first came to Rome with Faber and Laynez For going one day with them to see the Marquess d' Aquilar then Embassador of Charles the Fifth with Paul the Third and their Discourse falling upon the reports which were then spread against the new Society the Marquess told him that he was suspected to cover a great Ambition under an exterior Humility and that it was publickly said a Cap or a Miter was the motive of his Journey The Father was so surpriz'd at this Discourse that at first he only answer'd it by making the sign of the Cross Afterwards as if he had been inspir'd on the sudden by God he made a Vow before the Marquess never to accept any Ecclesiastical Dignity unless he were oblig'd to it under pain of Sin by the Vicar of Christ and some time after he renew'd this Vow in the presence of a Cardinal The affairs of the Society were in this Posture when Father Ignatius thought it seasonable that it should be imploy'd in the instruction of Youth The Zeal of Francis de Borgia Duke of Gandia to whom the sight of the dead Body of the Empress had given a disgust of the things of this World and who after the death of his Dutchess gave himself wholly to God was the first rise and occasion of beginning so profitable a work There being within his Lordships a great number of Baptized Moors of which the greatest part had renounced Mahometanism only in appearance he judged that to secure the Souls of the younger Brood and wholly to extirpate that pernicious Sect he ought to provide for the Education of their youth and in order thereunto to Found a Colledge of the Society in his Town of Gandia where the Children of all his Vassals should be Educated in Vertue and Learning This design he communicated to Father Ignatius and asked his advice and assistance for the Execution of it Who immediately gave order to Father Faber then at Valladolid to wait upon the Duke and to serve him in the Establishment of this Colledge before he came to Trent whither Paul the Third had call'd him to be joyn'd with Salmeron and Laynez As soon as the Duke and Father Faber had regulated matters according to the Instructions of the General there were presently sent thither Professors out of five or six different Nations all able Men and chosen by Father Ignatius himself and each of them open'd his School with a Latin Harangue before the Duke and all his Court. It was therefore in the year 1546 and six years after the Confirmation of the Institute that the Jesuits first open'd their Schools in Europe I say in Europe because in the year preceding those of the Society whom Father Ignatius had sent out of Italy and out of Portugal to Father Xaverius having been put into possession of the Seminary of Goa Founded some few years before by King John the Third for Educating the Indian youth Nicholas Lancillotti an Italian had begun to teach the Children the Principles of the Latin Tongue But at Gandia they did not only teach these first Elements of Sciences for besides Grammar there were Schools of Poetry Rhetorick Philosophy and Divinity and to give the greater Credit to the Colledge the Duke obtain'd from the Pope and from the Emperor to have it Erected into an University and that the Scholars who there took Degrees should have all the Priviledges which are injoy'd by the Graduats of Alcala and of Salamanca Father Ignatius Ordain'd for the good order of the Colledge that the Professors should be very careful in their Method of teaching that in each faculty they should follow the most received Authors as in Philosophy Aristotle and in Divinity St. Thomas He recommended that they should often exercise the memories of those young Scholars who were not yet come to ripeness of judgment and that in making them recite what they had got without book they should accustom them betimes to pronounce well That they should stir up young Wits by frequent Disputations quickening them with emulation and sometimes setting the more forward and capable against those who were behind them that so both one and the other might either be animated with Glory or excited by Shame that the Slothful and the Libertines should be punish'd but that the Masters themselves should not Chastize their Scholars This last Order he made both to observe the Decency of a Religious state and to prevent all passion in Corrections Besides this insomuch as it was his principal Design to form the Manners of Youth he expresly forbad the reading any Author either Latin or Greek that might corrupt their Innocence unless such Authors be first purg'd of all that is obscene He order'd that the Scholars should every Day hear Mass That every Month they should go to Confession That when they begin School they should all together say some short Prayer to ask God's assistance in their Studies And that once a Week by Catechisms and Exhortations they should be Instructed in the Verities of Faith and in the Rules of good Life He also prescrib'd to the Masters that upon every fit occasion both in School and out of School in their familiar Discourses they should speak to them of Heavenly things These Rules observ'd made Doctrine and Piety flourish at Gandia under the Conduct of Father Andrew Oviedo Rector of the Colledge About this time it was that Isabella Rosella coming to Rome to see Father Ignatius took a Resolution of leaving the World and of living according to the Evangelical Counsels under the Obedience of the Society Two Roman Ladies of great Vertue joyn'd with her in this Design and they obtain'd leave of the Pope to embrace this kind of Life Tho' F. Ignatius well saw that this sort of Directions was not very agreeable to his Institute yet his Gratitude towards his Benefactrix and the small number of these new Religious prevail'd with him to take upon him the care of them But he soon repented of it and was heard to say That the Government of three Devotes was more troublesom then that of the whole Society For in fine there was no end with them at all hours their Doubts must be resolv'd their Scruples must be cur'd their Grievances must be heard and even their Quarrels must be reconcil'd This oblig'd him to represent to the Pope how incongruous such an Employment would be to the Society and how necessary it was that his Holiness should deliver them from it For he judg'd that this small Community of Jesuitesses which yet consisted but of three Persons would in time become numerous and multiply in other Towns but the Consideration which he had of the Catalonian Lady from whom he had receiv'd so many good Offices and who so earnestly requested him not to abandon her made him manage the Matter with all possible fairness and condescendency Here is the Copy of a Letter which he writ to her upon this Subject Right Venerable
