to my knowledge but by particular good hap without which the whole intrigue had remain'd under the veils of obscurity which hid it till then that whatsoever inquiry I could make about the Letter perhaps I should not be so fortunate in its discovery as I had been in that of the Censure and that I conceiv'd there was no reason to doubt of its having been sent because it was not likely that after so strange a boldnesse in promoting so farr a false Censure framed in the name of eight or ten particular Doctors notwithstanding such publick complaints as had been made thereof they would leave behind a true Letter sign'd as was reported by fifty Bishops against which no person appear'd to complain In the second place I advertis'd them that they saw how many disguisements delusions and calumnies it might be presum'd our Adversaries had set on work at Rome to obtain what they had obtain'd hitherto if one might judge by enormities of their proceeding in this last action in which they had laid aside all kind of modesty and decorum trampled upon all lawes not only of Christian conscience but even of purely civil honesty and violated the faith of the H. See for which they professe themselves so zealous the most essential Duties whereunto Infidels are bound towards the meanest of men namely of not surprising them by what they say to them of not lying to them of not disguising things to them but representing the same to them such as they are And that they might hence conclude how much it would be for the interest of the H. See and of the service of God who founded it as also for that of the Church whereof it is the center that all those cheats calumnies and impostures were discover'd to it how much the same would then be abhorr'd at Rome as well as all those who were found culpable thereof and what advantages were to be hop'd thereby to the holy truths which these people every day cover'd more and more with such thick darkness and struck at with such outrage and violence The Letters writ to me from Paris about the same time of my writing these at Rome were not very remote from the sentiments to which mine might lead those Bishops which were solicitous about this affair and earnestly waited for those discoveries which they were told might arrive from me For it was signifi'd to me that a person well seen in the designes of the Jesuites and much devoted to truth had assur'd them that the Jesuites hop'd for a wonderfull effect of the letter of M. de Vabres that the Pope or some of his principal ministers had told their Fathers at Rome that if they could get a letter signed only by a dozen Bishops his Holiness would particularly censure the Five Propositions that five and twenty Bishops had signed it already that the Nuntio had further confirm'd to the Jesuites that it would not be long before there were an expresse Censure upon that letter Neverthelesse those Bishops which were anxious about the effect which the said letter might produce could scarce be perswaded that Rome would suffer it self to be so easily cajoled in the most important affair of the Church and of the Christian Faith and that they had some thoughts of writing to the Pope about it or sending some person thither on purpose to represent to his Holiness the dangers of this business and the precautions with which it was necessary that his Holiness proceeded therein to conclude it advantageously for truth and the edification of the Church Notice was given me by letters at the same time touching the Decree made against the Catechisme of Grace that the said decree had been put by the Nuntio into the hands of one of the Agents of the Clergy to propound the same to the Assembly and to bring it about that they might ordain the publishing of it through the Provinces that this Proposal had been made there but the Assembly was not dispos'd to condescend to this recommendation of the Nuntio That on the contrary they resolv'd not to meddle with it and likewise ordain'd that nothing should be register'd about the Proposal which their Agent made to them Moreover that this Decree had not only been thus refus'd but also that excellent Reflections had been made upon it and that the Court of Parliament had issu'd a notable Arrest against it upon the remonstrances made to them thereupon by the Kings learned Counsel after they had receiv'd at their barre the complaints of the Rector of the University who presented himself there for that purpose CHAP. V. Divers visits in which the Five Propositions were discours'd of and of a remarkable circumstance touching the same How few at Rome well understood these matters and whence it came to be so BUT before I receiv'd those letters and mine were arriv'd at Paris I continu'd to take all possible opportunities at Rome with the least noise to inquire further into the posture of affairs Amongst others I visited the General of the Augustines whose great zeal for S. Augustine we had understood at Paris by the Letter he writ to F. Alipius of the same Order presently after M. Cornet's attempt I discours'd with him chiefly concerning the two wayes wherewith S. Augustine was struck at one by openly rejecting the Authority of his Doctrine as M. Pereyret and many others did the other by making shew of owning his Authority and yet teaching and maintaining a Doctrine in effect contrary to his and driving at a condemnation thereof as theirs who really defended it I intimated to him as much as I could the necessity there was of his courage and prudence being equally arm'd against both these sorts of Enemies which S. Augustine had in this age He very well receiv'd my discourse and profess'd himself ready to do so according to his power upon all occasions I told him of the Condemnation made at Vallidolid of two and twenty Propositions extracted out of the Jesuits Books against S. Augustine but he was inform'd of it before having receiv'd notice of it from Spain I made a second visit to the Cardinal whose resistance hinder'd the Pope from confirming the Facultie's pretended Censure of the Propositions as otherwise he would have done In this second visit we discours'd of the grounds of Doctrine which they concern'd I spoke thereof in the same manner as we had alwayes done in France from their first publishing by M. Cornet namely as Propositions equivocal ambiguous capable of different senses both Heretical and Catholick But the Cardinal conceiv'd that this was to speak too little advantageously for their defence Particularly concerning the first he said that considering it well the words whereof it consists which are found in the Book of Jansenius restrain'd it clearly enough to the Catholick sense That the righteous men to whom it is there said some of God's Commandements are impossible are suppos'd to have already fullfill'd many of them being arriv'd to
condemnation ignominious to the H. Seee and prejudicial to truth and the Church That it was likewise matter of jealousy that the mischeif might afterwards passe further and turn into a custome of condemning the best books when they do not please the Jesuites That the sooner the Evil could be remedied the better and that the more speed there was used to remedy it the more ground there would be to expect a prosperous event of the remedy which should be apply'd thereunto That although perhaps a perfect satisfaction and vigorous protection of S. Augustin's doctrine could not as yet be hop'd for neverthelesse those persons on whom the same may be said principally to depend might be oblig'd in the present state of things at least to be hence forward more circumspect and cautious in their proceeding and to have a greater distrust of the Jesuites accusations and practises That besides the successe is not in our power that indeed we may foresee what men are able to do but we know not what it may please God to bring to passe that we ought always to do our endevor to plead aloud and with respect for truth that it belongs to God to afford this paines and zeal what blessing it pleaseth him but withall in undertaking it it behooved lesse to consult with the wisdom of the flesh and the world then with that of the spirit and the Gospel That amongst the Cardinals as well as all other Orders of the Church Prelats Priests and Monks there are at Rome as well as elsewhere though in small number some who love and know truth and who sigh as well as we for the ill usage she receives every day that we should find these persons favorable to our attempts that being unable to do any good by themselves they would be extreamly glad of the comfort of being able to second us in ours by all ways they can That of others there were three sorts the first absolutely contrary prejudic'd and unlikely to admit any reason repugnant to their preconceptions the second prejudic'd too but yet equitable and capable of hearing what may be represented to them and the third indifferent not very solicitous about these things but like tabulae rasae not having yet receiv'd any impressions concerning them That these last would be awaken'd when they hear the voices of such as undertake to inlighten them that the second would also consider the remonstrances and arguments we shall use and perhaps God will shew mercy to both in opening their understandings and making the same prevalent upon them and as for the first who are our most obstinate adversaries it would be meet not to neglect them because perhaps God might draw some of them out of their darkness and they which resolve to persevere therein in spight of all the light offer'd them may receive that for their confusion which they would not admit of for their edification I had formerly said my first Masse at Loretto and thence taking the way for France came to lye the next day at Senegallia of which Card. Factrinetti was Bishop by whom being entertain'd that night we had converse enough to make me retain an acquaintance of so civil and excellently endow'd a Prelate He arriv'd at Rome whilst I was in these confusions and I going to salute him some days after his arrival he unwillingly both dispell'd and augmented them but with an honest intention and perfect candour For our discourse being fallen upon the subject of our affairs he told me that in some of the visits which he had already made to divers Cardinals some of them told him that they had represented to his Holiness that it was most necessary to set upon their determination to the end to restore peace to the world and take away all ground of division amongst Christians I desire no other thing but that this be done as it ought to be but I fear those Cardinals of whom this spoke were not mov'd to such thoughts by any concernment they had for S. Augustin's doctrine and I scarce doubt but that the same were infus'd into them by the Jesuits to procure the effect of M. de Vebres's Letter it seeming to me that no person could have spoken thereof to their Eminences but by the instigation of those Fathers There was in Rome another person admirably intelligent in these matters extremly prudent and zealous to the higest degree into whose acquaintance I fell very happily and without whose advice I conceiv'd not meet to do or write any thing in this businesse I had already spoken with him twice about it We had discuss'd together pro and con the reasons abovemention'd and had never been of the mind for the Delegation nor could he believe that the difficulties Of the Jesuites great credit Of the prepossession of minds Of the small knowledge of many amongst others of the Pope himself could be overcome but by time and patience wherefore he judg'd it meet to waite for a more favorable Pontificate and a Pope better inform'd and more vers'd in these matters then he that sate at present in S. Peter's chaire I visited this excellent man a third time to see whether he persisted still in the same Mind and besides the reasons above specifi'd which I impugn'd I represented to him afresh the insolence wherewith the Jesuites triumph'd over the H. See the Church the Truth the Doctrine of S. Augustin and the innocence of his disciples the prevailing influence they had at Rome for that no person contradicted their accusations nor discover'd the mischievousnesse of their conduct and the enormities of their pernicious Maximes I askt him whether he did not at length believe that if some one backt with the authority of a considerable delegation should in a fit manner speak against those exorbitances it would not hinder many from following their passions with a servitude so blind as this wherewith they embrac'd the protection of their interests and that if such a delegation had not all the successe it deserv'd it would not at least hinder them from proceeding further whilst they were grapled with and serve to clear many things in order to a through regulation one day when it should please God to afford his Church so great a mercy He acquiesc'd at length approv'd it and moreover desir'd to see it set on foot and besides those foregoing reasons that which most prevail'd with him was that at the worst the Pope who was conscious enough to himself of his little knowledge in these matters seeing himself press'd by two contrary parties would remain undetermin'd and grant nothing to one side in prejudice to the other that in this conflict every one would be stirr'd up to inquire in the subject of the contest and so the truths which the Jesuites endevor to destroy might by this be meanes be maintain'd against their assaults and rescu'd from the extream oppression under which those Fathers reduce them It was but in the end of January 1651.
was told by one of the H. Office that he to whom F. Annat's book de Incoacta libertate then under the Presse was committed to read had made his Report of it eight dayes ago that M. Albizzi mov'd there might be given to it not only a Licence for printing but also a kind of Approbation that there was nothing in it contrary to the Faith but the Members of the H. Office considering it was not their Custom M. Albizzi could not bring them to his intended innovation and so the book was only remitted to the Master of the Sacred Palace I went to visit him on Saturday the 19. and represented the Prejudice which the Cause of Grace Effectual by it self would receive by the Approbation which F. Annat endeavour'd to get from the Congregation of the H. Office for the Book he was printing and the advantage which the Jesuites would make of it for the upholding of their Molinistical Grace subject to Free Will which could not be establisht but upon the ruines of many Christian Truths The Master of the Sacred Palace presently agreed with me as to the prejudice which those truths receive from that Molinistical opinion and particularly mention'd many truths that are subverted thereby But he told me that he did not believe F. Annat's book was writ in defence of that opinion That were it so it could not afford any consequence as to the matter of the Doctrine which would not fail to be maintain'd when they came to the Decision but till it were come to that the Pope had prohibited writing of these matters without permission of the Congregation of the H. Office That the said Congregation had given F. Annat such permission and him the Master c. permission to peruse the book and give his consent to the impression That he had done so and could not have done otherwise That those people were Almighty Ognipotenti That he was in an office in which it was necessary to obey By which I saw that we must be contented either to behold that book publisht with whatever advantagious Notes of Approbation it could be authoris'd or else stop its course by our complaint to the Pope against it if we could get audience of him before it came forth CHAP. II. Of the first Audience which we had together of the Pope Jan. 21. 1652. at the end of which we deliver'd to him our first Memorial AT length we obtain'd that so much desired Audience on Sunday Jan. 21. After we had made the usual kneelings at entrance into the Chamber where the Pope was and kiss'd his feet we placed our selves all four before him in a Semicircle and being upon our knees M. Brousse our Senior spoke in Latin to his Holinesse what followeth in the Translation Most Holy Father THE Joy we resent this day is so great that no words are capable to expresse it For what could happen more desirable and more happy to Sons of the Church to Priests and Doctors then to see our selves prostrate before the Common Father of Christians the Visible Head of the Church the Vicar of Jesus Christ and the Successor of S. Peter to kisse his feet and receive a benediction from his hand and mouth So that we doubt not but the sequel of this Year will be favourable to us and the successe of our Commission fortunate since we begin both the one and the other with your Holinesse's benediction Behold us most H. F. at the feet of your Holinesse sent from many most illustrious Bishops of France who excited with an ardent Zeal for the Mysteries and Articles of Faith and animated by their respect to the Holy See and particularly towards your Holinesse have delegated us hither to beseech you in their Name according to the laudable custom of the Church in the like occasions to please to ordain a Congregation for the Examination and Discussion of five Equivocal Propositions fraudulently and subtilly contriv'd and whereof the Authors themselves sollicit a Censure with all kind of artifices to the end that after the Parties shall have been heard in presence one of the other their proofs and reasons reciprocally produc'd subscrib'd and communicated the whole being weigh'd and examin'd as the importance of the matter requireth your Holinesse may pronounce and declare by the supreme authority which you have in the Church what ought to be follow'd and what avoided which is the true sense of those Propositions which we are oblig'd to hold and which the false which we ought to abhorr as we understand by publick and authentick Acts to have been practis'd under Clement VIII and Paul V. of hâ—ppy memory with so great glory to those two great Popes so much lustre of the truth and so great advantage to the H. See Our Confrere here present hath formerly propounded the same more largely to your Holinesse when he had the Honor to present to you the Letters of our LL. the Bishops and therefore I shall not repeat it for fear of being tedious to your Holinesse reserving my self to speak further thereof when your Holinesse shall please to command me For your Holinesse may easily judge by that strength of mind which it hath pleased God to give you of what importance this Suite of ours is for the preservation of truth for unity for peace and for the authority of the Church Forasmuch as the said Propositions being capable of divers senses true and false Catholick and Heretical and having been cunningly fram'd by those who are the Authors of them with design if once they be condemned in general and according to the rigor of the words to attribute to themselves the judgement of such Equivocal Censure and under pretext of defending it to take the Liberty of applying it as they please to all the kinds of senses and so by mingling the true with the false and error with the Catholick faith to excite envy and hatred against many both Bishops and Doctors of very great piety and excellent learning to accuse them to your Holinesse as guilty of spiritual Treason and to traduce them by their injuries and calumnies in the minds of the ignorant common people as they have not been asham'd to do already to the great scandal of all good men In which regard most H. F. there is none but sees how necessary the clearing of those Propositions is for Vnion for peace and for the good of the Church to the end that the parties having been heard on either side all the equivocations and ambiguities of words being unfolded and all the odious cavills dispell'd and rejected falsitie may become sever'd from truth error from the faith and bran from the flower to use S. Gregorie's Words I passe over in silence most H. F. that so I may not abuse the grace which your Holinesse doth me in hearing me that all this dispute concerns the dignity authority and doctrine of S. Augustin whom the supreme Pontifs and the whole Church have alwayes held in so great
if they did otherwise we ought to be patient since we could not force them to do justice whether they would or no. And if they proceeded in this course so far as to make a Decision it would not be injurious to us unlesse it were so to Truth if Truth were wounded thereby we must resolve to suffer with it and comfort our selves in such suffering by assuring our selves that the same Truth which engag'd us therein would secure us sooner or later it being certain that the same may be said of it which is said of Righteousness in the Gospel Blessed are they who love it and who hunger and thirst after it because they shall be satisfied therewith But besides we had this further important consideration That we were not come to Rome either for the defence or examination or determination of the Propositions simply as if our hopes and pretensions reach'd no further What interest could we have in the successe of that work of darknesse or in the condemnation or defence of such Propositions in themselves We who had alwaies consider'd them as the object of our aversion and as the unhappy instrument of a pernicious design for the unworthiness whereof we had alwayes reproach'd their Authors But we had taken this occasion in which the exorbitant outrage endeavoured to be done to the H. See and the Faith by the Jesuites and their Adherents was so visible and the artifice whereby they contriv'd to get their errors authoris'd so audacious and surprizing to the end that all persons who had any love for the H See for the Faith and for Sincerity entring into the just indignation which so shamefull and unrighteous procedure merited and acknowledging the necessity of securing the H. See the Faith from the like ambushes for ever might at length resolve to embrace the means necessary thereunto which were no other than to condemn the errors which gave occasion to these conspiracies and establish the Faith against which they were projected So that this design obliging us to be able to manifest boldly and with a holy confidence before the Judges which should be assign'd us all the errors whereinto the infirmity and extravigance of humane wit had suffer'd the Jesuites to be led contrary to the Maximes of the Gospel as well in Doctrine as in Morality we were oblig'd also to preserve that Christian freedom without which our Jorney was frivolous and was it a way to preserve it by yielding to act after so vile and abject a manner to wrangle pitifully about the terms of phantastick Propositions to place all the success and fruit of our pains in what might be ordain'd concerning them to appear privately before Judges who would seem to us like Idols all whose words would be mysterious as Oracles to exhaust all the force of our industry labour patience bodies and minds without being assur'd that any thing we writ or spoke would be throughly weighed or so much as read and remembred and in a fear that every one of those to whom we had spoken would never dream of us after our backs were turn'd All these reflections seem'd so strong to us both on the one side and the other that we could not end the difference between us We were oblig'd to writ into France and represent the same to the Prelates who sent us and to our friends that so we might have the judgements of the latter and the resolutions and orders of the former to conclude amongst us what we should do in such perplexed and important extremities We writ thither in the beginning of November what I have above related and towards the end of this month December we received such answers as the Reader I conceive will not be unwilling to see The first is a Letter which was written to us in Latin on Novem. 28. 1652. by two of my Lords the Bishops who sent us being the only persons amongst them who were then at Paris They writ the same to us in Latin that it might not only serve for our particular direction but also to justifie our proceeding before the most scrupulous persons of the Court of Rome by letting them see what they had prescrib'd us in the Original it self This Letter was written before we durst signifie to their Lordships at Paris all the difficulties with which we were surrounded because we were still in hope that we should be deliver'd from them at Rome without needing to make them known at Paris but the vigilance of the Prelates prevented our needs Nevertheless I shall insert only their last Letter here and subjoin the Answer which we return'd thereunto on the 30. of December The first written to us after the newly mentioned by one of our especial friends who consulted many others about it is of December 6. 1652. in these words I have read all the reasons which you have sent me I find that all those which are not for communicating with the Consultors as we propos'd are the strongest the others sway me not all Nevertheless I expect a more valid determination If there proceed any thing from that Congregation in favour of the Molinists I foresee a horrible persecution because the Ecclesiastical Superiours who might hinder it will be the prime Ministers of it and we are already lookt upon as Victimes shortly to be sacrific'd to the Idol of the Jesuites The same person writ to me eight days after Decemb. 13. in this manner All the Resolutions of our friends are that you offer not any instruction whatsoever to the Congregation as it is now held It is requisite that you let all be said against you that can be You are only to speak boldly and represent that you act only in the quality of Commissioners You shall declare that since you are dealt with so hardly you will writ to the Bishops that they may discharge you of your Commission and recall you home In truth it is an amazing thing to see a Congregation proceed in the mannet that this doth We find none in the Church that ever was like it There are no persons here who have a sincere love for Truth and true zeal for the honour of the H. See but sigh at so unjust proceedings I know some who afflict themselvs with watchings fastings and other austerities to pacifie God who without doubt permits this unhappiness because of our sins We shall never cease to offer vows and prayers to God to implore him to diffuse a spirit of justice and truth in the hearts of all those who compose that Congregation The same day Decemb. 13. M. de Sainte Beuve whose testimonies I so willingly produce as well in regard of his own merit learning and integrity as of his quality of Professor in Divinity which he discharges with great ability and reputation writ me a Letter touching the same matter whereof the Copy follows SIR WE have all reason here to wonder at the rumors which are spread about and at the discourses of the most
The Ambassador promis'd me he would And accordingly the next day when his audience was ended he told me that he had spoken largely to his Holiness about the passages of the said visits who was inform'd thereof before and knew the whole contents of our Memorials That his Holiness was considering to take order for every thing but would do it in his own time and in the manner which himself judg'd fit that in the mean time we must be quiet and patient and get our selves ready to appear possibly before his Holiness and our Adversaries present when we least expected it That he was resolv'd to end this affair with all possible solemnity and that neither the one side nor the other should return into France before we had been heard as amply as we could desire You see my Lords in general what account the Ambassador gave me of the Popes intentions He specifi'd nothing precisely concerning the particular of our demands but said enough to oblige us to be ready for every thing I assur'd the Ambassador that we should joyfully and quietly attend the effects of his Holiness's good purposes and considering afterwards how the Pope could be so soon inform'd of what had pass'd between Cardinal Spada and us I discover'd that the day before this Cardinal with Ginetti Pamphilio and Ghiggi stay'd an hour with his Holiness after the other Cardinals of the H. Office were gone at the end of their ordinary Assembly to which Cardinal Spada went immediately as he left us Hence I doubted not but in that time this Cardinal reported to his Holiness how we stood dispos'd I shall add no more to this Letter but the rumour vvhich I vvas told by one vvho heard it from our Adversaries viz. that the abovementioned Cardinals stay'd vvith the Pope to make report to his Holiness of the Affair of the Five Propositions which were going to be decided not to say as the Relator did condemned as if this affair were in a condition to be judg'd and as if an hours time suffic'd to give his Holiness the information necessary for that purpose A thousand such bruits and more groundless they disperse abroad and provided they find any intention to dismay S. Augustins Disciples and excite some tempest against them they care not what way they take Indeed we ought by this time to be proof against those Artifices and vain fears Would God our Adversaries could abstain from the one and we avoid the other and that his Mercy may give us all a sincere love of Truth and a true spirit of Peace In which wishes I remain My Lords Your most humble and obedient Servant De Saint-Amour Rome 27. Jan. 1653. The fairness of this Letter shews how the circumstances of time oblig'd us to carry our selves with Cardinal Spada and to suppress such things as might exasperate him had it been intercepted I remember that to oblige me to appear in the Congregation in their manner he endeavour'd to frighten me bidding me take heed what I did and telling me that if we did not appear things might happen which might cause us to repent it But I answer'd him resolutely yet with respect that the Pope and their Eminences might do what they thought good that we were only to answer for the justice of our demands and they for what they should do thereupon The multitude of things spoken in this visit permitted me not to reply to his example of the Conference of Fontainebleau whence he inferr'd the unprofitableness of all Conferences which would have been easie to do there being nothing less suitable to the Cardinals design then the example of that Conference of Fontainebleau which is known to have been so glorious to the Church to have conduc'd to the conversion of so many Hereticks and to have cover'd with eternal confusion one of the greatest props of Heresy in France CHAP. III. How we observ'd that the Congregation held at Cardinal Spada's house was only a part of the Inquisition The Audience given there to M. Hallier and his Collegues the Letter which I writ thereupon to the Advocate General Brignon A Conference which I had with the Ambassador touching what had pass'd between us and Cardinal Spada THE foregoing Chapter contains the principal and most considerable Passages from the time of my being sent for to Cardinal Spada till the departure of the Pope Jan 27. Some small particularities remain not unworthy to be related Wednesday the 22. after our second Visit to Cardinal Spada we went in the evening to advertise Cardinal Ghiggi of what had pass'd in those two visits and of the necessity of making the same answer the next day to that Cardinal which we had already given him At first Cardinal Ghiggi would scarce hear us but turn'd the whole carriage of the Affair upon Cardinal Spada who was he said Dean of the Congregation but reiterating the Remonstrances and beseeching him to consider that we were come to beseech his Eminence to assist the justice of our demands in case Cardinal Spada made report thereof to the Pope the next day as we believ'd he would he heard what we had to say with more patience and more courteously receiv'd our request that he would be favourable to us On Thursday morning having been so late with Cardinal Spada that before his going to Monte-Cavallo there was no time but for his Mass which was just beginning and finding as he conducted us M. Hallier and his Collegues staying to attend upon him thither we thought good to perform that duty to his Eminence as well as they thereby to oblige him the more to be mindful of us and the justice of the things which we had represented to him As we were going down stairs he caus'd his Maistre de Chambre to signifie to M. Hallier and me that we should go in the Coach with him This Doctor and I sat near together and talkt peaceably I put on the most free and cheerful countenance I could that the Cardinal might know that the justice of the things demanded by us though he were not dispos'd to grant them kept us from discontent and anxiousness about the issue In the afternoon we went again to our Advocate to tell him how things stood after which he said that according to the ordinary forms there was not the least difficulty in our affair but he had heard that they would burlare gli uni gli altri delude both the one side and the other Nevertheless he promis'd to visite their Eminences in our name to make such instances to them as our affair required and to endeavour to know the reasons which mov'd them to baffle us in that manner In the Evening a Laquay of Cardinal Spada's addressed himself to us to know M. Hallier's lodging which I told him and believe he was to give him notice to appear before the Congregation on Monday following Being on Friday amongst the attendants of the Ambassador I heard some Frenchmen say one to
