A. D. 1540. to the Indian 8. But the time drew near for his removal to the distant region of the East. While he was at Rome, Govea, a Portuguese courtier, Appointed came from the King of Portugal, John III., on Mission, an important ambassage to the Pope. This man had known both Loyola and Xavier at Paris, having been president of the college of St. Barbara while they were in residence there: and now, resuming his acquaintance with them, he was struck with admiration at their zeal, and thought them suitable persons to execute the King of Portugal's design to establish the Church in India. The king at once adopted Govea's recommendation of them; but as the presence of Ignatius at Rome was indispensable to the interests of his order, Rodriguez was appointed in his place. Xavier and his colleague complied without hesitation; and having received the pope's blessing, they departed from Rome for Lisbon in company with the Portuguese ambassador. Loyola, although seldom manifesting any emotion, however moving the occasion to ordinary minds, could not lose such a companion as Xavier without regret. He was gratified, however, at his appointment to a mission which he foresaw might raise the character and advance the interests of his order; and at parting he addressed him in these words- Go, my brother, rejoice that you have not here a narrow Palestine, or a province of Asia, in prospect, but a vast extent of ground, and innumerable kingdoms. An entire world is reserved for your endeavours; and nothing but so large a field is worthy of your courage and your zeal. The voice of God calls you; kindle those unknown nations with the flame that burns within you.' Xavier, who had not the imperturbable spirit of his friend, was affected to tears, and CHAP. replied-'It is impossible for me to forget you, Ignatius; or not to recall to my memory that sincere and holy friendship which you have shown me. Father of my soul, when I am afar, I will think that you are still present, and that I behold you with my eyes: write to me often. The smallness of my talent is known to you; share with me those abundant treasures which heaven has heaped upon you.' Such was his susceptibility: and when, on his way to Portugal, he refused to pay a last visit to his mother and friends, as he passed the Castle of Xavier, it must have been at no small sacrifice of his personal affections. He, probably, was afraid to trust his feelings with such an interview, or thought it his duty sternly to deny himself this tender indulgence, in fulfilment of the vows that were upon him. Happy are they who know, that they serve a Master who demands not such a sacrifice as this. It is only when the objects of our tenderest regard threaten to impede our obedience to His commands, that He requires them to be so absolutely renounced. On his arrival at Lisbon, finding that the next fleet for India was not to sail before the following spring, he employed the intermediate time in visiting the beds of the sick and the dungeons of the Inquisition. He speaks also of the vast number of courtiers who came to him for confession, and seems to have been delighted with the appearance of religion at court. The king and queen wished to pay him every attention, and ordered apartments to be prepared for him in the palace; but he preferred a lodging in the hospital of All Saints, where he was surrounded by the sick and the A. D. 1541. India. 9. In these labours nine months passed away; and when the time for his departure arrived, the king put into his hands four briefs, which His deparhad been received for him from Rome; two ture for constituting him the pope's nuncio in the East, a third commending him to the King of Ethiopia, and a fourth, to all the princes of the islands in his passage. The King had ordered his cabin to be furnished with everything that could contribute to his comfort; but he could not forget his vow of poverty and self-denial, and, therefore, declined the proffered indulgence, choosing only some books, and a warm cloth to cover him during the cold and tempestuous weather that was expected off the Cape of Good Hope. Rodriguez, who had been selected for his colleague, was too unwell to accompany him; but he attended him on board the vessel, where Xavier answered a question which his friend had often put to him, in a manner that showed that he was as prepared to suffer as to do the will of God. Just as they were parting, he said, Rodriguez, you may remember, that when we lodged together in the hospital at Rome, you often heard me crying out in my sleep, and asked me the meaning of the words I uttered. A vision or dream was given me, in which I beheld a wide ocean lashed by the storm, and full of rocks, desert isles, and barbarous lands, hunger and thirst raging every where, with death in many a fearful form. In the midst of this ghastly representation, I cried out, Yet more, O my God! yet more!' I then beheld all I was to suffer for the glory of Jesus Christ; and not being able to satiate myself with those troubles which were represented to my imagination, I used these words, I hope the Divine goodness will grant me that in India, 6 CHAP. III. which he has foreshown to me in Italy.' The spirit of this resolution is more to be admired than the judgment it bespeaks. A determination, in dependence upon Divine grace, to suffer whatever may be unavoidable in his career, ought to possess the soul of every Christian, and especially that of a missionary to heathen lands. But instead of seeking tribulation, or provoking persecution, he should rather avoid them by all means that do not involve a compromise of principle, or the neglect of duty to his Lord and the Church; and he ought to be thankful if allowed to carry on his work in peace. But if this cannot be obtained, he will deem it a privilege to suffer in the cause of his Lord. It was in this mind that St. Paul was ready to encounter tribulation, even to the fellowship of his Lord's suffering, being made conformable to His death.5 But he never courted persecution: quite the contrary. He used every lawful means to escape it. How far the resolution of Xavier partook of this character, it is impossible to determine; but it will be seen, that to the end of his course, there was too much appearance of coveting affliction for its own sake, as though he thought the mere act of suffering meritorious before God. It may, probably, be said, in extenuation, that he had been educated in such notions; but this does not render the doctrine itself less objectionable, for it is not in accordance, either with the instructions or the example of the Apostles. The vessel in which he sailed carried out the new viceroy of India, and a number of troops 4 Matt. v. 11. Phil. i. 29. 2 Tim. ii. 12. 5 Phil. iii. 10. 6 Acts xxii. 25-29, xxiii, 6-9, xxv. 8-12. et Marg. Ref. and passengers, amounting, together with the ship's company, to one thousand souls. These furnished him with ample occupation on the passage, which took up thirteen months. His attention to the sick and dying was unremitted, until he was himself attacked with a malignant fever that had nearly proved fatal: though even in that state, it was with difficulty that his physician could prevail upon him to relax his exertions. A. D. 1542. Goa, and 10. The fleet arrived at Goa, May 6th, 1542, Arrival at when Xavier waited on the Bishop with his exertions credentials, and was received with all the kind- there. ness and confidence due to one so accredited. The Bishop promised to support him in his mission, for which he was, no doubt, thankful; but he sought the protection of a higher power, without which he knew that all human aid would be of no avail. For this purpose he shut himself up in one of the Churches, and spent the whole of his first night in India in prayer; an example worthy the imitation of missionaries of a purer creed. His first attention was given to the Portuguese, whom he found in a most demoralized state. Though Goa abounded in priests and monks, with a Bishop at their head, yet their admonitions had long been disregarded by men intent on the acquisition of wealth, and the indulgence of their passions. Xavier must have felt, that it would be in vain to endeavour to convert the heathen to a religion, the moral character of whose professors was so inferior to their own. He, therefore, set himself vigorously to work to reform this state of things; and although there was much puerile superstition in the means he used, yet they were such as the people were accustomed to; and in |