infallible Science of those things which are to us altogether inconceivable. So depravedly do we use the will and understanding! we proudly aspire to know every thing, and cannot; we may religiously observe every thing, and will not. Let us be just, charitable, and patient, according to the principles of our Religion, and we shall know and observe at the same time.
I leave it to our Doctors to refute the errors of the Calvinists, 'tis enough for me to be persuaded that our opinions are the sounder. But if rightly apprehended, I dare say the Spirit of both Religions is differently grounded on good Principles; only one extends farther the exercise of Good Works; with the other, the cautions to avoid Evil, are more exact. The Catholick with an active resolution, and loving industry, is perpetually seeking some new way of pleasing God. The Reformed, stinted by circumspection and respect, dares not venture beyond a known precept, for fear by imagin'd novelties, of giving too much sway to his fancy.
To be always disputing points of Doctrine, is not the means to reunite us. Arguments being inexhaustible, the Controversy will last as long as there are men to manage it. But if we would leave these Disputes, that only serve to exasperate us, and return without passion to that particular Spirit which distinguishes us, it will not be impossible to find a general one in which we may agree.
Let us Catholicks bridle the restless Zeal, that makes us act a little too much of our own heads. Let the Reformed make off their unactive regularity, and animate their langour, without departing from their submisiion to Providence. Let us retrench something in condescension to them, and let them admit something more in complaisance to us. Then, without thinking either of Free-will
