Christian, nothing less was to be expected than eternal misery; that, on
the contrary, whoever, being truly faithful, should persevere in the
grace of baptism, should have right to an everlasting inheritance with
the Son of God, as one of his beloved children. He desired him also to
consider what was become of so many kings and emperors of Japan; what
advantage was it to them to have sat upon the throne, and wallowed in
pleasures for so many years, being now burning in an abyss of fire, which
was to last to all eternity. What madness was it for a man to condemn his
own soul to endless punishments, that his body might enjoy a momentary
satisfaction; that there was no kingdom, nor empire, though the universal
monarchy of the world should be put into the balance, whose loss was not
to be accounted gain, if losing them, we acquired an immortal crown in
heaven; that these truths, which were indisputable, had been concealed
from his forefathers, and even from all the Japonians, by the secret
judgment of Almighty God, and for the punishment of their offences; that,
for his own particular, he ought to provide for that account, which he
was to render of himself, how much more guilty would he appear in God's
presence, if the Divine Providence having conducted from the ends of the
earth, even into his own palace, a minister of the gospel, to discover to
him the paths of happiness, he should yet continue wildered and wandering
in the disorders of his life. "Which the Lord avert," continued Xavier;
"and may it please him to hear the prayers which day and night I shall
pour out for your conversion. I wish it with an unimaginable ardour, and
assure you, that wheresoever I shall be, the most pleasing news which can
be told me, shall be to hear that the king of Bungo is become a
Christian, and that he lives according to the maxims of Christianity."

This discourse made such impressions on the king, and so melted into his
heart, that the tears came thrice into his eyes; but those tears were the
only product of it at that time, so much that prince, who had renounced
those impurities, which are abhorred by nature, was still fastened to
some other sensual pleasures. And it was not till after some succeeding
years, that, having made more serious reflections on the wholesome
admonitions of the saint, he reformed his life for altogether, and in the
end received baptism.

Xavier having taken leave of the king, returned to the port of Figen,
a