repliedthemonk；\"confessorsareboundtobelievethemforallthat；forFatherBauny，whohasprobedthisquestiontothebottom，hasconcluded’thatatwhatevertimethosewhohavefallenintofrequentrelapses，withoutgivingevidenceofamendment，presentthemselvesbeforeaconfessor，expressingtheirregretforthepast，andagoodpurposeforthefuture，heisboundtobelievethemontheirsimpleaverment，althoughtheremaybereasontopresumethatsuchresolutiononlycamefromtheteethoutwards。Nay，’
sayshe，’thoughtheyshouldindulgesubsequentlytogreaterexcessthaneverinthesamedelinquencies，still，inmyopinion，theymayreceiveabsolution。’Therenow！that，Iamsure，shouldsilenceyou。\"\"But，father，\"
saidI，\"youimposeagreathardship，Ithink，ontheconfessors，bythusobligingthemtobelievetheveryreverseofwhattheysee。\"\"Youdon’tunderstandit，\"returnedhe；\"allthatismeantisthattheyareobligedtoactandabsolveasiftheybelievedthattheirpenitentswouldbetruetotheirengagements，though，inpointoffact，theybelievenosuchthing。
Thisisexplained，immediatelyafterwards，bySuarezandFiliutius。Afterhavingsaidthat’thepriestisboundtobelievethepenitentonhisword，’
theyadd：’Itisnotnecessarythattheconfessorshouldbeconvincedthatthegoodresolutionofhispenitentwillbecarriedintoeffect，noreventhatheshouldjudgeitprobable；itisenoughthathethinksthepersonhasatthetimethedesigningeneral，thoughhemayveryshortlyafterrelapse。Suchisthedoctrineofallourauthors—itadocentomnesautores。’
Willyoupresumetodoubtwhathasbeentaughtbyourauthors？\"\"But，sir，whatthenbecomesofwhatFatherPetauhimselfisobligedtoown，intheprefacetohisPublicPenance，’thattheholyfathers，doctors，andcouncilsoftheChurchagreeinholdingitasasettledpointthatthepenancepreparatorytotheeucharistmustbegenuine，constant，resolute，andnotlanguidandsluggish，orsubjecttoafter—thoughtsandrelapses？’\"\"Don’tyouobserve，\"
repliedthemonk，\"thatFatherPetauisspeakingoftheancientChurch？
Butallthatisnowsolittleinseason，touseacommonsayingofourdoctors，that，accordingtoFatherBauny，thereverseistheonlytrueviewofthematter。’Therearesome，’sayshe，’whomaintainthatabsolutionoughttoberefusedtothosewhofallfrequentlyintothesamesin，moreespeciallyif，afterbeingoftenabsolved，theyevincenosignsofamendment；
andothersholdtheoppositeview。Buttheonlytrueopinionisthattheyoughtnottoberefusedabsolution；and，thoughtheyshouldbenothingthebetterofalltheadvicegiventhem，thoughtheyshouldhavebrokenalltheirpromisestoleadnewlives，andbeenatnotroubletopurifythemselves，stillitisofnoconsequence；whatevermaybesaidtothecontrary，thetrueopinionwhichoughttobefollowedisthateveninallthesecases，theyoughttobeabsolved。’Andagain：’AbsolutionoughtneithertobedeniednordelayedinthecaseofthosewholiveinhabitualsinsagainstthelawofGod，ofnature，andoftheChurch，althoughthereshouldbenoapparentprospectoffutureamendment—etsiemendationisfuturaenullaspesappareat。’\"\"But，father，thiscertaintyofalwaysgettingabsolutionmayinducesinners—\"\"Iknowwhatyoumean，\"interruptedtheJesuit；\"butlistentoFatherBauny，Q。15：’Absolutionmaybegiveneventohimwhocandidlyavowsthatthehopeofbeingabsolvedinducedhimtosinwithmorefreedomthanhewouldotherwisehavedone。’AndFatherCaussin，defendingthisproposition，says’that，werethisnottrue，confessionwouldbeinterdictedtothegreaterpartofmankind；andtheonlyresourceleftpoorsinnerswouldbeabranchandarope。’\"\"Ofather，howthesemaximsofyourswilldrawpeopletoyourconfessionals！\"\"Yes，hereplied，\"youwouldhardlybelievewhatnumbersareinthehabitoffrequentingthem；’weareabsolutelyoppressedandoverwhelmed，sotospeak，underthecrowdofourpenitents—
