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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	apostle_n	church_n	pillar_n	3,742	5	10.1590	5	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A28873	The life of St. Francis Xavier, of the Society of Jesus, apostle of the Indies, and of Japan written in French by Father Dominick Bohours, of the same Society ; translated into English by Mr. Dryden.; Vie de Saint François Xavier de la Campagnie de Jesus, apostre des Indes et du Japon. English	Bouhours, Dominique, 1628-1702.; Dryden, John, 1631-1700.	1688 (1688)	Wing B3825; ESTC R15455	341,142	791

was one of those Men of Quality whose Fortunes are not equal to their Birth was thinking to remove him from his Studies after having allow'd him a competent maintenance for a year or two He communicated these his thoughts to Magdalen Iasso his Daughter Abbess of the Convent of St. Clare de Gandia famous for the austerity of its Rule and establish'd by some holy Frenchwomen of that Order whom the calamities of War had forc'd to forsake their Native Country and to seek a Sanctuary in the Kingdom of Valencia Magdalen in her younger days had been Maid of Honour and Favourite to the Catholick Queen Isabella The love of Solitude and of the Cross had caus'd her to forsake the Court of Arragon and quit for ever the pleasures of this World. Having chosen the most reform'd Monastery of Spain for the place of her retreat she apply'd her self with fervour to the exercises of Penitence and Prayer and became even from her noviciate a perfect pattern of Religious Perfection During the course of her life she had great Communications with God and one day he gave her to understand that she shou'd dye a sweet and easie death But on the contrary one of her Nuns was preordain'd to dye in strange torments The intention of God was not thereby to reveal to the Abbess what was really to happen but rather to give her an opportunity of exercising an heroick act of Charity She comprehended what her Heavenly Father exacted from her and petition'd him for an exchange God granted to her what himself had inspir'd her to demand and was pleas'd to assure her by a new Revelation that he had heard her Prayers She made known to her Ghostly Father what had pass'd betwixt God and her and time verify'd it For the Sister above mention'd dy'd without sickness and appear'd in dying to have had a foretaste of the Joys to come On the other side the Abbess was struck with a terrible disease which took all her Body as it were in pieces and made her suffer intolerable pains yet even those pains were less cruel to her than those inward torments which God at the same time inflicted on her She endur'd all this with wonderful Patience and Resignation being well assur'd that in the whole series of these Dispensations there was somewhat of Divine For what remains concerning her from the first years of her entry into a Religious Life the gift of Prophecy shone so visibly in her that none doubted but that she was full of the Spirit of God and 't is also probable that she left a Legacy of her Prophetick Gifts to her Spiritual Daughters For after her decease the Nuns of Gandia foretold many things which afterward the event confirm'd As amongst others the unhappy success of the Expedition to Algier of which the Duke of Borgia Viceroy of Catalonia gave the Advertisement from them to Charles the Fifth when he was making his Preparations for that Enterprise It was six years before the death of Magdalen that Don Iasso her Father writ to her concerning Xavier After she had receiv'd the Letter she was illuminated from above and according to the dictates of that Divine Light she answer'd Don Iasso That he shou'd beware of recalling her Brother Francis whatsoever it might cost him for his Entertainment in the University of Paris That he was a chosen Vessel preordain'd to be the Apostle of the Indies and that one day he shou'd become a great Pillar of the Church These Letters have been preserv'd for a long time afterwards and have been view'd by many persons who have depos'd the truth judicially in the process of the Canonisation of the Saint Don Iasso receiv'd this Answer from his Daughter as an Oracle from Heaven and no longer thought of recalling his Son from his Studies Xavier thereupon continued his Philosophy and succeeded so well in it that having maintain'd his Theses at the end of his course with a general applause and afterwards taking his degree of Master in Arts he was judg'd worthy to teach Philosophy himself His Parts appear'd more than ever in this new Employment and he acquir'd an high Reputation in his publick Lectures on Aristotle The Praises which universally were given him were extreamly pleasing to his Vanity He was not a little proud to have augmented the Glory of his Family by the way of Learning while his Brothers were continually adorning it by that of Arms and he flatter'd himself that the way which he had taken wou'd lead him onward to somewhat of greater consequence But God Almighty had far other thoughts than those of Xavier and it was not for these fading Honours that the Divine Providence had conducted him to Paris At the same time when this young Master of