196 ROMAN CATHOLIC MISSIONARIES. [Cuar. X. 
sent out into the world by their Divine Master to 
“preach the gospel to every creature,” and “ to 
obey God rather than man.” 
According to the accounts of these missionaries, 
the number of converts to their faith is very con- 
siderable; but I fear they, as well as the Pro- 
testants, are often led away by false appearances 
and assertions. Many of the Chinese are un- 
principled and deceitful enough to become Chris- 
tians or in fact any thing else, in name, to accom- 
plish the object they may have in view, and they 
would become Budhists the very next day should 
any inducement be offered them to do so. Judg- 
ing from appearances, the day must yet be very 
distant when the Chinese, as a nation, will be con- 
verted to the Christian faith. Could those indi- 
viduals in our time, who predict the near approach 
of the Millennium, see the length and breadth of 
this vast country, with its three hundred millions 
of souls, they would surely pause and reflect before 
they published their absurd and foolish predictions. 
