and the Anabaptists branch'd out into many contrary Sects only agreed together to destroy the Catholick Faith England separated from Rome follow'd the Deviations of Henry the Eighth whom she acknowledg'd for Head of the Anglicane Church Switzerland Piedmont and Savoy and all the Neighboring Parts were infected with the Errors of Zuinglius and Oecolampadius France was every where tainted with the Contagion of Geneva even into Italy it self the Venom had crept whither Calvin had sent his Institutions Translated into French and had so insinuated himself and his Doctrine into the good liking of Renée Dutchess of Ferara who was Daughter of Lewis the Twelfth that she and part of her Court had embrac'd the Heresie The Pope judg'd that in so fatal a Juncture the Church had need of extraordinary Succors He understood at the same time that the Disciples of Ignatius who were employ'd out of Rome did every where awaken and stir up the Spirit of Christianity and that the most harden'd Sinners could not resist the force of their Exhortations Among the remarkable Conversions that of a Priest of Sienna was most admir'd by the Pope This Priest had liv'd a very dissolute Life He was not content only to compose Comedies to entertain the People but he would sometimes Act in them himself to the high scandal of all good Christians who could not endure to see the same Man sometimes at the Altar and sometimes upon the Stage Brouet and his Companion Strada that young Spaniard whom Ignatius had gain'd in his return from Monte-Cassino had toucht him so to the quick with their Discourses that after having made a Spiritual Retirement he with the leave of the Grand Vicar publickly asked pardon of the People with a Rope about his Neck for the Scandal he had given and afterwards shut himself up in a Convent of Recollects where he spent the rest of his days in rigorous Pennance The Pope being mov'd with so many extraordinary Actions and more powerfully incited by an inward Impulse confirm'd at last the Institute of Ignatius under the Title of The Society of Jesus by the Bull Regimini Militantis Ecclesiae This Bull which was Expedited the 27th of September in the year 1540 contains the Elogy of the first ten Fathers and says in express words that there is nothing but what is Good and Holy in this new Institute The Pope by the same Bull gave them leave to make Constitutions such as they should think most proper for their own perfection for the Good of their Neighbour and for the Glory of God It is true that he limited the number of the Professed and restrain'd them to Sixty but this restriction he took away two years after by another Bull and it was the Interest of Christianity which oblig'd him so to do as he himself declares As soon as the Holy See had approved the Society of Jesus Ignatius judged it necessary to begin with chusing a Superior and to this effect he called to Rome with leave of the Pope such of his Company as were free to come For Xaverius and Rodriguez were at the Court of Portugal Faber was at the Dyet of Worms and Bobadilla had Order expresly from the Pope not to leave the Kingdom of Naples till the business committed to him was ended So that these four Fathers assisted not at the Election The two first left their suffrages behind them when they left Rome Faber sent his and tho' Bobadilla did not do so either for want of conveniency or for that he hoped from day to day to be back in Rome yet at his return he confirm'd the choice which the others had made When le Jay Brouet and Laynex were come they took three Days seriously to consider whom they should chuse which time they past in Prayer and Recollection The fourth Day they met and all the Voices were for Ignatius except his own which he gave to him who should have most Suffrages but still excepting himself He did not declare for any body by Name either because he could not decide who was most worthy or that he would not shew any partiality but hold the ballance even Whereas some of these Suffrages which every one gave in Writing are still preserved the Reader perhaps may be curious to see them as they are taken out of the Originals I protest says Francis Xaverius in his own Tongue that without having been solicited by any Person I judge according to my Conscience that we ought to chuse for Head of our Society our antient Superior and true Father Don Ignatius who after having gather'd us together with so great pains will best know how to maintain and govern us as best knowing each of us in particular Our thrice honor'd Father Don Ignatius de Loyola says John Codurus in Latin is he to whom I give my voice as having always found him inflam'd with the Zeal of Gods Glory and of the good of Souls I farther believe that he ought to be the Superior over the rest because he has always made himself the least and has ever been the servant of us all The Suffrage of Salmeron is the most in Form and the Largest In the Name of Jesus Christ says he I Alphonsus Salmeron most unworthy of this Society after having besought God and duly examin'd the thing in question as far as I am capable do hereby chuse and declare Don Ignatius of Loyola for my own and the whole Societies Superior General Whereas by the wisdom which has been Communicated to him from above he hath ingender'd us all in Jesus Christ and nourisht us with Milk in our Spiritual Infancy now that we are grown more adult and strong in our Lord he will give us the Solid nourishment of Obedience will conduct us in the Celestial Pastures to the Fountain of life to the end that when he shall give up this small Flock to the chief Pastor Jesus Christ we may truly say We are his People and the Sheep which his hand has conducted and that he with joy may also say Lord I have lost none of those which you have given me May the Good Pastor Jesus give us all this Grace Amen Ignatius afflicted and even surpriz'd to see himself chosen General Brethren said he I am not worthy of this imployment and I assure you I shall not be able to discharge it For how shall I conduct others who am not able to conduct my self I speak to you with all possible sincerity when I consider the disorders of my former life and the weaknesses of my present life I cannot resolve to accept of this charge of General wherefore I conjure you in the Name of God not to take it ill that I refuse it and that you would again for the space of three or four Days implore the Divine assistance so to enlighten us all that we may chuse for our Father and Superior him who is most capable of well governing our Society Tho' this refusal
