so
that human praises will become your crosses, and be useful to admonish
you of your failings.

"Take heed of yourselves, my dearest brethren; many ministers of the
gospel, who have opened the way of heaven to other men, are tormented in
hell for want of true humility, and for being carried away with a vain
opinion of themselves; on the contrary, there is not to be found in hell
one single soul which was sincerely humble."

These are the instructions which the saint gave in general to his
brethren on the subject of humility; and, next, behold some particular
admonitions which were addressed to some amongst them:--

"I conjure you to be humble and patient towards all the world," says he
to Father Cyprian, who preached the gospel at Meliapore; "for, believe
me, nothing is to be done by haughtiness and choler, when it cannot be
accomplished by modesty and mildness." He continues; "We deceive
ourselves, in exacting submission and respect from men, without any other
title to it than being members of our Society, and without cultivating
that virtue which has acquired us so great an authority in the world; as
if we rather chose to recommend ourselves by that credit and reputation,
than by the practice of humility and patience, and those other virtues by
which our Society has maintained its dignity and honour with mankind."

"Be mindful," writes he to Father Barzaesus, who was rector of' the
college of Goa, "to read frequently the instructions which I have left
with you, particularly those which concern humility; and take an especial
care in considering what God has done by you, and by all the labourers of
the Society, that you do not forget yourself: for my own particular, I
should be glad, that all of you would seriously think how many things God
leaves undone, because you are wanting to him in your fidelity; and
I would rather that consideration should employ your thoughts, than those
great works which it has pleased our Lord to accomplish by your ministry;
for the first reflection will cover you with confusion, and make you
mindful of your weakness; but, instead of that, the second will puff you
up with vanity, and expose you to the danger of having thoughts of
arrogance."

This well-grounded humility in Xavier, was the principle of a perfect
submission to the will of God. He never undertook any thing without
consulting him before-hand; and the divine decrees were his only rule. "I
have made continual prayers," says h