"yet more, O my God, yet more!" and Father Simon Rodriguez heard these
words distinctly; but however he importuned him to declare their meaning,
he would discover nothing at that time, till embarking for the Indies, he
revealed the mystery.

Such ideas, always present in his imagination, filled his familiar
discourses with notions of a new world, and the conversion of infidels.
While he was speaking on that subject, his face was on a fire, and the
tears came into his eyes. This was testified of him by Father Jerome
Dominic, who, before he entered into the Society, had conversed with him
at Bolognia, where a strict friendship was made betwixt them.

As Xavier was advertised of this voyage to the Indies but the day before
Mascaregnas departed, he had but time enough to piece up his cassock, bid
his friends farewell, and go to kiss the feet of our Holy Father.

Paul III., overjoyed, that under his pontificate a gate should be opened
to the gospel, in the Oriental Indies, received him with a most fatherly
affection, and excited him to assume such thoughts, as were worthy of so
high an undertaking; telling him for his encouragement, that the Eternal
Wisdom is never failing to supply us with strength, to prosecute the
labours to which it has ordained us, even though they should surpass all
human abilities. He must, indeed, prepare himself for many sufferings;
but the affairs of God succeeded not but by the ways of suffering, and
that none could pretend to the honour of an apostleship, but by treading
in the steps of the apostles, whose lives were but one continual cross,
and a daily death; that heaven had employed him in the mission of St
Thomas, the apostle of the Indies, for the conquest of souls; that it
became him to labour generously, in reviving the faith in those
countries, where it had been planted by that great apostle; and that if