:g6 CHINA. 



minkans and Francifcans wo\\\<\ have landed In Chi net with the 

 fame pious intention, could they have obtained leave. The 

 honor of preaching the gofpel with any fuccefs in this great 

 empire, was referved for the rifing order of the Jefuits. 



ValigJion, fiiperior general of the order of the million of India^ 

 refident at Macao, burning with zeal for the great defign, fele^ted 

 three of his fociety for the purpofe, Roger of Naples, Pajio of 

 Father Ricci. Bologjia, and Ricci oi Macerata. The laft was a man of fiiperior 

 abilities, w^ho with his two brethren had rendered therafelves 

 mafters of the Cbinefe language at Goa-, before they began their 

 miffion. They entered on it in the year 1583. After feveral un- 

 favorable eflays, Ricci found his way to the court j he had aH 

 the art and infmuation of his order ; a noble air, great fweetnefs 

 of temper, and an extenlive knowlege of the fciences, par- 

 ticularly of the mathematics. He came alfo provided with pre- 

 fents ; he gave the emperor a clock, a pi6ture of our Saviour^ 

 and another of the Virgin, each of which, fay the Jefuits, had a 

 moft honorable place. PaJio and Roger had been recalled, and 

 the whole power was vefted in Ricci \ under whom crowds of 

 fubordinate Jefuits preached the gofpel with the utmoft fuccefs. 

 They feemed to have a toleration, or at lead a connivance. They 

 reconciled the doctrine of their great mafter, and the rite-s of the 

 Chriftian religion, with the ceremonies of that of Cbind, Ricci 

 permitted his prolelytes to aflift at the annual cominemoration 

 of the followers of Confucius, and to intermingle the rites of 

 both churches, fo as to gain converts innumerable. He baptized 

 ieveral Mandarines and perfons of rank ; among others two rich 



widows, 



