1. ' PROLEGOMENA. 



nevertheless regulated, in matters of less im- 

 portance, accordini^ to the different views taken 

 by their respective founders ; and thus the church 

 is beautified by variety, in the modes of perfection 

 practised by each, while the spirit of perfection 

 is maintained in all, having all Christ for their 

 model. 



Whatever ignorant persons may say to the 

 contrary, no one who is endowed with a philo- 

 sophic mind, can be insensible of the conformity of 

 tliis diversity in the modes of perfection to every 

 thing else in nature. For do we not see in all 

 the Avorks of God the most infinite variety. 

 Whether we contemplate tlie chequered surface of 

 the earth by day, in all the beautiful species of 

 flowers and of animal life, or behold the starry 

 firmament by night, we see the power and 

 wisdom of God in endless variety : and when 

 we magnify the myriads of minute creatures of 

 the ground with the microscope, or penetrate into 

 space with telescopes, and behold the wonders of 

 distant globes, we only encrease our knowledge 

 of the infinite sorts of forms and changes of 

 which all nature seems composed. It is, there- 

 fore, in perfect conformity to what the whole of 

 the known universe exhibits, that the mind of 

 man should be various in its natural propensities, 

 whether in a state of degradation, mediocrity, 

 or perfection. The Catholic religion, united as 



