Chap. VIII. ANTIENT METAPHYSICS. 93 



Nor did tlieir faithful paflors defert them when they took the field, 

 but attended them even in their battles; and when any of them fell, 

 they went to them expofing themfelves to the greateft danger from 

 the fire of the enemy, in order to give them all the comfort they 

 could while they were dying *. 



But even in forming this militia, without which, I am perfuaded, 

 the Spainards in that part of the world muft have been conquered 

 by the Portiiguefe or Indians, they met with great oppofuion from 

 their enemies both in the Court of Madrid and in India, and it was 

 with great difficulty that they obtained the permiflion of giving the 

 ufe of fire arms to their Neophytes, without which they could have 

 been of little fervice. 



As to property In their little ftate?, there was not an entire com- 

 munity of goods in them, nor was it all private property ; but 

 the Jefuits followed a middle way which I think better than ei- 

 ther. Every man had a portion of ground allotted him, which he 

 cultivated for himfelf: But there was a great track of ground fee 

 apart for the public, which was cultivated by the whole com- 

 munity, and the fruits given to every man who needed it ; fo that 

 they enjoyed the great bleffing, that Agur prayed for, of neither po- 

 verty nor riches. 



As to riches, thefe Jefuit legiflators adopted a moft valuable part 

 of the policy of Lycurgus, who forebade the ufe of money among 

 his citizens. Commerce, therefore, in the miffions, was carried on 

 in the moft antient and I believe bed way, by exchange. 



While the Neophytes were thus employed in the arts both of peace 

 and war, religion was not negledled among them ; but, on the con- 



tr-ry, 

 • Vol. II. p. 286, 



