A CURIOUS Little Oration, Deliver'd by Little Father ANDREW, &c.
[5]IT was one Lent, and about the Time that Monſieur Arnaud, had his Famous Diſputes with the JESUITES; I mean, when JANSENISM was at the greateſt height (a Fantome which the jealous Cunning of thoſe good Fathers knew how to improve [6] to the Detriment and Proſecution of many better Chriſtians) that Little Father ANDREW, ſo famous for his Witty Jokes, preach'd at Alby.
ACCORDING to the Cuſtom, this LITTLE Good Man, on the Samaritan's Day, did not fail to make a Diſcourſe on Grace, and what was more, upon Efficacious Grace by it ſelf: And ſolidly proved from St. Auguſtin's Princi⯑ples, That no one ever reſiſted that Grace; not but that Men can, but will not; for its Attri⯑bute is juſt to inſpire what we will not oppugn. He added, That ſufficient Grace was a New Syſtem, broach'd by the JESUIT. Molina, to reconcile the pretended Contradictions of its Omnipotent Power with Freewill. In ſhort, he aſſerted Janſeniſm to the laſt De⯑gree.
THOSE of the Society who were preſent at this Sermon, being nettled to hear Molina's Reverend School uſed at this Rate, took it (as you may well ſuppoſe) in great Dudgeon, and reſolved to load the Poor Preacher with [7] the heavy Weight of their Holy and Implaca⯑ble Fury. They extracted ſeveral Tenets, which, in their Opinion, contain'd the moſt poiſonous Venom of Hereſy, pack'd away to the Archbiſhop of Alby; and, giving the Con⯑tents into his Hand, Is it not an Errant Shame, (ſay they, with a Zeal animated not for the Glory of God, but of the Society) Is it not a Shame, my Lord, That this Little Whisk of a Monk ſhall come hither to preach JANSENISM Tooth and Nail; whilſt the Pope, Biſhops, Kings, Magiſtrates, and, indeed, all Powers, as well Eccleſiaſtick as Secular, are endeavouring to root this Cockle out of the Field of the CHURCH.
THE Archbiſhop, who knew by Expe⯑rience how neceſſary their Good-Will was, at that Time, to the making of a Man's Fortune; and, on the contrary, the Danger as well as Inconveniency of being hated by them; the Archbiſhop, I ſay, came into their Reſent⯑ments, and promiſed them condign and ſpee⯑dy Satisfaction. He cited Little Father AN⯑DREW, and ſharply rebuked him, for ha⯑ving [8] preach'd up Hereſy, not without terrible Threats, of inflicting on him the Puniſhments ordain'd in ſuch Caſes by the Canons of the Church.
THE Little Prieſt, who was too well ac⯑quainted with the JESUITES not to know that they were not to be offended with Impu⯑nity; and that whoever offered to contradict their Notions, was at leaſt a Heretick, gave a ſhrewd Gueſs at what was coming; and there⯑fore was not mightily diſmay'd at the Biſhop's thundering Reprimand; but, with a becoming Preſence of Mind, made this Anſwer; God preſerve me, my Lord, from Preaching Hereſy I can aſſure you I never had the leaſt Intention to deviate from the Sentiments of the Catholick Church; ſome unguarded Expreſſions may per⯑haps, in the Heat of Diſcourſe, have fallenn from me; which, having met with an Evil Conſtruction, have given Room for the Accuſa⯑tion now intended againſt me. Therefore, be pleaſed, my Lord, to let me know what Here⯑tical Propoſitions I am charg'd with advancing, that I may confront them with my SER⯑MON, [9] which contains no ſuch Matters; and if I have ſaid any Thing that is not Orthodox, I will retract it next Sunday; and, by my Re⯑cantation, undeceive thoſe whom I have ſcanda⯑liz'd by my Imprudence.
THE Archbiſhop, ſatisfied with this Sub⯑miſſion of the Little FATHER, deliver'd to him the Paper which contain'd ſuch of his Propo⯑ſitions as were condemn'd by the JESUITES; and gave thoſe Cunningham's (as * Guy Patin calls them) an Account of what had paſſed; who for once were out in their Politicks, and ſung Io Paean before the Victory; loud⯑ly publiſhing, through the Town, the intended Recantation of Little Father ANDREW. They cloy'd themſelves beforehand, with the mighty Pleaſure they were to receive, from the great Shame which they pretended he would be obliged, at that Time, to un⯑dergo.
