propriety of the persons and this in a way of vnderstanding so plaine so perfect and so beyond the iudgement of the senses that as he himselfe confesseth in a little treatise found after his death of his owne hand writing it had been impossible for him in many yeares study to haue attained the like knowledge And in an other booke he left writtē that he though it impossible in this life to arriue to a more perfect knowledge and vnderstanding of mysteries then Almighty God in a certaine vision had been pleased to reueale to him Which often reuelations intermingled with a kind of vnspeakeable delectation were wont to possesse his vnderstanding not for a short space but often-tymes for many dayes togeather so that whether-soeuer he went whether he were in his chamber in the Refectory whether at home or abroad they euer accompanied and as it were watched with him with the vehemency of which he was often so trāsported and did so loose himselfe that he seemed in spirit euer to be in Heauen in body only vpon Earth Moreover the very first yeare after his conuersion whilst he liued at Manresa the principall points of the Society he was to Institute and such things especially by which the Society differeth from other Orders were reuealed to him by Almighty God as he himselfe acknowledged to Father Iames Laynez one of the first of his Society and other graue Fathers who when they demaunded of him for what cause he ordained some things in the Society differing from the customes of other Orders he yeelding them a particular reason for each thing they demaunded in conclusion was wont to place the force of all his reasons in those admirable inspirations miraculously bestowed vpon him at Manresa and the recollection he made there in which Almighty God sealed and imprinted in his mind most manifest and euident notions of all these things At his departure out of Spaine giuing some good precepts to one Iohn Pascall at that tyme but a youth for the rest of his life to come and being asked of the youth what would become of him take hart child quoth he when thou growest elder thou shalt marty and haue thy share of many troubles which shall hinder thee from beīg trāsported with pleasures or being slack in imploring the assistance of God And so it fell out It was miraculously reuealed to him that one of his companiōs taken with a solitary life casting with himselfe how to forsake the Society was affrighted by Gods permission with an ill Spirit One Peter Ferrus a Patauian borne liyng sick past human hope of recouery was certainely foretould by S. Ignatius that by the helpe of the Mother of God he should shortly recouer the night following the sick man expecting with deuotion what would become of him the Mother of God accompained with a glorious traine of Virgins presented her selfe to him and by giuing him her picture restored him his health The day following Ignatius returning with a countenance more cherefull thē ordinary not being ignorant of what had passed found Peter recouered and said vnto him Did not I tell thee that the Mother of God would recouer thee The death of Agnes Paschalis who ended her dayes most holily at Bercelona was miraculously reuealed to him at Rome so that the letters of Antony Araozius one who was present at that widdowes death brought him afterwards no newes of it At Antvverp long before the founding of the Society of IESVS he foretould one Peter Quadratus a Spaniard that he should one day be the founder of a Colledge of the Society and so it fell out for he afterwards with Francis Manionia his wife foūded the Colledge of Medina del Campo He foretould one Simon Rodriguez that infallibly he should recouer and escape that sicknes It was miraculously discouered to S. Ignatius that a certaine person not long before admitted into the Society being so molested with an office imposed vpon him that he could not take his rest or sleep in the night tyme therfore began to thinke of returning back into the world the Saint commaunded the party to be called to him in the night tyme out of his bed discouering to him by little and little his most secret cōcealed thoughts with an admirable dexterity quieted his troubled mind The like charitable offices with the like insight he performed to many others who not being able through their ignorance to make knowne their diseases he discouered the nature causes of them prescribing remedies for them He foretould one Stephen Baroellus lying dangerously sick that he should not dye of that disease who presently after recouered to the admiration of all mē His Companions at Venice finding strong opposition by many powerfull enemyes and being halfe resolued to let their busines dye informed S. Ignatius of the danger they flood in who returned answer wishing them they should not forsake the cause of Christ for by his assistance they should bring their busines to their desired issuë which promise did not faile them for within eight dayes after a sentence was giuen to their aduantage almost by the vniforme consent of the Senate a thing esteemed no small miracle by men of vnderstanding that two strange and vnkown