andthat，beforewritingmyletters，Ihadcomposedromances\"—I，whoneverreadoneinmylife，andwhodonotknowsomuchasthenamesofthosewhichyourapologisthaspublished？Whatcanbesaidinreplytoallthis，fathers，ifyoudonotmentionthenamesofallthesepersonsyoureferto，theirwords，thetime，andtheplace，except—Mentirisimpudentissime？
Youshouldeitherbesilentaltogether，orrelateandproveallthecircumstances，asIdidwhenItoldyoutheanecdotesofFatherAlbyandJohnd’Alba。
Otherwise，youwillhurtnonebutyourselves。Yournumerousfablesmight，perhaps，havedoneyousomeservice，beforeyourprincipleswereknown；
butnowthatthewholehasbeenbroughttolight，whenyoubegintowhisperasusual，\"Amanofhonor，whodesiredustoconcealhisname，hastoldussomehorriblestoriesofthesesamepeople\"—youwillbecutshortatonce，andremindedoftheCapuchin’s\"Mentirisimpudentissime。\"Toolongbyfarhaveyoubeenpermittedtodeceivetheworld，andtoabusetheconfidencewhichmenwerereadytoplaceinyourcalumniousaccusations。Itishightimetoredeemthereputationofthemultitudeswhomyouhavedefamed。
Forwhatinnocencecanbesogenerallyknown，asnottosuffersomeinjuryfromthedaringaspersionsofabodyofmenscatteredoverthefaceoftheearth，andwho，underreligioushabits，concealmindssoutterlyirreligiousthattheyperpetratecrimeslikecalumny，notinoppositionto，butinstrictaccordancewith，theirmoralmaxims？Icannot，therefore，beblamedfordestroyingthecreditwhichmighthavebeenawardedyou，seeingitmustbeallowedtobeamuchgreateractofjusticetorestoretothevictimsofyourobloquythecharacterwhichtheydidnotdeservetolose，thantoleaveyouinthepossessionofareputationforsinceritywhichyoudonotdeservetoenjoy。And，astheonecouldnotbedonewithouttheother，howimportantwasittoshowyouuptotheworldasyoureallyare！
InthisletterIhavecommencedtheexhibition；butitwillrequiresometimetocompleteit。Publisheditshallbe，fathers，andallyourpolicywillbeinadequatetosaveyoufromthedisgrace；fortheeffortswhichyoumaymaketoaverttheblowwillonlyservetoconvincethemostobtuseobserversthatyouwereterrifiedoutofyourwits，andthat，yourconsciencesanticipatingthechargesIhadtobringagainstyou，youhaveputeveryoarinthewatertopreventthediscovery。LETTERXVI
TOTHEREVERENDFATHERS，THEJESUITSDecember4，1656REVERENDFATHERS，Inowcometoconsidertherestofyourcalumnies，andshallbeginwiththosecontainedinyouradvertisements，whichremaintobenoticed。Asallyourotherwritings，however，areequallywellstockedwithslander，theywillfurnishmewithabundantmaterialsforentertainingyouonthistopicaslongasImayjudgeexpedient。Inthefirstplace，then，withregardtothefablewhichyouhavepropagatedinallyourwritingsagainsttheBishopofYpres，I
begleavetosay，inoneword，thatyouhavemaliciouslywrestedthemeaningofsomeambiguousexpressionsinoneofhisletterswhich，beingcapableofagoodsense，ought，accordingtothespiritoftheGospel，tohavebeentakeningoodpart，andcouldonlybetakenotherwiseaccordingtothespiritofyourSociety。Forexample，whenhesaystoafriend，\"Giveyourselfnoconcernaboutyournephew；Iwillfurnishhimwithwhatherequiresfromthemoneythatliesinmyhands，\"whatreasonhaveyoutointerpretthistomeanthathewouldtakethatmoneywithoutrestoringit，andnotthathemerelyadvanceditwiththepurposeofreplacingit？
