andthat,beforewritingmyletters,Ihadcomposedromances"—I,whoneverreadoneinmylife,andwhodonotknowsomuchasthenamesofthosewhichyourapologisthaspublished?Whatcanbesaidinreplytoallthis,fathers,ifyoudonotmentionthenamesofallthesepersonsyoureferto,theirwords,thetime,andtheplace,except—Mentirisimpudentissime?
  Youshouldeitherbesilentaltogether,orrelateandproveallthecircumstances,asIdidwhenItoldyoutheanecdotesofFatherAlbyandJohnd’Alba。
  Otherwise,youwillhurtnonebutyourselves。Yournumerousfablesmight,perhaps,havedoneyousomeservice,beforeyourprincipleswereknown;
  butnowthatthewholehasbeenbroughttolight,whenyoubegintowhisperasusual,"Amanofhonor,whodesiredustoconcealhisname,hastoldussomehorriblestoriesofthesesamepeople"—youwillbecutshortatonce,andremindedoftheCapuchin’s"Mentirisimpudentissime。"Toolongbyfarhaveyoubeenpermittedtodeceivetheworld,andtoabusetheconfidencewhichmenwerereadytoplaceinyourcalumniousaccusations。Itishightimetoredeemthereputationofthemultitudeswhomyouhavedefamed。
  Forwhatinnocencecanbesogenerallyknown,asnottosuffersomeinjuryfromthedaringaspersionsofabodyofmenscatteredoverthefaceoftheearth,andwho,underreligioushabits,concealmindssoutterlyirreligiousthattheyperpetratecrimeslikecalumny,notinoppositionto,butinstrictaccordancewith,theirmoralmaxims?Icannot,therefore,beblamedfordestroyingthecreditwhichmighthavebeenawardedyou,seeingitmustbeallowedtobeamuchgreateractofjusticetorestoretothevictimsofyourobloquythecharacterwhichtheydidnotdeservetolose,thantoleaveyouinthepossessionofareputationforsinceritywhichyoudonotdeservetoenjoy。And,astheonecouldnotbedonewithouttheother,howimportantwasittoshowyouuptotheworldasyoureallyare!
  InthisletterIhavecommencedtheexhibition;butitwillrequiresometimetocompleteit。Publisheditshallbe,fathers,andallyourpolicywillbeinadequatetosaveyoufromthedisgrace;fortheeffortswhichyoumaymaketoaverttheblowwillonlyservetoconvincethemostobtuseobserversthatyouwereterrifiedoutofyourwits,andthat,yourconsciencesanticipatingthechargesIhadtobringagainstyou,youhaveputeveryoarinthewatertopreventthediscovery。LETTERXVI
  TOTHEREVERENDFATHERS,THEJESUITSDecember4,1656REVERENDFATHERS,Inowcometoconsidertherestofyourcalumnies,andshallbeginwiththosecontainedinyouradvertisements,whichremaintobenoticed。Asallyourotherwritings,however,areequallywellstockedwithslander,theywillfurnishmewithabundantmaterialsforentertainingyouonthistopicaslongasImayjudgeexpedient。Inthefirstplace,then,withregardtothefablewhichyouhavepropagatedinallyourwritingsagainsttheBishopofYpres,I
  begleavetosay,inoneword,thatyouhavemaliciouslywrestedthemeaningofsomeambiguousexpressionsinoneofhisletterswhich,beingcapableofagoodsense,ought,accordingtothespiritoftheGospel,tohavebeentakeningoodpart,andcouldonlybetakenotherwiseaccordingtothespiritofyourSociety。Forexample,whenhesaystoafriend,"Giveyourselfnoconcernaboutyournephew;Iwillfurnishhimwithwhatherequiresfromthemoneythatliesinmyhands,"whatreasonhaveyoutointerpretthistomeanthathewouldtakethatmoneywithoutrestoringit,andnotthathemerelyadvanceditwiththepurposeofreplacingit?
