e. A Spanish Jesuit wrote against
Ultramontanism. Another, the Father Gonzales, wrote a book against the
casuists: he was very useful to them. When, in course of time, Rome
was at last ashamed of their doctrine, and disavowed them, they put
Gonzales forward, printed his book, and made him their general. Even
in our own time, it is this book and this name that they oppose to us.
Thus they have an answer for everything. Should you like _indulgence_,
take Escobar; should you prefer _severity_, take Gonzales.

Let us now see what was the result of this general contempt into which
they fell after the _Provinciales_. Public conscience having received
such good warning, every one apparently will hasten to shun them.
Their confession will be avoided and their colleges deserted. You
think so? Then you are much mistaken.

They are too necessary to the corruption of the age. How could the
king, with his two-fold adultery posted up in the face of all Europe,
make his devotions without them? Fathers Ferrier, Canard, and La
Chaise, will remain with him till the end, like pieces of furniture
that are too convenient to be dispensed with.

But does not Rome perceive how much she is compromised by such allies?
It is not incumbent on her to separate from them?

Feeble attempts were not wanting. A pope condemned the apology of the
casuists that the Jesuits had risked. The energy of Rome went no
further: if any remained, it was employed against the enemies of the
Jesuits. The latter got the upper hand; they had succeeded, in the
beginning of the century, in getting the head of the Church to impose
silence on the doctrine of grace, as defended by the Dominicans; and
they silenced it again, in the middle of the century, when it
recommenced speaking by the mouth of the Jansenists.

The Jesuits showed their gratitude to Rome, for imposing this silence a
second time, by stretching still farther the infallibility of the pope.
They did not fear to build up still higher this falling Tower of Babel;
they increased it by two stories: first, they asserted the
infallibility of the pope _in matters of faith_. Secondly, when the
danger had become imminent, they took a bold and foolish step; but it
secured to them the friendship of Rome; they made the pope do in his
decrepitude what he had never dared to do in his power--declare himself
infallible _in matters of fact_.

And this at the very moment that Rome was obliged to confess that