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of its expression ; their morality is impossible because baseless, 
and without an object to whom their responsibility can be 
referred, and— to us, regarding it as Christians— also impossible, 
since grace is neither sought nor attainable. I have not said 
one word of another unquestionable truth and indispensable 
need in man — the existence of sin and the need of forgiveness, 
to us brought home in the two precious words repentance and 
pardon. 1 rest here my objection on the one ground of faith 
being impossible under such a system, with all it implies of hope , 
and reliance , and prayer. The marvellous questioning of St. Paul 
(Rom. x. 13, 14) is so directly applicable to what I am saying, 
that I will conclude with it this head of my argument, “ who- 
soever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 
How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not 
believed ? and how shall they believe in Him of whom they have 
not heard .” It is to this mournful silence of Buddhism on 
that great want of man that I would for a moment direct youi 
attention. 
(2.) I now pass on to consider the Buddhist religion as wanting 
in worship. You may be surprised that I should say this when 
you know of ancient temples existing, some of them the very 
oldest in the world, as known and traced in records of the past; 
and the priesthood , you may ask, what are their functions, if 
not to conduct the people's worship ? I have been in one of 
those very ancient temples, and I believe I saw there the oldest 
tree in the world, of which there is any historical record. The 
old temple was built about the tree, and some of the branches 
were supported by the brickwork. That tree, has existe 
there for centuries, and it is likely to exist, I might 
almost say, for centuries more. Enter, then, with me 
into one of these temples, and your wonder at my assertion will 
increase, for you will see images, representations of the great 
Buddha in all of them; in some, numerous and of various size 
and posture, and, above all, one gigantic and commanding— a 
recumbent figure, with eyes closed as in sleep, surely, you 
will say, the idol which is worshipped by those who enter.; and 
when you look, there is something strangely imposing in the 
deep quietude and repose that reign around. In speaking ot 
the various postures of these figures I may mention one curious 
fact which I remember pointing out to the priests in one 
of the temples, and that is, that there is one posture which 
Buddha is never made to assume, namely, that of kneel- 
ing, or the attitude of prayer. The silent priest at your 
side makes no sign, but looks at you with fixed gaze, as won- 
dering what your thoughts must be ; and though there is no 
