The Sun.
London, England, 1854-01-04 00:00:00

thinks proper. Every season, therefore, may be con-
sidered as-prosperous and favourable.

_ .
During the season of drought we have of late wit-
nessed around this ' city propitiatory offerings to the
"Dragon-Prince of the Eastern Sea," sanctioned and
commanded by the ruers as a means of obtaining rain.
But the " Imperial declaration of T'hae-ping-wang," a
documeNt said to be-written by the leader of the rebel-
lion himself—thus assails the prevalent superstition :
" In later ages we have had unprincipled men falsely
declaring that the Dragon of the Eastern Sea can pro-
duce rain ; whereas this Dragon of the Eastern Sea is
nothing more than a transformation of the King of
Hades. This King of Hades is no other than the old
serpent, the Devil, who transforms himself in a variety
of ways, to deceive and entrap the souls of men."

In their published comment on the Ten Command-
ments-, the thoughts and intents of the heart are recog-
nised as among the spiritual requirements of God's law.
" Lustful imaginations"—" amorous glances"—" libidi-
nous songs"—and their common incentive the "smoking
of foreign tobacco" (opium)—are among the enumerated
ways of transgressing the Seventh Commandment.

An acknowledgment of the universal prevalence of
sin seems to be shadowed forth in the following extract
from " the book of religious precepts of the T'has-ping
dynasty:"

" Who has ever lived in the world without offending
against the commands of Heaven ? But until this time
no one has known how to obtiin deliverance from sin.
Now, however, the great God has made a gracious com-
munication to man, and from henceforth whosoever re-
pents of his sins in the presence of the great God
(Shang-te), and avoids worshipping depraved spirits
(Shin), practising perverse things, or transgressing the
Divine commands, may ascend to heaven and enjoy hap-
piness for thousands and myriads of years in pleasure
and delight, with dignity and honour, world without
end."

Then, again, obscurely and inadequately as the Di-
vinity and Atonement of Chri t., etimes alluded
to throughout their writings, aotriise in the
following pagages a groundwork of essential truth, on
which the glorious superstructure of that doctrine in all
its full proportions and completeness may be Lbuilt
by the foreign missionary instructor. The " Ode for
Youth," intended to be committed to memory by every
child in the insurgent camp—and in the event of their
triumph, probably by the child of every official through-
out the empire—contains the following lines on—

" REVERENCE TO JESUS.

" Jesus, his first-born Son,
Was in former times sent by God ;
He willingly gave his life to redeem us from sin :
Of a truth his merits aro pro-eminent.
His cross was hard to bear,
The sorrowing clouds obscured the sun ;
The adorable Son, tho honoured of Heaven,
Died for you children of men.
After His resurrection, He ascended to Heaven,
Resplendent in glory, He wields authority supreme.

In Him we kuo; that we may trust,
To secure salvation and ascend to Heaven."
Still more wonderful is the clear exhibition of the
way of salvation and redemption through Christ in the
foll Owing—" A prayer for a penitent sinner." Among
the multitude of those who have been familiarised from
infancy with the 'doctrine of Christianity, how large a
portion would probably state their view of salvation less
clearly !
" I thine unworthy scn (or daughter) kneeling down
upon the ground, with a true heart repent of my sins, and
pray thee the great God (Shang-te) our heavenly Father,
of thine infinite gcodneas and mercy, to forgive my former
ignorance and frequent transgressions of the Divine
commands ; earnestly beseeching Thee of thy great
favour, to pardon all my former sins, and enable me to
repent and had a new life, so that my soul may ascend
to heaven. May I from henceforth sincerely repent and
forsake my evil ways, not worshipping corrupt spirits
(Shin) nor practising perverse things, but obeying Thy
divine commands. I also earnestly pray Thee, the great
God our heavenly Father, constantly to bestow on me
Thy Holy Spirit and change my wicked heart. Never
again allow me to be deceived by malignant demons ;
but perpetually regarding me with favour, for ever deliver
me from the evil one. And every day bestowing on me
food and clothing, exempt me from calamity and woe,
granting me tranquility in the present world and the
enjoyment of endless happiness in heaven ; through the
merits of our Saviour and heavenly brother the Lord
Jesus, who redeemed us from sin. I also pray the great
GOd our Father who is in heaven, that His will may be
done on earth as it is in heaven. That Thou wouldest
look down and grant this request, is my heart's sincere
desire."

In this extract from " the book of religious precepts
of the T'hae-ping-wang dynasty" we have a clear recog-
nition of the guilt of sin, the duty of repentance, the
atonement of Jesus Christ, the need of a new heart, and
the work of the Holy Spirit in renewing and purifying
the soul for heaven.

