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. V.

Containing what pass'd in the first dayes of February, particularly concerning a Memorial prepared by the General of the Augustines touching the Five Propositions. Of a Letter which we writ to our Bishops, informing them that the Congregation appointed for us by the Pope took the style of the Con∣gregation of the H. Office. And of a Writing of M. Halliers which came by chance to my hands.

THe first of February I visited Cardinal Altie∣ri, who was about to return me the Book of Prevailing Grace which we had lent him, and the first Chapter of our Writing concerning S. Augu∣stin's

authority, which he had caus'd to be tran∣scrib'd, being to return to his Bishoprick the Mon∣day following. He told me that he thought the Pope had intended to adde him to our Congregation, but for certain respects, because he must have ad∣ded others too, it was not done; and that his Ho∣liness was willing that when he took his leave again in the last Consistory, their long Discourse should make the world believe that they had many affairs; but they had none at all, and all that they said was only familiar and indifferent things. I know not whether I was mistaken in my suspition that the cause of the Pope's declining to adde this Cardinal to the Congregation was his having open'd his mind too freely to others about the necessity and justice of hearing the Parties as we demanded, and seriously sifting the whole matter de Auxiliis, be∣fore any thing could be reasonably pronounced upon the Propositions. But so it was, we were depriv'd of his protection, and bore his absence with the same submission to God's good plea∣sure which we used in all other difficult••es opposite to our desires of seeing his Truth triumph over all those who assaulted and oppress'd it so un∣worthily.

The same morning I went to la Minerve, where I learnt that F. Barellier and F. Reginald went the day before to the Ambassador by their Genera'ls order, to beseech him to allow them to intervene in the affair of the Propositions, against the Jesu∣ites; and that the Ambassador answer'd them that their intervention would be no wise displeasing to the King, whose whole interest in the affair was to have it decided with the greatest diligence pos∣sible.

Sunday, Feb. 2. the day of the Purification, ha∣ving first accompany'd the Ambassador to the Pope's Chappel, and according to my weak mea∣sure perform'd the duties of pyety required by that Festival, I went to our Advocate who told me that being with Cardinal Spada at the end of a Congregation held at his House, and speaking to him about our affair, his Eminence told him strange things cose stupende; which yet our Advo∣cate did not explain to me exactly. That as for our demands, the Cardinal said the Pope had given order to treat this affair in the manner wherein they acted, and till his Holiness appoint∣ed otherwise they could not alter it. That it was not in their power, but if we would obtain more than was hitherto done, we must address to the Pope. Touching the persons against whom we excepted, our Advocate told me further that we could not accomplish our desire; that he ad∣vis'd us to desist from it, otherwise we should make so many persons our Enemies to no purpose. That in conclusion he ask'd the Cardinal how the affair stood then in the Congregation; who an∣swer'd him that it was under examination whether the Propositions were any of those which were condemn'd by the Bull of Pius V. That in case they were not, we had reason; if they were, then our Adversaries had. That nevertheless after it were found that they were not, the next Questi∣on would be, whether they were true in them∣selves or no, which was a hard thing to judge, and therefore the Congregations were frequent. That Si vorrebbe far qualche cosa, they were desi∣rous to do something considerable; but there was no great likelihood of bringing it about; they met with great difficulties; that after the making of a Decision, it was not known whether they who were condemn'd by it would acquiesce in the Con∣demnation. In summa, in a word, 'twas an affair likely to last to the end of the world, fin alla fine del mondo. Giesù m' ha detto grancose, che pareva quando parlava a gli altri che le loro Signorie fossero tanti demonii. & quando parlava a loro che gli altri fossero tante bestie: Jesus (said our Advocate end∣ing his Discourse) the Cardinal spoke strange things; he said when he talkt with your Adver∣saries, he seem'd to hear them say that you were very Devils; and when he talkt with you, that your Adversaryes were wilde Beasts.