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
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
those who were not suspected to favour Jansenius had of the Constitution may be seen by this Letter of F. Morin Priest of the Oratory and one of the most learned men that have been of that Congregation 'T is inserted in the Letter of another Father of the Oratory who having consulted with F. Morin communicated his answer to one of his friends by which means it became very publick and fell into my hands since my return Take it at length The Letter of F. Souvigny to his Friend July 24. 1653. I am well satisfy'd with your perfect submission to the Decrees of the H. See I acquiesce therein with the same resignation But having taken time to examine Tradition concerning Grace and seriously study'd the Popes Constitution I have at length perceiv'd that S. Augustin's Disciples are rather humbled before the ignorant then condemn'n before capable and dis-interessed persons Many reasons incline me to this belief especially the Churches interest to preserve to her self the Authority of S. Augustin of his Disciples S. Prosper c. and not to abandon it to the Huguenots and embrace the protection of the upstart Contriver of Scientia Media The Molinists by what I alwayes perceiv'd make not so great account of verity as victory but the Holy Church neither loves nor deserves conquest but in regard of Truth Yet I would not make an Idol of my own conceit nor espouse it rashly without consulting more knowing persons then my self for fear of mistaking in an Affair of such importance which consists in taking the true judgement of his Holiness and the right sense of the Propositions Wherefore I writ to F. Morin and desir'd him to clear my doubt either by approving or disabusing my apprehension I never preacht concerning these knotty matters and F. Morin hath lately publisht something against some Maximes of the Jansenists in which regards we are less to be suspected he of engagement and I of temerity and I believe his testimony ought to be more authentick and my belief less culpable Behold therefore his answer to my question and the copy of his Letter F. Morin's Letter Assoon as I had read the Popes Bull upon this famous Question and having understood eight dayes before how the Jansenists argu'd four hours together before his Holiness deliver'd Writings to him and publickly juridically signify'd that the Five Propositions contriv'd by their enemies were ambiguous and admitting divers heretical senses and one Catholick that the heretical senses were those of the Calvinists the Semipelagians and the Molinists for F. Morin understood hereby the senses of the Semipelagians and the Molinists in the Propositions and that the Catholick sense was that of S. Augustin and their own and that not contented to have said and declar'd this they also distinguish'd and laid open those several senses to the Pope in Writing After I say I had consider'd all this I concluded forthwith and told all those who shew'd me the Bull that the opinion of the Jansenists was not condemn'd by it but there was a strong presumption in it against the opinion of the Jesuites and one as great for approbation of that of the Jansenists For the Pope in condemning the Five Propositions of heresie hath done no more but confirm'd the Censure before made of them by the Jansenists who are at Rome They condemn'd the opinion of the Molinists of heresie in presence of the Pope and the Consultors and the Pope who heard it in a judicial way spoke not a word to the contrary 'T is therefore to be presum'd that he approves the sentence which the Jansenists pronounc'd against the Five Propositions to the prejudice of Molina Moreover they told the Pope juridically that the interpretation which they gave according to their own sentiments is Catholick and S. Augustin's Doctrine the Pope speaks not a word hereupon and derogates not expresly by his Constitution from their interpretation therefore he approves it for in such case he is oblig'd to speak concerning the same and not leave us to mistake Therefore his silence is to be taken at least for a presumptive approbation Add hereunto that after the publishing of the Bull at Rome the Jansenists went to take leave of the Pope by whom they were well receiv'd and commended and he assur'd them that he had in no wise intended to condemn S. Augustin that Vbi est Augustinus ibi est Ecclesia and that he had as little design'd to prejudice Grace Effectual by it self and after a long Discourse he gave them his Benediction and many Indulgences All which hath been written not only by themselves but also by the Ambassador who testify'd the same in Letters to his Eminence Cardinal Mazarin and the Count of Brienne Secretary of State This is my judgement of this Bull and I have declar'd it several times to such as have spoken to me about it Some alledge that the Pope saith the Propositions are taken out of Jansenius's book but the words in the beginning of the Bull shew that he only repeats things as they were presented to him Now such relations made by Princes are not conclusive according to either Law as we are taught by the Title of Concordat in the Pragmatick Sanction de sublatione Clementinae C. litteris On the contrary it falls out many times that a violent presumption is equivalent to a definitive sentence Extra de Praesumptione cap. Offerte mihi Therefore this Bull being consider'd by any person vers'd in the Law will in my judgement appear more disadvantageous to the Jesuites then to the Jansenists Hactenus R. P. I. M. You see here 's a strange a a F. du Louvigny's Conclusion Cooling-Card for the Molinists who triumph under the shroud of popular ignorance and dare not present themselves to the Popes face to justifie against the five Doctors that they wrongfully accus'd them of heresie before the Throne of S. Peter which they ought to do if they were as well skill'd in the knowledge of the Saints as in the policy of the world c. CHAP. IV. Of our Voyage from Venice to Paris and our passage through Suizzerland BEing the feast of the Assumption was near when we receiv'd the first Letter at Venice which oblig'd us to return into France we resolv'd to passe this Festival at Padua and depart from thence in the afternoon We prepar'd all our Affairs accordingly We thankt the Ambassador for his civilities we bid adieu to our other friends and the above-mention d M. du Pui coming to see us again desir'd me to take a Letter with me for Mr. Vbric from whom I had brought him one above three years before We departed from Venice two or three dayes before that of the Assumption and from Padua on that day at four a clock in the afternoon We continu'd our Voyage to Zuric without any interruption and during the day of Rest which the Venetian Messengers use to take there I went to visit M. Vbric as well
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
editorum evulgatam non aliud intendisse quam confirmare Bullam Pii V. a Gregorio XIII pridem confirmatam secundo se cavisse ne ista sua Bulla seu Constitutione ullus in particulari sugillaretur cum expressione nominis tertio non fuisse intentionis suae per istam Bullam seu Constitutionem procreate ullum praejudicium doctrinae B. Augustini eos qui contrarium asserere praesumerent compescendos esse Cumque D. Comparens ad secundum replicasset mirum esse quomodo nomen Jansenii irrepserit in Bullam contra praedictam cautelam a sua Sanctitate adhibitam sanctissimus D. respondit agendum esse de ea re cum D. Praelato Albisio compilatore Bullae Insuper idem D. Comparens similiter affirmavit mediante juramento asseveravit se die vigesima octava Aprilis millesimi sexcentesimi quadragesimi quarti auditum fuisse personaliter verbaliter cum praenominato clarissimo D. Papio a tribus Eminentissimis S. R. E. Cardinalibus Spada Pamphilio Falconerio assistenâ—ibus praefato Praelato Albisio Abbate S. Crucis in Hierusalem nomine Hilarione ibique inter alia multa dixisse se paratum esse sub beneplacito sanctissimi D. Papae Eminentiarum suarum ostendere imprimis omnia puncta doctrinae de gratia libero arbitrio inter Jansenium ipsius aemulos modo controversa coincidere cum punctis olim inter Augustinum ejusque aemulos controversis secundo argumenta quibus Jansenii doctrina modo ab aemulis impetitur coincidere argumentis quibus Pelagiani eorum asseclae olim in Augustini doctrinam arietarunt tertio calumnias quas modo ab aemulis Jansenius patitur coincidere cum iis quas olim in vita post obitum passus fuerat Augustinus Paratum praeterea se esse ad comburendum publice in campo Florae librum Iansenii in eventum quo in praedictorum probatione defecerit Addidit postremo idem D. Comparens sub juramento similiter asseveravit se haec eadem in substantia repetiisse coram sanctissimo D. nostro Innocentio X. ad Pontificatum jam evecto idque die quinta Novembris ejusdem anni millesimi sexcentesimi quadragesimi quarti in prima audientia ab eodem obtenta in porticu palalatii Vaticani ubi cum ipso ultra mediam horam deambulans circa horam tertiam pomeridianam prolixe super praemissis disseruit Acta sunt haec anno indictione Pontificatu mense die quibus supra praesentibus in majori Collegio Theologorum Lovanii Dominis Magistris Ioanne Cuvelier Iacobo Bodart Presbyteris Sacrae Theologiae Baccalaureis formatis testibus ad praemissa vocatis atque rogatis Minutae hujus subscripsit idem eximius D. Comparens juxta signaturam meii Notarii And below was written Quod attestor ad praemissa Notarius Signed thus VValt Vander VVaterfort Notarius publicus with a Knot The MANVSCRIPT concerning the affair of Monsi'r GRIMANI Patriarch of Aquileia The more I have read this Manuscript the more considerable I have found it for the clearing of the matters at this day controverted in the Church VVherefore not doubting but they who shall read what I say of it in Chap. 9. Part 4. of the Iournal will be contented to read it at length I have thought fit to place it at the end of this Collection The affair of the most illustrious and Reverend Grimani Patriarch of Aquileia judg'd in his favour in the Sacred Council of Trent under the Pontificate of our H. F. Pope Pius 4. Septemb. 18. 1653. touching a letter written by the said Patriarch to the Vicar of Oudene The Patriarch's Letter REVEREND VICAR You write me word that the Preacher of the Collegiate Church of Oudene hath preach'd as a constant maxime that He whom God hath predestinated cannot in any manner be damned though it come to passe that he falls into sin because how great soever his fall be God rescues him from his sin in such sort that he must needs be saved and in like manner he whom God hath reprobated must needs be damned VVhereunto you adde these former words That upon this there arose a great scandal and disturbance among the people and in your self as if he had altogether deny'd our Free-will whilst he establisht Gods Election and Predestination And being you tell me that you were unwilling to do any thing for redressing this scandal without first knowing what I judg'd of it therefore to satisfie what my place requires of me I find my self now oblig'd to acquaint you withall that God hath given me to know touching this subject by Reading the Holy Scriptures that so I may supply you with what contentment and consolation I can in this case To bear testimony therefore to truth I am oblig'd to acknowledge that the Proposition advanced by the Preacher and wherewith the people is scandalized is true Catholick namely that the Predestinated cannot be damn'd nor the Reprobate sav'd Of which Proposition that I may the more commodiously bring you the proofes my purpose is to demonstrate to you in the first place by authority of the Scripture that Predestination and Reprobation depend upon God alone Next I shall shew you that it cannot be hindered neither by God's will nor by the Devil nor by our selves nor consequently by any whomsoever this I shall evince to you as well by the authority of the Scriptures as by evident reasons and the Doctrine of S. Augustin protesting to you that through want of time and memory I cannot set down the thousand part of the truths whereby this Catholick truth may be establisht But before all things it must be confessed that if S Paul that vessel full of the Holy Ghost writing to the Romans concerning Election and Reprobation after recitall of sundry testimonies touching that matter cryes out at Length O the depth of the riches of the wisdome and knowledge of God! 't is very just and necessary that we all make the same exclamation with him and give glory to God which we are the more oblig'd to do inasmuch as we are farre from having such light as that great Apostle But because our Lord Jesus Christ according to truth of his unchangeable promises hath never left his Church deprived of the illumination of the Holy Spirit to the end this same Spirit might guide us into the knowledge of all truth and accordingly we having left to us who are his members the seed of his Grace lest without it we should remain barren and worse then the Children of Sodom he hath preserved the Holy Ghost for our consolation against errors and the enemies of Grace 'T is a firme truth which I now confesse namely that the predestinated whom God hath chosen according to the good pleasure of his will cannot be damned and in like manner that the Reprobated and Rejected cannot be sav'd And to make you see that this is true S. Paul inspir'd by God teaches the Church of the Romans
THE JOURNAL OF Mons r. de Saint Amour Doctor of SORBONNE CONTAINING A full Account of all the Transactions both in France and at Rome concerning the Five Famous PROPOSITIONS Controverted between the JANSENISTS and the MOLINISTS From the beginning of that Affair till the POPES Decision Faithfully Rendred out of French A like Display of the Romish State Court Interests Policies c. and the mighty influences of the Jesuites in That CHURCH and many other CHRISTIAN STATES being not hitherto extant ACT. IV. Verse XX. Non enim possumus quae vidimus audivimus non loqui LONDON Printed by T. Ratcliff for George Thomason at the Rose and Crown in S. Paul's Church-yard 1664. To the Right Honourable ROBERT Earle of ELGIN Baron of WHORLETON c. MY LORD IF the Greatnesse of the Subject may serve to justify the Inscription of a Book to so Great a Name I may with reason affirme that none ever treated of an Argument of more weight extent and difficulty then This and consequently hope that the Considerableness of the Matter will supply for the little Title which the Translation hath given me in it and upon which I have presumed to present it to your Lordship Fatality and Liberty were disputable Points in all Ages of the World and in all Religions But the Controversies about them have been infinitely multiply'd amongst Christians and scarce any Questions agitated with greater heat both in the Purer and the Vnreformed Church The Hypothesis of Absolute Predestination and Physical Predetermination of all Events hath engaged its Promoters in the defence of sundry Consequent doctrines of very great importance yet no lesse controverted then their foundation Of which no more need here to be mentioned besides those contained in the Five Propositions of late years with incredible subtlety and artifice contested between the Jesuites and Jesuitical Faction on one side and the Jansenists on the other in the Romane Church viz. touching The Possibility of keeping Gods Commandments The Resistibility of Grace The Liberty of the Will The Efficacy of Preventing Grace and The Vniversality of Redemption In these Points the doctrine of the Jansenists is in some respects different from that of the Calvinists yet not so much but their subtle Adversaries took advantage of the Conformity to contrive Five Propositions capable of a double Construction namely both according to the opinions of Jansenius and those of Calvin that by this means they might involve the former in a Censure of the latter which they doubted not to obtain as being equally condemned for heretical by either dissenting Party the Adherents of the Jesuits and the Disciples of Jansenius or as they style themselves of S. Augustin The Intrigues Confederacies and solicitations for the accomplishment of which design are the matter of this Journal as some Manuscript Pieces concerning the same affair are of the adjoyned Collection I know not whether at any time so ample an Account hath been given the world of the manner of Proceeding held by the Roman See in passing a Decision of Doctrine But I perswade my self that whosoever shall impartially peruse This cannot have any great opinion of the Popes Infallibility which yet is the Basis at least of all points held by the Romanists in opposition to the Protestants when he finds that the Pope professeth himself no Divine and the Cardinals pretend to no more but a Prudential Judgment that is such as is requisite to be pass'd in point of interest that the Popes meaning in his Constitution is as much controverted as the Cause it determines while one Party adheres to what he writes and the other to what he speaks and that the Authority of the Church as well as that of the Fathers is made use of to establish Contradictions That I mention not the disparagement of the so much pretended Unity of that Church Nor can any Exception lye against the Relator who was a principal Agent in the Affair and upon all occasions makes as great profession of zeal and affection for the Roman Church as he doth of Truth and sincerity I pretend not my Lord to exhibite your Lordship a Patron of the Cause by dedicating the History of it to your Honorable Name 'T is not more indubitable that the Church of England hath delivered her sense upon these Points with singular prudence caution and moderation then that your Lordship hath been always a most firme Propugner of that Church even in the worst of times And truely the late happy Revolution in which your Lordship was so active as to venture all earthly Interests hath redounded highly to the advantage of the Church as to these very Doctrines Since whatever Ecclesiastical Government might have been established during our Distractions no Termes of Communion could be more rigid and unreasonable as to these Points then those required by the two most prevalent Factions of those Times as appears by the publisht Confessions of Faith of the Assembly and the Congregations Should I here take occasion to mention your Lordships indefatigable Industry and Assiduity Fidelity and Disinteressedness in the Service of the State certainly no man could be more justly accused of a superfluous undertaking since I should speak no more then what is already most perfectly known to the whole Nation at least in its Representative Nor is it to be doubted but that being now in a higher sphere your influences will be as great for the Publick Good since you are still accompanyed with the same Vertues which rendered you a Peer of both Kingdomes by Merit before you were so by Inheritance Nor shall I attempt to give a Character of your Lordships personal accomplishments as an Extraordinary Measure both of Divine and Humane Learning Perfection in the Moderne and ancient Languages together with singular Generosity and Beneficence of which a more illustrious proof could not be given then your late vigorous actings for relief of the Sufferers by the late times It may suffice me to say that I have found particular effects of your Lordships goodness and that I should but little care to own the Translation of this work so publickly did it not give me so fair an opportunity to declare the honour I have to be MY LORD Your Lordships most humble obedient and obliged servant G. HAVERS THE AUTHOR'S PREFACE Giving an Account of the publishing of this JOURNAL THe Affair of the Five Propositions being become by its Consequences so considerable that it is at present the principal part of the Church-History of this Age those very consequences which were soon foreseen and by divers of the most eminent Bishops of the Gallicane Church committed to me to represent to the H. See caus'd me alwayes to consider it as of very great importance and the exact Account I conceiv'd I ought alwayes to be ready to render to those Bishops and the Church of all that I had done and could observe had pass'd therein oblig'd me to apply my self about it with so much
greater care for that I esteem'd it a Matter above me and as a particular Engagement impos'd on me by the providence of God who is sometimes pleas'd to make use of weak Instruments about the greatest Matters Hence it came to passe that when after my return from Rome I went about to reduce all I had acted and remark'd therein into a Body of History I found I had scarce any thing more to do but to transcribe the Memoires I had formerly prepar'd at Rome and to join together the principal Accounts I had already gvien of this businesse There are I doubt not many Histories more delightful then this for style and variety of matters but perhaps there never was any more exact and faithful I have not writ any thing but what I saw or heard and that while it was fresh in my memory It hath been alwayes my care to speak nothing false or that might be exprobated to me not only before men but far more before God well knowing that if it be pronounc'd Vniversally That we shall be justified or condemn'd by our words it more eminently belongs to words of such importance as these by which a publick Testimony is render'd to the Church of what hath been acted in an Affair wherein she is so highly concern'd Truth then hath been the proper scope I aim'd at in writing which because it is not alwayes seasonable to publish and never unlesse great and weighty considerations require it though many made me desirous to print this Journal assoon as it was finish'd yet others restrain'd me and some made me wish if possibe wholly to suppresse it Several yeares were spent in this Irresolution but at length the Relalations full of falsities which have been offer'd to the world concerning what pass'd at Rome in this Affair and the numerous false rumours spread abroad about it convinc'd me of my Obligation to undeceive the world by giving it a true History thereof The different things which have been spoken about it have made all learned men desirous to know the truth of what hath pass'd and they have thought it serviceable to the Church that a History so conducing to the elucidation of the present Contests should not remain longer in the confusion and obscurity wherein it lay I was confirm'd in this thought by the extreme satisfaction which the Assembly of the Clergy of France in the year 1655. express'd to my Lord the Bishop of Lodeve now Bishop of Mont-pellier with the Relation he made them of what he had learnt from the mouth of Innocent X. about this matter it being so great that they desir'd he would give it them in Writing to the end it might be inserted in the Verbal Proces which they caus'd to be printed a little time after For hence I infer'd that if that Illustrious Assembly was so well pleas'd with that Account in which things are not resumed from the bottom but in grosse and confusedly enough that they judg'd it deserving to be publisht under their name and by their orders there would be other grounds of satisfaction both to the Clergy in general and the rest of Christians to behold distinctly and orderly the particulars contain'd in this Journal touching the same matters which were related but in a word in that Account Moreover the care Pope Innocent X. told the said Bishop of Mont-pellier he had taken to cause all transactions in this Affair to be compil'd in a Volume and deposited in the Archives of S. Peter after he had declar'd the same in the Consistory heâ—d to that purpose this Care I say clearly shewing that Popes desire to preserve to the Church the remembrance and information of all that pass'd in this Affair and the said Volume being not likely to contain other Pieces then what are either intire or sufficiently set down in this Journal I thought I should second his good intentions by presenting the same to the Publick I consider'd further that besides those Pieces there were many things in this Journal which might be verify'd not only by other proofs which I can produce thereof but also by the Testimonies of the considerable Persons whom I call to witnesse by mentioning them divers of which being since the finishing thereof pass'd to another life I fear'd that if I longer defer'd the publishing of it I might one day be reproach'd for attesting only the dead and persons incapable of gainsaying me Wherefore the faithfulnesse I have us'd herein keeping me from fearing that any person might find any thing in it that were not most true I judg'd that the sooner I divulg'd it it would be the better in regard of having the more witnesses of all that I have said and of the sincerity with which I have said it These considerations induc'd me to resolve upon the Impression which I have caus'd to be made this present Year 1662. that so I might consummate the Work of the Commission in which it hath pleas'd God to employ me however incapable and unworthy of it and dye with more quiet having hereby payd the Churuh what I conceiv'd I ow'd to her But because this Journal was written in the end of the Year 1653. and in 1654. I advertise those that shall read it to be mindful thereof lest they be mistaken in some things which should have been express'd otherwise had it been written at the present time Thus by those words M. the Arch-Bishop of Tholouse that dy'd last M. de Marca is not meant but M. de Montchal his predecessor they not being intelligible of any but him when I writ them and likewise when they were printed When I name the Pope Innocent X. must be alwayes understood because it was under his Pontificate that all this Affair was transacted and reduc'd into writing And when I speak of My Lord Ghiggi or M. Cardinal Ghiggi it must alwayes be understood of Pope Alexander VII who sits in S. Peter's Chair at this present because during all the time I was employ'd about this Journal there was no other Cardinal Ghiggi besides him At Paris this 25. of November 1662. A TABLE OF THE CHAPTERS A JOURNAL of what observations I made of things pass'd at Rome touching the matter of the Five Propositions The Division of the Work THE FIRST PART Containing that which pass'd at Paris in reference to the matter of the Five Propositions particularly in sundry Assemblies of the Faculty of Divinity held during the years 1646. 1647 1648 and 1649 page 1. CHAPTER I. OF what pass'd in the Assembly of the Faculty on the first of October 1646. Of a Speech pronounc'd in the Grand Chamber by M. Omer Talon Advocate General on Fryday the 10th of May 1647. And of the Arrest issued forth on the 15th upon his remonstrances p. 1 Chap. II. Of what pass'd in the Assembly of the Faculty on the first of March 1647. concerning a Scandalous Libel against Petrus Aurelius p. 3 Chap. III. Of what pass'd in the Assemblies of the Faculty on