Andhowextremelyimprudentwasitforyoutofurnisharefutationofyourownlie，byprintingtheotherlettersoftheBishopofYpres，whichclearlyshowthat，inpointoffact，itwasmerelyadvancedmoney，whichhewasboundtorefund。Thisappears，toyourconfusion，fromthefollowingtermsintheletter，towhichyougivethedateofJuly30，1619：\"Benotuneasyaboutthemoneyadvanced；heshallwantfornothingsolongasheishere\"；
andlikewisefromanother，datedJanuary6，1620，wherehesays：\"Youareintoogreathaste；whentheaccountshallbecomedue，IhavenofearbutthatthelittlecreditwhichIhaveinthisplacewillbringmeasmuchmoneyasIrequire。\"Ifyouareconvictedslanderersonthissubject，youarenolesssoinregardtotheridiculousstoryaboutthecharity—boxofSt。Merri。Whatadvantage，pray，canyouhopetoderivefromtheaccusationwhichoneofyourworthyfriendshastrumpedupagainstthatecclesiastic？
Arewetoconcludethatamanisguilty，becauseheisaccused？No，fathers。
Menofpiety，likehim，mayexpecttobeperpetuallyaccused，solongastheworldcontainscalumniatorslikeyou。Wemustjudgeofhim，therefore，notfromtheaccusation，butfromthesentence；andthesentencepronouncedonthecase（February23，1656）justifieshimcompletely。Moreover，thepersonwhohadthetemeritytoinvolvehimselfinthatiniquitousprocess，wasdisavowedbyhiscolleagues，andhimselfcompelledtoretracthischarge。
Andastowhatyouallege，inthesameplace，about\"thatfamousdirector，whopocketedatonceninehundredthousandlivres，\"IneedonlyreferyoutoMessieursthecuresofSt。RochandSt。Paul，whowillbearwitness，beforethewholecityofParis，tohisperfectdisinterestednessintheaffair，andtoyourinexcusablemaliceinthatpieceofimposition。Enough，however，forsuchpaltryfalsities。Thesearebutthefirstrawattemptsofyournovices，andnotthemaster—strokesofyour\"grandprofessed。\"
TothesedoInowcome，fathers；IcometoacalumnywhichiscertainlyoneofthebasestthateverissuedfromthespiritofyourSociety。Irefertotheinsufferableaudacitywithwhichyouhaveimputedtoholynuns，andtotheirdirectors，thechargeof\"disbelievingthemysteryoftransubstantiationandtherealpresenceofJesusChristintheeucharist。\"Here，fathers，isaslanderworthyofyourselves。HereisacrimewhichGodaloneiscapableofpunishing，asyoualonewerecapableofcommittingit。Toendureitwithpatiencewouldrequireanhumilityasgreatasthatofthesecalumniatedladies；togiveitcreditwoulddemandadegreeofwickednessequaltothatoftheirwretcheddefamers。Iproposenot，therefore，tovindicatethem；theyarebeyondsuspicion。Hadtheystoodinneedofdefence，theymighthavecommandedableradvocatesthanme。MyobjectinwhatIsayhereistoshow，nottheirinnocence，butyourmalignity。Imerelyintendtomakeyouashamedofyourselves，andtoletthewholeworldunderstandthat，afterthis，thereisnothingofwhichyouarenotcapable。Youwillnotfail，Iamcertain，notwithstandingallthis，tosaythatIbelongtoPort—Royal；
forthisisthefirstthingyousaytoeveryonewhocombatsyourerrors：
asifitwereonlyatPort—Royalthatpersonscouldbefoundpossessedofsufficientzealtodefend，againstyourattacks，thepurityofChristianmorality。Iknow，fathers，theworkofthepiousrecluseswhohaveretiredtothatmonastery，andhowmuchtheChurchisindebtedtotheirtrulysolidandedifyinglabours。Iknowtheexcellenceoftheirpietyandtheirlearning。
For，thoughIhaveneverhadthehonourtobelongtotheirestablishment，asyou，withoutknowingwhoorwhatIam，wouldfainhaveitbelieved，nevertheless，Idoknowsomeofthem，andhonourthevirtueofthemall。
