Autograph letter signed ("Bocquillot") to Philippe Hecquet (1661-1737), a famous doctor in Paris; n.p., 21 September [16]93

From the Bart Auerbach Collection. A corner torn from seal with loss of a few letters, else fine. 3 1/4 pages plus address panel, a bifolium. In French. A densely written letter about human deformity. Answering a letter by Hecquet questioning whether it is theologically sound to baptize deformed babies (what he calls "monsters"). Bocquillot answers that in some cases the deformity is caused by bestiality (and implies that in that case the child is not properly human). He believes, however, that when the deformity happens naturally (what he calls the "mother's fantasy" or some other accident of nature) it must be seen as part of God's plan - the "monster" partakes of human nature, and so it should be baptized. He goes on to cite St. Augustine's concurrence in this matter in his Enchiridion.

Summarizing his argument: "Quoi qu'ils ne paraissent point dignes de ce sacrement a cause de leur figure bizarre, on les y doit croire dignes par leur nature" [Though they don't seem worthy of this sacrament [baptism] on account of their bizarre appearance, we must believe them to be worthy of it on account of their [human] nature.].