Philosophy began his course Ignatius Loyola who had renounc'd the World and cast the model of a learned Society wholly devoted to the Salvation of Souls came into France to finish his Studies which the obstacles he found in Spain after his Conversion had constrain'd him to interrupt He had not continued long in the University of Paris before he heard talk of Xavier and grew acquainted with him Our new Professour who taught at the Colledge of Beauvois though he dwelt in the Colledge of St. Barbe with Peter le Fevre a Savoyard was judg'd by Ignatius to be very proper for the preaching of the Gospel as well as his Companion To gain the better opportunity of insinuating himself into their acquaintance he took Lodgings with them and was not wanting to Exhort them to live up to the Rules of Christianity Le Fevre who was of a tractable nature and was not enamour'd of the World resign'd himself without opposition But Xavier who was of a haughty Spirit and whose head was fill'd with Ambitious thoughts made a fierce Resistance at the first The Discipline and Maximes of Ignatius who liv'd in a mean Equipage and valued nothing but that Poverty made him pass for a low minded Fellow in the Opinion of our young Gentleman And accordingly Xavier treated him with much contempt rallying him on all occasions and making it his business to ridicule him This notwithstanding Ignatius omitted no opportunities of representing to him the great consequence of his Eternal welfare and urging the words of our Blessed Saviour What profit is it to a Man to gain the whole World and to lose his ow● Soul But perceiving that he cou'd make no impression on a heart where self-conceit was so very prevalent and which was dazled with vain-glory he bethought himself of assaulting him on the weaker side When he had often Congratulated with him for those rare talents of Nature with which he was endow'd and particularly applauded his great Wit he made it his business to procure him Scholars and to augment his Reputation by the crowd of his Auditours He conducted them even to his Chair and in presenting them to their Master never fail'd to make his Panegyrick Xavier was too

to receive the Gospel these new Edicts hinder'd those of Cangoxima from any farther Commerce with the three Religious Christians so easily the favour or displeasure of the Prince can turn the People They not withstanding whose heart the Almighty had already touch'd and who were Baptis'd far from being wanting to the grace of their Vocation were more increas'd in Faith not exceeding the number of an hundred they found themselves infinitely acknowledging to the Divine Mercy which had elected them to compose this little Flock Persecution it self augmented their servour and all of them declar'd to Father Xavier that they were ready to suffer Banishment or Death for the honour of our Saviour Though the Father was nothing doubtful of their Constancy yet he wou'd forti●ie them by good Discourses before he left a Town and Kingdom where there was no farther ho●e of extending the Christian Faith. For which reason he daily assembled them where having read some passages of Scripture Translated into their own Language and suitable to the present condition of that Infant Church he explain'd to them some one of the Mysteries of our Saviour's Life and his Auditours were so fill'd with the interiour Unctions of the Holy Spirit that they interrupted his speech at every moment with their sighs and tears He had caus'd divers Copies of his Catechism to be taken for the use of the Faithful Having augmented it by a more ample Exposition of the Creed and added sundry spiritual Instructions with the Life of our Saviour which he entirely Translated he caus'd it to be Printed in Iaponnese Characters that it might be spread through all the Nation At this time the two Converted Bonza's and two other Baptis'd iaponians undertook a Voyage to the Indies to behold with their own eyes what the Father had told them concerning the splendour of Christianity at Goa I mean the multitude of Christians the magnificence of the Churches and the beauty of the Ecclesiastick Ceremonies At length he departed from Cangoxima at the beginning of September in the year 1550 with Cozmo de Torrez and Iohn Fernandez carrying on his back according to his Custom all the necessary Utensils for the Sacrifice of the Mass. Before his departure he recommended the Faithful to Paul de Sainte Foy. 'T is wonderful that these new Christians berest of their Pastours shou'd maintain themselves in the midst of Paganism and amongst the Persecuting Bonza's and not one single man of them shou'd be perverted from the Faith. It happen'd that even their exemplary lives so edify'd their Countrey-men that they gain'd over many of the Idolaters insomuch that in the process of some few years the number of Christians was encreas'd to five hundred Persons and the King of Saxuma wrote to the Viceroy of the Indies to have some of the Fathers of the Society who shou'd publish through all his Territories a Law so holy and so pure The news which came that the Portuguese Vessels which came lately to Iapan had taken their was to Firando caus'd Xavier to go thither and the ill Intelligence