ecclesiastical history, a sect in the Roman church, who follow the doctrine and sentiments of the Jesuit Molina, relating to sufficient and efficacious grace. He taught that the operations of divine grace were entirely consistent with the freedom of human will; and he introduced a new kind of hypothesis to remove the difficulties attending the doctrines of predetermination and liberty, and to reconcile the jarring opinions of Augustines, Thomists, Semi-Pelagians, and other contentious divines. He affirmed, that the decree of predestination to eternal glory was founded upon a previous knowledge and consideration of the merits of the elect; that the grace, from whose operation, these merits are derived, is not efficacious by its own intrinsic power only, but also by the consent of our own will, and because it is administered in those circumstances, in which the Deity, by that branch of his knowledge which is called scientia media, foresees that it will be efficacious. The kind of prescience, denominated in the schools scientia media, is that foreknowledge of future contingents that arises from an acquaintance with the nature and faculties of rational beings, of the circumstances in which they shall be placed, of the objects that shall be presented to them, and of the influence which their circumstances and objects must have on their actions.

sect among the Romanists, who adhere to the doctrine of Molinos. These are the same with what are otherwise called Quietists, whose chief principle was, that men ought to annihilate themselves in order to be united to God, and afterwards remain in quietness of mind, without being troubled for what shall happen to the body. Molinos, the author of these opinions, was a Spanish priest, and was born in 1627. His 68 propositions were examined in 1687 by the pope and inquisitors, who decreed that his doctrine was false and pernicious, and that his books should be burned. He was forced to recant his errors publicly in the Dominican church, and was condemned to perpetual imprisonment. He was then 60 years old, and had been spreading his doctrine 22 years before. He died in prison in 1692.

Mollugo, African Chickweed; a genus of plants MOL

plants belonging to the triandra class, and in the natural method ranked under the 2nd order, Caryophyllae.

See Botany Index.