The Works of John Dryden, now first collected in eighteen volumes. Volume 16

Notwithstanding the roughness and barbarity of these islanders, neither of those qualities were of proof against the winning and soft behaviour of the saint. He brought them back to their village, using all expressions of kindness to them by the way, and began his work by singing aloud the Christian doctrine through the streets; after which he expounded it to them, and that in a manner so suitable to their barbarous conceptions, that it passed with ease into their understanding.

By this means he restored those Christians to the faith, who had before forsaken it; and brought into it those idolaters who had refused to embrace it when it was preached to them by Simon Vaz and Francis Alvarez. There was neither town nor village which the Father did not visit, and where those new converts did not set up crosses and build churches. Tolo, the chief town of the island, inhabited by twenty-five thousand souls, was entirely converted, together with Momoya.

Thus the Isle del Moro was now to the holy apostle the island of Divine Hope,⁶ as he desired it thenceforth to be named; both because those things which were there accomplished by God himself, in a miraculous manner, were beyond all human hope and expectation; and also because the fruits of his labours surpassed the hopes which had been conceived of them, when his friends of Ternate would have made him fear that his voyage would prove unprofitable.

To engage these new Christians, who were gross of apprehension, in the practice of a holy life, he threatened them with eternal punishments, and made them sensible of what hell was, by those dreadful objects which they had before their eyes: For sometimes he led them to the brink of those gulphs which shot out of their bowels vast masses of burning stones into the air, with the noise and fury of a cannon; and at the view of those flames, which were mingled with a dusky smoke that obscured the day, he explained to them the nature of those pains, which were prepared in an abyss of fire, not only for idolaters and Mahometans, but also for the true believers, who lived not according to their faith. He even told them, the gaping mouths of those flaming mountains were the breathing places of hell; as appears by these following words, extracted out of one of his letters on that subject, written to his brethren at Rome: "It seems that God himself has been pleased, in some measure, to discover the habitation of the damned to people had otherwise no knowledge of him."

During their great earthquakes, when no man could be secure in any place, either in his house, or abroad in the open air, he exhorted them to penitence; and declared to them, that those extraordinary accidents were caused, not by the souls of the dead hidden under ground, as they imagined, but by the devils, who were desirous to destroy them, or by the omnipotent hand of God, who adds activity to natural causes, that he may imprint more deeply in their hearts the fear of his justice and his wrath.

One of those wonderful earthquakes happened on the 29th of September; on that day, consecrated to the honour of St Michael, the Christians were assembled in great numbers, and the Father said mass. In the midst of the sacrifice, the earth was so violently shaken, that the people ran in a hurry out of the church. The Father feared lest the altar might be overthrown, yet he forsook it not, and went through with the celebration of the sacred mysteries, thinking, as he said himself, that the blessed archangel, at that very time, was driving the devils of the island down to hell; and that those infernal spirits made all that noise and tumult, out of the indignation which they had to be banished from that place where they had held dominion for so many ages.

The undaunted resolution of Father Xavier amazed the barbarians; and gave them to believe, that a man who remained immovable while the rocks and mountains trembled, had something in him of divine; but that high opinion which most of them had conceived of him, gave him an absolute authority over them; and, with the assistance of God's grace, which operated in their souls while he was working by outward means, he made so total a change in them, that they who formerly, in respect of their manners, were like wolves and tygers, now became tractable and mild, and innocent as lambs.

Notwithstanding this, there were some amongst them who did not divest themselves fully, and at once, of their natural barbarity; either to signify, that divine grace, how powerful soever, does not work all things in a man itself alone, or to try the patience of the saint. The most rebellious to God's spirit were the Javares, – a rugged and inhuman people, who inhabit only in caves, and in the day-time roam about the forests. Not content with not following the instructions of the Father, they laid divers ambushes for him; and one day, while he was explaining the rules of morality to them out of the gospel, by a river side, provoked by the zeal wherewith he condemned their dissolute manners, they cast stones at him with design to kill him. The barbarians were on the one side of him, and the river on the other, which was broad and deep; insomuch, that it was in a manner impossible for Xavier to escape the fury of his enemies: but nothing is impossible to a man whom heaven protects. There was lying on the bank a great beam of wood; the saint pushed it without the least difficulty into the water, and placing himself upon it, was carried in an instant to the other side, where the stones which were thrown could no longer reach him.

