Donotexpectmetoanswerthis，fathers。Ifyouhavegotnocommonsense，Iamnotabletofurnishyouwithit。Allwhopossessanyshareofitwillenjoyaheartylaughatyourexpense。Norwilltheytreatwithgreaterrespectyourthirdproof，whichrestsuponthefollowingwords，takenfromtheBookofFrequentCommunion："IntheeucharistGodvouchsafesusthesamefoodthatHebestowsonthesaintsinheaven，withthisdifferenceonly，thathereHewithholdsfromusitssensiblesightandtaste，reservingbothofthesefortheheavenlyworld。"ThesewordsexpressthesenseoftheChurchsodistinctlythatIamconstantlyforgettingwhatreasonyouhaveforpickingaquarrelwiththem，inordertoturnthemtoabaduse；
forIcanseenothingmoreinthemthanwhattheCouncilofTrentteaches（sess。xiii，c。8），namely，thatthereisnodifferencebetweenJesusChristintheeucharistandJesusChristinheaven，exceptthathereheisveiled，andthereheisnot。M。ArnaulddoesnotsaythatthereisnodifferenceinthemannerofreceivingJesusChrist，butonlythatthereisnodifferenceinJesusChristwhoisreceived。Andyetyouwould，inthefaceofallreason，interprethislanguageinthispassagetomeanthatJesusChristisnomoreeatenwiththemouthinthisworldthanheisinheaven；uponwhichyougroundthechargeofheresyagainsthim。Youreallymakemesorryforyou，fathers。Mustweexplainthisfurthertoyou？Whydoyouconfoundthatdivinenourishmentwiththemannerofreceivingit？Thereisbutonepointofdifference，asIhavejustobserved，betwixtthatnourishmentuponearthandinheaven，whichisthathereitishiddenunderveilswhichdepriveusofitssensiblesightandtaste；buttherearevariouspointsofdissimilarityinthemannerofreceivingithereandthere，theprincipalofwhichis，asM。Arnauldexpressesit（p。3，ch。16），"thathereitentersintothemouthandthebreastbothofthegoodandofthewicked，"whichisnotthecaseinheaven。And，ifyourequiretobetoldthereasonofthisdiversity，Imayinformyou，fathers，thatthecauseofGod’sordainingthesedifferentmodesofreceivingthesamefoodisthedifferencethatexistsbetwixtthestateofChristiansinthislifeandthatoftheblessedinheaven。ThestateoftheChristian，asCardinalPerronobservesafterthefathers，holdsamiddleplacebetweenthestateoftheblessedandthestateoftheJews。ThespiritsinblisspossessJesusChristreally，withoutveilorfigure。TheJewspossessedJesusChristonlyinfiguresandveils，suchasthemannaandthepaschallamb。AndChristianspossessJesusChristintheeucharistreallyandtruly，althoughstillconcealedunderveils。"God，"saysSt。Eucher，"hasmadethreetabernacles：thesynagogue，whichhadtheshadowsonly，withoutthetruth；theChurch，whichhasthetruthandshadowstogether；andheaven，wherethereisnoshadow，butthetruthalone。"Itwouldbeadeparturefromourpresentstate，whichisthestateoffaith，opposedbySt。Paulaliketothelawandtoopenvision，didwepossessthefiguresonly，withoutJesusChrist；foritisthepropertyofthelawtohavethemerefigure，andnotthesubstanceofthings。Anditwouldbeequallyadeparturefromourpresentstateifwepossessedhimvisibly；becausefaith，accordingtothesameapostle，dealsnotwiththingsthatareseen。Andthustheeucharist，fromitsincludingJesusChristtruly，thoughunderaveil，isinperfectaccordancewithourstateoffaith。Itfollowsthatthisstatewouldbedestroyed，if，asthehereticsmaintain，JesusChristwerenotreallyunderthespeciesofbreadandwine；
