excepter of persons, but will render | said to be in a state of probation, as

to every man according to his deeds; well as Adam was?" The calvinists to them who, by patient continuance answer, "The consequence will not in well doing, seek for glory, and hold, because these rewards are of honour, and immortality, eternal another kind than could have taken life; but unto them that are conten- place under the covenant of works, tious, and do not obey the truth, but though it had been fulfilled. For obey unrighteousness, indignation now, they are either rewards of imand wrath.—Rom. ii. 6, 7, 8. But partial justice for evil works, the Calvin and his followers have dis-wages of sin being death, or rewards carded this general belief of chris- of free mercy to the doing persons, tians, and now unblushingly tell the not for their good works, but accordworld that man is not in a state of ing to them." Q. 13, q. ro. They probation; but that the lot of every mean, that if Adam had not broken one is already fixed, irrevocably fix- his covenant with God, în that case, ed. This new tenet is perfectly con- good and evil works, performed unsistent with their doctrine of absolute der that covenant, would have been election and absolute reprobation.- rewarded or punished for their inBut they derive it from a more im- trinsic merit or demerit, without any mediate principle, namely, the dis- regard to the doing persons; and the pensation of mercy or grace, which, domg persons would have been acthey say, has taken place subsequent cepted or rejected on account of their to Adam's fall; by which Christ has works: but this order, they pretend, brought the elect into a covenant of is now changed. God considers the grace, and left the reprobate in work on account of the doing person, their state of sin and damnation, not the person on account of the from which they can never recover. work. With regard to evil works, "Why is it that no man since the they may be the same in an elect and fall can justly be said to be in a in a reprobate; theft, murder, or state of probation in this world ?”* - any other wicked action. But the They answer, "Because the cove- reprobate alone, according to this nant of works (made with Adam) doctrine, shall be punished for those being broken, all the children of sins, because under a dispensation of men are either in a natural state injustice; the elect shall not be pu the first Adam, or in a gracious state in the second; and, consequently, under a dispensation either of divine justice or mercy." Q. 13, 9. There is no justice, therefore, to be feared for those who are under the dispensation of mercy; there is no mercy to be expected for those who are under the dispensation of justice. Mercy without justice to the elect, justice without mercy to the reprobate; all fixed in love or in wrath.

A difficulty will here naturally present itself to the reader:

nished for the same sins, because under a dispensation of mercy. Let an elect commit the same sin a hundred times over, and the reprobate once only, the former is not able to punishment at all; the sin is not inputed to him; for the doing person is an elect; but the latter deserves hell the very first time he offends, because the doing person is a reprobate. As to good works, the reprobate can do none, and the elect are not obliged to do any; the condition of eternal life, which is obedience to

hot men to have rewards give Are the divine law, was to be performed

them according to their good or evil works, and, consequently, may be

by Christ, not by the elect. The reprobate, indeed, shall be punished for omitting good works which he

cannot do; but the elect, under his dispensation of grace, shall never be punished for omitting good works, which he can do. The lot, therefore, of the elect and that of the re- | probate are fixed, because their states are so hence no man, in this horrible system, can be said to be in a state of probation in this world!!

COVENANT OF WORKS.

due time by an irresistible grace; whilst the reprobate, those unfortunate objects of God's unmerited wrath, are decreed to remain in it for ever, bound to fulfil the condition of eternal life laid upon Adam by the covenant of works; that is, perfect and universal obedience, though, by an absolute decree, they are doomed to eterual death, and de

As, in the doctrine of the calvi-prived of the power necessary to fulnists, Almighty God has fore-or- fil the condition. It is certainly the dained the sins of the reprobate, to height of absurdity to affirm, that bring about their damnation, so has the reprobate can be bound to obey he contrived the covenant of works, the divine law as a condition to obas an effectual means to secure the tain what has never been destined commission of their sins. Next to for them, a happiness from which the eternal decree of reprobation, God has excluded them by an antethis is the main wheel which gives cedent act of his sovereign will. motion and energy to every other, But it is the height of blasphemy to which sets the whole machine at suppose that God should insist upon work. It was transacted between Al- the performance of that illusory conmighty God and Adam, previous to dition, and punish the reprobate the fall; Adam, on his side, as fe- eternally for not performing it, when deral head of mankind, promising, it is supposed, at the same time, that in his own name, and in the name of he refuses them the power of obeyhis posterity, universal, perfect, and ing him. For what is the real cause continual obedience to God; and of that impotence in the reprobate ? God, on his side, promising to the Not their own sins, nor the sins of buman race, in their federal head, Adam; for the decree of their rethe continuance of his favour and probation, which dooms them to reeternal life, upon the condition of main under the covenant of works, that obedience. But God, say the was not grounded upon the forecalvinists, "had another scene to sight of either Adam's sin or their open through the occasion of man's own, but upon God's free wrath.fall." "The covenant of works was Pharaoh is esteemed a tyrant for a scaffold erected for carrying on a commanding the Israelites to fulfil a more glorious fabric.” Q. 13, q. 30, task which they could not. It was, therefore, absolutely are idle," said he to them, "ye are decreed that Adam should fall, aud idle ;” and he commanded them to be he fell; it was likewise absolutely scourged. The calvinists make Aldecreed, that his posterity should mighty God much worse than Pha fall in him, and it fell in him, both raoh. They suppose that be created elect and reprobate. How the elect, part of mankind for the mere pleawho were the privileged objects of sure of showing his power in their God's eternal, free, unconditional, torments; that he requires men to and unchangeable love, could fall, fulfil the condition of eternal life, so as to become children of wrath, whom he has created for eternal and worthy of eternal damnation, is death; that he gives them a law, and not easily explained. deprives them of the power of fulfilling it; and at last punishes them for not having obeyed that law, which

