Andhencethepopes，whoholdnothingingreaterhorrorthanthesesurprisals，have，byaletterofAlexanderIII，enactedanecclesiasticalstatute，whichisinsertedinthecanonicallaw，topermitthesuspensionoftheexecutionoftheirbullsanddecretals，whenthereisgroundtosuspectthattheyhavebeenimposedupon。"If，"saysthatpopetotheArchbishopofRavenna，"wesometimessenddecretalstoyourfraternitywhichareopposedtoyoursentiments，giveyourselvesnodistressonthataccount。Weshallexpectyoueithertocarrythemrespectfullyintoexecution，ortosendusthereasonwhyyouconceivetheyoughtnottobeexecuted；forwedeemitrightthatyoushouldnotexecuteadecreewhichmayhavebeenprocuredfromusbyartificeandsurprise。"Suchhasbeenthecoursepursuedbythepopes，whosesoleobjectistosettlethedisputesofChristians，andnottofollowthepassionatecounselsofthosewhostrivetoinvolvethemintroubleandperplexity。FollowingtheadviceofSt。PeterandSt。Paul，whointhisfollowedthecommandmentofJesusChrist，theyavoiddomination。
　　Thespiritwhichappearsintheirwholeconductisthatofpeaceandtruth。
　　Inthisspirittheyordinarilyinsertintheirlettersthisclause，whichistacitlyunderstoodinthemall："Siitaest；siprecesveritatenitantur—
　　Ifitbesoaswehaveheardit；ifthefactsbetrue。"Itisquiteclear，ifthepopesthemselvesgivenoforcetotheirbulls，exceptinsofarastheyarefoundedongenuinefacts，thatitisnotthebullsalonethatprovethetruthofthefacts，butthat，onthecontrary，evenaccordingtothecanonists，itisthetruthofthefactswhichrendersthebullslawfullyadmissible。Inwhatway，then，arewetolearnthetruthoffacts？
　　Itmustbebytheeyes，father，whicharethelegitimatejudgesofsuchmatters，asreasonistheproperjudgeofthingsnaturalandintelligible，andfaithofthingssupernaturalandrevealed。For，sinceyouwillforcemeintothisdiscussion，youmustallowmetotellyouthat，accordingtothesentimentsofthetwogreatestdoctorsoftheChurch，St。AugustineandSt。Thomas，thesethreeprinciplesofourknowledge，thesenses，reason，andfaith，haveeachtheirseparateobjectsandtheirowndegreesofcertainty。
　　AndasGodhasbeenpleasedtoemploytheinterventionofthesensestogiveentrancetofaith（for"faithcomethbyhearing"），itfollows，thatsofarfromfaithdestroyingthecertaintyofthesenses，tocallinquestionthefaithfulreportofthesenseswouldleadtothedestructionoffaith。
　　ItisonthisprinciplethatSt。ThomasexplicitlystatesthatGodhasbeenpleasedthatthesensibleaccidentsshouldsubsistintheeucharist，inorderthatthesenses，whichjudgeonlyoftheseaccidents，mightnotbedeceived。Weconclude，therefore，fromthis，thatwhateverthepropositionmaybethatissubmittedtoourexamination，wemustfirstdetermineitsnature，toascertaintowhichofthosethreeprinciplesitoughttobereferred。Ifitrelatetoasupernaturaltruth，wemustjudgeofitneitherbythesensesnorbyreason，butbyScriptureandthedecisionsoftheChurch。Shoulditconcernanunrevealedtruthandsomethingwithinthereachofnaturalreason，reasonmustbeitsproperjudge。Andifitembraceapointoffact，wemustyieldtothetestimonyofthesenses，towhichitnaturallybelongstotakecognizanceofsuchmatters。Sogeneralisthisrulethat，accordingtoSt。AugustineandSt。Thomas，whenwemeetwithapassageevenintheScripture，theliteralmeaningofwhich，atfirstsight，appearscontrarytowhatthesensesorreasonarecertainlypersuadedof，wemustnotattempttorejecttheirtestimonyinthiscase，andyieldthemuptotheauthorityofthatapparentsenseoftheScripture，butwemustinterprettheScripture，andseekoutthereinanothersenseagreeabletothatsensibletruth；because，theWordofGodbeinginfallibleinthefactswhichitrecords，andtheinformationofthesensesandofreason，actingintheirsphere，beingcertainalso，itfollowsthattheremustbeanagreementbetweenthesetwosourcesofknowledge。AndasScripturemaybeinterpretedindifferentways，whereasthetestimonyofthesensesisuniform，wemustinthesemattersadoptasthetrueinterpretationofScripturethatviewwhichcorrespondswiththefaithfulreportofthesenses。
