PROLEGOMENA. xlix. 



objects of ridicule, or veneration, and whether 

 our abandoning, in modern times, their examples, 

 from the natural love of ease, be really neritorious 

 or dangerous, considering that we are bound to 

 follow Christ. 



Of the regular modes of Christian Perfection, 

 called the Religious Orders. 



Besides the necessary obligations of aChristian 

 to exercise the theological virtues, and live in faith, 

 hope, and charity, and in obedience to the dis- 

 cipline of the Catholic church; there have been at 

 all limes persons willing to bind themselves to a hfe 

 of greater severity, and to aim at the perfection 

 recommended in the evangelical councils, which 

 includes voluntary poverty, perpetual chastity, 

 and entire obedience. As I have already spoken 

 of these things, 1 shall say but little more about 

 them in this short sketch, but remind the reader, 

 that besides the vows of chastity, by which all 

 the clergy are bound, and their greater obedience 

 to their bishops ; what are called regulars or the 

 religious orders are bound by vows to observe 

 more strictly all the three evangelical councils, 

 and that too in submission to particular rules, as 

 to hours of prayer and other rites, which belong 

 severally to the different orders. The rules of 

 the several orders, although founded in spirit on 

 the same model, in their essential nature, are 



