THIRD MILLENNIUM LIBRARY
BIOHISTORY
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THIRD MILLENNIUM LIBRARY BIOHISTORY |
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ANSKAR CHAPTER I.
Having enjoyed for a long time, through God’s favor, the services of
their good pastor; and having been instructed by his preaching and example and
supported by his merits and intercessions, we, who have now been deprived of
his presence, have carefully considered how far we ought to grieve on our own
account and how far we ought to give thanks on his behalf. For the true
worshipper of God, who abstains from every evil deed and continues simple and
unassuming, creates in others the assurance that when he is taken away he will
speedily reach Him whom he has loved with utmost devotion and to whom his
thoughts have ever been directed. For this reason we believe that we ought
indeed to give thanks for the recompense that has been granted to him; whilst,
in view of our own loss, we must needs pray that we who, as men, have been
deprived of so great a pastor, may be found worthy to receive divine help from
heaven. Amid the difficult circumstances in which we are placed we rightly
perceive what we have lost, and understand what reason we have to grieve on our
own behalf.
Whilst he was still alive it seemed as though we lacked nothing, for in
him we rejoiced to possess everything. For kings respected his holiness, the
pastors of the churches venerated him, the clergy imitated him, and all the
people admired him. And whilst all men declared him to be holy and upright, we,
as the body of which he was the head, were respected and praised on account of
his goodness. Now that we are deprived of so great a benefit we dare not have
regard to our own merits, but we fear rather lest, as a result of our sins, we
should be exposed to the teeth of wolves: for the world, which lieth in evil, seeks to overthrow that which is just and
holy, rather than to build up that which is deserving of veneration. And the
devil, who is the enemy of the human race, when he sees that anyone is leading
a specially devout and religious life, endeavors the more to create obstacles
so that he may destroy what is holy, and may by crafty persuasion and wicked
endeavor take it away so that it be not imitated by others. As then we sigh
amidst these perils, and for the time being are in fear of manifold evils, we
know that we must seek the help of God whose compassion will not,
we believe, fail despite our unworthiness. Accordingly with suppliant
hearts we beseech and implore your holiness that you will remember and deign to
intercede before God on our behalf that His compassion fail us not, but that,
as our most kind helper, He may drive all evil away from us, and be to us a
refuge in tribulation, and that He may not desert those who hope in Him.
Presuming then on His mercy and placing all our hope in His compassion, we
leave to His discretion what we ought to obtain for ourselves and how we ought
hereafter to live, and with our whole heart and mind we praise and glorify His
grace for that He granted us to enjoy for a time such a patron. We render great
thanks to your most reverend paternity and holiness that by your kindness and
consent we have been thought worthy to have such a father. If anyone should
desire to imitate his example he will enjoy, while upon earth, the society of
heaven; if any shall recall his teaching, he will be able to walk without
failing in the way of God's commandments; if any shall listen to his
exhortations, he will take pains to guard against the snares of the enemy.
We have decided to write down the memorials of this most holy father and
to make known to you how he lived with us and what we know concerning him, in
order that you may, with us, praise the divine mercy that was manifested in
this blessed man and that his sacred devotion may show the way of salvation to
those who are willing to imitate him.
CHAPTER II.
His sanctity and piety tended to increase from his earliest youth and at
each stage in his life he tended to increase in holiness. For in his infancy he
received from heaven spiritual revelations, and by the grace of the Lord he
frequently received celestial visits which admonished him to turn away his
thoughts from things on earth and to keep his whole heart open to heavenly
influences.
He had made known these revelations to certain of us who were closely
associated with him on condition that they were declared to no one during his
life time. Now that he is dead we have decided to insert these revelations in
this work for the praise of God, that those who read may know with what great
grace the Lord deigned to train his servant from his earliest age, and
afterwards to render him illustrious by means of his meritorious actions.