Fathers of the Society and they of the Spanish nation should be able to contest with the fauour and riches of the most eminent Cittizens of that Citty He foretould Don Fracisco de Borgia whilst he was yet Duke of Gandia and F. Iames Laynez that they should one day be Generalls of the Society of Iesus He discouered to Michael Arrouira whilst he was yet a youth the most inward secrets of his hart about a marriage he then intended with many miseries that were to befall him I omit other examples of his spirit of prophecy too long to be mentioned in this short abridgement The manifold and often visions of S. Ignatius CHAP. IV. FOR as much as celestiall visions haue a dependency of the Spirit of prophecy this is a fit place to make mention of them not that the Sanctity of Gods seruants is diriued from them seeing it may be is often tymes found without them but because they are also certaine ornaments of Sanctity therfore some rehearsall is to be made of them for with these also in as eminent a degree as may be attayned in this life Blessed S. Ignatius was plentifully stored The frist vision he had was of S. Peter the Apostle who restored him to health when the Phisicians had giuen him ouer for it pleased his Diuine Maiesty to haue him restored to health by the cheife Pastour vnder Christ and Prince of his Church whom in a manner proportionable to his diuine prouidence he had chosen for a speciall Champion enlarger of the same Lying awake one night sick in his Fathers house the B. Virgin Mary appeared to him with her little Infant IESVS in a bright and glorious māner not shewīg her selfe slightly but remayning long in his
subiects counselled her vtterly to retrench and renounce all such freindships a thing which appeared some what rigorous in her eye when she reflected vpon the ingratitude if it But the Father vrged that she would haue recours to prayer enioyning her for some dayes the hymne of the holy Ghost for obtayning light in that particular which she seriously vndertocks and praying some what long for that intention vpon a certayne day she was surprised with a suddaine extasie which till that tyme was a thing vnvsuall with her and being welneare depriued of her senses she heard these words within the center of her soule It is my will that now thou hould freindship with Angels not with men VVhich words added so strong a resolution to her brest that in a moment she ouercame herselfe in that which for many yeares to geather by great industry and much importunity she could not conquer in herselfe From this tyme forward our mercifull God began to speake to her and often conuerse with her Thus he Of the glory deriued to S. Ignatius from S. Philip Nerius CHAPTER XX. BEfore we treat of the meanes by which S. Philip Nerius increased the glory of S. Ignatius we will breifely touch who and how eminent a man this S. Philip was He was therfore the Founder of the Congregation of the Oratory which as it hath begotten many famous meÌ„ so amoÌ„gst others it produced that renowned writer of Ecclesiasticall Annales Caesar Baronius and Thomas Bazius author of the two Tomes of the maker of the Church whose spirituall Master and Father B. S. Philp was amongst all other Christian vertues in which he was eminent he euer preserued his virginity vntouched besides which he had a miraculous guift bestowed vpon him of discerning in chast persons the perfume of chastity and in others the ranknes and stench of vnchastity He was famous for the guift of Prophecy he arriued to the knowledge of many things concealed farre from him and such as were the most intimate secrets of mens harts he foretould things to come he was vsually comforted with the apparitions of Christ and of his Angells and Saints He appeared to many in his life tyme releeuing them in their afflictions he cured sick persons without number and recouered men gasping at deaths dore he restored one dead man to life in his life tyme another after his owne decease to omit many other glorious miracles wrought by him he was seene raised from the ground in the tyme of his Masses and other deuotions he reclaimed many men from their sinefull to a vertuous and religious life he was euer held in great veneration of all men In conclusion he ended his dayes at Rome full of merites the 26. day of May the yeare of our Lord 1595. in the 80. yeare of his age This eminent man was a familiar acquaintance of S. Ignatius at whose hands he sought long before his institution of the Congregation of the Oratory to haue beene admitted into the Society as his familiar freinds the two Cardinalls Cusane and Bellarmine to whom he himselfe had often tould it bore witnesse of him after his decease but he receaued a deniall from S. Ignatius as a man designed by the prouidence of God for some other Institution beneficiall to the Church howbeit he was euer a tender louer of the Society as wel in the life tyme of S. Ignatius as after of whom as Gallonin amongst other sworne witnesses testifieth in the 15. page of his life published at Rome in Latin S. Philip was wont to say that S. Ignatius was a man of that sanctity that the interiour