  Andhowextremelyimprudentwasitforyoutofurnisharefutationofyourownlie,byprintingtheotherlettersoftheBishopofYpres,whichclearlyshowthat,inpointoffact,itwasmerelyadvancedmoney,whichhewasboundtorefund。Thisappears,toyourconfusion,fromthefollowingtermsintheletter,towhichyougivethedateofJuly30,1619:"Benotuneasyaboutthemoneyadvanced;heshallwantfornothingsolongasheishere";
  andlikewisefromanother,datedJanuary6,1620,wherehesays:"Youareintoogreathaste;whentheaccountshallbecomedue,IhavenofearbutthatthelittlecreditwhichIhaveinthisplacewillbringmeasmuchmoneyasIrequire。"Ifyouareconvictedslanderersonthissubject,youarenolesssoinregardtotheridiculousstoryaboutthecharity—boxofSt。Merri。Whatadvantage,pray,canyouhopetoderivefromtheaccusationwhichoneofyourworthyfriendshastrumpedupagainstthatecclesiastic?
  Arewetoconcludethatamanisguilty,becauseheisaccused?No,fathers。
  Menofpiety,likehim,mayexpecttobeperpetuallyaccused,solongastheworldcontainscalumniatorslikeyou。Wemustjudgeofhim,therefore,notfromtheaccusation,butfromthesentence;andthesentencepronouncedonthecase(February23,1656)justifieshimcompletely。Moreover,thepersonwhohadthetemeritytoinvolvehimselfinthatiniquitousprocess,wasdisavowedbyhiscolleagues,andhimselfcompelledtoretracthischarge。
  Andastowhatyouallege,inthesameplace,about"thatfamousdirector,whopocketedatonceninehundredthousandlivres,"IneedonlyreferyoutoMessieursthecuresofSt。RochandSt。Paul,whowillbearwitness,beforethewholecityofParis,tohisperfectdisinterestednessintheaffair,andtoyourinexcusablemaliceinthatpieceofimposition。Enough,however,forsuchpaltryfalsities。Thesearebutthefirstrawattemptsofyournovices,andnotthemaster—strokesofyour"grandprofessed。"
  TothesedoInowcome,fathers;IcometoacalumnywhichiscertainlyoneofthebasestthateverissuedfromthespiritofyourSociety。Irefertotheinsufferableaudacitywithwhichyouhaveimputedtoholynuns,andtotheirdirectors,thechargeof"disbelievingthemysteryoftransubstantiationandtherealpresenceofJesusChristintheeucharist。"Here,fathers,isaslanderworthyofyourselves。HereisacrimewhichGodaloneiscapableofpunishing,asyoualonewerecapableofcommittingit。Toendureitwithpatiencewouldrequireanhumilityasgreatasthatofthesecalumniatedladies;togiveitcreditwoulddemandadegreeofwickednessequaltothatoftheirwretcheddefamers。Iproposenot,therefore,tovindicatethem;theyarebeyondsuspicion。Hadtheystoodinneedofdefence,theymighthavecommandedableradvocatesthanme。MyobjectinwhatIsayhereistoshow,nottheirinnocence,butyourmalignity。Imerelyintendtomakeyouashamedofyourselves,andtoletthewholeworldunderstandthat,afterthis,thereisnothingofwhichyouarenotcapable。Youwillnotfail,Iamcertain,notwithstandingallthis,tosaythatIbelongtoPort—Royal;
  forthisisthefirstthingyousaytoeveryonewhocombatsyourerrors:
  asifitwereonlyatPort—Royalthatpersonscouldbefoundpossessedofsufficientzealtodefend,againstyourattacks,thepurityofChristianmorality。Iknow,fathers,theworkofthepiousrecluseswhohaveretiredtothatmonastery,andhowmuchtheChurchisindebtedtotheirtrulysolidandedifyinglabours。Iknowtheexcellenceoftheirpietyandtheirlearning。
  For,thoughIhaveneverhadthehonourtobelongtotheirestablishment,asyou,withoutknowingwhoorwhatIam,wouldfainhaveitbelieved,nevertheless,Idoknowsomeofthem,andhonourthevirtueofthemall。