He used to relate that when he was a boy about five years old, his
mother, who feared God and was very religious, died, and that soon afterward
his father, sent him to school to learn his letters. When he had taken his
place he began, as boys of that age are wont to do, to act in a childish way
with the boys of his own age, and to give attention to foolish talk and jests
rather than to learning. When he had thus given himself up to boyish levity, he
had a vision during the night in which he appeared to be in a miry and slippery
place, from which he could not escape except with great difficulty; beside him
was a delightful path on which he saw a matron advancing, who was distinguished
by her beauty and nobility, and was followed by many other women clothed in
white, with whom was his mother. When he recognized her he wished to run to
her, but he could not easily emerge from that miry and slippery place. When the
women drew near to him, the one who appeared to be the mistress of the rest and
whom he confidently believed to be the Holy Mary, said to him: “My son, do you
wish to come to your mother?” and when he replied that he eagerly desired to do
so; she answered: “If you desire to share our companionship, you must flee from
every kind of vanity, and put away childish jests and have regard to the
seriousness of life; for we hate everything that is vain and unprofitable, nor
can anyone be with us who has delight in such things”.
Immediately after this vision he began to be serious and to avoid
childish associations, and to devote himself more constantly to reading and
meditation and other useful occupations, so that his companions marveled
greatly that his manner of life had so suddenly changed.
CHAPTER III.
When later on he received from you the tonsure and had begun to grow up
under monastic teaching, human weakness came upon him and the strength of his
early resolve began to weaken. Meanwhile he happened to hear of the death of
the most excellent Emperor Charles, whom he had before seen in power and honor,
and who, as he had heard, had governed the kingdom in a praiseworthy manner and
with great prudence. The death of so great an emperor affected him with fear
and horror, and he began to return to his former state of mind and to recall
the words of admonition uttered by the holy Mother of God.
Accordingly he put aside all levity and began to languish with a
divinely-inspired remorse; and, devoting himself wholly to the service of God,
he gave attention to prayer, watching and fasting. By these virtuous exercises
he became a true athlete of God, and, as a result of his persistent severity,
the world became dead to him and he to the world.
When the Day of Pentecost came, the grace of the Holy Spirit, which was
at this time poured forth upon the apostles, enlightened and refreshed his
mind—so we believe; and the same night he saw in a vision that he was about to
encounter sudden death when, in the very act of dying, he summoned to his aid
the holy apostle Peter and the blessed John the Baptist. When, as it seemed to
him, his soul was in the act of leaving his body and was taking to itself
another and very beautiful kind of body which was no longer subject to death,
and from which all disquiet was absent, at the very moment of his death and of
wondering surprise these two men appeared.
The elder of the two he recognized at once, without being told, by his
white head, his straight and thick locks, his ruddy face, his sad countenance,
his white and colored dress, and his short stature, as St. Peter. The other was
a youth taller of stature, with flowing beard, brown and curly hair, lean face,
and cheerful countenance, and was dressed in a silken robe. Him he knew to be
St. John.
These, then, stood on either side of him, and as his soul left his body
he seemed to be surrounded by an unending light which filled the whole world.
By means of this light and without any effort on his part, the saints mentioned
above led him in a strange and indescribable way till they came to a certain
place which, without making any enquiry, he knew to be the fire of purgatory,
and here they left him.
When he had suffered much and seemed to have experienced the blackest
darkness and the most enormous pressure and choking, he was deprived of all
memory and his only thought was how could so terrible a punishment exist. When
he had been tortured here for three days, as he thought—though the time seemed
to him to be more than a thousand years, because of the greatness of the
suffering—the men before-mentioned returned and stood by him with much greater
joy than before. Advancing with a yet more delightful progress they led him
through great and ineffable brightness, progressing without motion and by no
material path. To adopt his own words: “I saw”, he said, “from afar, various
ranks of saints, some nearer to me and some standing far from the east, but
looking towards it, and together praising Him who appeared in the east, whilst
some worshipped with bent heads, downcast faces and outstretched hands. When
we had arrived at the place where the light rises, we beheld four-and-twenty
elders, even as it is written in the Apocalypse, who appeared sitting in their
seats whilst leaving abundant room for others to approach. They also looked
with reverence towards the east, and offered to God unspeakable praises. The
praises of those who sang all together brought to me the most delightful
refreshment, but after I returned to my body I could by no means retain them in
my mind. In the east, where the light rises, was a marvelous brightness, an
unapproachable light of unlimited and excessive brilliance, in which was
included every splendid color and everything delightful to the eye. All the
ranks of the saints, who stood round rejoicing, derived their happiness therefrom. The brightness was of so great extent that I
could see neither beginning nor end thereof.
When I was able to look round both far and near amidst the unending
light, I could not see what was within, but saw only the outside edge;
nevertheless, I believed that He was there concerning whom Peter said, “on whom
the angels desire to look”.
