Page 335

DfTcriptio 0ofC  Lt   NQ1 
mnofl conformable to that which was made at Peking, and afterwards again
by 
p. Michael IBoim expos'd from the Chinefe Exemplar, being indeed mote elegant
and proper, and likewife more conformable to the Chinefe Languagej and al-
though for that caufe it feemns lefi polite in our Tongue, yet neverthel
s is it 
moat eloquent, and having refpe& to the Phrafe and Style of the Chinefe
Speecho 
is by fuch as profefs themfelves Maters in the undertanding of that Toague,
judg'd the moft deferving Praife of all others. Now it is collefted from
this 
Monument, That the Law of Chrift was above a thoufand years ago brought 
into China; alfo with what Reverence and Honor it was receiv'd by the Em-
perors j how and through what valt Provinces it was Preach'dj how in the
fpace of a hundred and fifty years, wherein it chiefly flourifh'd, it was
fpread 
abroad; what Perfecutions it twice fuffer'd, and how by little and little
it was 
fo fupprefs'd, that unlefs the remembrance had been preferv'd in this Monu-
ment, no Footfteps thereof could have been trac'd ; for in all the Cbinefe
Chro- 
nicles, befides the Names ofthe Kings and Mandorins, that then livd, there
is hardly any mention of it, or any other Matters of thofe Times, And 
this Stone was found a few years before the Fathers of the Society of Jejus
ar- 
riv'd in Cbina : From whence it appears, That the Interpretation of.fuch
fub- 
lime and notable things was only referv'd to them, who being eminently in-
1rud~ed in the Science as well of Humane as Divine Matters,.were to become
the Preachers and Propagators of the fame Law and Dotrine, almoft oblite,
rated by the all devouring Teeth of Time. And this may fuflice concerning
the Infcription in the-Chinefe Language. 
C HAP. II 
¢n Interprettion of ihe nSyriack $X ames infirib'd upon 
th~e Moirnment, 
O W         we proceed to the tnfP rption that is Infculp'd on the Margins,
which feing it hath remain'd tnexplain'd hitherto, by reafon of the 
want of Men in China that areters'd in tho  Charars, and for that 
very caufe was fent into Europe by the 'Poruguefe Fathers of our Society,
to be 
explicated by Perfons skill'd in the Syrian Langtage; ifirft of all undertook
the Interprctatio ,thereof, and that with good fuccefi, difcharging the fame
with equal fidelity and diligence. Now it is Engra'd on the Margins of the
Stone in the ancient 8yriack Chatraters that are t'rm'"4Efirangel, and
it con- 
.. ..t      ,.,.. l.1 h a  .....o  ,,,,J ('1 safth ife'  Atmfl n licl Men.
and Pro. 
oters of the Divine Law, that were then in Clina When the Stone was ere6cd.
ther Emanuel Dial, in a certain Letter wiitenin-the h Partapefe Tongue, DA-
A from Maccao, Auguft 23. i6xj. taketh noti'ce othiis Stone, and of the In*
iptions mention'd ; His words tranflated arp thefe I 
0n Wh 7'roe                                           a  'tanStn 
In the Trovince of Xenfi ip China, ihere noi, TrigautiUs refidet, a certain
Stone 
about t'enty four" Hands breath wa di gg'd up  in Which is manifeflly
apparent, that 
ove a thoufand tubo hundred and forty three ,years fince there ',ereChriftians
with 
rpen Crons, that !Preach'd the I 
ngs of China conferr'd '1 *   F 
cter 'rinted, firfi tranfcrib'db' 
M'cfieries contain'd on the Ston