Inthefirstplace,hemakesadistinctionbetween’thecaseofthedivinerwhohasrecoursetoastrologyandothernaturalmeans,andthatofanotherwhoemploysthediabolicalart。Intheonecase,hesays,thedivinerisboundtomakerestitution;intheotherheisnot。’Now,guesswhichofthemisthepartybound?"
"Itisnotdifficulttofindoutthat,"saidI。
"Iseewhatyoumeantosay,"hereplied。"Youthinkthatheoughttomakerestitutioninthecaseofhishavingemployedtheagencyofdemons。Butyouknownothingaboutit;itisjustthereverse。’If,’
saysSanchez,’thesorcererhasnottakencareandpainstodiscover,bymeansofthedevil,whathecouldnothaveknownotherwise,hemustmakerestitution—sinullamoperamapposuitutartediaboliidsciret,butifhehasbeenatthattrouble,heisnotobliged。’"
"Andwhyso,father?"
"Don’tyouSee?"returnedhe。"Itisbecausemenmaytrulydivinebytheaidofthedevil,whereasastrologyisameresham。"
"But,sir,shouldthedevilhappennottotellthetruth(andheisnotmuchmoretobetrustedthanastrology),themagicianmust,I
shouldthink,forthesamereason,beobligedtomakerestitution?"
"Notalways,"repliedthemonk:"Distinguo,asSanchezsays,here。
Ifthemagicianbeignorantofthediabolicart—sisitartisdiabolicaeignarus—heisboundtorestore:butifheisanexpertsorcerer,andhasdoneallinhispowertoarriveatthetruth,theobligationceases;fortheindustryofsuchamagicianmaybeestimatedatacertainsumofmoney。’"
"Thereissomesenseinthat,"Isaid;"forthisisanexcellentplantoinducesorcererstoaimatproficiencyintheirart,inthehopeofmakinganhonestlivelihood,asyouwouldsay,byfaithfullyservingthepublic。"
"Youaremakingajestofit,Isuspect,"saidthefather:"thatisverywrong。Ifyouweretotalkinthatwayinplaceswhereyouwerenotknown,somepeoplemighttakeitamissandchargeyouwithturningsacredsubjectsintoridicule。"
"That,father,isachargefromwhichIcouldveryeasilyvindicatemyself;forcertainIamthatwhoeverwillbeatthetroubletoexaminethetruemeaningofmywordswillfindmyobjecttobepreciselythereverse;andperhaps,sir,beforeourconversationsareended,Imayfindanopportunityofmakingthisveryamplyapparent。"
"Ho,ho,"criedthemonk,"thereisnolaughinginyourheadnow。"
"Iconfess,"saidI,"thatthesuspicionthatIintendedtolaughatthingssacredwouldbeaspainfulformetoincurasitwouldbeunjustinanytoentertainit。"
"Ididnotsayitinearnest,"returnedthefather;"butletusspeakmoreseriously。"
"Iamquitedisposedtodoso,ifyoupreferit;thatdependsuponyou,father。ButImustsay,thatIhavebeenastonishedtoseeyourfriendscarryingtheirattentionstoallsortsandconditionsofmensofaraseventoregulatethelegitimategainsofsorcerers。"
"Onecannotwritefortoomanypeople,"saidthemonk,"norbetoominuteinparticularisingcases,norrepeatthesamethingstoooftenindifferentbooks。Youmaybeconvincedofthisbythefollowinganecdote,whichisrelatedbyoneofthegravestofourfathers,asyoumaywellsuppose,seeingheisourpresentProvincial—
thereverendFatherCellot:’Weknowaperson,’sayshe,’whowascarryingalargesumofmoney’inhispockettorestoreit,inobediencetotheordersofhisconfessor,andwho,steppingintoabookseller’sshopbytheway,inquirediftherewasanythingnew?—
numquidnovi?—whenthebooksellershowedhimabookonmoraltheology,recentlypublished;andturningovertheleavescarelessly,andwithoutreflection,helighteduponapassagedescribinghisowncase,andsawthathewasundernoobligationtomakerestitution:uponwhich,relievedfromtheburdenofhisscruples,hereturnedhomewithapursenolessheavy,andaheartmuchlighter,thanwhenheleftit—abjectascrupulisarcina,retentoauripondere,leviordomumrepetiit。’
"Say,afterhearingthat,ifitisusefulornottoknowourmaxims?Willyoulaughatthemnow?orrather,areyounotpreparedtojoinwithFatherCellotinthepiousreflectionwhichhemakesontheblessednessofthatincident?’Accidentsofthatkind,’heremarks,’are,withGod,theeffectofhisprovidence;withtheguardianangel,theeffectofhisgoodguidance;withtheindividualstowhomtheyhappen,theeffectoftheirpredestination。
Fromalleternity,Goddecidedthatthegoldenchainoftheirsalvationshoulddependonsuchandsuchanauthor,andnotuponahundredotherswhosaythesamething,becausetheyneverhappentomeetwiththem。Hadthatmannotwritten,thismanwouldnothavebeensaved。All,therefore,whofindfaultwiththemultitudeofourauthors,wewouldbeseech,inthebowelsofJesusChrist,tobewareofenvyingothersthosebookswhichtheeternalelectionofGodandthebloodofJesusChristhavepurchasedforthem!’Sucharetheeloquenttermsinwhichthislearnedmanprovessuccessfullythepropositionwhichhehadadvanced,namely,’Howusefulitmustbetohaveagreatmanywritersonmoraltheology—quamutilesitdetheologiamoralimultosscribere!’"
