e, speaking of his voyage to
Macassar, "to know what heaven requires of me; for I was firmly resolved
not to be wanting on my part to fulfil the will of God, whensoever it
should be made known to me. May it please our Lord," said he on the same
subject, "that out of his goodness we might understand what he designs by
us, to the end we might entirely conform ourselves to his holy will so
soon as it shall be discovered to us; for he commands us to be always in
a readiness to obey him at the first signal; and it becomes us to be as
strangers in this world, always prepared to follow the voice of our
conductor."

"I wish," said he, in another place, "that God would declare to us his
most holy will, concerning the ministries and countries where I may best
employ my labours for his glory. I am ready, by his grace, to execute
those things which he makes me understand to be most pleasing to him, of
whatsoever nature they may be; and, undoubtedly, he has admirable means
of signifying his good pleasure to us; such as are our inward sentiments
and heavenly illuminations, which leave no remaining scruple concerning
the place to which he has designed us, nor what we are to undertake for
his service. For we are like travellers, not fixed to any country through
which we pass. It is our duty to be prepared to fly from one region to
another, or rather into opposite regions, where the voice of heaven shall
please to call us. East and west, north and south, are all indifferent to
me, provided I may have an opportunity of advancing the glory of our
Lord."

He says elsewhere, "I could wish, that you had ever in your mind this
meditation, that a ready and obedient will, which is entirely devoted to
God's service, is a more pleasing sacrifice to the Divine Majesty, than
all the pomp and glitter of our noisy actions, without the interior
disposition."

Being thoroughly convinced that the perfection of the creature consists
in willing nothing but the will of the Creator, he spoke incessantly of
God's good pleasure, and concluded almost all his letters with his
desires of knowing and fulfilling it. He sacrificed all to that
principle; even his ardent wishes to die for Jesus by the hands of the
barbarians: for though he breathed after martyrdom, he well understood
that the tender of our life is not acceptable to God, when he requires it
not; and he was more fearful of displeasing him, than desirous of being a
martyr for him. So that he died sat