards take they said to the prejudice of
house of the Cureé of S. Germain de l' Auxerrois where they should receive the King's orders To the appointed place they obediently repaire'd to the number of thirty from whence they were conducted to the Louvre by the said Sieur Saintot Where being carried into the Queen's Presence-chamber M. le Tellier came to them and askt who were the Syndics and the Sieur de Saint Roch senior Syndic stepping forth M. le Tellier told him both now and at several goings to and from the King and his Counsil that the King was not well-pleas'd with the Assembly of Cureés of Munday last that his Majesty complain'd of their treating and deliberating therein concerning some affair of State and of their concluding yea and executing their conclusion to have recourse to the Nuntio That it was a crime to treat of such an affair and to give a visite to forreign Ambassadors without the King's leave That the Cureés and others might indeed recurre to the Nuncio in reference to the spiritual part of his charge and the Court of Rome but in affairs temporal and of State he was no other then the Ambassador of a forreign Prince That therefore the Cureés had incurr'd a great fault in deputing persons to him and were askt what reason they would give for it to the King For answer whereunto the said Sieur de Saint Roch having first made a Narration of what pass'd in the Assembly and follow'd thereupon in reference to the Nuntio said That in regard of the complaint and opposition they intended to make against the Bull 't was a thing purely spiritual and belonging to their charges and functions for which they believ'd his Majesty would not be offended since it was lawful to address to the Nuntio about a spiritual Affair and such as concerns the Ecclesiastical Court of Rome As for the confinement and enlargement of the Card. de Rets That the Cureés having spoken only concerning the publick and private Prayers in the form and according to the appointment of the Archbishop well known to the Kings Court and everywhere else without any offence taken thereat before they conceiv'd hitherto that their Conclusion for renewing and recommending the said Prayers to the people was a piece of administration purely spiritual and that to exercise the same was not to treat or meddle with affaires of State That as to the having given charge to their Deputies after they should have spoken to the Bull to congratulate the Nuntio occasionally and thank him for his Negotiation for the liberty of Cardinal de Rets and testifie to him the joy they receiv'd from the hope he gave that his Majesty would shortly restore the said Cardinal to his Holinesse they conceiv'd this Congratulation Consolation not to concern affairs of State or cause any prejudice to his Majesties services As for M. le Tellier's question what reason they would give for it to the King the said Sieur De S. Roch told him That if after the foregoing relation according to the Truth and for justification of their Innocence his Majesty desir'd any other reason they should return their Answer with all respect when they understood what he desir'd which Answer the said Sieur le Tellier accounted reasonable After he had understood from the King in his Council what was desir'd of the Cureés he came back He told them that the King requir'd them to ask pardon of him for their Assembly and depute some persons to tell the Nuntio that it was not their intention to have recourse to him nor by him to his Holinesse for the enlargement of Cardinal de Rets Whereunto the said M. de S. Roch answer'd That forasmuch as his Office of Syndic empower'd him only to propound things in their Company to whom it pertain'd to conclude what answer was fit to be return'd to his Majesty they most humbly beseecht him to give them time to consider about it Which Reply being again found reasonable M. le Tellier went to know the Kings pleasure concerning it and returning to the said Curees told them That his Majesty requir'd their answer presently and that in order to consult thereof among themselves they might retire either to S. Germani de l' Auxerrois or into the Chamber of Marshal de Villeroy near the Queens Presence-Chamber According to which order for time and place the said Cureés withdrew into M. de Villeroy's Chamber M. le Tellier came thither to tell them worse news to wit that his Majesty was just then inform'd that the Cureés had signinify'd to the Nuntio that they would write to the Pope for the liberty of Cardinal de Rets and complain to his Holinesse for not sending forth Excommunications by reason of the confinement of the said Cardinal as some Popes his Predecessors had done in like case That they desir'd the Nuntio to further their complaint with his Holinesse but the Nuntio much dislik'd these Propositions and said That more gentle courses were to be taken That instead of taking this counsel the Cureés answer'd That if the Pope would not do them reason upon their complaint of the Cardinals confinement they would addresse to the Parliament and preach vehemently and loudly against it Whereupon the Nuntio thrust the Deputies out of his Chamber by head and shoulders To all this it was answer'd by the Curé of S. Bartholmew who was the Spokesman to the Nuntio that these Reports were nothing but absolute calumny as they could make good to his Majesty The