to
him. Beware of doing any thing which may displease him; endeavour, on the
contrary, to serve him in all things according to your power; and
acknowledge, by all manner of good offices, those infinite obligations
which we have to so charitable a father and benefactor. Command those
fathers who are out of Goa, to write to him from time to time, but not
too prolixly; and to give him an account of the fruit of their labours.
That they mention in their letters, as far as truth will give them leave,
the commendation of his vicars; and omit not the other good actions of
the religious; and if they can say no good of them, let them be silent of
them; for we are not to imagine that our duty obliges us to complain to
the bishop, of the ill conduct of his vicars, or of other
gospel-labourers; there will never be wanting those who will ease us
of that trouble. Beware, not to trouble yourself with the management of
worldly business; nor even to encumber your inferiors with it, on any
occasion whatsoever. When secular men shall desire to engage you in the
employments of civil life, return this answer, 'That the time which
remains free to you from preaching, and the administration of the
sacraments, is scarce sufficient for your studies and devotions, which
are yet necessary to you before you go into the pulpit, or appear in the
tribune of penance; that you cannot prefer the care of worldly things,
before the cure of souls, without perverting the order and rule of
charity.' By this means you shall disengage yourself from all those sorts
of encumbrances; and without this circumspection, you will do great
prejudice to the Society; for you ought to understand, that the world
often enters by this door into religious houses, to the extreme damage
both of the religious, and of religion.

"In the visits which are made to you, endeavour to find out the bottom
and end of their design, who come to see you. For some there are, the
least part of whose business is to be instructed in spirituals; it is
only temporal interest which brings them to you: there will even be some,
who will come to confession, on no other motive, than to acquaint you
with the necessities of their family. The best counsel I can give you, is
to stand upon your guard with such; and, to be rid of them, let them know
from the very first, that you can neither furnish them with money, nor
procure them any favour from other men. Be warned to have as little
discourse with this s