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376 HONDA THE SAMURAI.
in the annihilation of the soul with the body. I
thought, also, that all things which exist in the
world were the works of nature and there was not
any Being who created and governed them. I also
believed in the original purity of the heart, as Confucius
and his followers taught. These three articles
are fundamental to the scheme of Chinese ethics, but
are exactly opposite to the doctrine of Christianity.
" Several years having so passed, at last there came
a time when I was delivered out of darkness into
light.
When I was undergoing my term of houseconfinement
for intending to take the life of Commodore
Perry, I got from Mr. Koba a book which was
written in Chinese, treating in general of Christianity,
by a missionary in Shanghai. This was the first
book written on the subject that I had ever read.
This also was the first time that I was informed of
anything about the religion of Jesus, except as I had
vague impressions about it as I read the name of
Yasu, or Jesus, on the public edict-boards, or heard it
described as sorcery by my nurses and grandmother.
My impression then was that it would have a more
powerful effect on the minds of men in conducting
their moral life than the doctrine of Confucius
would, because Christianity teaches us to regard this
world as only a temporary abode, but the next to be
eternal.
I also came to the conclusion that the fear
of punishment in the world to come can restrain the
most violent passions ;
while the hope of coming
happiness inspires courage to strive after good.
I
had not any idea myself of accepting these doctrines