AugustineandSt。Thomas,accordingtowhichitisequallytruethatwehavethepowerofresistinggrace,contrarytoCalvin’sopinion,andthat,nevertheless,toemploythelanguageofPopeClementVIIIinhispaperaddressedtotheCongregationdeAuxiliis,"Godformswithinusthemotionofourwill,andeffectuallydisposesofourhearts,byvirtueofthatempirewhichHissuprememajestyhasoverthevolitionsofmen,aswellasovertheothercreaturesunderheaven,accordingtoSt。Augustine。"Onthesameprinciple,itfollowsthatweactofourselves,andthus,inoppositiontoanothererrorofCalvin,thatwehavemeritswhicharetrulyandproperlyours;andyet,asGodisthefirstprincipleofouractions,andas,inthelanguageofSt。Paul,He"workethinusthatwhichispleasinginhissight";"ourmeritsarethegiftsofGod,"astheCouncilofTrentsays。BymeansofthisdistinctionwedemolishtheprofanesentimentofLuther,condemnedbythatCouncil,namely,that"weco—operateinnowaywhatevertowardsoursalvationanymorethaninanimatethings";and,bythesamemodeofreasoning,weoverthrowtheequallyprofanesentimentoftheschoolofMolina,whowillnotallowthatitisbythestrengthofdivinegracethatweareenabledtocooperatewithitintheworkofoursalvation,andwhotherebycomesintohostilecollisionwiththatprincipleoffaithestablishedbySt。Paul:"ThatitisGodwhoworkethinusbothtowillandtodo。"Infine,inthiswaywereconcileallthosepassagesofScripturewhichseemquiteinconsistentwitheachothersuchasthefollowing:"TurnyeuntoGod"—"Turnthouus,andweshallbeturned"—"Castawayiniquityfromyou"—"ItisGodwhotakethawayiniquityfromHispeople"—"Bringforthworksmeetforrepentance"—
"Lord,thouhastwroughtallourworksinus"—"Makeyeanewheartandanewspirit"—"AnewspiritwillIgiveyou,andanewheartwillIcreatewithinyou,"&;c。Theonlywayofreconcilingtheseapparentcontrarieties,whichascribeourgoodactionsatonetimetoGodandatanothertimetoourselves,istokeepinviewthedistinction,asstatedbySt。Augustine,that"ouractionsareoursinrespectofthefreewillwhichproducesthem;
butthattheyarealsoofGod,inrespectofHisgracewhichenablesourfreewilltoproducethem";andthat,asthesamewriterelsewhereremarks,"Godenablesustodowhatispleasinginhissight,bymakinguswilltodoevenwhatwemighthavebeenunwillingtodo。"Itthusappears,father,thatyouropponentsareperfectlyatonewiththemodernThomists,fortheThomistsholdwiththemboththepowerofresistinggrace,andtheinfallibilityoftheeffectofgrace;ofwhichlatterdoctrinetheyprofessthemselvesthemoststrenuousadvocates,ifwemayjudgefromacommonmaximoftheirtheology,whichAlvarez,oneoftheleadingmenamongthem,repeatssoofteninhisbook,andexpressesinthefollowingterms(disp。
72,n。4):"Whenefficaciousgracemovesthefreewill,itinfalliblyconsents;
becausetheeffectofgraceissuch,that,althoughthewillhasthepowerofwithholdingitsconsent,itneverthelessconsentsineffect。"Hecorroboratesthisbyaquotationfromhismaster,St。Thomas:"ThewillofGodcannotfailtobeaccomplished;and,accordingly,whenitishispleasurethatamanshouldconsenttotheinfluenceofgrace,heconsentsinfallibly,andevennecessarily,notbyanabsolutenecessity,butbyanecessityofinfallibility。"Ineffectingthis,divinegracedoesnottrenchupon"thepowerwhichmanhastoresistit,ifhewishestodoso";itmerelypreventshimfromwishingtoresistit。ThishasbeenacknowledgedbyyourFatherPetau,inthefollowingpassage(Booki,p。602):。"ThegraceofJesusChristinsuresinfallibleperseveranceinpiety,thoughnotbynecessity;
