Andisitallowabletocourtoccasionsofcommittingsin，orrather，arewenotboundtoshunthem？Thatwouldbeeasyenough，surely。""Notalwaysso，"hereplied；"thatisjustasitmayhappen。""Happen，how？"criedI。"Oh！"rejoinedthemonk，"soyouthinkthatifapersonexperiencesomeinconvenienceinavoidingtheoccasionsofsin，heisstillboundtodoso？NotsothinksFatherBauny。’Absolution，’sayshe，’isnottoberefusedtosuchascontinueintheproximateoccasionsofsin，iftheyaresosituatedthattheycannotgivethemupwithoutbecomingthecommontalkoftheworld，orsubjectingthemselvestopersonalinconvenience。’""Iamgladtohearit，father，"Iremarked；"andnowthatwearenotobligedtoavoidtheoccasionsofsin，nothingmoreremainsbuttosaythatwemaydeliberatelycourtthem。""Eventhatisoccasionallypermitted，"addedhe；"thecelebratedcasuist，BasilPonce，hassaidso，andFatherBaunyquoteshissentimentwithapprobationinhisTreatiseonPenance，asfollows：’Wemayseekanoccasionofsindirectlyanddesignedly—primoetperse—whenourownorourneighbour’sspiritualortemporaladvantageinducesustodoso。’"
　　"Truly，"saidI，"itappearstobealladreamtome，whenIheargravedivinestalkinginthismanner！Comenow，mydearfather，tellmeconscientiously，doyouholdsuchasentimentasthat？""No，indeed，"saidhe，"Idonot。"
　　"Youarespeaking，then，againstyourconscience，"continuedI。"Notatall，"hereplied；"Iwasspeakingonthatpointnotaccordingtomyownconscience，butaccordingtothatofPonceandFatherBauny，andthemyoumayfollowwiththeutmostsafety，forIassureyouthattheyareablemen。""What，father！becausetheyhaveputdownthesethreelinesintheirbooks，willitthereforebecomeallowabletocourttheoccasionsofsin？
　　IalwaysthoughtthatwewereboundtotaketheScriptureandthetraditionoftheChurchasouronlyrule，andnotyourcauists。""Goodness！"criedthemonk，"IdeclareyouputmeinmindoftheseJansenists。ThinkyouthatFatherBaunyandBasilPoncearenotabletorendertheiropinionprobable？""Probablewon’tdoforme，"saidI；"Imusthavecertainty。"
　　"Icaneasilysee，"repliedthegoodfather，"thatyouknownothingaboutourdoctrineofprobableopinions。Ifyoudid，youwouldspeakinanotherstrain。Ah！mydearsir，Imustreallygiveyousomeinstructionsonthispoint；withoutknowingthis，positivelyyoucanunderstandnothingatall。
　　Itisthefoundation—theveryA，B，C，ofourwholemoralphilosophy。"
　　GladtoseehimcometothepointtowhichIhadbeendrawinghimon，I
　　expressedmysatisfactionandrequestedhimtoexplainwhatwasmeantbyaprobableopinion？"That，"hereplied，"ourauthorswillanswerbetterthanIcando。Thegeneralityofthem，and，amongothers，ourfour—and—twentyelders，describeitthus：’Anopinioniscalledprobablewhenitisfoundeduponreasonsofsomeconsideration。Henceitmaysometimeshappenthatasingleverygravedoctormayrenderanopinionprobable。’Thereasonisadded：’Foramanparticularlygiventostudywouldnotadheretoanopinionunlesshewasdrawntoitbyagoodandsufficientreason。’""Soitwouldappear，"Iobserved，withasmile，"thatasingledoctormayturnconsciencesroundaboutandupsidedownashepleases，andyetalwayslandtheminasafeposition。""Youmustnotlaughatit，sir，"returnedthemonk；"norneedyouattempttocombatthedoctrine。TheJanseniststriedthis；buttheymighthavesavedthemselvesthetrouble—itistoofirmlyestablished。HearSanchez，oneofthemostfamousofourfathers：’Youmaydoubt，perhaps，whethertheauthorityofasinglegoodandlearneddoctorrendersanopinionprobable。Ianswerthatitdoes；andthisisconfirmedbyAngelus，Sylvester，Navarre，EmanuelSa，&；c。Itisprovedthus：Aprobableopinionisonethathasaconsiderablefoundation。Nowtheauthorityofalearnedandpiousmanisentitledtoverygreatconsideration；