For what remains, he endured in this barren and inhospitable country all the miseries imaginable, of hunger, thirst, and nakedness. But the comforts which he received from heaven, infinitely sweetened all his labours; which may be judged by the letter he wrote to Father Ignatius. For, after he had made him a faithful description of the place, "I have," said he, "given you this account of it, that from thence you may conclude, what abundance of celestial consolations I have tasted in it. The dangers to which I am exposed, and the pains I take for the interest of God alone, are the inexhaustible springs of spiritual joys; insomuch, that these islands, bare of all worldly necessaries, are the places in the world, for a man to lose his sight with the excess of weeping; but they are tears of joy. For my own part, I remember not ever to have tasted such interior delights; and these consolations of the soul, are so pure, so exquisite, and so perpetual, that they take from me all sense of my corporeal sufferings."

Xavier continued for three months in the Isle del Moro; after which, he repassed to the Moluccas, with intention from thence to sail to Goa; not only that he might draw out missioners from thence, to take care of the new Christianity which he had planted in all those isles, and which he alone was not sufficient to cultivate, but also to provide for the affairs of the company, which daily multiplied in this new world.

Being arrived at Ternate, he lodged by a chapel, which was near the Port, and which, for that reason, is called "Our Lady of the Port." He thought not of any long stay in that place, but only till the ship which was intended for Malacca should be ready to set out. The Christians, more glad of his return, because they had despaired of seeing him again, begged of him to continue longer with them, because Lent was drawing near; and that he must, however, stay all that holy time, in the island of Amboyna, for the proper season of navigation to Malacca. The captain of the fortress of Ternate, and the brotherhood of the Mercy, engaged themselves to have him conducted to Amboyna, before the setting out of the ships. So that Xavier could not deny those people, who made him such reasonable propositions; and who were so desirous to retain him, to the end they might profit by his presence, in order to the salvation of their souls.

He remained then almost three months in Ternate; hearing confessions day and night, preaching twice on holidays, according to his custom; in the morning to the Portuguese, in the afternoon to the islanders newly converted; catechising the children every day in the week, excepting Wednesday and Friday, which he set apart for the instruction of the Portuguese wives. For, seeing those women, who were either Mahometans or idolaters by birth, and had only received baptism in order to their marrying with the Portuguese, were not capable of profiting by the common sermons, for want of sufficient understanding in the mysteries and maxims of Christianity; he undertook to expound to them the articles of faith, the commandments, and other points of Christian morality. The time of Lent was passed in these exercises of piety, and penitence, which fitted them for the blessed sacrament at Easter. All people approached the holy table, and celebrated that feast with renewed fervour, which resembled the spirit of primitive Christianity.

But the chief employment of Father Xavier was to endeavour the conversion of the king of Ternate, commonly called king of the Moluccas. This Saracen prince, whose name was Cacil Aerio, was son to king Boleife, and his concubine, a Mahometan, and enemy to the Portuguese, whom Tristan d'Atayda, governor of Ternate, and predecessor of Antonio Galvan, caused to be thrown out of a window, to be revenged of her. This unworthy and cruel usage might well exasperate Cacil; but fearing their power, who had affronted him in the person of his mother, and having the violent death of his brothers before his eyes, he curbed his resentments, and broke not out into the least complaint. The Portuguese mistrusted this over-acted moderation, and affected silence; and according to the maxim of those politicians, who hold, that they who do the injury should never pardon, they used him afterwards as a rebel, and an enemy, upon very light conjectures, Jordan de Treitas, then governor of the fortress of Ternate. a man as rash and imprudent as Galvan was moderate and wise, seized the person of the prince, stript him of all the ornaments of royalty, and sent him prisoner to Goa, in the year 1546, with the Spanish fleet, of which we have formerly made mention.

The cause having been examined, in the sovereign tribunal of Goa, there was found nothing to condemn, but the injustice of Treitas: Cacil was declared innocent; and the new viceroy of the Indies, Don John de Castro, sent him back to Ternate, with orders to the Portuguese, to replace him on the throne, and pay him so much the more respect, by how much more they had injured him. As for Treitas, he lost his government, and being recalled to Goa, was imprisoned as a criminal of state.

The king of Ternate was newly restored, when Xavier came into the isle for the second time. King Tabarigia, son of Boleife, and brother to Cacil, had suffered the same ill fortune some years before. Being accused of felony, and having been acquitted at Goa, where he was prisoner, he was also sent back to his kingdom, with a splendid equipage; and the equity of the Christians so wrought upon him, that he became a convert before his departure.

