dust to trie whether in this extreame humiliation they may meete with some roote of hope and some apparence of recouery and to expect in silence thy saluation since that they themselues who haue dispoyled them laugh at their miseries and say that their golde is obscured and their faire collour changed and growne pale And that with good right they who liued heretofore in delights and were cloathed with schà rlet are stretched out on the dunghill as mortified and not dead as possessing all aÌ„d hauing nothing O mockers how much more iustly might one cast backe your darts of laughter vpon your selues and saie that appearing dead to the world by this death which is called ciuill scarcly are you well mortified and making shewe of hauing nothing by your pouertie rather in shewe then effect you haue all you sucke all you attract all And I pray you after this faire diuision of the lion where all is on one side and nothing on the other as we haue made to appeare after that the rented Cenobites haue drawen vnto their Communities and tyed to their howses all the tithes of Pastours and almost all the Patronages of parishes making them their children and seruants who were heretofore their Fathers and Maisters Doth it well become them in your opinion to call themselues the poore Euangelicks to saie that the Pastours are proprietaries and possessours of their owne will that thy doe nothing but for profit and diuers other reproaches which I will not relate and which are no lesse vniust then misbeseeming and odious in mouthes so sweete and sugared as seeme to breath forth nothing but words of milke and honnie and so sacred that they passe all for Oracles of veritie and for tearmes of humility and of charitie Certes if the Church did speake so dis-aduantagiously of Pastours that were more tolerable for the workes of an aduersary to true piety are so many flowres and crownes but as those bees which make honny stinge most so the strokes giuen by the hande of à supposed frinde wounde more and carry à blowe so much the more strong as the lesse foreseene This is that which causeth so strange an imprecation and which I should not dare to repeate with Dauid against that man who secretly persecuted him though he had liued peaceablie with him and in all familiarity euen often to eate together and to walke as compagnions in the wayes of God We will take good heede of making the like but we will onely desire more moderation of speech from them who sounded haue to their reuennues drawen all those of Pastours or who hauing no foundations are euery day at their gates or at those of their sheepe for to cloath themselues with the substance of the sheepe whereof they haue none and whereof they flye the charge so excessiuely delicate is their charitie and their conscience tender because they knowe that the same is of great burthen and that this waight is dreadfull euen vpon the very shoulders of an Angell which is admirable in those who make profession not onely of an anglicall but of à Seraphicall life Besides if they were content to haue risled the Pastours of the Patronages and Tythes which they haue drawen from them and to haue ceased by their beggings from depriuing them of the iust succours which they might expect of their sheepe If they were satisfied in diuiding amongst themselues the spoyles of the conquered without making so bad vse of their victory as to giue to vnderstand the contrary of that which is placing darknes in the place of light and calling those riche and Interessed in the seruice of soules whom they haue reduced to extreamitie of misery at least in the Contry and publishing themselues poore to finish the vtter ruine of the Pastours of Townes and to reduce them to the pouertie of their compagnions One would onely coÌ„pare them to that Sauage Animall which I will not name and wherof the Prophet speakes which kicks at its mother as sonne as she hath giuen it sucke But when by secret deuices they passe from the contempt of Ministers to that of the ministery and auert the people from the asseÌ„blies of their parishes and foment the distast which they may haue of the auntient policy of the Hierarchie to runn after the nouelties of Institutes and of Delegats which euery day produce new swarmes and new Colonies vnder the specious cloake of the glory of God which couers all the designes of particular Interest this is that which giues à iust cause vnto Pastours to dislike this proceeding which vndermines the foundations of the Hierarchicall state and brings to ruine that which IESVS-CHRIST hath established and edified ordaining that his Church should be gouerned by Pastours obliged and tyed to the care and feeding of soules not by delegates who haue no charge of them who performe therin but what they please in what manner they please as long as they please and so much as to them is aduantagious and honourable So that now as well as euer one may knowe the truth of this auntient Apothegme That which CHRIST takes not quod non capit Christus he meanes the tythes the Fisque to wit the Tallage carryes it away Rapit Fiscus but he should haue added that the Quest takes vp the rest of the glenage Carpit Questus It is true that the Cenobites of â—untient foundation and who haue made vp their hande make much lesse noise then the new like vnto the bees which flie not during the winter being coÌ„tent to liue in peace and shut vp of the honny which they gathered in the sommer But the new ones as well the founded as liuing of mendicity are they who are in part the cause of this discontentment of Pastours who menace the Gallican Church with à very daungerous scisme if God by the haÌ„de of the two souereigne powers spirituall and temporall take not order therin in good time according to the particular care which his paternall Prouidence hath alwayes had of this Monarchy CHAP. XV. Of Foundation-hunters FOr besides that the MendicaÌ„ts called reformed are alwayes bent to extend their Orders by new howses they who ought to liue of foundation and not of begging are nok lesse eager to people and dilate themselues which they caÌ„not doe without may difficulties and according to the forme of their gouernment For in lieu of receauing onely those amongst them as the woemen doe in their new monasteries who should bring their maintenance with them founding themselues in this sorte by litle and litle without disaccommoding any they receaue indifferently such as bring or bring not imagining that it will be as easie for them in demaunding boldy to obteine foundations as for the Mendicants to get from day to day Almes for their ordinary liuing What happens thereby besides the trouble some importunities which cause much murmuring that frustrated of their expectations indiscreetly conceaued they moue heauen and earth to drawe themselues out of the ditch of