believ'd that by their Intrigues and their Credit they had stopt the Course of Justice as fearing a bad Issue of their Cause That which the more induc'd him to sollicit for a Sentence was that he might once-for-all justifie himself also of those Accusations at Alcala Paris and Venice I know said he Writing to Signior Peter Contarini that in so doing we shall not silence bad Tongues nor am I so ill-advis'd as to pretend to it We only intend to save the Honor of Religion which is in some manner joyn'd with our own It doth not much concern us that they make us pass for Unlearned or for Men of a bad Life but that the Doctrine which we Preach should pass for Heterodox in the Minds of the People and that the way in which we conduct Souls should be esteem'd the way of Perdition is that which we cannot permit without betraying our Ministry since it is the very Doctrine and the very way of Jesus Christ Tho' this Enterprize which Ignatius laid so much to heart was very just and did not appear very difficult yet he found Obstacles on all sides The Governor a just but a weak Man who was afraid of drawing Enemies upon himself if he should shew too much favour to Ignatius neither daring to grant nor to refuse his Request spun out the matter in length On the other side the Cardinal Legat was not of opinion that the Business should be farther prosecuted and there wanted not those even among the Companions of Ignatius whose Sentiments did not agree with his upon this Matter They said it was enough for them to be found innocent and that any thing more would have an Ayre of Revenge which might disedifie the People These Oppositions did not startle Ignatius no less jealous of his Honor when the Interest of Religion requir'd it then greedy of Reproch and Ignominy in other occasions Tir'd with the put-offs of the Governor and despairing of ever obtaining any thing from him he thought the shortest and most secure way would be to address himself immediately to the Pope who return'd to Rome while these things were transacted and was gone to pass part of the Autumn at Frascati to rest himself after his Journey from Provence Thither Ignatius went to him and the Justice of his Cause gave him so much assurance that he neither look'd out for a Mediator nor an Introductor The Pope had no sooner heard the Reasons of Ignatius but he order'd the Governor to give him content The Governor obey'd and after having caus'd the Book of Spiritual Exercises to be Examin'd he drew up a Sentence according to Form which contain'd great Commendations of the Accused and intirely clear'd them Ignatius sent Copies of the Sentence round about even as far as Spain but the unhappy Destiny of his Enimies did yet farther vindicate him Navarr liv'd miserably and agitated with remorse of his Conscience Barrera dy'd a few days after of a violent Disease Mudarra and Castilla were both accus'd of Heresie the first was condemn'd to perpetual Imprisonment and the other who appear'd more obstinate to be burnt As for the Piedmont Fryar he fled from Rome to Geneva and there declar'd himself openly an Heretick and moreover wrote a violent Book against the Church of Rome Entitled The Summary of Scripture In conclusion the Impieties of this Apostate came to such an excess that falling at last into the hands of the Inquisition he ended his life at the Stake Our ten holy Strangers having recover'd their Honor began to appear again in publick and there was presented to them an occasion of succouring their Neighbour which they were careful to take hold of The Winter at Rome was at that time exceeding sharp and there was so great a Dearth that many of the Common People almost famish'd lay up and down in the Streets having hardly strength enough to ask for Relief Tho' Ignatius and his Companions who liv'd only upon Alms felt their share of the Famine however they undertook upon the Fund of Providence to relieve these poor Wretches They all set their hands to take them up in the Streets and carry'd them on their Backs into the House where of late they Lodg'd themselves They give their Beds to the weakest among them and accommodate the rest as well as they can with Straw laid upon the Ground The Providence on which they reckon'd did not fail them They receiv'd so great a Supply of Meat and Money all at a time that they had wherewithal not only to feed above Four hundred Persons but also to clothe the most necessitous who were almost starv'd both with Cold and Hunger The Charity of Ignatius and his Companions drew a great many Spectators Some who came only out of curiosity to see what they did being mov'd at the sight stript themselves of part of their Garments to clothe the half-naked who were not yet provided of Clothes And many Persons of Quality rais'd a Stock for the subsistance of three or four thousand Persons whom Famine had reduc'd to extreamest misery But the care of Ignatius was not confin'd to the relief of their Bodies he also instructed those poor Wretches in all the Duties of Christianity he made them Pray orderly every day together and engag'd them to make their Confessions While these things were doing Ignatius who had the Benedictions and Praises of all Rome and was call'd the Father of the People thought it expedient to make use of so favourable a Conjuncture for the Execution of his Design Having made an Abstract of the Institute which he and his Companions had form'd he Presented it to Paul the Third by the Mediation of Cardinal Gaspar Contarini The Pope receiv'd the Writing very satisfactorily and gave it immediately to be Examined to Thomas Badia then Magister Sacrae Palatiae and afterwards made Cardinal of St. Silvester Badia kept it by him two Months after which time he brought it back to his Holiness declaring that he found nothing in it but what was very commendable The Pope read it himself and 't is said that after reading it he cry'd The Finger of God is here Ignatius at the same time besought his Holiness that he would be pleas'd Authentically to Confirm what he had already vouchsafed to approve by word of Mouth Tho' Paul the Third stood well enough inclin'd yet he would do nothing in it without the advice of three Cardinals Of whom the first and principal was Bartholomew Guidiccione a Man of great merit and so worthy of the Papacy that when he dy'd the Pope said His Successor was dead but of so austere Vertue and so much an Enemy to Novelties of all kinds that far from approving new Religious Orders he thought that some of the old ones should rather be supprest and all of them reduc'd only to four His zeal in this matter went so far that he set out a Book with his Reasons for it which were grounded upon the
permitting their fall and for having undeceiv'd the World which thought them to be greater Saints then they were and that for the future they should always have their fall before their Eyes to make them more humble and to walk more warily that others also may learn by their example to have a care of falling even when they think themselves least in danger VI. That in the hour of Recreation after Meals they should be mindful of that Modesty which the Apostle requires in our conversation to be chearful without Levity and to be sober without fullenness That in their exterior Functions they should never let pass the occasions of a present and certain good out of imaginary hopes of some great good to come which is uncertain In conclusion that they keep themselves firm in their Vocation and continually upon their Guard against the deceits of the malignant Spirit who labors to draw every one out of his way tempting Monasticks to outward Imployments and Apostolical men to the repose of Solitude Francis Xaverius for whom the King of Portugal had procured without his knowledge a Brief of Legate Apostolical in the Indies parted about this time from Lisbon and left there Simon Rodriguez The same year Paul the Third sent Alphonso Salmeron and Pasquir Brouet into Ireland with the Characters of Nuncius to maintain the Catholick Faith among those People who notwithstanding the Edicts of Henry the Eighth still remain'd in Communion with the Holy See The Common-wealth of Venice demanded James Laynez Doctor Ortiz carry'd Peter Faber along with him to Madrid Nicholas Bobadilla and Claud le Jay went to succeed in the place of Faber at Vienna and at Ratisbone While these Gospel Laborers animated with the Spirit of Ignatius were at work in so many different places for the good of Souls Ignatius upon the same account was in his own person no less active at Rome Assisting the