Selected quad for the lemma: mercy_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
mercy_n	hear_v	lord_n	sin_n	15,720	5	5.7661	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

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

to shut up the passage of the Indies to the Turks and Saracens who go thither by the red Sea and from this consideration it was that Albuquerque the Great endeavour'd to have Master'd it in the year 1513 but the vigorous resistance of the Achenois forc'd him to forsake the Siege After that time they were desirous of their own accord to have deliver'd it up to the Portugueses thereby to free themselves from the tyranny of the Turks Yet it was not then done through the fault of a Captain call'd Soarez who having no Orders to take Possession of the Town was so weak a Politician as to refuse it when it was offer'd to the Crown of Portugal That People whom the Turk us'd worse than ever testifi'd the same inclination under the Government of Castro and it was on that occasion that he sent a Fleet towards the Streight of Mecca under the Command of his Son Alvarez de Castro Eight Foysts of Goa full of Souldiers set out for the Expedition of Aden Amongst these there was one very brave Fellow renown'd for his Military Actions but blacken'd with all sorts of Crimes and more infamous by his Debauch'd Manners than known by his Valour He seem'd a kind of salvage Beast who had no more of Man in him than the bare Figure nor any thing of a Christian besides the name Above eighteen years he had abstain'd from Confession and that he once presented himself to the Bishop of Goa was less to reconcile himself to God than to take off the imputation of being either a Mahometan or an Idolater Father Xavier had cast an eye upon this wretch and waited only an opportunity to labour in so difficult a Conversion Understanding that this Souldier was imbarking on one of the Foysts which were going to joyn the Fleet he went out of the Colledge of St. Paul at the first notice of it taking nothing with him besides his Br●viary and enter'd into the same Vessel It was believ'd by those who saw the Father that he had Orders from the Viceroy to accompany his Son Alvarez and every one was glad of it excepting only he for whose sake he came He drew near the Souldier and when they had weigh'd Anchor began to make acquaintance with him and grew familiar to that degree that the rest of the Souldiers who were less debauch'd cou'd not sufficiently admire it and some of them said of Xavier what a Pharisee said formerly of our Lord If this Man were indeed a Prophet he wou'd discern what manner of man he was in whom he takes so much delight These Discourses did not at all daunt the Father He saw his Souldier playing whole nights together for he was a great Gamester He took no notice of his extravagancies and sometimes heard him Swear without seeming to regard it Only one day he said to him that Gaming requir'd a Compos'd Spirit and if he took not the better heed that Passion which he had in Play wou'd make him lose The Souldier brutal as he was grew insensibly to have a kindness for a man who was so much concern'd in his advantages and took pleasure in hearing him discourse not only of War and Sea Affairs but also of Religion and Morality In conclusion he made some reflections on the horrour of his life and felt even some remorse of Conscience for it Being one day together with the Father in a private part of the Ship Xavier ask'd him to whom he had Confess'd himself before he went on Ship-board Ah Father said the Souldier I have not been at Confession these many years And what do you imagine wou'd become of you said the holy man supposing you shou'd be kill'd in this action and in the condition you now are I wou'd once have Confess'd my self reply'd the Souldier at least for fashion and decency but the Vicar of Goa wou'd not so much as hear me but told me I was a Reprobate and deserv'd nothing but Hell-Fire The Vicar was in my Opinion said Xavier somewhat too severe to treat you in that manner He had perhaps his Reasons for that usage and I have mine to treat you otherwise For indeed the Mercies of our Lord are infinite and God wou'd have us as indulgent to our Brethren as he himself is to us Thus when the Sins of which you find your self guilty were a thousand times more numerous and more crying than they are I shall have the patience to hear them all and shall make no difficulty of giving you absolution provided you take those thoughts and resolutions which I shall endeavour to in●u●e into you By these words he brought the Souldier to a general Confession he dispos'd ●im for it by causing him to recall into his memory his past life and drawing him into the particulars of those Sins which a man of his Character and Profession might possibly have committed While they were upon these terms the Ship cast Anchor at the Port of Cey●an for refreshment Many of the Fleet went on shore and amongst the rest the Father and the Souldier they went together to a wild solitary place there the Souldier made his Confession with abundance of tears resolv'd to expiate his Crimes with whatsoever Penance the Father shou'd enjoyn him were it never so rigorous Bu● his Confessour gave him only a P●ter Noster and an Ave to say Whereat the Penitent being much amaz'd from whence proceeds it my Father said he that