第9章

Inthefirstplace，hemakesadistinctionbetween’thecaseofthedivinerwhohasrecoursetoastrologyandothernaturalmeans，andthatofanotherwhoemploysthediabolicalart。Intheonecase，hesays，thedivinerisboundtomakerestitution；intheotherheisnot。’Now，guesswhichofthemisthepartybound？"

"Itisnotdifficulttofindoutthat，"saidI。

"Iseewhatyoumeantosay，"hereplied。"Youthinkthatheoughttomakerestitutioninthecaseofhishavingemployedtheagencyofdemons。Butyouknownothingaboutit；itisjustthereverse。’If，’

saysSanchez，’thesorcererhasnottakencareandpainstodiscover，bymeansofthedevil，whathecouldnothaveknownotherwise，hemustmakerestitution—sinullamoperamapposuitutartediaboliidsciret，butifhehasbeenatthattrouble，heisnotobliged。’"

"Andwhyso，father？"

"Don’tyouSee？"returnedhe。"Itisbecausemenmaytrulydivinebytheaidofthedevil，whereasastrologyisameresham。"

"But，sir，shouldthedevilhappennottotellthetruth（andheisnotmuchmoretobetrustedthanastrology），themagicianmust，I

shouldthink，forthesamereason，beobligedtomakerestitution？"

"Notalways，"repliedthemonk："Distinguo，asSanchezsays，here。

Ifthemagicianbeignorantofthediabolicart—sisitartisdiabolicaeignarus—heisboundtorestore：butifheisanexpertsorcerer，andhasdoneallinhispowertoarriveatthetruth，theobligationceases；fortheindustryofsuchamagicianmaybeestimatedatacertainsumofmoney。’"

"Thereissomesenseinthat，"Isaid；"forthisisanexcellentplantoinducesorcererstoaimatproficiencyintheirart，inthehopeofmakinganhonestlivelihood，asyouwouldsay，byfaithfullyservingthepublic。"

"Youaremakingajestofit，Isuspect，"saidthefather："thatisverywrong。Ifyouweretotalkinthatwayinplaceswhereyouwerenotknown，somepeoplemighttakeitamissandchargeyouwithturningsacredsubjectsintoridicule。"

"That，father，isachargefromwhichIcouldveryeasilyvindicatemyself；forcertainIamthatwhoeverwillbeatthetroubletoexaminethetruemeaningofmywordswillfindmyobjecttobepreciselythereverse；andperhaps，sir，beforeourconversationsareended，Imayfindanopportunityofmakingthisveryamplyapparent。"

"Ho，ho，"criedthemonk，"thereisnolaughinginyourheadnow。"

"Iconfess，"saidI，"thatthesuspicionthatIintendedtolaughatthingssacredwouldbeaspainfulformetoincurasitwouldbeunjustinanytoentertainit。"

"Ididnotsayitinearnest，"returnedthefather；"butletusspeakmoreseriously。"

"Iamquitedisposedtodoso，ifyoupreferit；thatdependsuponyou，father。ButImustsay，thatIhavebeenastonishedtoseeyourfriendscarryingtheirattentionstoallsortsandconditionsofmensofaraseventoregulatethelegitimategainsofsorcerers。"

"Onecannotwritefortoomanypeople，"saidthemonk，"norbetoominuteinparticularisingcases，norrepeatthesamethingstoooftenindifferentbooks。Youmaybeconvincedofthisbythefollowinganecdote，whichisrelatedbyoneofthegravestofourfathers，asyoumaywellsuppose，seeingheisourpresentProvincial—

thereverendFatherCellot：’Weknowaperson，’sayshe，’whowascarryingalargesumofmoney’inhispockettorestoreit，inobediencetotheordersofhisconfessor，andwho，steppingintoabookseller’sshopbytheway，inquirediftherewasanythingnew？—

numquidnovi？—whenthebooksellershowedhimabookonmoraltheology，recentlypublished；andturningovertheleavescarelessly，andwithoutreflection，helighteduponapassagedescribinghisowncase，andsawthathewasundernoobligationtomakerestitution：uponwhich，relievedfromtheburdenofhisscruples，hereturnedhomewithapursenolessheavy，andaheartmuchlighter，thanwhenheleftit—abjectascrupulisarcina，retentoauripondere，leviordomumrepetiit。’

