SIR,Wewereentirelymistaken。ItwasonlyyesterdaythatIwasundeceived。UntilthattimeIhadlabouredundertheimpressionthatthedisputesintheSorbonnewerevastlyimportant,anddeeplyaffectedtheinterestsofreligion。ThefrequentconvocationsofanassemblysoillustriousasthatoftheTheologicalFacultyofParis,attendedbysomanyextraordinaryandunprecedentedcircumstances,ledonetoformsuchhighexpectationsthatitwasimpossibletohelpcomingtotheconclusionthatthesubjectwasmostextraordinary。
Youwillbegreatlysurprised,however,whenyoulearnfromthefollowingaccounttheissueofthisgranddemonstration,which,havingmademyselfperfectlymasterofthesubject,Ishallbeabletotellyouinveryfewwords。
Twoquestions,then,werebroughtunderexamination;theoneaquestionoffact,theotheraquestionofright。
ThequestionoffactconsistedinascertainingwhetherM。
Arnauldwasguiltyofpresumption,forhavingassertedinhissecondletterthathehadcarefullyperusedthebookofJansenius,andthathehadnotdiscoveredthepropositionscondemnedbythelatepope;butthat,nevertheless,ashecondemnedthesepropositionswherevertheymightoccur,hecondemnedtheminJansenius,iftheywerereallycontainedinthatwork。
Thequestionherewas,ifhecould,withoutpresumption,entertainadoubtthatthesepropositionswereinJansenius,afterthebishopshaddeclaredthattheywere。
ThematterhavingbeenbroughtbeforetheSorbonne,seventy—onedoctorsundertookhisdefence,maintainingthattheonlyreplyhecouldpossiblygivetothedemandsmadeuponhiminsomanypublications,callingonhimtosayifheheldthatthesepropositionswereinthatbook,wasthathehadnotbeenabletofindthem,butthatiftheywereinthebook,hecondemnedtheminthebook。
Someevenwentastepfartherandprotestedthat,afterallthesearchtheyhadmadeintothebook,theyhadneverstumbleduponthesepropositions,andthattheyhad,onthecontrary,foundsentimentsentirelyatvariancewiththem。Theythenearnestlybeggedthat,ifanydoctorpresenthaddiscoveredthem,hewouldhavethegoodnesstopointthemout;addingthatwhatwassoeasycouldnotreasonablyberefused,asthiswouldbethesurestwaytosilencethewholeofthem,M。Arnauldincluded;butthisproposalhasbeenuniformlydeclined。Somuchfortheoneside。
Ontheothersideareeightyseculardoctorsandsomefortymendicantfriars,whohavecondemnedM。Arnauld’sproposition,withoutchoosingtoexaminewhetherhehasspokentrulyorfalsely—who,infact,havedeclaredthattheyhavenothingtodowiththeveracityofhisproposition,butsimplywithitstemerity。
Besidesthese,therewerefifteenwhowerenotinfavorofthecensure,andwhoarecalledNeutrals。
Suchwastheissueofthequestionoffact,regardingwhich,I
mustsay,Igivemyselfverylittleconcern。ItdoesnotaffectmyconscienceintheleastwhetherM。Arnauldispresumptuousorthereverse;andshouldIbetempted,fromcuriosity,toascertainwhetherthesepropositionsarecontainedinJansenius,hisbookisneithersoveryrarenorsoverylargeastohindermefromreadingitoverfrombeginningtoend,formyownsatisfaction,withoutconsultingtheSorbonneonthematter。
Wereitnot,however,forthedreadofbeingpresumptuousmyself,IreallythinkthatIwouldbedisposedtoadopttheopinionwhichhasbeenformedbythemostofmyacquaintances,who,thoughtheyhavebelievedhithertooncommonreportthatthepropositionswereinJansenius,beginnowtosuspectthecontrary,owingtothisstrangerefusaltopointthemout—arefusalthemoreextraordinarytomeasIhavenotyetmetwithasingleindividualwhocansaythathehasdiscoveredtheminthatwork。Iamafraid,therefore,thatthiscensurewilldomoreharmthangood,andthattheimpressionwhichitwillleaveonthemindsofallwhoknowitshistorywillbejustthereverseoftheconclusionthathasbeencometo。Thetruthistheworldhasbecomescepticaloflateandwillnotbelievethingstillitseesthem。But,asIsaidbefore,thispointisofverylittlemoment,asithasnoconcernwithreligion。
Thequestionofright,fromitsaffectingthefaith,appearsmuchmoreimportant,and,accordingly,Itookparticularpainsinexaminingit。Youwillberelieved,however,tofindthatitisofaslittleconsequenceastheformer。
ThepointofdisputeherewasanassertionofM。Arnauld’sinthesameletter,totheeffect"thatthegrace,withoutwhichwecandonothing,waswantingtoSt。Peterathisfall。"YouandI
supposedthatthecontroversyherewouldturnuponthegreatprinciplesofgrace;suchaswhethergraceisgiventoallmen?Orifitisefficaciousofitself?Butwewerequitemistaken。YoumustknowIhavebecomeagreattheologianwithinthisshorttime;andnowfortheproofsofit!