forapersonmayrefusetoyieldhisconsenttograce,ifhebesoinclined,asthecouncilstates;butthatsamegraceprovidesthatheshallneverbesoinclined。"This,father,istheuniformdoctrineofSt。Augustine,ofSt。Prosper,ofthefatherswhofollowedthem,ofthecouncils,ofSt。
Thomas,andofalltheThomistsingeneral。Itislikewise,whateveryoumaythinkofit,thedoctrineofyouropponents。And,letmeadd,itisthedoctrinewhichyouyourselfhavelatelysealedwithyourapprobation。
Ishallquoteyourownwords:"Thedoctrineofefficaciousgrace,whichadmitsthatwehaveapowerofresistingit,isorthodox,foundedonthecouncils,andsupportedbytheThomistsandSorbonists。"Now,tellustheplaintruth,father;ifyouhadknownthatyouropponentsreallyheldthisdoctrine,theinterestsofyourSocietymightperhapshavemadeyouscruplebeforepronouncingthispublicapprovalofit;but,actingonthesuppositionthattheywerehostiletothedoctrine,thesamepowerfulmotivehasinducedyoutoauthorizesentimentswhichyouknowinyourhearttobecontrarytothoseofyourSociety;andbythisblunder,inyouranxietytoruintheirprinciples,youhaveyourselfcompletelyconfirmedthem。Sothat,byakindofprodigy,wenowbeholdtheadvocatesofefficaciousgracevindicatedbytheadvocatesofMolina—anadmirableinstanceofthewisdomofGodinmakingallthingsconcurtoadvancethegloryofthetruth。Letthewholeworldobserve,then,that,byyourownadmission,thetruthofthisefficaciousgrace,whichissoessentialtoalltheactsofpiety,whichissodeartotheChurch,andwhichisthepurchaseofherSaviour’sblood,issoindisputablyCatholicthatthereisnotasingleCatholic,notevenamongtheJesuits,whowouldnotacknowledgeitsorthodoxy。Andletitbenoticed,atthesametime,that,accordingtoyourownconfession,nottheslightestsuspicionoferrorcanfallonthosewhomyouhavesooftenstigmatizedwithit。Forsolongasyouchargedthemwithclandestineheresies,withoutchoosingtospecifythembyname,itwasasdifficultforthemtodefendthemselvesasitwaseasyforyoutobringsuchaccusations。
Butnow,whenyouhavecometodeclarethattheerrorwhichconstrainsyoutoopposethem,istheheresyofCalvinwhichyousupposedthemtohold,itmustbeapparenttoeveryonethattheyareinnocentofallerror;
forsodecidedlyhostilearetheytothis,theonlyerroryouchargeuponthem,thattheyprotest,bytheirdiscourses,bytheirbooks,byeverymode,inshort,inwhichtheycantestifytheirsentiments,thattheycondemnthatheresywiththeirwholeheart,andinthesamemannerasithasbeencondemnedbytheThomists,whomyouacknowledge,withoutscruple,tobeCatholics,andwhohaveneverbeensuspectedtobeanythingelse。Whatwillyousayagainstthemnow,father?Willyousaythattheyarehereticsstill,because,althoughtheydonotadoptthesenseofCalvin,theywillnotallowthatthesenseofJanseniusisthesamewiththatofCalvin?
Willyoupresumetosaythatthisismatterofheresy?Isitnotapurequestionoffact,withwhichheresyhasnothingtodo?Itwouldbehereticaltosaythatwehavenotthepower,ofresistingefficaciousgrace;butwoulditbesotodoubtthatJanseniusheldthatdoctrine?Isthisarevealedtruth?Isitanarticleoffaithwhichmustbebelieved,onpainofdamnation?
