244 ^ Voyage to 



Perfon to whom the Neceflfuy of making fome fuch Foun- 

 dation to avoid the Pains of the other Life, is not incul- 

 cated the Merit of thefe Donations is fo highly extoll'd, 

 that all Men are for redeeming their Sins, to the Prejudice 

 of what Charity and natural Inclination require, with re* 

 fpedt to the neareft Relations, Creditors and the Poor, 

 through whole Hands we are to redeem them, according 

 to the Scripture Rule; but in regard that the Good which 

 is done to either, is foon bury'd in Oblivion, Self-love, 

 which ft II 1 leaves in the Heart a Defire of Eternizing one's 

 felf, when going to be cut off from the Number of Men, 

 makes us preferr Foundations above other good Works, 

 becaufe they are more proper for that End, and perhaps 

 becaufe they are thought more Efficacious. In a word, 

 whether it be through the Fear of Pains, which touches us 

 moft to the Quick, or for the Love of God and one's felf, 

 the Cuflom is become fo univerfal, and has fo much en- 

 rich' d the Monafteries of Uma^ and of fome othe; Cities, 

 within a Hundred Years, that the Laity have fcarce any 

 real Eftates left > their Wealth is reduced to Moveables, 

 and there are few that do not pay Rent to the Church, ei- 

 ther for their Houfes or Farms. It would be for the Good 

 of thofe Colonies, to make fuch a Regulation as the Vene- 

 tians made in the Year 1605, which prohibits the Aliena- 

 tion of real Eftates in Favour of the Church, or in Mort- 

 main, without the Confent of the Republick, in Imitation 

 of thofe of the Emperors Valentinian^ Charlemagne^ and 

 Charles V. and of feveral Kings of France from S. Lewis 

 down to Henry III. But the Court of Rome taking the 

 Alarm, caus'd that Decree to be for fome time fufpended, 

 in a Country where it has lefs Power than in Spain; thus 

 this Abufe, in all Likelihood, will continue there,* and in 

 a fliort Time the Laity will find themfelves under a greater 

 Dependency on Communities for Temporals, than they are 

 for Spirituals. 



1 will fay nothing here o£ the Honour they pay to I- 

 mages $ confidering the Care they take to adorn them in 



their 



