4*8 PIETRO GlAttNGNE. 



VIL As you only touch nightly, dear fir, on the 

 merits of the refr of the monaffic orders, I accordingly 

 follow your example > but admire beyond all the others, 

 the Theatins [Gajetanians] whofe infritution is to put 

 their hands in their bofom, and, without feeking alms, 

 or pofielimg any goods, to rely on God's providence. 

 How tender-hearted were our Neapolitans, in praying 

 the firft founders of this order to enrich themfelves by 

 force ! 



VIII. Herein they followed your example. The 

 general made it a law with you Jefuits, except profefled 

 houfes to admit of no foundation of new colleges. Yet, 

 by an incomprehtnfible miracle, the number of your 

 colleges is fo miuch increafed that they cannot be 

 counted. God forbid that I fhould impute this to your 

 exertions to lord it ofer the conferences, and to get 

 pofYeffion of the houfes of the nobility and burghers, to 

 your confraternities* eltablifhed for all ranks, to your 

 morality adapted to the paffions of your votaries, ta 

 your commerce (for you trade at Naples in hogs, 

 foreign cloths., cheefe, wines, and keep banks of ex- 

 change both at Rome and at Naples) ; your riches are 

 rained down upon you by fupernatifral and miraculous 

 means, from heaven. It was the greateft of all the 

 miracles that were wrought by St. Ignatius after his 

 death (for during his life he wrought none), to enrich 

 a fociety, the chiefs whereof fhould take all poflible 

 pains to avoid being rich. 



IX. In order to enrich yourfelves, you do not, in- 

 deed, like the monks, open faered lnops. Your 

 morality faves you this trouble. Yet you do not omit 



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