sick in the Hospitals and elsewhere he found that the greatest part of them went not to Confession till almost at the hour of death when for the most part Repentance is ineffectual He represented this disorder to the Pope and at first humbly propos'd to him to renew the Decretal of Innocent the Third which Ordains that the Physician shall not visit the sick till they have first been at Confession But afterwards he judged that to the end such a Decree might be more duly observ'd it ought to be a little moderated so as it might be lawful for the Physitian to make two visits to a Patient before Confession but that the third should be forbidden under grievous Penalties The Pope follow'd the advice of Father Ignatius and this Christian practice is exactly observ'd in Italy even to this day Rome was at that time full of Jews and some of them open'd their eyes to the Truth since the new Society explicated the Mysteries of Faith but the fear of Poverty hinder'd them from declaring themselves Father Ignatius offer'd his house to those who would be made Christians and many there were who abjured Judaism The number of the Converts daily increasing by the Conversion of some prime Men of the Synagogue who disabus'd he rest he undertook to found a House where all such Jews should be instructed who demanded Baptism and he engag'd divers Persons of Piety to concur in so holy an Establishment He obtain'd of the Pope that the Jews who were Converted should lose no part of their Goods which were lawfully gain'd that such Goods as had been gain'd by Usury and of which restitution could not be made for want of knowing to whom they belong'd should be imploy'd towards the relief of the new Converts and that the Children who embraced Christianity against the will of their Parents should inherit as if they had not chang'd their Religion There were also in the City many Maids and Women whom necessity had cast into evil courses some of them who had not quite lost the fear of God had a horror of their infamous life but yet they continu'd it as not knowing whither to go or how to live There was indeed at that time a Monastery establish'd of the Magdalenists but they receiv'd only such as would be Religious and would pass the rest of their days in Solitude and Penance Father Ignatius considering that the Grace which excites sinners to leave Vice doth not always carry them so far as to leave the World and that the state of Marriage is not consistent with that of Religion Form'd the design of another House where secular Maids and Married Women might be indifferently admitted He communicated this Project to the principal Gentlemen of Rome who all approv'd it and promis'd to contribute to so beneficial a Foundation provided that some body would undertake to begin the Work The Father finding that no body would be the first to embark in it boldly began it himself Father Codatius Procurator of the Casa Professa caus'd some great Stones to be drawn out of the ruins of Antient Buildings in a place belonging to the new Society which stood before their Church Father Ignatius order'd him to sell as much as came to a hundred Duckets and having receiv'd the Mony he carry'd it to those Roman Gentlemen who durst not venture to lead the Dance in so Pious an undertaking If no body will be the first he said smiling at least let some body second me and threw down his Mony before them They all of them furnisht great Sums and in less then a Month a House was built for the Married and Unmarried Penitents called the Monastery of St. Martha He carried them thither himself and was not ashamed to appear about the Town in the company of Publick sinners He was sometimes told that he lost his time and that such Women were never heartily converted If I did hinder them but one night from offending God he reply'd I should think my time and my labour well imploy'd He also took great care of young Maids that were expos'd to great hazard either for want of Education or for want of means and for these he caus'd another Monastery to be Founded by the name of St. Catharine The method which he observ'd in this sort of good Works was first to engage as many Rich and devout Persons as he could next to chuse some Cardinal of great Piety to be their Protector and then to settle Trustees for the Temporal and Directors for the Spiritual who might prudently govern such Houses according to those Statutes they should agree upon But when the business was well Cemented and went currantly on it was his custom to withdraw himself that he might not give jealousie to any body and to betake himself to some other work that might be profitable to the Publick The next affair that he chiefly labour'd in was to procure a Fund for the subsistance of Orphans in which he also succeeded and two Houses were Erected in Rome the one for Boys and the
other for Girls and these two Establishments which he regulated himself have ever since subsisted Lastly he endeavor'd to purge the Town of some enormous Vices which the Corruption of the Age had introduc'd and which custom did in some manner countenance All these Actions of Charity did not so take him up but that even then he apply'd himself to Model the Constitutions of his Order He employ'd many hours of the day upon it and some part of the Night His Method was this First he Examin'd every Article according to the Rules of good Sence and set down all the Reasons Pro and Con. These Reasons were neither few in number nor light in substance for upon one only Point which is none of the most important there have been found in his Papers written with his own Hand Eight Reasons for one side and Fifteen for the other every one of them of weight and capable of holding the Understanding in suspence After this laying aside all Self-love and private Interest he exactly weighed all the Reasons of each side one against the other the better to discern which were the weakest and which the strongest After having done all that Prudence requir'd he consulted God with the simplicity of an Infant as if he had nothing to do but to write down that which God should dictate to him Viewing it therefore all over again by the light of eternal Verities he supplicated Jesus Christ by the Intercession of the Holy Virgin to make him see what should be most conducing to the Service of his Divine Majesty and to the good of the Society Tho' sometimes he found his Judgment so determin'd to one side as seemingly to exclude all manner of doubt he would nevertheless continue his Prayers that he might more distinctly know what was best insomuch that upon a certain occasion when he had taken his last Resolution in a Matter before him after ten days of Communication with God he made his Prayer again upon the same Article and Meditated farther upon it thirty days together All this while the Matter was not very considerable it was only to determine Whether the Churches of the Profess'd Houses should have Revenues or whether they should be maintain'd by the Charity of the Faithful Besides when he had written a Constitution he laid it upon the Altar when he said Mass and offer'd it to God together with the Divine Sacrifice to the end that the Father of Lights would cast his Eyes upon it and make him know whether it were consonant to the Rules of Evangelical Perfection He did this in imitation of the holy Pope St. Leo who before he sent to the Bishop Flavian the Dogmatical Epistle which he had written against the Heresie of Eutiches laid it upon the Altar of the Apostle St. Peter and there kept it Fourty days Fasting all that