Religious State VII In short I ought not to be at my own disposal but at my Creator's and at his under whose Conduct he hath plac'd me I ought to be in the Hands of my Superior as soft Wax which takes any Form and to do what he shall please for Example to write Letters or not to write them to speak to a Person or not to speak to him and the like VIII I must look upon my self as a dead Body which has no motion of it self or like the Staff in a Man's Hand which he takes or leaves as he finds convenient so that the Order may make use of me in what manner they shall judge me Serviceable IX I must not desire or my Superior to put me into such a Place or to give me such an Employment I may notwithstanding declare to him my Thought and my Inclination provided that I refer my self wholly to him and think that to be best which he shall Ordain X. This hinders not but that we may ask things which are not of Consequence as to visit Churches or to do any Devotions for obtaining some Favour of God but still provided we be equally content whether our Superior grants or refuses what we ask XI Above all I must depend upon my Superior in what concerns Poverty having nothing in Propriety and in the use of things to be as a Statue which you may cover or uncover without opposition or complaint This is the Will and Testament of Father Ignatius and the last Action he did for the common good of his Order His corporal Infirmities did not hinder him from his continual Mediation upon Divine Matters and his Desire grew every day more ardent to be loosen'd from the Fetters of his Body and more closely to be united with God Whereas in his Life-time he had desir'd three things That his Society should be Confirm'd by the Popes That the Book of Spiritual Exercises might be Approv'd by the Holy See and That his Constitutions might be publish'd among his Children in all Parts of the World He said all this being done he had nothing more to do or to desire in this World that he now was unprofitable and ought to think of nothing but Heaven In such Meditations as these he spent his Days and his Nights longing and sighing for the sight of God and in his Prayers so violent were his Affections that they did not a little increase the Weakness of his Body Moreover his Grief to see a War kindled between the Catholick King and the Pope did not a little contribute to shorten his Life To lament in quiet this new Calamity of the Church and the better to dispose himself for Death now coming on he had a mind to leave Rome where nothing was to be heard but the noise of Arms and to retire himself to the Villa of the Roman Colledge which he had built the year before But the ancient Fathers representing to him that a new Building might be unwholsom for him and that removing in the great Heats of the the Month of July would be dangerous he caus'd the Physicians to be consulted about the Matter that he might not seem to neglect the Counsel given him and a due care of his Health for as great as his desire was to die and as certain as he was of his approaching Death he always observ'd his ordinary Train and Way of Living being a great Enemy of Singularity and a lover of Conformity even to his last Alexander Petronius the most famous Physician of Rome gave him leave to go to the Country House after having first been himself upon the Place to view the Situation and Condition of it But the Father had not been there many days without finding a sensible change to the worse so that he was brought back again to the Town and yet the Physician was not of Opinion that his Sickness was mortal but that it was only a weakness of Nature without any bad Symptom and almost without any Fever Insomuch that no body was much alarm'd at it and among the many that were sick in the Casa Professa the General was thought to be the least in danger of Death Some there were who hearing him speak of dying ventur'd to tell him that his Fears were groundless He went not about to undeceive them but following his own insight and silently leaving himself to the disposal of Heaven he went to Confession and receiv'd the Blessed Sacrament as having Death before his Eyes Two days after in the Evening he call'd for his Secretary Father Polancus and causing the rest to void the Chamber My Hour is come said he go and beg of the Pope his Benediction for me and an Indulgence for my Sins that my Soul may have more assurance in the dreadful Passage And tell his Holiness if I go into a Place where my Prayers may avail him as through Gods Mercy I hope I shall I will not fail to pray for him as I have always done even when I had most need to pray for my self And how my dear Father reply'd Polancus are we in any danger of losing you so soon the Physicians do not judge that you are in danger and I hope God will yet preserve you for his Service Go reply'd the sick Man and ask the Pope's Benediction also for another Father Polancus believ'd that this Father was Laynez who had receiv'd the last Sacraments but the Event shew'd it to be F. Olavius Polancus was in great trouble what to do He could not take Advice not daring to publish what Father Ignatius had told him in secret nor could he believe him in so much danger for his Strength seem'd to be increas'd and every body thought the worst was past On the other side his Order to go to the Pope was positive and reiterated In this Anxiety he resolv'd to go back to Father Ignatius and to ask him whether he might not defer going to his Holiness till the Morrow Do what you will reply'd the Father fearing perhaps lest he should have attributed a third Order to a certain Revelation Polancus who had Letters to write into Spain that Night upon the Father's Answer put off the performing his Commission to the Day following and the rather because the Physicians who Visited him that Evening said as formerly that there was no danger Two or three of the principal Fathers stay'd with him till it was very late before they parted they Discours'd with him about a Business relating to the Roman Colledge and he told them his Judgment in it with his usual presence of Mind He pass'd that Night alone his Communication being only with God and when they came in the Morning to see in what Condition he was they found him in his Agony The Fathers came all about him full of Grief and Surprise Polancus went immediately to the Pope condemning himself for having not gone sooner His Holiness granted all his Requests with great Demonstrations of Good-will and