Tuesday Feb. 4. in the morning two Augu∣stines visited us from their General; to desire us to appear in the Congregation, though it were for no more but to make the Declarations upon the Propositions which he had often heard us make in visits and particular meetings. We profess'd to these Farhers that we wisht nothing else but an occasion of making those and other Declarations with all possible solemnity; but to appear before the Congregation whilst it acted as it did, and the persons excepted against by us were amongst the Consultors, was a thing whereunto it was impossible for us to condescend and conform. When these Fathers left us, I went to Masse at la Trinita del Monte, where I met M. Guef∣fier, who told me he had blamed the Doctors our Adversaries for appearing and being heard in Cardinal Spada's Congregation the last week.

Wednesday the 5th. I went to see the General of the Augustines, who repeated his desire of our appearing in the Congregation, Though it were (said he) only to testifie your submission. That it would be expedient that we spoke all three there; that one of us represented perhaps the occasion of our undertaking this journey; that another lay'd open the truth of the Propositions in the sense wherein we maintain'd them▪ and that the third tefuted the Objections which could be brought against them. That above all it would be requisite that we took heed of saying any thing in defence of Jansenius; and as for the Bull issu'd against him, that we profess'd that we made no scruple to receive it.

I thank'd him for his affection, and represent∣ed to him some of the Reasons which kept us from complying with his desires. He redoubled his instances; I repeated my excuses, and Cardinal Roma's Brother supervening ended our Confe∣rence.

Thursday the 6th. a friend of ours advertis'd us that F. Luca Vadingo told him that we should un∣doubtedly be heard; but it were good that some Doctors from Flanders came to Rome for the inte∣rests of Jansenius, since we declar'd that we would not meddle with his defence.

Friday the 7th. being the day of the Ambassa∣dor's usual audience, when he return'd from it, I went to him, to see, whether he would inform us of any thing touching the purpose which he said the Pope had to hear us solemnly; but he told me, he had other things to extricate. And in the afternoon being at S. Peter's Church, I was wit∣ness

of Cardinal Corrado's piety whom I saw at Prayers above an hour and a quarter all alone upon his knees behind a pillar, without train.

Saturday the 8th. I was inform'd that in Cardi∣nal Spada's Congregations F. Palavicini being se∣veral times in dispute with some Consultors who validly and learnedly confuted what he alledg'd, M. Albizzi, to hinder the like inconveniences, at length brought an Order of the Pope that none of them should speak but in his rank, and measure his discourse by an half-hour glass which was intro∣duc'd for that purpose.

The same day I saw the draught of a Memorial which the General of the Augustin's was resolv'd to present to the Pope upon the fitst favourable occasion; in which he beseecht his Holiness to con∣sider, 1. That the Propositions were contriv'd purposely to involve in their condemnation the total ruine of S. Augustine's doctrine under the name of that of Jansenius, which was so decry'd. 2. That their Authors had compris'd in them the whole matter of Grace. 3. That they had pro∣pounded them in general without the name of any Author, in hope that they would be speedily con∣demn'd. 4. That finding that they could not make them so bad but they would appear capable of some Orthodox sense, they afterwards attributed them to Jansenius, that at length they might be condemn'd under that pretext. 5. That being con∣sider'd even with reference to that Author, they included the sound Catholick doctrine of S. Augu∣stine and S. Thomas, whereof Jansenius made pro∣fession. I shall here insert the Copy of the said Memorial, having been permitted to tran∣scribe it.

Beatissime Pater,

EX obsequio in auctoritatem hujus sedis ac debito officii mei pro tuenda doctrina S. Augustini quam tuetur S. Thomas & ejus schola, humiliter supplico, ut advertat, quòd sub his quinque Propositionibus latet eversio totius doctrinae ejusdem S. P. Augustini; quem cum diserte ut Doctorem Ecclesiae adversarii impugnare non possent, pretextu doctrinae Jansenia∣nae tam invisae eum omnino impetere cogitarunt. Iu illis enim quinque Propositionibus, datâ operâ, & magno artificio, & majori dolo, comprehensa est tota materia de Auxiliis, de possibilitate praeceptorum, de gratia sufficienti & efficaci, de libertate liberi ar∣bitrii; quae quatuor capita totam hanc materiam comprehendunt. E primò quidem Propositiones in abstracto proposuerunt, existimantes quòd statim pro∣scriberentur. Ʋt adverterant non posse per se Cen∣suram damnabilem habere, quia eas ita confingere non potuerunt quin bonus aliquis appareret earum sensus, easdem Propositiones retulerunt relativè ad doctrinam Jansenii, ut saltem hoc titulo condemnarentur. Cae∣terum & cum hoc quoque respectu involvitur do∣ctrina sacra & Catholica ejusdem & S. Augu∣stini & S. Thomae quam Jansenius profitetur. Quare, &c.

