JAPAN-ITS RELIGIOUS HISTORY.- No. IV.

THE example of Lawrence had a very great influence upon the young men, who had given themselves up to the direction of the Bonzies with the intention of following their manner of life, and many among them were converted. This defection of those on whom they had relied for support, as well as the manifestation of the abominations practised in their monasteries, so enraged the Bonzies, that they declared open war against the new-comers, and endeavored in every manner possible to lessen their estimation among the people. At first they tried the way of argument, but even the children and women among the converts put them to confusion. Then they had recourse to calumny and sometimes even to open violence, but nothing could stay the ruin that seemed to hang over them, and many of their monasteries were abandoned from want of subsistence. They hoped by numerous questions and the

tumult which they excited in Xavier's residence, to weary out his patience and find reasons for decrying his doctrine. Nor did they confine themselves to Amanguchi. They despatched letters full of the slanders which they strove so industriously to disseminate at home. In this, however, they miscalculated wonderfully, for the effect of their missives was only to spread more widely the information that strange doctors had arrived in Japan, and to excite a desire in the people of becoming more acquainted with their doctrine. And the miraculous faculty above alluded to, with the meekness and abstemiousness of Xavier, left them no room for accusation, and the other miracles, which he frequently wrought for the corporeal as well as spiritual necessities of his visitors, completed their discomfiture and made all regard him as superior in power and virtue even to the Camis and Fotoquis, of whom the like had never been recorded even by their most devoted clients. In the short space of one year Xavier baptized over three thousand infidels, and confirmed them so strongly in the faith that they became themVOL. I.-No. 4.

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selves apostles and made it their glory to bring others to the knowledge and enjoyment of the happiness which had been granted to them. When the Bonzies, despairing of success among a people so well instructed, induced the king to make common cause with them against the Christians, these bore up with such generosity and heroism as to fill Xavier himself with admiration. His gratitude to the Almighty for this dispensation of His graces, made him forget the excessive labors in which he was obliged to engage, and consider them rather as a pleasant recreation. It was not, however, without great trouble, and often too with much affliction that he won these souls to Christ. Even after baptism the doctrine of eternal torments was for them a bitter source of sorrows, as they reflected that their parents or relations were perhaps condemned to be the unhappy victims of divine justice. This was a favorite argument of the Bonzies to prevent the spread of the faith or pervert the souls of those who were already enlightened, but the arguments by which the holy missionary proved how reasonable and how necessary such an eternity is on account of the perfections of God and the malice of the sinner, though they did not mitigate their sorrow, were so satisfactory that the idolatrous priests were confounded and the faithful animated to do all and suffer all rather than fall themselves under so great a misfortune.

Xavier had now been two years and a half in Japan without hearing anything from his brothers in India, and he was therefore very anxious about the condition of affairs, which, entrusted to his superintendence by the Sovereign Pontiff and St. Ignatius, demanded no less a share of his attention than the conversion of new nations to the faith. In this respect God had so blessed his labors that himself and companions were no longer able to provide for the wants of the new faithful. He determined therefore on the first opportunity to return to India in order to send new recruits to Father Cosmus and his companions, while he himself would go to China to secure by the conversion of that empire, the total conversion as well as perseverance of Japan. In this suspense of mind he was agreeably surprised on receiving an express from Edward de Gama, a Portuguese captain, with letters from India requiring his immediate return. Gama had landed at Figen in the kingdom of Bungo, about one hundred and fifty miles from Amanguchi and three from Funay, the capital. He sent the holy missionary word that he would return to India as soon as he could take in his cargo, and would be very happy to have him as a companion of the voyage. Xavier, glad that even in his departure God opened to him a new kingdom in which to preach the faith, called Father Cosmus from Firando, and recommending the new Christians very earnestly to his care, set out on foot for Figen. This was his usual method of travelling, which no argument on account of distance or danger could induce him to change. His companions were Bernard, Matthias and Lawrence and two noblemen of Amanguchi, generous confessors of the faith, who had just preferred the loss of their wealth and earthly possessions to the loss of their religion. The fatigue of the journey, however, was such that Xavier was obliged to remain for some time at Pilascha, a town not very distant from Figen, until his legs, which had swollen considerably, would be sufficiently cured to admit of his proceeding. Meanwhile, two of his companions hastened to Figen to inform Gama of the near approach of the Father. Delighted beyond expression, Gama immediately called a meeting of the Portuguese merchants then in port, and it was determined to receive the missionary in a way proportioned to his dignity and virtue, and with such pomp that the Japanese might understand how great were the esteem and veneration of the Christians for their priests. A large number rode out in procession to meet him, and led a horse