anditwouldbeequallydestroyedifwereceivedhimopenly，astheydoinheaven：since，onthesesuppositions，ourstatewouldbeconfounded，eitherwiththestateofJudaismorwiththatofglory。Such，fathers，isthemysteriousanddivinereasonofthismostdivinemystery。ThisitisthatfillsuswithabhorrenceattheCalvinists，whowouldreduceustotheconditionoftheJews；andthisitisthatmakesusaspiretothegloryofthebeatified，whereweshallbeintroducedtothefullandeternalenjoymentofJesusChrist。FromhenceyoumustseethatthereareseveralpointsofdifferencebetweenthemannerinwhichhecommunicateshimselftoChristiansandtotheblessed；andthat，amongstothers，heisinthisworldreceivedbythemouth，andnotsoinheaven；butthattheyalldependsolelyonthedistinctionbetweenourstateoffaithandtheirstateofimmediatevision。Andthisisprecisely，fathers，whatM。Arnauldhasexpressed，withgreatplainness，inthefollowingterms："TherecanbenootherdifferencebetweenthepurityofthosewhoreceiveJesusChristintheeucharistandthatoftheblessed，thanwhatexistsbetweenfaithandtheopenvisionofGod，uponwhichalonedependsthedifferentmannerinwhichheiseatenuponearthandinheaven。"Youwereboundinduty，fathers，tohavereveredinthesewordsthesacredtruthstheyexpress，insteadofwrestingthemforthepurposeofdetectinganhereticalmeaningwhichtheynevercontained，norcouldpossiblycontain，namely，thatJesusChristiseatenbyfaithonly，andnotbythemouth；themaliciousperversionofyourFathersAnnatandMeynier，whichformsthecapitalcountoftheirindictment。Conscious，however，ofthewretcheddeficiencyofyourproofs，youhavehadrecoursetoanewartifice，whichisnothinglessthantofalsifytheCouncilofTrent，inordertoconvictM。Arnauldofnonconformitywithit；sovastisyourstoreofmethodsformakingpeopleheretics。ThisfeathasbeenachievedbyFatherMeynier，infiftydifferentplacesofhisbook，andabouteightortentimesinthespaceofasinglepage（the54th），whereinheinsiststhattospeaklikeatrueCatholicitisnotenoughtosay，"IbelievethatJesusChristisreallypresentintheeucharist，"butwemustsay，"Ibelieve，withthecouncil，thatheispresentbyatruelocalpresence，orlocally。"And，inproofofthis，hecitesthecouncil，sessionxiii，canon3d，canon4th，andcanon6th。Whowouldnotsuppose，uponseeingthetermlocalpresencequotedfromthreecanonsofauniversalcouncil，thatthephrasewasactuallytobefoundinthem？Thismighthaveservedyourturnverywell，beforetheappearanceofmyFifteenthLetter；but，asmattersnowstand，fathers，thetrickhasbecometoostaleforus。Wegoourwayandconsultthecouncil，anddiscoveronlythatyouarefalsifiers。
Suchtermsaslocalpresence，locally，andlocality，neverexistedinthepassagestowhichyourefer；andletmetellyoufurther，theyarenottobefoundinanyothercanonofthatcouncil，norinanyotherpreviouscouncil，notinanyfatheroftheChurch。Allowme，then，toaskyou，fathers，ifyoumeantocastthesuspicionofCalvinismuponallthathavenotmadeuseofthatpeculiarphrase？Ifthisbethecase，theCouncilofTrentmustbesuspectedofheresy，andalltheholyfatherswithoutexception。
HaveyounootherwayofmakingM。Arnauldheretical，withoutabusingsomanyotherpeoplewhoneverdidyouanyharm，and，amongtherest，St。
Thomas，whoisoneofthegreatestchampionsoftheeucharist，andwho，sofarfromemployingthatterm，hasexpresslyrejectedit—"NullomodocorpusChristiestinhocsacramentolocaliter。—BynomeansisthebodyofChristinthissacramentlocally"？Whoareyou，then，fathers，topretend，onyourauthority，toimposenewterms，andordainthemtobeusedbyallforrightlyexpressingtheirfaith；asiftheprofessionofthefaith，drawnupbythepopesaccordingtotheplanofthecouncil，inwhichthistermhasnoplace，weredefective，andleftanambiguityinthecreedofthefaithfulwhichyouhadthesolemeritofdiscovering？Suchapieceofarrogance，toprescribetheseterms，eventolearneddoctors！suchapieceofforgery，toattributethemtogeneralcouncils！andsuchignorance，nottoknowtheobjectionswhichthemostenlightenedsaintshavemadetotheirreception！"Beashamedoftheerrorofyourignorance，"astheScripturesaysofignorantimpostorslikeyou，"Demendacioineruditionistuaeconfundere。"Giveupallfurtherattempts，then，toactthemasters；
