Acts of the Consistory of the Walloon Church of Rotterdam, concerning the Sieur Bayle's Historical and Critical Dictionary
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"Acts of the Consistory of the Walloon Church of Rotterdam, concerning the Sieur Bayle's Historical and Critical Dictionary"[1] are a collection of criticisms of Pierre Bayle's Historical and Critical Dictionary by the Walloon church of Rotterdam. Bayle responded to these criticism in the éclaircissements.
Full text
November 3, 1697.
THE Committee appointed by an Act of the fifteenth of September last, having made a report that they had examined the Extracts which Messieurs de Superville and le Page, Ministers, had made of the passages of a book of the Sieur Bayle, intitled, An Historical and Critical DiRwiary, which relate to obscenities, and that having compared these Extracts with the said book, they had therein sound obscene reflections, indecent expressions and questions, and a great many obscene quotations, as is more folly expressed in a Memoir which they produced concerning the fame, wherein these passages are marked. Whereupon the Consistory have thought fit, that the said Memoir should be kept by their Secretary, to be produced when they shall come to a general deliberation with regard to the said book, and mean while the other members of the Consistory, may further examine the said Memoir, and make their remarks upon it betwixt this and a fortnight hence. And it has been thought proper in the mean time that this Act and others of the fame nature, which shall be made on this subject, shall not be registered in the book of Acts, except by the express order of the Consistory.
November [graphic]
November 17, 1697.
The term of a fortnight appointed by the preceeding Act for making remarks on the Memoir mentioned in the said Act being now elapsed, the other members of the Consistory were asked, if they had made any remarks on the fame, and no body having declared that they had made any, the Report contained in the said Memoir was agreed to and held as the opinion of the Consistory.
"The same Day.
The Committee above-mentioned having made a Report that they had examined the Extracts which Messieurs de Superville and le Page, Ministers, had made of the passages of the above-mentioned book of the Sieur Bay le, in the Article of David, and that having compared the said Extracts with the said book, they had found that the Sieur Bay le had in general drawn a very frightful picture of the conduct and government of this King and Prophet, and that in particular he treats several of his actions in an unworthy and scandalous manner, as this is more fully expressed in a Memoir which the said Committee produced concerning the fame, wherein the passages are marked: whereupon the Consistory have thought fit that this Memoir shall be kept as the foregoing one, and the other members of the Consistory may further examine the said Memoir, and make their remarks upon it betwixt this and a fortnight hence.
December 1, 1697.
The term of a fortnight appointed by the preceeding Act for making remarks on the Memoir which relates to the ArticleD Avi D, mentioned in the said Act, being now elapsed, the other members of the Consistory were asked, if they had any remarks on the fame, and no body declaring that they had made any; the Report contained in the fame Memoir was agreed to, and held as the opinion of the Consistory.
the same day.
The Committee abovementioned having made a Report that they had examined the Extracts which Messieurs de Superville and Le Page, Ministers, had made concerning the passages in the said book of the Sieur Bayle, in the Articles of the Manic He Ans, Marcionites, and Paulicians; and having compared these Extracts with the said book, they had found that Mr Bayle had not only advanced the arguments which the Manicheans had made use of anciently, but had likewise formed new arguments in favour of Manicheifm, which even tend to oppose the hypotheses of all Protestant Divines, and that he in the conclusion gives the victory to the Manichean hypothesis which had given great offence to the said Committee, as they have expressed it more at large in a Memoir which the said Committee have produced concerning it, wherein the passages complained of are marked: whereupon the Consistory have thought fit that this Memoir shall be kept as the preceeding, and the other members of the Consistory may further examine the said Memoir, and make their remarks upon it betwixt this and a fortnight hence.
December 8, 1697.
The Committee above-mentioned having made a Report that they had examined the Extracts which Messieurs de Superville and le Page, Ministers, had made of the passages of the said book of the Sieur Bayle, in the Article of Pyrrho, and that having compared the said Extracts with the said book, the said Committee had drawn up a Memoir of what they had found there scandalous and blame-worthy, which Memoir they produced to the Consistory; whereupon the Consistory have thought fit that this Memoir shall be kept as the preceeding, and that the other member9 of the Consistory may further examine the said Memoir, and make their remarks upon it betwixt this and the week following.
December 15, 1697.