[10] HEAVEN knows there was no want of them at Sunday's Sermon; and they had taken ſpecial Care to invite all their Partiſans, and to place themſelves over againſt the Preacher, that they might more fully rejoice at his Confuſion. They that knew the LITTLE Father better, did not doubt of finding this Sermon curiouſly intermix'd with Scenes of Mirth: So that with thoſe who were of the Jeſuitical Faction, and thoſe who came to the unravelling of the LITTLE Gentleman's late Diſcourſe, there was a very numerous Audience.
FATHER ANDREW got into the Pulpit and after having croſs'd himſelf, ſaid, Sirs▪ before I take my Text, give me Leave to re⯑count to you a Viſion I had the other Night▪ You may now, perhaps, think me a ſuperſtitiou [...] Coxcomb, for coming hither to tell you my Dreams▪ yet when I let you know, that I hope I am in the Number of thoſe Servants to whom our Lord is pleas'd to manifeſt his Will in a miſteriou [...] Manner: As I think my Viſion Inſtructive; and beſides, that it will not be tireſome to you, I can boldly beg your Attention to what follows.
[11] THIS Exordium attracted anew the Ears of all. Sirs, continues this Little Father, The [...] Night I dreamt that I was carry'd before the Tribunal of Jeſus Chriſt, to be Judg'd. T [...]ink with your ſelves what a Terror invaded me, an unpenitent and unprepar'd Sinner. I was horribly frighten'd, and my Fears increas'd when the Son of God thus accoſted me: Come near, [...] Andrew, that I may judge you. Seiz'd at once with Fear and Reſpect, I threw my [...] at his Feet: Hark'ye, ſays our Lord to me, with an irritated Aſpect, Was it not to lead My Flock of Alby into ſaving Paſtures, that I gave you to that Fold; and yet, inſtead of nouriſhing them with ſound Doctrines, you are accus'd of preaching Hereſy. My God, ſays I, I preach Hereſy: You who ſearch the Reins and Heart, know perfectly I had no ſuch intention; and if by Ignorance or Weakneſs I have had the Misfortune to advance any Doctrines that are inconſiſtent with Thy Holy Verities, I am here ready to ſuffer whatever Puniſhment Your Divine Majeſty ſhall pleaſe to inflict on me. Have not you, return'd our Sa⯑viour, preach'd up ſuch and ſuch Tenets? (And [12] then Father Andrew cited the very Paſſages condemn'd by the Jeſuites.) My Dear Re⯑deemer, continued I, I confeſs I have, but hitherto, I thought they were not in the leaſt Heretical; for I took them from a very Great Maſter. What Mighty Maſter is this, ſays our Saviour? 'Tis St. Thomas of Aquin, that Angel of the School, which You, of late Ages, have rais'd, to be the Pillar of Truth, and Scourge of Hereſy: And 'tis ſo evident that this Great Doctor has taught what they condemn as Hetorodox in me; that my Quotationi [...]s Word for Word; his Sentiments—(And then the LITTLE PRIEST made a Repetition of what St. Thomas had written on that Subject; awhich Paſſages [13] were exactly conſonant to thoſe the Jeſuites had declar'd Damnable.