　　"Twothings，"saysSt。Thomas，"mustbeobserved，accordingtothedoctrineofSt。Augustine：first，ThatScripturehasalwaysonetruesense；andsecondly，Thatasitmayreceivevarioussenses，whenwehavediscoveredonewhichreasonplainlyteachestobefalse，wemustnotpersistinmaintainingthatthisisthenaturalsense，butsearchoutanotherwithwhichreasonwillagree。St。ThomasexplainshismeaningbytheexampleofapassageinGenesiswhereitiswrittenthat"Godcreatedtwogreatlights，thesunandthemoon，andalsothestars，"inwhichtheScripturesappeartosaythatthemoonisgreaterthanallthestars；butasitisevident，fromunquestionabledemonstration，thatthisisfalse，itisnotourduty，saysthatsaint，obstinatelytodefendtheliteralsenseofthatpassage；
　　anothermeaningmustbesought，consistentwiththetruthofthefact，suchasthefollowing，"Thatthephrasegreatlight，asappliedtothemoon，denotesthegreatnessofthatluminarymerelyasitappearsinoureyes，andnotthemagnitudeofitsbodyconsideredinitself。"Anoppositemodeoftreatment，sofarfromprocuringrespecttotheScripture，wouldonlyexposeittothecontemptofinfidels；because，asSt。Augustinesays，"whentheyfoundthatwebelieved，ontheauthorityofScripture，inthingswhichtheyassuredlyknewtobefalse，theywouldlaughatourcredulitywithregardtoitsmorereconditetruths，suchastheresurrectionofthedeadandeternallife。""Andbythismeans，"addsSt。Thomas，"weshouldrenderourreligioncontemptibleintheireyes，andshutupitsentranceintotheirminds。Andletmeadd，father，thatitwouldinthesamemannerbethelikeliestmeanstoshutuptheentranceofScriptureintothemindsofheretics，andtorenderthepope’sauthoritycontemptibleintheireyes，torefuseallthosethenameofCatholicswhowouldnotbelievethatcertainwordswereinacertainbook，wheretheyarenottobefound，merelybecauseapopebymistakehasdeclaredthattheyare。Itisonlybyexaminingabookthatwecanascertainwhatwordsitcontains。Mattersoffactcanonlybeprovedbythesenses。Ifthepositionwhichyoumaintainbetrue，showit，orelseasknomantobelieveit—thatwouldbetonopurpose。
　　Notallthepowersonearthcan，bytheforceofauthority，persuadeusofapointoffact，anymorethantheycanalterit；fornothingcanmakethattobenotwhichreallyis。Itwastonopurpose，forexample，thatthemonksofRatisbonprocuredfromPopeSt。LeoIXasolemndecree，bywhichhedeclaredthatthebodyofSt。Denis，thefirstbishopofParis，whoisgenerallyheldtohavebeentheAreopagite，hadbeentransportedoutofFranceandconveyedintothechapeloftheirmonastery。Itisnotthelesstrue，forallthis，thatthebodyofthatsaintalwayslay，andliestothishour，inthecelebratedabbeywhichbearshisname，andwithinthewallsofwhichyouwouldfinditnoeasymattertoobtainacordialreceptiontothisbull，althoughthepopehasthereinassuredusthathehasexaminedtheaffair"withallpossiblediligence（diligentissime），andwiththeadviceofmanybishopsandprelates；sothathestrictlyenjoinsalltheFrench（districtepraecipientes）toownandconfessthattheseholyrelicsarenolongerintheircountry。"TheFrench，however，whoknewthatfacttobeuntrue，bytheevidenceoftheirowneyes，andwho，uponopeningtheshrine，foundallthoserelicsentire，asthehistoriansofthatperiodinformus，believedthen，astheyhavealwaysbelievedsince，thereverseofwhatthatholypopehadenjoinedthemtobelieve，wellknowingthatevensaintsandprophetsareliabletobeimposedupon。ItwastoequallylittlepurposethatyouobtainedagainstGalileoadecreefromRomecondemninghisopinionrespectingthemotionoftheearth。Itwillneverbeprovedbysuchanargumentasthisthattheearthremainsstationary；