beauty of his soule shewed it selfe in him exteriourly professing to haue often seene rayes of brightnes to proceed from his eyes and countenancd which thing as well the Auditours of the holy Rote as Cardinalls of the holy Rites vnderstood to be an euideÌ„t token of his sanctity No merueile then if S. Philip being an eyewitnes of the sanctity of S Ignatius was wont to haue recourse to him for counsell in his doubts and was comforted with the only sight of him when he was afflicted in mind and that after the death of S. Ignatius he euer cherished that freindship begun with the Society Besides when he changed his place of habitation froÌ„ S. Hierom. to a place neare the Church of S. Maria in Valicella for many yeares after as long as he continued Gernerall of the Congregation of the Oratory he vsed for his Ghostly Father F. Iohn Baptista Perusco of the Society of Iesus a man of holy life and well versed in affaires of spirit And afterwards hauing resigned his Office of Generall to Cesar Baronius one of the same Congregation and begun to vse him for his Ghostly Father which was two yeares before his death beiÌ„g then worne out with yeares vnable to betake himselfe to F. Perusco dwelling farre from him he was often accustomed notwithstanding at certaine tymes of the yeare to addresse himselfe to him and by a Generall Confession to giue him an account of his conscience Of the glâ—ry accrewing to S. Ignatius by S. Charles Borromeus CHAP. XXI THat matchlesse example of Sanctity S. Charles Borromeus Cardinal and Arch-Bishop of Milan was not the least cause of S. Ignatius his glory of whom he euer bore a pious memory after his decease by the vse of his booke of Spirituall Exercises arriued to that emineÌ„t degree of sanctity notorious to the whole world and as much as he could conueniently perpetually made vse of his Society as appeareth by many conuinâ—ing arguments out of the memorable things done by S. Charles published by certaine domesticall Prelats of his Iohn Peter Guissano Grattarolio and others In the yeare 1562. S. Charles being to receyue holy Orders and desiring worthily to prepare himself to offer vp his first Sacrifice of the Masse to Almighty God he made choise for that purpose of the house of the professed Fathers of the Society at 〈◊〉 where he prepared himselfe with the Spirituall Exercise of S. Ignatius Founder of the said Society So writeth M. Aurelio Graitarolio in his Italian Booke of the successes of the veneration of S. Charles and in an Oration made vpon his anniuersary day before an other Cardinall Borromeus the Clergy and people of Millan the yeare 1601. The same S. Charles when he had with great pompe ceremony celebrated his first Masse in publike to satisfy the deuotion of the people that he might more freely comply with his owne priuate deuotion he would celebrate his second Masse the next day in the house of the professed Fathers of the Society and that in a priuate Chappell S. Ignatius was woÌ„t to vse where he watched that whole night Se Sachinus in his history of the Society part 2. lib. 7. n. 11. In the yeare 1562. In the first beginning of his Priest hood he began also with more then ordinary austerity and frequent prayers to dedicate himselfe to the exercises of vertue In
the B. Virgin suddainely appeared recommending S. Ignatius to the eternall Father and demonstrating that her owne flesh was there present in the Eucharist in the flesh of her sonne The Books vvhich S Ignatius composed by diuine inspiration CHAPTER V. IT seemeth not impertinent to make mention in this place of certaine books of S. Ignatius written out of doubt by diuine inspiration as things depending and belonging to the Spirit of prophecy For though al the writings and Epistles of S. Ignatius carry with them a more then ordinary relish of diuine wisdome yet some of them in particular haue a more perfect tast of it The first booke he wrot in the first yeare of his Conuersion whilst yet he was ignorant of his Grammer-rules was that of the B. Trinity consisting welneare of eight hundred leaues In which after that glorious vision mentioned in the former Chapter he expresseth this great mistery how soeuer in a homely stile with such admirable variety of similies and exaÌ„ples that all men with whom afterwards he discoursed of that subiect stood in admiration and astonishement of it About the same tyme in like manner whilst he was yet vnlearned by the reuelations of Almighty God and instructions of the B. Virgin he wrot an other booke of Spirituall Exercises in which besides other excellent admonitions he prescribeth with admirable dexterity and methode diuers manners of prayer and contemplation fit for reformation of manners and progresse in vertue he giueth Rules for the Examination of the coÌ„science and rooting out of vice for distinguishing betwixt great and lesse offences for restraining the vnbridled passioÌ„s of the miÌ„d for discerning the motions of the good from them of the bad Spirit for the good choise of a state of life and directing that choise by the rule of Gods will for the expulsion of scruples and in conclusion giueth