The term of a fortnight appointed by the second Act of the first instant, for making remarks with relation to the Article of the Manicheans, Marcionites ami Paulicians, mentioned in the said Act; and likewise the term of eight days, appointed by the Act immediately preceeding this, for making remarks on the Memoir relating to the Article of Pyrrho mentioned in the said Act, being now elapsed; the members of the Consistory were asked if they had made any remarks upon the fame, whereupon no body having signified that they had made any, the report contained in the said two Memoirs was agreed to, and held as the opinion of the Consistory.
The same Day.
The Committee abovementioned, having made a report that they had examined the Extracts which Messieurs Superville and le Page, Ministers, had made of the passages of the said book of the Sieur Bayle in diverse Articles with relation to Atheists or Epicureans; and that having compared the said Extracts with the said book, the said Committee had drawn up a Memoir of such things as they had found scandalous and deserving reproof in it: which Memoir they produced to the Consistory Whereupon the Consistory have thought fit that the said Memoir should be kept as the preceeding, and that the other members of the Consistory may further examine the said Memoir, and make their remarks upon it betwixt this and Sunday next.
The fame Day.
Mr le Page, one of our Ministers, informed the Consistory that the Sieur Bayle came to fee him on the 10th of this month, to tell him that he had heard that the Consistory were examining his Crithai Diclionary. That this had surprized him, because he did not think that Dictionaries were subject to examination; that he had been assured that we found fault with the articles of D A V I D, the M AKicheans or Paulicians, the P Y R R Honi Ans, and sundry expressions and citations of too free a nature; that since it was so he designed to soften and rectify these things in a second edition, either by adding or suppressing, and desired that the Consistory might be informed of this his declaration, and that he hoped they would be satisfied with it. Whereupon the Consistory having deliberated, thought fit to appoint an extraordinary meeting on Thursday next on the affair of the said Sieur Bayle.
Thursday December 19, 1697.
The Consistory being extraordinarily met, according to the abovementioned Act, and having read over the four first Memoirs relating to the affair of the said Sieur Bayle, mentioned in the preceeding Acts, they thought fit to acquaint the Sieur Bayle, by the mouth of their Secretary, to appear before them on Tuesday next in the afternoon, at half an hour after three or the clock, on this aff air.
Sunday December 21, 1697.
The time appointed by the second Act of the 15th instant, for making remarks on the Memoir relating to several Articles concerning Atheists and Epicureans, mentioned in the laid Act, being nowelapsed, the other members of the Consistory were asked if they had any remarks on the fame. Whereupon no body having signified that they had made any, the report contained in the said Memoir was agreed to, and held as the opinion of the Consistory.
Tuesday December 24, 1697.
The Consistory being extraordinarily assembled, according to the Act of the 19th instant, the Sieur Bayk appeared before them : to whom the Consistory having declared, by the mouth of their President, that they had found in his book, intitled An Historical and Critical Diftionary, several passages which appeared to the Consistory offensive. And in the first place, that they had found in his said book obscene expressions, quotations, and reflexions j in answer to which the said Sieur Bayle said, " That he was "not prepared to answer, not knowing what the Consistory was to propose to him; and added, *« there was a difference betwixt a Philosophical writer or an Historian, and a Divine -, that an Hi«« storian ought to be faithful and impartial, and that he is accountable if he gives false relations; "that he might desire of this Consistory twenty audiences, of two hours each, to lay his reasons be"fore them, but that he would not make use of that method, and that he desired to prevent a long "and tedious process j that he maintained that he had advanced nothing in the said book as his own "opinion, which was contrary to our Confessions of Faith, and that he had defended the principal "points of Religion in it; that they ought not to insist on what was only trifling; that he might cri"ticize upon the Extracts which the Consistory had made, both with regard to facts, and with re"gard to right; but that he would not in the least enter into that dilcussion; that in the preface "to the said book he had declared that he would be ready to correct whatever should be found "in it which deserved correction •, and that in the Reflexions which he had published on a "pamphlet intitled, The Judgment os the Public, he had made the fame declaration; that he de"clared once more to the Consistory, that he had resolved to change in a second Edition what** ever the Consistory should find fault with, and that he was already at work in correcting the "said Book."
The Consistory having deliberated on this Answer, and desired the Sieur Bayle to come in, they told him, by the mouth of their President, that they would not at present enter upon an answer to the abovementioned reasons alledged by him, and as to the resolution which he had declared to them, that it appeared to be too general •, that he had spoke of correcting in a second Edition, and not of retracting; that the Consistory did not know when that second Edition stiould be published, and likewise that several accidents might intervene to prevent the execution of it •, that the remarks which the Consistory had made upon the said book were of importance. Whereupon the Sieur Bayle had answered " that "he would be ready not only to make alterations in the said book, but likewise to retract what "should be thought deserved to be retracted, and that even now, if there be any propositions "in it which are laid down as his own opinion, which shall be found contrary to our Religion, *' that he declared them heretical."