　　andifitcanbedemonstratedbysureobservationthatitistheearthandnotthesunthatrevolves，theeffortsandargumentsofallmankindputtogetherwillnothinderourplanetfromrevolving，norhinderthemselvesfromrevolvingalongwithher。Again，youmustnotimaginethatthelettersofPopeZachary，excommunicatingSt。Virgiliusformaintainingtheexistenceoftheantipodes，haveannihilatedtheNewWorld；normustyousupposethat，althoughhedeclaredthatopiniontobeamostdangerousheresy，theKingofSpainwaswrongingivingmorecredencetoChristopherColumbus，whocamefromtheplace，thantothejudgementofthepope，whohadneverbeenthere，orthattheChurchhasnotderivedavastbenefitfromthediscovery，inasmuchasithasbroughttheknowledgeoftheGospeltoagreatmultitudeofsoulswhomightotherwisehaveperishedintheirinfidelity。
　　Yousee，then，father，whatisthenatureofmattersoffact，andonwhatprinciplestheyaretobedetermined；fromallwhich，torecurtooursubject，itiseasytoconcludethat，ifthefivepropositionsarenotinJansenius，itisimpossiblethattheycanhavebeenextractedfromhim；andthattheonlywaytoformajudgementonthematter，andtoproduceuniversalconviction，istoexaminethatbookinaregularconference，asyouhavebeendesiredtodolongago。Untilthatbedone，youhavenorighttochargeyouropponentswithcontumacy；fortheyareasblamelessinregardtothepointoffactastheyareoferrorsinpointoffaith—Catholicsindoctrine，reasonableinfact，andinnocentinboth。Whocanhelpfeelingastonishment，then，father，toseeontheonesideavindicationsocomplete，andontheotheraccusationssooutrageous！Whowouldsupposethattheonlyquestionbetweenyourelatestoasinglefactofnoimportance，whichtheonepartywishestheothertobelievewithoutshowingittothem！AndwhowouldeverimaginethatsuchanoiseshouldhavebeenmadeintheChurchfornothing（pronihilo），asgoodSt。Bernardsays！Butthisisjustoneoftheprincipaltricksofyourpolicy，tomakepeoplebelievethateverythingisatstake，when，inreality，thereisnothingatstake；andtorepresenttothoseinfluentialpersonswholistentoyouthatthemostperniciouserrorsofCalvin，andthemostvitalprinciplesofthefaith，areinvolvedinyourdisputes，withtheviewofinducingthem，underthisconviction，toemployalltheirzealandalltheirauthorityagainstyouropponents，asifthesafetyoftheCatholicreligiondependeduponit；Whereas，iftheycametoknowthatthewholedisputewasaboutthispaltrypointoffact，theywouldgivethemselvesnoconcernaboutit，butwould，onthecontrary，regretextremelythat，togratifyyourprivatepassions，theyhadmadesuchexertionsinanaffairofnoconsequencetotheChurch。For，infine，totaketheworstviewofthematter，eventhoughitshouldbetruethatJanseniusmaintainedthesepropositions，whatgreatmisfortunewouldaccruefromsomepersonsdoubtingofthefact，providedtheydetestedthepropositions，astheyhavepubliclydeclaredthattheydo？Isitnotenoughthattheyarecondemnedbyeverybody，withoutexception，andthat，too，inthesenseinwhichyouhaveexplainedthatyouwishthemtobecondemned？WouldtheybemoreseverelycensuredbysayingthatJanseniusmaintainedthem？Whatpurpose，then，wouldbeservedbyexactingthisacknowledgment，exceptthatofdisgracingadoctorandbishop，whodiedinthecommunionoftheChurch？Icannotseehowthatshouldbeaccountedsogreatablessingastodeservetobepurchasedattheexpenseofsomanydisturbances。Whatinteresthasthestate，orthepope，orbishops，ordoctors，ortheChurchatlarge，inthisconclusion？Itdoesnotaffecttheminanywaywhatever，father；itcanaffectnonebutyourSociety，whichwouldcertainlyenjoysomepleasurefromthedefamationofanauthorwhohasdoneyousomelittleinjury。Meanwhileeverythingisinconfusion，becauseyouhavemadepeoplebelievethateverythingisindanger。Thisisthesecretspringgivingimpulsetoallthosemightycommotions，whichwouldceaseimmediatelyweretherealstateofthecontroversyonceknown。Andtherefore，asthepeaceoftheChurchdependedonthisexplanation，itwas，Iconceive，oftheutmostimportancethatitshouldbegiventhat，byexposingallyourdisguises，itmightbemanifesttothewholeworldthatyouraccusationswerewithoutfoundation，youropponentswithouterror，andtheChurchwithoutheresy。
