The famous Bull Unigenitus was issued at the instigation of the Jesuits. As a means for its enforcement, the Jesuit clergy in France resolved that notes should be obtained of dying persons, that these notes should be signed by priests who maintained the authority of the Bull, and that without such notes no person should receive the last sacraments of the Church. Among other things this Bull denounced as false, blasphemous, heretical, and reprobate the following propositions, which had been published by Father Quesnel, a Jansenist, with his New Testament:—
"That it is useful and necessary for all persons to know the Scriptures.
"That the reading of the Scriptures is for everybody.
"That the sacred obscurity of the Word of God is no reason for the laity to excuse themselves from reading it.
"That the Lord's day ought to be sanctified by Christians, in reading pious books and, above all, the Scriptures.
"That it is a great mistake to imagine that the knowledge of the mysteries of religion ought not to be imparted to women, by the reading of the Sacred Books.
"That to wrest the New Testament out of the hands of Christians, is to keep it closed up, by taking from them the means of understanding it,—is no other than to close up the mouth of Christ as to them.
"That to forbid to Christians the reading of the Holy Scriptures, especially of the Gospel, is no other than to forbid the use of light to the children of light.
"That to deprive the unlearned people of the comfort of joining their voices with the voice of the whole Church, is a custom contrary to apostolical practice and to the design of God."