"Father,"saidI,"Ishalldefergivingyoumyopinionofthatpassagetoanotheropportunity;inthemeantime,Ishallonlysaythatasyourmaximsaresouseful,andasitissoimportanttopublishthem,yououghttocontinuetogivemefurtherinstructioninthem。
ForIcanassureyouthatthepersontowhomIsendthemshowsmyletterstoagreatmanypeople。Notthatweintendtoavailourselvesoftheminourowncase;but,indeed,wethinkitwillbeusefulfortheworldtobeinformedaboutthem。"
"Verywell,"rejoinedthemonk,"youseeIdonotconcealthem;
and,incontinuation,Iamreadytofurnishyou,atournextinterview,withanaccountofthecomfortsandindulgenceswhichourfathersallow,withtheviewofrenderingsalvationeasy,anddevotionagreeable;sothat,inadditiontowhatyouhavehithertolearnedastoparticularconditionsofmen,youmaylearnwhatappliesingeneraltoallclasses,andthusyouwillhavegonethroughacompletecourseofinstruction。"Sosaying,themonktookhisleaveofme。I
am,&;c。
P。S。IhavealwaysforgottotellyouthattherearedifferenteditionsofEscobar。Shouldyouthinkofpurchasinghim,IwouldadviseyoutochoosetheLyonsedition,havingonthetitlepagethedeviceofalamblyingonabooksealedwithsevenseals;ortheBrusselseditionof1651。BothofthesearebetterandlargerthanthepreviouseditionspublishedatLyonsintheyears1644and1646。
LETTERIXParis,July3,1656SIR,IshalluseaslittleceremonywithyouastheworthymonkdidwithmewhenIsawhimlast。Themomentheperceivedme,hecameforward,withhiseyesfixedonabookwhichheheldinhishand,andaccostedmethus:"’Wouldyounotbeinfinitelyobligedtoanyonewhoshouldopentoyouthegatesofparadise?Wouldyounotgivemillionsofgoldtohaveakeybywhichyoumightgainadmittancewheneveryouthoughtproper?Youneednotbeatsuchexpense;hereisone—hereareahundredformuchlessmoney。’"AtfirstIwasatalosstoknowwhetherthegoodfatherwasreading,ortalkingtome,buthesoonputthematterbeyonddoubtbyadding:"These,sir,aretheopeningwordsofafinebook,writtenbyFatherBarryofourSociety;forInevergiveyouanythingofmyown。"
"Whatbookisit?"askedI。"Hereisitstitle,"hereplied:"ParadiseopenedtoPhilagio,inaHundredDevotionstotheMotherofGod,easilypractised。""Indeed,father!andiseachoftheseeasydevotionsasufficientpassporttoheaven?""Itis,"returnedhe。"Listentowhatfollows:’ThedevotionstotheMotherofGod,whichyouwillfindinthisbook,aresomanycelestialkeys,whichwillopenwidetoyouthegatesofparadise,providedyoupractisethem’;and,accordingly,hesaysattheconclusion,’thatheissatisfiedifyoupractiseonlyoneofthem。’""Pray,then,father,doteachmeoneoftheeasiestofthem。""Theyarealleasy,"hereplied,"forexample—’SalutingtheHolyVirginwhenyouhappentomeetherimage—sayingthelittlechapletofthepleasuresoftheVirgin—ferventlypronouncingthenameofMary—commissioningtheangelstobowtoherforus—wishingtobuildherasmanychurchesasallthemonarchsonearthhavedone—biddinghergoodmorroweverymorning,andgoodnightintheevening—sayingtheAveMariaeveryday,inhonouroftheheartofMary’—
whichlastdevotion,hesays,possessestheadditionalvirtueofsecuringustheheartoftheVirgin。""But,father,"saidI,"onlyprovidedwegiveherourowninreturn,Ipresume?""That,"hereplied,"isnotabsolutelynecessary,whenapersonistoomuchattachedtotheworld。HearFatherBarry:’Heartforheartwould,nodoubt,behighlyproper;butyoursisrathertoomuchattachedtotheworld,toomuchboundupinthecreature,sothatIdarenotadviseyoutooffer,atpresent,thatpoorlittleslavewhichyoucallyourheart。’AndsohecontentshimselfwiththeAveMariawhichhehadprescribed。""Why,thisisextremelyeasywork,"saidI,"andIshouldreallythinkthatnobodywillbedamnedafterthat。""Alas!"saidthemonk,"Iseeyouhavenoideaofthehardnessofsomepeople’shearts。