time and incessantly praying the Prince of the Apostles to Correct it himself and with his own Hand to blot out all that should not be Orthodox The interior Answers which the Holy Ghost made to Father Ignatius gave him at least an intire assurance and a perfect quiet in his Understanding concerning the Resolution he had made Wherefore having one day asked Father Laynez if he did not think that God had reveal'd to Founders of Orders the Form of their Institute and Father Laynez having answer'd him That it seem'd very probable to him at least in regard of the Essentials I am of your opinion reply'd the Saint and it was without doubt his own Experience that made him judge so He began the Platform of which we speak with setting down the End of his Order which he made to be not only with the assistance of God's Grace to save and cultivate their own Soul but also with the help of the same Grace to employ all their might for the Salvation and Perfection of their Neighbour For he would have it that these two should make but one and the only end of the Society and should equally depend one on the other being perswaded that as nothing contributes more to our own sanctification then to devote our selves intirely to the saving of Souls so on the other side nothing renders us more fit and proper to save Souls then the sanctifying of our selves Having establisht the End he thought upon the Means which were necessary to obtain it and he set before his Eyes the two different Forms of Life the one of which by the Model of Martha is wholly employ'd in the Service of our Neighbour and the other by that of Magdalen is wholly taken up with the Repose of Contemplation He easily discern'd that the Functions of these two States taken in several and in the whole extent did not agree with his Design and that he ought to chuse that which was best out of them both and so evenly to mingle them that they should help and not hinder one the other for in conclusion as little resemblance as there is between Martha and Magdalen they are still Sisters and not Enemies He took therefore out of the Contemplative Life Mental Prayer the Examens of Conscience the Reading of the Holy Scriptures the Frequentation of Sacraments Spiritual Retirements the Exercises of the Presence of God and such other Practices of Devotion He took out of the Active Life all that might contribute to save and bring to perfection our Neighbours Souls Preaching Catechising Missions as well amongst the Faithful as amongst the Infidels maintaining Controversies against Hereticks Entertainments of Devotion with secular Persons Visiting Prisons and Hospitals the Direction of Consciences and the Instruction of Youth But this last he most particularly regarded for in that general Corruption which then reign'd he thought he could no better way reform the World then by infusing the love of Vertue into Children before they had contracted evil Habits He hoped that thee young Plants growing up with Christian Impressions would make Innocence flourish again in all States and Conditions of Civil Life And he doubted not but these first Seeds of Piety would continue in them as long as they liv'd tho' possibly they might be smother'd for a time by those Passions which the heat of Youth doth commonly ingender It may be also that being inform'd how the new Heresiarchs took the way of perverting Children and how one of their false Doctors of Geneva taught them Songs against the Roman Church he would employ the same Means to maintain Religion which they made use of to destroy it But foreseeing that there would be no great Concourse to the Schools of the Society if only Piety and nothing else should there be taught and considering on the other side that the Universities were daily infected with the Venom of Heresie he conceived that to draw Scholars and to keep them from Error it was necessary to hold publick Schools where all Sciences proper for Religious Men to teach might be taught gratis Indeed for the first four or five years after
Colledge of Clermont which came not to be open'd till some years after and which was render'd famous even at the beginning by the Learned Men who came thither from all Parts to Teach and is more so at this time then ever by the great number of young Nobility who are there Educated with so much care and who have at the Head of them a young Prince of the Blood the most Ingenious and the most Amiable of the World Tho' this Business of Registring the Letters appear'd to be desperate yet Father Ignatius did not doubt but the day would come when it should take effect and for this reason that all Enterprizes which regard the good of Souls commonly find Opposition in the beginning and that in great Affairs when the first difficulties are made smooth time will bring on the rest The News which he the same year receiv'd from the Indies made some amends for what came out of France Father Xaverius who gave him a constant Account of his Proceedings as to his Superior inform'd him of the great progress which the Gospel had made in those Parts and how much Heaven had bless'd the Labors of the Society By other Letters at the same time he understood that with a a little too much precipitation Baptism was conferr'd upon the converted Pagans and that it often happen'd that these new Converts return'd to Paganism or did not well observe the Rules of Christianity for want of sufficient Instruction To remedy this Disorder he gave Directions that they should erect in the Indies Houses for Catechumens where the Idolaters that would embrace the Christian Faith might be well Instructed and Try'd before they receiv'd Baptism According to this Advice one of these Houses was settled at Goa which prov'd highly beneficial to all the Indies and out of which came forth some young Indians so fervent that being taken by the Turks they animated and exhorted the Christian Slaves to Constancy These Nurseries were altogether according to the Spirit of Father Ignatius as well as those of young Ecclesiasticks who are design'd for Holy Orders From the time that he sent Claude le Jay into Germany he directed him to advise the Bishops who desir'd to have good Priests and good Curates that they would Establish Seminaries in their Diocesses where young Catholicks well chosen might be perfectly Instructed in the true Religion and in all the Duties of Men Consecrated to the Altar Many Bishops and amongst others those of Ausburg and of Salspurg Erected Seminaries in their Towns and if Father Ignatius might have had his Will every Diocess should have had one While he thus labor'd to reform the World the Hereticks whom the Jesuits oppos'd in Germany and in France not knowing how to revenge themselves otherways enterpriz'd even to pervent Ignatius himself and his Company And to compass this they found an Invention which only the Father of Lies could suggest Philip Melancton who after the death of Luther was Head of the Protestants together with another Heresiarch sent to Rome one of their Disciples call'd Michel with Instructions to counterfeit himself a Catholick and to present himself to the General of the Jesuits to be receiv'd among them He was a Man in the flower of his Age Ingenious Modest well shap'd and had a promising Physiognomy Father Ignatius did not stick at receiving him being led thereunto by such fair appearances The counterfeit Novice did admirably well disguise himself No body so regular nor so fervent as he was He was the first at every thing He Confess'd and Communicated several days in the week He even chastis'd his