Providential Facilities

It may not be unadvisable to point out a few facts tending to shew the facilities for more extensive evangelization in China.

In the first place, the physical conformation of China Proper is most interesting. To the west of the 112th degree of longitude the country is mountainous, and therefore less densely populated than the more easily accessible regions on the east of that line. If we equally divide the eighteen provinces at 110° E. longitude, we shall, roughly speaking, have

From 100° to 110° E. longitude, six provinces 44 millions = Ys From 1 10° to 120° ,, twelve ,, 183 ,, = Vs

As we have such free access to the whole sea-border of China, this fact is of the deepest importance.

But further, the eastern half of China may be subdivided at 30° N. latitude into the more hilly region on the south, and the region containing greatest plains to the north, of that degree. Here, again, we find the healthier plains of the north to be far more populous than the less accessible regions of the south — regions in which the difficulty of the language is much greater.

Facilities and Encouragements. 45

and the prejudice against Europeans much stronger than in the north.

Speaking generally, we may say that, subdividing the eastern half of Chma

Proper, —

From 20° to 30° N. latitude contains... 70^ millions

How interesting to the Christian philanthropist to find that about one-half of the population of China Proper is located in one-quarter of its territory; in that quarter, too, where access to the interior, acquisition of the spoken languages, and intercourse with the people, are beset with comparatively few difficulties.,

The rivers of China give easy access to the great plains, and form, with their tributary streams, high roads into, or lead near to every province of the empire. Where water conveyance fails, wheel-barrows or carts, sedan chairs or mule litters, camels, horses, mules, or donkeys are to be hired for overland transit at fairly moderate rates. Inns are found on all high roads, and money can be easily and safely remitted to nearly every part of the empire. In the second place, we should notice that we have now by treaty the right of access to every part of the empire; and that, in point of fact, there are very few places in the eighteen provinces, or in the Northern Dependencies to which access is denied us. We have not obtained settlements in all parts of the land, but in a few cities only is an itinerant visit impracticable. On this point a reference to the maps shewing the itinerations of the members of the C.I.M. is conclusive.

In the third place, we must not overlook the effect of the recent rebellions, famines, &c., in shaking the confidence of many of the people in their gods of wood and stone, and in preparing them to feel their need of something better, on which they may really rest. These providences seemed dark and mysterious; but the Lord was at work. The rough plough of war, famine, and pestilence, was breaking up the soil and opening it; and many a homestead, many a nest did it tear to pieces in its onward progress. Houses were burnt down, crops were - pillaged, property was destroyed. Too often was ’ the husband left a widower, or the wife a widow; parents were left childless, children were bereft of their parents. And now shall we be idle, and allow our opportunity to be lost? Missionaries tell us of such willingness to hear the gospel as never was found before. There are, indeed, opened hearts just needing the balm of Gilead and the Good Physician. Shall we not send to them the precious invitation,” Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest?”

Lastly. The nature of the languages of China affords both facilities and

46 Written and Spoken Languages.

encouragement for missionary effort. The Mandarin dialect prevails with more or less purity over the districts occupied by fully three-fourths of the people. By the translations of the Word of God, and of numerous tracts and books into the written language (which is current throughout the whole of the country), and into the Mandarin (which is easily read except in Fuh-kien and KwANG-TUNG and perhaps a small part of Kwang-si), a way has been prepared for usefulness among the literary classes of every part of the ‘Chinese empire. And dictionaries, vocabularies, and grammars, already exist, and prepare the way for the further study of this written language.

