terpret fear; for nothing more encourages the untractable and
haughty to rebellion, than the softness and fearful spirit of a governor.
And it is not credible, how assuming, proud, and peremptory, they will
grow, when once they find the reins are slackened, and that their
pusillanimous superior is afraid of punishing their want of due respect.
Impunity hardens that sort of people in their insolence; or rather, it
makes them more and more audacious; which disturbs the peace of religious
houses. Execute then my orders, without fearing the opinion or speech of
people; and let no consideration, no regard of persons, hinder you from
the performance of your duty. Amongst your inferiors, you will find some
who are neither obstinate nor disobedient, but who are weak; who are
forgetful of what is enjoined them, who indeed despise not the orders of
their superiors, but sometimes neglect them, either out of
faintheartedness, or want of sense. Reprehend such men with more
gentleness and moderation, and temper your reproof with the mildness
of your countenance; and if you find it necessary to punish them, impose
but an easy penance on them. Never admit into the Society such as are not
endued with judgment, and good natural parts; nor those who are of a weak
constitution, and proper for no employment, or of whom you may reasonably
suspect, that they would enter into religion for secular respects, rather
than out of a sincere devotion of serving God. When they shall have ended
their exercises, you are to employ them in the service of the sick in the
public hospitals, and in the meanest offices of the house. You shall
cause them to give you an account of the endeavours they have made, to
acquit themselves well of their ordinary meditations, according to the
form prescribed. If you are assured, that they are lukewarm and faint at
their devotions, you will do well to dismiss them, and turn them out of
the Society betimes; or if there be any hope of their amendment, you
shall withdraw them for some days from those interior exercises;
depriving them, by way of penance, of an honour which their negligence
has made them unworthy to enjoy; and such indeed is that of communicating
with God in prayer, to the end, that, being ashamed to stand excluded
from that celestial commerce, they may desire more ardently to be
re-admitted to it. I recommend extremely to you, that you pay an
extraordinary respect to my lord the bishop; and that you be obedient