willlaughatyourcalamity。"Thesaints，too，influencedbythesamefeeling，willjoininthederision；for，accordingtoDavid，whentheywitnessthepunishmentofthewicked，"theyshallfear，andyetlaughatit—videbuntjustiettimebunt，etsupereumridebunt。"AndJobsays："Innocenssubsannabiteos—Theinnocentshalllaughatthem。"ItisworthyofremarkherethattheveryfirstwordswhichGodaddressedtomanafterhisfallcontain，intheopinionofthefathers，"bitterirony"andmockery。AfterAdamhaddisobeyedhisMaker，inthehope，suggestedbythedevil，ofbeinglikeGod，itappearsfromScripturethatGod，asapunishment，subjectedhimtodeath；andafterhavingreducedhimtothismiserablecondition，whichwasduetohissin，Hetauntedhiminthatstatewiththefollowingtermsofderision："Behold，themanhasbecomeasoneofus！—EcceAdamquasiunusexnobis！"—which，accordingtoSt。Jeromeandtheinterpreters，is"agrievousandcuttingpieceofirony，"withwhichGod"stunghimtothequick。""Adam，"saysRupert，"deservedtobetauntedinthismanner，andhewouldbenaturallymadetofeelhisfollymoreacutelybythisironicalexpressionthanbyamoreseriousone。"St。Victor，aftermakingthesameremark，adds，"thatthisironywasduetohissottishcredulity，andthatthisspeciesofraineryisanactofjustice，meritedbyhimagainstwhomitwasdirected。"Thusyousee，fathers，thatridiculeis，insomecases，averyappropriatemeansofreclaimingmenfromtheirerrors，andthatitisaccordinglyanactofjustice，because，asJeremiahsays，"theactionsofthosethaterrareworthyofderision，becauseoftheirvanity—vanasuntesrisudigna。"Andsofarfromitsbeingimpioustolaughatthem，St。Augustineholdsittobetheeffectofdivinewisdom："Thewiselaughatthefoolish，becausetheyarewise，notaftertheirownwisdom，butafterthatdivinewisdomwhichshalllaughatthedeathofthewicked。"
　　Theprophets，accordingly，filledwiththeSpiritofGod，haveavailedthemselvesofridicule，aswefindfromtheexamplesofDanielandElias。
　　Inshort，examplesofitarenotwantinginthediscoursesofJesusChristhimself。St。Augustineremarksthat，whenhewouldhumbleNicodemus，whodeemedhimselfsoexpertinhisknowledgeofthelaw，"perceivinghimtobepulledupwithpride，fromhisrankasdoctoroftheJews，hefirstbeatsdownhispresumptionbythemagnitudeofhisdemands，and，havingreducedhimsolowthathewasunabletoanswer，What！sayshe，youamasterinIsrael，andnotknowthesethings！—asifhehadsaid，Proudruler，confessthatthouknowestnothing。"St。ChrysostomandSt。Cyrillikewiseobserveuponthisthat"hedeservedtoberidiculedinthismanner。"Youmaylearnfromthis，fathers，thatshoulditsohappen，inourdaythatpersonswhoenactthepartof"masters"amongChristians，asNicodemusandthePhariseesdidamongtheJews，showthemselvessoignorantofthefirstprinciplesofreligionastomaintain，forexample，that"amanmaybesavedwhoneverlovedGodallhislife，"weonlyfollowtheexampleofJesusChristwhenwelaughatsuchacombinationofignoranceandconceit。
　　Iamsure，fathers，thesesacredexamplesaresufficienttoconvinceyouthattoderidetheerrorsandextravagancesofmanisnotinconsistentwiththepracticeofthesaints；otherwisewemustblamethatofthegreatestdoctorsoftheChurch，whohavebeenguiltyofit—suchasSt。Jerome，inhislettersandwritingsagainstJovinian，Vigilantius，andthePelagians；
　　Tertullian，inhisApologyagainstthefolliesofidolaters；St。AugustineagainstthemonksofAfrica，whomhestyles"thehairymen"；St。IrenaeustheGnostics；St。BernardandtheotherfathersoftheChurch，who，havingbeentheimitatorsoftheapostles，oughttobeimitatedbythefaithfulinalltimecoming；for，saywhatwewill，theyarethetruemodelsforChristians，evenofthepresentday。Infollowingsuchexamples，IconceivedthatIcouldnotgofarwrong；and，asIthinkIhavesufficientlyestablishedthisposition，Ishallonlyadd，intheadmirablewordsofTertullian，whichgivethetrueexplanationofthewholeofmyproceedinginthismatter：
