The Jesuit's memorial for the intended reformation of England under their first popish prince published from the copy that was presented to the late King James II : with an introduction, and some animadversions by Edward Gee ...

CHAP. VII. Of Religious Men and Women, and matters appertaining unto them.

IN divers former Chapters there hath been mention made of Religious Or∣ders, both Men and Women, which be∣ing the third principal part or member of the Clergy, as before hath been signi∣fied, should have in this place some pecu∣liar Treatise also, but that there has been so much spoken thereof already upon dif∣ferent occasions, as little remaineth to be ad∣ded here.

The principal point that seemeth need∣ful to be remembred, is, That this part of the Clergy, I mean Religious People, is or ought to be the ornament of all the rest, and that by the height of their Vo∣cation, they should participate in a more ample and eminent sort, of those excel∣lent names of Lights of the World, and Salt of the Earth, which our Saviour vouchsafed to attribute to all his Portion and Clergy; but yet are they more due unto the State of Religious Persons, which

bind themselves by Vow to a life of greater perfection than the rest, and con∣sequently ought to be clearer Lights, and more excellent Salt than any other. And he that would consider of Religious Or∣ders, as he should, seeing them intermix∣ed among other People in a Catholick Commonwealth, he should imagine them as Veins and Arteries spread throughout Man's Body to give Blood and Spirit to the fleshy parts that lye about them. And again, as Wells, Springs, Brooks, and Rivers divided all over the Earth, to minister moisture and life to the Fields, and pasturages adjoyning unto them: and so consequently as when the Rivers of a∣ny Country, or Veins or Arteries do wax dry, or are corrupted, or give evil moisture, nourishment, or infection, all the rest must needs perish and putrifie; so when Religious People themselves be corrupted, and do infect, or scandalize others, by their evil example, or do dry up, and fade away, all the rest must needs come to desolation. This hath been tryed in no Country more for times past than in ours; and for that cause is the greater care and desire of good Men to have it well remedied at the next change; and that as on the one side it is desired, as

before hath been noted, that all the ap∣proved Religious of God's Church should be admitted again into England for more honourable satisfaction of impieties com∣mitted against them in times past; so on the other side is there no less desire of good Men, that none should be admitted, but called for and chosen, and such as will promise the perfect observation of their first Institution and Rule, so as they may be true Lights, and Salt indeed.

The Edict, or Proclamation, whereof I spoke before, to be made at the very first beginning against the entrance of any Reli∣gious People, but only upon Licence and Approbation of the Council of Reforma∣tion will help greatly to this effect, if it be observed, as it ought to be, with ex∣actness. For otherwise, all idle and wan∣dring People, and such as best may be spared in other places will flock to us.

All Emulation and Contention, among Religious Orders, must be carefully avoided at that day, whereunto it seemeth that two things will greatly help, first, That no Religious be admitted but reformed, as hath been said; for that between good and perfect Men there is never Emulati∣on, or Contention, both Parties being u∣nited in Christ, Qui fecit utraque unum,

as the Apostle saith, & non est exceptor personarum, and so the nearer that each part is united to Christ in Holiness and Perfection, the nearer are they united with others also: then can there be no difference between them, according to the Rule most certain of Euclides, that such things as are united in a third, are united also between themselves, so as wheresoever there is Contention or Emulation between Reli∣gions, that profess both of them to serve Christ, the off-spring is Imperfection in one or both parts, and the more Conten∣tious is ever the more imperfect, and this is the first point.

The second help or remedy may be, That the Council of Reformation, with Faculty of his Holiness, do take upon them the Distribution of all Ecclesiastical Livings and Lands which shall be re∣stored, according to the present necessity, conveniency, and utility of the time pre∣sent, without respect of former Possessors. Great and special care must be had of erecting Monasteries for Women, which are like to be far more in number than Men that will enter into Religion at the beginning, having been violently debarred thereof all the Reign of this Queen. And no one Impiety of our Hereticks per∣haps

hath been greater, or more barbarous, than the forcing of Virgins to break their holy purposes, or not permitting to ex∣ecute the same, by entering into Reli∣gion. And for that the scarcity of able Men will be such at that time, and so many other things wherein to employ them, as they shall be hardly able to at∣tend to the Government of the Nunne∣ries for a time, which yet cannot well go forward without the Direction and over∣sight of some such grave, vertuous, and discreet Men. For this cause it behoveth to consider well what Orders of Religi∣ous Women are to be admitted at the first, and how they may best be governed, to the end, that such strifes may be a∣voided as oftentimes in Catholick Countries about these and the like affairs do fall out.

In divers Parts and Provinces of Chri∣stendom, there are some Religious Orders in these our days more reformed than o∣thers, and of these ought our Council of Reformation to call before the rest. For as the first Foundation shall be laid in England, so will the rest follow, and go suitable to that; and as the Clock is first set with us, so will the wheels walk af∣terwards, and the hours follow accordingly.

And for that all other points of impor∣tance have been touched by me elsewhere concerning these matters, as also about the new Militant Order, that may be erected and brought in, I shall here make an end, both of this subject, and of the Second Part of this Memorial appertaining to the Clergy.

Notes

• Emulation to be a∣voided.
• ☞