Sieur de Tellier said he would go and give this account to the King In the mean time it being taken into consideration what answer to return to his Majesty especially concerning the last Relation as also who should be the Speaker it was agreed that an Account should be given to the King as well of the Assembly of Monday last as of the Deputation to the Nuntio and M. de S. Roch was pitcht upon for Speaker At length M. le Tellier return'd to the Chamber and understanding the conclusion of the Company to go to the King and that the said Sieur de S. Roch was deputed to be Speaker He askt the Sieur de S. Roch what he had to say to the King Whereunto being answer'd That the Company would give his Majesty contentment they were introduc'd by M. Saintat into the Queens Chamber where either of their Majesties were seated in Chaires the Dukes of Anjou Guise the Chancellor the Keeper of the Seales M. de l' Hospital and le Tellier and some others of the Privy-Council standing by The Cureés made a low Reverence to them and the Chancellor told them that the King was not well pleas'd with their Assembly of Monday last Whereupon the said Sieur de S. Roch after a reverence to their Majesties spoke as follows or very near for his Speech being not premeditated nor written beforehand it would be hard to make a relation of it word for word Sir The Cureés of your good City of Paris your Majesties most
non Cancellariae Apostolicae valvis ac in acie Carupi Florae per me Hieronymum Mascellam Sanctissimi D. N. Papae Cursorem Pro D. Mag. Cursorum P. Paulus Desiderius Cursor VVhen we had bidden Adieu to as many of our Friends as we could in the short time appointed for our departure which was to be on Tuesday June 17. divers of them came to us that morning to wish us a good journey And in the afternoon by the hour that we were to set forth there met so many who would accompany us to Ponte-mele where our Horses expected us that they fill'd six Coaches So that when we went out of Rome about the hour that the Promenade begins through the street which goes from the Colledge de propaganda fide to the Gate del Popolo our Equipage seem'd something Triumphant and if I mistake not the Count de Rochfort was one of those that saw us passe by in this manner out of their windows I mention these particularities because our departure being sudden in regard of the approaching hot weather some persons took occasion thence to vent this falshood that we were constrain'd to flye and make our escape assoon as the Pope's Constitution was publish'd I know not as I said before whether we saw it on the day before or the very day of our departure because it was not sooner printed and expos'd to sale at the Apostolical Printing-house and none of our friends had a Copy of it before But after we knew of it both by the publick voice and in the following Audience which the Pope gave us we resolv'd to depart whether we saw it first or not We took Horse at Ponte-mole and there parted with our friends who accompany'd us thither That night we lay at Monte-rose from whence we went to Siena We travelled according to the usual stages and had a very favourable time to begin our Voyage considering the season and the Countrey For the intermixture of Rain and a cool Wind made this time resemble an Autumn of France rather then a Summer of Italy Neverthelesse F. Des-mares found some indisposition upon himself at Siene which oblig'd us to stay one day there in attending him And yet he could not continue the Journey with us to Florence but in a Litter which we hir'd at Siena for that purpose M. Manessier also was indispos'd when he came to Florence in which place while we staid there three or four dayes in expectation of his amendment the reflexions we made upon the Popes Constitutions which decided nothing of the matters whose decision we had so importunately demanded of his Holinesse gave us a little scruple that we had departed from Rome without first receiving order from the Bishops who sent us thither and induc'd us to write the ensuing Letter to them My LORDS WEE departed from Rome the 17th of this Month as we signify'd to you by our Letter of the 16th that we purposed to do We intended to return with what speed we could being very desirous to inform your Lordships personally of many things which cannot be so exactly written and that those of us who are Doctors of the Faculty of Paris might be present at its Assembly when the registring of the Decree pass'd upon the Five Propositions should be propounded to the end we might at the same time acquaint the Faculty with the Popes intentions as we signify'd the same to you So that our Report being likewise enter'd into the Register no person might presume either now or hereafter that S. Augustin's doctrine and Grace Effectual by it self were prejudic'd by that Decree VVe design'd My Lords according to the computation we made of our Journeys to have been in this City on Saturday But we were not strong enough to undergo such speedy travel and could not reach hither before Munday besides that the indisposition of some of our Company has constrain'd us to repose here at the present and will oblige us to make but short Journeys during the rest of our Voyage This slowness My Lords has induc'd us to write to the Faculty for the purposes above-mention'd and the exact account we owe to you of all