Body with great Rigor and that which is most wonderful there did not appear in him any thing of Pride or of Self-love When Michel thought himself well settled he began leisurely to disperse his Venom and he did it with a great deal of subtilty They gave him the care of the Refectory and Oliver Manar for his Companion in the Office Having opportunity to speak to him alone after having first insinuated himself into his Friendship by his Behaviour towards him which was very civil and also edifying he undertook by degrees to corrupt him In several parts of the Refectory there were many Pictures of Saints he asked Manar one day by way of Discourse as if he meant no hurt to what use those Pictures were and whether it were well done to be uncover'd or to kneel before them Manar who had Learning and had newly ended his Divinity answer'd him not only like a good Catholick but like a good Divine Look ye reply'd the Hypocrite how different Mens Opinions are about the same Point I knew a great many famous Doctors in Germany who made a scruple of honoring these Images and who cited for it the Passage in St. John Custodite vos a simulacris Those Doctors said Manar were either inclining to Heresie or not such able Men as you believe The Passage of S. John intends only the Images of false Gods and you need but read the preceding words to be convinc'd of what I say for St. John in that place shewing the opposition between the false Gods and the true God says of Jesus Christ It is he who is the true God and life everlasting Keep your selves from Idols Michel made shew of being satisfi'd with so clear an Explication and drove the Matter no farther But another time he desir'd his Companion to Explicate to him those Words of St. Peter The Brethren which are in Babylon salute you Manar said That the Apostle spoke there of Rome which well deserv'd at that time to be call'd Babylon in regard of that confusion of Errors of which it was full The Divines of Germany understood that Passage after the same manner reply'd Michel and smil'd but they add how truly I cannot tell that St. Peter did chiefly give that Name to Rome because Antichrist was to have there his Seat which David calls the Chair of Pestilence Manar was startled at such a Discourse but he dissembled his Surprize the better to discover what he began to fear and what he hardly dar'd to believe He inform'd Father Ignatius of what had pass'd and he receiv'd Orders from him to keep the Argument onfoot with Michel and by a faint resistance to give him hopes of victory the better to make him speak out and to discover the bottom of his Soul In the very next Conference Manar clearly discover'd Michel to be an Heretick and in few days there came from him above twenty Lutheran Propositions He enter'd into Argument with him upon three of them which were the least impious and having prevail'd upon him to set them down in Writing he desir'd him that they might chuse an Umpire of their Controversie and he nam'd to him Everard Mercurian who was a Friend to both Michel who thought Manar half gain'd and had the vanity to believe that he might also pervert Mercurian agreed to it in the presence of Mercurian
it but what was Orthodox one passage only excepted which could not be excus'd from Heresie This passage was further examin'd and upon comparing the Printed Books with this Manuscript there was a plain discovery made of Cano's foul dealing Thus Truth carry'd the cause against Forgery and the Inquisitors of Judges to Condemn became Compurgators of the Spiritual Exercises While an Ecclesiastick and a Religious Man vainly endeavor to stain the Reputation of Father Ignatius and to overthrow his Order the King of Portugal Solicited the Pope to chuse for Aethiopia a Patriarch and Bishop out of the Society of Jesus The choice which was made and the occasion of making it cannot well be understood unless we look a little back into the Affairs of that Country The People of Aethiopia which are at this day call'd Abyssins are the most Ancient Christians in the World they receiv'd the Faith in the very beginning from the Apostle St. Matthew and from the Euenuch of Queen Candace who was Baptiz'd by Philip the Deacon as it is related in the Acts of the Apostles But in process of time they left the law of Jesus Christ for that of Moses or rather they confounded these two Laws together using both Circumcision and Baptism so that intending to be at once Christians and Jews they were truly neither the one nor the other They acknowledg'd the Patriarch of Alexandria for their Head in matters of Religion from whose hands they receiv'd their Abuna or High Priest They embrac'd with the Cophtes of Aegypt the Heresies of Dioscorus and of Eutyches On the other side being mixt with Mahometans and Idolaters they every day contracted something of Mahometanism and Paganism In this manner their Religion was a mixture of all Sects But they had no Communication with Rome both in regard of their great distance and that the Greeks infus'd Hatred into them against the Latin Church When the Portuguez in their Navigation to the East-Indies discover'd that part of Aethiopia which is under the Obedience of Prester John or to speak properly the Kingdom of the Abyssins whose King we call Prester John by a popular Error which has prevail'd in Europe of attributing to this African Potentate a Title Anciently us'd by the Monarchs of the Asian Tartars he that then Reign'd among the Abyssins was a young Prince call'd David naturally Wise and Vertuous He was instructed by the Portuguez in the Mysteries of Faith and he so open'd his Eyes to Truth that relinquishing the Patriarch of Alexandria he writ to the Sovereign Bishop of Rome Clement the Seventh and by a solemn Embassy yeilded him Obedience in the Assembly at Bologna and in the Presence of Charles the Fifth who was newly there Crown'd Emperor David being dead his Son and Successor nam'd Claude who had been bread up in the Roman Religion and was a Man of good sence judg'd that the true Faith could not well be Propagated and Establish'd in his Kingdom unless the Pope sent thither a Patriarch and Bishops Whereas he had contracted an Amity with John the Third King of Portugal who had assisted him with Money and Forces against the King of Zeilan Gradamete he requested him likewise to procure these Spiritual Succors for him from Rome John the Third undertook the business with a great deal of Zeal But the troubles of the Church in those times retarded the effecting it nor was it dispatch'd till under the Pontificate of Julius the Third when it was brought to pass in this manner The King of Portugal writ to Father Ignatius to send him the Names of some of his Order whom he might propose to the Pope for Patriarch and Bishops of Aethiopia These Titles of Dignity for any of his Subjects did at first very much startle the Father But upon reflection that a Patriarcate and Bishopricks of this nature were rather Crosses then Dignities and that it was a single Case not likely to be drawn into Example he took courage and consented to all that the Prince requir'd of him He nam'd to him three Fathers of profound Capacity and of eminent Vertue John Nugnez Andrew Oviedo and Melchior Carnero without determining which of them he would have chosen for Patriarch tho ' his desire was that Nugnez should be the person which he only shew'd by recommending him with a little more advantage then the rest He only declar'd himself upon this point that those who were the Bishops might succeed the Patriarch when the case should require it