MORE BIBLES.
As the notices of several bibles prepared for the first edition were left out from fear of making the book too large, I have concluded to insert a brief notice of some of them here.
1. Dhammapada, or "Path of Virtue." This sacred book has constituted the moral and religious guide of several hundred millions of Hindoos for many centuries. It is probably the oldest record of the Budhistic faith. It is assumed to be a collection from the pitakas, which are principally compilations from the discourses of the incarnate god Gautama, written out by his disciples. It was pronounced genuine and canonical by a famous council which met in 246 B. C., under the reign of King Asoka. Max Müller says, "Its moral code, taken by itself, is one of the most perfect the world has ever known." Spence Ilardy, and' Johnson, both speak highly of the work. It contains many wise, beautiful, and lofty moral precepts, of which we will give a few specimens:—"Haste to do good." "Give to those who ask." "Master thyself, and then thou canst control and teach others." "Select for friend? the best of men." "Be just, speak truly, act nobly," etc.
2. Tripitika. This book is divided into three parts hence its name, which means "the three pitikas." Like the Dhammanada, it is a history of some of the gods, and sets forth their lives and precepts. It forbids the commission of sin, and enjoins the practice of the highest virtues. "In no system," says Amherly, "is benevolence and charity more emphatically inculcated." Chastity is recommended, and a life of spotless virtue in every respect enjoined. The former work appears to be made up principally by selections from this.
3. Other sacred books might be mentioned, such as "The Paradise of Fo," "Confucius and his Disciple," "Catena of the Chinese Budhistic Scriptures" "The Baghavat Gita," "The Sanhita," "Sudras" (appendages to the Sunhita), "Divine Opherisms of Kanada," "The Uphanishads" (a commentary on the Vedas), "Saddharma Pundosika" (another commentary), "Worship and Psalmody of the Maharades," etc. Some of these works are either other titles for those previously described, or are additions, appendages, or commentaries. And thus it will be observed the world is full of bibles and scriptures.