  ButGodhasnotconfinedwithintheprecinctsofthatsocietyallwhomhemeanstoraiseupinoppositiontoyourcorruptions。Ihope,withhisassistance,fathers,tomakeyoufeelthis;andifhevouchsafetosustainmeinthedesignhehasledmetoform,ofemployinginhisservicealltheresourcesIhavereceivedfromhim,Ishallspeaktoyouinsuchastrainaswill,perhaps,giveyoureasontoregretthatyouhavenothadtodowithamanofPort—Royal。Andtoconvinceyouofthis,fathers,I
  musttellyouthat,whilethosewhomyouhaveabusedwiththisnotoriousslandercontentthemselveswithliftinguptheirgroanstoHeaventoobtainyourforgivenessfortheoutrage,Ifeelmyselfobliged,notbeingintheleastaffectedbyyourslander,tomakeyoublushinthefaceofthewholeChurch,andsobringyoutothatwholesomeshameofwhichtheScripturespeaks,andwhichisalmosttheonlyremedyforahardnessofheartlikeyours:"Implefacieseorumignominia,etquaerentnomentuum,Domine—Filltheirfaceswithshame,thattheymayseekthyname,OLord。"Astopmustbeputtothisinsolence,whichdoesnotsparethemostsacredretreats。
  Forwhocanbesafeafteracalumnyofthisnature?Forshame,fathers!
  topublishinParissuchascandalousbook,withthenameofyourFatherMeynieronitsfront,andunderthisinfamoustitle,Port—RoyalandGenevainconcertagainstthemostholySacramentoftheAltar,inwhichyouaccuseofthisapostasy,notonlyMonsieurtheabbeofSt。Cyran,andM。Arnauld,butalsoMotherAgnes,hissister,andallthenunsofthatmonastery,allegingthat"theirfaith,inregardtotheeucharist,isassuspiciousasthatofM。Arnauld,"whomyoumaintaintobe"adown—rightCalvinist。"
  IhereaskthewholeworldiftherebeanyclassofpersonswithinthepaleoftheChurch,onwhomyoucouldhaveadvancedsuchanabominablechargewithlesssemblanceoftruth。Fortellme,fathers,ifthesenunsandtheirdirectorshadbeen"inconcertwithGenevaagainstthemostholysacramentofthealtar"(theverythoughtofwhichisshocking),howtheyshouldhavecometoselectastheprincipalobjectoftheirpietythatverysacramentwhichtheyheldinabomination?Howshouldtheyhaveassumedthehabitoftheholysacrament?takenthenameoftheDaughtersoftheHolySacrament?calledtheirchurchtheChurchoftheHolySacrament?HowshouldtheyhaverequestedandobtainedfromRometheconfirmationofthatinstitution,andtherightofsayingeveryThursdaytheofficeoftheholysacrament,inwhichthefaithoftheChurchissoperfectlyexpressed,iftheyhadconspiredwithGenevatobanishthatfaithfromtheChurch?
  Whywouldtheyhaveboundthemselves,byaparticulardevotion,alsosanctionedbythePope,tohavesomeoftheirsisterhood,nightanddaywithoutintermission,inpresenceofthesacredhost,tocompensate,bytheirperpetualadorationstowardsthatperpetualsacrifice,fortheimpietyoftheheresythataimsatitsannihilation?Tellme,fathers,ifyoucan,why,ofallthemysteriesofourreligion,theyshouldhavepassedbythoseinwhichtheybelieved,tofixuponthatinwhichtheybelievednot?andhowtheyshouldhavedevotedthemselves,sofullyandentirely,tothatmysteryofourfaith,iftheytookit,asthehereticsdo,forthemysteryofiniquity?Andwhatanswerdoyougivetotheseclearevidences,embodiednotinwordsonly,butinactions;andnotinsomeparticularactions,butinthewholetenorofalifeexpresslydedicatedtotheadorationofJesusChrist,dwellingonouraltars?Whatanswer,again,doyougivetothebookswhichyouascribetoPort—Royal,allofwhicharefullofthemostprecisetermsemployedbythefathersandthecouncilstomarktheessenceofthatmystery?Itisatonceridiculousanddisgustingtohearyoureplyingtotheseasyouhavedonethroughoutyourlibel。M。Arnauld,sayyou,talksverywellabouttransubstantiation;butheunderstands,perhaps,only"asignificativetransubstantiation。"True,heprofessestobelievein"therealpresence";