penitentiumnumeroobruimur’—asissaidinTheImageoftheFirstCentury。\"
\"Icouldsuggestaverysimplemethod，\"saidI，\"toescapefromthisinconvenientpressure。Youhaveonlytoobligesinnerstoavoidtheproximateoccasionsofsin；thatsingleexpedientwouldaffordyoureliefatonce。\"\"Wehavenowishforsucharelief，\"rejoinedthemonk；\"quitethereverse；for，asisobservedinthesamebook，’thegreatendofourSocietyistolabortoestablishthevirtues，towagewaronthevices，andtosaveagreatnumberofsouls。’Now，asthereareveryfewsoulsinclinedtoquittheproximateoccasionsofsin，wehavebeenobligedtodefinewhataproximateoccasionis。’Thatcannotbecalledaproximateoccasion，’saysEscobar，’whereonesinsbutrarely，oronasuddentransport—saythreeorfourtimesayear’；or，asFatherBaunyhasit，onceortwiceinamonth。’Again，asksthisauthor，’whatistobedoneinthecaseofmastersandservants，orcousins，who，livingunderthesameroof，arebythisoccasiontemptedtosin？’\"\"Theyoughttobeseparated，\"saidI。\"Thatiswhathesays，too，’iftheirrelapsesbeveryfrequent：butifthepartiesoffendrarely，andcannotbeseparatedwithouttroubleandloss，theymay，accordingtoSuarezandotherauthors，beabsolved，providedtheypromisetosinnomore，andaretrulysorryforwhatispast。’\"Thisrequirednoexplanation，forhehadalreadyinformedmewithwhatsortofevidenceofcontritiontheconfessorwasboundtorestsatisfied。\"AndFatherBauny，\"continuedthemonk，\"permitsthosewhoareinvolvedintheproximateoccasionsofsin，’toremainastheyare，whentheycannotavoidthemwithoutbecomingthecommontalkoftheworld，orsubjectingthemselvestoinconvenience。’
’Apriest，’heremarksinanotherwork，’mayandoughttoabsolveawomanwhoisguiltyoflivingwithaparamour，ifshecannotputhimawayhonourably，orhassomereasonforkeepinghim—sinonpotesthonesteejicere，authabeataliquamcausamretinendi—providedshepromisestoactmorevirtuouslyforthefuture。’\"\"Well，father，\"criedI，\"youhavecertainlysucceededinrelaxingtheobligationofavoidingtheoccasionsofsintoaverycomfortableextent，bydispensingwiththedutyassoonasitbecomesinconvenient；
butIshouldthinkyourfatherswillatleastallowitbebindingwhenthereisnodifficultyinthewayofitsperformance？\"\"Yes，\"saidthefather，\"thougheventhentheruleisnotwithoutexceptions。ForFatherBaunysays，inthesameplace，’thatanyonemayfrequentprofligatehouses，withtheviewofconvertingtheirunfortunateinmates，thoughtheprobabilityshouldbethathefallintosin，havingoftenexperiencedbeforethathehasyieldedtotheirfascinations。Somedoctorsdonotapproveofthisopinion，andholdthatnomanmayvoluntarilyputhissalvationinperiltosuccourhisneighbor；yetIdecidedlyembracetheopinionwhichtheycontrovert。’\"\"Anovelsortofpreachersthese，father！ButwheredoesFatherBaunyfindanygroundforinvestingthemwithsuchamission？\"\"Itisupononeofhisownprinciples，\"hereplied，\"whichheannouncesinthesameplaceafterBasilPonce。Imentionedittoyoubefore，andIpresumeyouhavenotforgottenit。Itis，’thatonemayseekanoccasionofsin，directlyandexpressly—primoetperse—topromotethetemporalorspiritualgoodofhimselforhisneighbour。’