Toascertainthematterwithcertainty,Irepairedtomyneighbor,M。N—,doctorofNavarre,who,asyouareaware,isoneofthekeenestopponentsoftheJansenists,and,mycuriosityhavingmademealmostaskeenashimself,Iaskedhimiftheywouldnotformallydecideatoncethat"graceisgiventoallmen,"andthussetthequestionatrest。Buthegavemeasorerebuffandtoldmethatthatwasnotthepoint;thatthereweresomeofhispartywhoheldthatgracewasnotgiventoall;thattheexaminersthemselveshaddeclared,inafullassemblyoftheSorbonne,thatthatopinionwasproblematical;andthathehimselfheldthesamesentiment,whichheconfirmedbyquotingtomewhathecalledthatcelebratedpassageofSt。Augustine:"Weknowthatgraceisnotgiventoallmen。"
IapologizedforhavingmisapprehendedhissentimentandrequestedhimtosayiftheywouldnotatleastcondemnthatotheropinionoftheJansenistswhichismakingsomuchnoise:"Thatgraceisefficaciousofitself,andinvinciblydeterminesourwilltowhatisgood。"ButinthissecondqueryIwasequallyunfortunate。"Youknownothingaboutthematter,"hesaid;"thatisnotaheresy—itisanorthodoxopinion;alltheThomistsmaintainit;andImyselfhavedefendeditinmySorbonicthesis。"
Ididnotventureagaintoproposemydoubts,andyetIwasasfaraseverfromunderstandingwherethedifficultylay;so,atlast,inordertogetatit,Ibeggedhimtotellmewhere,then,laytheheresyofM。Arnauld’sproposition。"Itlieshere,"saidhe,"thathedoesnotacknowledgethattherighteoushavethepowerofobeyingthecommandmentsofGod,inthemannerinwhichweunderstandit。"
Onreceivingthispieceofinformation,Itookmyleaveofhim;
and,quiteproudathavingdiscoveredtheknotofthequestion,I
soughtM。N—,whoisgraduallygettingbetterandwassufficientlyrecoveredtoconductmetothehouseofhisbrother—in—law,whoisaJansenist,ifevertherewasone,butaverygoodmannotwithstanding。
Thinkingtoinsuremyselfabetterreception,IpretendedtobeveryhighonwhatItooktobehisside,andsaid:"IsitpossiblethattheSorbonnehasintroducedintotheChurchsuchanerrorasthis,’thatalltherighteoushavealwaysthepowerofobeyingthecommandmentsofGod?’"
"Whatsayyou?"repliedthedoctor。"Callyouthatanerror—asentimentsoCatholicthatnonebutLutheransandCalvinistsimpugnit?"
"Indeed!"saidI,surprisedinmyturn;"soyouarenotoftheiropinion?"
