Sources of information respecting Romish Missions

The present chapter will be devoted to a far wider subject than the personal history of Francis Xavier, namely, the character and success of Romish Missions in general. We have seen Xavier's confession, after seven years' residence in India, of the failure of Romish Missions in his day. He undoubtedly communicated a new impulse to Romish Missions. But it is a question whether this new era was for good or for evil, in respect of the progress of Christian truth throughout the world. The history of Romish Missions before the era of Jesuitism is very scanty. Fabricius mentions a Latin work of authority on this subject, by Raymond Caron ; but I have not been able to meet with that book.

The Jesuits undoubtedly introduced practices and dissensions into the Mission field, which were in the highest degree disgraceful and disastrous to the cause.

It will be well to commence our inquiry by some reference to the sources from which the history of Romish Missions may be obtained. The earliest original authorities from the time of Xavier are the volumes of Letters of Missionaries, published from time to time in various countries of Europe. I have already shown the suspicious character which attaches to these works. Xavier's letters are distinguished from such collections by their general sobriety and ingenuous disclosures, as well as by their number and variety. All that could be found of his writings have been presented to us in their genuine condition, having been collected from time to time, and published by careful editors. No such materials have appeared of any other Romish Missionary.