From Him proceeded unlimited brightness whereby the saints far and near
were illuminated. He too was, in a sense, in all of them, and they in Him. He
surrounded everything from outside; He controlled and met the needs of
all; He protected them from above and sustained them from beneath. The sun and
the moon afforded no light there; neither was the earth nor the firmament
visible. But even this brightness was not such as to interfere with the sight
of those who gazed, but it was at once most pleasing to the eyes and brought
complete satisfaction to the mind. When I spoke of the elders sitting I meant
that in a certain sense they may be said to have sat, For there was nothing
material there, nothing possessed anybody, although there was an appearance as
of a body which I cannot describe. The beautiful light round those who were
sitting proceeded from (God) Himself and extended like a rainbow.
When, then, I had been brought by the men whom I mentioned into the presence
of this unending light, where the majesty of Almighty God was revealed to me
without need for anyone to explain, and when they and I had offered our united
adoration, a most sweet voice, the sound of which was more distinct than all
other sounds, and which seemed to me to fill the whole world, came forth from
the same divine majesty, and addressed me and said, “Go and return to Me
crowned with martyrdom”. At the sound of this voice the whole choir of saints
who were praising God became silent and adored with downcast faces. I saw
throughout no form from which these words proceeded. After hearing the voice I
became sad, because I was compelled to return to the earth; but, satisfied with
the promise that I should return, I turned to depart with the before-mentioned
leaders.
As they came and returned with me they spoke not a word, but they looked
on me with pious affection even as a mother looks upon her only son. Thus it
was that I returned to the body. In going and returning I experienced no
difficulty or delay, because we arrived at once at the place to which we went.
Though I seem to have told something of the greatest of all delights, I confess
that the pen can in no way express all of which the mind is conscious. Nor is
the mind conscious of what actually existed, for that was revealed to me which
eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor has entered into the heart of man”.
As a result of this vision, which I have described in the words which he
had himself dictated, the servant of God was both terrified and comforted, and
in the fear of the Lord he began to live more carefully, to cleave day by day
to good deeds, and to hope that by the mercy of God, in whatever way He might
choose, he might be able to obtain the crown of martyrdom.
Though the threatening sword did not bring about the martyrdom of his
body, we shall more fully explain, when we come to speak of his death, how this
promise was, by God's mercy, fulfilled by his death upon the cross which he
ever bore about in his body for the honor of Christ’s name.
CHAPTER IV.
Later on, when he had become the master of the school dedicated to St.
Peter, as he went and returned to its door, it was his custom to pray earnestly
and in secret in the oratory of St. John the Baptist. Two years after the
vision mentioned above, he had a vision in the night in which he thought that
he had turned into the oratory in order to pray, and when he had risen from
prayer a man came through the door who was tall, dressed according to Jewish
custom, and of handsome appearance. From his eyes a divine luster radiated like
unto a flame of fire. When he beheld Him he cast
aside all hesitancy and, believing that it was the Lord Christ, he ran forward
and fell at His feet. As he lay prostrate on his face He (the Lord Christ) commanded
him to rise. When he had risen and was standing reverently before Him he could
not gaze upon His face for the glorious light that flashed from His eyes. With
a soothing voice He addressed him and said: “Declare thine iniquities in order that thou mayest be justified”,
to Whom God’s servant replied, “Lord, why must I tell Thee? Thou knowest all and nothing is hid from Thee”. He replied
again: “I know all, but I will that men should confess their faults to Me in
order that they may receive forgiveness”. When he had declared to Him
everything that he had done since his earliest youth, and had then prostrated
himself in prayer, He (the Christ) stood erect before him and said: “Fear not,
for I am He that blotteth out thy iniquities”, after
which saying the figure whom he had seen in his vision retired. The man of God
rose from his sleep, and, strengthened by the assurance that his sins had been
forgiven, rejoiced with exceeding joy.
CHAPTER V.
It happened at this time, as you well know, that a certain youth in the
school named Fulbert, was struck by one of his
companions with a piece of wood, and was brought to the point of death. The
before-mentioned servant of God was greatly distressed at this, because such
carelessness had occurred amongst those under his control and whilst he was
acting as master. When the hour of the boy’s death drew nigh he was lying on a
couch, overcome by sleep, when he saw in a dream the boy's soul withdrawn from
his body and carried by angel ministers to heaven, and in a strange and
indescribable way he was allowed by God to accompany the boy’s soul. When they
had passed into heaven he saw the soul of the boy taken into a shining dwelling
and placed amongst the ranks of the martyrs. He was moreover given to
understand that, inasmuch as the boy had borne the wound inflicted upon him
with patience, and had loved his brother's soul even unto death, and had prayed
earnestly on behalf of his assailant, his patience and goodness had been
rewarded by God, and he had been placed amongst the martyr bands.