After this the Consistory informed him that they would cause the passages of the said book to be pointed out to him, together with their remarks upon the fame, and afterwards appointed Messieurs Pielat, de Superville, and le Page, Ministers •, Messieurs de Fanueil, Diodati, and Vermande, Elders ; and Messieurs de Tinnebacq and de Peyster, Deacons; to point out to the Sieur Bayle the passages and remarks contained in the five Memoirs which have been made on that subject •, and to hear what the said Sieur should say concerning them, and to make a Report of the same to the Consistory.
January 5, 1698.
The Memoirs of the Committee appointed by an Act of the 24th of December last, reported, that having met on the 30th following, they had laid before the Sieur Bayle, the substance of the Remarks contained in the five Memoirs made with relation to his book, mentioned in the said Act, and having heard the explanations and general answers, and likewise the Sieur Bayle's offers on that subject, they had thought it proper that the Sieur Bayle should put what he had said to them in writing, which the said Sieur Bayle having done, they produced a Memoir of the same subscribed by the said Sieur, which being read before the Consistory, after deliberating thereupon, they thought fit to desire the Members of the laid Committee to draw up a sketch of an Answer to the said Memoir, and to communicate the same to the Consistory, which shall extraordinarily meet for that purpose on Tuesday next, and ordered that the Sieur Bayle be summoned to appear before them at that time. 2
A Memorial
A Memorial presented to the Consistory of the Walloon Cburcb of Rotterdam on Sunday January 5, 1698, concerning the Historical And Critical Dictionary.
"Gentlemen,
WHAT I had the honour to say to you on the twenty fourth of the last month; and to repeat more at large to your Committee on Monday last, when they read their remarks to ** me, I now give the Consistory in writing with more particular explanations.
•« This may be reduced to two points: The first is, that I have a great many things to alledge M both by way of reason and of example in my justification, without a discussion of which this «« matter cannot in equity be determined by way ot decision. The second is, that if to prevent a *< long process, and other inconveniences, the Consistory think proper to terminate this affair by way •« of agreement, I will do all that is in my power to facilitate it. For that purpose, I in the first place «« declare in the sincerest manner, that I never intended to insert any thing in my Dictionary which could ** giye juft cause of offence to pious fouls. I always hoped that the liberty which I took on certain ocM casions would be favourably interpreted, because people would observe that it is a Layman and a "Philosopher who speaks, and that too in a History, a Criticism, and a large Commentary, and that «* I have been at pains to add, wherever I thought it was necessary, salvo's and explanations which bring «' back my reader to the most orthodox principle of our Communion, to wit, diat the Scripture is the «« rule of what we ought to believe, whether our reason can comprehend it or not. I likewise hoped that M every body would remember diat die quality of Historian puts one under a necessity of relating many "things concerning the strong and the weak side of every party, which another Author would not fay, and "that the Fathers of the Church have minutely related impurities and obscenities which create horror.
- I declare in the second place that I am extremely sorry, that, contrary to my intention and *• hopes, several people have been offended at the liberty which I have taken, and that if I had •« foreseen diis I would have carefully abstained from it. And in order effectually to remedy this I M promise to rectify in a second edition which I shall presendy set about, all the passages which have «' been complained of. This appears to me to be very easy to be done either by suppressions, addi•* dons, or change of expression. By reading the remarks of your Committee, I know these pas•* sages more distinctly dian I did before. In my corrections I shall have great regard to these re«* marks, and the rather that I know that they were made by persons of great abilities, and to the M good advice and information, which it stiall please the Ministers of the Church to favour me v/ith; "and I stiall much more consider whether a thing may offend part of my readers, than whether *' it be at bottom true, and not contrary to our Confession of Faith.
- « I promise, in particular, to new model the Article of the Prophet David in such a manner, '* that no stumbling block stiall be left there. As to what relates to the Manicbean Heresy, I have «« very distinctly declared that it is horrible, extravagant, contrary to common notions, and that '* it may be easily overthrown by the Holy Scripture. I have only maintained, that the objections "concerning the Origin of Evil cannot be solved by the strength of reason, and I believed that M this was saying no more than what all our Divines confess concerning the incomprehensibility "of Predestination. Notwithstanding I promise to consider that matter over again, and to seek "for philosophical reasons against these objections. And if your Reverend Ministers will be so good "as to take the trouble of furnishing me with any, I will make use of them in the best manner I am "able, and that with the greater pleasure that Manicheism is an abominable heresy with regard to Mo«« rality, and ridiculous and monstrous with regard to Metaphysics. What I promise with relation to *' this Article ought likewise to be understood in particular with regard to that of Pyrrho.
