The works of John Dryden, now first collected in eighteen volumes. Volume 16Dryden, John
History
The works of John Dryden, now first collected in eighteen volumes. Volume 16
Dryden, John
English literature
He added, "That other less savage nations would never want for preachers;
that these only isles remained for him to cultivate, since no other man
would undertake them." In sequel, suffering himself to be transported
with a kind of holy choler, "If these isles," pursued he, "abounded with
precious woods and mines of gold, the Christians would have the courage
to go thither, and all the dangers of the world would not be able to
affright them; they are base and fearful because there are only souls to
purchase: And shall it then be said, that charity is less daring than
avarice? You tell me they will take away my life, either by the sword or
poison; but those are favours too great for such a sinner as I am to
expect from heaven; yet I dare confidently say, that whatever torment
or death they prepare for me, I am ready to suffer a thousand times more
for the salvation of one only soul. If I should happen to die by their
hands, who knows but all of them might receive the faith? for it is most
certain, that since the primitive times of the church, the seed of the
gospel has made a larger increase in the fields of paganism, by the blood
of martyrs, than by the sweat of missioners."
He concluded his discourse, by telling them, "That there was nothing
really to fear in his undertaking; that God had called him to the isles
del Moro; and that man should not hinder him from obeying the voice of
God." His discourse made such impressions on their hearts, that not only
the decree against his passage was revoked, but many offered themselves
to accompany him in that voyage, through all the dangers which seemed to
threaten him.
Having thus disengaged himself from all the incumbrances of his voyage,
he embarked with some of his friends, passing through the tears of the
people, who attended him to the shore, without expectation of seeing him
again. Before he set sail, he wrote to the Fathers of the company at
Rome, to make them acquainted with his voyage.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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