children to Abraham from stones? What! Shall he, who has subjected the
whole world to the cross, by the ministry of the apostles, shall he
exempt from that subjection this petty corner of the universe? Shall then
the Isle del Moro be the only place, which shall receive no benefit of
redemption? And when Jesus Christ has offered to the eternal Father, all
the nations of the earth as his inheritance, were these people excepted
out of the donation? I acknowledge them to be very barbarous and brutal;
and let it be granted they were more inhuman than they are, it is because
I can do nothing of myself, that I have the better hopes of them. I can
do all things in Him who strengthens me, and from whom alone proceeds the
strength of those who labour in the gospel."

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."