that we do in this Affair obliges us also to acquaint you with it and send you a copy of it We hope My Lords you will approve our procedure and intentions which aim at nothing but the peace of our body the honour of the H. See and the defence of Truth and we conceive that when you shall have join'd his reason to the others which oblig'd us to depart from Rome without your express orders you will not dislike our presuming that herein we did nothing but what you would approve For although during all our stay we could not obtain of the H. Father what we demanded of him by your order to wit the establishment of a solemn Congregation wherein the matters which are the sole Contests in the Church might be throughly examin'd and with the conditions you appointed us to insist upon Nevertheless we conceiv'd there was no reason to continue our sollicitations for the same after what is come to pass since if the Pope had been dispos'd to enter into the Examen and discussion of these matters there was no more justice reason and apparence to do it before pronouncing any thing upon the Five Propositions then after such a Judgement as that which is publisht Indeed My Lords when the Pope declar'd to us that he meant not to meddle with the matter of Effectual Grace or do any prejudice to S. Augustin's doctrine and consequently that he had not pass'd his judgement upon the Propositions which we presented to him in explication of those which were fram'd by our Adversaries since those propositions are necessarily linked with Effectual Grace and expresse the doctrine of it without any equivocation according to the indubitable sense of S. Augustin it may seem that we might reasonably have represented to the H. Father that his Decision did not clear what was in dispute nor establish peace and therefore we might still have demanded his Holiness's judgement upon the controverted senses We might have beseecht him with all sort of respect that the Five Propositions remaining condemn'd by his Decree so far as they are consider'd according to the evil impious and heretical senses which may be given them and according to which we our selves condemn'd them first in his presence at least he would please to consider the controverted senses to examine in a solemn Congregation the clear Propositions which we had presented to him and their contraries which our Adversaries maintain'd against us to hear us fully upon those senses in presence of such as impugned them to peruse the Writings which we had presented concerning this cause and to make such a distinct Decision of those Propositions as might appease the troubles of the Church And we had the more occasion to renew so equitable a suit to his Holinesse inasmuch as he treated us with
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
slight what he had said and the rather for that all who heard it observ'd that he spoke crosly and perversly without reason or discretion M. de Mets came to see M. de Souvré whilst I was in this discourse with him and as soon as he was enter'd M. de Souvré said to him I wish Sir you had been here two or three dayes ago instead of to day You should have seen M. de Saint Amour at a contest with M. Hallier who assaulted him with a hundred frivolous accusations 'T was a comfort and some sort of justification to me that all M. Hallier's unworthy discourses had made no other impression then this Yet I was troubled to hear this hainous Calumny which concern'd my respect and fidelity to the King and therefore I renew'd my complaint of it to M. de Mets. But he had the goodnesse also to comfort me and tell me that I was well enough known at Court from my infancy and that none there would entertain the least suspicion against me for any of M. Hallier's reproaches So that having the testimony of this Prince and of my own conscience in my favour besides that of M. de Souvré and the company who were with him at his House when I met M. Hallier there I could not in reason but conform to their sentiments But M. Hallier was not the onely man from whom we suffer'd in this kind There were others who strove to equal him accusing us particularly of intelligence and conformity of opinions and designes with the Calvinist Ministers whom we had seen upon the way Which Calumny became so common in sundry places of France that two Doctors my Friends residing farre from Paris writ to me upon the same day to clear my self of it I answer'd their Letters with a sincere Account how things pass'd And one of them was so satisfy'd therewith that he sent me this following Sir YOur Letters afford me as great contentment by the justification of your procedure with the Calvinists whom you met in your Voyage as the calumny and imposture of your or rather S. Augustin's Adversaries had caus'd trouble and displeasure They who have seen your Letter are extreamly satisfy'd with it not only for the plain narration of the Truth which is enough to stop the mouth of Calumny but for the delight it affords in the description of your Voyage and the several entertainments you had with the Hereticks I am most pleas'd with the Christian moderation wherewith you treat your Calumniators I pray God give them the like spirit of Charity and preserve the same in you 'T is in my opinion the most effectual way to win them and the best course to defend Truth against those who fight against it with more heat then knowledge I am Sir Your most humble and obedient servant Percheron From Auxerre December 9. 