"In a word, I declare that I will receive with joy, and with an intention to profit by them 1« all the advices that may be communicated to me, in order to render my book more useful to "the public, and more edifying to the churches j and especially I will receive with great sub"mission the good advices of the Consistory.
"I have only two things farther, Gentlemen, to declare to you. The first is, that I never de"signed to advance as my own opinion any doctrine contrary to the Confession of Faith of the *« Reformed Church, of which I profess myself a member, and in which I beg the grace of God ** that I may live and die. If therefore there be any such doctrine found in my writings, I disown "it, and from this day forth entirely retract it. The second thing is, that I have good ground to hope that the Consistory having nothing in view but the peace and edification of the public, will be fully content with what is above; for methinks it is all that can be required of an Au41 thor in such a case. Besides, that by taking the way of a formal process, the Consistory must "be sensible that it will be drawn into great length, that I have reasons to offer in my justi«* fication on every article; that it may perhaps be necessary to pass from one Court to ano«* ther, and even come to printed Cases, which will only tend to excite new troubles without "any advantage to the Church, and on the contrary will give pleasure to our adversaries.
- If all that I have said above should not be able to bring this matter to an amicable issue, ** and if notwithstanding thereof this affair should come to be tried by way of process, I desire "that nothing that I have said above may prejudice my cause, either as to my pretensions of chal"lenging some persons, if that shall be found necessary, or to the method of appeal, if that "be found requisite. I desire likewise that what I have said either to the Consistory, or to ** the GenUeman of the Committee, may not be taken as part of my Defence."
And it was signed Bayle,
Tuesday, January 7, 1698. The Consistory being extraordinarily assembled in consequence of the last Act, and finding that they were not a sufficient Dumber, though all the members were particularly acquainted to meet, that they might come to a resolution on this affair, and considering the shortness of the time, the V O L. I. i i Consistory Consistory being to be changed on Sunday next i after having examined the sketch of an ArJVeir drawn by the Committee, mentioned in die preceding Act, they have thought fit only to read the laid sketch to the Sieur Bayle, who having desired a copy of it, the Consistory came to no resolution diereupon, but thought proper to meet again on Thursday next.
Thursday January 9, 1698. The Consistory being once more extraordinarily assembled, in consequence of the preceding Act, and having read the Iketch of an Answer, drawn up by the Committee, and communicated to the Sieur Bayle, as is mentioned in the preceding Act, unanimoufly approved of the fame. The tenour "whereof is as follows:
The Consistory continuing to deliberate concerning Mr Bayle's affair, after having heard the said Sieur Bayle's explanations and general answers, both in full Consistory on Thursday the 24th of December last, and on Monday the 30th of this month, in presence of the Committee who communicated to him by word of mouth the substance of the five Memoirs drawn up by the Consistory concerning his Dictionary, and have made a report of the whole on Sunday last, the 5th instant j after having likewise examined the paper presented to the Consistory, on Sunday last above-mentioned, by the said Sieur Bayle, and signed by him, in which he lays down his intentions and designs more distinctly.
The Consistory declare that they are glad to observe,
I. That the said Sieur Bayle protests that he desires to live and die in the profession of the Reformed Religion which it has pleased God to make known to him, and in which he has continued until now, disowning and retracting from this day forth all that he may have advanced in his works contrary to our Confession of Faith, supposing that there be any such thing in them, which he doth not believe, he having always had a contrary intention.
II. That the laid Sieur Bayle is extremely sorry that, contrary to ••his intentions and hopes, many persons have been offended at the liberty which he has taken in his Dictionary, and that if he had foreseen this he would have carefully abstained from it.
III. That he abhors Manicheism, as a heresy which is entirely destroyed by the Scripture, and which is abominable, and monstrous with regard to Morality as well as Metaphysics, adding that he will be at all possible pains to refute it, which he also promiseth with regard to Pyrrhonism.
IV. That in particular he designs to correct the Article David in such a manner, that 110 stumbling-block shall remain there.
V. And lastly, that to satisfy the complaints which have been made against his Dictionary, he designs to set about a second edition without delay; in which he will change, correct, rectify, and suppress, every thing that may have given offence, and that in order to render that edition more correct, he will have great regard to the Memoirs which have been communicated to him by the Consistory, and to whatever advice they shall please to give him.