Daughter who was with her near enough to touch the Body of Father Ignatius the cure would be effected But the crowd was so great that it was not possible for them to get near the Body before it was laid into the Grave However they did not lose courage and the Mother intreated the Fathers to apply something that had belong'd to the Saint to the part affected of her Daughter Father Cornelius Vischaven did what she desir'd and in the same moment the Evil left her with all the marks and effects of it His Body remain'd in the place where it was first laid till the Year 1568 at which time it was remov'd to another part of the Church by reason of the Foundations that were there to be laid for the new Church of the Giesu built by Cardinal Alexander Farnesius But in the Year 1587 when that Church was finish'd Father Claudius Aquaviva then General translated thither the Body of the Holy Founder upon the 19th of November and plac'd it on the right side of the High Altar with this plain Epitaph upon a Marble stone Ignatio Societatis Jesû Fundatori The Blessed Institutor of the Congregation of the Oratory Philip Nerius who was at Rome when Father Ignatius dy'd spoke of him after his death as he did when he was alive He said that he was a Man fill'd with the Spirit of God that he had often seen a Resplendency in his countenance that he had learnt from him the way of mental Prayer and that all Christendom was infinitly beholding to him As soon as the news of the Fathers death was spread over Europe many eminent Persons writ to the Society and their Letters were so many Elogiums of the Saint Cardinal de la Cueva in his Extol'd his Christian prudence and said that the Church had lost in him one of her ablest Subjects The Cardinal of Ausbourg writ in these terms My very Reverend and Religious Brethren in Jesus Christ I cannot say whether the Death of our most Holy Father Ignatius has caus'd in me more joy or sadness For on one side if I consider that God hath releast him out of this miserable World to recompence his Labours it would be a kind of Impiety for our own interest to grieve at his happiness On the other side we have great cause to be afflicted seeing our selves become Orphans by the loss of such a Father who was a Refuge to us and a safe Harbuor in all our Distresses But in regard that transitory things must not enter into Competition with Eternal we comfort our selves by your Example upon our assurance that this happy Soul is at this time our Advocate with God Don John de Vega Viceroy of Sicily expres'd his Sentiments in the Language of a Soldier The Servant of God said he has left behind him Trophies of his Vertue which time will never destroy as it has destroy'd the proudest Monuments of Human Vanity Me thinks I have before my Eyes the Solemnity with which a great and holy Captain is receiv'd into Heaven loaded with the spoils of Hell who has gain'd so many signal Victories upon the Enemy of Mankind in reducing to the Christian Faith by his Conduct and the Valor of his Soldiers so many Barbarous Nations who before knew not the Name of Jesus Christ It also appears to me that upon a just account his Standard may be rais'd in Heaven with those of St. Dominick of St. Francis and of the other Saints to whom God has given the strength to overcome the World and to save a great number of Souls I must not omit the Letter which the Regular Clericks of St. Paul commonly call'd Barnabites writ from Milan to Father Laynez Vicar of the Society And I think it worth the while to set it down as it lies faithfully Translated out of the Latin The news of the Decease of Venerable Father Ignatius of happy memory has caus'd great sorrow in us both upon your account and of all the holy Society of Jesus who have lost such a Master and such a Father and upon our own who also have always look'd upon him as our Father There is certainly great reason for us to be afflicted to have him taken from us in a time when good Men are so scarce but his happiness ought to out ballance with us our own loss For Jesus Christ is the life of the just and their Death is their gain because it brings them to their happiness of being with Jesus Christ when they are loosn'd from the Fetters of the Body Thus did this holy Soul going out of Prison together with St. Peter upon the first day of August take its place in Heaven We only ought to fear least our Sins may have been the cause of our losing him and least his death in our regard may have been a punishment from God like that of King Josias who was taken out of the World before the wrath of Heaven broke out upon the Jewish people However it were such was the Will of God and may his holy Name be prais'd At least he is not wholly lost to us This blessed Man who has done so great service to Christendom will always live in the memory of the Faithful and his Name will be glorious in all the parts of the Earth where the Name of Jesus Christ is known It was under the Conduct of this Governor that the Christian Faith was carry'd even to the Antipodes and that in those unknown Climates are at this time to be seen thousands of Souls Converted and a new Church every way resembling the Antient Erected of new Apostles and of new Martyrs He has sent his Children before him and after having himself taken great pains in the Service of Jesus Christ he follows them worn out and consum'd like them with Labour and Fatigue opprest with the care of so many Churches and to conclude a Martyr in Peace He has been for several Years the support of your Family and of many others or rather a common Father of all good People What sad Hearts has he not reliev'd by his Discourses full of Sweetness and Charity To whom has he not given profitable Counsel in difficult matters and Relief in greatest necessities He has been the Foot of the Lame the Eye of the Blind the Refuge of the Poor and the Comfort of the sorrowful May Heaven reward him for all his good Works On our parts we cease not to offer to God the holy Sacrifice of the Altar for so holy a Soul which as we verily believe at this present enjoys the Beatifick sight of God Let others strew Flowers upon his Tomb the proper Offerings of Priests are the holy Mysteries At least in paying him these last duties now that he is deliver'd from the miseries of corrupt Mortality we shall testifie to the end the affection we bore him whilst he liv'd amongst us To conclude we desire you to receive these Tears of Brotherly love as most
