Bysayingsufficientweexpressallthatisnecessaryforaction；anditwillservelittlepurposefortheDominicanstoexclaimthattheyattachanothersensetotheexpression；thepeople，accustomedtothecommonacceptationofthatterm，wouldnotevenlistentotheirexplanation。ThustheSocietygainsasufficientadvantagefromtheexpressionwhichhasbeenadoptedbytheDominicans，withoutpressingthemanyfurther；andwereyoubutacquaintedwithwhatpassedunderPopesClementVIIIandPaulV，andknewhowtheSocietywasthwartedbytheDominicansintheestablishmentofthesufficientgrace，youwouldnotbesurprisedtofindthatitavoidsembroilingitselfinquarrelswiththemandallowsthemtoholdtheirownopinion，providedthatoftheSocietyisleftuntouched；andmoreespecially，whentheDominicanscountenanceitsdoctrine，byagreeingtoemploy，onallpublicoccasions，thetermsufficientgrace。\"TheSociety，\"hecontinued，\"isquitesatisfiedwiththeircomplaisance。Itdoesnotinsistontheirdenyingthenecessityofefficaciousgrace，thiswouldbeurgingthemtoofar。Peopleshouldnottyrannizeovertheirfriends；andtheJesuitshavegainedquiteenough。Theworldiscontentwithwords；fewthinkofsearchingintothenatureofthings；andthusthenameofsufficientgracebeingadoptedonbothsides，thoughindifferentsenses，thereisnobody，exceptthemostsubtletheologians，whoeverdreamsofdoubtingthatthethingsignifiedbythatwordisheldbytheJacobinsaswellasbytheJesuits；
andtheresultwillshowthattheselastarenotthegreatestdupes。\"I
acknowledgedthattheywereashrewdclassofpeople，theseJesuits；and，availingmyselfofhisadvice，IwentstraighttotheJacobins，atwhosegateIfoundoneofmygoodfriends，astaunchJansenist（foryoumustknowIhavegotfriendsamongallparties），whowascallingforanothermonk，differentfromhimwhomIwasinsearchof。Iprevailedonhim，however，aftermuchentreaty，toaccompanyme，andaskedforoneofmyNewThomists。
Hewasdelightedtoseemeagain。\"Hownow！mydearfather，\"Ibegan，\"itseemsitisnotenoughthatallmenhaveaproximatepower，withwhichtheycanneveractwitheffect；theymusthavebesidesthisasufficientgrace，withwhichtheycanactaslittle。Isnotthatthedoctrineofyourschool？\"\"Itis，\"saidtheworthymonk；\"andIwasupholdingitthisverymorningintheSorbonne。Ispokeonthepointduringmywholehalf—hour；
and，butforthesand—glass，Ibadefairtohavereversedthatwickedproverb，nowsocurrentinParis：’Hevoteswithoutspeaking，likeamonkintheSorbonne。’\"\"Whatdoyoumeanbyyourhalf—hourandyoursand—glass？\"I
asked；\"dotheycutyourspeechesbyacertainmeasure？\"\"Yes，\"saidhe，\"theyhavedonesoforsomedayspast。\"\"Anddotheyobligeyoutospeakforhalfanhour？\"\"No；wemayspeakaslittleasweplease。\"\"Butnotasmuchasyouplease，saidI。\"Owhatacapitalregulationfortheboobies！
whatablessedexcuseforthosewhohavenothingworththesaying！But，toreturntothepoint，father；thisgracegiventoallmenissufficient，isitnot？\"\"Yes，\"saidhe。\"Andyetithasnoeffectwithoutefficaciousgrace？\"\"Nonewhatever，\"hereplied。\"Andallmenhavethesufficient，\"
