did and said. While the Saviour was in the world, what he did and what he taught the people are contained in this book. The man then asked, What sort of person was the Saviour of the world? I answered, he was the son of the Most High God, who, seeing mankind deceived by the devil, and going on in the way of wickedness, which leads to destruction; but ignorant of that good way which leads to everlasting life,—left the glories of his heavenly state and was born into the world as a man. He in the first place taught the import of the Sacred Scriptures—the way in which men should walk—what is requisite in order to be saved from depravity and iniquity and brought to the right way. Afterwards he gave his own precious body to suffer and to die that he might atone for men's sins against High Heaven—(here the writer goes onward to the resurrection; the command to preach the gospel to all nations; and to our Saviour's ascension). The man said,—So good a book—I should like you to lend me it to read. I replied, I'll make you a present of it to read. If you find any parts that you don't understand, please to come to me, and I'll explain them to you; or you may pray to the Most High God, in the name of the Saviour, for the Holy Spirit to move your soul, and cause you to know the mysteries of the Gospel.—The man received the Book thankfully, made his bow, and went away.
5th. At the village , composing religious Tracts.
11th. (Sunday.) When reading in the Prophet Isaiah, a man named Yu came to me, and said,—You are usually on other days writing and composing books; why do you limit yourself to reading to-day. I replied—This day, according to the Holy Scriptures, is a sacred day of rest, in which it is required to cease from all sorts of labour; to give repose to the body, and to worship God; to thank him for graciously nourishing and presenting us; also to read the Holy Scriptures, for the nourishment of our souls; that we may cherish virtuous thoughts, and-dispositions; perform virtuous actions; and, considering the deeds of past days, may reform speedily what is wrong, and be more zealous in what is right. This is keeping the holy rest of the Sabbath. Yu replied, suppose we who do not know the true Scriptures, do not keep the holy day of rest, do we act very wrong? I answered,—Through ignorance not to keep the day, the error is light; to know clearly the command, and yet refuse to keep the holy day,—the sin is greater. For the holy rest of the Sabbath, is a manifestation of the gracious intentions of the Most High God to mankind. Because during six days we have to toil much for the support of the fleshly body; but on the seventh day, we are to desist from these toils of mind and body, that we may nourish the soul. And man's divine spirit is more enduring, and more honorable and important than man's fleshly body, which, at the longest, will not exceed a hundred years' duration; man's divine spirit lives forever—it is an undying spiritual thing; &c.