\"Onhearingthesepassages，IfeltsohorrifiedthatIwasonthepointofbreakingout；but，beingresolvedtohearhimtoanend，Irestrainedmyself，andmerelyinquired：\"How，father，doesthisdoctrinecomportwiththatoftheGospel，whichbindsusto’pluckouttherighteye，’and’cutofftherighthand，’whenthey’offend，’orproveprejudicialtosalvation？Andhowcanyousupposethatthemanwhowilfullyindulgesintheoccasionsofsins，sincerelyhatessin？Isitnotevident，onthecontrary，thathehasneverbeenproperlytouchedwithasenseofit，andthathehasnotyetexperiencedthatgenuineconversionofheart，whichmakesamanloveGodasmuchasheformerlylovedthecreature？\"\"Indeed！\"criedhe，\"doyoucallthatgenuinecontrition？
Itseemsyoudonotknowthat，asFatherPintereausays，’allourfathersteach，withoneaccord，thatitisanerror，andalmostaheresy，toholdthatcontritionisnecessary；orthatattritionalone，inducedbythesolemotive，thefearofthepainsofhell，whichexcludesadispositiontooffend，isnotsufficientwiththesacrament？’\"\"What，father！doyoumeantosaythatitisalmostanarticleoffaiththatattrition，inducedmerelybyfearofpunishment，issufficientwiththesacrament？Thatidea，Ithink，ispeculiartoyourfathers；forthoseotherdoctorswhoholdthatattritionissufficientalongwiththesacrament，alwaystakecaretoshowthatitmustbeaccompaniedwithsomelovetoGodatleast。Itappearstome，moreover，thatevenyourownauthorsdidnotalwaysconsiderthisdoctrineofyourssocertain。YourFatherSuarez，forinstance，speaksofitthus：’Althoughitisaprobableopinionthatattritionissufficientwiththesacrament，yetitisnotcertain，anditmaybefalse—nonestcerta，etpotestessefalsa。And，ifitisfalse，attritionisnotsufficienttosaveaman；
andhethatdiesknowinglyinthisstate，wilfullyexposeshimselftothegraveperilofeternaldamnation。Forthisopinionisneitherveryancientnorverycommon—necvaldeantiqua，necmultumcommunis。’SanchezwasnotmorepreparedtoholditasinfalliblewhenhesaidinhisSummarythat’thesickmanandhisconfessor，whocontentthemselvesatthehourofdeathwithattritionandthesacrament，arebothchargeablewithmortalsin，onaccountofthegreatriskofdamnationtowhichthepenitentwouldbeexposed，iftheopinionthatattritionissufficientwiththesacramentshouldnotturnouttobetrue。Comitolus，too，saysthat’weshouldnotbetoosurethatattritionsufficeswiththesacrament。’\"Heretheworthyfatherinterruptedme。\"What！\"hecried，\"youreadourauthorsthen，itseems？Thatisallverywell；butitwouldbestillbetterwereyounevertoreadthemwithouttheprecautionofhavingoneofusbesideyou。Doyounotsee，now，that，fromhavingreadthemalone，youhaveconcluded，inyoursimplicity，thatthesepassagesbearhardonthosewhohavemorelatelysupportedourdoctrineofattrition？Whereasitmightbeshownthatnothingcouldsetthemofftogreateradvantage。Onlythinkwhatatriumphitisforourfathersofthepresentdaytohavesucceededindisseminatingtheiropinioninsuchshorttime，andtosuchanextentthat，withtheexceptionoftheologians，nobodyalmostwouldeversupposebutthatourmodernviewsonthissubjecthadbeentheuniformbeliefofthefaithfulinallages！Sothat，infact，whenyouhaveshown，fromourfathersthemselves，that，afewyearsago，’thisopinionwasnotcertain，’youhaveonlysucceededingivingourmodernauthorsthewholemeritofitsestablishment！\"Accordingly，\"