Xavier was in hope, that the example of Tabarigia would make an impression on the soul of Cacil after his restoration, at least if any care were taken of instructing him; and the hopes or the saint seemed not at the first to be ill grounded. For the barbarian king received him with all civility, and was very affectionate to him, insomuch that he could not be without his company. He heard him speak of God whole hours together; and there was great appearance, that he would renounce the Mahometan religion.

But the sweet enchantments of the flesh are often an invincible obstacle to the grace of baptism. Besides a vast number of concubines, the king of Ternate had an hundred women in his palace, who retained the name and quality of wives. To confine himself to one, was somewhat too hard to be digested by him. And when the Father endeavoured to persuade him, that the law of God did absolutely command it; he reasoned on his side, according to the principles of his sect, and refined upon it in this manner: "The God of the Christians and of the Saracens is the same God; why then should the Christians be confined to one only wife, since God has permitted the Saracens to have so many?"

Yet sometimes he changed his language; and said, that he would not lose his soul, nor the friendship of Father Xavier, for so small a matter. But, in conclusion, not being able to contain himself within the bounds of Christian purity, nor to make the law of Jesus Christ agree with that of Mahomet, he continued fixed to his pleasures, and obstinate in his errors. Only he engaged his royal word, that in case the Portuguese would invest one of his sons in the kingdom of the Isles del Moro, he would on that condition receive baptism.

Father Xavier obtained from the viceroy of the Indies whatever the king of Ternate had desired; but the barbarian, far from keeping his promise, began from thenceforward a cruel persecution against his Christian subjects. And the first strokes of it fell on the Queen Neachile, who was dispossessed of all her lands, and reduced to live in extreme poverty during the remainder of her days. Her faith supported her in these new misfortunes; and Father Xavier, who had baptized her, gave her so well to understand how happy it was to lose all things and to gain Christ, that she continually gave thanks to God for the total overthrow of her fortune.

In the mean time, the labours of the saint were not wholly unprofitable in the court of Ternate. He converted many persons of the blood-royal; and, amongst others, two sisters of the prince, who preferred the quality of Christians, and spouses of Christ Jesus, before all earthly crowns; and chose rather to suffer the ill usage of their brother, than to forsake their faith.

Xavier, seeing the time of his departure drawing near, composed, in the Malaya tongue, a large instruction, touching the belief and morals of Christianity. He gave the people of Ternate this instruction written in his own hand, that it might supply his place during his absence. Many copies were taken of it, which were spread about the neighbouring islands, and even through the countries of the East. It was read on holidays in the public assemblies; and the faithful listened to it, as coming from the mouth of the holy apostle.

Besides this, he chose out some virtuous young men for his companions in his voyage to Goa, with design to breed them in the college of the company, and from thence send them back to the Moluccas, there to preach the gospel. These things being thus ordered, and the caracore, winch was to carry him to Amboyna, in readiness, it was in his thoughts to depart by night, in the most secret manner that he could, not to sadden the inhabitants, who could not hear of his going from them without a sensible affliction. But whatsoever precautions he took, he could not steal away without their knowledge. They followed him in crowds to the shore; men, women, and children, gathering about him, lamenting his loss, begging his blessing, and beseeching him, with tears in their eyes, "That since he was resolved on going, he would make a quick return."

The holy man was not able to bear these tender farewells without melting into tears himself. His bowels yearned within him for his dear flock; and seeing what affection those people bore him, he was concerned lest his absence might prejudice their spiritual welfare. Yet reassuring himself, by considering the providence of God, which had disposed of him another way, he enjoined them to meet in public every day, at a certain church, to make repetition of the Christian doctrine, and to excite each other to the practice of virtue. He charged the new converts to learn by heart the exposition of the apostles' creed, which he had left with them in writing; but that which gave him the greatest comfort was, that a priest, who was there present, promised him to bestow two hours every day in instructing the people, and once a-week to perform the same to the wives of the Portuguese, in expounding to them the articles of faith, and informing them concerning the use of the sacraments.

After these last words, Father Xavier left his well-beloved children in Jesus, and immediately the ship went off. At that instant an universal cry was raised on the shore; and that last adieu went even to the heart of Father Xavier.

Being arrived at Amboyna, he there found four Portuguese vessels, wherein were only mariners and soldiers, that is to say, a sort of people ill instructed in the duties of Christianity, and little accustomed to put them in practice, in the continual hurry of their life. That they might profit by that leisure which they then enjoyed, he set up a small chapel on the sea-side, where he conversed with them, sometimes single, sometimes in common, concerning their eternal welfare. The discourses of the saint brought over the most debauched amongst them; and one soldier, who had been a libertine all his life, died with such evident signs of true contrition, that being expired, Father Xavier was heard to say, "God be praised, who has brought me hither for the salvation of that soul;" which caused people to believe, that God Almighty had made a revelation of it to him.