altho our first Ingagement were made upon Humane and Worldly Motives What we have then to do is to use our endeavour to acquire all that Perfection which such a state requires Nor are we to relinquish the second when we are once ingaged in such state I say we are not to relinquish it unless it contains in its self or obligeth us to any thing against the duties of Christianity or unless we leave it to put our selves in a more perfect state As to the Times and Seasons that are proper for the making such Election the most apposite are these First When God touches the Heart in such a manner that there is no possibility of a doubt that the Call comes not from Heaven as in the case of St. Matthew St. Paul and some others Secondly When the Impression of Grace is at least so strong in us as to give us a kind of assurance that our Vocation comes from the Holy Ghost And Thirdly when the Soul Illuminated by Faith and undistracted by outward objects which may mislead her into false judgements is in a fit disposition to elect what is most conducible to her Salvation As for the Manner of the Choice thus it ought to proceed First the Condition the Office the Imployment the form of life whatever it be is laid before us Secondly we are to recall into our Consideration the End for which we were Created and according to the Rules of the Fundamental Meditation we must Endeavour to put our selves into an absolute Indifferency towards all the things of the World and to make no reckoning of them any otherwise then as they Serve to our End Thirdly we are humbly to beg of God that he will enlighten our understanding and not suffer us to deviate from that way by which he would conduct us After this we are to find out all the Reasons for or against such a Course and to weigh them one against the other and those must preponderate which in our Aym to Eternity and our last End seem to tend most directly thither When it appears evidently to us upon Examination so made that one calling has the Advantage over the other there we must fix and firmly resolve to embrace it with out delay If afterwards we should find any wavering and irresoluteness in our selves and should desire to be confirm'd and settled in our choice we are then to use the same Reasons to our selves as we should do to our best Friend upon the like occasion Moreover we ought to do that which we shall wish were done at the hour of Death and at the day of Judgement when we are to render an Account of all our Actions Lastly we ought to choose that way which shall seem best to us according to these Solide and evident Principles This in short is the whole Oeconomy of this matter of Choice and the Conclusion of this Important affair makes an End of the Second week It will be hard for a Soul to tread all those steps we have now markt out without much labour and pain and it is natural that a new state and form of life should find great contradictions either because the world doth usually rise in opposition against those who embrace a true Christian life or for that God doth commonly try the fidelity of his new Servants The Soul therefore hath great need of strength and of Love to be supported and where can she find more powerful Succour then in the wounds of Jesus Christ Crucify'd who has Consummated by his sufferings the work of our Redemption and so lov'd us as to dye for us upon the Cross 'T is in the Contemplating the Passion and Death of our Saviour that the Soul enflam'd with his Love takes Resolution to Suffer all things to please him and constantly to persist in the Practice of Christian vertues in defyance of the world and the Devil The Soul being now in such a Scituation what she has more to do is to elevate her Thoughts and her desires towards Heaven And this she doth in the Fourth week which represents to her the Glorious Mysteries of the Resurrection of the Apparitions and of the Ascention of the Son of God as being most proper to enliven her Faith to strengthen her Hope and to purify her Love In conclusion the contemplation of Spiritual Love or of the Benefits and perfections of the God consummates the whole work by closely uniting her to God and making her taste the sweetness of Divine Union Thus ends our Saint his spiritual Exercises with a Prayer full of Unction and fervour in which after having intirely given himself up to Jesus Christ he asks nothing of him but his Grace and his Love protesting that there is nothing in the world besides that he desires and that he is rich enough if he can but Love and be Loved It is easie to perceive the Connection of the four parts and how all the Meditations have such a dependance one on the other that the First is still the foundation of the Second the former still supporting and giving strength to the latter and all of them together work the intended effect which is to raise a Soul into a State of perfect charity after having disingaged her from the Love of the world Here you have the Character and the Spirit of the Exercises which Ignatius compos'd at Manreza and which in process of time he digested into that order and form in which now we see them then adding to them divers Rules concerning Catholick Faith Prayer Alms deeds Temperance Scruples and Discernment of spirits Besides those which he sets down under the Title of Annotations and Additions to make the exercises both easily and profitably and which are so Essential according to the Judgement of one of the most Eminent Sons of our Saint that we can expect no fruit from our Retirement if we neglect them For amongst other things they Import that he who desires profitably to make the Exercises must enter into them with great Courage and with a Resolution to give himself up wholly to the Dictates and Conduct of the Holy Ghost and be ready to go what way soever the voice of Heaven shall call him That being so dispos'd at his entrance into them he must not only forget for a time all the affairs of the World but also must apply himself singly and Solely to the Meditation of each Present day not permitting his thoughts to make any excursion into the Meditations that are to follow That it is not Sufficient to read Holy and Good Books but the matter of them must be agreeable to the Subject of his Meditations least the understanding being dissipated and scatter'd upon divers Objects should have less force to Penetrate those Truths of which it is to be convinc'd That the way of Living the Solitude the Silence the Austerities ought to be apply'd and directed to the matter and Subject of the Meditations of each week as much as prudence may