notable precepts for the discerning of Spirits This was that booke which gained those first Fathers of the Society and amongst them S. Francis Xauerius which hath stored many Monasteryes with famous men coÌ„firmed many Religious persons wauering in their good purposes reclaimed many dissolute people to a reformed discipline and in fine brought infinite multitudes of secular and Ecclesisticall persons through the Christian world to a reformation of their lewd liues and aduancement of their good amongst whom to omit many of lesse remarke one of the cheife is that great light of the Church and patterne of Pastours S. Charles Boromâ—us Cardinall and Arch-Bishop of Millay who drew those first beginnings of his vertuous life from these Excercises of S. Ignatius which all his life tyme after he so reuerenced and esteemed that at first once a yeare afterwards till his dying day twice euery yeare â—e was wont to make vse of them so to stir himselfe vp to vertue and a holy gouernment of his Church and with them lastly he prepared himselfe for his last agony and death No marueile them if euen in the life tyme of S. Ignatius these Exercises were wonderfully admitted by all such as had the charge of reuiewing them confirmed by the Bull of Paulus tertius supreme Pastour of the Church without altering a tittle of them and recommended by him for a worke full of piety and Religion and most profitable and vsefull for the spirituall good of soules by the Auditours of the holy Rote and Cardinalls of the holy â—â—iâ—es acknowledged for things not proceeding from the art or inuention of any man but from some supernaturall light infused from Heauen The third Booke S. Ignatius published which whilst he wrote he was so admirably enlightned and honoured with such glorious celestiall apparitioÌ„s as hath been said was that of his Constitutions of the Society of Iesus diuided into ten parts a worke much larger then any of the rest which euen in the iudgement of some Heretiks into whose hands it often falleth setting a side the doctrine of Faith and Ecclesiasticall ceremonies contained in it is esteemed a rate Peece and a thing surpassing human wisdome being a liuely patterne of a perfect and well gouerned Common-wealth And of many holy and learned men it is held a peece of work deseruing high esteeme for the depth of diuine wisdome contayned in it and for the excellent doctrine full of Christian and Religious perfections and therfore with good cause approued by many Popes The guifts of a glorisied Body miraculously bestovved vppon S. Ignatius in his life tyme. CHAP. 6. AMongst the infallible signes of the true Church of Christ some graue Eclesiasticall writers learnedly and piously recken tâ—e endowments of glorified bodyes in a proportion befitting the state of this life miraculously bestowed vpon some children of the Church famous for their holy liues amongst whom they name B Sâ—â—gnatius It is euident by the testimonyes of many graue witnesses that his body in this life was endowed with the guist of Clarity for his head and face was often seene shining in a glorious maÌ„ner so he was sene by one Isabel Rosella at Bercelona whilst he was hearing a Sermon in the Church amongst the vulgar sort of people so one Iohn Paschall saw him so he was beheld by them of the hospitall whilst he liued amongst them And at Rome by Alexander Petronius by Father Oliuier Manare and Father Levvis Gonzaluo who whensoeuer he came to Saint Ignatius praying in his chamber which he had often occasion to do he euer beheld him shining with most glorious beames And S. Philippus Nerius a man of wonderful holy life and a familiar acquaintance of S. Ignatius was a customed to say that S. Ignatius was a man of that Sanctity that the interiour beauty of his soule shewed it selfe exteriourly in him from whose eyes and countenance he professeth often to haue seene glorious beames and rayes of brightnes to proceed Concerning the guift of Impassibility his seauen dayes fasts without taking any sustinance accompanied either with a violent extasie a thing which much impaireth the forces of the body or with a cruelle whipping of his body thrice a day and many howers spent vpon his knees in prayer without any wearines or tiring of his body do euidently shew it The guift of Subtility was miraculously graunted to him when in his life tyme at the selfe same moment or instant of tyme he was perfectly seene in body at Rome and at Coller two places aboue nine hundred miles distant from each other as shal be related in the six teeÌ„th chapter And that he was often in his prayers lifted from the ground was an euident signe in him of the guift of Agility Of the wrtues and supernaturall guifts of S. Ignatius in generall CHAP. 7. BEfore our abridgement of the vertues of S. Ignatius in particular some what is to be said of his supernaturall guifts in generall by which it will appeare that he was raised by the hand of God to thâ—â— rate and eminent degree of Sanctity so to proue a fitter instrument to communicate so