they had writen to his Holiness concerning an affair of high consequence the effect of which they charg'd me to solicite with all the care and diligence it deser'vd That it was touching the Five Propositions contriv'd and fram'd in obscure ambiguous and equivocal words so as to be capable of several very contrary senses according to the different interpretations which may be put upon them That some of those senses are evidently Heretical others most certainly Catholick and containing the chief Truths of Faith and Christian Religion That the Authors of those Propositions fram'd them in this manner that so under pretext of those bad senses they may get a downright absolute condemnation of them and apply the same afterwards to the Catholick Senses and Orthodox Truths which they include That they did thus because they are possess'd with Sentiments contrary to those Truths and seeing the same so firmly establisht that there is no likelyhood of impeaching them with success should they openly declare against them they had devis'd and fram'd those Propositions to overthrow the said Truths by involving them in one and the same condemnation with the errors contain'd in the said Propositions That M. Cornet was the man that first broacht them proposing them to the Faculty almost two years ago to get them censur'd but a great number of Doctors presently understanding the Artifice and discovering the dangerous consequences thereof both to the publick by some Books publisht against that Attempt and to the Court of Parliament by two Petitions which they were constrain'd to present for stopping its coutse It incur'd the indignation of all sincere and equitable persons that heard of it and was repress'd by an Arrest of the Court which prohibited M. Cornet and all others to pursue it That having miss'd of their design in the Faculty in the year 1649 M. Cornet and such as joyn'd with him conceiv'd the Assembly of the Clergy held the year after might be a favourable opportunity to revive it because the Bishop of Vabres who was ingag'd therein with them and was to be of the Assembly might use such practices as were necessary for it with my Lords his brethren But many of them which were also of the Assembly having well understood the business the memory of which was still fresh and abhorr'd and M. de Vabres having apprehended that if he made the least opening of it there would never be wanting some or other to represent to the Assembly how great and fruitless a stir it caus'd the year preceding how remote it was judg'd from sincerity and honour and consequently how unworthy it would be of their company and so his Proposal would certainly have no effect he durst not attempt to make it Wherefore the business having fail'd in the Faculty and being not thought fit to be set afoot amongst the Clergy for fear of the same success they resolv'd to venture it to the H. See conceiving all the particularities of its odiousness would not be represented there and that no person would set forth to his Holiness what a plot there was upon him to engage the Apostolical Authority in a Censure intended to serve for the upholding of error That they were the more confident of drawing the H. See to such a Determination though it cannot but be shameful to it in the end and beget confusion and greater Disputes in the Church which yet is the only refuge they have in the miserable cause wherein they are ingaged for that they presume the H. See not having any suspition or distrust of those whic◠sollicite it being persons who have ever professed a singular devotion to its interests and service But this as I conceiv'd would cause in the Pope and their Eminences greater indignation against the Enterprise when they should find that its Authors made use of that outside false zeal for the H. See to circumvent it and bring it more easily into the Ambushes which they have prepared against it That they cover'd the same with the authority of some Bishops which they have inveigled thereinto by sundry plausible motives and specious considerations fitted to every one's gust thereby engaging each of them to subscribe a Letter address'd to the Pope for his Holiness's judgment upon the Propositions That the fear of those by whose order I was return'd lest this authority and recommendation of their Brethern should prevail upon the Pope's mind and lest the promoters of this Enterprise should abuse their Letter against their intentions induc'd them to write another to his Holiness by which they advertise him of the prejudicial consequences likely to insue upon his Decision in case he make it before fully examining all the circumstances of the business and throughly searching the bottom of the matter in question Which they conceiving not to be done but in a solemn Congregation in which all the Divines divided about these matters may be heard both vivâ voce and by writing in presence of either side to represent all their reasons and answer those of their Adversaries their just care to prevent the troubles likely to arise in the Church and their affection for the service and interests of the H. See hath mov'd them to beseech the Pope to erect and establish such a Congregation That they hop'd this Request would be well-pleasing to his Holinesse because without such a Congregation it is not possible either to settle a firme peace amongst the Catholick Divines whose concord is so necessary to the Edification of the whole Church or to clear and maintain Truth the defending and supporting of which are the prime duties and most essential obligations of the H. See or to preserve the respect due to its Decrees the authoriry of which ought to be render'd inviolable by using all circumspection and diligence possible in the making thereof I added that what I represented to his Eminence was more largely and clearly set forth in the Letters which I had to deliver to the Pope from my LL. the Bishops who oblig'd me to return and moreover because it was requisite to adde many things by word of mouth for the more ample deducing both to his Holinesse and their Eminences all the particulars and considerations fit to be represented in so great and important an affair one man being not sufficient to performe the same fully and perfectly they would likewise send at Autumne following some Doctors or other Divines that so nothing might be omitted which they conceiv'd they owe to the H. See and the Church in this occasion That nevertheless in the mean time their fear lest this affair might be too much hastned at Rome before the arrival of those whom they intended to send thither and lest his Holiness not being advertis'd of the danger there is in decreeing any thing in it before it be throughly examin'd might grant some Decree upon the Instances made to him for it understanding that I was still in those parts and accustom'd to the heats which are
without thorough consideration But as for the Cardinals that I spoke of he profess'd to me that either he gave no such order or did not remember it At least he would not own to me that he had given any such I reply'd that I had formerly declar'd to him that we had no design to do any prejudice neither to the Bull of Vrban VIII nor those of Pius V. and Gregory XIII As for the matter de auxiliis the Pope had spoken thereof to me with such aversion and I knew otherwise that hewas so loth to apply himself thereunto that I durst not tell him that Then he must not enter into the examination of the Propositions which had been presented to him because each of them was a necessary dependance thereon and inseparable from it in the sense wherein we affirm'd them to be Catholick for fear lest speaking to the Pope in that manner I might put an invincible obstacle to all the solicitations which I was to make for obtaining the erection of the solemn Congregation which seem'd so necessary to the full discussion and decision of the Controversies which were in the Church between Divines about these matters Wherefore without using the term de Auxiliis I told the Pope that since we had been accus'd to his Holinesse of maintaining the five Propositions presented to him under equivocal terms which afforded different senses whereof onewas Catholick and the other Heretical it was agreeable to justice and tended to the satisfaction of his Holinesse to know that we abhorr'd the Heretical and maintain'd the Catholick and that those senses being distinguisht the condemnation which follow'd would be clear and distinct and could not be attributed to the sense which we maintain'd to be the doctrine and faith of the Church as it was the design of the Authors of those Propositions to do if they obtain'd a Censure befoe the said senfes were cleared and distinguisht Which since it could not be done but in a Congregation establisht for the purpose this induc'd the Bishops for whom I appear'd to desire the same of his Holiness by their Letters and to encharge me with sollicitations to procure the effect thereof The Pope scarce allow'd me time to end this discourse but he told me that after Clement VIII had caus'd this matter to be debated in his presence for a long time by the most excellent men whom he summoned from several places after he had studied them himself with very great care so that as he remember'd some took occasion thereby to say that Clement VIII began very old to study Divinity yet he could not at last decide any thing therein but was fain to impose a perpetual silence both to the one side and the other Imposuit omnibus perpetuum silentium wherefore it behoved to acquiesce in that order and live in peace and that every one in the mean time pray to God for grace to serve him well I answer'd the Pope that Clement VIII notwithstanding all the care he took to examine that matter could not indeed decide it but he had the design to do it and it was only death wherewith God suffer'd him to be overtaken that hinder'd him from deciding it in favour of our side and that the said decision not having been then publisht our adversaries take so great advantage thereof at this day that they do not dissemble that they attempt to overthrow the doctrine of S. Augustin which is also that of the Church The Pope assented to this truth that the Doctrine of S. Augustin was that of the Church but he said We understood S. Augustin one way and our adversaries another I answer'd that greater wrong could not be done to S. Augustin and all the holy Popes who proposed his doctrine to the Faithful as their own then to pretend as our adversaries do that it cannot be known to which doctrine theirs or ours that of S. Augustin is conformable The Pope reply'd that they drew him to their side and we maintain'd him on ours That this was it that was to be judg'd but the discussion of it was a matter of much paines it requiring much labour and time that it was therefore requisite to hold to what Clement VIII had ordained therein namely to remain in silence I answer'd that our Adversaries did not keep it and ceas'd not every day to undermine the faith of the Church insensibly which if they were suffer'd still to do they would utterly ruine it at length That truly it was difficult for me to take the boldnesse to speak thereof with so great instance to his Holinesse but his setvice and that of truth oblig'd me thereunto And if his Holinesse pleas'd but to peruse a little Italian Writing of about two Pages or more which I had made purposely to shew him in particular and almost at one view the evident coherence which those five Propositions taken in the sense which we maintain'd had with Grace Effectual by it self he would clearly discern the ambushes laid for him in presenting those Propositions to him and would remain convinc'd of the importance of this Affair The Pope reply'd that he would not look upon that writing how short soever it were because after having seen that he must see another and then another and so he should by degrees become engag'd in the matter unawares I told him that I had not prepar'd that Writing to discusse the matter but onely to let him know in what manner our Adversaries had acted towards his Holinesse in this affair but the Pope would by no means hearken to what I propounded to him because he still profess'd that he fear'd it would engage him further and oblige him to too great toyles as he knew the discussion of this matter requir'd even of such as had apply'd themselves to that study all their time but much more pains must it cost him then others poi said he to me they are his own words non è la mia Professione oltra che son vecchio non ho mai studiato in Theologia Because said he it is not my Profession besides that I am old I have never studied Divinity Which I beseech those that shall read to take in the same sense that his Holinesse spoke it and wherein I write it that is That he had not studyed Divinity comparatively to the study of the Canon Law upon which he had bestow'd all his time laying Divinity apart as many do at Rome where it seems the several employments which are follow'd and by which advancement is attained require rather a Canonist then a Divine I reply'd then to the Pope that I should be very loth to cause any inquietude to him or engage him to any pains that were not agreeable to his Holinesse but I was oblig'd to make him the instances which I now did because Monsignor Albizzi had told certain persons from whom I understood it that his Holinesse would within a little time passe a Decree upon those Propositions and
had it not but I directed him for it to Cardinal Barberin's Library where I believ'd it was After which I went to see the Father Commissary of the H. Office but findding only his Companion who intreated me to shew him our Latin Manifesto I discours'd with him at the present very copiously and painted out to him the black malice of those who fram'd those miserable Propositions On the 20th I went to deliver the Ambassador a Letter which I had receiv'd for him He told me that he had lately seen another from M. Hallier to a person of eminent rank in which he said that he was not so averse from our sentiments but that which animated him against us was our manner of obtruding them which as this Doctor suggested imply'd that we held the Church had been in an error which was a shamefull calumnie On Tuesday 21. I carryed to M. Holstenius the Latin explication of the Propositions made in July 1649. so soon as M. Cornet first set them afoot to expose them to the Censure of the Faculty Wednesday 22. I happened to meet with one of the most intelligent Divines of Rome as well for his skill in doctrine as in the practices of those that superintend in it he told me that he would not advise us to seek to get a conference with the Jesuites in regard of their great credit and because it was a thing that had been formerly done unsuccessefully I answer'd that Truth was more powerfull then they and if it were once manifested as I hop'd it would be if we could obtain a regular conference with them it might overthrow them He reply'd that it were good to stay till one came that understood it well and knew how to direct the blow and strike home before it were possible for them to see it and provide to ward it off I also met with the Father Procurator of S. Marcel who told me that there was talk of forming a Congregation about our affair and that he hop'd to be a member of it In the afternoon I mer at S. Cecilia F. Malgoirés and F. Loyseau an Augustine and Doctor of our Faculty who overtook me both together F. Malgoirés told me that the Abbot of Comblon inform'd him that being on Sunday last in the presence chamber of the Pope he heard F. Mulard say to the Master of his Holinesses chamchamber these very words Piaccia a vostra Signoria illustrissima farmi havere udienza Son quà diputato dalla Facoltà della Sorbona per quell ' affare contra Jansenio I intreat your most illustrious Lordship to help me to have audience I am delegated hither by the Faculty of Sorbon about the affair against Jansenius F. Malgoirés profess'd himself very much offended at it and propounded an expedient to me to hinder it and that was for all of us that were Doctors at Rome to go together and complain of it to the Ambassador M. Fernier intervening profess'd that he was more displeas'd at it then I. But they did not agree that we should go to the Ambassador about it When I had quitted them within two or three steps I met with F. Mulard told him I came newly from some people that were very much incens'd against him He ask'd me who I did not name the persons but told him it was because he term'd himself Deputy from the Faculty though he was not He answer'd They are sots and fools who offer to gainsay it the Pope shall be the Judge his Holinesse owns me for such the Cardinals hear me in that quality I care little for those that are not pleas'd with it When he parted from me he lighted upon F. Loyseau who came and told me afterwards that F. Mulard quarrell'd with him and charg'd him with having told me what I have above mention'd I had receiv'd a new Letter which oblig'd me to goe to Cardinal Barberin and signifie to him that my LL. the Bishops by whose order I was at Rome were very joyfull to understand that his Eminence did not approve the bad use which the Jesuites made of the Bull of Vrban 8. his Uncle by extending it as they did to the absolute and decisive condemnation of the sentiments which those Fathers impugned I visited him on Thursday the 13. in the afternoon for that purpose and he told me that he could not approve the proceeding of those Fathers in this respect and never had approv'd it Upon my reading a congratulation to his Eminence that those Prelates were resolv'd not to consider that Bull but as provisional for this reason that should they take it otherwise they should have very great ground to complain of it particularly for that the terms of the Bull taken in the rigor seem'd to forbid them to speak of the matter of Grace even incidently though it be not only a right inseparable from their profession but also an essential obligation from which neither themselves nor others can dispense with them to instruct the people committed to their charge solidly thereof The Cardinal reply'd that indeed the said Bull was not to be extended so farr Then I complain'd to his Eminence of the Quality that F. Mulard took upon him at Rome of M. Hallier's unheard-of audacity in giving it him that the same Doctor writ injuriously and calumniously against us to several persons and particularly to M. Albizzi of the secret way that these things were receiv'd and of the difficulty for us to defend and justifie our selves from them whilst they remain'd in that secrecy But the Cardinal seem'd this day more dispos'd to excuse the things whereof I complain'd then to receive the complaints which I made to him At length we fell upon the Congregation which I su'd for and he told me the H. See was not very inclinable to grant it I answer'd that yet it was a thing highly necessary contests being come to such a pitch that it behooved for the sake of Peace and Truth to examine who were in the wrong both being concern'd in it that if the sentiments which we defended were not true I wisht we were convinc'd the next day by a good condemnation but on the contrary if those of the Jesuites deserv'd it they ought to wish it too as well as we that for a little mortification which the condemned party would receive at first for having been too eager in holding sentiments contrary to the truth there would in the sequel arrive both to the one side and the other infinite advantages considerable and important to countervail the same which being well weigh'd and examin'd by the H. See it would assuredly finde that it is oblig'd in justice to take such pains as are necessary to procure so eminent a Benefit to its Children and consequently to establish the Congregation which is esteemed so necessary for that effect The Cardinal desir'd me at the end of this audience to return again to him on Saturday following in the afternoon with M. de Balagni a French
Gentleman of great worth whom I had mention'd to him that we might go abroad to take the air or repair to his Library according as to the time should permit On Saturday the 25th as I was going accordingly with the said M. de Balagni to wait upon the Cardinal Barberin I receiv'd very sad newes but thanks be to God it prov'd untrue It was that the Deputies whom I waited for were taken at Sea by the Pirates M. de Valeran Master of the French Couriers to Rome came purposely to tell it me with all the circumspection and condolence accustomed in such cases as having receiv'd the same from Florence and esteeming it true though not altogether certain I was not dismay'd at it and it did not hinder me from going to Cardinal Barberin and spending the rest of the day with him and M. de Balagni in entertainments upon indifferent matters I was blam'd the next day for having been so cold and negligent after the receipt of the above-mention'd newes and for not going the same day which was that on which Letters are dispatcht from all Italy to advertise the Ambassador of it and beseech him to write by that Poste to Constantinople for the procuring of my Collegues their liberty or at least some comfort in their captivity But I clear'd my self by alledging that I did not judge M. de Valeran's intelligence very true and that I conceiv'd it was fitting to be sure of the truth before I took the allarm and communicated it to the Ambassador And accordingly I found that I had taken the best course for I receiv'd Letters from them on Sunday the 26th in the afternoon by which I understood not only that M. de Valeran's newes could not be true but also that they would probably be at Rome within a very few dayes and so they were as I shall relate in the following Chapter but I shall first observe here two or three things which come into my mind and whereof I have made no mention in my Notes of this time The first is that hapning occasionally since my return to Rome to be in the Profess'd House of the Jesuites under the Cloister or Gallery which is at the entrance there pass'd by one of those Fathers whose hand was very white and when he was gone my friend that was with me a Roman Citizen told me it was F. Santarel This put me in mind of his book and made me desirous to buy it if it were to be sold At my comming away from the Jesuits I went purposely towards the Quarter of Pasquin where are the most Book-sellers and the first of whom I inquir'd for it sold it me at a very ordinary price I admir'd that that book was so commonly to be had at Rome after having been censured by all the Universities of France with so unanimous and universal consent and it containing such pernicious doctrine that the Author wanting more solid foundations for it was forc'd to corrupt the H. Scripture so openly that he retrencht a Negative particle out of the sacred Text to make it speak quite the contrary to what it speaks of it self 'T is in that passage where S. Paul speaking of the Spiritual power which Jesus Christ gave to his Apostles for the Edification of the Faithfull he saith they received it ad aedificationem non in destructionem For their edification and instruction and not for their destruction and ruine But this Jesuite on the contrary applying the said passage to the pretended Temporal power of the Pope over Monarchies to make it beleev'd that God hath given it to him as well to ruine and overturn them as to edifie them he takes the Non out of the place and cites it thus Ad aedificationem in destructionem Notwithstanding all which I found that the book was stâ—…l in great applause and free sale at Rome The second thing which I remember but did not set down was that in my visites to Cardinal Spada I us'd one argument which I conceiv'd would have been most prevalent at Rome I told him that one way to fix in the minds of the world a great opinion of the Equity of the H. See would be to grant us the equitable things which we requested and to make a Decision favorable to our cause in case they found that that we defended the truth Because by that meanes pronouncing in favour of persons which had been represented very suspected and odious to them and had no support in the world but their learning and virtue against others that had a very great credit and were recommended by all the Princes of Europe and openly profes'd an absolute dependance on the Pope every body would be oblig'd to acknowledge that the H. See had no other rule in its Decision but Truth it self I added further that should it consider onely the interests it self hath to keep within their duty those persons that were the most dependant on it and boasted themselves the most devoted to it it ought in this occasion to humble the Authors of those Propositions and of that whole Designe because indeed they had forgotten the respect and fidelity which they ought to preserve towards it forasmuch as they had fram'd the same Propositions so capable of equivocatious and full of ambiguities onely to circumvent the H. See and engage it in the scandalous protection of their pernicious doctrine and their vaine reputation which they saw they could no longer uphold but by sacrificing that of the H. See for that end I told him also that they would find the truth and sincerity of the submission and respect which the said persons pretended for the H. See when it was not favorable to them The Cardinal heard this discourse which I renew'd and urg'd to him several times as he heard all the rest which I said to him without answering any thing in particular I represented the same also upon occasion to others but more or lesse largely according as it was expedient The third and last thing which I have to adde here of all that were observable during the six months that I spent alone at Rome in giving the Pope and his Ministers the first adviso's of this great affaire concernes another which hath almost no affinity with it but yet is very considerable in it self It is touching the violent persecutions which the Jesuites have practis'd for this long time against a learned and pious Bishop of America who made a representation of them to the Pope in a letter written to his Holinesse in the beginning of the year 1649. M. Cosimo Ricciardi gave me a Copy of it a little after my returning to Rome and in many of the visites which I made to him frequently and familiarly he alwayes mention'd it with just indgnation He got the Copy of it from that Bishops Agent who brought it to Rome and deliver'd it to the Pope He had a great desire to have it printed that all the world might be
to him the Memorial here subjoyned The forme of those Memorials is thus The sheets of Paper in which they are written are usually so folded as to be about four fingers broad and half a foot long On the outside there is an Inscription at the top containing the Person 's name to whom they are presented and another at the bottome of the substance of the affair concern'd Ours was thus inscribed Beatissimo Patri Jnnocentio Papae X. pro pluribus Galliae Episcopis Doctores Parisienses illorum Oratores The Contents follow BEATISSIME PATER IVxta literas à pluribus Illustrissimis Ecclesiae Gallicanae Antistitibus ad Beatitudinem vestram missas illorum nomine Doctores Parisienses infrascripti sanctitati vestrae humillimè supplicant ut distingui sigillatim examinari jubeat varios sensus quinque Propositionum aequivocarum ad fraudem fictarum quae vestrae Beatitudini exhibitae sunt atque ut de praedictis sensibus prout exiget illorum veritas ac aliorum falsitas sententiam ferre velit partibus prius in Congregatione tum voce tum scripto corà m auditis omnibus illarum scriptis mutuò communicatis sicut postulant negotii magnitudo in similibus occasionibus Ecclesiae consuetudo ipsiusque Sanctae sedis Apostolicae usus non ita pridem à felicis memoriae Clemente VIII Paul V. vestrae Sactitatis praecssoribus observata Confidunt iidem Oratores hoc se beneficium consolationémque istam accepturos à Summa benignitate sapientia aequitate Sanctitatis vestrae quam Dominus gratiae suae praecipuo munere * * Ex Ep. S. Aug. caeterorum Episcoporum Concil Milev ad Innocentium I. in sede Apostolica collocatam praestet per annos plurimos incolumem ac felicem Signed Ego Jacobus Brousse Doctor Theologus Parisiensis Praedicator Consiliarius Regis Christianissimi in Ecclesia Sancti Honorati Parisiensis Canonicus supplico ut suprà Ego Natalis de la Lana Doctor Theologus Parisiensis Abbas B. Mariae de Valleerescente supplico ut suprà Ego Ludovicus de Saint-Amour Doctor Theologus Parisiensis socius Sorbonicus supplico ut suprà Ego Ludovicus Angran Licentiatus Theologus Parisiensis insignis Ecclesiae Trecensis Canonicus supplico ut suprà The said Memorial importeth these words being translated To the most holy Father Pope Innocent X. in the name of sundry Bishops of France the Doctors of Paris their Deputies MOST HOLY FATHER THE Doctors of Paris underwritten most humbly beseech your Holinesse in the name of divers Bishops of the Church of France according to the letters written by them to you that it will please you to cause distinction to be made of the different senses of the five Propositions fram'd equivocally and fraudulently to deceive and surprise the Church which have been presented to your Holinesse and to cause each of those senses to be particularly examin'd to the end your Holinesse may pronounce judgment thereupon according as the truth of the one the falshood of the other shall require after you shall have heard in a Congregation both parties in presence one of the other both by word of mouth and by writings and all the writings of either side shall have been mutually communicated as the importance of this affair the accustome of the Church in like occasions and likewise the practice of the H. Apostolical See observed not long since by your Holines's predecessors Clement VIII and Paul V. of happy memory require The said supplicants hope they shall receive this favour and comfort from the goodnesse wisdome and equity of your Holinesse whom God preserve may years in the H. Apostolical see where he hath establisht you by a singular gift of his grace Signed James Brousse Doctor in Divinity of the Faculty of Paris c. Noel de la Lane Doctor in Divinity of the Faculty of Paris c. Lewis de Saint-Amour Doctor in Divinity of the house and society of Sorbon c. Lewis Angran Licentiate in Divinity of the Faculty of Paris c. In the afternon of the same day the Pope sent for M. Albizzi who repair'd to his Holinesse some friends of ours that saw him when he came away from the Pope told me that his countenance intimated no great satisfaction with his audience After which it is likely he was with the Jesuites who that day had chosen F. Godifridi a Neapolitan for their General They were to have gone forthwith to salute the Pope or at least the next day after that Election But one of their Fathers the next day rais'd a very ridiculous and false Report for the reason of their delay namely that notice was given them to forbear that Visit a while because the Pope parted with us extraordinarily ill pleas'd and they should have no contentment to address to him whilst he was in that bad disposition For the Truth is he gave us none but expressions of Joy Benignity Esteem and good Will We could not conveniently wait upon Cardinal Pamphilio to give account of this audience according to the custom which is observed at Rome till Friday the 26. of this month Nor was he then disposed conveniently to hear us For he was so busie and it was so late that we were forc'd to tell him that it was expedient that we had a little more time to acquaint him with the business of our coming and deputation to his Holiness then he could then afford us He told us that he should be willing to hear us at any time His Eminence would not set the day as we mov'd him but told us that it should be as often as we pleas'd We durst not press him further to assign one in which he might please to be at leisure though it would have been very convenient both for himself and for us and most advantageous for the affair whereof we were to speak But he had so many other and so different from ours in the station wherein he was that its likely he had rather not hear of it at all then suffer himself to be informed thereof CHAP. III. The Verification of the Original of the Memoires of M. Pegna Dean of the Rota touching the Congregations de Auxiliis Sundry things which we did during the rest of January and the beginning of February THe Dominicans had lent me the last Summer with much goodness and confidence the Original of the Writings of M. Pegna sometimes Dean of the Rota under the Papacy of Clement VIII who had had the curiosity to observe dayly what pass'd in the Congregation de Auxiliis I intended faithfully to restore what was so courteously lent me but I was willing to keep a Copy or two compar'd with the Original to have Recourse thereunto in case of need and derive such Light and advantages from the same as it afforded for the cause of Truth the Honour of the H. See and that of the Consultors who had been imploy'd in that Congregation
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