ButGodhasnotconfinedwithintheprecinctsofthatsocietyallwhomhemeanstoraiseupinoppositiontoyourcorruptions。Ihope，withhisassistance，fathers，tomakeyoufeelthis；andifhevouchsafetosustainmeinthedesignhehasledmetoform，ofemployinginhisservicealltheresourcesIhavereceivedfromhim，Ishallspeaktoyouinsuchastrainaswill，perhaps，giveyoureasontoregretthatyouhavenothadtodowithamanofPort—Royal。Andtoconvinceyouofthis，fathers，I
musttellyouthat，whilethosewhomyouhaveabusedwiththisnotoriousslandercontentthemselveswithliftinguptheirgroanstoHeaventoobtainyourforgivenessfortheoutrage，Ifeelmyselfobliged，notbeingintheleastaffectedbyyourslander，tomakeyoublushinthefaceofthewholeChurch，andsobringyoutothatwholesomeshameofwhichtheScripturespeaks，andwhichisalmosttheonlyremedyforahardnessofheartlikeyours：\"Implefacieseorumignominia，etquaerentnomentuum，Domine—Filltheirfaceswithshame，thattheymayseekthyname，OLord。\"Astopmustbeputtothisinsolence，whichdoesnotsparethemostsacredretreats。
Forwhocanbesafeafteracalumnyofthisnature？Forshame，fathers！
topublishinParissuchascandalousbook，withthenameofyourFatherMeynieronitsfront，andunderthisinfamoustitle，Port—RoyalandGenevainconcertagainstthemostholySacramentoftheAltar，inwhichyouaccuseofthisapostasy，notonlyMonsieurtheabbeofSt。Cyran，andM。Arnauld，butalsoMotherAgnes，hissister，andallthenunsofthatmonastery，allegingthat\"theirfaith，inregardtotheeucharist，isassuspiciousasthatofM。Arnauld，\"whomyoumaintaintobe\"adown—rightCalvinist。\"
IhereaskthewholeworldiftherebeanyclassofpersonswithinthepaleoftheChurch，onwhomyoucouldhaveadvancedsuchanabominablechargewithlesssemblanceoftruth。Fortellme，fathers，ifthesenunsandtheirdirectorshadbeen\"inconcertwithGenevaagainstthemostholysacramentofthealtar\"（theverythoughtofwhichisshocking），howtheyshouldhavecometoselectastheprincipalobjectoftheirpietythatverysacramentwhichtheyheldinabomination？Howshouldtheyhaveassumedthehabitoftheholysacrament？takenthenameoftheDaughtersoftheHolySacrament？calledtheirchurchtheChurchoftheHolySacrament？HowshouldtheyhaverequestedandobtainedfromRometheconfirmationofthatinstitution，andtherightofsayingeveryThursdaytheofficeoftheholysacrament，inwhichthefaithoftheChurchissoperfectlyexpressed，iftheyhadconspiredwithGenevatobanishthatfaithfromtheChurch？
Whywouldtheyhaveboundthemselves，byaparticulardevotion，alsosanctionedbythePope，tohavesomeoftheirsisterhood，nightanddaywithoutintermission，inpresenceofthesacredhost，tocompensate，bytheirperpetualadorationstowardsthatperpetualsacrifice，fortheimpietyoftheheresythataimsatitsannihilation？Tellme，fathers，ifyoucan，why，ofallthemysteriesofourreligion，theyshouldhavepassedbythoseinwhichtheybelieved，tofixuponthatinwhichtheybelievednot？andhowtheyshouldhavedevotedthemselves，sofullyandentirely，tothatmysteryofourfaith，iftheytookit，asthehereticsdo，forthemysteryofiniquity？Andwhatanswerdoyougivetotheseclearevidences，embodiednotinwordsonly，butinactions；andnotinsomeparticularactions，butinthewholetenorofalifeexpresslydedicatedtotheadorationofJesusChrist，dwellingonouraltars？Whatanswer，again，doyougivetothebookswhichyouascribetoPort—Royal，allofwhicharefullofthemostprecisetermsemployedbythefathersandthecouncilstomarktheessenceofthatmystery？Itisatonceridiculousanddisgustingtohearyoureplyingtotheseasyouhavedonethroughoutyourlibel。M。Arnauld，sayyou，talksverywellabouttransubstantiation；butheunderstands，perhaps，only\"asignificativetransubstantiation。\"True，heprofessestobelievein\"therealpresence\"；