hecontinued，\"ourcordialfriendDiana，togratifyus，nodoubt，hasrecountedthevariousstepsbywhichtheopinionreacheditspresentposition。’Informerdays，theancientschoolmenmaintainedthatcontritionwasnecessaryassoonasonehadcommittedamortalsin；sincethen，however，ithasbeenthoughtthatitisnotbindingexceptonfestivaldays；afterwards，onlywhensomegreatcalamitythreatenedthepeople；others，again，thatitoughtnottobelongdelayedattheapproachofdeath。Butourfathers，HurtadoandVasquez，haveablyrefutedalltheseopinionsandestablishedthatoneisnotboundtocontritionunlesshecannotbeabsolvedinanyotherway，oratthepointofdeath！’But，tocontinuethewonderfulprogressofthisdoctrine，Imightadd，whatourfathers，Fagundez，Granados，andEscobar，havedecided，’thatcontritionisnotnecessaryevenatdeath；
because，’saythey，’ifattritionwiththesacramentdidnotsufficeatdeath，itwouldfollowthatattritionwouldnotbesufficientwiththesacrament。AndthelearnedHurtado，citedbyDianaandEscobar，goesstillfurther；forheasks：’Isthatsorrowforsinwhichflowssolelyfromapprehensionofitstemporalconsequences，suchashavinglosthealthormoney，sufficient？
Wemustdistinguish。IftheevilisnotregardedassentbythehandofGod，suchasorrowdoesnotsuffice；butiftheevilisviewedassentbyGod，as，infact，allevil，saysDiana，exceptsin，comesfromhim，thatkindofsorrowissufficient。’OurFatherLamyholdsthesamedoctrine。\"
\"Yousurpriseme，father；forIseenothinginallthatattritionofwhichyouspeakbutwhatisnatural；andinthiswayasinnermayrenderhimselfworthyofabsolutionwithoutsupernaturalgraceatall。NoweverybodyknowsthatthisisaheresycondemnedbytheCouncil。\"\"Ishouldhavethoughtwithyou，\"hereplied；\"andyetitseemsthismustnotbethecase，forthefathersofourCollegeofClermonthavemaintained（intheirThesesofthe23rdMayand6thJune1644）’thatattritionmaybeholyandsufficientforthesacrament，althoughitmaynotbesupernatural’；and（inthatofAugust1643）’thatattrition，thoughmerelynatural，issufficientforthesacrament，provideditishonest。’Idonotseewhatmorecouldbesaidonthesubject，unlesswechoosetosubjoinaninference，whichmaybeeasilydrawnfromtheseprinciples，namely，thatcontrition，sofarfrombeingnecessarytothesacrament，isratherprejudicialtoit，inasmuchas，bywashingawaysinsofitself，itwouldleavenothingforthesacramenttodoatall。Thatis，indeed，exactlywhatthecelebratedJesuitFatherValenciaremarks。（Bookiv，disp。7，q。8，p。4。）’Contrition，’sayshe，’isbynomeansnecessaryinordertoobtaintheprincipalbenefitofthesacrament；
onthecontrary，itisratheranobstacleinthewayofit—imoobstatpotiusquominuseffectussequatur。’Nobodycouldwelldesiremoretobesaidincommendationofattrition。\"\"Ibelievethat，father，saidI；\"butyoumustallowmetotellyoumyopinion，andtoshowyoutowhatadreadfullengththisdoctrineleads。Whenyousaythat’attrition，inducedbythemeredreadofpunishment，’issufficient，withthesacrament，tojustifysinners，doesitnotfollowthatapersonmayalwaysexpiatehissinsinthisway，andthusbesavedwithouteverhavinglovedGodallhislifetime？
Wouldyourfathersventuretoholdthat？\"\"Iperceive，\"repliedthemonk，\"fromthestrainofyourremarks，thatyouneedsomeinformationonthedoctrineofourfathersregardingtheloveofGod。Thisisthelastfeatureoftheirmorality，andthemostimportantofall。YoumusthavelearnedsomethingofitfromthepassagesaboutcontritionwhichIhavequotedtoyou。ButhereareothersstillmoredefiniteonthepointoflovetoGod—Don’tinterruptme，now；foritisofimportancetonoticetheconnection。
AttendtoEscobar，whoreportsthedifferentopinionsofourauthors，inhisPracticeoftheLoveofGodaccordingtoourSociety。Thequestionis：’WhenisoneobligedtohaveanactualaffectionforGod？’SuarezsaysitisenoughifonelovesHimbeforebeingarticulomortis—atthepointofdeath—withoutdeterminingtheexacttime。Vasquez，thatitissufficientevenattheverypointofdeath。Others，whenonehasreceivedbaptism。
