historicalgeogra00psal

the Ifle Formofa. 151
the feveral Kingdoms of Japa?2^ of which I have
receiv'd no certain information : But in general I
am very well affur'd, by the conftant unconrroul'd
Tradition of my Countrymen, that notwith-
Handing all the difficulties they met with, they
made a wonderful progrefs in the Converfion of
that Empire between the Year 1549. (in which
Xaverius fays, he firft arrived at Cangox'ma)
and the Year 161 6, or thereabouts ^ for 'tis commonly
believed in Ycrmofa^ that in this fpace of
time more than a third part o^ Jfapan yN2LS converted
to the Chriftian Religion •, and even Tarnpoufamma
himfelf, who was then Epaperor of
Japan.
Tho' many other Caufes might concur to promote
the fpreading of the Chriftian Religion in
Japan by the Jefuirs, of which I can give no particular
account, yet I am very certainly informed,
that one thing which contributed very much to
the propagation of it, was their propoflng the
Chriftian Religion, after fuch a manner as was
moft agreeable to natural Reafon, and the Do-
£lrines and Praftices commonly received among
the Japannefe.
Thus the Jefuits taught them in their firft Le-
£lures, That there was but one God, the Creator
and Governour of all things in Heaven and Earth,
3nd den:ionltrated hIsEternity and other Attributes
by natural Reafon ^ but faid nothing of a Trinity
of Perfons in the Unity of the Godhead, left it
(hould fhock their belief of the one true God,
And as to Chritt, they affirmed that he w^as ^
Pivine Vertue refiding in a Humane Body, or a
mighty Hero fenc from God to reveal his Mind
and Will to Mankind ^ and they enlarged upon
|:he Holinefs of his Life, the Reafonablenefs and
Excellency of his Doftrine, the mgny Miracles
L 4 }]§