Orisitnot,inspiteofyou,apointoffact,onaccountofwhichitwouldberidiculoustoholdthattherewerehereticsintheChurch?Dropthisepithet,then,father,andgivethemsomeothername,moresuitedtothenatureofyourdispute。Tellthem,theyareignorantandstupid—
thattheymisunderstandJansenius。Thesewouldbechargesinkeepingwithyourcontroversy;butitisquiteirrelevanttocallthemheretics。Asthis,however,istheonlychargefromwhichIamanxioustodefendthem,IshallnotgivemyselfmuchtroubletoshowthattheyrightlyunderstandJansenius。AllIshallsayonthepoint,father,isthatitappearstomethat,werehetobejudgedaccordingtoyourownrules,itwouldbedifficulttoprovehimnottobeagoodCatholic。Weshalltryhimbythetestyouhaveproposed。"Toknow,"sayyou,"whetherJanseniusissoundornot,wemustinquirewhetherhedefendsefficaciousgraceinthemannerofCalvin,whodeniesthatmanhasthepowerofresistingit—inwhichcasehewouldbeheretical;orinthemanneroftheThomists,whoadmitthatitmayberesisted—forthenhewouldbeCatholic。"judge,then,father,whetherheholdsthatgracemayberesistedwhenhesays:"Thatwehavealwaysapowertoresistgrace,accordingtothecouncil;thatfreewillmayalwaysactornotact,willornotwill,consentornotconsent,dogoodordoevil;andthatman,inthislife,hasalwaysthesetwoliberties,whichmaybecalledbysomecontradictions。"Judge。likewise,ifhebenotopposedtotheerrorofCalvin,asyouhavedescribedit,whenheoccupiesawholechapter(21st)inshowing"thattheChurchhascondemnedthathereticwhodeniesthatefficaciousgraceactsonthefreewillinthemannerwhichhasbeensolongbelievedintheChurch,soastoleaveitinthepoweroffreewilltoconsentornottoconsent;whereas,accordingtoSt。Augustineandthecouncil,wehavealwaysthepowerofwithholdingourconsentifwechoose;andaccordingtoSt。Prosper,Godbestowsevenuponhiselectthewilltopersevere,insuchawayasnottodeprivethemofthepowertowillthecontrary。"And,inoneword,judgeifhedoesnotagreewiththeThomists,fromthefollowingdeclarationinchapter4th:"ThatallthattheThomistshavewrittenwiththeviewofreconcilingtheefficaciousnessofgracewiththepowerofresistingit,soentirelycoincideswithhisjudgementthattoascertainhissentimentsonthissubjectwehaveonlytoconsulttheirwritings。"Suchbeingthelanguageheholdsontheseheadsmyopinionisthathebelievesinthepowerofresistinggrace;thathediffersfromCalvinandagreeswiththeThomists,becausehehassaidso;
andthatheis,therefore,accordingtoyourownshowing,aCatholic。Ifyouhaveanymeansofknowingthesenseofanauthorotherwisethanbyhisexpressions;andif,withoutquotinganyofhispassages,youaredisposedtomaintain,indirectoppositiontohisownwords,thathedeniesthispowerofresistance,andthatheisforCalvinandagainsttheThomists,donotbeafraid,father,thatIwillaccuseyouofheresyforthat。I
shallonlysaythatyoudonotseemproperlytounderstandJansenius;butweshallnotbethelessonthataccountchildrenofthesameChurch。Howcomesit,then,father,thatyoumanagethisdisputeinsuchapassionatespirit,andthatyoutreatasyourmostcruelenemies,andasthemostpestilentofheretics,aclassofpersonswhomyoucannotaccuseofanyerror,norofanythingwhatever,exceptthattheydonotunderstandJanseniusasyoudo?Forwhatelseintheworlddoyoudisputeabout,exceptthesenseofthatauthor?Youwouldhavethemtocondemnit。Theyaskwhatyoumeanthemtocondemn。YoureplythatyoumeantheerrorofCalvin。
Theyrejointhattheycondemnthaterror;andwiththisacknowledgement(unlessitissyllablesyouwishtocondemn,andnotthethingwhichtheysignify),yououghttorestsatisfied。IftheyrefusetosaythattheycondemnthesenseofJansenius,itisbecausetheybelieveittobethatofSt。Thomas,andthusthisunhappyphrasehasaveryequivocalmeaningbetwixtyou。InyourmouthitsignifiesthesenseofCalvin;intheirsthesenseofSt。Thomas。Yourdissensionsariseentirelyfromthedifferentideaswhichyouattachtothesameterm。WereImadeumpireinthequarrel,IwouldinterdicttheuseofthewordJansenius,onbothsides;andthus,byobligingyoumerelytoexpresswhatyouunderstandbyit,itwouldbeseenthatyouasknothingmorethanthecondemnationofCalvin,towhichtheywillinglyagree;andthattheyasknothingmorethanthevindicationofthesenseofSt。AugustineandSt。Thomas,inwhichyouagainperfectlycoincide。Ideclare,then,father,thatformypartIshallcontinuetoregardthemasgoodCatholics,whethertheycondemnJansenius,onfindinghimerroneous,orrefusetocondemnhim,fromfindingthathemaintainsnothingmorethanwhatyouyourselfacknowledgetobeorthodox;andthatIshallsaytothemwhatSt。JeromesaidtoJohn,bishopofJerusalem,whowasaccusedofholdingtheeightpropositionsofOrigen:"EithercondemnOrigen,ifyouacknowledgethathehasmaintainedtheseerrors,orelsedenythathehasmaintainedthem—Autnegahocdixisseeumquiarguitur;
autsilocutusesttalia,eumdamnaquidixerit。"See,father,howthesepersonsacted,whosesoleconcernwaswithprinciples,andnotwithpersons;
whereasyouwhoaimatpersonsmorethanprinciples,consideritamatterofnoconsequencetocondemnerrors,unlessyouprocurethecondemnationoftheindividualstowhomyouchoosetoimputethem。Howridiculouslyviolentyourconductis,father!andhowillcalculatedtoinsuresuccess!
