Life. His Death gave the Chriftians fome refpite,
who after that multiplied more than ever, thro’ the
labours of a great many Miffionaries. ft
* i* 3 i. was about this time * that the Right Revfr
rend Fathers of the Order of St. Domini
joyned with us $ many of whom do at this tiro:
. laboil
of the Chrifilan Religion in China] 3 5 5
labour in China with a great deal of Zeal and Sue-
cefs.
About this time Father Adam Scbaal a German, ap¬
peared at Court, and added a new Luftre to Chriftia-
nity which had but newly fprang up again. He was
perfectly skilled in Mathematicks, and made ule of his
knowledge therein to obtain the Emperor’s kindnels;
he was in a little time fb highly in the Emperor’s
Favour, that he thought he Ihoula be able by his own
Intereft alone to Eftablilh the Chriftian Religion
folidly. He began to make ufe of his Intereft with
goodSuccefs, when an Infurreftion over-turned the
whole Government,and with it all his promifing hopes.
This great State whole Power feemed to be enough
tp lecure it from the moft violent Shock whatever,
was made fenfible than that there is nothing conftant
in this World. Some Robbers being met together,
by the accefs of multitudes of Male-contents who 1
joyned them formed vaft Armies: they burned Towns
and plundered whole Provinces. China prefently
changed its Afpeft, and from the moft flouriihing
Empire became the Stage for'the moft bloody War.
Never were there feen fo many Murthers and Bar¬
barities. The Emperor being furprifed at Pekin,
ftrangled himfelf for fear of falling into the hands of
the Vidors. The Ufurper was foon drove out of the
Throne by the Tartars , who feiz’d upon it. The
Princes of the Blood who in different places were
proclaimed Emperors, were vanquilhed or killed.
Then all the Mandarins role, fome declaring for Tar¬
tary, others for Liberty: others only carried on the
Fighting Trade, in hopes to make their private For¬
tunes from the publick Ruin.
Some of thole laft were rather Monfters than Men,
who giving themfelves to all that Licentioulhels which
the moft inhumane Cruelty and Barbarity could
prompt them to, made whole Provinces delolate,
and Ihed more blood to fatislie their Brutality, than
A a % th-?
1 5 6 Of the Ejlahlijbment and $rognf$
the rnoft ambitious Prince in the World would for the
Conqueft of an Empire.
Religion, which groaned amidft thofe Troubles,
had the comfort neverthelefs of feeing many great
Perfons converted; one Emprefs with her Son were
baptiledi fcarCe either of them lived after their re¬
ception of the Faith, the Fruits of which they could
not enjoy but in the other World, taftly, the Tar-
tan by their Valour, and by a Conduit equal tothe
Policy of antient Rome, made themfelves Matters of
Cbma, and in a few Years obliged all the Provinces
to lubmit to a foreign Yoke.
Then we thought Religion’s Cafe defperate; but
God, who needs not the affiftance of Men when he
hath a mind to fupport his own Woi k, infpired on
a fudden this new Prince with a greater attention for
the Chriftian Religion, than we dared hope for from
the Chinsfe Emperors. He not only took away
the Government of the Mathematicks from the Ma¬
hometans , which they had pofTefled for ;oo Years,
and gave it to Father Adam ; but by a (pedal Pri¬
vilege he fuffered that Father to applv himfelf to him
immediately in all things which concerned the Mifli-
onaries, without firft patting thro’ the Formalities of
the Courts of Juftice, who are very fevere to Stran¬
gers. This fignal Favour, joined with many others,
ratted up the Courage of the Chriftians, and gave
the Heathens greater Liberty to dole with the true
Religion. Many Perfons of the beft Quality at Pekin
defiredBaptifm; the Provinces follow’d the Example
of the Court, and the Harveft became fo plentiful,
that the Workmen were too few to gather it in.
Thofe who were employed therein, laboured with
fuch an hearty Zeal, that we do at this prefent feel the
effects of it. There were found Perfons of Eminent
Vertue,Prudence,and Underffanding,whom God had
formed during the Troubles and Civil Wars,and which
the Spirit of the Almighty drew out of the Chaos, like
of the Chnjl'm (Religion in China. 357
fo many Stars, to /lied forth the Light of the Gofpel,
unto the moll hidden partsof this vaft Empire, accom¬
panying their Preaching with Signs and Wonders.
Among thofe extraordinary Men, Father Faber ,
a Frenchman , diftinguilhed himfelf above the reft.
I had the happinefs to tarry fome time in that Pro¬
vince which was allotted to his Care; and I have,
after fo many Years, found the precious remains
there, which are the neceftary confequences of Holi-
nefs. Thofe who were Witnefles of his Actions, tell
to their Children the Miracles which he wrought to
confirm them in their Faith, and altho’ one need not
believe all which they relate of him, we cannot ne-
verthelefs deny that God did in many occasions give
an extraordinary concurrence in feveral great things
which he enterprifed for his Glory.
It is worth knowing after what manner he founded
the Million of Hqnchum, a Town of the firft Rank in
Xenfi, two days Journey diftant from the Capital. He
was invited thither by a Mandarin , and a fmall number
of Chriftians which he found there,made him the more
laborious to encreafe their number. God put into his
hands a means of doing this rdjich he never expe&ed.
One of the great Boroughs, which in China areas big
as the Towns, was then over-run by a prodigious mul¬
titude of Locufts, which eat up all the Leaves of the
Trees, and gnawed the Grafs to the very Roots.
The Inhabitants, after having ufed all imaginable
means,thought fit to apply themlelves to Father Faber t
whole Repute was every where talked of. The Fa¬
ther took from thence an occafion to explain the
principal Myfteries of our Faith, and added that if
they would fubmit themfelves thereto, they fhould
not only be delivered from the prefent Plague, but
that alfo they fhould obtain innumerable Bleffings,
and eternal Happinefs. They embraced it willingly,
and the Father to keep his word with them, marched
in Ceremony intq the Highways in his Stole and h s
A a 3 Surplice;
3 5 8 Of the Ejlablifbmmt and Engnfs
Surplice; and fprinkled up and down Holy-Water,,
accompanying his Aftion with the Prayers of the
Church, but efpecially with a lively Faith. God
heard the Voice of his Servant, and the next day all
the Infects dilappeared.
But the People, whole minds were wholly bent
upon the things of this World, as foon as they faw
themfelves delivered, neglefted the Counfel which
the Miffionary had given them. They were there¬
fore immediately punilhed, and the Plague grew
worfe than it was before. Then they accufed one
the other of their want of Faith; they ran in Crouds
to the Father’s Houfe, and calling themlelves at his
Feet: we will not rife up Father, faid they, till you
have pardoned us. We confels our Fault, and pro-
teft that if you will a lecond time deliver us from
this Affliction with which Heaven threatens us, the
whole Borough will immediately acknowledge your
God, who alone can work luch great Miracles.
The Father to increale their Faith, made them beg
a great while. At lad infpired as before; he lent up
his Prayer, and fprinkled his Holy-Water, and by the
next day there was nor ^ Infect-to be found in the
Fields. Then the whole Borough being brought over
to the Truth, followed the guidance of God’s Holy
Spirit; they were all inftru&ed and formed into a
Church, which, tho’it was abandoned for Ibrne years,
is Hill reckoned one of thedevouteft Millions in China.
They fay alfo of this Father that he has been car¬
ried over Rivers thro’ the Air, that they have feen
him in an extafie, that he foretold his own Death,
and did leveral other luch Wonders; but the greateft
Miracle of all was his Life, which he fpent in the con¬
tinual exercife of all the Apoftolical Vertues, in a
profound Humility, in a levere Mortification, in a
fettled Patience, proof againft all forts of Injuries,
in a flaming Chanty, and a tender Devotion to the
Mother of God, all which he pratfifed to his Death:
of the Chriftm Religion in China. 359
to the Edification, and I may fay the Admiration even
of the Idolaters.
While Chriftianity fpread its Root deep through¬
out the Provinces, it flourilhed every day more and
more at Pekin > the Emperor did not feem far from
it. He came often to our Church, and did there a-
dore the Divine Majefty in fuch an humble man¬
ner as Would have been commendable in a Chri-
ftian.. There are ftill Writings from his own hand,
wherein he acknowledges the beauty and the purity
of our Holy Law; but a heart let upon fenfual plea-
furescan never follow the Direftions of the Spirit;
When Father Mam has been preffing upon him. You
are laid he, in the right , But how can you expelt that
any one Jhould he able to prallife all thefe Laws ? Take
away two or three of the difjscultejt, and after that perhaps
we may agree to the refi. Thus this young Prince di¬
vided between the Voice of human Nature and Grace,
thought that we might favour Nature at the expence
of Religion; but the Father gave him to underhand,
that we were only the Publilhers, not the Authors of
the Gofpel. Neverthelefs, my Lord, fays the Fa¬
ther to him one day, tho’ we, propofe to the corrupt
World a body of Morals which furpafs their Forces to
comply with, and Myfteries which are above their
Reafon to comprehend, we do not from thence de-
fpair to have our Do&rine received; becaufe we do it
by his order, who can enlighten the moft darkned Un-
derftanding, and ftrengthen the moft weak Nature.
Thefe difficulties which the Emperor look’d upon as
infuperable did not take.any thing from that kindnels
and refped which he bore to Father Adam. He al¬
ways called him his Father, placed always his confi¬
dence in him: he made him twenty Vifits in two
years; and gave him leave to build two Churches in
Pekin ; and ordered thofe which in the Perfection
had been demolilhed in the Provinces to be rebuilt;
nay, granted him whatever could any ways contribute
A a 4 toward
^ 6 o Of the Eftabli(hment and Erogrefs
toward the folideftablifhment oftheFaith,which with i
out doubt would have made an infinite progreft, had
not a violent paffion chang’d the temper ofthat Prince,
and took him away from us at a time when we had
the moll need ofa Prote&ion: we may juftly fay that
his Death was owing to an extraordinary Grief for the
lofs of a Concubine- This Woman, whom he had
taken from her Husband, inclined him to the worlhip
of falfe Gods, to that excefs, that he was wholly altered
from what he was before as to his Opinions of Reli¬
gion. And at that time it was that he fell lick,his mind
being full of Notions from the Bonzes,who fwarmed in
his Palace, and being vehemently tormented by his
Paljon, fo that he could not get a moment’s reft. In
tire mean while as he loved the Father extremely/o was
he defirous to fee him once more before he died.
At this laft meeting the good Miffionary’s Bowels
yern’d upon him. He was kneeling at the Prince’s
Bed’s feer, whom he had educated as ins own Son, in
hopes one day to make him Head ol the true Religion.
He law him there under the load of a violent Diftem-
per,difturbed with the impure defires of unlawful Love,
given up to Idols and their Priefts, juft upon the brink
of Death, and that Death an eternal one. The Em¬
peror, who faw him in this concern; would not let him
fpeakupon his Knees; but railed him up, and heard
his laft advice with fbmewhat left prejudice againft it
thanufual; ordered him afterward a PrefentofTea,
and difmifted him with luch marks of tendernefs as
touched him to the bottom of his Soul, of which he
was the more fenfible, bscaufe he never could bring it
about, to work in him a true Converfion.
His Death was equally fatal to the Bonzes, who
were thereupon driven from the Palace, and to the
true Religion which was thereby brought within a
nails breadth of Deftru&ion. Many Churches built
upon the Coails of the Maritime Provinces were de¬
stroyed by an Edift which commanded that every
of the Cbriftian Religion in China!! j 61
bo< 3 y on the Coafts fhould retire ten or eleven Miles
within Land, and deftroy all Habitations within that
compafs all round the Coafts, becaule a famous Pi¬
rate made ufe of them in carrying on a War againft
the Emperor. They were alfo juft going to ruin Ma¬
cao, and order was given to drive the Portuguefe v
thence, when Father Adam ufed his utmoft effort
to fave it. At this time his Credit and Intereft,
which he had employed fo much to the advantage
of Religion, ended. For in a little time he became
the objeft of the moft bloody Perfection that ever
the Church fuffered.
The four Mandarins who had the Regency during r
the Emperors minority, moved upon different To-
picks, and efpecially animated againft the Chriftians,
to whom this Father was the main fupport, put him
and three of his Companions into Prifon. Other
Preachers of the Gofpel were fummoned to Pekin,
who met with the fame treatment, and were loaded
each with nine Chains. They burned their Books,
their Beads, and Medals, and whatever elfe carried
the Face of Religion; neverthelefs they fpared the
Churches; as for the Chriftian Flock they met with
a more mild ufage.
Thofe famous ConfefTors had the honour to be
dragged before all the Seats of Judgment. There it
was that their Enemies did admire their Courage.
But they were above all moved by the miferable con¬
dition of Father Adam. That Venerable old Man,
who but a day or two before was the Oracle of the
Court, and the Favourite of a great Emperor, now
appeared in the form of a Slave, loaded with Chains,
and opprefled with Infirmities, dejefted by the weight
and burthen of Age, but much more by that of calum¬
ny which laboured to blemilh his Innocence. He had
a fort of Gatarrhe which hindered him from making
his defence; but Father Verb'ujl foriookhim not, and
anfwered for him, to his Enemies, in fo fenfible a
manner,
^ 6 % Of the Eftahlifhment and Qrogrefs
manner, that the Judges could not enough admire
the Conftancy of the Perfon accufed, nor the heroi-
cal Charity of the Perfon who defended him. How- •
ever as innocent as he was, he was condemned to be
ftrangled, which is in China an honourable kind of
Death; but afterwards, as tho’ they repented that
they had not been unjuft enough, they repealed the
Sentence, and gave another, wherein the Father
was condemned to be publickly expofed in the Mar¬
ket-place, and be hacked alive into ten thoufand
pieces.
The Supreme Court lent the Sentence to the Re¬
gency, and to the Princes of the Blood to have it con¬
firmed; but God who had till then feemed to have
rehnquifhed his Servant, began to fpeak in favour of
his Caufe by a terrible Earthquake. The whole Land
were confounded at this Prodigy. Every body ex¬
claimed that Heaven itfelf would puniih the injuftice
of the Magiftrates; who therefore to appeafe the
People opened all the Prifonsin the Town, and made
an Aft of Oblivion for all Criminals, excepting the
Confeffors of JESUS CHRIST who wereftill kept
in Chains, as tho’ they, had been the only Victims
for whom Heaven had no concern.
But becaufe there appeared divers Prodigies, and in
particular fire confirmed great part of the Court of
Juftice, at laft fear obtained that from thefe unrighte¬
ous Judges, which innocence could not. They fet Fa¬
ther Adam at liberty, and permitted him to go home
to his Houfe, till the Emperor Ihould other wife difpofe
of him. This great Man blemifhed, indeed to out¬
ward appearance, by an ignominious Sentence which
was never repealed ; but in truth full of glory, fot
having defended the Honour of Religion by expofing
his own life, dyed a little while after, worn away
the toil of an Apoftolical life, but more by the hard
jhips and inconveniences of a troublefome Prifon.
H
of the Chriftim Religion in China.’ 363;
His death was too precious in the Eyes of God, to
beunaccompany’d with feme fignal bleffing upon the
forrowful remains of perfected Chriftianity. It is true
that the Miffioftaries of the Provinces were banifhed
to Canton, among which three were Dominicans , one
Francifcan, (and another of the fame Order dyed in
Prifon) and one and twenty Jefuits; yet four were
kept at the Court, whom the Providence of God
made ufe of afterwards to fettle Chriftianity again in
its priftine fplendor.
God himfelf revenged the innocence of his Ser¬
vants. Sony the firft Mandarin in the Regency, the
moft dangerous Enemy the Fathers had, dyed a month
or two after. The fecond, named Soucama ) was after¬
wards indifted and condemned to a cruel death, his
Goods Confifcated, his Children, in number (even,
had their Heads cut off, excepting the third, who was
cut to pieces alive, the punilhment which that wicked
Judge had defigned for Father Adam , and with which
God chaftifed his Crimes in the Perfons of his Chil¬
dren. Tam quam Jien, who had been the chief In-
ftrument in the Persecution, fared no better than
them, for after the death of Father Adam he was
made Prefident of the Mathematicks, and had the
charge of the Kalendar of the Empire committed to
him. Father Firr&f’j? accufed him, and plainly made
appear the ignorance of this pitiful Mathematician.
This was a bold ftroke, becaufe the Prefidents Party
was very ftrong, and the flames which had caufed the
Perfection were not yet quenched. But many things
concurred to give fuccefs to this Enterprife. The
underftanding of the Father, the kindnefs which the
new Emperor had for the Europeans, but efpecially
the particular Providence of Goa which did fecretly
manage this important Affair. For it is certain that in
the feveral tryals whereby they proved the goodnefs
of our Mathematicks, the Heavens did fo exactly a-
gree with what our Fathers had foretold, even above
j 64 Of the EfiMtfbment and (progrefs
the certainty which our Tables and Calculations could
promile us, that it leemed as tho’ God had guided the
Stars, infucha courle as was neceffary tojuftifie our
Miffionaries account of them.
The Prefident of the Mathematicks uled his bell en¬
deavours to defend himfelf; and becaule he could not
hide his Ignorance in Aftronomy, he endeavoured to
put upon the Judges, and perfuade them that the Chri-
ftian Religion contained much greater errors than
thole he was guilty of In the mid ft of lome meetings
where the Emperor was prefent, he behaved himlelf
in fuch manner as the Emperor could Icarcely bear
with him. He laid his Hands acrofs, and cryed out
as loud as he could: See here, do but obferve what theft
Fellows adore, and what they would have us worjhip
too, a Man who was hanged, a per [on who was crucified,
let any one judge hereby of their underfunding and good
fenfe.
Butallthele Excurfions ferved only todiminilh his
own Credit. This wicked perlon, more blameable for
his Crimes than for his Ignorance, loft his charge and
was condemned to death. Notwithftanding the Em¬
peror fufpended the Execution of the Sentence by
reafon of his extraordinary old Age; but God himfelf
executed his Sentence of Vengeance. He fmote him
with an horrible Ulcer, and by his forrowful death, de¬
livered Religion from this Monfter of Iniquity.
Then the care of the Mathematicks was committed
to Father Verbiefi , the antient Miffionaries were re¬
called to their old Churches, but forbid to go about
to build new ones, or to labour in the Converfion of
the Chinefe. Laftly, to magnifie our happinels, the
memory of Father Adam was mightily refpeded even
at Court. He was publickly juftified and cleared, his
Charges and Titles of honour were remanded him,
and his Anceftors made Nobility. The Emperor him¬
felf appointed conliderable films of mony to build him
p {lately Mauloleum, which at this prefent is to be
leen.
of the Chriftltm fygligion in Cliina. $
jieen, in room of a Sepulchre, adorned with Statues
and feveral Marble Figures according to the Guftom
of the Country.
Thus it is that God by a continual Viciffitude,proves
the conftancy of the faithful by Perfecution, and en¬
courages them again by puniihing their Perfecutors.
This happy Peace which the Church gained thro’
Father Verbiefts means, encouraged the Miflionaries
to repair that damage which Hell had done. Befides
thejefuits, there were feveral Fathers of the Orders
of St. Francis , and St. Jugufiin, who entred into the
Lords Vineyard. New eftabiilhments were gained
every where, and notwithftanding any Prohibition a
great number of Heathen's were Converted to the
Faith, being more afraid of eternal punilhment, than
of that with which the Laws of Man feemed to
threaten them.
So ardent and fo hafty a Zeal will perhaps make
you amazed; but befides that Charity is always ha¬
zardous, many things contributed to confirm thofe
who might elle be afraid of fatal conlequences, The
firftofthefe is the great Authority which the Miffio-
naries have acquired at Court in a fmall time. Efpe-
cially the Emperor is fatisfied that they defpife Ho¬
nours, and that at home they lead an Auftere life.
The Prince is inform’d of this fuch ways that it is im-
poflible he fhould be deceived. He had information
from Spies, of all that pafled in their Houles; even
fo nicely as to know their Mortifications and corpo¬
real Penances.
He fends alfo to the Fathers Houfes a young Tartar,
of good parts, under pretence to learn Philolbphy,
but in reality to dilcover the moft fecret things in their
Families, and to be himfelf, I think, an occafion
of offence. He Hays there a year, without knowing
what the Princes intentions are, who having lent for
him into his prelence commands him to tell him all
the private diforders of thefe Fathers* and elpecially
j 66 Of the Eflabltfhmmt and Qrtgnfs
how they have behaved themfelves towards him. And
when thefe young Men conflantly bear Teftimony of
the Fathers innocence: I fee very well, fays the Em¬
peror, they have Hop’d your Mouth with prefents, but
I know a way to open it again. Then he makes him
be feverely flafhed at feveral times, yet is not the pain
enough to make the young Tartar {peak againfl his
Confcience. Which pleafes the Prince mightily,who
would be difturbed to find himfelf deceived in the
Idea which he has formed to himfelf of thefe fervent
Miffionaries.
This obliges him afterward to take their part in an
Aflembly of the Mandarins, fome of which do not
efteem the Miffionaries becaufe their outward carriage
feems fo good. As for that Matter , fays the Emperor
to them, neither you nor I can find fault with them.
After all that I can do to get information, 1 am per-
funded that thofe People teach as nothing but what them¬
felves frail ice, and they are indeed as. modefi as they ap¬
pear outwardly to be.
The fecond reafon which engaged the Emperor to
favdur the Miffionaries, was the great underftanding
of Father Verbieft, who in a fmall time was reckoned
the learnedft Man in the Empire in all Faculties. His
Reputation is every where fpread abroad, and upon
many occafions his Opinion has the repute of an
Oracle. Some Mandarins one day fpeaking of the
Trinity, and ufing it as a Fable, one of them laid,
I do not know what the Cbriftians mean, and am as much
puzzled as you ; but Father Verbieft is of that opinion:
what fay you to that ? Cana Man of his fence and un¬
derftanding miftake ? They all held their Tongues, and
feemed to yield to this reafon. So true is it that the
nfe of humane Learning is fo far from being fas fome
thifikj oppofite to the Spirit of the Gofpel, that it
fometimes ferves to eftablifh it, and to render the
moll obfcure myfteries therein credible.
of the Chriftm (Religion in China.’ 3 67
The third Reafon, is that hearty love which the' 1
Emperor believes the Mifltonaries have for him. It is
true the Miffionaries omit nothing which they think
will pleale him; and as they are the moft inflexible
and refolute againft doing any thing contrary to their
Religion, lo are they the moft complailant and ready
to comply with all thereafonablerequefts of the Em¬
peror. A Rebellion which happened at this time, put
it into Father VerbieBs power to do the Crown a con-
liderablc piece of Service.
Oufanguei, that famous Cbinefe General, who had
brought the Tartars into the Empire, thought he had
then a good opportunity to drive them out again. He
was naturally couragious, and in Xenp commanded
the beft of the Cbinefe Soldiery, and had got together
a vaft deal of mony. This made him let up to be Em¬
peror, and made him believe he could ealily compals
his deflgn. And indeed he lo 'ordered his matters
that he made himlelf prelently Matter of the three
great Provinces Yunnan , Suchven, and IQueychett, after¬
wards a great part of the Province of Hou^am ac¬
knowledged him. So that thefe poffeffions and Xenft,
which he had in pofleffion a good while before made
him Mafter of almoft a third of China.
Thefe Conquefts leemed to be the more lecune to
him.becaufe at the fame time, the Vice-Roys of Quan¬
tum and Fukien followed his Example, and gave the
Emperor on that fide a mighty diverfion, and beflde a
powerful Pirate with a great Fleet attacked and in few 1
days took the Ifland Fornofa at the fame time.
' Lefs than this would have ruined the Tartars, iftey
had all concerted their bulinefs together; but j^fou-
fie which does often overthrow the firmeft Leagues,
ruined their Proje&s, The King of Fokien fell out
with that of Fornofa, and to preferve himlelf from
being damaged by his Fleer, made his Peace with the
Emperor, who gave him fuch affiftance as that he
made his party good. The King of Quamtum being
unwilling
3 6 8 Of the Eflablifhment and fProgrefs
unwilling to be any ways under the direction or com¬
mand o fOufatsguez, left him, and put himlelf under
the Prote&ion of the Tartars , who turned all their
Forces againll this laft Rebel, more formidable than
all the relt together; lor he was Mailer of the W eltem
Provinces, and the fuccels which his Troops had hi¬
therto met with, gave them Heart and Courage e-
nough to undertake any thing.
After the Emperor had tryed many feveral ways to
no purpofe, he law plainly that it was impoffible to
force them from the places where they had entrench¬
ed without tiling his great Artillery: but the Cannon
which he had were Iron, and fo heavy that they dared
not*catry them over fuch fteep Rocks, as they muft
do to come to him. He thought Father Verbkfi might
be affillant to him in this matter; he commanded the
Father therefore to give dire&ions for calling fome
Cannon after the turopean manner. The Father pre-
lently exculed himlelf, faying that he had lived his
whole life far from the noiie of War, that he was
therefore little inllrudled in thole affairs. He added
alfo that being a Religious, and wholly employed in
the-concerns of another World, he would pray for his
Majelty s good fuccels; but that he humbly begged
that his Majefty would be plealed to give him leave
not to concern himlelf with the warfare of this
World.
The Fathers Enemies (for a Miffionary is never
without lome ) thought that now they had an oppor¬
tunity to undermine him. They perfuaded the Em-
pJaP that what he commanded the Father to do, was
noways oppofite to the will or intention oftheGo-
fpel: and that it was no more inconvenient to him to
call Cannon than to call Machines and Mathemati¬
cal Inftruments, elpecially when the good and lafety
of the Empire were concerned, that therefore with¬
out doubt the reafon of the Fathers refulal was be-
caufe he kept Correlpondence with the Enemy, or at
ware
of the Chriftian Religion in China. 3 69
or at leaft becaufe he had no refped for the Emperor.
So that at laft the Emperor gave the Father to under¬
hand, that he cxpefted obedience to his Jaft Order,
not only upon pain of lofing his own Lite but alfo
of having his Religion utterly rooted out.
This was to touch him in the moft fenfible part,
and he was indeed too wife to hand out for a nicety
or a fcruple at the hazard of lofing all that was valu¬
able. ■ I have already aflured your Majefty that I
have very little underftanding in cafting Cannon,laid
he to the Emperor; but fince you command me I
will endeavour to make your Workmen underhand
what our Books dire# in this Affair. He took there¬
for euponhimfelf the Care of this Work, and the Can¬
non was proved before the Emperor, and found to-
be extraordinary good. The Emperor was fo well
pleafed with the Work, that he pulled off his Mantle,
and in the prefence of the whole Court gave it to Fa¬
ther Verbicjt for a token of his Affe&ion.
All the Pieces of Cannon were made very light
and (mall, but ftrengthned with a flock of Wood
from the mouth to the breech, and girt with feveral
bands of Iron; fo that the Cannons were flrong e-
nough to bear the Force of Powder, and light enough
to be carried thro’ any, even the worft Roads. This
new Artillery did every way anfwer what they propo-
fed from it. The Enemy were obliged to leave their
Intrenchments indifbrder, and foon after to Capitu¬
late ; for they did not think it poffible to hold out a-
gainft thofe any longer, who could deftroy them
without coming themfelves into reach. %
0 afanguei washimielfdead : his Son Horn hoa, who
carried on the War, ftrangled himfelf thro’ defpair;
and the reft of them were in a (mail time utterly
routed. So that the Emperor then began to Reign in
Peace, and continued more and more to fhew marks
of Favour and Affe&ion to the Miffionaries, So that
B b Father
370 Of the EftMfhment and Vrogrefs
Father Verbiefi has often fighing faid, that the Lord’s
Vineyard was now open, that the Heathens them-
(elves gave Liberty to enter upon the Harveft, but
that yet there were fcarce any Workmen to bring
it in.
They (end to him for Paftorsfrom every place,
Tart ary, the Kingdom of Corea , the Provinces of
China, which have been left deffitute by the Death
of their antient Pallors, invite or rather prefi him to
(uccourthem. Neither does this (carcity come from
the European want of Zeal, but from the Differences
which have arole between the (acred Congregation, I
who (end Vicars Apoftolical into the Eaft, and the
King of Portugal, who pretends to a right to nomi¬
nate all the Bifhops there, exclufively to any (upe-
nour Ecclehaflical Power.
This Difpute cools the ardour of thofe fervent Mif-
(ionanes, who dare not engage themlelves where they
mull incur either the indignation of their Holy Fa¬
ther, or of a mighty Prince, both which things are
very formidable. And thus the Work of God flood
dill, and thole precious minutes were loft, which
the Favour of a great Emperor and the diligence
of a zealous Miflaonary, might have made fo ufeful
to the firm eftablilhing our Holy Faith. But this is
one of the Arcana of Providence, which, after it
hath confounded all the oppofition of the Enemies
of the Gofpel, even at the expence of working Mi¬
racles, does (ometimes (uffer that the Zeal of Catho-
licks lliould do more harm to Religion, than the Ha¬
tred and Jealoufie of Idolaters.
