letters to his son, 1752-第2章
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tee' to know than I am。
It was founded by Robert de Sorbon; in the year 1256 for sixteen poor scholars in divinity; four of each nation; of the university of which it made a part; since that it hath been much extended and enriched; especially by the liberality and pride of Cardinal Richelieu; who made it a magnificent building for six…and…thirty doctors of that society to live in; besides which; there are six professors and schools for divinity。 This society has long been famous for theological knowledge and exercitations。 There unintelligible points are debated with passion; though they can never be determined by reason。 Logical subtilties set common sense at defiance; and mystical refinements disfigure and disguise the native beauty and simplicity of true natural religion; wild imaginations form systems; which weak minds adopt implicitly; and which sense and reason oppose in vain; their voice is not strong enough to be heard in schools of divinity。 Political views are by no means neglected in those sacred places; and questions are agitated and decided; according to the degree of regard; or rather submission; which the Sovereign is pleased to show the Church。 Is the King a slave to the Church; though a tyrant to the laity? The least resistance to his will shall be declared damnable。 But if he will not acknowledge the superiority of their spiritual over his temporal; nor even admit their 'imperium in imperio'; which is the least they will compound for; it becomes meritorious not only to resist; but to depose him。 And I suppose that the bold propositions in the thesis you mention; are a return for the valuation of 'les biens du Clerge'。
I would advise you; by all means; to attend to two or three of their public disputations; in order to be informed both of the manner and the substance of those scholastic exercises。 Pray remember to go to all those kind of things。 Do not put it off; as one is too apt to do those things which one knows can be done every day; or any day; for one afterward repents extremely; when too late; the not having done them。
But there is another (so…called) religious society; of which the minutest circumstance deserves attention; and furnishes great matter for useful reflections。 You easily guess that I mean the society of 'les R。 R。 P。 P。 Jesuites'; established but in the year 1540; by a Bull of Pope Paul III。 Its progress; and I may say its victories; were more rapid than those of the Romans ; for within the same century it governed all Europe; and; in the next; it extended its influence over the whole world。 Its founder was an abandoned profligate Spanish officer; Ignatius Loyola; who; in the year 1521; being wounded in the leg at the 'siege of Pampeluna; went mad from the smart of his wound; the reproaches of his conscience; and his confinement; during which he read the lives of the Saints。 Consciousness of guilt; a fiery temper; and a wild imagination; the common ingredients of enthusiasm; made this madman devote himself to the particular service of the Virgin Mary; whose knight…errant he declared himself; in the very same form in which the old knight…errants in romances used to declare themselves the knights and champions of certain beautiful and incomparable princesses; whom sometimes they had; but oftener had not; seen。 For Dulcinea del Toboso was by no means the first princess whom her faithful and valorous knight had never seen in his life。 The enthusiast went to the Holy Land; from whence he returned to Spain; where he began to learn Latin and philosophy at three…and… thirty years old; so that no doubt but he made great progress in both。 The better to carry on his mad and wicked designs; he chose four disciples; or rather apostles; all Spaniards; viz; Laynes; Salmeron; Bobadilla; and Rodriguez。 He then composed the rules and constitutions of his order; which; in the year 1547; was called the order of Jesuits; from the church of Jesus in Rome; which was given them。 Ignatius died in 1556; aged sixty…five; thirty…five years after his conversion; and sixteen years after the establishment of his society。 He was canonized in the year 1609; and is doubtless now a saint in heaven。
If the religious and moral principles of this society are to be detested; as they justly are; the wisdom of their political principles is as justly to be admired。 Suspected; collectively as an order; of the greatest crimes; and convicted of many; they have either escaped punishment; or triumphed after it; as in France; in the reign of Henry IV。 They have; directly or indirectly; governed the consciences and the councils of all the Catholic princes in Europe; they almost governed China in the reign of Cangghi; and they are now actually in possession of the Paraguay in America; pretending; but paying no obedience to the Crown of Spain。 As a collective body they are detested; even by all the Catholics; not excepting the clergy; both secular and regular; and yet; as individuals; they are loved; respected; and they govern wherever they are。
Two things; I believe; contribute to their success。 The first; that passive; implicit; unlimited obedience to their General (who always resides at Rome); and to the superiors of their several houses; appointed by him。 This obedience is observed by them all to a most astonishing degree; and; I believe; there is no one society in the world; of which so many individuals sacrifice their private interest to the general one of the society itself。 The second is the education of youth; which they have in a manner engrossed; there they give the first; and the first are the lasting impressions; those impressions are always calculated to be favorable to the society。 I have known many Catholics; educated by the Jesuits; who; though they detested the society; from reason and knowledge; have always remained attached to it; from habit and prejudice。 The; Jesuits know; better than any set of people in the world; the importance of the art of pleasing; and study it more; they become all things to all men in order to gain; not a few; but many。 In Asia; Africa; and America they become more than half pagans; in order to convert the pagans to be less than half Christians。 In private families they begin by insinuating themselves as friends; they grow to be favorites; and they end DIRECTORS。 Their manners are not like those of any other regulars in the world; but gentle; polite; and engaging。 They are all carefully bred up to that particular destination; to which they seem to have a natural turn; for which reason one sees most Jesuits excel in some particular thing。 They even breed up some for martyrdom in case of need; as the superior of a Jesuit seminary at Rome told Lord Bolingbroke。 'E abbiamo anche martiri per il martirio; se bisogna'。
Inform yourself minutely of everything concerning this extraordinary establishment; go into their houses; get acquainted with individuals; hear some of them preach。 The finest preacher I ever heard in my life is le Pere Neufville; who; I believe; preaches still at Paris; and is so much in the best company; that you may easily get personally acquainted with him。
If you would know their 'morale' read Pascal's 'Lettres Provinciales'; in which it is very truly displayed from their own writings。
Upon the whole; this is certain; that a society of which so little good is said; and so much ill believed; and that still not only subsists; but flourishes; must be a very able one。 It is always mentioned as a proof of the superior abilities of the Cardinal Richelieu; that; though hated by all the nation; and still more by his master; he kept his power in spite of both。
I would earnestly wish you to do everything now; which I wish; that I had done at your age; and did not do。 Every country has its peculiarities; which one can be much better informed of during one's residence there; than by reading all the books in the world afterward。 While you are in Catholic countries; inform yourself of all the forms and ceremonies of that tawdry church; see their converts both of men and women; know their several rules and orders; attend their most remarkable ceremonies; have their terms of art explained to you; their 'tierce; sexte; nones; matines; vepres; c