This revelation was made to him so quickly at the hour of the boy’s
death that while he was still waiting the venerable father Witmar, who at that
time shared with him the superintendence of the school, and was present and
witnessed this occurrence, roused him and told him of the death of his pupil,
whereupon he answered that he already knew of it. The Lord's grace permitted
him to see this vision in order that he might be consoled and in order that, in
view of his exceeding sorrow, the boy’s salvation might lighten his distress.
CHAPTER VI.
By these and many other revelations and visions the man of God was
divinely strengthened, and of the increase of his sanctity and goodness you
have still better proof provided by eye witnesses. We, who desire to tell of
what has happened in our midst, must first enquire for the benefit of those who
may chance to be ignorant, how he came to leave his secured position, and by
what impulse and force of circumstances, after dedicating himself to God in your
presence and promising to render obedience, he came to these parts and was
raised to the office of a bishop in our midst. We have thought that it was
necessary to write this for fear lest anyone should attribute to fickleness the
task which the man of God undertook for the saving of souls, moved by divine
compassion and by a desire to go to foreign parts. There was built in former
times in this part of Saxony the monastery which was first founded by your
authority and direction and, having by God's help been completed at a later
time, was called New Corbey, the name having been adapted from your own
dwelling place. To this place then, God's servant was first sent in company
with other brethren in order that he might perform the office of a teacher. In
this task he was found so commendable and agreeable that, by the choice of all,
he was appointed to preach the word of God to the people in church. So it came
about that in this same place he became the first master of the school and
teacher of the people.
CHAPTER VII.
After this it happened that a king named Harald, who ruled over some of
the Danes, was assailed by hatred and malignity, and was driven from his
kingdom by the other kings of the same province.
He came to his serene majesty the emperor Ludovic and asked that he
might be thought worthy to receive his help so that he might be able to regain
his kingdom. While the emperor kept him at his court he urged him, by personal
persuasion and through the instrumentality of others, to accept the Christian faith,
because there would then be a more intimate friendship between them, and a
Christian people would more readily come to his aid and to the aid of his
friends if both peoples were worshippers of the same God. At length, by the
assistance of divine grace, he brought about his conversion, and when he had
been sprinkled with the holy water of baptism he himself received him from the
sacred font and adopted him as his son. When, then, he desired to send him back
to his own land in order that he might, by his assistance, seek to recover his
dominions, he began to make diligent enquiry in order that he might find a holy
and devoted man who could go and continue with him, and who might strengthen
him and his people, and by teaching the doctrine of salvation might induce them
to receive the faith of the Lord. At a public gathering of his chief men, at
which their priests and other good men were present, the emperor referred to
this matter and earnestly begged all of them to find someone who would volunteer
for this difficult and honorable task. When they refused and said that they
knew of no one who was possessed of so great devotion as to be willing to
undertake this dangerous journey for the name of Christ, Wala,
who was at that time the much respected abbot of our monastery, stood forth and
said to the emperor that he knew a monk in his monastery who burned with zeal
for true religion and was eager to endure suffering for the name of God. He
declared, however, that he did not know whether he would be willing to undertake
this journey.
Why say more? At the king's command Anskar was summoned to the palace,
and the abbot explained to him everything that had been done, and told the
reason for his being summoned. He replied that as an obedient monk he was ready
to serve God in all things that were commanded him. He was then brought into
the presence of the emperor, who asked him whether on God's behalf and for the
sake of preaching the gospel amongst the Danish peoples, he would become the
companion of Harald, whereupon he replied that he was entirely willing.
When the abbot had further stated that he would by no means impose this
upon him as a command, but if of his own free will he chose to do it he would
be pleased and would give him his authoritative consent, he replied that he
none the less chose the task and desired by all means to carry it through. When
at length this was publicly announced, and it became known to all who lived in
the abbot’s house, many began to express astonishment at his strength of
purpose and his willingness to abandon his country and his acquaintances and
the love of the brethren with whom he had been brought up, and to visit foreign
nations and hold intercourse with unknown and barbarous peoples. Many also
deprecated his action, and assailed him with reproaches, whilst some endeavored
to divert him from his purpose, but the man of God continued steadfast in his
resolve. When the abbot went, day by day, to the palace, he remained at home
and avoided the society of all men and, choosing for himself a lonely spot in a
neighboring vineyard, he devoted his time to prayer and to reading.
