Don't look at Zeng Guofan's path as all scholars, he is really a little different.

Although he became a member of the second rank and was the right attendant of the Ministry of Rites of the Sixth Department of the Central Committee, he never stopped thinking about putting into practice the way of Confucius and Mencius that he had learned.

He didn't count on his Manchu colleagues.

Even their Han Chinese colleagues were mostly subservients, and the most important thing they thought about was not to offend those Manchu royal families.

Therefore, when he and Mai Ke discussed the issue of "Xi", he rekindled his dream of many years.

At the same time, this also made him, consciously or unconsciously, make up his mind to oppose the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom to the end in the future.

Seeing that he fell into a deep groan again, Mai Ke continued the comparison and conclusion just now: "Disheng, do you now agree that the basic proposition of Christianity is to love others, and the essence of Confucius and Mencius is to be loyal to the king, not the benevolent and loving others as you said at the beginning?"

"My understanding of Christianity has changed now, and I agree with you that Christianity requires "love"; However, it is not always possible to do what is required! I have heard many people say that Christianity is very unkind to those who do not believe in the same faith as themselves. ”

Zeng Guofan seems to know a lot about Christianity, but it is all negative news.

"You're right, there is such a thing, but we can put it aside first, first talk about what the basic proposition of the two is, and then talk about the solution, how about it?"

McKee decided to take a different path.

"In that case, I think I can agree with what you just said, there is a difference between the two. Lao Zeng did not dwell on this level, and then asked, "So, how does Christianity 'love others'?"

"Before answering this question, Disheng. Let me ask you a more fundamental question first, do you agree that at the beginning of human beings, nature is inherently good, or is nature inherently evil?"

McKee took another detour.

"Haha, there is really no definite answer to this question, I agree with the beginning of educating young children in the "Three Character Classic". Sex is good, and I agree that sex is similar, Xi is far away, education and good influence are needed, and children can learn well; at the same time, I said to Xunzi that at the beginning of the person, sex is not very opposed, and it seems to be more and more so. ”

Zeng Guofan seems to be relatively aware of the current situation.

"I think Ha, Disheng, you may not have noticed a contradiction in the inherent goodness of human nature: if human nature is originally good. Moreover, if everyone is well, there will be nowhere to come from that evil environment, and there will be no need to change places and pick on the environment! The fundamental reason for the emergence of these phenomena is the evil nature of human nature. ”

"I don't really have anything to do with you saying that. Maybe the Three Character Sutra describes the state that Master Dacheng dreamed of recovering, I think. ”

"It's possible. Self-denial was what his old man pursued all his life! If you look at the understanding of Christianity, it is even more interesting! The Christian Bible says that man was first created. Human nature comes from God, and it is really good by nature. That is, to meet God's standards.

"It's a pity that the ancestors didn't resist the temptation and sinned, and from then on, they turned away from God, that is, they became inherently evil; I think Confucius is talking about retro ideals, Xunzi is talking about sad reality, Disheng, do you think that's the case?"

"Makes sense! Actually, that's it. Master Dacheng's understanding of reality is the same as Xunzi's, otherwise he wouldn't need to go back to the world! If people are all good by nature, will they not be kind when they go back?"

Lao Zeng really has a touch of bypass.

Later, Zhu Zi's advocacy of preserving the principle of heaven and destroying human desires is also a truth! If human desires are not evil, why should they be destroyed? And this evil ** obviously comes out of this evil nature. ”

This high-ranking Manchu education minister appears to be well-versed in the past and the present.

"Hahaha, Brother Disheng is so right. The two agreed, at least on this aspect, that it was a reality that human nature was inherently evil.

It was with that consensus as a basis that it was possible to continue the discussions.

"Brother Mai Ke is not bad!"

Mai Ke threw it into a peach, and Lao Zeng repaid it with a li.

"But what does this have to do with the Christian lover you mentioned earlier?"

"It has a lot to do with it! Human nature is evil, people act according to their nature, will they love others?"

McCor asked.

"Of course not! I guess it's all harmful. Even if it doesn't hurt others, it's because it's because of the fear of harming others and causing harm, not because of the desire to love others. ”

Zeng Guofan replied.

"Therefore loving others is something that a man who is evil in nature cannot do. Mai Ke pointed to the root of the Christian faith: "Therefore, the solution to the problem of Christianity is to change people's hearts, and change the original evil into good." ”

"Don't say it, in fact, the way of Confucius and Mencius is also doing this, but it is not as clear as you say; what we attach the most importance to is education! The first teacher also put forward the principle of non-discriminatory education, that is, there is education without class. ”

However, I must tell you the key differences: Christianity also has teachings and doctrines, but these are auxiliary; the real change of hearts is God's own work, and man is only an assistant to God in the process! I guess Brother Disheng has not heard of it, I guess. ”

"It's really unheard of! But what you're saying is very interesting, and I'm curious to know more about Christianity now! You mentioned that God has turned man's evil into goodness, can you tell me how to do it? I want to learn to do it. ”

Mai Ke smiled secretly, your brother is also like Lao Hong, he wants to become a god? After you know the true God we believe in, you won't think like this.

He gave him an outline of how God saves people, that is, changes people's hearts.

