however, commanded him to cease for the present, and he obeyed. There
were many other special instances which, for the sake of brevity,
I here omit. Not the least affecting among them were those where
there was manifested the eternal predestination which has mercifully
provided for many at the hour of death the resource of baptism.

Our ministries in behalf of the Spaniards were no less fervent at this
time. They repaired in great numbers to our fathers, especially during
Lent and on days of jubilee, when the results of their instruction
were most apparent. There were, very commonly, consultations in cases
of conscience, not only with laymen, but with ecclesiastics, and
religious, and even with the bishop--who hardly took any step without
the advice of our fathers, although he was a most learned and discreet
prelate. It must have been from seeing that persons of so high standing
held our Society in so great esteem that the people conceived the idea,
and made the resolve, of coming to our house for their confessions;
and for that very reason they felt under obligation to lead better
lives. With regard to this, one man said that during our absence he
had endured many inward struggles on account of not having made his
confession to Ours; but that, after he had done so, he had, through
the mercy of God, overcome them all. In short, no matter of weight or
importance arose where the advice of the Society was not sought with
confidence and truth, especially when it was seen that the bishop had
such confidence in us--which his Lordship manifested on many public
occasions and before many people, by words and deeds which could not
then be heard or now repeated, without confusion and embarrassment.

Our sermons in the cathedral and in our own church were regular
and frequent, and were all attended by the right reverend bishop,
who also honored our church with a pontifical mass for our feast