Nugnez who had been imploy'd many years in Africa about the Redemption of Slaves and the Conversion of Renegades was then come to Lisbon to procure Money to redeem those Christians whom the King of Algiers had taken from the King of Fess when he drove him out of his Kingdom Upon the first rumor of his new employment he writ with all earnestness to Rome to break the design He represented to Father Ignatius that he did not refuse the Mission of Aethiopia but that he could not yeild to go thither with a Miter and that he had a great deal rather spend the rest of his days in a Chain among the Slaves of Barbary He conjur'd him by the precious wounds of our Crucifi'd Saviour to have consideration of his weakness and not to charge him with a Load which might possibly be the cause of his Damnation He added that if his good Father would not relent he should at least send him his Will in writing to the end that an Order under his hand might be a comfort and support to him in his difficulties Carnero who was then at Rome and Oviedo who was call'd thither from Naples made no less Resistance They would themselves plead their cause before the Pope As painful as their design'd Dignities seem'd to be they still thought them more illustrious then painful and the Luster gave them a Horror of them Tho' Father Ignatius had other thoughts yet he prais'd their modesty and was well pleas'd that all three upon this occasion had need of an absolute Command from the Vicar of Jesus Christ But he made them understand that all the Honor and all the Revenue of these Prelatures consisted in great Labors in continual Dangers by Land and by Sea in Poverty and possibly in Martyrdom Julius the Third was so well satisfi'd with the Conduct of the Father and of his Sons in this matter that he said publickly before all the Cardinals that now it might be seen what the Jesuits pretended to in this World since they refus'd Miters that were more splendid then burdensome and accepted those that had nothing belonging to them but Labors and Sufferings Tho' Father Ignatius did not fear that any one of the three Fathers was capable of abusing the Patriarchal Authority yet he judg'd that the more securely to oblige him who should be Patriarch to do his Duty it was convenient that an Apostolical Commissioner should reside at Goa to make his Visitation from time
the World and raise Murmuring and Envy That we must not suffer our selves to be seduc'd by a certain Zeal which makes us unquiet for the Disorders of the World That we must begin by reforming our selves and afterwards look as to other People what it is that God will ask us an account of at the Day of Judgment Lastly That Reason which distinguisheth us from Beasts must serve not only as a Bridle to our Passions but as a Rule to our Vertues in such sort that in the Good which we do we may act by Measure and Compass and that our Fervor may not carry us beyond the Bounds of our State These were the Vertues and principal Maxims of the Saint gather'd from unquestionable Testimonies an Extract of which was Presented to the Pope At the same time a Collection was made of the miraculous Cures obtain'd by the Intercession of Ignatius and amongst them was inserted the Deliverance of a possess'd Person out of whom the Saint had chased the Devil at the time when he was chosen General of the Society This poor Wretch was a Servant of the House a Basque call'd Matthew The evil Spirit enter'd into him in the absence of Ignatius when he went to consult Father Theodosius the Franciscan about his Election as we have formerly mention'd and remain'd in the Convent three Days together in retirement The Devil who had taken possession of this poor Man tormented him in a dreadful manner Sometimes he threw him against the Ground sometimes he lifted him up into the Air then again he made him so lumpish and heavy that ten Men could scarce move him Some that were present threatned the Devil that Ignatius would quickly return and dislodge him At these words the Malignant Spirit growing more furious horribly cry'd out that he detested the Name of Ignatius that he was his mortal Enemy The Saint being return'd made a short Prayer over the person possest and he was immediately deliver'd from the Devil Since that time the Name of Ignatius grew terrible to the powers of Hell and the Possest have been sometimes heard to cry out in the middle of the Exorcisms before a Picture of the Servant of God Where is thy power O Lucifer since a bit of Paper with the figure of a Priest makes us flie without resistance Ah God why dost thou deprive us of glory to bestow it upon a little lame Priest One of his Letters had the same effect upon some of these Evil Spirits which haunted the Colledge of Loretto and which the ordinary Exorcisms could not drive away for as soon as the Letter was publickly read in the House the noise ceased and the Spectres disappear'd Tho' the Persons who made their report of all these things which I have now related were of known sufficiency and probity yet all was strictly examin'd according to the ordinary forms After these proceedings in the Year 1609 Paul the Fifth at the request of the greatest Princes of Europe Beatifi'd Ignatius and gave leave to have him Celebrated in the Mass and in the Office In the following Years the Process of his Canonization was set on foot and a new enquiry was made into his Vertues and Miracles Six hundred and sixty witnesses Juridically interrogated made their depositions upon the Holiness of his life Above two hunder'd Miracles well attested were produc'd at the same time which were related in the Acts of the Canonization the Principal of which have been Collected by divers Authors Those Towns and People who had most obligation to blessed Ignatius writ to Paul the Fifth to hasten the Canonization of their Holy Benefactor and these their requests were seconded by many Princes and Princesses particularly by Philip the Second and Philip the Third Kings of Spain by Sigismond King of Poland by Henry the Great King of France by Margaret Queen of Spain and by Mary of Austria Emperess and Wife of Maximilian the Second After the Death of Paul the Fifth Maximilian Duke of Bavaria and Ferdinand the Emperor did write to the same purpose with great instance to Gregory the Fifteenth The first askt no other recompence from the Holy See for all the Service he had done in the War of Bohemia against Heretical Rebells but the Canonization of Ignatius And the other said that it was for the Honor and the Interest of the Empire to have Inroll'd in the Catalogue of Saints the Founder of an Order which seem'd to be chosen by God for the defence of Germany But the King of France Lewis the Thirteenth of all Christian Princes was he who most warmly solicited this matter He declar'd to the Pope in his Letter of the 14th of February of the year 1621 that having receiv'd the first rudiments of Faith and of good manners from the Children of Ignatius and being very well satisfi'd with them in what regarded his Conscience which he had put into their hands it was his desire that they might upon this occasion feel the effects of his good will towards them that all the most signal Favors which he could possibly receive from his Holiness could not more affect him then this which he now asked that such a request he reckon'd to be worthy of the Eldest Son of the Church that this Glorious Title which he Inherited from his Predecessors and which inspir'd him with Zeal for the Advancement of Catholick Religion oblig'd him to pursue the Canonization of Ignatius