Ti-Ping Tien-Kwoh Part 35

Little children, Arouse your energies: The laws of high heaven Admit not of infraction.

Upon the good blessings descend, And miseries on the wicked; Those who obey Heaven are preserved, And those who disobey perish.

The great G.o.d Is a spiritual Father; All things whatever Depend on him.

The great G.o.d Is the Father of our spirits: Those who devoutly serve him Will obtain blessings.

Those who obey the fathers of their flesh Will enjoy longevity; Those who requite their parents Will certainly obtain happiness.

Do not practise lewdness, Nor any uncleanness; Do not tell lies, Do not kill and slay.

Do not steal, Do not covet: The great G.o.d Will strictly carry out his laws.

Those who obey Heaven's commands Will enjoy celestial happiness; Those who are grateful for divine favours Will receive divine support.

Heaven blesses the good And curses the bad: Little children!

Maintain correct conduct.

The correct are men, The corrupt are imps: Little children!

Seek to avoid disgrace.

G.o.d loves the upright, And he hates the vicious: Little children!

Be careful to avoid error.

The great G.o.d Sees everything; If you wish to enjoy happiness, Refine and correct yourselves.

FOOTNOTES:

[88] Pwan-koo, the first man, was, according to Chinese mythology, the offspring of Chaos, and the creator of the earth, sun, moon, and stars.

[89] The period of the three dynasties began B.C. 2207, and ended B.C.

247.

[90] B.C. 1766.

[91] B.C. 1121. Both these emperors (T'hang and Wan) are stated by Du Halde to have worshipped Heaven.

[92] B.C. 247.

[93] B.C. 74--A.D. 25.

[94] A.D. 58. The emperor Ming, having heard that the true religion was to be found in the west, despatched (A.D. 66) amba.s.sadors into Northern India, who, finding the majority of the people in that region to be worshippers of Fo, brought back with them several Bonzes in order to spread the faith; and thus Buddhism was introduced into China.

[95] This emperor (Hwuy) was a firm believer in the superst.i.tions of the Taouists. A.D. 1101--1126.

[96] Hung-siu-tsuen.

ODE FOR YOUTH.

EACH LINE IN THE ORIGINAL CONTAINING FIVE WORDS, AND EACH VERSE FOUR LINES.

ON THE WORSHIP OF G.o.d.

Let the true Spirit, the great G.o.d, Be honoured and adored by all nations; Let all the inhabitants of the world Unite in his worship, morning and evening.

Above and below, look where you may, All things are imbued with the Divine favour.

At the beginning, in six days, All things were created, perfect and complete.

Whether circ.u.mcised or uncirc.u.mcised, Who is not produced by G.o.d?

Reverently praise the Divine favour And you will obtain eternal glory.

ON REVERENCE FOR JESUS.

Jesus, his first-born Son, Was in former times sent by G.o.d: He willingly gave his life to redeem us from sin; Of a truth his merits are pre-eminent.

His cross was hard to bear; The sorrowing clouds obscured the sun.

The adorable Son, the honoured of heaven, Died for you, the children of men.

After his resurrection he ascended to heaven; Resplendent in glory, he wields authority supreme.

In him we know that we may trust To secure salvation and ascend to Heaven.

ON THE HONOUR DUE TO PARENTS.

As grain is stored against a day of need, So men bring up children to tend their old age; A filial son begets filial children,-- The recompense here is truly wonderful.

Do you ask how this our body Is to attain to length of years?

Keep the fifth command, we say, And honour and emolument will descend upon you.

ON THE COURT.

The imperial court is an awe-inspiring spot, Let those about it dread celestial majesty; Life and death emanate from Heaven's son, Let every officer avoid disobedience.

ON THE DUTIES OF THE SOVEREIGN.

When one man presides over the government, All nations become settled and tranquillized: When the sovereign grasps the sceptre of power, Calumny and corruption sink and disappear.

ON THE DUTIES OF MINISTERS.

When the prince is upright, ministers are true; When the sovereign is intelligent, ministers will be honest.