"No,"hereplied;"weanathematizeitashereticalandimpious。"
Confoundedbythisreply,IsoondiscoveredthatIhadoveractedtheJansenist,asIhadformerlyoverdonetheMolinist。But,notbeingsureifIhadrightlyunderstoodhim,Irequestedhimtotellmefranklyifheheld"thattherighteoushavealwaysarealpowertoobservethedivineprecepts?"Uponthis,thegoodmangotwarm(butitwaswithaholyzeal)andprotestedthathewouldnotdisguisehissentimentsonanyconsideration—thatsuchwas,indeed,hisbelief,andthatheandallhispartywoulddefendittothedeath,asthepuredoctrineofSt。Thomas,andofSt。Augustinetheirmaster。
Thiswasspokensoseriouslyastoleavemenoroomfordoubt;andunderthisimpressionIreturnedtomyfirstdoctorandsaidtohim,withanairofgreatsatisfaction,thatIwassuretherewouldbepeaceintheSorbonneverysoon;thattheJansenistswerequiteatonewiththeminreferencetothepoweroftherighteoustoobeythecommandmentsofGod;thatIcouldpledgemywordforthemandcouldmakethemsealitwiththeirblood。
"Holdthere!"saidhe。"Onemustbeatheologiantoseethepointofthisquestion。Thedifferencebetweenusissosubtlethatitiswithsomedifficultywecandiscernitourselves—youwillfinditrathertoomuchforyourpowersofcomprehension。Contentyourself,then,withknowingthatitisverytruetheJansenistswilltellyouthatalltherighteoushavealwaysthepowerofobeyingthecommandments;thatisnotthepointindisputebetweenus;butmarkyou,theywillnottellyouthatthatpowerisproximate。Thatisthepoint。"
Thiswasanewandunknownwordtome。UptothismomentIhadmanagedtounderstandmatters,butthatterminvolvedmeinobscurity;
andIverilybelievethatithasbeeninventedfornootherpurposethantomystify。Irequestedhimtogivemeanexplanationofit,buthemadeamysteryofit,andsentmeback,withoutanyfurthersatisfaction,todemandoftheJansenistsiftheywouldadmitthisproximatepower。Havingchargedmymemorywiththephrase(astomyunderstanding,thatwasoutofthequestion),Ihastenedwithallpossibleexpedition,fearingthatImightforgetit,tomyJansenistfriendandaccostedhim,immediatelyafterourfirstsalutations,with:"Tellme,pray,ifyouadmittheproximatepower?"Hesmiled,andreplied,coldly:"Tellmeyourselfinwhatsenseyouunderstandit,andImaytheninformyouwhatIthinkofit。"Asmyknowledgedidnotextendquitesofar,Iwasatalosswhatreplytomake;andyet,ratherthanlosetheobjectofmyvisit,Isaidatrandom:
"Why,IunderstanditinthesenseoftheMolinists。""TowhichoftheMolinistsdoyoureferme?"repliedhe,withtheutmostcoolness。I
referredhimtothewholeofthemtogether,asformingonebody,andanimatedbyonespirit。
"Youknowverylittleaboutthematter,"returnedhe。"Sofararetheyfrombeingunitedinsentimentthatsomeofthemarediametricallyopposedtoeachother。But,beingallunitedinthedesigntoruinM。Arnauld,theyhaveresolvedtoagreeonthistermproximate,whichbothpartiesmightuseindiscriminately,thoughtheyunderstanditdiversely,thatthus,byasimilarityoflanguageandanapparentconformity,theymayformalargebodyandgetupamajoritytocrushhimwiththegreatercertainty。"
Thisreplyfilledmewithamazement;but,withoutimbibingtheseimpressionsofthemaliciousdesignsoftheMolinists,whichIamunwillingtobelieveonhisword,andwithwhichIhavenoconcern,Isetmyselfsimplytoascertainthevarioussenseswhichtheygivetothatmysteriouswordproximate。"Iwouldenlightenyouonthesubjectwithallmyheart,"hesaid;"butyouwoulddiscoverinitsuchamassofcontrarietyandcontradictionthatyouwouldhardlybelieveme。Youwouldsuspectme。Tomakesureofthematter,youhadbetterlearnitfromsomeofthemselves;andIshallgiveyousomeoftheiraddresses。YouhaveonlytomakeaseparatevisittoonecalledM。leMoineandtoFatherNicolai。"
"Ihavenoacquaintancewithanyofthesepersons,"saidI。
"Letmesee,then,"hereplied,"ifyouknowanyofthosewhomI
shallnametoyou;theyallagreeinsentimentwithM。leMoine。"
Ihappened,infact,toknowsomeofthem。
"Well,letusseeifyouareacquaintedwithanyoftheDominicanswhomtheycallthe’NewThomists,’fortheyareallthesamewithFatherNicolai。"
Iknewsomeofthemalsowhomhenamed;and,resolvedtoprofitbythiscouncilandtoinvestigatethematter,ItookmyleaveofhimandwentimmediatelytooneofthedisciplesofM。leMoine。Ibeggedhimtoinformmewhatitwastohavetheproximatepowerofdoingathing。
"Itiseasytotellyouthat,"hereplied;"itismerelytohaveallthatisnecessaryfordoingitinsuchamannerthatnothingiswantingtoperformance。"
"Andso,"saidI,"tohavetheproximatepowerofcrossingariver,forexample,istohaveaboat,boatmen,oars,andalltherest,sothatnothingiswanting?"
