f
Bishops, in order, and dignity: the Church of Rome, was to receive the
Lutherans, as her children, without exacting from them, any retractation
of their alledged errors, or any renunciation, of the articles in their
creed, condemned by the Council of Trent. The anathemas of that council,
were to be suspended, and a general council was to be convened, in which
the Protestants were to have a deliberative voice: the sentence of that
council, was to be definitive, and, in the mean time, the members of
each party, were to treat the members of the other, as brethren, whose
errors, however great they might appear, were to be tolerated, from
motives of peace, and in consideration, of their engagements to abandon
them, if the council should pronounce against them. To show the
probability of a final accommodation, Molanus notices, in his
Dissertation, several points, in which one party imputed to the other
errors, not justly chargeable on them; several, on which they disputed,
merely for want of rightly understanding each other; and several, in
which the dispute was of words only.

It appears that the Bishop of Neustadt, communicated this dissertation,
to Bossuet, and that Bossuet was delighted, with the good sense,
candour, and true spirit of conciliation, which it displayed. In his
letters he frequently mentions the author, and always in terms, Of the
highest praise. His own language was equally moderate and conciliating.

"The Council of Trent," he says in one of his letters,
"is our stay; but we shall not use it to prejudice the cause. This
would be, to take for granted, what is in dispute between us. We
shall deal more fairly with our opponents. We shall make the
council serve, for a statement, and explanation, of our doctrines.
Thus, we shall come to an explanation, on those points, in which
either of us imputes to the other, what he does not believe, and in
which we dispute, only because we misconceive each other. This may
lead us far; for _the Abbot of Lokkum, has actually conciliated the
points so essential, of Justification, and the Eucharist: nothing
is wanting in him, on that side, but that he should be avowed. Why
should we not hope to conclude, in the same manner, disputes, less
difficult, and of less importance? Cela se peut pousser si avant,
que M. l'Abbe de Lokkum, a concilie, actuellement les points si
essentiels, de la justification, et du sacrifice