of man to conceive. For some years the whole country, and especially the valley of the Yangtse, was deluged with this abominable literature. It was to be met with everywhere, and everywhere it was poisoning the minds of the people against the missionary and his work. The Hunan books and tracts were given away gratuitously by the million. If any one wants to have an idea of how well the Hunanese succeeded in their satanic purpose, if any one wants to have an idea of the power of that vile Press, let him think of the outrages perpetrated in China some twelve or fifteen years ago. Let him think of the riots in the Yangtse Valley in 1891, the Sung-pu massacre in 1893, the Ku-Cheng tragedy and the Sze-Chwan uprisings in 1895, not to mention other disturbances of more or less severity. The Hunan viper-Press was responsible in a great measure for every one of these deeds of violence. That Press has been dead for some time, and I only refer to it now in order to show what a mighty power the Press in China may wield and sometimes does wield.

With the awaking of China the native Press has taken a new start and is making wonderful strides. We are told that altogether apart from Christian literature issued through missionary agencies, the Chinese publishing houses of Shanghai are flooding the country with modern books on all conceivable subjects-books of geography, government, law, political economy, mathematics, literature, philosophy, also educational text-books, histories, novels, etc. There are no fewer than 1,100 works dealing with subjects wholly foreign to Confucianism or the teachings of China's ancient philosophers. Whereas a few years ago there were only seven newspapers in

China, there are now 157 daily, weekly and monthly journals discussing public questions and advocating reform. Most heartily do we sympathise with all this new life and wonderful activity. The Chinese have had a long sleep, but are waking up and finding themselves hungry. It is for the Christian Press to take advantage of this hunger and do what it can to supply China with the sound, wholesome and all-round satisfying food which China so greatly needs. So far as religious literature is concerned, the Christian Press must look after that. The providing of that must be left to the Bible Societies, the Christian Literature Society, and the Tract Societies. These are now doing a splendid work, but if they are to meet the wants of the times they must put on new strength and redouble their efforts. This is the day of boundless opportunity in China. There never has been in China such a thirst for Christian literature as there is to-day, and there never has been a day when our very best literature was so much needed or when it could have wielded so powerful an influence.

The only way we as missionaries can deal with opposition of every kind is to pour in the light, and we must do so in every possible way. We must live it down, we must preach it down, and we must write it down. We must pour in the light in the shape of the literature that shall breathe the spirit of purity, of love, and of universal brotherhood. We must keep pouring it in in spite of all opposition, hatred and malice. The light is greater than the darkness, the truth of Heaven is mightier than the falsehood of hell, and God is infinitely stronger than the devil. The day is coming, and it is not far off, when China will turn to the light. In the meantime it is for

us to be pouring it in everywhere and in every possible

way.

Let no one be discouraged with regard to China. Jesus Christ is taking possession of that Empire. The Captain of our salvation is there conquering and to conquer. Don't suppose that I am closing my eyes to the difficulties. I am quite willing to admit that very little has been done as compared with what remains to be done, but "my faith is large in time and that which shapes it to some perfect end." The obstacles are many, but they shall be overcome. What are obstacles to God? To man these days they are mere incentives. See how man triumphs over obstacles. See how he compels Nature to yield up her treasures and reveal her secrets. See how he pierces the mountains and girdles the earth with his iron roads. See the speed with which he ploughs the watery wave, and the ease with which he tames the lightning to carry his messages. Man in these days defies obstacles, matures his plans and completes his work. Shall God be less than man? Shall man succeed and God fail? Impossible! God said in the beginning, "Let there be light, and there was light." Do we not hear the same voice in these days speak the same almighty fiat with regard to the dark places of the earth? In Polynesia, in Africa, in Madagascar, in India, in China, in Japan, in Korea, and in almost every land under the sun God is now saying, "Let there be light." Shall He speak in vain? Impossible! The light has already been kindled, and, having been kindled, it must spread till all is luminous. The sun of righteousness is rising on every land. The mountain tops are beginning to catch his gladsome beams and rejoice in a new day.

Ere long He will descend into every valley, enter every ravine, chase away all the darkness and the shadows, and fill the whole world with life, light, and joy.

"God works in all things; all obey

His first propulsion from the night;

Wake thou and watch! The world is gray
In morning light.”

VIII

THE BIBLE IN CHINA

"Every scripture inspired of God is also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction, which is in righteousness: that the man of God may be complete, furnished completely unto every good work."-II. TIMOTHY III., 16, 17.

I WISH to speak on Bible work in China. And, first, I should like to say a few words on Bible translation.

It is just possible that the Christian Church in China is indebted to the Nestorians for her first translation of the Bible. The Nestorian tablet, erected 781 A.D., and discovered at the city of Si-ngan, in the province of Shen-Si, in the year 1625, having been buried in the ground for nearly eight centuries, states that the most virtuous Olopim came from Syria in the year 635, bringing with him the Sacred Scriptures, and that they were translated by him in the Imperial Library. It also states that the Emperor Tai Tsung became deeply impressed with the rectitude and truth of the Christian religion, and that he gave special orders for its dissemination. This translation, whether in the whole or in part, has long since perished. Not a fragment of it remains, and no reference to it has been found in Chinese books. The Nestorians arrived in China early in the sixth century. They seem to have made great progress at

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