Some time after, my Lord Bilhopof Heliopolis was
lent by the facred Congregation with (ome French
Ecclefiafticks, full of ardour to reform and encreafe
the new Chriftianitv. ■ This courageous Prelate had
once already miffed his Voyage: For contrary Winds
having obliged him lometime before to put in at
Manilla
of the ChriBian Religion in China. 371
Manilla, a confiderabl Ifland under the Spamjh Go¬
vernment, he was taken up upon fufpicion there,
and obliged to return back into Europe by the way of
Mexico. This accident which had broke his firft
meafures, ferved only to fill his mind with new and
lhofe greater ones. He came to Tar is, where his good
intentions were well known, Rome heard him with
pleafiire, and followed his Projects in all that re-
fpeded the Eaftern Millions. So that he came ho¬
noured with a Power from the Holy See, and laded
with the Alms of the Faithful, who expetfed nothing
lefs from his Zeal than the Converfion of the New
World.
He therefore once more parted over the Seas, and
happily arrived at China, where he began to leaner
abroad that Flame which fhould warm all the Miffio-
naries. The Jefuits and other Religious, not only ac¬
knowledged his Authority, but alio took the new
Oath which the lacred Congregation had appointed,
altho’ the King of Portugal had abfolutely forbad it.
For they thought that that Prince, in whom the love
of Religion had always prevailed before his private
Intereft, would not take it ill when he fhould know
that their refufal of it might have occafioned the de-
ftrudion of Chrilfianity in China , and perhaps of
the Millions in all the other parts of the Eaft.
This was matter of great Joy to the Bilhop, who
after his happy beginning, made ready, according
to his former Notions, to new Till this Vineyard of
the Lord, whether he thought himfelf
fent like the Prophet heretofore *• Ecce *Jor. i. io«
confiim te fuper gentes, ut dejlruas, &
difperdas, &dijfipes, &c. But God Almighty was fa-
tisfied with his good intentions and tdok him to him-
lelfafew months after his arrival. His Death great¬
ly furprifed all the Faithful, it did efpecially affluS
the fervent Ecclefiafticks who were the Companions
Bb 2 of
Of the EJiablifbment and frogrefs
of his Voyage ; the other Mtfiionaries fubmitted with
relignation to the Will of God, being perfwaded
that whatfbever Providence appoints, is always for
his Glory, and for the good of the Eleft, if they make
a right ufe of it.
This was fweetned by the arrival of two other Bi-
fhops, who a little while after fupplied his place un-
dej the Title cf Vicars Apoftolical. The firft was
Monlieur d‘ Argola , an Italian, of the Order of
St. Francis, noted among thofe of his Order, for his
Excellent Vertues, and extraordinary Knowledg.
He had been employed in the chiefeft bufinefs there,
and our Holy Father thought he could not make
choice of a wiler Man than he to place at the Helm of
fbflourifhinga Million. As he went by Siam, Mon-
fieur Confiance undemanding his worth, prefented him
to the King, who would fain have kept him in his
Kingdom; butbecaule the Orders of the Holy See
obliged him to go farther, he refolved at leaft to fhety
him fome marks of his Elteemand Affection towards
him, in ordering him, and two of his Companions
of the fame Order, a coniiderable Penfion. So that
had it not been for the Revolutions which a little
while after happened in his Kingdom, this Prince
worthy of abetter Fortune, would have had his MifRo-
naries in China , as well as the molt zealous Princes in
Europe.
Since this wife Prelate hath been in China, the na¬
tural (weetnefs of his Temper hath very much con¬
tributed to the Comfort of the Faithful, and Conver¬
sion of the Heathen. He hath vilited all the Pro¬
vinces which the Holy See committed to his Care,
confecrating Priefts, teaching and exhorting them,
adminiftring the Sacrament of Confirmation, uniting
all their Affections as much as poffibly he could,whole
different Interelfs feems to have cooled their mutual
Charity to one another in JESUS CHRIST.
of the Ckriftim (Religion in China. 373
And tho’ one would think that the fcrtuguefie could
never have a re(pe6fc for him, becaufe their pretenfi-
ons are wholly oppofite to this lnftitution of Vicars
Apoftolical, yet he has behaved himfelf with fo much
Prudence, that all Nations here think themfelves par-,
ticularly obliged to him.
The fecond Bilhop whom the Holy See has digni¬
fied with the Title of Vicar Apoftolical, is Monfieur
de Bafilee a Cbinefe, educated by the Fathers of Saint
Francis's Order, afterwards taking upon himfelf the
Order of S. Dominick When he was only a Miffionary,
he had a flaming zeal for the Converfion of his dear
Country, and during the Perfection of Father Adam,
he was the main fupport of Religion in all the Pro¬
vinces which he travelled through, and ftrengthned
in the Faith. When he was confecrated Bilhop, he
performed all his Duties perfectly well, and the Holy
See did fo far approve of his Condudi as to let him
nominate his Succeffor. He nominated his Vicar-
General the Reverend Father de Leonijfa , an Italian of
St. Francis’s Order, who in his private Life might have
been a Pattern to the moll ftridt Religious, and in
the important Employment of Vicar Apoftolical, has
Ihewn that he has all that Zeal, all that Prudence,
and all that Conftancy, which the Governour of a
great Church requires.
My Lord Bilhop of Bafilee after he had thus cho-
fen this worthy Succeflor of his Apoftlelhip, fell lick
at Nankim, and died full of thofe happy Vifions
which God gives even in this World to his Saints:
At his Death that Faith Ihone brightly, which had
animated him in his Life-time; and his laft minutes,
wherein he appeared to be fulfilled with the moft
fenlible touches of Chriftian hope, feemed to give
him an antepaft of the Joy of Paradife. All his
trouble was for the Millionaries by whom he was affe¬
ctionately beloved, and for the Chriftians who loft
B b ; in
374 Of the Eftablifbmentand Trogrefs
in him the firft Prieft, the firft Religious, and the
firft Bifhop that ever China had yet given to Chriftia-
i-ity. And as his blefled memory was every where
fpread abroad, they have fee up his Pifture in feveral
places; which the Reverend Father de LeoniJJa (ent
to the (acred Congregation, to preferve the memory
oFa Prelate whofe own merit, as well as our particu¬
lar obligations to him, ought to make eternally re-
(pefted.
Eefides this, the Pope honoured Mr. Maigrot and
Mr. fin, with the Title of Vicars Apoftolical, both of
them Doftors of the Sorbon, diligent, zealous, and
fet upon following the Intentions of the Holy See,
and in a word Companions of Mr. Heliopolit, and In¬
heritors of a double Portion of his Spirit.
It the number of Miflionaiies had been anfwer-
able to that of the Pallors, the Churches in China
had now been perfectly filled; but, as 1 have (aid,
the over Care which every one has taken to provide
t or it exclufively of others, has rendered People lefs
defirous of going. Good Men, nay, even thofe who
have occafioned thefe Difbrders, have mourned for
them in (ecret. Some zealous Perfons have endea¬
voured to remedy this. My Lord Bifhop of Mm-
fier and Vaderborn , whom the Care ot his own
Diocefe did not hinder from extending his Care
even as far as the Eaft, gave a Settlement for fix
Miflionaries for ever to China ; but dying a little
while after, his lad Will was never executed. Others
i l France, in Spain, in Italy, took a great deal of pains
to help this forfaken Miffion, but they could never
compafs their Defigns.
Lewis the Great, who is himfelf as zealous for
ellabliihing the Gofpel, as all the other Princes put
together, among the great Defigns which he has been
intent upon to make Religion flourilh in Europe,
thought that he ought not to neglect that good which
he
of the Chriftian Religion in China. 375
he might do in Afia. He was very fenfible of the
Neceffities of China , which Father Ferbiefi had repre-
iented to him in one of his Letters, in the mod ien-
fible manner in the World ; and although he very
well knew, that he could not make Miffionaries ( a
Quality which 1 nobody can give us but the] Vicar of
JESUS CHRIST) he doubted not but that Re-
ligioufes who where exaftly skilled in Mathematicks,
inattaining,accordingtohis Orders, an;exact know¬
ledge in Aftronomy, might at the fame time with
good fuccefs, labour according to the Defign of their
Inftitution, in the Converfion of Infidels. He was
very well fatisfied, that of all the means which hu¬
man Prudence could advantageoufly make ufe of in
the moft Holy Actions, there were none which pro¬
moted the Concerns of Religion in China more than
the Mathematicks.
Being therefore willing at once to fatisfie his zeal
for the advancement of the Gofpel, and the defire
which he had of bringing the Sciences to perfection,
he made choice of fix Jefuits whom he thought capable
of giving good fatisfaCtion to the Learned, andlnftru-
Ction to intelligent Perfons. Thofe Who were thus
appointed, could have wilhed they had all the abilities
neceffary for this Employment: They did neverthe-
lefs fet out with a good Will, being ready to facrifice
their Lives and all their finall Talents to the greater
Glory of God, and by confequence to the pious De-
ligns of the greateft Prince in the World.
When we came into China, we found it in the
Condition I have been relating, the Harveft was
plentiful every where, but it was almoft deftitute of
Workmen; or ( to make ufe of Father Intorcetta s
words, one of the moft noted Miffionaries) drowned
in thofe Tears, which the forrow of feeing herlelf
abandoned, forced continually from her: BenediStm
Dim pi fecit nobifcmn Mifericerdiam, ft am liberavit
p6 Of the E[tMJbmmt mi they blindly pin
their Faith upon his Sleeve: we never inflidt great
Penance on. them, nay tho’ it be a difficult matter to
reduce them from their ordinary Peccadilloes, yet do
not they find it lo hard to bewail and lament for
them.
As for notorious Sins they very rarely commit
them, becaufe their Condition exempts them from
themoft dangerous opportunities; and if they could
be brought to keep Peace in their domeflick Affairs,
their Life Would be otherwife wonderful innocent.
I have obferved in many of them a certain Devotion
that wanted but little of Holinefs. They always ap¬
ply themfelves to Bufinefs or to Prayer, feeking all op¬
portunities for the Education of their Children or for
their own improvement: Very fcrupulous and nice in
the oblervation of the Pra&ice of every Chriftian Du¬
ty ; Charitable, frequent in Mortification; in a parti¬
cular manner zealous for the Gonverfion of Idolaters;
attentive to all Occafions that prefent themfelves to
do A&s of Charity : Iniomucn that I have heard
the ancienteft Miffionaries fay, That if China once
turn’d Chriftian, alrnoft all the Women would be
faved. This is not an affe&ed Encomium of the Chinese
Women ; I do faithfully and honeftly relate what I
have feen, and I judge of other Churches by this
whereof I have the Care andCondudt.
The Inftrudtion of the Youth ol riper years gave
me as much trouble. I was perfwaded that this
Age above all other, requir’d cultivating, efpecially
in China , where many things concur to make them
have an averfion for the Service of God : their eafie
fbft Temper, the Complaifance of all about them;
their Relations that doat upon them, and feldom
carry a ftrift hand over them, but let them have
their Wills, The Company of Heathen Children
Cc? always
|9<> the Gofpel is proofed to
always corrupted and vicious very loon; their de-
pendance their complaifance with School-mafters,
who many times have fuch influence on them as to
infpire them with an averfion for Religion. All
thefe are Obftacles to their Inftruftion, very hard to
l'urmount what care (oever we take.
Yet was I willing to difcharge my Duty by feve-
ral ways and means. That which appeared to ma
the mod effectual, was to take a Chriftian School*
matter into ray Houfe, who was an able zealous
Man. The Children came thither to learn, and I
took the opportunity to inftil Devotion into them;
to expound to them the principal Articles of Religi¬
on, to train them up and difcipline them againlt the
Aflaults of the Gentiles, to accuftom them to the
Ceremonies of the Church where they a flitted at
Mafs every day. This pra&fle did alfo produce
another good efFedi. The Children of Idolaters who
came to Study under the Tuition of the fame Matter,
whether by reafon of cheapnefs, or becaufe of the
nearnefs of the place, heard, whether they would
or no, what was taught to their Schoolfellows:
Thefe inttrudions form'd and leafon’d them by little
and little to Chriflianity, and replenifhed their Mind
with abundance of good Notions and Idea's, which,
as fo-many Seeds, in procefs of time did produce
Evangelical Fruit, that is to fay, real Converfions.
It were to be wifh’d there were a good number
of Chriftian School-mafters that might teach gratis
in Cities, that would be the beft means to propagate
Religion, and to prelsrve good Manners, and keep
up decorum in Families; but the Mifltonariesare fo
far from being m a condition to maintain them, that
they are hard put to it to lubfift themfelves; for they
do not lead fuch a Life as fome ill-informed, or rather
iil-affedted Authors would have made the World be¬
lieve they did. Nay, and I fpeak even of thofe who
are at Court, wfto feem by their outfidc to live in
the Kent Chriftians in China. 3 ^ 1
the affluence of all Accommodations. It is true in¬
deed they go in their. Silks, (according to the mode
of the Country ) when they go to vifit Perlons
of Quality, yea, and they are fometimes carried in a
Sedan, or elfe on Horfeback, attended by Servants.
All which is neceffary to keep up their Credit, and
preferve the proteftion of the NlanAar'ms, for want of
which the Chriftians would be often oppreft. But
yet that makes the Miffionaries to lead an bard Life;
for thole Expences confuming their whole Revenue,
or Peniion, which never amounts to an Hundred
Crowns per Annum , the (mall portion thac remains
is fcarce fiuEcient to live on. The Miffionary is
very decently (not to fay very poorly habited) in his
Houle; his Lodging is very inconvenient, he lies
upon the hard Ground, or upon a very thin Quilr
without Sheets. As for his Table, it is fo frugal, that
there is never a Monk in Europe to whom the Canon
prefcribes luch a vigorous Abliinence; fome of them
pals whole Years together with only Rice, legumin¬
ous Vegitables, and Water; for the Thee that is ufu-
ally drank, is neither plealant to the Palat of a Cbinefe
nor a Foreigner.
However, I fpeak only of the time that they are
in their Houfe; for as loon as ever they come abroad
to travel about the Provinces, and to feek the loft
Sheep in the Villages, Mountains, and the moft re¬
mote places, one is not able to exprefs the continual
fatigues of their Miffion; (I fpeak chiefly of thole
that perform in the Wefterh Provinces; for the
Channels that water almoft all the Provinces of the
South, make thele Perambulations lefs tedious.) Then
it is that they labour Night and Day, lie in Barns, eat
with the poor Country Men, and areexpofed to the
fcorching Sun, and the moll vehement Cold, often¬
times covered all over with Snow, and wet to the
Skin with Rain. And then we met with nothing to
comfort us at our arrival but fervent Chriftians, that
GC4 quite
quite
that they expect from us.
The Province of Xenfi, that fell to my care, is one
ofchevaftefrinail Chma. Ihadfome Chriftiin Chur¬
ches eflablifned within an hundred Leagues of one .
another, whither I mult go hy Roads To toilfome,
that even Horfes are of no ufe. They have Mules
bred in the Mountains, and managed for thefe fort of
Journeys, that is to fay, for the eafieft Ways; as for
the other Ways you are fain to fopt it, whether you
creep on all four up the Rocks, or defoend into the
Precipices. You crofs over the Valley in Water and
Dirt, expofed to Tygres, but yet more to Robbers,
whole retreat the Country does favour.
They are not like thofe fine ways and delightful
pleafant Champaign Provinces of the South, which
Art and Nature have feem’d rather to have made for
the delight of the Inhabitants, than for the conveni¬
ence of Travellers. The Valleys of the Alps and
Pyrenees are much more pa fable i and one may pro¬
perly fay of China, that where it is fine, nothing in
the World is finer; and when it feems to be fo, no¬
thing is more horrid and frightful. Neverthelefs,
fince the death of Father Faber, one takes delight to
travel aiong thofe tedious Roads that he watered for-
mei ly with the fweat of his Brows, where he hath
filed abroad that fweet favour of Holinefs that Hill
upholds the Faith of Chriftians, and animates the
Zeal of the Millionaries,
The oiher Churches of this Province are more
e.ifily come at, I Ipent a great part oi the Year in
travelling from Village to Village, Catechizing,
Preaching, adminiitring the Sacraments to Believers
thataffembled upon my paiTage in all the places that
i appointed. 1 divided my Time between them and
the Idolaters, whole Converfion always proves more
f requent in thofe folitary remote places than in great
.Cities, or in the Metropolis of a Province. Some
the Km Chriftims in China. 393
of them there were, who being already convinced
of the Truth by reading, or by their Commerce with
Chriifians, came of their own accord to receive
Baptifm: Others fhaken, and rouzed either by their
Relations or Friends, came to hear Deputations, and
at laft furrendred themfelves to the Grace of JESUS
CHRIST: Many allured by novelty, or by the in¬
treaty of their Neighbours, heard attentively, and al¬
ways difputed with a great deal of heat; amongft
whom fome there were that withdrew from the Di-
fputation more hardened than ever; yet others more
faithful to the drawings of the Spirit, gave Glory to
God, and humbly acknowledged their Errors. All
my trouble in thefe forts of Controveriies, was, that
I could not deliver my felf as 1 would. The diffi¬
culty of explaining my felf in a foreign Language
deprived the Truth of its Weight and Power. I
thought iff could but have fpoken my native Tongue,
there fhould not have been one Idolater in my Au¬
ditory, that fhould not have opened his eyes to Truth
firft, and then to Faith. But befides that, Men com¬
monly fpeak enough of it to make every Man in-
excufable, as St. Paul faith; yet I made moreover
this Refle&ion, That he that Plants, and he that Wa¬
ters, what pains foever he may take, and how ex¬
pert foever he may be in Planting and Watering
well, yet does but very little by that. A Man ought
to refer this great Work of converting Souls to God»
’tis he alone that cagfes thefe Plants to encreafe, that
nourifhes them, that raifes them up to himfelf, ac¬
cording to the order of his infinite Mercy and eter¬
nal Purpofes. And at thefe fet Times fixed and or¬
dained in the eternal Counfels of Divine Predeftina-
tion, how many times have 1 feen a few ill words
pronounced fenfibly to triumph over Error, becaufe
the Holy Spirit, that Matter within the Eled, doth
unfold the fenfe of them; whereas prolix Dilcourfes
have had none other effed, but only to harden the
heart*
3 p4 d e G°fpd iS propofecl to
heart; when, by a juft- Judgment, God was not
pleafed to accompany them with an extraordinary
evidence and demonftration of the Spirit.
You will, without doubt, mod Reverend Father,
be exceeding glad to understand the nature of the
main difficulties we meet withal in the Converfion
of the Gentiles. I have obferved three forts of them,
that feem peculiar to the Chmefc. Perlons of Qua.
lity, and thofe who would be thought wife, obje&ed
chiefly againft the Myfteries: Their hearts rofe
chiefly againft the Trinity and Incarnation ; a God
that was penetrable, a God that could die, wasnolefs
in refpett of them, than of the Jews a (tumbling
block and a piece of folly. The exiftence of God,
Eternal, Supreme, infinitely Juft, infinitely Powerful,
went eafily down with them, and the convincing
proofs of it that I urged to them,made them fometimes
forbear entering into the Lifts with me thereupon.
To proceed in order, and to follow the roads
which Prudence and Holy Fathers have chalked out
for us on thefe occafions, I divided our Religion in¬
to two parts. In the firft I propofed to them what-
foever Reafon exempt from Paffion di&ates to us.
That there is a God; that this God being infinitely
Holy, enjoynsuscoloveVertue, andfhun Vice, too-
bey Princes, to refpedt our Relations, to do no wrong
to ones Neighbour; that good Men that are often¬
times miferable in this World, enjoy a certain reward
in the next: That on the contrary, wicked Men,
who fpend their life in inordinate Pleafures, are ri-
gorioufly punilhed after death: That this fame Hope
and Fear, that are the beginning of Wifdom, are
like wife the firft Rule of our Demeanour; but yet
that theenflamed Love that every Man ought to have
for this fupreme Arbitratorpf Life and Death, is ca¬
pable alone to render us perfeft.
After I had convinced them by thefe Maxims, I
bid them pra&ife with this Spirit of Love and Fear,
theft
the New Chriftms in Chinai 3 j
thefe Divine Leffons,proftrateyour felves everyday
before the infinite Majefty of this God that you ac¬
knowledge; in thispofture, with tears in your Eyes,
and an Heart broken, and contrite with grief for
knowing him fo late, beg of him from the bottom
of your heart: that he would pleafe to raife you to
thefe fublime Truths, which Reafon doth not difco-
ver to you, but which it hath pleafed him to reveal
to the World by his beloved Son, which at prefent
make up the particular Chara&er of the Chrillian
Faith.
It was not always fuch an eafie matter to obtain
what I demanded; the moft part of the Gentiles
accuftomed blindly to purlue their Paffions, found
more difficulty to embrace this Novel-kind of Life,
than to believe the moft abftrufe Myfteries. Yet I
can allure you. Reverend Father, that of all thole
that fubmitted thereto in earneft, I fee not any that
was not a few days after dilpofed to believe the moft
difficult things which the New Teftament teacheth
us; So true it is, that Faith is the gift of God, that .
cannot be acquired by all the force of Reafoning;
and thofe only obtain, who follow our Saviours
Counfel: Seek and ye (had find ,, knock and it (had be
opened to you. God indeed, to accomplilh this pro¬
mile, did concur pretty often to the Converfion in
a moft miraculous manner, and I obferved in feveral
new Converts fo many enlightnings, juft upon their
relolving to live well, and be conftant in Prayer,
that the Holy Spirit muft needs have illuminated
them.
A Gentleman whom reading and diluting had
made to waver in his Opinion, could not yetrefolve
to believe; yet he determined notwithftanding to
pradtifeahe Morality of JESUS CHRIST, luppofing
that a good Life would much conduce todifpeltheie
Mills. At the firft his Doubts got ground of him
inftead of being vanquifhed: The more he looked
upon
5 p6 Houttke Goff el is proofed to
upon the Crofs, the more did his Spirit revolt. He
compared the Fables of, his own Religion with the
ignominious death of a God-man, that lays the Foun¬
dation of ours. They both feem’d to him equally
ridiculous; and 'take what care he could to fearcb,
nothing could he find that confirm’d him more in
Chriitianity, than in Idolatry. His Relations and
divers of .his Friends and Acquaintance, ufed their
utrnofl endeavour to win him over to J E S U S
CHRIST, but all to no purpofe, and he was juft
upon the point of taking up his old courfe again,
when our blefied Lord flopt him upon the very
brink of the Precipice.
One Night (as 1 had it from his own mouth) he
{aw in his Dream Heaven open ; JESUS CHRIST
appear’d to him full of Maiefly, fitting at the right
hand of the Father, and furrounded with an infinite
company of blefied Spirits: on one hand he fhewed
him thofe eternal Rewards that are promiled to Chri-
ftians s on the other he difcovered to him profound
. Abyffes, which the Torments and Shreiks of a great
many Idolaters made gaflly and frightful. That is
thy portion, faith he, with a threatning countenance,
if thou Joji not follow me. Oh! Son, continued he
with a more mild countenance, Mnjt my Croft if
■ courage you ? And mu(l a death which is the fource of my
glory , make you afiamed?
This Vifionfrighted him, and he awakened quite
another Man; he did not look upon it as a Dream, he
did not bufie himfelf to find out what extraordinary
thing, chance, and an over-heated imagination were
capable oftentimes to produce during fleep: the poor
Man being perfiiaded that God had fpoken to him,
demanded to bebaptifed with a great deal of impor¬
tunity : nay, and he was fo far from having any trou¬
ble to fu'omit to the belief of our Myfteries, that he
preceded he would willingly part with his life to de¬
fend the Truth of them.
Ano-
the New Cbriftim in China. 3 97
Another lefs knowing, yet much more obftinate,
aid not only not foriake his Errors, but did even IcofF
at and deride our mod holy Myfteries, and was pre-
fent at my inftrudfions, only to jeer them: yet had
he permitted bis Wile to turn Chridian, fcecaufe he
was not willing, by eroding her defire, to breed a
difturbance in his Family. But laid, he would have
a great care of following her example; far fear the
World Ihould be apt to believe that all his Family
was run mad.
Being naturally of a more fpritely temper, and
brisker than your Chinefe ufually are; 1 endeavoured
to win by fair means, more than by Deputation; at
length, perceiving neither of them prove effectual,
1 went one evening to his Houle to fee him, and
taking him afide; I depart to morrow, Sir, (aid f,
and am come to take my leave of you. I mud needs
confefs it is not without home foriow, not only be*
caufelleaveyou, but more-efpecially becaufe I leave
you in your Errors. At lead, before my departure,
do me one fmail kindnefs; your Wife is a Chridian,
fhehathan Image of the God-man, whofe Religion
I Preach, do fo much as Proftrate your felf fome-
times before this fame Image, and befeech him whom
it reprefents to illuminate your mind, if it be true
that he hath Power lo to do, and if he be capable of
hearing you. He promifed me he would do it, and
prelently after my back was turned he performed his
promife.
His Wife, ignorant of what had pad, feeing him
upon his Knees adoring JESUS CHRIST by often
bowing his Head before this Image, fuppofed he was
Converted, and fent one of her Relations into an
Houfe adjoyning where I was, to acquaint 1 me with
it: I ran thither, and found him dill fo taken up in
this Aftion, and in Prayer, that I had not a mind to
interrupt him.
As foon as he role from his Knees, I told him I
How the Gofpel is propofed to
could not fufficiently fignifie my joy to him, occa¬
sioned by the wonderful change God had lately
wrought in him.
How ! faith he, all amazed, did you lee at luch a
diftance what paft in my mind, or hath God re¬
vealed it to you? JESUS CHRIST himfelf, reply’d
I, lets me underftand fo much, for he acquaints us
that thole who ask any thing of his Father in his
name (hallbe heard. Oh! Father, cryed he, it is
true, I am no longer the lame Man, I perceive my
felf a Chriftian without yet knowing whatChriftia-
nity means; but pray inftrud me, I am ready to
fubmit, and to receive Baptilm this very moment i(
you pleafe.
.1 told him I baptized no body before I had firftin-
ftru&ed them, that being obliged to depart, I would
nominate a Chriftian to whom he might have re-
courle in my abfence. He confented to every thing,
and we proftrated our felves before this miraculous I-
mage, to return thanks to the Divine Majefty, who
can, when he fees good, from the hardeft Stones rails
up Children unto Abraham;
Amongft leveral other effe&s of that Grace, where¬
with it hath pleafed God to blefs my Million, the
Converfion of an old Officer in the Army teems
worth the relating to you. From a private Sentinal,
he was got up to be the King’s Lieutenant in one of
the Cities of the third Order, notwithftanding he was
very rich, yet had he never a Concubine; his Wife
being a Chriftian, obliged him to live in a more re¬
gular manner than other Mandarins. But nothing
could determine him to turn Chriftian; not that he
was biggoted to Paganifm, his delire of advancing
himfelf in the World took up all his thoughts, and
had till that time never owned any Deity but his For¬
tune. This indifterency for all forts of Religion, isof
all conditions the molt dangerous;and I have found
by Experience that a Man is never at a greater di-
ftansf
the New Chriftians in China, jpp
ftance from the true God than when he acknowledges;
Yet had he a great value for Ghriflians, becaufe he
edified by their innocent Life. When I chanced to go
to his City he always made me a Vifit; and becaufe
he thought it pleafed me, he went fometimes into the
Church to lie proftrate before the Altars. I thereupon
took occafion to lay the bufinefs of his Salvation home
to him, but he heard the moft ferious things, that I
fpoketohim thereupon, with a Smile.
One day fpeaking to him of Hell in a more terri¬
fying manner than ufual; Yon muft not be furprized
at my undauntednefs, fays he, it would be a great
lhame for an old Officer, as I am, to be afraid. E-
ver fince I turned Soldier I took up the refolution to
fear nothing: but after all, faith he, what reafon can
I have to fear ? Ido no body wrong j I ferve my
Friends, and am faithful to the Emperor, and if
heretofore I have been fubjeft to the ufual diforders of
Youth, I am at prefenttemperateenoughin myPlea-
fures. That is as much as to fay, replied I, that
you ftrive to gratifie the World, but you are no wife
felicitous to render to God what you owe to him;
could you imagine you fhouldbe a good Officer, in
difcharging the particular Duty of your Galling, if
you refus’d at the fame time to obey and acknowledge
the Emperor.