　　because（markthereason），ifthetestimonyofsuchamanhasgreatinfluenceinconvincingusthatsuchandsuchaneventoccurred，sayatRome，forexample，whyshoulditnothavethesameweightinthecaseofaquestioninmorals？’""Anoddcomparisonthis，"interruptedI，"betweentheconcernsoftheworldandthoseofconscience！""Havealittlepatience，"rejoinedthemonk；"Sanchezanswersthatintheverynextsentence：’NorcanIassenttothequalificationmadeherebysomewriters，namely，thattheauthorityofsuchadoctor，thoughsufficientinmattersofhumanright，isnotsointhoseofdivineright。Itisofvastweightinbothcases。’""Well，father，"saidI，frankly，"Ireallycannotadmirethatrule。Whocanassureme，consideringthefreedomyourdoctorsclaimtoexamineeverythingbyreason，thatwhatappearssafetoonemayseemsotoalltherest？Thediversityofjudgementsissogreat"—"Youdon’tunderstandit，"saidhe，interruptingme；"nodoubttheyareoftenofdifferentsentiments，butwhatsignifiesthat？Eachrendershisownopinionprobableandsafe。Weallknowwellenoughthattheyarefarfrombeingofthesamemind；whatismore，thereishardlyaninstanceinwhichtheyeveragree。Thereareveryfewquestions，indeed，inwhichyoudonotfindtheonesayingyesandtheothersayingno。Still，inallthesecases，eachofthecontraryopinionsisprobable。AndhenceDianasaysonacertainsubject：’PonceandSanchezholdoppositeviewsofit；but，astheyarebothlearnedmen，eachrendershisownopinionprobable。’""But，father，"Iremarked，"apersonmustbesadlyembarrassedinchoosingbetweenthem！""Notatall，"
　　herejoined；"hehasonlytofollowtheopinionwhichsuitshimbest。"
　　"What！iftheotherismoreprobable？""Itdoesnotsignify，""Andiftheotheristhesafer？""Itdoesnotsignify，"repeatedthemonk；"thisismadequiteplainbyEmanuelSa，ofourSociety，inhisAphorisms：’Apersonmaydowhatheconsidersallowableaccordingtoaprobableopinion，thoughthecontrarymaybethesaferone。Theopinionofasinglegravedoctorisallthatisrequisite。’""Andifanopinionbeatoncethelessprobableandthelesssafe，itisallowabletofollowit，"Iasked，"eveninthewayofrejectingonewhichwebelievetobemoreprobableandsafe？""Oncemore，Isayyes，"repliedthemonk。"HearwhatFiliutius，thatgreatJesuitofRome，says：’Itisallowabletofollowthelessprobableopinion，eventhoughitbethelesssafeone。Thatisthecommonjudgementofmodernauthors。’Isnotthatquiteclear？""Well，reverendfather，"saidI，"youhavegivenuselbowroom，atallevents！Thankstoyourprobableopinions，wehavegotlibertyofconsciencewithawitness！Andareyoucasuistsallowedthesamelatitudeingivingyourresponses？""Oh，yes，"saidhe，"weanswerjustasweplease；orrather，Ishouldsay，justasitmaypleasethosewhoaskouradvice。Hereareourrules，takenfromFathersLayman，Vasquez，Sanchez，andthefour—and—twentyworthies，inthewordsofLayman：
　　’Adoctor，onbeingconsulted，maygiveanadvice，notonlyprobableaccordingtohisownopinion，butcontrarytohisownopinion，providedthisjudgementhappenstobemorefavourableormoreagreeabletothepersonthatconsultshim—sifortehaecfavorabiliorseuexoptatiorsit。Nay，Igofurtherandsaythattherewouldbenothingunreasonableinhisgivingthosewhoconsulthimajudgementheldtobeprobablebysomelearnedperson，eventhoughheshouldbesatisfiedinhisownmindthatitisabsolutelyfalse。’""Well，seriously，father，"Isaid，"yourdoctrineisamostuncommonlycomfortableone！Onlythinkofbeingallowedtoansweryesorno，justasyouplease！
