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 [Page 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 Princi­ples, That no one ever resisted that Grace; not but that Men can, but will not; for its Attri­bute 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 De­gree.

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 [Page 7] the heavy Weight of their Holy and Implaca­ble 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 Con­tents 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 Expe­rience 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 Resent­ments, and promised them condign and spee­dy Satisfaction. He cited Little Father AN­DREW, and sharply rebuked him, for ha­ving [Page 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 ac­quainted with the JESUITES not to know that they were not to be offended with Impu­nity; and that whoever offered to contradict their Notions, was at least a Heretick, gave a shrewd Guess at what was coming; and there­fore 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 per­haps, in the Heat of Discourse, have fallenn from me; which, having met with an Evil Construction, have given Room for the Accusa­tion now intended against me. Therefore, be pleased, my Lord, to let me know what Here­tical Propositions I am charg'd with advancing, that I may confront them with my SER­MON, [Page 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 Re­cantation, undeceive those whom I have scanda­liz'd by my Imprudence.

THE Archbishop, satisfied with this Sub­mission of the Little FATHER, deliver'd to him the Paper which contain'd such of his Propo­sitions 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; loud­ly 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 un­dergo.

[Page 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 re­count 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.

[Page 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 Sa­viour, preach'd up such and such Tenets? (And [Page 12] then Father Andrew cited the very Passages condemn'd by the Jesuites.) My Dear Re­deemer, 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 [Page 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, pre­tend to teach, that My will must infal­libly 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 neverthe­less 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 [Page 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▪ [Page 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 Inspira­tions? 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 Guaran­tee; 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 [Page 16] that prov'd the invincible Efficacy and Omnipotence 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 Saviour. 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 [...] [Page 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 Scripture^e? And have not You Your Self [Page 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 Indignation.) 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 [...] [Page 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: See­ing 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 can­not 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.