’Tis not enough to be regular in all the Anions of
a private Life: the principal Duty of a Subject is to
fubmit to his Sovereign, and the whole Duty of a
Man is to own and fear God. You are in the right,
faith he, I do ferioufly think it. You think fo in
vain, replied I, if that God, which I fpeak to you
of, does not give good Thoughts. Beg of him this
Evening to enlighten your Undemanding, he will
hear your Voice; but do you remember alio to liften
to bis, and follow it.
Altho*
400 Bom the Gofpel is propofed ts
Altho’ I could hope no more from this Difcourfe
than from feveral other preceding ones, yet I ob-
ferved he was wrought upon: I mention’d fome,
iuch thing to his Wife, who took an occafion there¬
upon to {peak home to him, and one of his Officers
being very'Zealous, and well indru&ed, defiredhim
dt lead to affid at Evening Prayer to be performed in
his Houfe. His prefence ftirred up the fervency of
his Domedicks, and they all beg’d of J E S U $
CHRIST that he might be converted, with Cries
and Tears, which the infinite goodnefs of the Al¬
mighty can fcarce ever withftand.
From this very moment he began to waver, and
the various thoughts he revolved in his mind a great
part of the night concerning the danger- wherein he
was, made him take up a refolutiort to go through
with Religion. But our Lord inftrudted him concer¬
ning it immediately; for he ferioufly protefted, that
being a little (leepy, he had fuch horrible reprefen-
tations' of Hell, that it.was no longer in fufpence
whether or no he fhould refolve: Uport his awaken¬
ing he found himfelfa'Chriftian, or at lead he took
up a firm refolution fo to be as loon as poflible he
could. He forthwith repaired to the Church where
I faidMafs; when it wasfinilhed, I was furprizedto
fee him at my Feet begging Baptifm of me, with his
Eyes bathed in Tears. Weeping, I fay, for fcarce
could he utter his mind, fo much did his Sighs and
Tears interrupt his Difcourfe : he fpoke likewife
with a much more confident Air, and there wasob-
ferved in his Aftion I- know not what fort of fear,
that had feifen him, of which he was not Matter. |
Whether it was that his imagination Was dill fmitten
with the reprefentation of Hell, or whether God by
this change was pleafed to make us, as well ashim,ap*
prehenfive that all the bravery and haughtinefs that
War is capable ofinfpiringi is not proof againd that
faving horror wliich he darts ( when it pleafes him/
into the mod undaunted Hearts. ’
the New Cbriftians in China. 401
I had a great mind, according to my cuftom, to
take fome time to examine and mftrubt him, but he
protefted that he would not go out of the Church till
he was baptifed- Perhaps 1 [hall die this very‘ni(rbt, laid
he to me, and you will be grieved te know me eternally
damn'd. His refolution not to forfake me, the intreaty
of Chriftians, that went down to the ground to me
to obtain this favour, and 1 know not what internal
motion, prevailed upon me. I examined him about
every point of Religion : he underftood one pa: t of
it, and learnt the reft with fo much ealinefs, that tw'o
hours after, I thought I could initiate him Into our
Myfteries. His Converfon made a great noiie in the
City, feveral Idolaters followed his Example; and
fince in Heaven it felf there is rejoycing at the repen¬
tance of one Sinner; there is no queftion but the
Saints and Angels were joyful of the Convsrfion of
this very Man.
This fubmiffion of our fpirit to the obfcureft My¬
fteries, how difficult foever it may feem, yet is it not
the thing that troubles the Gentiles moft ; feveral o-
ther confiderations are greater rubs in their way. The
firft is the reftitutityi of ill-gotten Goods, which in
reference to the Merchants and Mandarins is an al-
moft unfurmountable Obftacle.
Injuftice and Cozenage are fo common in China,
in thefe two Conditions, that few of them there are
who have enriched themfelves any other wav. A
Merchant always puts off his Wares at the deareft
, rate he can poffibly, and never utters his good Mer-
chandife but when he cannot get rid of his bad. Cun¬
ning and Graft, fo peculiar to this Nation, feem to
intitle it to’ the right of Sophifticating all things. But
the fanftity of our Religion doth not permic what
human Laws tolerate: A Man when he is become
Rich by unjuft dealing, muft come and make up his
Accounts with God, when he does in earneft think he
is come to the knowledge of him. I muft confels
D a that
4 °1 Bow the Gofpel is proofed to
that I never in lifted upon this point, but it made me
tremble. This is for the moft part a Rock of offence
to a Cbinefe.
They do not boggle at the Myfteries, nor ever call
them in queftion, and the reafon is, becaufe they feem
not cut out for fpeculative Sciences. But as to the bu-
finefs of Morality, they have a certain penetrating
aptnefs, and think themfelves little inferiour to us.
* It is very true, fays a Merchant to me one Day,
‘ Man is not allowed to defraud, or do wrong to his
* Neighbour; but it is not I that cheat when I (ell too
* dear, or wheA I put off my bad Stuffs, the Buyer a-
‘ bufes himfelf. As he for his part defires to have
‘ them for nothing, or as little as he can, if I agree to
‘ it: S:>1 likewife am in the right, to exadt large rates
* from him, and to receive them, if he be fo fimple
* as to give them me. This is the fruit of out Induftry,
* and this profit is no violence, but the effett of my
‘ Calling, that teaches me to improve my Trade.
‘ Moreover, adds he, altho’ it lliould be true that I
* Ihould poffeis another Man’s Goods,, and that I
‘ Ihould have committed a fault by enriching my (elf
‘ at his coft. How can I have the Confidence at pre-
* fent to flap my Children naked, and reduce them to
* beggery ? Believe me. Father, thole from whom I
‘ have extorted what they had, have I’ll warrant you
‘ done as much to others, who again have enriched
‘ themfelves after the fame manner. Here it is the
‘ Cuftom to. deal thus, and every one in particular,
‘ (if they have any reafon ) ought mutually to pardon
* one another for thefe fmall faults; otherwife we
* muft undoe and overthrow whole Families, and in*
* troduce a diforder worfe than the mifchief that one
‘ hath committed. As for my part,I freely pardorf thole
‘ who have choufed me, provided no body will moleft
‘ me about the pretended wrong I have done him.
This is the Language of the Children of darknefi,
of whom JESUS CHRIST faith, That is is eafier
for
tie New Chriftians in China, 40 3
for a Gamel to go through the Eye of a Needle, than
for a rich Man to enter into the Kingdom of Hea¬
ven. Let a Man reprefent to them what he pleafes;
yet they always have their own way, being more ob¬
durate than blind ; for they feldom fail of admiring
Juftice, and an unbyafied humour in others. See
here an example of what I fay, whereof I have been
witnefs my felf.
A young Man travelling in the Province of Xenji,
where I chanced to be, found a Purfe upon the Road
of about ten or twelve Crowns; he had the honefty
to enquire after the Perlon to whom it belonged, that
he might reftorc it. This was look’d upon as an he-
roical Adlion by the Chinefe- now the Mandarin of
the place would not let him do it without a recom-
pence, he made an Encomium of it himfelf in a Difc
courfe that was printed in a large Cham&er, and af¬
fix’d upon the Palace-Gate.
But God Almighty, to whom even natural Vertues
are acceptable, was infinitely more gracious to this
young Man. For proceeding on his Journey, a Perfon
unknown to him accofted him, and Laid, How came
it to pafs that you reftored the Money fo generoufly ?
Do not you know that it is none but the Chriftians
Duty to do luch things as thele ? And know, that in
the ftate wherein you are, all your moral A&ions
will not hinder you from being damned: believe me,
you will do well to go to the Father of the Chriftians,
and embrace their Religion, without which all your
uprightnefs and natural equity will Hand you in no
Head after death.
He immediately obeyed, and returned back to find
me out; he related to me with abundance of modeft
fimplicity what had happened to him, and ever and
anon he would be faying; What is it to be a Chrifti-
an ? And what would you have me to do ? I itiftrutfed
him with fo much the more eafinefs, becaufe he took
Nothing amifs; In a word, he was indued with fb
Dd 2 much
404 Horn the Gofpel is propofed to
much innocence and candor, that l was much taken
with him; fo that when I found him well difpofed,
I proceeded to the baptifing of him, and put him' in
a way to fantfifie his good inclinations for the future.
The Devil, who underftands the blind fide of the
Cbinefe as to matter of filtered, hath infpired the Ido-
laters with a Maxim that always retains them in their
Errors. The People fancy, that one is Chridian e*
nough if one be poor, and that Chridianity was the
Religion of beggarly Fellows. So that if there hap¬
pen any misfortune in a Family; if there chance to
Be a Chridian in it, all others prefently lay the blame
upon him, and load him with their Imprecations.
One cannot without a ftrong Faith refid this Perfe¬
ction, and when one propofes to an Idolater, pre-
poflefied with this falle Idea, to embrace the Chridian
Religion; inward Grace mud be exceeding drongto
oblige him to Sacrifice his Fortune, and to forfake, as
he imagines, all his temporal Intereds.
This very reaion fways almod with all the Manda¬
rins, who venture all as Coon as they think of becom¬
ing Chridians. Father Adam’s fall, that drew along
with it fo many illudrious Families in the latePerfecu-
tion, makes their Hair dill dand an end. They know
that the Religion of the Europeans is not approved
of by the Laws, and withal, that they may deprive
all fuch as embrace it of their Lives and Fortunes.
What Proteftion foever the Emperor may grant to
the Miffionaries, he may hereafter revoke it, he may
die. And the Parliament watch all opportunities ima¬
ginable to root out Chridianity; fo that the fear of
lofing the deceitful riches of this World, deprive a
multitude of People of eternal Bleffings, which they
cannot fufficiently value, nor know the worth of.
But now if a Mandarin, who has any Work of
Giace upon his Heart, wave all thefe Confiderations,
yec upon his Converfion, he meets with another no¬
table obdacle tp his peifeverance, dill more difficult
to
the New Chrifl'utm in China] 4©j
io furmount than the former. Since the Penfions
the Officers are not capable to fupply the ufual Ex-
pences of their Family, they have no other Fund for
to maintain it befides injuftice.
The Minifters of State, and chief Prefidents of
Sovereign Courts of Judicature of Pekin, do under¬
hand cxatft considerable lums from the Vice-Roys.
And thefe latter, to make it good, have recourfe to
the principal Mandarins of the Province; who again
lay a Tax upon the Subaltern Officers. None dare
prelume to difpenfe with it, without running into the
danger of being quite undone, infomuch that every
one of them, that he may maintain his Poll, gapes
after getting Money by hook or by crook.
This Miniftry of injuftice, which the Ambition of
the Grandees, and Avarice of fome of inferior Rank,
have introduced into the Empire lincethe laft Revo¬
lution, gives a mortal Blow to the Eftablilhent of our
moft holy Faith upon a folid Foundation, becaule a
Chriftian Mandarin ceafes to be a good Chriftian,
if he fleeces and robs, or elfe he ceales to be a Man¬
darin if he do not cheat.
However, we meet with a great many of them,
whom Providence prelerves, who have not bowed
the Knee to Baal. We have fsen in China , as in the
Primitive Church, fbme Examples of this Chriftian
generality, that count the Goods of this World as no¬
thing, in hopes that the Kingdom of Heaven will
one Day be their Inheritance. During the time of
the Perlecution there paftan hundred things of this
nature, that might afford matter of Edification; but
being I fet down nothing but what I have leen, I
lhall content my lelf to relate a moi e recent Example
which likewile much aife&ed me.
A fervent Chriftian of the Province of Xenf, af¬
ter he had enriched himfelf in divers honourable em¬
ploys, did at laft retire from the World, refolving to
by out one part of his Eftate in the Service of God,
D d % and
40 6 How the Gojpel is proofed to
and to difpofe of the other in leading a peaceable
and innocent life with his Family. He had built a
Church in the Country, whither I fometimes went
to Adminifter the Sacraments, and Baptife the Cha-
techifts, whom he took fpecial care to train up him-
felf But his Houfe (landing in a place that was a
great thorough-fair, the Troops that are continually
going, and coming in China, laid all his Grounds
wafte, not daring to do the lead Damage to thofe of
his Neighbour Idolaters; and this is the Reafon that
. induced them to deal with him at this rate.
The Chinefe are wont publicity to belch out Curies
lagainft thofe that do them wrong, efpecially, if they
cannot be revenged of them other ways. If a Man
''.hath been robb’d in his Houfe, and one cannot difco-
verthe Robber, every Morning and Evening, for (e-
veral Days together, the Family’s Bufinefs is to curfs
him ; the Father, Mother, Children, and the Ser¬
vants, take it by turns, and relieve one another in this
Exercife, and wilh him all mifchief imaginable; they
have, (if l may foexprefsit) Formula's of foul Lan¬
guage, and dire Expreffions, which they repeat an
Hundred Times, bawling as loud as poffibly they ate
able, at the Gate, or upon the Houfe top j and they
imagine that the Robber will come to fome harm by
them, wherever he be, ’till fuch time as he hath mads
amends for the Wrong.
Notwithftanding, there is notone of an Hundred
of thefe Robbers, that give any heed to this tedious
Noife, yet, fome there be that are frighted at it; and
this Fear prevents abundance of Violences. Chri-
(Hans who love their Enemies, and wifh well to thoft
that do ill by them, are far from curling them; fo chat
the Soldiers that I told you of, fearing theCurfeso;
the Gentiles, (pared their Goods, and fearing nothing
from the Wrath of this zealous Chriftian, they plunj
di ed his Houfe, Role his Fruit, cut down his Corn
cad pluck’d up his Trees: So you fee his extraordi
the New Cbriftiam in Chinni 407
nary Patience, drew upon him all the Damage which
otherwife would have equally fallen upon others.
His Friends more concern’d at his Lolles than
himfelf, often laugh’d at his infenfiblenefs, and re¬
proach’d him much what in the lame manner as Job's
Friends did him on fuch a like Occalion, telling him,
that all his Bleffing of God, would not fecure him
from lofing his Eflate,and probably not from ftai ving:
henedic Deo, & morere , Blefs God and die.
They were always telling him, that it was a ftrange
Thing, that for the bare Obfervance of his Religion,
he would fee himfelf reduc’d to the utmofl Extremi¬
ty. If fo be, fay they, you are afraid your felf to
utter Curfes againfl thole Rogues, fend one of your
Servants' to do it for you, or elle let out your Eftate
to Gentiles, who will not be troubled with thefe "ri¬
diculous Scruples.
This good Man abounding in lively Faith, and
that godly Simplicity fo conformable to the Golpel,
made Anfwer, That all he had was at God’s difpolal,
that he would prelerve it, and that upon the whole,
he had rather receive Hurt, than do any. He told
me one day; My Children take it very ill, that I leave
myHoufeand Goods, at Sixes and Sevens, to beplun-
dred at this rate: You know I have my particular
Reafons to do thus, but they have none at all to com¬
plain, (ince the Goods do not belong to them; they
have wherewithal to live, without being beholding
to any Body, upon what I have referved for my
felf; but altho’ they Ihould be in Want, yet, I had
rather, when I come to die, leave Examples ofVer-
tue for their Portion, that contribute to the faving
of their Souls, than Riches, that may make them
lofe them.
Thefe Sentiments, mold Reverend Father, were
fuch matter of joy, that I am not abletoexprefs it to
you. I faid fometimes to my felf, in the Excels of mv
Jey, Is there imre Faith than that in Ifrael ? No, O
40 8 How the Gofpelis propofed to
Lord, I have loft nothing by leaving France, fince I
find fome Saints here ; thy Spirit hath indeed filled all
the Earth ; and that profound Science of Salvation,
that we in Europe have enjoy’d for fo many Ages, be¬
gins at length to be fpread abroad to the Extremities
of the World, by the fiupendous Efficacy of thy holy
Word.
Neverthelefs, becaufe his Children were very ur¬
gent with me, to find out fome Way or other to reme¬
dy this Diforder, and that indeed it was convenient
to prevent the Gentiles Malice from prevailing over
the Chriftians Patience ; I permitted them on fuch
Occafions as thefe, to make ufe of Threatnings in-
ftead of Curlings; and to tell them, I wilh you no
Harm, yea, and l forgive that you have done me;
b t God who pleads my Caule, knows how to punilh,
t ao : I do not pretend to do it: the Time will come,
when you ihail be (mitten with all the Anathemas that
your unjuft Violence defsrves, and that Curfe he
fends on you at prefent, will be to you the Source of
all the Miferies which his Law forbids me to wilh to
' you. This Expedient took Effect, and the Chrifti¬
ans growing eloquent for their own Intereft, did lo
lively represent the Judgment of God, that the Idola¬
ters durit no longer blame them.
The Second Obftacle in the Way in converting the
Chincfe, proceeded from the multitude of Wives which
the Laws of that Country permit thetni that is, in
relpect of the Perfons of Quality only, who, befides
their own Wives, take as many Concubines as they
are able to maintain; for as to the ordinary Sort, they
have not Wealth enough to allow this Expence. The
Mandarins are by their Condition dsbar’d from all or¬
dinary Divertilements, they are permitted only to eat
now and then with their Friends.and give them a Play:
Gaming, raking the Air, Hunting, private Vilits,pub-
lick A ftemblies would be lookc upon in them,as Crimes
of 5tr.ee; lb tint they leek no further than in their
the New Chnfliam in China. 409
Houfe to find wherewithal to fupply the want of thole
Pleafures which the Laws abridge them of.
Here and there one of them applies himfelf to ftu-
dy, as the fureft means to advance him; but the great-
eft part of the Mandarins compofe a kind of Seraglio,
wherein they fpend all the time that they can fteal
from their Affairs. One may judge by that, how lit¬
tle they are inclined to deprive themfelves of De¬
lights, to be fatisfied with one Wife, whofe Age, nav,
and many times Antipathy, have but already too
much difgufted them.
It is true, thofe who are converted, are permitted
to take one of their Concubines to Wife, in cafe the
lawful Spoufe hath not a mind to turn Chriftian; but
the Laws prohibit them to do fo: And in China , one
cannot divorce his Wife, except in fome very few par¬
ticular Cafes authorifed by Guftom: Moreover, the
Relations of her, whom her Husband fhould have thus
repudiated, would certainly be revenged on him, nay,
and would force him by Law to take her again. 1 So
that when we propofe to the Mandarins the other Dif¬
ficulties of our Religion, they difpute, they confider
how to conquer them; they do not defpair to do Vio¬
lence upon their Inclinations; but this laft Paint dif-
courages them at firft Dafh, and deprives them of all
thoughts of being convert^!. I will give you a nota¬
ble Example of what I fay.
I was going one day from one Village to another,
in pretty bad Weather, and>making hafte to get there
in time, I heard an Horfeman behind, whogallop’t
up to me; he was a Man of betwixt Fifty and Three-
fcore,well mounted, and attended by fome Servants:
As foon as he had overtaken me, he told me, that the
great Efteem he had for the Chriftian Religion, gave
him fome thoughts of getting himfelf fully inftru&ed
therein, and that nothing could ever be able to divert
him from this Refolution, becaufe he perceived m his
mind, a wonderlul dclire to embrace it. This Ar-
410 How the Gofpel is propofed to
dency, faith I, Sir, without all doubt comes from God >
Fleih and Blood do not infpire fuch like Sentiments
irtto you i for my part, I am ready to affift you i I
hope on your part, you will be perfuaded to follow
the Vbice that calls you. We were afoot in the middle
of a great Highway, and taking him alide a little, I be¬
gan to inftrudt him: every thing appeared Rational to
him; and after having run overall the myfteries that
are moft difficult, I adviled him to follow me into the
Church, whither it was my Duty to go, when I call’d
to mind that I had forgot the material Point; I fup-
pofe. Sir, added 1, that you have no Concubines, or at
leaft, you are refolved to fend them packing; for with¬
out doubt, you are not ignorant, that it is not allow¬
ed Chriftians to marry feveral Wives. The Religion
which I preach, and Jefus Chrift taught, applies it felf
principally to wean our Hearts from fenfual pleafures,
nay, and doth even fometimes exhort us, to deprive
our (elves of thofe which Reafon permits.
How! faith he, ftartl’d at this, am I oblig’d (if I
have any thoughts of being a Chriftian ) to turn off
my Concubines ? Ah! what hurt is there in keeping
them ? what will People fay of me in the World? what
will become of my Children ? and what will become
of my felf? But, is that fame really an Article which
cannot be difpenfed with ? I endeavoured to pacifie
him, and make him apprehend, that he laboured un¬
der a miftake: If to overcome the Difficulties of his
Converfion, he relied wholly upon his own natural
Strength, and prelenc Inclination; God, laid I, who
knows our corrupt Nature, hath lecret Methods
whereby to affift us, that we do not at Firft (o much
as dream of; endeavour only to keepalive that good
Will he hath granted you, he will accomplifti the reft,
you will find your >lelf changed in relpeCt of this, as
of all other things.
He liftened to me a good while without fpeaking
a Word, but at length taking his leave of me on the
(udden,
the New CfmftUns in China. 41f
i'udden, and making a low Bow, he mounts quickly on
Horfe-back,puts Spurs to his Horle, and rides full fpeed
towards the Place from whence he came; I quickly
loft fight of him, but methought I ftill faw him, fo
lively was his Countenance tor fome time imprinted
upon my Spirit; and L am flill quite difconfolate, for
lofing a Soul in an inftant, which the Grace of our
Lordjefus Chrifl had been (o long a preparing for me.
But nowin refped of Women’s Converfation, it is
much more difficult. A Concubine, for Example, ac¬
knowledged the Verity of Religion, and the Mifera-
blenefs of her State and Condition ; (he had a great
Defire to come out of it, and receive Baptifm, it was
told her, that the firft Step that Faith acquired of her,
was to live feparately from her pretended Husband,
and to forfake her fins; (o far fhe confents, nay, fhe
defires it with all her Heart; but to obferve what fhe
reprefents to her felf: 1 belong to a Mandarin who,
bought me; if I go out of his Doors, he hath right to
claim me, and take me again, and inflift Punifhment
upon me as his Slave. If by good Fortune I avoid his
Purfuit, whither can I retire to be in more Security ?
my Kindred who fold me dare not harbour me, and
1 1 (hall infallibly fall into the hands of another Perfon
who will engage me in the State that I feek to avoid;
I mud therefore remain in theHoufe where I am; But
howfhall I be able to refill a brutilh Fellow, who only
confults his Paffion, juflified by the Laws, and Exam¬
ple of the whole Empire? It is to no purpofeto lay
before him the Holinefs of Chriftianity that I defire to
embrace ; my Intreaties, Tears, yea, my Refiftance,
and all the Efforts that I, poorl! can make, are not
able to hinder him; nevert’helefs, I am refolved to run
away whatever it coft me: Order me to do fome-
thing, but pray do not refufe me Baptifm.
It fo fal’s out fometimes, that an Idolater taking di-
ftafte at fome extravagant Cafr'tck of his Christian
Wife, does wrongfully accufc her, and obtains leave
by
4 *z How the Gofpel is proofed to
by the force of Money, to (ell her to another; yea,
fometimes without any legal Procefs of Juft ice, he fells
her and retires into another Province. This Woman
gets into the hands of another Man: How can (he
avoid Sin, receive the Sacraments, and perfevere in the
Faith ? In truth, the Miflionaries are at their Wit’s end,
having at that time no ocher Courfe to take, but to go
to Prayer, that God who fincerely defires the Salvati¬
on of all Men, would pleafe to make u(e of thofe (e-
cret means, that his Almighty Power is wont to pro¬
duce, when his ordinary Providence, and the Efforts
of our good Defires, prove ineffectual.
We have, moft Reverend Father, (o much the more
Reafon to hope for thefe diftinguifhing Favours from
God in fuch-like Occafions, becaufe he often grants
them, even then when we do not judge them abfo-
lutely neceffary: It is true, Miracles are not fo com*
mon in China, as the State of that Empire would feem
to require: The Emperor to whom they have rela¬
ted thofe which God had been pleafed to work in o-
ther Nations, does fometimes reprove us for it. Are
we, faith he, in a worfe Condition than the Barba¬
rians, that have (o frequently feen their Sick Healed,
and their Dead railed to Life ? What have we dond
to God,that he renders our Converfation (o difficult?
You come from the utmoft ends of the Earth, to
preach up a new Law to us, contrary to Nature, ele¬
vated above Reafon: Is it Juft, that we Ihould take
your Word for it? Do (ome Miracles that may war¬
rant the Truth of your Religion, and I’ll pafs my
Word for the Sincerity of our Faith.
We have frequently told him, that God was the
Mafter and Giver of thefe Gifts, and that he diftri-
buted them according to the Decrees of his eternal
Wddom; that it is out of our Sphere to fathom their
Depth; that fometimes he did not wo.k thefe Prodi¬
gies in Rings Courts, becaufe he forelaw the ill ufe
they were likely to makeof them; fometimes becaufe
giving
the New Chriftim in China. 41 3
giving them better Parts an#Abilities, and more Pe¬
netration than to others, thefe ordinary Graces were
fufficient for them; whereas the Ample, vulgar, and the
rude, unciviliz’d Nations flood in need of the fenfi-
ble Marks of his Almightinefs, for the more eafiedif-
covering of the Truth ; yea, and it is more than pro¬
bable alfo, that carnal Prudence which is at fuch en¬
mity with the Spirit of the Bleffed Jefus, the Softnefs,
Ambition, and Luxury of great Perfons, draw upon
them this terrible Chaflifement, and that God in his
juft Judgment refufeth Miracles to Perfons, who do
themlelves refute to fubmit to the moft plain, and or¬
dinary Laws of Nature.
But, my Lord, (have fome replied) the Charity
of that great Number of Miffionaries, who joyfully
forfake Europe, where their Quality, Eftates, and their
Science, ought naturally to detain them; who traverfe
a thoufand Dangers, to come hither to facrifice them-
felves to the Happinefs of your People; and with fo
unbiafled and conftant Zeal, Sir: Is not there fome-
thing of a Prodigy in it ? and ihould it not be as power¬
ful toperfuadeyouas Miracles? If they be fuch Know¬
ing, Learned Men as your Majefty allows them to be,
how do they abufe themlelves ? and if they be Wife,
as you feem to think them, why do they abandon all
the Pleafures of this World, to come lb far to de¬
ceive others, and all to no purpofe ? After all the Re¬
flexions they have made this Hundred Years upon the
different Religions of China, there is not one of them,
who hath not judg’d them all wholly contrary to Rea-
fon; but during fo many Ages that we have examin¬
ed the Chriftian Religion, we have not obferved a-
mongft us one wife Man, and of good Morals, that
hath fufpeXed it of Fal/hood. Thefe Anfwers do
ulually put him to a (land, and force him to make
certain Reflexions that do not a little difturb him.
In Ihort, moft Reverend Father, if Miracles be
Wanting at Pe&iv, the Bufinefs is otherwife in the Pro¬
vinces
414 Hom> f k Gof pel is propojed is
vinces, feveral are there wi ought, and thofe of Father
Taber are fo generally known, that it is fomewhat dif¬
ficult not to believe them; not that I go about to Ju-
ftifie all that is related of thofe, nor of a great many
more Prodigies, which they relate on fmall grounds:
but, you’ll give me leave not to doubt of thofe where¬
of I my feif have been Witnefs; and peradventuie,
mofl: Reverend Father, you rely fo much upon my
Sincerity, as to be enclined to believe them 1 icewife
upon myTeftimony.
In a Village in the Province of Xenfi, near the City
of San-ujcn , there lived an Idolater, devout in his
way, and excreamly addi&ed to thefe Superftitions:
At the time of Full Moon, he burnt commonly in
honour of his Gods, gilded, or filvei'd Papers, wrapt
up in different Figures, according to the Cuftom of
the Country. One day, preparing to offer this kind
of Sacrifice before his Gate, there arofe a Storm that
forc’d him to retire into hib Houfe, where he lighted
the laid Papers in the middle of a Hall, without taking
any further Care; but the Wind blowing open the
Gate, drove them up and down every where, and
they had not time to prevent one part from flying in¬
to a Stack of Straw, which fet Fire on the Houfe.
People came running, but the conflagration became
fo furious, in a moment, that it was impoffible to ex-
tinguilh it. The Houfe on one fide adjoyning to the
Idolater’s, belong’d to a Chriftian, and by this time
feern’d (half encompafled with the Flame driven furi-
oufly by the Wind) to be in danger of being quickly
quite conliuned. This, poor Man, attended with di¬
vers others, got upon the Houle-top, and did his En¬
deavour, but all in vain, to defend himfelf from the
Conflagration; when his Brother very confidently
came as near the Fire as lie durfl poffibly, and fell on
his Knees upon the 1 iles, and looking up to Heaven,
laid, 0 Lord, forfake not thofe that pit their truf in thee ;
all that thou bafi beflomd upon rrs is here ; if we lofe it,
the New Cbriftians in China. 1 415
the whole Family is reduced to the utmofi Extremity: Pre¬
serve it, 0 my God, and I prowife before thee, that 1 will
ajfemble all the Chrifiians in the Neighbourhood, and we
will go to Church together , to demonftrate my acknowledg¬
ment of the fame. Thereupon, he loofed a fmall Re-
lique from his Chaplet, threw it into the middle of the
Flames that by this time covered part of the Houfe.