in the doctrine of Saint Augustin whom he had not read He told me that I ought not to fear and that their wishes or wills would be in no consideration at all After this I withdrew but I remember that in the course of this conference I told Cardinal Ghiggi of the approbation which M. Hallier had given not two years since whilst he was Syndic to the first and third Proposition taken in the sences in which alone we held them and after that approbation so freshly and solemnly given new interests having made him change his mind he now prosecuted the condemnation thereof I remember also that one told me in the Pope's Presence-chamber that M. Hallier and his Collegues were gone that day to wait upon Cardinal Spada that before their parting from him they had spoken something to him in private wherefore reflecting upon his staying with the Pope after the Congregation of the H. Office it seem'd not improbable but he stay'd so in reference to them and the affair about which they came On Friday June 14. I carri'd Cardinal Ghiggi the Copy of our Memorial which he told me he would gladly see lo vedrò volontieri and in the afternoon we went to la Minerve to see the Procurator General of the Dominicans whom we found to be a very intelligent and resolute man We visited also the F. Prior of the Covent who receiv'd us in the Sacristy whilst M. Hallier and his Collegues were under the Cloyster with F. Molano whom they were come to visit After they had left him F. Molano told us that M. Halier had assur'd him that they would maintain Effectual Grace and F. Fani whom we met told us also that they had declar'd the same thing to the Master of the Sacred Palace He profess'd that he did not otherwise impeach the Propositions than in Calvin's sence and that this was correspondent to the discourses which he had held upon the way in divers places amongst others at Lyons where he said That he was not going to Rome to dispute but only to let the Pope know that the Doctrin contrary to that of the Propositions was the Doctrine of the Church which could not be opposed without Error and that they who contradicted it were guilty of as pernicious tenents as those of Calvin as he said he would prove to his Holinesse by the Book of the Minister Maresius which he carri'd with him and made a great stirre with everywhere All this is out of a Letter written to me from Paris May the 10th upon the testimony of People of Honor who heard him discourse in that manner and sent the Intelligence from Lyons thither On Saturday the 15th I went to see F. Luca Vadingo I put him to speak of M. Hallier and his Collegues He said he would not tell me what they had spoken to him as neither would he tell them what we should speak to him but he would serve both the one and the other alike That he had profess'd to them how just our Demands were And upon my urging him to speak by saying that theirs did not agree with ours he told me at length though with some hesitation that they had affirm'd to him that there was danger lest we might embroyle and perplex things in a Congregation whereunto he had answered That men were as quick-sighted at Rome as in any place of the world Tanto oculati quanto si voglia in altro luogo and that there was one thing there which was not anywhere else namely the infallibility of the Pope by the assistance of the H. Spirit From thence I went to the Master of the Sacred Palace where I saw his Companion who told me that M. Hallier and his Collegues spread a report that we were all enemies to those of Religious Orders that we set upon the Jesuites to ruine them by doctrine because none but they were able to resist us and when we had once pull'd down the Jesuites we would soon dispatch the rest I had no need to satisfie him concerning these accusations because he was so already but he told me it were good that we remov'd such evil Impressions out of the minds of others more credulous We purpos'd to demand Audience of the Pope the next day to speak to his Holiness concerning these new Comers and to renew the Requests which we had formerly made to him I went to his Presence-Chamber ro facilitate the procuring thereof but I was advis'd in the afternoon to defer these instances till there were greater necessity In the afternoon I went to Cardinal Roma I complain'd to him 1. what false things and remote from the business M. Hallier and his Collegues as we understood spread every against us 2. What their profess'd design was namely to get a pure and simple condemnation for that the things in question were already determined The Cardinal answer'd And where are they so we must see how I told him that perhaps they believ'd their word would be sufficient and that if they saw they could not compass a condemnation of that nature we fear'd they would then aim at an Imposition of silence which would be unprofitable and prejudicial rather then come to a Congregation He reply'd that every one doth his utmost for the accomplishment of his designes I answer'd that we all ought to have but one and the same to wit the clearing of truth the establishment of Peace amonst Divines and that sutably to the honor and dignity of the H. See The Cardinal reply'd that the clearing of Truth included all the rest I answer'd that what he said was very true but a Congregation was necessary for that clearing of Truth He reply'd that it was a thing already resolv'd and decree'd I profess'd my joy for it We arose up and I askt him what persons were of it that we might visit them He told me this was not yet to be known and that it was fit that they were visited before-hand I know not whether M. Hallier had got some inkling hereof elsewhere but the Cardinal said that they were not altogether Strangers to it when they came to him and that they had spoken very reasonably Mi pare said he che parlano molto a justamente I did not certainly understand that they had had audience of the Pope till Thursday the 17th but then I learnt that it was very short and that there could not have been many things spoken of I learnt also that they were displeased at the Lodgeing where they were and had seen another which had likt them better that they had agreed about the price but the difference between them and the owner was that they would take it but for three Months and the Owner would not let it except for a year and that it was at length compounded by a Friend of theirs who perswaded them to take it for six Months Tuesday in the afternoon I went to see a Discalceated Carmelite Professor in Theology a Person of great
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
hinder the thing which may be most necessary for the service of your Holiness and the Church namely the full clearing of this affair with sincerity and the most suitable usual and fitting means For these and other causes most H. Father we beseech your Holiness with all due respect that you will please to regulate the Consultors which are to be present at the said Congregation and not appoint the said M. Albizzi for a Consultor and much less for Secretary since it seems necessary to chuse for that place among the Consultors the most moderate impartial and learned person and one who is least diverted by other occupations which four qualities being all wanting in the said Sieur Albizzi and for that by some occurrences we suspect that he pretends to that imployment your Holiness will pardon us if we take the boldness to disswade you in this matter and do us the favour to believe that we would not do it if we did not consider that as St. Augustin writes to Innocent the First God hath plac'd you in the H. Apostolical See by a particular gift of his Grace and hath render'd you such during our days that we ought rather to fear being accus'd of negligence if the respect we owe to your Dignity kept us from telling you the things which we see it is so important to the Church to be represented to you then that you will hear them with displeasure and if we did not find that there is great necessity for it in reference to the service of Truth the Church and likewise of your Holiness whose years we beseech God to multiply and diffuse upon you all sort of blessings Subscrib'd thus Noel de la Lane Doctor in Divinity of the Faculty of Paris and Abbot of Valcroissant Louis de Saint-Amour Doctor of the Sacred Faculty of Paris and of the Society of Sorbonne Louis Angran Licentiate in the same Faculty and Canon of the Cathedral Church of Troie Sunday the 10th we went with our book of writings and this Memorial to the Popes Presence-chamber to desire Audience and present them to his Holiness We could not obtain it but I met F. Celestin in the Presence-chamber who told me that he had visited the Cardinals Spada and Ghiggi and spoken to them about the necessity of making a conference between the Parties but he found their Eminences not in the least inclin'd to it In the afternoon I visited F. Lezzana to know whether the report were true that he was made a Consultor He answer'd me that he was excluded as being suspected by them touching his Faith Me excluserunt said he ut suspectum in fide He told me also that in a visit to Cardinal Spada about the present Controversies he recommended S. Augustin to him as him alone among the four Fathers of the Church that deserv'd the Title of Doctor by way of Eminence in regard of the sublime and vast knowledge which was diffus'd in all his writings and of the multitude of Hereticks whom he encounter'd and overcame He said that Cardinal Spada receiv'd this intimation well enough but he durst not go so far with Cardinal Ghiggi because his Eminence had told him in a discourse that he had read Vasquez Merat Suarez and a fourth Jesuite Author whose name comes not into my memory To which he might have added a commendation commonly enough given to this Cardinal namely that he had made a Compendium of Suarez Metaphysicks The next morning we went again to the Popes Palace for Audience but had no better success then before In the afternoon F. Melchior came to see us and told us that they in their Covent were threatned that the Congregation de propaganda fide should visit there in reference to Jansenism whereof they were accus'd Tuesday the 12th we attempted again but in vain to present our book to his Holiness As I was going up to the Presence-chamber I met a General of an Order coming down who told me that the time was favourable enough to make the complaints which he knew we intended to make against M. Albizzi Wednesday the 13th there was a Consistory which caus'd the Assembly of the H. Office at la Minerve to be deferr'd till afternoon I went to take a turn there and met F. Celestin again who told me that the Assembly at Cardinal Spada's house had been appointed for that day but was remitted to the next I met also F. Capisucchi Secretary of the Congregation dell ' Indice who upon that and perhaps other accounts had great familiarity with Cardinal Spada He told me as if to congratulate with me that our Congregation would be held the next day in the afternoon at that Cardinals house I answer'd him seriously and coldly that it was none of ours non è la nostra He repeated his complement and said he might very well know for otherwise that of the Index was to be held which it could not be by reason ours was to be held the next day at Cardinal Spada's house Whereupon I explain'd what I had answer'd and told him plainly that I did not say that a Congregation would not be held at Cardinal Spada's house which might hinder his but that the Congregation held at Cardinal Spada's house might perhaps be some preparative to ours but was not ours And so the Father well apprehended what I meant The same afternoon I visited F. Pancratio who told me that F. Jean an Augustine otherwise call'd Tartaglia who was added by Cardinal Pamphilio as a new Consultor to the Congregation at the same time with F. Celestin acquainted him that the Thomists were agreed upon the falsity of the first Proposition whereupon he desir'd him to remember that they were Compatriots and not be so hasty but to give this matter a few moments hearing before he determin'd any thing touching it A little while after I understood that this good F. Tartaglia had put himself into a Covent of Bare-footed Carmelites out of a considerable motion of Piety He had been Fellow-Student with F. Palavicini and purposed to put himself into the Society of the Iesuites which purpose having communicated to a certain Religious person from whom I understood it the said Religious ask'd him why he minded to become a Iesuite F. Tartaglia answer'd him that his design was to retire out of the world to mind God and his Salvation c. The Religious askt him whether he conceiv'd he should be retir'd from the world by becoming a Iesuite and represented to him on the contrary that he would thereby be more engag'd in it That whereas he had perhaps some talent above the generality he must exercise it in all imployments upon which these Fathers thought fit to put him that they spent most of their life in visits directions negotiations c. F. Tartaglia was so prevail'd upon with these Reasons that instead of becoming a Iesuite he made himself a Bare-footed Carmelite but the Religious told me that however I was not
dispute with the defence of S. Augustin the inducement whereunto is the peace of all the faithful and in fighting for the authority of that H. Father of the Church whom though alwayes very considerable to Popes some persons are not afraid to trample upon throughout France with a most incredible and scandalous temerity For if Pope Celestin was circumspect with Apostolical vigilance to keep that Prelate of H. reputation whom his Predecessors had always rank'd among the most excellent Masters of the Church from being expos'd to the contempt of some Priests of Marseille is it not just to use the same remedy in an occasion which is more dangerous And there are found many persons either of the Priesthood or of the religious habit throughout France who are with more temerity carried against S. Augustine then the Semipelagians were heretofore is it not fit to seek protection for him in the same See from whence he deriv'd his principal authority wherefore as we congratulate with you for having form'd this design with much prudence and defended that H. Doctor with very learned Writings so we promise our selves that you will not only execute the things which have been recommended to you from us but also in your management observe the same order which we have judged necessary to prescribe to you We should have no ground to give you this advertisement again considering the constant fidelity wherewith you acquit your self of your duty were it not that they who defend Molina's cause boast publickly here that they will so order it that there shall be neither conference of Doctors on either side before such as are appointed Consultors nor any communication of Writings And though the Authors of this publick humour are not known yet it is spread so throughout Paris and other Cities of France that we should seem wholly to abandon the cause of Religion if we did not exhort you to act in this cause as we doubt not but you do with a zeal proportionate to your great prudence Assoon as we receiv'd intelligence of the Memorial which you presented to our H. Father we observ'd at the same instant your constant and stedfast resolution not to deviate in the least from the Commission which hath been given you but to execute punctually what we have committed to your fidelity and industry And when our H. Father granted you the effect of your demand and ours he made us conceive a sure hope that he purpos'd to terminate this difference by such a way as was fitting to advance the Glory of God the tranquillity of the Church and the Quiet of the Faithful For what can happen on one side or other more desireable to those who are divided by diversity of opinions and have recourse to the H. Apostolical See then that the Truth be displayd by a peaceable and friendly disputation that the wild and confused reports and humane Artifices wholly cease for the future and that all things be examin'd by the light of Truth and in the midst of that splendor which invirons the authority of the H. See But what can be imagin'd more advantageous to perswade those who not being engag'd on any side and holding themselves distant from all sorts of prejudices and prepossessions of mind make profession of embracing that opinion which the supreme Vicar of Jesus Christ shall declare to be Catholick after the pronouncing of a solemn judgement upon the matter Is there any who would stop that Sanctuary against afflicted innocence and not permit Catholick Bishops Priests and Monasticks unworthily out-rag'd by a thousand several calumnies to defend their faith before their proper Accusers to pronounce the most horrible Anathama's against the false Doctrines wherewith they are charg'd and to discover the deceits of their Adversaries and Contradictors But it will be said perhaps that the H. Apostolical See will of its own accord take care enough to bring Truth to light unmaskt of all its own covetings and obscurities Who cannot entertain this hope certainly we know the See of Rome hath hitherto us'd this vigilance and we promise our selves that it will use no less for the future Our H. Father Pope Innocent X. hath hitherto sufficiently manifested that vain Reports are of no moment with him but that on the contrary he will weigh all things with a judicious maturity But as we have always conceiv'd that amicable conference of both parties viva voce and by writing was the certainest means to discover Truth and most agreeable to the practice of the Church so the more we advance in the progress of this affair the more we are confirm'd in this opinion For since on the one hand the advantage of such Disputation is indubitable and evident and on the other there is no danger to be fear'd from it nor any thing to disswade it it is manifest that such a means ought chiefly to be made use of the success whereof is likely to contribute most to the honour of the H. See the Edification of the Church the confirmation of the publick Peace For though the preheminence of the H. See of Rome be sufficiently great of it self not to have absolute need of such kind of Consultation even when it is to pass its judgement about Doctrines of greatest importance nevertheless we hope that the H. Father will have great regard to the present circumstances and in this case consider less the exact rigour of his Right then the utility of the whole Church and the design of calming these storms and tempests in all ages to come All things are lawfull for me said S. Paul but all things are not expedient So in the time that Clement VIII of most H. memory establisht the Congregation de auxiliis he did not think he any wise weakned his authority which he kept up very vigorously where he liv'd when he suffer'd not only the Dominicans and Jesuites to be publickly heard disputing but even the sentence which was pass'd by the Consultors to be review'd and examin'd anew for fear the Partisans of Molina should complain of the least wrong done them and of being condemn'd without hearing as they gave out without ground or pretext That B. Pope understood that the principal authority annex'd to the See of Rome is nowise wounded by the reciprocal Conferences of Divines as that of Oecumenical Councils suffers no diminution and the respiration of the H. Spirit which is always persent to them remains nevertheless constant and undubitable when the Doctors are caus'd to dispute publickly before the Canons are drawn Now whereas all the Prelates of the Gallicane Church have no other desire nor aim then this that no person may have any doubt for the future and that after these so important matters are judged they may no longer be the subjects of contestation and dispute having had no other notice in recurring to the H. See by their letters but the zeal of procuring peace we doubt not but this means which is most visible carries
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
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
Proposition were condemn'd absolutely the Thomists would be condemn'd too and depriv'd of all their proofs which they drew from S. Augustin to prove Grace Effectual of it self As for the last it appear'd sufficiently by what he had said in the beginning because if they would have it that Jesus Christ dy'd for all that is by his death merited for all universally and without exception Sufficient Graces it was a Question of the School which could not be determin'd That if it were determin'd in this sense that Jesus Christ merited for all Sufficient Graces determinable by the Will then Effectual Grace would be destroyed But if they only aim'd to get it defin'd that Jesus Christ dy'd for all sufficiently in regard his blood was of infinite value and sufficient for all this fifth Proposition would not be condemn'd because neither the Semipelagians ever spoke so much in this sense nor the Disciples of S. Augustin ever accus'd them of Error for having said that Jesus Christ dy'd for all in this sense And therefore he concluded that the Propositions could not be condemn'd absolutely without wholly ruining the Doctrine of the Thomists F. Reginald having thus ended M. Hallier reply'd That the Question of Effectual Grace was very remote from Physical Predetermination that the Thomists never plac'd Effectual Grace in such Predetermination that Grace was a thing very antient and Physical Predetermination a thing very new invented by some new Thomists At these words F. Reginald made a little sign with his Head intimating that he did not approve them at which M. Hallier taking offence said that he spoke Truth and that he ought not to shake his head at it for 't was true that it was a novel invention F. Reginald out of respect to the General and because he was in their house reply'd nothing M. Hallier continuing his discouse said that 't was true that the Thomists to reconcile and accord freedom with physical Predetermination us'd the distinction of sensus Compositus Divisus but not to conciliate Effectual Grace with Liberty That this Effectual Grace did not pertain to the First Act nor consist in a physical Predetermination that besides he had read S. Augustin very well who never us'd those words Possibility with Effect and Possibility simple that they admitted Grace Effectual of it self necessary to all Good workes even independently on God's provision which he had taught publickly long ago and was ready to teach again that he had protested thus before the whole Congregation of Cardinals and Consulters at his audience there But that the Necessity of this Grace in no wise render'd the Commandments impossible to him who wanted it That he who had it had alwayes a power to resist it that the Council of Trent had so determin'd when it said possit dissentire si velit and that consequently a man consented without Necessity That the third Proposition had been condemn'd against Michel Baius that constraint alone takes away liberty F. Reginald replying desir'd M. Hallier to excuse him if he told him that for certain all the Thomists except one or two held that Effectual Grace is a physical Predetermination that even they who plac't it amongst indeliberate acts said it is predetermined physically and that therefore the Thomists us'd the distinction of sensus Compositus Divisus as well in reference to Effectual Grace as physical Predetermination That when the Council saith possit abjicere possit dissentire it means in sensu diviso and not in sensu Composito That physical Predetermination is not a new invention as to the substance of the thing that the word Predetermination ought not to be disputed being found in S. Thomas and many other ancient Doctors That as for the distinction of Possibility with effect and simple Possibility it is found in S. Augustin who uses the word Possibilitas cum effectu in chap. 42. of the book De Gratia Libera Arbitrio as for the other part simple posibility he confess'd it is not found formally in S. Augustin but is evidently collected out of the fifth book De Civit. Dei. M. Hallier rejoyn'd to the last point saying that the terme Possibility with Effect was never found in S. Augustin and repeating the same things which he had said before especically that he had alwayes protested that they pursu'd not the condemnation of the Propositions saving in the sense of Jansenius and not in the sense of Effectual Grace which they held M. Hallier's Companions spoke the same things which they had said before adding that in all Memorials they had us'd this exception because they saw that otherwise they should do wrong to so many and so learned Divnes of S. Dominicus Here the R. F. General interpos'd and said Then our fear is just since you acknowledge it requisite to make those protestations M. Hallier answer'd that they had taken order for that because the speech which he made in the Congregation would be inserted in the Bull to the end it might be known that the Propositions were condemn'd only in the sense of Jansenius Then the F. General commanded F. Alvarez Regent of la Minerve to speak who said that he saw no more difficulty in this affair that if these Doctors acknowledg'd Grace Effectual of it self indepently on God's provision they must also acknowledge the truth of the Propositions in the sense of Effectual Grace and consequently that the Commandments are impossible to him who wants it with an Impossibility consequent and not antecedent and next that a man never resists internal that is Effectual Grace and that this necessity takes not away merit and so of the other Propositions That since they agreed in doctrine it remain'd only to consider how it was requisite to proceed in this affair that he conceiv'd it expedient to unfold the Propositions and demand the confirmation and definition of them in the sense of Effectual Grace and their condemnation in the other senses M. Hallier permitted not the F. Regent to end but told him that he acknowledg'd the Effectual Grace as mention'd by F. Regent that he admitted that the Commandments are impossible to him who wants it with an impossibility consequent and not antecedent that they were ready to subscribe thus much privatim but not as Deputies provided their Reverences would subscribe the condemnation of the Propositions in the sense of Jansenius F Galassin told them that the match was not equal that a General could not subscribe it they subscribing only as particular persons M. Hallier answer'd that he demanded only the condemnation of Jansenius who was condemn'd already F. Reginald having desir'd leave to speak one word said But what if Jansenius hath had the same sense as the Thomists in all these Propositions or in any one of them this is the business Why is it denyed to distinguish that sense wherefore continu'd he to avoid this inconvenience it will be requisite to make a common Memorial address'd to his Holiness and the Congregation
Hereticks summoning them for that purpose and offering them permission and full liberty to answer even to the things which the whole Council should object to them Etiam ad Objecta Concilij generalis respondendi Clement VIII and Paul V. practis'd the same since between the Dominicans and the Jesuites Under Clement after other great examinations preceding 68 Congregations were held in the space of three years at which that Pope was personally present and 19 in like manner under Paul in which Congregations the Domininicans and Jesuites were heard in presence one of the other both viva voce and by writing They between whom the present contest is are not of meaner condition or consideration 5. The matter is subtle and knotty of it self Great surprises in it have sometimes been put upon the H. See because the Parties were not present and heard Moreover it ha's been grievously embroil'd by the subtlety of Adversaries It requires now a more exact discussion then ever 6. 'T is an affair more important alone then all others of the H. See together It concernes the first principles and essental Elements of Christian Faith and Piety yea the whole Catholick Religion That which is demanded is the last and soveraign remedy which hath alwayes been in the Church for repressing heresies and maintaining Catholick truths The H. See never deny'd it to any that demanded it If it denyes it now it takes away all courage vigorous means and boldnesse from Good and sincere Christians to oppose errors By this demand alone S. Hilary sometimes overcame the Arians in the face of the Emperor though one of those Hereticks Wherefore c. It is hop'd the Pope c. Objections Answered 1. 'T is said in the first place that there are no Parties in this affair Answ Propriety life honor and above all Faith is the matter which causes controversies and parties amongst men The quality of Judge of Ecclesiastical Controversies which belongs to the Pope shewes that there may be Parties in things of Faith And in those at this day the contest is so enflam'd that never were greater more opposite and more formal parties 2. That disputations never produce any fruit Answ 'T is true when they are made Metaphysically only by words in the aire and without Judges But in this affair Ecclesiastical Conferences vivâ voce and by writing and before Judges are demanded 3. That such conferences exasperate men's minds more Answ Suppose they do yet those exasperations would soon passe over because they will be ended by the Judgment intervening But by delay in the true way of attaining thereunto they are fomented and increased dayly more and more because they who are in the wrong not fearing to be ever convinc'd so long as the proceeding is thus every day attempt some new project against the truth and they who maintain it are animated more to defend it against such endeavors And neither the one nor the other will resolve ever to be quiet till after a solemn and authentical decision 4. That this Disputation is demanded only to delay the judgment of the affair Answ There will be alwayes seeking to delay the Judgment till it be examin'd and clear'd fittingly to be judg'd of as the truth the honour of the H. See and the good of the Church requires That this way is lookt upon as the only one in the present circumstances for arriving to a perfect and sufficient knowledge to passe it and it shall be seen with what diligence and sincerity this course shall be manag'd 5. That perhaps the H. See will not engage it self at this time to make such a Decision Answ When the H. See shall have taken a sufficient information of the affair to be able to make such decision it will not be oblig'd to make the same unless it Judge it necessary It may deferre it for as long as it shall please and think expedient and perhaps with more credit then refuse a fitting information 6. That the Adversaries are contented with such as is made in the secret Congregations Answ They have reason not only to be contented with it but also to desire it having no other means and hopes to escape nor can they otherwise secure themselves from the necessity either of discovering what they are or of acknowledging S. Augustin's authority and the true Grace which must be confess'd by him that pretends to be a Christian as saith that H. Father It will be reply'd on the contrary Your Adversaries desire a Disputation no less than you but they referre themselves to what the H. See shall think most fit Answ When they say they desire a Conference they dissemble they delude When they affect to seem thus perfectly submissive to the H. See it must be remembred what Baronius observes namely that the great artifices of Pelagius and Coelestine to circumvent the H. See were such affected testimonies of their counterfeit submission Whereof our Adversaries are the more to be suspected as the impostures and ambushes which they have made against it within four years are stranger 7. That our Demand argues disobedience to the H. See and implyes as if we intended to give law to it Answ VVe are not so inconsiderate as to commit either the one or the other nor so blind as not to see a difference between those faults and a most humble just important and reasonable suite as ours is nor so timerous as for such frivolous dreams as are objected to resolve to forsake so beaten and common a way in the Church 'T is themselves that pretend to give law to the H. See and to us also having boasted to all the world from the beginning of the Congregation that they would never permit a Conference either viva voce or by writing And this the more obliges the H. See to grant it to us because 't is neither just nor edifying that the H. See should be conceiv'd to receive law from them nor yet that we should receive it We saw the matter reduc'd to such extremity that we could no longer conceale our dissatisfaction from the Pope we consider'd the Congregation often assembled at Cardinal Spada's Palace so improportional to the grandeur of the affair to be decided and the dignity of the persons who had recourse to the H. See for that purpose we saw that it acted in a manner so little Canonical and so little conformable to the proceeding which we had pray'd the Pope might be observ'd in that which we demanded in fine we consider'd that it had so much of the H. Office both as to the persons in it and the course it follow'd that we were resolv'd to make a new demand to the Pope of the first Congregation which we had demanded as having scarce any regard to this but disapproving it as much as the circumstances of things would permit us to declare VVherefore we made a new Memorial which I beseecht our Advocate to present to the Pope the next day Febr. 17.
