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THE 
 
 KING OF GLORY 
 
 -OR- 
 
 THE MOST IMPORTANT EVENTS 
 
 ■IN 
 
 THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST, 
 
 ■W1TH- 
 
 THEIR PRECIOUS AND PRACTICAL LESSONS 
 TO HUMANITY. 
 
 REV. LEROY McWHERTER, B. S., 
 ii 
 
 Author of "The Three Kingdoms," and Minister in the C. P. Church. 
 
 2 
 
 PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHOR, 
 
 GREENE VILLE, TENN. 
 1885. 
 
 \ 
 

 Entered according to the Act of Congress, in the year 1884, by 
 
 L. McWHERTER, 
 
 tn the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D, C. 
 
 ELECTROTYPED AT THE FRANKLIN TYPE FOUNDRY, CINCINNATI, O. 
 
TO 
 
 The Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, who died for me, and 
 hath washed me in his own blood, unto whom is ascribed 
 power, dominion and glory forever, is this little volume 
 most humbly and affectionately dedicated, 
 
 By the Author. 
 
The King of Glory is Lord of all, 
 
 The Majesty of Heaven, before whom we fail— 
 
 A Royal Prince, on a royal throne, 
 
 With a sceptre of love and a power unknown. 
 
 Who is this King of Glory ? the Lord of hosts ; * * * the 
 Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle, he is the King 
 of Glory. — Bible 
 
 This King of Glory, or Lord of hosts, 
 Is the Morning Star of a world once lost; 
 The Sun of Righteousness, shining bright, 
 O'er lands once wrapped in sable night. 
 
^I^EP AGE 
 
 The divine record, which gives the life-story of Jesus, is incom- 
 plete. The inspired historians are silent upon many points of intense 
 interest. The four Evangelists give but a brief synopsis of the public 
 ministry of the Heavenly Missionary. Their Gospels are all confess- 
 edly fragmentary, omitting even to catalogue many of his mighty 
 miracles and matchless discourses. What little they have given, how- 
 ever, suggests, to the fruitful imagination, much more that must have 
 happened to fill up the vacant spaces in, and give symmetry and full- 
 ness to, the sacred story. 
 
 The grandest lessons of the Saviour's life touch our hearts most 
 deeply, when our vivid imaginations supply much, which makes them 
 more human and home-like. The force, fervor and fullness of his 
 words, works and ways sink deepest into our souls, when we link pos- 
 itive with revealed truth and, with his sacred biographers, view his 
 grand, but mysterious life from the varied stand-points of a four-fold 
 Gospel. The power and glory of that divine, but humanized life can 
 only be seen and felt, in all its richness and adaptation to the wants 
 of suffering humanity, when its precious, and practical lessons stand 
 out before the world as the fruits of the most vivid imaginations, or 
 the products of the most highly cultured intellects. These grand les- 
 sons, of his matchless life, are ever lifting men to a truer, purer and 
 nobler manhood, while the saddest memories, of his vicarious death, 
 are constantly opening new fountains of joy and gladness in the souls 
 of redeemed humanity. 
 
 In this volume we have gone back of the cradle, and beyond the 
 cross. Yet we are not unconscious of the fact, that we have but im- 
 perfectly written a life, which was perfect in all its parts — infinitely 
 perfect in its embryo state, and absolutely perfect in all its grand de- 
 velopments. Yours truly, 
 
 L. McWHERTER. 
 
(90NIHBNIPS 
 
 ^~o~o 
 
 CHAPTER 
 
 I. The Nativity of the King 
 
 PAGB 
 
 7 
 
 II. 
 
 The Infancy of the King 
 
 • 25 
 
 III. 
 
 The Childhood of the King . 
 
 • 43 
 
 IV. 
 
 The Boyhood of the King 
 
 • 54 
 
 V. 
 
 The Nature of the King .... 
 
 . 71 
 
 VI. 
 
 The Titles of the King .... 
 
 106 
 
 VII. 
 
 The Ministry of the King 
 
 • 139 
 
 VIII. 
 
 The Crucifixion of the King . 
 
 . 184 
 
 IX. 
 
 The Resurrection of the King 
 
 . 215 
 
 X. 
 
 The Ascension of the King 
 
 . 246 
 
THE NATIVITY OF THE KING. 
 
 Chapter I 
 
 Unto us a child is bom. — Is a. 9:6. 
 
 The birth of Jesus is the greatest event upon record. 
 It is one of the grandest links in the world's history. 
 The night of the King's nativity was the beginning of 
 a new era to all subsequent ages. The Manger of 
 Bethlehem was the birth-place of new hopes, and a bet- 
 ter history for struggling humanity through all time to 
 come. 
 
