in the number of their gods; in order to which,
they sent to him a kind of embassy; but the Father was seized with horror
at the proposition of their deputies. Having spoken of God to them, after
a most magnificent and elevated manner, he spake of himself in terms so
humble, and with so much self-contempt, that all of us were much edified
by his procedure; and the greatest part of us seriously reflecting,
rather on his carriage than his words, from priests of idols, which we
were, became the worshippers of Jesus Christ."

He shunned the offices of the Society, and believed himself unworthy of
them. "I cannot tell you," wrote he from Cochin to Father Ignatius, "how
much I stand obliged to the Japonese; in favour of whom, God has given me
clearly to understand the infinite number of my sins; for till that time,
I was so little recollected, and so far wandered out of myself, that I
had not discovered, in the bottom of my heart, an abyss of imperfections
and failings. It was not till my labours and sufferings in Japan, that I
began at length to open my eyes, and to understand, with God's
assistance, and by my own experience, that it is necessary for me to have
one, who may watch over me, and govern me. May your holy charity be
pleased, for this reason, to consider what it is you do, in ranging under
my command so many saint-like souls of the fathers and brethren of our
Society. I am so little endued with the qualities which are requisite for
such a charge, and am so sensible that this is true, through God's mercy,
that I may reasonably hope, that, instead of reposing on me the care
of others, you will repose on others the care of me." He infinitely
esteemed those missioners who were his seconds; and accounted his own
pains for nothing, in comparison of theirs. After having related, what
had been performed by Father Francis Perez in Malacca; "I confess, my
brethren," said he to Paul de Camerino and Antonio Gomez, "that, seeing
these things, I am ashamed of myself; and my own lazy cowardice makes me
blush, in looking on a missioner, who, infirm and languishing as he is,
yet labours without intermission in the salvation of souls." Xavier more
than once repeats the same thing in his letter, with profound sentiments
of esteem for Perez, and strange contempt of his own performances.

He recommends not any thing so much to the gospel-labourers as the
knowledge of themselves, and shunning of pride; and we need only to open
any of