Six Records of a Resurrected Life
III. Uprising
Heng Yi, ever since the time when you rejected me, I might not have lost heart, but I also did not dare to force you. Moreover, you were still young, and I was just starting my own way in the world. Thinking that we still had a long way to go, I put this matter aside for the time being. But truth be told, my heart was also wounded by you. I thought you rejected me as a mere apprentice, using your father’s disapproval as an excuse to make me give up. After all, the daughter of the owner of the western-style photo studio, no matter how I saw it, was above me. To win your heart and your father’s approval, I had to make a career for myself. Thus, I set my mind to strive upwards, and open my own printing workshop in the future. But I didn’t want you to think that I was just moody, insincere, or lacking in resolve, ready to retreat at minor obstacles. Therefore, I would often drop off some small Bible booklets in the mailbox when I passed by the photo studio, hoping that you would read them carefully in your leisure time, and know that I wasn’t all talk, but truly meant what I said. One of them was the sermon on the mount where Jesus tells his disciples about the eight Beatitudes. I took the time out of my busy schedule to print it myself, hoping to tell you that the meek who have been humiliated in this world will find comfort in the kingdom of heaven, which is a great blessing. I’ve recorded it as follows for you to review.
When Jesus saw the crowd, he went up the mountain and sat down. When his disciples gathered around him, he began to teach them, saying, “Blessed are the humble, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to them. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It’s no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
By the end of the tenth year of Xianfeng, Mr. Wong Shing received a letter from Hong Rengan. At that time, Big Brother Hong had already become the King Gan of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom. The purpose of his letter was to place an order with Anglo-Chinese College for a pair of large and small typefaces and a printing press. Upon hearing this news, the missionary station was overrun with excitement, as this move was seen as a significant contribution to the construction of the Heavenly Kingdom and the spread of the Gospel of Christ. Mr. Legge commented, “While others provide guns and ammunition to rebels, I’m glad to supply them with other things.” Mr. Legge had a deep friendship with Big Brother Hong and was pleased to see him managing the country through civil means and promoting religion. Previously, Mr. Joseph Edkins, a colleague from the Shanghai station, had visited the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom several times, meeting face to face with the King Gan and the Loyal King. After returning to Shanghai, he wrote articles for the North China Herald, detailing the scale, policies, and daily life of the Heavenly Kingdom. Although there were deviations and errors in their practice of doctrine, they were not deemed heretical and it was hoped that the mistakes could be corrected gradually.
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