?S6 J E S 
its power and wealth increafed amazingly ; the number of 
its members became great; their character as well as ac- 
complifhments were Itill greater; and the Jefuits were ce¬ 
lebrated by the friends and dreaded by the enemies of 
the Hornirfi faith as the moft able and enterprifihg order 
in the church. 
The conftitution and laws of the fociety were perfected 
by Laynez and Aquaviva, the two generals who i'uc- 
ceeded Loyola, men far fuperior to their'mailer in abili¬ 
ties and in the fcience of government. They framed that 
fyftem of profound and artful policy which fo long diftin- 
guifned the order. The large infulion of fanaticifm min¬ 
gled with its regulations Ihould be imputed to Loyola its 
founder. Many circumftances occurred in giving a pe¬ 
culiarity of character to the order of Jefuits, and in form¬ 
ing the members of it not only to take greater part in the 
affairs of the world than any other body of monks, but to 
acquire fuperior influence in the conduct of them. 
The primary objeft of almolt all the monaftic orders is 
to feparate men from the world, and from any concern in 
its affairs. In the folitude and filence of the cloiiler, the 
monk is called to work out his own lalvation by extraor¬ 
dinary adds of mortification and piety. He is dead to the 
world, and ought not to mingle in its tranfaclions. He 
can be of no benefit to mankind but by his example and 
by Iris prayers. On the contrary, the Jefuits were taught 
to confider themfelves as formed for abtion. They were 
chofen foldiers, bound to exert themfelves continually fin 
the fervice of God, and of the pope his vicar on earth. 
Whatever tended to inftruft the ignorant, whatever could 
be of ufe to reclaim or to oppole the enemies of the holy 
lee, was their proper objefl. That they might have full 
leifure for this active fervice, they were totally exempted 
from thofe funftions the performance of which' is the 
chief bufinefs of other monks. They appeared in no pro- 
ceflions ; they praflifed no rigorous aufterities ; they did 
not confume one half of their time in. the repetition of 
tedious offices : but they were required to attend to alL 
the tranfaclions of the world, on account of the influence 
■which thefq may have upon religion ; they were directed 
to ftudy the difpofitions of perfons in high rank, and to 
cultivate their friendfhip ; and, by the very conftitution 
as well as genius of the order, a fpirit of aflicn and in¬ 
trigue was infufed into all its members. 
As the objefl of the fociety of Jefuits differed from 
that of the other monaftic orders,, the diverfity was no lefs 
an the form of its government. The other orders are to 
be confidered as voluntary affociations, in which whatever 
affects the whole body is regulated by the common fuf- 
frage of all its members. The executive power is veiled 
in the perfons placed at the head of each convent or of 
the whole fociety ; the legislative authority refides in the 
community. Affairs of moment, relating to particular 
convents, are determined in conventual chapters; fucli as 
refpebt the whole order are confidered in general congre¬ 
gations. But Loyola, full of the ideas of implicit obedi¬ 
ence, which he had derived from his military profeffion, 
appointed that the government of his order Ihould be 
purely monarchical. A general, chofen for life by depu¬ 
ties from the feveral provinces, poffefied power that was 
Supreme and independent, extending to every perfon and 
to every cafe. He, by his foie authority, nominated pro¬ 
vincials, rectors, 1 and every other officer employed in the 
government of the fociety;- and could remove them at 
plealure. In him was veited the fovefeign administration 
of the revenues and funds of the order. Every member 
belonging to it was at his difpofal ; and by his uncon- 
troulabk mandate he could impole on them any talk, or 
employ them in what Service foever he pleafed. To his 
commands they were required to yield not only outward 
obedience, but to refign up to him the inclinations of 
their own wills and the Sentiments of their own under-. 
