church.

creased amazingly; the number of religion: they are directed to study its members became great; their the dispositions of persons in high character as well as accomplish-rank, and to cultivate their friendments were still greater; and the ship; and, by the very constitution Jesuits were celebrated by the and genius of the order, a spirit of friends and dreaded by the enemies action and intrigue is infused into of the Romish faith, as the most all its members. able and enterprising order in the 3. Jesuits, peculiarities of their bolicy and government.-Other or2. Jesuits, object of the order of.ders are to be considered as vo-The primary object of almost luntary associations, in which, all the monastic orders is to sepa-whatever affects the whole body, rate men from the world, and from is regulated by the common sufany concern in its affairs. In the frage of all its members. But solitude and silence of the cloister, Loyola, full of the ideas of imthe monk is called to work out plicit obedience, which he had dehis salvation by extraordinary acts rived from his military profession, of mortification and piety. He is appointed that the government of dead to the world, and ought not his order should be purely monarto mingle in its transactions. He chical. A general chosen for life, can be of no benefit to mankind by deputies from the several probut by his example and by his vinces, possessed power that was prayers. On the contrary, the supreme and independent, extendJesuits are taught to considering to every person and to every themselves as formed for action. case. To his commands they were They are chosen soldiers, bound required to yield not only qutward to exert themselves continually in obedience, but to resign up to him the service of God, and of the the inclinations of their own wills, pope, his vicar on earth. What-and the sentiments of their own ever tends to instruct the ignorant, understandings. Such a singular whatever can be of use to reclaim form of policy could not fail to or oppose the enemies of the holy impress its character on all the see, is their proper object. That members of the order, and to give they may have full leisure for this a peculiar force to all its operaactive service, they are totally ex-tions. There has not been, perhaps, empted from those functions, the in the annals of mankind any experformance of which is the chief ample of such a perfect despotism business of other monks. They ap-exercised not over monks shut up pear in no processions; they prac-in the cells of a convent, but over tise no rigorous austerities; they men dispersed among all the nado not consume one half of their tions of the earth. As the constitime in the repetition of tedious tutions of the order vest in the offices; but they are required to general such absolute dominion attend to all the transactions of over all its members, they carethe world on accouut of the in-fully provide for his being per Auence which these may have upon fectly informed with respect to the

character and abilities of his sub-dered the education of youth as jects. Every novice who offers their peculiar province: they aimhimself as a candidate for enter-ed at being spiritual guides and ing into the order is obliged to confessors; they preached fremanifest his conscience to the su-quently, in order to instruct the perior, or a person appointed by people; they set out as missionahim; and is required to confess ries to convert unbelieving natinot only his sins and defects, but ons. Before the expiration of the to discover the inclinations, the sixteenth century, they had obpassions, and the bent of his soul. tained the chief direction of the This manifestation must be renew-education of youth in every Caed every six months. Each mem-tholic country in Europe. They ber is directed to observe the words had become the confessors of aland actions of the novices, and most all its monarchs; a function are bound to disclose every thingof of no small importance in any importance concerning them to the reign, but, under a weak prince, superior. In order that this scru-superior to that of minister. They tiny into their character may be were the spiritual guides of almost as complete as possible, a long no- every person eminent for rank or vitiate must expire, during which power; they possessed the highest they pass through the several gra- degree of confidence and interest dations of rank in the society with the papal court, as the most and they must have attained the zealous and able champions for full age of thirty-three years be-its authority; they possessed, at diffore they can be admitted to take ferent periods, the direction of the the final vows by which they be-most considerable courts in Eucome professed members. By these rope; they mingled in all affairs, various methods, the superiors un-and took part in every intrigue der whose immediate inspection and revolution. But while they the novices are placed, acquire a thus advanced in power, they inthorough knowledge of their dis-creased also in wealth: various positions and talents; and the ge-expedients were devised for eludneral, by examining the registers ing the obligation of the vow of kept for this purpose, is enabled to poverty. Besides the sources of choose the instruments which his wealth common to all the regular absolute power can employ in any clergy, the Jesuits possessed one service for which he thinks meet which was peculiar to themselves. Under the pretext of promoting

to destine them.

از

4. Jesuits, progress of the pow-the success of their missions, and er and influence of.-As it was the of facilitating the support of their professed intention of this order to missionaries, they obtained a spelabour with unwearied zeal incial licence from the court of promoting the salvation of men, Rome to trade with the nations this engaged them, of course, in which they laboured to convert : many active functions. From in consequence of this, they entheir first institution, they consi-gaged in an extensive and lucra

tive commerce, both in the Eaststitution and police, could scarceand West Indies; they opened ly have failed to extend its domiwarehouses in different parts of nion over all the southern contiEurope, in which they vended their nent of America. With this view, commodities. Not satisfied with in order to prevent the Spaniards trade alone, they imitated the ex-or Portuguese in the adjacent setample of other commercial socie-tlements from acquiring any danties, and aimed at obtaining set-gerous influence over the people tlements. They acquired posses- within the limits of the province sion, accordingly, of the large and subject to the society, the Jesuits fertile province of Paraguay, which endeavoured to inspire the Indians stretches across the southern con- with hatred and contempt of these tinent of America, from the bot-nations: they cut off all intertom of the mountains of Potosi to course between their subjects and the confines of the Spanish and the Spanish or Portuguese settlePortuguese settlements on the ments. When they were obliged banks of the river De la Plata. to admit any person in a public Here, indeed, it must be confessed, character from the neighbouring they were of service: they found governments, they did not permit the inhabitants in a state little dif-him to have any conversation with ferent from that which takes place their subjects; and no Indian was among men when they first begin allowed even to enter the house to unite together; strangers to the where these strangers resided, un, arts; subsisting precariously by less in the presence of a Jesuit. hunting or fishing: and hardly ac- In order to render any communi quainted with the first principles cation between them as difficult of subordination and government. as possible, they industriously The Jesuits set themselves to in- avoided giving the Indians any struct and civilize these savages: knowledge of the Spanish or of they taught them to cultivate the any other European language; ground, build houses, and brought but encouraged the different tribes them to live together in villages, which they had civilized to ac&c. They made them taste the quire a certain dialect of the In sweets of society, and trained dian tongue, and laboured to them to arts and manufactures. make that the universal language Such was their power over them, throughout their dominions. As that a few Jesuits presided over all these precautions, without misome hundred thousand Indians. litary force, would have been in But even in this meritorious effort sufficient to have rendered their of the Jesuits for the good of man-empire secure and permanent, kind, the genius and spirit of their they instructed their subjects in order are discernible: they plainly the European art of war, and aimed at establishing in Paraguay formed them into bodies com. an independent empire, subject to pletely armed, and well discithe society alone, and which, by plined.