This Action, perform’d with fuch a fprightly Air,
did equally attrad the Attention of Chriftians and
Idolaters, who mightily aftonifhed at their Compa :
nions Confidence, expeded the event of the Bufi-
nefsi when Heaven all on the fuddain, declar’d it felf
in a molt miraculous manner: The Wind blowing
violently, forthwith flackti’d, and a contrary Wind'
ftronger than that arifing at the.fame time, drove the
violent Streams of the Flames to that oppofite fide, up¬
on the Houfe of a wicked falfe hearted Ghriftian, that
had lately abjured: It was confumed in a Moment,
becoming an Example of divine Vengeance, as the
Houfe that Heaven preferved, was an evident Token
of his Protedion.
I was at that time Six Miles from the Village. ’Tis
true, my urgent Bufinefs hindred me from being my
felf upon the Spot; but I fent very credible Perfons
thither, to be inform’d about it. The Pagans firft of
all, bore Witnefs to the Truth» and fome while after,
the Chriftians thereabouts, conduded by him who was
lately heard in his Prayer, appear’d in my Church
to fulfil his Vow; where with one accord, they ec-
cho’d forth the Praifes of the Great God, who alone
is able to caufe his Voice to be heard by the moft in-
fenfible Creatures, to the Confufion of falfe Gods,
that are not thcmfelves capable to hear the Voice of
rational Creatures.
Some Months after, there happened a thing no lels
furprifing, the Confequences whereof, were very be¬
neficial to Religion: An Idolater of an indifferent
Fortune, felt himlelf aflanlted with an unknown
Dj (temper;
41 6 How the Gofpel is propofed to
Diftemper; it was fo catching, that his Mother and
Wife {har’d in it likewife: Two or three times a Week
he fell into fainting Fits, which at the beginning,
look’d like Swooning, and then turn’d again into
cruel Head aches, Pains in the Stomach and Bowels;
lometimes they found themfelves extreamly agitated,
as if they had had a Fever; they loft the ufe of their
Reafbn, their Eyes rolled in their Heads, and Men
judged by feveral other unufual Poftures, that the
Devil had a hand in the matter.
They were the more perluaded to it, becaufe they
often found their Houle all put out of Order, the
Chairs, Tables, and Earthen Vefiels overthrown, not
knowing on whom to lay the Fault. The Phyficians,
whofe Intereft it was to pals Judgment, that Nature
on the one hand, and the Malice of the People of the
Family on the other, were the Caufe of tnefe feve-
ral Actions, made ule of all their Medicines to Cure
them. The Bonzes on the contrary allured them, that
the Devil was the Author of the Mifchicf, and de¬
manded unreafonable Alms to flop its Courle. So that
the good People, abufed on every hand, had thrown
away all their Eftate, in Four Years time, upon the
Covetoufnefs of thele Importers, without finding any
Benefit: However, feeing the Diftemper afforded
them lome Intervals, they loughtup and down in the
Cities thereabouts for new Remedies for their Griefs.
One Day, this Idolater going for this pupofe to
the chief City, he found a Chriftian upon the Road,
to whom he told his Condition, and how niilerably
he was handled. No queftion, faith the Chriftian, but
it’s the Devil that torments you; but you well deferve
it; Why do you ferve lo bad a Matter? We fear no
liich thing, bccaufe we acknowledge one God, whom
the Devils adore; yea, they tremble before his Image;
and the Crols only that we wear about us, hinders
him from coming near us. If you will accept of a
Pita ofJESUS CHRIST, and you and all
your
the New Chriftians in China. 41 j
your Family will honour it, it will not be long be-
fore you fee the Effe&s of it: However, it is loon tried,
itlhall cod you nothing, and you may judge by that,
that I have no other aim but your Benefit.
The Idolater confented to it, and hanging the holy-
image in the mod honourable Place of the Houle, he
proftrated himfelf before it with profound Refpect,
and begged every day morning and evening of our
Saviour, that he would vouchlafe to heal his Body and
enlighten his Mind. His Mother and Daughter fol¬
lowed his example, and from that very moment the
Demons, abandoned the Place, of which JESUS
CHRIST had taken poffeflion.
Thefe good People growing ftronger and ftronger
in Faith, as the evil Spirit gave ground, began at laft to
think of being converted in good earned. They.came
to enquire for me at Sigan, the ufual Place of my Re-
lidence, and demanded Baptifm of me; they had al¬
ready got themlelves inftru&ed > they had moreover,
got all the Prayers by heart, that we teach the late Ca¬
techumens : but their Diftemper making a great Noife
in the Country, I Was willing every Body Ihould be
Witnefles of this Converlion, and lo went to the Vil¬
lage my felf, hoping this Miracle might fettle Chriftia-
nity therein, upon a lolid Ba(ts.
Juft upon my appearing, all the Inhabitants followed
me to the Place where the Image was dill hanging;
then I begun to tell them, that they were not to que-
ftion the Verity of our Religion: God, having himfelf
fpoken by a manifed: Miracle; but that I had caufed
them to affemble, to inftru& and baptife them: For, in
a word,what do you defire more to be convinced of the
Weaknefs of your Gods, and the Power of our God 2
The Demon laughs at you fo long as you oppole him
with nothing but Idols; but he is not able to hold it ouc
againft the Image only of the Chriftian’s God. Do
you imagine to. efcape this God after Death, whole
Power Hell owns, and whole Juftice it experiences e-
tery Moment. E e The
4 i 8 How the Goff el is propofed to
The multitude interrupted me by a Thoufand ridi¬
culous Objs&ions, which I eafily anfwered; at laft
fome body told me, that the Devil had no hand in the
Malady in queftion; that how extraordinary foever
it appeared, might proceed from feveral natural Cau-
fes: that is, laid I, the moft rational thing you can
fay; but yet does no way extenuate the greatnefsof
the Miracles. Let the Malady come from the Devil,
or from Mature, I will notexamin that; but it is cer¬
tain at leaft, that the Cure comes from God, whole
Image this Man hath worfhippe'd; and there is no
lefs Power requifi-re to cure natural Diftempers, than
to drive our evil Spirits. This Reafbn ihould have
made an equal Impreffion on all Minds, but Grace
that aded differently in the Hearts, gave place in fome
to voluntary obduratenefs, whilft it tiiumph’d over
the Obftinacy of others. Twenty five Pei ions at laft
gave Glory to God, who alone worketh great Marvels ;
Qui facit Mirahlsa magna [alas ; and were Ihortly
alter baptifed.
ThefeHauntings, and Infeftations of Demons, are
very ordinary in China among!! the Idolaters; and it
looks as if God permitted it fo to be, to oblige themto
have Recourfe to him. Sometime after this Acci¬
dent that I but juft now related, a Maid, juft upon
her Marriage, was attacked with a Complication of
feveral Difeafes, which the Phyficians knew not what
to fay to, and which the Chinefe are wont to afcribeto
the Demons. Her Mother perfuaded her to turn Chri-
ftian, and he that was to marry her, promifed to build
a Church to the God of the Chriftians,in cafe Baptifm
gave her any Relief: As (oon as ever this Maid had
taken this Courfe, fhe found her felf.not only relieved,
but perfe&ly cured.
But her Husband was fo far from following her Ex¬
ample, that he mifufed her feveral times for having
obliged him to renounce his Faith ; for the Bonzes
perfuaded him, that this Sicknefs was but a piece of
Artifice
the New Chriflians in China. 41 9
Artifice in his Mother-in-Law i and this Fancy alone,
put him into fuch a fit of Melancholy, that he was
infupportable to the whole Family, but efpecially to
his Wife, who from that very inftant, became an
object of his Averfion. It was in vain to reprefent to
him his own Miftake, and the Malice of the Bonzes,
for he always protefted, that if fhe would not take up
her old Religion again, he would lead her an ill Life
all her Days.
God, to undeceive him, fuffered the Demon to tor¬
ment his Wife as before; (o fhe relaps’d into her for¬
mer Convulfions: She was more efpecialiy (cared at
the fight of a great Company of Speilers, that let her
not have an hours reft. Thus toft up and down, aban¬
doned to her Husband’s Inhumanity, that beat her
cruelly, fhe in all appearance led a very uncomforta¬
ble Life: Yet remaining immovable in her Faith,
God always upheld her, and temper’d and allay’d by
the inward fweetnefs of his Grace, the bitternefs of
thefe Affli&ions; he,comforted her likewife by fenfi-
ble Vibrations, by his Word, and by the unfpcakable
Cogitations, that he from time to time infufed into
her Soul. Infomuch, that this Condition that gain’d
her the Compaffion of all that knew her, was to her
a fore-tafte of Paradife. Shcexpreft her felf much-
what to this purpofe to her Mother, who related it to
me with Tears in her Eyes; for her Husband could
not endure that I fhould lee her.
At firft, I gave little credit to this Difcourfe, yet
at length, I was apt to believe there was fomething
fupernaturai in it; for one Day, coming to a City
diftant from [the chief City where I fojourn’d, about
threefcore Miles; there I found this good Woman
with a great Company ofChriftians of the Neighbour-
Towns, which fhe had taken care to get together,
being confident, that I would come at the very Mi-
n'tite that fhe had fi'xt in her Mind, and it fell out ac¬
cordingly. It much furprifed me to fee her there, for
420 How the Gofpel is propofed to
I had no defign to come thither, and it was only by
chance that fome body had, about Five or Six Hours
before, made me relolve to come thither, fo that no
body could give her Notice of this my Refolution,
I took her in private, to learn of her how Ihe came
to know this, ihe told her that her Daughter, after
a violent A (Fault of a Demon, had been vifited by our
Blefled LORD, that when this Ext a fie was over, (he
advifed her to acquaint the Chriftians, and bring them
to this Village; for without all peradventure I would
come thither on (uch a day : In fine, added Ihe, not
being able to come thither my felf, and feeing my
Sins render me unworthy to partake of thofe lacred
Myfteries, pray defire the Father to offer up the holy
Sacrifice of the Mafs for me, and the Converfion of
my Husband- This poor Mother relating to me this
Accident, wept bitterly for the prefent State of her
Daughter i nevertheless, the accomplifhment of this
Prophecy, comforted, and, built her up in her mold
holy Faith. I cannot tell what happened fince that
time, for the neceflicy of mv Affairs obliged me to
leave that Province.
The extraordinary things that I have leen, the
Zeal of the Chriftians, and the Inclination of Idola¬
ters to be converted, infpired me with an affe&ionate
. Zeal for their Salvation, and I heartily wtih to be¬
llow the remainder of my Life, upon the cultivating
this precious Portion of our Lord’s Inheritance: But
fome fuperiour Reafons which I am bound to obey,
fnatcht me from it fore againft my Will: At this Sepa¬
ration, I was more fenfible than ever of my Lofs,
Thefe good People fo affe&ionate to their Pallors,
were almoft ready to offer Violence to me; but un¬
demanding that they could not detain me without
oppofing the Will of God, they abandon’d themfelves
to forrow, and gave fiich abundant Marks of their
Affection, that I my felf never Ihed more real and. bit¬
ter Tears: They waited for me upon the High-way
the New Chriflms in China. 42, \
in Crowds, where they had fpread Tables from (pace
to fpace, covered with all forts of Fruits, and Confe¬
ctionaries. It was fometimes neceflary to make a
(top, not to eat, but to hear their Complaints, and to
comfort them, for leaving them as Sheep without a
Shepherd. They made me promife them to return as
foon as poffible, or to fend them fome Body in my
Place. Thus I took my leave of my fervent Chrt-
ftians, melted with their Tears, but much more edified
with their Faith and the innocence of their Lives.
God, who knows the Violence I committed upon
my (elf, comforted me by an eminent Convedion he
vouchfafed to work at the fartheft Limits, and lad Vil¬
lage of this Province. There is fomething in it (o fig-
nal, that l cannot forbear relating it.
I departed from Sipra» i the Metropolis of this Pro¬
vince, upon the Eve of a confiderableFeftival of our
Lady’s, which I was naturally engaged to (pend in
that Church, where the Multitude, and Devotion of
Believers invited me to fay Mafs that day, and to admi-
nifter the Sacraments to them, being the laft time 1 was
likely to do it; yea, and the publick Edification did
even (eem to require it of me, every one in general
defired I would; and I don’t know how contrary to
Reafon, I was very obftinate and refolute not to de¬
lay my Journey a minute ; but the Truth is, l felt in¬
wardly l know not what internal motion that would
not give me leave to (lay any longer; nay, more
than that, in fpight of the Superfticion of the Chi-
nefe, who ob(erve lucky and unlucky days to begin
Journeys, I made my Idolater Guides to depart on a
day markt in the Calendar for an unfortunate one.
They were (urprifed at this Precipitation; yea, and I
my ielf reHefting afterwards upon it, could not chule
but condemn it, not underftanding then by what Spi¬
rit I was influenced, and impulft, but God let me pre-
fentlyunderftandic. On the fourth day after my de¬
parture, I continu’d my Journey, and I was juft up-
412, How the Gojpel is propofed to
on my Arrival in the very fartheft City of the Pro.
vifice of , when a Man that rid Poll, puffing, juft
by me, fell to the Ground, and by his Full was like to
have turned me over on the other fide: This Accident
ftopt me a little, and afforded time to the Traveller,
who was got up again, to take a View of me.
Notwithftanding the multitude of Paffengers was
great, yet my long Beard, and European Mein made
meprefently known to be a Miffionary: I am very
fortunate, fays the Man immediately, to meet with
you; that Accident that happened to me, fpares me
the Labour of a long Journey, and will engage you
to a good Deed. My Mafter, who lives not above
half a League from hence, ordered me to ride P<>ft to
Sigan, to engage you to come to him; he hath been
indifpofed thefe feveral Months, and we are apt to
believe that he ferioufly thinks of being converted.
I quickly left the High-way, to follow him, and we
reach’d the Houfe at one a Clock in the Afternoon.
Fie was a Do&or,in high Renown by his Extraction
and Underftanding, living formerly at Vekm ; but ba-
nifhed fome Years before into Xtnfi, for I know not
what bad Bufinefs; the time of his Banifhment expi¬
red, and he was refolved to return to Court, as foon as
his Health Ihould permit, him to take his Journey; for
he did not look upon his fiiftemper to be dangerous;
ThcFeaverhad left him,and befides a Cough, that trou¬
bled him now and then, and made him Hill keep his
Bed, he perceived no considerable inconvenience.
His Servant being but juft departed, when he faw
me come into his Houfe, he was feized with Aftomfh-
ment, as if God had tranfported me into his Houfe in
a moment; Is it poffible, cries he all in Tears, that
Heaven fhould work Wonders for fuch a wretch as I
am ? God hath folicited me thel'e many Years to go
to him, without receiving any thing from my hard-
fiefs of heart; ’tis but a moment fince 1 begg’d of
him to come to me in the Perlc-n of one of his Mini-
1 a,-:.
the New Chriftim in China. 423
flers, he not only hears me, but does even anticipate
my Defires. This is fomewhat beyond the Power of
Nature, and this Favour docs the Bufinefs of my
Change. You know by that, Father, that this Great
God is concerned in my Salvation, and that it is his
Pleafure that you Ihould contribute fomething to fur¬
ther it. Then proceeding, you fee faith he, my Wife,
Children, and Daughter, they have been all Chri-
ftians along time ago: and I can fay that God hath
made u(e of me as an Inftrument to undeceive them
of their Errors. I have given them your Books, I
have explained the Maximsand Morality ofittothem,
the Sanftity which your Religion infpires, perfuaded
me I fhould have a well ordered Family, as foon as
it ihould be a Chriftian Family. I was not miftaken,
and my Confcience would not have given me the lye,
had 1 followed their Example; but I have a long time
laboured to. procure their Welfare, and could never
find in my heart to confult mine own: Now it is high
time to follow that Way I have ihowed to others. The
Court whither I am going, is not a proper Place for
Converfion ; and.I thought it was my Duty, wbilfi
it is called to day , to ieek God, for fear the hurry of
the World wherein l am going to engage, fhould hin¬
der me from finding him hereafter.
All his Family which came about us upon this,
wept for joy; but that which affe&ed me mod, was
that Fervency I faw expanded in the Eyes, Counte¬
nance, and in all the motions of the fick Perfon. I
had taken no refrefhment, and it was near Two a
Clock, and I was defirous to defer his Baptifm till
after Dinner, but I found it impoffible to obtain any
delay. 1 therefore began to exarain him, and he was
ready to anfwer to all the Articles of Religion, that
I yielded at length to all his urgent Intreaties. I
baptifed' him, and he accompanied the whole A&ion
With fuch ardent and lively Meditations of Love, Hu?
Uiility, Faith add Hope, that nothing in all my Life
Ee 4 did
■424 How the Gofpel is propofd to
did ever fo much demonftrate to me what the Holy
Spirit is able to do in the Heart, when it alone plea*
fes to take it to task, without the affiftance of its
Minifters. Some while after, I left him alone full of
.Confolation, and retired to a Chamber to take a little
repole, of which 1 had extream need.
But fcarce had I been there half an hour, but I
heard great Crfes in all the Family. They called for
me every where ; and running upon the noife to the
Tick Man’s Chamber, I found him expiring in the
Embraces of his Wife and Children. 1 endeavoured
to put him in mind of the laft thoughts of Baptilm:
Heftill repeated with a languilhing note, the Names
of Jefui and Mary ; but yet he received the Extream
Un&ion in a manner infenfible, after which he calmly
gave up the Ghoft. All thofe that were prefent cried,
O it was a Miracle! And recollecting what had hap¬
pened at my departure, upon the Road, and in the
Houle, they did no longer queftion but that all that
had been managed by an over-ruling Providence,
that had made ule of all thefe fecret methods, for to
procure him a bleffed exit.
At that time the Spirit of the Lord feized upon all
hearts, nobody wept; the fpiritual Joy wasfo uni-
verlal, that nothing was heard any where but Blef-
lings, Prailes and Thankfgivings v to that gracious
God, that had but now wrought fuch ftupendious
Miracles in his Servant. What is to be moft admi¬
red is, that there was not oblerved in him that de¬
formity that Death commonly leaves behind it j but
on the contrary, I know not what Air of Sweet*
nels and Devotion feemed dilplay’d over his Counte¬
nance, and did fufficiently intimate the bleffed State
of his Soul. He was laid in State, according to the
Cuflom of that Country, where I found him the next
day twenty hours after juft as he was; his Hands and
Armsbefides were as flexible as if he nad been but jn
2 Humber.
Thus
the New Ckrijlim in China. 42 j
Thus God by one of thofe many profound Secrets
of his Predeftiiiation, vouchfafes to enlighten a Soul
fometimes in the midft of the darknefs of Idolatry,
and fnatchit from the jaws of Hell by a continual le-
ries of Miracles; whilft millions of others, educated
in the bofom of the Church, are, by his juft Judg-
ment, given over to a reprobate mind,
Thele are, moft Reverend Father, the moft extra¬
ordinary things that have happened to me during the
fmall time that I have had the care of theMiffion of
Xenfr. If I mention not what paftin the .other Pro¬
vinces of China, it is not becaufe God doth not work
fuch like Miracles therein ; but by reafon I have no
exatft Memorial of them, I was afraid left relating
upon hear-fay, I jhould be deficient in fome confide-
rable Circumftances; and I had rather let them be
fet down in writing hereafter, by thofe who are better
inform’d than my felf.
This I can add over and above, to give you a more
exaft account of what good there hath been done in
the Empire. There are above two hundred Churches
or private Chappels, dedicated to the true God, and
governed by certain Ecclefiaftical Superiours; Pekin,
Nankim, and Macao, have each its peculiar Bifhop,
by the nomination of the moft Serene King of Portu¬
gal, who by his Zeal and Liberalities, continues to
uphold Ghriftianity throughout the Eaft, which all
his Predeceffors have there eftablilh’d with fo much
The other Provinces when I departed, were un¬
der the Jurifdidtion of three Apo- # ,
WictVta •on«h e r «,fi Sa „
Italian of the Order of St. Francis, t Mw/Maigroc
the two others are Ecclefiafticks, and Mmfteur Pin.
French men by Nation, Doctors of
the Sorbonne of fingular worth; the Miffionaries that
labour under their Order are likewife of different
Rations. There are four Ecclefiafticks of the Semi¬
nary
4 16 How the Cofpel is propofed to
nary of Foreign Miffions of Paris, amongft whom
the Abbot of Lionne is very eminent for his Zeal,
and Application to the Study of Languages; they
reckon much about the fame number of Fathers of
St. Dominic, twelve or fifteen Francifcans, and three or
four of the Order of St. Mgufitn: All thefe Monks
are Spaniards, and come into China by Manille.
The Jefuits who founded this Million, and who
by the extraordinary Favours of his Majefty the King
of Portugal, as well as of the Emperor of China, have
been in a capacity to make confiderable Settlements,
do maintain a great number of Miflionaries there ;
there wa: about forty of them at the time of my
* _ , s - departure. Since that time the Fa-
nob Sedhj the ttars Grimaldi and Sftnola* brought
leveral others th ther. But what
fignifies forty or threefcore Labou¬
rers in fuch a vaft Field ? May it pleafe the Mafter
of the Harveft to hear the Voice of thofe that labour
therein, who groaning under the burthen and heat
of the day, beg relief: Or at leaft, may he pleate
to fhed abroad abundantly upon us that firft Spirit of
the Gofpel, which, in one Apoftle alone, was fuffici-
ent heretofore to convert thegreateft Empires.
Not but that the prefent State of the Church doth
afford matter of Confblation to thofe who are con¬
cern’d for the Glory of JESUS CHRIST. They
labour with no fmall Succefs, nay, there are but few
Milfionaries that do not Baptife every Year three or
four hundred Perfons; infomuch, that in five or
fix Years they reckon above fifty thoufand Idolaters
converted. Befides that, they Baptife every Year four
or five thoufand Children in theStreetsof Pekin ,which
they go to look for every morning from door to door,
where we find them half perilh’d with cold and hun¬
ger, nay, fometimes half eaten up by Dogs. If they
fhould do no more good but this, the Miflionaries
would think themfelvss well enough rewarded for all
the pains they take. SM
the New Cbriftkns in China. 42?
But that which ought to animate us to cultivate
this Million bectter than ail others, is the hope one
day to Convert the Emperor; the-change of whole
Religion would infallibly be followed by the entire
Conrerlion of the whole Nation; Co that although
we Ihould wait for this nappy moment three or four
Ages, without any other Profit than what we hope
for, in time to come we fhould be too happy in
preparing by our patience the way of the Lord in
this New World, which perhaps will make better im¬
provement of the Faith, that our Succeflors lhall bring
to it, than Europe does at prefent of that our Fore¬
fathers intruded it withal.
In lhort, altho’ amongft the Chriftians that are in
China , we can reckon no more Princes and Mini¬
fies of State fince the laft Perfecution of Father^w,
yet for all that we Baptife every Year Mandarins, Do¬
ctors, and other Perfons of Quality , yet it is true that
the Common People make up the greateft num¬
ber : Non multi potentei, non multi nobiles. And it is
no News to own that the poor have always been
the eledf Portion and precious Inheritance of JESUS
CHRIST in the Church.
The main body of Chriftians is in the Province of
Nankim , and more efpecially in the Territory Cbam-
Hai ; but the Faith is more lively in the Provihces of
Jguamtum, Pekin, Xenfi and Xanfi. There are in pro¬
portion as many Tartarians as Cbinefe Chriftians; chela
are more docil, and much ealier to be Converted; yet
in the time ofTemptation they have not half fo much
Courage. The Tartars on the contrary being natu¬
rally of a brisk temper, do not ealily Hoop under the
Yoke of the Gofpel; but tho/e over whom Grace hath
once triumphed, are endued with a Vertue that is
proof againft the foreft Perfections. As for Women,
which we fee more rarely, altho’ they be lefs inftru-
fted than the Men, yet their Innocence, their conftant
Attendance at Prayer, their blind Submilfion to the
• ’ ' Precepts
41 B How the Gofpel is propofed to
Precepts of Faith, and the moft harfh and fevere Pra-
dices of Chriftian Piety, does in fome meafure ftpply
their defed of Knowledge as to the particulars'ofou;
Mylleries.
It were to be wifh’d that the Beauty and Ornamem
of our Churches might anfwer the devout Fervour ol
Chriftians: But, befides that, the Cbinefe are no great
Architeds, this novel Chriftianity, fo frequently iha
ken by Perfections, compofed lor the moft of the
poorer fort of People, only tolerated by the by, and
always fain to obferve a great many pundilio’s, and
keep within Bounds, hath not yet been in a condi
tion to rear magnificent Temples. Neverthelefs, it is
matter of aftontfhment that the Miffionarieswithfucli
a pitiful Fund as theirs is, Ihould be able on this /core
to do fo much.
The Church of Pekin is very well built; the Fron
tifpiece, the Stones of which were laid by tfje Miffio
naries themfelves, is very proportionable and pleafing
Thofe in Kiamcheu, Chaw-bat, and Jochett, that which
the Fathers have at Canton , and divers others, area;
fine as our ordinary Churches of Europe ; but the
Church of Hamcbeu wasfo very pretty and neat, thai
one could not enough admire it: You could fee no
thing but Gildings, Paintings, and curious Pidures, ii
was all over adorn’d with them ; yea, and there was a
great deal of Symmetry and Order in the whole. Thai
. delicate red and black Varnifh which the Cbinefe are
fo expert at, to which they give a particular relief 01
emboffement, by the Flowers of Gold and other Fi
gures wherewith they enrich it, did procure the fined
Effed in the World to compleat the whole.
But this goodly Church, the produd of Chriftian
Devotion, and of Father htorcettd ’s Zeal, is Intel]
reduc’d to afhes by a dreadful Conflagration, tha
confum’d one quarter of the City; and in all proba
bility we lhali not be in a capacity a long time to per
form any thing like it. Neverthel?fs it will be oq
the New Chriftkns in China. 429
comfort to fupport us after this !ois,if it lhall pleafe our
blefled Lord to deftroy at the fame time that pack of
Idols which have overflow’d the whole Empire; and
that he will vouchfafe to raife himfelf Living Tem¬
ples in the Hearts of the new Believers, where he may
be worlhipped in Spirit and in Truth; wherein for
want of oun, they may offer to him the Sacrifice of
Praife and Thankfgiving.
I (hall not entertain you, moft Reverend Father,
concerning the Tranlaftions of the Indies, where the
Revolution of a huge Kingdom, thejealoufiesof fome
Europeans, together with the continual thwartings of
Hereticks, have broken all the meafures that Chriftian
prudence oblig’d us to take for the Caufe of Religion ;
io thaftha mod part of the French Miffionaries have
been hitherto more confpicuous by their Sufferings,
than by their Converfion of Idolaters.
Some of them, after having lingred out feveral
Years in the moft darkfome Prifons, fcarce begin to
fee the Light, and are not yet in a condition even to
exercife their Functions with any freedom. Otherrs
droven from their Settlements, wander ap and down
upon the moft tempeftuous Oceans, carrying along
with them the miterable remainders of their ruin’d
Millions» and that they may return to the remoteft
parts of the World, they commit themfelves a fourth
time to the mercy of the Waves and their Enemies.
Several buried in Shipwracks, or worn out with
Toils, have glorioufly finilh’d their courfe; and tho’
their Companions live ftill, it is only to confume by lit¬
tle and little the facrifice of their Lives, by the ill habit
of Body they have contradfced by their firft Labours.
You lee, moft Reverend Father, what fort ofPer-
fons they be I (peak ofi you know their Names, you
underftand their worth, and fince they were ehofen
from amongft a great many other Candidates for the
Eaft-Indies, you have been pleafod always to honour
them with a moft particular affedfion: and may I be
bold
41 o Hou> the Gofpel is propojed tti
bold to add, that you were not fatisfied with only fend¬
ing of them, you follow’d your Tel fin fome refpe the Gofpel is propojed to, Sic.
'■ nent Vertues praftifed therein; they would never per¬
haps have had the lead thought of leaving their
Friends, Relations, and Country. But they feelo elfe-
where, what we here want of the Paftion of JESUS
CHRIST, according to the Apoflles Counfel, and
they are willing to fill up the whole extent, the
breadth and depth of this Divine Law, which car¬
ries them out, with St. Paul , to become Vi&ims of the
moft pure Charity, even fo far as to be Anathemifed
that their Brethren may be faved.
