to subdue irregular inclinations, and to be
guided in all things by reason; that God is the original and ultimate
end of all things, which he produced and preserves, himself eternal,
infinite, and immutable; one, supremely holy, supremely intelligent, and
invisible. He often mentioned the expectation of a Messias to come, a
perfect guide and teacher of virtue; calling him the holy man, and the
holy person, who is expected to come on earth. It is a tradition in
China, that he was often heard to say, "That in the West the Holy One
will appear." This he delivered from the patriarchal tradition; but he
not only mentions heavenly spirits, the ministers of God, but he also
ordains the worship of these spirits by religious rites and sacrifices,
and concurs with the idolatry which was established in his time. St.
Francis Xavier had made the conversion of China the object of his
zealous wishes; but died, like another Moses, in sight of it. His
religious brethren long attempted in vain to gain admittance into that
country; but the jealousy of the inhabitants refused entrance to all
strangers. However, God was pleased, at the repeated prayers of his
servants, to crown them with success. The Portuguese made a settlement
at Macao. an island within sight of China, and obtained leave to go
thither {363} twice a year for to trade at the fairs of Canton. F.
Matthew Ricci, a Roman Jesuit, a good mathematician, and a disciple of
Clavius, being settled a missionary at Macao, went over with them
several times into China, and in 1593, obtained leave of the governor to
reside there with two other Jesuits. A little catechism which he
published, and a map of the world, in which he placed the first meridian
in China, to make it the middle of the world, according to the Chinese
notion, gained him many friends and admirers. In 1595, he established a
second residence of Jesuits, at Nanquin; and made himself admired them
by teaching the true figure of the earth, the cause of lunar eclipses,
&c. He also built an observatory, and converted many to the faith. In
1600, he went to Pekin, and carried with him a clock, a watch, and many
other presents to the emperor, who granted him a residence in that
capital. He converted many, and among these several officers of the
court, one of whom was Paul Siu, afterwards prime minister, under whose
protection a flourishing Church was established in his country, Xankai,
(in the province of Nanquin,) in which were for