continuedI，\"andallhavenottheefficacious？\"\"Exactly，\"saidhe。\"Thatis，\"returnedI，\"allhaveenoughofgrace，andallhavenotenoughofitthatis，thisgracesuffices，thoughitdoesnotsuffice—thatis，itissufficientinnameandinsufficientineffect！Ingoodsooth，father，thisisparticularlysubtledoctrine！Haveyouforgotten，sinceyouretiredtothecloister，themeaningattached，intheworldyouhavequitted，tothewordsufficient？don’tyourememberthatitincludesallthatisnecessaryforacting？Butno，youcannothavelostallrecollectionofit；for，toavailmyselfofanillustrationwhichwillcomehomemorevividlytoyourfeelings，letussupposethatyouweresuppliedwithnomorethantwoouncesofbreadandaglassofwaterdaily，wouldyoubequitepleasedwithyourpriorwerehetotellyouthatthiswouldbesufficienttosupportyou，underthepretextthat，alongwithsomethingelse，whichhowever，hewouldnotgiveyou，youwouldhaveallthatwouldbenecessarytosupportyou？
How，thencanyouallowyourselvestosaythatallmenhavesufficientgraceforacting，whileyouadmitthatthereisanothergraceabsolutelynecessarytoactingwhichallmenhavenot？Isitbecausethisisanunimportantarticleofbelief，andyouleaveallmenatlibertytobelievethatefficaciousgraceisnecessaryornot，astheychoose？Isitamatterofindifferencetosay，thatwithsufficientgraceamanmayreallyact？\"\"How！\"criedthegoodman；\"indifference！itisheresy—formalheresy。Thenecessityofefficaciousgraceforactingeffectively，isapointoffaith—itisheresytodenyit。\"\"Wherearewenow？\"Iexclaimed；\"andwhichsideamItotakehere？IfIdenythesufficientgrace，IamaJansenist。IfI
admitit，astheJesuitsdo，inthewayofdenyingthatefficaciousgraceisnecessary，Ishallbeaheretic，sayyou。AndifIadmitit，asyoudo，inthewayofmaintainingthenecessityofefficaciousgrace，Isinagainstcommonsense，andamablockhead，saytheJesuits。WhatmustI
do，thusreducedtotheinevitablenecessityofbeingablockhead，aheretic，oraJansenist？Andwhatasadpassarematterscometo，iftherearenonebuttheJansenistswhoavoidcomingintocollisioneitherwiththefaithorwithreason，andwhosavethemselvesatoncefromabsurdityandfromerror！\"MyJansenistfriendtookthisspeechasagoodomenandalreadylookeduponmeasaconvert。Hesaidnothingtome，however；but，addressingthemonk：\"Pray，father，\"inquiredhe，\"whatisthepointonwhichyouagreewiththeJesuits？\"\"Weagreeinthis，\"hereplied，\"thattheJesuitsandweacknowledgethesufficientgracegiventoall。\"\"But，\"saidtheJansenist，\"therearetwothingsinthisexpressionsufficientgrace—thereisthesound，whichisonlysomuchbreath；andthereisthethingwhichitsignifies，whichisrealandeffectual。And，therefore，asyouareagreedwiththeJesuitsinregardtothewordsufficientandopposedtothemastothesense，itisapparentthatyouareopposedtotheminregardtothesubstanceofthatterm，andthatyouonlyagreewiththemastothesound。Isthiswhatyoucallactingsincerelyandcordially？\"\"But，\"saidthegoodman，\"whatcausehaveyoutocomplain，sincewedeceivenobodybythismodeofspeaking？InourschoolsweopenlyteachthatweunderstanditinamannerdifferentfromtheJesuits。\"\"WhatIcomplainof，\"returnedmyfriend\"\"is，thatyoudonotproclaimiteverywhere，thatbysufficientgraceyouunderstandthegracewhichisnotsufficient。Youareboundinconscience，bythusalteringthesenseoftheordinarytermsoftheology，totellthat，whenyouadmitasufficientgraceinallmen，youunderstandthattheyhavenotsufficientgraceineffect。Allclassesofpersonsintheworldunderstandthewordsufficientinoneandthesamesense；theNewThomistsaloneunderstanditinanothersense。Allthewomen，whoformone—halfoftheworld，allcourtiers，allmilitarymen，allmagistrates，alllawyers，merchants，artisans，thewholepopulace—inshort，allsortsofmen，excepttheDominicans，understandthewordsufficienttoexpressallthatisnecessary。Scarcelyanyoneisawareofthissingularexception。
