WhetheritbethattheMolinistdoctorswouldnotcondescendsofarastoenlightenusonthepoint，orforsomeothermysteriousreason，thefactistheyhavedonenothingmorethanpronouncethesewords："Thispropositionisrash，impious，blasphemous，accursed，andheretical！"Wouldyoubelieveit，sir，thatmostpeople，findingthemselvesdeceivedintheirexpectations，havegotintobadhumor，andbegintofallfouluponthecensorsthemselves？
TheyaredrawingstrangeinferencesfromtheirconductinfavourofM。
Arnauld’sinnocence。"What！"theyaresaying，"isthisallthatcouldbeachieved，duringallthistime，bysomanydoctorsjoininginafuriousattackononeindividual？Cantheyfindnothinginallhisworksworthyofreprehension，butthreelines，andtheseextracted，wordforword，fromthegreatestdoctorsoftheGreekandLatinChurches？Isthereanyauthorwhateverwhosewritings，wereitintendedtoruinhim，wouldnotfurnishamorespeciouspretextforthepurpose？Andwhathigherproofcouldbefurnishedoftheorthodoxyofthisillustriousaccused？"Howcomesittopass，"theyadd，"thatsomanydenunciationsarelaunchedinthiscensure，intowhichtheyhavecrowdedsuchtermsas’poison，pestilence，horror，rashness，impiety，blasphemy，abomination，execration，anathema，heresy’—
themostdreadfulepithetsthatcouldbeusedagainstArius，orAntichristhimself；andalltocombatanimperceptibleheresy，andthat，moreover，withouttellingaswhatitis？Ifitbeagainstthewordsofthefathersthattheyinveighinthisstyle，whereisthefaithandtradition？IfagainstM。Arnauld’sproposition，letthempointoutthedifferencebetweenthetwo；forwecanseenothingbutthemostperfectharmonybetweenthem。
Assoonaswehavediscoveredtheeviloftheproposition，weshallholditinabhorrence；butsolongaswedonotseeit，orratherseenothinginthestatementbutthesentimentsoftheholyfathers，conceivedandexpressedintheirownterms，howcanwepossiblyregarditwithanyotherfeelingsthanthoseofholyveneration？"Suchisthespecimenofthewayinwhichtheyaregivingventtotheirfeelings。Butthesearebyfartoodeep—thinkingpeople。YouandI，whomakenopretensionstosuchextraordinarypenetration，maykeepourselvesquiteeasyaboutthewholeaffair。What！
wouldwebewiserthanourmasters？No：letustakeexamplefromthem，andnotundertakewhattheyhavenotventuredupon。Wewouldbesuretogetboggledinsuchanattempt。Whyitwouldbetheeasiestthingimaginable，torenderthiscensureitselfheretical。Truth，weknow，issodelicatethat，ifwemaketheslightestdeviationfromit，wefallintoerror；butthisallegederrorissoextremelyfinespunthat，ifwedivergefromitintheslightestdegree，wefallbackuponthetruth。Thereispositivelynothingbetweenthisobnoxiouspropositionandthetruthbutanimperceptiblepoint。ThedistancebetweenthemissoimpalpablethatIwasinterrorlest，frompureinabilitytoperceiveit，Imight，inmyover—anxietytoagreewiththedoctorsoftheSorbonne，placemyselfinoppositiontothedoctorsoftheChurch。Underthisapprehension，Ijudgeditexpedienttoconsultoneofthosewho，throughpolicy，wasneutralonthefirstquestion，thatfromhimImightlearntherealstateofthematter。Ihaveaccordinglyhadaninterviewwithoneofthemostintelligentofthatparty，whomI