Itoldyoubefore,andIrepeatit,violenceandveritycanmakenoimpressiononeachother。Neverwereyouraccusationsmoreoutrageous,andneverwastheinnocenceofyouropponentsmorediscernible:neverhasefficaciousgracebeenattackedwithgreatersubtility,andneverhasitbeenmoretriumphantlyestablished。Youhavemadethemostdesperateeffortstoconvincepeoplethatyourdisputesinvolvedpointsoffaith;andneverwasitmoreapparentthatthewholecontroversyturneduponamerepointoffact。Infine,youhavemovedheavenandearthtomakeitappearthatthispointoffactisfoundedontruth;andneverwerepeoplemoredisposedtocallitinquestion。Andtheobviousreasonofthisisthatyoudonottakethenaturalcoursetomakethembelieveapointoffact,whichistoconvincetheirsensesandpointouttotheminabookthewordswhichyouallegearetobefoundinit。Themeansyouhaveadoptedaresofarremovedfromthisstraightforwardcoursethatthemostobtusemindsareunavoidablystruckbyobservingit。WhydidyounottaketheplanwhichIfollowedinbringingtolightthewickedmaximsofyourauthors—whichwastocitefaithfullythepassagesoftheirwritingsfromwhichtheywereextracted?
ThiswasthemodefollowedbythecuresofParis,anditneverfailstoproduceconviction。But,whenyouwerechargedbythemwithholding,forexample,thepropositionofFatherLamy,thata"monkmaykillapersonwhothreatenstopublishcalumniesagainsthimselforhisorder,whenhecannototherwisepreventthepublication,"whatwouldyouhavethought,andwhatwouldthepublichavesaid,iftheyhadnotquotedtheplacewherethatsentimentisliterallytobefound?orif,afterhavingbeenrepeatedlydemandedtoquotetheirauthority,theystillobstinatelyrefusedtodoit?orif,insteadofaccedingtothis,theyhadgoneofftoRomeandprocuredabull,ordainingallmentoacknowledgethetruthoftheirstatement?
WoulditnotbeundoubtedlyconcludedthattheyhadsurprisedthePope,andthattheywouldneverhavehadrecoursetothisextraordinarymethod,butforwantofthenaturalmeansofsubstantiatingthetruth,whichmattersoffactfurnishtoallwhoundertaketoprovethem?Accordingly,theyhadnomoretodothantotellusthatFatherLamyteachesthisdoctrineinBook5,disp。36,n。118,page544。oftheDouayedition;andbythismeanseverybodywhowishedtoseeitfounditout,andnobodycoulddoubtaboutitanylonger。Thisappearstobeaveryeasyandpromptwayofputtinganendtocontroversiesoffact,whenonehasgottherightsideofthequestion。Howcomesit,then,father,thatyoudonotfollowthisplan?