richly caparisoned that the Father might enter as it were in triumph into Figen. The ship was decked out in holiday attire, and as soon as the cavalcade made its appearance a general discharge of all the artillery was the token of their joy. The escort, headed by a band of music, met the Father at a short distance from Pilascha walking between the two Japanese noblemen, who supported him as he tottered along. Gama and his companions dismounted as soon as they perceived him, and kissed his hand with every mark of joyous reverence. As they could not persuade him to use the horse they had brought for him, giving their own to their servants they accompanied him on foot to the port. The report of the cannon was heard at Funay, and the king Civandono, fearing that the Portuguese had been attacked by pirates, who had lately infested the coast, sent one of his courtiers with offers of assistance. The noble messenger returned in astonishment to his master with the news, that it was the rejoicing of the Portuguese at the reception of that poor European Bonzy, of whom the Bonzies of Amanguchi had related so many disgusting fables. Eager to see one of whom so many extraordinary things, both good and bad, had been reported, the king immediately despatched one of his near relations with a splendid retinue in order to invite the missionary to visit Funay. The Saint, not a little surprised at this honor, received the king's letter with great respect and promised compliance. On the reception of this answer, the king gave orders for a royal feast of welcome. Gama on his part persuaded Xavier, but with much difficulty, to change for the moment his poor clothes for a richer suit, and allow the Portuguese, for the honor of religion and the confusion of its enemies, to accompany him with as much pomp and magnificence as his station demanded. It was the triumphal entry of a conqueror into the city he had conquered, and the effect upon the people was such as to efface all the sinister ideas that had been so industriously circulated against him and his religion. At the court he was received with equal pomp and ceremony by the courtiers, who vied with one another in their respect. They could scarcely believe it was the same individual of whom the Bonzies had written so contemptuous an account, and they attributed to envy and jealousy all that had been said. He was received at the entrance of the palace by a guard of five hundred men, who saluted him as if he were a general officer, and the procession defiled through their ranks until it reached a large hall. Here a little child, about eight years old, was led up to the Father by a venerable old man, and, after a low reverence, welcomed him in these words:-"May your arrival in the palace of my lord, the king, be as welcome to him as the rains of heaven to our fields after a long draught. You are very welcome, Father Bonzy, for I assure you of the love of all good men, though the wicked are as troubled to see you as travellers are to be overtaken by night in a desert." Xavier answered his compliment according to his age, but the child continued in a style so much above his age that the Saint was forced to regard him as a person of great wisdom and converse with him as such. They entered together a second hall, where of the great number of the young nobility present two advanced to compliment him in the name of the others and were on the point of following him, when the child, who still held him by the hand, gave them a sign at which with a low bow they returned to their places. Xavier and his little guide passing through a portion of the garden entered another and richer hall, where the king's brother, Facharandono, took the place of the child, who with a low obeisance retired. They then entered the king's ante-chamber, where a large number of the highest nobility received them with every demonstration of joy, and entertained them until the king was informed that Xavier and the Portuguese were in attendance. As

soon as the king perceived the Saint, he advanced and bowed three times to the ground, an action that filled the beholders with amazement, which was much increased by the king's also raising Xavier from the ground, who had prostrated himself, and making him take a seat by himself. The kindness and familiarity of this behaviour, so contrary to the received customs of the nation, made no change in the humble demeanor of Xavier, which in its turn only made the king and courtiers entertain a higher esteem for him. He explained to the noble audience the mysteries and practices of Christianity in so admirable a manner that the king could not refrain from expressing his joy and drawing a very unfavorable argument against the vacillating and unprincipled teachings of the Bonzies. One of these who was present, an arrogant and haughty man, rebuked the king in an insolent and passionate speech, which he followed up by such an exhibition of folly and pride that he was driven contemptuously from the royal presence. After a long conversation on the differences between the Christian and Japanese doctrines and practice, dinner was announced, at which, notwithstanding Xavier's repugnance, the king insisted upon his eating at the same table with himself, an honor which was much enhanced by his presenting to Xavier the plate which had been set for himself. This was so great a mark of distinction in Japan, that De Gama and the Portuguese rose from their places and on their knees kissed the king's hand to attest their own sense of the honor he had done the Father. After dinner they retired to their homes in the same order as they had come to the palace, and Xavier immediately commenced his mission. The report of the honors he had received at the palace had already predisposed in his favor the minds of the people, and scarce a day passed without some remarkable conversion.

But none of these conversions were so honorable to religion as that of a Bonzy named Sacai-Eiran. His fame as a learned and holy man was spread far and wide through Japan, and the disputes he had kept up with the missionary contributed

not a little to increase that reputation. Human respect for a long time kept him from confessing the truth, but the grace of Jesus Christ aiding the reasons of Xavier

brought him at last to himself. It was before a large crowd in the principal square of the town after hearing the missionary's argument, that struck with heavenly light, he fell on his knees and with tears trickling down his cheeks, exclaimed:-"Jesus Christ, only Son of the true God, I submit to Thee and confess from my heart and with my mouth that Thou art my Creator, my Redeemer, my Sanctifier. Hear me, Japanese; hear me, brother Bonzies! Whatever I taught you was fable, deceit, falsehood, for there is no other God than He whom this holy man preaches: there is no true reli

TO BE CONTINUED.