Therearesome,sir,whowouldneverengagetorepeat,everyday,eventhesesimplewords,Goodday,Goodevening,justbecausesuchapracticewouldrequiresomeexertionofmemory。And,accordingly,itbecamenecessaryforFatherBarrytofurnishthemwithexpedientsstilleasier,suchaswearingachapletnightanddayonthearm,intheformofabracelet,orcarryingaboutone’spersonarosary,oranimageoftheVirgin。’And,tellmenow,’asFatherBarrysays,’ifIhavenotprovidedyouwitheasydevotionstoobtainthegoodgracesofMary?’""Extremelyeasyindeed,father,"Iobserved。"Yes,"hesaid,"itisasmuchascouldpossiblybedone,andIthinkshouldbequitesatisfactory。Forhemustbeawretchedcreatureindeed,whowouldnotspareasinglemomentinallhislifetimetoputachapletonhisarm,orarosaryinhispocket,andthussecurehissalvation;andthat,too,withsomuchcertaintythatnonewhohavetriedtheexperimenthaveeverfoundittofail,inwhateverwaytheymayhavelived;though,letmeadd,weexhortpeoplenottoomitholyliving。
Letmereferyoutotheexampleofthis,givenatp。34;itisthatofafemalewho,whileshepractiseddailythedevotionofsalutingtheimagesoftheVirgin,spentallherdaysinmortalsin,andyetwassavedafterall,bythemeritofthatsingledevotion。""Andhowso?"criedI。"OurSaviour,"hereplied,"raisedherupagain,fortheverypurposeofshowingit。Socertainitisthatnonecanperishwhopractiseanyoneofthesedevotions。""Mydearsir,"Iobserved,"IamfullyawarethatthedevotionstotheVirginareapowerfulmeansofsalvation,andthattheleastofthem,ifflowingfromtheexerciseoffaithandcharity,asinthecaseofthesaintswhohavepractisedthem,areofgreatmerit;buttomakepersonsbelievethat,bypractisingthesewithoutreformingtheirwickedlives,theywillbeconvertedbythematthehourofdeath,orthatGodwillraisethemupagain,doesappearcalculatedrathertokeepsinnersgoingonintheirevilcourses,bydeludingthemwithfalsepeaceandfoolhardyconfidence,thantodrawthemofffromsinbythatgenuineconversionwhichgracealonecaneffect。""Whatdoesitmatter,"repliedthemonk,"bywhatroadweenterparadise,providedwedoenterit?asourfamousFatherBinet,formerlyourProvincial,remarksonasimilarsubject,inhisexcellentbook,OntheMarkofPredestination。’Beitbyhookorbycrook,’ashesays,’whatneedwecare,ifwereachatlastthecelestialcity。’""Granted,"
saidI;"butthegreatquestionisifwewillgetthereatall。""TheVirginwillbeanswerableforthat,"returnedhe;"sosaysFatherBarryintheconcludinglinesofhisbook:’Ifatthehourofdeath,theenemyshouldhappentoputinsomeclaimuponyou,andoccasiondisturbanceinthelittlecommonwealthofyourthoughts,youhaveonlytosaythatMarywillanswerforyou,andthathemustmakehisapplicationtoher。’""But,father,itmightbepossibletopuzzleyou,wereonedisposedtopushthequestionalittlefurther。Who,forexample,hasassuredusthattheVirginwillbeanswerableinthiscase?""FatherBarrywillbeanswerableforher,"
