Trust in the Savior [pp. 43]

TRUST IN THE SAVIOR. 43
men of intelligence, who had enjoyed the good
things of the world to surfeiting, and then took
just all opposite course to expiate their former sins.
Occasionally they would appear among the multitude, with flowing white beards and bald heads,
leaning upon staves, and enveloping their bodies in
coarse sackcloth or mats. *Every word they pronounced was eagerly caught by the hearers, and
repeated an hundred times with amplifications.
The absurdities which proceeded from such brains
may be easily imagined; but still they formed the
matter of the Taou creed. They were in fact the
oracles of the rabble, and influenced considerably
public opinion. Emperors and princes thought it
not below their dignity to ask their advice, or to
choose from a remote cavern a general or a minister.
It was thus very natural that the fame of the votaries
of Taou should have become very great, and that
many designing men should assume their garb to
court honors and riches. They are not, at the
present time, looked upon with a favorable eye by
the government. On the contrary, the priests are
frequently apprehended, tried, and punished for
practicing their incantations among the people.
Lastly, we notice the sect of Buddha, who derived their system from India about A. D. 66. The
general scope of their books is to exalt annihilation, and promote compassion by saving the lives
of animals. They affirm that when men die their
spirits do not scatter, but, assuming another form,
receive the recompense of all the good and evil
they have ever committed. Hence, they constantly
aim to cultivate and improve their spirits till they
become amalgamated into Buddha. The empire is
now full of Buddhist temples, and the priests of
this sect actually swarm. They profess to renounce all family connections, take a vow of celibacy, shave their heads, dwell in temples, abstain
from animal food, and subsist on the voluntary
contributions of the people. To this course there
are multitudes of exceptions. Many of the priests
have a very bad character for licentiousness and
roguery. One of their number in Canton, notorious for his villany, having married contrary to law,
was arrested, and suffered death by decapitation.
A description of one of their temples has already
been given; so that it is unnecessary here to go into
detail. The daily service consists in offering up
certain forms of prayer in the Sanscrit-a language
which few even of the priests understand. Every
morning, after dressing, the devotee is to turn his
face to the west, stand upright, clasp his hands,
and with a continued sound, say," O-me-to Fuh."
By frequent repetition he becomes purified like
unto Buddha, and when he dies he is introduced
into the presence of his deity. The ceremonies of
the Buddhistic religion resemble, in many particulars, those of the Church of Rome-the celibacy,
tonsure, professed poverty, secluded abodes, and
peculiar dress of the priests-the use of the rosary,
candles, incense, holy water, bells, images, and relics, in their worship-their belief in purgatory, with
the possibility of praying souls out of its fires-the
offering up of prayers in a strange language, with
their incessant repetition-the pretension to miracles-the similarity of their altar-pieces, and the
very titles of their intercessors, such as "goddess of
mercy," "holy mother," "queen of heaven," with
the image of a virgin, having a child in her arms.
Having thus taken a view of the three systems
of religion prevalent among the Chinese, we find
that the Confucian knows nothing definite concerning God or the future world. His scheme of cosmogony is irrational, and his compliance with the
common superstitions, inconsistent and trifling.
The Taouists have mixed up so much superstitious
nonsense with their system, and are such idolaters,
that we must say they are as far from the truth as
the philosophic sect, while the religion of Buddha
has deluded the inhabitants of China still more
than their indigenous systems, and left them in
greater darkness than they were by nature. "No
first cause" characterizes all the sects. Our trust
is in the Almighty, that these superstitions and
abominations will be purged away from this numerous people. His arm has been outstretched
over this vast empire, and the wrath of man has
been made to praise him in throwing open the way
for the introduction of the Gospel. May the time
soon come when the Son of God shall be known
and loved by the dense multitudes which populate
China!
TRUST IN THE SAVIOR.
NOT seldom, clad in radiant vest,
Deceitfully goes forth the morn;
Not seldom evening in the west
Sinks smilingly forsworn.
The smoothest seas will sometimes prove,
To the confiding bark, untrue;
And if she trust the stars above,
They can be treacherous too.
The umbrageous oak, in pomp outspread,
Full oft, when storms the welkin rend,
Draws lightnings down upon the head
It promised to defend.
But thou art true, incarnate Lord!
Who didst vouchsafe for man to die;
Thy smile is sure, thy plighted word
No change can falsify!
I bent before thy gracious throne,
And asked for peace with suppliant knee;
And peace was given-nor peace alone,
But faith, and hope, and ecstasy.!
WORDSWORTH.