youhaveneithercharacternorcapacityforthepart。If，however，youwouldbringforwardyourpropositionswithalittlemoremodesty，theymightobtainahearing。For，althoughthisphrase，localpresence，hasbeenrejected，asyouhaveseen，bySt。Thomas，onthegroundthatthebodyofJesusChristisnotintheeucharist，intheordinaryextensionofbodiesintheirplaces，theexpressionhas，nevertheless，beenadoptedbysomemoderncontroversialwriters，whounderstanditsimplytomeanthatthebodyofJesusChrististrulyunderthespecies，whichbeinginaparticularplace，thebodyofJesusChrististherealso。AndinthissenseM。Arnauldwillmakenoscrupletoadmittheterm，asM。deSt。CyranandhehaverepeatedlydeclaredthatJesusChristintheeucharististrulyinaparticularplace，andmiraculouslyinmanyplacesatthesametime。
Thusallyoursubtletiesfalltotheground；andyouhavefailedtogivetheslightestsemblanceofplausibilitytoanaccusationwhichoughtnottohavebeenallowedtoshowitsfacewithoutbeingsupportedbythemostunanswerableproofs。Butwhatavailsit，fathers，toopposetheirinnocencetoyourcalumnies？Youimputetheseerrorstothem，notinthebeliefthattheymaintainheresy，butfromtheideathattheyhavedoneyouinjury。
Thatisenough，accordingtoyourtheology，towarrantyoutocalumniatethemwithoutcriminality；andyoucan，withouteitherpenanceorconfession，saymass，attheverytimethatyouchargepriests，whosayiteveryday，withholdingittobepureidolatry；which，wereittrue，wouldamounttosacrilegenolessrevoltingthanthatofyourownFatherJarrige，whomyouyourselvesorderedtobehangedineffigy，forhavingsaidmass"atthetimehewasinagreementwithGeneva。"Whatsurprisesme，therefore，isnotthelittlescrupulositywithwhichyouloadthemwithcrimesofthefoulestandfalsestdescription，butthelittleprudenceyoudisplay，byfixingonthemchargessodestituteofplausibility。Youdisposeofsins，itistrue，atyourpleasure；butdoyoumeantodisposeofmen’sbeliefstoo？Verily，fathers，ifthesuspicionofCalvinismmustneedsfalleitheronthemoronyou，youwouldstand，Ifear，onveryticklishground。TheirlanguageisasCatholicasyours；buttheirconductconfirmstheirfaith，andyourconductbeliesit。Forifyoubelieve，aswellastheydo，thatthebreadisreallychangedintothebodyofJesusChrist，whydoyounotrequire，astheydo，fromthosewhomyouadvisetoapproachthealtar，thattheheartofstoneandiceshouldbesincerelychangedintoaheartoffleshandoflove？IfyoubelievethatJesusChristisinthatsacramentinastateofdeath，teachingthosethatapproachittodietotheworld，tosin，andtothemselves，whydoyousufferthosetoprofaneitinwhosebreastsevilpassionscontinuetoreigninalltheirlifeandvigour？Andhowdoyoucometojudgethoseworthytoeatthebreadofheaven，whoarenotworthytoeatthatofearth？Preciousvotaries，truly，whosezealisexpendedinpersecutingthosewhohonourthissacredmysterybysomanyholycommunions，andinflatteringthosewhodishonouritbysomanysacrilegiousdesecrations！Howcomelyisit，inthesechampionsofasacrificesopureandsovenerable，tocollectaroundthetableofJesusChristacrowdofhardenedprofligates，reekingfromtheirdebauchcries；
andtoplantinthemidstofthemapriest，whomhisownconfessorhashurriedfromhisobscenitiestothealtar；there，intheplaceofJesusChrist，toofferupthatmostholyvictimtotheGodofholiness，andconveyit，withhispollutedhands，intomouthsasthoroughlypollutedashisown！Howwelldoesitbecomethosewhopursuethiscourse"inallpartsoftheworld，"inconformitywithmaximssanctionedbytheirowngeneraltoimputetotheauthorofFrequentCommunion，andtotheSistersoftheHolySacrament，thecrimeofnotbelievinginthatsacrament！Eventhis，however，doesnotsatisfythem。NothinglesswillsatiatetheirragethantoaccusetheiropponentsofhavingrenouncedJesusChristandtheirbaptism。