Example by his Liberalities and by his Caresses corrupted almost all the young Men in the University of Alcala After having begg'd of God the Light and Forces which he should have need of in so hard an Enterprize he go's to the Lodging of the Prelate and to obtain Audience he sends up word that an unknown Person had things of great importance to tell him When he was brought up to him he said It is the greatest Concern you have in the World which obliges me to wait upon you for it is the Concern of your eternal Salvation And what he added in a Tone of Assurance and yet of Respect d'ye think that God has plac'd you in this World to live as if there were neither Heaven nor Hell Is a happy Eternity of so little value that it doth not deserve your care If at this moment that I speak to you Death should surprize you where would you be What Account could you give I do not say of so much Riches so sinfully employ'd but of so many Souls which you have destroy'd and do every day destroy Ignatius would have still continu'd in the same Tone but the Prelate took him short call'd him an insolent Fool and a Mad-man and in a great rage threatned to have him thrown out of the Window if he did not presently depart and in order thereunto call'd up his Servants For all this Ignatius did not cease to follow on his Point with the same liberty as before and God gave such a Blessing upon his Words that the incensed Prelate grew suddenly calm and so much an alter'd Man that with great Civility he invited Ignatius to Sup with him Ignatius would not balk so fair an occasion of going on with his Work but made such good use of his time that before he left him what with his modest Comportment and with the force of his Reasons he gain'd him to that degree that he wholly chang'd the loose course of his life This Conversion made a great noise in the Country and had a very good effect upon the young Students of the University in order to the reformation of their Manners The Prelate himself becoming zealous to reclaim those by his good Example whom his bad had corrupted But that which most serv'd to reform the Youth of Alcala was the Assemblies of Devotion which Ignatius held in the Hospital whither great Crowds of Schollars came to him and seldom went away but with a horror and detestation of Vice The common People were struck with these extraordinary Changes and following their natural malignity they entertain'd strange Fancies concerning Ignatius Some said he was a Conjurer and that without Art-Magick he could not do what he had done Others that he was an Heretick and that under pretence of bringing the young Fry to Piety he instill'd false Doctrine into them These Rumors quickly came to the Ears of the Inquisitors at Toledo They had lately condemn'd in Spain certain Visionaries who were call'd the Illuminated or Men of new Lights The Heresie of Luther began to desolate Germany and there was reason to fear that it would spread it self abroad like the Plague which seldom doth rage in a Country without infecting the Neighbouring Parts Wherefore the Inquisitors being very zealous and watchful were induced to believe that possibly the Person so much talk'd of might either be an Illuminato or a Lutheran and to be throughly inform'd of the matter they came themselves to Alcala to take Examinations upon the Place After an exact Enquiry into the Manners and Doctrine of Ignatius not finding any thing that might render him suspected and not judging it expedient to make him appear before them they were contented to refer the Matter to John Roderiques Figueroa Grand Vicar of Alcala and to Delegate to him all their Authority in case any new Matter should happen As soon as the Inquisitors were gone the Grand Vicar call'd Ignatius before him and declar'd to him that the Juridical Information which had been made was much in his favour and that he might continue his Functions for the service of his Neighbour He only admonish'd him that it was not approv'd of that he and his Companions not being Religious should go in Habits alike Ignatius to take away all ground of Complaint Cloth'd himself and Artiaga in Black left his gray Habit to the Frenchman and made Caliste and Cazeres go into a Russet Colour But in regard the Grand Vicar had forbidden him to go bare-foot he put on Shoes and ever after wore them The Testimony of the Inquisition justifi'd Ignatius and gave him a great deal of Credit among the People He was no more now an Illuminato or a Lutheran but a Man fill'd with the Spirit of God and a Successor of the Apostles and Alphonso Sanchez Canon of St. Juste commonly call'd him The holy Man This is the Canon who before he had discover'd the true Piety which was in Ignatius and in his Disciples did one day publickly refuse them the Communion upon supposition that they were Hypocrites if not worse Martin Saez a rich and principal Man of the Town of Aspetia which lies near to the Castle of Loyola being come to Alcala for some Business of Consequence heard them speak much of Ignatius which made him desire his Acquaintance Being shew'd to him one day in the Street he follow'd him to a little House whither he us'd to go every Morning upon a Charitable account Having seen him go in and come out of the House he went in himself and there found a poor sick Woman whom he ask'd who that Person was that last went from her She answer'd that she did not know the Man but that he brought her every day something to live upon and that without his assistance she must have starv'd Tell him says the Man of Aspetia that you know a Person that will furnish him with Money for all the Charities which he will do The sick Woman fail'd not to advertise Ignatius of it and to tell him the Lodging the Name and the Country of this Man according to the Order she had receiv'd from him The very Name of Aspetia did much affright Ignatius who fear'd nothing more then the meeting of any Persons of his own Country On the other side he was mortifi'd to be so discover'd so that without saying any thing farther to the poor Woman he only told her Sister I have succour'd you hitherto according to my ability hereafter Providence will assist you by some other means After which he departed and came no more In this while the Grand Vicar caus'd new Informations to be taken of Ignatius and his Disciples either incited thereunto by ill-minded People or else imagining with himself that Men of small Learning might be apt to teach false Doctrine in their Catechisms and that being young how vertuous now soever they appear'd they might easily fall into the frailties of Youth Upon this fresh Enquiry he still found their