But still more important is the fact, that the spoken languages in many parts of China stre so easy of acquisition that now missionaries of moderate ability may begin to use the vernacular of almost any part of China after a few months’ study. Hence, while there is ample room for those whom God has endowed with special philological talent, there is no reason why men “full of faith and of the Holy Ghost,” who have enjoyed but few educational advantages, should not be engaged in the blessed work of carrying the gospel into the regions hitherto unevangelized. The masses of the people are unable to read or write; consequently, persons possessing only a limited education are competent to act as their teachers. By means of an adaptation of our Roman alphabet, the various spoken languages of China may be reduced to writing, and uneducated Chinese may be taught to read in their own mother tongue (which the written style is no{) in a few months. High-style composition in the unspoken written character is, even to the learned, unintelligible when read aloud: it is addressed to the eye, not to the ear. To acquire the power of using it requires, even in the case of a Chinese, several years of incessant study: hence the small proportion of the population that is able to read. Their own vernacular, all, of course, speak; and by means of an alphabetized system, the unlearned may be taught to read it in a few months. In the writer’s experience in Ningpo, about three months have usually sufficed for those who were engaged in daily labour, but who regularly attended an evening class. Boys in school, able to give up more time to it, often read nicely in about a month. He has known an intelligent woman learn to read in eight or ten days sufficiently well to spell her way through any part of the New Testament. She was soon removed by friends hostile to the gospel to a distance; and her Testament and Hymn-book,* which she had during a short

* We give two verses of the hymn, “There is a fountain filled with blood,” from this hymn-book. I. Z yiu ih dzi tsi-mun-leh hyiiih, 2. Ting jih-z-ko kw’a si dao-zeh,

Liu-c’ih dzong Yiae-su sing; K’en-kyin keh dzi hwun-hyi;

Vsen-nying lae keh-go dzi hao gyiang. Ngo ze se-tsih ziang gyi ka djong,

Ze-ky’in tsih-le ken-zing. Yia k’o-yi gyiang-leh-kyi.

Summary View of China and its Needs. 47

visit to the missionary’s house learned to read, were through years of persecution her only comfort and help, May God hasten the time when native Christians of every part of China shall, by means of some system, like that used in Ningpo, be able to read “in their own tongue wherein they were born,” that Word of God which is “profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may he perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”

We have now presented a brief and cursory view of the state and claigis of China. To have entered into them at all in detail would have required for each province more time and space than we have devoted to the consideration of the whole empire. We have shewn how God has blest the efforts which have been put forth; and have endeavoured to lay before you the facilities which at present exist for the more extensive evangelization of this country. We have sought to press the great command of our risen Saviour, “Go ye, into all the world, and preach the gospel to every CREATURE:” and would point out that in the parable of our Lord, contained in Matt, xxv., it was not a stranger, but a servant; not an immoral, but an unprofitable one, who was to be cast into outer darkness, where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. “If ye love me,” said our Master, “keep my commandments;” and one of these was, “Freely ye have received, freely give.” We have shewn that in seven provinces of China Proper, after allowing far more than they can possibly accomplish to the Protestant missionaries and their native assistants, there still remains an overwhelming, multitude altogether beyond the sound of the gospel. We have further shewn that there are eleven other provinces in China Proper still more needy, — eleven provinces, the very smallest of which exceeds Burmah in population, and which average each the population of both Scotland and Ireland combined! And what shall we say of the vast regions of Tartary and Thibet, — more extensive than the whole continent of Europe, all without any Protestant missionary save the four in New-chwang? The claims of an empire like this should surely be not only admitted, but realised! Shall not the eternal interests of one-fifth of our race stir up the deepest sympathies of our nature, the most strenuous efforts of our blood-bought powers? Shall not the low wail of helpless, hopeless misery, arising from one-half of the heathen world, pierce our sluggish ear, and rouse us, spirit, soul, and body, to one mighty, continued, unconquerable effort for China’s salvation? that, strong in God’s strength, and in the power of His might, we may snatch the prey from the hand of the mighty, may pluck these brands from the

48” Come over into Macedonia and help us.^’

everlasting burnings, and rescue these captives from the thraldom of sin and Satan, to grace the triumphs of our sovereign King, and to shine for ever as stars in His diadem!