1653. But to end this Work I shall add no more but the newes which I receiv'd from Rome by the two last Posts in December 1653. by Letters of the 22th signify'd to me 1. That F. Nolano was still in prison though lately in a larger place which gave more hope of him 2. That M. Albizzi publisht that the Pope would not so soon have made his Constitution nor in the manner he did if we had not insisted so much for a Contradictory Audience 3. That 't was held for certain he would be made Cardinal at the first Promotion and also F. Tartaglia or he of Saint Laurence in Lucina The same person writ me these words by another of the 29th F. Laurence the Augustin tells me he heard one of the Consultors for the Five Propositions say That neither he nor his Companions ever saw the Writings which you presented to his Holilinesse that he knew not what they were You see how this matter has been examin'd though it be the most difficult and important in our Religion Be not weary of defending the Truth and though the men of the earth persecute you yet the Kingdom of Heaven will not fail you THE CONCLUSION THis is an Account of all that I understood to have pass'd at Rome in the Affair of the Five Propositions In which I know not any thing which is not most true and exact I do not mean as to the words for 't is impossible to retain them so exactly though I us'd the best care therein I could but as to the substance of the things related If I knew there were any one in it which trespass'd upon Truth never so little I would expunge it being not ignorant that if God judges for the least unprofitable words he will judge me more vigorously for the false which I knowingly mingle in so weighty a matter And truly I were very wretched if having no other design in this VVork then to honour the God of Truth I should think to acquit my self of this duty by lying I see not what interest could induce me to it having by Gods Grace very few pretensions in the world But whatever those interests may be I am well perswaded none upon earth deserves to be much priz'd because there is not any but must end and consequently cannot last long as I have learnt from S. Augustin Non est diù quod habet extremum And according to the solidity of this sublime and certain Maxim I should much deceive my self if I should be so unhappy as to speak the least falshood in this Work for any temporal advantages that I propos'd to my self as the recompence of my Lying since should these advantages last to the end of the world I most clearly perceive that they should passe away with incredible swiftness and that consequently that being nothing can remain for me before God of this whole VVork but the falshoods which I may have utter'd in it or the Testimonies which I believe I have render'd to the Truth nothing but either of these can be of any importance to me And through Gods mercy this is all that I have aim'd at I consider nothing else but look upon all the rest as already pass'd And in witnesse of all the contents of this Journal which I once again acknowledge before God for true I have sign'd and subscrib'd the same as such in my Chamber at Sorbonne this sixth day of August one thousand six hundred fifty four L. DE SAINT AMOUR AN ADDITION Made to this Journal on S. Peter's Day 1661. Containing 1. An Answer of Cardinal Barberin to two Letters of mine 2. Sundry places of F. Annat's Book intitled Cavilli which justifie many points of this Journal 3. A Decree of the Inquisition of Rome touching the Popes Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction in the Temporalties of Kings 4. An Advertisement touching several Acts of the Congregation de Auxiliis which we caus'd to be transcrib'd and compar'd at Rome WHen I made this Journal I had no purpose to add any thing beyond the year 1651. but when I review'd it for the Presse I found among my Papers Cardinal Barberin's
be a deplorable mischief and therefore requires to be prevented this whole Province would have accounted themselves worthy to be accused of disobedience and ingratitude if in so long oppression of the innocence of a Pastor and a Prelate so dear to them we should not give yoâ—r Serenity and all the world certain proofs of our good will and obligations both in reference to the affliction which we resent for that of my L. the Patriarch and to a thing more important to wit the inevitable desolation which would befall us if we should suffer this scandal to continue longer in so miserable a time when all things are full of tumult and confusion This hath induc'd us to make this Remonstrance to you with the more earnestness for that we know that faithful people are oblig'd to love and procure tranquillity and peace especially at this time when bad examples instigate us to do otherwise But setting aside the affection which we bear to the most R. Patriarch for his merits vertues sufficiently known to you which certainly is very great and for which we would do all things possible to be done by the good children we have resolv'd not to be deficient in what our Lord commands us with his own mouth The Scribes and Pharisâ—es sit in Moses Chaâ—r do what they say Truth it self most Serene Prince tells as that we ought to hear our Pastors because they are the Fathers