requestedtopointouttomethedifferencebetweenthetwothings，atthesametimefranklyowningtohimthatIcouldseenone。Heappearedtobeamusedatmysimplicityandreplied，withasmile："Howsimpleitisinyoutobelievethatthereisanydifference！Why，wherecoulditbe？Doyouimaginethat，iftheycouldhavefoundoutanydiscrepancybetweenM。Arnauldandthefathers，theywouldnothaveboldlypointeditoutandbeendelightedwiththeopportunityofexposingitbeforethepublic，inwhoseeyestheyaresoanxioustodepreciatethatgentleman？"Icouldeasilyperceive，fromthesefewwords，thatthosewhohadbeenneutralonthefirstquestionwouldnotallprovesoonthesecond；but，anxioustohearhisreasons，Iasked："Why，then，havetheyattackedthisunfortunateproposition？"
"Isitpossible，"hereplied，"youcanbeignorantofthesetwothings，whichIthoughthadbeenknowntotheveriesttyrointhesematters？that，ontheonehand，M。ArnauldhasuniformlyavoidedadvancingasingletenetwhichisnotpowerfullysupportedbythetraditionoftheChurch；andthat，ontheotherhand，hisenemieshavedetermined，costwhatitmay，tocutthatgroundfromunderhim；and，accordingly，thatasthewritingsoftheformeraffordednohandletothedesignsofthelatter，theyhavebeenobliged，inordertosatiatetheirrevenge，toseizeonsomeproposition，itmatterednotwhat，andtocondemnitwithouttellingwhyorwherefore。
Donotyouknowhowthekeepthemincheck，andannoythemsodesperatelythattheycannotdroptheslightestwordagainsttheprinciplesofthefatherswithoutbeingincontinentlyoverwhelmedwithwholevolumes，underthepressureofwhichtheyareforcedtosuccumb？Sothat，afteragreatmanyproofsoftheirweakness，theyhavejudgeditmoretothepurpose，andmuchlesstroublesome，tocensurethantoreply—itbeingamucheasiermatterwiththemtofindmonksthanreasons。""Whythen，"saidI，"ifthisbethecase，theircensureisnotworthastraw；forwhowillpayanyregardtoit，whentheyseeittobewithoutfoundation，andrefuted，asitnodoubtwillbe，bytheanswersgiventoit？""Ifyouknewthetemperofpeople，"repliedmyfriendthedoctor，"youwouldtalkinanothersortofway。Theircensure，censurableasitis，willproducenearlyallitsdesignedeffectforatime；andalthough，bytheforceofdemonstration，itiscertainthat，incourseoftime，itsinvaliditywillbemadeapparent，itisequallytruethat，atfirst，itwilltellaseffectuallyonthemindsofmostpeopleasifithadbeenthemostrighteoussentenceintheworld。
Letitonlybecriedaboutthestreets：’HereyouhavethecensureofM。
Arnauld！—hereyouhavethecondemnationoftheJansenists！’andtheJesuitswillfindtheiraccountinit。Howfewwilleverreadit！Howfew，ofthemwhodoread，willunderstandit！Howfewwillobservethatitanswersnoobjections！Howfewwilltakethemattertoheart，orattempttosiftittothebottom！Mark，then，howmuchadvantagethisgivestotheenemiesoftheJansenists。Theyaresuretomakeatriumphofit，thoughavainone，asusual，forsomemonthsatleast—andthatisagreatmatterforthem，theywilllookoutafterwardsforsomenewmeansofsubsistence。
Theylivefromhandtomouth，sir。Itisinthiswaytheyhavecontrivedtomaintainthemselvesdowntothepresentday。Sometimesitisbyacatechisminwhichachildismadetocondemntheiropponents；thenitisbyaprocession，inwhichsufficientgraceleadstheefficaciousintriumph；againitisbyacomedy，inwhichJanseniusisrepresentedascarriedoffbydevils；
atanothertimeitisbyanalmanac；andnowitisbythiscensure。""Ingoodsooth，"saidI"IwasonthepointoffindingfaultwiththeconductoftheMolinists；butafterwhatyouhavetoldme，ImustsayIadmiretheirprudenceandtheirpolicy。IseeperfectlywellthattheycouldnothavefollowedasaferormoreJudiciouscourse。""Youareright，"returnedhe；"theirsafestpolicyhasalwaysbeentokeepsilent；andthisledacertainlearneddivinetoremark，’thatthecleverestamongthemarethosewhointriguemuch，speaklittle，andwritenothing。’"Itisonthisprinciplethat，fromthecommencementofthemeetings，theyprudentlyordainedthat，ifM。ArnauldcameintotheSorbonne，itmustbesimplytoexplainwhathebelieved，andnottoenterthelistsofcontroversywithanyone。Theexaminers，havingventuredtodepartalittlefromthisprudentarrangement，sufferedfortheirtemerity。Theyfoundthemselvesrathertoovigourouslyrefutedbyhissecondapology。"Onthesameprinciple，theyhadrecoursetothatrareandverynoveldeviceofthehalf—hourandthesand—glass。