We cannot but believe that the contemplation of these solemn facts has awakened in many the heartfelt prayer, “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do, that Thy name may be hallowed. Thy kingdom come, and Thy will be done in China? “It is the prayerful consideration of these facts, and the deepening realisation of China’s awful destitution of all that can make man truly happy, that constrains the writer to lay its claims as a heavy burden upon the hearts of those who have experienced the power of the blood of Christ; and to seek, first from the Lord, and then from His people, the men and the means to carry the gospel into every part of this benighted land. We have to do with Him who is the Lord of all power and might, whose arm is not shortened, whose ear is not heavy; with Him whose unchanging word directs us to ask and receive, that our joy may be full; to open our mouths wide, that He may fill them. And we do well to remember that this gracious God, who has condescended to place His almighty power at the command of believing prayer, looks not lightly upon the blood-guiltiness of those who neglect to avail themselves of it for the benefit of the perishing; for He it is who has said,” If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain; if thou sayest. Behold, we knew it not; doth not He that pondereth the heart consider it? and He that keepeth thy soul, doth not He know it? and shall not He render to every man according to his works

?

Through midnight gloom from Macedoii, Or men unto themselves are sold,.

The cry of myriads as of one; And cannot list the alien: cry,

The voiceful silence of despair “O hear and help us, lest we die!” Is eloquent in awful prayer:

The soul’s exceeding bitter cry,

“Come o’er and help us, or we die.”

Yet with that cry from Macedon

The very car of Christ rolls on:

“I come; who would abide My day,

How mournfully it echoes on, In yonder wilds prepare My way;

For half the earth is Macedon; My voice is crying in their cry.

These brethren to their brethren call. Help ye the dying, lest ye die.”

And by the Love which loves them all, r aj u o

•’ JESU, for men of Man the Son,

And by the whole world’s Life they cry, ea, Thine the cry from Macedon;

“O ye that live, behold we die!” ^.^^^^^ p

By other sounds the world is won And glory of Thine advent hour,

Than that which wails from Macedon; Wake heart and will to hear their cry;

The roar of gain is round it rolled, Help us to help them, lest we die. — (Anon.)

‘’ GOD is Faithful r 49

Such considerations as the foregoing caused the writer in 1865, so to feel the overwhelming necessity for an increase in the number of labourers in China, that, as stated in the first edition of this appeal, he did not hesitate to ask the great Lord of the harvest to call forth, to thrust forth, twenty-four European, and twenty-four native evangelists, to plant the standard of the cross in all the unevangelized districts of China Proper and of Chinese Tartary.

The same considerations lead us to-day to cry to God for many more. Those who have never been called to prove the faithfulness of the covenant-keeping God, in supplying, in answer to prayer, the pecuniary need of His servants, might deem it a hazardous experiment to send evangelists to a distant heathen land, with “only God to look to.” But in one whose privilege it has been for many years past to prove the faithfulness of God, in various circumstances — at home and abroad, by land and by sea, in sickness and in health, in necessities, in dangers, and at the gates of death, — such apprehensions would be wholly Inexcusable. The writer has seen God, in answer to prayer, quell the raging of the storm, alter the direction of the wind, and give rain In the midst of prolonged drought. He has seen Him, in answer to prayer, stay the angry passions and murderous intentions of violent men, and bring the machinations of His people’s foes to nought. He has seen Him, in answer to prayer, raise the dying from the bed of death, when human aid was vain; has seen Him preserve from the pestilence that walketh in darkness, and from the destruction that wasteth at noonday. For more than twenty-seven years he has proved the faithfulness of God in supplying the pecuniary means for his own temporal wants, and for the need of the work he has been engaged in. He has seen God, in answer to prayer, raising up labourers not a few for this vast mission -field; supplying the means requisite for their outfit, passage, and support; and vouchsafing blessing on the efforts of many of them, both among the native Christians and the heathen Chinese in fourteen out of the eighteen provinces referred to.

For the glory of God and the refreshment of His people, he would mention more particularly some of the answers to prayer which encouraged him to form the China Inland Mission nineteen years ago.

