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
The process of the saint's canonization makes mention of this miracle;
and Father Antonio Quadros, who travelled to Japan four years after
Father Xavier, writes it to Father Diego Moron, provincial of Portugal,
These are his words: "A Japonese informed me, that he had seen three
miracles wrought by Father Xavier in his country. He made a person walk
and speak, who was dumb and taken with the palsy; he gave voice to
another mute; and hearing to one that was deaf. This Japonian also told
me, that Father Xavier was esteemed in Japan for the most knowing man of
Europe; and that the other Fathers of the Society were nothing to him,
because they could answer but one idolater at a time, but that Father
Xavier, by one only word, decided ten or twelve questions. When I told
him, that this might probably happen because those questions were alike,
he assured me it was not so; but that, on the contrary, they were very
different. He added, lastly, that this was no extraordinary thing with
him, but a common practice."
When Xavier and his companion Fernandez were a little disengaged from
these importunities, they set themselves on preaching twice a day, in the
public places of the town, in despite of the Bonzas. There were seven or
eight religions in Amanguchi quite opposite to each other, and every one
of them had many proselytes, who defended their own as best; insomuch,
that these Bonzas, who were heads of parties, had many disputes amongst
themselves: But when once the saint began to publish the Christian law,
all the sects united against their common enemy; which, notwithstanding,
they durst not openly declare, against a man who was favoured by the
court, and who seemed, even to themselves, to have somewhat in him that
was more than human.
At this time God restored to Father Xavier the gift of tongues, which had
been given him in the Indies on divers occasions; for, without having
ever learned the Chinese language, he preached every day to the Chinese
merchants, who traded at Amanguchi, in their mother-tongue, there being
great numbers of them. He preached in the afternoon to the Japonians in
their language; but so naturally and with so much ease, that he could not
be taken for a foreigner.
The force of truth, against which their doctors could oppose nothing that
was reasonable in their disputations; the novelty of three miracles,
which we have mentioned, and of many others which Xavier wrought at the
same time; his innocent and rigid life; the Divine Spirit which enlivened
his discourses;--all these together made so great an impression on their
hearts, that in less than two months time, more than five hundred persons
were baptized; the greatest part men of quality and learning, who had
examined Christianity to the bottom, and who did not render up themselves
for any other reason, than for that they had nothing farther to oppose.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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