  whocantell,however,buthemeansnothingmorethan"atrueandrealfigure"?Hownow,fathers!whom,pray,willyounotmakepassforaCalvinistwheneveryouplease,ifyouaretoallowedthelibertyofpervertingthemostcanonicalandsacredexpressionsbythewickedsubtletiesofyourmodernequivocations?Whoeverthoughtofusinganyothertermsthanthoseinquestion,especiallyinsimplediscoursesofdevotion,wherenocontroversiesarehandled?AndyettheloveandthereverenceinwhichtheyholdthissacredmysteryhaveinducedthemtogiveitsuchaprominenceinalltheirwritingsthatIdefyyou,fathers,withallyourcunning,todetectinthemeithertheleastappearanceofambiguity,ortheslightestcorrespondencewiththesentimentsofGeneva。Everybodyknows,fathers,thattheessenceoftheGenevanheresyconsists,asitdoesaccordingtoyourownshowing,intheirbelievingthatJesusChristisnotcontainedinthissacrament;
  thatitisimpossiblehecanbeinmanyplacesatonce;thatheis,properlyspeaking,onlyinheaven,andthatitisastherealonethatheoughttobeadored,andnotonthealtar;thatthesubstanceofthebreadremains;
  thatthebodyofJesusChristdoesnotenterintothemouthorthestomach;
  thathecanonlybeeatenbyfaith,andaccordinglywickedmendonoteathimatall;andthatthemassisnotasacrifice,butanabomination。Letusnowhear,then,inwhatway"Port—RoyalisinconcertwithGeneva。"
  Inthewritingsoftheformerweread,toyourconfusion,thefollowingstatement:That"thefleshandbloodofJesusChristarecontainedunderthespeciesofbreadandwine";that"theHolyofHoliesispresentinthesanctuary,andthatthereheoughttobeadored";that"JesusChristdwellsinthesinnerswhocommunicate,bytherealandveritablepresenceofhisbodyintheirstomach,althoughnotbythepresenceofhisSpiritintheirhearts";that"thedeadashesofthebodiesofthesaintsderivetheirprincipaldignityfromthatseedoflifewhichtheyretainfromthetouchoftheimmortalandvivifyingfleshofJesusChrist";that"itisnotowingtoanynaturalpower,buttothealmightypowerofGod,towhomnothingisimpossible,thatthebodyofJesusChristiscomprehendedunderthehost,andunderthesmallestportionofeveryhost";that"thedivinevirtueispresenttoproducetheeffectwhichthewordsofconsecrationsignify";that"JesusChrist,whilebeisloweredandhiddenuponthealtar,is,atthesametime,elevatedinhisglory;thathesubsists,ofhimselfandbyhisownordinarypower,indiversplacesatthesametime—inthemidstoftheChurchtriumphant,andinthemidstoftheChurchmilitantandtravelling";that"thesacramentalspeciesremainsuspended,andsubsistextraordinarily,withoutbeingupheldbyanysubject;andthatthebodyofJesusChristisalsosuspendedunderthespecies,andthatitdoesnotdependuponthese,assubstancesdependuponaccidents";that"thesubstanceofthebreadischanged,theimmutableaccidentsremainingthesame";that"JesusChristreposesintheeucharistwiththesameglorythathehasinheaven";that"hisglorioushumanityresidesinthetabernaclesoftheChurch,underthespeciesofbread,whichformsitsvisiblecovering;andthat,knowingthegrossnessofournatures,heconductsustotheadorationofhisdivinity,whichispresentinallplaces,bytheadoringofhishumanity,whichispresentinaparticularplace";that"wereceivethebodyofJesusChristuponthetongue,whichissanctifiedbyitsdivinetouch";"thatitentersintothemouthofthepriest";that"althoughJesusChristhasmadehimselfaccessibleintheholysacrament,byanactofhisloveandgraciousness,hepreserves,nevertheless,inthatordinance,hisinaccessibility,asaninseparableconditionofhisdivinenature;
