what may be done; because laying down general rules and instructions
for what is to be done is a very easy thing, but very hard to put
into practice. Who doubts that the preaching of the gospel is the
most important thing for which we have come here? but yet I see that
this is the least object of solicitude; and, if you do not think so,
look at the progress of the natives. I know very well that there is
plenty of care about temporal things; and, as long as these present
themselves, religious instruction is to cease--or the Indians must
support it, even if they never understand it So we all say that the
Gospel is the principal thing, but our works show what it is that
we care most about. Ordinances, decrees, and provisions which speak
in favor of it, we have in plenty; the fulfilment of them will come
when there is nothing temporal to be looked after, which will be very
late. If your Lordship does not think so, ask what is going on in the
island of Panay. Of what do they take most account, of the galleys
and ships which are being built there, or of the religious instruction
which was to be preached there? Because I have seen with what dislike
your Lordship hears of what is going on there, I have ceased to inform
you of it--which I did, hoping that if you understood the situation,
you would find means to improve it. Letters and messengers from there
have told me things which are enough to break one's heart; but now I
am hardening it, because I see that it is of no use for me to grieve
over them. This I say in reply to the statement in the preface to
your Lordship's letter, in which you say: "If they would allow me
to be bishop, I would maintain better order in my bishopric than
there is, and the natives would be much better instructed and not so
harassed." But where there are so many to order and so few to obey,
he who leads this dance can ill guide it to the place where it ought
to go. For this reason many things are going so far astray, and they
will go astray as long as he who has care of everything does not have
the authority which he ought to have. For how can I arrange for the
religious instruction, or take away here or place there, if after I
have ordered it someone says that he chooses not to abide by it, but
to do what he thinks best? Allowing, in general, that in moral matters
there is a little improvement, let us come to the particular point
which your Lordship treats of in your letter. But, before considering