matters if they save themselves from Censure This is the Order Sir which is to be held and not departed from If our Adversaries have carri'd their Complaint to the H. See we shall also carry ours They could not find Propositions in our Books worthy of Censure our Doctrine is so Orthodox and therefore they fram'd some of their own invention but we have drawn such out of their Books as they can neither disown or defend This no doubt they foresee and therefore endeavour their utmost not to appear in a Disputation which you must insist upon and take the advantage of this Congregation M. Hallier is to return after Easter and go directly to S. Malo without comming to Paris as I understand by the Almoner of the Bishop of S. Malo And if so you judge right that he desires to decline all dispute He has written to M. Amyot that he shall shortly have the Propositions condemn'd that he has been heard in the Congregation and that you stand off and dare not appear there His Letter was publisht in the Sacristie of S. Maderic and read in the seats of the Sorbonne by him to whom it was directed This vain boasting confirmes me in the same conceit besides that understanding persons have inferr'd the same namely that it is false that any Proposition is as yet condemn'd seeing the Parties have not been heard To think that judgment shall be pronounced without hearing you as you demand is to think an impossibility For how can they pronounce upon our sense if they know not what it is which they cannot but by our selves To say that they will pronounce without distinguishing the senses is ridiculous For besides that nothing would be pronounc'd in this case upon the present controversy which is not touching the Propositions but touching the different senses which they have the Thomists would become involv'd in such an absolute condemnation So that there 's no more to be done but to keep in the same mind We will send you help to the end that in case of sicknesse the Congregation may continue He will set forth I hope the first week of Lent c. The third of those Letters was written to me by order of my LL. the Bishops to whom I had address'd mine of Jan. 27. And the Copy is here subjoyn'd Febr. 21. 1653. The answer to the Letter of Jan. 27. SIR I Have communicated your Letter to my Lords who were much surpris'd at your being sent for by Cardinal Spada to appear before an other Congregation then that which it pleas'd the Pope to grant you upon your sute They remember very well that his Holinesse cans'd the late Cardinal Roma to signifye to you that having regard to the Letters and Memorial which you presented to him he granted you the Congregation of Five Cardinals namely Roma Spada Cechini Ginetti and Ghiggi for the discussion and examination of the five Propositions Since that time my LL. alwayes rely'd upon the establishment of that Congregation and perswaded themselves that the judgment of the Five Propositions would be pass'd according to all the formes of Ecclesiastical justice that you should be heard in presence of your Adversaries the Writing communicated all causes of exception against the declar'd opposers of your cause admitted and finally that the Pope would decide the questions in such manner as the like have alwayes been decided by his Predecessors in Councils and particular Congregations When they were most at quiet your Letter comes and gives them notice of another Congregation to which you were summoned this amaz'd them neverthelesse your judicious answer to that summons comforted them they extremely approve the same and injoyn you to insist upon it and not go beyond it M. Hallier will do any thing that he pleases My Lords pray you to continue in the termes of your answer hoping that the Pope being just will have regard thereto and lastly they recommend themselves to you and beseech God to fill you with blessings By Command of my Lords N. After the departure of the Post my Lords condering the present posture of our affair and fearing the ill consequences which they foresaw conceiv'd it befitting their Episcopal care to indeavor the prevention of the same wherefore those who were then at Paris writ forthwith a new Letter to the Pope which came not from them till eight dayes after and was deliver'd to us at Rome in its due time The French translation of it is here inserted the Original Latin in the Collection ensuing Being directed To the most H. F. Pope Innocent X. it proceeded thus MOST H. FATHER BIshops highly affectionate to truth and the Churches peace could not receive more welcome newes then the assurance given us last Summer that your Holines's paternal affection and Apostolical care had induc'd you to establish that Congregation so much desir'd by us Assoon as we receiv'd this intelligence from the Doctors who sollicite this great affair at Rome in our name we rejoyc'd to understand that they had succeeded happily that the supreme See of the Church approv'd and profess'd to embrace that meanes which may be in some manner term'd the only one likely to re-establish publick tranquillity From that time we conceiv'd a firme hope M.H.F. that the clouds of calumnies and humane artifices being dispell'd Truth hitherto outrage'd and oppress'd by its enemies would finde as many protectors as judges and that being an Ecclesiastical Judgment was likely to be pass'd for deciding such important questions relating to the Faith according as has been alwayes practis'd we ought to remain quiet in expectation of what so solemn a Congregation should produce For the Jesuites having caus'd these five Famous Propositions to be contriv'd at pleasuere by persons devoted to them the structure whereof is so artificial and the sense so equivocal thereby to overthrow S. Augustin's authority and make the novel opinion of Lowis Molina triumph over the sentiments of the Congregation of Rome the consent of so many Ages and the Orthodox doctrine of ancient Divines we could not doubt but the esteem and reputation of that H. Doctor of Grace would be in safety when it should be examin'd before that supreme Tribunal which has made him so renown'd in all the earth by the glorious elogies which it hath given him But M. H. F. as much as we rejoyc'd then at the newes of that Cogregation so much have we since been surpris'd with the astonishment of the suddain change of which the Divines deputed by us to your Holinesse have inform'd us by their last Letters to wit that the proceeding in this grand affair is become very different from what we believ'd and that this Congregation is not as was promis'd them a Congregation in which the parties are heard in presence vivâ voce and their Writings respectively communicated for taking away all suspition of fraud but that a course is held wholly different from what they had informed us that they had obtain'd of
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
it will be a diverting your Eminence from the care of the great affairs which exercise you when we beseech you to read the Writings which we present to you and to employ some time in examining with great care the whole Cause in question there being nothing in the whole Church more considerable for the honour and reputation of Innocent X. then this affair concerning the grace of Jesus Christ The reading of all things which have pass'd in this Difference will encrease your Eminences vigilance and care because you will find how justly their designes are to be suspected the beginnings wherof are full of so many intrigues and deceits Neither the canvasings nor the solicitations of our Adversaries nor the ostentation of the favor of the Grandees of the Times nor the false Protestations which they make to defend the Faith and uphold the dignity of the H. See will be capable of shaking you because you will fear on one side their surprising his Holinesse as they have already many times endevor'd and on the other you will be lead to suspect that cause of in justice which hath needed so great a number of subtleties to support it As much as our Adversaries have plac'd their hope in humane artifices in winding and captions subtleties of words and in termes which they have invented to vilifie and disparage our persons so much have we taken care to establsh our hope only in the assistance of God's grace in sincerity and upright dealing in the integrity of the H. Apostolick See and in the the equity of Innocent X. We hope therefore my Lord that you will employ all your credit with his Holiness to promote the Congregation which we have demanded of him as being the most advantageous means of ruinning all kind of Deceits of clearing truth and procuring peace and which all the world as well as we conceiv'd establisht before we had the honour to present these Writings to him to the end the whole Church may know and posterity one day relate how prevalent simplicity and fair dealing truth and justice were under the Papacy of Innocent X. when he was assisted with the Counsels of a Cardinal who was the emulator of his Glory as well as Heir and successor of his name And although in all these things our own interest is lesse imported then that of the H. See and we could be quiet henceforward if we were not mov'd with the concernments of truth the H. See and the spouse of Jesus Christ and the peace and edification of the Faithfull neverthelesse all these these things make so sensible an impression upon our minds that we shall consider as a signal benefit all the offices which your Eminence shall do for us with his Holinesse towards procuring the successe of a demand so just and necessary We are My LORD Your Eminences Most humble and obedient servants Noël de la Lane Doctor in Divinity of the Faculty of Paris and Abbot of Nostre Dame de Valcroissant Lovïs de S. Amour Doctor in the sacred Parisian Faculty of Divinity of the House and society of Sorbonne Lovïs Angran Licentiate of the same sacred Faculty of Paris and Canon of the Cathedral Church of Troies March 7. 1653. Sunday March 9. with the Letters from Paris I receiv'd the Advertisement of F. L ' Abbé so injurious to S. Augustin and the H. See and by which that Father so manifestly discovers their design against S. Augustin's doctrine I thought fit to shew it to as many persons as I could that so the evil purposes of those Fathers might be more and more known especially it coming to Rome so opportunely the day before the first Congregation was to be held before the Pope Amongst others I went to show it to Cardinal Spada and the General of the Augustines and left Copies of it with them adding more largely by word of mouth what was written to me concerning it I found the General of the Augustines shut up to study against the next day's Congregation Yet I was admitted to speak with him and he told me that they did not yet precisely know what would be treated of the next day before the Pope whether all the Propositions or only one but it behov'd them to prepare for all and leave themselves to be govern'd by Grace Monday the 10th the Congregation was held before the Pope in the afternoon All that I could learn concerning it was that the Pope first made a short discourse declaring that he intended not that in any thing which might be done in the progresse of this affair the doctrine either of S. Augustin or S. Thomas should be prejudic'd 2. That the Consultors had more time and liberty to speak then they expected And 3. That it lasted two houres and a half Wednesday the 12th I repaired to see Cardinal Barberin before his going to la Minerve but met him coming down staires He took me into his Coach and askt me the same question which we had done eight dayes before Why we did not declare that we held no other opinions then the Thomists I answer'd him as I had done formerly But the same day he told the General of the Dominicans as I heard on Friday following that we refus'd to subscribe the sufficient Grace of the Thomists because haply in my discourse I had said that although we acknowledg'd those Graces which they styl'd sufficient yet we could not agree to use that Terme being those Graces were not truly sufficient for the Action in regard whereof they were so call'd though effectual for their proper Effect nor that they were given generally to all the world without excepting any person as some of their modern Authors have taught but not all either the best or the most ancient Now I wonder'd much that such a discourse by the by could serve his Eminence for a ground to tell that General seriously and without distinction that we deny'd to subscribe the sufficient Grace of the Thomists when it was propounded to us as if it had been propounded seriously that we migbt make a solid Declaration and as if we had absolutely deny'd those sorts of Graces In the afternoon I had accidentally a long converse with M. Joysel all the particularities whereof to avoid prolixity I shall not here insert but take notice only of three or four First speaking of the Congregation which we su'd for he said it was not according to the Custome of the Church but a thing unheard of and never practis'd and that they had above forty passages or examples to oppose us with in that point Secondly I speaking to him of the Writings which they deliver'd to the Consultors and F. Annat lately printed 〈◊〉 first he deny'd it Thirdly when I affirm'd the same so confidently that he could not doubt but I had certain intelligence thereof he confess'd it adding that it matter'd not whence a good thing were taken And Fourthly when I told him that this shew'd their correspondence wiih the
testifie to his Holinsse that we reverence his power and are obedient to his pleasure In the second place to oppose by this last meanes now left us the enterprises and Cabals of the Jesuites against the truth and to take away the pretext which they might have to publish though very falsely that your Deputies my Lords durst not appear before the H. see In the third place to free our selves from the blame which the disciples of S. Augustin and S. Thomas might lay upon us as they would here undoubtedly of having left the truth in the oppression and obscurity whereinto its enemies would reduce it if we refus'd the defence and elucidation which it requires here against those who endeavor to embroile it and put upon it if possible the resemblance of error whereby to render it odious and worthy of Anathema Lastly we have taken this resolution as the sole meanes we have at present to obtain the effect of the commission wherewith it hath pleas'd you my Lords to honor us For we conceive the audiences promis'd us by the Pope may in some wise inform him of the matters in contest especially of the necessity of the Conference which we sollicite by your Orders but they will not suffice to instruct him so fully in the matter in question that he may give a clear and definitive judgement of it with a perfect cognizance of the Cause Many things which we have to represent to his Holinesse may convince him that the present controversie is of highest importance and cannot be clearly decided as things now stand unlesse the parties be oblig'd to declare their belief plainly and defend the same against their adversaries before the H. see in the manner which hath been propos'd to our H. Father in your name This is it which the Jesuites fear and decline as the certain destruction of their Molinisme and 't is that which we desire with all our hearts as the sure victory which the invincible and H. defender of Grace will gaine once more over the new Pelagians of our age God touch the heart of his Holinesse and dispose him to grant us a thing so just and necessary 'T is the usual subject of our prayers the weaknesse whereof hath need my Lords to be strengthned with yours and all theirs who have any love and gratitude for the grace which makes us Christians and obliges us to honor with sincere and true respect the prime Ministers of Jesus Christ in the love of whom we shall remaine all our lives MY LORDS Your most humble and most obedient servants F. Des-mares N. Manessier Rome May 5. 1653. Receiving this Letter I remember one thing which these Gentlemen have not mention'd though they related it to us in the account they gave us of their audience namely that when M. Manessier urg'd in the name of the Bishops for a Conference and represented how necessary it was in this cause the Pope answer'd them in these termes Tutto questo dipende dall ' inspiratione del spirito santo all this depends upon the inspiration of the H. Ghost Whereto M. Manessier replying that the assistance of the H. Ghost which God had promis'd to the Church in decisions of Faith did not acquit Oecumenical Councils from all reasonable meanes of instruction in the truth and that 't was by these very meanes that such assistance was given them the Pope said Non dite questo questa opinione non è buona You must not say so that opinion is not good To which neither M. Manessier nor F. Des-mares durst reply any thing furthet though it appear'd to them sufficiently strange since those very Divines who professe most adherence to Rome as the late M. Du Val teach that the Pope is not instructed in the truth by special revelations but by the humane wayes wherewith God obliges him to seek it Qui diceret saith that Doctor in his book de autoritate Pontificis Pontificem per immediatam expressam revelationem suas definitiones habere nonnihil ad haeresin quorundam saeculi nostri Novatorum quise à spiritu particulari de rebus fidei edoceri confirmari jactant propenderet quorum haeresis tanquam certissima ad errores via ab omnibus Orthodoxis reprobatur CHAP. XIX The discourse of Card. Ghiggi with another Cardinal in the Consistory May 5. touching the new Bull. The reasons which mov'd us to go and tell the Pope that we should be ready to appear before him when and in what manner his Holinesse pleased TUesday May 6. I heard that a certain Cardinal being advertised on Sunday last that the Bull was prepar'd instantly resolv'd to make his complaints Remonstrances against it to the Pope on Monday morning May 5. in the Consistory which was to be held that day but fearing that what he should represent to the Pope would not be well receiv'd by his Holinesse he conceiv'd it would be best to speak first to Cardinal Ghiggi who was likely to hear with more attention what he should say to receive it better and with more facility render the Pope susceptible of it He intended also to discover by Cardinal Ghiggi's answers how the Popes mind stood and whether or no it would be fit to speake to his Holinesse afterwards But Cardinal Ghiggi reply'd so sharpely to all that the other Cardinal said though his elder and a most venerable person both for his endowments and his age and seem'd so violently prepossess'd and strongly bent to the purpose of Condemning that he conceiv'd the Pope was affected in the same manner and therefore resolv'd to say nothing to him for fear he should do it in vain but to practise that counsell of the Scripture Non effundas Sermonem ubi non est auditus And he saw that thenceforward all was desperate and no more to be done in the matter but to have recourse to prayers and patience I was inform'd exactly enough of the particulars of the discourse of these two Cardinals and shall insert some principal fragments of it which I pen'd down at that time Upon the friendly and familiar complaint made to Cardinal Ghiggi about the new compil'd Bull Cardinal Ghiggi answer'd the other roughly and as being surpriz'd that the mine was discover'd seeming also in some sort to deny that it was true He askt him Chive l' ha detto who told you this The other answer'd calmely I do not think I am oblig'd to tell you whence I had this intelligence but I am advertis'd of it by a good hand Your Eminence must not believe but in such an affair as this wherein all the world is interessed every one endeavors to look about him and discover what is acted I conjecture that in the first draught of the Bull there were some words in commendation of S. Augustin because besides what I otherwise heard the discourse of these two Cardinals came to this point that Cardinal Ghiggi acknowledging that the Bull was made yet undertook to justifie
the reasonablenesse of it telling the other that no dangerous consequence could be feared from it in regard of the praises attributed therein to that H. Doctor by which he said his Doctrine was secur'd The other Cardinal reply'd that those praises were of little advantage to S. Augustin if his doctrine was really condemn'd adding that the Propositions in question were his very doctrin and till their condemnation maintain'd as so many articles of Faith Cardinal Ghiggi answer'd that they were equivocal and contain'd evill sense The other reply'd that they also contain'd Capital truths of the Catholick faith in the good senses wherein they might be understood For proof whereof he began to explain them with admirable facility and clearnesse but Cardinal Ghiggi excused himself from hearing him saying that he had not studied them Whereupon the other said Alas how then can you consent to their condemnation if you have not studied them Cardinal Ghiggi answered I should have studied them had I been da volare oblig'd to give my opinion and Vote concerning them The other demanded if you have not given your opinion how will it be true which the Pope shall say in his Bull that he condemnes them by advice of the Cardinals de Consilio fratrum nostrorum Cardinal Ghiggi answer'd that it would be true by a Council of prudence per un Consiglio prudentiale or otherwise by a Political advice of what was expedient to ordain regard being had to all the circumstances of the affair The other excepted again How can one give a prudential Counsel touching an affair which he hath not studied and sees not to the bottom If this Bull be published 't will be a Bull of the Consultors not of the Cardinals and of Consultors pickt and cull'd by wayes which all the world knowes and the French Doctors are not ignorant of they keep a register of them and if an unfitting Judgement come forth we shall soon see the H. See charg'd with confusion by printed Books in all parts Besides if any obscurity be in the Bull every one will draw it to his own side and this will cause horrible combustions and contest But for all this in summa said my Relator this Cardinal got nothing at all in his conference with Cardinal Ghiggi but very sharp answers from him Non fu guadagnato niente ma sempre acertissima risposta Returning home from the Visit wherein I learnt these passages we deliberated concerning our going altogether that morning to the Pope to deliver him the Letter of Febr. 24. and declare to him that we had been and should be alwayes ready to appear before him whenever he should appoint us Besides the general respect due to the Head of the Church from all the Faithful we consider'd what particular reasons we had for it in the present conjuncture and that the Pope was absolutely determin'd not to hear us at all in a contradictory Conference having so declar'd to our new Collegues that he conceiv'd he had us'd all moral diligences necessary for clearing the Truth that he was perswaded that after those diligences the H. Ghost's assistance of him was infallible and that he was resolv'd to pronounce a Judgement We consider'd the persons who inform'd him from whom he took counsel most of them prejudic'd against S. Augustin's doctrine against us offended with the difficulties we had made to appear before them unlesse on the conditions we demanded and accounting they did us a favour to hear us in the manner which they offer'd seeing that most of the World was become disaffected to us through the contrivances of the Jesuites throughout all Europe especially in France not likely to neglect so favourable an occasion of promoting the dominion which they affect over the conscience and liberty of the Faithful We consider'd that the Bull which was already compil'd against the Propositions could not but give great advantages to our Adversaries and be in their hands like a sword in those of a mad man when once it came forth that having assuredly not been made but by the ministry of M. Albizzi and the assistance of the Jesuites they might easily have slipt into it words of very great consequence beside the Pope's intention from whence the Jesuites might pretend the cause gain'd for their Molina and whose sequels his Holinesse not being sufficiently instructed in these matters could not foresee no more being necessary for his satisfaction saving that it appear'd in general that his intentions were follow'd wherefore we accounted it highly important to stop its publication We consider'd that in one of the Writings prepar'd for us we had our selves done what we beseecht the Pope might be done before all things namely distinguisht the Propositions into the several senses whereof they were capable and clearly explicated them both in the one and the other without equivocation or obscurity Which Writing was necessary to be read and publickly declar'd to the Pope before the Bull came forth to the end that if it absolutely condemn'd the Propositions we might have this authentick proof further that we had not maintain'd them absolutely but only in the Catholick senses whereof they were susceptible We consider'd that we could not have the advantage of making such declaration and protestation before the Pope nor hindering the publishing of the Bull if we still insisted upon being heard in the formes which we had dnmanded because 't was evidently dangerous that the Pope would persist to deny the same to us and without regard to what we had represented to him cause the Bull to be publisht forthwith Which would be of no other advantage to us then that we might complain of being condemn'd after an unheard of manner in defending the best cause of the World But neverthelesse such condemnation would cause great disorder and scandal in the Church We consider'd that the Pope might have good intentions That our Writings were very home that if he gave us time to explicate the same to him and add thereunto viva voce what we pleas'd as he promis'd us the truths which we had to represent to him might make some impression upon his mind stop his purpose against us wherto our Adversaries had drawn him convince him of the necessity of a Conference and consequently move him to appoint one of his own accord without our further demanding it We consider'd that should we be deceiv'd in our hopes this new fashion'd Audience which he would give us not being according to Ecclesiastical lawes and customes and we not accepting it but in regard of the present conjuncture and circumstances above mention'd there would be no great difference between having been heard in this manner and not being heard at all Lastly We consider'd that we accepted not this Audience but only to have the meanes of representing to the Pope that it was not such as we demanded that the accustom'd forms of the Church were not observ'd in it that Ecclesiastical liberty was infring'd by
Augustin but after the contest wherein they were engag'd for defence of Molina's book and doctrin to the end it might be free for all their Fathers to oppose that of S. Augustin uphold their Confrere Molina who attaqu'd him first and in whose defence they unhappily conceiv'd the honor and reputation of their society concern'd they retrencht out of the succeeding edition of the said Book all that I have cited out of the first in favour of the doctrin of the gratuitous Predestination of S. Augustin whom they acknowledged to have taught it We shew'd that their boldnesse had increased ever since and that the latest of their Authors were still more heinously injurous against S. Augustin That since this enterprise of the Propositions F. Adam F. Annat F. Martinon and F. Labbe had rose up against that H. Doctor and that these three last appear'd even since the complaints which we had made thereof to the H. See That none of of their Confreres had been displeased with them for this enormity but on the contrary seem'd to esteem them the more that they every where cry'd up their rare merits and advanc'd them to the prime charges and most considerable employments of their Order That after this it was not possible to imagine a greater violence a more obstinate contumacy a more audacious impudence or a more offensive outrage against S. Augustin and the H. See it self Wherefore we concluded that since it was requisite to judge rather by these their exorbitances against S. Augustin and their designes to ruine his doctrin then by vain words of respect towards him utter'd with the lips we had reason and necessity to summon them as we did and had already summon'd M. Hallier and his Collegues by our first writing de gestis to acknowledge by an authentick writing for true and indubitable the six Propositions which are at the end of that writing in favour of that H. Father's doctrine and which were again inserted at the end of this new one After which we added also that if they made the least difficulty of doing it we produc'd against them once more that of S. Augustin's authority which we had pretended for the same effect against M. Hallier and his Collegues The second of the Five was a Compendious distinction of the several Catholick Heretical senses whereof the Propositions were capable concerning which I shall speak no further here as well because it is already printed as for that I shall insert it at length hereafter for a reason which the Reader shall then understand The third was intitled To our H. F. Pope Innocent 10. To my L. L. the most Eminent Cardinals Spada Ginetti Pamphilio Cechini and Ghiggi and to the other Divines deputed or to be deputed for the Congregation concerning the affair of the five Propositions de gratia For M. M. Noel de la Lane Doctor of Paris Toussaint Des-mares Priest of the Orators Lewis de Saint Amour and Nicolas Manessier Doctors also of Paris and Lewis Angran Licentiate in the same Faculty Against M. M. Francis Hallier Francis Joysel and Jerome Lagault Doctors of the same Faculty The second information touching Right I shall also omit to speak any thing of the Preface to this Writing in which we set forth the reasons which oblig'd us to begin this Examen and the proof the Propositions as we understood them by examining and proving the necessity of a Grace Effectual by it self generally for all the good motions and actions of Christian piety and in which we show'd likewise in few words the evident connexion which every of those Propositions taken and understood in our sense hath with that capital point of the Churches doctrine because I find it requisite to insert the said Preface at length after the abovesaid distinction of sences Something I must say of the body of this Writing not seeing any fitter place then this and 't is the least I can do to set down in grosse what they all contain since their too great length and number rendring them capable of making a just volume alone they cannot be commodiously inserted into this Journal Now this third was divided into four parts The first contained sixteen principal arguments by every of which we prov'd that Grace effectual by it self necessary to all actions of Christian piety is the true Grace of Jesus Christ which the Catholick Faith obliges us to confesse against the Errors of the Pelagians and Semipelagians if we will as S. Augustin saith not only be call'd and appear Christians but be such indeed When I say this Part contain'd sixteen Arguments each of which was capable to prove this Truth invincibly I do not mean sixteen Syllogisms or Demonstrations consisting of three Propositions but sixteen Sources or Places fruitful of solid proofs upon which we establisht this Truth as upon so many unmoveable foundations each of which was able alone to uphold it All the prayers of the Church all the Truths which they discover to us all the consequences which we can draw from them made together but the first of those sixteen Arguments S. Augustin's whole Book de gratia Jesu Christi and all the Maximes spread through it made but the second The third was taken from the difference which there is between the Grace of simple Possibility and that which gives the good will and the good action The fourth from the difference between the Grace of the state of Innocence such as Adam had and that of Nature corrupted and disorder'd by sin such as we have at present and so of the rest The fifth was taken from all the objections made by the Pelagians and Semipelagians against the Grace which S. Austin defended And the last from all the answers which S. Austin made to those objections The second part of this Writing was in a manner only a Table of the Popes Councils H. Fathers and eminent Divines from S. Augustine's dayes to the present who had written of this matter whom we maintain'd to have taught that very Grace as the Faith of the Church and we offer'd undertook to convince our Adversaries before the Pope that the sentiments of all those Popes Councils H. Fathers and Divines which we cited and of every one in particular were such as we affirm'd and we gave them the choyce to dispute about that or those of these Popes Councils Fathers and Divines whom they believ'd less favourable to this Doctrine Amongst those whom we cited were the Master of the sentences S. Thomas S. Bernard the Council of Trent and Clement VIII .. The third part contain'd nothing but the Judgments and Decisions which were made against the Jesuites in the Congregation de Auxiliis under the Popes Clement VIII Paul V. extracted out of the originals The fourth contain'd a very great number of Errors blasphemies or impieties which we deduc'd by necessary consequence from the doctrine opposite to the Effectual Grace which we held namely from that which Molina and
