APPENDIX I. PRECEPTS AND ODES PUBLISHED BY HUNGSIU-TSUEN IN THE SECOND AND THIRD YEARS OF THE TAEPING REBELLION. (A.D, 1852-1853.)1 DECALOGUE. THE TEN CELESTIAL COMMANDS WHICH ARE TO BE CONSTANTLY OBSERVED. THE FIRST COMMAND. THOU SHALT HONOUR AND WORSHIP THE GREAT GOD. Remark. The great God is the universal Father of all men, in every nation under heaven. Every man is produced and nourished by him every man is also protected by him: every man ought, therefore, morning and evening, to honour and worship him, with acknowledgments of his goodness. It is a common saying, that Heaven produces, nourishes, and protects men. Also, that being provided with food we must not deceive Heaven. Therefore, whoever does not worship the great God breaks the commands of Heaven. The Hymn says:— Imperial Heaven, the Supreme God is the true Spirit (God): 1 Translated by Dr. Medhurst. THE SECOND COMMAND. THOU SHALT NOT WORSHIP CORRUPT SPIRITS (GODS). Remark. The great God says, Thou shalt have no other spirits (gods) beside me. Therefore all besides the great God are corrupt spirits (gods), deceiving and destroying mankind; they must on no account be worshipped: whoever worships the whole class of corrupt spirits (gods) offends against the commands of Heaven. The Hymn says :— Corrupt devils very easily delude the souls of men. If you perversely believe in them, you will at last go down to hell. We exhort you all, brave people, to awake from your lethargy, And early make your peace with your exalted Heavenly Father. THE THIRD COMMAND. THOU SHALT NOT TAKE THE NAME OF THE GREAT GOD IN VAIN. Remark. The name of the great God is Jehovah, which men must not take in vain. Whoever takes God's name in vain, and rails against Heaven, offends against this command. The Hymn says :— Our exalted Heavenly Father is infinitely honourable; THE FOURTH COMMAND. ON THE SEVENTH DAY, THE DAY OF WORSHIP, YOU SHOULD PRAISE THE GREAT GOD FOR HIS GOODNESS. Remark. In the beginning the great God made heaven and earth, land and sea, men and things, in six days; and having finished his works on the seventh day, he called it the day of rest (or Sabbath): therefore all the men of the world, who enjoy the blessing of the great God, should on every seventh day especially reverence and worship the great God, and praise him for his good ness. The Hymn says :— All the happiness enjoyed in the world comes from Heaven; It is therefore reasonable that men should give thanks and sing; THE FIFTH COMMAND. THOU SHALT HONOUR THY FATHER AND THY MOTHER, THAT THY DAYS MAY BE PROLONGED. Remark.-Whoever disobeys his parents breaks this command. The Hymn says:— History records that Shun honoured his parents to the end of his days, Causing them to experience the intensest pleasure and delight: And do not disappoint the expectation of the authors of their being. THE SIXTH COMMAND. THOU SHALT NOT KILL OR INJURE MEN. Remark.-He who kills another kills himself, and he who injures another injures himself. Whoever does either of these breaks the above command. The Hymn says :— The whole world is one family, and all men are brethren, How can they be permitted to kill and destroy one another? The outward form and the inward principle are both conferred by Heaven: Allow every one, then, to enjoy the ease and comfort which he desires. THE SEVENTH COMMAND. THOU SHALT NOT COMMIT ADULTERY OR ANY THING UNCLEAN. Remark.--All the men in the world are brethren, and all the women in the world are sisters. Among the sons and daughters of the celestial hall the males are on one side and the females on the other, and are not allowed to intermix. Should either men or women practise lewdness they are considered outcasts, as having offended against one of the chief commands of Heaven. The casting of amorous glances, the harbouring of lustful imaginations, the smoking of foreign tobacco (opium), or the singing of libidinous songs must all be considered as breaches of this command. The Hymn says :— Lust and lewdness constitute the chief transgression, Those who practise it become outcasts, and are the objects of pity. If you wish to enjoy the substantial happiness of heaven, It is necessary to deny yourself and earnestly cultivate virtue. R 3 THE EIGHTH COMMAND. THOU SHALT NOT ROB OR STEAL. Remark.-Riches and poverty are determined by the great God; but whosoever robs or plunders the property of others transgresses this command. The Hymn says :— Rest contented with your station, however poor, and do not steal. Those who injure others really injure themselves. THE NINTH COMMAND. THOU SHALT NOT UTTER FALSEHOOD. Remark.-All those who tell lies, and indulge in devilish deceits, with every kind of coarse and abandoned talk, offend against this command. The Hymn says:— Lying discourse and unfounded stories must all be abandoned. Much talk will, in the end, bring evil on the speakers. It is then much better to be cautious, and regulate one's own mind. THE TENTH COMMAND. THOU SHALT NOT CONCEIVE A COVETOUS DESIRE. Remark.-When a man looks upon the beauty of another's wife and daughters with covetous desires, or when he regards the elegance of another man's possessions with covetous desires, or when he engages in gambling, he offends against this command. The Hymn says:— In your daily conduct do not harbour covetous desires. Note. The expression "corrupt spirits" in the remarks upon the second commandment, rendered by the translator "gods," refers probably to the numerous malevolent spirits whom all uneducated Chinese believe to have power over all things noxious to the human race. The gods of thunder, lightning, wind, &c., are the principal of these, but there are also hundreds of inferior spirits whom poor householders believe to be abroad at night, with power, if they so will, to spread pestilence, disaster, and fire, and who consequently receive daily and nightly offerings of prayer and incense from the timid and trembling poor, who dread the exercise of their malevolence. |