Yousaid,inyourbook,thatthefivepropositionsareinJansenius,wordforword,intheidenticalterms—iisdemverbis。Youweretoldtheywerenot。Whathadyoutodoafterthis,buteithertocitethepage,ifyouhadreallyfoundthewords,ortoacknowledgethatyouweremistaken。Butyouhavedoneneithertheonenortheother。Inplaceofthis,onfindingthatallthepassagesfromJansenius,whichyousometimesadduceforthepurposeofhoodwinkingthepeople,arenot"thecondemnedpropositionsintheirindividualidentity,"asyouhadengagedtoshowus,youpresentuswithConstitutionsfromRome,which,withoutspecifyinganyparticularplace,declarethatthepropositionshavebeenextractedfromhisbook。
Iamsensible,father,oftherespectwhichChristiansowetotheHolySee,andyourantagonistsgivesufficientevidenceoftheirresolutionevertoabidebyitsdecisions。Donotimaginethatitimpliedanydeficiencyinthisduedeferenceontheirpartthattheyrepresentedtothepope,withallthesubmissionwhichchildrenowetotheirfather,andmemberstotheirhead,thatitwaspossiblehemightbedeceivedonthispointoffact—thathehadnotcausedittobeinvestigatedduringhispontificate;
andthathispredecessor,InnocentX,hadmerelyexaminedintothehereticalcharacterofthepropositions,andnotintothefactoftheirconnectionwithJansenius。ThistheystatedtothecommissaryoftheHolyOffice,oneoftheprincipalexaminers,statingthattheycouldnotbecensuredaccordingtothesenseofanyauthor,becausetheyhadbeenpresentedforexaminationontheirownmerits;andwithoutconsideringtowhatauthortheymightbelong:further,thatupwardsofsixtydoctors,andavastnumberofotherpersonsoflearningandpiety,hadreadthatbookcarefullyover,withouteverhavingencounteredtheproscribedpropositions,andthattheyhavefoundsomeofaquiteoppositedescription:thatthosewhohadproducedthatimpressiononthemindofthePopemightbereasonablypresumedtohaveabusedtheconfidencehereposedinthem,inasmuchastheyhadaninterestindecryingthatauthor,whohasconvictedMolinaofupwardsoffiftyerrors:thatwhatrendersthissuppositionstillmoreprobableisthattheyhaveacertainmaximamongthem,oneofthebestauthenticatedintheirwholesystemoftheology,whichis,"thattheymay,withoutcriminality,calumniatethosebywhomtheyconceivethemselvestobeunjustlyattacked";
andthat,accordingly,theirtestimonybeingsosuspicious,andthetestimonyoftheotherpartysorespectable,theyhadsomegroundforsupplicatinghisholiness,withthemostprofoundhumility,thathewouldordainaninvestigationtobemadeintothisfact,inthepresenceofdoctorsbelongingtobothparties,inorderthatasolemnandregulardecisionmightbeformedonthepointindispute。"Lettherebeaconvocationofablejudges(saysSt。Basilonasimilaroccasion,Epistle75);leteachofthembeleftatperfectfreedom;letthemexaminemywritings;letthemjudgeiftheycontainerrorsagainstthefaith;letthemreadtheobjectionsandthereplies;thatsoajudgementmaybegivenindueformandwithproperknowledgeofthecase,andnotadefamatorylibelwithoutexamination。"Itisquitevainforyou,father,torepresentthosewhowouldactinthemannerI
havenowsupposedasdeficientinpropersubjectiontotheHolySee。ThepopesareveryfarfrombeingdisposedtotreatChristianswiththatimperiousnesswhichsomewouldfainexerciseundertheirname。"TheChurch,"saysPopeSt。Gregory,"whichhasbeentrainedintheschoolofhumility,doesnotcommandwithauthority,butpersuadesbyreason,herchildrenwhomshebelievestobeinerror,toobeywhatshehastaughtthem。"Andsofarfromdeemingitadisgracetoreviewajudgementintowhichtheymayhavebeensurprised,wehavethetestimonyofSt。Bernardforsayingthattheygloryinacknowledgingthemistake。"TheApostolicSee(hesays,Epistle180)canboastofthisrecommendation,thatitneverstandsonthepointofhonour,butwillinglyrevokesadecisionthathasbeengainedfromitbysurprise;indeed,itishighlyjusttopreventanyfromprofitingbyanactofinjustice,andmoreespeciallybeforetheHolySee。"