whocantell，however，buthemeansnothingmorethan\"atrueandrealfigure\"？Hownow，fathers！whom，pray，willyounotmakepassforaCalvinistwheneveryouplease，ifyouaretoallowedthelibertyofpervertingthemostcanonicalandsacredexpressionsbythewickedsubtletiesofyourmodernequivocations？Whoeverthoughtofusinganyothertermsthanthoseinquestion，especiallyinsimplediscoursesofdevotion，wherenocontroversiesarehandled？AndyettheloveandthereverenceinwhichtheyholdthissacredmysteryhaveinducedthemtogiveitsuchaprominenceinalltheirwritingsthatIdefyyou，fathers，withallyourcunning，todetectinthemeithertheleastappearanceofambiguity，ortheslightestcorrespondencewiththesentimentsofGeneva。Everybodyknows，fathers，thattheessenceoftheGenevanheresyconsists，asitdoesaccordingtoyourownshowing，intheirbelievingthatJesusChristisnotcontainedinthissacrament；
thatitisimpossiblehecanbeinmanyplacesatonce；thatheis，properlyspeaking，onlyinheaven，andthatitisastherealonethatheoughttobeadored，andnotonthealtar；thatthesubstanceofthebreadremains；
thatthebodyofJesusChristdoesnotenterintothemouthorthestomach；
thathecanonlybeeatenbyfaith，andaccordinglywickedmendonoteathimatall；andthatthemassisnotasacrifice，butanabomination。Letusnowhear，then，inwhatway\"Port—RoyalisinconcertwithGeneva。\"
Inthewritingsoftheformerweread，toyourconfusion，thefollowingstatement：That\"thefleshandbloodofJesusChristarecontainedunderthespeciesofbreadandwine\"；that\"theHolyofHoliesispresentinthesanctuary，andthatthereheoughttobeadored\"；that\"JesusChristdwellsinthesinnerswhocommunicate，bytherealandveritablepresenceofhisbodyintheirstomach，althoughnotbythepresenceofhisSpiritintheirhearts\"；that\"thedeadashesofthebodiesofthesaintsderivetheirprincipaldignityfromthatseedoflifewhichtheyretainfromthetouchoftheimmortalandvivifyingfleshofJesusChrist\"；that\"itisnotowingtoanynaturalpower，buttothealmightypowerofGod，towhomnothingisimpossible，thatthebodyofJesusChristiscomprehendedunderthehost，andunderthesmallestportionofeveryhost\"；that\"thedivinevirtueispresenttoproducetheeffectwhichthewordsofconsecrationsignify\"；that\"JesusChrist，whilebeisloweredandhiddenuponthealtar，is，atthesametime，elevatedinhisglory；thathesubsists，ofhimselfandbyhisownordinarypower，indiversplacesatthesametime—inthemidstoftheChurchtriumphant，andinthemidstoftheChurchmilitantandtravelling\"；that\"thesacramentalspeciesremainsuspended，andsubsistextraordinarily，withoutbeingupheldbyanysubject；andthatthebodyofJesusChristisalsosuspendedunderthespecies，andthatitdoesnotdependuponthese，assubstancesdependuponaccidents\"；that\"thesubstanceofthebreadischanged，theimmutableaccidentsremainingthesame\"；that\"JesusChristreposesintheeucharistwiththesameglorythathehasinheaven\"；that\"hisglorioushumanityresidesinthetabernaclesoftheChurch，underthespeciesofbread，whichformsitsvisiblecovering；andthat，knowingthegrossnessofournatures，heconductsustotheadorationofhisdivinity，whichispresentinallplaces，bytheadoringofhishumanity，whichispresentinaparticularplace\"；that\"wereceivethebodyofJesusChristuponthetongue，whichissanctifiedbyitsdivinetouch\"；\"thatitentersintothemouthofthepriest\"；that\"althoughJesusChristhasmadehimselfaccessibleintheholysacrament，byanactofhisloveandgraciousness，hepreserves，nevertheless，inthatordinance，hisinaccessibility，asaninseparableconditionofhisdivinenature；
