CHAP. VII.
That the Prieſt's Camp is the Cloyſter; the Duty of the Prieſt; the various
Sorts of Cloyſters and their proper Situations.
Sorts of Cloyſters and their proper Situations.
The Prieſt's Camp is the Cloyſter, in
which a certain Number of Perſons ſhut
themſelves up together in order to devote them
ſelves either to Religion or Virtue; ſuch are thoſe
who have dedicated themſelves to the ſacred
Functions, or who have taken upon themſelves
a Vow of Chaſtity. Beſides this Cloyſter is a
Place where Perſons of ſtudious Diſpoſitions
employ themſelves about the Knowledge of
Things as well Divine as Human; for as the
Prieſt's Duty is as far as in him lies to lead
Mankind into a Courſe of Life as near to Per
fection as poſſible, this can never be done more
effectually than by Philoſophy. For as there
are two Things in the Nature of Man to which
this muſt be owing, Virtue and Truth; when
the former has taught us to calm and govern
our Paſſions, and the latter to know the Prin
ciples and Secrets of Nature, which will purge
the Mind from Ignorance and the Contagion of
the Body; we may then be qualified to enter
into a happy Courſe of Life, and to have ſome
Reſemblance with the divine Nature itſelf. Add
to this, that it is the Duty of all good Men, as
the Prieſts ought and would be thought to be,
to exerciſe themſelves in all thoſe Offices of
Humanity which are due from every Man to
his Neighbour, namely, to aſſiſt and relieve the
Poor, the Diſtreſſed and the Infirm, to the ut
moſt of their Power. Theſe are the Things
in which the Prieſt is to employ himſelf and
all thoſe under his Direction. Of the Struc
tures proper for theſe Purpoſes, whether be
longing to the ſuperior or inferior Rank of
Prieſts, we are now to treat; and firſt we ſhall
begin with the Cloyſter. Cloyſters are of ſe
veral Sorts, either for ſuch Perſons as are to be
ſo ſtrictly confined that they muſt never ap
pear in publick at all, unleſs at Church or in
Proceſſions; or for thoſe who are to be allow
ed a little more Liberty. Of theſe again ſome
are for Men, others for Women. Thoſe for
Women ſhould, in my Opinion, be neither too
much in the City, nor too much out of it: For
though in a Solitude they may not be ſo much
ſrequented, yet any one that has a Deſign may
have more Opportunity to execute any villan
ous Enterprize where there are ſo few Wit
neſſes, than where there are a great many both
to ſhame and diſſwade him from ſuch an At
tempt. It is our Buſineſs in both to take Care
not that they have no Inclinations to be un
chaſte, but no means. For this Purpoſe every
Entrance muſt be ſo ſecured, that nobody can
poſſibly get in; and ſo well watched, that no
body may loyter about in order to attempt it
without inſtant Suſpicion and Shame. No
Camp for an Army ſhould be ſo well guarded
by Intrenchments and Paliſadoes, as a Monaſ
tery ought to be by high Walls, without either
Doors or Windows in them, or the leaſt Hole
by which not only no Violator of Chaſtity, but
not ſo much as the leaſt Temptation either by
the Eye or Ear, may poſſibly get in to diſorder,
or pollute the Minds of the Recluſe. Let them
receive their Light from an open Court on the
Inſide. Round this Court the Portico, Cells,
Refectory, Chapter-houſe and the like Conve
niencies ſhould be diſpoſed according to their
various Uſes, in the ſame Manner as in private
Houſes. Nor ſhould Space be wanting for
Gardens and Meadows, for the moderate Re
creation of the Mind, but not for adminiſtring
to Pleaſure. If all theſe Precautions are ta
ken, it will be beſt to have them out of the
Way of a Concourſe of People. The Cloyſters
for both Sexes therefore cannot be better placed
than without the City; that the Attention of
their Thoughts which are entirely dedicated to
Holineſs, and the calm and ſettled Religion of
their Minds may not be diſturbed by too many
Viſitors. But then I would have their Houſes,
whether they are for Men or Women, ſituated
in the moſt healthy Air that can be found out;
that the Recluſe, while they are wholly intent
upon the Care of their Souls, may not have
their Bodies, already impared, by conſtant faſt
ing and watching, oppreſſed likewiſe with
Weakneſs and Diſeaſes. Thoſe who are with
out the City ſhould be placed in a Situation
naturally ſtrong, that neither Robbers nor any
plundering Enemy with a ſmall Force, may