Bythismeanstheyridthemselvesoftheimportunityofthosetroublesomedoctors，whomightundertaketorefutealltheirarguments，toproducebookswhichmightconvictthemofforgery，toinsistonareply，andreducethemtothepredicamentofhavingnonetogive。"Itisnotthattheyweresoblindasnottoseethatthisencroachmentonliberty，whichhasinducedsomanydoctorstowithdrawfromthemeetings，woulddonogoodtotheircensure；andthattheprotestofnullity，takenonthisgroundbyM。Arnauldbeforeitwasconcluded，wouldbeabadpreambleforsecuringitafavourablereception。Theyknowverywellthatunprejudicedpersonsplacefullyasmuchweightonthejudgementofseventydoctors，whohadnothingtogainbydefendingM。Arnauld，asonthatofahundredotherswhohadnothingtolosebycondemninghim。But，uponthewhole，theyconsideredthatitwouldbeofvastimportancetohaveacensure，althoughitshouldbetheactofapartyonlyintheSorbonne，andnotofthewholebody；althoughitshouldbecarriedwithlittleornofreedomofdebateandobtainedbyagreatmanysmallmanoeuvresnotexactlyaccordingtoorder；althoughitshouldgivenoexplanationofthematterindispute；althoughitshouldnotpointoutinwhatthisheresyconsists，andshouldsayaslittleaspossibleaboutit，forfearofcommittingamistake。Thisverysilenceisamysteryintheeyesofthesimple；andthecensurewillreapthissingularadvantagefromit，thattheymaydefythemostcriticalandsubtletheologianstofindinitasingleweakargument。"Keepyourselfeasy，then，anddonotbeafraidofbeingsetdownasaheretic，thoughyoushouldmakeuseofthecondemnedproposition。Itisbad，Iassureyou，onlyasoccurringinthesecondletterofM。Arnauld。Ifyouwillnotbelievethisstatementonmyword，IreferyoutoM。leMoine，themostzealousoftheexaminers，who，inthecourseofconversationwithadoctorofmyacquaintancethisverymorning，onbeingaskedbyhimwherelaythepointofdifferenceindispute，andifonewouldnolongerbeallowedtosaywhatthefathershadsaidbeforehim，madethefollowingexquisitereply：’Thispropositionwouldbeorthodoxinthemouthofanyother—itisonlyascomingfromM。ArnauldthattheSorbonnehascondemnedit！’YoumustnowbepreparedtoadmirethemachineryofMolinism，whichcanproducesuchprodigiousoverturningsintheChurch—thatwhatisCatholicinthefathersbecomeshereticalinM。Arnauld—thatwhatishereticalintheSemi—PelagiansbecomesorthodoxinthewritingsoftheJesuits；theancientdoctrineofSt。Augustinebecomesanintolerableinnovation，andnewinventions，dailyfabricatedbeforeoureyes，passfortheancientfaithoftheChurch。"Sosaying，hetookhisleaveofme。Thisinformationhassatisfiedmypurpose。Igatherfromitthatthissameheresyisoneofanentirelynewspecies。ItisnotthesentimentsofM。Arnauldthatareheretical；itisonlyhisperson。
Thisisapersonalheresy。Heisnotahereticforanythinghehassaidorwritten，butsimplybecauseheisM。Arnauld。Thisisalltheyhavetosayagainsthim。Dowhathemay，unlessheceasetobe，hewillneverbeagoodCatholic。ThegraceofSt。Augustinewillneverbethetruegrace，solongashecontinuestodefendit。Itwouldbecomesoatonce，werehetotakeitintohisheadtoimpugnit。Thatwouldbeasurestroke，andalmosttheonlyplanforestablishingthetruthanddemolishingMolinism；