hereplied。"’Asfortheprofitandhappinesstobederivedfromthesedevotions,’hesays,’Iwillbeanswerableforthat;IwillstandbailforthegoodMother。’""But,father,whoistobeanswerableforFatherBarry?""How!"criedthemonk;"forFatherBarry?ishenotamemberofourSociety;anddoyouneedtobetoldthatourSocietyisanswerableforallthebooksofitsmembers?Itishighlynecessaryandimportantforyoutoknowaboutthis。ThereisanorderinourSociety,bywhichallbooksellersareprohibitedfromprintinganyworkofourfatherswithouttheapprobationofourdivinesandthepermissionofoursuperiors。ThisregulationwaspassedbyHenryIII,10thMay1583,andconfirmedbyHenryIV,20thDecember1603,andbyLouisXIII,14thFebruary1612;sothatthewholeofourbodystandsresponsibleforthepublicationsofeachofthebrethren。Thisisafeaturequitepeculiartoourcommunity。And,inconsequenceofthis,notasingleworkemanatesfromuswhichdoesnotbreathethespiritoftheSociety。That,sir,isapieceofinformationquiteapropos。""Mygoodfather,"saidI,"youobligemeverymuch,andIonlyregretthatIdidnotknowthissooner,asitwillinducemetopayconsiderablymoreattentiontoyourauthors。""Iwouldhavetoldyousooner,"hereplied,"hadanopportunityoffered;Ihope,however,youwillprofitbytheinformationinfuture,and,inthemeantime,letusprosecuteoursubject。ThemethodsofsecuringsalvationwhichIhavementionedare,inmyopinion,veryeasy,verysure,andsufficientlynumerous;butitwastheanxiouswishofourdoctorsthatpeopleshouldnotstopshortatthisfirststep,wheretheyonlydowhatisabsolutelynecessaryforsalvationandnothingmore。Aspiring,astheydowithoutceasing,afterthegreatergloryofGod,theysoughttoelevatementoahigherpitchofpiety;and,asmenoftheworldaregenerallydeterredfromdevotionbythestrangeideastheyhavebeenledtoformofitbysomepeople,wehavedeemeditofthehighestimportancetoremovethisobstaclewhichmeetsusatthethreshold。InthisdepartmentFatherLeMoinehasacquiredmuchfame,byhisworkentitledDevotionMadeEasy,composedforthisverypurpose。Thepicturewhichhedrawsofdevotioninthisworkisperfectlycharming。Noneeverunderstoodthesubjectbeforehim。Onlyhearwhathesaysinthebeginningofhiswork:’Virtuehasneverasyetbeenseenaright;
noportraitofherhithertoproduced,hasbornetheleastverisimilitude。
Itisbynomeanssurprisingthatsofewhaveattemptedtoscaleherrockyeminence。Shehasbeenheldupasacross—tempereddame,whoseonlydelightisinsolitude;shehasbeenassociatedwithtoilandsorrow;and,inshort,representedasthefoeofsportsanddiversions,whichare,infact,theflowersofjoyandtheseasoningoflife。’""But,father,Iamsure,I
haveheard,atleast,thattherehavebeengreatsaintswholedextremelyausterelives。""Nodoubtofthat,"hereplied;"butstill,tousethelanguageofthedoctor,’therehavealwaysbeenanumberofgenteelsaints,andwell—breddevotees’;andthisdifferenceintheirmanners,markyou,arisesentirelyfromadifferenceofhumours。’Iamfarfromdenying,’
saysmyauthor,’thattherearedevoutpersonstobemetwith,paleandmelancholyintheirtemperament,fondofsilenceandretirement,withphlegminsteadofbloodintheirveins,andwithfacesofclay;buttherearemanyothersofahappiercomplexion,andwhopossessthatsweetandwarmhumour,thatgenialandrectifiedblood,whichisthetruestuffthatjoyismadeof。’"Yousee,"resumedthemonk,"thattheloveofsilenceandretirementisnotcommontoalldevoutpeople;andthat,asIwassaying,thisistheeffectratheroftheircomplexionthantheirpiety。Thoseausteremannerstowhichyoureferare,infact,properlythecharacterofasavageandbarbarian,and,accordingly,youwillfindthemrankedbyFatherLeMoineamongtheridiculousandbrutalmannersofamopingidiot。ThefollowingisthedescriptionhehasdrawnofoneoftheseintheseventhbookofhisMoralPictures。’Hehasnoeyesforthebeautiesofartornature。
Werehetoindulgeinanythingthatgavehimpleasure,hewouldconsiderhimselfoppressedwithagrievousload。Onfestivaldays,heretirestoholdfellowshipwiththedead。Hedelightsinagrottoratherthanapalace,andprefersthestumpofatreetoathrone。Astoinjuriesandaffronts,heisasinsensibletothemasifhehadtheeyesandearsofastatue。
