Who Was Berthier?

In the Haydock commet, on Psalm 13 (which some consider as 14), I encounter the words of one Berthier.

Who was he? I'll trust good old wiki on it:

Guillaume-François Berthier (7 April 1704 – 15 December 1782) was a Jesuit professor and writer, tutor of the French Dauphin's sons, and librarian of the court library.

Anything more in particular?

Berthier was one of the authors of the multi-volume Histoire de l'église Gallicane, which was started by Jacques Longueval. In 1745 he was appointed editor of the influential Jesuit periodical the Journal de Trévoux, holding the post until 1762 and doing much to expand the circulation. Because of his powerful opposition to the infidel "encyclopédistes" he was bitterly attacked, especially by Voltaire.

Hmm, no friend of Voltaire! Sounds good!

After his death several of his works were published by Father de Querbuef: (1) A translation of the Psalms with notes (8 vols.); this was often reprinted. (2) Five volumes on Isaiah. (3) Five volumes of "Réflexions Spiritualles."

Pretty obviously, this translation and especially notes are notes that were cited in the Haydock comment. So, let's get to it.

First, verse 1 of Psalm 13, not in Berthier's French, but in Douay / Rheims / Challoner's English:

1 Unto the end, a psalm for David.

The fool hath said in his heart: There is no God.

They are corrupt, and are become abominable in their ways: there is none that doth good, no not one.

Now, anyone who knows anything of Evangelical Protestantism is well aware what they will make of it, especially the last words. The T of the black Doordrecht TULIP. The first point of "five point Calvinism", Total corruption.

What does Berthier have to say?

St. Paul (Romans iii.) proves from this text, and Isaias lix. 7, that all stand in need of grace and faith, and cannot be saved either by the law of nature or of Moses. But it does not follow that faith alone will save, or that the most just are still wicked, as Calvin and Beza falsely expound the Scriptures. For the prophets speak of those who were not yet justified, teaching that all mankind were once in sin, and could not be justified but by Christ. At the same time, they assert that, when they are justified, they must serve justice to bear fruit, and obtain happiness, Romans vi. These points are well explained by St. Augustine: (de Sp. et lit. i. 9.) "The just are justified freely by his grace," not by the law or will; though this is not effected without the will, &c. The same holy doctor (c. 27) observes, that the just do not live free from all venial sins, and yet remain in the state of salvation; while the wicked continue in the state of damnation, though they do some good works. (Worthington)

So, the observation is about the state of the unredeemed, as the prior words give to understand, these ones: "The fool hath said in his heart: There is no God."

And on top of that, "does good" as denied does not mean "does some good," which they do, it means "does consistently, habitually, good" ...

Wait, the above quote was from Worthington. Now, the actual just adjacent quote from Berthier is this one:

Some explain this of mankind in general, as all are born in sin. David refers also to actual and habitual sinners. (Berthier)

So, Berthier agrees that it is not about man as justified. But prior to justification.

Who was Worthington? Probably one of two Thomas Worthington, namely either

Thomas Worthington, D.D. (1549 at Blainscough Hall, near Wigan, Lancashire - possibly 1627, at Biddulph Hall, Staffordshire) was an English Catholic priest and third President of Douai College.

or else

Thomas Worthington (1671−1754), was a Dominican friar and writer. He received his education in the college of the English Jesuits at St. Omer. In 1691, he entered the Dominican Order at the convent of Bornhem in Flanders, and in the following year he made his solemn confession as a member of the order. He was ordained priest at Rome in 1695, and went afterwards to the college of St. Thomas Aquinas at Louvain, where he became successively professor of philosophy, theology, and sacred scripture. ...

Either way, let's agree with Berthier and the Thomas Worthingtons, not with heretics like Calvin and Beza!

Hans Georg Lundahl
Paris
Sts Paul and Juliana,
brother and sister, martyrs
17.VIII.2024

Ptolemaide, in Palaestina, passio sanctorum Martyrum Pauli, ejusque sororis Julianae Virginis; qui ambo, sub Aureliano Imperatore, cum in Christi confessione permanerent immobiles, jussi sunt variis et dirissimis tormentis affligi ac tandem capite obtruncari.

Ptolemaide = in Acre. sub Aureliano Imperatore = under this guy