Yet thefe are thofe Apoftles, moft Reverend Father,
whom Envy fometimes in France , paints out to us in
•Tuch black Colours, whom Herefie, ever more oppo-
fite to true Zeal, fo often accufeth of Ambition, Ava¬
rice, Impiety and Idolatry, they are too happy in be¬
ing the Butt that all the Shots of Calamity level at,
provided they have none for their Enemies, but the
Enemies of the Church and Truth; and without
, doubt, the War that fuch Adverlaries declare againft
them, with fo much heat and animofity here in Europe ,
does no left juftifie them, than that which they them-
felves declare againft Paganifm in the Indiet.
Neverthelefs, what Jutticefoever wife Men may do
them in this point, yet it is moft true that that does
not luffice to juftifie them before God, belore whom
the very Angels are impure; after all the efforts of
our Zeal, we mull not only acknowledge in all Humi¬
lity that we are unprofitable Servants, but confefs like-
wife with thoughts full of horrour, that it is in vain to
win over all the Nations upon Earth to JESUS
C H RIST; if in the mean time we be fo flt^gilh as
to neglect our own Salvation, and unfortunately lofe
our felves. I am with a profound refped,
Mefi Reverend Fatter,
*. tour moft bumble
and moft obedient Servant.
JL.
To my Lord Cardinal de JanJon.
The Chrijlian (Religion newly approved of
by a Tublich Edict ^ throughout the whole
Empire of China.
My Lord,
I T feems as if Heaven, fenfible of the Labours
of our Miffionaries, who forthefe feveral Years
have with the fweat of their Brows watered
China, had a mind at length to eftabblh this
New Church upon a (olid Foundation. Hitherto ic
hath been fubjedt to abundance of Revolutions, flou-
rilhing unde: the Reign of (ome Emperors, perfected
in the time of their minority, and in a manner totally
ruin’d during the Inteftine Commotions; but always
in a tottering condition, by reafon of the rigour of the
Laws, that have permitted a right to deftroy it, even to
thofe that have the moft defended it.
For the Sovereign Courts of China, declar’d Ene¬
mies to all Foreign Worlhip, rather out of a Spirit of
Policy, than any fincere Affection to the Religion of
the Country, have frequently condemned the Chri-
ftian Dodtrine, and punilh’d thofe who had the Cou¬
rage to embrace it* Several of them' for all that,
hearkned to the Voice of God, rather than to the
Voice of Man ; but the greateft part apprehending
danger as to their Fortune, were fo far from purfuing
the known Truth, that they durft riot fo much as get
themfelves inftrudied therein.
It is a matter of an hundred Years that we have la¬
bour’d to remove this almoft invincible obftacle to
Ff the
434 the Publick Eftahli(hment
the Ccmverhon ot Great Peifons. The Hour of the
Lord was not vet come, he was pleafed to ex.ercife
the patience of his Chriflians, to try theconftancy of
the Miffionaries, and thereby inhance the worth of
them both. But now at laft the happy Day begins to
dawn^ and the Emperor hath granted an intire Li¬
berty of Confcience to his Subjects by allowing in a
publick Edith the Chriftian Faith throughout the
whole extent of his Empire. * Thou
Pfid. cxix. hr.[I, 0 Lord, broken the Chain that held
thy holy Religion Captive, now can we
offer Sacrifices, and call publickly upon thy Name ; we
prefinl to thee our Vows, not in jecret as formerly , but in
prefier.ee of all the People, in the Temples they fuff'er us to
rear to thy glory, who are about to change the Old Babylon
into the New Jerufalem. Here I do prefent you, my
Lord, with the occafion, and the whole continued
leries of this happy event.
Father Alcala a Spanijh Dominican, one of the moll
zealous Miffionaries in China, had purchafed an
Houle at Lanki, a little Village of the Province of
Chekiam, notwithftanding this fettlement was exprefly
againft the Edith of 1669, the Mandarin of the place,
who at firft did not oppole it, being afterwards nettled
at lome mdifcreet words that elcaped unawares from
fome of this Father’s menial Servants, was refblv’d not
to diflemble the matter any longer, but to proceed ac¬
cording to the courfe of Law againft him.
He therefore asked the Miffionary, how he durfl
prsliime to.fettle in the City? Why he preach’d ti[
a Foreign Doctrine ? And moreover, by what righ
he pretended to remain in the Empire ? This Fathe:
forefaw the Storm gather, and had prepar’d himfel
' before-hand. ‘ I wonder, my Lord, fays he, in an
' fwer to the Mandarin, that you reckon that Crimina
f in me at prelent, that you did not difapprove at th
‘ beginning. You know that for fome Years the Err
‘ peror hath kept and preferv’d in the Empire, five c
of Cbriftimty in China, 43 5
4 my European Brethren (he meant us) that he hath
! not only Tent for them to Court, but alio hath by a
‘ publick Edit* granted them power to fettle in what-
‘ foever place of the Kingdom they (hall think fit: it
' is for one of them that I have bought this Houle,
* and I lodge in it till fuc’n time as he come himfelf
* to take poffeffion of it.
* Moreover, you cannot be ignorant that the Mif-
4 fionaries had liberty granted them to come again in-
‘ to their Churches, when the Emperor did them the
' favour to recal them from their Banilhent. Gon-
f fult, I pray, confulc your Regifters upon the Bufi-
4 nefs, and there you will find my-Name.
Some Months after, another Mandarin folicited by
him of Lanki, or at leaft urg’d to it by his Example,
was refolv’d to put a flop to the progrefs of our holy
Do&rine, he prohibited the Exercife thereof through
the whole extent of his Government, by an Order
which he caufed to be affixed in divers places: They
treated Religion in fuch defpightful manner, that Fa-
ther Intorcetta of our Societyj and Miffionary in the
Metropolis of this Province, thought himfelf oblig’d
not to dilfemble the Affront without betraying his
Minifterial Fun&ion.
He fiippofed likewife that he had right on his fide
formally to accufe this (worn Enemy of the Gofpel,
whofe behaviour was fo excentrical from the Empe¬
ror’s Intentions; for this Prince had blotted out with
his own hand a great many Lines of a Book that
ranked the Chriftian Do&rine in the number of dan¬
gerous and popular HereGes: this Book was of mo¬
ment, not only by reafon of its Author, eminent for
his quality ana delert, but much more for that it was
eompofed for the People’s Inftru&ion, by whom it
Was to be read, according to the Cuftom, feveral
times a Year.
Father Intorcetta did therefore judge it a piece of
boldnefs that made the Mandarin liable to the lafh, to
F f ?. condemn^
4 \6 Of the fiiblick Eftablijhment
condemn, by his private Authority, that which the
Emperor feemed to allow of, and approve, fo that the
Father writ a very fmart pithy Letter to the Gover-
nour of the Capital City, in which he defir’d him to
caufe this Subaltern Officer to retraft his words, and fo
get this injurious Writing to be torn in pieces: he like-
wife added, that to repair this fault, he could wilh
that the Mandarin might affix other Papers in the
place of thofe, more favourable to the Religion, and
more conformable to the Emperor’s intentions.
TheGovernour dilpatched this Letter to the Man¬
darin, and as ill luck would have it, it was deliver’d
to him upon a day that he heard Caufes, in fight of
all the People, at the very time that he was bufie in
paffing Judgment. He fo much relented this Affront,
that contrary to the Cuftom of the Chinefe, and
maugre his natural Phlegm, he ffarted from the
Bench tranfported with Gholer, complained of the
Impudence of the Miffionary, and protefted openly
that he would be reveng’d.
That he might carry on the bufinefs more fuccef-
fully, he aflociated himfelf with the Mandarin of
Lanki , and combin’d with him, if poffible, utterly to
deftroy the Chriftian Religion. The firft attempt was
to affault the Dominican Frier, on whom they thought
moreeafily to accompli (h their defign, for they could
not imagine that he was of the number of the Antient
Miffionaries. To be rightly inform’d of the matter,
they caufed to be produced certain Authentick Co¬
pies of every procedure during the whole courfe of the
Perfecution againft Father Fit, (for fo was he called)
with, a defign to confront him with himfelf
It is a peculiar trick, pretty common in China, with
the Mandarins, to queftion the Criminals, not only
about matters of Fadi, but alfo concerning abundance
of inlignihcant Circumftances, caufing all they an-
fwer carefully to be taken in Writing. Then when
they have talked a pretty while of a matter quite
foreign
of Cbriflhmty in China. 437
foreign to the Subject in hand, to diftraft their mind,
all on a Hidden they return to the thing in queftion;
they begin over and over the Declaration, they
change the order of the Interrogatives, and cunning¬
ly interpole Anfwers contrary to thofe the guilty Per-
lon mads, on purpofeto make him contrad himfelf,
the more eafily to lift out the Truth. .
Father Alcala, without all doubt, would have been
put to his Trumps if he had not, by a particular Pro¬
vidence, preferv’d a Copy of thefe ancient proceed¬
ings. Wherefore knowing the intent and defign of
his Judges, he fo well inform’d himfelf of all that had
heretofore paft to this purpofe, and deliver’d himfelf
fo pertinently, and conformably to the firlf Interro¬
gatory, that his Enemies were never able to prevail
over him as to his anfwers.
So that all the Storm fell upon Father Intorcetta a-
gain, againft whom they were much more animated
and incenled; but forafmuch as this Father did not
live within their Jurifdidion, they fuborned many con-
fiderable Mandarins, and the Vice-Roy in particular,
who added to his. ablolute power in the Province, a
greater averfion for the Chriftian Religion.
They all unanimoufly refolv’d to beat down Chri-
ftianity, and after having cauled all the proceedings
formerly made againft Mitfionaries, to be fought out
in the Archives of the Intendantof the City Govern¬
ment: they found at laft the Decree of 1669, that
ftri&ly prohibited them to build any Churches; to
Teach in publickor in private the Europeans Law, to
adminifter Baptilm to the Cbmefe, to diftribute Me¬
dals, Chaplets, Crucifixes, or other fuch like tokens
of Religion, to Chriftians.
The Miflionanes were not ignorant of thefe Pro¬
hibitions, but their particular Zeal, and the Example
of Pekin, where the Gofpel was preach’d under the
Emperor’s very Mole, no body pretending to fay any
th;ng againft it, put them upon waving the ufuaf
F f 3 Rules
4 } 8 Of the fublick EfiMfhment
Rules of human Prudence. Thefe very Confidera-
tions made moft part of the Mandarins to connive,
and whenever any one of them took upon him to
impede the progrels of the Faith, they endeavour’d
to pacify him by Prefents, and Letters of Recom¬
mendation procui’d for us by the Fathers of Peking
or elfe, if need requir’d, we made ufe of the Empe¬
ror’s Authority againft him.
The Chriftians of Hamcheu, under the Cure of
Father fotorcetta, were none of the leaft Zealous.
Their Courage had appear’d under the Government
of divers Mandarins, great Sticklers againft our moft
Holy Faith; but their Courage was never more ap¬
parent than in the prefent oceafion, for the Vice-
Roy fuppofing that he was impower’d to undertake
any thing by Vertue of the Decree afore-mention’d,
caufed to be affix’d to the Gate of the Houfe, in
all the publick Places of the Capital City, and after¬
wards in above feventy Cities of his Government, a
new Sentence, by which he forbid under grievous
Penalties to exercife the Chriftian Religion, charging
, all thofe that embraced it to for-
* ibis happened f * • *
about the middle of 3 . . L . * c 2 i
Auguir, An.1691. Moreover, being informed that
Father fotorcetta was formerly in the
Province of Kiamfi, and that he had not obtained
leave from the Court to fettle in that of Cbekiam, he
fent to ask him by what Authority he durft prefume
to ffay there ; yea, and he commanded him forth¬
with to avoid the Country;. the Officer that brought
this Order, added, 1 command you withal, in the
Name of the Vice-Roy, to burn ail the Book of your
Religion, together with the Tables of Printing that
you have in your Houle. They are thin Boards up¬
on which they have Engraven all the Leaves, from
which they may take Copies according as occafiori
of Cbnfiianity in China. 439
The Father, not at all furpriz’d, anfwered, That he
was in the City by the Authority of him who granted
the Privilege to the Vice-Roy himfelf to remain
there. ' Have you forgot, added he, that the Em-
* peror palling this way three Years ago, lent two
* Grandees of his Court to my Church to offer Pre-
1 fents in his Name, to the true God, with exprels
‘ Order to lie proftrate before the Altars: I went to
‘ render him my moft humble thanks for his gracious
‘ favour, and that I might give him further demo:>
‘ ftrations of my acknowledgement, I was willing to
c accompany him upon the Canal at his departure,
‘ where he was with the whole Court.
‘ This grand Prince, who had formerly honoured
c me with more than ordinary demonftrations of his
f benevolence, taking notice of my Barge amongft
‘ a great number of others, cauled it to approach his
c own, and (poke to me luch obliging things, thac
‘ after all that I could not fufpebt I Ihould be expofed
‘ to any (traits, or intuits from any one of his Officers.
* But fince this Example hath made no impreffion
* upon the Spirit of the Vice-Roy, go tell him, That
f the Emperor, not being willing l Ihould accompa-
* ny him any farther, fent me back with tnele his la i c
* words to me, which are too advantagious to me to
‘ prefume to alter, add, or diminilh any thing in
‘ them. Your Years, fays he to me, do not permit
f you to attend me any longer, you are no ways in
‘ a Condition to endure the fatigues of a Journey, I
c order you to return to your Chuich, and there to.
‘ fpend the remainder of your days. But, now, if
‘ the Vice-Roy does not only difturb this tranquility by
‘ Ordinances injurious to the God whom 1 adore,
‘ but forces^me lhamefully to quit this Province, f
* ieave him to judge whether of us two does more
‘ openly and peremptorily contradict che Emperor’s
! will and pleafure.
‘ As to what relates to the Table, on which they
F f 4 ‘ hay*
44 © Of the (publick EJlcthli[hment
‘ have engraven the Law and Maxims of JESUS
c CHRIST, God forbidi Ihould be fo wicked as to
* commit them to the Flames. However, the Vice-Roy
* is the Matter, fince I cannot relift his Violence.but
' tell him from me, that before he refolve upon that,
‘ he muft begin with the burning of my lelf
The Vice Roy, furpriz’d at the undauntednefs of
the Mittionary, durft attempt nothing upon his Per¬
son, but he referr’d the Bulinels to certain Subaltern
Mandarins, who received Orders to lummons this
Fathpr before the Tribunals, and to perplex and
trouble him upon all Accounts, without allowing
him a moment's refpite. Father Intorcetta , who juft
then fell Sick, might have been difpens’d with from
appearing; but he was afraid to lofe thefe precious
junftures of time that Providence had “put into hjs
hand, openly to confefs the Name JESUS CHRIST ;
and being relolv’d not to recoil, or give ground du¬
ring the Combat he got himfelf carried before Judges;
much opprett by leafon of the Malady he labour’d
under, and much more at the light of his defolate
Church : but beiides, he was fo animated by the Holy
Spirit, wherewith Martyrs are corroborated, that of all
ihe Mandarins that interrogated him, not one of them
but admir’d the gi camels of his Courage.
So that in delpight of the vigorous Orders of the
Vice-Roys, every one of them'almoft treated him
with abundance of deference; even to that degree,
that one «>f them caufed an Officer of Juffice to be
luundly baftinado’d in open Court, for having been
wanting m his refpeft to the Father. Adding With¬
al, that Indictments do not render a Man guilfy, and
that he muli have been Convicted to delerve to be
treated as a Malefactor.
Father intorcetta prefently forefeeing that the Perfe-
cution would be violent, had written to the Miffio-
naries at Court, to the end that they mighc remedy
it. The Emperor was then in Tartar y, where he
diverged
of Cbnfiianity in China. 441
divertifed himfelf in Hunting. Father Gerisllon , 3
French man by Nation, and one oF thofe the King
fent to China, accompanied this Prince thither, by
whom he was particularly beloved, retaining him al-
moft always near his Perion : fo that the Letters were
directed to him.
This Father did not judge it convenient to /peak
of it to the Emperor, but contented himfelf to de¬
fire a Letter of Recommendation from Prince Sofa n ,
one of the mod: powerful Minifters of the Empire,
and his particular Friend, who immediately writ to
the Vice-Roy in a moft effectual manner. He re-
prefented to him, that fuch a procedure as his was
fuelled (omewhat of Violence, and was inconfiftene
with his wonted Moderation and Prudence. We live
in a time, faith he, that requires much gentlenefs and
dilcretion. The Emperor feeks all occafions to fa¬
vour the Doftors of the Chriftian Law, how can
you poffibly think to pleafe him in Perfecting that?
believe me, Sir, the Example of a Prince ought to
make a greater impreffion upon our Spirits, than all
the Decrees of Courts of Judicature, and theantient
Edids, that the Coup it lelf can no longer follow,
ought not at prefent to be the rule of its Condudl. If
you favour the Miffionaries, reckon thafthe Emperor
will take it kindly frpm you, and if l may be permit¬
ted to fubjoin any thing to this laft motive, be affur’d
alfo, that 1 lhall relent all the good Offices you render
them upon my Recommendation.
Prince Sofan is fo Confiderable through the whole
Empire, (whether It be by the Honour he hath to be
a near Relation to the Emperor, or whether by his
place of Grand Matter of the Palace, or whether by
his Credit or Capacity) that upon any other Occa-
hon the Vice-Roy of Chekiam would have look’d upon
it as a great Favour to receive one of his Letters, and
■ would not have balanced one Moment to fatisfie him;
but Padion had blinded him, and the Vexation to
perceive
441 Of the (Pullick Ejiablijhment
perceive himfelf lefs powerful at Court than a Stran¬
ger, inclined him to let the Miffionary underftand,
that he was at lead the Mailer in his own Province.
Wherefore he began to feize upon feveral Churches,
which he bellowed on the Priefts of the Pagan Gods,
after he had violently taken away the facred Monu¬
ments of our Religion.
He iffued out Proclamations much more rigorous
than the former, he threatned the Father with his In¬
dignation, if he did not abandon his Flock, and he
caufed feveral Chriftians, that had but too openly de¬
clared themlelves, to be apprehended; fome of them
were haled to Prifon, they feverely punilh’d others,
and then the Perfecution became bloody by the Tor¬
ments, that thefe generous Confeffors liiffered for the
Name of J E S US.
Amongll thole that lignalized themlelves, a Phyli-
cian more eminently made his Faith appear; he was
much grieved to fee the Altars of the true God viola¬
ted and defpoiled, Groffes broken in pieces, the holy
Images expofed to the Scorn, Laughter, and Impiety
of Idolaters: To repair this Lois, and that Believers
might not be left deftitute of the ordinary Marks of
their Religion, he diftributed to each of them Images
and Crucifixes. He went from door to door with the
precious Pledges of our Salvation ; animating the
Weak, confirming the more couragious in their Faith;
Do not fear., faid he to them, him who can only exercift
his weak Power upon the Body ; hut fear that Great Gof
who as he has deprived you of Life , can alfo punifhyotn
Soul with an eternal Death, and rather fuffer all forts <>,
Torments , than forfake his holy Law.
The Mandarin offended at the boldnefsof the Phy
fician, commanded him to be loaden with Chains
and having caufed him to be dragg’d before his Tri
bunal, they prepared all things tor his being cruel!
Baftinado’d, when his Godlon, who came runnin,
thither with other Chriftians, threw himfelf on lv
Kne<
of Chrijlianity in China. 443
Knees at the judge’s Feet, and begged of him with
Tears in his Eyes, that he would permit him to receive
the Ghaftifement of his Godfather.
This zealous Phyfician, who afpired to nothing
more than Martyrdom, was fo far from giving his
Place to another, that he conftantly, and itedfaftly
forbid it; and at that time there arofe fuch a Scuffle
between them, that the Angels admir’d, and that made
the Chriftian Religion to be refpeded to the very I-
dolaters. The Judge Hood amaz’d at it, and turning
towards thofe eminent Confeflors of Jelus Chrift, Go
jour ways , fay he to them, this forwardnefs to fuffer the
Pimifhmsnt of your Faults, deferve fome Indulgence ; I
far don you, but henceforward, think of fleafing the Vice-
Roy, and be more careful to obey the Emperors Orders.
When the Spirit of God hath once feized on the
Heart, Mens Words are not capable to touch them.
This zealous Phyfician, whom the fight of Execution
had made more couragious, continu'd his Ads of Cha¬
rity as before, and his Zeal made fuch a noife up and
down, that the Mandarin durft no longer mince the
Matter, he feemed much concerned at the Contempt
he ufed of his Threatnings: Infonyuch, that he gave
Order to his Officers to bring him out, to make a fe-
vere Example of him.
In effed, hacaufed him to be beat fo cruelly in his
Prefence, that thofe who were prefent, were equally
furpriz’d at the Severity of the Judge, and Patience of
this good Chriftian. This bloody Execution once
over, fome of his Relations who game running at this
doleful Spedacle, were thinking to carry him to his
Houfe; but he pofitively defired to be carried to
Church, and what endeavours foever they ufed to di¬
vert him from it, yet he had Strength enough left to
crawl thither himfelf, bom up by the Arms of fe-
veral Chriftians. He came thither all bathed in his
1 Gore; and kneeling down at the Foot of the Al-
tars, 0 Lord, faith he, thou fsejt this Day, that I
444 0 / the Tublick EJlablijhmmt
f refer tby holy Law to all the Sweetnefs of Life : I come
not to demand Ju/lice of thee for all the Blood tby Em-
miei have fpilt ; I come to offer thee that which remains
cf mine own ; 1 do not deferve to die for fitch a good
Caffe ; hut thou , 0 my God, deferveft the intirc Sacrifice
of my Life: And then turning towards Father Intor-
cetta, who began to comfort him, Ah! Father, an-
fwer’d he, I fliall be now at the height of my Joy, if it
were not my Sms, but my Zeal that bad brought this light
Cha/hfement upon me.
This Exampie, and many others, that I forbear to
relate, made fuch Impreilions upon the Idolaters
hearts, that a great many of them refolv’d to embrace
the Chriftian Faith, being perliiaded that Sentiments
lo oppofice to corrupt Nature, could not poflibly pro¬
ceed either from Paffion or Error.
Among them whom the holy Spirit did effedlually
touch, were Three who appeared full of that very
Faith, that made in former time almoft as many Mar¬
tyrs in the Primitive Church as Believers; they were
Young, Handlome, of Quality, and what is more, en¬
gaged by their Condition, blindly to comply with the
Vice-Roy's Inclinations. Neverthelefs, counting their
temporal Eftate as nothing, they demanded publick
Baptifm.
The Father, to bring the Faith of thefe Neopbites to
the Teft, hid nothing fom them that might any wife
flagger them; but it was all in vain to reprdent to
them the rigour of the Editts, the Vice-Roys Indig¬
nation, the Defolation they were like to call their Fa¬
milies into, the Danger of lofing their Eftates, Ho¬
nour, Life, and all thefe Conliderations lerved only
to animate them the more, (othat after a pretty long
Tryal, they were initiated into our (acred Mylleries,
and took part as others did, m the Crofs of Chrift-
Their Converfion fortify’d the Feeble-minded, and
comforted Father Intorcetta for all the Evils that the
Pei locution had made his Church to fuffei,
of Ckriftianity in China. 445
But the Vice Roy was fo much the more provoked,
becaufe he had not the Liberty at that time to fliew
his Refentment: for juft then they delivered him
Two Letters from Prince Sofan, one of them was for
Father Intorcetta, the other that was directed to him-
lelF, was full fraught with Reproaches, for that he
feemed to make no account of the Prince’s recom¬
mendation. / could never have believed , laid he to him,
that to pleafe a Company of ill affected People, who have
exafperated jour Spirit at the Chriftiatis , you would have
deviated from the Counfeh I gave you. It is a Friend
that I endeavoured to infpire you with better Sentiments;
think upon it once more, and ref ell firkujly with your felf
that it is 1 that fpeak to you. I expeS three Things from
your Friend ftp > Ftrfl, that you deliver the Letter your felf
to Father Intorcetta, according to the Superfcription. The
Second, that you do fo well fat life the Father, that he may
have Occafion to blefs himfelf for the kind Offices you
render him, and that he himfelf may tefiifie the fame to me.
And the Third is, that henceforward you do not any longer
difurb either,. Mtlftonaries, or Cbrijlians : In fiort, lam
extreamly forty , for being obliged to write to you fo often
about this Subject. If you for the future mend your Man¬
ners, I (hall write to you a third Time to thank you, but if
your Paffion continues, this is the laf Letter you (hall ever
receive from me.
Then did the Vice Roy repent him of his former
Proceedings ; yet was he fo far engaged, that he
thought he could not handfomely go back with any
Honour. He found it efpecially very hard to foe to
a Miffionary for his Friendfhip, whom he but juft:
now treated, and that publickly, with the utmoft
Difdain; but yet dreading Prince Sofia s refentment,
who was the moft Powerful, and in moft Credit, of
all the Minifters of the. Empire: On one hand, he
rofolved to ftand to what he had done already a-
galnft the Chnftians, without driving matters any
further, and on the other hand, to dilpatch one of
44 6 Of the Tuhlick Eftahlifbment
his Officers to Pekin, to purge, and clear himfelf to
the Prince.
In this interim. Father Intorcetta having a fecret
Item of the Letter that the Vice-Roy had received, in¬
timated to the Fathers at Court, the fmall Effed they
had produced; infomuch, that thole Fathers refol-
ved to fignifie the fame to the Emperor, in cafe Prince
Sojan fhould drink it advifable. Wherefore they re¬
lated to him what had palfed at Hamcheu, the Ob-
fiinacy of the Vice-Roy, the Afflidion of Father In.
torcetta, the Danger wherein his Church was, the Ruin
whereof would infallibly involve in it the utter Ruin
of all the Millions in the Empire. Since ell your En¬
deavours, My Lord, added they, feem ineffectual, there
appears nothing that can put a Stop to the Violence of this
ebffinate Mandarin, but the Emperors Authority ; but
we (bald he wanting to our true Inter eft, ( and what
fways the more with us ) to the acknowledgment that rue
are bound to give for your Favours ; If we were ruled b)
any other Confederations than yours.
The Prince already provoked by the Vice-Roy’s be¬
haviour/was not (orry at this Overture, and believed
he had now lound a fair Opportunity to revenge him¬
felf: So that thele Fathers having recommended the
Importance of their Affairs to God Almighty, where¬
in the (olid Eftablilhment, or utter Ruin of Religion
was concerned, came to the Palace on the zift. of
December 1691. and demanded Audience.
The Emperor lent lome Eunuchs, his Confidents,
to know what their Bufinels was; The Father pre-
fentiy declared to them, the heinous Excels of the
Vice-Roy of Hamcheu, as well in refped of the Mil¬
lionaires, as in relped of the Chriftians under his Go¬
vernment ; they added moreover, that they had fuf-
fered a long time without Complaining, in expedi¬
tion, that their Patience would pacifie h:s Spirit; but
fince the Milchief became every day greater and
greater, without all hops* of Remedy, they came to
proftrat!
of Chrijlmit) in China^ 447
proftrate themfelves at the Emperor’s Feet, as to the
ufual Afiylum of oppreffed Innocence, moft humbly to
befeech him, to grant to their Brethren in the Pro¬
vinces that happy Peace, they themfelves enjoyed at
hkin, in the very Sight, and under the Protection of
his Majefty.
The Emperor, to whom they reported- this Dif-
courfe, had a mind to try the Father’s Conflancy, and
fo return’d them no favourable Anfwer; but they ne¬
ver ceafing to reprefent the Unhappinels, this Indiffe¬
rence of this Prince was Ihortly like to bring them un¬
der, he fent new Eunuchs to acquaint them, that he
was amazed to fee them fo infatuated with the Chrifti-
an Religion; is it poffible, he bid them tell them, f Thao
* you are always buffed about a World whither you
‘ are not yet come, and count that wherein you arc at
' prefent, as nothing ? Believe me, Sirs, there is a time
' for all things ; make better Improvement of what
* Heaven inftru&syou with, and defer all thofe Cares
' till you ceafe to live; Cares that are profitable to
‘ none but the Dead: For my part, [aid be, in a drolling
‘ ovai, I do not concern my felf in the Bufinefs of the
‘ other World, and I do not take upon me to deter-
' min upon the Gaule of thele invifible Spirits.