and they ignoble that others are stronge and they weake to them it is indifferent that they die so as IESVS reigne in their hearts is their desire and it is the summe of their wishes to haue the fauour to suffer death for the Absalons The vessell of the flesh and of proper Interest is it broken Their Charitie is dilated The pitcher of self-loue as a holy father of the church sayth is it burst in sunder The lampe appeares which puts to flight the Army of Madian They who bee thus disinteressed are well pleased that the soules vnder their conduct doe consult whith others to the end their counsells haueing passed the examen and touch might cause them to be obserued with the more assurence in case they growe good or correct them where moderation is requisite He that walkes in this simplicity proceedes with much confidence If likewise they see them selues reiected and abandoned by such as will walk according to the desire of their owne hearts and follow their proper imaginations they are not ther with contristated but prayse God who had both trusted them with those soules and resumed them Are they blamed or blasphemed They pray Doe men curse them They blesse Are they persecuted They endure it esteemeing them selues the excrement and drosse of the world Are they forsaken for others They haue but à litle vertue yf they haue not so much as that Pericles who being reiected in the election of the Pretorship many haueing had more voyces then himself reioyced that the towne of Athens had so many honest men Such was the loue which he bare to his countrie CHAP. III. Of those who captiuate soules BVT when Iealousie arriues to this point behold another mark of distinction of bindeing and looseing soules by takeing from them the freedome not onely of consulteing with others but also of disburdening their consciences vnto them Certainly this tyrannie is not of that sorte which can or ought to be indured yf there remaine the least spark of vigour or light of reason And if the cause be not very manifest this proceedeing is extreamely suspected of ambition of false dealeing He that doth ill hateth the light he that followes our Sauiour walkes not in darknes and detesting its workes walkes honestly in the day of perfect cleerenes reioycing like that Roman whose house was so open on all parts as one might looke into it on euery side The first thing which the Wolfe doth when he seazes on à sheepe is to lay hold on her throate to hinder her from cryeing and calleing for by her voice the ayd of her Pastour Our Sauiour sayth of him self that he had spoken nothing in secrett but openly to the world If no other but wholseme counsells be giuen there is no doubt but they may be communicated Good of it selfe casts forth its beames as the light We ought not to blush at the Gospell nor at the knowledge taught by the sonne of God crucified if we will not that he be ashamed of vs before his Father S. PAVL was very farr from this humour which enthralls soules so often repeateing that he onely giues counsells noe commaunds and that he layes nor snares nor ginnes How doth he cry out against those who sayd I am of Apollo I of Cephas I of Paul Why were Apollo Cephas Paul crucified for you Noe noe all are yours and you are Christes and Christ is Gods The Director who without à solide cause and withall held good and iust by the Penitent who likewise shall doe well therin to take the aduise of some other person prudent in the misticall word as the Wise-man sayth that is experienced tyes à soule in such sorte as that he forbids it to consult with another ought for this sole action I speake it boldly because it is necessary to be shunned as à Rocke For although he hath neither in his counsell nor in this prohibition any sinister designe yet giues he aduantage vnto the Tempter who will lay snares for him and who more subtile then Archimedes desireth but à point to plant his engins and so remoue by them à setled heart from its proper seate I repeat once more the better to engraue this important aduise in the readers minde that à Director which will not be forsaken for another and who is disturbed at this mutation ought to bee abandoned and changed for another S. Bernard aduiseth Pope Eugenius neuer to bestow Benefices on such as shall require them because sayth he onely by their demaunding them they declare them selues vnworthy to obteine them We must obserue the same in the subiect wherof I speake aÌ„d speedily shake of the yoake of him whose ambltious Interest seekes to make his Penitent'd slaue Let vs boldly breake those bonds let vs cast off this vniust yoake He that dwelleth in the heauens will laugh at their follie and commend our courage in the preseruation of our iust libertie I know there is noe rule so generall which admitts not some exception and that there may happen cases which will oblige à much dis-interessed Director to inuite one sweetely and without any obligation or constraint to retourne now and then vnto the same Tribunall to finde whether he hath kept his promise whether he hath auoyded the occasions of sinne and whether he hath bene faythfull in the execution of counsells giuen him to get out