by his fellow-trauellers and arriuing late in the euening at Venice where knowing not the way to the publicke Hospitall nor hauing any money to hire himselfe a guide being now accustomed by long vse to lodge ill he found an empty Trades-mans stall in an open publicke gallery where the night drawing on he might in some sort rest his wearied limmes But whilst he passed thus the night a neighbouring Senatour Marco Antonio Treuisano a man of knowne integrity who afterwards came to be Dogue of Venice was raised vp by a voice from Heauen rebuking him for solacing in a soft bed and curious furniture whilst in the meane tyme the seruant of God being a stranger and destitute of all human comfort lay poorely in an open place not farre from his porch He therfore being stroken with infinite horrour and feare arose suddainely finding S. Ignatius gaue him noble entertainement In his sea-voyage to Hierusalem he discouered that many foule facts were committed by some of the passengers in the ship he passed for which he in reprehending them freely they conspired with the marriners plotting to put ashoare this troublesome controller in some desert Iland out of their sight and fellowship Which designe of theirs being discouered by some other Spanish passengers they acquainted Ignatius with it counselling him withall to haue a care of himselfe But he notwithstanding when gentle admonitions would not serue continued to reprehend them sharply for their enormities relying vpon the prouidence and helpe of Heauen by the fauour of which it came to passe that they approaching neare the Iland destined for their exploit were violently driuen backward with a contrary wind and whether they would or no brought Ignatius to his desired Hauen Being to returne into Italy he found by chance three Passage-boats bound for that place two of which being tall strongly built ships refused to admitt Ignatius the third a small and ill compacted vessell receaued him and hauing put to sea togeather with a fauorable wind the two which refused to receaue S. Ignatius were suddainely cast away and the third only which transported him being weake much beaten with tempest and foule weather arriued the moneth following safe in Apulia At Alcala at the instance of the Suffragant of that place one Iohn Lucena made a gathering for the clothing of S. Ignatius in his Clergy garments with whom comming to a certayne person of quality to demaund almes for that purpose the noble man rurning to S. Ignatius If this fellow quoth he pointing to the Saint deserue not to be burnt I will he contented to be burnt in his place And the selfe same day a thing worth obseruing that noble personage was consumed by fire which by chance had taken hould on part of his house At Paris one Michael a Spaniard being incensed against S. Ignatius for hauing drawne Saint Francis Xauerius to the warrefare of Christ from the midst of apparent worldly honours attending him resolued to kill him as the authour of this fact And hauing violently entred his lodging for that purpose and in a rage rushed vp staires with his naked sword he was affrighted vpon a suddaine with this voice from Heauen Whither goest thou miserable wretch and returned back againe discouering the whole busines himselfe being afterwards conuicted by the guilt of his owne conscience Not sar from Bassana liued a certaine Anchorite a man of a faire reputation of sanctity who obseruing curiously S. Ignatius and finding nothing peculiar in his habit differing from that of the ordinary sort of Clergy and perceauing him to be of a pleasing familiar behauiour without any shew of an Eremeticall spirit measuring his sanctity by the square of a solitary life concluded there was nothing singular in him or deseruing particular note or remarke and therfore began within himselfe to slight him and cōceaue a poore opinion of his worth But Almighty God would not long permit the simplicity of the man to be misled by errour For being in his prayers more vehement then ordinary Almighty God was pleased to reueale vnto him that the man of whom he had conceaued so slight an opinion was a man full of Apostolicall spirit and a vessell of election for the safety of many From which tyme foreward the Anchorite condemning with sorrow his owne rashnes resolued euer after to reuerence S. Ignatius his followers F. Iames Fguia◠a man of knowne Sanctity and Ghostly father to S Ignatius was wont to say in the life tyme of the Saint that he liued more by miracle then by the force of nature And after the death of S. Ignatius the most famous and renowned Phisicians of that tyme examining the vitall parts of his body being opened held it for a miracle that he should liue so long especially vndergoing the charge of Generall of the Society with so continuall and constant a pleasant face and countenance For his stomacke through his abstinence sobriety and continuall drines appeared strangely contracted His liuer was so hardned and congealed that it was almost become stonie And Realdo Columbo a famous Anatomist of that age witnesseth in his booke of anatemy that he found three stones in his liuer veyne or as they terme it in his Vena Porta This extraordinary care God had of the life and