suchisthefatalityattendingalltheopinionswhichheembraces。Letusleavethem，then，tosettletheirowndifferences。Thesearethedisputesoftheologians，notoftheology。We，whoarenodoctors，havenothingtodowiththeirquarrels。Tellourfriendsthenewsofthecensure，andlovemewhileIam，&；c。LETTERIVParis，February25，1656SIR，NothingcancomeuptotheJesuits。IhaveseenJacobins，doctors，andallsortsofpeopleinmyday，butsuchaninterviewasIhavejusthadwaswantingtocompletemyknowledgeofmankind。Othermenaremerelycopiesofthem。Asthingsarealwaysfoundbestatthefountainhead，Ipaidavisittooneoftheablestamongthem，incompanywithmytrustyJansenist—thesamewhoaccompaniedmetotheDominicans。BeingparticularlyanxioustolearnsomethingofadisputewhichtheyhavewiththeJansenistsaboutwhattheycallactualgrace，IsaidtotheworthyfatherthatIwouldbemuchobligedtohimifhewouldinstructmeonthispoint—thatIdidnotevenknowwhatthetermmeantandwouldthankhimtoexplainit。"Withallmyheart，"theJesuitreplied；
"forIdearlyloveinquisitivepeople。Actualgrace，accordingtoourdefinition，’isaninspirationofGod，wherebyHemakesustoknowHiswillandexciteswithinusadesiretoperformit。’""Andwhere，"saidI，"liesyourdifferencewiththeJansenistsonthissubject？""Thedifferencelieshere，"hereplied；
"weholdthatGodbestowsactualgraceonallmenineverycaseoftemptation；
forwemaintainthatunlessapersonhave，whenevertempted，actualgracetokeephimfromsinning，hissin，whateveritmaybe，canneverbeimputedtohim。TheJansenists，ontheotherhand，affirmthatsins，thoughcommittedwithoutactualgrace，are，nevertheless，imputed；buttheyareapackoffools。"Igotaglimpseofhismeaning；but，toobtainfromhimafullerexplanation，Iobserved："Mydearfather，itisthatphraseactualgracethatpuzzlesme；Iamquiteastrangertoit，andifyouwouldhavethegoodnesstotellmethesamethingoveragain，withoutemployingthatterm，youwouldinfinitelyobligeme。""Verygood，"returnedthefather；"thatistosay，youwantmetosubstitutethedefinitioninplaceofthethingdefined；thatmakesnoalterationofthesense；Ihavenoobjections。Wemaintainit，then，asanundeniableprinciple，thatanactioncannotbeimputedasasin，unlessGodbestowonus，beforecommittingit，theknowledgeoftheevilthatisintheaction，andaninspirationincitingustoavoidit。Doyouunderstandmenow？"Astonishedatsuchadeclaration，accordingtowhich，nosinsofsurprise，noranyofthosecommittedinentireforgetfulnessofGod，couldbeimputed，IturnedroundtomyfriendtheJansenistandeasilydiscoveredfromhislooksthathewasofadifferentwayofthinking。
Butashedidnotutteraword，Isaidtothemonk，"Iwouldfainwish，mydearfather，tothinkthatwhatyouhavenowsaidistrue，andthatyouhavegoodproofsforit。""Proofs，sayyou！"heinstantlyexclaimed：
"Ishallfurnishyouwiththeseverysoon，andtheverybestsorttoo；
letmealoneforthat。"Sosaying，hewentinsearchofhisbooks，andItookthisopportunityofaskingmyfriendiftherewasanyotherpersonwhotalkedinthismanner？"Isthissostrangetoyou？"hereplied。"Youmaydependuponitthatneitherthefathers，northepopes，norcouncils，norScripture，noranybookofdevotionemploysuchlanguage；but，ifyouwishcasuistsandmodernschoolmen，hewillbringyouagoodlynumberofthemonhisside。""O！butIcarenotafigabouttheseauthors，iftheyarecontrarytotradition，"Isaid。"Youareright，"hereplied。Ashespoke，thegoodfatherenteredtheroom，ladenwithbooks；andpresentingtomethefirstthatcametohand。"Readthat，"hesaid；"thisisTheSummaryofSins，byFatherBauny—thefiftheditiontoo，yousee，whichshowsthatitisagoodbook。""Itisapity，however，"whisperedtheJansenistinmyear，"thatthissamebookhasbeencondemnedatRome，andbythebishopsofFrance。""Lookatpage906，"saidthefather。Ididsoandreadasfollows：