  because,althoughthebodyaloneandthebloodalonearethere,byvirtueofthewords—viverborum,astheschoolmensay—hiswholedivinitymay,notwithstanding,betherealso,aswellashiswholehumanity,byanecessaryconjunction。"Infine,that"theeucharistisatthesametimesacramentandsacrifice";andthat"althoughthissacrificeisacommemorationofthatofthecross,yetthereisthisdifferencebetweenthem,thatthesacrificeofthemassisofferedfortheChurchonly,andforthefaithfulinhercommunion;whereasthatofthecrosshasbeenofferedforalltheworld,astheScripturetestifies。"Ihavequotedenough,fathers,tomakeitevidentthattherewasnever,perhaps,amoreimprudentthingattemptedthanwhatyouhavedone。ButIwillgoastepfarther,andmakeyoupronouncethissentenceagainstyourselves。Forwhatdoyourequirefromaman,inordertoremoveallsuspicionofhisbeinginconcertandcorrespondencewithGeneva?"IfM。Arnauld,"saysyourFatherMeynier,p。93,"hadsaidthat,inthisadorablemystery,thereisnosubstanceofthebreadunderthespecies,butonlythefleshandthebloodofJesusChrist,IshouldhaveconfessedthathehaddeclaredhimselfabsolutelyagainstGeneva。"
  Confessit,then,yerevilers!andmakehimapublicapology。HowoftenhaveyouseenthisdeclarationmadeinthepassagesIhavejustcited?
  Besidesthis,however,theFamiliarTheologyofM。deSt。CyranhavingbeenapprovedbyM。Arnauld,itcontainsthesentimentsofboth。Read,then,thewholeoflesson15th,andparticularlyarticle2d,andyouwilltherefindthewordsyoudesiderate,evenmoreformallystatedthanyouhavedoneyourselves。"Isthereanybreadinthehost,oranywineinthechalice?No:forallthesubstanceofthebreadandthewineistakenaway,togiveplacetothatofthebodyandbloodofJesusChrist,thewhichsubstancealoneremainstherein,coveredbythequalitiesandspeciesofbreadandwine。"Hownow,fathers!willyoustillsaythatPort—Royalteaches"nothingthatGenevadoesnotreceive,"andthatM。Arnauldhassaidnothinginhissecondletter"whichmightnothavebeensaidbyaministerofCharenton"?
  SeeifyoucanpersuadeMestrezattospeakasM。Arnaulddoesinthatletter,onpage237。Makehimsaythatitisaninfamouscalumnytoaccusehimofdenyingtransubstantiation;thathetakesforthefundamentalprincipleofhiswritingsthetruthoftherealpresenceoftheSonofGod,inoppositiontotheheresyoftheCalvinists;andthatheaccountshimselfhappyforlivinginaplacewheretheHolyofHoliesiscontinuallyadoredinthesanctuary"—asentimentwhichisstillmoreopposedtothebeliefoftheCalviniststhantherealpresenceitself;for,asCardinalRichelieuobservesinhisControversies(p。536):"ThenewministersofFrancehavingagreedwiththeLutherans,whobelievetherealpresenceofJesusChristintheeucharist;theyhavedeclaredthattheyremaininastateofseparationfromtheChurchonthepointofthismystery,onlyonaccountoftheadorationwhichCatholicsrendertotheeucharist。"GetallthepassageswhichI
  haveextractedfromthebooksofPort—RoyalsubscribedatGeneva,andnottheisolatedpassagesmerely,buttheentiretreatisesregardingthismystery,suchastheBookofFrequentCommunion,theExplicationoftheCeremoniesoftheMass,theExerciseduringMass,theReasonsoftheSuspensionoftheHolySacrament,theTranslationoftheHymnsintheHoursofPort—Royal,&;c。;inoneword,prevailuponthemtoestablishatCharentonthatholyinstitutionofadoring,withoutintermission,JesusChristcontainedintheeucharist,asisdoneatPort—Royal,anditwillbethemostsignalservicewhichyoucouldrendertotheChurch;forinthiscaseitwillturnout,notthatPort—RoyalisinconcertwithGeneva,butthatGenevaisinconcertwithPort—RoyalandwiththewholeChurch。Certainly,fathers,youcouldnothavebeenmoreunfortunatethaninselectingPort—Royalastheobjectofattackfornotbelievingintheeucharist;butIwillshowwhatledyoutofixuponit。YouknowIhavepickedupsomesmallacquaintancewithyourpolicy;inthisinstanceyouhaveacteduponitsmaximstoadmiration。
