"In 1630 Johann Adam Schall von Bell was sent to Beijing to work with Xu Guangqi on reforming the Chinese calendar, producing the Chongzhen calendar, which predicted solar and lunar eclipses more accurately. Under the Shunzhi Emperor he became a trusted counsellor and director of the Imperial Observatory. In 1664 he was accused by Yang Guangxian and imprisoned with Ferdinand Verbiest and other Jesuits; he suffered a stroke in prison and was condemned to death, but after an earthquake the Jesuits were pardoned. He died on 15 August 1666 and was buried in Beijing's Zhalan Cemetery."
"A disciple asked him about serving the spirits of the dead, and he replied, "while you are not able to serve men, how can you serve the spirits?" The disciple added, "I venture to ask about death," and he was told, "you do not know about life, how can you know about death?" ... It is true that the sage could not be expected to give information on such subjects. It was therefore right in him to refrain from vain speculations, or pretending to know what he was really ignorant of. Hence he confined himself to more practical matters—to the duties of the present life."
— William Muirhead
Source: China and the Gospel (1870), "Religious Opinions: Immortality and a Future State," pp. 103–104