III. Other things being equal, those widows and other persons, who have given most of their effects to the society, are to be treated with more decision and firmness, than others,—that we may avoid the appearance of favoring them, in preference to others, on account of their munificence; the same rule should be observed with regard to the members of the society, but not until they have made a cession and surrender of their wealth to it: after that, if it be necessary, they might be dismissed from the society, but with infinite discretion, in order to secure the present relinquishment, or the devise at death, of at least a part of what they may have presented to the order.
CAP. XVII.
De mediis promovendi societatem.
I. In primis in hoc incumbant omnes, ut etiam in rebus parvi momenti unum semper sentiant, et saltem exterius dicant, sic enim, quantumcumque res mundi hujus turbidæ fuerint, societas semper necessario augebitur et confirmabitur.
II. Sic omnes lucere nitantur doctrina et exemplis, ut reliqui religiosi, præsertim ii qui de clero sunt, pastores, &c. superentur, tandemque vulgus omnia à nostris tantum præstari optet; quin immo hoc palam dicatur, non requiri in pastoribus doctrinam tantam, modo suo munere bene fungantur, consilio enim societatem juvare posse, quæ idcirco studia summopere commendata habet.
III. Fovendi reges ac principes hac doctrina, quod fides catholica in præsenti statu persistere nequeat sine politismo, sed ad hoc magna opus discretione; hac ratione nostri grati erunt magnatibus, et ad intimiora consilia adhibebuntur.
IV. Foveri poterunt novis, lectissimis, et certissimis undiquaque transcriptis.
V. Neque parum conferet, si magnatum et principum dissensiones caute ac secreto nutriantur, etiam cum mutua virium infractione; quod si animadverteretur verisimiliter conciliandos, societas quam primum illos pacificare contendet, ne aliunde præveniatur.
VI. Ingeneranda omnibus modis, præsertim vulgo et magnatibus, opinio de societatis erectione per singularem providentiam divinam, juxta prophetias Joachimi abbatis, ad hoc ut ecclesia depressa ab hæreticis elevetur.