Then the Fathers, oppreft with Grief, (hedding a
torrent of Tears, proftrated themfelves to the very
ground; they conjured the Eunuchs to report to the
Emperor the fad Condition wbereunto they were re¬
duc’d : This would be the fir ft time, laid they, that tbit
great Prince abandon’d innocent Perfons, and appear’d in-
Jenfible of our Lamentation: Is it becaufe we are unpro¬
fitable Strangers that he deals thus with its ? At leaf,
Gentlemen , pray tell him, that the great God of Heaven
| and Earth, whofe Caufewe maintain , for whom we
fight, nay, and to whom he himfelf is beholden for all
his Grandeur, wed dejcrvcs, that he ftiould exert all his
Power to make him known , sad his Juft ice in puniftiing
thofe who do him an injury in the Perfons of his Minifters.
In
448 Of the Tuhlick Ejlablifhment
In fine, after all thefe Tryals, this gracious Prince,
moved with Compafllon, could no longer diffemble
his real Sentiments, he therefore lent to the Fathers
(that were flill proffrate be r ore his Palace Gate) an
Officer of his Bed-Chamber, to acquaint them, ‘ That
‘ he did not allow of the Vice-Roy of Hamcbeu’s
* Proceedings, and that he was willing for their fake,
‘ to put an end to this unjuft Perfecution; and that
‘■in a word, there was two ways to accomplifh it:
‘ The firft, to fend to the Vice-Roy, a fecret Order
‘ immediately, to give fatisfa&ion for Mifchiefs paft,
* that this way, tho 5 not fo Exemplary, was themoft
‘ eafie and fure. The fecond, to prefent a Petition,
‘ and obtain from the Tribunes a favourable Decree
‘ for all the Million aries, which Would decide all Dif-
' ferences. That they fhould confult among them*
* felves what fhould be moft convenient in the prefent
‘ conjundure; and when they had weighed the Rea-
1 fons on both fides, that they fhould come back the
e next day to declare to him their pofitive Refolu-
* tion.
The Fathers fignified their moft humble acknow¬
ledgments to the Emperor by cuflomary Proteftati-
ons, and returned full with great hopes of happy Sue-
cefs, yet very uncertain what courfe to fleer.
They confider’d on one hand the danger that there
was to put their Caufe into the hands of the Lipou , who
always declared againft the Ghriftian Religion ; that
in all probability there needed no more to revive all
the antient Accufations, which Time feem’d to have
forgotten : That the Miffionaries fettled in the
Provinces, whom they had conceal’d from the Court
till that time, would be obliged to quit China, or elle
forfake all their MillionsThat at leaf!, the Pro¬
ceedings of thofe who had built new Churches, and
Converted a great number of Idolaters againft the
exprefs prohibitions of Parliaments, was fufficient to
warrant the Vice*Roy of Hamcheu: That in fine,
of Cbrtftmity in China.' 449
things may be brought to pafs by the fubtil De¬
vices of our Enemies, and fecret undertakings of the
Bonzes, that they might be fo far from quenching the
Flame of a particular Perfecution, as we fuppofe,
that we Ihould kindle a general Conflagration in the
Empire, that would not terminate but in the total de¬
lation of Chriftianity.
Thefe Reafons, altho’ very fubftantial and folid
in them (elves, were neverthelefs balanced by the fol¬
lowing Reflexions. What Protection foever the Em¬
perors might have given till that time to the Miffio-
naries, yet they experienced, that it was not (ufficient
to oblige all the Mandarins of Provinces to counte¬
nance the Chriftians, and that there was a great
number of them who ( prejudiced againftus either by
that univerfal Contempt which the Education of
China did ufually create in them for Foreigners, or by
the Calumnies of the Bonzes, or elfe by a falfe Zeal of
the publick Gqod) thought it was a piece of good Ser¬
vice to deftroy us, and (poil in p. few days that which
had been the Work of (everal Years.
Thele particular Perfections were (o much the more
feared, as they adminiftred occafion to our fecret E-
nemies, to declare themfelves openly againft us, and
to compofe a ftrong and great Party, which was
lommonly upheld by the Courts appointed for the
ordering Rites and Ceremonies, who always waited
for occafions to flop the courfe of new Foreigners in¬
to the State. So that if in thefe critical conjunctures
the Emperors, by a particular Providence, Ihould not
have honoured us with their benevolence,- Chrifti¬
anity would have long fince been deftroy’d in China,
and it may be the memory of it would have been to¬
tally obliterated.
We fhould therefore confider, that the Court per¬
haps would not be always fo favourable to us, that
there needed nonjore bpt one moment alone to lole
the Smperors gracious Favour; or, what was ftill
G g rtt'orff
4jo Of the fubltck Ejldli(hmnt
mere dangerous, to intail his Indignation upon us, and
thofe of our Religion,that in this fickle State wherein
Religion was, the leaft oppofition from the Manda¬
rin would fuffice to fee the Peoples Hearts againft it,
that the Great ones themfelves durft never declare,
or be Converted, for fear of being one day refpon-
fible to the Parliaments for their Converfion, which
probably in time might be made an heinous Crime.
On the contrary, if fo be the Ghriftian Faith were
once approved of by publickEdift, nothing afterward
could difturb its Eftablifliment, fince it would be
lefs odious to the idolatrous People, becaufe the
Ghriftians would make a publick profeflion of it, and
at laft the new Miffionaries would enter without in¬
terruption into the vaft Field of the Gofpel, and
would there low, without any contradiction, that
facred Word, which would then produce an hundred
fold.
The only hope of fuch a great Benefit, determined
the Fathers to try this laft means; and fo much the
rather, becaufe they believed they, could not in fu¬
ture time meet with any occafion more favourable to
accomplifh it. The remembrance of fignal Services
Father Verbhft had rendered to the State, was (till
very recent; the Emperor had declared how fenfible
he was of the Refolution that Father Grimaldi an Ita¬
lian, had taken to crofs the Seas again for this fake,
and to undertake a riioft tedious Journey. Father
Thomas a Flemming, was wholly taken up in Mathe-
maticItSj wherein he acquired the Reputation of ai
Learned’Knovving Man, and moft Pious Miffionary . 1
Father Tercira a fortitguefe, for his part, took a great
deal of pains a long time in certain Inftruments,
and feveral Engines, that the Prince took great de¬
light in : But that which did our bufinefs in getting
his Heart, was the Peace which Father Gerbillon had
but 'juft then concluded three hundred Leagues front
Vekm, between th vCbinefi and Mufcovite, Prince Sofa»,
of Chrtftianky in China.' 451
nearly related to the Emperor, and Plenipotentiary,
flood amazed at his Zeal, and publickly declared,
that but for him, this Negotiation would never have
terminated to the advantage of the Empire. He
fpoke of it to the Emperor to that purpofe , and at
that very time he infpired him with Sentiments of
Efteem and Affection for this Father, which have
continued ever fince beyond whatfoever we were able
to expert or hope for. Befides, this fame Father,
together with Father Bovet, both French, and of the
number of thofe whom the King fent into China in
1685. apply’d themfelves for many Years to teach
Geometry and Philofophy to the Emperor, with fuch
Succefs, that he could never be weary in difcourfing
with them upon thefe Matters.
But becaufe thefe zealous Miflionaries were fully
perfuaded, that when Religion is concerned, human
Affiftances are very infigmficant, if God Almighty-
do not fecretly diredt and order the whole Work.
They began to implore the affiftance of him whom
nothing is able to refill: They fpread open their
Wants before him,, and difcovered their Hearts in his
prefence, and told him with the fame confidence
that once animated Judith: Make bare , make bare,
0 Lord, thy arm on our behalf, as thou did(l h:retofore i
and bring to nought the obftacle our Enemies ovpofe again ft
tu : Letthofe who have boafted that they could defray the
Temple, who have already prcpbaned thy Altar, and trod¬
den under foot the Tabernacle of thy holy Name ; let them
at prejent be fenfible, that before thee all their force is no¬
thing but vanity and weaknefs : Put into our mouths. Lord,
that holy word, and replenish our hearts with thefe wife
Counfels that make Truth always to triumph; to the end thy
Houfe that hath been fo many years in a tottering Condi¬
tion, may at this day be immovably fettled and confirmed:
and that all Nations may in the end confej s, that thou only
art the true God, and that befides thee, f Judhh d -
we ought to jeez for none other. |
G g i After
45 2 0 / the fublick Eftablijhment
After this fervent Prayer they fecretly prefented
their Petition to the Emperor, that they were after¬
wards to offer to him in publick. He read it, but not
finding therein what was the moft capable to make
impreffion upon the Spirit of the Chinefe, (for they
infilled upon what principally related to the Sanftity
and Truth of Chriftian Religion) he drew up ano¬
ther himfelfin the Tartarian Language, which he fent
back to the Fathers, yet leaving them to their liberty
to retrench, or add thereto, as they (hall judge moll
convenient.
Indeed, if one do but never fo little reflect upon
the particular Character of the Emperors of China,
onecannot fufEciently admire, that this prefent Em¬
peror fhould vouchfafe to defcend from the loftiefl
degree of "Grandeur, which he obferves every where
elfe, nay even in refped: of the greateft Princes, to
make himfelf familiar with pitiful Miffionaries: For
a Man to confider after what manner he takes a
particular Account of their Affairs; how he (peaks
to them, how he puts them in a way, would he not
conclude that it is a private Man that manages the
Concerns of his Friend? Yet neverthelefs it is one
of the greateft Kings in the World, that ispleafed
thustoftickleto pleafe a company of Strangers, even
at the peril of the fundamental Laws of the Nation.
But after all, it is no wonder that a God, who to
Eftablifh his Religion humbled himfelf fo far, as to
make himfelf like to Men, does oblige fometimes the
greateft Princes of the World to diveft themfelves of
their Ma jefty and innate Pride,to co-operate and con¬
cur in this grand Work. For certainly, what care fo-
ever we may have taken to make this Prince favoura¬
ble to us; yet mull we needs herein principally ac¬
knowledge the Efficacy of Divine Grace. It is the
Almighty voice of the Lord that alone can, to (peak
in the Scripture Expreffion, hruife tbs Cedars ani
fake the Mountains of the Wildtrtiejs j that is to lav,
of Cbriflianity in China. 455
abafe the Great ones of the World, and give to their
heart what motion he pleafes.
Whilft all thefe things were tranfafted at Pekin,
the Vice-Roy of Hamcheu, that had now leifure to
make fome Reflexions upon his Behaviour, was not
peaceable in his Province. The Credit of Prince
Sofan did grievoufly perplex him; and above all he
dreaded his juft Relentment; For to pacifie him, he
thought it the wifeft courle to fend one of his Offi¬
cers to him, under pretence to juftifie himfelf to him,
but in effeX, to exafperate the principal Mandarins
of Lipou again ft the Miffionaries, in cafe he fhould
find any opportunity to do it.
At that time the Officer arrived at Court, but
Prince Sofan would not fb much as hear him; and
packing him away, briskly told him, that he much
wondered that his Matter made fuch little account of
Perfbns whom the Emperor honoured with his Atte¬
ntion, and employed and trufted in his Service.
As to what relates to their Bufmefs, l am no more
concerned in it, than the Emperor would himfelf. Thefe
Fathers have implored his Protection, and he well under-
[lands how to do them Jufiice without my intermedling.
Befides, when l writ in their behalf, it wits not fo much
to do them a kindnefs, as thereby to exhibit a Token of
Friendfip to the Vice-Roy, in plucking him from the Pre¬
cipice whither he had fo indifcreetlj thrown himfelf.
This Anfwer did fo ftartle this Officer, that with¬
out ever dreaming- of making any other progrefs, he
returned to his Matter at Hemcheu to render an ac¬
count of the ill Succefs of his Commiffion. The Fa¬
thers who had notice of it, underftd'od by that, that
they were to lofe no time, and that they werefpeedi-
ly to improve the good difpofition of Prince Sofon, So
that upon Candlemas-day they went to the Palace, and
offer’d to the Emperor with the ufual Ceremonies, the
Petition that he himfelf had compofed, of which fee
here the Tranflation.
Gg ?
454 Of the fublick EftMjbment
May it pleafe your Majefty;
W E expofe to you, with the mofl perfeB fubm'tffton
and mo ft profound refpeB that we are capable of,
the beginning, end, inducements and motives of our moft
humble Kequeft, being confident that you will vouchfafe
to hear it with the fame prudence that attends all your
AB'rns, and with that Benevolence wherewith you have
been gracioufly pleas d to honour us.
On the ninth Month of the Moon, Father Intorcetta,
one of your Majcfifs SubjeBs, whofe abode is in the City
of Hamcheu, did acquaint as that the Vice-Roy had
ftriBly charged the Mandarins of his Province to pull
down all the Temples of the Chrifttans, to burn the Prin¬
ting Tables, upon which is engraven all the Books of our
Religion. Moreover, he bath pubhekiy declared, that our
DoBrine is falfe and dangerous, and cenfequently not to
be tolerated in the Empire, and hath added feveral other
things moft difadvantageous to rss.
Upon this News , Sir, [cited with horror, and pene¬
trated with grief, we thought our (elves obliged to have
recourfe to your Majefty, as the common Father of the
AfJUBed, to lay before you the dtplorablc Condition where-
unto we are reduced • for except you grant as your Pro-
teBion, it is altog'tbimpojfible to avoid the Stratagems
of our Enemies, and to ward the Blow wherewith they
threaten us.
Thai which adminiftns comfort to as, Sir, when we
appear at your Majefty s Feet, is to fee with what Wifdom
you influence and move ad the parts of your Empire, as if
it were the Body, of which you are the Soul ; and with
what unconcernment end impartiality you regulate the
htereft of each private Man, without acceptation ofPer-
fons. hfomucb that you could not be at reft if you knew
- but one fingle SubjcB :oppreft by Injuftice, or but even de¬
prived of that rank and recompmce he dtferves.
. You furpafs, Great Sir, the Mightieft Kings amongft
your Predecejjors, who have its thin time permitted falfe
Rfligiont
cf Chriftimty in China. 455
Religion in China; for you do intirely love Truth, and
do not approve of Falftaood . For this reafon it is, that in
taking your Progrefs to view your Provinces, you have gi¬
ven a thoufand Teftimenies of your Royal AfeBions to the
European Mijftpnaries that were in your Road ; as if you
meant thereby to teftifie, that you value their BoBrine ;
and that you would be very glad that they would fettle in
your States. What we deliver here in publish, is gene¬
rally known to the whole Empire .
Therefore when we behold the Vice-Roy o/Hamcheu to
f ile the Cbrtftian Religion, the falfe and dangerous Re¬
ligion ; when we are informed that he ufes all bis en¬
deavours to defiroy it ; how are we able to fife our juft
forrow, and forbear to declare to your Majefty what we
ffler*
This is not the firft time, Sir, that they have perfe¬
cted us without any Reafon ; therefore Father Adam
Schaal, your SubjeB, on whom your Predecejfors heap'd
many extraordinary favours, made it known to all the
Court, that the Rules of the Celeftial Motions, Eftabliftied
by the Antient Aftronomers of China, were all falfe,
he propofed others, that did ptrfeBly agree with the Con-
ftellations that were approved, and made ufe of with no
fmall fuccefs ; fo that this Change brought Order again
into the Empire. Tour Majefty is not ignorant of what
paft at that time in Pekin; we may, I hope, have leave
to remember how matters flood there, ftnce they are fo
many fmgular Favours we there received: Tet upon the
account of exploding and abolishing of thefe Errors, how
much did the Father afterwards fuffer by Calumnies of
his Enemies ? Yam-quam lien, and thofe of his FaBion,
falfly accufed him of feveral Crimes, under pretence of
Novelty, as if this new Aftronomy had not agreed with
Heaven ; he died, not being able at that time to juftifie
himfelf\ but your Majefty put Father Verbieft in his
place, and heaped on him fo many Favours, that the Life
of this Father was too fiort, and his words too faint la
dsmonftrate to all the World the greatnefs of his acknou -
G g 4 ledgcmenp
45 6 Of the fubltck Eftabli(hment
ledgments. Yet did he deeply refent all tbefe benefits,
and it "was on purpofe not to be ungrateful ; that be was
bufted for above Twenty Tears in compofing all forts of
Books for the pubbick benefit, both in Afironomy, Arith-
metick, Mufick and Pbilofopby, that are fiill extant in
the Palace, together with divers others which he had not
time to compleat and finijh.
But fines your Majefly is perfeclly inftruiied in all
tbefe particulars, we dare not prefume to tire out your
patience by a longer difeourfe. We do mofl humbly befeecb
your Majefly to confder, that all this ss not fufficient to en¬
title us to the Peoples affeilion for us, and confidence tn us:
If, as they accufe us, the Law that we preach be falfe
and dangerous, how can we. Sir, juflifie the conduit of
Princes, who have honoured us with their efieem ?
Nevertbelefs, not to mention any thing of your Pre-
deceffors,your Majefly your felf hath made fo jure of our
Loyalty, that you order’d Father Verbieft to found fome
Camion of new Model, to put an end to a dangerous
War : You made Father Grimaldi crofs the vaft Ocean
to go into Mulcovy with the Letters and Seals of the
High Court of the Militia i you fent the Fathers Ger-
t>ilion and Pereira, upon very important Affairs, to the
very furtbeft parts of Tartarv. Nevertbelefs,your Ma¬
jefly well knows, that thofe who are governed by the Prsn-
tiples of a falfe Religion, never ufe toferve their Prince
faithfully ; they alm'ofi ever abandon themfelves to their
own Paffions, and never aim at any thing but their own
particular Interefi.
If therefore we do txailly difcharge our Duty, and if to
this very day we have always fought the fublick good, it
is mofl manifefl this Zeal proceeds from an heart weE
effeiled, full of efieem, and veneration, and (if we may
be bold to fay fo) of a fingular affeilion for the Per [on of
your Majefly. On the contrary, if this heart once ceafe to
fubmit to you, it would be from that very time, contrary
to right Rtafon, good Stnfe, and all Sentiments of Hu¬
manity . ' '
of Ckiftianky in China, 45:7
This being fuppofed, Sir, we humbly befeecb you to con-
fider, that after the fatigues of a tedious Voyage , we are
at length arrived in your Empire , exempt from that Spi¬
rit of Ambition and Covetoufnefs, that commonly bring
other Men thither, but with an ardent defre to preach to
your People the only true Religion .
And truly, when we appeared here the firft time, we
were entertain'd with abundance of marks of difiinBion,
as we have often faid already, and which we cannot re¬
peat toe often . In the Tenth Tear of Chun*tchi, they pre¬
fer d us to the foie diretfion of the Matbematicks . In
the Fourteenth Tear of the fame Reign, they gave us leave
to build aChurcb at Pekin, and the Emperor timf;lf was
willing to grant us a particular place for the burial of
our Dead. In the Twenty feventb Tear of jour Majefiy's
glori.osts Reign, your Majefty honoured the Memory of Fa¬
ther Verbielt, not only by new Titles, but alfo by the care
you took to caufe the lap Offices to be perform'd to him,
with an almofi Royal Pomp and Magnificence. Some
while after you appointed an Apartment and Mafiersto
the new French Miffionaries, to facilitate their Learning
of the Tartarian Tongue. In a word, you feentd fo wed
fatisfied with their deportment, that you caufed the Ser¬
vices they had rendered to the State by their Voyages into
Tartary, and Negotiation with the Mufcovites to be in-
ferted in the Records of the Nation: What a happinefs.
Sir, and a glory is it for sis to be judged capable of fer-
ving fo great a Prince!
Since therefore your Majtfy, who does fo wifely govern
this grand Monarchy,voucbfafetb to employ us, and put fuch
confidence in us, how is it poffible there (hould be onefinglt
Mandarin fo irrational to refufe one of our Brethren per-
miffion to live in bis Province ? Verily, Sir, one cannot
fufficiently deplore the hard Fate of that good old Mas,
who in a little corner of the Earth, humbly requires fo
much fface as is necejfary peaceably to fpend the reminder
of bis days , which yet hi cannot obtain.
It
'458 Of tkfuhlick EJlablijhment
It is for this reafon, Sir, that all of us, your Majejlys
mft bumble Subjeils, who are here like forfaksn Or¬
phans, that would injure no body, nay, who endeavour to
avoid Law-Suits, Quarrels, Wrangling!, and the leaf
Contefiations • It is for this reafon (we fay j that we be-
feech you to take our Cauje in hand, with thofe Sentiments
of Equity that are fo ejfential to you ; have fame Com-
paffion, Sir, upon Perfons who have committed no Fault ;
and if your Majefiy, after being fully informed of our
Carriage, does really find that wears Innocent, we befeech
you to let all the Empire under(land by a publick Edtcl,
the judgment you entertain of our Morals and Doftrine,
It is for tin obtaining this Favour , that we afj'ume the
liberty of prefenting to you this Requefi. In the mean
time f all and every your Subjells the Mijfionaries, wtU
expel} with fear, and intire fubmijfion, what you fhalj
he pleafied to appoint touching the Premifes. In the Tbir ■
tieth Tear of the Reign of Charahi, the lith.day (ft he
twelfth Month of the Moon.
The Emperor graciopfly received this Petition, and
fent it the 18 th. of the fame Month to the Court of
Rites, with an Order to examine it, and with thefirft
opportunity to make report of it to him; but be-
caufe there is vacatipn in all the Courts of Judicature
in China much about the fame time, until the 15 th.
of the firft Month of the Year following, the Lipou,
could not Anfwer till the 18 th. of the (aid Month:
Upon the whole, their Judgment was much contrary
to the Emperor’s Intentions, and Intereft of the
Miffionaries. For the Mandarins having reported at
large the antient Edicts enafted againft: the Chriftian
Religion, concluded that this bufinefs required no
farther difcuffion, and that they were to flick clofe
to the firft Orders of Parliaments, and of the Court,
which prohibited upon grievous Penalties, the natural
born Subjefts to entertain the new Doftrine of the
Europeans ; that notwithflanding they deem’d it con¬
venient
of Cbriftmty in China. 479
venient to preferve the Church in the City of Ham-
cheu, and to give order to the Mandarins of that Pro¬
vince, not to confound the Chriftian Religion with
the feditious Sects of China .
The Emperor was in a manner as much concer¬
ned as the Miffionaries at this new Decree: when
they prefented it to him, he difcovered fome trouble
at it, and left it for feveral days in his Gofer, with¬
out declaring himfelf, to the end that the Mandarins
of Lifou having notice ofit, might have time to come
back; but when he faw their Obftinacy, he was not
willing to make turbulent Spirits to Rebel, and revi¬
ved at Jaft, tho’ fore againft his Will, to Sign it.
This News threw the Fathers into a great Conifer-
nation; and one Chao, a Gentleman ofthe Bed Cham¬
ber, whom the Emperor fent to comfort them, found
them in a condition worthy of ccmpaffion. He was
troubled at it himfelf (for he loves us dearly, and hath
done us upon feveral occafions moft fignalServices.)
This Officer endeavour’d, as he had order, to moderate
their Afflidlion; but whether it was that thefe Fathers
were not Mafters of themfelves, or that they had
quite given over all thoughts of keeping any further
correfpondence with a Prince that had deferred them,
they utter’d upon this occafion whatfoever the moft
fenfible grief is able to infpire into afflicted Perfons.
What fignifie, my Lord, fay they, all the Favours
it hath hitherto pleafed the Emperor to do us, fince
at this conjun&ure himfelf makes them unprofitable?
Was it to tumble us down in a more illuftrious man¬
ner, that he apply’d himfelf lo long time to exalt us?
What delight will he take hereafter to fee us, covered
with fhame and confufion, to ferve for a laughing-
ftock to our Enemies, and be a fpe&acle to the whole
Empire ? Will that Prince, who loved us fo dearly,
will he be able hereafter, without being moved at it,
tS hear that the Rabble infiilt over us? That his
petty Officers make us to be beaten in open Courts?
4 <$o Of the finback EfiMjhment
That Vice-Roys banifh us from their Provinces., that
they exile us Ihamefully from his Empire ?
We lay out our felves for him, our Cares, Studies,
and all our Watchings are given to him. One part
of our Brethren are already dead by their Labours,
others have impair’d their Health by the lame; and
we who are Bill alive, enforced by the fame defire
of pleafing him, willingly and freely facrifice all the
precious moments of our Life to him.
We hoped to merit by this Zeal, that he would at
length approve of the Religion which we preach to his
People, ( for why ftiould we diflemble the matter to
you, to you who have fo long known the real Senti¬
ments of our hearts) that was, you know, the only
motive of all our Undertakings: How Powerful, how
Magnificent foever this Prince may be, we Ihould ne¬
ver have had the leaft thoughts of coming fo far to
ierve him, if the Intereft of our moft holy Faith had
not engaged us therein. Neverthelefs, he prelcribes it
at this day, and Signs with his own Hand the fhameful
Decree of our Condemnation. There you fee, my
Lord, what all our hopes come to; there is the fruit
of all our Labours: with how much greater calmnefs
would we have received the Sentence of Death, than
an Edidof this nature? For, do not imagine that
we are able to furvive the lofs of Chriftianity.
This Difcourfe, attended with a great deal of
trouble, and a torrent of Tears, made great imprel-
fion upon the Officers Spirit; he went immediately
to report it to the Emperor, and defcnbed to him the
Fathers forrow in fuch lively colours, that this good
Prince gave way to fome emotion. 1 have always, faid
he, fought out all occapms to do them a kindnefs, but the
Chinele have tr aver fed all my good defigns , I could at this
time forbear following the fir earn ; but in {port , however
the cafe fiands, they may make account that l love them ,
and that I [hall not forfake them. *
In effed, he began more than ever to employ them
in
of Cbrijlimty in China^ 4 6 i
in his Service; but yet, he no longer found the fame
eagernefs in the execution of his Orders, nor the fame
ferenenefs and alacrity upon their countenances. They
always appeared before him deje&ed, .mournful, and
as if their Heads had been out of order by the Ihrewd
blow they lately received. However, he was fo far
from being dilheartened, that he propofed to them
to fend for a Doftor of Phyfick to Court, who was
newly arrived at Macao, who that he might be the
more ferviceable to the Millions, had turned Prieft of
our Company.
The Fathers made anfwer, that this Doftor had
wilh’d, and that too with a great deal of Paffion, to
employ his Skill, and all the Arcana of his Art to
prelerve fuch a precious Health, as that of his Ma-
jefty, but being amazed at the Decree that had paft
againft the Chriftians, he was quite off from any de-
fign to come into China , and that he was preparing to
return into Europe: that, neverthelefs, fince his Ma-
jefty ordered it fhould be fo they would write with all
expedition to Macao to have him come. Whilft the
Miflionaries were over Head and Ears in their melan-
cholly, the Vice Roy of Hamden triumphed at his firft
Succeis, and caff about how to take new meafures to
finilh his Work. He fet all the Commiffioners of the
Offices at work for feveral days, to draw out Copies
of the new Decree, to have them difperft throughout
all the Provinces; at laft he iffued out more fiver*
Orders againft the Chriftians, than the former. In
fine, not longer doubting of the Vi&ory, he fent to
the Emperor an ample requeft againft the Miffiona-
ries to accomplilh their undoing; but this requeft came
a little too late: and when it wasprefented,the Face
of Affairs was already altered.
For Prince Sofan not being able to withftand the
Solicitations of the Fathers, and eipecially of Father
Gtrhillm, whole particular Friend he was, relblved
to fblicite afrelh on our behalf, wherefore he went
and
461 Of thef ublick Eftdlifoment
and found the Emperor, and reprefented to him what-
foever the molt Zealous Chriftian could poffibly have
Ipoken on the like occafion.
He fet before him again, the Zeal and Devotion
of the Fathers in whatfoever refpe&ed his Perfon,
the Services they had rendered the State during the
Wars, their being intent to perfect the Sciences, and
to redifie the Kalendar. In a word, Sir, (aid he,
they are a fort of People that make no account of their
lives, when ferving or pleafing you is in quefiion. 'Tis
true, all this could not. deferve that your Majefiy fhould
approve of their Faith, if it be otherwije dangerous ; but
was there ever a more wholefome DoSlrine than theirs, or
more beneficial to the Government of a People ?
The Emperor who joyfully heard this Dilcourfe,
yet for all that perfifted in his former determination,
It is done now, (aid he to him, Ijhould have done my
felf a Kindnefs to have favoured thefe honefl Mijfiona•
ms\ but the outragious carriage of the Mandarins againfi
them, did not permit me to follow mine own inclination.
How, Sir, replied the Prince, are not « you the Ma-
filer ? And when the bufinefs was to do Jufiice to Sub¬
jells, fo eminent as tbefie are, could not you interpofe your
Authority ? 1 will go my Jelf, if your Majefiy thinks fit,
to thefe Gentlemen, and I am not without hopes of brin¬
ing them to terms. At laft the Emperor, not being
any longer able to hold it out againft (o preffing foli-
citations; caufes a Letter immediately to be difpatched
to the Calaos, their Afleffors, and to all the Tarta¬
rian Mandarins of Lipou ; and this is the purport of
the Letter.