was that the Body it self of the Deceased seem'd to give some assurance of the glorious state of his Soul for Hozez who living was of a swarthy Complexion and very hard-featur'd becaMe so handsom and well-colour'd after his Death that Codurus who never left him could hardly know him for the same Man To increase his comfort Ignatius stay'd not long without finding another Companion to fill his room whom he newly had lost or rather whom it pleas'd God to take into his own Kingdom Nor could he reckon it a loss to himself that this holy Man should be the first to take possession of Heaven out of that Society which was hardly yet well establish'd upon Earth and from whom he hop'd for more protection in that blessed State he had seen him then he could have had service or assistance from him if he had continu'd longer in the World Coming back from Monte-Cassino he met a young Spaniard of his Acquaintance call'd Francis Strada who was come to Rome to make his Fortune Doctor Ortiz had plac'd him with Cardinal John Peter Caraffa But Strada who was full of spirit and fire grew quickly weary of a Court where all things go slowly on He therefore resolv'd to turn Soldier to advance himself that way and he was then going to find Employment at Naples It is the custom for Men uneasie in their Fortunes to be always complaining He told Ignatius his Disgusts against the Court of Rome call'd it Deceitful and Ungrateful but still he comforted himself with the prospect of a freer Life in which at least he should gain Reputation You have no reason to complain said Ignatius to him The World in deceiving you has only done what it useth to do you have rather cause to rejoyce then to complain for it was rather a Kindness then a Deceit to let you know at first what the Court is and how ill-grounded all Hopes are there This ingrateful World which has so ill recompenc'd your Services doth in a manner it self admonish you to leave it but you do like him who suffers Shipwrack upon one Sea and presently Embarques again upon another You leave Rome for Naples as if the Court were not still the Court as well at Naples as at Rome For my part I have pity of you not so much for the Hopes you have already lost as for those you have still before you If you will not be deceiv'd renounce all your vain Pretensions upon Earth and trust only to God who is only faithful and can only make you happy These words made such Impressions upon the young Soldier that he laid down his new Profession to make himself a Disciple of Ignatius He went back with him to Rome and in process of time became one of the most famous Preachers of Europe Other young Men considerable for their natural Parts and for their Piety almost at the same time follow'd the Example of Strada At this time God bestow'd upon Ignatius more distinct Notions of the Institute of which he was to be the Founder together with a strong desire of Establishing it out of hand He conferr'd with Faber and Laynez about it and he sent for the rest of his Companions who were dispersed up and down Italy Upon his first Order they came to Rome about the end of Lent in the Year 1538. They Lodg'd all together with a Roman Gentleman call'd Guirino Garzonio whom Ignatius had brought into the Service of God and whose House he accepted of that he might Treat more commodiously with his Companions about the great Business in hand Having one day call'd them together Can you think Brethren said he that Providence has gather'd us out of so many different Countries and united us with so strait a band of perfect Charity with intention that after so long Studies and such painful Voyages every one should go home again at his pleasure No no he added God would have us engag'd in his Service for ever and even that we leave behind us Successors that shall embrace the same manner of Life Heaven has been pleas'd to stop our Entrance into Palestine and yet I can say it to the glory of God that our zeal for his Service has still increased from day to day Ought we not to judge from thence that we are call'd to enlarge the Kingdom of Jesus Christ not with a single Nation or Country but with all the Nations and Countries of the World The small number which we were at first did not suffice for so vast an Enterprize New Succours are now come in to us and more are daily coming But what benefit shall we receive from those who associate with us if we all live in an Independency and what great thing can we perform if our Company be not Erected into a Religious Order capable of multiplying it self in all Places and subsisting to the end of the World I doubt not but this Design will meet with great opposition The Contradiction of Men is a Character and Mark of the Works of God But neither Earth nor Hell can prevail against the Decrees of the Eternal Wisdom Jesus Christ has promis'd us to be favourable to us and what may we not hope upon his Word and what can we fear with his Assistance After all I am if opinion that you and I should take a little time to prepare our selves by Prayer to make a farther discovery of his Divine Will and faithfully to Execute it when it shall appear to us This Discourse of Ignatius fully convinc'd the whole Company yet in Obedience to him they did not deliver their Opinions upon the Matter till they had taken some time to recommend it to God in the manner by him prescribed which being done they assembled a second time and agree'd by a common consent that their Society should be Erected into a Religious Order that no time ought to be lost in undertaking it and that the first step to be made should be to prepare the Mind of the Pope which seem'd to be averse from these new Establishments While they sought out means to bring this to effect Paul the Third parted from Rome for Nice a Maritime Town in Provence where there was to be an Interview between Francis the First and Charles the Fifth The Design of the Pope was to Compose the Differences of those two Princes by a Treaty of Peace or at least to obtain of them a long Truce for he had reason to fear that their Divisions would hinder the progress of the League made against Soliman It was a great pain to Ignatius to see the Business of God retarded he drew his comfort only from him who permitted this delay and in the mean time he employ'd himself in the Service of his Neighbour Having obtain'd leave of Cardinal Caraffa whom the Pope had made his Legate in Rome to Preach in what Places he would he distributed his Companions into several Churches of the Town He chose for himself