　　"WhatIhavenowdoneisonlyalittlesportbeforetherealcombat。I
　　haveratherindicatedthewoundsthatmightbegivenyouthaninflictedany。Ifthereaderhasmetwithpassageswhichhaveexcitedhisrisibility，hemustascribethistothesubjectsthemselves。Therearemanythingswhichdeservetobeheldupinthiswaytoridiculeandmockery，lest，byaseriousrefutation，weshouldattachaweighttothemwhichtheydonotdeserve。Nothingismoreduetovanitythanlaughter；anditistheTruthproperlythathasarighttolaugh，becausesheischeerful，andtomakesportofherenemies，becausesheissureofthevictory。Caremustbetaken，indeed，thattherailleryisnottoolow，andunworthyofthetruth；but，keepingthisinview，whenridiculemaybeemployedwitheffect，itisadutytoavailourselvesofit。"Doyounotthinkfathers，thatthispassageissingularlyapplicabletooursubject？TheletterswhichIhavehithertowrittenare"merelyalittlesportbeforearealcombat。"Asyet，Ihavebeenonlyplayingwiththefoilsand"ratherindicatingthewoundsthatmightbegivenyouthaninflictingany。"Ihavemerelyexposedyourpassagestothelight，withoutmakingscarcelyareflectiononthem。"Ifthereaderhasmetwithanythathaveexcitedhisrisibility，hemustascribethistothesubjectsthemselves。"And，indeed，whatismorefittedtoraisealaughthantoseeamattersograveasthatofChristianmoralitydeckedoutwithfanciessogrotesqueasthoseinwhichyouhaveexhibitedit？Oneisapttoformsuchhighanticipationsofthesemaxims，frombeingtoldthat"JesusChristhimselfhasrevealedthemtothefathersoftheSociety，"thatwhenonediscoversamongthemsuchabsurditiesas"thatapriest，receivingmoneytosayamass，maytakeadditionalsumsfromotherpersonsbygivinguptothemhisownshareinthesacrifice"；
　　"thatamonkisnottobeexcommunicatedforputtingoffhishabit，provideditistodance，swindle，orgoincognitointoinfamoushouses"；and"thatthedutyofhearingmassmaybefulfilledbylisteningtofourquartersofamassatoncefromdifferentpriests"—when，Isay，onelistenstosuchdecisionsasthese，thesurpriseissuchthatitisimpossibletorefrainfromlaughing；fornothingismorecalculatedtoproducethatemotionthanastartlingcontrastbetweenthethinglookedforandthethinglookedat。Andwhyshouldthegreaterpartofthesemaximsbetreatedinanyotherway？AsTertulliansays，"Totreatthemseriouslywouldbetosanctionthem。"What！isitnecessarytobringupalltheforcesofScriptureandtradition，inordertoprovethatrunningaswordthroughaman’sbody，covertlyandbehindhisback，istomurderhimintreachery？or，thattogiveonemoneyasamotivetoresignabenefice，istopurchasethebenefice？
　　Yes，therearethingswhichitisdutytodespise，andwhich"deserveonlytobelaughedat。"Inshort，theremarkofthatancientauthor，"thatnothingismoreduetovanitythanderision，withwhatfollows，appliestothecasebeforeussojustlyandsoconvincingly，astoputitbeyondallquestionthatwemaylaughaterrorswithoutviolatingpropriety。Andletmeadd，fathers，thatthismaybedonewithoutanybreachofcharityeither，thoughthisisanotherofthechargesyoubringagainstmeinyourpublications。