Moreovet the same day I learnt that they who most ardently wisht the condemnation of the Pro∣positions began to confess that they were not of the number of those which were condemn'd by the Bull of Pius V. but were found in a greater num∣ber of those which this Pope had collected to con∣demn, and were left behind, yet being of the same quality with those which were condemn'd, they de∣serv'd the like condemnation.

Sunday the 9th. I went to rhe Sub-Bibliothecary at the end of his grand Mass, to tell him that I heard that Cardinal Ghiggi had said that the Pro∣positions might be condemn'd without touching S. Augustine or Grace Effectual by it self; and to beseech him to advertise his Eminence of it, that he might take heed what wrong this report might do to his reputation. He told me he would seek oc∣casion to speak to him about it; but in the mean time he advis'd us to frame a handsome Memoral, to represent to the Pope, that the usage of the Church had been in such Cases as this to assemble Councils either General or Provincial; and that it was free for all the Faithful to enter into such Councils, and represent to the Church so assem∣bled what every one thought fit to represent in de∣fence of the Catholick Faith. That the Tribunal of the H. Office was establisht for the punishment of Criminals who subverted the Maxims of the Faith, but not to make Canons and Decisions. This Consideration of the Tribunal of the H. Office, the style whereof was transferr'd to our Congregati∣on, troubled us much, and oblig'd us to write ano∣ther Letter upon the tenth of this Month to our Bishops, and give them account of some particulars touching the said Congregation, not signify'd to them by my Letter of the 27th. of January, and especially to know of them what we should do, if all the difficulties we had made of appearing were redressed, and there were only this that hinder'd us. The Letter follows:

My Lords,

HAving review'd the Letter which was written to you a fortnight since concerning the offer made us by Cardinal Spada to appear, if we would, in the Coogregation held at his Palace, and our answer thereunto; we found it not so exact but there remain some circumstances which deserve to be signify'd to you.

Though we had refus'd to appear for the rea∣sons therein mention'd to you, yet we under∣stood a day or two after, that it was appointed to be held on Monday, and that M. Hallier, Lagault and Joysel were expected to be there alone with∣out Adversaries. We were told that the Tickets customarily fixt upon the Gares of the Cardinals belonging to it, run thus, Eminentissime & Reve∣rendissime Domine, Die Lunae 27. Januarii, 1653. erit Congregatio S. Officii in Palatio Eminentissimi & Reverendissimi Domini Cardinalis Spadae, horâ 21. And upon ••nquiry we found it to be so. But having thereby the more curiosity to know whether the abovesaid Doctors appear'd there; we sent a man at the time appointed to see them enter in case they should come thither; which accordingly they did. Afterwards we understood a remarkable observation made of their deportment whilst they were in the house.

The Cardinals were in the usual Chamber of their retirement expecting till all their Eminen∣ces

were come, the Consultors in another, and M. Hallier with his Collegues in a third. When all their Eminences were arriv'd, they went into the Chamber where the Consultors were, to begin the Congregation. F. Palavicini the Jesuite was no•• yet come, and his absence probably was the cause of deferring the admission of those Do∣ctors. For there pass'd a considerable time, about a quarter of an hour, during which they who were without the place of the Assembly, won∣der'd at the delay of introducing these Gentle∣men. Themselves shew'd some signs of impati∣ence by their cariage; but at length it was perfect∣ly visible; for they left the Chamber where they were, being near the place of the Assembly; they passed into the Out-room, went down the stairs, so that it could not be known whether they were going away in good earnest or not. But F. Pa∣lavicini being come, and meeting them upon the stairs, the cause of their impatience was clearly known. For after such a salutation as uses to be between persons of perfect correspondence, the Doctors turn'd short and came up again with that Father; and assoon as they were re∣turned to the place where they were at first, they were all four introduced into the Assem∣bly.