The Thirty firfi year of the Reign of Cham-hi, the
fecond day of the fiecond month of the Moon. Ybfam-ho,
Minifier of State, declares to you the Will and Pleqfure
of the Emperor in thefe terms.
The Europeans in my Court have for a longtime been
Directors of the Matbematicks. During the Civil Wars
they have rendered me mofi effectual fervict , by means
of tbripmitf in China. 4 6 $
of fotne Cannon that they got cap: their Prudence and
Singular Addrefs, accompanied with much Zeal, and in¬
defatigable Toil, obliges me once more to conftder them:
And betides that, their Law is not Seditious, and does not
induce People to Revolt, fo that it feems good to us to per¬
mit it, to the end that all thofe who are willing to em¬
brace it may freely go into the Churches, and make pub-
lick Profejjion of the Worfhip there performed to the Su¬
preme Lord of Heaven. ~
Our Will and Pleafure therefore is, that all and Several
the Edicts that hitherto have been publiflsed againft it, bf
and with the Advice and Counfel of our Tribunals, be at
prefent torn and burnt. Tour Minifters of State, and your
Tartarian Mandarins of the Sovereign Court of Rites ,
ajjemble together, examine the matter and give me your
Advice upon the whole with fpeed.
Prince Sefan himfelf was prefent at this Affembly ac¬
cording as heand the Emperor had agreed > and albeit
he was no Chriftian, yet did he fpeak after fiich a pa-
thetical and taking mannerin favour of us, that he fee-
med rather to defend his own, or the States Caufe,
than the concerns of a Foreign Religion, thefe are his
own words, without adding one Syllable, as they are
found in the Original, which I faithfully tranflate,
‘ You know, Gentlemen, with what Application,
* whaiZeal, and Loyalty thefe Europeans bulie them-
‘ lelves intheService of his Majefty. The greateft
* Men amongft us, tho’ concerned to preferve and
‘ maintain our Conquefts, have rather devoted them-
* lelves to Glory, Riches, and making their own For-
* tunes, than to the fettling the State upon a found
* bottom; very few of them do purely aim at the
‘ Publick good'. Thefe Strangers, on the other hand,
* exempt from all Paffion, love the Empire more than
‘ we do our felves, arid do frankly Sacrifice their own
‘ repofe to the tranquility of our Provinces.
* We have experienced the fame during the whole
‘ courfeofour Civil-Wars, and in the late bickerings
‘we
464 Of the fpublick Eft/tbli(bment
' we had with the Mufcevite, for to whom do you fup-
* pofe us obliged for the happy Succefs of this Nego-
* tiation ? It would without all queftion be confident
* with my Intereft, to afcribe all the Glory of it to
* my felf. I who have been the Plenipotentiary for
‘ the Peace; but if I were fo unjuft as to do my felf
c that honour, to the prejudice of thefe Fathers, the
* Chiefta ns of the Enemies Troops, all mine own
" Officers, my own Army would fay I told an untruth,
‘ It is, Gentlemen, thefe Fathers, who by their
‘ Prudence, and infight into Affairs, and the juft
‘ temper and moderation that they brought, put an
* end to that important Affair. Without their Coun-
1 fel, we fhould have been forced to exact at the ex-
* pence of our Blood, the Rights which the injuftice
' of our Enemies did fo obftinately refufe to the Em-
* peror; or perhaps you would have had the trouble
' to fee us wholly inverted of them, or at laft, I fhouid
‘ have been no longer in a Condition to defend
* them.
f What have we done. Gentlemen, to return for
' fuch eminent Service ? Nay, what can we do for
‘ a Company of Men, who demand neither Riches,
* nor Places of Truft, nor Honours? Whoefteem
* and refpeit us, without fo much as caring whether
‘ we do fo by them? Certainly, we ought to be con-
* cerned, if it were not in our power, feme way or
* other, to oblige Strangers, who do fo generoufly Sa-
f crifice themfelvesfor us; and I am inclined to be-
* lieve, Gentlemen, that when you have made refle-
‘ dion thereon, you will give me thanks for having
* difcovered to you the only way whereby they can
* become fenfible of our acknowledgment.
‘ They have a Law, which is to them inftead of all
* the Riches in the World. They adore a Deity, who
* alone makes up all their Comfort and Happinefs.
‘ Suffer them only freely to enjoy the benefit they pof-
‘ iefs, and permit them to Communicate it to our
, * People;
of Cbrijlmify in Chin£ 4^5
' People; altho’ in that very thing they rather do us a
* kinunefs, than we do them; yet they will be grate¬
ful to us., and accept it from our hands as the recom-
‘pence of all their Services.
‘ The Lamas of Tart ary, and the Bonzes of China
‘ are not troubled in the Exercife of their Religion.
' Nay the very Mahumttans have rear’d a Mofqueat
‘ Hamchea , that Domineers over all our publick Edi-
‘ fices. They oppofe no Banks to thefe Torrents that
' threaten Inundation to all China : Men connive,
‘ they approve in fome meafure all thefe unprofitable
‘and dangerous Se&s; and now when the ■'Europeans
‘ fue to us for Liberty to Preach up a Do&rine, that
' contains no other than Maxims of the moft refined
‘ Vertue, we do not only repulfethem with difdiin,
‘but think we do good Service to Condemn them :
‘ juft as if the Laws that obliges.us to fhut up the En-
‘ trance into our Empire againft Superftition, and
‘ lying Vanities, had likewife profcribcd naked Truth.
The Prince expatiating much upon this point, was
interrupted by the Heads of the Alfembly, who re-
monftrated to him, that, fay what he could, there
wasftill fome danger ie(t this new Sed might occafi-
on fome diforder in procefs of time. And that it was
the part of good Policy to ftifle thefe little Monfters
of Rebellion and Difcord, in their very Birth. That,
mlhort, they, were Foreigners, whofe Spirit and fe-
cret Defigns were capable ofadjniniftringfomefufpir
cion.
‘ What Sufpicion, reply’d the Prince ? I have been
‘ Colao this ten Years, and I never heard any Com-
‘ plaint againft the Chriftians, Believe me, Gentle-
‘men, it w;ere to be wtfh’d that the whole Empire
‘ would embrace their Religion. For, is it not that
* Religion that commands Children to Honour and
* Obey their Parents ? Subje&s to be faithful to their
‘Superiors, Servants exaflly to perform the Will of
? their Mafters 5 That forbids to Rill, to Steal, and
n h to
4 66 Of the (PuMick Eftablifhment
‘ to Cozen; not to covet' any thing that is your
* Neighbours. That abhors Perjury and Calumny.
e That diflikes Lying and Fallhood. That inspires
* Modefty, Simplicity, Uprightnefs and Temperance.
r Examine, Gentlemen, and found, if poffible, the
‘Heart of Man; if there you find one fingle Vice
r -wfiich the Chrtffian Law does not forbid, or one
c Vertue'thatit does not enjoyn, andcounfel; Heave
* yoii to your' liberty to declare againft it. But now,
* if all tilings in it be Holy and Confonant to Reafon,
e Why do yotl ftill boggle to approve of it ?
After that, the Prince feeing their minds to be wa-
vering, propofed the Ten Commandments of our
Religion, and explained them with fo much Elo¬
quence, that the Mandarins looking one upon ano¬
ther; finding nothing to offer againft it, did ingeni-
oufly confefs that one might Conform to this New
Do&rine without any danger. The Emperor infor¬
med of what was debated; was pleated (for to ren¬
der the A&ion more famous) to have al(o all the Mi-
nifters of State to be convoked together, with the
Mandarins of Lipou , who were Ch'mefe , to whom they
made known beforehand the Refolution of the Tar¬
tarian M&nAanns.
In this general Affembly they repeated all that was
fpoken in the private Affembly, and after Prince Si-
fan had left no ftone unturned to recover the Chineje
from their old prejudice, they came at length to this
refult, that a Law fhould be enadted favourable w
the Chriftians, which was drawn Up in form of a Pe¬
tition, to be preferred to the Emperor to obtain his
confirmation of it, it was to this effedb
Heoupatai, Subjeff to your Majefiy , Pfejtdent of tk
Sovereign Tribunal of Rites , and chief of feveral other
Orders , prefents to you this mofi humble Petition , with all
the fubmiffm and rcfpecl which he and all his AJJeffort
ought to have for all your Commands , efpecia'Jy when you
do m the honour to require our Advice about the important
Affairs of State. ' Wt
of Cbrijliamty in China. 4 67
We have feriou(lj examin'd wbat any way relates to the
Europeans, who attracted from the extremities of the
World by the Fame of your fingidar Prudence, and other
your eminent qualities, have paft the vaft extent of Seas
which federates us from Europe. Since they have lived
amongft us, they have merited cur efteem and acknowledg¬
ment, by the ftgnal Services they have rendred us in the
Civil and Foreign Wars ; by their continual application to
Compoflng of Books very curious and profitable ; for their
uprigltnefs and (incere affection for the Common-wealth.
Beftdes which,tbcfe fame Europeans^ very peaceable,
they do not excite any Commotions, or foment Differences in
tbeje our Provinces ; they do wrong to no many hey commit
no notorius Faffs, moreover their Doctrine hath no Affinity
with the falfe and dangerous Sects that infefi the Empire,
neither do their Maxims incline turbulent fpiritsto Sedition .
Since therefore wt do neither binder the Lamas of Tar-
tary, nor Bonzes of China from having Temples , tier
from offering Incenfe therein to their Pagoda ; much left
can we, with anyj-eafon, refrain the Europeans, (who
neither aff nor teach any thing contrary to the wbolefome
Laws ) from having Iikewife their refpeffive Churches,
there to Preach their Religion in publick. Certainly theft
two things would be point blank contrary to one another
and we (Imld manifefly feem to contradiff cur fellies.
We therefore judge it meet and expedient that all the
Temples Dedicated to the Lord of Heaven jn what place fo-
ever they may be, ought to be prefervid ; and that we may
fafely permit all thofe who would honour this God, to enter
into hts Temples, to offer Incenje to him, and to pay that
Wirfhip to him that hath hitherto been prafftfed by the thri¬
ft tans, according to their ancient Cuftow, fothat nonemaf
for the time to come, prefumeto oppofe the fame.
In the mean time we jhall expect your May fly s Orders
thereupon, to the end we may Communicate them to the
Governours and Tice Roys, as Well at Pegin, S at othep
Cities of the Provinces. Dons in the Thu tf Fir ft Tear of
the Reign of Cham hi, the third a ay of the fecond momR.
Hh •• I*
4<$8 Of the fuhlick Ejlabli(bment
of the Moon. Signed, th Pre/ident of the Sovereign tri¬
bunal of Rites, with his AJfeJjors ; and underneath the
four Minifiers of State, called Colaos, with their ge¬
neral Officers and Mandaoins of the firfi Order.
_ The Emperor received this Decree with unexpref-
fible joy; he ratifi’d it forthwith, and difpatch’d a
Copy of it to the Fathers, fealed with the Seal of the
Empire, to be, fays he, perpetually preierved in the
Archives of their Houle. Sometime after he caufsd
it to be publifhed throughout the whole Empire s and
the Supreme Tribunal of Rites, fending it to the Prin¬
cipal Officers, added thefeenfuing words.- Wherefore ,
you Vice- Roys of Provinces be jure you receive this Impe¬
rial Edift with a mod profound refpecl i and as foon as
it comes to your hands, read it attentively ; value it, and
fee you fail not to execute it punctually, conformable to the
example that we have given you our felves. Moreover ,
caufe Copies of it to be taken , to be difperjed into all the
places of our Government, and acquaint us of what you
fiiall do inthis Point.
So foon as Father Intorcetta had notice of what had
paft at Pekin, he departed for Court, and went to
throw himfelf at the Emperor’s Feet, to render him
moft humble thanks in his own, and in the Name of
all the Miffionarieso! China. This good Prince when
he had bellowed on him many demonlirations of Af¬
fection, cauled him to be conduced back again into
his Province, by Father Ihomas, Mandarin of the
Mathematicks* He made his entrance into his City
of Hamcheu in Triumph, furrounded by Chriltians,
and received by their Acclamation, who look’d upon
him as an Angel of Peace.
Neverthelefs, as God mixes always fome Bitter-
nefs with our Comforts, the joy this good Father had
conceived, was loon overcaft, and allay’d by the ut¬
ter mil of his Church, involved fametime before in a
public!; Conflagration, wherewith the bed part of the
City was confumed.
This
of Chriflwiity in China. 469
This Accident gave occafion to Father Thomas to •
defire the Vice-Roy to build a new Church for the
Father, and he himfelF gave him to underdand that
the Emperor expedited it from him. This Mandarin
was intolerably vex’d at the ill fuccefs of his Enter,
prize, which, the late arrival of the Father increas’d ;
but he was quite befides himfelf, to think he mud be
forced to lodge a Stranger honourably in his Capitol
City, whom he would, with all his Heart, have
bamlh’d fome days before from his Province; yet he
difiembled the matter like a wife Man, and to comply
with the time, he afforded the Miffionary one of the
fineft Hoiifes in the City, till fuch time, as at his own 1
Charges he fhould have rebuilt the ancient College.
[t was not at Hamcheu alone, that the Chriftian Re¬
ligion feein’d to Triumph; all the Churches of the Em¬
pire, which the new Edid, in fome refpedf, drew out
of Captivity, by granting to the People liberty of Con¬
fidence, gave great demonfirations of joy; but the
City of Macao , that ferved for a Cradle to the Infant
Chridianity, made its joy to appear by a folemn Holy-
day, which was accompanied with all the tokens of
publick mirth and chearfulnefs, which the Peoples
Devotion rendred much more lolemn.
Thofe who lhall confider the Conditution of the
Government of China, the almod infurmountable
difficulties that Strangers have met Vvith in fcrewir.g
themfelves into it; the averfion of Mens minds from
Novelty in Matters of Religion; and on the other
hand, the (mall company of Miffionaries Europe hath
fiipply’d us with. The Civil Wars, and Revolutions
that have fo often difcompofed the State in this latter
Age, will ferioufly confels, that this Occurrence,one
of the mod memorable that probably hath happened
fince the Infancy of the Church, cannot be the pro-
duft of humane Wildom. * Dm autem
Rex nofier ante facula operatus eft falutem * Pf.il, 73.
in medio terra ; Tu mfirmdfti in virtutt
H h m
4/0 Of the iPublick EfiahllfJmeni
tua mare - Tu confregifU capita draconu—ttius eft the;
& tua eft nox. It is our God, ’tis our everlafting King
who hath wrought Salvation in this vaft Kingdom,
which they call the middle of the Earth. He it is
who hath for ever brought a Calm upon this Sea, fo
much agitated, and infamous hitherto for fo many
Shipwracks. Thou haft, O Lord, bruifed the Head of
, that proud j Dragon whole Name
■ was fo dreadful. It is now then
Md it ad red tn t * ie Da Y an< ^ Night, that
China. is to fay, the Eaft and the Weft
belong to thee > forafmuch as both
Worlds have at laft fubmitced to thy Empire.
Ac fuchtimc as [ had the honour to prefent to the
inoft holy Father, that Idolatry in the Eaft, attacked
on all iides by the Minifters of the Gofpel, was juft
upon the point of falling; and that if once China
could be drawn in to declare it lelf in favour of us, all
the People adjacent, lead by their example, would
quickly break their Idols in pieces, and would not be
long before they fubmitced to the Yoak of the Chri-
ftian Faith; this thought alone tranfported this holy
Pontif with joy, and revived thatfincere Piety, and
fervent Zeal in his Heart, that he lhews upon all oc-
cafions for the Salvation of Souls; but he told me that
fuc'n a great change as that was no ordinary Miracle,
What Sentiments will he have, my Lord, when he
underftands that, what (as things then flood) he fcarce
dui ft hope for, are now at laft accomphfh’d for the
glory of his Pontificate, and univerfal benefit of Chri¬
stendom. We know moreover, that fince this Fa¬
mous Edict, theC&i«f/erun in crouds to be Baptized:
That the Mandarins, (till Idolaters, build Churches to
the only n ue God. That a Prince of the Blood hath
abjured his Errors, and embraced the Faith and Crofs
of JESUS CHRIST. That the Emperor himfelt
crude: h a Chuich to be eredted in his Palace, and
! iciges chsMsmftcrs of the Gofpel near his own Per-
f •: * Thefe
of Chiftknky in China. 4/1
Thefe happy preparations will, without all cuefti-
on, oblige the holy Father to employ all his cares to
the entire complearing of lo great a Work; to that
eifed we demand of him Pallors formed by his own
Hand, and replenifhed with his Spirit: Miffionaries
altogether unby.ifled, learned, felf denying, that joyn
Prudence with Evangelical Simplicity ; who may leek
the glory of Chrift, and that of the Nation, rather
than their own.
Laft of all, we heartily wifh that all Chriftian King¬
doms, out of Emulation one of another, may ftrive
(under the Pope’s Authority) who lhall dill (end molt
Minifters into thefe vaft Countries, to lhare with us in
our Labours, and extend ourGonquefts. Nay, tho the
moft populous Univerfities, andmoft famous Semina¬
ries Ihould be tranfplanted thither, it would yet be
but few. Yea, and with all thefe affiftances, we
ihould notwithftanding, to (peak in Scripture Lan-
guage, groan under the burthen and heat of the day.
What would become of us, if we leavp this new
born World to a fmall number of Labourers! whom
the Piety of fome do there maintain ?
It is to beg this favour, that I aflume the boldnefs,
my Lord, to intruftyou, at this time, with the con¬
cerns of the Miffionsi I am well allured that you ne¬
ver undertook any bufinels of conlequence for the
good of Chriftendom, but you accomplilh’d it. Now,
altho’ this that I propole to you were ten times more
difficult than it is indeed, I am, in a maner lure of
fuccels, as foon as ever you lhall pieafe to take it upon
you.
Yet notwithftanding, my Lord, to fucceed happily
in this bufinels, it is not neceflary to exert, and put
in practice all thofe qualities of Mind, that make you
almoft ever (uperior to great Enterprizes. That con-
lummate Wifdom, that condu&s you thro’ the moft
fure Roads. That continual intention of Mind, which
the hardeft Labour cannot interrupt# That dextrous
H It 4 infinuating
4 7l Of the fublick Efiahlifhment
infinuating Condu&, fo impenetrable to the quickeft
Eye. In a Word, that Art, fo peculiar to you of per-
fuading, and obtaing what you pleafe. All this is
not requifite to the bufinefs in hand, you need do no
more here but abandon your felf to your own Zealand
ufe that lively, and natural Eloquence, that animates
your Difcourfes, every time you are pleated, in the
Sacred College, to Hand up for the Intereft of Religi¬
on, or when you reprefent to Chrift’s Vicar the ur¬
gent neceflitiesof the Church.
Your Care, your Piety, mv Lord, will be feconded
with as many Apoftles, as you fhall procure Miffiona-
ries for us: Then will the Idolaters, newly Converted,
and Believers cftablifh’d and fettled in Faith, be E-
qually fenfible of the great Benefits that you fhall pro¬
cure them, and the People enhghtned by thefe Di¬
vine Lights, which the Holy See fhall difperfe as far
as the extremity of the Earth, will all their lives loi!fe
blefs the Paternal Charity of the Vicar of Chriff, and
ardent Zeal of his Minifters. lam in the moll pro¬
found refped,
My Lord,
Lour Eminence’ s mefi bumble
Ani mojl obedient Servant.
L.J.
A Let .
A Letter to Monfieur , the Ahbet Bignon.
A (general Idea of the Objenatiow
m have made in the Indies, and
in China,
A Lthough you (hould not be at the Head of
the moft Ingenious Learned Men in Europe,
by the Rank you hold in the Academy Roy -
1 ,* at, yet the Paffion I have always had, to
givTyou fome Marks of my Efteem, and to improve
by your knowledge, would engage me to communi¬
cate to you what we have performed in the Indies , as
to the perfection of Sciences.
It is, Sir, for the Credit of this Illuftrious Academy
(with which we have fuch a ftrict Friendlhip,and Gor-
refpondencej that a Perfonof your Merit,Ihould feem
to have any Efteem for the Perfons it employs in its
Function; and I fuppofe, the Protection you are plea-
fed to afford us in the World, will be taken kindly by
them ; but it is yet more our particular Intereft, that
you would feverely, and ftrictly examine our Works,
and that when you have implored the Efteem of the
Publick on pur behalf, you would by an Impartial,
and Learned Criticizing, take fome pains to perfect
us, and make us one day Worthy of its Approbation,
and your own.
It js not, Sir, that I have a mind, in this Place, to
explain to you in particular, all that we have per¬
formed, to acquire a more exact Knowledge for the
Future, of the Motion of the Stars, or to deliver Me-
raoires
474 Ohfervatiom fbilo/opbical and
moires to thofe who defign to penetrate farther into
the fecret Myfleries of Nature. This Work, which is
of too large an Extent, to be cornprifed within the
compafsof a Angle Letter, will ferve for the Subject
of an intire Volume, which we hope fhortly to have
the honour to prefent to you.
My defign at prefent, is only to give you a general
Idea of it, to the end, that underflanding before hand
the Road we have hitherto kept, you may the better
judge what is needful to be added, to make us ExaCt,
or to be altered, as to our Method.
When we departed from Pam, with the InftruCii-
ons of the King, of his Minifters of State, and of the
Academy Royal , we propofed to our (elves, nothing
lets than the perfection of Natural Sciences; but this
project contained in it a great diverfity of matters, we
fuppofed it convenient for every one to take his part,
not only becaufe each of us had not leilure enough to
ply (o many different Studies all at once, but aUo, be¬
caufe the Spirit of a Man hath its Limits, and it is ve¬
ry rare to find in one and the fame Perfon, a Genius
equally proper for all Things.
So that we agreed, that fome of us fhould addict our
felves to Aftronomical Obfervations, Geometry, and
to the Examination of mechanical Arts, whilft others
fhould chiefly be taken up in the Study of what re¬
lates to Anatomy, knowledge of Simples, Hiftoryof
Animals, and other parts of Natural Philofophy,
which eve y one fhould choofe, according as his Fan¬
cy led him ; yet fo, that even thofe who fhould keep
themfelves within, the compafs of any fubject Matter,
fhould, neverthelefs, not negleCt the reft, when time,
place, or perfons, fhould afford them occafions to
make any new difcovery cherein: We agreed likewife
that we fhould mutually communicate our Notions
one to another, to the end, that each one might bene¬
fit by the common Reflections, and withal, that no¬
thing, if pofTible, fhould efcape our attention.
But
Mathematical mak in China. 4 y ^
But let us take what care we could to liicceed in
this Undertaking,we eafily perceived, that Six Perfons
bulled befides in the Study of Languages,and in preach-
ing the Gofpe!, could never be able to go through with
fuch avail Defign : It therefore came into our Mind,
firft of all, to engage the Europeans that were at that
Time in the Indies, but above all, the Miffionaries; to
the end thateveryoneof us might concur in carrying
on a Delign, equally Beneficial and Glorious to all
Nations. Secondly, to Eftablilh in divers places, lome
particular Houles, where our Mathematicians, and
Philolophers Ihould labour after the Example, and un¬
der the Conduct of the Acadennans of Parts ; who
from thence, as from the Center of Sciences, might
communicate their Thoughts, their Method,and their
Dilcoveries, and receive, (if I may be io bold as to
fay fo,) as by Reflexion, our weak Lights.
But thefe two Expedients, fo proper in themlelves
for the promoting of our Project, and withal capable
to render France Famous to Pofterity, have hitherto
proved ineffectual; on the one hand, we have found
very little Difpolition in other Nations to fecond us;
on the other hand, the Revolutions of Siam have
overthrown our firft Obfervancy, which the King’s
Liberality, and the Zeal of the Mimfters of State,
had in a manner quite finifhed.
Thefe Accidents, tho’ fatal ones, did not yet dif-
courage us; we had Thoughts of laying the Founda¬
tion of a fecond Obfervatory in China, ftill more
Magnificent than that of Siam. It would have been
no fuch difficult Matter to have built feveral others
afterward at Bifpaan in Verfia, at Agria in the Mogul’s
Country, in the Ifle of Comes under the Line, in
Tartary , and in feveral other places, whofe Situation
might facilitate the Execution of our Defign; when
thatuniverfal War, that has fee all Europe on Fire fo
many Years, made us fenfible of it in the Indies , and
in one moment broke all our Meafures.
47 6 Obfervatiom tphilofophical and
Perhaps, Sir, Peace may put us into the fame Road
again, that the Tempeft hath forced us to forfake,and
that all in good time, we {hall enjoy a Calm equally
advantageous to Religion, to the Peoples Happinefs,
and to the Perfedion of Sciences; In the mean time,
as contrary Winds do not hinder skilful Pilots to go
forward a little, notwithfhnding they do much retard
their Sailing, fo have we endeavoured, maugre all
thefe Tempers, to purfne our former Defign, and
continue a Work, the Effay of which, as you may
fhortly fee, will not perhaps be altogether unprofi¬
table.
The difficulty that Men have found from all Anti*
quity, to regulate the Motions of the Stars, was never
to be overcome, either by the Lucubrations of Anci¬
ent Aftronomers, or even by all the penetration of
the Neoterics, what Endeavours foever our Imagina¬
tion may have ufed to dive into thefe Myfteriesof the
Omnipotent Creator, yet have we made but aforry
Progrefs; and we muft needs confefs, that Heaven
is at a much greater diftance from our Thoughts, and
Conception, than it is elevated above our Heads.
Nothing can bring us nearer to it, than a continued
Series of Obfervations, and an exad Enquiry into e-
very thing that occurs in the Stars, becaufe that this
continual Attention to their Motions, (making us
perceive the grofs, and as it were palpable Errors of
ancient Syftems) gives Occafion to Aftronomers to
reform them by little and little, and make them more
conformable to Obfervation > to this purpofe, in thefe
latter days, Men have (o carefully applyed themfelves
to the perfeding of Inftruments, Pendulums, Te-
lefcopes, and of whatfoever may any way bring the
Heavens nearer to our Eyes.
in France , England , and Denmark^ and in divers
other Places in the World, they have elevated huge
Machines, built magnificent Towers, as it were, to
ferve inftead of Stairs to thofe who would proceed in
Mathematical made in China. 477
this new Road; and the Progrefs that many Obfer-
vatois have already made, is fo confiderable, that
one may hope for great Matters in future Ages; pro*
vided Princes do continue by their Liberality, to up¬
hold (rich a toilfome piece of Work. This is, Sir, in
general, what we have contributed towards it for our
Part.
Firft of all, we have been moftconverfantin Ob-
ferving the Ecliples; and becaufe thofe of the Sun,
have more than all others, occasioned Peoples Ad¬
miration; we have been very diligent toimprove all
Occafions that might feem favourable to us. Amongft
thofe that offered themlelves, there chanced to be
two fomewhat odd, and particular, and will afford
fome delight to the Curious.
The firft was the Eclipfe that happened about the
end of April , 1688. We knew that it was to be Total
in fome Parts of China, altho’at Pekin, where we fo-
journed fome time before, it was to be but indifferent
Great; for you know, Sir, there is a great difference
between the Eclipfes of the Sun, and thofe of the'
Moon : The Moon that hath only a precarious Light,
is covered with real Darknefs, whenever the Earth,
robs her of the Sun-beams, and doth not appear E-
clipfed to fome certain People, but that fhe at the fame
time hides her Face from the Eyes of others in like
manner. The Sun, on the contrary, that is a Body
of its own Nature, always Splendid, always Lumi¬
nous, or rather, is light it felf, can never be obfuf-
cated or darkned; and when the Moon, by co¬
vering it, feems to deprive it of all its Luftre ; it is
not the Sun that is Eclipfed, it is the Earth ; it is we
indeed that do find our felves at that time all in Dark¬
nefs. So that Aftronomers would fpeak more proper,
if inftead of Naming it an Eclipfe of the Sun, they
would Name it an Eclipfe of the Earth.
Thence it comes to pafs, that this Eclipfe is at the
lame time very different, according to the different
Regions
478 Obfervations Thilofopbical and
Regions where one is, infomuch, that if feveral Ob-
fervators at a diftance one from another, were placed
upon the fame Line drawn from Eaft to Weft, it
might fo happen, that the firft would fee the whole
Body of the Sun, as it is commonly feen, whilft the
fecond would difcover but one part of it. There it
would appear half covered, here it would be no more
than an Ark of Light; and ftill farther off, it might
perchance totally difappear.