because，althoughthebodyaloneandthebloodalonearethere，byvirtueofthewords—viverborum，astheschoolmensay—hiswholedivinitymay，notwithstanding，betherealso，aswellashiswholehumanity，byanecessaryconjunction。\"Infine，that\"theeucharistisatthesametimesacramentandsacrifice\"；andthat\"althoughthissacrificeisacommemorationofthatofthecross，yetthereisthisdifferencebetweenthem，thatthesacrificeofthemassisofferedfortheChurchonly，andforthefaithfulinhercommunion；whereasthatofthecrosshasbeenofferedforalltheworld，astheScripturetestifies。\"Ihavequotedenough，fathers，tomakeitevidentthattherewasnever，perhaps，amoreimprudentthingattemptedthanwhatyouhavedone。ButIwillgoastepfarther，andmakeyoupronouncethissentenceagainstyourselves。Forwhatdoyourequirefromaman，inordertoremoveallsuspicionofhisbeinginconcertandcorrespondencewithGeneva？\"IfM。Arnauld，\"saysyourFatherMeynier，p。93，\"hadsaidthat，inthisadorablemystery，thereisnosubstanceofthebreadunderthespecies，butonlythefleshandthebloodofJesusChrist，IshouldhaveconfessedthathehaddeclaredhimselfabsolutelyagainstGeneva。\"
Confessit，then，yerevilers！andmakehimapublicapology。HowoftenhaveyouseenthisdeclarationmadeinthepassagesIhavejustcited？
Besidesthis，however，theFamiliarTheologyofM。deSt。CyranhavingbeenapprovedbyM。Arnauld，itcontainsthesentimentsofboth。Read，then，thewholeoflesson15th，andparticularlyarticle2d，andyouwilltherefindthewordsyoudesiderate，evenmoreformallystatedthanyouhavedoneyourselves。\"Isthereanybreadinthehost，oranywineinthechalice？No：forallthesubstanceofthebreadandthewineistakenaway，togiveplacetothatofthebodyandbloodofJesusChrist，thewhichsubstancealoneremainstherein，coveredbythequalitiesandspeciesofbreadandwine。\"Hownow，fathers！willyoustillsaythatPort—Royalteaches\"nothingthatGenevadoesnotreceive，\"andthatM。Arnauldhassaidnothinginhissecondletter\"whichmightnothavebeensaidbyaministerofCharenton\"？
SeeifyoucanpersuadeMestrezattospeakasM。Arnaulddoesinthatletter，onpage237。Makehimsaythatitisaninfamouscalumnytoaccusehimofdenyingtransubstantiation；thathetakesforthefundamentalprincipleofhiswritingsthetruthoftherealpresenceoftheSonofGod，inoppositiontotheheresyoftheCalvinists；andthatheaccountshimselfhappyforlivinginaplacewheretheHolyofHoliesiscontinuallyadoredinthesanctuary\"—asentimentwhichisstillmoreopposedtothebeliefoftheCalviniststhantherealpresenceitself；for，asCardinalRichelieuobservesinhisControversies（p。536）：\"ThenewministersofFrancehavingagreedwiththeLutherans，whobelievetherealpresenceofJesusChristintheeucharist；theyhavedeclaredthattheyremaininastateofseparationfromtheChurchonthepointofthismystery，onlyonaccountoftheadorationwhichCatholicsrendertotheeucharist。\"GetallthepassageswhichI
haveextractedfromthebooksofPort—RoyalsubscribedatGeneva，andnottheisolatedpassagesmerely，buttheentiretreatisesregardingthismystery，suchastheBookofFrequentCommunion，theExplicationoftheCeremoniesoftheMass，theExerciseduringMass，theReasonsoftheSuspensionoftheHolySacrament，theTranslationoftheHymnsintheHoursofPort—Royal，&；c。；inoneword，prevailuponthemtoestablishatCharentonthatholyinstitutionofadoring，withoutintermission，JesusChristcontainedintheeucharist，asisdoneatPort—Royal，anditwillbethemostsignalservicewhichyoucouldrendertotheChurch；forinthiscaseitwillturnout，notthatPort—RoyalisinconcertwithGeneva，butthatGenevaisinconcertwithPort—RoyalandwiththewholeChurch。Certainly，fathers，youcouldnothavebeenmoreunfortunatethaninselectingPort—Royalastheobjectofattackfornotbelievingintheeucharist；butIwillshowwhatledyoutofixuponit。YouknowIhavepickedupsomesmallacquaintancewithyourpolicy；inthisinstanceyouhaveacteduponitsmaximstoadmiration。