VVhat several reflections were made hereup∣on, my Lords, is not needfull to tell you, but we cannot omit the intimate correspondence of these Doctors with that Father. 'Tis believ'd their in∣troducing was not deferr'd till that Fathers com∣ming without some very particular reason. Nor that it would have been so, had any other Consul∣tor then he been absent; since at other times im∣mediately upon the arrival of the Cardinals, the Congregation begins, though some o∣ther Person of the Congregation be not come; and especially this, which we are told is sometimes held in the absence of one of their Eminences.

Another thing which a little amaz'd us, is, that these Doctors appear'd there, though the Con∣gregation taking the Title of the H. Office, is a Jurisdiction, however venerable in the places where it it is receiv'd, not own'd in France, and consequently to which French-men cannot have recourse about an affair risen in France, and which concerns in some manner the whole Galli∣cane Church. As for our selves, my Lords, had we had no other consideration but this, to hinder us from appearing, this would have greatly troubled us, and we durst not have done it without first consulting the Ambassador to know whether nei∣ther the King nor his Estate, nor the Gallicane Church would be prejudiced thereby. Perhaps these Doctors inquir'd thus about it; but concei∣ving they did not, we beseech you, my Lords, to resolve us what we shall do in a like case, namely, supposing all the other difficulties which have hitherto kept us from entring into that Congregation, were remov'd, and there remain'd no more but this.

We conceive those others will not be redressed so suddenly but we may have your answer here∣upon before-hand. But to the end you may judge thereof with more certainty, we think our selves oblig'd to represent to you in few words some circumstances on either side, which you cannot comprehend there so well as we do here.

What may be said to induce us to appear in this Congregation, though under the title of the H. Office, is, that though the affair be handled there, yet perhaps no mention will be made thereof in the Pope's Constitution, but it will be drawn in form of a Brief or ordinary Bull. 2. That the Pope being to be assisted with information in this affair, his Holiness is free to take whom he please for that purpose. That had he appoin∣ted but three persons only, to be inform'd by us concerning what we had to represent to his Holiness, he relying upon those persons, we should have had nothing to say. Wherefore his Holiness having chosen Cardinals the most im∣ploy'd and vers'd in matters of Doctrine, and added to them thirty of the most experienc'd Di∣vines in Rome, we ought to be satisfied with this establishment. 3. That though all the Cardinals design'd for our Congregation, and most of the Divines imploy'd in it, are Officers of the H. Of∣fice, yet some are not, and so it cannot abso∣lutely be said to be that of the H. Office. 4. That the affair is not treated nor reported, at least hi∣therto, in the general Assembly of the H. Of∣fice.

Now to this it may be answer'd, That whoever is engag'd in the information of an affair, contri∣butes very much to the judgement of it, and the Registers of the H. Office will without fail very authentically set forth that the whole procedure of this affair was before its Tribunal; and so its Ju∣risdiction will be acknowledg'd by us, and by you also, my Lords, in this so important affair, and that without contradiction; and supposing (as is very uncertain) the Brief and Bull speak not at all of that Tribunal, yet Monuments will be left to Posterity in what manner we acted in this Cause. 2. That the Pope being the Common Father of all the Faithful, may well comply with what the Customes of those who have recourse to him will admit; and there are other Cardinals, Divines and Bishops in great number in Italy, whom he may summon hither to make a Congregation somewhat solemn and more proportionable to the affair than this of which we speak is hitherto. 3. That no Cardinal is of this Congregation but is of the H. Office. That the Secretary of the Congregation is the Assessor of the H. Office. That of the thirty Divines chosen for it at first, only two not are of the H. Office, namely the Ge∣neral of the Augustin's and F. Aversa; and there is great reason to doubt, whether by being chosen for this Congregation, they be not eo ipso made Qualificators of the H. Office; which may be said also of the two other Divines substituted since in stead of the two Qualificators of the H. Of∣fice, who would not be present at these Assem∣blies. To which may be added, my Lords, that although no report be made of this affair to the General Congregation of the H. Office, yet the whole conduct is as that of the H. Office, the man∣ner of proceeding secret; excommunication to whosoever shall tell the least word of what is done in those Assemblies; all the Consultors ha∣ving no other suffrage touching what is treated

