THe SACRED BOOKS OF THE BAST, 3 303 
religions chaotel as Ginecuiions of the devil,’ And when I began 
investigating Hinduism and Buddhism, some well- -meaning Christian 
‘friends expressed their surprise that I should waste my time by 
grubbing in the dirty gutters of heathendom, After a little 
examination I found many beautiful gems glittering there; nay, 
I met with bright coruscations of true light flashing here and there 
amid the surrounding darkness. Now, fairness in fighting one’s 
opponents is ingrained in every Englishman’ s nature, and as I prose- 
euted my researches into these non-Christian systems I began to 
foster a fancy that they had been unjustly treated. I began to 
observe and trace out curious coincidences and comparisons 
with our own Sacred Book of the East. I began, in short, to be 
a believer in what is called the evolution and growth of religious 
thought, ‘These imperfect systems,’ I said to myself, ‘are clearly 
steps in the development of man’s religious instincts and aspira- 
tions,—interesting efforts of the human mind str ugeling up towards 
Christianity. Nay, it -is probable that they were all intended to 
lead up to the one true religion, and that Christianity is, after all, 
merely the climax, the complement, the fulfilment of them all,’ 
“Now, there is unquestionably a delightful fascination about 
‘such a theory, and, what is more, there are really elements of truth in 
it. But Iam glad of the opportunity of stating publicly that I am 
persuaded. I was misled by its attractiveness, and that its main idea 
is quiteerroneous. ‘The charm and danger of it, J think, lie in its 
apparent liberality, breadth of view, and toleration, In the Times 
of October 14th, 1887, you will find recorded a remarkable con- 
versation between a Lama priest and a Christian traveller, in the — 
course of which the Lama says that ‘Christians describe their 
religion as the ‘best of all religions ; whereas, among the nine rules 
of conduct for the Buddhist, there is one that directs him never 
either to thiak or to say that his own religion is the best, cone 
sidering that sincere men of other religions are deeply attached to 
them.” Now, to express sympathy with this kind of liberality 
is Sure to win applause among a certain class of thinkers in these 
days of universal toleration and religious free trade. We must not 
forget, too, that our Bible tells us that God has not left himself 
without witness, and that in eyery nation he that feareth God and 
worketh righteousness is accepted with him. Yet I contend, not- 
withstanding, that this flabby, jelly-fish kind of tolerance is utterly 
‘incompatible with the nerve, fibre, and backbone that ought to 
Chatahense: a manly Coustans _A Christian’s character ought to 