betwixt the two Princes gave him hopes that the King of Firando wou'd give him and his two Companions a good reception They happen'd upon a Fortress on their way belonging to a Prince call'd Ekandono who was Vassal to the King of Saxuma It was situate on the heighth of a Rock and defended by ten great Bastions A solid Wall incompass'd it with a wide and deep Ditch cut through the middle of the Rock Nothing but fearful Precipices on every side and the Fortress approachable by one onely way where a Guard was plac'd both day and night The inside of it was as pleasing as the outside was full of horrour A stately Palace compos'd the Body of the place and in that Palace were Portico's Galleries Halls and Chambers of an admirable Beauty all was cut in the living stone and wrought so curiously that the works seem'd to be cast within a Mould and not cut by the Chizzel Some People of the Castle who were returning from Cangoxima and who had there seen Xavier invited him by the way to come and visit their Lord not doubting but Ekandono wou'd be glad to see so famous a Person Xavier who sought all occasions of publishing the Gospel lost not that opportunity The good reception which was made him gave him the means of teaching immediately the true Religion and the ways of Eternal Life The Attendants of the Prince and Souldiers of the Garrison who were present were so mov'd both by the Sanctity which shone in the Apostles Countenance and by the truth which beam'd out in all his words that after the clearing of their doubts seventeen of them at once demanded Baptism and the Father Christen'd them in presence of the Tono so the Iaponnese call the Lord or Prince of any particular place The rest of them were possess'd with the same desire and had receiv'd the same favour if Ekandono had not oppos'd it by reason of state and contrary to his own inclinations for fear of some ill Consequences from the King of Saxuma For in his heart he acknowledg'd Iesus Christ and permitted Xavier privately to Baptise his Wife and his Eldest Son. For the rest he promis'd to receive Baptism and to declare himself a Christian. when his Soveraign shou'd be favourable to the Law of God. The Steward of Ekandono's household was one who embrac'd the Faith. He was a man step'd into years and of great prudence Xavier committed the new Christians to his care and put into his hands the form of Baptism in writing the Exposition of the Creed the Epitome of our Saviour's Life the Seven penitential Psalms the Letanies of the Saints and a Table of Saints-days as they are Celebrated in the Church He himself set apart a place in the Palace proper for the Assemblies of the Faith●ul and appointed the Steward to call together as many of the Pagans as he cou'd to read both to the one and the other sort some part of the Christian Doctrine every Sunday to cause the Penitential Psalms to be sung on every Friday and the Letanies every day The Steward punctually perform'd his Orders and those seeds of Piety grew up so fast that some few years after Louis Almeyda found above an hundred Christians in the Fortress of Ekandono all of an orderly and innocent conversation modest in their Behaviour assiduous in Prayer Charitable to each other severe to themselves and Enemies to their Bodies insomuch that the place had more resemblance to a Religious house than to a Garrison The Tono tho' still an Idolater was present at the Assemblies of the Christians and permitted two little Children of his to be Baptis'd One of these new Converts compos'd elegantly in his Tongue the History of the Redemption of Mankind from the fall of Adam to the coming down of the Holy Ghost the same man being once interrogated what

apt to receive the instructions which vvere given him by Father Antonio Heredia who endeavour'd his Conversion with great Zeal But his fear of farther exasperating his Rebellious Subjects in case he chang'd his Religion caus'd him to defer that change from time to time and perhaps he had never forsaken the Law of Mahomet if Father Francis had not arriv'd to compleat that work which Heredia had begun The holy Apostle preach'd the word vvith so much e●●icacy to the King of the Maldivia's that at length he reduc'd him to the obedience of Christ notwithstanding all the motives of worldly interest to the contrary Having instructed him anew in the Mysteries of Christianity he solemnly baptis'd him In sequel of which he excited the Portugueses to replace him on the Throne and nominated some of the Fathers to accompany the Naval Army which shou'd be sent to the Maldivia's His intention was that they shou'd labour in the Conversion of the whole Kingdom when once the King shou'd be establish'd But because it was of small importance to the Crown of Portugal that those Islands which produce neither Gold nor Spices nor Perfumes shou'd be made tributary to it the Governours did nothing for that exil'd Prince who despairing to recover his Dominions marri'd a Portuguese and liv'd a private life till the day of his death Happy only in this that the loss of his Crown was made up to him by the gift of Faith and the Grace of Baptism When the holy Man was ready to depart an opportunity was offer'd him of writing into