INTRODUCTORY DECLARATION. xiij

...of men: Finally, in a spirit of competition, the leading men, governors of cities and provinces, and even the Colai original: Colai. These were the Grand Secretaries or highest-ranking imperial officials, second only to the Emperor in the Ming and Qing dynasties., whose dignity and authority is foremost after the Imperial rank, honored our books with their own Prefaces. They did so with truly wonderful praise, honoring both our men and, indeed, the divine law (which was our one true wish).

Therefore, since the ancient world never granted as much faith or authority to any of the philosophers among the Europeans—nor even, I believe, to the Oracle of Delphic Apollo itself—as China grants to its Confucius; and furthermore, since this philosopher is so far from opposing the doctrine and light of the Gospel that, on the contrary, we may not without reason expect there to be those who say he rather favors it, and in a way leads his countrymen by the hand toward it; and since they will observe in his books so many flashing sparks of right reason, not without admiration and pleasure: since, I say, such is the authority of Confucius even among the neighboring kingdoms of the Chinese, who does not see that excellent uses can arise from this for the Herald of the Gospel? While he brings knowledge of the True and Supreme Deity to these nations, he will confirm the truth of his doctrine not by the authority of the Poets (which that Doctor of the Gentiles A traditional title for Saint Paul the Apostle., even among the Athenians, did not hesitate to do), but by the authority of that very Philosopher, than whom these nations have known nothing more truthful or wise up to our own times.

Who then would not hope (provided the Deity is always favorable) that these people—convicted by the testimony of their own Master and happily defeated by their own weapons—will eventually surrender to the truth of the Gospel? Certainly, such a surrender was made by one who was once famous for Chinese wisdom and the dignity gained through it (the highest after the Imperial rank), but far more illustrious for his Christian virtues and heavenly wisdom: the pillar of the newborn Church, Siu Paulus original: Siu Paulus. This refers to Xu Guangqi (1562–1633), a high-ranking official and one of the most famous Chinese converts, known as one of the "Three Pillars of the Chinese Church.", formerly a Colao of the Chinese Empire. When someone asked him what this new doctrine we Europeans brought was achieving, he responded with the characteristic brevity original: Laconismo. A reference to the concise style of the Spartans of Laconia. of this nation, in both speech and writing: Pu ju; çive se;

that is, It supplements and perfects what is missing in our Master Confucius and our philosophy of the scholars; but it removes and radically uproots wicked superstitions and the worship of demons.

For these reasons, therefore, we give this work of our nightly study to the public light. We do so not to show off Chinese wisdom to Europeans, but so that it might be of use to the candidates of the Eastern Missions; that weapons might be supplied to the soldiers with which these nations, under the leadership and auspices of Christ, might not only be conquered by you, but might even rejoice in it; that the fishers of men might have bait ready at hand with which the Chinese, once enticed, might be driven into the nets; and finally, so that the sacred merchants might be equipped with those goods by which a hundred and more years of experience has taught us these nations are powerfully captured and delighted. And indeed, in that Europe of ours, where now the Socrates and the Platos, where the Senecas and the Plutarchs have almost become cheap—