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

they perpetrate crimes like calumny, not in opposition to, but in strict
accordance with, their moral maxims? I cannot, therefore, be blamed for
destroying the credit which might have been awarded you; seeing it must
be allowed to be a much greater act of justice to restore to the victims
of your obloquy the character which they did not deserve to lose, than
to leave you in the possession of a reputation for sincerity which you
do not deserve to enjoy. And as the one could not be done without the
other, how important was it to show you up to the world as you really
are! In this letter I have commenced the exhibition; but it will require
some time to complete it. Published it shall be, fathers, and all your
policy will be inadequate to save you from the disgrace; for the efforts
which you may make to avert the blow, will only serve to convince the
most obtuse observers that you were terrified out of your wits, and
that, your consciences anticipating the charges I had to bring against
you, you have put every oar in the water to prevent the discovery.

-----

Footnote 267:

  Pascal was assisted by M. Arnauld in the preparation of this letter.
  (Nicole, iv. 162.)

Footnote 268:

  Quidni non nisi veniale sit, detrahentes autoritatem magnam, tibi
  noxiam, falso crimine elidere?

Footnote 269:

  Dicastillus, De Just., l. 2, tr. 2, disp. 12, n. 404.

Footnote 270:

  M. De Ville, Vicar-General of M., the Cardinal of Lyons; M. Scarron,
  Canon and Curate of St. Paul; M. Margat, Chanter; MM. Bouvand, Seve,
  Aubert, and Dervien, Canons of St. Nisier; M. de Gué, President of the
  Treasurers of France; M. Groslier, Provost of the Merchants; M. de
  Flèchre, President and Lieutenant-General; MM. De Boissart, De St.
  Romain, and De Bartoly, gentlemen; M. Bourgeois, the King’s First
  Advocate in the Court of the Treasurers of France; MM. De Cotton,
  father and son; and M. Boniel; who have all signed the original copy
  of the Declaration, along with M. Puys and Father Alby.

Footnote 271:

  Apology for the Society of Jesus, p. 128.

Footnote 272:

  First Part, p. 24.

Footnote 273:

  Tr. 4, q. 22, p. 100.

Footnote 274:

  Part. 4, p. 21

Footnote 275:

  That is, the Protestant ministers of Paris, who are called “the
  ministers of Charenton,” from the village of that name near Paris,
  where they had their place of worship. The Protestants of Paris were
  forbidden to hold meetings in the city, and were compelled to travel
  five leagues to a place of worship, till 1606, when they were
  _graciously_ permitted to erect their temple at Charenton, about two
  leagues from the city! (Benoit, Hist. de l’Edit. de Nantes, i. 435.)
  Even there they were harassed by the bigoted populace, and at last
  “the ministers of Charenton,” among whom were the famous Claude and
  Daillé, were driven from their homes, their chapel burnt to the
  ground, and their people scattered abroad.

Footnote 276:

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

they perpetrate crimes like calumny, not in opposition to, but in strict
accordance with, their moral maxims? I cannot, therefore, be blamed for
destroying the credit which might have been awarded you; seeing it must
be allowed to be a much greater act of justice to restore to the victims
of your obloquy the character which they did not deserve to lose, than
to leave you in the possession of a reputation for sincerity which you
do not deserve to enjoy. And as the one could not be done without the
other, how important was it to show you up to the world as you really
are! In this letter I have commenced the exhibition; but it will require
some time to complete it. Published it shall be, fathers, and all your
policy will be inadequate to save you from the disgrace; for the efforts
which you may make to avert the blow, will only serve to convince the
most obtuse observers that you were terrified out of your wits, and
that, your consciences anticipating the charges I had to bring against
you, you have put every oar in the water to prevent the discovery.

-----

Footnote 267:

  Pascal was assisted by M. Arnauld in the preparation of this letter.
  (Nicole, iv. 162.)

Footnote 268:

  Quidni non nisi veniale sit, detrahentes autoritatem magnam, tibi
  noxiam, falso crimine elidere?

Footnote 269:

  Dicastillus, De Just., l. 2, tr. 2, disp. 12, n. 404.

Footnote 270:

  M. De Ville, Vicar-General of M., the Cardinal of Lyons; M. Scarron,
  Canon and Curate of St. Paul; M. Margat, Chanter; MM. Bouvand, Seve,
  Aubert, and Dervien, Canons of St. Nisier; M. de Gué, President of the
  Treasurers of France; M. Groslier, Provost of the Merchants; M. de
  Flèchre, President and Lieutenant-General; MM. De Boissart, De St.
  Romain, and De Bartoly, gentlemen; M. Bourgeois, the King’s First
  Advocate in the Court of the Treasurers of France; MM. De Cotton,
  father and son; and M. Boniel; who have all signed the original copy
  of the Declaration, along with M. Puys and Father Alby.

Footnote 271:

  Apology for the Society of Jesus, p. 128.

Footnote 272:

  First Part, p. 24.

Footnote 273:

  Tr. 4, q. 22, p. 100.

Footnote 274:

  Part. 4, p. 21

Footnote 275:

  That is, the Protestant ministers of Paris, who are called “the
  ministers of Charenton,” from the village of that name near Paris,
  where they had their place of worship. The Protestants of Paris were
  forbidden to hold meetings in the city, and were compelled to travel
  five leagues to a place of worship, till 1606, when they were
  _graciously_ permitted to erect their temple at Charenton, about two
  leagues from the city! (Benoit, Hist. de l’Edit. de Nantes, i. 435.)
  Even there they were harassed by the bigoted populace, and at last
  “the ministers of Charenton,” among whom were the famous Claude and
  Daillé, were driven from their homes, their chapel burnt to the
  ground, and their people scattered abroad.

Footnote 276:

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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