THE last score of years has wrought wonderful changes for the better in the great nation of China. Its formal ritual of dead service has proved powerless to keep the nation and the people apace with the world's progress. Its study of the classics, which for centuries have been its Alpha and Omega of learning, is rapidly declining in popularity, and the government is establishing a new order of things along educational lines; the old examinations are being abolished, hundreds of foreign teachers have been brought to China to help inaugurate the new régime, while thousands of Chinese young men have been sent abroad to study in the universities of Japan, Europe, and America. Railroads have been built, a new army and navy are created and organized, and China is breaking with the past.
Now is the time for Christian people to unite their forces in one mighty conquest of China and her people,—not by war and bloodshed, but by flooding the land with the Word of God. His Word is doing a mighty work in the East; and if ever there was a call to duty from God to His church it is at the present time. Wherever the Word of God is preached with power and in the Spirit of God, hearts are regenerated and a new life is begun. In scores of communities, individuals and collections of individuals are calling for the foreign teacher to come and expound the Word of God to the people.
The temples representing the ancient religions of the empire, are neglected, and thousands of souls are looking for light. They know there is something better than what they have, and they believe it is to be found in the religion taught by the Man of Calvary.
To gather these people to hear the Word of God, is not a great task. In many places they flock to hear; they come for many miles on foot, in or on donkey carts and wagons, longing to be taught the way of God.
It is wonderful what these dear people know and can learn from the Word of God, while unable to read a character. I have seen old women from sixty to seventy years of age, who never learned a character to read, recite chapter after chapter, verse by verse, from the Bible. As the prophet said, "Thy words were found, and I did eat them;" it is true of this people at this time.
If the Christian church does not press in now and lead this people to a fuller knowledge of God and His Word, they will fail to meet the opening providences of God. The rock of which Xavier cried, "O when shall it be riven!" is already riven, and the church of God is called upon to enter China and give this people, as never before, the Scriptures. If this be done, then we may confidently look for the fulfilment of that prophecy in Isa. 66:7, 8.
Surely, China's greatest need is the Word of God; and as surely as God has wrought this wondrous opening and opportunity for His church, He is now calling His people to service in their behalf.