　　Itisimpossibletoprizesuchaprivilegetoohighly。Iseenowtheadvantageofthecontraryopinionsofyourdoctors。Oneofthemalwaysservesyourturn，andtheothernevergivesyouanyannoyance。Ifyoudonotfindyouraccountontheoneside，youfallbackontheotherandalwayslandinperfectsafety。""Thatisquitetrue，"hereplied；"and，accordingly，wemayalwayssaywithDiana，onhisfindingthatFatherBaunywasonhisside，whileFatherLugowasagainsthim：Saepeprementedeo，fertdeusalteropem。"**Ovid，Appendice，xiii。"Ifpressedbyanygod，wewillbedeliveredbyanother。""Iunderstandyou，"resumedI；"butapracticaldifficultyhasjustoccurredtome，whichisthis，thatsupposingapersontohaveconsultedoneofyourdoctorsandobtainedfromhimaprettyliberalopinion，thereissomedangerofhisgettingintoascrapebymeetingaconfessorwhotakesadifferentviewofthematterandrefuseshimabsolutionunlessherecantthesentimentofthecasuist。Haveyounotprovidedforsuchacaseasthat，father？""Canyoudoubtit？"hereplied，"Wehaveboundthem，sir，toabsolvetheirpenitentswhoactaccordingtoprobableopinions，underthepainofmortalsin，tosecuretheircompliance。’Whenthepenitent，’saysFatherBauny，’followsaprobableopinion，theconfessorisboundtoabsolvehim，thoughhisopinionshoulddifferfromthatofhispenitent。’""Buthedoesnotsayitwouldbeamortalsinnottoabsolvehim"saidI。"Howhastyyouare！"rejoinedthemonk；"listentowhatfollows；
　　hehasexpresslydecidedthat，’torefuseabsolutiontoapenitentwhoactsaccordingtoaprobableopinionisasinwhichisinitsnaturemortal。’
　　And，tosettlethatpoint，hecitesthemostillustriousofourfathers—
　　Suarez，Vasquez，andSanchez。""Mydearsir，"saidI，"thatisamostprudentregulation。Iseenothingtofearnow。Noconfessorcandaretoberefractoryafterthis。Indeed，Iwasnotawarethatyouhadthepowerofissuingyourordersonpainofdamnation。Ithoughtthatyourskillhadbeenconfinedtothetakingawayofsins；Ihadnoideathatitextendedtotheintroductionofnewones。But，fromwhatInowsee，youareomnipotent。""Thatisnotacorrectwayofspeaking，"rejoinedthefather。"Wedonotintroducesins；
　　weonlypayattentiontothem。Ihavehadoccasiontoremark，twoorthreetimesduringourconversation，thatyouarenogreatscholastic。""Bethatasitmay，father，youhaveatleastansweredmydifficulty。ButIhaveanothertosuggest。HowdoyoumanagewhentheFathersoftheChurchhappentodifferfromanyofyourcasuists？""Youreallyknowverylittleofthesubject，"hereplied。"TheFathersweregoodenoughforthemoralityoftheirowntimes；buttheylivedtoofarbackforthatofthepresentage，whichisnolongerregulatedbythem，butbythemoderncasuists。OnthisFatherCellot，followingthefamousReginald，remarks：’Inquestionsofmorals，themoderncasuistsaretobepreferredtotheancientfathers，thoughthoselivednearertothetimesoftheapostles。’Andfollowingoutthismaxim，Dianathusdecides：’Arebeneficiariesboundtorestoretheirrevenuewhenguiltyofmal—appropriationofit？Theancientswouldsayyes，butthemodernssayno；letus，therefore，adheretothelatteropinion，whichrelievesfromtheobligationofrestitution。’""Delightfulwordsthese，andmostcomfortabletheymustbetoagreatmanypeople！"
