He told those who were persuading him to abandon it that, if the silver of the Indias was not enough, he would send what was needed from Espana.

For if your Majesty possesses the Indias with so honorable a warrant as that of the Catholic church for the purpose of converting souls, and there has been and is being taken so much wealth from the Indias, where your reputation and royal conscience are to such an extent engaged, what reason can be so pressing that you should not attempt with great care and energy the preservation of that country, where the obligation of your Majesty is so pressing?
And what excuse would your Majesty have before the Divine Majesty for not aiding it in time, if for this reason so many millions of souls should retrograde from the faith?
Then, too, consider the great multitude who, it is hoped, will come to the knowledge of the true God, in whose hand, as David says: _Domini est terra, et plenitudo eius, orbis terrarum, et omnes qui habitant in eo_.

[44] Who but He gives kingdoms and monarchies?
for how could He be under greater obligation--if there is any way in which to oblige Him from whom nothing is due--than to procure His own greater honor and glory in the salvation of souls, which cost him so much?
For these services are paid for, both here and in heaven, bountifully, and the holy Scriptures are full of examples to this effect.

How many blessings did He shower upon Obededon for preserving the ark of the testament, and what favors has the most fortunate house of Austria [45] received from His hand, which was presaged in that manna which was once sent! God is very generous, and knows well how to further the affairs of him who charges himself with His; but as for those who, on the contrary, put temporal good before His service, what success can they hope in this?
I might well cite many examples which I do not, that I may not pass the bounds of my memoir.
Although some give as an example the king of Great China, who abandoned many kingdoms of which he was the lord in order to preserve his own, this is not suited to your Majesty's position; for Great China is very extensive and holds as many people as eight Espanas, and its king has one hundred and fifty millions of revenue, or even more, and is made thoroughly secure by nature and art.

What he abandoned, moreover, was not taken from him, nor was there any risk of putting himself in a position to make enemies--although where these reasons are present, those who advised this are right..