HO! HO! ſays our Lord, Let him come before me. Appear Thomas! Is it poſſible that you who have been ſo highly honour'd by Me; that you of whom I have render'd ſo glorious a Teſtimony, as that you have well written of Me: Is it poſſible that you could, notwithſtanding all theſe Favours, pre⯑tend to teach, that My will muſt infal⯑libly and neceſſarily be accompliſh'd when I am pleas'd that Man ſhall conſent to My Grace; not from an Abſolute Neceſſity, but from an Infallible Neceſſity, which neverthe⯑leſs does not obſtruct Free-Will? Yes, my Dear Saviour, reply'd Saint Thomas, I did teach this Doctrine; I aſſert it: And I took it from St. Bernard, that Devout and Famous Doctor, who is accounted the Laſt of the Fathers of Thy Holy Church: 'Tis he that [14] has taught ſuch and ſuch Doctrines, in ſuch and ſuch Places of his Writings. (And then Father ANDREW recited all the Paſſages in St. Bernard, b concerning Efficacious Grace▪ [15] What means all this, ſays Jeſus Chriſt? Is ſweet St. Bernard a Janſeniſt then? Call him. What, Bernard, with your meek and ſanctify'd Air; would one think you capable of aſſerting that My Grace has an abſolute Power over Free-Will; and yet that this ſame Grace does not hinder the Free-Will; and that every Man acts infallibly as well as freely, when I pleaſe to attract him to Me by the Sweetneſs of My efficacious Inſpira⯑tions? Can it be true that you have taught all this? Yes, (my Saviour) ſays St. Bernard, I'll ſtand to't; but St. Auguſtine is my Guaran⯑tee; and I ought to refer to him; becauſe Your Church not only approves what he has written concerning Grace; but has, in a Manner, canoniz'd his Opinion of it, in making uſe of that Doctor's Sayings only, to exemplify its Sentiments on that Matter. (And then the Little Man ſet himſelf to work to give the Audience divers Texts in St. Auguſtine c [16] that prov'd the invincible Efficacy and Omni⯑potence of Grace.
HAS Auguſtine, ſays our Lord, who ha [...] ſhar'd ſo abundantly of my Love, and who is ſo indiſpenſably bound to acknowledge the Effects of it, taught all this? I muſt find out his Maſter. Auguſtin, who taught you that My Grace has an abſolute Influence over Man's Will; and diſpoſes of it entirely by the Sovereignty it has over it, equally with the reſt of the Creatures under My Canopy. Who was your Preceptor? St. Paul, my Sa⯑viour. Is it St. Paul My Apoſtle? Yes, 't [...] Your Apoſtle St. Paul, and dhe teaches that You promote in us whatever You think fit; and that 'tis You who form in us [...] [17] Will and the Action. What means all this, ſays our Redeemer? Then there are none but Janſeniſts in Heaven? Call St. Paul to Me, and let him anſwer this; I muſt find out the Root of this Circumſtance. Come, Mr. St. Paul, tell us plainly, Have you taught the Doctrine you are accus'd of, concerning Efficacious Grace working by it ſelf? Who taught you that My Divine Inſpiration muſt infallibly prevail, becauſe Man's Will muſt conſent freely? Who ſhould teach it me but Your Own Self, my God? Of whom ſhould I learn it, but of the Holy Ghoſt, who repleniſh'd my Heart? I ſet my Hand to Paper, and the Divine Spirit dictated. And is not the Confirmation of theſe grand Truths palpable in a thouſand Places of Scripturee? And have not You Your Self [18] deliver'd them from Your Sacred Mouth▪ I have indeed, ſays our Redeemer; I have taugh [...] this Doctrine, and have left it to my Church as a precious Inheritance.
BUT I know very well the Origin of [...] this. Call me hither Father Ignatius. Th [...] Good Saint, who could hardly be found amon [...] the Crowd, appear'd at laſt.
(And now the Jeſuites trembled with In⯑dignation.) Come hither, Father Ignatius, yo [...] are a very Good Man, and Humble; I wou [...] not have you take it ill: But I ſuppoſe yo [...] you cannot have forgot, that when you wer [...] [19] Five and Thirty Years old, you were like a Boy of Five, among the young Students in the College of St. Barbe, by the ſame Token that you were often Laſh'd for your Childiſh Tricks. I have beſtow'd my Heaven on you: Nor do I reproach you now: See⯑ing you are in it, you are welcome to it. But your Children are mere Firebands, Proud Prieſts, who would impoſe on the Faithful their new-foiſted and erroneous Doctrines or the ancient and orthodox Belief of My Church. I charge you to humble them: 'Tis a hard Task, I own; but I command you again to go about it; and if you can⯑not accompliſh it, I My Self will put a helping Hand; and humble them to the Duſt, that think themſelves the only Lights of the Church.
Sirs, This is my Dream; but ſince 'tis no more than a Dream, you may give what Credit [...] pleaſe to it.