登陆注册
15325700000001

第1章

Paris, January 23, 1656SIR, We were entirely mistaken.It was only yesterday that I was undeceived.Until that time I had laboured under the impression that the disputes in the Sorbonne were vastly important, and deeply affected the interests of religion.The frequent convocations of an assembly so illustrious as that of the Theological Faculty of Paris, attended by so many extraordinary and unprecedented circumstances, led one to form such high expectations that it was impossible to help coming to the conclusion that the subject was most extraordinary.

You will be greatly surprised, however, when you learn from the following account the issue of this grand demonstration, which, having made myself perfectly master of the subject, I shall be able to tell you in very few words.

Two questions, then, were brought under examination; the one a question of fact, the other a question of right.

The question of fact consisted in ascertaining whether M.

Arnauld was guilty of presumption, for having asserted in his second letter that he had carefully perused the book of Jansenius, and that he had not discovered the propositions condemned by the late pope; but that, nevertheless, as he condemned these propositions wherever they might occur, he condemned them in Jansenius, if they were really contained in that work.

The question here was, if he could, without presumption, entertain a doubt that these propositions were in Jansenius, after the bishops had declared that they were.

The matter having been brought before the Sorbonne, seventy-one doctors undertook his defence, maintaining that the only reply he could possibly give to the demands made upon him in so many publications, calling on him to say if he held that these propositions were in that book, was that he had not been able to find them, but that if they were in the book, he condemned them in the book.

Some even went a step farther and protested that, after all the search they had made into the book, they had never stumbled upon these propositions, and that they had, on the contrary, found sentiments entirely at variance with them.They then earnestly begged that, if any doctor present had discovered them, he would have the goodness to point them out; adding that what was so easy could not reasonably be refused, as this would be the surest way to silence the whole of them, M.Arnauld included; but this proposal has been uniformly declined.So much for the one side.

On the other side are eighty secular doctors and some forty mendicant friars, who have condemned M.Arnauld's proposition, without choosing to examine whether he has spoken truly or falsely- who, in fact, have declared that they have nothing to do with the veracity of his proposition, but simply with its temerity.

Besides these, there were fifteen who were not in favor of the censure, and who are called Neutrals.

Such was the issue of the question of fact, regarding which, Imust say, I give myself very little concern.It does not affect my conscience in the least whether M.Arnauld is presumptuous or the reverse; and should I be tempted, from curiosity, to ascertain whether these propositions are contained in Jansenius, his book is neither so very rare nor so very large as to hinder me from reading it over from beginning to end, for my own satisfaction, without consulting the Sorbonne on the matter.

Were it not, however, for the dread of being presumptuous myself, I really think that I would be disposed to adopt the opinion which has been formed by the most of my acquaintances, who, though they have believed hitherto on common report that the propositions were in Jansenius, begin now to suspect the contrary, owing to this strange refusal to point them out- a refusal the more extraordinary to me as I have not yet met with a single individual who can say that he has discovered them in that work.I am afraid, therefore, that this censure will do more harm than good, and that the impression which it will leave on the minds of all who know its history will be just the reverse of the conclusion that has been come to.The truth is the world has become sceptical of late and will not believe things till it sees them.But, as I said before, this point is of very little moment, as it has no concern with religion.

The question of right, from its affecting the faith, appears much more important, and, accordingly, I took particular pains in examining it.You will be relieved, however, to find that it is of as little consequence as the former.

The point of dispute here was an assertion of M.Arnauld's in the same letter, to the effect "that the grace, without which we can do nothing, was wanting to St.Peter at his fall." You and Isupposed that the controversy here would turn upon the great principles of grace; such as whether grace is given to all men? Or if it is efficacious of itself? But we were quite mistaken.You must know I have become a great theologian within this short time; and now for the proofs of it!

