Narrative of the Mission to China of the English Presbyterian Church. with Remarks on the Social Life and Religious Ideas of the Chinese, by J. Macgow

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1866. Excerpt: ... pations or pursuits of the people. With everything on a grand scale around them--lofty mountains and great rivers--the employments of the people seem to be concerned with littles. Now this is not the case because the Chinese mind is incapable of grasping that which is great, or of engaging in any of those great enterprises which are found in civilized countries. In the southern provinces the men are distinguished by no ordinary amount of energy and force of character. Some of these, that have been enlightened by the truths of the Gospel, have proved themselves as capable of appreciating the blessings of civilisation, and as ready in advocating progress, as men in Western lands. There are all the elements of strength in the Chinese character, and when the paralysing influence of idolatry has been shaken off, and the sleep of ages broken, China, under the influence of Divine truth, will take as high a position among the nations of the earth, as did her sages and teachers of olden times among the most celebrated moralists of that time. A rapid sketch of the social condition of the Chinese, together with a brief outline of the leading religious ideas which exercise an influence on the spiritual life of the nation, will show, not merely the peculiarities and idiosyncracies of the Chinese character, but also the special difficulties with which the missionary will have to contend in his work of preaching the Gospel. SOCIAL LIFE. The Chinese nation presents many features, not only of great dissimilarity from those which characterise other peoples, but also of great interest if considered merely as indices of national and social life. It is a singular fact, that whilst in their institutions and government they are essentially one people, and whilst the literature ...