"Say，afterhearingthat，ifitisusefulornottoknowourmaxims？Willyoulaughatthemnow？orrather，areyounotpreparedtojoinwithFatherCellotinthepiousreflectionwhichhemakesontheblessednessofthatincident？’Accidentsofthatkind，’heremarks，’are，withGod，theeffectofhisprovidence；withtheguardianangel，theeffectofhisgoodguidance；withtheindividualstowhomtheyhappen，theeffectoftheirpredestination。

Fromalleternity，Goddecidedthatthegoldenchainoftheirsalvationshoulddependonsuchandsuchanauthor，andnotuponahundredotherswhosaythesamething，becausetheyneverhappentomeetwiththem。Hadthatmannotwritten，thismanwouldnothavebeensaved。All，therefore，whofindfaultwiththemultitudeofourauthors，wewouldbeseech，inthebowelsofJesusChrist，tobewareofenvyingothersthosebookswhichtheeternalelectionofGodandthebloodofJesusChristhavepurchasedforthem！’Sucharetheeloquenttermsinwhichthislearnedmanprovessuccessfullythepropositionwhichhehadadvanced，namely，’Howusefulitmustbetohaveagreatmanywritersonmoraltheology—quamutilesitdetheologiamoralimultosscribere！’"

"Father，"saidI，"Ishalldefergivingyoumyopinionofthatpassagetoanotheropportunity；inthemeantime，Ishallonlysaythatasyourmaximsaresouseful，andasitissoimportanttopublishthem，yououghttocontinuetogivemefurtherinstructioninthem。

ForIcanassureyouthatthepersontowhomIsendthemshowsmyletterstoagreatmanypeople。Notthatweintendtoavailourselvesoftheminourowncase；but，indeed，wethinkitwillbeusefulfortheworldtobeinformedaboutthem。"

"Verywell，"rejoinedthemonk，"youseeIdonotconcealthem；

and，incontinuation，Iamreadytofurnishyou，atournextinterview，withanaccountofthecomfortsandindulgenceswhichourfathersallow，withtheviewofrenderingsalvationeasy，anddevotionagreeable；sothat，inadditiontowhatyouhavehithertolearnedastoparticularconditionsofmen，youmaylearnwhatappliesingeneraltoallclasses，andthusyouwillhavegonethroughacompletecourseofinstruction。"Sosaying，themonktookhisleaveofme。I

am，&；c。

P。S。IhavealwaysforgottotellyouthattherearedifferenteditionsofEscobar。Shouldyouthinkofpurchasinghim，IwouldadviseyoutochoosetheLyonsedition，havingonthetitlepagethedeviceofalamblyingonabooksealedwithsevenseals；ortheBrusselseditionof1651。BothofthesearebetterandlargerthanthepreviouseditionspublishedatLyonsintheyears1644and1646。

LETTERIXParis，July3，1656SIR，IshalluseaslittleceremonywithyouastheworthymonkdidwithmewhenIsawhimlast。Themomentheperceivedme，hecameforward，withhiseyesfixedonabookwhichheheldinhishand，andaccostedmethus："’Wouldyounotbeinfinitelyobligedtoanyonewhoshouldopentoyouthegatesofparadise？Wouldyounotgivemillionsofgoldtohaveakeybywhichyoumightgainadmittancewheneveryouthoughtproper？Youneednotbeatsuchexpense；hereisone—hereareahundredformuchlessmoney。’"AtfirstIwasatalosstoknowwhetherthegoodfatherwasreading，ortalkingtome，buthesoonputthematterbeyonddoubtbyadding："These，sir，aretheopeningwordsofafinebook，writtenbyFatherBarryofourSociety；forInevergiveyouanythingofmyown。"

"Whatbookisit？"askedI。"Hereisitstitle，"hereplied："ParadiseopenedtoPhilagio，inaHundredDevotionstotheMotherofGod，easilypractised。""Indeed，father！andiseachoftheseeasydevotionsasufficientpassporttoheaven？""Itis，"returnedhe。"Listentowhatfollows：’ThedevotionstotheMotherofGod，whichyouwillfindinthisbook，aresomanycelestialkeys，whichwillopenwidetoyouthegatesofparadise，providedyoupractisethem’；and，accordingly，hesaysattheconclusion，’thatheissatisfiedifyoupractiseonlyoneofthem。’""Pray，then，father，doteachmeoneoftheeasiestofthem。""Theyarealleasy，"hereplied，"forexample—’SalutingtheHolyVirginwhenyouhappentomeetherimage—sayingthelittlechapletofthepleasuresoftheVirgin—ferventlypronouncingthenameofMary—commissioningtheangelstobowtoherforus—wishingtobuildherasmanychurchesasallthemonarchsonearthhavedone—biddinghergoodmorroweverymorning，andgoodnightintheevening—sayingtheAveMariaeveryday，inhonouroftheheartofMary’—