of that precipice Retourne sayth the spouse three times in the Canticles retourne Sulamitesse retourne that we may behold thee But this is done after so sincere so lirle enforced so sweete à manner as it is easie to see that the bridle is flack and that the reynes are gouerned by à gentle hande and that the Penitent him self is condemned by his owne iudgement and followes therein rather his will which assisted by Grace tells him that it is good for him so to doe then the motion of him that putts him forward without pressing and bringeth him in without oppression O how differently doe the gentle beames of the Sunne and the impetuositie of the Northeren Winde despoile man and how easie to be discerned Feede sayth the Prince of the Apostles speakeing to the Pastors and conductors of soules the flock of God which is committed to your charge But how Mark Director not by constraint but voluntarily not as haueing domination Signioritie Empire ouer the Clâ—rgy of our Lord but by à good example procedeing from the bottome of your soule that when the Prince of Pastors shall come you may receaue at his hand an incorruptible crowne of Glory O how well sayd this greate and generall Vicar of IESVS-CHRIST and according to the doctrine of his Maister who before had sayd vnto his Disciples the kings of Nations exercise their Empire with power but you shall not doe so Contrariwise let the greater amongst you be as the lesser he that preceedes as the follower and he that commaunds as the seruant Certes I haue alwayes much esteemed the moderation of a wise auntient
is arriued at the hauen It is that which we must now examine to wit wheither the complaints are iust which the Pastours and the Cenobites make of the pouertie of their Parishes and of their Monasteries As they goe first in the procession for the venerable antiquitie of their order so also shall they haue the preeminency in the reprehension that the Diocesan Pastours haue à litle more power and iurisdiction ouer such Pastours as are subordinate to them For as concerning others although they be not out of the bosome yet are they neuertheles out of the precinct of the ordinary Hierarchie not rising by their exemptions but from the authoritie of the head of the Church à tie which S. Bernard compares to the faire disposition of that man whose feete should be immediatly fastened to his head without interposition of other meÌ„bers of the body such à contracting that the pencills of painters no lesse subtile then the inuentions of Poets haue not yet mett with any thinge so admirable This conceite comming from so great à saint I bâ—lâ—eue that the report which I therof make cannot be taken in ill part but by those whose sight is offended by the light CHAP. V. Of those of Pastors touching the pouertie of their Churches TO what purpose then doe some Pastours in the Direction of soules to them commitâ—ed become importunate in laying open the pouertie of their Churches if it be not to share in the commodities which they desire should be giuen therevnto Is it not more honest and more sutable to the dignitie of à Pastour to represent in all simplicitie and without any shewe of complaint the necessities of his Church Whether it be in ornaments in buildings or in light or els in the foundation of some Chappell 's seruices or confraternities most sweetly causing the sheepe to vnderstand that the parish is their mother and that well-bred children and abunding with the goods of fortune get no honour in leauing their mother naked and in necessitie without proceeding to exclamations to reproaches to inuectiues For that doth manifest some perticuler interest as thirst and eagernes to drinke though it be but water sheweth some feauourish disposition If the dormitiue and sweete medicines or milde and gentle remonstrances made in tearmes of cordiall veritie and Charitie not fayned be vnprofitable in regard of the hardnes of haâ—ts after charity which neuer goes without longanimitie and patience marcheth Iustice prouiding that the Bishop ordaine things necessary for that respect and that he in case the people be stubborne demaund aide of the Magistrate for the execution of the ordinances which concerne the necessities of the seruice of God and the maintenance of holie places and sacred ornaments The same may be said of the entertainement and maintenance of Pastors which is due in all justice both diuine and humane and which may be sweetly peaceably and quietly demaunded by wayes which can onely be odious vnto such as curse the day and who conceiuing iniquitie bring forth injustice For that purpose are designed Tithes and for paâ—ishes where there are none as in Townes other rights are ordained forth maintenaÌ„ce of Pastours which ought to be receaued with humilitie and gentlenesse as well beseeming those who feede the flock of God without of à sordid lucre as S. Peter sayth but franckly and amiablie To what end is it then to fill the ayre with complaints which cannot be exempt from suspition of auarice though possiblie the hart of his tongue which vttereth them be not infected with this euill I doe not say that the Institution of the Confraternities is not holie and whence soules receaue very great profitt it being à powerfull spurr vnto pietie But when à Pastoâ— makes vse of them to drawe aduantage and to increase his reuennue who sees not that this litle streame degenerates from the puritie of its source and that the intention of instituting these devout assemblies doth no waies sute with this designe There is à sorte of white Adamant which repulseth the iron which is attracted by the blacke The Director who hath true charitie which is the Adamant of harts will dart farr from him all these interests which rather seeke profitt secretly then with the trompet As concerning other abuses of Confraternities of Parâ—shes which principally in the country leade vnto banquets and other dissolutioÌ„s of the mouth as if the kingdome of God consisted in eating and drinking and not