About the latter part of 1857, the dispute between the British and Chinese authorities about the notorious lorcha Arrow, ended in the bombardment of Canton. This act greatly intensified the long-cherished hatred of the Cantonese towards the foreign residents in China. In Ningpo they plotted the destruction of all the foreigners; and knowing that many of them met for worship on Sunday evenings at the house of one of the missionaries, 50 An Immediate Answer.

when they were always unarmed, they determined to surround the house on one of these occasions, and destroy all those assembled, — cutting off afterwards any individuals who might not have been present. They obtained the sanction of the Taotai, the chief civil magistrate of the place, to this plot; which might have been carried out — as was a similar one against the Portuguese a few months afterwards; — but a native, who was acquainted with the design, had a friend in the service of one of the missionaries; he warned this friend of the coming danger, and urged his leaving foreign employ. The servant made the matter known to his master, and thus the missionaries were apprised of their danger. They determined to meet together at the house of one of their number to seek the protection of the Most High, and to hide under the shadow of His wings. Nor did they thus meet in vain.

At the very time that they were praying, the Lord was working. He led an inferior mandarin, — the superintendent of customs, — to call on the Tao-tai and remonstrate with him on the folly of permitting such an attempt”; which, he assured him, would rouse the foreigners in other parts to come with armed forces to avenge the death of their countrymen, and raze the city to the ground. The Tao-tai replied, that when the foreigners came for that purpose, he should deny all knowledge of, or complicity in, the plot; and so turn their vengeance against the Cantonese, who would, in their turn, be destroyed; “and thus,” said he, “we shall get rid of Cantonese and foreigners by one stroke of policy.” The superintendent of customs assured him that all such attempts at evasion would be useless; and, finally, the Tao-tai sent to the Cantonese, withdrawing his permission, and prohibiting the attack. This took place at the very time when we were asking protection of the Lord; though we did not become acquainted with the facts until some weeks had elapsed. Thus we proved that

“Sufficient was His arm alone,
And our defence was sure.”

And not only have we in this, and in many other circumstances of external

danger, found Him “a very present help in trouble;” we have likewise

experienced His faithfulness in supplying our temporal wants, in answer

to prayer. A few instances may be referred to. In the latter part of the year

1857, having been nursing a missionary brother who died of small-pox,*

it was necessary to lay aside the clothing which had been worn in attendance

on him, for fear of conveying the contagion to others. Being at this time

in possession of less money than was requisite to procure what was needed,

prayer was the only resource. The Lord answered it by the unexpected

arrival of a box of clothing left some months before in Swatow, in the south

of China.

* 1~be Rev. J. W. Quarterman, of the American Presbyterian Mission North-Give 11 s this, THIS DAY our daily Bread’

About two months later, under

following was penned: —

“Many think I am very poor. This certainly
is true enough in one sense; but, thank God,
it is ’ poor and making many rich; having
nothing, yet possessing all things.’ And ’ my
God will supply all my need:’ to Him be all the
glory. I would not be otherwise than as I am,
dependent myself on the Lord, and used as a
means of helping others. The mail arrived on
the 4th, Saturday. That morning, as usual, we
supplied a breakfast to the destitute who came
for it. There were seventy in number; sometimes they do not reach forty, at others they
exceed eighty. They come every day, Lord’s
day excepted; as then we cannot get through
our other duties, and attend to them too.
Well; we paid all expenses, and provided for
ourselves for the morrow; after which we (Mr.
Jones and myself) had not a dollar left. We
knew not how the Lord would provide for Monday; but over our mantel-piece are two rolls
in the Chinese character, ‘Ebenezer ’ (Hitherto
hath the Lord helped us), and ‘Jehovah Jireh ’
(The Lord will provide); and He gave us not
to doubt for a moment. The mail came in a
week sooner than was expected, and Mr. Jones
received a bill for 214 dols. We thanked God

date of November 18th, 1857, the

and took courage, went to a merchant’s, and
though there is usually some days’ delay ere we
get the money, this time he said, ‘Send down
on Monday.’ We sent, and though he had
not been able to buy all the dollars, he sent
seventy on account, so all was well.
Oh! it is sweet thus to live directly dependent
on the Lord, who never fails us. On Monday
the poor had their breakfast as usual, for we
had not told them not to come, being assured
that it was the Lord’s work, and ‘Jehovah
Jireh.’ We could not help our eyes filling with
tears of gratitude, when we saw not only ourselves supplied, but the widows and orphans,
the blind and the lame, the friendless and the
destitute, together provided for, by the bounty
of Him who feeds the ravens. ‘O magnify
the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name
together.” O taste and see that the Lord is
good; blessed is the man that trusteth vnHim.
O fear the Lord, ye His saints; for there is no
want to them that fear Him. The young lions
do lack and suffer hunger; but they that seek
the Lord shall not lack any good thing.’’ (And
if not good, why want anything?) ‘None of
them that trust in Him shall be desolate.’”