whichlastdevotion，hesays，possessestheadditionalvirtueofsecuringustheheartoftheVirgin。""But，father，"saidI，"onlyprovidedwegiveherourowninreturn，Ipresume？""That，"hereplied，"isnotabsolutelynecessary，whenapersonistoomuchattachedtotheworld。HearFatherBarry：’Heartforheartwould，nodoubt，behighlyproper；butyoursisrathertoomuchattachedtotheworld，toomuchboundupinthecreature，sothatIdarenotadviseyoutooffer，atpresent，thatpoorlittleslavewhichyoucallyourheart。’AndsohecontentshimselfwiththeAveMariawhichhehadprescribed。""Why，thisisextremelyeasywork，"saidI，"andIshouldreallythinkthatnobodywillbedamnedafterthat。""Alas！"saidthemonk，"Iseeyouhavenoideaofthehardnessofsomepeople’shearts。

Therearesome，sir，whowouldneverengagetorepeat，everyday，eventhesesimplewords，Goodday，Goodevening，justbecausesuchapracticewouldrequiresomeexertionofmemory。And，accordingly，itbecamenecessaryforFatherBarrytofurnishthemwithexpedientsstilleasier，suchaswearingachapletnightanddayonthearm，intheformofabracelet，orcarryingaboutone’spersonarosary，oranimageoftheVirgin。’And，tellmenow，’asFatherBarrysays，’ifIhavenotprovidedyouwitheasydevotionstoobtainthegoodgracesofMary？’""Extremelyeasyindeed，father，"Iobserved。"Yes，"hesaid，"itisasmuchascouldpossiblybedone，andIthinkshouldbequitesatisfactory。Forhemustbeawretchedcreatureindeed，whowouldnotspareasinglemomentinallhislifetimetoputachapletonhisarm，orarosaryinhispocket，andthussecurehissalvation；andthat，too，withsomuchcertaintythatnonewhohavetriedtheexperimenthaveeverfoundittofail，inwhateverwaytheymayhavelived；though，letmeadd，weexhortpeoplenottoomitholyliving。

Letmereferyoutotheexampleofthis，givenatp。34；itisthatofafemalewho，whileshepractiseddailythedevotionofsalutingtheimagesoftheVirgin，spentallherdaysinmortalsin，andyetwassavedafterall，bythemeritofthatsingledevotion。""Andhowso？"criedI。"OurSaviour，"hereplied，"raisedherupagain，fortheverypurposeofshowingit。Socertainitisthatnonecanperishwhopractiseanyoneofthesedevotions。""Mydearsir，"Iobserved，"IamfullyawarethatthedevotionstotheVirginareapowerfulmeansofsalvation，andthattheleastofthem，ifflowingfromtheexerciseoffaithandcharity，asinthecaseofthesaintswhohavepractisedthem，areofgreatmerit；buttomakepersonsbelievethat，bypractisingthesewithoutreformingtheirwickedlives，theywillbeconvertedbythematthehourofdeath，orthatGodwillraisethemupagain，doesappearcalculatedrathertokeepsinnersgoingonintheirevilcourses，bydeludingthemwithfalsepeaceandfoolhardyconfidence，thantodrawthemofffromsinbythatgenuineconversionwhichgracealonecaneffect。""Whatdoesitmatter，"repliedthemonk，"bywhatroadweenterparadise，providedwedoenterit？asourfamousFatherBinet，formerlyourProvincial，remarksonasimilarsubject，inhisexcellentbook，OntheMarkofPredestination。’Beitbyhookorbycrook，’ashesays，’whatneedwecare，ifwereachatlastthecelestialcity。’""Granted，"

saidI；"butthegreatquestionisifwewillgetthereatall。""TheVirginwillbeanswerableforthat，"returnedhe；"sosaysFatherBarryintheconcludinglinesofhisbook：’Ifatthehourofdeath，theenemyshouldhappentoputinsomeclaimuponyou，andoccasiondisturbanceinthelittlecommonwealthofyourthoughts，youhaveonlytosaythatMarywillanswerforyou，andthathemustmakehisapplicationtoher。’""But，father，itmightbepossibletopuzzleyou，wereonedisposedtopushthequestionalittlefurther。Who，forexample，hasassuredusthattheVirginwillbeanswerableinthiscase？""FatherBarrywillbeanswerableforher，"