　　Iobserved。"Weleavethefathers，"resumedthemonk，"tothosewhodealwithpositivedivinity。Asforus，whoarethedirectorsofconscience，wereadverylittleofthemandquoteonlythemoderncasuists。ThereisDiana，forinstance，amostvoluminouswriter；hehasprefixedtohisworksalistofhisauthorities，whichamounttotwohundredandninety—six，andthemostancientofthemisonlyabouteightyyearsold。""Itwouldappear，then，"Iremarked，"thatallthesehavecomeintotheworldsincethedateofyourSociety？""Thereabouts，"hereplied。"Thatistosay，dearfather，onyouradvent，St。Augustine，St。Chrysostom，St。Ambrose，St。Jerome，andalltherest，insofarasmoralsareconcerned，disappearedfromthestage。Wouldyoubesokindasletmeknowthenames，atleast，ofthosemodernauthorswhohavesucceededthem？""Amostableandrenownedclassofmentheyare，"repliedthemonk。"Theirnamesare：Villalobos，Conink，Llamas，Achokier，Dealkozer，Dellacruz，Veracruz，Ugolin，Tambourin，Fernandez，Martinez，Suarez，Henriquez，Vasquez，Lopez，Gomez，Sanchez，DeVechis，DeGrassis，DeGrassalis，DePitigianis，DeGraphaeis，Squilanti，Bizozeri，Barcola，DeBobadilla，Simanacha，PerezdeLara，Aldretta，Lorca，DeScarcia，Quaranta，Scophra，Pedrezza，Cabrezza，Bisbe，Dias，DeClavasio，Villagut，AdamaManden，Iribarne，Binsfeld，VolfangiAVorberg，Vosthery，Strevesdorf。""Omydearfather！"criedI，quitealarmed，"wereallthesepeopleChristians？""How！Christians！"returnedthecasuist；"didInottellyouthatthesearetheonlywritersbywhomwenowgovernChristendom？"
　　DeeplyaffectedasIwasbythisannouncement，IconcealedmyemotionfromthemonkandonlyaskedhimifalltheseauthorswereJesuits？"No，"saidhe；"butthatisoflittleconsequence；theyhavesaidanumberofgoodthingsforallthat。Itistruethegreaterpartofthesesamegoodthingsareextractedorcopiedfromourauthors，butwedonotstandonceremonywiththemonthatscore，moreespeciallyastheyareintheconstanthabitofquotingourauthorswithapplause。WhenDiana，forexample，whodoesnotbelongtoourSociety，speaksofVasquez，hecallshim’thatphoenixofgenius’；andhedeclaresmorethanonce’thatVasquezaloneistohimworthalltherestofmenputtogether’—instaromnium。Accordingly，ourfathersoftenmakeuseofthisgoodDiana；and，ifyouunderstandourdoctrineofprobability，youwillseethatthisisnosmallhelpinitsway。Infact，weareanxiousthatothersbesidestheJesuitswouldrendertheiropinionsprobable，topreventpeoplefromascribingthemalltous；foryouwillobservethat，whenanyauthor，whoeverhemaybe，advancesaprobableopinion，weareentitled，bythedoctrineofprobability，toadoptitifweplease；andyet，iftheauthordoesnotbelongtoourfraternity，wearenotresponsibleforitssoundness。""Iunderstandallthat，"saidI。
　　"Itiseasytoseethatallarewelcomethatcomeyourway，excepttheancientfathers；youaremastersofthefield，andhaveonlytowalkthecourse。ButIforeseethreeorfourseriousdifficultiesandpowerfulbarrierswhichwillopposeyourcareer。""Andwhatarethese？"criedthemonk，lookingquitealarmed。"TheyaretheHolyScriptures，"Ireplied，"thepopes，andthecouncils，whomyoucannotgainsay，andwhoareallinthewayoftheGospel。""Isthatall？"heexclaimed；"Ideclareyouputmeinafright。
