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of this Mission on the prospects of Christianity in the East- endeavouring to estimate at their just value the existing indications of a progressive movement in the native mind- examining in the mirror of God's Word the present leadings of providence and tokens for good-and, above all, assured of the final subjugation of error, and triumph of Christian truth, I think we must feel that Missionary efforts for the conversion of the Chinese ought to be taken in hand in a spirit of faith, in some degree commensurate with the glorious object in view, and on a magnitude of scale worthy the Church to which we belong.
To concentrate and consolidate our Missionary work on some definite field, which can be strongly occupied, is obviously a preferable course to that of scattering our divided and weakened forces over an extended line of coast, among a diversity of dialects and Native character. To avoid one error, however, it is not necessary to run into the opposite extreme of narrowing our sphere of exertion, so as to limit all our attention to one spot.
If we wish to select one of the newly opened ports of China, and make it the solitary advanced picquet, in invading these vast regions of error, the mind is perplexed between Shanghai and Ningpo. Shanghai promises fair to become the grand commercial emporium of the North, and as a nucleus of foreign intercourse, and in a mercantile point of view already inferior to Canton alone, it offers the advantages of a direct and frequent communication by sailing vessels with Europe without touching at Hong Kong. Ningpo as a quiet Missionary Station, exempt from the usual deteriorating influence of a foreign mercantile com- munity, presents facilities of a different kind. Ningpo approves itself, to most persons, as the more desirable Station, considered solely in reference to Missionary work; but seems to be too retired a spot to be the solitary seat of a Mission. Time, experience, and the course of events will alone show the real superiority of each, separately considered. But if both are occupied, and each place is thus made to blend its peculiar advantages, they present one of the most magnificent fields of Missionary enterprise that the Christian Church could conceive or desire.
On the one hand-
1. SHANGHAI is the port of Loo-chow-foo, from which it is distant about fifty miles-the metropolis of classic literature, of taste, and of fashion-the Oxford of China-a centre of influence, whence the rays of native philosophy are dispersed over the millions of educated Chinese.
2. Looking beyond the events of the present time, and contemplating the probable extension of foreign intercourse with the interior, we regard Shanghai also as the key to Nanking, the old capital of the empire, and distant only
about 150 miles.
3. Again, it commands the entrance of the Yang-tsze-kiang, forming, by its junction with the Grand Canal, the vast central artery of wealth and commerce, which supplies warmth and life to the most distant extremities of the empire.
4. Occupying a central position, midway on a line of coast, running nearly 2000 miles from north to south, of all the free ports it approaches nearest to the present capital Peking. It lies within fifty miles of the 32nd degree of north latitude, beyond which British vessels are prohibited, by treaty, from sailing, within a distance of 150 miles from
the coast.
5. If the presence of foreign influence be deemed a valuable adjunct to its other advantages, Shanghai, as before inti- mated, already possesses an extent of commerce exceeding the united amount of all the other free ports, exclusive of Canton; and as such must become an important rendezvous The importance of for Native merchants from the interior. this position for disseminating the Gospel through the interior, by means of a Native agency hereafter, can scarcely be overrated.
6. Lastly, if we take a large view, and extend the eye of faith over the boundless expanse unexplored and unoccu- pied by Missionary labourers, we behold in either of these two Stations the bright spot from which the light of truth might penetrate the darkness brooding over Japan, the Loo Choo Islands, and the surrounding Archipelago. To the south- east lie the interesting group of the Loo Choo Islands, almost demonstrated to be open to Missionary efforts, and within To the north-east we two days' sail in either monsoon.
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