being so great a Sinner as I am you have given me so light a Penance Be content answer'd Xavier O my Son we shall appease the Divine Justice and at the same instant he withdrew into a Wood while the Souldier perform'd his Penance There he did what he had formerly done on the like occasion he bar'd his Shoulders and disciplin'd himself so rigorously that the Souldier heard the noise of the strokes and came running to him beholding the Father all in blood and rightly judging what was the motive of so strange an action he snatch'd the Discipline out of his hands and crying out it was the Criminal who ought to endure the punishment and not the innocent to bear the pains of Sin he immediately strip'd himself and chastis'd his body with all his strength Xavier often-times embrac'd him and declar'd that it was for his sake alone that he came on Ship-board So having given him wholsome Admonitions to confirm him in the Grace of God he left him and return'd to Goa on the first Vessel which went out of the Port where they made the stay As for the Souldier he follow'd the Fleet and after the Expedition of Aden was ended he enter'd into Religion chusing one of the most austere Orders where he liv'd and dy'd in extraordinary holiness Not long after the Father was return'd to Goa the Governour Don Iohn de Castro return'd also but very ill of a Hectick Fever which had been consuming him for some months before Finding himself in a daily decay

of themselves to the regulation of manners Set forth the enormity of Sin by setting up that infinite Majesty which is offended by the Sinner Imprint in Souls a lively horrour of that Sentence which shall be thunder'd out against Reprobates at the last Iudgment Represent with all the colours of your Eloquence those pains which the damn'd are eternally to suffer In fine threaten with death and that with sudden death those who neglect their Salvation and who having their Conscience loaded with many Sins yet sleep in security as if they had no cause of fear You are to mingle with all these considerations that of the Cross and the death of the Saviour of Mankind but you are to do it in a moving pathetical manner by those figures which are proper to excite such motions as cause in our Hearts a deep sorrow for our Sins in the presence of an offended God even to draw Tears from the Eyes of your Audience This is the Idea which I wish you wou'd propose to your self for preaching profitably When you reprove Vices in the Pulpit never characterise any person especially the chief Officers or Magistrates If they do any thing which you disapprove and of which you think convenient to admonish them make them a visit and speak to them in private or when they come of themselves to Confession tell them at the sacred Tribunal of Penance what you have to say to them but never advertise them in publick of it for that sort of People who are commonly proud and nice of hearing instead of amendment by publick admonitions become furious like Bulls who are prick'd forward by a Goad Moreover before you take upon you to give them private admonition be careful to enter first into their acquaintance and familiarity Make your admonition either more gentle or more strong according as you have more or less access to them But always moderate the roughest part of your Reproof with the gaiety of your Air and a smiling Countenance by the civility of well-manner'd words and a sincere protestation that all you do is but an effect of the kindness you have for them 'T is good also to add respectful submissions to the pleasingness of your Discourse with tender Embraces and all the marks of that Consideration and good Will you have for the person of him whom you thus correct For if a rigid Countenance and harsh Language shou'd accompany Reproof which of it self is hard of digestion and bitter to the tast 't is not to be doubted but Men accustom'd to Flatteries will not endure it and there is reason to apprehend that a burst of rage against the Censor will be all the fruit of the Reprimand For what concerns Confession behold the method which I judge the fittest for these Quarters of the East where the License of Sin is very great and the use of Penance very rare When a Person harden'd in a long habit of Vice shall come to Confession exhort him to take three or four days time of preparation to examine his Conscience throughly and for the assistance of his memory cause him to write down the Sins which he has observ'd in all the Course of his Life from his Childhood to that present time Being thus dispos'd after he has made his Confession it will not be convenient that you shou'd be too hasty in giving him absolution But it will be profitable to him to retire two or three days and abstain from his ordinary conversation and dealings with men and to excite himself to sorrow for his sins in consideration of the love of God which will render his Sacramental Absolution of more efficacy to him During that little interval of retirement you shall instruct him in the way of Meditation and shall oblige him to make some meditations from the first week of Exercises You shall counsel him to practise some mortification of his Body for example to Fast or to Discipline himself which will help him to conceive a true sorr●w for his offences and to shed the tears of Penance Besides this if the Penitents have enrich'd