The Shénpao finds it difficult to understand how the belief in spirits and devils has become so universal, but thinks it has possibly arisen—in the case of devils from fear of their power of doing evil, and in the-case of spirits from flattery in order to obtain happiness. But do' not' men Imow - that arises from weakness which the devils take advantage of? or, in other words, that the man's own weakness has weakened his power of resistance, thus proving the: proverb "fear devils and devils appear." When; too, happiness comes to. men' from.virtue-and honesty;
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.