"Exactlyso,"saidthemonk。
"Andtohavetheproximatepowerofseeing,"continuedI,"mustbetohavegoodeyesandthelightofday;forapersonwithgoodsightinthedarkwouldnothavetheproximatepowerofseeing,accordingtoyou,ashewouldwantthelight,withoutwhichonecannotsee?"
"Precisely,"saidhe。
"Andconsequently,"returnedI,"whenyousaythatalltherighteoushavetheproximatepowerofobservingthecommandmentsofGod,youmeanthattheyhavealwaysallthegracenecessaryforobservingthem,sothatnothingiswantingtothemonthepartofGod。"
"Staythere,"hereplied;"theyhavealwaysallthatisnecessaryforobservingthecommandments,oratleastforaskingitofGod。"
"Iunderstandyou,"saidI;"theyhaveallthatisnecessaryforprayingtoGodtoassistthem,withoutrequiringanynewgracefromGodtoenablethemtopray。"
"Youhaveitnow,"herejoined。
"Butisitnotnecessarythattheyhaveanefficaciousgrace,inordertopraytoGod?"
"No,"saidhe;"notaccordingtoM。leMoine。"
Tolosenotime,IwenttotheJacobins,andrequestedaninterviewwithsomewhomIknewtobeNewThomists,andIbeggedthemtotellmewhatproximatepowerwas。"Isitnot,"saidI,"thatpowertowhichnothingiswantinginordertoact?"
"No,"saidthey。
"Indeed!fathers,"saidI;"ifanythingiswantingtothatpower,doyoucallitproximate?Wouldyousay,forinstance,thatamaninthenight—time,andwithoutanylight,hadtheproximatepowerofseeing?"
"Yes,indeed,hewouldhaveit,inouropinion,ifheisnotblind。"
"Igrantthat,"saidI;"butM。leMoineunderstandsitinadifferentmanner。"
"Verytrue,"theyreplied;"butsoitisthatweunderstandit。"
"Ihavenoobjectionstothat,"Isaid;"forIneverquarrelaboutaname,providedIamapprisedofthesenseinwhichitisunderstood。
ButIperceivefromthisthat,whenyouspeakoftherighteoushavingalwaystheproximatepowerofprayingtoGod,youunderstandthattheyrequireanothersupplyforpraying,withoutwhichtheywillneverpray。"
"Mostexcellent!"exclaimedthegoodfathers,embracingme;
"exactlythething;fortheymusthave,besides,anefficaciousgracebestoweduponall,andwhichdeterminestheirwillstopray;anditisheresytodenythenecessityofthatefficaciousgraceinordertopray。"
"Mostexcellent!"criedI,inreturn;"but,accordingtoyou,theJansenistsareCatholics,andM。leMoineaheretic;fortheJansenistsmaintainthat,whiletherighteoushavepowertopray,theyrequireneverthelessanefficaciousgrace;andthisiswhatyouapprove。M。leMoine,again,maintainsthattherighteousmaypraywithoutefficaciousgrace;andthisiswhatyoucondemn。"
"Ay,"saidthey;"butM。leMoinecallsthatpower’proximatepower。’"
"Hownow!fathers,"Iexclaimed;"thisismerelyplayingwithwords,tosaythatyouareagreedastothecommontermswhichyouemploy,whileyoudifferwiththemastothesenseoftheseterms。"
Thefathersmadenoreply;andatthisjuncture,whoshouldcomeinbutmyoldfriend,thediscipleofM。leMoine!Iregardedthisatthetimeasanextraordinarypieceofgoodfortune;butIhavediscoveredsincethenthatsuchmeetingsarenotrare—that,infact,theyareconstantlymixingineachother’ssociety。
"Iknowaman,"saidI,addressingmyselftoM。leMoine’sdisciple,"whoholdsthatalltherighteoushavealwaysthepowerofprayingtoGod,butthat,notwithstandingthis,theywillneverpraywithoutanefficaciousgracewhichdeterminesthem,andwhichGoddoesnotalwaysgivetoalltherighteous。Isheaheretic?"
