Page:The Chinese Repository - Volume 01.djvu/74

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60
Gutzlaff's Journal;
June,

When there is a calm, the sailors generally contribute a certain quantity of gilt paper, which, pasted into the form of a junk, is set adrift. If no wind follows, the goddess is thought to be out of humour, and recourse is had to the demons of the air. When all endeavours prove unsuccessful, the offerings cease, and the sailors wait with indifference.

Such are the idolatrous principles of the Chinese, that they never spread a sail without having conciliated the favour of the demons, nor return from a voyage without showing their gratitude to their tutelar deity. Christians are the servants of the living God; who has created the heavens and the earth; at whose command the winds and the waves rise or are still; in whose mercy is salvation, and in whose wrath is destruction; how much more, then, should they endeavour to conciliate the favour of the Almighty, and to be grateful to the author of all good! If idolaters feel dependant on superior beings; if they look up to them for protection and success; if they are punctual in paying their vows; what should be the conduct of nations, who acknowledge Christ to be their Saviour? Reverence before the name of the Most High; reliance on his gracious protection; submission to his just dispensations; and devout prayers, humble thanks-giving, glorious praise to the Lord of the earth and of the sea, ought to be habitual on board our vessels; and if this is not the case, the heathen will rise up against us in the judgment, for having paid more attention to their dumb idols, than we have to the worship of the living and true God.


The Chinese sailors are, generally, as intimated above, from the most debased class of people. The major part of them are opium-smokers, gamblers, thieves and fornicators. They will indulge in the drug till all their wages are squandered; they will gamble as long as a farthing remains; they wdll put off their only jacket and give it to a prostitute. They are poor and in debt; they cheat, and are cheated by one another,

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