IfMonsieurtheabbeofSt。Cyran，andM。Arnauld，hadonlyspokenofwhatoughttobebelievedwithgreatrespecttothismystery，andsaidnothingaboutwhatoughttobedoneinthewayofpreparationforitsreception，theymighthavebeenthebestCatholicsalive；andnoequivocationswouldhavebeendiscoveredintheiruseofthetermsrealpresenceandtransubstantiation。
But，sinceallwhocombatyourlicentiousprinciplesmustneedsbeheretics，andheretics，too，intheverypointinwhichtheycondemnyourlaxity，howcouldM。Arnauldescapefallingunderthischargeonthesubjectoftheeucharist，afterhavingpublishedabookexpresslyagainstyourprofanationsofthatsacrament？What！musthebeallowedtosay，withimpunity，that\"thebodyofJesusChristoughtnottobegiventothosewhohabituallylapseintothesamecrimes，andwhohavenoprospectofamendment；andthatsuchpersonsoughttobeexcluded，forsometime，fromthealtar，topurifythemselvesbysincerepenitence，thattheymayapproachitafterwardswithbenefit\"？Suffernoonetotalkinthisstrain，fathers，oryouwillfindthatfewerpeoplewillcometoyourconfessionals。FatherBrisaciersaysthat\"wereyoutoadoptthiscourse，youwouldneverapplythebloodofJesusChristtoasingleindividual。\"ItwouldbeinfinitelymoreforyourinterestwereeveryonetoadopttheviewsofyourSociety，assetforthbyyourFatherMascarenhas，inabookapprovedbyyourdoctors，andevenbyyourreverendFather—General，namely：\"Thatpersonsofeverydescription，andevenpriests，mayreceivethebodyofJesusChristontheverydaytheyhavepollutedthemselveswithodiouscrimes；that，sofarfromsuchcommunionsimplyingirreverence，personswhopartakeoftheminthismanneractacommendablepart；thatconfessorsoughtnottokeepthembackfromtheordinance，but，onthecontrary，oughttoadvisethosewhohaverecentlycommittedsuchcrimestocommunicateimmediately；because，althoughtheChurchhasforbiddenit，thisprohibitionisannulledbytheuniversalpracticeinallplacesoftheearth。\"Seewhatitis，fathers，tohaveJesuitsinallplacesoftheearth！Beholdtheuniversalpracticewhichyouhaveintroduced，andwhichyouareanxiouseverywheretomaintain！
ItmattersnothingthatthetablesofJesusChristarefilledwithabominations，providedthatyourchurchesarecrowdedwithpeople。Besure，therefore，costwhatitmay，tosetdownallthatdaretosayawordagainstyourpracticeashereticsontheholysacrament。Buthowcanyoudothis，aftertheirrefragabletestimonieswhichtheyhavegivenoftheirfaith？Areyounotafraidofmycomingoutwiththefourgrandproofsoftheirheresywhichyouhaveadduced？Youought，atleast，tobeso，fathers，andIoughtnottospareyourblushing。Letus，then，proceedtoexamineproofthefirst。\"M。deSt。Cyran，\"saysFatherMeynier，\"consolingoneofhisfriendsuponthedeathofhismother（tom。i。，let。14），saysthatthemostacceptablesacrificethatcanbeoffereduptoGod，onsuchoccasions，isthatofpatience；thereforeheisaCalvinist。\"Thisismarvellouslyshrewdreasoning，fathers；andIdoubtifanybodywillbeabletodiscovertheprecisepointofit。Letuslearnit，then，fromhisownmouth。\"Because，\"saysthismightycontroversialist，\"itisobviousthathedoesnotbelieveinthesacrificeofthemass；forthisis，ofallothersacrifices，themostacceptableuntoGod。\"Whowillventuretosaynowthatthedonotknowhowtoreason？
