Andisitallowabletocourtoccasionsofcommittingsin，orrather，arewenotboundtoshunthem？Thatwouldbeeasyenough，surely。\"\"Notalwaysso，\"hereplied；\"thatisjustasitmayhappen。\"\"Happen，how？\"criedI。\"Oh！\"rejoinedthemonk，\"soyouthinkthatifapersonexperiencesomeinconvenienceinavoidingtheoccasionsofsin，heisstillboundtodoso？NotsothinksFatherBauny。’Absolution，’sayshe，’isnottoberefusedtosuchascontinueintheproximateoccasionsofsin，iftheyaresosituatedthattheycannotgivethemupwithoutbecomingthecommontalkoftheworld，orsubjectingthemselvestopersonalinconvenience。’\"\"Iamgladtohearit，father，\"Iremarked；\"andnowthatwearenotobligedtoavoidtheoccasionsofsin，nothingmoreremainsbuttosaythatwemaydeliberatelycourtthem。\"\"Eventhatisoccasionallypermitted，\"addedhe；\"thecelebratedcasuist，BasilPonce，hassaidso，andFatherBaunyquoteshissentimentwithapprobationinhisTreatiseonPenance，asfollows：’Wemayseekanoccasionofsindirectlyanddesignedly—primoetperse—whenourownorourneighbour’sspiritualortemporaladvantageinducesustodoso。’\"
\"Truly，\"saidI，\"itappearstobealladreamtome，whenIheargravedivinestalkinginthismanner！Comenow，mydearfather，tellmeconscientiously，doyouholdsuchasentimentasthat？\"\"No，indeed，\"saidhe，\"Idonot。\"
\"Youarespeaking，then，againstyourconscience，\"continuedI。\"Notatall，\"hereplied；\"Iwasspeakingonthatpointnotaccordingtomyownconscience，butaccordingtothatofPonceandFatherBauny，andthemyoumayfollowwiththeutmostsafety，forIassureyouthattheyareablemen。\"\"What，father！becausetheyhaveputdownthesethreelinesintheirbooks，willitthereforebecomeallowabletocourttheoccasionsofsin？
IalwaysthoughtthatwewereboundtotaketheScriptureandthetraditionoftheChurchasouronlyrule，andnotyourcauists。\"\"Goodness！\"criedthemonk，\"IdeclareyouputmeinmindoftheseJansenists。ThinkyouthatFatherBaunyandBasilPoncearenotabletorendertheiropinionprobable？\"\"Probablewon’tdoforme，\"saidI；\"Imusthavecertainty。\"
\"Icaneasilysee，\"repliedthegoodfather，\"thatyouknownothingaboutourdoctrineofprobableopinions。Ifyoudid，youwouldspeakinanotherstrain。Ah！mydearsir，Imustreallygiveyousomeinstructionsonthispoint；withoutknowingthis，positivelyyoucanunderstandnothingatall。
Itisthefoundation—theveryA，B，C，ofourwholemoralphilosophy。\"
GladtoseehimcometothepointtowhichIhadbeendrawinghimon，I
expressedmysatisfactionandrequestedhimtoexplainwhatwasmeantbyaprobableopinion？\"That，\"hereplied，\"ourauthorswillanswerbetterthanIcando。Thegeneralityofthem，and，amongothers，ourfour—and—twentyelders，describeitthus：’Anopinioniscalledprobablewhenitisfoundeduponreasonsofsomeconsideration。Henceitmaysometimeshappenthatasingleverygravedoctormayrenderanopinionprobable。’Thereasonisadded：’Foramanparticularlygiventostudywouldnotadheretoanopinionunlesshewasdrawntoitbyagoodandsufficientreason。’\"\"Soitwouldappear，\"Iobserved，withasmile，\"thatasingledoctormayturnconsciencesroundaboutandupsidedownashepleases，andyetalwayslandtheminasafeposition。\"\"Youmustnotlaughatit，sir，\"returnedthemonk；\"norneedyouattempttocombatthedoctrine。TheJanseniststriedthis；buttheymighthavesavedthemselvesthetrouble—itistoofirmlyestablished。HearSanchez，oneofthemostfamousofourfathers：’Youmaydoubt，perhaps，whethertheauthorityofasinglegoodandlearneddoctorrendersanopinionprobable。Ianswerthatitdoes；andthisisconfirmedbyAngelus，Sylvester，Navarre，EmanuelSa，&；c。Itisprovedthus：Aprobableopinionisonethathasaconsiderablefoundation。Nowtheauthorityofalearnedandpiousmanisentitledtoverygreatconsideration；
