CHRISTIANITY INTO INDIA. 35

Gradually disciples collected around him^ and
he instructed them in the Catechism^ and tried
them well before he granted them Baptism*
Several among them were very remarkable for
their holy lives, and Albert, the Gourou above
named, had great power over evil spirits, and
became distinguished for his sanctity* Posses-*
sion* was common among the Hindoos, as may
well be imagined from the lives they lead, and
Albert cast out many demons, sometimes obli-
gi^ tl.e„fi™..„Jfy publicly » ft. Tu* of
the doctrines preached by F. dei Nobili ; which
made a great impression on the heathens. The
good Father himself was also gifted with the powei?
of healing miraculously, and during the time that
he considered it conducive to the conversion of
the heathens to remain secluded, he several
times sent his reliquary, by some of the converts,
to sick persons, who were healed at its touch.
* To this day the visible action of the Evil Spirit is by
no means uncommon in India, and what reason is there to
disbeliere the present existence of what we know on the
authority of Scripture to have nnqoestionably existed tot-
merly? If Christianity has diminished the power of the
devil in Christian countries, we may naturally suppose that
his power remains unbroken where the cross has never been
planted.
