d, in a manner almost perpetual, the provincials not
being able to dispose of their subordinates with complete liberty,
that oldtime strict observance which was planted in those provinces
at their first erection has been greatly obscured. Human nature
is easily inclined to what promotes liberty; and as St. Bernard
teaches, the same ones who love retirement because of their austere
training in the rigors of the order from childhood, when they come
to taste the life that is not so well regulated, desire, procure,
and solicit it. Nothing of that has been seen hitherto in Philipinas,
where, however much they have the parishes in charge, the holy orders
flourish in the most strict observance--for no other reason than that,
if a religious sins, the remedy is quite near at hand since it is
administered solely by the head of the order.

734. Fourth, because there are things more to be wondered at than to
be followed. Although the religious orders are alike, we see that,
while the Church is also one and the same, one person elects one
condition which the other does not adopt. From the same order some go
to the Indias, and others do not go. Then why cannot the same thing
happen in regard to being parish priests subject to the ordinary? Let
the histories of the Indias be read. All of them consider earnestly
whether the religious are to be curas of souls, and much more whether
they are to be curas of justice. Resolutions of entire provinces will
be found on the question whether they should abandon the missions;
generals and illustrious men of the same orders will be found who
approved it; and the reader will find bitter complaints for having
admitted such a burden, recognizing it as the seminary of interminable
discords. For, if those on the mainland, seeing a furious hurricane
on the sea which is dashing the ships to pieces and endangering the
lives of those who are sailing, fear to embark, how much should
the regulars in Philipinas take warning from the new practice in
America? How can one wonder that they follow the example of those
who abandoned the missions joyfully, rather than of those who now
live sorrowfully because they adopted the new method? The fact is,
that no one can take it ill that each one procures what he thinks
best so long as he uses means that are not unlawful in order to get
it. This is what the religious are doing in the present case, taking
care that no detriment follows to their estate and profession. For,