of lamas, who circulate them throughout this vast empire; and also through a great part of India, Bucharia, Ava, Siam, Japan, Mongulia, Tartary, the kingdom of Cassimere, &c. Whenever the GRAND LAMA is approached, it is with the most profound reverence, even by the greatest monarchs, who if he deigns to lay his hand on their heads, believe that all their sins are forgiven. The Pope of Rome, the Patriarch of Constantinople, and the Zerif of Mecca, in the plenitude of all their spiritual grandeur, will bear no comparison with this imperial pontiff, who is held in boundless veneration by one third part of the population of the whole world. This supreme high priest, who dwells in awful solitude in his temple at Patoli, almost inaccessible, surrounded by a display of the most refined external sanctity, unknown in any age or nation; agreeably to the institutes of his profession, attempts to represent the divine state of tranquillity of the Divine being; who, in his eternal habitation above the heavens, fills all things. In a great variety of particulars, the worship of the lamas resembles that of the Roman Catholic. They sing the service,-use holy water-give alms, and offer prayers for the dead-make use of beads-have confessors who ordain penance; have a vast number of convents, where reside upwards of 50,000 priests, who have different monastic orders, and who take three vows; viz. obedience, poverty and charity, they wear the mitre and cap, after the manner of the Catholic bishops. The GRAND LAMA, when he condescends to be seen, sits crosslegged, covered with gold and precious stones. It is clear, however, that, the great degree of sanctity which has been, and is now, attributed to the office of the Mahometan and Pagan high priests, has been taken from the scripture account of the priesthood of Aaron, who only was allowed to enter into the holy of holies, to make an atonement for the people. There are three sects of religious professors in China, viz. the followers of Kungfutsi, i. e. CONFUCIUS; FOE, and LAO-KIUN. The followers of Confucius, are persons of dignity and the learned. They worship one Supreme Being, for whom they have the highest veneration, and teach the necessity of strict morality. They believe in a superintending providence, that God is infinite, that our thoughts are not hidden from him, that he rewards the truly good with eternal happiness, and that vice is punished in the future state. Mr. Maurice in his Indian Antiquities says, that Confucius strictly forbade the use of images of the Deity and the deification of dead men; that in his dying moments, he encouraged his disciples, by predicting that-S1 FAM YEU XIM GIN; in occidente erit SANCTUS, in the west the Holy one would appear. Hence, he continues, it appears probable that he was enabled by divine inspiration to predict the advent of the Messiah in Palestine, which is the most westerly country in Asia. See Indian Antiq. Vol. V. p. 803. In a treatise lately published by the Missionary Society, I find some things which appear of such importance, as to be worth communicating. This book contains "selections from sacred books which are most generally read by the people of the vast empire of China, and which are regarded as the elements of morals and liberal knowledge;" translated by a gentleman of established character and talent, now residing in China as a missionary. The title of the book, in the Chinese tongue, is PUSA, which relates to the revelation of the RELIGION OF FOE. It will appear, I think, sufficiently evident, that the whole has reference to the revelation of the divine will at Sinai, and to the coming of Messiah. The book Pu-sa says, "He communicated the four truths, and the LAW returning in a circle"; i. e. the four truths or four books which is understood "and the law returning in a circle"; viz. The book of Deuteronomy, which is only a repetition of the law delivered to Moses. Again, "He (Pu-sa) remained in the world and spoke of his law forty years," which agrees with the Bible. Moses received the law at Sinai when he led the Hebrews from Egypt, and he taught them this law forty years. Again in the book of Pu-sa, " At the same time," Foe further added, "I now take my robe, composed of golden threads, and deliver it to you, that you may place it in the sanctuary of Deity, and preserve it from injury till the age of mercy shall arrive when Foe shall appear." So this perfectly agrees with the description of the priestly habit, which was given to Moses, to be placed, as the Chinese phrase is "in the sanctuary of Deity to be preserved from injury till Foe should appear." Nothing can be more evident than the meaning and application of this passage, namely, that the garment or "robe composed of golden threads, which was to be preserved from injury till the age of mercy should arrive, when Foe should appear," was the robe of Aaron the high priest. This, in plain terms, means that the Mosaic dispensation, with the rites and ceremonies should continue until Messiah, i. e. Foe, should appear." The word FOE appears to be derived from the Hebrew word y Phoe, see Isaiah ch. xlii. v. 14, אפעה N'I will cry,' saith the Lord to the prophet: a customary phrase in scripture when God redressed the grievances of his people. : PU-SA is literally derived from - Pusah, which means an embroidered robe, such as was worn by the priests, to typify the various glories and graces irradiating from the divine light. Joseph wore an embroidered coat; and as it is certain that the birthright, consequently the priesthood, was at this time confined to Joseph, Jacob's first-born by Rachel so it was put on him to signify his right to the priesthood. In like manner, it was worn by the priests of other nations, as was the custom from the most ancient time, when the promise of Messiah was given. When the Hebrews went into Egypt, Joseph, who married the daughter of the priest of ON, still wore this emblem of the divine favor, and officiated as a priest among his people to the time of his death. That Joseph officiated, agreeably to his birthright, as a priest among his people in Egypt, is clear not only in the translation, but much more so in the original, which signifies that he was the representative of the Shepherd, the stone of Israel. Gen. xlix. 24. This word, therefore, was used by other nations, and with propriety applied to Moses, who was the great high-priest of God, before the order was chang I Parkhurst. |