　　Such，father，istheendwhichithasbeenmydesiretoaccomplish；anendwhichappearstome，ineverypointofview，sodeeplyimportanttoreligionthatIamatalosstoconceivehowthosetowhomyoufurnishsomuchoccasionforspeakingcancontrivetoremaininsilence。Grantingthattheyarenotaffectedwiththepersonalwrongswhichyouhavecommittedagainstthem，thosewhichtheChurchsuffersought，inmyopinion，tohaveforcedthemtocomplain。Besides，Iamnotaltogethersureifecclesiasticsoughttomakeasacrificeoftheirreputationtocalumny，especiallyinthematterofreligion。Theyallow，you，nevertheless，tosaywhateveryouplease；sothat，haditnotbeenfortheopportunitywhich，bymereaccident，youaffordedmeoftakingtheirpart，thescandalousimpressionswhichyouarecirculatingagainsttheminallquarterswould，inallprobability，havegoneforthwithoutcontradiction。Theirpatience，Iconfess，astonishesme；andthemoresothatIcannotsuspectitofproceedingeitherfromtimidityorfromincapacity，beingwellassuredthattheywantneitherargumentsfortheirownvindication，norzealforthetruth。AndyetI
　　seethemreligiouslybentonsilence，toadegreewhichappearstomealtogetherunjustifiable。Formypart，father，IdonotbelievethatIcanpossiblyfollowtheirexample。LeavetheChurchinpeace，andIshallleaveyouasyouare，withallmyheart；butsolongasyoumakeityoursolebusinesstokeepherinconfusion，doubtnotbutthatthereshallalwaysbefoundwithinherbosomchildrenofpeacewhowillconsiderthemselvesboundtoemployalltheirendeavourstopreservehertranquillity。LETTERXIX
　　FRAGMENTOFANINETEENTHPROVINCIALLETTER，ADDRESSEDTOFATHERANNATREVERENDSIR，IfIhavecausedyousomedissatisfaction，informerLetters，bymyendeavourstoestablishtheinnocenceofthosewhomyouwerelabouringtoasperse，Ishallaffordyoupleasureinthepresentbymakingyouacquaintedwiththesufferingswhichyouhaveinflicteduponthem。Becomforted，mygoodfather，theobjectsofyourenmityareindistress！AndiftheReverendtheBishopsshouldbeinducedtocarryout，intheirrespectivedioceses，theadviceyouhavegiventhem，tocausetobesubscribedandswornacertainmatteroffact，whichis，initself，notcredible，andwhichitcannotbeobligatoryuponanyonetobelieve—
　　youwillindeedsucceedinplungingyouropponentstothedepthofsorrow，atwitnessingtheChurchbroughtintosoabjectacondition。Yes，sir，Ihaveseenthem；anditwaswithasatisfactioninexpressible！Ihaveseentheseholymen；andthiswastheattitudeinwhichtheywerefound。
　　Theywerenotwraptupinaphilosophicmagnanimity；theydidnotaffecttoexhibitthatindiscriminatefirmnesswhichurgesimplicitobediencetoeverymomentaryimpulsiveduty；noryetweretheyinaframeofweaknessandtimidity，whichwouldpreventthemfromeitherdiscerningthetruth，orfollowingitwhendiscerned。ButIfoundthemwithmindspious，composed，andunshaken；impressedwithameekdeferenceforecclesiasticalauthority；
　　withtendernessofspirit，zealfortruth，andadesiretoascertainandobeyherdictates：filledwithasalutarysuspicionofthemselves，distrustingtheirowninfirmity，andregrettingthatitshouldbethusexposedtotrial；
　　yetwithal，sustainedbyamodesthopethattheirLordwilldeigntoinstructthembyhisilluminations，andsustainthembyhispower；andbelievingthatthatoftheirSaviour，whosesacredinfluencesitistheirendeavourtomaintain，andforwhosecausetheyarebroughtintosuffering，willbeatoncetheirguideandtheirsupport！Ihave，infine，seenthemmaintainingacharacterofChristianpiety，whosepower
　　Ifoundthemsurroundedbytheirfriends，whohadhastenedtoimpartthosecounselswhichtheydeemedthemostfittingintheirpresentexigency。
　　Ihaveheardthosecounsels；Ihaveobservedthemannerinwhichtheywerereceived，andtheanswersgiven：andtruly，myfather，hadyouyourselfbeenpresent，Ithinkyouwouldhaveacknowledgedthat，intheirwholeprocedure，therewastheentireabsenceofaspiritofinsubordinationandschism；andthattheironlydesireandaimwastopreserveinviolatetwothings—totheminfinitelyprecious—peaceandtruth。For，afterduerepresentationshadbeenmadetothemofthepenaltiestheywoulddrawuponthemselvesbytheirrefusaltosigntheConstitution，andthescandalitmightcauseintheChurch，theirreplywas。
　　THEEND