Why，theyknowthearttosuchperfectionthattheywillextractheresyoutofanythingyouchoosetomention，notevenexceptingtheHolyScriptureitself！Forexample，mightitnotbehereticaltosay，withthewisemaninEcclesiasticus，\"Thereisnothingworsethantolovemoney\"；asifadultery，murder，oridolatry，werenotfargreatercrimes？Whereisthemanwhoisnotinthehabitofusingsimilarexpressionseveryday？Maywenotsay，forinstance，thatthemostacceptableofallsacrificesintheeyesofGodisthatofacontriteandhumbledheart；justbecause，indiscoursesofthisnature，wesimplymeantocomparecertaininternalvirtueswithoneanother，andnotwiththesacrificeofthemass，whichisofatotallydifferentorder，andinfinitelymoreexalted？Isthisnotenoughtomakeyouridiculous，fathers？Andisitnecessary，tocompleteyourdiscomfiture，thatIshouldquotethepassagesofthatletterinwhichM。deSt。Cyranspeaksofthesacrificeofthemassas\"themostexcellent\"ofallothers，inthefollowingterms？\"LettherebepresentedtoGod，dailyandinallplaces，thesacrificeofthebodyofhisSon，whocouldnotfindamoreexcellentwaythanthatbywhichhemighthonourhisFather。\"Andafterwards：
\"JesusChristhasenjoinedustotake，whenwearedying，hissacrificedbody，torendermoreacceptabletoGodthesacrificeofourown，andtojoinhimselfwithusatthehourofdissolution；totheendthathemaystrengthenusforthestruggle，sanctifying，byhispresence，thelastsacrificewhichwemaketoGodofourlifeandourbody\"？Pretendtotakenonoticeofallthis，fathers，andpersistinmaintaining，asyoudoinpage39，thatherefusedtotakethecommuniononhisdeath—bed，andthathedidnotbelieveinthesacrificeofthemass。Nothingcanbetoogrossforcalumniatorsbyprofession。Yoursecondprooffurnishesanexcellentillustrationofthis。TomakeaCalvinistofM。deSt。Cyran，towhomyouascribethebookofPetrusAurelius，youtakeadvantageofapassage（page80）inwhichAureliusexplainsinwhatmannertheChurchactstowardspriests，andevenbishops，whomshewishestodegradeordepose。\"TheChurch，\"hesays，\"beingincapableofdeprivingthemofthepoweroftheorder，thecharacterofwhichisindelible，shedoesallthatshecando：shebanishesfromhermemorythecharacterwhichshecannotbanishfromthesoulsoftheindividualswhohavebeenonceinvestedwithit；sheregardstheminthesamelightasiftheywerenotbishopsorpriests；sothat，accordingtotheordinarylanguageoftheChurch，itmaybesaidtheyarenolongersuch，althoughtheyalwaysremainsuch，inasfarasthecharacterisconcerned—
obindelebilitatemcharacteris。\"Youperceive，fathers，thatthisauthor，whohasbeenapprovedbythreegeneralassembliesoftheclergyofFrance，plainlydeclaresthatthecharacterofthepriesthoodisindelible；andyetyoumakehimsay，onthecontrary，intheverysamepassage，that\"thecharacterofthepriesthoodisnotindelible。\"ThisiswhatIwouldcallanotoriousslander；inotherwords，accordingtoyournomenclature，asmallvenialsin。Andthereasonis，thisbookhasdoneyousomeharmbyrefutingtheheresiesofyourbrethreninEnglandtouchingtheEpiscopalauthority。Butthefollyofthechargeisequallyremarkable；for，afterhavingtakenitforgranted，withoutanyfoundation，thatM。deSt。Cyranholdsthepriestlycharactertobenotindelible，youconcludefromthisthathedoesnotbelieveintherealpresenceofJesusChristintheeucharist。