The Consistory is very glad to fee Mr Bayle in these dispositions: but they cannot approve of divers other things which the said Sieur Bayle has inserted in his paper, as among other things, that he pretends that he could justify what he has advanced in his Dictionary, if it should come to a. discussion, and that he speaks of die reasons which he will then alledge, as reasons which are sufficient to justify him, so that it seems that it is only out of condescendence, and that he may not give offence to pious souls, that he is willing to correct and rectify lus work, and not that at bottom he is obliged to do it, or that the work has need of it, because in quality of a Layman, Philosopher, Historian, and Commentator, it was lawful for him to advance many things, which would not be allowed in another Author. The Consistory cannot approve of these exceptions, as the President will represent to Mr Bayle more at large, yet in the mean while being willing to take the most indulgent method to endeavour to put an end to this affair, they are of opimon that in order thereunto it is necessary,
I. That Mr Bayle acquiesce in the remarks which have been made by the Consistory, that lie acknowledge the solidity of them, and promise to profit by them, and conform to them in a second edition. These remarks relate 1. to the Obscenities dispersed in the work. 2. The Article of DavuL 3. Manicheism. 4. Pyrrhonism. 5. The excessive praises given to Atheists, with the consequences he draws from thence. Concerning which he shall declare his sorrow that he has given ground of complaint.
II. It is necessary that the Sieur Bayle should promise that for the future he will take great care to advance nothing in his writings, which may offend either the purity of Morality, or the truth of Doctrine: but on the contrary that he will dedicate the talents, which God has given him, to the defence of both, and to the edification of the Church.
III. That to repair the scandal already given, and for the edification of the public, Mr Bayle shall be earnestly exhorted, not to wait for a second edition of his Dictionary, which may be a long ■while hence, but with the first opportunity to print something in which he shall acquaint die public with the sentiments which he has declared to us concerning the points proposed to him.
Afterwards Mr Bayle being come in, the President once more read the before-mentioned sketch to him, which was now held as the opinion of the Consistory, and asked him what he had to answer thereto. "Whereupon the said Sieur Bayle declared diat he acquiesced in this resolution, and at the same time delivered the following Memoir written and signed by him:
"Gentlemen,
"T> EI N G persuaded that the Consistory have nothing else in view, in terminating this affair, but "O sincerely to promote the edification of the pubsic and the glory of God, and being desirous to "concur with them to the utmost of my power, in so good a design, I accept of the conditions "contained in an Act which was read to me on the seventh instant; and I declare in particular "with regard to the remarks which have been communicated to me by the Consistory, that I acquiesce *' in them as a rule which I will punctually follow in the correction of my Dictionary for a new edition.
"I shall *4 I shall likewise comply with the exhortation os the Consistory to the utmost os my power, concerning ** a pkrer to be published before the new edition, and I hope that this lhall not be lorg delayed.
- I hope and humbly desire the Consistory that they will be pleased not to allow these remarks and "other paper srelating to this aftair, to fall into the hands of people who may make a bad use os them, *k by publishing pieces which can only do prejudice to the education of lbuls, both in themselves ** and by the answers which I may be obliged to make to them. At Rotterdam, January 9, 1698."
And was finned Bayle.
Thereafter Mr Bayle being withdrawn, the Consistory, after having deliberated on his answer, resolved to rest satisfied with it, because he agreed to every thing which they had desired of him, he acquiesced in the remarks of the Consistory on his Dictionary, and promised to publish, as loon as possible, a piece which should acquaint the public with his good dispositions. They were of opinion, iliat by putting an end to that affair in this manner, the Church would be more edified than by long debates ; besides, that this would be the most effectual means of engaging Mr Bayle to employ his tak'nis for the advancement of our Lord's Kingdom. Being therefore called in again to the Consistory, the President told him, I. That the Consistory was satisfied with his answer. II. That they allured him tlut the papers which had passed betwixt him and them, should not be given to any body to be published, that this was not the practice of the Consistory, and that they knew very well that after matters were determined, it was not fit to awaken them again by printed papers. 111. That neither did the Consistory doubt that he would on his part fulfil his promise of publishing very soon a paper wherein he should inform the public of the good sentiments which he had testified to them, and that the sooner that paper should appear, die better it would be. And this the said Mr Bayle once more promised to do. After which the President represented to him that the more talents God had bestowed on him, the more he was bound to dedicate them to his glory. That he ought to labour to edify the Church, and that they hoped that for the future he would endeavour to do so ; that the Consistory earnestly exhorted him to it, and that on that condition they prayed that God would bless his labours. Mr Bayle assured the Consistory that he would answer their expectations, and thanked them for their good wishes.