in the ioye and peace of the holy Ghost I will not here speake since that the very naming of these disorders is enough to blame them and to reprehend the Pastors and Directors of such assemblies who insteede of sharply reprehending such expences no lesse odioâ—s then vicious take part therin authorisinge by their example that which ought to be destroyed by their speach CHAP. VI. Of those of Cenobites touching the pouertie of their Communities LET vs now see if the complaints which the Cenoticall Directors powre out into the eares of those persons whom they conduct haue any more reasonable ayre when they speake of the pouertie of their Communities then when they treaâ—e of their particular incommodities I will say to the end I may not irritate the bees according to the auntient Prouerbe yet lesse this worde is short but true and behold the proofes Let vs alwaies remember the distinction of Cenobites who liue of foundatioÌ„s and such as get their liuing by begging who therfore are called mendicants because this difference is very considerable Touching the first if their foundation be auncieÌ„t and well established it is altogether euident that they caÌ„not complaine of pouertie vnles ther be dis-order in the communitie disorder which as the anathema of Saul and AchaÌ„ causeth that nothing prospereth What may one say wnto such but that they reforme themselues and then all will abounde with them according to the infallible promise of our sauiour seeke first the kingdome of God and then all will be added vnto you Yes but this will be à well reformed community yet the foundation will be new and consequently weake enough This argument seemes vnanswearable and yet is it the most feeble of all whose complainte is least receauable For if all communities be established ether of goods brought thither by such as enter therin as is practized in the new erected Monasteries of woemen which hath made the order of S. Bennet so great and rich and other foundations as the learned Bellarmine noteth whose doctrine I here followe step by step in the 23. Chap. of his booke of monks Or if they he grounded on the foundations of great and rich personages whose pietie erecteth and indoweth intire Monasteries which is common in Italie and Spayne of France I Say nothing why doe these people complaine that these new howses haue no soundations But if they who come in bring nothing why doe you receaue them in case you haue neither the meanes to maintaine them nor the facultie or permission ether of
although the ordinaries may not ouerlooke them nor haue any thing to say vnto them for it belongs vnto theâ— to teache others onely by the way of fraternall charitie and in the same fashion as I would desire to receaue of them à good aduertissement for the correction of my faults according to the precepâ— which our Sauiour giues vs gentlie â—o correct those who stray out of their bounds and to receaue with à willing hart the same grace when an other shall aduertise vs of our errours CHAP. VIII A remonstrance thervpon and aduise VVill it I say be permitted me to shew that it would be much more expedient for to growe by the roote then by the braunches which is to extend themselues in the exercise of vertues rather then in the multiplity of foundatioÌ„s and not to leaue Maries good part for the toile and trouble of Martha inseparable trouble of so many new missions and Conuoyes No the perfection of an order consisteth not in the number of men and howses but in the exact obseruaÌ„ce of the rules aÌ„d Institute If the number caused the excellency the world would carry it froÌ„â—hose that leaue it for there are â—lwaies many more secular laicks then of those who abandon the worlde An armie lesse in multitude but well ordered is stronger then à great one where disorder puts all into route and confusion But why is it necessary to take mucâ— thought or vse many words for the proofe of à truth altogether euident and which experience makes palpable No no at the Tribunall of God you shall not giue so strict an accompte for not enlarging your order and multipling your dwellings as for the ill husbanding of vertues and for many other imperfections which wage continuall warr against vs. And besides where there is no hearer sayeth the wise-man what neede is there to powere out our speach The passion of spiritually multiplying themselues being so vehement in zealous soules as that which God inspired in nature by his words increase and multiply is not so ardent For the other is so much the more pressing by how much it hath à fairer pretence to aduance the glory of God in the saluation of soules by bringing to him many seruants whence such as are once taken therwith cannot acquit themselues because they would thinke to lose all their perfection No the passion which carnall fathers haue for the aduancement of their Children to lodge them weâ—l to prouide for all their necessities to erect them howses beares no comparison with that of Cenobiticall fathers and Superiours in extending multiplying aduancing inriching building magnifiing and causing their blessed instituts â—o florish And God graunt said an auntient father of the Cenobites vnto his bâ—â—thren who prest him to reedify the Monastery and to make it greater that by inlarging our terrestriall cells we do not straiten the habitations which expect vs in the mansion of our heauenly father It is in vaine to oppose reasons and words vnto à torrent which can not be staied by any bankes Goe on then in the name of God our deare Bretheren goe on dilating your selues alwaies forward and neuer returne back noe more then the birds of the Prophett ascend alwaies or desceÌ„d like the Angels on Iacobs laddeâ— without stopping in your motion I â—ell you from my very hart as Rebeccha's brothers told her wheâ— they sent her by Eliezer to be the spouse of Isaac you are our sister increase into thousand thousands lett your Orders florish more and more lett your Brethreren multiply and surpasse in number