　　Doyouimaginethatwewouldoverlooksuchanobviousscrupleasthat，orthatwehavenotprovidedagainstit？Agoodidea，forsooth，tosupposethatwewouldcontradictScripture，popes，andcouncils！Imustconvinceyouofyourmistake；forIshouldbesorryyoushouldgoawaywithanimpressionthatwearedeficientinourrespecttotheseauthorities。Youhavedoubtlesstakenupthisnotionfromsomeoftheopinionsofourfathers，whichareapparentlyatvariancewiththeirdecisions，thoughinrealitytheyarenot。Buttoillustratetheharmonybetweenthemwouldrequiremoreleisurethanwehaveatpresent；and，asIwouldnotlikeyoutoretainabadimpressionofus，ifyouagreetomeetwithmeto—morrow，Ishallclearitallupthen。"Thusendedourinterview，andthusshallendmypresentcommunication，whichhasbeenlongenough，besides，foroneletter。Iamsureyouwillbesatisfiedwithit，intheprospectofwhatisforthcoming。Iam，&；c。LETTERVIParis，April10，1656SIR，Imentioned，atthecloseofmylastletter，thatmygoodfriend，theJesuit，hadpromisedtoshowmehowthecasuistsreconcilethecontrarietiesbetweentheiropinionsandthedecisionsofthepopes，thecouncils，andtheScripture。Thispromisehefulfilledatourlastinterview，ofwhichIshallnowgiveyouanaccount。
　　"Oneofthemethods，"resumedthemonk，"inwhichwereconciletheseapparentcontradictions，isbytheinterpretationofsomephrase。Thus，PopeGregoryXIVdecidedthatassassinsarenotworthytoenjoythebenefitofsanctuaryinchurchesandoughttobedraggedoutofthem；andyetourfour—and—twentyeldersaffirmthat’thepenaltyofthisbullisnotincurredbyallthosethatkillintreachery。’Thismayappeartoyouacontradiction；butwegetoverthisbyinterpretingthewordassassinasfollows：’Areassassinsunworthyofsanctuaryinchurches？Yes，bythebullofGregoryXIVtheyare。Butbythewordassassinsweunderstandthosethathavereceivedmoneytomurderone；and，accordingly，suchaskillwithouttakinganyrewardforthedeed，butmerelytoobligetheirfriends，donotcomeunderthecategoryofassassins。’""Takeanotherinstance：ItissaidintheGospel，’Givealmsofyoursuperfluity。’Severalcasuists，however，havecontrivedtodischargethewealthiestfromtheobligationofalms—giving。Thismayappearanotherparadox，butthematteriseasilyputtorightsbygivingsuchaninterpretationtothewordsuperfluitythatitwillseldomorneverhappenthatanyoneistroubledwithsuchanarticle。ThisfeathasbeenaccomplishedbythelearnedVasquez，inhisTreatiseonAlms，c。4：’Whatmenoftheworldlayuptoimprovetheircircumstances，orthoseoftheirrelatives，cannotbetermedsuperfluity，andaccordingly，suchathingassuperfluityisseldomtobefoundamongmenoftheworld，notevenexceptingkings。’Diana，too，whogenerallyfoundsonourfathers，havingquotedthesewordsofVasquez，justlyconcludes，’thatastothequestionwhethertherichareboundtogivealmsoftheirsuperfluity，eventhoughtheaffirmativeweretrue，itwillseldomorneverhappentobeobligatoryinpractice。’"
　　"IseeverywellhowthatfollowsfromthedoctrineofVasquez，"saidI。
　　"Buthowwouldyouanswerthisobjection，that，inworkingoutone’ssalvation，itwouldbeassafe，accordingtoVasquez，togivenoalms，providedonecanmusterasmuchambitionastohavenosuperfluity；asitissafe，accordingtotheGospel，tohavenoambitionatall，inordertohavesomesuperfluityforthepurposeofalms—giving？""Why，"returnedhe，"theanswerwouldbethatbothofthesewaysaresafeaccordingtotheGospel；theoneaccordingtotheGospelinitsmoreliteralandobvioussense，andtheotheraccordingtothesameGospelasinterpretedbyVasquez。Thereyouseetheutilityofinterpretations。Whenthetermsaresoclear，however，"hecontinued，"asnottoadmitofaninterpretation，wehaverecoursetotheobservationoffavourablecircumstances。Asingleexamplewillillustratethis。Thepopeshavedenouncedexcommunicationonmonkswholayasidetheircanonicals；