  IfMonsieurtheabbeofSt。Cyran,andM。Arnauld,hadonlyspokenofwhatoughttobebelievedwithgreatrespecttothismystery,andsaidnothingaboutwhatoughttobedoneinthewayofpreparationforitsreception,theymighthavebeenthebestCatholicsalive;andnoequivocationswouldhavebeendiscoveredintheiruseofthetermsrealpresenceandtransubstantiation。
  But,sinceallwhocombatyourlicentiousprinciplesmustneedsbeheretics,andheretics,too,intheverypointinwhichtheycondemnyourlaxity,howcouldM。Arnauldescapefallingunderthischargeonthesubjectoftheeucharist,afterhavingpublishedabookexpresslyagainstyourprofanationsofthatsacrament?What!musthebeallowedtosay,withimpunity,that"thebodyofJesusChristoughtnottobegiventothosewhohabituallylapseintothesamecrimes,andwhohavenoprospectofamendment;andthatsuchpersonsoughttobeexcluded,forsometime,fromthealtar,topurifythemselvesbysincerepenitence,thattheymayapproachitafterwardswithbenefit"?Suffernoonetotalkinthisstrain,fathers,oryouwillfindthatfewerpeoplewillcometoyourconfessionals。FatherBrisaciersaysthat"wereyoutoadoptthiscourse,youwouldneverapplythebloodofJesusChristtoasingleindividual。"ItwouldbeinfinitelymoreforyourinterestwereeveryonetoadopttheviewsofyourSociety,assetforthbyyourFatherMascarenhas,inabookapprovedbyyourdoctors,andevenbyyourreverendFather—General,namely:"Thatpersonsofeverydescription,andevenpriests,mayreceivethebodyofJesusChristontheverydaytheyhavepollutedthemselveswithodiouscrimes;that,sofarfromsuchcommunionsimplyingirreverence,personswhopartakeoftheminthismanneractacommendablepart;thatconfessorsoughtnottokeepthembackfromtheordinance,but,onthecontrary,oughttoadvisethosewhohaverecentlycommittedsuchcrimestocommunicateimmediately;because,althoughtheChurchhasforbiddenit,thisprohibitionisannulledbytheuniversalpracticeinallplacesoftheearth。"Seewhatitis,fathers,tohaveJesuitsinallplacesoftheearth!Beholdtheuniversalpracticewhichyouhaveintroduced,andwhichyouareanxiouseverywheretomaintain!
  ItmattersnothingthatthetablesofJesusChristarefilledwithabominations,providedthatyourchurchesarecrowdedwithpeople。Besure,therefore,costwhatitmay,tosetdownallthatdaretosayawordagainstyourpracticeashereticsontheholysacrament。Buthowcanyoudothis,aftertheirrefragabletestimonieswhichtheyhavegivenoftheirfaith?Areyounotafraidofmycomingoutwiththefourgrandproofsoftheirheresywhichyouhaveadduced?Youought,atleast,tobeso,fathers,andIoughtnottospareyourblushing。Letus,then,proceedtoexamineproofthefirst。"M。deSt。Cyran,"saysFatherMeynier,"consolingoneofhisfriendsuponthedeathofhismother(tom。i。,let。14),saysthatthemostacceptablesacrificethatcanbeoffereduptoGod,onsuchoccasions,isthatofpatience;thereforeheisaCalvinist。"Thisismarvellouslyshrewdreasoning,fathers;andIdoubtifanybodywillbeabletodiscovertheprecisepointofit。Letuslearnit,then,fromhisownmouth。"Because,"saysthismightycontroversialist,"itisobviousthathedoesnotbelieveinthesacrificeofthemass;forthisis,ofallothersacrifices,themostacceptableuntoGod。"Whowillventuretosaynowthatthedonotknowhowtoreason?