"InordertosinandbecomeculpableinthesightofGod，itisnecessarytoknowthatthethingwewishtodoisnotgood，oratleasttodoubtthatitis—tofearortojudgethatGodtakesnopleasureintheactionwhichwecontemplate，butforbidsit；andinspiteofthis，tocommitthedeed，leapthefence，andtransgress。""Thisisagoodcommencement，"I
remarked。"Andyet，"saidhe，"markhowfarenvywillcarrysomepeople。
ItwasonthatverypassagethatM。Hallier，beforehebecameoneofourfriends，banteredFatherBauny，byapplyingtohimthesewords：Eccequitollitpeccatamundi—’Beholdthemanthattakethawaythesinsoftheworld！’""Certainly，"saidI，"accordingtoFatherBauny，wemaybesaidtobeholdaredemptionofanentirelynewdescription。""Wouldyouhaveamoreauthenticwitnessonthepoint？"addedhe。"HereisthebookofFatherAnnat。ItisthelastthathewroteagainstM。Arnauld。Turnuptopage34，wherethereisadog’sear，andreadthelineswhichIhavemarkedwithpencil—theyoughttobewritteninlettersofgold。"Ithenreadthesewords："HethathasnothoughtofGod，norofhissins，noranyapprehension（thatis，asheexplainedit，anyknowledge）ofhisobligationtoexercisetheactsoflovetoGodorcontrition，hasnoactualgraceforexercisingthoseacts；butitisequallytruethatheisguiltyofnosininomittingthem，andthat，ifheisdamned，itwillnotbeasapunishmentforthatomission。"Andafewlinesbelow，headds："Thesamethingmaybesaidofaculpablecommission。""Yousee，"saidthemonk，"howhespeaksofsinsofomissionandofcommission。Nothingescapeshim。
Whatsayyoutothat？""Say！"Iexclaimed。"Iamdelighted！WhatacharmingtrainofconsequencesdoIdiscoverflowingfromthisdoctrine！Icanseethewholeresultsalready；andsuchmysteriespresentthemselvesbeforeme！Why，Iseemorepeople，beyondallcomparison，justifiedbythisignoranceandforgetfulnessofGod，thanbygraceandthesacraments！But，mydearfather，areyounotinspiringmewithadelusivejoy？Areyousurethereisnothingherelikethatsufficiencywhichsufficesnot？IamterriblyafraidoftheDistinguo；Iwastakeninwiththatoncealready！Areyouquiteinearnest？""Hownow！"criedthemonk，beginningtogetangry，"hereisnomatterforjesting。Iassureyouthereisnosuchthingasequivocationhere。""Iamnotmakingajestofit，saidI；"butthatiswhatIreallydread，frompureanxietytofindittrue。""Wellthen，"hesaid，"toassureyourselfstillmoreofit，herearethewritingsofM。leMoine，whotaughtthedoctrineinafullmeetingoftheSorbonne。Helearneditfromus，tobesure；buthehasthemeritofhavingcleareditupmostadmirably。
Ohowcircumstantiallyhegoestowork！Heshowsthat，inordertomakeoutactiontobeasin，allthesethingsmusthavepassedthroughthemind。
Read，andweigheveryword。"IthenreadwhatInowgiveyouinatranslationfromtheoriginalLatin："1。Ontheonehand，Godshedsabroadonthesoulsomemeasureoflove，whichgivesitabiastowardthethingcommanded；
andontheother，arebelliousconcupiscencesolicitsitintheoppositedirection。2。Godinspiresthesoulwithaknowledgeofitsownweakness。