themselves by sinister ways or if by their malitious talk they have blasted the reputation of their Neighbour cause them to make restitution of their ill-gotten Goods and make reparations of their Brethren's honour during the space of those three days If they are given to unlawful Love and are now in an actual commerce of Sin cause them to break off those Criminal ingagements and forsake the occasions of their Crime There is not any time more proper to exact from Sinnes those duties the performance of which is as necessary as it is difficult for when once their ●ervour is past away it will be in vain to demand of them the execution of their promise and perhaps you will have the trouble of seeing them fall back into the Precipice for want of removing them to a distance from it In administring the Sacrament of Penance take heed of discouraging those who begin to discover the wounds of their Souls to you by appearing too rashly and too hastily severe H●w enormous soever their Sins may be hear them not only with patience but with mildness help out even their bashfulness by testifying to them your compassion and not seeming to be amaz'd at what you hear Insinuate into them that you have heard in Confession sins of a much more crying nature and lest they shou'd despair of Pardon for their faults speak to them of the infinite Mercies of the Lord. When they declare a crime in such a manner that you may perceive they are in trouble how to speak interrupt them by letting them know that their sin is not altogether so great as they may think that by God's assistance you can heal the most mortal wounds of the Soul bid them go on without any apprehension and make no difficulty of telling all You will find some of them whom either the weakness of their Age or Sex will hinder from revealing to you their more shameful sins When you perceive that bashfulness has ty'd their tongue be before hand with them and by the way of a charitable prevention let them know that they are neither the first nor the only Persons who have fallen into disorder that those things which they want the confidence to tell you are little in comparison of what you have heard from others on the same Subject Impute some part of their offence to the corruption of Nature to the violence of the Temptation and to the unhappiness they had to be ingag'd in such Occasions and pressing Circumstances where their fall was almost unavoidable In fine I must advertise you that to remove from such persons that unseasonable shame-fac'dness which keeps them silent from such Persons I say whom the Devil has made as bashful after a Crime as they were impudent before it it may be necessary sometimes to discover to them in general the frailties of our own past Lives

who regard nothing but the Cross And the excess of those delights was such that he was often forc'd to desire the Divine Goodness to moderate them according to what himself testifies in a Letter to his Father Ignatius though written in general terms and in the third person Having related what he had perform'd in the Coast of the Fishery I have no more to add says he concerning this Country but only that they who come hither to labour in the Salvation of Idolaters receive so much Consolation from above that if there be a perfect Joy on Earth 't is that they feel He goes on I have sometimes heard a Man saying thus to God O my Lord give me not so much comfort in this life or if by an excess of Mercy th●u wilt heap it on me take me to thy self and make me partaker of thy Glory for 't is too great a punishment to live without the sight of thee A year and more was already past since Xavier had labour'd in the Conversion of the Paravas and in all this time his two Companions Paul de Camerine and Francis Mansilla were not come to his assistance though they had been arriv'd at Goa some months since The number of Christians daily multiplying to a Prodigy and one only Priest not being sufficient to cultivate so many new Converts in the Faith or advance them in Christian Piety the Saint thought it his duty to look out for succour And besides having selected some young Men well natur'd and of a good Understanding qualify'd for the Studies of Divinity and Humane Sciences who being themselves well model'd might return with him to instruct their Country-men he was of Opinion that he ought to conduct them himself without deferring his Voyage any longer On these con●iderations he put to Sea on his return about the conclusion of the year 1543. and having got to Cochin by Mid Ianuary he arriv'd at Goa not long after For the better understanding of what relates to the Education of those young Indians whom Xavier brought it will be necessary to trace that matter from its Original Before the coming of Father Francis to the Indies Christianity had made but little progress in those Countries and of an infinite number of Pagans inhabiting the Isle of Goa and the parts adjoining scarce any Man thought of forsaking his Idolatry In the year 1541 Iames de Borba a Portuguese Preacher and Divine whom King Iohn the Third had sent to India searching out the cause of so great a misfortune found that it was not only because the Europeans cou'd not easily learn the Indian Tongue but also because if an Indian happen'd to be converted they exercis'd no Charity towards him and that the Children of the Faithful who dy'd poor