Itisreportedoverthewholeearth，simplythattheDominicansholdthatallmenhavethesufficientgraces。Whatotherconclusioncanbedrawnfromthis，thanthattheyholdthatallmenhaveallthegracesnecessaryforaction；especiallywhentheyareseenjoinedininterestandintriguewiththeJesuits，whounderstandthethinginthatsense？Isnottheuniformityofyourexpressions，viewedinconnectionwiththisunionofparty，amanifestindicationandconfirmationoftheuniformityofyoursentiments？\"Themultitudeofthefaithfulinquireoftheologians：Whatistherealconditionofhumannaturesinceitscorruption？St。AugustineandhisdisciplesreplythatithasnosufficientgraceuntilGodispleasedtobestowit。NextcometheJesuits，andtheysaythatallhavetheeffectuallysufficientgraces。TheDominicansareconsultedonthiscontrarietyofopinion；andwhatcoursedotheypursue？TheyunitewiththeJesuits；bythiscoalitiontheymakeupamajority；theysecedefromthosewhodenythesesufficientgraces；theydeclarethatallmenpossessthem。Who，onhearingthis，wouldimagineanythingelsethanthattheygavetheirsanctiontotheopinionoftheJesuits？Andthentheyaddthat，nevertheless，thesesaidsufficientgracesareperfectlyuselesswithouttheefficacious，whicharenotgiventoall！\"ShallIpresentyouwithapictureoftheChurchamidsttheseconflictingsentiments？Iconsiderherverylikeamanwho，leavinghisnativecountryonajourney，isencounteredbyrobbers，whoinflictmanywoundsonhimandleavehimhalfdead。Hesendsforthreephysiciansresidentintheneighboringtowns。Thefirst，onprobinghiswounds，pronouncesthemmortalandassureshimthatnonebutGodcanrestoretohimhislostpowers。Thesecond，comingaftertheother，choosestoflattertheman—
tellshimthathehasstillsufficientstrengthtoreachhishome；and，abusingthefirstphysicianwhoopposedhisadvice，determinesuponhisruin。Inthisdilemma，thepoorpatient，observingthethirdmedicalgentlemanatadistance，stretchesouthishandstohimasthepersonwhoshoulddeterminethecontroversy。Thispractitioner，onexamininghiswounds，andascertainingtheopinionsofthefirsttwodoctors，embracesthatofthesecond，andunitingwithhim，thetwocombineagainstthefirst，andbeingthestrongerpartyinnumberdrivehimfromthefieldindisgrace。
Fromthisproceeding，thepatientnaturallyconcludesthatthelastcomerisofthesameopinionwiththesecond；and，onputtingthequestiontohim，heassureshimmostpositivelythathisstrengthissufficientforprosecutinghisjourney。Thewoundedman，however，sensibleofhisownweakness，begshimtoexplaintohimhowheconsideredhimsufficientforthejourney。’Because，’replieshisadviser，’youarestillinpossessionofyourlegs，andlegsaretheorganswhichnaturallysufficeforwalking。’
’But，’saysthepatient，’haveIallthestrengthnecessarytomakeuseofmylegs？for，inmypresentweakcondition，ithumblyappearstomethattheyarewhollyuseless。’’Certainlyyouhavenot，’repliesthedoctor；
’youwillneverwalkeffectively，unlessGodvouchsafessomeextraordinaryassistancetosustainandconductyou。’’What！’exclaimsthepoorman，’doyounotmeantosaythatIhavesufficientstrengthinme，soastowantfornothingtowalkeffectively？’’Veryfarfromit，’returnsthephysician。’Youmust，then，’saysthepatient，’beofadifferentopinionfromyourcompanionthereaboutmyrealcondition。’’ImustadmitthatIam，’repliestheother。\"Whatdoyousupposethepatientsaidtothis？