"Stay,"saidthedoctor;"youmighttakemebysurprise。Letusgocautiouslytowork。Distinguo。Ifhecallthatpowerproximatepower,hewillbeaThomist,andthereforeaCatholic;ifnot,hewillbeaJansenistand,therefore,aheretic。"
"Hecallsitneitherproximatenornon—proximate,"saidI。
"Thenheisaheretic,"quothhe;"Ireferyoutothesegoodfathersifheisnot。"
Ididnotappealtothemasjudges,fortheyhadalreadynoddedassent;butIsaidtothem:"Herefusestoadmitthatwordproximate,becausehecanmeetwithnobodywhowillexplainittohim。"
Uponthisoneofthefatherswasonthepointofofferinghisdefinitionoftheterm,whenhewasinterruptedbyM。leMoine’sdisciple,whosaidtohim:"Doyoumean,then,torenewourbroils?
Havewenotagreednottoexplainthatwordproximate,buttouseitonbothsideswithoutsayingwhatitsignifies?"TothistheJacobingavehisassent。
Iwasthusletintothewholesecretoftheirplot;and,risingtotakemyleaveofthem,Iremarked:"Indeed,fathers,Iammuchafraidthisisnothingbetterthanpurechicanery;and,whatevermaybetheresultofyourconvocations,Iventuretopredictthat,thoughthecensureshouldpass,peacewillnotbeestablished。Forthoughitshouldbedecidedthatthesyllablesofthatwordproximateshouldbepronounced,whodoesnotseethat,themeaningnotbeingexplained,eachofyouwillbedisposedtoclaimthevictory?
TheJacobinswillcontendthatthewordistobeunderstoodintheirsense;M。leMoinewillinsistthatitmustbetakeninhis;andthustherewillbemorewranglingabouttheexplanationofthewordthanaboutitsintroduction。For,afterall,therewouldbenogreatdangerinadoptingitwithoutanysense,seeingitisthroughthesenseonlythatitcandoanyharm。ButitwouldbeunworthyoftheSorbonneandoftheologytoemployequivocalandcaptioustermswithoutgivinganyexplanationofthem。Inshort,fathers,tellme,Ientreatyou,forthelasttime,whatisnecessarytobebelievedinordertobeagoodCatholic?"
"Youmustsay,"theyallvociferatedsimultaneously,"thatalltherighteoushavetheproximatepower,abstractingfromitallsense—
fromthesenseoftheThomistsandthesenseofotherdivines。"
"Thatistosay,"Ireplied,intakingleaveofthem,"thatImustpronouncethatwordtoavoidbeingthehereticofaname。For,pray,isthisaScriptureword?""No,"saidthey。"IsitawordoftheFathers,theCouncils,orthePopes?""No。""Istheword,then,usedbySt。Thomas?""No。""Whatnecessity,therefore,isthereforusingitsinceithasneithertheauthorityofothersnoranysenseofitself。?""Youareanopinionativefellow,"saidthey;"butyoushallsayit,oryoushallbeaheretic,andM。Arnauldintothebargain;forwearethemajority,and,shoulditbenecessary,wecanbringasufficientnumberofCordeliersintothefieldtocarrytheday。"
Onhearingthissolidargument,Itookmyleaveofthem,towriteyoutheforegoingaccountofmyinterview,fromwhichyouwillperceivethatthefollowingpointsremainundisputedanduncondemnedbyeitherparty。First,Thatgraceisnotgiventoallmen。Second,Thatalltherighteoushavealwaysthepowerofobeyingthedivinecommandments。Third,Thattheyrequire,nevertheless,inordertoobeythem,andeventopray,anefficaciousgrace,whichinvinciblydeterminestheirwill。Fourth,Thatthisefficaciousgraceisnotalwaysgrantedtoalltherighteous,andthatitdependsonthepuremercyofGod。Sothat,afterall,thetruthissafe,andnothingrunsanyriskbutthatwordwithoutthesense,proximate。
Happythepeoplewhoareignorantofitsexistence!happythosewholivedbeforeitwasborn!forIseenohelpforit,unlessthegentlemenoftheAcadamy,byanactofabsoluteauthority,banishthatbarbarousterm,whichcausessomanydivisions,frombeyondtheprecinctsoftheSorbonne。Unlessthisbedone,thecensureappearscertain;butIcaneasilyseethatitwilldonootherharmthandiminishthecreditoftheSorbonne,anddepriveitofthatauthoritywhichissonecessarytoitonotheroccasions。