the starrs of heauen and the sands of the Sea Yet is it not very certaine that by multipling people the glory of God is magnified since that experience which your passion causesh you to ignore makes vs to see that you spiritually ruine yourselues by that wherby you thinke temporally to establish yourselues that the Wisdome of the flish obscureth that of the spiritt as the moone receaueth Ecclips by the opposition of the earth and that thinking to aduaÌ„ce the glory of God by multiplication you diminish it by inconsideratioÌ„ It is in my opinion the iudgement of the holy Ghost who by the mouth of the Church his true oracle teacheth vs in the last Ecumenicall councell that the multiplicity of new institutes placeth so many ChildreÌ„ on the brest of Christian piety as it therby becometh dry which bee it spoken with due reuerence to the Sea Apostolick that doth nothing therin but maturebly holily and vpon iust necessities for who can say vnto it why doe you soe since that the soueraigne Bishop holding the generall gouerment of the ship of the vniuersall Church knoweth better the necessities therof theÌ„ any particular Pastours who aâ—â— onely called vnto part of the sollicitude not vnto the fulnesse of the absolute powre and auctority reserued onely vnto him Now to returne to my first purpose whence this digression which will not bee vnusefull touching the multipliing of Cenobiticall houses seems to haue some what putt mee our of my track I say that if such as make new foundations complaine of their pouerty their complaint can not bee iustified by their inconsideration which causeth them rashly to enterprise workes wherin they take â—o ill à bias that one need not woÌ„der whatsoeuer coÌ„fidence they alleadg in the prouidence of God if they prosper so ill therin as in the end their harp is changed into lamentation as Iob saith and their voice into the accent of those who weepe What might à man then do to cause these complaints to drie vp in their mouthes and to satisfie this remediles appetite of founding howses and making new establishments Concerning which I should bidd them to aske of their ancieÌ„t fathers Cenobites and of those who haue preceeded theÌ„ in the like designes and they will answere them follow our stepps pursue the tracts of our example Receiue not any amongst you who bringe not vnto the community meanes to liue as no Preist is receiued into sacred Orders without title I speak here of Cenobits liuing of rents Or else take noâ— new howses vnles they bee sufficiently endowed by founders and do not receiue more people then the reuenue of the howse can mantaine as you see in Cathedrall and Collegiall Churches ther are buâ— so many places for Canons or PrebeÌ„daries as the rents of the chapters can mantaine And if some offer themselues to bee brother-seruants admitt onely such as know some trade and who by their act and labour shall bee able to gaine their liuing in seruing God and the community so should you want nothing nor haue occasion to complaine CHAP. IX Indiscreete feruor BVT going on this pace you will say one should not much aduance For foundations are rare more rare such as entring into communities bring with them meanes to entertaine them and besides this were to tye the hands of the Diuine Prouidence and subiect it vnto humane prudence which is folly before God I know not truly whether
necessity which they themselues haue digged And seeking to establish and founde themselues at what price soeuer they leaue nothing vnattempted The dying flies sayeth the wise-man spoyle the sweetnes of the perfume he meanes that when the flies doe but lightly play vp and downe ouer the balme or some other odoriferous liquour it receaues but litle hurt But when they are taken and putrifie therin that changes the puritie of the odour Yet the passing almes which the mendicants gather are supportable according to the capacitie of the places where they establish themselues But for those who would founde themselues without bringing any thing to the communitie and without doing any thing nether with their handes nor their husbandry but onely in begging abroad with courage and boldnes not to vse ruder tearmes it is necessary that they take their aime very high and behold à farre-of entire inheritances deceauing the right or collaterall Heyres who seeing themselues depriued of their expectations by misticall practises more temporall then spirituall fill the Aire which complaints the barrs with suites and the world with garboills To speake the truth if we were yet in the time of the Churches infancie when the faithfull brought all their goods without reseruation to the feete of the Apostles these good personages who call themselues our successours of the Apostles but not leading an Apostolicall life would quickly compase their pretentions but be it that they haue not altogether so much vertue as the Apostles be i◠that the world which knowe not IESVS-CHRIST nor hath eyes good enough to peceaue their perfections where fore it being not so feruent to doe them good as in those primatiue times we must not wonder if amongst so many new institutes there be some that haue so ill à share and consequently complaine of cooled Charitie Amongst many new coynes there is allwayes some one which being worst accepted of doth not passe so currant as the rest Rebuke sayeth Dauid the wilde beast of the Reede of the desart which is beaten with euery winde and the congregation of Bulls with the cowes of the people and exclude those who are tried by siluer I leaue the explication and application of this passage vnto him who will as likewise this other of Esau the deluge of cammells shall couer thee and that of the Dromidaries of Madian and of Epha liking better for my part to seeme obscure then subtile in an allusiue sense It suffices me to haue shewen in generall that the Pastours who alone beare the burdē and the charge of soules reape not thereby so much profit and consequently are not so much interessed in their