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08 THE HISTORY OF HERESIES,
a prayer, nor performing any other act of devotion. It would
be all very well if they were satisfied with this idle contempla
tion and imaginary quietude of spirit, but they constantly fell
into gross acts of licentiousness, for they believed that, while the
soul was united with God, it was no harm to allow the body un
bridled license in sensuality, all which, they said, proceeded
solely from the violence of the devil, or the animal passions ;
and they justified
this by that text of Job (xvi,
: 18)
"
These
things have I suffered without the iniquity of my hand, when I
offered pure prayers to God." Molinos, in his forty-ninth Pro
position, gives an impious explanation to this text ;
violentia Dsemonis se propriis manibus polluebat," &c. (2).
"
Job ex
31. This hypocrite lived in Rome unfortunately for twentytwo
years, from the year 1665 till 1687, and was courted by
all, especially by the nobility, for he was universally esteemed as
a holy man, and an excellent guide in the way of spiritual life.
His serious countenance, his dress neglected, but always clerical,
his long and bushy beard, his venerably old appearance, and his
slow gait
all were calculated to inspire devotion ; and his holy
conversation caused him to be venerated by all who knew him.
The Almighty at length took compassion on his Church, and
exposed the author of such iniquity. Don Inigo Carracciolo,
Cardinal of St. Clement, discovered that the Diocese of Naples
was infected with the poisonous error, and immediately wrote to
the Pope, imploring him to arrest the progress of the heresy by
his supreme authority, and several other Bishops, not only in
Italy, but even in France, wrote to the same effect. When his
Holiness was informed of this, he published a circular letter
through Italy, pointing out, not so much the remedy as the
danger of the doctrine, which was extending itself privately.
The Roman Inquisitors then, after taking information on the
subject, drew up a secret process against Molinos, and ordered
his arrest. He was, accordingly, taken up,
with two of his
associates, one a Priest of the name of Simon Leone, and the
other a layman, called Anthony Maria, both natives of the vil
lage of Combieglio, near Como, and all three were imprisoned
in the Holy Office (3).
(2) Gotti, n. 2, 3.
(3) Gotti, loc. cit. . 4, 5, G.