Thisisnoair—builtfable，likethoseofyourinvention；itisafact，anddenotesadeliriousfrenzywhichmarksthefatalconsummationofyourcalumnies。Suchanotoriousfalsehoodasthiswouldnothavebeeninhandsworthytosupportit，haditremainedinthoseofyourgoodfriendFilleau，throughwhomyouushereditintotheworld：yourSocietyhasopenlyadoptedit；andyourFatherMeyniermaintainedittheotherdaytobe"acertaintruth"thatPort—Royalhas，forthespaceofthirty—fiveyears，beenformingasecretplot，ofwhichM。deSt。CyranandM。d’Ypreshavebeentheringleaders，"toruinthemysteryoftheincarnation—tomaketheGospelpassforanapocryphalfable—toexterminatetheChristianreligion，andtoerectDeismupontheruinsofChristianity。"Isthisenough，fathers？Willyoubesatisfiedifallthisbebelievedoftheobjectsofyourhate？Wouldyouranimositybegluttedatlength，ifyoucouldbutsucceedinmakingthemodious，notonlytoallwithintheChurch，bythechargeof"consentingwithGeneva，ofwhichyouaccusethem，buteventoallwhobelieveinJesusChrist，thoughbeyondthepaleoftheChurch，bytheimputationofDeism？Butwhomdoyouexpecttoconvince，uponyoursimpleasseveration，withouttheslightestshadowofproof，andinthefaceofeveryimaginablecontradiction，thatpriestswhopreachnothingbutthegraceofJesusChrist，thepurityoftheGospel，andtheobligationsofbaptism，haverenouncedatoncetheirbaptism，theGospel，andJesusChrist？Whowillbelieveit，fathers？Wretchedasyouare，doyoubelieveityourselves？Whatasadpredicamentisyours，whenyoumusteitherprovethattheydonotbelieveinJesusChrist，ormustpassforthemostabandonedcalumniators。Proveit，then，fathers。
Namethat"worthyclergyman"who，yousay，attendedthatassemblyatBourg—Fontainein1621，anddiscoveredtoBrotherFilleauthedesignthereconcertedofoverturningtheChristianreligion。Namethosesixpersonswhomyouallegetohaveformedthatconspiracy。NametheindividualwhoisdesignatedbythelettersA。A。，whoyousay"wasnotAntonyArnauld"（becauseheconvincedyouthathewasatthattimeonlynineyearsofage），"butanotherperson，whoyousayisstillinlife，buttoogoodafriendofM。Arnauldnottobeknowntohim。"Youknowhim，then，fathers；andconsequently，ifyouarenotdestituteofreligionyourselves，youareboundtodelatethatimpiouswretchtothekingandparliament，thathemaybepunishedaccordingtohisdeserts。Youmustspeakout，fathers；youmustnametheperson，orsubmittothedisgraceofbeinghenceforthregardedinnootherlightthanascommonliars，unworthyofbeingevercreditedagain。GoodFatherValerienhastaughtusthatthisisthewayinwhichsuchcharactersshouldbe"puttotherack"andbroughttotheirsenses。Yoursilenceuponthepresentchallengewillfurnishafullandsatisfactoryconfirmationofthisdiabolicalcalumny。Yourblindestadmirerswillbeconstrainedtoadmitthatitwillbe"theresult，notofyourgoodness，butyourimpotency"；
andtowonderhowyoucouldbesowickedastoextendyourhatredeventothenunsofPort—Royal，andtosay，asyoudoinpage14，thatTheSecretChapletoftheHolySacrament，composedbyoneoftheirnumber，wasthefirstfruitofthatconspiracyagainstJesusChrist；or，asinpage95，that"theyhaveimbibedallthedetestableprinciplesofthatwork"；whichis，accordingtoyouraccount，alessoninDeism。"Yourfalsehoodsregardingthatbookhavealreadybeentriumphantlyrefuted，inthedefenceofthecensureofthelateArchbishopofParisagainstFatherBrisacier。Thatpublicationyouareincapableofanswering；andyetyoudonotscrupletoabuseitinamoreshamefulmannerthanever，forthepurposeofchargingwomen，whosepietyisuniversallyknown，withthevilestblasphemy。