be able at every turn to ſack it; and I would
have it moreover fortified with a Trench and a
which a certain Number of Perſons ſhut
themſelves up together in order to devote them
ſelves either to Religion or Virtue; ſuch are thoſe
who have dedicated themſelves to the ſacred
Functions, or who have taken upon themſelves
a Vow of Chaſtity. Beſides this Cloyſter is a
Place where Perſons of ſtudious Diſpoſitions
employ themſelves about the Knowledge of
Things as well Divine as Human; for as the
Prieſt's Duty is as far as in him lies to lead
Mankind into a Courſe of Life as near to Per
fection as poſſible, this can never be done more
effectually than by Philoſophy. For as there
are two Things in the Nature of Man to which
this muſt be owing, Virtue and Truth; when
the former has taught us to calm and govern
our Paſſions, and the latter to know the Prin
ciples and Secrets of Nature, which will purge
the Mind from Ignorance and the Contagion of
the Body; we may then be qualified to enter
into a happy Courſe of Life, and to have ſome
Reſemblance with the divine Nature itſelf. Add
to this, that it is the Duty of all good Men, as
the Prieſts ought and would be thought to be,
to exerciſe themſelves in all thoſe Offices of
Humanity which are due from every Man to
his Neighbour, namely, to aſſiſt and relieve the
Poor, the Diſtreſſed and the Infirm, to the ut
moſt of their Power. Theſe are the Things
in which the Prieſt is to employ himſelf and
all thoſe under his Direction. Of the Struc
tures proper for theſe Purpoſes, whether be
longing to the ſuperior or inferior Rank of
Prieſts, we are now to treat; and firſt we ſhall
begin with the Cloyſter. Cloyſters are of ſe
veral Sorts, either for ſuch Perſons as are to be
ſo ſtrictly confined that they muſt never ap
pear in publick at all, unleſs at Church or in
Proceſſions; or for thoſe who are to be allow
ed a little more Liberty. Of theſe again ſome
are for Men, others for Women. Thoſe for
Women ſhould, in my Opinion, be neither too
much in the City, nor too much out of it: For
though in a Solitude they may not be ſo much
ſrequented, yet any one that has a Deſign may
have more Opportunity to execute any villan
ous Enterprize where there are ſo few Wit
neſſes, than where there are a great many both
to ſhame and diſſwade him from ſuch an At
tempt. It is our Buſineſs in both to take Care
not that they have no Inclinations to be un
chaſte, but no means. For this Purpoſe every
Entrance muſt be ſo ſecured, that nobody can
poſſibly get in; and ſo well watched, that no
body may loyter about in order to attempt it
without inſtant Suſpicion and Shame. No
Camp for an Army ſhould be ſo well guarded
by Intrenchments and Paliſadoes, as a Monaſ
tery ought to be by high Walls, without either
Doors or Windows in them, or the leaſt Hole
by which not only no Violator of Chaſtity, but
not ſo much as the leaſt Temptation either by
the Eye or Ear, may poſſibly get in to diſorder,
or pollute the Minds of the Recluſe. Let them
receive their Light from an open Court on the
Inſide. Round this Court the Portico, Cells,
Refectory, Chapter-houſe and the like Conve
niencies ſhould be diſpoſed according to their
various Uſes, in the ſame Manner as in private
Houſes. Nor ſhould Space be wanting for
Gardens and Meadows, for the moderate Re
creation of the Mind, but not for adminiſtring
to Pleaſure. If all theſe Precautions are ta
ken, it will be beſt to have them out of the
Way of a Concourſe of People. The Cloyſters
for both Sexes therefore cannot be better placed
than without the City; that the Attention of
their Thoughts which are entirely dedicated to
Holineſs, and the calm and ſettled Religion of
their Minds may not be diſturbed by too many
Viſitors. But then I would have their Houſes,
whether they are for Men or Women, ſituated
in the moſt healthy Air that can be found out;
that the Recluſe, while they are wholly intent
upon the Care of their Souls, may not have
their Bodies, already impared, by conſtant faſt
ing and watching, oppreſſed likewiſe with
Weakneſs and Diſeaſes. Thoſe who are with
out the City ſhould be placed in a Situation
naturally ſtrong, that neither Robbers nor any
plundering Enemy with a ſmall Force, may
be able at every turn to ſack it; and I would
have it moreover fortified with a Trench and a
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