Antoine ARNAULD (1612-1694) "the Great Arnauld", priest and - Lot 54

Antoine ARNAULD (1612-1694) "the Great Arnauld", priest and theologian, leader of the Jansenists. L.A.S., July 1, to Monsieur de Scalibert de Rotaillac; 3pages in-8, addressed. Beautiful letter of direction to a Protestant convert. "It is God alone whom you must regard as the author of your conversion to the Catholic faith. What men have contributed to it is nothing, since their words touch us only as much as it pleases God to open our hearts with his spirit". Arnauld encourages her to act on her family's behalf "by practicing with regard to Me your wife what S. Pierre wants Christian women to practice with regard to their unfaithful husbands", to show authority over her children "and not to let them succumb any longer to the venom of Heresy. [...] We must remember what J.C. says in the Gospel, that he who loves his wife more than himself is not worthy of him. But after all the fuss made about it will soon pass, and if she has any sense she will recognize that it was a necessary and inevitable consequence of your return to the Church"...