However, the elect are to be raised from that state of misery and sin in

|

Ye

he imposed upon them, for no other purpose than that they should not obey it. (To be continued.)

For the Orthodox Journal.

vourable to vice, or perilous to virtue, there were others which were, to say the least of them, perfectly innocuous. This partial defence of the amusements of the stage has been, in my opinion, successfully combated by your anonymous correspondent; and having met with an anecdote that tends to the same virtuous end, I translate it from the French author who relates it, and send it as a small present to your readers, who will, I flatter myself, be pleased with the relation,-if you consent to publish it,-nor be quite unimproved by the moral instruction which it offers.

"The tragedies of Esther and Athalie, as every one knows, were composed at the instance of the celebrated foundress of the abbey of St. Cyr, and were there performed by her young eleves with the applause of the whole French court, Monsieur. Hebert, at that time the

MR. EDITOR,-You have on some occasions informed your readers, that your monthly miscellany meets with great opposition from several persons of our own communion, and even from some of those who, from character and situation, are more particularly required to animate to virtue, to maintain, support, and defend that religion of which they are 'constituted the teachers and guardians. This should appear incredible; but, unfortunately, it is true: and I have met with instances of 'persons ceasing to be at once your subscribers and readers, who had been both, as well as your admir'ers, because they have been assur 'ed that you were yourself an incendiary; your Journal a tocsin, invit-zealous curate of Versailles, (in the ing to religious insubordination and vicinity of which was the abbey of party dissention. I cannot perceive St. Cyr) disapproved of these amuseit. I find you, in every number, ments, and, as far as depended on strenuously exhorting to an unyield- him, discountenanced them. At a ing attachment to the religion of our meeting of ladies, associated with forefathers, the religion of Jesus madame de Maintenon for the purChrist; inculcating with earuest- poses of charity, it happened, that ness, either by your own pen or the before the spiritual conference com pens of your correspondents, the vir- menced, the conversation turned tues which that religion requires upon the tragedy of Esther. Its exfrom its professors; and, with be-cellence merited the praise of truth; coming zeal, opposing those vices but the praise of truth was improv and practices which appear to be ed upon by the warmer encomiums gaining ground amongst us. I was of flattery. The worthy curate sat both edified and delighted with some reflections, inserted in your number for August, on the subject of Theatrical Entertainments, espe cially by the very just and powerful refutation of that pretext which I have so often heard from catholics who could persuade themselves, that if there were persons, to whom the scenic representations of the present day were dangerous, they were not of the number; and, if there were certain exhibitions which were fa

Racine composed these two tragedies They undoubtedly possess great merit; at the request of Madame de Maintenon.

yet were not favoured with the same enthusiastic applause which was given to Bajazet, Mithridate, &c. "Another proof," says a virtuous and intelligent writer, "what are the real causes of the prevailing passion for theatrical shows, which are cold and feeble in producing effect, whep not aided by the concurrence of corrupt nature." These scriptural pieces were called subjects of piety, fit only for the amusement of children, and were soon neg lected.

in sorrow, waiting for an opportuni-
ty to express the sentiments which a
discreet but intrepid zeal in the
cause of virtue inspired. In the
mean time madame de Maintenon,
with an air of seeming satisfaction,
ran over the names of the several
religious persons who honoured the
performance with their presence,
and then, with a smile of triumph-
ant raillery, addressing herself to
the worthy ecclesiastic, Monsieur
de Curé,' said she, you are the only
one, I think, who has not seen this
delightful piece. But we shall soon,
I hope, have the pleasure of num-
bering you too amongst our visitors:
shall we not?' Monsieur Hebert
returned a respectful bow, but re-
mained silent. · Indeed," added
she, looking fixedly upon him, I
should be happy this very day to go
to it in such good company.
I

