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Mob. By their powerful Cabals they prevailed with Conan Bishop of Preneste the Pope's Legate, who was President of the Council to condemn his Book, pretending, that he afferted three Gods, which they might eafily suggest, when he was fuffered to make no Defence. 'Tis certain he was very Orthodox in the Doctrine of the Trinity; and all this Process against him was only occasioned by the Malice of his Enemies. His Logical Comparison (and Logic was his Master-piece) proved rather the three Divine Persons One, than multiplied the Divine Nature into three. His Comparison is, that as the three Propositions * in a Syllogism are but one Truth, so the Father, Son and Holy Ghost are but one Effence. And 'tis certain the Inconveniences which may be drawn from this Parallel are not more than what may be drawn from the Comparison of the three Dimensions of Solids, so much infisted on by that famous Orthodox Mathematician Dr. Wallis of England. But great Numbers of Pious and Learned Divines, who have not been over-fubtle in Politicks, have been persecuted and condemned as well as Abelard, by the Ignorance and Malice of their caballing Brethren.

A little after his Condemnation, Abelard was ordered to return to St. Dennis. The Liberty he had

* Sicut eadem oratio eft, propofitio, affumptio & conclufio, ita eadem Effentia eft Pater, Filius Spiritus Sanctus. Abel. Op.

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taken to censure the vitious Lives of the Monks had raised him a great many Enemies. Among these was St. Bernard, not upon the same Motives as those Monks, but because Abelard's great Wit, join'd with so loose and sensual a Life, gave him Jealousy, who thought it impossible the Heart should be defiled without the Head being likewiso tainted.

Scarce had he return'd to St. Dennis, when one Day he dropt some Words, intimating he did not believe that the St. Dennis their Patron was the Areopagite mention'd in the Scripture, there being no Probability that he ever was in France. This was immediately carried to the Abbot, who was full of Joy, that he had now a Handle to heighten the Accusations of Heresy against him with fome Crime against the State; a Method frequently used by this Sort of Gentlemen to make sure their Revenge. In those Times too the contradicting the Notions of the Monks was enough to prove a Man an Atheist, Heretick, Rebel, or any thing: Learning signified nothing. If any one of a clearer Head and larger Capacity had the Misfortune to be suspected of Novelty, there was no way to avoid the general Perfecution of the Monks, but voluntarily banishing himself. The Abbot immediately affembled all the House, and declared he would deliver up to the secular Power a Person who had dar'd to reflect upon the Honour of the Kingdom and of the Crown. Abelard very rightly judging that that such Threatnings were not to be despised, fled by Night to Champain, to a Cloyster of the Monks of Troies, and there patiently waited till the Storm should be over. After the Death of this Abbot, which, very luckily for him, happened soon after his Flight, he obtained Leave to live where he pleased, tho' it was not without using some Cunning. He knew the Monks of fo rich a House had fallen into great Excesses, and were very obnoxious to the Court, who would not fail to make their Profit of it: He therefore procured it should be represented to the Council, as very Disadvantageous to his Majesty's Interest, that a Person who was continually censuring the Lives of his Brethren should continue any longer with them. This was immediately understood, and Orders given to some great Man at Court to demand of the Abbot and Monks, why they kept a Person in their House whose Conduct was so difagreeable to them, and far from being an Ornament to the Society, was a continual Vexation, by publishing their Faults? This being very opportunely moved to the new Abbot, he gave Abelard leave to retire to what Cloister he pleased.

Abelard, who had indeed all the Qualities which make a great Man, could not however bear, without repining, the numerous Misfortunes with which he faw himself embarrass'd, and had frequent Thoughts of publishing a Manifesto to justify himself from the scandalous Imputations his Enemies had laid upon him, and to undeceive those whom their

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their Malice had prejudiced against him. But upon cooler Thoughts, he determined that it was better to say nothing, and to shew them by his Silence how unworthy he thought them of his Anger. Thus being rather enraged than troubled at the Injuries he had fuffered, he resolved to found a new Society confifting chiefly of Monks. To this purpose he chose a Solitude in the Diocese of Troies, and upon some Ground which was given him by Permiffion of the Bishop, he built a little House, and a Chappel, which he dedicated to the most Holy Trinity.

Men of Learning were then scarce, and the Defire of Science was beginning to spread itself. Our Exile was enquired after and found, Scholars crowded to him from all Parts: They built little Huts, and were very liberal to their Master for his Lectures; content to live on Herbs and Roots and Water, that they might have the Advantage of Learning from so Extraordinary a Man; and with great Zeal they enlarged the Chappel, building that and their Profeffor's House with Wood and Stone.

Upon this occafion, Abelard, to continue the Memory of the Comfort he had received in this Defart, dedicated his New-built Chappel to the Holy Ghost, by the Name of the Paraclete or Comforter. The Envy of Alberic and Lotulf, which had long fince perfecuted him, was strangely revived, upon feeing fo many Scholars flock to him from all Parts, Parts, notwithstanding the Inconveniences of the Place, and in contempt of the Masters who might so commodioufly have been found in the Towns and Cities.

They now more than ever fought Occafions to trouble him; the Name of Paraclete furnish'd them with one; they gave out that this Novelty was a Consequence of his former Heresy, and that it was no more lawful to dedicate Churches to the HolyGhost, than to God the Father: That this Title was a fubtle Art of instilling that Poison which he durst not spread openly; and a Confequence of his Heretical Doctrine which had been condemned already by a Council. This Report raised a great Clamour among Numbers of People, whom his Enemies employ'd from all Sides. But the Perfecution grew more terrible when St. Barnard and St. Norbet declared against him, two great Zealots, fir'd with the Spirit of Reformation, and who declared themselves Restorers of the Primitive Discipline, and had wonderfully gain'd upon the Affections of the Populace. They spread fuch Scandal against him, that they prejudiced his Principal Friends, and forced those who ftill loved him not to shew it any ways, and upon these Accounts made his Life so bitter to him that he was upon the Point of leaving Christendom*. But his Unhappi

* Sæpe autem (Deus fcit) in tantum lapfus fum defperationem ut Chriftianorum finibus exceffis, ad Gentes tranfire disponerem, atque ibi quietè jub quacunque tributi pactione inter inimicos Chrifti chriftianè vivere. Abel. Op. p. 32.

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