Xavier then resented this usage of his friends, and could not forbear to complain publicly of it.  “Where are those people,” said he, “who dare to confine the power of Almighty God, and have so mean an apprehension of our Saviour’s love and grace?  Are there any hearts hard enough to resist the influences of the Most High, when it pleases him to soften and to change them?  Can they stand in opposition to that gentle, and yet commanding force, which can make the dry bones live, and raise up children to Abraham from stones?  What!  Shall he, who has subjected the whole world to the cross, by the ministry of the apostles, shall he exempt from that subjection this petty corner of the universe?  Shall then the Isle del Moro be the only place, which shall receive no benefit of redemption?  And when Jesus Christ has offered to the eternal Father, all the nations of the earth as his inheritance, were these people excepted out of the donation?  I acknowledge them to be very barbarous and brutal; and let it be granted they were more inhuman than they are, it is because I can do nothing of myself, that I have the better hopes of them.  I can do all things in Him who strengthens me, and from whom alone proceeds the strength of those who labour in the gospel.”

He added, “That other less savage nations would never want for preachers; that these only isles remained for him to cultivate, since no other man would undertake them.”  In sequel, suffering himself to be transported with a kind of holy choler, “If these isles,” pursued he, “abounded with precious woods and mines of gold, the Christians would have the courage to go thither, and all the dangers of the world would not be able to affright them; they are base and fearful because there are only souls to purchase:  And shall it then be said, that charity is less daring than avarice?  You tell me they will take away my life, either by the sword or poison; but those are favours too great for such a sinner as I am to expect from heaven; yet I dare confidently say, that whatever torment or death they prepare for me, I am ready to suffer a thousand times more for the salvation of one only soul.  If I should happen to die by their hands, who knows but all of them might receive the faith? for it is most certain, that since the primitive times of the church, the seed of the gospel has made a larger increase in the fields of paganism, by the blood of martyrs, than by the sweat of missioners.”

He concluded his discourse, by telling them, “That there was nothing really to fear in his undertaking; that God had called him to the isles del Moro; and that man should not hinder him from obeying the voice of God.”  His discourse made such impressions on their hearts, that not only the decree against his passage was revoked, but many offered themselves to accompany him in that voyage, through all the dangers which seemed to threaten him.

Having thus disengaged himself from all the incumbrances of his voyage, he embarked with some of his friends, passing through the tears of the people, who attended him to the shore, without expectation of seeing him again.  Before he set sail, he wrote to the Fathers of the company at Rome, to make them acquainted with his voyage.