amifs to feafon the confecrated wafers with a little of that drug which was used to do justice upon the emperor Henry VII. Some nice caviller may perhaps tell me, that in this operation we may run fome rifque in poifoning the Molinifts at the fame time; there is fome weight in this objection: but then it should be confidered, that there is no project without its inconveniencies; nor any fyftem, but what threatens deftruction in fome part. And if we were to be ftopped by thefe little difficulties, we fhould never attain our end in any thing: befides, as here we have in view the obtairing the greateft of all poffible advantages, we fhould not fuffer ourselves to be shocked, though it brings with it fome bad confequences, especially as thofe confequences are of little or no confidera tion.

And after all, we fhall have nothing to reproach ourfelves with, fince it is proved, that the Reformed, as they call themselves, and the Janfenifts, have all of them their portion in hell; therefore, we only put them in poffeffion of their inheritance a little the fooner.

It is as evident, that heaven belongs of right to the Molinifts; therefore by destroying them

by

by, mistake, and without any evil intention, we haften their happinefs; and are in both cafes the minifters of Providence.

As to thofe who may be a little fhocked at the number to be thus made away with, your reverence may remark to them, that from the first flourishing days of the church to the year 1707, that is to fay, in about fourteen hundred years, religion has occafioned the maffacre of upwards of fifty millions of perfons; whereas by my propofal, not above fix millions and a half will be put to death by the halter, the dag. ger, or poifon.

But perhaps it may be objected, that my calculation is not juft, and that I have committed an error against the Rule of Three; inasmuch, as, that if in fourteen hundred years, there perished fifty millions of fouls, on account of fome trifling disputes in divinity, that makes only thirty-five thousand seven hundred and fourteen, and fome little fraction in a year, and confequently, that by my method an overplus of fix millions fixty-four thousand two hundred and eighty-five and fome fractions, are put to death in the current year. But indeed, this a very childifa quibble; nay, I'll even call it impious:

for

for is it not plain, that by my method, I fave the lives of all the Catholics, fo long as the world fhall laft? But in fhort, there would be no end of anfwering every frivolous objection.

I am,

With the most profound Respect,

Reverend Father,

Your Reverence's

Moft humble,

Moft devout,

And most humane R

Native of Angoulême,

Prefect of the Congregation.

This glorious fcheme however could not be carried into execution, because it required a confiderable time to make the neceflary difpofitions, and that father Le Tellier was banished the year following. But as it is right to examine both fides of an argument, it will be proper to enquire in what cafes it may be lawful to follow in part the scheme of the reverend father's

father's correfpondent. It would feem rather too fevere to execute it in all its parts: let us therefore examine in what cafes we ought to break upon the wheel, to hang, or to make galleyflaves of those who differ from us in opinion. This fhall be the fubject of the following chapter.

CHAP.

CHAP XVIII.

The only CASES in which NON-TOLERATION makes Part of the Human Law.

OR a government not to have a right

to punish men for their errors, it is neceffary that thofe errors fhould not be crimes; and they are crimes only when they disturb the public tranquility; which they do whenever they infpire enthusiasm: it is neceffary therefore that that men should begin by laying aside enthufiafm, in order to deferve toleration.

If a number of young Jefuits, knowing that the church holds all reprobates and heretics in deteftation, and that the opinion of the Janfenifts having been condemned by a bull, this fect is confequently reprobate; thereupon go and fet fire to the house of the fathers of the oratory, because Quefnel one of that body was a Janfenift; it is clear, that the government would be obliged to punish those Jefuits.

In