were destitute of succour in their wants He gave notice of this to the Grand Vicar Michael Vaz to the Auditour General Pedro Fernandez to the Deputy●Governour Rodriguez de Castel Blanco and to the Secretary of State Cosmo Ann●z who were all of them his particular Friends and vertuous Men. These being in the Government consider'd of the means to remedy the growing evil the Foundation of which had been discover'd to them by Borba and he himself excited the people to be instrumental in so good a work For one day preaching he passionately bemoan'd the damnation of so many Indians and charg'd it on the Conscience of his Auditory that the Salvation of that Idolatrous People depended in some sort on them I pretend not said he that you shou'd go your selves to the conquest of Souls nor learn barbarous Languages on purpose to labour in the Conversion of Gentiles What I beg of you in the name of Jesus Christ is that each of you wou'd contribute something towards the maintenance of the new Christians You will perform by that what it is not in your power to do by the preaching of the Gospel and gain by your temporal goods those immortal Souls for which the Saviour of the World has shed his Blood. The holy Spirit who had inspir'd his Tongue gave efficacy to his Words by touching the Hearts of those who heard them Many of them being joyn'd together it was resolv'd to form a Company which shou'd provide for the subsistence of those young Indians newly converted and that Society at first was call'd the Brother-hood of St. Mary of the 〈◊〉 or Illumination from the name of that Church where the Fraternity assembled to regulate that new Establishment 'T is true that as great works are not accomplish'd all at once in the beginning of this there was only founded a small Seminary for the Children of Goa and those of the Neighbour-hood but the Revenues were increas'd so much afterwards by the liberality of Don Estevan de Gama Governour of the Indies and by the bounty of Iohn the Third King of Portugal that all the Idolatrous Children who turn'd Christians of what Country soever were receiv'd into it There was also a Fund sufficient for the building a fair House and a magnificent Church in a larger Plot and the Seminary over which Borba presided was then call'd The Seminary of holy Faith. Matters being thus dispos'd above threescore Children of divers Kingdoms and nine or ten different Languages were assembled to be educated in Piety and Learning But it was soon perceiv'd that these Children wanted Masters capable of instructing and forming them according to the intention of the Institute God Almighty had pre-ordain'd the Seminary of Holy Faith for the Society of Iesus and it was by a particular disposition of the Divine Providence that the same year wherein the Seminary was establish'd brought over the sons of Ignatius to the Indies Accordingly when Xavier first arriv'd at Goa Borba offer'd him the conduct of this new Establishment and us'd his best endeavours to ingage him in it Xavier who found an inward call to something more important and who already was conceiving in his Mind the Conversion of a Heathen World wou'd not co●p himself up within a Town but in his secret intentions design'd one of his Companions for that employment which was pre●ented to himself In the mean time Borba wrote into Portugal to Simon R●driguez and earnestly desir'd from him some Fathers of the new Society for whom he said the Almighty had prepar'd a House in the new World before their coming During these Transactions Paul de Camerin and Francis Mansilla arriv'd at Goa from Mozambique Borba retain'd them both in the Seminary by permission from the Viceroy and that was the reason why they follow'd not Father Xavier to the Coast of Fishery Xavier put into the Seminary those young Indians whom he had brought along with him and whatever want he had otherwise of his Companions he gave the charge of the Seminarists to Father Paul de Camerin at the request of Borba who had the chief Authority in the Seminary For it was not till the year 1548 after the death of Borba

for the love of whom I undertake this Voyage that if there shou'd only pass this way some little Bark of Malacca I shou'd go aboard without the least deliberation All my hope is in God and I conjure you by his Love to remember always in your Prayers so great a sinner as my self Though his intentions in coming to Meliapor were only to receive the instructions of Heaven in his solitude yet he employ'd some part of his time in the good of others His holy Life gave a lustre and value to his Discourse and the sight of him alone was of efficacy to touch the Heart The people had receiv'd it as a Maxim That whoever follow'd not the Counsel of Father Francis shou'd dye an Enemy of God. And they related the unhappy end of some sinners who being urg'd by Xavier to make a speedy Repentance had deserr'd the work of their Conversion This popular Opinion contributed much to the change of Manners in the Town and the fear of a disastrous death serv'd frequently to break off in one moment the criminal commerce of many years There was in Meliapor a Portuguese Gentlemen who liv'd a debauch'd and scandalous life His House was a Seraglio in little and the greatest part of his business was making a Collection of beautiful Slaves Xavier went one day to visit him about Dinner time Are you