because（markthereason），ifthetestimonyofsuchamanhasgreatinfluenceinconvincingusthatsuchandsuchaneventoccurred，sayatRome，forexample，whyshoulditnothavethesameweightinthecaseofaquestioninmorals？’\"\"Anoddcomparisonthis，\"interruptedI，\"betweentheconcernsoftheworldandthoseofconscience！\"\"Havealittlepatience，\"rejoinedthemonk；\"Sanchezanswersthatintheverynextsentence：’NorcanIassenttothequalificationmadeherebysomewriters，namely，thattheauthorityofsuchadoctor，thoughsufficientinmattersofhumanright，isnotsointhoseofdivineright。Itisofvastweightinbothcases。’\"\"Well，father，\"saidI，frankly，\"Ireallycannotadmirethatrule。Whocanassureme，consideringthefreedomyourdoctorsclaimtoexamineeverythingbyreason，thatwhatappearssafetoonemayseemsotoalltherest？Thediversityofjudgementsissogreat\"—\"Youdon’tunderstandit，\"saidhe，interruptingme；\"nodoubttheyareoftenofdifferentsentiments，butwhatsignifiesthat？Eachrendershisownopinionprobableandsafe。Weallknowwellenoughthattheyarefarfrombeingofthesamemind；whatismore，thereishardlyaninstanceinwhichtheyeveragree。Thereareveryfewquestions，indeed，inwhichyoudonotfindtheonesayingyesandtheothersayingno。Still，inallthesecases，eachofthecontraryopinionsisprobable。AndhenceDianasaysonacertainsubject：’PonceandSanchezholdoppositeviewsofit；but，astheyarebothlearnedmen，eachrendershisownopinionprobable。’\"\"But，father，\"Iremarked，\"apersonmustbesadlyembarrassedinchoosingbetweenthem！\"\"Notatall，\"
herejoined；\"hehasonlytofollowtheopinionwhichsuitshimbest。\"
\"What！iftheotherismoreprobable？\"\"Itdoesnotsignify，\"\"Andiftheotheristhesafer？\"\"Itdoesnotsignify，\"repeatedthemonk；\"thisismadequiteplainbyEmanuelSa，ofourSociety，inhisAphorisms：’Apersonmaydowhatheconsidersallowableaccordingtoaprobableopinion，thoughthecontrarymaybethesaferone。Theopinionofasinglegravedoctorisallthatisrequisite。’\"\"Andifanopinionbeatoncethelessprobableandthelesssafe，itisallowabletofollowit，\"Iasked，\"eveninthewayofrejectingonewhichwebelievetobemoreprobableandsafe？\"\"Oncemore，Isayyes，\"repliedthemonk。\"HearwhatFiliutius，thatgreatJesuitofRome，says：’Itisallowabletofollowthelessprobableopinion，eventhoughitbethelesssafeone。Thatisthecommonjudgementofmodernauthors。’Isnotthatquiteclear？\"\"Well，reverendfather，\"saidI，\"youhavegivenuselbowroom，atallevents！Thankstoyourprobableopinions，wehavegotlibertyofconsciencewithawitness！Andareyoucasuistsallowedthesamelatitudeingivingyourresponses？\"\"Oh，yes，\"saidhe，\"weanswerjustasweplease；orrather，Ishouldsay，justasitmaypleasethosewhoaskouradvice。Hereareourrules，takenfromFathersLayman，Vasquez，Sanchez，andthefour—and—twentyworthies，inthewordsofLayman：
