martyrdom, they threw themselves in crowds into the pagodas, and there freely rendered homage to their ancient divinities. But the persecutors were not satisfied with this equivocal token of their return to paganism, seeing how little those persons were to be depended on who had already shown such instability of character. They, therefore, marked them on the shoulder as worshippers of Vishnoo," which they believed would conciliate that god, and insure his protection, both for these miserable apostates, and for the country. The native Christians were not the only sufferers on this occasion, two Jesuits being apprehended and thrown into prison. One, who had been ill some time before, died in confinement : the other was set at liberty on condition of his quitting the kingdom. All the Christian churches were pulled down; the exercise of religious ordinances was every where prohibited; and for a long time after, neither the Jesuits, nor any other orders of the Romish Church, were allowed to re-establish the mission of Tanjore. A. D. 1701. torian's just 6. The remarks of M. Norbert upon the re- Romish hissult of this persecution are much to the purpose. remarks on He says, That the Church of Jesus Christ this event. should be persecuted, is not to be wondered for she teaches nothing that can please corrupt human nature. She promulgates a law that tolerates no strange gods, but, on the contrary, insists upon their utter demolition. At all times have the truths that she has announced at; 7 This was done with an iron instrument, on which was engraved the image of the god. It was made red hot, and applied to the shoulder, in a manner similar to the mode of marking criminals in Europe who were condemned to the galleys. CHAP. drawn down upon her the enmity of pagans. Those whose errors she has combated have almost invariably become her irreconcilable enemies. But all the efforts of the most cruel persecutors have served only to render the Church more flourishing. The blood of martyrs that flowed in torrents over infidel lands, became as precious seed from which other martyrs sprang. Several of the fathers have observed, that the Church of Christ has always been so manifestly under the protection of Heaven, that she has never gathered more fruits, and never shone with greater brilliancy, than in times of persecution. It is, then, worthy of inquiry, how it happened that a similar effect did not follow from the present persecution? Why, among a vast number of natives said to have been converted to the faith, and whose conversion was so much vaunted; why did so few refuse, on the first threatening of persecution, basely to desert their faith, and return to the temples of idols? How was it that none were found faithful enough to make a public confession of their creed, and seal with their blood the vows they had voluntarily made at their baptism? If we are to believe the father Tachard indeed, no less than twelve thousand converts confessed the name of Jesus in this persecution. But it is justly remarked, that such a fact required much more for its confirmation than the air of assurance with which it was proclaimed by one, who has shown so little scruple in asserting what it was his own wish, and for the interest of his order, to have believed. Not indeed that he stands alone in these shameful attempts to impose on the pub 8 Lettres édifiantes, &c. Letter to father de la Chaize. lic. A father Martin, and several other monks, were equally zealous in this dishonest attempt to uphold the character of their order. How much more becoming the sacred office of Christian missionaries would it have been, to have groaned in secret before the throne of grace, over the multitudes whom their intemperate zeal had caused to apostatize from the faith.-Thus far this Romish missionary, and his observations commend themselves to the devout feeling and right mind of every Christian. The object of the Jesuits in raising these imaginary trophies on the very ruins of their church which they had caused to be laid prostrate, it is not difficult to divine. We have remarked how important it was for them to stand well with the Pope; and nothing could have tended more to depreciate them in his estimation, and to confirm the unfavourable accounts which he had received of their general proceedings, than a faithful representation of their temerity and its consequences on the present occasion. But they could not long conceal from the pontiff, Clement XI. the calamities that had been endured by the Christians, and the injury sustained by the Roman Church, in the kingdom of Tanjore. A. D. 1701. A. D. 1702. 7. Seeing how totally the Jesuits disregarded the papal remonstrances and briefs, the Pope Cardinal de determined at length to send a legate to India, possessed of sufficient ability, and invested with 9 There are several letters from this Missionary, in the Lettres, &c. to fathers de la Chaize, le Gobien, &c. in which he does not hesitate to represent the Malabar Christians as a perfect image of the primitive Church, by their constancy in the faith, and their patience under all sufferings in the cause of Jesus Christ. Of this we have seen a specimen in the converts of Tanjore; and another of the same character will soon be given upon the testimony of a Jesuit Missionary. Tournon sent to In dia and China, as papal Legate. IV. CHAP. authority, to check the growing evil, and accomplish all the wishes of the " Holy See." The person selected for this important mission was the Cardinal de Tournon, a man of understanding and discretion, combined with a firmness and energy of character, that seemed peculiarly to fit him for the undertaking. The Pope appointed him his commissary and apostolic visitor to India and China, with the full powers of a Legate à latere, which constituted him in all respects the Pope's representative. A. D. 1703. Jesuits receive him at Pondi he is soon edict He embarked, Feb. 9th 1703, with the sanction of the King of France, and on a vessel of war appointed by that monarch to convey him to India. They sailed in company with another vessel of the same description; and they arrived together at Pondicherry, November 6th of the same year. Besides the briefs investing him with supreme ecclesiastical authority in the East, the cardinal carried others, addressed to the Archbishop of Goa and other prelates in India and China, acquainting them with the powers of the Legate, and exhorting them to render him due obedience, and assist him in the execution of his office. 8. When the cardinal landed at Pondicherry, he was invited to take up his abode with the cherry, but Jesuits, who received him with hospitality. He constrained lost no time in entering upon the questions that to issue an had occasioned so much alarm at Rome, and against their listened with attention to the Jesuits' account proceedof their mode of celebrating the rites of the church. At first, upon their ex parte statement, he was inclined to think that they had acted more judiciously than the Capuchins: but upon further investigation he was undeceived, and then he began to feel the embarrassment of his ings. situation as their guest. Seeing the extensive influence that the Jesuits had acquired, and feeling the personal attentions they had shown him, he was reluctant to do any thing to give them offence: but his sense of duty soon prevailed over his affections and his fears. Such was the enormity of the abuses which had been introduced, that he felt constrained in the following year to issue an edict against them. When he gave this edict to the Jesuits to publish through the churches, and exhorted them to prepare the christians to obey its injunctions, they hesitated to comply, and earnestly entreated him to suspend the censures it contained. Yielding to their importunity, he consented to suspend the edict for three years. This term, however, did not satisfy the Jesuits; but the Legate refused to prolong it, remarking, that he was afraid he had already burdened his conscience with a heavy load by his excess of lenity towards them. A. D. 1704. sition to misrepre at Rome. 9. Their proceedings now opened his eyes Their vioto the full extent of their impiety and arro- lent oppogance. Since he refused to exercise his au- him, and thority exclusively for the benefit of their order, sentations they determined at once to set him and his credentials at naught. They presumed to assert, that he had no jurisdiction at Pondicherry; that, however a Legate might command Jesuits in France, he had no right to control them in their foreign missions. But, notwithstanding this tone of independence, they did not rest in its assumption; for they were all the while carrying forward, with artifice and activity, measures which they hoped would strengthen their cause at Rome against the Legate. For this purpose, Father Tachard, who was then superior of the Jesuits in India, |