there, but a deliberative one; and all the rest ge∣nerally according to the order and manner of the H. Office; which was also one reason urg'd by Cardinal Spada in answer to our instances for a contradictory Conference, as we signifi'd to you by our last. As for the reasons, my Lords, on either side relating to the substance of the thing which we propound to you, you know them better than our selves, and sufficiently see the consequences which can be foreseen on the one side and the other. Wherefore we shall content our selves with having mention'd these to you, and we believe they will suffice to clear the thing perfectly to you about which we consult you, and we beseech you most earnestly to send us your re∣solution with all speed.

Other things remain'd to tell you, my Lords, concerning the choyce of the Consultors, and the proceeding hitherto held in this affair; but be∣cause some of them are such that we need further light before we can speak of them with assurance and plainness, we shall defer them till we be bet∣ter inform'd, and can acquaint you with them all, contenting our selves for the present to have spo∣ken to you of these. We are,

My Lords,

Your most humble and obedient Servants,

• De la Lane, Abbot of Valcroissant.
• ...De Saint-Amour.
• ...Angran.

Rome, Feb. 10. 1653.

But when I reflect upon this Letter, I must con∣fess, that how displeasing soever it was that an affair referr'd to the Pope by Bishops of France should be examin'd in the Inquisition, a Tribunal not own'd in France; nevertheless it would have been an advantage to us, to have had it discuss'd in the full Congregation of the Inquisition, and not in this part, which M. Albizzi had cunningly cull'd, by re∣moving those whom he thought likely to be con∣trary to his designs. For had it been examin'd be∣fore the proper Judges of that Congregation both Cardinals and Divines, without affecting or ex∣cluding any, 'tis credible things would have pass'd after another sort. Cardinal S. Clement alone, who had right to assist therein, and was excluded by this attificial choyce, would have so clear'd things, that he would have overthrown all the designs of the Molinists, and procur'd a distinction of the senses of the Propositions, which was all that we desir'd. Besides, there was amongst the Con∣sultors the F. Abbot Hilarion; the Abbot of S. Peter in vinculis, since Archbishop of Manfredo∣nio; F. Ʋbaldino General of the Sommasques; F. Bordone of the Order of S. Francis; the General of the Dominicans, and another Dominican, Com∣panion of the Commissary of the H. Office; Mon∣signor Paolucci, the Procurator General of the Augustines, and possibly two or three more, all excellent Divines, and very zealous for S. Augu∣stine's doctrine, and Members of this Tribunal, who being joyn'd to those of the Consultors who were favourable to us, would have been stronger as well in number, as they were incomparably in Learning. And the reason alledg'd for excluding the Dominicans particularly, and Cardinal S. Cle∣ment, as if they would have been partial in the bu∣siness was the worst pretext in the world; since M. Hallier and all the rest protested daily that the Do∣minicans had interest therein, and that the points in contest were such upon which they fully agreed with the Jesuites.

Tuesday the 11th▪ a New Writing against the Propositions fell into our hands; it was of a hand like that of the others, whereof we knew M. Hallier and his Collegues were the Distributers. We forthwith took a Copy of it, that we might return it without delay to the person who did us the favour to communicate it to us.

In this VVriting, after the Propositions in the front, they attributed the same to Jansenius, citing him in this manner.

(1.) A pag. Indicii facti 19 ad 22. (2.) à 33 ad 50. (3.) à 1 ad 18. (4.) in Hist. Haer. Pelag. & Semip. (5.) à pag. 59 ad 63.

The false censure of the Sorbonne was cited in this manner: Has Propositiones Sorbona sequenti Cen∣sura notavit.