reputation of S. Ignatius is confirmed by the sentences of many graue Iudges often giuen in behalfe of the innocency of S. Ignatius at Alcala Salamanca Venice Paris Rome howsoeuer his aduersaries by foule slaunders and calumnies employed all their art to traduce his innocency and vtterly take a way his fame and good name But of all others the clearing of S. Ignatius at Rome of that most iniurious imputation laid to his charge by a Monke infected with the heresyes of Luther was the most famous For this Mōke hauing spred abroad that S. Ignatius and his followers as men guilty of grosse enormities had been conuicted of heresy and other foule facts in Spaine and France and of late also at Venice and that hauing escaped the hāds of Iustice they were come to Rome to debauch corrupt youth vnder the colour of piety with the like foppeperies broached by this Monke and his complices it begat in short tyme so violent a hatred against S. Ignatius his Companiōs that many men began to esteeme them runne-agate wandring Rogues and to detest and fly their Society and aquaintance And the bruit had not only filled the mouthes of the vulgar in Rome but it spread it self by meanes of the letters messengers of their aduersaries into other Coūtries and adioyning Prouinces that the IGNATIANS with their ring leader were esteemed branded men conuicted of heresy and other foule crimes But our Sauiour Iesus who had made a promise to S Ignatius in his iourney to Rome that he would be sauorable to him quickly deliuered him out of these calamities For it came to passe miraculously that almost all they who had been Iudges of S.
denotions arose full of contentment and returned a ioyfull woman nimbly to her lodging A bone and superscription of S. Ignatius being applied to the eyes of a certaine Widdow of Matorca called Iane Clara Noguera who was blind restored her her sight Diuers other Miracles of S. Ignatius are related in a late life of his set forth by Father â—edâ—o Ribadeneira in Spanish printed at Madrid in the yeare 1601. and translated by others into Latin Greeke Italian the Poland and other languages and published in the cheife Cittyes of Italy Spaine France Germany and other places where such as are curious to peruse them may find them Of the rare Sanctity of S. Fracis Xauerius associate spirituall child of S. Ignatius redounding to the glory of S. Ignatius CHAP. XVIII SAint Francis Xauerius was borne in the Castle of Xauere the yeare 1497 of noble Parents Iohn Lasso President of the kings Counsell and Mary Apzileueta Lord of the Towne of Xauere and other adiacent Territoryes by whom he was vertuously brought vp and sent to Paris where whilst he was enabling his vnderstanding by his studyes he was wonne by the pious discourses and spirituall exercises of S. Ignatius to the warrefare of Christ and with him eight other associates men of rare parts of vertue learning And in conclusion after he had spent some tyme in Venice Bolonia and other Cittyes of Italy as a matchlesse example of sanctity to those places working rare effects by his Sermons and other offices of piety being now preferred to the dignity of Preisthood at the instance of Iohn the third king of Portugall he was commaunded into India by S. Ignatius there to conioyne those Easterne nations to Christ being honoured for that purpose by Pope Paul the third with the dignity and autority of Legate Apostolicall In India by the foundation of many Churches and Colledges of the Society he generally dispersed and spred the faith of Christ He gained first the kingdome of Trauancor to the faith then the Iland of Zeilan Aurea Chersonesus the region of Maurica and other barbarous Nations afterwards Iaponia the vttermost climate of the East where before the name of Christ had neuer been heard of receaued by him the light of the Ghospell a man of an vndainted spirit contemning in his traueils of those vast Countryes the imminent danger of death the rauing pyracyes of the Ocean with the like discommodityes of his infinite nauigation And lastly he intended a voyage into that vast kingdome of China the more to disperse the name and glory of Christ He conuerted and baptized in the ten yeares space of his residence in India many hundred thousands of people he assisted many deeply engaged in the filth of sinne Domino cooperante sermonem confirmante sequentibus signis For in his life tyme he raised more then fourteene dead persons Vpon the frontiers of Piscaria he raised a boy who for many howers together had layne drowned in a well In the Towne of Mutan in like manner he raised an other boy who dying of a pestilent feauer had remayned dead foure and twenty howers At Comire he raised a third body which had layne buried vnder the earth a whole day togeather Neere the Promontory of Comori he raised a Girle not farre from that place a certaine married woman In the Iland of Vaccare neare Zeilan the sonne of a certaine Infidell At Malaca the daughter of one who had beene lately conuerted At Bembari a certayne boy another at Comori At Punical he raised a man who had laine dead a whole day Neare Manapar he raised one Antoni