The journal of Monsr. de Saint Amour doctor of Sorbonne,: containing a full account of all the transactions both in France and at Rome, concerning the five famous propositions controverted between the Jansenists and the Molinists, from the beginning of that affair till the Popes decision. / Faithfully rendred out of French. ; A like display of the Romish state, court, interests, policies, &c. and the mighty influences of the Jesuites in that church, and many other Christian states, being not hitherto extant.

CHAP. I.

The Bishops Letter to the Pope. Deli∣beration whether it were fit to deliver it. Resolution to do so.

BEing arriv'd at Rome on 15. June 1651. about one after noon, I pre∣sently sent to inquire for such Let∣ters as were sent to attend me there from my LL. the Bishops; and I writ a Note to him whom I saw last there before my departure, (from whom I learnt the particulars of what had pass'd about me before the Pope) advertising him of my return, and be∣seeching him to come and see me the soonest he could that afternoon.

Amongst those Letters, there were some for the Pope, others for MM. the Cardinals d' Este, Spada, and Barberin, and others for my self. Those for me contain'd the Orders laid upon me by my LL. the Bishops who writ them, to present theirs to his Holinesse and their Eminences, and to endeavour the effect of them, to wit, the establishment of a Solemn Congregation, like those held under Cle∣ment VIII. and Paul V. to which Catholick Divines of different judgements about the matters of Grace might be call'd, and fully heard on either side, both vivâ voce and by writing, according to the accustomed forms, and with intire Ecclesiastical liberty, before the Pope pronounce any Judgement upon the Five Equivocal Propositions which were presented to him; that so by this means that which he shall pronounce may be more signal, more satisfactory, more venerable to all the world, and more likely to dispel all difficulties, to confirm the truth, and to establish a sound peace amongst all Catholick Divines. The Letters directed to the Cardinals were sealed; it was signifi'd to me that they were from M. the Bishop of Angiers, who was particularly known to them, and that he there∣in beseecht them to further the effect of so just a request, and to favour me with their protection, wherein I should need it. Those for the Pope were yet open, of which take here the translation. They were directed, To the most Holy Father Pope Inno∣cent X. at Rome. The contents follow.

Most Holy Father,

WE have understood that some of our Brethren Bishops of France, have written to your Holi∣nesse touching an affair of very great importance and difficulty, and requested you by their Letter to decide clearly and plainly certain Propositions, which last year rais'd great disturbance without any benefit in the Theologal Faculty of Paris; nor could the issue be otherwise; for being contriv'd purposely in ambiguous termes, they could produce nothing of themselves but disputes full of animosity about the various senses put upon them, as it alwayes happens in Equivocal Propo∣sitions. Wherefore our Brethren must give us leave to declare, that we cannot approve their design in this matter. For besides that the Questions about Divine Grace and Predestination are full of difficulties, and are not ordinarily handled without violent contests; there are other very considerable reasons which give us ground to conceive, that this present time is not fit for the terminating of so important a Difference, un∣lesse your Holinesse will please, in order to passing a solemn judgement upon it, (which seems not to be their intention) to proceed therein according to the forms practised by our Fore-fathers, to resume the affair from its original, and to examine it wholly and intire∣ly, to that end summoning and hearing the reasons and arguments of either side, as was done not long since by the Popes Clement VIII. and Paul V. of Holy me∣mory. For if your Holinesse do not take this course, the condemned party may with justice complain of ha∣ving become so by the calumnies and artifices of their Adversaries, without having their own reasons heard.

