1840.] 



Zife and Writings of Father BescM. 



S71 



of this country. There is no such difference in eatable things among 

 people of high and low rank in Europe. 



Although the natives do not associate, nor eat with the low caste 

 people of their own country, yet they consider them as themselves 

 with regard to spiritual concerns. The civil distinction of caste 

 cannot therefore be contrary to the second great commandment of God, 

 as it is not applicable to the associating, eating, &c., but refers to 

 spiritual concerns alone. See 14 chapter, verse 17 of St. Paul's Epistle 

 to the Romans, ** For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink.'* 

 In opposition to this Scripture it is asserted that, a Brahmin, Chatriyaj, 

 Vaisya, or Sudra cannot become a trite Christian unless he associates 

 and eats with them the food served on their table, which has been 

 dressed by Pariahs. Surely this is not in conformity with the Scrip« 

 ture of St. Paul. See verse 15, chapter 14 of St. Paul to the Romans^ 

 *' But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, nrw walkest thou not 

 charitablyo Destroy not him with thy meat, for wF om Christ died." 



If we relinquish the distinction of caste we shall be unable to marry 

 the daughters of our heathen relatives, and we should be unable to 

 indulge the hope of our heathen relations becoming converts to Chris- 

 tianity. 



The Jesuits being acquainted with all the practices and customs, as 

 above described, did not interfere with them as long as they were 

 not in themselves sinful, nor connected with the heathenish ceremo- 

 nies of the country. Yet they were very particular in preventing all 

 sinful acts and superstitious ceremonies, by preaching and publishing 

 numerous works, particularizing in them what might be retained and 

 what ought to be rejected, and peremptorily prohibiting the observance 

 of any thing contrary to Christianity. 



In other respects they conformed entirely to the customs of the 

 country, in which they lived, according to the example of St. Paul, 

 1st Cor. 9, 20. ** To the Jews I became as a Jew that I might gain 

 the Jews, &c." so the Jesuits assumed the title and appearance of 

 Brahmins to gain the Brahmins. Moreover they abstained from the 

 use of animal food, and lived on rice and vegetables according to the 

 customs observed by the high caste people of this country, for they 

 did not care to pamper their bodies. See St. Paul's 1st Epistle to the 

 Corinthians, chapter 8, ver. 13. "Wherefore, if meat make my brother 

 to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my 

 brother to offend.** 