The first Proposition was branded as Calvi∣nistical, and as condemn'd by the Sorbonne in Luther. Damnavit in Luthero primam Propo∣sitionem ut impiam, Blasphemam & Haereti∣cam.

Primam Propositionem (said the VVriting fur∣ther) Jansenistae cum Calvino communem habent. It attributed to Jansenius that ridiculous fiction of Necessitating Grace. Intenditur (said this VVri∣ting) hac Propositione, ac imprimis scilicet, hominem in eo statu collocare, in quo si peccat, necessario peccet, quia defectu gratiae non peccare non potest; si verò bene agit, necessariò bene agit, quia GRATIA ILLƲM AD AGENDƲM NECESSITAT. Calvi∣nus hoc etiam dixit. Propterea rectè concludit homi∣nem libero arbitrio carere. Nam revera si homo ex necessitate agit, liberè non agit.

Thus they securely vented Calumnies in private Writings, and further affirm'd this Falsehood upon the fourth Proposition in these words:

Porrò eo fine hanc Propositionem adstruunt Janseni∣stae, ut consequenter ad sua Principia loquantur, ut gratiam sufficientem tollant; ut qui bene agit, bene agere necessario dicatur, cum gratiae resistere ne∣queat.

And upon the fifth; Hanc Propositionem adstru∣unt, ut consequenter loquantur. Si enim Christus pro omnibus mortuus non est; Ergo nullam gratiam illis confert, saltum in ordine ad salutem, qui dam∣nantur. Ergo necessariò peccant. Ergo praecepta Dei illis impossibilia.

About the same time accidentally came to my hands another Writing upon the Propositions

somewhat longer than the former, which tended only to shew that they who prosecuted the con∣demnation of them were not contrary to the Tho∣mists.

It was an abridgement of a longer VVriting mention'd above to have been dispers'd at Rome, and since printed at Paris, viz. Jansenius à Thomi∣stis damnatus. Only there was added divers passa∣ges of S. Thomas which the Dominicans con∣futed and endeavoured to present the said Confu∣tation to the Pope, with the other Writings which his Holiness would not hear of. 'Tis observable that it determin'd not any sense of the Propositi∣ons, nor attributed them to Jansenius, but hand∣led them in abstracto. It cited sundry passages of S. Thomas and the Thomists, to show that the Commandements are not impossible. That there is a Sufficient Grace in the sense of the Thomists; That Sufficient Grace is resistible; That the Will is not necessitated by Effectual Grace. None of which things were ever disputed in France, but thought fit by these Gentlemen to be brought into question at Rome, thus making an imaginary di∣spute and Chimerical adversaries; which was very easie for them to do, because they spoke alone, and writ what they pleas'd, without our knowing any thing of it when they dispers'd these Writings, or being able to refute them had we known it, their subtilty in this affair having alwayes been so to carry it, that they might be free to calumniate as much as they would, and not be subject to con∣viction. But the advantage to be drawn never∣theless from this proceeding, is this, that it disco∣vers that the doctrine of Effectual Grace is so esta∣blisht in the Church and particularly at Rome, that they who impugn'd it in France were oblig'd to declare by all wayes at Rome that they meant not to touch it; and being they oppos'd the Propositi∣only by Citations of the Thomists who are Defen∣ders of Effectual Grace, 'tis a manifest proof, all those which this History affords of the condemna∣tion which they obtain'd of them, do's no preju∣dice to that Grace, as we have a hundred times protested.

These false accusations shew what necessity there was of a contradictory Conference, in which the Calumnies wherewith the minds of the Cardinals were prepossess'd would have been not only lay'd open but destroy'd in a moment. For to do it we needed to say no more, but that we taught no∣thing of all that which M. Hallier imputed to us; that we did not reject all Sufficient Grace, but on∣ly that of Molina; that we did not hold that Ef∣fectual necessitates but only that it infallibly causes to act; that men have a power to resist it, though it is not resisted: And so of the rest. This declara∣tion alone would have stop'd their mouths, and reduc'd the Dispute to precise terms, by obli∣ging them to confess that either the Question was about nothing, or else design'd against Effectual Grace.