Miranda At Malaca a certaine mans daughter who had been three dayes buried and ouerwhelmed with earth He restored to life in like manner the sonne of one Mahomet Sarangio who had layne three dayes vnder water to omit others raised by him in his life tyme. And after his death he restored almost as many to life In the processes for his Canonization mention is made of aboue fiue and twenty persons raised by him from death to life He often restored blind men to their sight Dispossessed possessed persons cured many lying desperate and giuen ouer by the Phisicians healed lepars calmed tempestuous Seas preserued ships froÌ„ wracks restored the lame to their limmes and recouered men stroken with the palsey He foretold infallibly many things to come penetrated mens concealed thoughts had a certayne knowledge of secrets and things absent He appeared in diuers places farre distant at one and the selfe same tyme. He spake seuerall languages which he had neuer learned as readily congruously and eloquently as if he had been borne and bred amongst those Nations And it fell out oftentymes that at such tymes as he preached to multitudes of people men of seuerall Nations at the same tyme heard him vtter their owne language And with one and the selfe same answer he often satisfied the demaunds of seuerall Infidells He was so rauished and transported with the desire and loue of God that he was often miraculously raised from the ground with a countenance inflamed eyes sparkling and fixed vpon the heauens and being surcharged with celestiall ioy was forced to exclaime Sat est Domine sat est By the signe of the crosse he turned saltwater into fresh in seuerall vessells at Sea Hauing dipped a brasen Crucifix which he wore about his neck into the Sea to appease a tempest and by accident lost it walking the next day vpon the shoare he espied a sea crab miraculously bringing him his crucifix in his clawes which hauing deliuered it suddainely returned back into the Sea from whence it came He ended his dayes in the Isle of Sancion neare China vpon the second day of December in the yeare 1552. famous for many miracles and all ornaments of Sanctity His body was found entire long after his death how beit in was neither bowelled nor baulmed but buried in quick lime and it appeared many monothes after his decease liuely full of iuyce and fresh colour soft and tractable sending forth an admirable sweet sauour and many tymes bleeding For whith he was honoured and reputed a Saint immediatly after his death not only amongst Christians but euen among the Infidells the rather for the many miracles dayly wrought by him It appeareth by the processes for his Canonization that many dead bodyes were raised by him after his death that many lamps burned before his body with water only put into them as clearely as if they had been filled with oyle which being often-tymes extinguished tooke fire againe of themselues without human helpe that diuers were cured by him or by his reliques or picture of leprosy palsey blindnes bloudy-fluxes cankers vlcers and other desperate and incurable diseases This so eminent man deseruedly stiled the Apostle of the Indiaes euer had Saint Ignatius in so great veneration that as often as he named him before his familiar acquaintance he gaue him the Epithet of Saint or Blessed and whensoeuer he
studies being ended and all other respects set aside they would take their iourney to Hierusalem and wholy apply themselues there to the gaining of soules but if within a yeares space they should light vpon no commodity of shipping or should not be permitted to remayne at Hierusalem that then their vowe being dispeÌ„sed with they should repaire to Rome offering their seruice to his Holines for the spirituall good of their neighbours But he himselfe hauing contracted a grieuous payne in his stomacke by his continuall laborious watchings and studies and hauing with the rest of his Companions after a strict examen demaunded by themselues and graunted them been honoured with the degree of Doctor in that Vniuersity at last by the counsell of his CoÌ„panions and aduise of Phisitians he returned to his natiue Country Where after the working of many miracles when he had recouered his health he tooke his iourney towards Venice whether the rest of his CompanioÌ„s by agreement were likewise to repaire and in that Citty was preferred to the dignity of Preisthood But the yeare aboue mentioned being now expired and their embarquing for Palestin cut off by reason of the warres broken fort betwixt the Turke and the Venetians he with his Companions came to Rome in the yeare 1537. At Rome he presented his seruice to his Holines for the gaining of his neighbour The Pope approued the pious resolutions of these Fathers reclaming many soules by the industry of S. Ignatius and his spirituall exercises and placed two of Ignatius his Companions in the Roman Vniuersity commonly knowne by the name of Sapientia there to read the publike lectures of Scripture and schoole Diuinity Meane while S. Ignatius instituted the Society of IESVS for the defence and propagation of the Faith and the