Europe which he laid hold on thereby to render an account of his Voyage to Iapan both to the King of Portugal and to the General of his Order Then imbarking for Goa he had a speedy Voyage and arriv'd there in the beginning of February So soon as he was come on shore he visited the sick in the Town-Hospitals and then went to the Colledge of St. Paul which was the House of the Society After the ordinary embracements which were more tender than ever he enquir'd if none were sick within the Colledge He was answer'd there was only one who was lying at the point of death Immediately Xavier went and read the Gospel over him At the sight of the Father the dying man recover'd his Spirits and was restor'd to health The Physicians had given him over and all things had been order'd for his burial But he himself had never despair'd of his recovery and the day when Xavier arriv'd he said with a dying voice That if God wou'd grant him the favour of beholding their good Father he shou'd infallibly recover The Relation which Xavier made to the Fathers of Goa concerning the Church of Iapan was infinitely pleasing to them And he himself was fill'd with equal consolation in learning from them the present condition of Christianity in the Indies The Missioners whom he had dispers'd before his departure were almost all of them united at his return Some of them were come by his command and others of their own motion concerning urgent business as if the holy Spirit had re-assembl'd them expresly that the presence of the Man of God might redouble in them their Apostolick Zeal and Religious Fervour God had every where blest their labours The Town of Ormus which fell to the lott of Father Gaspar Barzaeus had wholly chang'd its Countenance Idolaters Saracens and Iews ran in multitudes to Baptism The Temples of Idols were consecrated to Christ the Mosques and Synagogues were dispeopled ill Manners were reform'd and ill Customs totally abolish'd Christianity flourish'd more than ever in the Coast of Fishery since the death of Father Antonio Criminal who had cultivated it with care and in that cultivation was massacred by the Badages The blood of the Martyr seem'd to have multiply'd the Christians they were reckon'd to be more than ●ive hundred thousand all Zealous and ready to lay down their lives for their Religion The Gospel had not made less progress at Cochin and at Coulan at Bazain and at Meliapore at the Molucca's and in the Isles del Moro. Put it is almost incredible with what profit the Gospel Labourers preach'd at Goa All the Priests of Idols had been driven out of the Isle of Goa by Order from the Governour and at the solicitation of one of the Fathers belonging to the Colledge of St. Paul. It was also prohibited under severe Penalties to perform any publick action of Idolatry within the District of Goa and those Ordinances by little and little reduc'd a multitude of Gentils As for the Portugueses their lives were very regular amidst the liberty of doing whatsoever pleas'd them they refrain'd from all dishonest actions and Concubines were now as scarce as they had been common The Souldiers liv'd almost in the nature of men in Orders and even their Piety edify'd the People But nothing was more pleasing to Xavier than the Conversion of two Princes who during his absence had been at Goa The first was King of Tanor a Kingdom scituate along the Coasts of Malabar betwixt Cranganor and Calecu● This Prince who was party-per-pale Mahometan and Idolater but prudent a great Warriour of a comely shape and more polite than was usual for a Barbarian had ●●om his youth a tendency to Christianity without being well instructed in it He was enamour'd of it after he had been inform'd to the full concerning the Mysteries of our Faith by a Religious of the Order of St. Francis who frequented his Palace In the mean time the wars which he had with other Princes for ten years together hinder'd him from receiving Baptism At length he was Christen'd but very secretly so that in appearance he remain'd an Infidel to keep the better corresponde●ce with his People Yet he was not without some scruple concerning the manner of his Life and in order to satisfie his Conscience on so nice a Point he desir'd the Bishop of Goa to s●nd him an Apostle for by that name the Fathers of the Society were call'd by the Indi●ns as well as by the Port●gueses Father Gomez who was sent to the King of Tanor told him positively that God wou'd be serv'd in spirit and in truth that dissembling in Religion was worse than irreligion and that Iesus wou'd disown before his Angels those who disown'd him before men The King who preferr'd his Salvation before his Crown believ'd Gomez and resolv'd to declare himself solemnly a Christian as soon as he had made a Treaty with his Enemies Having concluded a Peace through the mediation of the Father who had advis'd him to it he came to Goa in despight of all his Subjects who not being able to gain upon him either by their reasons or their desires had seiz'd upon his Person and shut him up in one of the strongest Citadels of the Kingdom He escap'd out of his Prison swam a River and having found eight Foysts or half Galleys belonging to Goa which were purposely sent