　　For，accordingtoSt。Augustine，"charitymaysometimesobligeustoridiculetheerrorsofmen，thattheymaybeinducedtolaughatthemintheirturn，andrenouncethem—Haectumisericorditerirride，uteisridendaacfugiendacommendes。"Andthesamecharitymayalso，atothertimes，bindustorepelthemwithindignation，accordingtothatothersayingofSt。GregoryofNazianzen："Thespiritofmeeknessandcharityhathitsemotionsanditsheats。"Indeed，asSt。Augustineobserves，"whowouldventuretosaythattruthoughttostanddisarmedagainstfalsehood，orthattheenemiesofthefaithshallbeatlibertytofrightenthefaithfulwithhardwords，andjeeratthemwithlivelysalliesofwit；whiletheCatholicsoughtnevertowriteexceptwithacoldnessofstyleenoughtosetthereaderasleep？"Isitnotobviousthat，byfollowingsuchacourse，awidedoorwouldbeopenedfortheintroductionofthemostextravagantandperniciousdogmasintotheChurch；whilenonewouldbeallowedtotreatthemwithcontempt，throughfearofbeingchargedwithviolatingpropriety，ortoconfutethemwithindignation，fromthedreadofbeingtaxedwithwantofcharity？Indeed，fathers！shallyoubeallowedtomaintain，"thatitislawfultokillamantoavoidaboxontheearoranaffront，"andmustnobodybepermittedpubliclytoexposeapublicerrorofsuchconsequence？
　　Shallyoubeatlibertytosay，"thatajudgemayinconscienceretainafeereceivedforanactofinjustice，"andshallnoonebeatlibertytocontradictyou？Shallyouprint，withtheprivilegeandapprobationofyourdoctors，"thatamanmaybesavedwithouteverhavinglovedGod"；
　　andwillyoushutthemouthofthosewhodefendthetruefaith，bytellingthemthattheywouldviolatebrotherlylovebyattackingyou，andChristianmodestybylaughingatyourmaxims？Idoubt，fathers，iftherebeanypersonswhomyoucouldmakebelievethis；ifhowever，therebeanysuch，whoarereallypersuadedthat，bydenouncingyourmorality，IhavebeendeficientinthecharitywhichIowetoyou，Iwouldhavethemexamine，withgreatjealousy，whencethisfeelingtakesitsrisewithinthem。Theymayimaginethatitproceedsfromaholyzeal，whichwillnotallowthemtoseetheirneighbourimpeachedwithoutbeingscandalizedatit；butIwouldentreatthemtoconsiderthatitisnotimpossiblethatitmayflowfromanothersource，andthatitisevenextremelylikelythatitmayspringfromthatsecret，andoftenself—concealeddissatisfaction，whichtheunhappycorruptionwithinusseldomfailstostirupagainstthosewhoopposetherelaxationofmorals。And，tofurnishthemwitharulewhichmayenablethemtoascertaintherealprinciplefromwhichitproceeds，Iwillaskthemif，whiletheylamentthewayinwhichthereligioushavebeentreated，theylamentstillmorethemannerinwhichthesereligioushavetreatedthetruth；iftheyareincensed，notonlyagainsttheletters，butstillmoreagainstthemaximsquotedinthem。Ishallgrantittobebarelypossiblethattheirresentmentproceedsfromsomezeal，thoughnotofthemostenlightenedkind；and，inthiscase，thepassagesIhavejustcitedfromthefatherswillservetoenlightenthem。Butiftheyaremerelyangryatthereprehension，andnotatthethingsreprehended，truly，fathers，Ishallneverscrupletotellthemthattheyaregrosslymistaken，andthattheirzealismiserablyblind。Strangezeal，indeed！whichgetsangryatthosethatcensurepublicfaults，andnotatthosethatcommitthem！Novelcharitythis，whichgroansatseeingerrorconfuted，butfeelsnogriefatseeingmoralitysubvertedbythaterror。Ifthesepersonswereindangerofbeingassassinated，pray，wouldtheybeoffendedatoneadvertisingthemofthestratagemthathadbeenlaidforthem；andinsteadofturningoutoftheirwaytoavoidit，wouldtheytrifleawaytheirtimeinwhiningaboutthelittlecharitymanifestedindiscoveringtothemthecriminaldesignoftheassassins？Dotheygetwaspishwhenonetellsthemnottoeatsuchanarticleoffood，becauseitispoisoned？ornottoentersuchacity，becauseithastheplague？