Why，hecomplainedofthestrangeconductandambiguoustermsofthisthirdphysician。Hecensuredhimfortakingpartwiththesecond，towhomhewasopposedinsentiment，andwithwhomhehadonlythesemblanceofagreement，andforhavingdrivenawaythefirstdoctor，withwhomheinrealityagreed；
and，aftermakingatrialofstrength，andfindingbyexperiencehisactualweakness，hesentthembothabouttheirbusiness，recalledhisfirstadviser，puthimselfunderhiscare，andhaving，byhisadvice，imploredfromGodthestrengthofwhichheconfessedhisneed，obtainedthemercyhesought，and，throughdivinehelp，reachedhishouseinpeace。Theworthymonkwassoconfoundedwiththisparablethathecouldnotfindwordstoreply。
Tocheerhimupalittle，Isaidtohim，inamildtone：\"Butafterall，mydearfather，whatmadeyouthinkofgivingthenameofsufficienttoagracewhichyousayitisapointoffaithtobelieveis，infact，insufficient？\"
\"Itisveryeasyforyoutotalkaboutit，\"saidhe。\"Youareanindependentandprivateman；Iamamonkandinacommunity—cannotyouestimatethedifferencebetweenthetwocases？Wedependonsuperiors；theydependonothers。Theyhavepromisedourvotes—whatwouldyouhavetobecomeofme？\"Weunderstoodthehint；andthisbroughttoourrecollectionthecaseofhisbrothermonk，who，forasimilarpieceofindiscretion，hasbeenexiledtoAbbeville。\"But，\"Iresumed，\"howcomesitaboutthatyourcommunityisboundtoadmitthisgrace？\"\"Thatisanotherquestion，\"hereplied。
\"AllthatIcantellyouis，inoneword，thatourorderhasdefended，totheutmostofitsability，thedoctrineofSt。Thomasonefficaciousgrace。Withwhatardordiditoppose，fromtheverycommencement，thedoctrineofMolina？HowdiditlabortoestablishthenecessityoftheefficaciousgraceofJesusChrist？Don’tyouknowwhathappenedunderClementVIII
andPaulV，andhow，theformerhavingbeenpreventedbydeath，andthelatterhinderedbysomeItalianaffairsfrompublishinghisbull，ourarmsstillsleepintheVatican？ButtheJesuits，availingthemselves，sincetheintroductionoftheheresyofLutherandCalvin，ofthescantylightwhichthepeoplepossessfordiscriminatingbetweentheerrorofthesemenandthetruthofthedoctrineofSt。Thomas，disseminatedtheirprincipleswithsuchrapidityandsuccessthattheybecame，erelong，mastersofthepopularbelief；whilewe，onourpart，foundourselvesinthepredicamentofbeingdenouncedasCalvinistsandtreatedastheJansenistsareatpresent，unlesswequalifiedtheefficaciousgracewith，atleast，theapparentavowalofasufficient。Inthisextremity，whatbettercoursecouldwehavetakenforsavingthetruth，withoutlosingourowncredit，thanbyadmittingthenameofsufficientgrace，whilewedeniedthatitwassuchineffect？Suchistherealhistoryofthecase。\"ThiswasspokeninsuchamelancholytonethatIreallybegantopitytheman；notso，however，mycompanion。\"Flatternotyourselves，\"saidhetothemonk，\"withhavingsavedthetruth；hadshenotfoundotherdefenders，inyourfeeblehandsshemusthaveperished。ByadmittingintotheChurchthenameofherenemy，youhaveadmittedtheenemyhimself。Namesareinseparablefromthings。