given thanks to God for having rais'd it in so corrupt an Age And that they desir'd to aid and assist it according to their Power to continue their Holy Ministery notwithstanding all Contradictions and Persecutions which inseperably attend the life of perfect Christians Thus these two Religious Orders which seem to have the least of similitude in their Institutes were the most united by the Spirit of Charity And after this we are not to wonder if the Jesuits at this day have a particular friendship and veneration for the Carthusians They have inherited these sentiments from their first Fathers and they are glad of the Occasion to manifest them But that which gave the greatest Credit to the Society was that Pope Julius the Third who had taken particular notice of it at the Council of Trent being now chosen in the room of Paul the Third gave to Father Ignatius publick marks of his good Will This was about the beginning of the Jubile year 1550. The Father went to do his Homage to the Pope and to beg of his Holiness that the Labourers of the Society who were in Africa in Brasile in the Indies and in Japan might together with their Neophits gain the Jubile without coming to Rome The Pope embrac'd him and after having declar'd to him how much he lov'd his Order As to the Favor which you ask of me he said smiling I grant it with this restriction that you shall have all my Power in that particular and that for your Brethrens gaining the Indulgences of the holy Year you shall Prescribe them to do what you think fit He granted him the same Favor not only for several persons in Messina in Venice and in Paris but also for the Troops which Don John de Vega Viceroy of Sicily had carry'd into Africk and for the whole Town of Gandia which in consideration of Don Francis de Borgia had this Preheminence above all the Towns in the World Besides this Julius the Third gave permission to Father Ignatius and to all the Priests of the Society to exercise in the Jubile year all those Privileges which Paul the Third had granted them Tho' according to the usage of the Church Religious Orders who have Power from the Holy See to absolve in reserv'd Cases are not to use their Power in the time of the grand Jubile To crown all his Favors he again confirm'd the Institute and by an express Bull in which all things are clear'd and explain'd His Liberalites were also very considerable to the Jesuites of Rome and what is worthy of remark he commanded the General in vertue of holy Obedience to come and tell him as often as the profest House should be in any necessity In the mean time Father Ignatius having finish'd his Constitutions had it in his thoughts to Print them but he would first submit them to the Judgment and Censure of the chief among the Fathers and the opportunity of the Jubile year favor'd his design Wherefore he summon'd to Rome all that were eminent in Merit and Authority and they all came except Simon Rodriguez whom the King of Portugal detain'd at Lisbon He put the Constitutions into their hands praying them strictly to examin and weigh them and to tell him freely what they thought might need amendment or alteration Intending that the Design and Spirit of the Society should be uniform in all places and that the Rules of Government should be suitable to different Nations and Tempers he was very glad that the Fathers Assembled who were of several Countries and of unlike Constitutions should be themselves Judges of these Rules He sent a Copy of the Constitutions to Rodriguez upon whose Judgment he much reli'd he also sent one for the same reason to some of the Spiritual Coadjutors who tho' not so Learn'd were Men of great Prudence After having heard the Opinions of those who were present and receiv'd the Answers of the absent he toucht over his work again and joyning their lights with his own he finisht the Piece Nevertheless being perswaded that only time and experience can demonstrate the Perfection of Laws he would have no absolute obligation laid upon the Society of observing the Constitutions until the whole Order assembl'd in a Body should approve them and this did not happen till after his death under the Generalship of Laynez They were not only Review'd and Authoriz'd by the first general Congregation but they were also confirm'd by the Holy Apostolick See after an exact discussion which four Cardinals made of them without changing one word As the year of the Jubile seem'd very proper to Father Ignatius for convening the Fathers in Rome so the Opportunity of their being there appear'd no less favorable to him to execute a design which he had long in his thoughts He at first took the charge of Government upon him with great repugnancy as we have already seen and when it was laid upon him against his will he made account that he should be one day freed from it to enjoy the ease of Obeying and the merit of Obedience He did believe that the happy day was now come and his continual Infirmities in an Age far advanc'd seem'd to promise him that which he so passionately desir'd To this end he call'd all the Fathers together but remembring the opposition they had made him when he refus'd to receive the charge of General instead of being present at the Assembly he sent them a Letter writ with his own hand and couch't in these terms To my dearest Brethren in Christ my Brethren of the Society of Jesus AFter divers Reflections which I have made at leisure not being mov'd thereunto by any Passion I will tell you sincerly as in the presence of my Creator and my God who must judge me for an Eternity what I believe to be most for the Glory of his Divine Majesty Considering my Sins my Defects and all my Infirmities Corporal and Spiritual I have often thought that I was very far from having those Qualities which are requisite to sustain the Burden which you have laid upon me I desire therefore in the Name of our Lord that you would find out and chuse some Body by whom this Office may be better or at least not so ill discharg'd and tho' another should not do better then I have done yet I desire to leave the Place After due consideration had upon it in the Name of the Father of the Son and of the Holy Ghost I depose my self and simply and absolutely I renounce all pretentions to the Generalship I Conjure in the Name of our Lord and with all my Soul the Fathers profest and those with whom they shall please to consult I Conjure them I say to receive my Demission which I make in the presence of God for Causes so just But if there should be diversity of Opinions among you I beseech you for the love of our Saviour Jesus Christ well to recommend the