and Masters of the people And 't is for this reason that S. Paul saith Remember those that are over you who declare the word of God to you obey your superiours and be subject to them for they watch as they who must give account of your souls that they may do it with joy not with sorrow for this is profitable for you These are the authorities of God to which it is necessary that we obey to the end we may do it with more successe it is necessary that your Serenity who are guardians of the Holy Laws favour and assist us May it therefore please your Serenity to interpose as you shall think fit that we may be given to understand with assurance and by Soveraign authority what is the doctrin of our Patriarch and Pastor in that Homily because so long as this is undecided we remain in sadnesse and in a scandal of very great consequence being surrounded on every side with Provinces and Nations who suffer themselves to be led into other sentiments then those prescrib'd by our Mother the H. Catholick and Roman Church from whom we shall never depart acknowledging it a particular benefit of God's goodness that the Provinces places subject to the Patriarchal Superintendecy and the most happy government of your Serenity are hitherto free from all the troubles which disturb the Church at this day If therefore the doctrine of the most Reverend Patriarch in this Homily be good let your Serenity consider how much we are oblig'd and how greatly charity ought to enflame our hearts to procure for the love we bear him his peace and tranquillity and preservation of his honour and reputation all which are things from which we may hope all sort of advantage as without which we must expect to be deprived of all spiritual consolation Your Serenity sees that all these honest and equitable considerations have caused the Clergy City all our happy Country account themselves oblig'd to do the same office towards our Pastor which we read to have been heretofore done by most devouâ— nations towards theirs in the persecutions of Liberius Bishop of Rome S. Athanasius Bishop of Alexandria S. Chrisostome Bishop of Constantinople and many others when the devotion of the people excited by the Holy Ghost manifested their piety and affection towards their Pastors VVe desire to imitate them in their good actions so much the more now the time presses us and we can no longer dessemble because most Serene Prince if the Patriarch be found innocent as he is esteem'd by general consent we discharge our duty in the resentment which we testifie of his affliction so t is requisite we do justice to our selves in case his doctrine in the sayd Homily be worthy of reprehension and condemnation for so long as we remain in suspence concerning the same and the discussion of so important an affair is deferr'd we cannot but be alwayes in danger of being deceiv'd VVherefore to prevent so great mischiefs and to procure perfect satisfaction to our minds all the abovesayd persons of your most faithfull Province have with common consent sent us to your Serenity to the end that by the blessing of God and the intervention of your authority we may obtain the effect of our just demands and suffer no evil having committed no fault VVherefore we most humbly beseech your Serenity and this most happy and most Christian Republick that seeing the affair time occasion and all things permit you will vouchsafe to write to your most excellent Ambassadors renssiding at the Council of Trent assembled by authority of the Soveraine Pontif and the Holy Ghost that they with diligence and Christian benevolence make instance to those H. Fathers chosen out of the most faithfull and learned of all Christendome to obtain of them that after they shall have considered with the eyes of Justice the words of my L. the most R. Patriarch in the said Homily they declare whether the same be conformable to the sound doctrine of the H. Fathers of the Catholick Church to the end that by an assured and solid declaration of the H. Council we may quiet our consciences which cannot but be in agitation and trouble so long as our irresolution therein shall continue We hope this Remonstrance by which we are so much oblig'd to you will be very well pleasing to our H. F. Pope Pius 4 as a Father full of prudence and goodnesse who will be most joyful to see so holy a conspiration in a whole Province affectionate to its Pastor that he will acknowledge that this affection as well as this demand being a pure instinct of the H. Spirit whose first Minister his Holinesse is will be worthy of his approbation and good will and lastly he will find consolation in understanding the firm resolution which we have to live under the protection and true discipline of the H. Romane Church our mother VVhich thing we plainly and faithfully manifest by our Zeal to render to our Pastor the honour and respect which we owe to him By this meanes we keep farre from that Pest which uses to give the sad beginning to unhappy heresies when inferiors as the B. Martyr S. Cyprian testifies obstinately and contemptuously withdraw themselves from the Charity and obedience which they owe to their Superiors And being thus stirr'd up with pastoral care he will be also glad to instruct us by his Authority and that of the H. Council in what manner we are to demeane our selves in these miserable times towards the most R.