r business at present is to learn the
first elements of the Japonian grammar. God give us the grace to imitate
the simplicity and innocence of children, as well as to practise the
exercises of children."

We ought not to be astonished in this passage last quoted, that a man to
whom God had many times communicated the gift of tongues, should not
speak that of Japan, and that he should be put to the pains of studying
it. Those favours were transient, and Xavier never expected them;
insomuch, that being to make abode in a country, he studied the language
of it as if he could not have arrived to the knowledge of it but by his
own industry. But the Holy Spirit assisted him after an extraordinary
manner, on those occasions, as we have formerly observed. And we may say,
that the easiness wherewith he learnt so many tongues, was almost
equivalent to the lasting gift of them.

While Xavier and his companions were labouring to acquire that knowledge
which was necessary for their preaching the word of Jesus Christ to the
people of Cangoxima, Paul de Sainte Foy, with whom they lodged, himself
instructed his own family. God gave that blessing to his zeal, that,
besides his mother, his wife and daughter, many of his relations were
converted and baptized by Xavier. Within the compass of forty days, the
saint understood enough of the language to undertake the translation of
the apostles' creed, and the exposition of it, which he had composed in
India. As fast as he translated, he got every parcel of it by heart; and
with that help, was of opinion, that he might begin to declare the
gospel. But seeing that in Japan all the measures of the laws and customs
are to be taken, and observed with great exactness, and nothing to be
attempted in public without permission from the government, he would
first visit the king of Saxuma, and chose the time on the day of St
Michael the archangel He had put the whole empire under the protection of
that glorious general of the celestial host, who chased the rebellious
angels out of heaven, and recommended in his daily prayers to him, that
he would exterminate those devils from Japan, who had usurped the
dominion of it for so many ages.

The apostle of the Indies was not unknown at the court of Saxuma. Paul de
Sainte Foy had spoken of him there, in such a manner, as infused the
desire of seeing him into all hearts, and caused him to be looked on with
admiration when he first appeared. The king and queen