 The King of Glory became a Helpless Babe ; took 
 upon himself the form of a servant, and was found in the 
 likeness of mortal man, that he might fill the world with 
 the wonders of his grace, and heaven itself with the full- 
 ness of his glory. His birth mingled the fears of help- 
 less humanity with the brightest expectations of future 
 happiness. At his incarnation, the star of hope, like a 
 signal-light, hung in beauty and loveliness upon the 
 eastern horizon of a dark and benighted world. In his 
 life, the sorrows of earth ripened into the joys of heaven. 
 And in his death, the shame and agony of the Cross 
 melted away into the sceptre of power and the throne 
 of glory. 
 
 Jesus was most emphatically a Child of both prom- 
 ise and prophecy. The declarations of the venerable 
 
 (7) 
 
8 PROMISE AND PROPHECY. 
 
 patriarchs, and the predictions of the ancient prophets 
 blended with perfect harmony in pointing to the advent, 
 and describing, with the utmost accuracy and clearness, 
 the person, character and glory of the Coming Messiah. 
 Some of these interesting promises and Messianic proph- 
 ecies were confided to ancient tradition for the benefit 
 of those ages; but the more important were consigned 
 to the Sacred Records for perpetual preservation. The 
 pious Jews and the devout of all nations waited long and 
 anxiously, with deepest solicitude and most ardent de- 
 sires, for the confirmation of these sublime declarations, 
 and the consummation of these inspired predictions. 
 
 Strange as it may seem, in the Saviour's mysterious 
 and miraculous birth we have simply the verification of 
 many precious promises, and the fulfillment of many 
 princely prophecies given to the world centuries before 
 the advent of Heaven's earth-born King. Yes, as a 
 prelude to his coming, the unerring fingers of promise 
 and prophecy pointed, for thousands of years, to the 
 time and place of his manifestation in the flesh. Fi- 
 nally, the Pledged King made his strange appearance, 
 and light broke in upon a dark, dead world, to roll in 
 floods of glory over the great sea of human life. 
 
 Jesus was truly a Child of Promise. The Old Testa- 
 ment is full of pledges the most sacred of a Coming 
 Saviour. The primitive promise, made to Adam, pointed 
 to Christ as the Seed of the Woman destined to bruise 
 the serpent's head. The leading promises, made to 
 Abraham, found their fulfillment in the person and pur- 
 poses of Jesus. He was also the Seed through which 
 this patriarchal father was to bless all the families or 
 nations of the earth. Heaven's richest benediction up- 
 
A CHILD OF PROMISE. 9 
 
 on the head of this ancient worthy contained a most 
 positive promise of a Coming Messiah, through his lin- 
 eage. It assured him that the Seed promised to Eve 
 should also be the Offspring of his own royal progeny. 
 Jesus was just as truly the Promised Seed of Abraham 
 as he was the Immaculate Son of God. He was both 
 the Promised Prince of Israel and the Pledged Re- 
 deemer of the world. The captive race waited and 
 watched with deepest interest, most intense anxiety, 
 and, at times, with brightest anticipations for its Royal 
 Deliverer. Israel's types and shadows, symbols and 
 sacrifices, private fasts and public festivals, all kept 
 prominently before the minds of the people her Prom- 
 ised King. They also bore the most sacred testimony 
 to all nations, of his exalted character and merciful mis- 
 sion amonqr men. 
 
 The fabulous legends of antiquity contain many brill- 
 iant points illustrative of the miraculous birth, marvel- 
 ous life, and mysterious destiny of the Virgin's Son. 
 The true and the beautiful of these old legends found 
 their fulfillment in the person of the Nazarene, and 
 were but the symbols of his most eventful life. Many 
 of these trite traditions were preserved by means of 
 unique and poetical images, until they made an indeli- 
 ble impression upon the mind of the ancient world. 
 These traditional legends betoken the possibility, at 
 least, that God portrayed more fully to our first parents 
 the nature and mission of the Promised King, than he 
 afterwards gave to the Jews through Divine Revela- 
 tion. Hebrew tradition itself annihilates the pernicious 
 effects of the fall by means of a Voluntary Oblation, the 
 offering of a Just Man, who was to be the salvation of 
 
IO A CHILD OF PROPHECY. 
 
 all who put their trust in him. The traditions of the 
 Arabs also taught that an indulgent and merciful God 
 would finally vouchsafe to fallen man a Way through 
 which to implore his unmerited forgiveness. These 
 and similar traditions, associated with the bloody sacri- 
 fices of innocent victims, established among all nations, 
 kept alive in the memory of many generations, the 
 Promised Victim, which was afterwards slain upon 
 Calvary. 
 
