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WHerefore the Bishops are humbly desired, That they would not continue to exercise so much rigor and severity against the Protestants of France, who having yielded farther than they well could with a safe Conscience, to obey the Kings Orders, yet can∣not in any wise resolve to make any profession of the Doctrine of Transubstantiation, it appearing that they oppose it only for Con∣science sake, and as being contrary to the very Rule offered to them by the Bishops themselves.
If St. Austin could say, That those ought not to be esteemed Hereticks that with an honest mind maintained the Errors of their Ancestors, and are ready to relinquish them when they are better inform'd of the Truth; how much greater Reason is there to bear with People who do shew by the very confession of Romish Catho∣lick Doctors, That the Doctrine of Transubstantiation is a new in∣vention, and by consequence, that it ought not to be imposed as an Article of Faith, by the very Rule laid down by the Bishops of France.
No reasonable person can find any question in matter of Religion whereto this Rule of St. Austin's can be more justly applied. For if it he not observ'd in this controversy of Transubstantiation, there will never be any thing found that it may be used in.
If then such Persons are not Hereticks for seeking the Truth, and that they think 'tis their duty to seek it; that they are of the judg∣ment of Catholick Doctors, and that they observe the Rule pre∣scribed by the Bishops; it is no way safe to persecute them to that degree of violence, to make them believe that which is contrary to the Rule which is laid down; and therefore, what is said by St. Au∣stin on Psalm 54. should seriously be consider'd, Plerumque cum tibi videris Odisse inimicum, fratrum odisti, & nescis.
Epist. 162.