the superior excellence of its cop- 3. Jesuits, pernicious effect of

this order incivilsociety.-Though zeal with which it stood forth in it must be confessed that the Jesu-defence of the Romish church its cultivated the study of ancient against the attacks of the reformliterature, and contributed much ers, its members, proud of this distowards the progress of polite tinction, have considered it as their learning; though they have pro- peculiar function to combat the duced eminent masters in every opinions, and to check the progress branch of science, and can boast of the Protestants. They have of a number of ingenious authors; made use of every art, and have yet, unhappily for mankind, their employed every weapon against vast influence has been often ex-them. They have set themselves erted with the most fatal effects. in opposition to every gentle or Such was the tendency of that tolerating measure in their favour. discipline observed by the society They have incessantly stirred up in forming its members, and such against them all the rage of ecclethe fundamental maxims in its siastical and civil persecution. constitution, that every Jesuit was Whoever recollects the events taught to regard the interest of the which have happened in Europe order as the capital object to which during two centuries, will find every consideration was to be sa- that the Jesuits may justly be crificed. As the prosperity of the considered as responsible for most order was intimately connected of the pernicious effects arising with the preservation of the papal from that corrupt and dangerous authority, the Jesuits, influenced casuistry, from those extravagant by the same principle of attach- tenets concerning ecclesiastical ment to the interest of their soci- power, and from that intolerant ety, have been the most zealous spirit, which has been the disgrace patrons of those doctrines which of the church of Rome throughtend to exalt ecclesiastical power out that period, and which have on the ruins of civil government. brought so many calamities upon They have attributed to the court society.

of Rome ajurisdiction as extensive 6. Fesuits, downfall of in Euand absolute as was claimed by rope. Such were the laws, the the most presumptuous pontiffs in policy, and the genius of this forthe dark ages. They have con- midable order; of which, howetended for the entire independence ver, a perfect knowledge has only of ecclesiastics on the civil magis- been attainable of late. Europe trates. They have published such had observed, for two centuries, tenets concerning the duty of op- the ambition and power of the orposing princes who were enemies der; but while it felt many fatal of the Catholic faith, as counte-effects of these, it could not fully nanced the most atrocious crimes, discern the causes to which they and tended to dissolve all the ties were to be imputed. It was unwhich connect subjects with their acquainted with many of the sinrulers. As the order derived both gular regulations in the political reputation and authority from the constitution or government of the

Jesuits, which formed the enter-|| considered almost as prophetic. prising spirit of intrigue that dis- It is as follows: "But there are tinguished its members, and ele-" a new fraternity of late sprung vated the body itself to such a" up, who call themselves Jesuheight of power. It was a funda-" its, which will deceive many, mental maxim with the Jesuits," much after the Scribes and from their first institution, not to "Pharisees' manner. Amongst publish the rules of their order :" the Jews they shall strive to these they kept concealed as an "abolish the truth, and shall come impenetrable mystery. They never" very near to do it. For these communicated them to strangers, "sorts will turn themselves into nor even to the greater part of" several forms; with the heatheir own members: they refused" thens, a heathenist; with the to produce them when required" atheists, an atheist; with the by courts of justice; and, by a" Jews, a Jew; with the reformstrange solecism in policy, the civil" ers, a reformade purposely to power in different countries au-" know your intentions, your thorized or connived at the esta-" minds, your hearts, and your blishment of an order of men," inclinations, and thereby bring whose constitution and laws were you, at last, to be like the fool concealed with a solicitude which" that said in his heart there was alone was a good reason for hav-" no God. These shall be spread ing excluded them. During the" over the whole world, shall be prosecutions that have been car-" admitted into the councils of ried on against them in Portugal" princes, and they never the and France, the Jesuits have been" wiser; charming of them, yea, so inconsiderate as to produce the "making your princes reveal mysterious volumes of their insti-" their hearts, and the secrets tute. By the aid of these authen-" therein, and yet they not pertic records, the principles of their" ceive it; which will happen government may be delineated, and" from falling from the law of the sources of their power inves-" God, by neglect of fulfilling the tigated with a degree of certainty law of God, and by winking at and precision, which, previous" their sins; yet, in the end, God, to that event, it was impossible to" to justify his law, shall suddenattain. "ly cut off this society, even by

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The pernicious effects of the" the hands of those who have spirit and constitution of this or-" most succoured them, and made der rendered it early obnoxious" use of them; so that at the end to some of the principal powers" they shall become odious to all in Europe, and gradually brought" nations. They shall be worse on its downfal. There is a re-than Jews, having no restingmarkable passage in a sermon place upon earth; and then shall preached at at Dublin by arch-" a Jew have more favour than a bishop Brown, so long ago as the" Jesuit." This singular passage year 1551, and which may be seems to be accomplished. The Vol. I.

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