Ifthetermsufficientgracebeonceestablished，itwillbevainforyoutoprotestthatyouunderstandbyitagracewhichisnotsufficient。Yourprotestwillbeheldinadmissible。Yourexplanationwouldbescoutedasodiousintheworld，wheremenspeakmoreingenuouslyaboutmattersofinfinitelylessmoment。TheJesuitswillgainatriumph—itwillbetheirgrace，whichissufficientinfact，andnotyours，whichisonlysoinname，thatwillpassasestablished；andtheconverseofyourcreedwillbecomeanarticleoffaith。\"\"Wewillallsuffermartyrdomfirst，\"criedthefather，\"ratherthanconsenttotheestablishmentofsufficientgraceinthesenseoftheJesuits。St。Thomas，whomwehavesworntofolloweventothedeath，isdiametricallyopposedtosuchdoctrine。\"Tothismyfriend，whotookupthemattermoreseriouslythanIdid，replied：\"Comenow，father，yourfraternityhasreceivedanhonorwhichitsadlyabuses。Itabandonsthatgracewhichwasconfidedtoitscare，andwhichhasneverbeenabandonedsincethecreationoftheworld。Thatvictoriousgrace，whichwaswaitedforbythepatriarchs，predictedbytheprophets，introducedbyJesusChrist，preachedbySt。Paul，explainedbySt。Augustine，thegreatestofthefathers，embracedbyhisfollowers，confirmedbySt。Bernard，thelastofthefathers，supportedbySt。Thomas，theangeloftheschools，transmittedbyhimtoyourorder，maintainedbysomanyofyourfathers，andsonoblydefendedbyyourmonksunderPopesClementandPaul—thatefficaciousgrace，whichhadbeencommittedasasacreddepositintoyourhands，thatitmightfind，inasacredandeverlastingorder，asuccessionofpreachers，whomightproclaimittotheendoftime—isdiscardedanddesertedforintereststhemostcontemptible。Itishightimeforotherhandstoarminitsquarrel。
ItistimeforGodtoraiseupintrepiddisciplesoftheDoctorofgrace，who，strangerstotheentanglementsoftheworld，willserveGodforGod’ssake。Gracemaynot，indeed，numbertheDominicansamongherchampions，butchampionssheshallneverwant；for，byherownalmightyenergy，shecreatesthemforherself。Shedemandsheartspureanddisengaged；nay，sheherselfpurifiesanddisengagesthemfromworldlyinterests，incompatiblewiththetruthsoftheGospel。Reflectseriously，onthis，father；andtakecarethatGoddoesnotremovethiscandlestickfromitsplace，leavingyouindarknessandwithoutthecrown，asapunishmentforthecoldnesswhichyoumanifesttoacausesoimportanttohisChurch。\"Hemighthavegoneoninthisstrainmuchlonger，forhewaskindlingasheadvanced，butIinterruptedhimbyrisingtotakemyleaveandsaid：\"Indeed，mydearfather，hadIanyinfluenceinFrance，Ishouldhaveitproclaimed，bysoundoftrumpet：’BEITKNOWNTOALLMEN，thatwhentheJacobinsSAY
thatsufficientgraceisgiventoall，theyMEANthatallhavenotthegracewhichactuallysuffices！’Afterwhich，youmightsayitoftenasyouplease，butnototherwise。\"Andthusendedourvisit。Youwillperceive，therefore，thatwehavehereapoliticsufficiencysomewhatsimilartoproximatepower。MeanwhileImaytellyouthatitappearstomethatboththeproximatepowerandthissamesufficientgracemaybesafelydoubtedbyanybody，providedheisnotaJacobin。Ihavejustcometolearn，whenclosingmyletter，thatthecensurehaspassed。ButasIdonotyetknowinwhattermsitisworded，andasitwillnotbepublishedtillthe15thofFebruary，Ishalldelaywritingyouaboutittillthenextpost。Iam，&；c。REPLYOFTHE\"PROVINCIAL\"TOTHEFIRSTTWOLETTERSOFHISFRIEND
February2，1656SIR，Yourtwolettershavenotbeenconfinedtome。Everybodyhasseenthem，everybodyunderstandsthem，andeverybodybelievesthem。
Theyarenotonlyinhighreputeamongtheologians—theyhaveprovedagreeabletomenoftheworld，andintelligibleeventotheladies。InacommunicationwhichIlatelyreceivedfromoneofthegentlemenoftheAcademy—oneofthemostillustriousnamesinasocietyofmenwhoareallillustrious—
