Opening the text

The provincial letters of Blaise Pascal : $b A new translation, with historical introduction and notes, by the Rev. Thomas M'CriePascal, Blaise

Religion

The provincial letters of Blaise Pascal : $b A new translation, with historical introduction and notes, by the Rev. Thomas M'Crie

Name: The provincial letters of Blaise Pascal : $b A new translation, with historical introduction and notes, by the Rev. Thomas M'Crie
Author: Pascal, Blaise

Pascal, Blaise

Jansenists -- France -- Early works to 1800; Jesuits -- Early works to 1800; Port-Royal des Champs (Abbey) -- Early works to 1800

“So far,” says Nicole, “from his having told all that he might against
  the Jesuits, he has spared them on points so essential and important,
  that all who have a complete knowledge of their maxims have admired
  his moderation.” “What would have been the case,” asks another writer,
  “had Pascal exposed the late infamous things put out by their
  miserable casuists, and unfolded the chain and succession of their
  regicide authors?” (Dissertation sur la foi due au Pascal, &c., p.
  14.)

Footnote 235:

  The apologists of the Jesuits attempted to justify this extraordinary
  illustration, by referring to the use which Augustine and other
  fathers make of the parable of the good Samaritan who “set on his own
  beast” the wounded traveller. But Nicole has shown that fanciful as
  these ancient interpreters often were, it is doing them injustice to
  _father_ on them the absurdity of Father Garasse. (Nicole’s Notes,
  iii. 340.)

Footnote 236:

  Brisacier, who became rector of the College of Rouen, was a bitter
  enemy of the Port-Royalists. His defamatory libel against the nuns of
  Port-Royal, entitled “Le Jansenisme Confondu,” published in 1651, was
  censured by the Archbishop of Paris, and vigorously assailed by M.
  Arnauld.

Footnote 237:

  The priests of Port-Royal.

Footnote 238:

  This is the real question, which brings the matter to a point, and
  serves to answer all the evasions of the Jesuits. They boast of their
  unity as a society and their blind obedience to their head. Have they,
  then, ever, _as a society_, disclaimed these maxims?—have they even,
  _as such_, condemned the sentiments their fathers Becan, Mariana, and
  others, on the duty of dethroning and assassinating heretical kings?
  They have not; and till this is done, they must be held, _as Jesuits_,
  responsible for the sentiments which they refuse to disavow.

Footnote 239:

  Prov. xxix. 9.

Footnote 240:

  This postscript, which appeared in the earlier editions, is dropt in
  that of Nicole and others.




                              LETTER XII.

                 TO THE REVEREND FATHERS, THE JESUITS.

   REFUTATION OF THEIR CHICANERIES REGARDING ALMS-GIVING AND SIMONY.


                                                    _September 9, 1656._

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

Opening the text

The provincial letters of Blaise Pascal : $b A new translation, with historical introduction and notes, by the Rev. Thomas M'CriePascal, Blaise

Religion

The provincial letters of Blaise Pascal : $b A new translation, with historical introduction and notes, by the Rev. Thomas M'Crie

Pascal, Blaise

Jansenists -- France -- Early works to 1800; Jesuits -- Early works to 1800; Port-Royal des Champs (Abbey) -- Early works to 1800

“So far,” says Nicole, “from his having told all that he might against
  the Jesuits, he has spared them on points so essential and important,
  that all who have a complete knowledge of their maxims have admired
  his moderation.” “What would have been the case,” asks another writer,
  “had Pascal exposed the late infamous things put out by their
  miserable casuists, and unfolded the chain and succession of their
  regicide authors?” (Dissertation sur la foi due au Pascal, &c., p.
  14.)

Footnote 235:

  The apologists of the Jesuits attempted to justify this extraordinary
  illustration, by referring to the use which Augustine and other
  fathers make of the parable of the good Samaritan who “set on his own
  beast” the wounded traveller. But Nicole has shown that fanciful as
  these ancient interpreters often were, it is doing them injustice to
  _father_ on them the absurdity of Father Garasse. (Nicole’s Notes,
  iii. 340.)

Footnote 236:

  Brisacier, who became rector of the College of Rouen, was a bitter
  enemy of the Port-Royalists. His defamatory libel against the nuns of
  Port-Royal, entitled “Le Jansenisme Confondu,” published in 1651, was
  censured by the Archbishop of Paris, and vigorously assailed by M.
  Arnauld.

Footnote 237:

  The priests of Port-Royal.

Footnote 238:

  This is the real question, which brings the matter to a point, and
  serves to answer all the evasions of the Jesuits. They boast of their
  unity as a society and their blind obedience to their head. Have they,
  then, ever, _as a society_, disclaimed these maxims?—have they even,
  _as such_, condemned the sentiments their fathers Becan, Mariana, and
  others, on the duty of dethroning and assassinating heretical kings?
  They have not; and till this is done, they must be held, _as Jesuits_,
  responsible for the sentiments which they refuse to disavow.

Footnote 239:

  Prov. xxix. 9.

Footnote 240:

  This postscript, which appeared in the earlier editions, is dropt in
  that of Nicole and others.




                              LETTER XII.

                 TO THE REVEREND FATHERS, THE JESUITS.

   REFUTATION OF THEIR CHICANERIES REGARDING ALMS-GIVING AND SIMONY.


                                                    _September 9, 1656._

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

The provincial letters of Blaise Pascal : $b A new translation, with historical introduction and notes, by the Rev. Thomas M'Crie

The provincial letters of Blaise Pascal : $b A new translation, with historical introduction and notes, by the Rev. Thomas M'Crie

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