The Inquisition and the Society are the two scourges of the truth.
Why do you not accuse them of Arianism? For, though they have said that
Jesus Christ is God, perhaps they mean by it not the natural interpretation,
but, as it is said, Dii estis.229
If my Letters are condemned at Rome, that which I condemn in them is
condemned in heaven. Ad tuum, Domine Jesu, tribunal appello.[230]
You yourselves are corruptible.
I feared that I had written ill, seeing myself condemned; but the example of
so many pious writings makes me believe the contrary. It is no longer
allowable to write well, so corrupt or ignorant is the Inquisition!
"It is better to obey God than men."
I fear nothing; I hope for nothing. It is not so with the bishops.
Port-Royal fears, and it is bad policy to disperse them; for they will fear
no longer and will cause greater fear. I do not even fear your like
censures, if they are not founded on those of tradition. Do you censure all?
What! Even my respect? No. Say then what, or you will do nothing, if you do
not point out the evil, and why it is evil. And this is what they will have
great difficulty in doing.
Probability.--They have given a ridiculous explanation of certitude; for,
after having established that all their ways are sure, they have no longer
called that sure which leads to heaven without danger of not arriving there
by it, but that which leads there without danger of going out of that road.
921.... The saints indulge in subtleties in order to think themselves
criminals and impeach their better actions. And these indulge in subtleties
in order to excuse the most wicked.
The heathen sages erected a structure equally fine outside, but upon a bad
foundation; and the devil deceived men by this appare