not scruples nor the effect of scrupu-
losity. I will explain them to your
selves; I will justify them in your
hearing and presence; and that I,
may satisfy you to the utmost of my
power, and to the full extent of what
you yourselves can exact from me,
I will promise to make my defence
at the bar of the very person whom
I am supposed by you to have af
fronted by my behaviour: madame.
de Maintenon shall be my judge. If
she condemn me, after I have ex-
posed my reasons, I promise to sub-
mit to her decision. Being in her
company the same evening, he ad-
dressed her as follows:- Madam,
you cannot be sensible of the high.
respect I entertain for you; at the
same time you are not ignorant that
from the pulpit I cease not to repro-
bate the amusements of the stage, and
to dissuade my audience, as far as in,
me lies, from frequenting the theatre.,
The tragedy of Esther is not, how
ever, included in my censure; it,
falls not under the lash of my in.
vective. Indeed, sir!' said she,,'
interrupting him, is it so? But
if Esther be not condemned by you
why refuse to countenance it by,
your presence at its representa-
tion? Ah, madam,' he repli-
ed, the people are not sensible of
the difference that exists between
this tragedy and another; but that
it is a play they well know. They
know that in my sermons I condemn
plays; and should I
go to this,
which, as I observed, they know to
be a play, they will contrast, and
compare my conduct with my ser
mons; and, as both cannot be ob
served in practice, they will adopt
that side which is favourable to in-
clination: they will disregard my
words, and follow me in my actions.
The character of a minister of the
gospel is too important to be sacri-
ficed to mere complaisance or mere.
curiosity. Besides, do you in your
heart believe and think, that it is
becoming the sacerdotal character,

must entreat you, madam, to excuse
me,' answered the curate, and then
began the accustomed exhortation.
When it was concluded, madame de
Chevreuse and madame de Beauvil
liers, began to chide his reverence
for having given a direct refusal to
madame de Maintenon. "
Surely,
sir, you must have intended to mor-
tify her. She solicits, as a favour,
that you should see the new tragedy
of Esther; she condescends herself
to invite you; and you gave her
the most decided and painful refu-
sal. Depend upon it, sir, your
friends will cease to place the same
confidence in you as a director; you
will be considered as extravagantly
rigorous in points of morality; you
will be dreaded and shunned as pre-
suining to censure the opinion and
condemn the conduct of bishops:-
the consequence will be, that you
will lose that credit which at pre-
sent is so favourable to your zeal.'-
"My reasons,' said Monsieur He-
bert, interrupting them, my rea-
sons for what I have done, are not, I
assure you, mere scruples without
foundation. No, ladies, they are

ments of vanity and ideas of self-
sufficiency? If I myself, in the
exercise of a ministry which is at
war with all the passions, cannot se-
cure my heart against the insidious
assaults of vain glory, when called
upon to preach the word of God be-
fore my king, how shall children re-
sist the gratification of a vanity so
extremely natural? But remem-
ber, sir, (said Mad. de Maintenon)
these exercises are justified by the
practices of the college from time
immemorial.'-Granted, (replied
Mons. Hebert) that such has been
the practice of colleges in the edu-
cation of youth of our sex; still,
madam, I contend, that nothing can
be inferred in favour of the same
practice in seminaries established
for the education of yours. Boys
are destined for situations in life,
where public speaking is indispen-
sably requisite, whether at the bar,
in the pulpit, or in the army, a ta-
lent for speaking is clearly neces
sary.
But those of the other sex, if
virtue be their object, should be
taught to shun the glare of public
observation, to love and seek the
shade of retirement. Modest bash-
fulness is the brightest ornament of

that it is even safe for priests to assist at the transactions of the drama, represented in mimic show by youthful ladies of captivating form and feature, while every grace of person is made doubly fascinating by all the power and elegance of ac tion, circumstance, and situation? and this for two whole hours! Methinks this must be exposing one's self to temptation! Gentlemen of the court have owned to me that their passions were far more powerfully excited by the sight of these beautiful children, than of the actresses who tread the boards of an ordinary theatre. Where innocence and beauty combine, innocence gives additional charm to beauty, and spreads a much more dangerous share for virtue, than the lascivious airs of an actress without modesty or character. Vice infects and discolours whatever comes in contact with it.'At least, sit, you do not disapprove of these amusements, as exercises from which youth may derive considerable advantage.' Indeed I do; and it is my opinion that they should be excluded from every system of female education, which professes to have virtue, in the first place, for its object. It is your wish, madam, Ithe female, her best accomplisham persuaded, to form your pupils ment, her honour and her. praise.to the strictest purity of sentiment I say nothing of the time that must and conduct; and does it not ap. be given to the learning of their sepear, that, to expose them on a stage veral parts; of the distractions to the eager observation of the which the charms of verse must unwhole court, must be injurious to avoidably occasion in the prosecu this purity of mind and heart? It tion of their more serious studies; must evidently weaken and finally of the notions of superiority which destroy that modest timidity which will be conceived by those who are is so necessary to subject them to selected to perform; of the jealouthe salutary restraints of duty. Will sies of those who are not admitted to the young lady any longer be inti- the same distinction: nor do I menmidated at a private interview with tion the airs of studied consequence, one man, when she has appeared un- absolutely necessary for the just dedaunted before a multitude? Is it lineation of certain characters, possible that the plaudits of so many which, assumed at the theatre, will and of such persons, when lavished not always be entirely laid aside without reserve on the beauty and even in social life. These and a talents of these juvenile performers, thousand other effects might be should not inspire them with senti- brought forward and insisted on, as