Handings. They were to liften to his injunctions as if 
they had been uttered by thrift himfelf. Under his di¬ 
rection they were to be mere paffive instruments, UJce day 
U 1 T. 
in the hands of the potter, or like dead carcafes incapably, 
of refiftance. Such a lingular form of policy could nor 
fail to imprefs its character on all the members of the or¬ 
der, and to give a peculiar force to all its operations. 
There is not, in the annals of mankind, any example of 
fuch a perfect defpotifm, exercifed, not over monks Shut up 
in the cells of a convent, but over men difperied amono- 
all the nations of the earth. ° 
As the conftitutions of the order veiled in the general 
fuch abfolute dominion over all its members, they care¬ 
fully provided for his being perfe£lly_informed with refpcft 
to the charafter and abilities of his fubjefls. Every no¬ 
vice who offered himfelf as a candidate for entering into 
the order, was obliged to manifest his conscience to the 
fuperior, or a perfon appointed by him; and was required 
to confefs not only his fins and "defefts, but to discover 
the inclinations, the pafiions, and the bent, of his foul. 
This manifeltation was to be renewed every, fix months. 
The fociety, not fatisfied with penetrating in this manner 
into the innermoft receffes of the heart, direfted each 
member to obferve the words and actions of the novices; 
they were constituted fpies upon their conduct, and bound 
to difclofe every thing of importance concerning them to 
the Superior. In order that the fcrutiny into their cha¬ 
rafter might be as complete as poflible, a long noviciate 
was to expire, during which they palled through the feve¬ 
ral gradations of rank in the fociety; and they muSt have 
attained the full age of thirty-three years before they 
were admitted to take the final vows by which they became 
profefled members. By thefe various methods, the fu- 
periors, under whofe immediate inlpeflion novices were 
placed, acquired a thorough knowledge of their uifpoli- 
tion,s and talents. In order-that the general, who was the 
foul that animated and moved the whole fociety, might 
have under his eye every thing necelfary to inform or di¬ 
rect him, the provincials and heads of the feveral houfe3 
were obliged to tranfmit to him regular and frequent re¬ 
ports- concerning the members under their inlpeflion. In 
thefe they defcended into minute details with reipeft to the 
charafter of each perfon, his abilities natural or acquired, 
his temper, his experience in affairs, and the particular 
department for which he was belt fitted. TheSe reports 
when digefted and arranged, were entered into registers 
kept on purpofe, that the general might, at one compre¬ 
hensive view, furvey the Hate of the Society in every, cor¬ 
ner of the earth; obferve the qualifications and talents of 
its members ; and thus choofe, with perfeft information, 
the inftruments which his absolute power could employ 
in any fervice for which he thought meet to deltine them. 
, As it was the profefled intention of the order of Jefuits 
to labour with unwearied zeal in promoting the Salvation 
of men, this engaged them of courfe in many active Sanc¬ 
tions. From their firft institution, they confidered the 
education of youth as their peculiar province; they aimed 
at being fpiritual guides and confeffors ; they preached 
frequently in order to inftruft the people; they Set out as 
miffionaries to convert unbelieving nations. The novelty 
of the inftitution, as. well as the Angularity of its objefts, 
procured the order many admirers and patrons. The go¬ 
vernors of the fociety had the addrefs to avail tbemlelves 
of every circumltance in its favour; and in a Short time 
the number as well as influence of its members increafed 
wonderfully. Before the expiration of the Sixteenth cen¬ 
tury, the Jefuits had obtained the chief direftion of the 
education of youth in every catholic country in Europe. 
They had become the confeffors of almoft all its monarchs; 
a function of no finall importance in any reign, but, un¬ 
der a weak prince, fuperior even to that of minister. 
They were the fpiritual guides of almoft every perfon 
eminent for rank or power. They poffeffed the higheft 
degree of confidence and interest with the papal court, as 
the moft zealous and able champions for its authority.. 
The advantages which an active and enterprising body of 
men might derive from all thefe circumftances are obvious. 
They formed the minds of men in their youth. They 
retain^ 
