he faithful: give not up
to the fury of these wolves that flock, of which thou hast appointed me
the pastor; that these new Christians, who are yet so feeble in the
faith, may not repent their embracing it, and that the infidels may not
have the advantage of oppressing those, who repose their confidence in
none but thee."

His prayer being ended, he arose, and inspired with a more than human
courage, which made him incapable of fear, he takes a troop of fervant
Christians, and, with a crucifix in his hand, runs with them towards the
plain, where the enemies were marching in battalia. When he arrived
within distance of being heard, he stopped and said to them, in a
threatening voice, "I forbid you, in the name of the living God, to pass
farther, and on his part, command you to return the way you came."

These few words cast a terror into the minds of those soldiers who were
at the head of the army; they remained confounded, and without motion.
They, who marched after them, seeing the foremost advanced not, asked the
reason of it; answer was returned from the first ranks, that they had
before their eyes an unknown person habited in black, of a more than
human stature, of a terrible aspect, and darting fire from his eyes. The
most hardy were desirous to satisfy themselves concerning what was told
them; they were seized with amazement at the sight, and all of them fled
with a precipitate confusion.

The new Christians who had followed Xavier, ran to declare to the
neighbouring villages this wonderful event. The fame of it was suddenly
spread abroad, and the king, who was marching towards the enemy with
great speed, heard the report of it on his way. He caused Xavier to be
brought into his presence, and embraced him as the redeemer of
Travancore; and after he had publicly thanked him for so eminent a
service, he said thus to him: "I am called the Great Monarch; and, from
henceforth, you shall be called the Great Father."

The saint gave the king to understand, that it was only Jesus Christ to
whom he ought to pay his acknowledgments; and, as for himself, he ought
only to be regarded as a weak instrument, who could do nothing of his own
power. The Pagan king comprehended nothing of his meaning; and the two
vices which are the common obstacles to the conversion of the great, that
is to say, the concupiscence of the flesh, and pride of heart, hindered
him afterwards from embracing of the faith; which notwithstanding, he
cau