  Why,theyknowthearttosuchperfectionthattheywillextractheresyoutofanythingyouchoosetomention,notevenexceptingtheHolyScriptureitself!Forexample,mightitnotbehereticaltosay,withthewisemaninEcclesiasticus,"Thereisnothingworsethantolovemoney";asifadultery,murder,oridolatry,werenotfargreatercrimes?Whereisthemanwhoisnotinthehabitofusingsimilarexpressionseveryday?Maywenotsay,forinstance,thatthemostacceptableofallsacrificesintheeyesofGodisthatofacontriteandhumbledheart;justbecause,indiscoursesofthisnature,wesimplymeantocomparecertaininternalvirtueswithoneanother,andnotwiththesacrificeofthemass,whichisofatotallydifferentorder,andinfinitelymoreexalted?Isthisnotenoughtomakeyouridiculous,fathers?Andisitnecessary,tocompleteyourdiscomfiture,thatIshouldquotethepassagesofthatletterinwhichM。deSt。Cyranspeaksofthesacrificeofthemassas"themostexcellent"ofallothers,inthefollowingterms?"LettherebepresentedtoGod,dailyandinallplaces,thesacrificeofthebodyofhisSon,whocouldnotfindamoreexcellentwaythanthatbywhichhemighthonourhisFather。"Andafterwards:
  "JesusChristhasenjoinedustotake,whenwearedying,hissacrificedbody,torendermoreacceptabletoGodthesacrificeofourown,andtojoinhimselfwithusatthehourofdissolution;totheendthathemaystrengthenusforthestruggle,sanctifying,byhispresence,thelastsacrificewhichwemaketoGodofourlifeandourbody"?Pretendtotakenonoticeofallthis,fathers,andpersistinmaintaining,asyoudoinpage39,thatherefusedtotakethecommuniononhisdeath—bed,andthathedidnotbelieveinthesacrificeofthemass。Nothingcanbetoogrossforcalumniatorsbyprofession。Yoursecondprooffurnishesanexcellentillustrationofthis。TomakeaCalvinistofM。deSt。Cyran,towhomyouascribethebookofPetrusAurelius,youtakeadvantageofapassage(page80)inwhichAureliusexplainsinwhatmannertheChurchactstowardspriests,andevenbishops,whomshewishestodegradeordepose。"TheChurch,"hesays,"beingincapableofdeprivingthemofthepoweroftheorder,thecharacterofwhichisindelible,shedoesallthatshecando:shebanishesfromhermemorythecharacterwhichshecannotbanishfromthesoulsoftheindividualswhohavebeenonceinvestedwithit;sheregardstheminthesamelightasiftheywerenotbishopsorpriests;sothat,accordingtotheordinarylanguageoftheChurch,itmaybesaidtheyarenolongersuch,althoughtheyalwaysremainsuch,inasfarasthecharacterisconcerned—
  obindelebilitatemcharacteris。"Youperceive,fathers,thatthisauthor,whohasbeenapprovedbythreegeneralassembliesoftheclergyofFrance,plainlydeclaresthatthecharacterofthepriesthoodisindelible;andyetyoumakehimsay,onthecontrary,intheverysamepassage,that"thecharacterofthepriesthoodisnotindelible。"ThisiswhatIwouldcallanotoriousslander;inotherwords,accordingtoyournomenclature,asmallvenialsin。Andthereasonis,thisbookhasdoneyousomeharmbyrefutingtheheresiesofyourbrethreninEnglandtouchingtheEpiscopalauthority。Butthefollyofthechargeisequallyremarkable;for,afterhavingtakenitforgranted,withoutanyfoundation,thatM。deSt。Cyranholdsthepriestlycharactertobenotindelible,youconcludefromthisthathedoesnotbelieveintherealpresenceofJesusChristintheeucharist。