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 假如还会喜欢

    假如还会喜欢

    叹然回首,人之一生浮浮起起,我只是这片星空下一个微小的“粒子合成物”,可我也想有我的光辉啊,每一个热血少年都幻想着自己的与众不同,毕竟我们都是独一无二的自己,我是张小小,我的心只要装下这片天空。
  • 我为大小姐而崛起

    我为大小姐而崛起

    辰星曾经是至高无上的圣神,为了那个传说陨落后转世。他来到地球上,作为大小姐的挡箭牌是否会成就一段趣事呢?且看少年辰星,手抱软妹子,脚踩大恶霸,迎向人生巅峰,又谁与争锋呢?
  • 你我之间,人来人往

    你我之间,人来人往

    我抓住他的手:“你认真的吗?”我看到了他眼里的闪躲,他还是那么纠结的人。我嘴角一弯,多讽刺啊。丢下一句“再也不见。”从此这个人不再重要。
  • 你永远不会孤单

    你永远不会孤单

    讲述老百姓的故事,品读五味杂陈的人生。细腻的文笔,浓烈而朴实的情感,一部部饱含真情的故事跃然纸上,读来让人倍感温馨,真情荡漾。
  • 反派被养歪了肿么破

    反派被养歪了肿么破

    墨羽现代有个弟弟,他的弟弟是个基佬,作为哥哥的他表示很遗憾。某一天,他穿越到了一部古代小说,又有了一次养弟弟的机会,于是,下定决心要把弟弟打造成为一个完美的男人。可是,最后弟弟还是弯掉了?这是为毛呢?为毛呢?明明已经把弟弟可能变弯的种种事件都抹杀掉了啊!为毛呢?为毛弟弟变弯要推倒的还是自己呢?老天爷啊!我是直男啊!直男啊!为了弟弟,节操可不要,可是贞操不能掉啊!能不能放过我啊!!!!
  • 绝世吟潇:傲世舞风云

    绝世吟潇:傲世舞风云

    命格转动,时空错乱,她降临在了一个充满着玄气的世界————二十一世纪的杀手奇才夜风吟莫名穿越,不妙成了一个废柴?心气高傲无比的她决定就此出击,神挡杀神,佛挡杀佛!却不知一张大网悄然的铺张开来,而她,正是这张大网唯一变数。本以为这一世可以一心一意的为强大而努力,可是不巧……【经典剧场】某位霸气女“款款”的走到腹黑男身前,脸上有着标准的30度微笑,突然,脚一踩。“今天我睡上面,你?想得美!”腹黑男顿时反击,却遭到了霸气女的再次攻击。“怎么,不服?”霸气女头一扬,凶神恶煞道。“不服!!!”“不服?不服给我憋着!”接着便把腹黑男一推......
  • “樱花树下的约定”

    “樱花树下的约定”

    一次意外的相遇让他们相见,让她和他立下约定。又一次意外,让她不得不与他分离,她握着脖子上的水晶项链眼中一片冰冷,甜美可爱的她已完全消失,默默地闭上眼睛流下了晶莹剔透的眼泪:你会等我回来吗?十年后她再次与他相遇,可是他...
  • 生死狙击之末世宿主

    生死狙击之末世宿主

    一觉醒来居然穿越到了生死狙击世界,而且还是末世,搞什么!还激活了什么末世系统成了宿主!咦?什么,你不是系统?那你是什么?能和你聊天吗?哦,可以啊,那你告诉我我为神马会穿越!!!
  • 雪域天国

    雪域天国

    前世缘,今生再见苍茫雪域之巅飞雪写下英雄诗篇天剑出鞘,邪魔若等闲越天城,异界炼相约前世情缘恋伊人倾世笑颜功成名就千日炼天剑一出谁与争峰巅!!!
  • 玩转生活英语

    玩转生活英语

    本书是一本涵盖日常生活的英语口语书籍。全书信息量丰富,趣味性强,适合不同英语阶段的学习者使用。本书在内容编排上为了帮助读者巩固和提高英语能力,专门设计了“跟我练”栏目,保证能活学活用。