’Adoctor，onbeingconsulted，maygiveanadvice，notonlyprobableaccordingtohisownopinion，butcontrarytohisownopinion，providedthisjudgementhappenstobemorefavourableormoreagreeabletothepersonthatconsultshim—sifortehaecfavorabiliorseuexoptatiorsit。Nay，Igofurtherandsaythattherewouldbenothingunreasonableinhisgivingthosewhoconsulthimajudgementheldtobeprobablebysomelearnedperson，eventhoughheshouldbesatisfiedinhisownmindthatitisabsolutelyfalse。’\"\"Well，seriously，father，\"Isaid，\"yourdoctrineisamostuncommonlycomfortableone！Onlythinkofbeingallowedtoansweryesorno，justasyouplease！
Itisimpossibletoprizesuchaprivilegetoohighly。Iseenowtheadvantageofthecontraryopinionsofyourdoctors。Oneofthemalwaysservesyourturn，andtheothernevergivesyouanyannoyance。Ifyoudonotfindyouraccountontheoneside，youfallbackontheotherandalwayslandinperfectsafety。\"\"Thatisquitetrue，\"hereplied；\"and，accordingly，wemayalwayssaywithDiana，onhisfindingthatFatherBaunywasonhisside，whileFatherLugowasagainsthim：Saepeprementedeo，fertdeusalteropem。\"**Ovid，Appendice，xiii。\"Ifpressedbyanygod，wewillbedeliveredbyanother。\"\"Iunderstandyou，\"resumedI；\"butapracticaldifficultyhasjustoccurredtome，whichisthis，thatsupposingapersontohaveconsultedoneofyourdoctorsandobtainedfromhimaprettyliberalopinion，thereissomedangerofhisgettingintoascrapebymeetingaconfessorwhotakesadifferentviewofthematterandrefuseshimabsolutionunlessherecantthesentimentofthecasuist。Haveyounotprovidedforsuchacaseasthat，father？\"\"Canyoudoubtit？\"hereplied，\"Wehaveboundthem，sir，toabsolvetheirpenitentswhoactaccordingtoprobableopinions，underthepainofmortalsin，tosecuretheircompliance。’Whenthepenitent，’saysFatherBauny，’followsaprobableopinion，theconfessorisboundtoabsolvehim，thoughhisopinionshoulddifferfromthatofhispenitent。’\"\"Buthedoesnotsayitwouldbeamortalsinnottoabsolvehim\"saidI。\"Howhastyyouare！\"rejoinedthemonk；\"listentowhatfollows；
hehasexpresslydecidedthat，’torefuseabsolutiontoapenitentwhoactsaccordingtoaprobableopinionisasinwhichisinitsnaturemortal。’
And，tosettlethatpoint，hecitesthemostillustriousofourfathers—
Suarez，Vasquez，andSanchez。\"\"Mydearsir，\"saidI，\"thatisamostprudentregulation。Iseenothingtofearnow。Noconfessorcandaretoberefractoryafterthis。Indeed，Iwasnotawarethatyouhadthepowerofissuingyourordersonpainofdamnation。Ithoughtthatyourskillhadbeenconfinedtothetakingawayofsins；Ihadnoideathatitextendedtotheintroductionofnewones。But，fromwhatInowsee，youareomnipotent。\"\"Thatisnotacorrectwayofspeaking，\"rejoinedthefather。\"Wedonotintroducesins；
weonlypayattentiontothem。Ihavehadoccasiontoremark，twoorthreetimesduringourconversation，thatyouarenogreatscholastic。\"\"Bethatasitmay，father，youhaveatleastansweredmydifficulty。ButIhaveanothertosuggest。HowdoyoumanagewhentheFathersoftheChurchhappentodifferfromanyofyourcasuists？\"\"Youreallyknowverylittleofthesubject，\"hereplied。\"TheFathersweregoodenoughforthemoralityoftheirowntimes；buttheylivedtoofarbackforthatofthepresentage，whichisnolongerregulatedbythem，butbythemoderncasuists。OnthisFatherCellot，followingthefamousReginald，remarks：’Inquestionsofmorals，themoderncasuistsaretobepreferredtotheancientfathers，thoughthoselivednearertothetimesoftheapostles。’Andfollowingoutthismaxim，Dianathusdecides：’Arebeneficiariesboundtorestoretheirrevenuewhenguiltyofmal—appropriationofit？Theancientswouldsayyes，butthemodernssayno；letus，therefore，adheretothelatteropinion，whichrelievesfromtheobligationofrestitution。’\"\"Delightfulwordsthese，andmostcomfortabletheymustbetoagreatmanypeople！\"
