"In that case," rejoined Wei, "goodness should abound in the Empire
and evil should be scarce. Yet among birds, kites and falcons outnumber
phoenixes; among beasts, wolves are many and unicorns are few; among
growing plants, thorns are many and cereals are few; among those who eat
cooked food and stand erect, the wicked are many and the virtuous are
few; and in none of these cases can you say that the latter are evil and
the former good. Can it be possible that what man regards as evil, God
regards as good, and _vice versa_? Is it that God is unable to determine
the characteristics of each, and lets each follow its own bent and
develop good or evil accordingly? If He allows good men to be put upon,
and evil men to be a source of fear, is not this to admit that God has
His likes and dislikes? From of old until now, times of misgovernment
have always exceeded times of right government; and when men of
principle have contended with the ignoble, the latter have usually won.
Where then is God's love of good and hatred of evil?"

Yu Li Tzu had no answer to make.

The _Tan yen tsa lu_ says, "If the people are contented and happy, God
is at peace in His mind. When God is at peace in His mind, the two great
motive Powers act in harmony."

Where is God?--The _Pi ch'ou_ says, "The empyrean above you is not God;
it is but His outward manifestation. That which remains ever fixed in
man's heart and which rules over all things without cease, that is
God. Alas, you earnestly seek God in the blue sky, while forgetting Him
altogether in your hearts. Can you expect your prayers to be answered?"

This view--"For behold, the kingdom of God is within you," St. Luke
xvii. 21,--has been brought out by the philosopher Shao Yung, A.D.