Cruel，cowardlypersecutors！Must，then，themostretiredcloistersaffordnoretreatfromyourcalumnies？Whiletheseconsecratedvirginsareemployed，nightandday，accordingtotheirinstitution，inadoringJesusChristintheholysacrament，youceasenot，nightnorday，topublishabroadthattheydonotbelievethatheiseitherintheeucharistorevenattherighthandofhisFather；andyouarepubliclyexcommunicatingthemfromtheChurch，attheverytimewhentheyareinsecretprayingforthewholeChurch，andforyou！Youblackenwithyourslandersthosewhohaveneitherearstohearnormouthstoansweryou！ButJesusChrist，inwhomtheyarenowhidden，nottoappeartillonedaytogetherwithhim，hearsyou，andanswersforthem。AtthemomentIamnowwriting，thatholyandterriblevoiceisheardwhichconfoundsnatureandconsolestheChurch。
AndIfear，fathers，thatthosewhonowhardentheirhearts，andrefusewithobstinacytohearhim，whilehespeaksinthecharacterofGod，willonedaybecompelledtohearhimwithterror，whenhespeakstotheminthecharacterofajudge。Whataccount，indeed，fathers，willyoubeabletorendertohimofthemanycalumniesyouhaveuttered，seeingthathewillexaminethem，inthatday，notaccordingtothefantasiesofFathersDicastille，Gans，andPennalossa，whojustifythem，butaccordingtotheeternallawsoftruth，andthesacredordinancesofhisownChurch，which，sofarfromattemptingtovindicatethatcrime，abhorsittosuchadegreethatshevisitsitwiththesamepenaltyaswilfullmurder？BythefirstandsecondcouncilsofArlesshehasdecidedthatthecommunionshallbedeniedtoslanderersaswellasmurderers，tilltheapproachofdeath。
TheCouncilofLateranhasjudgedthoseunworthyofadmissionintotheecclesiasticalstatewhohavebeenconvictedofthecrime，eventhoughtheymayhavereformed。Thepopeshaveeventhreatenedtodepriveofthecommunionatdeaththosewhohavecalumniatedbishops，priests，ordeacons。
Andtheauthorsofadefamatorylibel，whofailtoprovewhattheyhaveadvanced，arecondemnedbyPopeAdriantobewhipped，—yes，reverendfathers，flagellenturistheword。SostronghasbeentherepugnanceoftheChurchatalltimestotheerrorsofyourSociety—aSocietysothoroughlydepravedastoinventexcusesforthegrossestofcrimes，suchascalumny，chieflythatitmayenjoythegreaterfreedominperpetratingthemitself。Therecanbenodoubt，fathers，thatyouwouldbecapableofproducingabundanceofmischiefinthisway，hadGodnotpermittedyoutofurnishwithyourownhandsthemeansofpreventingtheevil，andofrenderingyourslandersperfectlyinnocuous；for，todepriveyouofallcredibility，itwasquiteenoughtopublishthestrangemaximthatitisnocrimetocalumniate。
Calumnyisnothing，ifnotassociatedwithahighreputationforhonesty。
Thedefamercanmakenoimpression，unlesshehasthecharacterofonethatabhorsdefamationasacrimeofwhichheisincapable。Andthus，fathers，youarebetrayedbyyourownprinciple。Youestablishthedoctrinetosecureyourselvesasafeconscience，thatyoumightslanderwithoutriskofdamnation，andberankedwiththose"piousandholycalumniators"ofwhomSt。Athanasiusspeaks。Tosaveyourselvesfromhell，youhaveembracedamaximwhichpromisesyouthissecurityonthefaithofyourdoctors；butthissamemaxim，whileitguaranteesyou，accordingtotheiridea，againsttheevilsyoudreadinthefutureworld，deprivesyouofalltheadvantageyoumayhaveexpectedtoreapfromitinthepresent；sothat，inattemptingtoescapetheguilt，youhavelostthebenefitofcalumny。Suchistheself—contrarietyofevil，andsocompletelydoesitconfoundanddestroyitselfbyitsownintrinsicmalignity。Youmighthaveslandered，therefore，muchmoreadvantageouslyforyourselves，hadyouprofessedtohold，withSt。Paul，thatevilspeakersarenotworthytoseeGod；forinthiscase，thoughyouwouldindeedhavebeencondemningyourselves，yourslanderswouldatleasthavestoodabetterchanceofbeingbelieved。But，bymaintaining，asyouhavedone，thatcalumnyagainstyourenemiesisnocrime，yourslanderswillbediscredited，andyouyourselvesdamnedintothebargain；fortwothingsarecertain，fathers：