3。Godrevealstheknowledgeofthephysicianwhocanhealit。4。Godinspiresitwithadesiretobehealed。5。Godinspiresadesiretoprayandsolicithisassistance。""Andunlessallthesethingsoccurandpassthroughthesoul，"addedthemonk，"theactionisnotproperlyasin，andcannotbeimputed，asM。leMoineshowsinthesameplaceandinwhatfollows。Wouldyouwishtohaveotherauthoritiesforthis？Heretheyare。""Allmodernones，however，"whisperedmyJansenistfriend。"SoIperceive，"saidI
tohimaside；andthen，turningtothemonk："Omydearsir，"criedI，"whatablessingthiswillbetosomepersonsofmyacquaintance！Imustpositivelyintroducethemtoyou。Youhavenever，perhaps，metwithpeoplewhohadfewersinstoaccountforallyourlife。For，inthefirstplace，theyneverthinkofGodatall；theirviceshavegotthebetteroftheirreason；theyhaveneverknowneithertheirweaknessorthephysicianwhocancureit；theyhaveneverthoughtof’desiringthehealthoftheirsoul，’
andstilllessof’prayingtoGodtobestowit’；sothat，accordingtoM。leMoine，theyarestillinthestateofbaptismalinnocence。Theyhave’neverhadathoughtoflovingGodorofbeingcontritefortheirsins’；
sothat，accordingtoFatherAnnat，theyhavenevercommittedsinthroughthewantofcharityandpenitence。Theirlifeisspentinaperpetualroundofallsortsofpleasures，inthecourseofwhichtheyhavenotbeeninterruptedbytheslightestremorse。Theseexcesseshadledmetoimaginethattheirperditionwasinevitable；butyou，father，informmethatthesesameexcessessecuretheirsalvation。Blessingsonyou，mygoodfather，forthiswayofjustifyingpeople！Othersprescribepainfulausteritiesforhealingthesoul；butyoushowthatsoulswhichmaybethoughtdesperatelydistemperedareinquitegoodhealth。Whatanexcellentdeviceforbeinghappybothinthisworldandinthenext！IhadalwayssupposedthatthelessamanthoughtofGod，themorehesinned；but，fromwhatIseenow，ifonecouldonlysucceedinbringinghimselfnottothinkuponGodatall，everythingwouldbepurewithhiminalltimecoming。Awaywithyourhalf—and—halfsinners，whoretainsomesneakingaffectionforvirtue！Theywillbedamnedeveryoneofthem，thesesemi—sinners。Butcommendmetoyourarrantsinners—
hardened，unalloyed，out—and—out，thorough—bredsinners。Hellisnoplaceforthem；theyhavecheatedthedevil，purelybyvirtueoftheirdevotiontohisservice！"Thegoodfather，whosawverywelltheconnectionbetweentheseconsequencesandhisprinciple，dexterouslyevadedthem；and，maintaininghistemper，eitherfromgoodnatureorpolicy，hemerelyreplied："Toletyouunderstandhowweavoidtheseinconveniences，youmustknowthat，whileweaffirmthatthesereprobatestowhomyoureferwouldbewithoutsiniftheyhadnothoughtsofconversionandnodesirestodevotethemselvestoGod，wemaintainthattheyallactuallyhavesuchthoughtsanddesires，andthatGodneverpermittedamantosinwithoutgivinghimpreviouslyaviewoftheevilwhichhecontemplated，andadesire，eithertoavoidtheoffence，oratalleventstoimplorehisaidtoenablehimtoavoidit；andnonebutJansenistswillassertthecontrary。""Strange！father，"
returnedI；"isthis，then，theheresyoftheJansenists，todenythateverytimeamancommitsasinheistroubledwitharemorseofconscience，inspiteofwhich，he’leapsthefenceandtransgresses，’asFatherBaunyhasit？Itisrathertoogoodajoketobemadeahereticforthat。Icaneasilybelievethatamanmaybedamnedfornothavinggoodthoughts；butitneverwouldhaveenteredmyheadtoimaginethatanymancouldbesubjectedtothatdoomfornotbelievingthatallmankindmusthavegoodthoughts！