Such,father,arethepropersentimentswithwhichthepopesoughttobeinspired;foralldivinesareagreedthattheymaybesurprised,andthattheirsupremecharacter,sofarfromwarrantingthemagainstmistakes,exposesthemthemorereadilytofallintothem,onaccountofthevastnumberofcareswhichclaimtheirattention。ThisiswhatthesameSt。Gregorysaystosomepersonswhowereastonishedatthecircumstanceofanotherpopehavingsufferedhimselftobedeluded:"Whydoyouwonder,"sayshe,"thatweshouldbedeceived,wewhoarebutmen?HaveyounotreadthatDavid,akingwhohadthespiritofprophecy,wasinduced,bygivingcredittothefalsehoodsofZiba,topronounceanunjustjudgementagainstthesonofJonathan?Whowillthinkitstrange,then,thatwe,whoarenotprophets,shouldsometimesbeimposeduponbydeceivers?Amultiplicityofaffairspressesonus,andourminds,which,bybeingobligedtoattendtosomanythingsatonce,applythemselveslesscloselytoeachinparticular,arethemoreeasilyliabletobeimposeduponinindividualcases。"Truly,father,Ishouldsupposethatthepopesknowbetterthanyouwhethertheymaybedeceivedornot。Theythemselvestellusthatpopes,aswellasthegreatestprinces,aremoreexposedtodeceptionthanindividualswhoarelessoccupiedwithimportantavocations。Thismustbebelievedontheirtestimony。Anditiseasytoimaginebywhatmeanstheycometobethusoverreached。St。Bernard,intheletterwhichhewrotetoInnocentII,givesusthefollowingdescriptionoftheprocess:"Itisnowonder,andnonovelty,thatthehumanmindmaybedeceived,andisdeceived。Youaresurroundedbymonkswhocometoyouinthespiritoflyinganddeceit。
Theyhavefilledyourearswithstoriesagainstabishop,whoselifehasbeenmostexemplary,butwhoistheobjectoftheirhatred。Thesepersonsbitelikedogs,andstrivetomakegoodappearevil。Meanwhile,mostholyfather,youputyourselfintoarageagainstyourownson。Whyhaveyouaffordedmatterofjoytohisenemies?Believenoteveryspirit,buttrythespiritswhethertheybeofGod。Itrustthat,whenyouhaveascertainedthetruth,allthisdelusion,whichrestsonafalsereport,willbedissipated。
Ipraythespiritoftruthtograntyouthegracetoseparatelightfromdarkness,andtofavourthegoodbyrejectingtheevil。"Yousee,then,father,thattheeminentrankofthepopesdoesnotexemptthemfromtheinfluenceofdelusion;andImaynowadd,thatitonlyservestorendertheirmistakesmoredangerousandimportantthanthoseofothermen。ThisisthelightinwhichSt。BernardrepresentsthemtoPopeEugenius:"Thereisanotherfault,socommonamongthegreatofthisworldthatInevermetoneofthemwhowasfreefromit;andthatis,holyfather,anexcessivecredulity,thesourceofnumerousdisorders。Fromthisproceedviolentpersecutionsagainsttheinnocent,unfoundedprejudicesagainsttheabsent,andtremendousstormsaboutnothing(pronihilo)。This,holyfather,isauniversalevil,fromtheinfluenceofwhich,ifyouareexempt,Ishallonlysayyouaretheonlyindividualamongallyourcompeerswhocanboastofthatprivilege。"Iimagine,father,thattheproofsIhavebroughtarebeginningtoconvinceyouthatthepopesareliabletobesurprised。But,tocompleteyourconversion,Ishallmerelyremindyouofsomeexamples,whichyouyourselfhavequotedinyourbook,ofpopesandemperorswhomhereticshaveactuallydeceived。Youwillremember,then,thatyouhavetoldusthatApollinariussurprisedPopeDamasius,inthesamewaythatCelestiussurprisedZozimus。Youinformus,besides,thatonecalledAthanasiusdeceivedtheEmperorHeraclius,andprevailedonhimtopersecutetheCatholics。
Andlastly,thatSergiusobtainedfromHonoriusthatinfamousdecretalwhichwasburnedatthesixthcouncil,"byplayingthebusybody,"asyousay,"aboutthepersonofthatpope。"Itappears,then,father,byyourownconfession,thatthosewhoactthispartaboutthepersonsofkingsandpopesdosometimesartfullyenticethemtopersecutethefaithfuldefendersofthetruth,underthepersuasionthattheyarepersecutingheretics。