The provincial letters of Blaise Pascal : $b A new translation, with historical introduction and notes, by the Rev. Thomas M'Crie — John Shaqi
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
The fruits of this extraordinary elaboration appear in every letter; but
what is equally remarkable, is the art with which so many detached
letters, written at distant intervals, and prompted by passing events,
have been so arranged as to form an harmonious whole. The first three
letters refer to Arnauld’s affair; the questions of grace are but
slightly touched, the main object being to interest the reader in favor
of the Jansenists, and excite his contempt and indignation against their
opponents. After this prelude, the fourth letter serves as a transition
to the following six, in which he takes up maxims of the casuists. In
the eight concluding letters he resumes the grand objects of the
work—the morals of the Jesuits and the question of grace. These three
parts have each their peculiar style. The first is distinguished for
lively dialogue and repartee. Jacobins, Molinists, and Jansenists are
brought on the stage, and speak in character, while Pascal does little
more than act as reporter. In the second part, he comes into personal
contact with a casuistical doctor, and extracts from him, under the
pretext of desiring information, some of the weakest and worst of his
maxims. At the eleventh letter, Pascal throws off his disguise, and
addressing himself directly to the whole order of the Jesuits, and to
their Provincial by name, he pours out his whole soul in an impetuous
and impassioned torrent of declamation. From beginning to end it is a
well-sustained battle, in which the weapons are only changed in order to
strike the harder.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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