　　ourcasuists，notwithstanding，putitasaquestion，’Onwhatoccasionsmayamonklayasidehisreligioushabitswithoutincurringexcommunication？’
　　Theymentionanumberofcasesinwhichtheymay，andamongothersthefollowing：’Ifhehaslaiditasideforaninfamouspurpose，suchastopickpocketsortogoincognitointohauntsofprofligacy，meaningshortlyaftertoresumeit。’Itisevidentthebullshavenoreferencetocasesofthatdescription。"Icouldhardlybelievethatandbeggedthefathertoshowmethepassageintheoriginal。Hedidso，andunderthechapterheaded"PracticeaccordingtotheSchooloftheSocietyofJesus"—PraxisexSocietatisJesuSchola—Ireadtheseverywords：Sihabitumdimittatutfureturocculte，velfornicetur。HeshowedmethesamethinginDiana，intheseterms：Uteatincognitusadlupanar。"Andwhy，father，"Iasked，"aretheydischargedfromexcommunicationonsuchoccasions？""Don’tyouunderstandit？"hereplied。"Onlythinkwhatascandalitwouldbe，wereamonksurprisedinsuchapredicamentwithhiscanonicalson！Andhaveyouneverheard，"hecontinued，"howtheyanswerthefirstbullcontrasollicitantesandhowourfour—and—twenty，inanotherchapterofthePracticeaccordingtotheSchoolofourSociety，explainthebullofPiusVcontraclericos，&；c。？""Iknownothingaboutallthat，"saidI。"ThenitisasignyouhavenotreadmuchofEscobar，"returnedthemonk。"Igothimonlyyesterday，father，saidI；"andIhadnosmalldifficulty，too，inprocuringacopy。Idon’tknowhowitis，buteverybodyoflatehasbeeninsearchofhim。""ThepassagetowhichIreferred，"returnedthemonk，"maybefoundintreatiseI，example8，no。102。Consultitatyourleisurewhenyougohome。"Ididsothatverynight；butitissoshockinglybadthatIdarenottranscribeit。Thegoodfatherthenwentontosay："Younowunderstandwhatusewemakeoffavourablecircumstances。Sometimes，however，obstinatecaseswilloccur，whichwillnotadmitofthismodeofadjustment；somuchso，indeed，thatyouwouldalmostsupposetheyinvolvedflatcontradictions。Forexample，threepopeshavedecidedthatmonkswhoareboundbyaparticularvowtoaLentenlifecannotbeabsolvedfromiteventhoughtheyshouldbecomebishops。AndyetDianaaversthatnotwithstandingthisdecisiontheyareabsolved。"Andhowdoeshereconcilethat？"saidI。"Bythemostsubtleofallthemodernmethods，andbythenicestpossibleapplicationofprobability，"repliedthemonk。"Youmayrecollectyouweretoldtheotherdaythattheaffirmativeandnegativeofmostopinionshaveeach，accordingtoourdoctors，someprobabilityenough，atleast，tobefollowedwithasafeconscience。Notthattheproandconarebothtrueinthesamesense—thatisimpossible—butonlytheyarebothprobableand，therefore，safe，asamatterofcourse。OnthisprincipleourworthyfriendDianaremarks：’Tothedecisionofthesethreepopes，whichiscontrarytomyopinion，Ianswerthattheyspokeinthiswaybyadheringtotheaffirmativeside—which，infact，eveninmyjudgement，isprobable；butitdoesnotfollowfromthisthatthenegativemaynothaveitsprobabilitytoo。’Andinthesametreatise，speakingofanothersubjectonwhichheagaindiffersfromapope，hesays：’Thepope，Igrant，hassaiditastheheadoftheChurch；buthisdecisiondoesnotextendbeyondthesphereoftheprobabilityofhisownopinion。’Nowyouperceivethisisnotdoinganyharmtotheopinionsofthepopes；suchathingwouldneverbetoleratedatRome，whereDianaisinhighrepute。Forhedoesnotsaythatwhatthepopeshavedecidedisnotprobable；butleavingtheiropinionwithinthesphereofprobability，hemerelysaysthatthecontraryisalsoprobable。"
