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stood； these stood： when the living creatures were lifted up； the
wheels were lifted up over against them； and their wings were full
of eyes round about； and they were so high that they were dreadful。
So of the institution of Ignatius；one soul swayed the vast mass；
and every pin and every cog in the machinery consented with its
whole power to every movement of the one central conscience。〃
Luther moved Europe by ideas which emancipated the millions； and
set in motion a progress which is the glory of our age； Loyola
invented an agency which arrested this progress； and led the
Catholic world back again into the subjections and despotisms of
the Middle Ages； retaining however the fear of God and of Hell；
which are the extremes of human motive。
What is the secret of such a wonderful success？ Two things： first；
the extraordinary virtues； abilities； and zeal of the early
Jesuits； and； secondly； their wonderful machinery in adapting means
to an end。
The history of society shows that no body of men ever obtained a
wide…spread ascendancy； never secured general respect； unless they
deserved it。 Industry produces its fruits； learning and piety have
their natural results。 Even in the moral world natural law asserts
its supremacy。 Hypocrisy and fraud ultimately will be detected； no
enduring reputation is built upon a lie； sincerity and earnestness
will call out respect； even from foes； learning and virtue are
lights which are not hid under a bushel。 Enthusiasm creates
enthusiasm； a lofty life will be seen and honored。 Nor do people
intrust their dearest interests except to those whom they
venerate；and venerate because their virtues shine like the face
of a goddess。 We yield to those only whom we esteem wiser than
ourselves。 Moses controlled the Israelites because they venerated
his wisdom and courage； Paul had the confidence of the infant
churches because they saw his labors； Bernard swayed his darkened
age by the moral power of learning and sanctity。 The mature
judgments of centuries never have reversed the judgments which past
ages gave in reference to their master minds。 All the pedants and
sophists of Europe cannot whitewash Frederic II。 or Henry VIII。 No
man in Athens was more truly venerated than Socrates when he mocked
his judges。 Cicero； Augustine； Aquinas； appeared to
contemporaries； as they appear to us。 Even Hildebrand did not
juggle himself into his theocratic chair。 Washington deserved all
the reverence he enjoyed； and Bonaparte himself was worthy of the
honors he received； so long as he was true to the interests of
France。
So of the Jesuits；there is no mystery in their success； the same
causes would produce the same results again。 When Catholic Europe
saw men born to wealth and rank voluntarily parting with their
goods and honors； devoting themselves to religious duties； often in
a humble sphere； spending their days in schools and hospitals；
wandering as preachers and missionaries amid privations and in
fatigue； encountering perils and dangers and hardships with fresh
and ever…sustained enthusiasm； and finally yielding up their lives
as martyrs； to proclaim salvation to idolatrous savages；it knew
them to be heroic； and believed them to be sincere； and honored
them in consequence。 When parents saw that the Jesuits entered
heart and soul into the work of education； winning their pupils'
hearts by kindness； watching their moods； directing their minds
into congenial studies； and inspiring them with generous
sentiments； they did not stop to pry into their motives； and
universities； when they discovered the superior culture of educated
Jesuits； outstripping all their associates in learning； and
shedding a light by their genius and erudition； very naturally
appointed them to the highest chairs； and even the people； when
they saw that the Jesuits were not stained by vulgar vices； but
were hard…working； devoted to their labors； earnest； and eloquent；
put themselves under their teachings； and especially when they
added gentlemanly manners； good taste； and agreeable conversation
to their unimpeachable morality and religious fervor； they made
these men their confessors as well as preachers。 Their lives stood
out in glorious contrast with those of the old monks and the
regular clergy； in an age of infidel levities； when the Italian
renaissance was bearing its worst fruits； and men were going back
to Pagan antiquity for their pleasures and opinions。
That the early Jesuits blazed with virtues and learning and piety
has never been denied； although these things have been poetically
exaggerated。 The world was astonished at their intrepidity； zeal；
and devotion。 They were not at first intriguing； or ambitious； or
covetous。 They loved their Society； but they loved still more what
they thought was the glory of God。 Ad majoram Dei gloriam was the
motto which was emblazoned on their standard when they went forth
as Christian warriors to overcome the heresies of Christendom and
the superstitions of idolaters。 〃The Jesuit missionary；〃 says
Stephen； 〃with his breviary under his arm； his beads at his girdle；
and his crucifix in his hands； went forth without fear； to
encounter the most dreaded dangers。 Martyrdom was nothing to him；
he knew that the altar which might stream with his blood； and the
mound which might be raised over his remains； would become a
cherished object of his fame and an expressive emblem of the power
of his religion。〃 〃If I die；〃 said Xavier； when about to visit the
cannibal Island of Del Moro； 〃who knows but what all may receive
the Gospel； since it is most certain it has ever fructified more
abundantly in the field of Paganism by the blood of martyrs than by
the labors of missionaries；〃a sublime truth； revealed to him in
his whole course of protracted martyrdom and active philanthropy；
especially in those last hours when； on the Island of Sanshan； he
expired； exclaiming； as his fading eyes rested on the crucifix； In
te Domine speravi； non confundar in eternum。 〃In perils； in
fastings； in fatigues； was the life of this remarkable man passed；
in order to convert the heathen world； and in ten years he had
traversed a tract of more than twice the circumference of the
earth； preaching； disputing； and baptizing； until seventy thousand
converts； it is said； were the fruits of his mission。〃* 〃 My
companion；〃 said the fearless Marquette； when exploring the
prairies of the Western wilderness； 〃is an envoy of France to
discover new countries； and I am an ambassador of God to enlighten
them with the Gospel。〃 Lalemant； when pierced with the arrows of
the Iroquois； rejoiced that his martyrdom would induce others to
follow his example。 The missions of the early Jesuits extorted
praises from Baxter and panegyric from Liebnitz。
* I am inclined to think that this statement is exaggerated； or； if
true； that conversion was merely nominal。 In any event； his labors
were vast。
And not less remarkable than these missionaries were those who
labored in other spheres。 Loyola himself； though visionary and
monastic； had no higher wish than to infuse piety into the Catholic
Church； and to strengthen the hands of him whom he regarded as
God's vicegerent。 Somehow or other he succeeded in securing the
absolute veneration of his companions； so much so that the sainted
Xavier always wrote to him on his knees。 His 〃Spiritual Exercises〃
has ever remained the great text…book of the Jesuits；a compend of
fasts and penances； of visions and of ecstasies； rivalling Saint
Theresa herself in the rhapsodies of an exalted piety； showing the
chivalric and romantic ardor of a Spanish nobleman directed into
the channel of devotion to an invisible Lord。 See this wounded
soldier at the siege of Pampeluna； going through all the
experiences of a Syriac monk in his Manresan cave； and then turning
his steps to Paris to acquire a university education； associating
only with the pious and the learned； drawing to him such gifted men
as Faber and Xavier； Salmeron and Lainez； Borgia and Bobadilla； and
inspiring them with his ideas and his fervor； living afterwards； at
Venice； with Caraffa （the future Paul IV。） in the closest intimacy；
preaching at Vicenza； and forming a new monastic code； as full of
genius and originality as it was of practical wisdom； which became
the foundation of a system of government never surpassed in the
power of its mechanism to bind the minds and wills of men。 Loyola
was a most extraordinary man in the practical turn he gave to
religious rhapsodies； creating a legislation for his Society which
made it the most potent religious organization in the world。 All
his companions were remarkable likewise for different traits and
excellences； which yet were made to combine in sustaining the unity
of this moral mechanism。 Lainez had even a more comprehensive mind
than Loyola。 It was he who matured the Jes