Iobserved。\"Weleavethefathers，\"resumedthemonk，\"tothosewhodealwithpositivedivinity。Asforus，whoarethedirectorsofconscience，wereadverylittleofthemandquoteonlythemoderncasuists。ThereisDiana，forinstance，amostvoluminouswriter；hehasprefixedtohisworksalistofhisauthorities，whichamounttotwohundredandninety—six，andthemostancientofthemisonlyabouteightyyearsold。\"\"Itwouldappear，then，\"Iremarked，\"thatallthesehavecomeintotheworldsincethedateofyourSociety？\"\"Thereabouts，\"hereplied。\"Thatistosay，dearfather，onyouradvent，St。Augustine，St。Chrysostom，St。Ambrose，St。Jerome，andalltherest，insofarasmoralsareconcerned，disappearedfromthestage。Wouldyoubesokindasletmeknowthenames，atleast，ofthosemodernauthorswhohavesucceededthem？\"\"Amostableandrenownedclassofmentheyare，\"repliedthemonk。\"Theirnamesare：Villalobos，Conink，Llamas，Achokier，Dealkozer，Dellacruz，Veracruz，Ugolin，Tambourin，Fernandez，Martinez，Suarez，Henriquez，Vasquez，Lopez，Gomez，Sanchez，DeVechis，DeGrassis，DeGrassalis，DePitigianis，DeGraphaeis，Squilanti，Bizozeri，Barcola，DeBobadilla，Simanacha，PerezdeLara，Aldretta，Lorca，DeScarcia，Quaranta，Scophra，Pedrezza，Cabrezza，Bisbe，Dias，DeClavasio，Villagut，AdamaManden，Iribarne，Binsfeld，VolfangiAVorberg，Vosthery，Strevesdorf。\"\"Omydearfather！\"criedI，quitealarmed，\"wereallthesepeopleChristians？\"\"How！Christians！\"returnedthecasuist；\"didInottellyouthatthesearetheonlywritersbywhomwenowgovernChristendom？\"
DeeplyaffectedasIwasbythisannouncement，IconcealedmyemotionfromthemonkandonlyaskedhimifalltheseauthorswereJesuits？\"No，\"saidhe；\"butthatisoflittleconsequence；theyhavesaidanumberofgoodthingsforallthat。Itistruethegreaterpartofthesesamegoodthingsareextractedorcopiedfromourauthors，butwedonotstandonceremonywiththemonthatscore，moreespeciallyastheyareintheconstanthabitofquotingourauthorswithapplause。WhenDiana，forexample，whodoesnotbelongtoourSociety，speaksofVasquez，hecallshim’thatphoenixofgenius’；andhedeclaresmorethanonce’thatVasquezaloneistohimworthalltherestofmenputtogether’—instaromnium。Accordingly，ourfathersoftenmakeuseofthisgoodDiana；and，ifyouunderstandourdoctrineofprobability，youwillseethatthisisnosmallhelpinitsway。Infact，weareanxiousthatothersbesidestheJesuitswouldrendertheiropinionsprobable，topreventpeoplefromascribingthemalltous；foryouwillobservethat，whenanyauthor，whoeverhemaybe，advancesaprobableopinion，weareentitled，bythedoctrineofprobability，toadoptitifweplease；andyet，iftheauthordoesnotbelongtoourfraternity，wearenotresponsibleforitssoundness。\"\"Iunderstandallthat，\"saidI。
\"Itiseasytoseethatallarewelcomethatcomeyourway，excepttheancientfathers；youaremastersofthefield，andhaveonlytowalkthecourse。ButIforeseethreeorfourseriousdifficultiesandpowerfulbarrierswhichwillopposeyourcareer。\"\"Andwhatarethese？\"criedthemonk，lookingquitealarmed。\"TheyaretheHolyScriptures，\"Ireplied，\"thepopes，andthecouncils，whomyoucannotgainsay，andwhoareallinthewayoftheGospel。\"\"Isthatall？\"heexclaimed；\"Ideclareyouputmeinafright。
