528 DESIGNS OF PROVIDENCE. 



LIB. viz. ^3 wor l(^ I rneane in Europe, but one head and temporal! 

 Lord, as the holy Doctors do note, whereby the Gospel 

 might more easily be imparted to so many people and 

 nations. Even so hath it happened at the Indies, where 

 having given the knowledge of Christ to the Monarchs of 

 so many Kingdomes, it was a meanes that afterwards the 

 knowledge of the gospell was imparted to all the people : 

 yea, there is herein a speciall thinge to be observed, that as 

 the Lordes of Cuzco and Mexico conquered new landes, so 

 they brought in their owne language, for although there 

 were (as at this day) great diuersitie of tongues, yet the 

 courtlie speech of Cuzco did, and doth at this day, runne 

 above a thousand leagues, and that of Mexico did not 

 extend farre lesse, which hath not beene of small import 

 ance, but hath much profited in making the preaching 

 easie at such a time, when as the preachers had not the 

 gift of many tongues, as in old tymes. He that woulde 

 knowe what a helpe it hath beene for the conversion of this 

 people in these two greate Empyres, and the greate diffi- 

 cultie they haue founde to reduce those Indians to Christ, 

 which acknowledge no Soueraigne Lord, let him goe to 

 Florida, Brasil, the Andes, 1 and many other places, where 

 they have not prevailed so much by their preaching in fiftie 

 yeares, as they have done in Peru and Newe Spaine in lesse 

 than five. If they will impute the cause to the riches of 

 the countrie, I will not altogether denie it. Yet were it 

 impossible to have so great wealth, and to bee able to pre 

 serve it, if there had not beene a Monarchic. This is also 

 a worke of God in this age, that we, Preachers of the 

 gospell being so colde and without zeale, Merchants and 

 Soldiers, with the heat of covetousness and desire of command, 

 search and discouer newe people whither wee passe with our 

 August., commodities. For as Saint Austin saith, the Prophesie of 

 evangel., ^saias is fulfilled, in that the Church of Christ is extended, 



xxxvi. 



1 Antis. Not the mountains, but the Peruvian province of Anti- 



suyu. the wild forests to the eastward of the Andes. 