When the pecuniary supplies mentioned in the above extract were exhausted, and only one solitary cash (the twentieth part of a penny) now remained in the possession of the writer and his colleague, Mr. Jones, God again manifested His providential care. There remained on the 6th of January, 1858, sufficient food in the house to furnish a scanty breakfast. That partaken of, having neither food for the rest of the day, nor money to purchase it, we could only cry, “Give us this day our daily bread.”

After prayer and deliberation, we thought that perhaps we ought to attempt to dispose of something we possessed, in order to supply our immediate need. But on looking round we saw nothing that we could well spare, and little that the Chinese would purchase for ready money. Credit to any extent we might have had, could we have conscientiously availed ourselves of it; but this we felt to be unscriptural in itself, as well as inconsistent with the position we were in, — namely, that of serving God, and subsisting on what He Himself had given us, or might from time to time supply. We had indeed one article which we knew the Chinese would readily purchase, — an iron stove;

52 Restoration from Sickness.

but we could not but regret the necessity for parting with it. We set out, however, to the founder’s, and after a walk of some length came to the river, which we had intended to cross by a floating bridge of boats; but here the Lord shut up our path. The bridge of boats had been carried away during the preceding night, and the river could only be crossed by a ferry, the fare of which was two cash each person. As we only possessed one between us, our course clearly was to return and await God’s own interposition on our behalf.

When we reached home, we found that Mrs. Jones had gone with her children to dine with a friend, in accordance with an invitation accepted some days previously. Mr. Jones, though himself included in the invitation, refused now to go and leave me to fast alone. We carefully searched our cupboards, and though there was nothing to eat, we found a small packet of cocoa. This,, with a little hot water, somewhat revived us; and again we cried to the Lord, and “the Lord heard, and saved us out of all our troubles.” While still on our knees, a letter arrived containing a remittance from England. And this timely supply not only met the im-mediate and urgent need of the day: in the assured confidence that that God, whose we were and whom we served, would not put to shame those whose whole and only trust was in Himself, the writer’s marriage had been previously arranged to take place just fourteen days after this date; and this expectation was not disappointed; for the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed, but His kindness shall not depart from His people, neither shall His covenant fail. And though during subsequent years our faith has often been exercised, and sometimes severely. He has ever proved faithful to His promise, and has not suffered us to lack any good thing.

A somewhat different though not less manifest answer to prayer was vouchsafed early in the year 1859. The dear wife of the writer was brought very low by illness, and all hope of recovery was gone. Every remedy tried had proved unavailing, and her physician, Dr. William Parker, had nothing more to suggest. Life seemed fast ebbing away. The only ground of hope was that God might yet see fit to raise her up in answer to believing but submissive prayer. The afternoon for the usual prayer-meeting among the missionaries had arrived, and the writer sent a request for prayer, which was most warmly responded to. Just at this time, a remedy which had not been tried was suggested to the mind of the writer, and he felt that without delay he must hasten to consult with Dr. Parker as to the propriety of using it. It was a moment of anguish. The hollow temples, sunken eyes, and pinched features, denoted the near approach of death; and it seemed very questionable whether life would hold out till this could be done. It

Hospital Funds. 53

was nearly two miles to Dr. Parker’s house, and every moment appeared long. On his way thither, while wrestling mightily with God in prayer, the precious words, “Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me,” were brought with power to his soul. He was enabled to plead them in faith, and the result was deep, deep, unspeakable peace and joy. All consciousness of distance was gone. Dr. Parker approved of the use of the remedy suggested; but when the writer arrived at home, he saw at a glance that the desired change had already taken place, in the absence d this or any other remedy. The pinched aspect of the countenance had given place to the calm appearance of tranquil slumber, and not one unfavourable symptom recurred to retard recovery to health and strength.