the South- Sea. 



their Houfes, and to burn Frankincenfe before them, I 

 know not whether they might not be fufpe&ed of carrying 

 that Worihip very near to Idolatry. The Quefters, a fort 

 of People who never fail to make their Advantage of the Pre- 

 poffeflion of the People, in order to draw Alms from them, 

 carry Pictures along the Streets, on Foot and on Horfeback, 

 in great Frames, and with Glalfes over them, which they 

 give to be kifs'd for what they receive. It is true, that we 

 fee the beft Things frequently mifufed in Europe, as well as 

 in America, which obliged the Bifhops of France to defire 

 of the Council of Trent fome Reformation as to that Ar- 

 ticle. 



Either through Intereft or Ignorance, the Clergy and 

 the Friers take little Care to undeceive them, and to teach 

 them to adore God in Spirit and Truth, to fear his Judg- 

 ments, and not to lay any more Strefs on the Prote&ton of 

 the Virgin and the Saints, than as they imitate their Ver- 

 mes. On the contrary, if they make their Panegyricks, 

 they extbll them without Discretion, never intermixing 

 . Points of Morality , fo that thofe Sermons, which are the 

 mod frequent throughout the Year, become of no Ufe to 

 them, and feed them in their ufual Prefumptions. 



To conclude, tho' fuch Perfons fhould with their Mouths 

 preach up Chriftian Vermes, what Fruit could they pro- 

 duce whilft they give fuch ill Example ? If it were upon 

 Modefty and Meeknefs, they are impudent in the higheft 

 Degree ; may I prefume to fay it, moft of them are gene- 

 rally arm'd with a Dagger; it is not to be thought that is 

 to murder, but at leaft to oppofe any that fliould oppofe 

 their Pleafurcs, or offend them. Should the Subject be 

 Poverty, and the Contempt of Riches^ the moft Regular 

 of them trade and have their Slaves of both Sexes ; and 

 feveral Churchmen appear in colour'd Cloaths adorn'd 

 with Gold, under their ufual Habit. Should it be 

 Humility ; they are infufferably Proud, a . true Copy of the 

 Phaifees, who would take Place every where, and be fa- 

 luted in publick Places. In fhorr, not fatisfy'd with the 