Doyouimaginethatwewouldoverlooksuchanobviousscrupleasthat，orthatwehavenotprovidedagainstit？Agoodidea，forsooth，tosupposethatwewouldcontradictScripture，popes，andcouncils！Imustconvinceyouofyourmistake；forIshouldbesorryyoushouldgoawaywithanimpressionthatwearedeficientinourrespecttotheseauthorities。Youhavedoubtlesstakenupthisnotionfromsomeoftheopinionsofourfathers，whichareapparentlyatvariancewiththeirdecisions，thoughinrealitytheyarenot。Buttoillustratetheharmonybetweenthemwouldrequiremoreleisurethanwehaveatpresent；and，asIwouldnotlikeyoutoretainabadimpressionofus，ifyouagreetomeetwithmeto—morrow，Ishallclearitallupthen。\"Thusendedourinterview，andthusshallendmypresentcommunication，whichhasbeenlongenough，besides，foroneletter。Iamsureyouwillbesatisfiedwithit，intheprospectofwhatisforthcoming。Iam，&；c。LETTERVIParis，April10，1656SIR，Imentioned，atthecloseofmylastletter，thatmygoodfriend，theJesuit，hadpromisedtoshowmehowthecasuistsreconcilethecontrarietiesbetweentheiropinionsandthedecisionsofthepopes，thecouncils，andtheScripture。Thispromisehefulfilledatourlastinterview，ofwhichIshallnowgiveyouanaccount。
\"Oneofthemethods，\"resumedthemonk，\"inwhichwereconciletheseapparentcontradictions，isbytheinterpretationofsomephrase。Thus，PopeGregoryXIVdecidedthatassassinsarenotworthytoenjoythebenefitofsanctuaryinchurchesandoughttobedraggedoutofthem；andyetourfour—and—twentyeldersaffirmthat’thepenaltyofthisbullisnotincurredbyallthosethatkillintreachery。’Thismayappeartoyouacontradiction；butwegetoverthisbyinterpretingthewordassassinasfollows：’Areassassinsunworthyofsanctuaryinchurches？Yes，bythebullofGregoryXIVtheyare。Butbythewordassassinsweunderstandthosethathavereceivedmoneytomurderone；and，accordingly，suchaskillwithouttakinganyrewardforthedeed，butmerelytoobligetheirfriends，donotcomeunderthecategoryofassassins。’\"\"Takeanotherinstance：ItissaidintheGospel，’Givealmsofyoursuperfluity。’Severalcasuists，however，havecontrivedtodischargethewealthiestfromtheobligationofalms—giving。Thismayappearanotherparadox，butthematteriseasilyputtorightsbygivingsuchaninterpretationtothewordsuperfluitythatitwillseldomorneverhappenthatanyoneistroubledwithsuchanarticle。ThisfeathasbeenaccomplishedbythelearnedVasquez，inhisTreatiseonAlms，c。4：’Whatmenoftheworldlayuptoimprovetheircircumstances，orthoseoftheirrelatives，cannotbetermedsuperfluity，andaccordingly，suchathingassuperfluityisseldomtobefoundamongmenoftheworld，notevenexceptingkings。’Diana，too，whogenerallyfoundsonourfathers，havingquotedthesewordsofVasquez，justlyconcludes，’thatastothequestionwhethertherichareboundtogivealmsoftheirsuperfluity，eventhoughtheaffirmativeweretrue，itwillseldomorneverhappentobeobligatoryinpractice。’\"
\"IseeverywellhowthatfollowsfromthedoctrineofVasquez，\"saidI。
\"Buthowwouldyouanswerthisobjection，that，inworkingoutone’ssalvation，itwouldbeassafe，accordingtoVasquez，togivenoalms，providedonecanmusterasmuchambitionastohavenosuperfluity；asitissafe，accordingtotheGospel，tohavenoambitionatall，inordertohavesomesuperfluityforthepurposeofalms—giving？\"\"Why，\"returnedhe，\"theanswerwouldbethatbothofthesewaysaresafeaccordingtotheGospel；theoneaccordingtotheGospelinitsmoreliteralandobvioussense，andtheotheraccordingtothesameGospelasinterpretedbyVasquez。Thereyouseetheutilityofinterpretations。Whenthetermsaresoclear，however，\"hecontinued，\"asnottoadmitofaninterpretation，wehaverecoursetotheobservationoffavourablecircumstances。Asingleexamplewillillustratethis。Thepopeshavedenouncedexcommunicationonmonkswholayasidetheircanonicals；
