of present torments and prolonged imprisonments, and that he may sing and rejoice with a more than ordinary exultation, whatsoever death he undergoes."

Which being finished, there are only five Jesuits deputed to converse with, and keep the paricide company, who, in their common discourses make it their business on fall occasions to fill his ears with their divine wheedles, making him believe a certain celestial splendour to be shining in his countenance, by the beams whereof they are overawed to throw themselves down before him, and to kiss his feet, appearing (to regard him) now no more a mere mortal, but a deity. And lastly, in a deep dissimulation, they bewail themselves and feign a kind of envy at the happiness and eternal glory (which he is so soon to enjoy) exclaiming thus, before the credulous manslayer: "Would to God that the Lord had chosen me in thy stead, and had so ordered it, that by this means, being free from the pains of purgatory, J might go directly, without let, to paradise!"

CHAPTER VII.

THE MISSIONS OF THE JESUITS.

THE missions of the Jesuits must necessarily form a very remarkable and interesting chapter, in any treatise that proposes to manifest the real character and tendencies of this Society. In the sketch that we have attempted to draw, of the origin and establishment of this Society, we have already seen something of its character. Never did any one individual more completely succeed in stamping his own character on the Society which he originated. The daring enterprise-the cunning craft and sophistry the audacious impudence-the mock humility -the blind superstition and the deliberate imposture -the wild enthusiasm and the subtle policy-the skilful and unprincipled adaptation of his doctrines and measures to the characters and opinions of those with whom he came in contact, to render them subservient to his own ends; and his amazing perseverance amidst the strongest opposition and the most discouraging circumstances; his pretended zeal for the truth and glory of God, and his real devotedness to the interests of the church, and his own boundless ambition, leading him to adopt any and every measure

without any scruple to effect his objects; these moral elements, such as they are, are most completely embodied in the constitutions and rules of the Society— in the character of all who have taken a leading part in the promotion of its views, and are indelibly inscribed on all the operations of the Society, from its commencement to the present day.

The missions of the Jesuits, extending as they do, over immense tracts of country in both hemispheres, and embracing a detail that surprises us alike by its novelty, extent, and variety, and mixing itself up with the customs, manners, government, and resources of countries, civilized and barbarous, and embracing some of the most ancient kingdoms in the world, exhibit, nevertheless, an astonishing uniformity in the respects just mentioned. Had all their missions in every part of the world, and in every age, been conducted by Ignatius Loyola in person; they could scarcely have presented a greater uniformity of character and design. We see the same humble principles every where at work, producing the same lying and delusive results. With an almost infinite diversity of circumstance and colouring, the scene transacted is the same in India, Japan, the Brazils, and Paraguay, and in all the European countries, provinces, and towns.

The immediate and ostensible end of the missions of the Jesuits to barbarous nations, was of course, their conversion to Christianity. A noble object this, yea, infinitely the most momentous and noble of all objects, when truly designed, and when sought to be accomplished in sincere dependence upon the Lord

of the harvest, and in the use of those means which he has appointed. An object worthy of the highest and best energies of the most eminent Christians, and of the largest and most sanctified intellects of the age; an object, which, notwithstanding all the interest that it has awakened, has never yet called forth the zeal, the energy, the self-devotedness, which its unequalled grandeur and importance demands. But how have the very best and holiest things been perverted by the corrupt ingenuity of man! How far the Jesuit missions were from truly designing and accomplishing in any measure, the conversion of these barbarous nations to Christianity, we shall presently see. Their real design was not to make sincere and enlightened converts to the religion of Jesus, but to make proselytes to the Roman catholic see; and to bring these nations, by means either fair or foul, to wear at least, the outward badge of Antichrist; that she who sitteth upon many waters and liveth deliciously, might comfort herself under the defections occasioned by the Reformation, and says as she was wont: "I sit as a queen and am no widow, and shall not see sorrow." I have said, my friends, that the object of the missions of the Jesuits to heathen lands, was not so much to make Christians, that is sincere disciples of Christ, as it was to make proselytes to the Roman see. I now add, that the means employed were equally unauthorized by the scriptures of the New Testament. Our Saviour once and again declared that his kingdom was not of this world; else, said he would my servants fight for it. A more direct and complete disclaimer than this of the use of

ever must be managed with the greatest discretion. By this means our members will be acceptable to persons in the highest posts, and admitted into their most secret councils.

“IV. It will be also proper to entertain them with the newest, choicest, and most genuine accounts from all places.

"V. Nor will it contribute a little to our advantage, if, with caution and secrecy, we foment and heighten the animosities that arise among princes and great men, even to such a degree, that they may weaken each other. But if there appear any likelihood of reconciliation, then as soon as possible let us endeavour to be the mediators, lest others prevent us.

"VI. The nobility and populace must, by all methods, be persuaded into a belief, that the Society was instituted by the particular direction of Divine Providence, according to the prophecies of the abbot Joachim, that by this means, the church, though depressed by the attempts of heretics, may be exalted.

"VII. The favour of the nobility and superior clergy once got, our next aim must be to draw all cures and canonships into our possession, for the more complete reformation of the clergy, who heretofore lived under the certain regulation of their bishops, and made considerable advances towards perfection. And lastly, let us aspire to abbeys, and bishopricks, the obtaining which, when vacancies happen, will very easily be effected, considering the supineness and stupidity of the monks; for it would greatly tend to the benefit of the church, if all bishopricks were possessed by the Society, and even the apostolical see,