Others，again，whenoneisboundtoexercisecontrition。Andothers，onfestivaldays。Butourfather，CastroPalao，combatsalltheseopinions，andwithgoodreason—merito。HurtadodeMendozainsiststhatweareobligedtoloveGodonceayear；andthatweoughttoregarditasagreatfavourthatwearenotboundtodoitoftener。ButourFatherConinckthinksthatweareboundtoitonlyonceinthreeorfouryears；Henriquez，onceinfiveyears；andFiliutiussaysthatitisprobablethatwearenotstrictlyboundtoitevenonceinfiveyears。Howoften，then，doyouask？Why，herefersittothejudgementofthejudicious。\"Itooknonoticeofallthisbadinage，inwhichtheingenuityofmanseemstobesporting，intheheightofinsolence，withtheloveofGod。\"But，\"pursuedthemonk，\"ourFatherAntonySirmondsurpassesallonthispoint，inhisadmirablebook，TheDefenceofVirtue，where，ashetellsthereader，’hespeaksFrenchinFrance，’asfollows：’St。ThomassaysthatweareobligedtoloveGodassoonaswecometotheuseofreason：thatisrathertoosoon！ScotussayseverySunday；pray，forwhatreason？Otherssaywhenwearesorelytempted：yes，iftherebenootherwayofescapingthetemptation。ScotussayswhenwehavereceivedabenefitfromGod：good，inthewayofthankingHimforit。Otherssayatdeath：ratherlate！AslittledoIthinkitbindingatthereceptionofanysacrament：attritioninsuchcasesisquiteenough，alongwithconfession，ifconvenient。Suarezsaysthatitisbindingatsometimeoranother；butatwhattime？—heleavesyoutojudgeofthatforyourself—hedoesnotknow；andwhatthatdoctordidnotknowIknownotwhoshouldknow。’Inshort，heconcludesthatwearenotstrictlyboundtomorethantokeeptheothercommandments，withoutanyaffectionforGod，andwithoutgivingHimourhearts，providedthatwedonothateHim。
Toprovethisisthesoleobjectofhissecondtreatise。Youwillfinditineverypage；moreespeciallywherehesays：’God，incommandingustoloveHim，issatisfiedwithourobeyingHiminhisothercommandments。
IfGodhadsaid：\"Whateverobediencethouyieldestme，ifthyheartisnotgiventome，Iwilldestroythee！\"wouldsuchamotive，thinkyou，bewellfittedtopromotetheendwhichGodmust，andonlycan，haveinview？HenceitissaidthatweshallloveGodbydoingHiswill，asifwelovedHimwithaffection，asifthemotiveinthiscasewasrealcharity。
Ifthatisreallyourmotive，somuchthebetter；ifnot，stillwearestrictlyfulfillingthecommandmentoflove，byhavingitsworks，sothat（suchisthegoodnessofGod！）wearecommanded，notsomuchtoloveHim，asnottohateHim。’\"SuchisthewayinwhichourdoctorshavedischargedmenfromthepainfulobligationofactuallylovingGod。AndthisdoctrineissoadvantageousthatourFathersAnnat，Pintereau，LeMoine，andAntonySirmondhimself，havestrenuouslydefendeditwhenithasbeenattacked。
YouhaveonlytoconsulttheiranswerstotheMoralTheology。ThatofFatherPintereau，inparticular，willenableyoutoformsomeideaofthevalueofthisdispensation，fromthepricewhichhetellsusthatitcost，whichisnolessthanthebloodofJesusChrist。Thiscrownsthewhole。Itappears，thatthisdispensationfromthepainfulobligationtoloveGod，istheprivilegeoftheEvangelicallaw，inoppositiontotheJudaical。’Itwasreasonable，’hesays，’that，underthelawofgraceintheNewTestament，Godshouldrelieveusfromthattroublesomeandarduousobligationwhichexistedunderthelawofbondage，toexerciseanactofperfectcontrition，inordertobejustified；andthattheplaceofthisshouldbesuppliedbythesacraments，institutedinaidofaneasierdisposition。Otherwise，indeed，Christians，whoarethechildren，wouldhavenogreaterfacilityingainingthegoodgracesoftheirFatherthantheJews，whoweretheslaves，hadinobtainingthemercyoftheirLordandMaster。’\"\"Ofather！\"