　　Whencecomesit，then，thatthesamepersonswhosetdownamanaswantingincharity，forexposingmaximshurtfultoreligion，would，onthecontrary，thinkhimequallydeficientinthatgracewerehenottodisclosemattershurtfultohealthandlife，unlessitbefromthis，thattheirfondnessforlifeinducesthemtotakeingoodparteveryhintthatcontributestoitspreservation，whiletheirindifferencetotruthleadsthem，notonlytotakenoshareinitsdefence，buteventoviewwithpaintheeffortsmadefortheextirpationoffalsehood？Letthemseriouslyponder，asinthesightofGod，howshameful，andhowprejudicialtotheChurch，isthemoralitywhichyourcasuistsareinthehabitofpropagating；thescandalousandunmeasuredlicensewhichtheyareintroducingintopublicmanners；
　　theobstinateandviolenthardihoodwithwhichyousupportthem。Andiftheydonotthinkitfulltimetoriseagainstsuchdisorders，theirblindnessisasmuchtobepitiedasyours，fathers；andyouandtheyhaveequalreasontodreadthatsayingofSt。Augustine，foundedonthewordsofJesusChrist，intheGospel："Woetotheblindleaders！woetotheblindfollowers！—
　　Vaecaecisducentibus！vaecaecissequentibus！"But，toleaveyounoroominfuture，eithertocreatesuchimpressionsonthemindsofothers，ortoharbourtheminyourown，Ishalltellyou，fathers（andIamashamedIshouldhavetoteachyouwhatIshouldhaveratherlearntfromyou），themarkswhichthefathersoftheChurchhavegivenforjudgingwhenouranimadversionsflowfromaprincipleofpietyandcharity，andwhenfromaspiritofmaliceandimpiety。Thefirstoftheserulesisthatthespiritofpietyalwayspromptsustospeakwithsincerityandtruthfulness；whereasmaliceandenvymakeuseoffalsehoodandcalumny。"Splendentiaetvehementia，sedrebusveris—Splendidandvehementinwords，buttrueinthings，"asSt。Augustinesays。Thedealerinfalsehoodisanagentofthedevil。Nodirectionoftheintentioncansanctifyslander；andthoughtheconversionofthewholeearthshoulddependonit，nomanmaywarrantablycalumniatetheinnocent：becausenonemaydotheleastevil，inordertoaccomplishthegreatestgood；and，astheScripturesays，"thetruthofGodstandsinnoneedofourlie。"St。Hilaryobservesthat"itistheboundendutyoftheadvocatesoftruth，toadvancenothinginitssupportbuttruethings。"
　　Now，fathers，IcandeclarebeforeGodthatthereisnothingthatIdetestmorethantheslightestpossibledeviationfromthetruth，andthatIhaveevertakenthegreatestcare，notonlynottofalsify（whichwouldbehorrible），butnottoalterorwrest，intheslightestpossibledegree，thesenseofasinglepassage。SocloselyhaveIadheredtothisrulethat，ifI
　　maypresumetoapplythemtothepresentcase，Imaysafelysay，inthewordsofthesameSt。Hilary："Ifweadvancethingsthatarefalse，letourstatementsbebrandedwithinfamy；butifwecanshowthattheyarepublicandnotorious，itisnobreachofapostolicmodestyorlibertytoexposethem。"Itisnotenough，however，totellnothingbutthetruth；
　　wemustnotalwaystelleverythingthatistrue；weshouldpublishonlythosethingswhichitisusefultodisclose，andnotthosewhichcanonlyhurt，withoutdoinganygood。And，therefore，asthefirstruleistospeakwithtruth，thesecondistospeakwithdiscretion。"Thewicked，"saysSt。Augustine，"inpersecutingthegood，blindlyfollowthedictatesoftheirpassion；butthegood，intheirprosecutionofthewicked，areguidedbyawisediscretion，evenasthesurgeonwarilyconsiderswhereheiscutting，whilethemurderercaresnotwherehestrikes。"Youmustbesensible，fathers，thatinselectingfromthemaximsofyourauthors，Ihaverefrainedfromquotingthosewhichwouldhavegalledyoumost，thoughImighthavedoneit，andthatwithoutsinningagainstdiscretion，asotherswhowerebothlearnedandCatholicwriters，havedonebeforeme。AllwhohavereadyourauthorsknowhowfarIhavesparedyouinthisrespect。Besides，I
