Dying Bellarmine
Let us then make all that allowance to others which, were we in their place, we should desire for ourselves. Who is ignorant, to touch again on that circumstance only, of the amazing power of education. And who that knows it can expect, suppose, a member of the Church of Rome, either to think or speak clearly on this subject. And yet, if we had heard even dying Bellarmine cry out, when he was asked, "To which of the saints will you turn?" "It is safest to trust in the merits of Christ," would we have affirmed that, notwithstanding his wrong opinions, he had no share in his righteousness.
1771 text
4. Let us then make all that allowance to others, which were we in their place, we should desire for ourselves. Who is ignorant (to touch again on that circumstance only) of the amazing power of education? And who that knows it, can expect, suppose, a member of the church of Rome, either to think or speak clearly on this subject? And yet if we had heard even dying Bellarmine cry out, when he was asked, “Unto which of the saints wilt thou turn?” “Fidere meritis Christi tutissimum: It is safest to trust in the merits of Christ:” would we have affirmed that notwithstanding his wrong opinions, he had no share in his righteousness?