criedI；\"nopatiencecanstandthisanylonger。ItisimpossibletolistenwithouthorrortothesentimentsIhavejustheard。\"\"Theyarenotmysentiments，\"
saidthemonk。\"Igrantit，sir，\"saidI；\"butyoufeelnoaversiontothem；and，sofarfromdetestingtheauthorsofthesemaxims，youholdtheminesteem。Areyounotafraidthatyourconsentmayinvolveyouinaparticipationoftheirguilt？andareyounotawarethatSt。Pauljudgesworthyofdeath，notonlytheauthorsofevilthings，butalso’thosewhohavepleasureinthemthatdothem？’Wasitnotenoughtohavepermittedmentoindulgeinsomanyforbiddenthingsunderthecovertofyourpalliations？
Wasitnecessarytogostillfurtherandholdoutabribetothemtocommiteventhosecrimeswhichyoufounditimpossibletoexcuse，byofferingthemaneasyandcertainabsolution；andforthispurposenullifyingthepowerofthepriests，andobligingthem，moreasslavesthanasjudges，toabsolvethemostinveteratesinners—withoutanyamendmentoflife，withoutanysignofcontritionexceptpromisesahundredtimesbroken，withoutpenance’unlesstheychoosetoacceptofit’，andwithoutabandoningtheoccasionsoftheirvices，’iftheyshouldtherebybeputtoanyinconvenience？’
\"Butyourdoctorshavegoneevenbeyondthis；andthelicensewhichtheyhaveassumedtotamperwiththemostholyrulesofChristianconductamountstoatotalsubversionofthelawofGod。Theyviolate’thegreatcommandmentonwhichhangallthelawandtheprophets’；theystrikeattheveryheartofpiety；theyrobitofthespiritthatgivethlife；theyholdthattoloveGodisnotnecessarytosalvation；andgosofarastomaintainthat’thisdispensationfromlovingGodistheprivilegewhichJesusChristhasintroducedintotheworld！’This，sir，istheveryclimaxofimpiety。
ThepriceofthebloodofJesusChristpaidtoobtainusadispensationfromlovingHim！Beforetheincarnation，itseemsmenwereobligedtoloveGod；butsince’GodhassolovedtheworldastogiveHisonlybegottenSon，’theworld，redeemedbyhim，isreleasedfromlovingHim！Strangedivinityofourdays—todaretotakeoffthe’anathema’whichSt。Pauldenouncesonthose’thatlovenottheLordJesus！’TocancelthesentenceofSt。John：’Hethatlovethnot，abidethindeath！’andthatofJesusChristhimself：’Hethatlovethmenotkeepethnotmyprecepts！’andthustorenderthoseworthyofenjoyingGodthrougheternitywhoneverlovedGodalltheirlife！BeholdtheMysteryofIniquityfulfilled！Openyoureyesatlength，mydearfather，andiftheotheraberrationsofyourcasuistshavemadenoimpressiononyou，lettheselast，bytheirveryextravagance，compelyoutoabandonthem。ThisiswhatIdesirefromthebottomofmyheart，foryourownsakeandforthesakeofyourdoctors；andmyprayertoGodisthatHewouldvouchsafetoconvincethemhowfalsethelightmustbethathasguidedthemtosuchprecipices；andthatHewouldfilltheirheartswiththatloveofHimselffromwhichtheyhavedaredtogivemanadispensation！\"Aftersomeremarksofthisnature，Itookmyleaveofthemonk，andIseenogreatlikelihoodofmyrepeatingmyvisitstohim。This，however，neednotoccasionyouanyregret；for，shoulditbenecessarytocontinuethesecommunicationsontheirmaxims，Ihavestudiedtheirbookssufficientlytotellyouasmuchoftheirmorality，andmore，perhaps，oftheirpolicy，thanhecouldhavedonehimself。Iam，&；c。LETTERXI