direction as they who by an admirable limbecke knewe how to extract pure of pure and to reserue to themselues the gouerment of such as they please and in such sort as they please ād so long as they please without making themselues answerable ether before the Pastours of the earth or before the Prince of Pastours who is in heauen and to drawe from thence vtilitie without any sollicitude CHAP. XVI The free seruice of Cenobites IF we should descend to particulars it would be easie for vs to shewe that if the Pastours and the Preists subordinate to them in parishes receaue some farthings and some pence giuen out of à pure and liberall acknowledgment by those vnto whom they administer some Sacraments which is according both to lawes and good manners the Mendicant Cenobites afford not their seruice for nothing but haue their enterteynment of the people who doe not principally giue them temporall goods but first in consideration of God who recommends mercy more them Sacrifice and next of the spirituall assistances which they obteyne therby They who imploye them in the pulpitts of Parishes are not ignorant that the not reformed haue hands as well as the particular Preists and that the Communities of the reformed knowe well how to receaue that which is presented them in consideration of the particulars of their body who haue performed this office so that nether the one nor the other returne thence emptie No not euen they who being well founded should haue more reason to practise the doctrine of the Apostle who willeth that such as haue wherwith to feede and cloathe them should distribute freely the spirituall graces which they haue freely receaued by imposition of hands And if in the Confessionaries they seeme to testifie more gratuity we intreat them to consider that at the same time they administer the Sacramēt of reconciliation vnto à very few soules which by inclination and voluntatily put themselues vnder their Conduct or which themselues haue drawen their brother seruants are at mens gates in the Citie or in the Contry demanding indifferently at euety doare and receauing releife from many howses wherevnto they render no seruice at all There is more which is the Diocessan Pastours and much more the Parochialls are restreyned within certaine boundes where their power their abode their reuennue their charge and their iurisdiction are limited But the Cenobites goe indifferently through all parishes Diocesses Prouinces and kingdomes demaunding their necessities and receauing them of the faithfull without obligation of any duties by the state and condition of their life then such as they are pleased to render them For to saie that the Institute of some obligeth them to serue soules it is to presuppose that which is not to wit that there should he some Cenobiticall Institute which were charged with soules The which would directly shake the whole Hierarchy and the maine policie of the Church which onely attributeth the charge of soules vnto Pastours by office And this would be to take à trote too high à wide marke and to ayme amisse in daring to saie with the Apostle extraordinary sent for the conuersion of nations My daylie in stance is the sollicitude of all the Churches For who hath establissed them ouer the Ordinary Pastours thus to runne euery where to intrude themselues into the administration of their functions If they alleadge their priuiledges grāted by the holy sea and from that rocke whence Pastours are drawen out and where vnto they haue relation as vnto the Center of the vnity of the Church Let them reade them well and they will not finde that the Vicar generall of IESVS-CHRIST the successour of S. Peter hath euer intended any thing to the preiudice of ordinary Pastours who called by God vnto part of the sollicitude not vnto the fullnes of power fullnes of power which onely the soueraigne Bishop hath receaued from God not for destruction but for edification and on condition to gouerne the Church by ordinary Pastours as S. Paul saieth in Chap. 20. of the Acts of the Apostles preaching to those of Ephesus Take heede to your selues and to the whole flocke ouer which the holy Ghost hath placed you Bishops to rule the Church of God which he hath purchased with his blood I will forbeare to couch heere the words following in this passage
with publicans and sinners and as à Phisition who seekes after the sicke to cure them and as à good Pastour seeking out the straying sheepe to bring them vnto the fowlde and to force them to returne and his life being common and familiar according to the exteriour becoming all vnto all to gaine all this continuall assistance which placed them as à frequent spectacle before men made them lesse acceptable to the vulgar who hauing no iudgement but in the eies nor eies but in the head esteeme nothing valuable and great but that which is rare and that which appeares more seldome to the view To say the truth as nothing so much and so often ingendreth contempt as familiarity inward conuersation and ordinary commerce so nothing doth more aduance worth reputation and esteeme then reseruednes retirement and raritie And hence it is that the manner of life which the Cenobites leade giues them the preeminence in the opinion of people aboue the manner of life which the Pastours are constreined to lead to satisfie the obligations of their charges For they shewing themselues lesse often to the world and euen in à manner prepared composed affected striking the sense of those who considere and iudge of the interiour man by the exteriour countenance as of à tree by the barke and the leaues are doubtles much more esteemed then they who continually mingled amongst the people for all purposes in their imployment and actions in their habits and in all their exteriour are like vnto other men in imitation of our Sauiour who reuesting himselfe with our nature would render himselfe in all things conformable to his bretheren according to the flesh and for that cause is he called