continued fever; and it may be said, that his distemper was the hand of
heaven, which had ordained another in his stead for the mission of the
Indies. For sometimes that which appears but chance, or a purely natural
effect in the lives of men, is a disposition of the Divine Providence
which moves by secret ways to its own proposed ends; and is pleased to
execute those designs, by means as easy as they are powerful.

Mascaregnas, who had finished his embassy, and was desirous to carry with
him into Portugal the second missioner who had been promised him, was
within a day of his departure, when Bobadilla arrived. Ignatius seeing
him in no condition to undertake a voyage, applied himself to God for his
direction, in the choice of one to fill his place, or rather to make
choice of him whom God had chosen; for he was immediately enlightened
from above, and made to understand, that Xavier was that vessel of
election. He called for him at the same instant, and being filled with
the Divine Spirit, "Xavier," said he, "I had named Bobadilla for the
Indies, but the Almighty has nominated you this day. I declare it to you
from the vicar of Jesus Christ. Receive an employment committed to your
charge by his Holiness, and delivered by my mouth, as if it were
conferred on you by our blessed Saviour in person. And rejoice for your
finding an opportunity, to satisfy that fervent desire, which we all
have, of carrying the faith into remote countries. You have not here a
narrow Palestine, or a province of Asia, in prospect, but a vast extent
of ground, and innumerable kingdoms. An entire world is reserved for your
endeavours, and nothing but so large a field is worthy of your courage
and your zeal. Go, my brother, where the voice of God has called you;
where the Holy See has sent you, and kindle those unknown nations, with
the flame that burns within you."

Xavier, wholly confounded in himself with these expressions of Ignatius,