TOTHEREVERENDFATHERS，THEJESUITSAugust18，1656REVERENDFATHERS，IhaveseentheletterswhichyouarecirculatinginoppositiontothosewhichIwrotetooneofmyfriendsonyourmorality；andIperceivethatoneoftheprincipalpointsofyourdefenceisthatIhavenotspokenofyourmaximswithsufficientseriousness。Thischargeyourepeatinallyourproductions，andcarryitsofarastoallege，thatIhavebeen\"guiltyofturningsacredthingsintoridicule。\"Suchacharge，fathers，isnolesssurprisingthanitisunfounded。WheredoyoufindthatIhaveturnedsacredthingsintoridicule？
Youspecify\"theMohatracontract，andthestoryofJohnd’Alba。\"Butarethesewhatyoucall\"sacredthings？\"DoesitreallyappeartoyouthattheMohatraissomethingsovenerablethatitwouldbeblasphemynottospeakofitwithrespect？AndthelessonsofFatherBaunyonlarceny，whichledJohnd’Albatopractiseitatyourexpense，aretheysosacredastoentitleyoutostigmatizeallwholaughatthemasprofanepeople？What，fathers！mustthevagariesofyourdoctorspassfortheveritiesoftheChristianfaith，andnomanbeallowedtoridiculeEscobar，orthefantasticalandunchristiandogmasofyourauthors，withoutbeingstigmatizedasjestingatreligion？Isitpossibleyoucanhaveventuredtoreiteratesooftenanideasoutterlyunreasonable？Haveyounofearsthat，inblamingmeforlaughingatyourabsurdities，youmayonlyaffordmefreshsubjectofmerriment；thatyoumaymakethechargerecoilonyourselves，byshowingthatIhavereallyselectednothingfromyourwritingsasthematterofraillerybutwhatwastrulyridiculous；andthatthus，inmakingajestofyourmorality，Ihavebeenasfarfromjeeringatholythings，asthedoctrineofyourcasuistsisfarfrombeingtheholydoctrineoftheGospel？
Indeed，reverendsirs，thereisavastdifferencebetweenlaughingatreligionandlaughingatthosewhoprofaneitbytheirextravagantopinions。ItwereimpietytobewantinginrespectfortheveritieswhichtheSpiritofGodhasrevealed；butitwerenolessimpietyofanothersorttobewantingincontemptforthefalsitieswhichthespiritofmanopposestothem。For，fathers（sinceyouwillforcemeintothisargument），Ibeseechyoutoconsiderthat，justinproportionasChristiantruthsareworthyofloveandrespect，thecontraryerrorsmustdeservehatredandcontempt；
therebeingtwothingsinthetruthsofourreligion：adivinebeautythatrendersthemlovely，andasacredmajestythatrendersthemvenerable；
andtwothingsalsoabouterrors：animpiety，thatmakesthemhorrible，andanimpertinencethatrendersthemridiculous。Forthesereasons，whilethesaintshaveevercherishedtowardsthetruththetwofoldsentimentofloveandfear—thewholeoftheirwisdombeingcomprisedbetweenfear，whichisitsbeginning，andlove，whichisitsend—theyhave，atthesametime，entertainedtowardserrorthetwofoldfeelingofhatredandcontempt，andtheirzealhasbeenatonceemployedtorepel，byforceofreasoning，themaliceofthewicked，andtochastise，bytheaidofridicule，theirextravaganceandfolly。Donotthenexpect，fathers，tomakepeoplebelievethatitisunworthyofaChristiantotreaterrorwithderision。Nothingiseasierthantoconvinceallwhowerenotawareofitbeforethatthispracticeisperfectlyjust—thatitiscommonwiththefathersoftheChurch，andthatitissanctionedbyScripture，bytheexampleofthebestofsaints，andevenbythatofGodhimself。DowenotfindGodatoncehatesanddespisessinners；sothatevenatthehourofdeath，whentheirconditionismostsadanddeplorable，DivineWisdomaddsmockerytothevengeancewhichconsignsthemtoeternalpunishment？\"Ininterituvestrorideboetsubsannabo—I