willing said the Father that we shou'd begin an acquaintance by dining together The Portuguese was somewhat discompos'd both at the Visit and the Compliment yet he forc'd himself into good humour and made shew of being very glad of the honour which the Father had done him While they were at Table Xavier spoke not one word to him concerning his debauchery and only entertain'd him with ordinary talk though they had been serv'd by young Damsels whose Habit was not over modest and whose Air was very impudent He continu'd in the same way he had began after they were risen from Dinner and in conclusion took his leave without making him the least reproach The Gentleman surpris'd at the conduct of Father Francis believ'd his silence to be a bad omen to him and that he had nothing else to expect but an unhappy Death and a more unhappy Eternity In this thought he went with all diligence to find the Father and falling down before him Tour silence said he has spoken pow'rfully to my Heart I have not enjoy'd one moment of repose since you parted from me Ah Father if my everlasting Damnation be not already sfix'd I put my self into your hands do with me what you shall judge necessary for the Salvation of my Soul behold me ready to pay you a blind obedience Xavier embrac'd him and after he had given him to understand that the mercies of the Lord are infinite that it is our duty never to despair that he who sometimes refuses to Sinners the hour of repentance always grants pardon to the Penitent he caus'd him to put away those occasions of his sin and dispos'd him to a general Confession the fruit of which was a chast and Christian Life In short the Father did what he cou'd desire to be done at Meliapore and Witnesses of known Integrity have depos'd on Oath that he left the Town so different from what it was at his coming thither that it was hardly to be known for the same place which also gave him so entire a satisfaction that giving it a thousand Benedictions he said that there was not in all the Indies a more Christian Town And at the same time he Prophecy'd that one day it shou'd become flourishing and wealthy which Prediction was accomplish'd some few years afterward Though all these Conversions drew the publick veneration on Father Francis it seem'd that God took pleasure in making the name of his Servant yet more illustrious by certain wonderful events A Merchant of Meliapore being just ready to imbark for Malacca went to take his leave of him In receiving his blessing he beg'd of him some little token of his friendship The Father who was very poor cou'd find nothing to give him but the Chaplet which was hanging at his neck This Chaplet said he to the Merchant shall not be unprofitable to you provided you repose your trust in the Virgin Mary The Merchant went away in full assurance of the Divine Protection and without fear of Pyrates Winds or Rocks but God wou'd make a tryal of his Faith. He had already almost cross'd without the least hazard the great Gulph which is betwixt Meliapore and Malacca when suddenly there blew a furious Storm the Sails were torn the Rudder broken and the Mast came by the Boord and the Vessel afterwards being driven against the Rocks was split The greatest part of the Seamen and Passengers were drown'd some of them held upon the Rocks where they were cast away and the Merchant himself was of that number But being upon the wide Sea and not having wherewithal to supply Nature to avoid dying by hunger they took a resolution which only despair cou'd have inspir'd having gather'd up some floating Planks of their wreck'd Vessel and joyning them together the best they cou'd they put themselves upon th●m and abandon'd their safety to the mercy of the Waves without other hope than of lighting on some current which might possibly carry them on shore The Merchant full of confidence in the Blessed Virgin had still preserv'd the Chaplet of Xavier and fear'd not drowning while he held it in his hand The float of Planks was hardly adrift upon the waves when he found he was transported out of himself and believ'd he was at Meliapore with Father Francis. Returning from his extasie he was strangely surpriz'd to find himself on an unknown Coast and not to see about him the Companions of his Fortunes nor the Planks to which he had intrusted his Life He understood from some People who casually came that way that it was the Coast of Negapatan and in a transport mix'd with joy and amazement he told them in how miraculous a manner God had deliver'd him from death Another Portuguese by profession a Souldier call'd Ierome Fernandez de Mendoza receiv'd a considerable assistance from Xavier in a different manner but full as marvelous Fernandez having put off from the Coast of Cormandel in a Ship belonging to him wherein was all his wealth to go to another Coast more westward was taken near the Cape of Comorin by the Malabar Pyrates equally covetous and cruel To save his life in losing his goods he threw himself into the Sea and was happy enough in spight of his ill fortune to swim to land on the Coast of Meliapore Meeting there Father Francis he related his misfortune to him and beg'd an Alms. The Father was almost sorry at that time for his being so poor himself that he had not wherewithal to relieve the miserable man yet he put his hand into his Pocket as if he were searching there for