The Emperors of China have been remarkable for their
absurd claim of extravagant titles and relationships in
heaven. The rival Emperor declares that Wang (King)
and not Shing (Holy) nor Te (Emperor or Potentate)
belongs to him ; for the latter term belongs only to the
great Supreme Being (Shang-te) ;
" The great, He is God (Te). The monarchs of this
world may be called kings, and that is all." " The great
God (Shang Te), our heavenly Father and supreme
Lord, in omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent, the
Supreme over all. There is not an individual who is
not produced and cherished by Him. He is Shang
(Supreme). He is Te (Potentate). Besides the great
God (Shang-te) our heavenly Father and supreme Lord,
there is one who can be called Shang, and no one who
can be called To. Therefore, from henceforth, all you
soldiers and officers may designate us your Lord, and
that is all. You must not call me Supreme, lest you
should encroach upon the designation of our heavenly
Father- Our heavenly Father is our holy Father, and
our celestial elder brother is our holy Lord the Saviour
of the world. Hence, our heavenly Father and our
celestial elder Brother alone are holy ; and from hence-
forth all you soldiers may designate us your Lord, and
that is all ; but you must not call me holy, lest you
encroach upon the designation of our heavenly Father
and celestial elder I3rother."

In the plenitude of Imperial pride, the " Son of
Heaven" has from ancient times claimed alone as the
high priest of the nation the honour of making special
offerings to the One Supreme Being, and sacrificing at
the winter solstice at the round hillock. The chief of
the rival dynasty restores to the sons of Han their just
right, and gives to all the children of men equality in
the sight of God.
" Those whose minds have been deluded by the devil
objectwor-
shipped by sovereign princes. But we wish you to
know
greathat the great God is only to be
God (Shange-te) is the universal
Fztthertahonafdt allStallYe'
ment throughout the world. Sovereigns
are those of his children whom He elothes with power,
but the good, are those of his children who must re-
semble Him. '
•
The national exclusiveness and pride of China has
hitherto debarred her from intercommunication with

foreign' countries. On thisipOrZ-a;ain,;emay per-
ceive the inculcation of sentiments, which, if prevailing
generally among this people; would speedily throw down
the barriers which have so long isolated them from
Christendom, and bring them into the great brotherhood
of Christian nations. Instead of terming foreigners
barbarians," the pretender to the Imperial throne
enjoins his followers to recognise them as " brethren"
under the protection of tho same true God.
"The great God is the universal Father of all men
throughout the world. China, which is near to us, is
governed and regulated by the same God ;. foreign
are under the same rule.
" Foreign nations, though far removed, are protected
and cared for by the. One great God ; and China, which
is so near, is under the same gracious care. There are
nations,A—n which are far away,
many men in
world, but they are all our brethren ;
therearemt the
many women in the world, but they are all
our sisters."

The usual objection of the Chinese against Christianity
taunt by g
has been that it is the religion of foreigners. The in-
pa.teiarchal tradition' and
that when the Chinese " knew God, they glorified him,
not as God," nor "retained God in their knowledge."
(Romans i., 21-28.)
sounrcgeentedic edicts
acknowledged reply
theto tctios that China
God
of declarin
Some also say, erroneously, that to worship the
great God (Shang-te) is to imitate foreigners ; not re-
membering that China has her histories, which are open
to investigation. From the time of Pwan-koo" (the first
man of whom the Chinese speak) "down to the peri9d
of the three dynasties, both princes and people honoured
and worshipped the great God (Shang-te).'
"The fact is, that according to the histories of both the
Chinese and foreign nations, the important duty of
the great God, in theas alikeearly worship-
pingages of the world several
v
thousand years ago,practised both by Chinese
I and foreigners. But the various foreign nations in the
west have practised this duty up to the present time,
while the Chinese only practised it up to the Tsin and
Han dynasties ; since which time they have erroneously
followed the devil's ways, and allowed themselves to be
deceived by the King of Hades. Now, however. the
great God, out of compassion to the children of men,
has displayed his great power and delivered men from
the machinations of the evil one, causing them to retrace
their steps, and again to practise the great duty which
was performed of old."
But strange customs and superstitious rites have been
reported as observed by these imperfectly enlightened
men. Apparently borrowing the institution of Shew-
bread from the Jewish tabernacle, or transferring to the
service of the true God their former Pagan modes of
honouring their false gods, they place triple offerings of
food before each of the Three Persons of the Trinity.
There occur in their published books statements of a per-
sonal communication with the Almighty, and claims of
adi
fa newfu-
turecu
coursel aty itndnspecialrreer f.o verlea
all due abatements on ac-
count With
of the suspicious channel of hostile authorities
through which many of their excesses have been reported,
they nevertheless appear to pursue their Tartar oppres-
sors with all the sanguinary destruction which was
wreaked by the Israelites under Joshua of old, as the ap-
, pointed executioners of God's judicial wrath, upon the na-
tions of Canaan. The waters of the Yang-tze-kiang have