Page:Blaise Pascal works.djvu/323

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POLEMICAL FRAGMENTS
315

897

The servant knoweth not what his lord doeth, for the master tells him only the act and not the intention. And this is why he often obeys slavishly, and defeats the intention. But Jesus Christ has told us the object. And you defeat that object.


898

They cannot have perpetuity, and they seek universality; and therefore they make the whole Church corrupt, that they may be saints.


899

Against those who misuse passages of Scripture, and who pride themselves in finding one which seems to favour their error.—The chapter for Vespers, Passion Sunday, the prayer for the king.

Explanation of these words: "He that is not with me is against me." And of these others: "He that is not against you is for you." A person who says : "I am neither for nor against;" we ought to reply to him…


900

He who will give the meaning of Scripture, and does not take it from Scripture, is an enemy of Scripture. (Aug.: De Doct. Christ.)


901

Humilibus dat gratiam; an ideo non dedit humilitatem?[1]

Sui eum non receperunt; quotquot autem non receperunt an non erant sui?[2]


902

"It must indeed be," says Feuillant, "that this is not so certain; for controversy indicates uncertainty, (Saint Athanasius, Saint Chrysostom, morals, unbelievers)."

The Jesuits have not made the truth uncertain, but they have made their own ungodliness certain.

Contradiction has always been permitted, in order to

  1. James iv. 6.
  2. John i. 11, 12.