But，father，Iholdmyselfboundinconsciencetodisabuseyouandtoinformyouthattherearethousandsofpeoplewhohavenosuchdesires—whosinwithoutregret—whosinwithdelight—whomakeaboastofsinning。Andwhooughttoknowbetteraboutthesethingsthanyourself。？YoucannothavefailedtohaveconfessedsomeofthosetowhomIallude；foritisamongpersonsofhighrankthattheyaremostgenerallytobemetwith。
Butmark，father，thedangerousconsequencesofyourmaxim。Doyounotperceivewhateffectitmayhaveonthoselibertineswholikenothingbetterthantofindoutmatterofdoubtinreligion？Whatahandledoyougivethem，whenyouassurethem，asanarticleoffaith，that，oneveryoccasionwhentheycommitasin，theyfeelaninwardpresentimentoftheevilandadesiretoavoidit？Isitnotobviousthat，feelingconvincedbytheirownexperienceofthefalsityofyourdoctrineonthispoint，whichyousayisamatteroffaith，theywillextendtheinferencedrawnfromthistoalltheotherpoints？Theywillarguethat，sinceyouarenottrustworthyinonearticle，youaretobesuspectedinthemall；andthusyoushutthemuptoconcludeeitherthatreligionisfalseorthatyoumustknowverylittleaboutit。"HeremyfriendtheJansenist，followingupmyremarks，saidtohim："Youwoulddowell，father，ifyouwishtopreserveyourdoctrine，nottoexplainsopreciselyasyouhavedonetouswhatyoumeanbyactualgrace。For，howcouldyou，withoutforfeitingallcreditintheestimationofmen，openlydeclarethatnobodysinswithouthavingpreviouslytheknowledgeofhisweakness，andofaphysician，orthedesireofacure，andofaskingitofGod？Willitbebelieved，onyourword，thatthosewhoareimmersedinavarice，impurity，blasphemy，duelling，revenge，robberyandsacrilege，havereallyadesiretoembracechastity，humility，andtheotherChristianvirtues？Canitbeconceivedthatthosephilosopherswhoboastedsoloudlyofthepowersofnature，knewitsinfirmityanditsphysician？WillyoumaintainthatthosewhohelditasasettledmaximthatisnotGodthatbestowsvirtue，andthatnooneeveraskeditfromhim，’wouldthinkofaskingitforthemselves？WhocanbelievethattheEpicureans，whodeniedadivineprovidence，everfeltanyinclinationtopraytoGod？menwhosaidthat’itwouldbeaninsulttoinvoketheDeityinournecessities，asifhewerecapableofwastingathoughtonbeingslikeus？’Inaword，howcanitbeimaginedthatidolatersandatheists，everytimetheyaretemptedtothecommissionofsin，inotherwords，infinitelyoftenduringtheirlives，haveadesiretopraytothetrueGod，ofwhomtheyareignorant，thathewouldbestowonthemvirtuesofwhichtheyhavenoconception？"
"Yes，"saidtheworthymonk，inaresolutetone，"wewillaffirmit：andsoonerthanallowthatanyonesinswithouthavingtheconsciousnessthatheisdoingevil，andthedesireoftheoppositevirtue，wewillmaintainthatthewholeworld，reprobatesandinfidelsincluded，havetheseinspirationsanddesiresineverycaseoftemptation。Youcannotshowme，fromtheScriptureatleast，thatthisisnotthetruth。"OnthisremarkIstruckin，byexclaiming：
"What！father，mustwehaverecoursetotheScripturetodemonstrateathingsoclearasthis？Thisisnotapointoffaith，norevenofreason。
Itisamatteroffact：weseeit—weknowit—wefeelit。"ButtheJansenist，keepingthemonktohisownterms，addressedhimasfollows："Ifyouarewilling，father，tostandorfallbyScripture，Iamreadytomeetyouthere；onlyyoumustpromisetoyieldtoitsauthority；and，sinceitiswrittenthat’GodhasnotrevealedhisjudgementstotheHeathen，butleftthemtowanderintheirownways，’youmustnotsaythatGodhasenlightenedthosewhomtheSacredWritingsassureus’hehasleftindarknessandintheshadowofdeath。’Isitnotenoughtoshowtheerroneousnessofyourprinciple，tofindthatSt。Paulcallshimself’thechiefofsinners，’