There was at that time with the abbot a certain brother belonging to our
monastery named Autbertus. When Autbertus saw that he was anxious and
distressed and that each day he kept himself apart and did not associate or
speak with anyone, he began to feel pity for him, and on a certain day he went
to the place where he was sitting by himself in the vineyard and asked him
whether he really desired to undertake this journey. Anskar, who hoped that
this enquiry was not prompted by compassion, but was made with some further
object, replied: “Why is this a matter of concern to you? Do not disturb me by
making such an enquiry”. He declared that he was making no pretence, but that
he really desired to know whether he proposed to continue in the purpose which
he had formed. Then Anskar thanked him for his kindness, and said: “I am asked
whether I am willing on God’s behalf to go to pagan nations in order to preach
the gospel. So far from daring to oppose this suggestion I desire, with all my
strength, that the opportunity for going may be granted to me, and that no one
may be able to divert me from this design”.
Then the brother before-mentioned said to him: “I will never suffer you
to go alone, but I desire, for the love of God, to go with you, provided only
that you can obtain the consent of the lord abbot”. When, then, they had
ratified their agreement, Anskar presented himself to the abbot on his return
to the monastery, and explained to him that he had found a companion who, of
his own free will, desired to share his journey. When the abbot asked who it
was, and he mentioned the brother Autbertus, he was greatly astonished, as he
had never imagined that he, who belonged to a noble family and was his intimate
friend, and was regarded as the chief administrator of the monastery after
himself, would be willing to undertake such a task. Nevertheless, he summoned
him and questioned him concerning the matter. He replied that he could not bear
that Anskar should go alone, but that for the name of Christ he desired to
become his comforter and helper, should he obtain the consent of the abbot and
of the brethren. The abbot replied that he would give his consent if of his own
free will he chose to undertake this journey, but that he would not depute
anyone in his house to act as a servant unless he could be induced to go
voluntarily.
The venerable abbot did not act thus through any lack of regard for
Anskar, but because at that time it seemed to him to be abhorrent and wrong
that anyone should be compelled against his will to live amongst pagans. The
two monks were subsequently brought before the king, who was gratified by their
willingness and desire to undertake this task, and who gave them whatever was
necessary for the performance of their ministerial functions, also writing
cases, tents and other things that would be helpful and which seemed likely to
be needed on their great journey. He bade them go with Harald and commanded
them to devote the utmost care to his profession of faith and by their godly
exhortations to confirm in the faith both Harald and his companions who had
been baptized together with him, for fear lest at the instigation of the devil
they should return to their former errors, and at the same time by their
preaching to urge others to accept the Christian religion. Having been then
dismissed by the emperor they had none to render them any menial service, as no
one in the abbot’s household would go with them of his own accord, and he would
compel no one to go against his will.
Harald, to whom they had been committed, was as yet ignorant and
untaught in the faith, and was unaware how God’s servants ought to behave.
Moreover, his companions who had been but recently converted and had been
trained in a very different faith, paid them little attention. Having started
then with considerable difficulty they arrived at Cologne. At that time there
was a venerable bishop there named Hadebald. He had
compassion upon their needs and presented them with a good boat in which they
might place their possessions and in which there were two cabins which had been
suitably prepared for them. When Harald saw the boat he decided to remain with
them in it, so that he and they could each have a cabin. This tended to promote
an increase of friendship and goodwill between them; his companions also, from
this time forward, paid careful attention to their wants.
On leaving the boat they passed through Dorstadt and crossing the
neighboring territory of the Frisians came to the Danish borders. As King
Harald could not for the time being obtain peaceful possession of his kingdom,
the emperor gave him a place beyond the River Elbeso that if it were necessary he might halt there.
CHAPTER VIII.