All the above written Acts down to this day, January 11, 1698, were read and approved of by the Consistory, this 1 ith of January 1698, and signed Le Page, Minister J Pi El At, Minister; De Supervise, Minister; Basnage, Minister; J. V. Kaeren, Elder-, F. Van Schonhoven, Elder; John Fanueil, Elder; Jacob Vermande, Elder; Theodore Sysmus, Deacon and Secretary ; D. P R I N S, Deacon ; Gouert Coolbrant ; Peter Balder Isaac Rerdoes, Deacon; G. Allart, Deacon; John De Peyster, Deacon.
December 7, 1698.
The Committee appointed by the Act of the 28th of September to consider Mr Bayle's affair, made their Report. Whereupon the Consistory find that
I. The printed Letter of the laid Mr Bayle appeared later than they had reason to expect, and that it would have been to be wished that Mr Bayle had published it sooner according to his promise.
II. That the said Mr Bayle did not send a copy of it to the Consistory: notwithstanding he was obliged to show them that he had fulfilled his engagement.
III. That the number of copies of that Letter was too small, and that there have been none to be had at the Booksellers this great while past; so that it seems as if it was intended that the Letter should be suppressed as soon as it was published, and put in the hands of as few persons as possible, •which is contrary the intention of the Consistory, which desired that the public should be informed of the declarations which Mr Bayle had made concerning that affair.
IV. And what is more important, that Mr Bayle has passed lightly over the matters which had given offence, and even speaks of them as things that may be defended, pretending that he could defend what he has advanced in his Dictionary, because, in quality of Commentator and of Historian, it was allowable in him to speak otherwise than if he had been writing in the dogmatical way: an excuse which he had alledged in his paper of the 5th of January 1698, but which they had told him was by no means to be received, upon which he acquiesced simply in the Remarks of the Consistory, and acknowledged the solidity of them, and promised to submit to the same; which is a circumstance he ought to have taken notice of in his printed Letter, as being necessary to the satisfaction which was required of them.
For these and other reasons, the Consistory being of opinion that Mr Bayle's printed Letter only in part satisfies what he had promised, and so they might justly desire something farther of him, yet notwithstanding that they might not depart from the indulgent method which they had already . taken, the Consistory may content themselves with representing these things by word of mouth to Mr Bayle, and earnestly exhorting him to a punctual performance of his promises: and the Consistory will take this method, being persuaded that the Sieur Bayle will, in the iecond Edition of his Dictionary sincerely correct the things which have been pointed out to him, and will make good use of the advices which they have given him; which is the principal thing that the Consistory proposed to itself in the whole of this affair, because they consider it as of importance to the glory of God, and the edification of the Church.
And farther that Mr Bayle who has promised to make use of the Remarks of the Consistory, may do it the more easily, the Consistory think fit that the Ministers who have already been employed in this affair, should draw up some succinct Memorials concerning the Remarks which the Consistory have made, to which they may add some others on important points, that after the Consistory shall have approved of the said Memorials, they may be put in Mr Bayle's hands, that he may remember and have regard to them.
The Consistory likewise being of opinion that our much honoured brother Mr Jurieu, one of our Ministers, having been very ill treated by Mr Bayle in his work; it is proper to acquaint the latter of the lame, and to exhort him for the future to behave with more moderation, both in the
- second «
second Edition of his Dictionary, and in the other volumes which he promiseth to the public, the Consistory having observed, not without grief, that so little regard has been had lor a Minister whose ministry and labours have been and are of singular edification to the Church.
December 20, 1698.
The Committee, appointed by an Act of the 7th of December, read to the Consistory the succinct Memorials concerning the Remarks of the Consistory on Mr Bayle's paper, and likewise; their Remarks on the most important points in the Dictionary of the said Sieur Bayle, which are approved of by the Consistory, and it is resolved that the lame be communicated to Mr Bayle by Messieurs Fielat, Superville, Le Page, and Fanueil.
A Short M Emori Al of the principal things to which Mr Bayle ought to have regard, in order to correct
them in the second edition c/to DICTIONARY.
TH E Consistory being informed that a second edition of the Historical and Critical Dictionary, h actually in the press, think themselves obliged to acquaint Mr Bayle in consequer.ee of what has formerly passed betwixt the Consistory and him. That he ought to remember the following things, in order to have regard to them in the corrections which he promised to make in his book.