gaining of soules and procured to haue it ratified by the Sea Apostolike in the yeare 1540. in which Society besides the three vowes common to it with other Orders he added a fourth vowe by which promise is made to obey his Holines in vndertaking iourneyes to the Turks and Infidels for the gaining of soules without demaunding any stipend or prouision for that iourney Which done he composed the Constitutions of the Society directed by admirable Diuine inspiratioÌ„s as shall hereafter be declared And being himself by the vniforme consent of his Companions chosen General of the Order after he had gouerned it with an admirable reputation of wisdome and sanctity for the space of fifteene yeares three monethes and nine dayes and dispersed welneare a thousand of his Society in almost a hundred seuerall Colledges ouer the whole world not only in Italy Spaine France and Germany but euen in the East and vvest Indies Iaponia Brasil Ethiopia Persia infinite multitudes of people being conuerted by him and his to the true Faith and good life hauing instituted many â—â—â—gs for the good of tâ—â—â—oly Church brought to a câ—stome the often frequenting of Sermons Lectures Masses Confession and Communion in Rome first and afterwards in other places of the world hauing by these meanes discouered the subtility of the Diuell and set a new lustre vpon the face of the Church he ended his dayes of a gentle ague full of merites strengthned with the Popes blessing and the Sacraments according to the rites of the Church and gaue vp his Ghost most peaceably into the hands of his Creatour inuoking the name of IESVS in the yeare 1556. the last day of Iuly the 65. yeare of his age famous for his holy life and miracles as wel in his life tyme as after his decease and for other rare endowments of which we now treate The gift of Prophecy in S. Ignatius most perfect CHAP. III. BEcause the gift of Prophecy in comparison of supernaturall vertues is esteemed one of the ordinary or meanest ornaments of Sanctity and therfore to be attained without grace or Gods frieÌ„dship from thence I thought good to begin the prayses of S. Ignatius And for as much as by the Spirit of Prophecy many things not subiect to our senses are discouered and things yet to come are infallibly foretould the secrets of mens harts are layd open and which is more admirable rare the very secrets of Almighty God surpassing human vnderstanding are perfectly vnderstood all these things were in S. Ignatius in as eminent degree The very first yeare immediately after his conuersion Almighty God began admirably to enlighten his vnderstanding for going for deuotion sake to visit a Church of S. Paul the Apostle without the Towne of Manresa resting himselfe in his iourney neare the Riuer Rubricate which ruÌ„nes through that Towne vpon a suddaine a certaine diuine light shined so cleare vpon him that by that without the helpe of any Master he perfectly vnderstood many things not only of the mysteries of Christian beliefe but of the most subtile questions and opinions of Philosophy as perfectly as if they had been presented to his view in some curious looking glasse mysteryes which other me after long reading and paynes hardly comprehend In which celestiall vision he remayned a long space not without infinite comfort and consolation of mynd Ar other tymes also by certayne secret signes and mysticall examples the order that great workeman obserued in the Frame of this world was represented vnto him which mysteryes as in themselues they surpasse the forces of human vnderstanding so S. Ignatius afterwards affirmed that it was a thing not possible to ghesse at them much lesse to expresse and make them vnderstood to life And of this kind about the same tyme he miraculously came to to the knowledge many other things By which diuine fauours he was so far forth confirmed in Faith that though no other monuments had been extant of Christian Religion yet by these only mysteryes miraculously reuealed to him he would haue been most ready to giue his life for the Catholike truth In which respect S. Ignatius may well apply to him selfe those words of S. Paul For neither haue I receaued it from men neither haue I learned it but by the reuelation of Christ Iesus Which extraordinary manner of faith infused in S. Ignatius whilst yet he was vnlearned as well the Auditours of the holy Rote as the Cardinalls of the holy Rites particularly noted in their relations to his Holines His course of studies being ended at Venice in his retirement to Vicenza and in his iourney to Rome he often receaued so many diuine reuelations and so absolute and perfect content and consolation that he seemed not only to be restored againe but to be restored with aduantage to the state in which he had formerly found himselfe at Manresa which place for the singular fauours shewed him there by Almighty God he was wont in a religious merriment to stile his primatiue Church At such tyme as he composed the Constitutions of the Society amongst other things he principally receaued reuelations of the mystery of the B. Trinity of the diuine Essence of the distinction