It is likewife for the fame Reafon, that an Obfer-
vator placed at the Center of the Earth, would not
behold the Sun Eclipfed, as we do here; now this
Difference, which they term the Paralax, would in-
creafe, or decreafe, according as this Luminary fhould
be more or lefs elevated above the Horizon; this is
what the Chinefe were hitherto ignorant of, and of
which, to this day, they have but a very fuperficial
Knowledge. As for the Indians, much lefs capable of
being poliihed, and refined than the Cbinefe, they are
always admiring fuchwonderful Effects; infomuch,
that the King of Siam demanded one day, if the Sun
in Europe was the fame with theirs iri the Indies, being
it appeared at the fame time fo different in thefe two
Places.
Wherefore w£'departed on purpofe from Fekin, to
get to Hamcheu, a cojffiderable City in the Province of
Chanfi ; where, according to our Calculation, the Sun
was to be totally Edlpfed: Yet, it was not fo, becaufe
the Longitude of the Country was not yet perfe&ly
known to us. The Heavens were that day extreme
Serene, the Place very Convenient, our Inftrument
fitly placed, and being three Obfervators, nothing was
wanting that might render the Obfervation Exad-
Amongft the different Methods that may be made
ufeof for thefe forts of Operations, we made choice
o! Two, thatfeemM to us the mofthl -.m .. idEafie;
The one was to look upon the Sun wiru a i elefcope
of three Foot long, in which th-' .ad piaceuat the
focui
Mathematical made in China. 479
focus oljeBivus, a Riticnla or little Net, compofed of
twelve little Threads of raw Silk, very fmall, and
Equally diftant one from another, yet fo, that they
might precifely take up all the fpaceof the Sun, whole
Diameter appeared after this manner to the Eye, di¬
vided into twelve equal Parts.
The Second conlifting in receiving the reprefenta-
tionof the Sun (by a Telefcope of twelve Foot) that
was painted upon a piece of Paftboard, oppofite to
the Optic-Glafs, at a proportionable Diftance; we
had drawn upon the laid Paftboard, twelve little con-
centrical Circles, the biggeft whereof was equal to
the apparent Difcus of the Sun. So that it was eafie
for us to determin, not only the Beginning, Durati¬
on, and End of the Eclipfe, which require no more
but a (ingle Optic-glafs, and a well regulated Pendu¬
lum ; but alfo its Bignefs, or ( as they commonly call it)
its Quantity, and the time that the Shadow, or rather
the Moon fpends in covering, or uncovering each
part of the Sun: For notwithftanding all thefe parts
are equal amongft themfelves, yet it doth not there¬
fore follow, that there is requifite an equal Number
of Minutes to go over them, becaufe the continual
Change of the Paralax , retards or puts forward the
apparent Motion of the Moon.
There wanred but the twenty fourth part to the to¬
tal covering of the Sun, and we determined it to be
an Eclipfe of eight Digits and an half, (for fo Aftro-
norners term in ) for to make their Calculation Juft,
they are wont to divide the apparent Diameter of the
Planets into twelve Digits, and every Digit into foty
Minutes. In the mean time we obferved firft of all,
that when three Quarters of the Sun were Eclipfed,
the Day appeared in a manner not at all changed by
it; nay, and we could hardly have perceived it, if
We had not had otherwife Notice of it; {o that an or¬
dinary Cloud was almoft capable of producing the
very fame Effect.
Se-
Secondly, tho’ we did not at the height of the E»
clipfe, fee more than a little Ark of Light, yet might
a Man read very eafily in the Court, the fmalleft
Ghara&er. I have leen fome Storms that obfcured
the Heavens as much as they were at that time.
Thirdly, we could by no means difcover any Star,
tho’we endeavoured it all we could. We only per¬
ceived Venus, which doth not denote any great Ob-
fcurity, fince this Planet appears often times, even at
fuch time as the Sun is wholly rifen above the Horizon
The notwithfranding,were terribly allarmed,
imagining that the Earth was going luddenly to be in-
velloped in thick Darknefs. They made an hideous
Noife all abroad, to oblige the Dragon to be gone, lit
is to this Animal that they attribute all the difapear-
ances of the Stars, which come to pals, fay they, be-
caufetheCeleftial Dragon being Hunger-bit, holds at
that time the Sun or Moon faff between his Teeth,
with a delign to devour them.
At length the Light returned by degrees, and eafed
the Chinefe of their Trouble; but we continued our
Operation, comparing by different Calculations, the
Greamefi, Continuance, and Ending of this Eclipfe,
with the different Tables of Ancient and Modern A-
ftronomers. There' was alio made at Vektn, Ham-
chat, and in leveral other Cities of China, the very
lame Oblervations, which might have fetved to deter-
min the Longitude of all thefe different Places, if we
had not had more fure, and eafier Methods to know
it hy.
Upon the whole; this Observation afforded an Oc-
cafion to make fome Refections upon leveral other
Eciiples, whereof Authors (peak diverfly. Herodotus
Lib. i. relates that upon the very day that the King
of the Medes, and the King of t)ie Lydians fought a
bloody Battel, the Sun appeared totally Echpfed.
The Combat, faith he, lafted a long time with equal
Advantage on both Tides; till all on a hidden, thick
Dark-
’Mathematical made in China; 481
Parknefs govered the Earth, and fora while fufpen-
ded the Fury of the Soldiers. Father Petau hath pla¬
ced this Eclipfe in the Year ^97, before the Birth of
our Saviour, on the 9th of July, altho’ according to
his Calculation, it ought to be but of 9 Digits s 2 Mi¬
nutes ; imagining, without doubt, that this Portion of
the Sun eclipfed, was confiderable enough to venfie
fuch thick Darknefs which the- Hiftorians mention
Neverthelefs, tfiatisfofarfroirifuffieing, that our lafl
Obfervation ought to convince us, that fuch an in¬
different Eclipfe as that was, could not fo much as be
feen by the Combatants: So that it is much more
probable, that this famous Battel was fought in the
Year y8( on the 28th. day of May, a Day whereon
there chanced to be a total Eclipfe of the Sun.
Father Petau cannot difagree with us about this
laft Eclipfe, but if we reckon it according to his Ta¬
bles, we 'fhall find that it is but of 11 Digits io Mi¬
nutes, that is to fay, not quite fo big as ours; and for
that Reafon, we may fiippofe his Tables to be defe-
ftive, becaufe the 14th. Part of the Sun fufficeth (as
we have obferved) to make the Day pretty Clear;
notwithftanding the Hiltory would make us believe
that it was obfcure, yea, and even refembling the
darkcft Night.
In the Year ;t°» before the Birth of our Saviour,
Agatbocles King of Sicily, failing into Africa with his
Fleet, bound for Carthage, the Sun totally difappeared,
the Stars were feen every where,' as if it had been
Mid-night j whereupon divers Aftronomers, and
particularly Ricctolm, are of Opinion, that the Tables
that allow to this Eclipfe a Greatnefs, that comes pret¬
ty near that of the Total, do fufficiently make out
the Hifiorv: Neverthelefs, it is manifeli by what
we have Obferved, that the Stars would never have
been perceived, efpecinliy in that bnghtnefs, and
after that manner that Diodorus and Jujlin fay they
did^ if fo be there had been any fenfible Part of the
I r Suit
481 Obfemtions fbilofophicd and
Sun difcovered, except this fame Part not being E*
clipfed, had not been near the Horizon, as it happened
in the Yearn?, in the beginning of the Reign of
Gordianui Junior ; for at that Time the Heavens were
fo darkened, that it was impoflible to know one ano¬
ther without Wax-tapers, at lead if we give credit to
Julius Capitolinas.
The Second Eclipfe we obferved, dill more confi-
derable than the former, was (eenby Father Tachard ,
in his Voyage into the Indies, he was at Sea on board
an Holland VejJel i and if the Place would have given
him leave to makeufe of Inffruments, we ihould ne¬
ver have feen any thing more ingenious on this Sub-
jedfr
The Eclipfe appeared Central, that is to fay the
Center of the Moon, was quite oppofite to the Cen¬
ter of the Sun; but becaufe the apparent Difeus of
the Sun, was at that time bigger than that of the
Moon, there was feen in the Heavens, a bright Ring,
or a great Circle of Light, and what is mod to be
wondred at upon this Occafion is, that Father Tacbard
affures us, that this Circle was at lead a Fingers-
breadth, which would not agree, neither with the
Tables of ancient Adronomers, nor of the Moderns:
but it is no fuch eafie Matter, to make a jud Edimate
ofthebignefs of Luminous Bodies, when one judges
only upon View; becaufe the Light that fparkles,
and reflects, caufeth them evermore to appear much
bigger than they really are-
However, thefe fort of Ecliples which are called,
AnnularyEclipfes are very rare; yea, and fome Ma¬
thematicians are of Opinion, that there cannot be any
at all, becaufe they fuppole as a thing granted by all
hands, that the Diameter of the Moon, even in its
Jpogaam, that is, at its greated Didance from the
Earth, was always either equal to that of the Sun, or
oven fenfibly greater. ,
So likewife Kepler writing to Clavius, upon the
Account
Mathematical made in China. 481
Account of an Annulary Eclipfe that they had oblerved
at Rom on the 9th. of April, in the Year 1567 pre¬
tends that this Luminary Border was nothing elle, but
a little Crown of condenfed Air, enflamed, or en-
lightned by the Sun beams, broken, or refra&ed in
the Atmfpbere of the Moon; This laft Observation
may be capable of undeceiving thofe who may have
perfifted obftinately to follow the like Opinion, as
well as to dilabufe Gafftndus his Difciples, who imagin
that the Sun cannot flow over the Moon above four
Minutes at molt, that is to fay, by it’s 180th. Part.
Befides thele two Ecliples, we have alloleen fome
others of leffec Conlequence, which I (hall forbear
to mention, becaule they contain nothing extraordi¬
nary. Thofe of the Moon have molt employed our
time, not only becaule they are in a greater Number,
but becaule there is greater difficulty to obferve them
well;
The brighter the Sun is, the more lenlible is its de-
fe for thefe Oy-
fters are ftrongly faftened to the rock, and never
did any Fifher lee one to float upon the Superficies of
the Water.
Notwithftanding, Pearls are found in feveral Pla¬
ces, yet tbofe of La Pefcbetie are the moft valued, for
they never lofe their Luftre; others turn Yellow, or
of a Pale decayed White. As to the true Value, it is
very hard to determ-in any thing for certain; the
biggeft of all that was found in the Iaft Filhing, was
fold but at Six hundred Crowns.
I have fometimes asked the Divers, if they did not
now and then find Coral at the bottom of the Sea;
they anfwdred, that they being for the moft part bu¬
ffed in what concerns feeking for Pearl, took no
great notice of any thing beffdes, that neverthelels,
they found from time to time, Branches-of Black
Coral; there is fome of it, added they, which al-
tho’ it be pretty hard at the bottom of the Water, yet
becomes much more fo, when it hath been fome
time expofed to the Air. But the greateft part of it
hath acquired, even in the Sea, all its natural Hard-
nefs. It flicks fall to the Rocks, and when we caff:
Anchor in Foggy-weather; it often happens that our
Anchor catches hold on fome Branches of Black Co¬
ral, and brings along with it whole Trees; but it is
very rare to find any Red Coral all along che Coaft
of La Pefcberie.
I Ihall here make a Reflexion that not many
have made; viz,, that the Coral-Tree hath no Root.
Some of it was foown in Rome, in Father Kerchers
Mufaum that fprung out of foveral Stones ; fome ot
them have been after chat pull’d away,, and the Coral
had not only no Root, but was not fo much as tied
by any Fibre, or any the lea ft Filament whatfoever,
L 1 s- There
51 6 Obfervations Mathematical and
There alfo wasfeen fevsral Branches of Coral iffuing
from a Nacre of Pearl; and in Cardinal Barbarins
Clolet, there is dill to be feen a Shrub of Coral,whole
Foot is Black, the Trunk White, and (he very Top
of all Red.
Thus doth Nature, Sir, difporther felf in the great,
Abyfs, as well as in the other parts of the Univerfe,
by the Production of prodigious Numbers of Things,
equally Profitable, and Precious, which (he bellows
not to excite and irritate Mens Concupilcence, or to
foment their fottilh Pride ; but to (crve them for Or¬
naments, as Realon, and the Decency of every State
requires, or permits.
Nay, pethaps, Sir, thefe Beauties of the Univerfe
were created, not fo much to adorn the Body, as to
exercife the Mind: Relifiit MunJum Jifyutationi eorum.
For of all natural Plealures, the moft innocent, and
fubftantial, without all doubt is the ftudy of Nature,
and the Confideration of the Marvels it contains in
its Womb. When one hath once run over the Ground¬
work of Divine Wifdom, and penetrated into the
Myiieries of it; this general View of (o many Beau¬
ties, hath more powerful Charms, and begets in our
Spirit, a more taking and affecting Image and Re-
prefencation, than all that the Senfes and Paffionsare
ever able to prefent to us.
You know it, Sir, better than any Body ; you I
fay, who by your particular Study, and your conti¬
nual Correspondence with the Learned, have ac¬
quired in io fhort a Time, fo many Notions in all the
different kinds of Erudition; and certainly, that con-
ftant Application that you every Day afford, in re¬
ference to the perfection of Arts and Sciences, fuffi-
ciently declares that nothing can more profitably and
pieafantly take up the Time of a Gentleman and
honeft Man.
1 Tbllof tfhical 1 made in China. 517
But what is (fill more fingular, you fandifie all
this Knowledge, by the good Improvement you make
of it. You bring it, I may fo fay, to the Sanftua-
ry; you make u(e of it in the Pulpit of Truth, to
make our Myfteries more intelligible, and not finish¬
ed with the ordinary Philofophy and Eloquence, you
do thereby become a Chriftian Philofopher, and an
Evangelical Orator. I am with all refpeft,
Tour mffi obedient
and mofi bumble Servant,
LJ.
Finis.
ERRATA
P AG. 157. line 32, 3?. read thus, 'and its Offi¬
cers. That call'd Himpou takes ccgnifance of nil
Criminals, That call'd Compou, &c.
A Compleat INDEX to
the whole Work.
A UTHOR fets Sailj. Is fhipwracked, 4, At.
rivet at Nimpo, 12. Carried before tie Ma-
gsfiratebut kindly received, ibid. &c. Was
prefect at a Miracle, 414.
Alphabet confifis of 14000 Letters, 18;.
Audience of Ambajfaders very magnificent, 17 3.
Arithmetick, what ufed, 213,
AJlrology , 314.
Aftronomy, ibid.
Anatomy, how prablifed, 213,
Armies kept up in time Peace, why, 18?.
Adam Schaal Miffionary, 355. Furtoufly perfecuted,%6 1.
Condemned to be cut in pieces, 362. Prodigies happen
which caufe ha Liberty, ibid. Dies, ibid. Mightily
honored after his Death, 364.
Apes with ftrange properties, 501.
B.
B Eauty what Features filedfo, 114.
Blood-letting never afed, a 18.
Bonnets worn in(lead of Hats, 132. To pud them off to
any one an affront , ibid.
Boots always worn, defcribed, 134.
Books, how bound. 188. What mop in vogue, 189. What
tranjlated into Chiuefe by the Miffmants, 384.
Beds, their fafhion, 79. Of a prodigious bignejs, 80.
Bribery feverely punifhed, in a famous Infiance, 244.
INDEX.
Riflsop of Heliopolis fent fo China, 3 70.
Bonzes, a comical Pajjage between two of them and a
Farmer; 327. A notable Cheat put upon a Prince of
the Blued by them , 318. A [range In fiance of Morti¬
fication in one of them, 529; A remarkable Cheat of
theirs difeovered and punifhed , 3 jO,
c. ^
( "Mima, its great Antiquity ,117. General Defcription
J of it, 15. Its Extent, 15, 2o. Submits to the
Tartars Tube, andwby, 19. Governed by Kings 40 00
Years ago, • 18.
Chincfe, value thmfelves but [corn others, 120. Their
Character, ibid. In what they referable us, and where¬
in they differ from sss, 123. Mourn in white, 144. One
of them made a Biflsep, 373. Whence their Ignorance
proceeds, 185. Very skilful in Traffck, 258. Extra¬
ordinary dextrous in Handicrafts , ibid. Excellent
Thieves and Houfe-breakers, 230. How converted to
Chrijlianity, 3 94. By what chiefly kindred, ibid. Ma¬
ny Relations of their Converfion , 375. See.
Confucius, when he lived, 1 18. In his Writings confirms
the Scripture Account of the Anx-Dilumns, i 20.
His Character, 194. Early Wijdam, ibid. Extreme
Poverty 98. Death, 221. Defcription of his Perfon,
ibid. Several of his Maxims, 272, See.
China Ware, how made, 155.
Characters, what ufed, 1 8 1. Have none to exprefs feveral
of cur Letters ,\\s\A.
Gllick firangely cured , 218.
Ccmpajs of Mariners wherein different from ours, 229>
Co rmorants bred up to catch Fifls, and how, 137.
Clocks not ufed ; how that Befell is [applied, 81.
C mals much beyond ours, 102.
Councils of State of two forts deferibed, 257.
Ci vility flriclly ebferved, 270.
Lmcubmes allowed, 284.
Coll, an InTpecior: howemployed by the Emperor, 258.
Courts
INDEX.,
Courts of Judicature their Defcription and Names, 257.
Colaos, what, 257. A Quarrel between one and a Prince
of the Blood, how ended, 289.
Coin, 298.
Chin Emperor, 311.
Chriflianity how propofed to the Heathey, 378,384. E~
fiablifhed by publick EdiB, 433.
Churches of the Chrifiians deferibed, 428.
Comets, obfervations on them, 487.
Crocodiles deferibed , 502.
Camelions,. their Defcription, ibid.
Chien-Marron, a Beafi deferibed. 503.
Coral, obfervations about it, 5 16-
Cheat put on the People at Paris by one who pretended to
be a Chineie Lady, 126. How difcovered, 131.
Courage, a remarkable bifiance of it, 268,
D.
D Egrees of Scholars, 279.
Dragon, Jlrange Conceit about it, 94. Chiliefe a-
fraid of difiurbing one Sail thro a certain Bay filent,
Ii.
Duels not allowed, 240.
Dials, 297.
Divers who (lay under Water half an hour, 310.
Demons which affltBed a Family, driven away, 417,
Frequent in China, 418. Another difpoffefied, ibid.
Doctors always wear long Nails, 135. Remarkable Con-
verfion of one of them, 421.
Dutch, their Character in the Indies, ill.
E.
E Mperor, his Magnificence, 174. His Pomp when he
goes to Sacrifice, 170. His Char after, 40. His Pa¬
lace, 37. Throne, 38. His abfolutenefs (hewnin an otd
Story, 247. His great Ju/lice [hewn, 261. To what
Sett of Religion mofl inclinable, 3 3 6 . Sometimes wor-
(hips in theChriflian Churches, 359. The great Humi-
INDEX.
lay and Mortification of one of them, 31 J. One of
them betrayed, 18. Stabs his Daughter and Hangs
himfelf, ibid.
Emprefs, and her Son the Trince baptifed,
Eclipfes, the extravagant Notion the Chinefe have of
them, 70. An Account of two of the Sun, 477. The
cbfervations of the Mathematicians upon them, 479.
Strange Conceit about them, 480. One of an unufual
Nature, 483. Tbofe of the Moon always ill calculated,
and why, 48}.
Editt by Authority for the publick Exercife of Chrifiia-
nity , 466*
Emoui, a famous Haven defcribed, 85.
Enghjh, the Character the Chinefe have of them, an.
F Eet, fmalnefs of them a great Beauty, 116.
Fountains, none but what belong to the Emperor, 159.
Defcribed, 1 io. ' Ebb and Flow like the Sea, ibid,
Feafiof the Lanthorns, 161.
Fefiivals, 161, Full of Ceremonies, 175.
Fire Works very confiderable defcribed, 163*
French, the Opinion of the Chiqeie concerning them,
an.
Fifhmg, ways not ufed by us,itf.
Fortifications, 73. >
Fruits, 95.
Filh, in. Sometimes petrified, 11 a. Golden and Silver
Fiji the moft beautiful in the World, 113. Others of
ftrange Natures, 507.
Fohi, an Emperor, 310.
Fo, a fort of an Impofior, his firange Allions, ; ac. Now
mrfhipped in China, 32 2 - Reprefented by a live
Friefl,‘y$i.
Faber, a French Mtffmary, bis Character,% 57. Works,
Miracles, ibid.
Gardens,
INDEX.
G Ardens, none in China, 147.
Geometry of the Chinefe, 213.
Gin-Sem, an Herb highly valued, an Account of it, 2 j $.
Geographers, two grofs mi fakes of theirs rectified, 15.
Gaming forbid but privately prattifed even to great ex -
«/},291.
Gerbillon, French Mathematician, his Char abler, j8q.
Grajhoppers frangely generated,So 6 . ‘
n.
H Alit of Urn, 132. Of Women, 124. Of the Mif-
fionaries, 145. The Chinefe never alter the Fa¬
shion of it, engage in a War with the Tartars rather
than do it, 136.
Houfes defcribed, 1 47, Meanly furnijhed, and why, ibid.
Hieroglyphics formerly ufed, 182.
Hamcheu, a City defcribed, 82.
Havens of China, 84.
Htlls how cultivated,^!.
Harvefi twice a Tear, 9J.
Honours often conferred on the deftd, 2J1.
Hi forties very impartial ; a very remarkable way they
take to make them fo, 254.
Hoamti, an Emperor, 310;
I Ntorcetta, an eminent Miffionary perfected, 440.
Jtikiao, a Sell of Religious in China, 333.
Idolatry, its firfi rife in China, 317. Idols fametimes tm-
camsonized and abufed,%ri. A very notable Story to this
1 Uolatr y ani Superfiition of the Sea-men. ,7.
’j^Alendar, 296;
L, Language
INDEX.
i.
T Anguage exceeding difficult, iqy. MegalhoffJ mi¬
ls flake about the eaflnejs of it, ibid. Conjifis only of
% j 3 words, ibid.
Lead flows of great V outer, 229. The quick way of out-
ling them, ibid.
Li, a famous Rebel , 17.
Letters from one to another defcribed, 277.
Lawyers maintained by the Publick, and therefore take no
Fees, 281:
Li-Laokun, head of a Seel of Idolaters, 517; Uisftrange
Birth and Life, ibid.
Lamas, Friefls, 332.
M.
"\flljfmaries fent for to Court, and the joy the Chrifti-
lVA ans expreffed when they faw them, 16. How re¬
ceived by the Emperor, 32. Obtain leave to fettle any
where, 37. Ceremonies at their Audience , 59.
Magiflrates highly honoured, 269.
Mourning, the Ceremonies of it, 266. 1
Moral Principles what chiefly taught Children, 264.
Men, jome thought immortal, 94.
Macao defcribed, 85.
Marriages and their Ceremonies, 293.
Mangoure, a Beafl defcribed,
Mathematicians Jent into China from France, bywhofe
Advice ,2. Mathematical Inflruments ufedi»Ch\aa.,6')l
Mandarins highly honoured when they travel by Water, 28.
permitted to remonftrateto the Emperor bis Faults ,253.
Milky way in the Sky what, 493.
Mercury the Planet ; curious obfervations about him , 4?o.
Mofcovites make a League with China, '380.
Monument of Chriflianity dug out of the Ground by a great
Providence, 343.
Men fires, 301.
Mcdicin of China, 215.
Mufickof China, 213.-
Nankim,
INDEX.
N.
N Ankirn defcribed , 76.
Nimpo, aconfiderablePort defcribed, 8<>.
Nobility not hereditary, 282.
NoftilucaV, 505.
Navigation of the Chinefe defcribed, 230.
O Yfiers the Anatomy of them, 513.
Oufenguey, a Commander, his great Loyalty, 18.
■proclaimed Rebel, 367. Routed, 569,
Olopouen Mijftonary into China in the Tear 636. p. 345,
Onions of a firange property, 100
Oranges of China, 97.
Obfervatory at Pekin, 63;
Outom-Chu, a grange Tree, 158.
P.
P Eruhs mighty ridiculous to the Chinefe, 136.'
Printing, its Antiquity in China, 185. Their way
of doing it, ibid.
Paper, what fortufed, 18 6 .
Pens never ujed, but in/lead of them Pencils , 184
Pbilofophy, an account of it, 113.
Pul[e, a firange accuracy in feeling it among the Chinefe,
.
Pao-China, an Herb, its defcription and virtues, 227.
Provinces of China, their number and name, 15.
Pekin defcribed, 5 4. Its vafi extent, ibid. Number of
Inhabitants, 5 7. Prodigious Gates and thick Watts,q 1 •
Taken by the Rebels, 18.
Ports of China, 84.
Pepper Tree, 100.
Policy, 241.
Parents highly honoured, 265. An in fiance of this in the
behaviour of the prefent Emperor, ibid. Breach of
this Duty feverely punijhed, 267.
Punishments, what inflicted, 285.
Pofi, 303. Portuguefe
INDEX.
Portuguefe endeavour to overthrow the Jefuits Mijfion in
China. 35;. How prevented,MA.
Perfecution againfl the Chrifiians, 3 54 ' Another tnere
violent, ibid.
Perfecutors, feveral of them overtaken ly the Divine Ven¬
geance, 36^.
Petition of the Miffionaries to the Emperor to efiablif
Chriflianity , 454.
Petavius, a mi fake in his Chronology reBifed, 481.
Planets, ohfervations on them, 488.
Pifmires white very trouhlefome, 505.
Pearls their Generation, J12. The manner of Fifing
for them, 508.
R.
R Hinocerots defcribtd, 499-
Revolution in China, 355.
Ricci a Miffmary, bis Character and Aftions, 3 J I.
Religion of China, 309.
Roads, 3di.
Revenue, how much 24 9. And yet hiw eafily gathered
«»?os.
Rebellion in China, 17.
Rewards what beflowed, 284.
Rivers, 106.
OHips of China deferibed, 23b.
O Sigan a City deferibed , 81 .
Silks of China, 138. Where the befl is made , 83.
Soil its Temper, 91.
Scales what fort ufed, 300.
Soldiers how difeiplined, 30 6.
Super flit ton toward the Dead, a remarkable Story of it,
Sanciam, an If and where Xavier ms buried, deferibed,
348.
INDEX.
Sofan, a Prince of the Blood, a mighty Friend to the Chri-
fims,44U Publickly in Court pleads their Caufe, 463.
Satellites of the Planets,cbfervations concerning them,4^4.
Savage-men, Beajls fo called in the fhape of Men, de¬
ferred, 500.
Serpents of firange properties, 504.
Schaal, vid. Adam.
T.
T Rees , 1 f 8.
Tea, an account of its virtues: the wap to ebufe
thebefi, 22o.
St. Thomas preached in the Indies , and probably in ..
China, 34 r *
Tranfmigration of fouls held, 3 if. A pleafant relation
of a Man firangely infatuated with this Opinion,\z6.
Tchouen hio, Emperor, % 14.
Tio, Emperor, 311.
Tchim-Vam, Emperor, JIi. Hit gallant and uncon¬
cerned behaviour at the approach of death, gig.
Towns of China deferibed, 190.
Tartars cruelty, 194. A pleafant relation of an odd ac¬
cident proceeding from thence, ibid.
Tfounto, a particular fort of Vice-Roys, 159.
Tallow Tree, 99.
Triumphal Arches deferibed, 85 ;
Temples of Idols, their defeription, 61. Of gratitude de¬
feribed, 77.
Torrents, the mop rapid, failed over by the Chinefe,
and how, 136.
Typhon, atempefluous for my wind, an account of it, 10.
V Erbieft, a Miffionary, made the Emperors Mathe¬
matician, g 64. His great fervice in quelling a Re¬
bellion, } 58 . Highly honoured by the Emperor, 369.
His remarkable zeal for Martyrdom, 47. His Cha¬
racter, 44. His Letter to the Emperor on his death bed,
4 *-
I N D - E X.
42. Ess death,The Emperors Encomium of him,'
4?.. His Funeral Frocejfwn, 49. Received new Ti¬
tles of honour after his death, 52.
Vifits •paid with many Ceremonies, 272.
Vou-Vam Emperor, *12. A famous inf ance of A if ■
0 ion {ham him by his Brother , ibid.
Vicars Apojlolical fent from Roms, 3 74.
Verwjh where it grows, and how ufed, 149.
W.
W ives of the Emperor, Co. ■
Women in China mighty religious, 388. Never
exercifs ar.y Trade, 287. -
Wall of China.
Weights ujed, 300.
X.<
X Avisr undertakes his Mijfion, 347. Miraculoufly
preferved from corruption when dead, 348. His
Tomb how difeoveredf ibid.
Y.
Y AO, an Emperor , 311.
Yam-Quam-Sien, a violent Ferfecutor, how he
efcaped the hands of Jujtice, 2Sd.
Youth how Educated, 279.
;Zj.
Z Eal, a remarkable inf ance of it in 0Chinefe,4of>
Another very famous one in a Fhyjician, 441.
FINIS.