in it but being able neither to justifie nor yet condemn my self I shall relate it sincerely and leave the judgement of it to God and intelligent men 'T is certain and most true that we alwayes consider'd the Propositions ever since their first framing by M. Cornet as a work of darknesse and as contriv'd maliciously and purposely to decry S. Augustin's Doctrine and the true effectual Grace of Jesus Christ 'T is most certain also that we never own'd them to have been written or advanc'd by any Author and that we alwayes spoke of them in all our Writings at Rome and at Paris as equivocal captious and fallacious Propositions in regard of the bad sences whereof they were capable Lastly 't is most certain that in this contest we never maintain'd but the H. and Apostolick Doctrine of the Effectuall Grace of Jesus Christ not necessitating but necessary to all pious actions that the defence of this Grace was the onely object of our labours and pains that we never thought of that ridiculous and extravagant Device of a Necessitating Grace which wholly destroyes the indifference of the Will But as we saw on one side that the words of the positions might be reduc'd to the sence of Effectuall Grace wherein our whole Doctrine was concontein'd and that on the other the Jesuites secret design who set all these springs a work was to subvert the Doctrine of the same Effectual Grace by getting the Propositions absolutely condemn'd by reason of their other bad senses we thought it our duty to oppose to the utmost such an absolute condemnation of them without distinction or explication certainly seeing how the Jesuites would abuse the same But we were extreamly at a losse in what manner to speak of them Some of our friends advised us to maintaine them absolutely and say that they had not the bad senses charg'd upon them Their reason was that the natural proper and rigorous sense of the words in a proposition is not to be consider'd when no body holds them in that natural proper and rigorous sense but that the sense generally understood in these words is although the lesse proper of it selfe yet the literal legitimate and true sense of them as in infinite figurative expressions of Scripture we are not to take the proper sense of the words for the true and legitimate but onely that which is meant and signified by the H. Spirit Now in the matter of these Propositions attributed to S. Augustin's Disciples 't is visible that they hold them onely in the lesse proper sense of the words consider'd nakedly and in themselves and that no person maintaines them in the peoper natural and rigorous sense of the same words and consequently that the improper sense is the true and legitimate sense of these Propositions That thus it might truly be said that they are good because under these terms we maintain'd but a most excellent and holy doctrine namely that of Effectual Grace and none maintain'd a bad under them That therefore this ought to be freely declar'd at Rome in order to hinder their condemnation there being no greater motive to condemn them then that we did not assert them peremptorily but partly condemn'd them as well as their persecutors On the contrary others conceiv'd that the Propositions being bad according to the words and the natural proper sense included therein although this sense were not held by any yet the Jesuites might have credit enough with the Pope and Cardinals to perswade them that they were held in France in those bad senses and so get them condemn'd that if they should be absolutely maintain'd under pretext of the sense of Effectual Grace to which they were reducible the Jesuites might reflect the Censure upon this Catholick sense and pretend that that Grace is condemn'd by the Censure of these Propositions or at least would not faile to take occasion from thence to decry the defenders of this grace as persons condemn'd by the H. See Wherefore it seem'd the safest way to reject them absolutely yet maintaining at the same time the true Doctrine of S. Augustin M. de Sainte Beauve and most other of the Doctors our friends were of this last opinion and one very pious wise and sagacious Doctor with whom I had contracted great intimacie in the Assemblies of the Faculty together with many very intelligent persons at Rome were of the former My Collegues and I were divided in the businesse They inclin'd more to the latter course that is not to speak of the Propositions but as absolutely condemnable And I on the contrary strengthned with the advice of this Doctor and other my knowing friends of Rome was troubled to hear those discourses not that I held any thing in the Propositions but the Doctrine of Effectual Grace and condemn'd all that my Collegues condemn'd in them but I fear'd this timerous proceeding would occasion a Censure which would cause great mischief by the abuse the Jesuites would make of it and the knowledge I had of the Court of Rome made me judge nothing more likely to prevent it then our firme and confident speaking Wherefore I alwayes urg'd that the Propositions might not be absolutely disclaim'd nor their bad sense acknowledg'd to be the true and legitimate And I was the cause that in the Writing concerning the Distinction of senses in representing the bad sense of the Propositions instead of saying onely sensus hereticus Propositionis or sensus qui Propositioni affingi posset as my Collegues would have it was put qui malignè affingi posset quem tamen legitimè sumpta non habet It seemes the Event was more favourable to them then to me for this word grave the Jesuites occasion to calumniate us as if we had maintained at Rome the proper natural condemned sense of the Propositions consider'd nakedly in themselves which is very false and it would have been more advantageous to have avoided in this place and some others all expressions which might afford ground to this calumnie neverthelesse I hope equitable persons perpending the condition wherein we were then at Rome will easily pardon this proceeding and consider that having in my mind the horrid mischiefs which an absolute condemnation of the Propositions without distinction of senses might produce in the Church without any good I was led to say all that I thought likely to hinder the same provided it did not hurt the truth I hope also few will be found so little intelligent as not to acknowledge that though we affirm'd that the Propositions legitimately construed had no bad sense yet we would not say that they were not bad in the natural literal and rigorous sense of the words in which they have been since condemn'd but that we only pretended that not being held by any person in those bad senses they ought to be legitimately explicated in the sense whereunto we reduced them which was that of Effectual Grace and that thus this sense of Effectual Grace was their
Predecessor Innocent 1. And your H. shall find not without wonder that 't is renew'd in such manner that our adversaries both in their manner of proceeding and writing imploy the same atifices and the same deceits of those ancient enemies of Grace of which S. Augustin and S. Prosper incessantly complain The Writing alone which they presented to your H. consisting of sixty passages of S. Augustin fully proves with how great reason and justice we frame so important an accusation against them and your H. will become fully perswaded hereof if you permit us to refute in your presence what they have advanc'd in that Writing Your H. shall see that they suppose therin what no body hath taught that they refute what no body hath disputed that the passages alledg'd out of S. Augustin are maim'd or perverted that they maliciously suppresse those which clearly explain his meaning that they attribute to him a sense wholly contrary to his own as the same passages manifestly show And lastly your H. shall see that they are all either falsely or maliciously or impertinently alledg'd that they act without shame or faith before you in this matter of faith that they approach your Apostolical Throne without any reverence and that no other reason leads them under colour of a false respect to reject and decline the Conference which we desired to have with them but because they well know that they cannot avoid being publickly convinc'd of foul dealing and ignorance And consequently we are assured that as much as your H. loves sincerity candor and justice so much will you be mov'd with most just indignation against them But this assurance M. H. F. wherewith the truth which we conceive we maintain causes us to speak before your H. diminishes nothing of the full and intire submission which we shall alwaies have to the judgement which you shall passe as the boldnesse and confidence wherewith they who before us encounter'd the errors sprung up or reviv'd in the Church before the same were condemn'd attaqu'd their adversaries did not hinder but that they were perfectly submissive to the decisions of the H. See and Councils Now being we have no other aime in this affair but to seek the Truth which alone causes us to speak and since we are deputed to your Holinesse by some Bishops onely out of a design to serve the Truth and the H. See as much as we shall be able our desire shall be accomplisht if your H. judge that the honor of Truth and the H. See obliges you to correct or even condemne somethihg of what we maintain and we not onely submit our selves to your judgement but being glad of being corrected we shall publish the same everywhere with joy But if on the contrary your Holinesse findes that we defend the faith of the Catholick Apostolick and Romane Church and that the Jesuites and Doctors who contrived these Propositions designe by the obscurity of their equivocal words to subvert the true grace of Jesus Christ defended by S. Augustin in the name of the whole Church and to banish it out of the minds of all the Faithful and that they are engaged in pernicious errors we expect from Your Holiness's justice and with as much humility as urgency desire that you condemn their errors and establish the Catholick Faith Neither they nor we ought to be spar'd Truth ought to be strongly upheld against us if it appear that 't is we who injure it it ought to be establisht against us in its whole strength This is that which we avoid not but desire Now if our Adversaries have the same purpose of seeking truth and peace they will have no other wishes nor make other demands and Your Holiness will hear the same words from their mouthes as from ours Let neither we nor those engag'd in the same party with us be consider'd but let regard be had only to the Truth the honour of the Church and the dignity of the H. Apostolick See Thus M. H. F. after having implor'd the assistance of the Holy and Indivisible Trinity we are prepar'd to maintain in Your Holiness's presence this so important point of the Catholick Faith and trusting to that same Grace of Jesus Christ our Saviour to the defence and glory whereof we consecrate all our words and Writings we implore his divine illumination that we may be able rightly to understand and explicate the matter in question And it will be great consolation to us that in speaking before him who is the Oracle of Truth what we shall not be able to comprehend in such difficult questions will not as S. Augustin speaks be imputed to the truth which profitably exercises pious soules even when it is hid from them but to our little light which hinder'd us from being able rightly to comprehend them or well explicate what we comprehended And lastly M. H. F. We here make the protestation which S. Augustin saith is the token of a truly Catholick spirit that if it should be so that the sentiments hitherto held by us be not conformable to the Truth we are ready to renounce the same as soon as it shall be discover'd to us and to submit our selves to your judgement as being that of the Vicar of Jesus Christ and of S. Peter's successor Whilst this Harangue was pronouncing the Pope and whole Assembly heard it with great silence and attention the Pope advancing himself a little out of his Seat which was the ordinary manner of his greater attentivenesse Whenever the Jesuites were mention'd by their names he instantly turn'd his head and cast his eyes upon F. Palavicini's and held them fixt upon him as often as any thing a little more vehemently was spoken against them as if he meant to observe that Jesuites countenance or ask him what he had to answer to the charge The Abbot of Valcroissant had his Oration in his hand as the custome is at Rome to fix his memory the better and though he lookt upon his paper sometimes to follow it yet he pronounc'd it all without need of recurring to it At the end of the Oration we all made a genuflexion together M. Manessier and Angran brought some books with them which they laid upon the end of the Benches whereon the Cardinals sat and I had with me the Writings which we had prepar'd to present to the Pope That which contain'd the hundred and six Propositions extracted out of the books of the Jesuites against S. Augustin's authority I deliver'd into the hands of M. de Valcroissant he also gave me his Oration Assoon as ever it was begun M. Albizzi fell to writing and did the like at several passages especially by what I could observe at such as mention'd submission respect and affection to the H. See No doubt he conceiv'd this Oration would not be seen and fear'd lest those words of grandeur and esteeme for the H. See should escape him After M. de Valcroissant had made a little pause he began a
only receive that help of perseverance such as that which was given to Adam but that which they receive is such that perseverance it self is given to them so that they not only could not persevere without that help but with that help they cannot but persevere Now what S. Augustin speaks of Perseverance 't is manifest that he everywhere speaks the same of Faith Repentance and Continence Whence this Argument may be form'd In the same manner that the Church prayes to God for Perseverance it prayes also for Faith Repentance c. But when the Church prayes for Perseverance it prayes for the assistance of Effectual Grace without which we cannot persevere and with which we cannot but persevere Therefore when it prayes for Faith Repentance c. it prays for the assistance of Effectual Grace without which we can neither be Believers nor Penitent c and with which we cannot but be so Pope Celestine in his Letter to the French Bishops confirms the same thing so clearly that the whole eleventh Chapter shews by the prayers mention'd in it what is the faith of the whole Church touching the true and Effectual Grace of God His words are these Besides the inviolable Decrees of the most Holy Apostolick See by which those most Holy Fathers rejected this detestable Innovation whose source is Pride have taught us that we ought to refer to the grace of Jesus Christ both the beginning of a right will in Man and his increasing in holy life and his perseverance to the end Let us consider also the solemn prayers made by the Priests which having been left us by Apostolical Tradition are uniformly celebrated in the whole Catholick Church throughout the World to the end that the form of our prayers may be the rule of our faith For Bishops acting as Ambassadors to God in the name of the faithful committed to their charge plead the cause of mankind in his divine presence and all the Church accompanying their words with sighs and tears prays to God with them to give faith to Infidels to deliver Idolaters from the impiety of their Errors to make known his Truth to the Jewes by removing the vail which is upon their hearts to enlighten the minds of Hereticks by causing them to embrace the Catholick faith to diffuse a spirit of charity into the breasts of Schismaticks to grant repentance to such as are fallen to open to the Catechumeni the door of the mercy of Heaven in the holy regeneration of the Sacrament of Baptism And the effects shew that 't is not in vain and only for form that we beg all these things of God since he vouchsafes by his goodnesse to draw many persons out of all kind of errors and wandrings to deliver them out of the power of darknesse and bring them into the kingdom of his beloved Son and thus to change those into vessels of mercy who were at first vessels of his wrath Which the Church in such sort acknowledges to be wholly God's work that it doth not fail to give him thanks for it and offer to him a song of praises confessing him the author thereof and that 't is he that enlightned the Infidels and converted the sinners But M. H. F. This will appear more clearly by considering the very expressions of the prayers which the Church offers to God throughout all the World by perpetual custome in which it prayes not only for the power to act but also for the will and action it self In this manner it speaks on the sixth Sunday after Pentecost God of all power and might who art the only author of all true good graffe in our hearts the love of thy H. Name cause us to grow more and more in religious piety to the end that thy self cherishing the seeds of vertue which thou hast planted in us the same may be preserved by the pious and faithful care which thou shalt cause us to have thereof And on the eighth Sunday Grant Lord by thy mercy that thy Spirit may inspire holy thoughts into us and cause us to produce holy actions that we who cannot live without thee may by thee be able to live according to thy Will And on the twelfth Sunday Almighty and merciful God through whose grace alone it cometh that thy faithful people do unto thee true and laudable service be pleas'd so to uphold ue that without falling through our weaknesse we may constantly run towards those good things which thou hast promis'd And on the sixteenth Sunday Lord we pray thee that thy grace may alwayes prevent and follow us and mako us continually to be given to all good works And on the Eve of Pentecost Grant Lord that we may be able to subdue our depraved will and accomplish in all things the Righteousnesse of thy holy Commandments And in the secret Orison of the Masse on the fourteenth Sunday Lord convert and draw unto thee our rebellious wills Nothing can more clearly evince that the Grace which moves our rebellious will to return unto God is not subject to Free-will or of such a nature as that it sometimes fails of its effect through the resistance of the will But what motion is that whereby the Church prayes that it may be turn'd to God Certainly 't is not such an inconsiderate and blind motion as that wherewith an insensible Instrument is mov'd but 't is that motion of divine Love and that bond of most sweet and heavenly charity by which God pulls and draws to himself him whom he pleases to render vertuous In which respect there is no fear of our liberty being violated by that attraction and motion how victorious soever it may be For being nothing is done in us more freely then that which is done by Love according to that saying of S. Augustin He who doth any thing willingly alwayes doth it freely How can it ever happen that Liberty should be destroy'd by the cause which produces it in its whole plenitude But I return to the prayers of the Church Now the Church speaks thus in the secret Orison which it makes to God for the gift of tears Cause us to shed tears of compunction for the hardnesse of our hearts to the end we may bewail our sins And in the Post-Communion Lord through thy goodnesse infuse into our hearts the grace of thy Holy Spirit which may enable us to blot out the stains of our sins by sighs and tears Moreover The Church implores the gift of Charity O God which canst cause things to work together for the good of those that love thee stir up in our hearts an ardent sense of thy love that no temptation may be able to alter the holy desires which thou hast inspir'd into ut by thy goodnesse And on H. Friday Let us pray also for the Catechumeni that the Lord our God may open the eares of their hearts And a Little after Let us pray also for the perfidious Jewes that the Lord our God may remove the vail
you not answer So be it This being suppos'd M. H. F. I demand whether or no an Infidel who resists the Gospel hath a heart to know God whether or no he hath eares to hear whether or no he hath grace which compels him to the faith If he hath all these things to what purpose doth the Church pray for him that he may receive what he already possesses If he hath not then he hath not all the grace which is necessary to him for believing since besides what I have frequently evinc'd that the Church implores no grace of God which is not necessary 't is certain that none can know God unlesse he have receiv'd a heart to know him nor hear his word unless he have receiv'd ears to hear Moreover this Grace being effectual by self since as 't is impossible for a man to know God unless he have receiv'd a heart to know him so neither if he have receiv'd such a heart can he but know him having receiv'd a heart to repent he cannot but repent having receiv'd eares to hear he cannot but hear being impell'd by that motion which causeth to embrace the faith he cannot but embrace the same It followes clearly that the grace which the Church implores of God as necessary every action of piety is effectual by it self In the fourth place the same truth is invincibly manifested by the refutation of the Molinistical grace even in S. Austin's own words speaking in this manner to Vitalis a Semipelagian You say that God as much as lyes in him causes us to Will since he gives us the knowledge of his pleasure but if we will not obey the same 't is we who are the cause that God's operation is fruitlesse to us Which if you affirme you contradict the prayers of the Church Which reasoning of S. Augustin utterly refutes any grace what ever that is subject in its usse to Free Will as being utterly contrary to the prayers of the faithfull This Argument will evince it Whosoever establishes a doctrine from which it follows that he is of an opinion contrary to the prayers of the Church as S. Augustin here judges that of Vitalis he is in an error and alienated from the orthodox belief of the Catholick faith But he who maintains a sufficient Grace subject to Freewill establishes a doctrine from which it followes that he holds an opinion contrary to the prayers of the Church Which is prov'd by S. Augustin in this manner Whosoever saith that we through our resistance and unwillingnesse to obey cause God's operation upon us to become unprofitable manifestly contradicts the Churches prayers But he who maintaines a sufficient Grace subject to Freewill saith that we by resisting such sufficient Grace and by not willing to submit thereunto cause God's operation to become unprofitable Therefore he is in an opinion contrary to that of the Churches prayers and consequently erres and is not in the belief of the Catholick faith Moreover all the thanks rendered to God by the Church prove the same thing or as S. Augustin speaks in his 107. Epistle to Vitalis This truth appears no lesse clearly in thanks-giving then in prayer It appears in the prayer which we put up to God for such as are still unbelievers and it appears in the thanks which we render to him in behalf of those who are become believers For as we ought to pray to him to the end he may accomplish that for which we pray so we ought to render him thanks when he hath accomplisht the same Wherefore from the duty of thanksgiving I draw the 3. following arguments First We render thanks to God not only for what we have been able to do but for what we have been willing to do with piety and accordingly perform'd Thus S. Augustin teaches us in his Epistle to Vitalis where he saith Whence it is that the Apostle requires the same thing of the Ephesians when he saith Moreover having understood what your faith is towards our Lord Jesus Christ and your love to all the Saints I continually give thanks in your behalf but we speak now onely of the first beginning of faith when men who were remote and even averse from God are converted to God and begin to will that which they willed not and to have the faith which they had not for the effecting of which alteration in them it is that we pray for them although themselves pray not because they cannot call upon him in whom they do not believe And when God hath wrought that in them for which we pray'd i. e. when he hath turn'd their hearts we give him thanks in their behalf and themselves do the same But as for the prayers which they make when they are already believers both for themselves and for the other faithfull that God would cause them to proceed in his way and as for the thanks which they render to him when they do accordingly proceed therein I conceive there needs no dispute concerning the same From which words of S. Augustin I most humbly beseech Y. H. to give me leave to forme this argument against the Molinists We give thanks to God for what he hath already wrought in us But there is no pious motion of our will nor any pious action for which we do not give him thanks Therefore there is no pious motion in our will nor any pious action which God doth not work in us And consequently the grace of God necessary to every action of piety is effectual by it self of every pious motion of the will and of every pious action 'T is therefore unprofitably saith S. Augustin in the same Epistle to Vitalis and meerely for fashion rather then really that we render thanks to God with joy when any unbelievers are converted if it be not he who worketh that in them for which we thank him Let us not deceive men I beseech you for as for God we know that we cannot deceive him The second Argument is this The Church doth not give thanks to God for the conversion of any one to faith or repentance unlesse when the is perswaded that he really believes or repents in his heart for his offences The Church therefore doth not believe that God hath wrought the conversion of the sinner and afforded all necessary assistance thereunto when he hath onely granted the grace which gives onely the power as the Molinists hold but then only when he hath inspired the grace by vertue whereof the first conversion undoubtedly follow'd as I said when I spoke concerning prayer This is prov'd evidently by that passage of S. Augustin The Apostle having said that the Law is the strength of sin subjoynes immediately But we give thanks to God who hath caus'd its to overcome through our Lord Jesus Christ And thus the victory whereby we surmount sin is nothing else but a gift of God who in this combate assists our Freewill Upon which account Christ himself saith Watch and pray that
The Minor I prove thus The Will cannot receive the inspiration of a most ardent and pure love without it begin to be good But Molinistical grace may subsist without the will 's being good in any sort but the same may alwayes remain bad because this Grace leaves it still in a state to be good or bad Therefore Molinistical grace is not by an inspiration of a most ardent and pure love Hence being S. Augustin affirms in the 31. Chap. de Grat. Christi that he never found Pelagius acknowledge in any of his Writings such help added to Nature and Instruction by the inspiration of a most ardent and pure love And being Molina acknowledges the same no more then he did it followes that he agrees with Pelagius to overthrow the true Grace of Jesus Christ Secondly The Grace of Jesus Christ is an heavenly teaching whereby God so instructs the heart of man with such inexpressible sweetnesse that he who receives that instruction hath not the knowledge only of what he sees but also the will wherewith he desires it and the action whereby he performs it Chap. 14. But the Grace whose use is left to Free-will is not such Therefore c. Thirdly We cannot say of the Grace of Jesus Christ that by it man learns of God what he ought to do but that he will not do what it teaches him Now this may be affirm'd of the Molinistical grace Therefore the Molinistical grace is not the Grace of Jesus Christ Chap. 14. My fourth proof is this Whosoever receives from God the Grace of Jesus Christ comes to the Son of God whosoever comes not to him hath not that Grace Ibid. chap. 14. But many have the Molinistical grace who come not to the Son of God Therefore the Molinistical grace is not the Grace of Jesus Christ and consequently is not that Grace which S. Augustin saith was necessary to be acknowledg'd by Pelagius if he would be a real and not a nominal Catholick Now let any one of the upholders of such Molinistical grace appear in presence of Your Holinesse let him vaunt as much as he pleases that he holds not the opinions of Pelagius let him say I am not a Pelagian because Pelagius acknowledg'd no other grace but an external aid of the Law and Doctrine or Instruction But I moreover confesse an internal and supernatural Grace whereby God enlightens the Understanding and moves the Will but whose use is left to Free-will Certes I should answer him 'T is very brave I am extreamly glad you are not altogether a Pelagian But what are you the better if you depart from Pelagius but cloze not with the sentiments of the Church And what advantage is it to you to reject the Pelagian grace if you do not admit the Christian For how remote soever you are from Pelagius whatever Grace you admit whatever colours you paint it withal and whatever Title you give it of internal and supernatural if this Grace be not the same which S. Augustin saith Pelagius must confesse to the end he may be not only in name but in Truth a Catholick the Confession which you make of such other grace may perhaps keep you from being wholly a Pelagian but it can never make you passe for a Christian For I grant it true as you say and this is no place to dispute it that Pelagius deny'd that there is any internal and supernatural Grace contrary to what S. Augustin maintain'd viz. That there is an internal and supernatural Grace But S. Augustin moreover maintain'd That this Grace is Effectual and subdues the Free-will to it self While you hold against Pelagius that there is an internal supernatural Grace you hold at the same time against S. Augustin that the same Grace is subject to Free-will So that by your acknowledging an internal and supernatural Grace perhaps you are not a Pelagian therein but inasmuch as you acknowledge not that the same is Effectual you are not yet a Catholick You are as yet neither Pelagian nor Catholick or rather you are not at all a Catholick but you are a Pelagian in that you agree with Pelagius to oppose that Effectual Grace which you will not acknowledge to be the true Grace of Jesus Christ Whereunto I add That your sentiment in the confession of this internal supernatural Grace is not far from that of Pelagius which I prove by Chap. 13. of the same Book of S. Augustin He who knows what he ought to do and doth it not is not yet instructed of God by Grace but only by the Law he hath not been taught by the Spirit but only by the Letter And in Chap. 14. Jesus Christ speaking of this manner of teaching saith Whosoever hath heard the words of my Father and hath been taught by him cometh to me And it cannot with truth be said of him that comes not to Christ He hath known and learnt that he ought to come but he will not do what he hath learnt he ought to do No certainly this cannot be said of that manner of instruction according to which God teaches us by his Grace Now he who hath onely the Molinistical grace hath not been taught of God by grace and by the Spirit but onely by the Law and by the Letter and consequently the Molinistical grace is no other then the Pelagian which consists only in the Law and Instruction Whereby it appears that the terms of internal and supernatural Grace are only simple words made use of by the Molinists to cover and hide their Pelagian grace to the end to avoid the indignation which the same would excite against them and by this difference of words to obscure the Truth and to keep themselves from being so easily convinc'd of their Error After this Argument I shall proceed to S. Augustin's third proof taken out of the same book de Grat. Christi where he throughly treats of the assistance of the possibility of the will and of the action which he maintains to be the true Grace of the Redeemer and which was the subject of the whole Dispute between him and Pelagius For see how that great Saint speaks of this Heretick Pelagius establishing three several things whereby he saith Gods Commandments may be fulfilled viz. Possibility Will and Action Possibility whereby a man is able to become Righteous Will whereby he is willing to become Righteous and Action whereby he is actually Righteous He confesses that the first viz. Possibility is given by the Creator of our Nature and depends not upon our selves since we cannot but have it whether we will or no. But as for the two others namely Will and Action He holds that they are in our power and that we have so much the dominion of them that they depend only upon our selves Whence Pelagius concluded that a man deserves to be commended for his good will and his good actions or rather that God and man deserves to be commended for the same because God