Accordingly the servants of God, who were with him, and who were
stationed at one time amongst Christians and at other times amongst pagans,
began to apply themselves to the word of God; and those whom they could
influence they directed into the way of truth, so that many were converted to
the faith by their example and teaching, and the number of those who should be
saved in the Lord increased daily. They themselves, being inspired by divine
love, in order to spread their holy religion, made diligent search for boys
whom they might endeavor to educate for the service of God. Harald also gave
some of his own household to be educated by them; and so it came about that in
a short time they established a school for twelve or more boys. Others they
took as servants or helpers, and their reputation and the religion which they
preached in God's name were spread abroad. After they had spent two years or
more in this good work brother Autbertus became grievously afflicted with
illness, and on this account he was carried to New Corbey where, as his
weakness increased day by day, at Easter time—even as it had been before
revealed to him by the Lord—he ended his life, passing away happily, as we
believe.
CHAPTER IX.
Meanwhile it happened that Swedish ambassadors had come to the Emperor
Ludovic, and, amongst other matters which they had been ordered to bring to the
attention of the emperor, they informed him that there were many belonging to
their nation who desired to embrace the Christian religion, and that their king
so far favored this suggestion that he would permit God’s priests to reside
there, provided that they might be deemed worthy of such a favor and that the
emperor would send them suitable preachers. When the God-fearing emperor heard
this he was greatly delighted, and a second time he endeavored to find men whom
he might send to those districts, who might discover whether this people was
prepared to accept the faith, as the ambassadors had assured him, and might
begin to inculcate the observance of the Christian religion.
So it came about that his serene majesty began once again to discuss the
matter with your abbot, and asked him whether by chance he could find one of
his monks who, for the name of Christ, was willing to go into those parts; or
who would go and stay with Harald while God’s servant Anskar, who was with him,
undertook this mission.
Thus it was that Anskar was summoned by royal command to the palace, and
was told that he should not even stop to shave himself before coming into the
royal presence. The man of God, who knew clearly beforehand for what purpose he
was being summoned, burned with fervor and with love towards God and esteemed
it a special joy if he might be allowed to press forward in the work of winning
souls for Him. If in a journey of this kind any harm or misfortune should
befall him, he was resolved to bear it patiently for Christ's sake; and he had
no hesitation in undertaking this task, as he was comforted by the heavenly
vision which he had previously seen. At the time to which we refer, when he was
staying with you and had already been divinely enlightened by two visions, it
seemed to him one night that he had come to a house in which were standing many
preachers who had been prepared for their task of preaching. In their presence
he was suddenly transported, and he saw shining around him a light from heaven
which excelled the brightness of the sun; and, as he marveled what this might
be, a voice like unto that which he declared that he had heard in his first
vision said to him: “Thy sin is forgiven”. In answer to which voice, being, as
we believe, divinely inspired, he said: “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?”
Again the voice was heard saying: “Go, and declare the word of God unto the
nations”. As God's servant thought upon this vision he rejoiced in the Lord
greatly, for he perceived that what had been commanded him was in part
accomplished, and desired to add to his labors by preaching the word of God to
the Swedes. When, then, he was brought into the presence of the emperor and was
asked by him whether he was willing to undertake this mission, he replied
readily that he was prepared to undertake any task which the emperor might
decide to place upon him for the name of Christ.
CHAPTER X.
In the good providence of God the venerable abbot found for him amongst
your fraternity a companion, namely the priori Witmar, who was both worthy and
willing to undertake this great task. He further arranged that the good father Gislemar, a man approved by faith and good works, and by
his fervent zeal for God, should be with Harald. Anskar then undertook the
mission committed to him by the emperor, who desired that he should go to the
Swedes and discover whether this people was prepared to accept the faith as
their messengers had declared. How great and serious were the calamities which
he suffered while engaged in this mission, father Witmar, who himself shared
them, can best tell. It may suffice for me to say that while they were in the
midst of their journey they fell into the hands of pirates. The merchants with
whom they were travelling defended themselves vigorously and for a time
successfully, but eventually they were conquered and overcome by the pirates,
who took from them their ships and all that they possessed, whilst they
themselves barely escaped on foot to land. They lost here the royal gifts which
they should have delivered there, together with all their other possessions,
save only what they were able to take and carry with them as they left the
ship. They were plundered, moreover, of nearly forty books which they had
accumulated for the service of God. When this happened some were disposed to
turn and go back, but no argument could divert God's servant from the journey
which he had undertaken. On the contrary, he submitted everything that might
happen to him to God's will, and was by no means disposed to return till, by
God's help, he could ascertain whether he would be allowed to preach the gospel
in those parts.
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