To which perhaps they may adde, that this cause was brought to your Holinesse, before it was judg'd in a Council of Bishops. And to strengthen the justnesse of their complaints by examples of the antient Discipline of the Church, they may alledge the Council of Alex∣andria against Arius, that of Constantinople against Eutyches, those of Carthage and Mileva against Pe∣lagius, those of Valence and Langres held in France, for the same matter now in Question, and other Coun∣cils against other Hereticks. And truly, most Holy Father, were it meet to examine and decide the said Propositions, the legal order of the Judgements of the Ʋniversal Church, together with the Custom observ'd in the Gallicane Church, requires that the greatest and most difficult Questions which arise in this Realm, be first examined by our selves. Which being so, Equity would oblige us to consider maturely, whether the Propositions complain'd of to your Holinesse have been made purposely to cast an odium upon some per∣sons, and to excite a combustion; in what Books, by what Authors, and in what senses they have been ad∣vanced and maintained; to hear the pleadings and arguings of either side thereupon; to view all the Books written lately touching the said Propositions, to di∣stinguish the true sence of them from the false and am∣biguous; to inquire carefully into all that hath pass'd in the businesse since the beginning of the dispute; and after this, to give an account to your Holinesse of all things done and ordained by us in this affair, which concerneth matter of Faith; that so what were right∣ly pronounc'd by us about this matter, might be con∣firm'd by your Apostolical Authority. But how many artifices may there be to oppresse and overthrow the truth, by thus directly addressing to your See before our examining and judging of the cause? By what abundance of calumnies may the reputation of our Prelates and Doctors be blemish'd? And by how ma∣ny fallacies may your Holinesse be circumvented and surpris'd in this great affair, which concerns points of Faith? For on the one side, it is visible that they in whose favour our Brethren the Bishops writ to your Holinesse, maintain firmly and obstinately that the greatest part of the new Schoole-men is of their opinion, and that their Doctrine is most consentaneous to the goodnesse of God, and the equity of natural reason. On the other side, they who adhere to S. Augustin, de∣clare, not in secret but publickly, that the Questions contested about, are not now dubious and problematical, but that 'tis an affair ended and terminated long agoe; that they are the received Determinations of antient Councils and Popes; whose Decrees are most evident in this matter; and especially those of the Council of Trent, which they maintain consist almost wholly of the words and maximes of S. Augustine, as well as those of the second Council of Orange do. Wherefore they professe, that instead of fearing either our judge∣ment or yours, they have rather reason to desire the same, having all ground to promise themselves, that your Holinesse, being assisted by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, (who vouchsafes to guide you when you consult him, and to hear you when you pray to him) will not in the least thing depart from what hath been determin'd by the H. Fathers; that so it may not hap∣pen (which God forbid) that the reputation of the H. Apostolical See fall under the contempt of Here∣ticks, who narrowly observe the least of its actions and words. But we have ground to hope that this will ne∣ver come to passe; especially, if for retrenching all contest for the future, your Holinesse will please, by treading in the footsteps of your Predecessors, to exa∣mine this affair from the bottome, and to hear the rea∣sons and defences of either side according to custom. Vouchsafe therefore, most Holy Father, either to let this important dispute, which hath lasted divers ages without breach of the Catholick Ʋnity, continue still a little longer, or to decide all the Questions by observing the legitimate forms of Ecclesiastical Judgements. And we beseech your Holinesse, that you will please to imploy all your care and zeal, that the interests of the Church intrusted to your Government, be not any wise injur'd in this Cause. God accumulate many years prosperity and happinesse upon your Holinesse. We are,

Most Holy Father,

Your Holinesse's most humble Sons and Servants in Christ Jesus. [Signed thus in several Copies.]

• In one.
  • Lewis Henry de Gondrin Archbishop of Sens.
  • B. Delbene Bishop of Agen.
  • Gilbert Bishop of Comenge.
  • Le Beron Bishop of Valence and Die.
  • A. Delbene Bishop of Orleans.
  • Bernard Bishop of S. Papoul.
  • J. Henry de Salette Bishop of Lescar in Bearn.
  • Felix Bishop and C. of Châlons.
• In another.
  • Francis Bishop of Amiens.
• In a third.
  • Henry Bishop of Angiers.
• In a fourth.
  • Nicholas Bishop and C. of Beauvais.

The friend whom I intreated to come to me, ac∣cordingly repair'd to the lodging I had taken. We consider'd the above mention'd Letters, and ha∣ving discours'd largely of all things, I desir'd him to go, and confer thereupon with the other person, (who could not so well come abroad, and who did not think meet the delegation should be hasten∣ed) and to assure him, that if the present posture of things at Rome would not bear the prosecution of my affair, I was for my own part ready to re∣turn back the next morning to Civitá Vecchia, and so to Genua by the Gally in which I came, and which was to return thither within a few days.