hereplied。"’Asfortheprofitandhappinesstobederivedfromthesedevotions，’hesays，’Iwillbeanswerableforthat；IwillstandbailforthegoodMother。’""But，father，whoistobeanswerableforFatherBarry？""How！"criedthemonk；"forFatherBarry？ishenotamemberofourSociety；anddoyouneedtobetoldthatourSocietyisanswerableforallthebooksofitsmembers？Itishighlynecessaryandimportantforyoutoknowaboutthis。ThereisanorderinourSociety，bywhichallbooksellersareprohibitedfromprintinganyworkofourfatherswithouttheapprobationofourdivinesandthepermissionofoursuperiors。ThisregulationwaspassedbyHenryIII，10thMay1583，andconfirmedbyHenryIV，20thDecember1603，andbyLouisXIII，14thFebruary1612；sothatthewholeofourbodystandsresponsibleforthepublicationsofeachofthebrethren。Thisisafeaturequitepeculiartoourcommunity。And，inconsequenceofthis，notasingleworkemanatesfromuswhichdoesnotbreathethespiritoftheSociety。That，sir，isapieceofinformationquiteapropos。""Mygoodfather，"saidI，"youobligemeverymuch，andIonlyregretthatIdidnotknowthissooner，asitwillinducemetopayconsiderablymoreattentiontoyourauthors。""Iwouldhavetoldyousooner，"hereplied，"hadanopportunityoffered；Ihope，however，youwillprofitbytheinformationinfuture，and，inthemeantime，letusprosecuteoursubject。ThemethodsofsecuringsalvationwhichIhavementionedare，inmyopinion，veryeasy，verysure，andsufficientlynumerous；butitwastheanxiouswishofourdoctorsthatpeopleshouldnotstopshortatthisfirststep，wheretheyonlydowhatisabsolutelynecessaryforsalvationandnothingmore。Aspiring，astheydowithoutceasing，afterthegreatergloryofGod，theysoughttoelevatementoahigherpitchofpiety；and，asmenoftheworldaregenerallydeterredfromdevotionbythestrangeideastheyhavebeenledtoformofitbysomepeople，wehavedeemeditofthehighestimportancetoremovethisobstaclewhichmeetsusatthethreshold。InthisdepartmentFatherLeMoinehasacquiredmuchfame，byhisworkentitledDevotionMadeEasy，composedforthisverypurpose。Thepicturewhichhedrawsofdevotioninthisworkisperfectlycharming。Noneeverunderstoodthesubjectbeforehim。Onlyhearwhathesaysinthebeginningofhiswork：’Virtuehasneverasyetbeenseenaright；

noportraitofherhithertoproduced，hasbornetheleastverisimilitude。

Itisbynomeanssurprisingthatsofewhaveattemptedtoscaleherrockyeminence。Shehasbeenheldupasacross—tempereddame，whoseonlydelightisinsolitude；shehasbeenassociatedwithtoilandsorrow；and，inshort，representedasthefoeofsportsanddiversions，whichare，infact，theflowersofjoyandtheseasoningoflife。’""But，father，Iamsure，I

haveheard，atleast，thattherehavebeengreatsaintswholedextremelyausterelives。""Nodoubtofthat，"hereplied；"butstill，tousethelanguageofthedoctor，’therehavealwaysbeenanumberofgenteelsaints，andwell—breddevotees’；andthisdifferenceintheirmanners，markyou，arisesentirelyfromadifferenceofhumours。’Iamfarfromdenying，’

saysmyauthor，’thattherearedevoutpersonstobemetwith，paleandmelancholyintheirtemperament，fondofsilenceandretirement，withphlegminsteadofbloodintheirveins，andwithfacesofclay；buttherearemanyothersofahappiercomplexion，andwhopossessthatsweetandwarmhumour，thatgenialandrectifiedblood，whichisthetruestuffthatjoyismadeof。’"Yousee，"resumedthemonk，"thattheloveofsilenceandretirementisnotcommontoalldevoutpeople；andthat，asIwassaying，thisistheeffectratheroftheircomplexionthantheirpiety。Thoseausteremannerstowhichyoureferare，infact，properlythecharacterofasavageandbarbarian，and，accordingly，youwillfindthemrankedbyFatherLeMoineamongtheridiculousandbrutalmannersofamopingidiot。ThefollowingisthedescriptionhehasdrawnofoneoftheseintheseventhbookofhisMoralPictures。’Hehasnoeyesforthebeautiesofartornature。