first，ThatitwillneverbeinthepowerofyourgravedoctorstoannihilatethejusticeofGod；and，secondly，ThatyoucouldnotgivemorecertainevidencethatyouarenotoftheTruththanbyyourresortingtofalsehood。
IftheTruthwereonyourside，shewouldfightforyou—shewouldconquerforyou；andwhateverenemiesyoumighthavetoencounter，"theTruthwouldsetyoufree"fromthem，accordingtoherpromise。Butyouhavehadrecoursetofalsehood，fornootherdesignthantosupporttheerrorswithwhichyouflatterthesinfulchildrenofthisworld，andtobolsterupthecalumnieswithwhichyoupersecuteeverymanofpietywhosetshisfaceagainstthesedelusions。Thetruthbeingdiametricallyopposedtoyourends，itbehoovedyou，tousethelanguageoftheprophet，"toputyourconfidenceinlies。"
Youhavesaid："Thescourgeswhichafflictmankindshallnotcomenighuntous；forwehavemadeliesourrefuge，andunderfalsehoodhavewehidourselves。"Butwhatsaystheprophetinreplytosuch？"Forasmuch，"
sayshe，"asyehaveputyourtrustincalumnyandtumult—sperastisincalumniaetintumultu—thisiniquityandyourruinshallbelikethatofahighwallwhosebreakingcomethsuddenlyataninstant。Andheshallbreakitasthebreakingofthepotter’svesselthatisshiveredinpieces"—
withsuchviolencethat"thereshallnotbefoundintheburstingofitashredtotakefirefromthehearth，ortotakewaterwithaloutofthepit。""Because，"asanotherprophetsays，"yehavemadetheheartoftherighteoussad，whomIhavenotmadesad；andyehaveflatteredandstrengthenedthemaliceofthewicked；Iwillthereforedelivermypeopleoutofyourhands，andyeshallknowthatIamtheirLordandyours。"Yes，fathers，itistobehopedthatifyoudonotrepent，Godwilldeliveroutofyourhandsthosewhomyouhavesolongdeluded，eitherbyflatteringthemintheirevilcourseswithyourlicentiousmaxims，orbypoisoningtheirmindswithyourslanders。HewillconvincetheformerthatthefalserulesofyourcasuistswillnotscreenthemfromHisindignation；andHewillimpressonthemindsofthelatterthejustdreadoflosingtheirsoulsbylisteningandyieldingcredittoyourslanders，asyouloseyoursbyhatchingtheseslandersanddisseminatingthemthroughtheworld。Letnomanbedeceived；
Godisnotmocked；nonemayviolatewithimpunitythecommandmentwhichHehasgivenusintheGospel，nottocondemnourneighbourwithoutbeingwellassuredofhisguilt。And，consequently，whatprofessionsoeverofpietythosemaymakewholendawillingeartoyourlyingdevices，andunderwhatpretencesoeverofdevotiontheymayentertainthem，theyhavereasontoapprehendexclusionfromthekingdomofGod，solelyforhavingimputedcrimesofsuchadarkcomplexionasheresyandschismtoCatholicpriestsandholynuns，uponnobetterevidencethansuchvilefabricationsasyours。"Thedevil，"saysM。deGeneve，"isonthetongueofhimthatslanders，andintheearofhimthatlistenstotheslanderer。""Andevilspeaking，"saysSt。Bernard，"isapoisonthatextinguishescharityinbothoftheparties；sothatasinglecalumnymayprovemortaltoaninfinitenumbersofsouls，killingnotonlythosewhopublishit，butallthosebesidesbywhomitisnotrepudiated。"Reverendfathers，myletterswerenotwonteithertobesoprolix，ortofollowsocloselyononeanother。
Wantoftimemustpleadmyexcuseforbothofthesefaults。Thepresentletterisaverylongone，simplybecauseIhadnoleisuretomakeitshorter。
