532 FRUITS OP CONVERSION. 



LIB. vii. thereof, it is in caves, arid on the toppes of mountaines, 

 and in secret places, farre from the name and communion 

 of Christians. The Soveraigne Lord be blessed for his 

 great mercies, and for the glory of his holy name. And in 

 truth, if they did governe this people, temporally and 

 spiritually, in such sort as the law of lesus Christ hath set 

 it downe, with a mild yoake and light burthen, and that 

 they would impose no more vppon them then they can 

 well beare, as the letters patents of the good Emperour 

 of happy memorie doe command, and that they would 

 employ halfe the care they have to make profite of these 

 poore men s sweats and labours, for the health of their 

 soules, it were the most peaceable and happy Christian 

 part of all the world. But our sinnes are often an occasion 

 that God doth not impart his graces so abundantly as he 

 would. Yet I will say one thing, which I holde for truth, 

 that although the first entry of the Gospel hath not beene 

 accompanied (in many places), with such sinceritie and 

 Christian meanes as they should have vsed; yet God, of 

 his bounty, hath drawn good from this evill, and hath made 

 the subiection of the Indians a perfect remedie for their 

 salvation. Let vs consider a little what hath beene newly 

 converted in our time to the Christian Religion as well 

 in the East as in the West, and how little suretie and 

 perseverance in the faith and Christian religion there hath 

 beene, in places where the new converted have had full 

 libertie to dispose of themselves, according to their free 

 will. Christianitie, without doubt, augments and in- 

 creaseth, and brings forth daily more fruite among the 

 Indian slaves : and contrariwise ruin is threatened in other 

 partes where have beene more happy beginnings. And 

 although the beginnings at the West Indies have beene 

 laboursome, yet our Lord hath speedily sent good worke- 

 men and his faithfull Ministers, holy men and Apostolical, 

 as Friar Martin de Valencia, of the order of S. Francis, 