Werehetoindulgeinanythingthatgavehimpleasure，hewouldconsiderhimselfoppressedwithagrievousload。Onfestivaldays，heretirestoholdfellowshipwiththedead。Hedelightsinagrottoratherthanapalace，andprefersthestumpofatreetoathrone。Astoinjuriesandaffronts，heisasinsensibletothemasifhehadtheeyesandearsofastatue。

Honourandgloryareidolswithwhomhehasnoacquaintance，andtowhomhehasnoincensetooffer。Tohimabeautifulwomanisnobetterthanaspectre；andthoseimperialandcommandinglooks—thosecharmingtyrantswhoholdsomanyslavesinwillingandchainlessservitude—havenomoreinfluenceoverhisopticsthanthesunoverthoseofowls，’&；c。""Reverendsir，"saidI，"hadyounottoldmethatFatherLeMoinewastheauthorofthatdescription，IdeclareIwouldhaveguessedittobetheproductionofsomeprofanefellowwhohaddrawnitexpresslywiththeviewofturningthesaintsintoridicule。ForifthatisnotthepictureofamanentirelydeniedtothosefeelingswhichtheGospelobligesustorenounce，IconfessthatIknownothingofthematter。""Youmaynowperceive，then，theextentofyourignorance，"hereplied；"forthesearethefeaturesofafeeble，uncultivatedmind，’destituteofthosevirtuousandnaturalaffectionswhichitoughttopossess，’asFatherLeMoinesaysatthecloseofthatdescription。Suchishiswayofteaching’Christianvirtueandphilosophy，’

asheannouncesinhisadvertisement；and，intruth，itcannotbedeniedthatthismethodoftreatingdevotionismuchmoreagreeabletothetasteoftheworldthantheoldwayinwhichtheywenttoworkbeforeourtimes。"

"Therecanbenocomparisonbetweenthem，"wasmyreply，"andInowbegintohopethatyouwillbeasgoodasyourword。""Youwillseethatbetterby—and—by，"returnedthemonk。"HithertoIhaveonlyspokenofpietyingeneral，but，justtoshowyoumoreindetailhowourfathershavedisencumbereditofitstoilsandtroubles，woulditnotbemostconsolingtotheambitioustolearnthattheymaymaintaingenuinedevotionalongwithaninordinateloveofgreatness？""What，father！eventhoughtheyshouldruntotheutmostexcessofambition？""Yes，"hereplied；"forthiswouldbeonlyavenialsin，unlesstheysoughtaftergreatnessinordertooffendGodandinjuretheStatemoreeffectually。Nowvenialsinsdonotprecludeamanfrombeingdevout，asthegreatestsaintsarenotexemptfromthem。’Ambition，’

saysEscobar，’whichconsistsinaninordinateappetiteforplaceandpower，isofitselfavenialsin；butwhensuchdignitiesarecovetedforthepurposeofhurtingthecommonwealth，orhavingmoreopportunitytooffendGod，theseadventitiouscircumstancesrenderitmortal。’""Verysavourydoctrine，indeed，father。""Andisitnotstillmoresavoury，"continuedthemonk，"formiserstobetold，bythesameauthority，’thatthericharenotguiltyofmortalsinbyrefusingtogivealmsoutoftheirsuperfluitytothepoorinthehouroftheirgreatestneed？—scioingravipauperumnecessitatedivitesnondandosuperflua，nonpeccaremortaliter。’""Whytruly，"saidI，"ifthatbethecase，Igiveupallpretensiontoskillinthescienceofsins。""Tomakeyoustillmoresensibleofthis，"returnedhe，"youhavebeenaccustomedtothink，Isuppose，thatagoodopinionofone’sself，andacomplacencyinone’sownworks，isamostdangeroussin？Now，willyounotbesurprisedifIcanshowyouthatsuchagoodopinion，eventhoughthereshouldbenofoundationforit，issofarfrombeingasinthatitis，onthecontrary，thegiftofGod？""Isitpossible，father？""Thatitis，"saidthemonk；"andourgoodFatherGarasseshowsitinhisFrenchwork，entitledSummaryoftheCapitalTruthsofReligion：