Councils have Condemn'd of Error the Opinion of those who maintain'd that the particular Churches of Alexandria or of Constantinople were true Churches without being United to the Bishop of Rome the common Head of the Catholick Church out of which have descended in a continual Succession all the Popes from St. Peter to this day who by the relation of St. Marcellus the Martyr fix'd his Chair at Rome by order from Jesus Christ and cemented it with his own Blood These Popes have been held without Controversie to be the Vicars of Jesus Christ by innumerable holy Doctors Greek and Latin and of all Nations they have been acknowledg'd by Anchortes Bishops and other Confessors Illustrious for Sanctity Lastly they have been Authenticated by an infinity of Miracles and by innumerable Martyrs who have dy'd in the Union and for the Faith of the holy Roman Church It was therefore with good reason that in the Council of Calcedon all the Bishops cry'd with one Voice in Saluting the holy Pope St. Leo Most Holy Apostolick Universal and that in the Council of Constance those were Anathematiz'd who deny'd the Primacy and Authority of the Bishop of Rome over all the Churches of the World These Decrees so Express and so Authentick are farther confirm'd by the Council of Florence which was held under Eugenius the Fourth and in which were present the Greeks the Armenians the Jacobites and other Nations We Define say the Fathers of this Council that the holy See Apostolick and the Bishop of Rome hath the Primacy over all the Churches in the World that he is Successor of St. Peter the Vicar of Jesus Christ the Head of the whole Church the Father and Doctor of all the Faithful that our Lord Jesus Christ hath given him in the person of St. Peter a full power to instruct to direct and to govern the Universal Church Wherefore the most Serene King David Father to your Highness with great right did formerly acknowledge by a sollemn Embassy the Church of Rome for the Mother and Mistress of all Churches And amongst the many illustrious Actions by which both he and you have recommended your Names to Posterity two there are which will outshine all the rest and for which your People ought to render immortal thanks to God Your Father is the first King of the Abyssins who put himself under the Obedience of him who holds the place of Jesus Christ upon Earth and you are the first who hath brought into your Dominions a true Patriarch a Legitimate Son of the holy See and deputed by the Vicar of Jesus Christ For if it ought to be reckon'd the highest Blessing as in effect it is to be United to the Mystical Body of the Catholick Church which is enliven'd and directed by the Holy Ghost teaching her all Truths according to the Testimony of the Evangelist If it be a great happiness to be enlightned with sound Doctrine to be settl'd and to rest upon the Foundations of the Church which the Apostle St. Paul writing to Timothy calls the House of God the Pillar and Basis of Truth to which our Lord Jesus Christ hath promis'd an Everlasting Assistance when he said to his Apostles Behold I am always with you to the end of the World as we read in the Gospel of St. Matthew These Nations have certainly great reason to thank their Saviour and Creator whose merciful Providence has made use of your Father and of your self to bestow such benefits upon them and their acknowledgment should the more shew it self in regard also of the Temporal Advantages which are likely to follow these Spiritual Blessings For we may justly hope that by the means of this Reunion with the Church your Enemies will soon be vanquish'd and your Empire enlarg'd The Priests which are sent you are indeed all but principally the Patriarch and the two Bishops of try'd Vertue and selected out of our Society for so important a Function in regard of their eminent Learning and of their perfect Charity They want neither Courage nor Zeal well to acquit themselves of their Ministry hoping that they shall Labour usefully for the Glory of God for the Conversion of Souls and for the Service of your Highness Their only desire is to imitate in some sort the Son of God who willingly suffer'd death to redeem Mankind from Eternal Damnation and who saith by the Mouth of the Evangelist I am the good Shepherd the good Shepherd gives his Life for his Sheep The Patriarch and the rest animated by the Example of our Saviour come dispos'd to relieve and gain Souls by their Counsels by their Labours and even by their Death if need shall require The more freely your Highness shall be pleas'd to open your mind and to communicate your thoughts to them the greater I hope your inward Consolation will be And for what regards the Credit to be given to what they shall say either in private or in publick your Highness is not Ignorant that the words of these Missioners sent by the Holy See and chiefly those of the Patriarch have Apostolical Authority and in some sort are no less to be credited then the voice of the Church whose Interpreters they are And in regard that all the Faithful ought to adhere to the Sentiments of the Church obey her Decrees and consult her in doubtful Cases I am perswaded that your Piety will lead you to make an Edict which may oblige all your Subjects to follow without resistance the Orders and Constitutions both of the Patriarch and of those whom he shall substitute in his place The Deuteronomy teaches us that it was the Custom among the Jews in the Controversies and Difficulties which occur'd to have recourse to the Synagogue which was the Figure and Forerunner of the Christian Church For this reason it was that Jesus Christ said in the Gospel the Scribes and Pharisees are seated on the Chair of Moses the wise Man teaches the same thing in the Proverbs Do not neglect the Precepts of your Mother This Mother is the Church And in another place pass not the bounds which your Fathers have set these Fathers are the Prelates of the Church In conclusion Jesus Christ requires of us to have so great deference to his Church that he plainly tells us by the Evangelist St. Luke He who hears you hears me and he who contemns you contemns me And by St. Matthew If he hears not the Church let him be to you as a Heathen and a Publican Hence it follows that we must not hearken to those who hold forth any thing that is not conformable to the Sense and the Interpretation of the Catholick Church of which we are admonish'd by those words of St. Paul in his Epistle to the Galatians But altho ' we or any Angel from Heaven should Evangelize to you otherwise then we have Evangeliz'd to you be he Anathema In fine the Testimony of the Holy Doctors the Canons of Councils the Consent and