1. He shall carefully shun all obscenities, and suppress the impure expressions, citations, questions, and reflexions; remembring that purity of spirit, as well as of body, is one of those things which are most recommended to us in the Scripture, and that all wife men ought to take great care not to favour Libertinism, which is but too common in this age, and to which the youth have but too great propensity.
2. He shall entirely reform the article of David, so that pious fouls may no longer be ohended at it, as he has promised: and in order to this he shall conform himself to what die Holy Scripture tells us of that great Prophet. He ought even to write a vindication of him, and observe that during the life of Saul, David was the rightful King; and far from judging of the actions of that Prince by the common and ordinary course of the Kings of the earth, he shall show that he was authorised to extirpate the Canaanites. That the High-Priest, by whose means he consulted God, was a particular rule to him j that we ought to be silent where the Scripture is silent •, and that its silence, far from giving a pretence against David, is rather equivalent to an approbation •, and, in fine, he shall take care to establish well the prophetical and canonical authority of David's writings.
3. With regard to Manicheism, instead of displaying the sophisms of the Manicheans, and lending them reasons and new objections which they never alledged, and endeavouring to free their hypotheses from the difficulties which render it ridiculous, Mr Bayle shall refute them, and shall take care not to give the victory to so detestable and monstrous a heresy. For that purpose he shall correct the articles Manicheans, Marcionites, Paulicians, and likewise divers passages in his book which seem to favour their opinion, or the difficulties which they alledge against the permission of evil.
4. He shall observe the same conduct with regard to the Pyrrhonians and Pyrrhonism, which extinguishes!) all Religion, and reform the article Pyrrho, taking care, both there and every where else, not to injure our mysteries.
5. He shall not give extravagant praises to Atheists or Epicureans. He shall correct the passages which may contain any affectation in favour of them, and he shall not weaken the necessity of believing a God and a Providence, and even a suture life, with regard to the bdhefit of civil society, and the reformation of manners. He shall rather insert clauses which may serve to inspire his readers with a horror against Atheism; and shall endeavour to show that altho' Atheists have been regular in their manners, that this did not proceed from Atheism, but only from a self-love, which was always irregular. He may even bring examples, which he may know, of many Atheists who have been very vicious and very infamous.
6. Besides these five principal heads, which have been already mentioned to Mr Bayle, and which he has promised to correct, as he has likewise promised to the Consistory to receive all the other informations which they mall give him, and to make use of the fame, the Consistory do exhort him to take care, in the sixth place, not to refute, except on very good grounds, what our Divines have advanced concerning certain wicked Popes; since tho' he may alledge some conjectures in defence of these Popes, with regard to certain facts, strong reasons may be opposed to him for their condemnation, and that it is unjust, without necessity, to favour the party of seducers, who have done so much hurt to die Church, and to make our authors pass for rash accusers.
7. He shall likewise revise the Articles of Nicole and Pelisson, which contain divers things which seem to lead to Pyrrhonism, and are hurtful to the way of Examination, by which Protestants pretend that we can and ought to come to the knowledge of the truth.
8. He shall take care in speaking of Providence, not to exaggerate and magnify the difficulties of the prophane, and not give their objections an air of superiority over our answers, even in refuting those which are agreeable to Scripture : whereupon they particularly point out to him the Article of Run Nus. He shall likewise revise the Article of Xenophanes, in which he exaggerates the victories of the Devil.
9. It is likewise to be wished that he would have greater regard to the expressions of the Scripture in the allusions which he sometimes makes.
Mr Bayle shall have regard to all these heads to conform his corrections to them, and shall endeavour to purge his book of every thing that may have given offence to true believers. The Consistory declaring that they have only made these remarks on what appeared to them to be most essential, and that they do not pretend thereby to approve of the rest of the work.
They think themselves obliged to acquaint Mr Bayle, that Mr Jurieu, one of our Ministers, having been very ill used in his book, th'-y desire that he may behave for the future with greater moderation, both in the second edirion of his Dictionary, and in the other volumes which he promiseth to the public, and they exhort him to do so, having observed, not without sorrow, that so little regard has been had for a Minister whose ministry and labours have been and arc of singular edification to the Church.
Approved and Resolved in Consistory, on the 20th of December 1698. A Short M Emori Al of the principal things to which Mr Bayle ought to have regard, in order to correct
them in the second edition c/to DICTIONARY.