presented and maintain'd in our Writing Whence he concluded that the Controversie was not about the five Propositions as they appear'd That we do not defend them in their universality and ambiguity which he repeated twice or thrice at several times That therefore to follow the steps which S. Augustin's disciples had alwayes troden since this Dispute according to the first Memorial presented by us to his Holinesse at our first coming to Rome and the demands which we had made eight moneths ago in our first Information de facto we presented to his Holinesse a Writing wherein were contain'd on one side in clear terms the Catholick senses or particular Propositions which we and all S. Augustin's Disciples maintain'd and had alwayes maintain'd and on the other side the sentiments both of the Calvinists and Molinists touching the matter of these Propositions That we desir'd of his Holinesse an examination and judgement of these sentiments That Calvin's opinion was not the thing in controversie between us that we held him for a Heretick as well as our Adversaries do That the two others were those alone in contest That we were ready to demonstrate viva voce and by writing in presence of our Adversaries that our sentiment is most Catholick most agreeable to S. Augustin and altogether indubitable in the faith That on the contrary that of the Molinists is Pelagian or Semipelagian as it hath been already judg'd contradictorily in the Congregation de Auxiliis held by the Popes Clement VIII Paul V. of holy and glorious memory He added That to judge of the Propositions as they are contested between Catholicks 't is necessary to distinguish the senses and make an expresse and particular judgement thereof This he justify'd by the words of the Letter of the Prelates by whom M. Hallier pretends himself commission'd because those Prelates demand a clear and expresse judgement upon the Propositions such as may clear the Truth regulate the present contests amongst Catholicks touching this matter and produce peace in the Church And therefore that although by occasion of these Propositions there is a dispute between Catholicks yet seeing the controversie is not about the ambiguous Propositions as they are fram'd by the Molinists but about the different senses which we presented and are alone in question the Truth cannot be clear'd nor the Controversie terminated but by an expresse judgement upon these several particular senses or rather upon the Propositions exempted from all equivocation as we presented them and upon the contradictories of them which needed to be solemnly and fully examin'd in order to a judgement thereof by a solemn and express Decree as was done by the two Popes Clement VIII Paul V. in their Congregation touching the same matter He said that whereas M. Hallier and his Collegues give out that they are sent by Prelates to sollicite a Censure of the Sentiments or Propositions maintain'd by us they abuse their Letter and intention That those Prelates are as much for us as for M. Hallier since by occasion of the Propositions we demanded in your name as well as they a clear and express judgement such as may regulate our Contests and produce a full and lasting peace in the Church It was not hard to justifie My Lords that you demanded likewise an express judgement upon the distinction of senses and upon the particular Propositions for it appears sufficiently by your Letters and by our first Memorial Then he shew'd the justice of this demand inasmuch as the matter in controversie could neither be judg'd of nor the differences touching these points of Doctrine terminated any other way Secondly Because it is necessary to judge of the sense according to which our Adversaries impugne these Propositions since 't is that of Molina's sufficient Grace which is a source of impieties errors and heresies as 't is easie to make good by the sixty three Errors or Heresies which we deduc'd from it by necessary consequence and plac'd at the end of our Writing of Effectual Grace He demonstrated that the controverted sense of the Propositions is that of Grace Effectual by it self necessary to every good action since all the impugners of the Propositions either by Writing or Teaching impugne them in the sense of Effectual Grace as on the contrary all the disciples of S. Augustin who have writ or taught before or since the contrivance of these Propositions maintain only the pure sense of Effectual Grace nor can other doctrine then that touching the said Propositions be found in any book Here he read the different senses of the Propositions which you have seen in the Writing which we sent to you the last week and pronounc'd word for word all that is contain'd in the three Columes both the different Propositions and our qualifications or judgements of them After the reading of each Proposition which we defended he succinctly shew'd the connexion of it with Grace effectual by it self as it is in the Preface of our Writing of Effectual Grace which we likewise send you He concluded with our most humble instances to his Holinesse that he would please to judge of those controverted senses and said as 't is contain'd in the end of our Writing or Declaration that being perswaded that the senses or particular Propositions which we presented and defended contain'd the principal grounds of the Christian faith and piety we should alwayes believe and maintain that sense or those Propositions to be Catholick till his Holinesse by a solemn judgment condemn'd that particular sense i. e. those particular propositions which were fram'd and defended by us which we conceiv'd he would never do He spoke a full hour upon the writing of the distinction of senses and about an hour and half upon all the rest When he had done F. Desmares according as we had agreed together began to speak and after a short Exordium he said that having clearly reduc'd the Propositions as we defended them to the sense of Effectual Grace necessary to every good action that having show'd that the Propositions contrary according to the sense of our Adversaries contain'd the sufficient Grace of Molina and that having affirm'd that our senses are Catholick and indubitable in the doctrine of S. Augustin and on the contrary those of our Adversaries Pelagian or Semipelagian 't was necessary in the first place to justifie to his Holiness that Grace Effectual by it self is the true Grace of Jesus Christ and the certain belief of the Church This he began to prove and first succinctly set forth the order and senses of writing of Effectual Grace together with the contents of the four Articles In the first whereof he said we demonstrated by sixteen principal arguments drawn out of S. Augustin's works against the enemies of the grace of Jesus Christ that Grace effectual by it self necessary to every good action is according to that H. Father the certain belief of the Church oppos'd to the heresy of the Pelagians and Semipelagians That
in the second we summarily layd open the tradition of the whole Church or the sentiment of all the Councils H. Fathers and principal Divines since S. Augustin to the present age for confirmation of the same truth That in the third were contain'd the Decisions pass'd contradictorily by the Congregation de Auxiliis in presence of the Popes Clement VIII and Paul V. by whom Molina's doctrine of sufficient Grace was declar'd heretical and Pelagian and the contrary sentiment of Grace effectual by it self judg'd the constant doctrine of S. Augustin and the certain faith of the whole Church That we were ready to make good this truth by the acts of the Congregation whereof we had seen the Originals and extracted from them what we alledg'd Lastly that in the fourth Article were contain'd sixty and three heresies or impieties deduc'd by necessary consequence from Molina's sufficient Grace whereby it appear'd that this new novel opinion overthrows the principal grounds of faith and Christian piety the authority of the H. See and the Council of Trent the validity of Tradition and the perpetual subsistence of one and the same faith in the Church and is fit onely to supply advantages to hereticks to oppose the Romane Church After this the Father explicated what we understand by Grace effectual by it self and by sufficient Grace subject to Free-will Then he began the first argument drawn from the prayers of Church and told his Holinesse it was a great Providence of God which had caus'd him to choose the day of Rogations a day consecrated by the Church particularly to prayer for our justifying before him the faith of effectual Grace or the truth of Jesus Christ by the prayers of the Church He handled this argument with as great plainnesse and force as could be wish'd and concluded with a necessary consequence drawn from what he had proved that according to the expresse words of the Council of Carthage and Pope Innocent I. the dogma of Molina's suffcient grace is sacrilegious impious pestiferous execrable and worthy of all kinds of anathema Sacrilegum impium pestiferum exitiale omni anathemate dignum as you will see my Lords by reading that argument in the Writing of Effectual Grace Moreover he more forceably encounter'd the common opinion of the Jesuites For after the reciting of those terrible words of Innocent I. against the Pelagians out of his Epistle to the Council of Carthage he apply'd them by a necessary consequence which he had before demonstrated by several invincible arguments to the defenders of Molina's sufficient Grace And 't is a thing my Lords very worthy of remark that before his Holiness in a publick Congregation and a Jesuite being present the doctrine of that society was so vigorously and resolutely impeach'd and so plainly accus'd of so many heresies and that after this was done vivâ voce we left the same with his Holinesse in writing persisting to require that those Fathers might be oblig'd to appear and answer and that yet after all this they remain'd without reply and silent We doubt not my Lords but these Fathers would immediatly have sought to purge themselves to the Pope of so capital an accusation and pursued against us the reparation of this extreme injury were they not conscious to themselves of holding a new doctrine which they cannot justifie if they should be obliged to acknowledge S. Augustin for their Judge as they cannot refuse him before the H. See and were they not perswaded that all which we spoke against them is very true and easy to be made good they ought for the sake of injur'd truth and their Societie's reputation of which they are so jealous to have made some defence were it not that they fear'd to be publickly convinc'd and to draw upon themselves a new condemnation of their errors after that of the Congregation de Auxiliis But however so long as they appear not to defend themselves it will be a great blame upon their Molinistical opinions and an ignominy which they will never wipe off before intelligent and equitable persons From this argument drawn from the prayers of the Church the Fathers proceeded to the second taken out of S. Augustin's book De Gratia Christi and especially from these words in chap. 10. Hanc debet Pelagius gratiam confiteri si vult non solum vocari verum etiam esse Christianus He shew'd by sundry passages of that book that by this Grace no other can be understood besides that which is effectual by it self Whence he concluded that Molina and our Adversaries impugne that Grace which is necessary according to S. Augustin to be confess'd by him that would be truely a Christian Night came and constrain'd him to break off He spoke about an hour and half so that this audience lasted about four houres His Holinesse was so extremely attentive all the while that certainly God encreased his strength in so great an age and enabled him to preserve so great a presence of mind for so long together And indeed we were much encourag'd thereby to represent to him what we had to say Their Eminences were likewise very attentive The Divines seem'd all to take carefull notice of every thing All the while we were speaking his Holinesse said not a word to us but suffer'd us to proceed without asking any question or any wise gainsaying what we alledg'd Having ended we went to kisse the Pope's feet and present our five Writings to him The first contain'd a hundred Propositions of the Jesuites against S. Augustin The second is that of the Distinction of senses The third is that of Effectual Grace The fourth is touching the first Proposition The fifth is an answer to sixty Testimonies of S. Augustin which M. Hallier and his Collegues presented in reference to the first Proposition By this answer we convinc'd them of having alledg'd all those Testimonies either falsly and unfaithfully or impertinently and perversly and we draw all our answers from the same places whence the Testimonies themselves are taken We send you My Lords a Copy of all these Writings In the last place we desir'd his Holiness's permission for printing a limited number of them here only for the conveniency of examination His Holinesse answer'd us that he would consider of this Request and see whether it were expedient After which we askt his Holinesse when it pleas'd him that we should appear again to continue the handling of what we had enter'd upon in this first Audience He answer'd us that he had not yet thought of it but he would consider upon it We reply'd that however we beseecht his Holinesse to remember the assurance we gave him that we were ready to continue what we had begun and to do any thing that he should appoint in order thereunto and after receiving his benediction we withdrew half an hour within night You see My Lords how we have manag'd the matter in this first Audience and with what sincerity we have acted in
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
add their calumnies and foul dealing discover'd and known without having been able to lay any blemish upon the truths which they aim'd to get condemn'd with so great temerity and presumption as that they proclaim'd beforehand and affirm'd publickly in many places that they were condemn'd would be a signal victory for you or rather for the Truth and such as in my judgement may be wisht for in the present disposition of minds and affaires If any thing is to be desir'd further 't would be to get it declar'd that S. Augustin's doctrine touching the matters of Grace and Predestination is the doctrine of the Church and to obtain a prohibition or rather to renew the Churches antient prohibitions of condemning any dogmatical points of that doctrine taught by that H. Doctor I might add further to demand the approbation of the same Doctrine in the book of M. d' Ipre who doth no more but rehearse it as it is in that of S. Augustin but I think this last will be more contested and more difficult to obtain then the former which is very easie if the H. See hath any good will for that great Saint and for the doctrine of Grace and whereof there is no fear of missing the same having been done already many times by several Popes 'T is a question of fact about which there needs no great instruction The decision thereof will be glorious to the Pope and no person of whatever party can be offended with it without making himself odious to all the world by declaring himself an enemy to S. Augustin who is approved by the whole Church To conclude assure your self of me as a person wholly yours and believe that I do not forget you before God but daily represent to him your necessities and affaires as my own Now follow those of the month of June The first is from M Taignier written June 5. Some Molinists with whom I have had conference the second of this month told me that I had bad intelligence since I did not agree with them that the Pope had ordain'd the passing of a Censure they assur'd me that it was perfectly ready and that the Pope would undoubtedly publish it at the feast of Pentecost I askt them whether the Propositions were censur'd They answer'd that some of them were condemn'd as heretical that others had the more gentle modifications though such as blemish'd and overthrew them I told them I wonder'd that after what they had said that it was almost impossilbe to learn the particular circumstances of things transacted in any Congregation at Rome yet themselves seem'd so well inform'd of things relating to the Examen and discussion of the Five Propositions that they must undoubtedly hold correspondence with those who penned the Bull. They made no Reply c. You cannot imagine what good effect the Letters by this Post have produced yet the most advised of our friends are in great anxiety for that the Pope will not grant you a Conference because they conceive that the cause now under debate at Rome is one of the most important causes that ever were treated in the Church Were there no parties in it as his Holiness admits none yet he ought to take the Doctors there of different opinions and hear them upon the questions intended to be examin'd and pronounc'd upon since 't is the course alwayes us'd by the Church in it's decisions Truth becomes more illustrious when it is discuss'd in this manner Thus were Decisions made in the Council of Trent after matters had been disputed by the Doctors as may bee seen in the Acts of that Council in which there were no parties they refusing to appear You must make great complaints about the Bull wherewith you are threatned and you may vigorously represent to his Holinesse how little respect some have for him since at the same time that he in goodness promis'd F. Des-mares and M. Manessier and their Collegues to hear them a report is spread abroad that his Holiness caus'd a Bull to be prepar'd against the Propositions which is a thing of great terror This circumstance well exaggerated with great sweetnesse and respect may make some reasonable impression upon the mind of his Holinesse I am c. The second being from M. de Sainte Beuve dated the same 5th of June contain'd the following lines amongst others The newes of the composition of a Bull continues still to the great delight of the Molinists They threaten us with it upon the notice which they have receiv'd of it from our Confreres their good friends The report of it is much divulg'd c. Satisfie me concerning the present state of the Dominicans and in exchange I shall tell you that the draught of a Bull hath been made at the Colledge of Navarre and in order to be sent to Rome See whether the rumor vented by the Molinists be not founded upon that piece The third is from M. Brousse June 13. Take what of it concerns our common Affair Saturday last I went to see M. Prignon and carry'd him your last Memorial as I had promis'd him After the presentation of your commendations to him and the return of his to you and all your company we had not much discourse together by reason M. de Launoy superven'd and interrupted us M. Prignon thank'd him for the Present he had made him a few dayes before of his book intitled De varia Aristotelis in Academia Parisiensi fortuna in which he derides all the world We went out together and being in the street he askt me whether I knew that M. Hallier was coming back from Rome I told him I did not He reply'd that he heard so from a Bishop the day before who said that he was bringing a great Pancart by which word he meant the Bull. I answer'd that this was a thing more unknown to me then the former Yesterday after Vespers I visited M. Prignon again who receiv'd me with extraordinary courtesy and returning your Memorial told me he had read it twice with extream pleasure and admir'd both the solidity of the matter the pureness of your Italian style I told him of the Audience which you had had of the Pope and shew'd him your Letter concerning it He was joyful beyond what I can express and yet sorry too that his Holinesse appoints not the Conference being unable to imagine any reasonable ground of pretext to deny it to you by saying that you have no Parties or Adversaries He charg'd me to present his commendations to you and to those Messieurs who he said have spoken with so much zeal for defence of the Truth A few days ago an honest Father well-affected to S. Augustin went amongst the Jesuites to enquire news from Rome feigning to be of their Party F. Celot to whom he spoke told him the Jansenists were condemn'd and the Bull ready and upon the point to be publisht when the Sieur Des-mares arriving there by the help of 40000
come to nothing because ogni piccola cosa bastava per fermare il Papa the least thing was sufficient to restrain the Pope I lent him a Copy of M. de Valcroissant's Oration I know not well what we did this afternoon and the next morning but I know that I neglected to set it down because as we acted but very little this week and writ but little into France on Monday the 9th after noon in comparison of what we did by the foregoing Posts so the publication of the Bull against the Propositions whereof we learnt the first newes in the evening after all our Letters were written and wholly unexpectedly giving us to understand that this Affair was at an end made me neglect to set down what was observable from the foregoing day to the noon of this and in stead of the Letters written that afternoon send but one whereby we signify'd this so surprizing and unforeseen news I cannot better represent how the matter was carry'd in respect of us then by inserting the said Letter here My LORDS AFter all our Letters were written about three quarters after seven in the evening notice was given us that there was a Bull set up whereby the Propositions were condemn'd We sent a man with all speed to see whether it was so and soon after went our selves that our own eyes might be witnesses of it At the end of our street we met an Ecclesiastick a friend of ours who told us that he saw this Bull in writing posted upon the Chancery and that the Propositions were condemn'd in it as impious and heretical without any distinction of senses or mention of S. Augustin We continu'd our way with this friend that we might be witnesses of what he told us and by the way we met the Messenger whom we had sent who confirm'd the relation of this friend and rehearsed to us the condemnations qualifications of every Proposition as they were in the Bull. We caus'd him to return back to the end that if it were possible our friend and this man might take a Copy of it to send to your Lordships this night without our being seen our selves For which end we carry'd Ink and Paper and Wax-candle with us When we came near the Chancery we sent our friend and the other man thither and stay'd in the Coach at a place a little distant They return'd immediately to tell us that the Writing which they had seen was torn down We went therefore to S. Peter's where it was still fixt up But just as we came there two men arriv'd there also who would not suffer it to be read but betook themselves to pull it down There was no body near but our friend and our man and a Laquay who brought the Candle and had newly lighted it in a neighbouring shop Our friend came and told us that the two men who tore down the Writing were Sbirri or Serjeants because he had seen a Stiletto in the pocket of the one and the other had a prohibited dark Lanthorn which things 't is not permitted to any to carry in this City but such kind of priviledg'd persons We askt our Laquay whether he knew them he told us that one was a Serjeant and the other a Notary of the H. Office We askt him whether he knew their names He answer'd us that he knew them only by sight having seen them several times in the house of the H. Office as being Officers thereof In this manner My Lords the matter pass'd this night We thought fit to send you a punctual account of it that you may consider of it as you shall think good We know not whether or no this Writing was posted up by the Pope's Order but we cannot doubt but that it was fixt up by the Officers of the H. Office The Affair will become more cleer betwixt this and the next Post In the mean time we remain My LORDS Your most humble and obedient servants De Saint Amour M. Manessier From Rome Monday June 9. 1653. half an hour after eleven a clock at night All Tuesday we employd in visiting as many friends as we could to enform our selves of the truth of this Bull and to find some one that had a Copy of it and could shew us what it was Many told us that the thing was true there was no doubt of it but we met with none that could give us a Copy nor that had seen it exactly enough to give us a certain account of it In the evening we judg'd that whatever it were our Affair was at an end and we had no other resolution to take in this case but to depart assoon as possible before the hot weather and in order thereunto to take leave of such persons as we ow'd this civility unto On Wednesday the 11th we went in the forenoon to discharge the same to the Cardinals Barberin and Pamphilio and in the afternoon we went for the same purpose to the Ambassador and to desire him to tell the Pope at the first Vespers of Corpus Christi day whether we were going to accompany him or else at Mass the next day that we purposed to return speedily into France before the hot weather and desir'd to receive his Holiness's benediction before our departure The Ambassador approv'd our Request and promis'd us that he would not fail to acquaint the Pope with our intention at some opportunity of one of those two Ceremonies He did not do it at that of Vespers but when we went to him the next morning to accompany him to S. Peter's to Masse he told us he would not return home till he had done our businesse and I might come to him in the afternoon with assurance to know what the Pope should say to him I did so and the Ambassador told me with an extraordinary chearful ayr that so soon as he mention'd to the Pope our intention to return speedily into France and to take leave first of his Holiness the Pope was glad of it told him that we should not fail to be in his Presence-Chamber the next day and whatever other businesse might supervene he would cause us to be call'd first and give us Audience presently after the end of his Masse I gave the Ambassador most humble thanks for his care of us and told him we would not fail to obey the Pope's order I return'd home to relate the Ambassadors obliging answer to my Collegues but the Pope's excessive demonstration of kindnesse after the condemnation newly pronounc'd notwithstanding all our Remonstrances to him to hinder it gave them suspition and mistrust that these extraordinary Caresses and Civilities were affected to draw us fairly bfore the Pope to the end that when we came there we might be oblig'd to subscribe the said Condemnation But for that I remembred what was spoken in the Consistory of the 26th of May between Cardinal Ghiggi and that other Cardinal who askt him whether we should be requir'd to subscribe the Condemnation
singular courtesie and esteem But at the same time he seem'd so averse from condescending to this Motion we found during the whole course of this Affair that he had so great a repugnance to it partly through his own dispositions and partly through the false suggestions of persons about him and in whom he hath confidence and we perceiv'd so many reasons which your Lordships know of and so many others which we have still to tell you that we had no hope left of any effect notwithstanding all the advantages and urgent reasons we had to make it and consequently none of us judg'd it expedient However My Lords since his Holinesse hath declin'd neither to examine or define what is in contest between the Catholicks which was necessary to be done for the glory of Truth the peace of the Faithful and the honour of the Church we cannot but tell you that if you think it fit to renew your instances upon this matter we are still ready to go represent them to the Pope again For the strengthning of of which if the Body of the Clergy or the King himself or both together would interpose their Authority for obtaining a solemn and regular Congregation in which all things might be done according to formes accustomed in the Church We are prepar'd to maintaain again before the H. See against any opposer whatever the indubitable truth of the Five Propositions conceiv'd in the terms into which we reduc'd them and defended them which are free from all equivocation and obscurity assoon as such a Congregation shall be establish'd with the conditions we demanded at first so just and necessary in the whole course of the Affair But so far as we are able to judge of things we perceive not that it is easie to obtain such a congregation of the Pope without new and earnest instances from the King and the Clergy Neverthelesse My Lords being unwilling to omit any thing in our power which may contribute to the good of peace between Catholicks and to the clearing of Truth we resolve My Lords not to stir out of Italy before we receive your Orders in this business that so in case you finde any likelyhood in the proposal we make to you we may be in readiness to put the same in execution and may further testifie to you our obedience and zeal We hope My Lords to hear from you within five weeks according to the directions we send to him who delivers you this Letter We shall punctually obey you in whatever you shall prescribe to us In the mean time we shall continue our Voyage by little and little towards France in expectation of your Orders which whether you will permit us to re-enter there or command us back to Rome we beseech you to send us as speedily as may be especially if you recall us into France and to continue to us the honour of being esteem'd 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 F Guerin did us the favour at Rome to take upon him the care of selling our moveables of which we could not have acquitted our selves in so short a time and to agree with the Owner of the House on what conditions he should take it again Therefore after the above-mentioned Letter I writ to F. Guerin to desire him to defer both those good Offices till he heard further from us VVe came to Florence on the 22d of June and the same day being S. John's day saw the great ceremony of that Festival VVe departed from thence on the 27th to Bologne whether we reach'd the next day VNe intended to have staid and rested a little there but the excessive heat which we found there on the 29th caus'd us to go from thence towards evening and we took boat at Francolin upon the Poe to go down to Venice the next day but the rain and the contrary winds forc'd us to lye one night in our boat upon the Channels which are between the Poe and the Marshes of Venice and having staid a day or two at Chiosa till the fair weather return'd again we set forth for Venice and arriv'd there on Friday the fourth of July On Sunday the 6th we went to pay our respects to M. d' Argenson who was the Ambassador for the King to this Republick He did us the honour to send to invite us to dinner with him on Tuesday following as also to visite us himself on Thursday and during all our stay at Venice he gave us upon all occasion testimonies of singular goodnesse and courtesie He saw also in several free Converses which we had the honour to have with him how frankly we acquiesc'd in the condemnation made of the Propositions by the Popes Constitution and in what manner we were perswaded that this Constitution did not prejudice the opinions which we maintain'd and had maintain'd before the H. See So that he told us once that he had written as much to M. Coqueret and assur'd him that we did in no wise take our selves to be condemned by it nor yet the Doctrine which we hid defended The day before he came to see us we were visited by one M. Du Puy a Frenchman of good age who had dwelt at Venice almost all his life after he had quitted the employments he had had in the Affaires of France a man of learning and parts but he had the unhappy engagement to make profession of the pretendedly Reform'd Religion In this Visit we had much Discourse with him concerning the unity of the Church and the obligation never to break the same what cause and pretext soever a man may think he hath to do it F. Des-mares spoke so vigorously of this matter though with all the familiarity of a private Visit that the honest man was touch'd therewith insomuch that tears were sundry times seen in his eyes Nevertheless he plausibly stoutly defended himself from the charitable reproach which we made to those of his Religion agreeing with us as to the strict Obligation to preserve that sacred Unity but maintaining that 't was not themselves that broke it but those who would not receive them into their Communion upon conditions essential and sufficient thereunto but exacted others which were not requisite To which F. Des-mares reply'd that although there might be abuses in the Church yet most of the things which the pretended Reformers of the Church had taken for causes of their separation were not abuses but the ancient practise of the Church as Invocation of Saints veneration of their Reliques and other like things And moreover that without entring into these contests it suffic'd to tell them generally that all the pretexts that could be alledg'd for breaking the unity of the Church were not justifyable before God since there is no just one for it according to the Fathers Praescindendae Vnitatis nulla est necessitas as the Prophets