ourcasuists，notwithstanding，putitasaquestion，’Onwhatoccasionsmayamonklayasidehisreligioushabitswithoutincurringexcommunication？’
Theymentionanumberofcasesinwhichtheymay，andamongothersthefollowing：’Ifhehaslaiditasideforaninfamouspurpose，suchastopickpocketsortogoincognitointohauntsofprofligacy，meaningshortlyaftertoresumeit。’Itisevidentthebullshavenoreferencetocasesofthatdescription。\"Icouldhardlybelievethatandbeggedthefathertoshowmethepassageintheoriginal。Hedidso，andunderthechapterheaded\"PracticeaccordingtotheSchooloftheSocietyofJesus\"—PraxisexSocietatisJesuSchola—Ireadtheseverywords：Sihabitumdimittatutfureturocculte，velfornicetur。HeshowedmethesamethinginDiana，intheseterms：Uteatincognitusadlupanar。\"Andwhy，father，\"Iasked，\"aretheydischargedfromexcommunicationonsuchoccasions？\"\"Don’tyouunderstandit？\"hereplied。\"Onlythinkwhatascandalitwouldbe，wereamonksurprisedinsuchapredicamentwithhiscanonicalson！Andhaveyouneverheard，\"hecontinued，\"howtheyanswerthefirstbullcontrasollicitantesandhowourfour—and—twenty，inanotherchapterofthePracticeaccordingtotheSchoolofourSociety，explainthebullofPiusVcontraclericos，&；c。？\"\"Iknownothingaboutallthat，\"saidI。\"ThenitisasignyouhavenotreadmuchofEscobar，\"returnedthemonk。\"Igothimonlyyesterday，father，saidI；\"andIhadnosmalldifficulty，too，inprocuringacopy。Idon’tknowhowitis，buteverybodyoflatehasbeeninsearchofhim。\"\"ThepassagetowhichIreferred，\"returnedthemonk，\"maybefoundintreatiseI，example8，no。102。Consultitatyourleisurewhenyougohome。\"Ididsothatverynight；butitissoshockinglybadthatIdarenottranscribeit。Thegoodfatherthenwentontosay：\"Younowunderstandwhatusewemakeoffavourablecircumstances。Sometimes，however，obstinatecaseswilloccur，whichwillnotadmitofthismodeofadjustment；somuchso，indeed，thatyouwouldalmostsupposetheyinvolvedflatcontradictions。Forexample，threepopeshavedecidedthatmonkswhoareboundbyaparticularvowtoaLentenlifecannotbeabsolvedfromiteventhoughtheyshouldbecomebishops。AndyetDianaaversthatnotwithstandingthisdecisiontheyareabsolved。\"Andhowdoeshereconcilethat？\"saidI。\"Bythemostsubtleofallthemodernmethods，andbythenicestpossibleapplicationofprobability，\"repliedthemonk。\"Youmayrecollectyouweretoldtheotherdaythattheaffirmativeandnegativeofmostopinionshaveeach，accordingtoourdoctors，someprobabilityenough，atleast，tobefollowedwithasafeconscience。Notthattheproandconarebothtrueinthesamesense—thatisimpossible—butonlytheyarebothprobableand，therefore，safe，asamatterofcourse。OnthisprincipleourworthyfriendDianaremarks：’Tothedecisionofthesethreepopes，whichiscontrarytomyopinion，Ianswerthattheyspokeinthiswaybyadheringtotheaffirmativeside—which，infact，eveninmyjudgement，isprobable；butitdoesnotfollowfromthisthatthenegativemaynothaveitsprobabilitytoo。’Andinthesametreatise，speakingofanothersubjectonwhichheagaindiffersfromapope，hesays：’Thepope，Igrant，hassaiditastheheadoftheChurch；buthisdecisiondoesnotextendbeyondthesphereoftheprobabilityofhisownopinion。’Nowyouperceivethisisnotdoinganyharmtotheopinionsofthepopes；suchathingwouldneverbetoleratedatRome，whereDianaisinhighrepute。Forhedoesnotsaythatwhatthepopeshavedecidedisnotprobable；butleavingtheiropinionwithinthesphereofprobability，hemerelysaysthatthecontraryisalsoprobable。\"
