the South-Sea. 247 



the King of Spain is fenfible of this Evil j .and 'will regulate 

 the Number of Communities. 



I owe this Teftimony to Truth, that thefe Remarks do 

 not concern the Jefuhes, who Study, Preach, Catechize,, 

 even in Publick Places, with much Zeal ; and I believe, 

 that were it not for them, the Faithful would fcarce be in- 

 ftru&ed in the Principal Articles of Faith. 



I muft alfo here honour the Probity and good Behaviour 

 of the Bifhops, who are not altogether to be charged with 

 the Diforders of their Flock, who by ancient Cuftom are 

 in a manner cntituled to live a little more Licentious, es- 

 pecially the Friers, who are Matters^ and oWn no other 

 Ecclefiaftical Jurifdi&ion, but that of their Superiors, pre- 

 tending they only depend on them, and on the Pope, as 

 Supreme. A Monftrous Independence, according to the 

 ingenious Opinion of S. Bernard, as if a Finger were taken 

 from the Hand, to affix itdire&ly to the Head. 



I have happened to compare the Friers to the Pharifees^ 

 whereas according to their Inftitute of Life, I fliould have 

 fet them in the fame Rank with the Effenians ; but inftead 

 of fliewing that their Righteoufnefs abounded more that** 

 that of thofef5^zw v I fliould have expofed Vermes that 

 would confound the pretended Perfection of fome Chri- 

 ftian Communities. Eufebius, lib. 8. Prap. Evang. f peaking 

 of the Effenians, fays, There are no Boys or raw Youths ' among i 

 them, because of the Unfettlednefs of that Age. They do not 

 live in Cities, believing that as an infectious Air is hurtful to 

 the Body, fo-the Converfation of the Multitude is to the Mind. 

 No one of them males Infmments of War ; ?tor do they follow > 

 thofe Profeffions, which caufe Men eafily to fall into Wicked- 

 nef's. There is no Merchandizing, no Victualling, no Na- 

 vigation known among them \ there is no Slave among them, 

 but being all Free, they ferve one another, for Nature like a - 

 Mother, lay they ; brought forth all wherefore, tho' not caWcU 

 fo, we are all really Brothers. 



In fhort, I do not, by what I have faid, pretend to ex- 

 clude the worthy and learned People of Peru and Chili • I 



