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On the Use of the Bible: The Letter of F�n�lon to the Bishop of Arras
by Francois Fenelon
Excerpt from On the Use of the Bible: The Letter of Fenelon to the Bishop of Arras
The Letter of Fenelon was occasioned by the following circumstances: - The fanaticism, and zeal, of the early advocates of the Reformation had profusely circulated their translations of the Bible among the public, - forcing these into the hands of the Catholics; and persuading them, that the sacred volume is, not only the sole record of Christian faith, but that it is, more over, the privilege of every Christian to interpret it, according to the dictates of his own private judgment. It was owing to these, and to such like artful assurances, that multitudes in the Low Countries, seduced from their old religion, became Protestants. The consequence was, that soon, confusion, and disorder began to prevail, where all, until now, had been unity, and peace. Alarmed, therefore, at these evils, and fearing lest these provinces should, in imitation of Holland, throw off the yoke, both of Catholicity, and of submission to the civil power, - the Church, as well as the State, interposed, - the former, in order to preserve, if possible, the integrity of faith; the latter, to check the growth of insubordination.
About the Publisher
Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.comwww.forgottenbooks.com
This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works."
The Letter of Fenelon was occasioned by the following circumstances: - The fanaticism, and zeal, of the early advocates of the Reformation had profusely circulated their translations of the Bible among the public, - forcing these into the hands of the Catholics; and persuading them, that the sacred volume is, not only the sole record of Christian faith, but that it is, more over, the privilege of every Christian to interpret it, according to the dictates of his own private judgment. It was owing to these, and to such like artful assurances, that multitudes in the Low Countries, seduced from their old religion, became Protestants. The consequence was, that soon, confusion, and disorder began to prevail, where all, until now, had been unity, and peace. Alarmed, therefore, at these evils, and fearing lest these provinces should, in imitation of Holland, throw off the yoke, both of Catholicity, and of submission to the civil power, - the Church, as well as the State, interposed, - the former, in order to preserve, if possible, the integrity of faith; the latter, to check the growth of insubordination.
About the Publisher
Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.comwww.forgottenbooks.com
This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works."
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Paperback, 96 pages
Published May 2nd 2018 by Forgotten Books (first published July 8th 2015)
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Francois Fenelon (1651 - 1715)
He was inducted into the Acadmie Francaise in 1693 and named Archbishop of Cambrai in 1695. During his time as the educator and teacher of the Duke, Fenelon wrote several entertaining and educational works, including the extensive novel Les Aventures de Telemaque, fils d'Ulysse (The Adventures of Telemachus, son of Ulysses), which depicted the ideal of a wise king. When this novel began circulating anonymously among the court, having been fragmentarily published in 1699 without his knowledge, Louis XIV, who saw many criticisms of his absolutistic style of rule in Telemaque, stopped the printing and banned Fenelon from court. Fenelon then retreated to his bishopric in Cambrai, where he remained active writing theological and political treatises until his death on January 17, 1715.In Church history, Fenelon is known especially for his part in the Quietism debate with his earlier patron Bossuet. In his work Explication des maximes des Saints sur la vie interieure (Explanation of the Adages of the Saints on the Inner Life) in 1697, he defended Madame du Guyon, the main representative of Quietistic mysticism. He provided proof that her "heretical" teachings could also be seen in recognized saints. In 1697, Fenelon called on the pope for a decision in the Quietism debate. After long advisement, the Pope banned the Explication in 1699. Fenelon complied with the pope's decision immediately and allowed the remaining copies of his book to be destroyed.
Francois de Salignac de la Mothe-Fenelon, more commonly known as Francois Fenelon, was a French Roman Catholic theologian, poet and writer. He today is remembered mostly as one of the main advocates of quietism and as the author of The Adventures of Telemachus, a scabrous attack on the French monarchy, first published in 1699.
Francois Fenelon (specifically Francois de Salignac de la Motte-Fenelon) was born on August 6, 1651, at Fenelon Castle in Perigord. Fenelon studied at the seminary Saint-Sulpice in Paris, where he was ordained as a priest. Fenelon published his pedagogical work Traite de l'education des filles (Treatise on the Education of Girls) in 1681, which brought him much attention, not only in France, but abroad as well. At this time, he met Jacques Benigne Bossuet, Bishop of Meaux, who soon became his patron and through whose influence Fenelon was contracted by Louis XIV to carry out the re-conversion of the Hugenots in the provinces of Saintonge and Poitou in 1686 and was appointed in 1689 as educator of his grandson and potential successor, the Duc de Bourgogne. Because of this position, he gained much influence at the court.
He was inducted into the Academie Francaise in 1693 and named Archbishop of Cambrai in 1695. During his time as the educator and teacher of the Duke, Fenelon wrote several entertaining and educational works, including the extensive novel Les Aventures de Telemaque, fils d'Ulysse (The Adventures of Telemachus, son of Ulysses), which depicted the ideal of a wise king. When this novel began circulating anonymously among the court, having been fragmentarily published in 1699 without his knowledge, Louis XIV, who saw many criticisms of his absolutistic style of rule in Telemaque, stopped the printing and banned Fenelon from court. Fenelon then retreated to his bishopric in Cambrai, where he remained active writing theological and political treatises until his death on January 17, 1715.
In Church history, Fenelon is known especially for his part in the Quietism debate with his earlier patron Bossuet. In his work Explication des maximes des Saints sur la vie interieure (Explanation of the Adages of the Saints on the Inner Life) in 1697, he defended Madame du Guyon, the main representative of Quietistic mysticism. He provided proof that her "heretical" teachings could also be seen in recognized saints. In 1697, Fenelon called on the pope for a decision in the Quietism debate. After long advisement, the Pope banned the Explication in 1699. Fenelon complied with the pope's decision immediately and allowed the remaining copies of his book to be destroyed.
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