\"Thatisveryrespectful，\"saidI。\"Yes，\"addedthemonk，\"andrathermoreingeniousthanthereplymadebyFatherBauny，whenhisbookswerecensuredatRome；for，whenpushedveryhardonthispointbyM。Hallier，hemadeboldtowrite：’WhathasthecensureofRometodowiththatofFrance？’
Younowseehow，eitherbytheinterpretationofterms，bytheobservationoffavourablecircumstances，orbytheaidofthedoubleprobabilityofproandcon，wealwayscontrivetoreconcilethoseseemingcontradictionswhichoccasionedyousomuchsurprise，withoutevertouchingonthedecisionsofScripture，councils，orpopes。\"\"Reverendfather，\"saidI，\"howhappytheworldisinhavingsuchmenasyouforitsmasters！Andwhatblessingsaretheseprobabilities！Ineverknewthereasonwhyyoutooksuchpainstoestablishthatasingledoctor，ifagraveone，mightrenderanopinionprobable，andthatthecontrarymightbesotoo，andthatonemaychooseanysideonepleases，eventhoughhedoesnotbelieveittobetherightside，andallwithsuchasafeconscience，thattheconfessorwhoshouldrefusehimabsolutiononthefaithofthecasuistswouldbeinastateofdamnation。ButIseenowthatasinglecasuistmaymakenewrulesofmoralityathisdiscretionanddispose，accordingtohisfancy，ofeverythingpertainingtotheregulationofmanners。\"\"Whatyouhavenowsaid，\"rejoinedthefather，\"wouldrequiretobemodifiedalittle。Payattentionnow，whileIexplainourmethod，andyouwillobservetheprogressofanewopinion，fromitsbirthtoitsmaturity。First，thegravedoctorwhoinventeditexhibitsittotheworld，castingitabroadlikeseed，thatitmaytakeroot。Inthisstateitisveryfeeble；itrequirestimegraduallytoripen。
ThisaccountsforDiana，whohasintroducedagreatmanyoftheseopinions，saying：’Iadvancethisopinion；butasitisnew，Igiveittimetocometomaturity—relinquotemporimaturandum。’Thusinafewyearsitbecomesinsensiblyconsolidated；and，afteraconsiderabletime，itissanctionedbythetacitapprobationoftheChurch，accordingtothegrandmaximofFatherBauny，’thatifanopinionhasbeenadvancedbysomecasuist，andhasnotbeenimpugnedbytheChurch，itisasignthatsheapprovesofit。’And，infact，onthisprincipleheauthenticatesoneofhisownprinciplesinhissixthtreatise，p。312。\"\"Indeed，father！\"criedI，\"why，onthisprincipletheChurchwouldapproveofalltheabuseswhichshetolerates，andalltheerrorsinallthebookswhichshedoesnotcensure！\"\"DisputethepointwithFatherBauny，\"hereplied。\"Iammerelyquotinghiswords，andyoubegintoquarrelwithme。Thereisnodisputingwithfacts，sir。
Well，asIwassaying，whentimehasthusmaturedanopinion，itthenceforthbecomescompletelyprobableandsafe。HencethelearnedCaramuel，indedicatinghisFundamentalTheologytoDiana，declaresthatthisgreatDianahasrenderedmanyopinionsprobablewhichwerenotsobefore—quaeanteanonerant，andthat，therefore，infollowingthem，personsdonotsinnow，thoughtheywouldhavesinnedformerly—jamnonpeccant，licetantepeccaverint。\"