whohadseenonlyyourfirstletter，hewritesmeasfollows：\"IonlywishthattheSorbonne，whichowessomuchtothememoryofthelatecardinal，wouldacknowledgethejurisdictionofhisFrenchAcademy。Theauthoroftheletterwouldbesatisfied；for，inthecapacityofanacademician，Iwouldauthoritativelycondemn，Iwouldbanish，Iwouldproscribe—Ihadalmostsaidexterminate—totheextentofmypower，thisproximatepower，whichmakessomuchnoiseaboutnothingandwithoutknowingwhatitwouldhave。Themisfortuneisthatouracademicpowerisaverylimitedandremotepower。Iamsorryforit；andstillmoresorrythatmysmallpowercannotdischargemefrommyobligationstoyou，\"&；c。Mynextextractisfromthepenofalady，whomIshallnotindicateinanywaywhatever。Shewritesthustoafemalefriendwhohadtransmittedtoherthefirstofyourletters：
\"YoucanhavenoideahowmuchIamobligedtoyoufortheletteryousentme—itissoveryingenious，andsonicelywritten。Itnarrates，andyetitisnotanarrative；itclearsupthemostintricateandinvolvedofallpossiblematters；itsrailleryisexquisite；itenlightensthosewhoknowlittleaboutthesubjectandimpartsdoubledelighttothosewhounderstandit。Itisanadmirableapology；and，iftheywouldsotakeit，adelicateandinnocentcensure。Inshort，thatletterdisplayssomuchart，somuchspirit，andsomuchjudgment，thatIburnwithcuriositytoknowwhowroteit，\"&；c。Youtoo，perhaps，wouldliketoknowwhotheladyisthatwritesinthisstyle；butyoumustbecontenttoesteemwithoutknowingher；whenyoucometoknowher，youresteemwillbegreatlyenhanced。Takemywordforit，then，andcontinueyourletters；andletthecensurecomewhenitmay，wearequitepreparedforreceivingit。Thesewordsproximatepowerandsufficientgrace，withwhichwearethreatened，willfrightenusnolonger。WehavelearnedfromtheJesuits，theJacobins，andM。leMoine，inhowmanydifferentwaystheymaybeturned，andhowlittlesoliditythereisinthesenew—fangledterms，togiveourselvesanytroubleaboutthem。Meanwhile，Iremain，&；c。LETTERIIIParis，February9，1658SIR，Ihavejustreceivedyourletter；
and，atthesametime，therewasbroughtmeacopyofthecensureinmanuscript。
IfindthatIamaswelltreatedintheformerasM。Arnauldisilltreatedinthelatter。Iamafraidthereissomeextravaganceinbothcasesandthatneitherofusissufficientlywellknownbyourjudges。SureIamthat，werewebetterknown，M。ArnauldwouldmerittheapprovaloftheSorbonne，andIthecensureoftheAcademy。Thusourinterestsarequiteatvariancewitheachother。Itishisinteresttomakehimselfknown，tovindicatehisinnocence；whereasitisminetoremaininthedark，forfearofforfeitingmyreputation。Prevented，therefore，fromshowingmyface，Imustdevolveonyouthetaskofmakingmyacknowledgmentstomyillustriousadmirers，whileIundertakethatoffurnishingyouwiththenewsofthecensure。Iassureyou，sir，ithasfilledmewithastonishment。
Iexpectedtofinditcondemningthemostshockingheresyintheworld，butyourwonderwillequalmine，wheninformedthatthesealarmingpreparations，whenonthepointofproducingthegrandeffectanticipated，haveallendedinsmoke。Tounderstandthewholeaffairinapleasantway，onlyrecollect，Ibeseechyou，thestrangeimpressionswhich，foralongtimepast，wehavebeentaughttoformoftheJansenists。Recalltomindthecabals，thefactions，theerrors，theschisms，theoutrages，withwhichtheyhavebeensolongcharged；themannerinwhichtheyhavebeendenouncedandvilifiedfromthepulpitandthepress；andthedegreetowhichthistorrentofabuse，soremarkableforitsviolenceandduration，hasswollenoflateyears，whentheyhavebeenopenlyandpubliclyaccusedofbeingnotonlyhereticsandschismatics，butapostatesandinfidels—with\"denyingthemysteryoftransubstantiation，andrenouncingJesusChristandtheGospel。\"