TH E Consistory being informed that a second edition of the Historical and Critical Dictionary, h actually in the press, think themselves obliged to acquaint Mr Bayle in consequer.ee of what has formerly passed betwixt the Consistory and him. That he ought to remember the following things, in order to have regard to them in the corrections which he promised to make in his book.
1. He shall carefully shun all obscenities, and suppress the impure expressions, citations, questions, and reflexions; remembring that purity of spirit, as well as of body, is one of those things which are most recommended to us in the Scripture, and that all wife men ought to take great care not to favour Libertinism, which is but too common in this age, and to which the youth have but too great propensity.
2. He shall entirely reform the article of David, so that pious fouls may no longer be ohended at it, as he has promised: and in order to this he shall conform himself to what die Holy Scripture tells us of that great Prophet. He ought even to write a vindication of him, and observe that during the life of Saul, David was the rightful King; and far from judging of the actions of that Prince by the common and ordinary course of the Kings of the earth, he shall show that he was authorised to extirpate the Canaanites. That the High-Priest, by whose means he consulted God, was a particular rule to him j that we ought to be silent where the Scripture is silent •, and that its silence, far from giving a pretence against David, is rather equivalent to an approbation •, and, in fine, he shall take care to establish well the prophetical and canonical authority of David's writings.
3. With regard to Manicheism, instead of displaying the sophisms of the Manicheans, and lending them reasons and new objections which they never alledged, and endeavouring to free their hypotheses from the difficulties which render it ridiculous, Mr Bayle shall refute them, and shall take care not to give the victory to so detestable and monstrous a heresy. For that purpose he shall correct the articles Manicheans, Marcionites, Paulicians, and likewise divers passages in his book which seem to favour their opinion, or the difficulties which they alledge against the permission of evil.
4. He shall observe the same conduct with regard to the Pyrrhonians and Pyrrhonism, which extinguishes!) all Religion, and reform the article Pyrrho, taking care, both there and every where else, not to injure our mysteries.
5. He shall not give extravagant praises to Atheists or Epicureans. He shall correct the passages which may contain any affectation in favour of them, and he shall not weaken the necessity of believing a God and a Providence, and even a suture life, with regard to the bdhefit of civil society, and the reformation of manners. He shall rather insert clauses which may serve to inspire his readers with a horror against Atheism; and shall endeavour to show that altho' Atheists have been regular in their manners, that this did not proceed from Atheism, but only from a self-love, which was always irregular. He may even bring examples, which he may know, of many Atheists who have been very vicious and very infamous.
6. Besides these five principal heads, which have been already mentioned to Mr Bayle, and which he has promised to correct, as he has likewise promised to the Consistory to receive all the other informations which they mall give him, and to make use of the fame, the Consistory do exhort him to take care, in the sixth place, not to refute, except on very good grounds, what our Divines have advanced concerning certain wicked Popes; since tho' he may alledge some conjectures in defence of these Popes, with regard to certain facts, strong reasons may be opposed to him for their condemnation, and that it is unjust, without necessity, to favour the party of seducers, who have done so much hurt to die Church, and to make our authors pass for rash accusers.
7. He shall likewise revise the Articles of Nicole and Pelisson, which contain divers things which seem to lead to Pyrrhonism, and are hurtful to the way of Examination, by which Protestants pretend that we can and ought to come to the knowledge of the truth.
8. He shall take care in speaking of Providence, not to exaggerate and magnify the difficulties of the prophane, and not give their objections an air of superiority over our answers, even in refuting those which are agreeable to Scripture : whereupon they particularly point out to him the Article of Run Nus. He shall likewise revise the Article of Xenophanes, in which he exaggerates the victories of the Devil.
9. It is likewise to be wished that he would have greater regard to the expressions of the Scripture in the allusions which he sometimes makes.
Mr Bayle shall have regard to all these heads to conform his corrections to them, and shall endeavour to purge his book of every thing that may have given offence to true believers. The Consistory declaring that they have only made these remarks on what appeared to them to be most essential, and that they do not pretend thereby to approve of the rest of the work.
They think themselves obliged to acquaint Mr Bayle, that Mr Jurieu, one of our Ministers, having been very ill used in his book, th'-y desire that he may behave for the future with greater moderation, both in the second edirion of his Dictionary, and in the other volumes which he promiseth to the public, and they exhort him to do so, having observed, not without sorrow, that so little regard has been had for a Minister whose ministry and labours have been and arc of singular edification to the Church.
Approved and Resolved in Consistory, on the 20th of December 1698.