\"Truly，father，\"Iobserved，\"itmustbeworthone’swhilelivingintheneighbourhoodofyourdoctors。Why，oftwoindividualswhodothesameactions，hethatknowsnothingabouttheirdoctrinesins，whilehethatknowsitdoesnosin。Itseems，then，thattheirdoctrinepossessesatonceanedifyingandajustifyingvirtue！ThelawofGod，accordingtoSt。Paul，madetransgressors；butthislawofyoursmakesnearlyallofusinnocent。Ibeseechyou，mydearsir，letmeknowallaboutit。Iwillnotleaveyoutillyouhavetoldmeallthemaximswhichyourcasuistshaveestablished。\"\"Alas！\"themonkexclaimed，\"ourmainobject，nodoubt，shouldhavebeentoestablishnoothermaximsthanthoseoftheGospelinalltheirstrictness：anditiseasytosee，fromtheRulesfortheregulationofourmanners，that，ifwetoleratesomedegreeofrelaxationinothers，itisratheroutofcomplaisancethanthroughdesign。Thetruthis，sir，weareforcedtoit。Menhavearrivedatsuchapitchofcorruptionnowadaysthat，unabletomakethemcometous，wemuste’engotothem，otherwisetheywouldcastusoffaltogether；and，whatisworse，theywouldbecomeperfectcastaways。Itistoretainsuchcharactersasthesethatourcasuistshavetakenunderconsiderationthevicestowhichpeopleofvariousconditionsaremostaddicted，withtheviewoflayingdownmaximswhich，whiletheycannotbesaidtoviolatethetruth，aresogentlethathemustbeaveryimpracticablesubjectindeedwhoisnotpleasedwiththem。ThegrandprojectofourSociety，forthegoodofreligion，isnevertorepulseanyone，lethimbewhathemay，andsoavoiddrivingpeopletodespair。\"Theyhavegotmaxims，therefore，forallsortsofpersons；
forbeneficiaries，forpriests，formonks；forgentlemen，forservants；
forrichmen，forcommercialmen；forpeopleinembarrassedorindigentcircumstances；fordevoutwomen，andwomenthatarenotdevout；formarriedpeople，andirregularpeople。Inshort，nothinghasescapedtheirforesight。\"
\"Inotherwords，\"saidI，\"theyhavegotmaximsfortheclergy，thenobility，andthecommons。Well，Iamquiteimpatienttohearthem。\"\"Letuscommence，\"
resumedthefather，’withthebeneficiaries。Youareawareofthetrafficwithbeneficesthatisnowcarriedon，andthat，werethematterreferredtoSt。Thomasandtheancientswhohadwrittenonit，theremightchancetobesomesimoniacsintheChurch。Thisrenderedithighlynecessaryforourfatherstoexercisetheirprudenceinfindingoutapalliative。WithwhatsuccesstheyhavedonesowillappearfromthefollowingwordsofValencia，whoisoneofEscobar’s’fourlivingcreatures。’Attheendofalongdiscourse，inwhichhesuggestsvariousexpedients，hepropoundsthefollowingatpage2039，vol。iii，which，tomymind，isthebest：’Ifapersongivesatemporalinexchangeforaspiritualgood’—thatis，ifhegivesmoneyforabenefice—’andgivesthemoneyasthepriceofthebenefice，itismanifestsimony。Butifhegivesitmerelyasthemotivewhichinclinesthewillofthepatrontoconferonhimtheliving，itisnotsimony，eventhoughthepersonwhoconfersitconsidersandexpectsthemoneyastheprincipalobject。’Tanner，whoisalsoamemberofourSociety，affirmsthesamething，vol。iii，p。1519，althoughhe’grantsthatSt。Thomasisopposedtoit；forheexpresslyteachesthatitisalwayssimonytogiveaspiritualforatemporalgood，ifthetemporalistheendinview。’Bythismeanswepreventanimmensenumberofsimoniacaltransactions；forwhowouldbesodesperatelywickedastorefuse，whengivingmoneyforabenefice，totakethesimpleprecautionofsodirectinghisintentionsastogiveitasamotivetoinducethebeneficiarytopartwithit，insteadofgivingitasthepriceofthebenefice？Noman，surely，canbesofarlefttohimselfasthatwouldcometo。\"\"Iagreewithyouthere，\"Ireplied；\"allmen，Ishouldthink，havesufficientgracetomakeabargainofthatsort。\"\"Therecanbenodoubtofit，\"returnedthemonk。