not onely man but the sonne of man Likewise the good Pastours haue this aduantage that iudicious persons and who knowe how to ballance the worth of things not by coÌ„mon weights but by those of the Sanctuary sufficiently acknowledge that if they haue lesse of the smoake of reputation they haue not lesse of the fire of charitie if they make lesse bruite they yeeld not lesse fruite and if they haue lesse of apparence and shew they are not lesse in effect and profitt for the glory of God and the seruice of soules CHAP. VI. That the contempt of Pastours is à great fault BVt after all that which I finde litle to be endured and vnworthy of persons professing so reformed and exemplar à life as the Cenobites is the contempt too well knowne and too apparent which some amongst them least coÌ„sidered and peradueÌ„ture lesse considerable vse towards not onely bad Pastours and vitious Priests à very iust contempt proceeding from à lawfull auersion from vice but also towards the Pastorall state and that of particular Preists whom out of their courtesie they call seculars as if their carracter which the very Angells themselues reuerence and their solemne vowe did not sufficiently separate them from laicks and from those who are intangled in the desires of the world They say that when the loadstone is rubbed with garlick or grease it looseth its naturall force which it hath to drawe Iron We must not wonder if the Pastours or particular Preists who are as their Coadiutours in Pastorall functions and seruice of soules haue so litle power ouer those whom God hath ranged vnder their conduct and committed to their charge since that tongues rather feigned then holie and rather filled with venome of the aspick then with combes of honny make them so odious and so contemptible to the people as it seemes some Laicks take glory in withdrawing themselues from the obedience of their Pastours to followe the way and the voice of mercenaries and of conductours borrowed and choseÌ„ according to their owne fantasies Certes it would be easy to retort this contempt on the face of the contemners and of those who are the authours therof if the consummatour of our faith did noâ— teach vs that as it is à more blessed thing to giue then to receaue benefitts so is it more honourable and aduantagious to suffer outrages and iniuries then to doe them Onely that which is deplorable in this depraued artifice is to see that this cursed profitable Interest called by S. Paul the roote of all euills hath no other aime then to diuert as Tertullian saith the streames from their true channells to cause them to flowe vpon lands which haue no right nether directly nor indirectly to be watred therwith in changing iustice into iudgement and vnder the cloake of charitie in offending iustice For in fine though they feigne they deceiue and dissemble there consists the true motiue of so great contradictions appearing in the Citie of God of so great contentions of emulations of murmurs which change the stones of edification wherewith they should builde the walls of the misticall Ierusalem into stones of offence and scandall For as all are not Apostles nor Doctours nor Prophets so all the Pastours haue not the patience of Iob for to suffer so many blowes from those vnto whom heretofore they haue put breade into the mouth and who daily feede themselues with the flesh and cloath themselues with the woll of their sheepe whereof they shun the charge All haue not force to eâ—dure so many foyles and opprobries without any answeare and without making it appeare that they who accuse them of seeking onely their proper interests in the feeding of their sheepe and in the exercise of their functions are much more couered then they with this leaprosie of Giezi CHAP. VII The diuision of Pastours and of Cenobites THis is that which I thinke to haue made appeare in this writing by demonstrations more then Mathematicall vpon the ground-plott of à litle Diocesse in this prodigeous inequality which I haue shewen where according to the diuision of the Lyon which is turned into à prouerbe the goods of the Church are almost all on the Cenobites side and very few on the Pastours Besides I may saie that in comparison of diuers others which I knowe well they are fauourably enough treated and liberally diuided For as it is in the great diocese where they finde great meanes so is it also there where the Pastours haue bene more sifted more reaped and more largly vintaged by those who communing onely to their succours are become their maisters and being onely troupes of supply and scatered ranks of the Hierarchy are in processe of times and by diuers industries become mistresses of all the goods of te contry and townes drawing the tythes and Ecclesiasticall possessions to their side and all the rest by begging For I can saie with as much assurance as truth speaking generally that is casting à view vpon the whole masse of goods destinated to those who serue the Altars that the Pastours haue not the fiftieth part therof And coÌ„cerning the labour that the Cenobites haue not the hundreth part therof As for the charge of soules that the same wholie belongs to Pastours who watch ouer them
