Chap. V!1I. A N T I E N T METAPHYSICS. loj 



And after they were admitted into the order, as all men are not hy 

 nature fit for all things, for, 



Non omnia poflumus omncs, 



the fuperior of the order took care to be well informed of the 

 natural bent of the genius of tlTofe who entered into the order, 

 and employed them according to their different talents. Some, 

 vvhofe genius feemed to be only for letters, v/ere made ProfefTors in 

 Univetfities, and employed in writing books of learning. Others, 

 who were of a more adive fpirit, and more fitted for the bufinefs 

 of life, were fent to Courts, and employed as the Confeffors of 

 Kings ; and very often by their councils the kingdom was govern- 

 ed : While others of a more daring fpirit, and who {bowed an et: 

 thufiaftic zeal for the propagation of the Gofpel among barbarous 

 nations, and had fortitude enough to fubmit, with refignation, even 

 to martyrdom in that caufe, were fent to North or South America, 

 to the Eaft Indies, or to China ; and, I believe, they have done 

 and fuffered more for the propagation of the Gofpel, than all the 

 men of modern times put together: So that they may fay, 



Quae regio in terris noftri non plena laboris. 



What is become of their MifTions, fince they left them, I am 

 very cuiious to know, but have not been able to learn. I have on- 

 ly been told, what I can very well believe, that the parting was moft 

 forrowful, of them and their dear Neophytes ; and that many tears 

 were fhed upon both fides. If they had not chofen to leave them 

 I am confident that the Spainards had no power in South America 

 that could have forced them : And they might have gone on increaf- 

 ing the number of their little dates, and have formed a confederacy a- 

 mong them, not unworthy to be compared to the Achaean league in 

 Greece, which might have been a match for any force that the 

 Spainards could have brought from Old Spain : And I doubt not but 

 that, in procefs of time, they might have made Jefuits of their dif- 

 ciples ; and fo eftablifhed a new world of learning, on the other fide 

 of the Atlantic. 



BOOK 