　　havetakennonoticewhateverofwhatmightbebroughtagainstindividualcharactersamongyou；andIwouldhavebeenextremelysorrytohavesaidawordaboutsecretandpersonalfailings，whateverevidenceImighthaveofthem，beingpersuadedthatthisisthedistinguishingpropertyofmalice，andapracticewhichoughtnevertoberesortedto，unlesswhereitisurgentlydemandedforthegoodoftheChurch。Itisobvious，therefore，that，inwhatIhavebeencompelledtoadvanceagainstyourmoralmaxims，Ihavebeenbynomeanswantingindueconsideration：andthatyouhavemorereasontocongratulateyourselfonmymoderationthantocomplainofmyindiscretion。Thethirdrule，fathers，is：Thatwhenthereisneedtoemployalittleraillery，thespiritofpietywilltakecaretoemployitagainsterroronly，andnotagainstthingsholy；whereasthespiritofbuffoonery，impiety，andheresy，mocksatallthatismostsacred。I
　　havealreadyvindicatedmyselfonthatscore；andindeedthereisnogreatdangeroffallingintothatvicesolongasIconfinemyremarkstotheopinionswhichIhavequotedfromyourauthors。Inshort，fathers，toabridgetheserules，Ishallonlymentionanother，whichistheessenceandtheendofalltherest：Thatthespiritofcharitypromptsustocherishintheheartadesireforthesalvationofthoseagainstwhomwedispute，andtoaddressourprayerstoGodwhilewedirectouraccusationstomen。
　　"Weoughtever，"saysSt。Augustine，"topreservecharityintheheart，evenwhileweareobligedtopursuealineofexternalconductwhichtomanhastheappearanceofharshness；weoughttosmitethemwithasharpness，severebutkindly，rememberingthattheiradvantageismoretobestudiedthantheirgratification。"Iamsure，fathers，thatthereisnothinginmylettersfromwhichitcanbeinferredthatIhavenotcherishedsuchadesiretowardsyou；andasyoucanfindnothingtothecontraryinthem，charityobligesyoutobelievethatIhavebeenreallyactuatedbyit。
　　Itappears，then，thatyoucannotprovethatIhaveoffendedagainstthisrule，oragainstanyoftheotherruleswhichcharityinculcates；andyouhavenorighttosay，therefore，thatIhaveviolatedit。But，fathers，ifyoushouldnowliketohavethepleasureofseeing，withinashortcompass，acourseofconductdirectlyatvariancewitheachoftheserules，andbearingthegenuinestampofthespiritofbuffoonery，envy，andhatred，Ishallgiveyouafewexamplesofit；and，thattheymaybeofthesortbestknownandmostfamiliartoyou，Ishallextractthemfromyourownwritings。Tobegin，then，withtheunworthymannerinwhichyourauthorsspeakofholythings，whetherintheirsportiveandgallanteffusions，orintheirmoreseriouspieces，doyouthinkthattheparcelofridiculousstories，whichyourfatherBinethasintroducedintohisConsolationtotheSick，areexactlysuitabletohisprofessedobject，whichisthatofimpartingChristianconsolationtothosewhomGodhaschastenedwithaffliction？
　　Willyoupretendtosaythattheprofane，foppishstyleinwhichyourFatherLeMoinehastalkedofpietyinhisDevotionmadeEasyismorefittedtoinspirerespectthancontemptforthepicturethathedrawsofChristianvirtues？WhatelsedoeshiswholebookofMoralPicturesbreathe，bothinitsproseandpoetry，butaspiritfullofvanity，andthefolliesofthisworld？Take，forexample，thatodeinhisseventhbook，entitled，"EulogyonBashfulness，showingthatallbeautifulthingsarered，orinclinedtoredden。"Callyouthataproductionworthyofapriest？Theodeisintendedtocomfortalady，calledDelphina，whowassadlyaddictedtoblushing。