By the same supernal illumination, he saw in spirit one whom he had left in Ternate in the vigour of health, now expiring in that place; for preaching one day, he broke off his discourse suddenly, and said to his auditors, "Recommend to God, James Giles, who is now in the agony of death;" the news of his death came not long after, which entirely verified the words of Xavier.

The four ships continued at Amboyna but twenty days, after which they set sail towards Malacca. The merchant-ship, which was the best equipped and strongest of them, invited the saint to embark in her; but he refused, out of the horror which he had for those enormous crimes which had been committed in her. And turning to Gonsalvo Fernandez, "This ship," said he, "will be in great danger; God deliver you out of it." Both the prediction and the wish of the saint were accomplished; for the ship, at the passage of the Strait of Saban, struck against a hidden rock, where the iron-work of the stern was broken, and little wanted but that the vessel had been also split; but she escaped that danger, and the rest of the voyage was happily performed.

The Father staying some few days longer on the isle, visited the seven Christian villages which were there; caused crosses to be set up in all of them, for the consolation of the faithful; and one of these crosses, in process of time, became famous for a great miracle, of which the whole country was witness.

There was an extreme drought, and a general dearth was apprehended. Certain women, who before their baptism were accustomed to use charms for rain, being assembled round about an idol, adored the devil, and performed all the magic ceremonies; but their enchantments were of no effect. A devout Christian woman knowing what they were about, ran thither, and having sharply reprehended those impious creatures, "As if," said she, "having a cross so near us, we had no expectations of succour from it; and that the holy Father had not promised us, that whatsoever we prayed for at the foot of that cross, should infallibly be granted." Upon this, she led those other women towards a river-side, where Xavier had set up a cross with his own hands, and falling down with them before that sacred sign of our salvation, she prayed our Saviour to give them water, to the shame and confusion of the idol. At the same moment the clouds began to gather on every side, and the rain poured down in great abundance. Then, all in company, they ran to the pagod, pulled it down, and trampled it under their feet; after which they cast it into the river, with these expressions of contempt, "That though they could not obtain from him one drop of water, they would give him enough in a whole river."

A faith thus lively, answered the hopes which the saint had conceived of the faithful of Amboyna. He compared them sometimes to the primitive Christians; and believed their constancy was of proof against the cruelty of tyrants. Neither was he deceived in the judgment he made of them; and they shewed themselves, when the Javeses, provoked by their renouncing the law of Mahomet, came to invade their island. While the Saracen army destroyed the country, six hundred Christians retired into a castle, where they were presently besieged. Though they were to fear all things from the fury of the barbarians, yet what they only apprehended was, that those enemies of Jesus Christ might exercise their malice against a cross which was raised in the midst of all the castle, and which Father Xavier had set up with his own hands. To preserve it, therefore, inviolable from their attempts, they wrapt it up in cloth of gold, and buried it in the bottom of the ditch. After they had thus secured their treasure, they opened the gate to the unbelievers, who, knowing what had been done by them, ran immediately in search of the cross, to revenge upon it the contempt which had been shown to Mahomet. But not being able to find it, they turned all their fury upon those who had concealed it, and who would not discover where it was.

Death seemed to have been the least part of what they suffered. The Mahometan soldiers cut off one man's leg, another's arm, tore out this man's eyes, and the other's tongue. So the Christians died by degrees, and by a slow destruction, but without drawing one sigh, or casting out a groan, or shewing the least apprehension; so strongly were they supported in their souls by the all-powerful grace of Jesus Christ, for whom they suffered.

Xavier at length parted from Amboyna; and probably it was then, if we consider the sequel of his life, that he had the opportunity of making the voyage of Macassar.

For though it be not certainly known at what time he visited that great island, nor the fruit which his labours there produced, it is undoubted that he has been there; and, in confirmation of it, we have, in the process of his canonization, the juridical testimony of a Portuguese lady of Malacca, called Jane Melo, who had many times heard from the princess Eleonar, daughter to the king of Macassar, that the holy apostle had baptized the king her father, the prince her brother, and a great number of their subjects.

But at whatsoever time he made this voyage, he returned to Malacca, in the month of July, in the year 1547.