PROLEGOMENA. Ixxiii. 



general edification and conversion of infidels, on the mild 

 and persuasive principles of the Sermon on the Mount. 

 By the rules of this Society there could be no more 

 persecutions, no pride of party, no ill usage of heretics, 

 none of what the protestants call, though improperly, the 

 mouachism of the silent Trappist, nop the seclusion of the 

 Carthusian Cloister : but all were bound to follow more 

 closely our Saviour in his labours in the world, to mix 

 among their follow creatures, to convert men, and to 

 educate their children. This gave a new tone to the whole 

 church, mollified its severity, increased its strength, and 

 changed its policy, without touching the holy doctrines. 

 So eminent for patience, learning, and piety, for religious 

 poverty, and brotherly love, were the members of this 

 company of Jesus, that thousands of Catholics joined 

 their institute, and many more modelled their life on their 

 rules secretly, though living a secular life in the world' 

 from a deep sense of their superiority, and their closer 

 resemblance to their Divine Master. The church owes 

 them a large debt of gratitude for her support against her 

 enemies, and we are no less indebted to them for a better 

 organised mode of protection against our worst of enemies, 

 our own passions. Foi', according to the Rules of this 

 Society, which profess to found individual Salvation on the 

 exercise of Charity in its most perfect form, every inlet 

 to the pride of self, and other vices that destroy the morals, 

 is closed ; while all sorts of excellence, spiritual and 

 human, is encoui'aged ; though all is dedicated to the 

 service of God. Their founder availed himself of the Rules 

 of other Orders of greater antiquity, and skimmed their 

 cream. In his institute is to be found Benedictine 

 learning, coupled with Franciscan humility, and the 

 eloquence of the Dominican Preachers. They were 

 taught patience, obedience, and the power of adapting 