　　"Thatisveryrespectful，"saidI。"Yes，"addedthemonk，"andrathermoreingeniousthanthereplymadebyFatherBauny，whenhisbookswerecensuredatRome；for，whenpushedveryhardonthispointbyM。Hallier，hemadeboldtowrite：’WhathasthecensureofRometodowiththatofFrance？’
　　Younowseehow，eitherbytheinterpretationofterms，bytheobservationoffavourablecircumstances，orbytheaidofthedoubleprobabilityofproandcon，wealwayscontrivetoreconcilethoseseemingcontradictionswhichoccasionedyousomuchsurprise，withoutevertouchingonthedecisionsofScripture，councils，orpopes。""Reverendfather，"saidI，"howhappytheworldisinhavingsuchmenasyouforitsmasters！Andwhatblessingsaretheseprobabilities！Ineverknewthereasonwhyyoutooksuchpainstoestablishthatasingledoctor，ifagraveone，mightrenderanopinionprobable，andthatthecontrarymightbesotoo，andthatonemaychooseanysideonepleases，eventhoughhedoesnotbelieveittobetherightside，andallwithsuchasafeconscience，thattheconfessorwhoshouldrefusehimabsolutiononthefaithofthecasuistswouldbeinastateofdamnation。ButIseenowthatasinglecasuistmaymakenewrulesofmoralityathisdiscretionanddispose，accordingtohisfancy，ofeverythingpertainingtotheregulationofmanners。""Whatyouhavenowsaid，"rejoinedthefather，"wouldrequiretobemodifiedalittle。Payattentionnow，whileIexplainourmethod，andyouwillobservetheprogressofanewopinion，fromitsbirthtoitsmaturity。First，thegravedoctorwhoinventeditexhibitsittotheworld，castingitabroadlikeseed，thatitmaytakeroot。Inthisstateitisveryfeeble；itrequirestimegraduallytoripen。
　　ThisaccountsforDiana，whohasintroducedagreatmanyoftheseopinions，saying：’Iadvancethisopinion；butasitisnew，Igiveittimetocometomaturity—relinquotemporimaturandum。’Thusinafewyearsitbecomesinsensiblyconsolidated；and，afteraconsiderabletime，itissanctionedbythetacitapprobationoftheChurch，accordingtothegrandmaximofFatherBauny，’thatifanopinionhasbeenadvancedbysomecasuist，andhasnotbeenimpugnedbytheChurch，itisasignthatsheapprovesofit。’And，infact，onthisprincipleheauthenticatesoneofhisownprinciplesinhissixthtreatise，p。312。""Indeed，father！"criedI，"why，onthisprincipletheChurchwouldapproveofalltheabuseswhichshetolerates，andalltheerrorsinallthebookswhichshedoesnotcensure！""DisputethepointwithFatherBauny，"hereplied。"Iammerelyquotinghiswords，andyoubegintoquarrelwithme。Thereisnodisputingwithfacts，sir。
　　Well，asIwassaying，whentimehasthusmaturedanopinion，itthenceforthbecomescompletelyprobableandsafe。HencethelearnedCaramuel，indedicatinghisFundamentalTheologytoDiana，declaresthatthisgreatDianahasrenderedmanyopinionsprobablewhichwerenotsobefore—quaeanteanonerant，andthat，therefore，infollowingthem，personsdonotsinnow，thoughtheywouldhavesinnedformerly—jamnonpeccant，licetantepeccaverint。"