’Itisaresultofcommutativejusticethatallhonestlabourshouldfinditsrecompenseeitherinpraiseorinself—satisfaction。Whenmenofgoodtalentspublishsomeexcellentwork，theyarejustlyremuneratedbypublicapplause。Butwhenamanofweakpartshaswroughthardatsomeworthlessproduction，andfailstoobtainthepraiseofthepublic，inorderthathislabourmaynotgowithoutitsreward，Godimpartstohimapersonalsatisfaction，whichitwouldbeworsethanbarbarousinjusticetoenvyhim。ItisthusthatGod，whoisinfinitelyjust，hasgiveneventofrogsacertaincomplacencyintheirowncroaking。’""Veryfinedecisionsinfavourofvanity，ambition，andavarice！"criedI；"andenvy，father，willitbemoredifficulttofindanexcuseforit？""Thatisadelicatepoint，"

hereplied。"WerequiretomakeusehereofFatherBauny’sdistinction，whichhelaysdowninhisSummaryofSins。—’Envyofthespiritualgoodofourneighbourismortalbutenvyofhistemporalgoodisonlyvenial。’"

"Andwhyso，father？""Youshallhear，saidhe。"’Forthegoodthatconsistsintemporalthingsissoslender，andsoinsignificantinrelationtoheaven，thatitisofnoconsiderationintheeyesofGodandHissaints。’""But，father，iftemporalgoodissoslender，andofsolittleconsideration，howdoyoucometopermitmen’slivestobetakenawayinordertopreserveit？""Youmistakethematterentirely，"returnedthemonk；"youweretoldthattemporalgoodwasofnoconsiderationintheeyesofGod，butnotintheeyesofmen。""Thatideaneveroccurredtome，"Ireplied；"andnow，itistobehopedthat，invirtueofthesesamedistinctions，theworldwillgetridofmortalsinsaltogether。""Donotflatteryourselfwiththat，"saidthefather；"therearestillsuchthingsasmortalsins—

thereissloth，forexample。""Nay，then，fatherdear！"Iexclaimed，"afterthat，farewelltoall’thejoysoflife！’""Stay，"saidthemonk，"whenyouhaveheardEscobar’sdefinitionofthatvice，youwillperhapschangeyourtone：’Sloth，’heobserves，’liesingrievingthatspiritualthingsarespiritual，asifoneshouldlamentthatthesacramentsarethesourcesofgrace；whichwouldbeamortalsin。’""Omydearsir！"criedI，"Idon’tthinkthatanybodyevertookitintohisheadtobeslothfulinthatway。"

"Andaccordingly，"hereplied，"Escobarafterwardsremarks：’Imustconfessthatitisveryrarelythatapersonfallsintothesinofsloth。’Youseenowhowimportantitistodefinethingsproperly？""Yes，father，andthisbringstomymindyourotherdefinitionsaboutassassinations，ambuscades，andsuperfluities。Butwhyhaveyounotextendedyourmethodtoallcases，andgivendefinitionsofallvicesinyourway，sothatpeoplemaynolongersiningratifyingthemselves？""Itisnotalwaysessential，"hereplied，"toaccomplishthatpurposebychangingthedefinitionsofthings。Imayillustratethisbyreferringtothesubjectofgoodcheer，whichisaccountedoneofthegreatestpleasuresoflife，andwhichEscobarthussanctionsinhisPracticeaccordingtoourSociety：’Isitallowableforapersontoeatanddrinktorepletion，unnecessarily，andsolelyforpleasure？

Certainlyhemay，accordingtoSanchez，providedhedoesnottherebyinjurehishealth；becausethenaturalappetitemaybepermittedtoenjoyitsproperfunctions。’""Well，father，thatiscertainlythemostcompletepassage，andthemostfinishedmaximinthewholeofyourmoralsystem！

Whatcomfortableinferencesmaybedrawnfromit！Why，andisgluttony，then，notevenavenialsin？""NotintheshapeIhavejustreferredto，"

hereplied；"but，accordingtothesameauthor，itwouldbeavenialsin’wereapersontogorgehimself，unnecessarily，witheatinganddrinking，tosuchadegreeastoproducevomiting。’Somuchforthatpoint。Iwouldnowsayalittleaboutthefacilitieswehaveinventedforavoidingsininworldlyconversationsandintrigues。Oneofthemostembarrassingofthesecasesishowtoavoidtellinglies，particularlywhenoneisanxioustoinduceabeliefinwhatisfalse。Insuchcases，ourdoctrineofequivocationshasbeenfoundofadmirableservice，accordingtowhich，asSanchezhasit，’itispermittedtouseambiguousterms，leadingpeopletounderstandtheminanothersensefromthatinwhichweunderstandthemourselves。’"