it or me that therefore I need not be afraid of any rumors or menaces and of this I I might assure our General Upon my mentioning the abuse which the Jesuites made of this Declaration he told me their General had written to their Fathers to forbear doing so That himself had written to F. Annat to that purpose whose printing of his book at Paris Jansenius à Thomistis damnatus he did not approve nor that which he printed de incoacta libertate with the decree and approbation of the H. Office that had no esteem at all of these books but that one of his intitled Augustinus à Baianis vindicatus was a book of great learning whence you may judge how requisite it is to have an answer made to it and seen here The day before I was with Cardinal Ghiggi to complain to him of the threatnings of the Jesuites and assure him that our Congregation would be alwayes obedient to follow the doctrine of the Church and the H. Councils And having also told him that because our Congregation adher'd to the doctrine of S. Augustin and Thomas this gave occasion to the Jesuites to calumniate our doctrine He answer'd me that he had heard nothing of it that indeed he had heard a talk of some union of F. Bourgoing our General with the Jesuites touching doctrine but of nothing besides To which I reply'd that this union was only an union of charity and not of doctrine that we adher'd in Divinity and doctrine to S. Augustin and S. Thomas and should not recede from them in regard his Holinesse had plainly declar'd to have a great respect for this doctrine and that he intended to do nothing against it But the Cardinal answer'd me with sufficient coldnesse that his Holinesse intended not to do any thing against it and that so long as we follow'd the Scholiastick authors approved by the H. Church we should never be blam'd By his discourse I judg'd that he was one of those who had done most hurt to the truth and contributed most to this decision I am inform'd that amongst many other praises which F. Tartaglia gave this Cardinal in a certain company for his wit learning and piety one was that he was the penman of this admirable Constitution in which he said nothing could be added or whereof every word was as so many oracles of the H. Ghost c. I must confesse to you I have been much mistaken in this Cardinal and the credit respect and esteem which I formerly had for him is much abated I forgot to tell you that I found M. Hallier with this Cardinal before me to whom himself and some others of his family made great caresses whereby I perceived that the Molinists were more wellcome there then the Augustinians His Holinesse gave M Hallier this week a Priory of 800. Crownes motu proprio that is to say this Priory which is in Bretegne and known by the name of the Priory de Rieux having been desired of his Holiness by some persons potent in credit of which some were Cardinals the Pope askt what it was worth and being answer'd that it was worth 800. or 1000. Crownes his Holinesse said he would have it for M. Hallier and accordingly commanded the Datary to expedite the same for him This will encrease the number of his Benefices but not of his merit 'T is said He looks for a Mitre as the reward of his glorious labours for defence of the Church They lodge still at the three Kings in a hir'd chamber c. F. Reginald is talkt of to be Divine and Preceptor to the young Cardinal Barberin If his General stirre in it he may have this employment otherwise the Jesuites will obstruct him I wish it him for the benefit which would thereby arise here to Truth I shall adde one reflexion here which I hear was made upon the Censure by a person of capacity viz. he saith he found in a Canonist that when ever his Holinesse us'd the word declaramus in his Bulls and Decrees 't was an infallible token that his Holinesse by such Bull or Decree non constituebat novum jus censuram sed tantum confirmabat stabiliebat jam factum stabilitum licet adderentur ista verba definimus quae semper considerantur ut habentia ordinem ad declaramus And consequently in the Censure of the Five Propositions this word declaramus being repeated at every Censure of every one of the said Propositions 't is an infallible sign that by it his Holiness hath not made a new Censure of these Propositions but onely declar'd or renew'd those which were formerly made against them in the Council of Trent onely in the sense of the Calvinists and Lutherans and no-wise in the sense of S. Augustin S. Thomas or of him whom you follow The Eleventh was of July 18. and contain'd no other newes saving that the Pope was much displeas'd with the Spaniards and amongst other causes thereof complain'd that the Bishops of Flanders refus'd to obey him and contemn'd his authority which he threatned to revenge and made great complaints of it to Cardinal Trivultio in the last audience which his Holinesse gave him Non ho cosa particolare di nuovo salvo che il Papa si da per disgustatissimo da spagnoli è frà l' alhe occasioni del suo disgusto si duole che li Vescovi di Fiandra non obediscano è s' avanxano al dispreggio della sua autorità onde minaccia sissentimenti è nell ' ultima audienza data a Trivulsio fece longa dolianza The twelfth is of the 19th of July written by F. Petit wherein after some private affair he tells me thus As for the Menaces of Jesuites I care little for them by God's help I shall dissipate them without their doing me any mischief Neverthelesse I shall follow your counsel and endevor not to fall out with any person about these matters although I shall have much ado to forbear from quarrelling with those who take advantage of this Censure to say that the doctrine of S. Augustin and Thomas touching grace effectual by it self is censur'd and that you are condemn'd considering that ever since your first arrival and since the Decision the Pope plainly protested the contrary and that you never held these Propositions but with reference to Effectual Grace three days ago I had a brush about it with F. Marinari who asking me news of you fell to tell me that you were condemn'd I could not suffer it but answer'd him that you never held these Propositions otherwise then in the sense of S. Augustin and of S. Thomas and of Grace effectual by it self which his Holinesse profess'd he meant not to prejudice by this decision but I could get no more reply from him saving that they were condemn'd absolutely and without exception of Effectual Grace And when I press'd him to tell me whether S. Augustin S. Thomas and Effectual Grace were condemn'd he
What may we expect from a Preface which denotes so great knowledg and authority and in what manner will these Irish pronounce They pronounce as persons that intended to make decisions Firmiter statuimus say they promittimusque we ordain and promise Who can suffer so manifest an insolence of this small number of private persons who having neither authority nor degree forbear not to speak like Oracles in matters of Divinity Who can but disapprove the temerity which leads them to make a common resolution upon points of doctrine In brief who could have imagin'd that persons of this conditions durst have subscrib'd the forme of a Profession of faith wholly new and unheard of hitherto in the Church III. But what do these Irish promise in such magnificent termes Promittimus say they nos semper adhaesuro omnibus Decretis ac Censuris summorum Pontificum To speak truth this promise is nothing else but a Threat to all France and an act of hostility against the rights of the Crown But let us not lay the blame upon these scholars who no doubt had not malignity enough to frame such a dangerous Conspiracy of their own heads And since this is the stone of stumbling let us not fear to say that they who contriv'd this Declaration had a direct design to wound the Rights of the Gallicane Church to do an outrage to the Royal Power to despise the Arrests of Parliament and to trample upon the Censures of the University and Faculty of Divinity especially the last which was made against the pernicious Doctrine of Sanctarel For besides the general terms omnibus Decretis they have explain'd themselves more fully in this manner Insuper promittimus nunquam nos ex animi sententia privatam aut publice defâ—nsuros c. ullas Propositiones de errâ—re aut haeresi suspectas AUT QUOMODOLIBET A QUOVIS SUMMO PONTIFICE DAMNATAS Behold the poyson and the most dangerous artifice of so black a plot included in these last words Is it possible to wound the Soveraign Authority of our Kings more openly or more punctually denote the Bulls and Decrees of some Popes against their Sacred Power These strangers are made to say that so if possible all Frenchmen might say the same that they are contented to resolve and promise perpetual adherence to all Decrees and Censures of Popes They add they will never deliberately maintaine either privately or publickly any doctrine condemn'd by any Pope whatsoever by any way or manner whatsoever without particularizing the Bulls of Popes for except particularly specifying the Bulls of Popes against Kings 't is impossible to use more express words whereby to denote such as are prejudicial to our Kings and contrary to the Liberties of France And the Act in which these Irish are inveigled to declare themselves upon this point is contriv'd in such sort that it is no less contrary to the Royal Power then their first Declaration For in this Act which begins with Insuper promittimus they say that by Propositions condemn'd in what manner soever and by what Pope soever they did and do understand such Propositions as have been condemn'd by any Censure whatsoever Declaramus nos hic intellexisse intelligere Propositiones quacunque censura sive nota haeresios sive erroris sive falsitatis aut temeritatis damnatas nunquam docturos And thus their interpretation is rather a new Confirmation then a disguizing of their design or rather of the design of those who are the Authors and Instruments of this whole enterprise nor do they declare themselves otherwise upon this point in the French Declaration made before Notaries But should these second Declarations contain a favourable Interpretation or even a formal revocation of what they had said in their first were the Decree of the University ever the less just Ought not that to be consider'd which they said in their first Declaration against which the University made its Decree which was also confirm'd in the General Assembly of the 21 of March before this second Declaration was made upon the 22. In which regard the Faculty ought not to have had any consideration of these second Declarations and the same ought not to have been a pretext for it to joyn with the Irish against the University and disapprove its Decree supposing it had right and power to judge thereof Now if we consider the quality of this enterprise we cannot but confess that the Rector and the University had been culpable if they had not repress'd it Some Irish residing in France oblig'd by the publick hospitality of this Courteous Nation and though Strangers yet admitted to Study with perfect liberty in the University of Paris are so presumptuous as to make Conventicles about points of doctrine and our Religion They subscribe Declarations against the Authority of Kings the Arrests of Parliament the Censures of the University and the Faculty They approve ordain by a firm resolution and promise to maintain the Bull of Boniface the VIII upon which Sanctarel and all the Sanctarellists both on this and the other side of the Mountains chiefly found their pernicious doctrine of deposing Kings disposing of their Kingdoms and absolving their Subjects from their Oath of Allegiance insomuch that one of them Suarez the Jesuite boldly alledges that Bull as his principal proof of his saying that this doctrine ought to be believ'd as an Article of Faith These Irish in general terms without exception promise to maintain the Bull of Julius 11. against Lewis XII and John d' Albret King of Navarre both Predecessors of our most Christian King Lewis XIV King of France and Navarre They engage themselves by Oath to defend that Bull whereby the Kingdome of Navarre hath been usurp'd from its lawful Lord They oblige themselves to receive that Bull by which Sixtus V. depriv'd the late King Henry the Great of glorious memory of the Kingdome of Navarre and declar'd the same King and Henry Prince of Conde and their Posterity incapable of succeeding to the Realm of France or to any other Principality or Dignity and absolv'd all their Subjects and Vassals from the Oath of Fidelity and all other duty They determine and promise to adhere inviolably to the Bull in Caena Domini Excommunicamus Anathematizanus omnes singulos Cancellarios Vice-Cancellarios Consiliarios ordinarios extraordinarios quorumcunque Regum Principum ac Praesidentes Cancellariorum Consiliorum Parlamentorum nec non Procuratores generales eorundem aliosque judices tam ordinarios quam delegatos nec non Archiepiscopos Episcopos Abbates Commendatarios Vicarios Officiales qui per se vel alium seu alios Beneficiales decimarum ac alias spirituales spiritualibus annexas causas ab Auditoribus Commissariis nostris aliisque Judicibus Ecclesiasticis avocant ac sese illarum cognitione tanquam judices interponunt etiam sub praetextu violentiae prohibendae Ex Rulla in Coena Domini by which the Appeals us'd
mutilated clauses beget obscurity In confirmation of Predestination and its strength I cited the divine authority of S. Paul to the Ephesians where that instrument of the H. Ghost layes open all the benefits which God hath prepared for the Predestinate His words are clear and gave me occasion to say as I did that Satan cannot prevaile against the structure built with living stones which Edifice is the H. Church and the determinate number of the Elect. And what I said herein is grounded upon the Parable taken out of the mouth of Truth it self Who knows not as S. Paul saith that the Devil hath no power against God's Elect Neverthelesse 't is not to be deny'd that the Devil sometimes prevails against the Elect for indeed he often prevails through their negligence and corruption But what is this to my expression which hath reference to that oracle of S. John chapter 10. My sheep shall never perish My Father which gave them me is greater then all and no man is able to pluck them out of my hand Therefore against these Predestinate who are the Subject of my Treatise I said Satan cannot prevail in that manner which our Saviour and other holy and Catholick Authors understand yet do I not therefore inferre any necessity or compulsion upon the Free-will as if it acted no more then a piece of wood or a stone I onely toucht this matter by the way and could not speak more largely off it in so little time which was the cause that speaking of this Edifice built with living stones I called it the Church and the determinate number of the Elect yet not excluding the Universal Church which would have been the discouse of an extravagant and senseless person denying the clearnesse of divine light since we are oblig'd to acknowledge and believe firmely the H. Catholick Church diffused throughout the whole world under one Head in Heaven Jesus Christ as S. Paul saith and under his lawfull Vicar who is another Head on the Earth of the same Universal Church But I thus term'd the H. Church the structure built with living stones because it may be so call'd although this Church be invisible since S. Augustin calls it so in the fifth book against the Donatists and S. Bernard upon the Canticles chap. 23. and 68. The Elect are gather'd into this Church by faith charity and the Sacraments as in the visible and militant Church the Elect and the other Faithfull are united by the same bonds and although some of them depart from charity yet if they fall not from the Catholick faith they cease not to be and to remain in the same Church VI. PROPOSITION And to enable us to do it he hath left his H. Spirit in the Church which with a secreet but powerfull fire burnes up what ever it findes impure and superfluous and more and more enflames the hearts of his Elect with holy and chast desires so that they become most purified when they are cleansed from the pollutions of this world ANSWER I proceeded in declaring the blessings and favours of God upon the Elect since the H. Spirit is given to them for the purging away of their sins and inflaming their minds with pure thoughts which are the source of the good works which flow forth to the sanctifying of God so that they become most purified Which truth is not to be understood of all the Predestinate but we must believe that this is effected in some who may become most pure according to the state of the present life may advance happily from vertue to vertue as S. Paul notes in his Epistles S. Augustin useth the same word in his first book de Trinitate when he saith that the most purifi'd minds purgatissimae mentes are able to behold the Supreame Good I say most purifi'd as to the affections of the will and not onely as to the thoughts of the mind quantum ad affectum non selum ad intellectum as S. Bonaventure expounds it But to conclude how I might say this S. Thomas must be consulted in scripto quarto super quartum sententiarum where he speaks of Purgatory and explaines what it is to build upon the foundation wood and stubble he that compares the works of the perfect with those of the imperfect and saith that venial sins are burned by the favour of charity and that we must not say that these sins are the wood and stubble built upon the foundation because they remain not habitually in them adding that they are secure and their remaines nothing to be purged in them Now this my opinion does injury to no body because 't is delivered with a condition and comprehends not all the Elect as appears manifestly by the sequel and explication of the word and should it comprehend them all though I have not affirm'd so what hinders but that I may say that the Elect may become most purified in the same sense that S. Paul saith there remaines no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus and when he requires of a man who would be a perfect Christian to put off the old man with all its lusts VII PROPOSITION These are Consequences drawn by those who will not give God the honour which is due to him or those who would divide what belongs to Christ alone and know not the abundance of his mercy which hath been exhibited to us in the death of Jesus Christ who willing to show us the misery of our desperate bondage hath shew'd in himself what is the true liberty of his Children and taught it with his own mouth when he saith If the Son make you free you shall be free indeed ANSWER I had before rejected the false Consequences which they attribute to Divine Predestination because things of the greatest truth may be perverted by such Consequences But now to detest the pride of men who extolling the strength of nature more then they ought pretend to do good works without the assistance of grace I speak against those who knowing not what they are without grace render not to God all the thanks which they ought Now 't is to God alone that glory is to be ascribed because the universal Church sings thus after S. Paul To God alone the immortal and invisible King be honour and glory But to understand how I spoke this there is no more necessary but to consider rhe following words in my treatise where I cite the H. Gospel If the Son make you free you shall be free indeed I say once again that 't is to God alone that glory ought to be given nor can any place of Scripture be found wherein this wholesome confession doth not shine The books of the Prophets are full of it and the whole Scripture teaches us nothing else Moreover from this holy and true acknowledgement all blessings arrive to us the soul falls to reform it self when it humbly considers and sincerely acknowledges before God it own poverty and nakednesse without
we knew who they were As for the Doctors our Adversaries they had presented Writings three moneths ago and profess'd that whether there were any communication of them or not they should be contented That all they demanded was that they might be treated as we were and that our writings might be communicated to them if theirs were to us That since so long time that they were compos'd it was not possible but either side must have seen the others writings and that they were by this time in France too That in fine we might visit the persons whom he had nam'd Much might have been reply'd to Cardinal Spada and he left us time to do it though it was very late but we did it not conceiving we had obtain'd enough of him that he permitted us to renew our sollicitations to the others Tuesday the 29th in the morning I met the F. General of the Capucines who stopt me though I was in a Coach to ask me what news of our Congregation I spoke very coldly thereof to him as one that had no news of them nor was the least concern'd for any He told me that that which was to be held that morning was deferr'd to the next day in the afternoon of which I learnt the reason the same day in the Antichambre of Cardinal Ghiggi whom we visited and it was for that there was that morning an examination of Bishops VVe told Cardinal Ghiggi that we came to put him in mind of the little Memorial which we left with him about the communication of writings He askt us whether we had presented the same to the other Cardinals VVe answer'd that we had but did not tell him that we had yet once been with Cardinal Spada about it Cardinal Ghiggi told us that the Congregation had been interrupted since the presenting of our Memorial by reason it was the time of being in the country and taking a little fresh ayr after the great heats of Summer that therefore it had not yet been spoken of but the Congregation would begin again the next day and then perhaps it would be mention'd The Abbot of Valcroissant answer'd that we had many strong reasons which evinc'd the necessity of such communication and he intended to repeat the same which he had alledg'd to Cardinal Spada but he scarce toucht upon those concerning the calumnies and false suppositions of our Adversaries as well in reference to Facts as Opinions but Cardinal Ghiggi reply'd That as for all those calumnies and falsities no regard would be had of them that the chief and only business would be to give a succinct and clear account of the reasons of what we held that it was not yet resolved whether or no to make of this affair a Process una lite that if a day were set to enter into so publick discussions of it between parties it would cause much noise and bustle That as we were already three and three out of France there might come three others out of Spain three from Flanders three from another place c. The Abbot of Valcroissant answer'd that all which his Eminence said did not hinder but that the reciprocal communication of our writings was necessary since if for example we should not see the writings of our Adversaries we could not defend our selves from what falsities and calumnies they might alledge therein both against our persons and the truth nor represent the same to their Eminences The Cardinal askt us whether we certainly knew that they had presented any writings added that perhaps they had not yet presented any But however said he ending as he began we have not yet spoken of your Memorial perhaps we will speak of it to morrow and you shall understand our resolution It was a thing not unpleasant to be observ'd that he inform'd us that they had not yet spoken of it and Cardinal Spada told us as a thing already determin'd amongst them that there would be no such communication The two last days of this moneth I learn'd nothing at Rome but the very great correspondences and confederacies which Cardinal Spada had with Cardinal Barberin whereof I was told in two converses which I had about that matter with a Banquier of very great Note intelligence and freedome CHAP. XII Of the Letters which were writ to us from Paris during the Moneth of October touching the manner of proceeding in the Congregation ABout this time all places were full of news concerning what was doing at Rome and what the Iesuites with M. Hallier and his Collegues expected and boasted was in hand to their advantage for the consummation of their Enterprise against the Propositions without their being oblig'd ever to appear before the Congregation in our presence and these news daily more and more astonish'd our friends and the Bishops who sent us VVhereupon almost all the Letters written to us during the whole moneth of October were nothing but a continual renewing of former injunctions not to recede from the conditions wherewith the Bishops had given us charge to demand a Congregation of the Pope and wherewith the Pope had caus'd the same to be promis'd to us by the late Cardinal Roma without any modification or restriction The difficulty about communication of writings was not yet known in France on the contrary we were enjoyn'd not to suffer our selves to be circumvented in such sort that our affair might be made a simple Process in writing but we were oblig'd never to separate the communication of our writings from the obligation which should be laid upon our Adversaries to be heard in our presence and we in theirs vivâ voce in the Congregation touching all that by either side should be presented in writing as also to have a care that all which they and we should speak there might be written down Moreover we were prescrib'd not to present any writing after those which we had deliver'd already but according to the forms us'd under Clement VIII and Paul V. till after we had declar'd vivâ voce what we were to leave there in writing and till we were assur'd that the consequence thereof would be the communication of the same to our Adversaries It would be tedious to relate all the Letters here which were written to us during this moneth about this matter but it will not be impertinent to insert two or three which will teach the Reader some other particularities concerning this affair which might otherwise remain unknown to him The first was dated October 8. from Chalons in Champagne and was thus directed A Messieurs Messieurs de la Lane de Saint Amour Angran Docteurs de la Faculte nos Deputez a Rome The contents follow Messieurs ALL good men rejoyce with us for the blessing which God hath given to your sollicitations and cares which joy was particularly grounded upon the assurance given you that the establisht Congregation would proceed according to the forms practis'd from all time in the Church
and in a like case under Clement VIII and Paul V. and without which it seems not possible for the truth to be perfectly clear'd I know that M. Hallier hath written to Paris that he would hinder your being heard yet I cannot doubt but Providence which hath taken so particular care of this affair will dissipate all his intrigues that the H. Father will do us Justice that he will grant what he hath had the goodness to promise and that he will take the same course in this cause that his Predecessors did since it is so worthy of the honour of the H. See and so necessary for the re-establishment of peace in the Church Wherefore all my LL. the Prelates for whom you act conjure you to remain firm that is never to speak but in presence and to deliver no writings saving in the forms observ'd in the Congregations de Auxiliis under the Popes above-mention'd They relye upon your accustom'd prudence and courage and I remain ever MESSIEURS Your most humble and most affectionate Servant F. E. C. de Chaalons He who us'd to write to us in the name of all my said Lords when they did not do it themselves in his letter of October 11th set down this clause My Lords were glad of the Resolution which you have taken to speak high They desire you not to relax in any thing for it is highly important to the cause which you desir'd They are very certain M. Hallier will use all means to obstruct an exact discussion of it He is a man that intends no conference whatever shew he makes He conceives the Dispute would not be advantageous to him because he hath confess'd to many persons that he never read St. Augustin Write as little as you can in explication of the Five Propositions for you ought to fear that M. Hallier will perplex the Affair in proceedings by Writing And in a Letter of the 18. from the same person there was this clause touching the same matter The Molinists in these parts hold for certain that you will not be admiteed to speak in presence of your Adversaries before the congregation alledging that the Question is only about Five Propositions which may easily be judg'd by all those that have never so little understanding and any tincture of Divinity They boast that in the first congregation held at Cardinal Spada's house the first Proposition was determined My Lords have confidence in God and hope he will destroy all their designs who go about to dishonour his Truth Above all they rocommend to you to be stedfast and undaunted in extremities I received one dated the same day from a Doctor my particular friend who liv'd in Sorbonne and always writ to me in Latin He comforted me for the news of Cardinal Roma's death and profess'd the more sorrow for it because instead of a most equitable Dean of our Congregation whom we had lost there remain'd another very partial and highly animated against us His Letter was in these terms A diebus aliquot resciveramus mortem Eminentissimi Cardinalis Roma cum litteras has accepimus Certè non potuimus non lugere viri optimi amantissimi aequitatis inopinatum exitum dolorque noster eo major extitit quod tibi causaeque vestrae adversarium esse accepimus Cardinalem Spada Scriptum enim mihi est è Flandria non potuisse cum ipso convenire D. Sinnich ita durum se ipsi praebuit Jactare vulgo se habere argumentum cui Jansenista sic enim loquitur nullus respondeat Idque dixisse olim P. Courvaisier minimo Burgundo Addidisse etiam se etiamsi Cardinales caeteri in doctrinam illam consentirent aut certè mitiùs habere vellent solum se adversus omnes pugnaturum Haec te monendum censui I find after this one from M. de Sainte Beuve of the 25th of this month which deserves more then any other to be here inserted at length as well for that he speakes touching the same necessity of being heard in presenee as because a more illustrious Testimony cannot be brought how he and I were always affected to the H. See and how we always consider'd the Propositions which were at length condemned by it The Letter was particular to my self and contained that which follows SIR WE are here troubled at the News that the congregation is begun since Cardinal Roma's death in which Cardinal Spada is President a Jesuite is a Consultor and M. Albizzi Secretary and that it is held without your being called to it Though we could not imagine things to be so as is boasted in these parts and that it seems your Letters assure us of the contrary since by your last you signifie that you were solliciting their Eminences to ordain the communication of your Writings to our Adversaries and that it would please them to set the day of the first congregation yet I cannot dissemble to you that the manner after which they talke here makes us fear that there is something of Truth in their Discourse and that perhaps our Adversaries are plotting something according to their usual slights and artifices This is it which troubles us and whereof we entreat you to give us some light And in the first place I am to signifie to you that you must urge the carrying on of things in order and that they be not done in secret The Prelates who sent you did not put you upon that journey to demand a secret Assembly of his Holiness but a publick and solemn congregation like that de Auxiliis in which the parties might he heard in presence one of the other both viva voce and by Writing The Pope granted the same to you as being a thing very just and which cannot displease any but those who hold a Doctrine of Darkness Wherefore prosecute the Execution of his Holinesses Order But now Sir Was there ever any thing more remote from Equity then to make our Enemies Judges for is it not in some manner so while a Jesuite is a Consultor Who knows not that they are our right Adversaries As for M. Albizzi there is as little reason that he should be Secretary since it is notorious that he hath had inimate communication with M. Hallier about the Affair in question before the said Sieur Hallier went out of France When the Faculty was assembled to be surpris'd by the Nuncio's means who sent to demand whether it had deputed you to his Holiness about this Affair M. Hallier whom I accus'd of having sent F. Mulard the Cordelier in quality of the Faculties Deputy and encharg'd him with Letters subscrib'd by himself as Syndic which Letters Mulard carried open to F. Diuet to be sealed by him M. Hallier I say confess'd before the whole Faculty that he had written to Rome to M. Albizzi but he added that it was only in answer to a Letter from him touchong the present controversies All the Faculty can testifie whether M. Hallier had the confidence to