Honourandgloryareidolswithwhomhehasnoacquaintance,andtowhomhehasnoincensetooffer。Tohimabeautifulwomanisnobetterthanaspectre;andthoseimperialandcommandinglooks—thosecharmingtyrantswhoholdsomanyslavesinwillingandchainlessservitude—havenomoreinfluenceoverhisopticsthanthesunoverthoseofowls,’&;c。""Reverendsir,"saidI,"hadyounottoldmethatFatherLeMoinewastheauthorofthatdescription,IdeclareIwouldhaveguessedittobetheproductionofsomeprofanefellowwhohaddrawnitexpresslywiththeviewofturningthesaintsintoridicule。ForifthatisnotthepictureofamanentirelydeniedtothosefeelingswhichtheGospelobligesustorenounce,IconfessthatIknownothingofthematter。""Youmaynowperceive,then,theextentofyourignorance,"hereplied;"forthesearethefeaturesofafeeble,uncultivatedmind,’destituteofthosevirtuousandnaturalaffectionswhichitoughttopossess,’asFatherLeMoinesaysatthecloseofthatdescription。Suchishiswayofteaching’Christianvirtueandphilosophy,’
asheannouncesinhisadvertisement;and,intruth,itcannotbedeniedthatthismethodoftreatingdevotionismuchmoreagreeabletothetasteoftheworldthantheoldwayinwhichtheywenttoworkbeforeourtimes。"
"Therecanbenocomparisonbetweenthem,"wasmyreply,"andInowbegintohopethatyouwillbeasgoodasyourword。""Youwillseethatbetterby—and—by,"returnedthemonk。"HithertoIhaveonlyspokenofpietyingeneral,but,justtoshowyoumoreindetailhowourfathershavedisencumbereditofitstoilsandtroubles,woulditnotbemostconsolingtotheambitioustolearnthattheymaymaintaingenuinedevotionalongwithaninordinateloveofgreatness?""What,father!eventhoughtheyshouldruntotheutmostexcessofambition?""Yes,"hereplied;"forthiswouldbeonlyavenialsin,unlesstheysoughtaftergreatnessinordertooffendGodandinjuretheStatemoreeffectually。Nowvenialsinsdonotprecludeamanfrombeingdevout,asthegreatestsaintsarenotexemptfromthem。’Ambition,’
saysEscobar,’whichconsistsinaninordinateappetiteforplaceandpower,isofitselfavenialsin;butwhensuchdignitiesarecovetedforthepurposeofhurtingthecommonwealth,orhavingmoreopportunitytooffendGod,theseadventitiouscircumstancesrenderitmortal。’""Verysavourydoctrine,indeed,father。""Andisitnotstillmoresavoury,"continuedthemonk,"formiserstobetold,bythesameauthority,’thatthericharenotguiltyofmortalsinbyrefusingtogivealmsoutoftheirsuperfluitytothepoorinthehouroftheirgreatestneed?—scioingravipauperumnecessitatedivitesnondandosuperflua,nonpeccaremortaliter。’""Whytruly,"saidI,"ifthatbethecase,Igiveupallpretensiontoskillinthescienceofsins。""Tomakeyoustillmoresensibleofthis,"returnedhe,"youhavebeenaccustomedtothink,Isuppose,thatagoodopinionofone’sself,andacomplacencyinone’sownworks,isamostdangeroussin?Now,willyounotbesurprisedifIcanshowyouthatsuchagoodopinion,eventhoughthereshouldbenofoundationforit,issofarfrombeingasinthatitis,onthecontrary,thegiftofGod?""Isitpossible,father?""Thatitis,"saidthemonk;"andourgoodFatherGarasseshowsitinhisFrenchwork,entitledSummaryoftheCapitalTruthsofReligion:
’Itisaresultofcommutativejusticethatallhonestlabourshouldfinditsrecompenseeitherinpraiseorinself—satisfaction。Whenmenofgoodtalentspublishsomeexcellentwork,theyarejustlyremuneratedbypublicapplause。Butwhenamanofweakpartshaswroughthardatsomeworthlessproduction,andfailstoobtainthepraiseofthepublic,inorderthathislabourmaynotgowithoutitsreward,Godimpartstohimapersonalsatisfaction,whichitwouldbeworsethanbarbarousinjusticetoenvyhim。ItisthusthatGod,whoisinfinitelyjust,hasgiveneventofrogsacertaincomplacencyintheirowncroaking。’""Veryfinedecisionsinfavourofvanity,ambition,andavarice!"criedI;"andenvy,father,willitbemoredifficulttofindanexcuseforit?""Thatisadelicatepoint,"