　　Eachstanzaisdevotedtoshowthatcertainredthingsarethebestofthings，suchasroses，pomegranates，themouth，thetongue；anditisinthemidstofthisbadinage，sodisgracefulinaclergyman，thathehastheeffronterytointroducethoseblessedspiritsthatministerbeforeGod，andofwhomnoChristianshouldspeakwithoutreverence："Thecherubim—
　　thosegloriouschoirs—Composedofheadandplumes，WhomGodwithHisownSpiritinspires，AndwithHiseyesillumes。Thesesplendidfaces，astheyfly，Areeverredandburninghigh，Withfireangelicordivine；Andwhiletheirmutualflamescombine，ThewavingoftheirwingssuppliesAfantocooltheirecstasies！Butrednessshineswithbettergrace，Delphina，onthybeauteousface，Wheremodestysitsrevelling—Arrayedinpurple，likeaking，"&；c。Whatthinkyouofthis，fathers？DoesthispreferenceoftheblushesofDelphinatotheardourofthosespirits，whichisneithermorenorlessthantheardourofdivinelove，andthissimileofthefanappliedtotheirmysteriouswings，strikeyouasbeingveryChristian—likeinthelipswhichconsecratetheadorablebodyofJesusChrist？Iamquiteawarethathespeaksonlyinthecharacterofagallantandtoraiseasmile；butthisispreciselywhatiscalledlaughingatthingsholy。Andisitnotcertain，that，werehetogetfulljustice，hecouldnotsavehimselffromincurringacensure？although，toshieldhimselffromthis，hepleadsanexcusewhichishardlylesscensurablethantheoffence，"thattheSorbonnehasnojurisdictionoverParnassus，andthattheerrorsofthatlandaresubjectneithertocensurenortheInquisition"；asifonecouldacttheblasphemerandprofanefellowonlyinprose！Thereisanotherpassage，however，inthepreface，whereeventhisexcusefailshim，whenhesays，"thatthewateroftheriver，onwhosebankshecomposeshisverses，issoapttomakepoets，that，thoughitwereconvertedintoholywater，itwouldnotchaseawaythedemonofpoesy。"Tomatchthis，ImayaddthefollowingflightofyourFatherGarasse，inhisSummaryoftheCapitalTruthsinReligion，where，speakingofthesacredmysteryoftheincarnation，hemixesupblasphemyandheresyinthisfashion："Thehumanpersonalitywasgrafted，asitwere，orsetonhorseback，uponthepersonalityoftheWord！"Andomittingmanyothers，Imightmentionanotherpassagefromthesameauthor，who，speakingonthesubjectofthenameofJesus，ordinarilywrittenthus，I。H。S。observesthat"somehavetakenawaythecrossfromthetopofit，leavingthecharactersbarelythus，I。H。S。—which，"sayshe，"isastrippedJesus！"Suchistheindecencywithwhichyoutreatthetruthsofreligion，inthefaceoftheinviolablelawwhichbindsusalwaystospeakofthemwithreverence。Butyouhavesinnednolessflagrantlyagainsttherulewhichobligesustospeakofthemwithtruthanddiscretion。
　　Whatismorecommoninyourwritingsthancalumny？CanthoseofFatherBrisacierbecalledsincere？Doeshespeakwithtruthwhenhesaysthat"thenunsofPort—Royaldonotpraytothesaints，andhavenoimagesintheirchurch？"Arenotthesemostoutrageousfalsehoods，whenthecontraryappearsbeforetheeyesofallParis？Andcanhebesaidtospeakwithdiscretionwhenhestabsthefairreputationofthesevirgins，wholeadalifesopureandaustere，representingthemas"impenitent，unsacramentalists，uncommunicants，foolishvirgins，visionaries，Calagans，desperatecreatures，andanythingyouplease，"loadingthemwithmanyotherslanders，whichhavejustlyincurredthecensureofthelateArchbishopofParis？Orwhenhecalumniatespriestsofthemostirreproachablemorals，byasserting"thattheypractisenoveltiesinconfession，toentraphandsomeinnocentfemales，andthathewouldbehorrifiedtotelltheabominablecrimeswhichtheycommit。"