Directory_and_Chronicle_1850 — Page 143

120

Paul Sü's Apology in behalf of the Jesuits.

March.

men to what is good, and deter them from evil. All these, however, can reach only his external conduct, and can not touch his inward feelings. An example in point are the words of Sz'-má Tsien, “ Yen- hwui's untimely death, and Tauchih's long life,” which have led men to suspect that there is no future recompense of good and evil. Hence deceit and guile have increased in proportion as the restraints laid thereon have been multiplied. Where one law has been enacted, a hundred evil practices have sprung up, disappointing the heart's desire for stable government, and exciting deep regret on account of the in- adequacy of means to secure that end. With a view of supplying this deficiency, recourse was had to the sayings of the Budhists, which declare that there will be a recompense of good and evil after the body dies; and that for their conduct and feelings both Yenhwui and Tauchih might seem to have had a recompense, which, it was sup- posed, would cause other men without delay to depart from evil and do good. Why then is it that during the eighteen hundred years since the Budhistic religion came to the East, the ways of the world and the hearts of men have not been reformed, except it be because, though seeming to be true, that religion is faise! The doctrine of Láu and Chwang, as they are set forth by the Contemplatists, are dark, far- fetched, and unreliable. All the schemes and legerdemain practiced by the doctors of the black art, are strangely deceptive and unreason- able. Moreover, they (his followers) wish to elevate Budha above the high Ruler, and thus do they act in opposition to the doctrines of the rulers and kings, the sages and worthies of antiquity. When all this is done, on whom then shall men depend? Whom shall they follow?

If there be an absolute desire to have men do good in perfection, then the knowledge of serving Heaven, communicated by your majes- ty's courtiers, is truly competent to repair and augment the royal Institutes, to strengthen and maintain the arts of the literati, and to restore and correct the laws of Budha. The proof of this is, that the nations of Europe which are contiguous to each other, and more than thirty in number, receiving and practicing this religion, during a thou- sand and some hundreds of years up to the present time, whether great or small, have alike been kind to each other; whether high or low, have alike enjoyed repose; their prescribed boundaries have required no guard; nor has their sovereignty been hereditary; throughout their whole domain, there have been no deceivers nor liars; the vices of lewdness and theft from of old have never existed: no one would ven- ture to take up an article dropped upon the highway; and even gates and decrs of cities and houses it was not necessary to have closed by night. As to revolt and anarchy, rebels and insurgents, not only