an admirable progress in all places
through which he passed, not only by his zeal, but also by his example,
and by the holiness of his manners. He had never been in China, but there
is great probability, that the religion which he had established in the
isle of Niphon, extended itself into the neighbouring countries; and
multiplyed by the cares of that holy man, who by a just title may be
called the St Paul and true apostle of the Indies."

As to what remains, if Xavier was endued with all apostolical virtues,
does it not follow, that the religion which he preached, was that of the
apostles? Is there the least appearance, that a man, who was chosen by
God to destroy idolatry and impiety in the new world, should be himself
an idolater and a wicked man, in adoring Jesus Christ upon the altars, in
invoking of the Holy Virgin, in engaging himself to God by vows, in
desiring indulgences from the Pope, in using the sign of the cross and
holy-water for the cure of the sick, in praying and saying masses for the
dead? in fine, is it possible to believe, that this holy man, this new
apostle, this second St Paul, continued all his life in the way of
perdition, and, instead of enjoying at this present time the happiness of
the saints, endures the torments of the damned? Let us then pronounce,
concluding this work as we began it, that the life of St Francis Xavier
is an authentic testimony of the truth of the gospel; and that we cannot
strictly observe what God has wrought by the ministry of his servant,
without a full satisfaction in this point, that the catholic, apostolic,
and Roman church, is the church of our Saviour Jesus Christ.

END OF THE SIXTEENTH VOLUME.

* * * * *

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