Afterhavingpublishedthesestartlingaccusations，itwasresolvedtoexaminetheirwritings，inordertopronouncejudgementonthem。ForthispurposethesecondletterofM。Arnauld，whichwasreportedtobefullofthegreatesterrors，isselected。Theexaminersappointedarehismostopenandavowedenemies。Theyemployalltheirlearningtodiscoversomethingthattheymightlayholdupon，andatlengththeyproduceonepropositionofadoctrinalcharacter，whichtheyexhibitforcensure。Whatelsecouldanyoneinferfromsuchproceedingsthanthatthisproposition，selectedundersuchremarkablecircumstances，wouldcontaintheessenceoftheblackestheresiesimaginable。AndyetthepropositionsoentirelyagreeswithwhatisclearlyandformallyexpressedinthepassagesfromthefathersquotedbyM。ArnauldthatIhavenotmetwithasingleindividualwhocouldcomprehendthedifferencebetweenthem。Still，however，itmightbeimaginedthattherewasaverygreatdifference；forthepassagesfromthefathersbeingunquestionablyCatholic，thepropositionofM。Arnauld，ifheretical，mustbewidelyopposedtothem。SuchwasthedifficultywhichtheSorbonnewasexpectedtoclearup。AllChristendomwaited，withwide—openedeyes，todiscover，inthecensureoftheselearneddoctors，thepointofdifferencewhichhadprovedimperceptibletoordinarymortals。MeanwhileM。Arnauldgaveinhisdefences，placinghisownpropositionandthepassagesofthefathersfromwhichhehaddrawnitinparallelcolumns，soastomaketheagreementbetweenthemapparenttothemostobtuseunderstandings。Heshows，forexample，thatSt。Augustinesaysinonepassagethat\"JesusChristpointsouttous，inthepersonofSt。Peter，arighteousmanwarningusbyhisfalltoavoidpresumption。\"Hecitesanotherpassagefromthesamefather，inwhichhesays\"thatGod，inordertoshowusthatwithoutgracewecandonothing，leftSt。Peterwithoutgrace。\"Heproducesathird，fromSt。Chrysostom，whosays，\"thatthefallofSt。Peterhappened，notthroughanycoldnesstowardsJesusChrist，butbecausegracefailedhim；
andthathefell，notsomuchthroughhisownnegligenceasthroughthewithdrawmentofGod，asalessontothewholeChurch，thatwithoutGodwecandonothing。\"Hethengiveshisownaccusedproposition，whichisasfollows：\"Thefatherspointouttous，inthepersonofSt。Peter，arighteousmantowhomthatgracewithoutwhichwecandonothingwaswanting。\"
InvaindidpeopleattempttodiscoverhowitcouldpossiblybethatM。
Arnauld’sexpressiondifferedfromthoseofthefathersasmuchasthetruthfromerrorandfaithfromheresy。Forwherewasthedifferencetobefound？Coulditbeinthesewords：\"thatthefatherspointouttous，inthepersonofSt。Peter，arighteousman\"？St。Augustinehassaidthesamethinginsomanywords。Isitbecausehesays\"thatgracehadfailedhim\"？ThesameSt。Augustinewhohadsaidthat\"St。Peterwasarighteousman，\"says\"thathehadnothadgraceonthatoccasion。\"Isit，then，forhishavingsaid\"thatwithoutgracewecandonothing\"？Why，isnotthisjustwhatSt。Augustinesaysinthesameplace，andwhatSt。Chrysostomhadsaidbeforehim，withthisdifferenceonly，thatheexpressesitinmuchstrongerlanguage，aswhenhesays\"thathisfalldidnothappenthroughhisowncoldnessornegligence，butthroughthefailureofgrace，andthewithdrawmentofGod\"？Suchconsiderationsasthesekepteverybodyinastateofbreathlesssuspensetolearninwhatthisdiversitycouldconsist，whenatlength，afteragreatmanymeetings，thisfamousandlong—looked—forcensuremadeitsappearance。But，alas！ithassadlybaulkedourexpectation。