YouknowthereasonofthishastebetterthanIdo。Youhavebeenunluckyinyouranswers。Youhavedonewell，therefore，tochangeyourplan；butIamafraidthatyouwillgetnocreditforit，andthatpeoplewillsayitwasdoneforfearoftheBenedictines。IhavejustcometolearnthatthepersonwhowasgenerallyreportedtobetheauthorofyourApologies，disclaimsthem，andisannoyedattheirhavingbeenascribedtohim。Hehasgoodreason，andIwaswrongtohavesuspectedhimofanysuchthing；
for，inspiteoftheassuranceswhichIreceived，Ioughttohaveconsideredthathewasamanoftoomuchgoodsensetobelieveyouraccusations，andoftoomuchhonourtopublishthemifhedidnotbelievethem。Therearefewpeopleintheworldcapableofyourextravagances；theyarepeculiartoyourselves，andmarkyourcharactertooplainlytoadmitofanyexcuseforhavingfailedtorecognizeyourhandintheirconcoction。Iwasledawaybythecommonreport；butthisapology，whichwouldbetoogoodforyou，isnotsufficientforme，whoprofesstoadvancenothingwithoutcertainproof。InnootherinstancehaveIbeenguiltyofdepartingfromthisrule。
IamsorryforwhatIsaid。Iretractit；andIonlywishthatyoumayprofitbymyexample。LETTERXVII
TOTHEREVERENDFATHERANNAT，JESUITJanuary23，1657REVERENDFATHER，Yourformerbehaviourhadinducedmetobelievethatyouwereanxiousforatruceinourhostilities，andIwasquitedisposedtoagreethatitshouldbeso。Oflate，however，youhavepouredforthsuchavolleyofpamphlets，insuchrapidsuccession，astomakeitapparentthatpeacerestsonaveryprecariousfootingwhenitdependsonthesilenceofJesuits。Iknownotifthisrupturewillproveveryadvantageoustoyou；but，formypart，Iamfarfromregrettingtheopportunitywhichitaffordsmeofrebuttingthatstalechargeofheresywithwhichyourwritingsabound。Itisfulltime，indeed，thatIshould，onceforall，putastoptothelibertyyouhavetakentotreatmeasaheretic—apieceofgratuitousimpertinencewhichseemstoincreasebyindulgence，andwhichisexhibitedinyourlastbookinastyleofsuchintolerableassurancethat，wereInottoanswerthechargeasitdeserves，Imightlaymyselfopentothesuspicionofbeingactuallyguilty。SolongastheinsultwasconfinedtoyourassociatesIdespisedit，asIdidathousandotherswithwhichtheyinterlardedtheirproductions。TothesemyFifteenthLetterwasasufficientreply。Butyounowrepeatthechargewithadifferentair：youmakeitthemainpointofyourvindication。Itis，infact，almosttheonlythingintheshapeofargumentthatyouemploy。
Yousaythat，"asacompleteanswertomyfifteenletters，itisenoughtosayfifteentimesthatIamaheretic；and，havingbeenpronouncedsuch，Ideservenocredit。"Inshort，youmakenoquestionofmyapostasy，butassumeitasasettledpoint，onwhichyoumaybuildwithallconfidence。
Youareseriousthen，father，itwouldseem，indeemingmeaheretic。I
shallbeequallyseriousinreplyingtothecharge。Youarewellaware，sir，thatheresyisachargeofgraveacharacterthatitisanactofhighpresumptiontoadvance，withoutbeingpreparedtosubstantiateit。
Inowdemandyourproofs。WhenwasIseenatCharenton？WhendidIfailinmypresenceatmass，orinmyChristiandutytomyparishchurch？Whatactofunionwithheretics，orofschismwiththeChurch，canyoulaytomycharge？WhatcouncilhaveIcontradicted？WhatpapalconstitutionhaveIviolated？Youmustanswer，father，else—YouknowwhatImean。Andwhatdoyouanswer？Ibeseechalltoobserveit：Firstofall，youassume"thattheauthorofthelettersisaPort—Royalist"；thenyoutellus"thatPort—Royalisdeclaredtobeheretical"；and，therefore，youconclude，"theauthoroflettersmustbeaheretic。"Itisnotonme，then，father，thattheweightofthisindictmentfalls，butonPort—Royal；andIamonlyinvolvedinthecrimebecauseyousupposemetobelongtothatestablishment；sothatitwillbenodifficultmatterformetoexculpatemyselffromthecharge。IhavenomoretosaythanthatIamnotamemberofthatcommunity；