Page:China- Its State and Prospects.djvu/567

Rh in the one; and free intercourse, accompanied by British protection, encourages us to persevere in the other; but the command of Christ, and the woes of the perishing heathen, render the call of duty as imperative, "where prosperity does not gladden, nor security defend, as where both these are withheld, and the labourer is required to toil in the very fires, without witnessing the full result of his endeavours. While China, therefore, enjoys only one-fifth of the interest, which either India or Polynesia receives, no one will say that her three hundred and sixty millions have obtained more than their due share of attention.

We hope, however, to see the dawn of a better day for the Chinese empire, and that the society which has sent out a Morrison and a Milne, will not allow their labours to be lost, and their successors to be discouraged for want of needful assistance. The London Missionary Society having purchased an interest in China, at the expense of some most valuable lives and many thousand pounds; having been the first of all Protestant institutions to enter the field: having gained much experience, and possessed itself of very important facilities for the vigorous prosecution of the work; will not, now that success begins to crown its efforts, and increasing openings invite it to proceed, draw back or be slothful in this interesting undertaking.

But should it be asked what is still needed to make an impression upon China, that shall tell upon thousands and extend to future generations? we answer, in a word, men. God works by instruments, and generally apportions the end to the amount of means employed. What effect, then, can we hope to produce on so vast an empire by the employment of half a dozen