REV. ARTHUR ELWIN, ON CONFUCIANISM. 



53 



chronicle the utterances of their " Most Holy Ancient Teacher." 

 Among the many remarkable sayings of Confucius, recorded in 

 this book, certainly the Golden Rule he impressed upon his 

 followers stands first. One of them had inquired : " Is there a 

 single word which may serve as a rule of practice for the 

 whole of one's life ? " " Is not Reciprocity such a word," replied 

 Confucius, " do not to others what you would not wish done to 

 you.'"' " What do you say," said a disciple, " concerning the 

 principle that injury should be recompensed with kindness ? " 

 The master said, " With what then will ye recompense 

 kindness. Recompense injury with justice, and recompense 

 kindness with kindness." Some other sayings are, " I have 

 found no man who esteems virtue as much as pleasure. — 

 The perfect man is never satisfied with himself; he that is 

 satisfied with himself is not perfect. — Patience is the most 

 necessary thing in the world. — The perfect man loves all men ; 

 he is not governed by private affection and interest, but only 

 regards right reason and the public good. — The superior man 

 has nine things which he takes into thoughtful consideration. 

 In regard to the use of his eyes, lie is anxious to see clearly. 

 In regard to the use of his ears, to hear distinctly. In regard 

 to his countenance, that it should be benign. In regard to his 

 demeanour, that it should be respectful. In regard to his speech, 

 that it should be sincere. In regard to his doing business, 

 that it should be with care. In regard to what he doubts 

 about, to make enquiry. When he is angry, he thinks of the 

 difficulties that his anger may involve him in. When lie sees 

 gain to be got, he thinks of righteousness." 



The last of the series is the Book of Mcncius, who lived about 

 two hundred years after Confucius, 371 B.C., in the days of 

 Plato and Demosthenes. Mencius has been regarded by many 

 as one of the greatest men the Asiatic nations have ever 

 produced. The following extracts will show what kind of man 

 he was, and considering when they were written, they are 

 certainly very remarkable. " I love life," he observes, " and I 

 love justice, but if I cannot preserve both, I would rather give 

 up life, and hold fast justice. Although I love life, there is 

 that which I love more than life. Although I hate death, 

 there is that which I hate more than death." 



" Heaven, when about to confer a great trust upon any man, 

 first exercises his mind with suffering, and his senses and bones 

 with toil. It exposes his body to hunger, subjects him to 

 poverty, and confounds his undertakings. By all these methods 

 it stimulates his mind, hardens his nature and supplies his 