　　"Truly，father，"Iobserved，"itmustbeworthone’swhilelivingintheneighbourhoodofyourdoctors。Why，oftwoindividualswhodothesameactions，hethatknowsnothingabouttheirdoctrinesins，whilehethatknowsitdoesnosin。Itseems，then，thattheirdoctrinepossessesatonceanedifyingandajustifyingvirtue！ThelawofGod，accordingtoSt。Paul，madetransgressors；butthislawofyoursmakesnearlyallofusinnocent。Ibeseechyou，mydearsir，letmeknowallaboutit。Iwillnotleaveyoutillyouhavetoldmeallthemaximswhichyourcasuistshaveestablished。""Alas！"themonkexclaimed，"ourmainobject，nodoubt，shouldhavebeentoestablishnoothermaximsthanthoseoftheGospelinalltheirstrictness：anditiseasytosee，fromtheRulesfortheregulationofourmanners，that，ifwetoleratesomedegreeofrelaxationinothers，itisratheroutofcomplaisancethanthroughdesign。Thetruthis，sir，weareforcedtoit。Menhavearrivedatsuchapitchofcorruptionnowadaysthat，unabletomakethemcometous，wemuste’engotothem，otherwisetheywouldcastusoffaltogether；and，whatisworse，theywouldbecomeperfectcastaways。Itistoretainsuchcharactersasthesethatourcasuistshavetakenunderconsiderationthevicestowhichpeopleofvariousconditionsaremostaddicted，withtheviewoflayingdownmaximswhich，whiletheycannotbesaidtoviolatethetruth，aresogentlethathemustbeaveryimpracticablesubjectindeedwhoisnotpleasedwiththem。ThegrandprojectofourSociety，forthegoodofreligion，isnevertorepulseanyone，lethimbewhathemay，andsoavoiddrivingpeopletodespair。"Theyhavegotmaxims，therefore，forallsortsofpersons；
　　forbeneficiaries，forpriests，formonks；forgentlemen，forservants；
　　forrichmen，forcommercialmen；forpeopleinembarrassedorindigentcircumstances；fordevoutwomen，andwomenthatarenotdevout；formarriedpeople，andirregularpeople。Inshort，nothinghasescapedtheirforesight。"
　　"Inotherwords，"saidI，"theyhavegotmaximsfortheclergy，thenobility，andthecommons。Well，Iamquiteimpatienttohearthem。""Letuscommence，"
　　resumedthefather，’withthebeneficiaries。Youareawareofthetrafficwithbeneficesthatisnowcarriedon，andthat，werethematterreferredtoSt。Thomasandtheancientswhohadwrittenonit，theremightchancetobesomesimoniacsintheChurch。Thisrenderedithighlynecessaryforourfatherstoexercisetheirprudenceinfindingoutapalliative。WithwhatsuccesstheyhavedonesowillappearfromthefollowingwordsofValencia，whoisoneofEscobar’s’fourlivingcreatures。’Attheendofalongdiscourse，inwhichhesuggestsvariousexpedients，hepropoundsthefollowingatpage2039，vol。iii，which，tomymind，isthebest：’Ifapersongivesatemporalinexchangeforaspiritualgood’—thatis，ifhegivesmoneyforabenefice—’andgivesthemoneyasthepriceofthebenefice，itismanifestsimony。Butifhegivesitmerelyasthemotivewhichinclinesthewillofthepatrontoconferonhimtheliving，itisnotsimony，eventhoughthepersonwhoconfersitconsidersandexpectsthemoneyastheprincipalobject。’Tanner，whoisalsoamemberofourSociety，affirmsthesamething，vol。iii，p。1519，althoughhe’grantsthatSt。Thomasisopposedtoit；forheexpresslyteachesthatitisalwayssimonytogiveaspiritualforatemporalgood，ifthetemporalistheendinview。’Bythismeanswepreventanimmensenumberofsimoniacaltransactions；forwhowouldbesodesperatelywickedastorefuse，whengivingmoneyforabenefice，totakethesimpleprecautionofsodirectinghisintentionsastogiveitasamotivetoinducethebeneficiarytopartwithit，insteadofgivingitasthepriceofthebenefice？Noman，surely，canbesofarlefttohimselfasthatwouldcometo。""Iagreewithyouthere，"Ireplied；"allmen，Ishouldthink，havesufficientgracetomakeabargainofthatsort。""Therecanbenodoubtofit，"returnedthemonk。