to obferve decorum and good manners even in difputation; he told them that no one ever gave way to heats or paffion in China, and defired to be informed of the nature of their difpute?

My lord, faid the Jefuit, I take you for judge in this affair. These two gentlemen refuse to fubmit to the decifions of the council of Trent.

I am surprised at that, replied the Mandarin. Then turning towards the two refractory parties, Gentlemen, said he, you ought to shew a deference to the opinion of a great affembly; I do not know what the council of Trent is ; but a number of perfons must always have opportunities of knowing better than one fingle man. No one ought to imagine that he knows more than all others, and that reafon dwells only with him: this is the doctrine of our great Confucius; therefore, if you would take my advice, abide by what the council of Trent has decreed.

The Dane then began to speak in his turn. Your Excellence, faid he, has delivered yourfelf with great wifdom and prudence: we have all that refpect for great affemblies that we ought;

6

ought; and accordingly we fubmit entirely to the opinions of feveral councils that were held at the fame time with that of Trent.

Oh! if that is the cafe, faid the Mandarin, I ask your pardon, you may doubtlefs be in the right. So then, it feems you and the Dutchman are of one opinion against the Jefuit.

Not in the leaft, anfwered the Dutchman, this man here (pointing to the Dane) entertains notions almoft as extravagant as thofe of the Jefuit, who pretends to fo much mildness before you. 'Sblood! there is no bearing this with patience!

I cannot conceive what you mean, faid the Mandarin; are you not all three Chriftians? are you not all three come to teach the Chrif tian religion in our empire? and ought you not confequently to have all the fame tenets ?

You fee how it is, my lord, faid the Jefuit: thefe two men here, are mortal enemies to each other; and yet both of them dispute against me; this makes it clear, that they are both in the wrong, and that reafon is on my fide. L 3

I

I do not think it is fo very clear, replied the Mandarin, for it may very well happen that you are all three in the wrong. But I fhould be glad to hear your arguments fingly.

The Jefuit then made a long difcourfe, while the Dutchman and the Dane at every period fhrugged up their fhoulders, and the Mandarin could not make any thing of what he heard. The Dane now took the lead in his turn, while his two adverfaries looked upon him with manifeft figns of contempt; and the Mandarin, when he had finifhed, remained as wife as before. The Dutchman had the fame fuccefs. At length, they began to talk all three together, and broke out into the moft fcurrilous revilings. The honest Mandarin could hardly get in a word; at length he difmiffed them, saying, If you expect to have your doctrine tolerated here, begin by fhewing an example of it to

each other.

At leaving the house, the Jefuit met with a Dominican miffionary, to whom he related what had paffed; and told him, that he had gained his caufe; for you may be affured, added he, that truth will always prevail. The Domini

can

can replied, Had I been there, friend, you would not fo eafily have gained your cause; for I fhould have proved you to be an idolator and a liar. Upon this, there arofe a violent difpute between them; and the Jefuit and the Friar went to fifty-cuffs. The Mandarin being informed of this fcandalous behaviour, ordered them both to be fent to prifon. A fub-mandarin asked his Excellence, how long he would pleafe to have them remain in confinement? Till they are both agreed, faid the judge. Then, my lord, anfwered the fub-mandarin, they will remain in prifon all their days. Well then, faid the Mandarin, let them stay till they forgive one another. That they will never do, rejoined the deputy, I know them very well, Indeed! faid the Mandarin; then let it be till they appear fo to do.

1

CHA P. XX.

Whether it is of Service to indulge the People in SUPERSTITION.

UCH is the weakness and perverfity of the

SUCH

human race, that it is undoubtedly more eligible for them to be subject to every poffible kind of fuperftition, provided it is not of a bloody nature, than to live without religion. Man has always ftood in need of a curb; and though it was certainly very ridiculous to facrifice to fauns, fatyrs, and naïads, yet it was more reasonable and advantageous to adore even thofe fantastic images of the Deity, than to be given up to atheism. An atheift of any capacity and invested with power, would be as dreadful a fcourge to the rest of mankind, as the most bloody enthufiaft.

When men have not true notions of the Deity, false ideas muft fupply their place, like as in troublesome and calamitous times, we are obliged to trade with bafe money when good is not to be procured. The heathens were afraid of committing crimes, left they should be punish

ed