will not receive
them except as a favor, and then remain there, even though I should be
dissatisfied with him. Add to this that I have need of some clergymen
near me for the many necessities which arise, which religious cannot
supply, and in order to help in the cathedral at times; for there is
much need of this, as your Lordship has probably seen sometimes, when
you have been there. As for what they say, that the fathers of San
Augustin will take charge of those districts without having more alms
given them, I am very sorry on account of this offer of these fathers,
because I know that whatever burden is taken from the king's treasury
will fall on the Indians; and I do not wish this, neither should your
Lordship wish it. Since those fathers have, as I have said, so many
districts to provide for, let them take there what they get therefrom.

Concerning the religious of Batan and the others of this bishopric,
it seems to me that neither your Lordship nor I should interfere
with them, for they know what is suitable for the government and
preservation of their orders; and they would be great fools not to
consider themselves first rather than others, for St. Paul knew very
well what he was saying when he bade his disciple Timothy to take heed
to himself first and afterward to teaching. For the apostle knew very
well how proper it was for a minister to take heed to himself first
rather than others--and this not only for the good of the minister
himself, but also for that of those to whom he ministers. Now since
the apostle said this to a bishop, who is under so great obligations to
look after his sheep, how much better might it be said to the friars,
who have this duty only through charity. This is the law of charity,
_primum mihi secundum tibi_; and this should be observed more among
religious than among other ministers who are not included among
them--in the first place, because these religious did not choose to
take up this ministry as under just obligations to do so, but merely
through charity, which looks first to itself and then to its neighbor;
in the second place, because a simple-minded minister who is withdrawn
from the world, and given to prayer, and a careful observer of his
religion, and who will make the Indians feel that he lives as a saint,
is worth more than twenty who are inattentive to their duties, and
who cannot remain an hour in their cells. These virtues and other
similar ones, without which a religiou