I entrusted my Letters to this friend, who ac∣cordingly carried them to that other person, and after having confer'd together upon them, came again to me the same day. I conceive that in case things had been still intire, and not yet medled with, we three should have agreed to leave them so for some time, and wait till mens minds were better prepar'd then at present to receive our Re∣monstrances, and consider the truths which we were to defend in the Sequel of this affair, if the first Justice desir'd by us were granted, of which there seem'd not to be any doubt, being su'd for

by persons so eminent among their brethren as those Bishops of France, who subscrib'd the let∣ter whereof I was bearer. But for that it was not absolutely in our power to act so directly against their orders and intentions, without having rea∣sons evidently convincing, and perfectly indubi∣table for so doing; and also for that, although there were very strong ones to perswade it expe∣dient not to hasten so much the producing of my Letters, and beginning the prosecution enjoyn'd me; yet there were others too no less powerfull, to evince such prosecution both beneficial and ne∣cessary: We all three judg'd that it ought to be begun; we consider'd that the business was in ve∣ry evident danger whatsoever course were taken; and that unless I stir'd in it, the ill success would in∣fallibly be attributed to so irregular a managment as mine would be. That such ill success was al∣most inevitable, there being already a Congrega∣tion establisht, which secretly carri'd on the affair, and which receiving neither opposition nor infor∣mation contrary to the conceptions begotten in them by M. de Vabres's Letter (subscribed by so ma∣ny Bishops and other persons who conspir'd and solicited the condemnation aim'd at in writing it) would not fall to follow those prepossessions, and conclude upon the condemnation. That by the high credit and great authority of the persons who interested themselves in the prosecution of the same, and in whose power it would be to make such application, and use of it as they pleas'd, it would cause as much mischief, and have as evil con∣sequences in what manner soever it were con∣cluded, as if it were so, notwithstanding the letters I should deliver, and the remonstrances I could make: Besides, those letters and remonstrances in whatsoever manner they were received, and whatsoever regard were had of them, might al∣ways hinder some of those ill effects and grievous consequences. For either the condemnation would be proceeded to, notwithstanding my let∣ters and remonstrances, and without granting the Congregation required by me; (in which case being an irregular, unheard-of Condemnation made against all form and equity, it would de∣stroy it self, and at least in time to come, incur the indignation of all persons any thing judicious or equitable:) Or the said congregation would be granted at our request, and the affair examin'd according to form; in which case it could not be but that at least a great part of those imploy'd there∣in, would understand which side Truth and Justice are of, in regard every one would be necessitated to apply himself to the examination of writings deliver'd him on either side, to the discussion of things alledged in conferences held between us in their presence, and to the particular study of the matters which they saw in question between us. It was not possible likewise but that there would be found in the great City many persons who being awakened by the notoriousness of this examination would have the curiosity and the good hap to inquire thereinto, leaving apart their other studies and employments, which would be a good fruit of our pains. And lastly, that it was not possible but the Pope (who though little vers'd and skilful in these matters, was neverthe∣less very prudent and circumspect, as he lately shew'd when being prevail'd with by the com∣mon consent of the Congregation of the H. Of∣fice to confirm the pretended censure of the fa∣culty at Paris, he chang'd his mind, and was staid from doing it by the dissent of a single Cardinal) would be more powerfully woo'd with the num∣ber of those who should declare to him their be∣ing undeceiv'd, and better instructed of the truth whereof they were formerly ignorant; that these reflections would move him either to abstain from pronounc••ng upon this affair any judgement which might be unworthy of the Majesty of the H. See, or to pronounce one worthy thereof. Whereupon we all three concluded, that these con∣siderations oblig'd me to acquit my self of my Commission, to deliver my Letters, to begin my sollicitations, and that the soonest, and with the greatest publikness I could.

I had time left the same day to send for a Tailor to make me a Gown and a furr'd Hood against the next Sunday, such as we have in Sorbonne, and al∣so for a Cap-maker to make me a Cap with four Corners, most of these at Rome having but three, and being far less then what we are accustomed to wear at Paris.