Isitnotapieceofintolerableassurancetoadvanceslanderssoblackandbase，notmerelywithoutproof，butwithouttheslightestshadow，orthemostdistantsemblanceoftruth？Ishallnotenlargeonthistopic，butdeferittoafutureoccasion，forIhavesomethingmoretosaytoyouaboutit；butwhatIhavenowproducedisenoughtoshowthatyouhavesinnedatonceagainsttruthanddiscretion。Butitmaybesaid，perhaps，thatyouhavenotoffendedagainstthelastruleatleast，whichbindsyoutodesirethesalvationofthosewhomyoudenounce，andthatnonecanchargeyouwiththis，exceptbyunlockingthesecretsofyourbreasts，whichareonlyknowntoGod。Itisstrange，fathers，buttrue，nevertheless，thatwecanconvictyouevenofthisoffence；thatwhileyourhatredtoyouropponentshascarriedyousofarastowishtheireternalperdition，yourinfatuationhasdrivenyoutodiscovertheabominablewishthat，sofarfromcherishinginsecretdesiresfortheirsalvation，youhaveofferedupprayersinpublicfortheirdamnation；andthat，afterhavinggivenutterancetothathideousvowinthecityofCaen，tothescandalofthewholeChurch，youhavesincethenventured，inParis，tovindicate，inyourprintedbooks，thediabolicaltransaction。Aftersuchgrossoffencesagainstpiety，firstridiculingandspeakinglightlyofthingsthemostsacred；nextfalselyandscandalouslycalumniatingpriestsandvirgins；andlastly，formingdesiresandprayersfortheirdamnation，itwouldbedifficulttoaddanythingworse。Icannotconceive，fathers，howyoucanfailtobeashamedofyourselves，orhowyoucouldhavethoughtforaninstantofchargingmewithawantofcharity，whohaveactedallalongwithsomuchtruthandmoderation，withoutreflectingonyourownhorridviolationsofcharity，manifestedinthosedeplorableexhibitions，whichmakethechargerecoilagainstyourselves。Infine，fathers，toconcludewithanotherchargewhichyoubringagainstme，IseeyoucomplainthatamongthevastnumberofyourmaximswhichIquote，therearesomewhichhavebeenobjectedtoalready，andthatI"sayoveragain，whatothershavesaidbeforeme。"TothisIreplythatitisjustbecauseyouhavenotprofitedbywhathasbeensaidbeforethatIsayitoveragain。TellmenowwhatfruithasappearedfromallthecastigationsyouhavereceivedinallthebookswrittenbylearneddoctorsandeventhewholeUniversity？
　　WhatmorehaveyourFathersAnnat，Caussin，Pintereau，andLeMoinedone，intherepliestheyhaveputforth，exceptloadingwithreproachesthosewhohadgiventhemsalutaryadmonitions？Haveyousuppressedthebooksinwhichthesenefariousmaximsaretaught？Haveyourestrainedtheauthorsofthesemaxims？Haveyoubecomemorecircumspectinregardtothem？Onthecontrary，isitnotthefactthatsincethattimeEscobarhasbeenrepeatedlyreprintedinFranceandintheLowCountries，andthatyourfathersCellot，Bagot，Bauny，Lamy，LeMoine，andothers，persistinpublishingdailythesamemaximsoveragain，ornewonesaslicentiousasever？Letushearnomorecomplaints，then，fathers，eitherbecauseIhavechargedyouwithmaximswhichyouhavenotdisavowed，orbecauseIhaveobjectedtosomenewonesagainstyou，orbecauseIhavelaughedequallyatthemall。Youhaveonlytositdownandlookatthem，toseeatonceyourownconfusionandmydefence。WhocanlookwithoutlaughingatthedecisionofBauny，respectingthepersonwhoemploysanothertosetfiretohisneighbour’sbarn；thatofCellotonrestitution；theruleofSanchezinfavourofsorcerers；theplanofHurtadoforavoidingthesinofduellingbytakingawalkthroughafieldandwaitingforaman；thecomplimentsofBaunyforescapingusury；thewayofavoidingsimonybyadetouroftheintention，andkeepingclearoffalsehoodbyspeakinghighandlow；