as hoping that the Intercession of that Saint would be a powerful succour to him for the banishing Heresies and Vices out of his Kingdom Lastly that France having had the Honor to have this Servant of God not only to acquire his Learning and chuse his Companions in the University of Paris but also to lay the Foundation of his Society in the Church of Montmartyr he had reason to hope for new Benedictions by contributing to the speedy Canonization of the Saint Gregory the Fifteenth could not resist these intreaties so pressing and so reasonable He Canoniz'd blessed Ignatius with all the usual Ceremonies upon the 12th of March in the Year 1622 which is the day on which the Church honors the Memory of St. Gregory the great Urban the Eighth who succeeded Gregory did afterwards put the Saint into the Roman Matyrology and amongst the divers Forms presented to him he chose the following which he partly compos'd himself The one and thirtieth day of July at Rome Saint Ignatius Confessor Founder of the Society of Jesus Illustrious for his Saintity his Miracles and for his Zeal to extend the Catholick Faith over the whole World Without departing from the Character of an Historian I may add to the words of Urban the Eighth those of Gregory the Fifteenth spoken by him when he Canoniz'd St. Ignatius They are taken out of Ecclesiasticus and the Holy Ghost spoke then of Josue He was great in his Name most great in saving the Elect of God in subduing their Enemies that he might obtain an
Inheritance for Israel But in ending the Life of this glorious Patriarch if I were worthy to offer any thing in his Praise I should apply to him what St. Jerome writes of St. Augustine Catholicks Reverence and Admire you as the restorer of the Antient Faith and what seems yet more Honorable all Hereticks Hate and Persecute you FINIS The Letter of Lewis the Thirteenth King of France and of Navarre to Pope Gregory the Fifteenth Most Holy Father SInce there is no better beginning then by an Action tending to the Glory of God it must needs be acceptable to your Holiness that my first demand upon your entring into the Government of the Church should be for a thing which will no less shew your Paternal Piety then increase the Devout sentiments which God has been pleas'd to bestow upon me The first Instructions which I receiv'd in Faith and Manners were from the Fathers of the Society They have had to this present day the direction of my Conscience very much to my satisfaction which makes me desirous that their whole Order may experience the effects of my goodwill Hereupon being inform'd that the process of Canonization of Blessed Ignatius Founder of the said Order was so far finish'd that there wanted nothing but the good pleasure of your Holiness to perfect so good a Work I have thought good to entreat you as I do with great affection that you will be pleas'd to declare and place him in the number of the Saints Reverenc'd and Honor'd by our Holy Mother the Church The Favors how great soever which I may for the future receive from your Holiness all of them put together cannot give me greater satisfaction then this alone which besides the Benedictions I hope to reap for my self will also heap Prosperities upon your Government The Divine Providence which inspires Hearts and governs their motions has not permitted that this Devotion for many Years imprest in my Heart should be sooner manifested Reserving thereby to your Holiness the performance of an Action so praise worthy and to me the happiness of making a request so well becoming the Eldest Son of the Church This Title no less engrav'd in my Soul then deservedly enjoy'd by my Predecessors gives me a strong emulation for the advancement of our Holy Religion and makes me more Zealous for the said Canonization upon the hopes I have that the Intercession of this blessed Man will powerfully aid me to do that for which God sent him into the World and wherein this Order is so profitably imploy'd My Kingdom has been formerly blest with the presence of this Servant of God He studied at Paris he there Assembled his first Companions and Founded his Society in the Church of Montmartyr I now expect new Benedictions if your Holiness at my request shall consent to his Canonization As it is my first Prayer so I desire it may have a place amongst those Holy and Good Actions which are expected from your Pontificat which I beseech our Creator that it may succeed to his Honor and Glory to the Edification of his Church and to the good of all Christendom From Paris the 14th of February 1621. Sign'd Louis A Catalogue of Books Printed for Henry Hills Printer to the King 's most Excellent Majesty for his Houshold and Chappel 1686. REflections upon the Answer to the Papist Misrepresented c. Directed to the Answerer Quarto Kalendarium Catholicum for the Year 1686 Octavo Papists Protesting against Protestant-Popery In Answer to a Discourse Entituled A Papist not Mis-represented by Protestants Being a Vindication of the Papist Mis-represented and Represented and the Reflections upon the Answer Quarto Copies of Two Papers Written by the late King Charles II. Together with a Paper Written by the late Dutchess of York Publish'd by his Majesty's Command Folio The Spirit of Christianity Publish'd by his Majesty's Command Twelves The First Sermon Preach'd before their Majesties in English at Windsor on the first Sunday of October 1685. By the Reverend Father Dom. Ph. Ellis Monk of the Holy Order of St. Benedict and of the English Congregation Publish'd by his Majesty's Command Quarto Second Sermond Preach'd before the King and Queen and Queen Dowager at their Majesties Chappel at St. James's November 1. 1685. By the Reverend Father Dom. Ph. Ellis Monk of the Holy Order of St. Benedict and of the English Congregation Publish'd by his Majesty's Command Quarto The Third Sermon Preach'd before the King and Queen in the Majesty's Chappel at St. James's on the third Sunday in Advent December 13. 1685. By the Reverend Father Dom. Ph. Ellis Monk of the Holy Order of St. Benedict and of the English Congregation Chaplain in Ordinary to his Majesty Publish'd by his Majesty's Command Quarto The Fourth Sermon Preach'd before the King and Queen in their Majesties Chappel at St. Jame's on Newyears-day 1685-86 By the Reverend Father Dom. Ph. Ellis Monk of the Holy Order of St. Benedict and of the English Congregation Chaplain in Ordinary to his Majesty Quarto Sixth Sermon Preach'd before the King and Queen in their Majesties Chappel at St. James's upon the first Wednesday in Lent Febr. 24. 1685. By the Reverend Father Dom. Ph. Ellis Monk of the Holy Order of St. Benedict and of the English Congregation Publish'd by his Majesties Command Quarto An Exposition of the Doctrine of the Catholic Church in Matters of Controversie By the Right Reverend James Benigne Bossuet Counsellor to the King Bishop of Meaux formerly of Condom and Preceptor to the Dauphin First Almoner to the Dauphiness Done into English with all the former Approbations and others newly Publish'd in the Ninth and Last Editions of the French Publish'd by his Majesty's Command Quarto A Sermon Preach'd before the King and Queen in their Majesties Chappel at St. James's upon the Annunciation of our Blessed Lady March 25. 1686. By Jo. Betham Doctor of Sorbon Publish'd by his Majesty's Command Quarto An Abstract of the Douay Catechism for the Use of Children and Ignorant People Now Revis'd and much Amended Publish'd with Allowance Twentyfours A Letter from the Lord Bishop of Meaâ—â—x to the New Catholics of his Diocess Exhorting them to keep their Easter and giving them Necessary Advertisements against the False Pastoral Letters of their Ministers With Reflections upon the Pretended Persecution Publish'd with Allowance Quarto The Answer of the New Converts of France to a Pastoral Letter from a Protestant Minister Done out of French and Publish'd with Allowance Quarto All which Books are to be sold next Door to his House in Blackfryers by Richard Cheese His Birth and his Natural parts His Life in the World He is wounded at the Siege of Pampelona His Conversion He goes to Montserrat He goes to Manreze His penitential Life He retires into a Cave He is tempted and resists the temptation He is afflicted with interior pains and above all with Scruples He is comforted and enlightned from above He trusts not his
