ch had never heard of Jesus Christ, and who were better disposed to
receive the gospel.

These reasons were accompanied with prayers and tears; but they were to
no purpose, and Xavier was stedfast to his resolution. His friends
perceiving they could gain nothing upon him by intreaties, had recourse,
in some measure, to constraint; so far as to obtain from the governor of
Ternate a decree, forbidding, on severe penalties, any vessel to carry
the Father to the Isle del Moro.

Xavier then resented this usage of his friends, and could not forbear to
complain publicly of it. "Where are those people," said he, "who dare to
confine the power of Almighty God, and have so mean an apprehension of
our Saviour's love and grace? Are there any hearts hard enough to resist
the influences of the Most High, when it pleases him to soften and to
change them? Can they stand in opposition to that gentle, and yet
commanding force, which can make the dry bones live, and raise up
children to Abraham from stones? What! Shall he, who has subjected the
whole world to the cross, by the ministry of the apostles, shall he
exempt from that subjection this petty corner of the universe? Shall then
the Isle del Moro be the only place, which shall receive no benefit of
redemption? And when Jesus Christ has offered to the eternal Father, all
the nations of the earth as his inheritance, were these people excepted
out of the donation? I acknowledge them to be very barbarous and brutal;
and let it be granted they were more inhuman than they are, it is because
I can do nothing of myself, that I have the better hopes of them. I can
do all things in Him who strengthens me, and from whom alone proceeds the
strength of those who labour in the gospel."

He added, "That other less savage nations would never want for preachers;
that these only isles remained for him to cultivate, since no other man
would undertake them." In sequel, suffering himself to be transported
with a kind of holy choler, "If these isles," pursued he, "abounded with
precious woods and mines of gold, the Christians would have the courage
to go thither, and all the dangers of the world would not be able to
affright them; they are base and fearful because there are only souls to
purchase: And shall it then be said, that charity is less daring than
avarice? You tell me they will take away my life, either by the sword or
poison; but those are favours too great for such a sinner as I am to
expect