CHAP. I.]

ST. JOHN OF JERUSALEM.

91

probates. But what could those virtuous and mostprudent pastors do? No one seemed to have any-time for reflection. Everywhere all was fermentand effervescence.

Even sagacious elderly men and women appearedto have lost all power over themselves or others.Nor did not some individuals act from basermotives than holiness or zeal; although the vastmajority did act from these laudable motives, andno others; even owning that their zeal was oftenblind, and no few of the vicious really werereclaimed. But there were not wanting sprinklingsof hypocrisy, and what is probably worse, a profuseassortment of iniquitous wretches, male and female,who neither changed, nor intended, nor pretendedto change their lives! Swearers, cursers, pick-pockets, highwaymen, robbers of every description,murderers, whole parties of the most scandalous ofruffians, and the vilest Delilahs and Jezebels, andsuch like, who embraced the adventure as a gloriousspeculation, resolved on the very reverse of anyamendment of manners; but to make the most ofthe opportunity, in the sense of rejecting allrestraint, and throwing the loosest reign to everyone of their most shameless passions.

The unfortunate priest, forced to participatein the sure destruction and disgrace of such a