Meanwhile,Ileaveyouatperfectlibertytoholdbythewordproximateornot,justasyouplease;forIloveyoutoomuchtopersecuteyouunderthatpretext。Ifthisaccountisnotdispleasingtoyou,Ishallcontinuetoappriseyouofallthathappens。Iam,&;c。
LETTERIIParis,January29,1656SIR,JustasIhadsealedupmylastletter,IreceivedavisitfromouroldfriendM。N—。Nothingcouldhavehappenedmoreluckilyformycuriosity;forheisthoroughlyinformedinthequestionsofthedayandiscompletelyinthesecretoftheJesuits,atwhosehouses,includingthoseoftheirleadingmen,heisaconstantvisitor。Afterhavingtalkedoverthebusinesswhichbroughthimtomyhouse,Iaskedhimtostate,inafewwords,whatwerethepointsindisputebetweenthetwoparties。Heimmediatelycomplied,andinformedmethattheprincipalpointsweretwo—thefirstabouttheproximatepower,andthesecondaboutsufficientgrace。Ihaveenlightenedyouonthefirstofthesepointsinmyformerletterandshallnowspeakofthesecond。
Inoneword,then,Ifoundthattheirdifferenceaboutsufficientgracemaybedefinedthus:TheJesuitsmaintainthatthereisagracegivengenerallytoallmen,subjectinsuchawaytofree—willthatthewillrendersitefficaciousorinefficaciousatitspleasure,withoutanyadditionalaidfromGodandwithoutwantinganythingonhispartinordertoacteffectively;
andhencetheytermthisgracesufficient,becauseitsufficesofitselfforaction。TheJansenists,ontheotherhand,willnotallowthatanygraceisactuallysufficientwhichisnotalsoefficacious;thatis,thatallthosekindsofgracewhichdonotdeterminethewilltoacteffectivelyareinsufficientforaction;fortheyholdthatamancanneveractwithoutefficaciousgrace。SucharethepointsindebatebetweentheJesuitsandtheJansenists;andmynextobjectwastoascertainthedoctrineoftheNewThomists。"Itisratheranoddone,"hesaid;"theyagreewiththeJesuitsinadmittingasufficientgracegiventoallmen;buttheymaintain,atthesametime,thatnomancanactwiththisgracealone,butthat,inordertodothis,hemustreceivefromGodanefficaciousgracewhichreallydetermineshiswilltotheaction,andwhichGoddoesnotgranttoallmen。""Sothat,accordingtothisdoctrine,"saidI,"thisgraceissufficientwithoutbeingsufficient。""Exactlyso,"hereplied;"forifitsuffices,thereisnoneedofanythingmoreforacting;andifitdoesnotsuffice,why—itisnotsufficient。""But,"askedI,"where,then,isthedifferencebetweenthemandtheJansenists?""Theydifferinthis,"
hereplied,"thattheDominicanshavethisgoodqualification,thattheydonotrefusetosaythatallmenhavethesufficientgrace。""Iunderstandyou,"returnedI;"buttheysayitwithoutthinkingit;fortheyaddthat,inordertoact,wemusthaveanefficaciousgracewhichisnotgiventoall,consequently,iftheyagreewiththeJesuitsintheuseofatermwhichhasnosense,theydifferfromthemandcoincidewiththeJansenistsinthesubstanceofthething。Thatisverytrue,saidhe。"How,then,"
saidI,"aretheJesuitsunitedwiththem?andwhydotheynotcombatthemaswellastheJansenists,sincetheywillalwaysfindpowerfulantagonistsinthesemen,who,bymaintainingthenecessityoftheefficaciousgracewhichdeterminesthewill,willpreventthemfromestablishingthatgracewhichtheyholdtobeofitselfsufficient?""TheDominicansaretoopowerful,"
hereplied,"andtheJesuitsaretoopolitic,tocometoanopenrupturewiththem。TheSocietyiscontentwithhavingprevailedonthemsofarastoadmitthenameofsufficientgrace,thoughtheyunderstanditinanothersense;bywhichmanoeuvretheygainthisadvantage,thattheywillmaketheiropinionappearuntenable,assoonastheyjudgeitpropertodoso。Andthiswillbenodifficultmatter;for,letitbeoncegrantedthatallmenhavethesufficientgraces,nothingcanbemorenaturalthantoconcludethattheefficaciousgraceisnotnecessarytoaction—thesufficiencyofthegeneralgraceprecludingthenecessityofallothers。