Mai Ke is worthy of being a priest license, and it didn't take long for him to explain this rather complicated issue to Lao Zeng.

After asking a few more questions, Mai Ke gave further answers, and Lao Zeng felt that he was quite clear, and felt that if someone asked him, he could be a teacher!

Naturally, he didn't understand what Mai Ke's position was.

There are two things about God's work: the first is that the Savior Jesus died on the cross to save people and atone for their sins, so that sinners' sins can be forgiven. Otherwise, all people must pay for their sins and give their lives. Isn't that right?"

"Very good summing up!

The second is that the Holy Spirit works in the hearts of people to understand the first point, realize that they are sinners, repent and confess their sins, and accept the Lord Jesus as their Savior and Master of life! There should be nothing wrong with that. You also emphasized that no one can know the Lord Jesus without the guidance and illumination of the Holy Spirit. ”

I would like to tell you another point, which is that God tells Christians this way, and these revelations of God are recorded in the Bible. ”

Mai Ke deliberately emphasized the source of the Christian faith, lest he think that it was a good idea from Mai Ke, even if he agreed.

As he spoke, he took out a Bible for him to read, and Lao Zeng took it. looked through it carefully and asked Mai Ke if he could lend it to him for a while and then return it.

Although this is Mai Ke's last Chinese version of the Bible, after thinking about it, I still agreed, anyway, Lao Hong still has one there, and it will be reprinted in large quantities in the future.

"Brother Disheng, I would like to ask you a personal question. What do you mean by this baptism? It seems very similar to Christian baptism. ”

Mai Ke finally asked the question.

Introduce himself from the beginning. Mai Ke thought, this is a life. Isn't that what it means to be born from water?

Could it be that there is a mystery here?

As soon as he heard this question, Lao Zeng's black face, which was more than rigorous and lacked agility, showed a warm smile.

I can't help but think of his mentor and father-in-law's cultivation and expectations for him, and his wife's help to him.

Ouyang Ningzhi, this respectable old man, Ouyang Bingyu, a unique virtuous lady who values more than life. There is no substitute in his success and in his life.

"It doesn't matter, I can tell you: I got this from the contents of a letter my wife gave me, and as a self-encouragement, she encouraged me to "wash away the old shame and come back to life as soon as possible." Disheng, that is, "to wash away the old self and get a new life". ”

Literally, the name "Diesheng" is 100 percent compatible with Christian regeneration and salvation.

"Thank you for informing me. My sister-in-law is really very virtuous, and I must convey my respect to her when I have the opportunity. ”

"That's no problem, if you have the opportunity to come to my house and taste the hometown snacks she makes herself, it will be even more praised. ”

"We must find an opportunity to visit the house! We will continue to finish the topic we have just said, and our views are basically the same, that is, the main content of Christianity is to love others, and the way to love others is to require everyone to love others, and the reason why people can love others is to change the original evil human nature, and this change is made by God, and all these contents are recorded in God's Word, in the Bible.

"Yes, that's what I understand and remember, but I'll also tell you, Brother Mai Ke! It's one thing for me to remember, and it's another thing to follow it.

"After I got the fame, although I have been in charge of some etiquette affairs in the Northern Economy, I have been waiting for the opportunity to fully practice the way of Confucius and Mencius, and applying it to the world is my greatest ambition! ”

When he said this ambition, his tone was firm, his expression was fiery, and his eyes suddenly radiated a fine light.

Even if he didn't know that Mai Ke in front of him was his biggest opponent, and the two would fight in an all-out battle in the near future, the latter still felt his strong fighting spirit.

It's no wonder that this will be the final battle of the great minds that have been built up for 2,000 years.

Mai Ke's heart suddenly rose again to eliminate this potential opponent.

The guy in front of him, although he is not particularly smart and changeable, his perseverance and perseverance to the end are too terrifying.

Once the same people gathered, were supported by the Manchu government, and had a rudimentary understanding of Christian thought and advanced Western technology, they would be very difficult enemies to be able to take-for-tat countermeasures.

Seeing that Mai Ke's face was a little cloudy, his eyes were a little dazed, and the calm and serenity of the past had also receded, Lao Zeng asked in some surprise: "What's the matter, Brother Mai Ke?

Of course, he couldn't have guessed that Mai Ke was a time-traveling person, and he knew everything about his old background.

"It's nothing, I admire Brother Disheng's persistence. ”

Mai Ke finally suppressed the idea of killing the national domain, and opened the topic: "Didn't you say that you had something to do with me at the beginning? ”

Lao Zeng patted his head, "It was all the conceptual questions you raised that led me and almost forgot about my business! I heard that you came from the United States, and I wanted to learn some advanced American technology, but I did not have the slightest ideological obstacle to learning those things." ”

Mai Ke knew that this brother was a very enlightened Westernist, who had applied it to the world, and also included foreign use in China, as long as he did not touch the root of Confucius and Mencius's way, he would gladly adopt it.

Therefore, Mai Ke generally introduced to him some technical means that the United States had at that time that China did not have.

Well, since you don't want to change, I shouldn't kill you now, just try to achieve it in the future.

I can only ask the Holy Spirit to work on you, so that you can truly cleanse your sinful old self and have a completely transformed new life, worthy of your name of purification.

(To be continued.) )