&B4 "PROGRESS OF MOM A CHI SM. 



and the reft was put by for the lick. The monks had 

 likewife leave to viiit their lick relations out of doors. 



All forts of handicrafts were carried on by thefe 

 monks in. their cloifters. The molt 'common occu- 

 pation was that of weaving mats of nifties. This they 

 did even when at church. None but the lick were 

 excufed from work. From the neighbouring moun- 

 tains they fetched timber and firewood. 



They afTembled themfelves together every evening, 

 and in the night, and in the morning, for the purpofes 

 of infcruclion and prayer. The moll venial fault was 

 feverely punimed, by penance, and by the fcourge. 

 The incorrigible were driven out of the monaftery. 

 They were not allowed to fpeak of any thing but the 

 holy fcriptures and their duties. Certain feafons were 

 fet apart to perfect lilence. None might relate in the 

 monaftery what he had heard abroad. No one had the 

 life of his will ; nothing was done but by order. 



Fourteen hundred monks Pachomius had under 

 him already at Tabenna, and during his life -time no 

 lefs than three thoufand were devoted to his rule. His 

 name, the renown of his virtues, and the regularity 

 obfcrvcd in his monafceries, were foon fpread over va- 

 rious nations. They came from Armenia, even from 

 the weft and from Rome, to fee the great Pachomius, 

 to imbibe inftrudlion from his facred mouth, and to 

 gj&kate his divine example. 



AH the girls in the world, whom ftupidity, fuper- 

 flition, and inhuman madnefs have locked up in 

 cloifters, that they may there abandon and defpife the 

 World, do violence to nature, frifle their bell affec- 

 tions., and have their moft innocent and fweetelt emo- 

 tions 



