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.

The Connexion of our Proposition with Effectual Grace.

THe Grace of Jesus Christ effectual by it self is necessary to every action of piety. There∣fore the first Proposition is true in the sense where∣in we present and maintain it; because if Grace effectual by it self is necessary to an action of pie∣ty, as a principle requisite before the same be per∣form'd, then when it is present to us, we do the thing for which it is given; and when we do it not, it is not present to us, otherwise it would not be effectual by it self; and not only we act with it, but also without it we cannot act proximately and with all accomplishment necessary to action. For whoever hath not all that which is previously ne∣cessary to another thing as a principle, cannot do that thing proximately and with the utmost ac∣complishment necessary to do it. And hence the first Proposition which we have presented and defended, necessarily follows. For it happens sometimes that some just men being press'd with a great temptation, make weak and imperfect at∣tempts to perform some Commandment, and yet perform it not. Therefore in these cases they have not that great and effectual Grace which is necessary to the performance of it: or as S. Augustin faith, They have not a Grace so great as to be sufficient for performing that Command∣ment; they have not the strength most effectual for overcoming the temptation, otherwise they would surmount the temptation and perform the Commandment; and consequently, according to their present strength they have not that next power, to which nothing is wanting for perform∣ing that Commandment; and they want that great and effectual Grace by which the Commandment may become possible to them with a next and com∣pleat power, to which nothing is deficient to pro∣ceed to action: or, they want that special help, without which, as the Council of Trent saith, He who is justifi'd cannot persevere in Righteousness, i. e. in the observance of Gods Commandments.

'Tis in this sense only that we defend the first Proposition.

On the contrary our Adversaries have an here∣tical sense in impugning this Proposition, because they destroy the necessity of Grace effectual by it self to every action of piety. For they hold, that every just man is alwayes able to perform any Commandment whatsoever, because he hath al∣wayes grace to perform it according as it pleases his Will. Now since he doth not alwayes perform it, it followes, that they believe that the Grace which is necessary for performing it, is not effe∣ctual by it self. Which opinion is heretical and contrary to the true grace of Jesus Christ. There∣fore our Adversaries hold an heretical sense in opposing the first Proposition, that is, they de∣fend in an heretical sense the Proposition which is contrary to it.