yeares since in my returne from the first voyage I made to Rome by one of the greatest Prelates of Italy in eminencie of dignitie learning and pietie and in his Pastorall function successour of à great Saint for being fallen into discourse of Cenobiticall priuiledges and exemptions which hinder the Prelates they receiue not from Cenobites the help which they might expect from them in the exercise of their charges Beleeue me saied he as à man knowing them the space of thirtie fiue yeares whilest I held the Pastorall staffe in one of the greatest Diocesses of Italy that those persons haue more attention to their owne affayers then to Cures are more sollicitous in adâ—ancing of their howses Orders and institutes then to assist Pastours or to procure the glory of God in the seruice of soules A speech which he repeated more then fifteene yeares after to an excellent person who after great and illustrious imploymeÌ„t in the world hauing contemned it to choose his retraite in à holie Assemblie liuing vnder the Hierarchie and power of Ordinaries did me the honour to accompany me in an other voyage which I made into Italie for some publicke and waightie affaires I euer since noted the feeling of this holie man whose lipps are guardiaÌ„s of science of verity and froÌ„ whose mouth issue Oracles which may serue to my iudgement for à law It is not that I pretend to applie this speeche to any Order or any particular Cenobite contenting my self onely in comparing the Pastorall state with the Cenobiticall touching the profitable Interest in the conduct of soules and liuely to demonstrate on which side it leanes most speaking of these two sortes of conditions in generall For I am not ignoraÌ„t that in vocations there are alwayes some good aÌ„d some bad and that there may be therin some Pastour more Interessed then some Cenobite as also some Cenobite more Interessed then some Pastour My inteÌ„tion is onely to ouerthrow this false obiection which pretends to cast all the profitable Interest on the part of Pastours CHAP. X. The principall designe of this Treatise HAuing now painted out the diuers markes were by one may discerne the profitable and honourable Interest of Directours and therby to know who shall be the Interessed or Dis-Interessed what doth there remaine but that one should choose the last as an assured guide in the way of saluatioÌ„ and that the first be auoided as à rocke and à shelfe from whence nothing but shipwracke can be expected For if the Bl Francis of Sales whose precepts I haue followed in this treatise and whose doctrine hath serued me as the threade of Ariadne in this labyrinth declares that if the Directour be defectiue in one of these three qualities of Science Prudence and Charitie there is daunger in trusting to his conduct how much more will it be perilous to commit ones self thervnto if his Charitie be false And it cannot be true if it be Interessed since the great Apostle teacheth vs that the proper marke of true Charitie is to be without Interest Without doubte the perill will be so much the greater as the more hidden and like vnto those rocks whose points appeare not aboue the superficies of the sea for being couered with water they are the lesse euitable to the most expert Pilotts If the Interest be delightfull it is so much the more pestilent as it pretends to force honour If it be honourable it seekes to reduce libertie into seruitude which is no lesse pretious then life If it aime at profitt it tends to the diminution of the goods which are like that cloake of the Spouse which she complaines to haue beene taken from her by the guards of the walls goods the aboundance wherof is not necessary nor desirable but their want redoubtable according to the iudgement of the wisest amongst men who did not demaund of God ether pouertiâ— or plentie of riches least that the one or other of these extreames might draw him into some vitious irâ—egularity CHAP. XI What it is to ayde the simple in the choise of à Directour IT is then principally to assist PeniteÌ„ts and simple and deuoute soules in making choise of à good Directour that I compiled this liâ—le worke to open their eyes for the discerning the true from the false alloy and to aduertise them to take heede of putting themselues vnder the conduct of an interessed person whatsoeuer prudence and science he may haue For where Charitie is wanting and it is instantly wanting when Interest takes place prudence is changed into crafte and science into subtiltie qualities more preiudiciall then profitable in the way of God where à man must walke in simplicitie to walke in assurance They say that the litle birds willingly assemble together about the Kestriel by reason of the hidden propertie which she hath to driue away by her note the birds of prey The documeÌ„ts of this booke being well considered will haue the same effect and serue simple and pious soules to beware of falling into interessed hands which the Psalmist compares to the clawes of the Lyon prepared for prey In vayne saith the wise-man are netts layed to take birds whose flight is vpward because they perceiue them à farr of and enter not The warie and well aduised spirits see well enoug the snares which I discouer and are carefull not to fall therin but it is the simple whose eyes I vnseele to cause them to see clearly in so nice and important à matter I thinke my selfe obliged to performe this good office to my neighbour by order of Charitie which inuites mee to set the blinde in his way and to Euangelize the poore and the ignorant An auntient Poet sayd very well who hindereth not being able some one from perishing sinns as much as he that should procure his death The which may be applied vnto him who doth not aduertise à traueller to auoyde à daungerous passage and where he goes to his distruction in perill of loosing his goods his honour or his life what then will it be when it concernes his eternall saluation whose losse is irreparable Principally since God hath bene pleased that I should be one of these sentinells in his Church the same signifies the name of Bishop which he hath placed vpon the walls thereof this misticall Hierusalem who cease not day and night to walke the rounde and to watch and cryout against the dis-orders which may be coÌ„mitted as well within as without her precincts So that I may saie with that Poet being not ignorant of euill I teach simple soules to withdrawe their feete from these subtile deuises The which I doe in furnishing them with this dish of butter and this honny combe which causeth one to choose the good and reiect the euill to wit in teaching them the counselle of counselles which is to make choise of à good Directour who may counselle them as is expedient and without other Interest then that of saluatioÌ„ No man as I thinke