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serve God in spirit and in truth after the law of Jesus,
according to the Gospel.”
A Turk, a customs officer in Surat, who was sitting smoking
his pipe, turned at this to the two Christians with an earnest
look.
“It is useless for you to be so certain of the truth of your
Romish religion,” said he. “Your faith has already been
superseded by Mohammed’s teaching for six hundred years
past. Moreover, as you can see yourself, Mohammed’s correct
doctrine is spreading more and more both in Europe and Asia,
even in enlightened China. You yourself recognise that the
Jews are rejected of God, and that the proof of it is that they
are abased, and their faith is no more on the increase. Only
those who believe on God’s last prophet shall be saved—and of
these Omar’s followers alone, and not those of Ali, for these
are unbelievers.”
At this remark the Persian theologian, who belonged to Ali’s
sect, wished to reply. But at that moment a general dispute
arose between all the strangers of different religions and
creeds. There were Abyssinian Christians, Indian Lamas,
Ishmaelites, and fire-worshippers. They all disputed about the
essence of God, and how He ought to be worshipped. Everyone
maintained that only in his land was the true God known
and worshipped as He should be. All quarrelled and shouted
at one another. A certain Chinese alone, who was there, a
disciple of Confucius, sat quietly in a corner and took no part
in the hubbub. He drank his tea, and listened to what the
others were saying, but himself kept silence. The Turk, who
caught sight of him during the dispute, turned to him and
said: “Help me, dear Chinese. You are silent, but you
can very well say something to support my contention. I know
that just now different religions are being introduced into
China. Your merchants have more than once told me that
you Chinese look upon the Mohammedan religion as the best of
all, and willingly embrace it. Come to my assistance, and say
what you think of the true God and His prophet.”
“Yes, yes!” chimed in the others, as they turned to him.
The Chinese Confucian shut his eyes, thought awhile, and
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