hereplied。"WerequiretomakeusehereofFatherBauny’sdistinction,whichhelaysdowninhisSummaryofSins。—’Envyofthespiritualgoodofourneighbourismortalbutenvyofhistemporalgoodisonlyvenial。’"
"Andwhyso,father?""Youshallhear,saidhe。"’Forthegoodthatconsistsintemporalthingsissoslender,andsoinsignificantinrelationtoheaven,thatitisofnoconsiderationintheeyesofGodandHissaints。’""But,father,iftemporalgoodissoslender,andofsolittleconsideration,howdoyoucometopermitmen’slivestobetakenawayinordertopreserveit?""Youmistakethematterentirely,"returnedthemonk;"youweretoldthattemporalgoodwasofnoconsiderationintheeyesofGod,butnotintheeyesofmen。""Thatideaneveroccurredtome,"Ireplied;"andnow,itistobehopedthat,invirtueofthesesamedistinctions,theworldwillgetridofmortalsinsaltogether。""Donotflatteryourselfwiththat,"saidthefather;"therearestillsuchthingsasmortalsins—
thereissloth,forexample。""Nay,then,fatherdear!"Iexclaimed,"afterthat,farewelltoall’thejoysoflife!’""Stay,"saidthemonk,"whenyouhaveheardEscobar’sdefinitionofthatvice,youwillperhapschangeyourtone:’Sloth,’heobserves,’liesingrievingthatspiritualthingsarespiritual,asifoneshouldlamentthatthesacramentsarethesourcesofgrace;whichwouldbeamortalsin。’""Omydearsir!"criedI,"Idon’tthinkthatanybodyevertookitintohisheadtobeslothfulinthatway。"
"Andaccordingly,"hereplied,"Escobarafterwardsremarks:’Imustconfessthatitisveryrarelythatapersonfallsintothesinofsloth。’Youseenowhowimportantitistodefinethingsproperly?""Yes,father,andthisbringstomymindyourotherdefinitionsaboutassassinations,ambuscades,andsuperfluities。Butwhyhaveyounotextendedyourmethodtoallcases,andgivendefinitionsofallvicesinyourway,sothatpeoplemaynolongersiningratifyingthemselves?""Itisnotalwaysessential,"hereplied,"toaccomplishthatpurposebychangingthedefinitionsofthings。Imayillustratethisbyreferringtothesubjectofgoodcheer,whichisaccountedoneofthegreatestpleasuresoflife,andwhichEscobarthussanctionsinhisPracticeaccordingtoourSociety:’Isitallowableforapersontoeatanddrinktorepletion,unnecessarily,andsolelyforpleasure?
Certainlyhemay,accordingtoSanchez,providedhedoesnottherebyinjurehishealth;becausethenaturalappetitemaybepermittedtoenjoyitsproperfunctions。’""Well,father,thatiscertainlythemostcompletepassage,andthemostfinishedmaximinthewholeofyourmoralsystem!
Whatcomfortableinferencesmaybedrawnfromit!Why,andisgluttony,then,notevenavenialsin?""NotintheshapeIhavejustreferredto,"
hereplied;"but,accordingtothesameauthor,itwouldbeavenialsin’wereapersontogorgehimself,unnecessarily,witheatinganddrinking,tosuchadegreeastoproducevomiting。’Somuchforthatpoint。Iwouldnowsayalittleaboutthefacilitieswehaveinventedforavoidingsininworldlyconversationsandintrigues。Oneofthemostembarrassingofthesecasesishowtoavoidtellinglies,particularlywhenoneisanxioustoinduceabeliefinwhatisfalse。Insuchcases,ourdoctrineofequivocationshasbeenfoundofadmirableservice,accordingtowhich,asSanchezhasit,’itispermittedtouseambiguousterms,leadingpeopletounderstandtheminanothersensefromthatinwhichweunderstandthemourselves。’"