Decrees of the Councils of Lateran and of Lyons under Innocent the Third and Gregory the Tenth concerning the multiplication of Religious Orders With this disposition of Mind he would hardly look upon the Memorial that was put into his Hands and he often said That whatever the Institute were the Church had no need of it The Authority of Guidiccione who was an able Divine and a great Canonist drew along with it the other two Cardinals At the same time that Paul the Third nam'd these three Commissioners he spoke to Ignatius for some of his Companions to be employ'd in some necessary Occasions of the Church This he did at the instance of some Princes Bishops and other considerable Persons who had knowledge of the Disciples and of the Master Pasquier Brouet was sent to Sienna to reform a Monastery of Religious Women which was in great disorder Claude le Jay to Brescia to extirpate the Heresie which some Uncatholick Preachers had there sow'n and Nicholas Bobadilla to the Island Ischia upon the Coasts of Naples to make Peace among the principal Inhabitants who had mortal Feuds among them James Laynez and Peter Faber attended the Cardinal of St. Angelo in his Legantine Voyage to Parma Laynez was left at Placentia and Faber at Parma from whence he was afterwards recall'd to accompany Doctor Ortiz who had receiv'd Orders from Charles the Fifth to be present at Worms where there was to be a Colloquie between the Catholicks and the Protestants Lastly Simon Rodriguez and Francis Xaverius parted towards the Indies and the occasion of their Journey was this James Govea that Portuguez Principal of the Colledge of St. Barbara who penitently acknowledg'd the Innocence of Ignatius when he was upon the point of exposing him to publick shame being yet at Paris and hearing the great things which Ignatius and his Companions had done in Italy judg'd that Men of their Mould would be very useful in the East-Indies which were newly conquer'd by the Portuguez He writ about it to Father Ignatius whose Sentiment he would first know before he made any Overture of it in the Court of Portugal The Father prais'd God that he had open'd to him the Door of a new World after shutting that of the Holy Land and he conceiv'd an ardent desire of going himself to carry the Gospel into so many Idolatrous Nations He answer'd Govea That he and his Companions were ready to go into any Place in the World where the Vicar of Jesus Christ should please to send them That they had devoted their Service to him upon the account of Missions and that they could not dispose of themselves without the leave and good liking of his Holiness Govea sent the Answer of Ignatius to John the Third King of Portugal together with his own Thoughts concerning the Conversion of the Indians This Prince who was very Religious and no less careful of Establishing the Kingdom of Jesus Christ in those Countries newly discover'd then of Enlarging the Dominion of Portugal gave Order at the same time to Don Pedro Mascaregnas his Ambassador at Rome to obtain of his Holiness six at least of these Evangelical Labourers recommended to him by Govea and to bring them along with him The Ambassador who was particularly acquainted with Ignatius and even made use of him for his Confessor shew'd him the Order of his Master The Father answer'd That it belong'd to the Pope to determine upon the matter but if he might speak his own thoughts he was of opinion that two of the Fathers were as many as could well be spar'd for the Indies When Mascaregnas insisted upon the number prefix'd by the King Good God! reply'd Ignatius if of ten that we are six should go to the Indies what would there remain for all the other Countries of the World The Pope to whom Mascaregnas made all possible instance referr'd the Matter to Father Ignatius who still adher'd to his first Sentiment So that the Ambassador brought away no more with him but Simon Rodriguez and Francis Xaverius a small Supply indeed if we look only upon the number but very considerable in weight and value The two Missionaries being arriv'd at Lisbon labour'd there for the good of Souls while they waited for the departure of the Admiral in which they were to Embarque in Company of Martin Alphonso Soza who Commanded the Fleet. And their Labours from the very beginning gain'd them the Title of Apostles which in that Kingdom remains at this day to their Successors Some Lords of the Court inamor'd with the zeal of Xaverius and Rodriguez represented to the King that perhaps it would be more advantageous to keep them both in Portugal then to send them to the Indies The two Fathers who had their Mission appointed for the new World having some inkling of the Design of the Portuguez wrote presently to Rome and conjur'd their Father Ignatius to Interest his Holiness in behalf of their Mission Paul the Third would not appear in it but was of opinion the disposal of it should be left to the King Accordingly Father Ignatius sent to the two Fathers that they should follow the Direction of the King of Portugal whom they were to obey in this Circumstance as God's Vicegerent But he added that if perchance the King should ask what his Opinion was of it they might tell him his Judgment was That Xaverius should go to the Indies and that Simon Rodriguez should remain in Portugal The King received this Advice as an Oracle and as Ignatius Propos'd so it was Executed Wherefore for this reason alone we may in a manner attribute to him all those glorious things done by St. Xaverius in the Indies The Joy which Ignatius had to see his Companions preferr'd to be Apostles of a new World was a little allay'd by the opposition made to his chief-Design by the three Cardinals However he continu'd his Applications to the Pope with more warmth then ever At the same time he redoubled his Prayers to the Divine Majesty with great confidence and as if he were certain of success he promis'd one day to God three thousand Masses in acknowledgment of the Grace which he hoped to obtain His hopes were not deceiv'd Cardinal Guidiccione found himself chang'd all in an instant not knowing why and this sudden change seem'd to himself so extraordinary that he doubted not but God was the Author of it Now he read the Memorial which before he would not look upon and after well Examining it he said his Sentiment was still in general the same that new Orders of Religion were not to be admitted but for this which was now Presented he could not oppose it He farther declar'd that he even thought it necessary for the present State of Christendom and above all for stopping the Course of Heresies which began to over-run all Europe In effect there hardly appear'd any footsteps of the ancient Religion in the greatest part of Germany where the Lutherans