The condemnation of Monsieur Du Pin his history of ecclesiastical authors by the Archbishop of Paris ; together with his own retractation ; translated out of French.

ADVERTISEMENT.

TO offer any Account of the History of Ecclesi∣astical Writers by Monsieur Du Pin, or to give a Character of it, would be Labour to no pur∣pose, seeing it is so well known here by the ac∣curate Translation of it which hath been Published.

Monsieur Du Pin's Performance in that Work, as well as Undertaking, did at first receive the Approbation of many Learned Roman Catholicks, as they have still the general Applause amongst Protestants: But the Esteem, which the latter had of this Work, tended to the Preju∣dice of the Author, raising Jealousies in those of his own Communion, as if he intended to betray the Church, and to weaken the Foundation upon which it pretends to stand. What chiefly recommended him to Protestants was his In∣genuity, in declaring both his own Sentiments, and the Sentiments of the Fathers. But this very Thing displeased the Heads of his own Church, where even Truth it self is not allowed to be spoken but when it may serve their Interest. Nay the more Moderate charged him with Im∣prudence in delivering Truths very unseasonably: for while they were extirpating the Opinions of Protestants as damnable Heresie, it was no ways proper to Publish a Book which yields great Advantage to Protestants, and which shews that their Sentiments are more agreeable to what the Primitive Church and Fathers held, than the pre∣sent Tenets and Practices of the Church of Rome. These

Prejudices and Objections were managed by some who did bear Monsieur Du Pin a Personal Grudge, and by this means he was complained upon publickly, and a publick Censure of his Person and Books was demanded, which the Circumstances of the French King also required and made necessary, that thereby he might soften the Pope, dispose him to a Reconciliation, and either engage him to side with France against the Confederate Princes, or at least to abide Neutral. For it was generally believed, that that Confederacy did first spring from the Pope, who suspected that the French King designed to throw off his Authority, and who was highly displeased with him upon the account of those Propositions relating to the Papal Jurisdiction, which the Assembly of the Clergy had Concerted and Published, Anno 1682.

Thus Policy and Interest required the Condemnation of Monsieur Du Pin's Works, but some desired to save himself, which could be done no other ways than by a Re∣tractation which he long struggled with, but at last was prevailed upon by the Example of the Gallican Church, which (it is said) the Archbishop of Paris urged upon him very much, saying, that it was no shame for him, a single Person, to make a Retractation, when a whole Church had done it, to prevent the inconveniences which might otherwise follow.

The Translator of these Works of Monsieur Du Pin, in his Preface to the Third Volume taketh notice of the Condemnation and Censure that were past upon them, but also saith that he was not able to procure either a Copy of them or of Du Pin's Retractation, which hath moved me to Publish them, believing that they will be ac∣ceptable to the Curious, and useful to those who have bought the Books themselves, which are not to be the less esteemed because they are thus Condemned. And notwith∣standing

the Author's Retractation it doth appear, that the Protestants have Antiquity on their side: for as the Re∣traction was not voluntary, but forced from Du Pin, so it doth not flatly contradict any material point in his Books, but is merely to be considered as a Prudent and Political Defence to save himself from the Con∣sequences of being judged guilty of what was esteemed Heresie.

Having said that Monsier Du Pin was prevail∣ed upon to make his Retraction by the example of the French Church, who, considering the present Circum∣stances of their King, did also Retract the above-men∣tioned Propositions of the Assembly 1682. which were so offensive to the Pope. I Judge it will not be unac∣ceptable to set down their Retraction, which I suppose is not not very common, and it is as followeth.

Ad pedes Sanctitatis Vestrae provoluti, declara∣mus nos vehementer, & supra id quod dici potest, ex corde dolore, super rebus gestis in Comitiis praefatis, quae Sanctitati vestrae ejusque Decessori∣bus valde displicuerunt, ac proinde quod ibidem [circa] Ecclesiasticam ac pontificiam authoritatem, sive in praejudicium Ecclesiarum, quod à mente nostrâ prorsus alienum esse testamur, deliberatum decre∣tumque [videri potest] pro non decreto & non deli∣berato habemus & habendum esse declaramus.

The Pope was not pleased with the words circa and videri potest, he judged them too soft and general, and therefore would not accept of this submission of the Clergy of France untill they were changed into contra and fuit.

It is to be remembered that the Quotations in the following Retractation are marked according to the English Translation of Du Pin's Works. The Remarks mentioned by Du Pin are Critical Observations upon his History, which were never Translated, nor yet his Answers to them, and therefore the Quotations out of them are according to the Paris Edition of them.