14. In the exercise of the different duties of their calling they shall not encroach upon the rights of chapters, curates, universities, or any body of men, who are permitted to teach in this kingdom.
We are sensible of the great advantages that must attend the due execution of these regulations, for the maintaining of true faith and morality, for preserving the liberties of the Gallican church, and securing to bishops, chapters, universities, and to all orders of men, the invaluable possession of their rights and privileges; for which reason we humbly implore your majesty's authority and protection, which alone can give them due sanction and stability, to the end that all your subjects may teach one and the same doctrine, and, by a due subordination of all the parts, may contribute to the good order, peace, and well being both of church and state.
Article IV. "Whether it may not be convenient to moderate and set bounds to the authority which the general of the Jesuits exercises in France."
We have examined the Jesuits' institute with the greatest care and attention, as to what concerns the authority of the general, or the obligation of obedience in the subjects; and have the honour to assure your majesty, that we have found these as much limited and restrained by the Jesuits' rule as by that of any other order. For instance; parte vi, Declarat Constitut. tom. i, p. 408, it is said, Let our obedience be always most perfect, as well in the execution as in our will and judgment, performing all that is commanded with the greatest alacrity, spiritual joy, and perseverance; persuading ourselves, that all is right which is commanded; denying and rejecting, by a kind of blind obedience, any private judgment or opinion of our own to the contrary. And thus we are to behave with regard to whatever our superior may command, when
it does not appear to be any way sinful, as has been elsewhere observed by us.
Hence it plainly appears, that the Jesuits are never bound to obey their general's orders, when, by obeying him, they would be found guilty of the least sin at God's tribunal. We find, that most other religious orders, according to the stile of their rule, profess obedience to all their superiors' commands, which are not repugnant to faith or morality. But what danger can be apprehended, either to the church or state, from that obedience, which is not sinful on any account, which is neither prejudicial to religion nor hurtful to the rights or properties of any of your majesty's subjects? We may add, that this rule of obedience doth not particularly concern the general, but equally regards all other subordinate superiors, who, by virtue of their subjects' vow, have equal claim to their obedience: whence it also appears, that St. Ignatius did not think fit to vest the general with any other authority over the whole society than that which the superior of every religious community ought to have over his subjects.
Those expressions, that they are to abandon themselves to the disposition of their superior, as if they were a dead body, &c. cannot give offence to any but such as are strangers to the language of the ascetick writers, and who are not able to form an idea of any perfection or Christian accomplishment, that doth not suit with their own state and condition. We should never end were we to lay before your majesty what we find in the fathers and masters of a spiritual life, or in the rules of other religious orders, concerning this article of obedience; it may suffice to observe, that they all make use of the
like or even harder expressions; all propose the same examples and comparisons, or others to the same purpose.
But, after all, it is evident, by the fundamental law and constitution of the society, that a general congregation has a far greater power and authority over the general than he can pretend to over the society. The same general assembly, or representative body of the order, which creates him general, names also and appoints his assistants, who have a watchful eye upon his behaviour, and, when they observe any great fault in his conduct, or defect in his administration, are bound by oath to inform against him, and to denounce him to the society; and if the case be notorious and scandalous, or if there be danger in delay, the provincials or superiors of provinces may convene themselves without waiting for the summons or writs[[122]] from the assistants, and immediately proceed to the arraignment, trial, and deposition of the general[[123]],