 Jesus was preeminently a Child of Prophecy. The 
 prophetic age was burdened with the predictions of a 
 Coming Deliverer. The highest anticipations of deliv- 
 erance were at times almost universal. The popular 
 mind of the Jews was often wrought to its highest ten- 
 sion. Burning hopes glowed through these Messianic 
 prophecies, like fire through the clouds of heaven. 
 They fired the hearts and centered the thoughts of all 
 Israel on the one great event of time — the Nativity 
 of the King of Glory. The millions of pilgrims, who 
 flocked to the annual feasts at Jerusalem, carried these 
 expectations of a great coming Jewish King throughout 
 all the nations of the earth. The sequel shows that 
 this prophecy was not speculative. Inspired predic- 
 tions never harmonize with erroneous or mere specula- 
 tive opinions. Inspiration's truths are all absolute. 
 They reflect the lights of heaven and the shades of hell. 
 
 Ancient sages had been singing for centuries of a 
 brighter and better day that would dawn in the fullness 
 of time upon their wretched race. The songs of Zion's 
 seers were rich with the thought that the King of Glory 
 at his coming would usher in a golden age upon a world 
 steeped in sin and saddened with sorrow. The voice 
 
THE GOLDEN CHAIN OF PROPHECY. I I 
 
 of inspiration had been heard, all along down through 
 the ages, fortelling the advent of a Great Redeemer who 
 would come as the Consolation of Israel and the Desire 
 of all Nations. In fact, there is a golden chain of 
 prophecy, the first link of which was clasped in the 
 consecrated cradle of the New-born King, and the last 
 of which was riveted in the empty sepulchre of the 
 Risen Saviour. 
 
 Centuries after the fall of man, the venerable old 
 patriarch Jacob lay upon his death-bed away down in 
 the land of Egypt. The dying father called around him 
 his sons, the twelve patriarchs, and pronounced upon 
 each of them a prophetical blessing. But when he came 
 to the fourth-born, with Messianic light from the eternal 
 w r orld bursting in upon his departing soul, he said, The 
 sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a law given 
 from between his feet, until Shiloh come ; and unto him 
 shall the gathering of the people be. Moses, the great 
 Leader of Israel, said by way of encouragement to the 
 people, A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up 
 unto you, of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye 
 hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. 
 Balaam, bribed by Balak, to curse Israel, in the valley 
 of willows, being enlightened by the Spirit, in a Mes- 
 sianic vision, exclaimed, I shall see him, but not now: 
 I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a 
 Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel. 
 Isaiah, the prince of prophets, saw him as a Lamb slain 
 from the foundation of the world. Ezekiel, the prophet 
 of the Captivity, beheld him spring up as a Plant of 
 great Renown. Daniel, in his glorious vision, recog- 
 nized him in the person of the Holy Prince. Micah 
 
12 THE HOPE OF A LOST WORLD. 
 
 saw him coming forth as the Ruler in Israel. Haggai 
 hails him as the Desire of all Nations — a King who 
 should fill the Holy Temple with his matchless glory. 
 Zechariah saw him growing up as a Tender Branch, and 
 seated as a Chief Priest upon his throne, bearing his 
 glory in a rule amid the counsels of peace. While 
 Malachi witnessed his rising, as the Sun of Righteous- 
 ness, with healing in his beams for all who feared his 
 glorious name. Now, Jacob's Anticipated Shiloh, Moses* 
 Great Prophet, Balaam's Rising Star, Isaiah's Slain 
 Lamb, Ezekiel's Plant of great Renown, Daniel's Holy 
 Prince, Micah's Ruler in Israel, Haggai's Desire of all 
 Nations, Zechariah's Fruitful Branch and Malachi's Sun 
 of Righteousness, all pointed prophetically to the coming 
 Nativity of the King of Glory. 
 
 It was but natural that these precious prophecies, 
 pointing to the advent of a Mighty Redeemer, should 
 cheer up the drooping spirits of a fallen race, and guild 
 the horizon of their future with the hope of a glorious 
 day that would soon dawn in all its magnificent splendors 
 upon a lost and ruined world. But, in the lapse of time, 
 the shadows darkened. The religion of the Jews became 
 burdened with traditional rites and ceremonies. The 
 worship of the only true and living God had been inter- 
 woven with homage paid to dumb idols. Base impostors, 
 substituting memory for hope, had grouped around their 
 own cradles the wonders of prophetic lore which clustered 
 around the anticipated incarnation", and pointed out so 
 minutely the high and tragical destiny of the King of 
 Glory. 
 
 But through all these dark vicissitudes the pious of 
 earth did not lose sight of the divine assurances of a 
 
A BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH. 13 
 
 Coming Saviour. They lived in the faith of an Ex- 
 pected Messiah ; and, in default of further revelations 
 from heaven, their very lives became prophetic of his 
 incarnation and power in the world. Even the guilty 
 and wretched of the race were still looking through 
 these dim and distant prophecies for the mysterious 
 advent of a Mighty Deliverer. The most profound his- 
 torians, both Jewish and Pagan, inform us that at the 
 time of the King's birth, an intense conviction prevailed 
 throughout the entire East that ere long a Powerful 
 Monarch would arise in Judea, and, beginning at Jeru- 
 salem, would extend his dominion over all the nations 
 of the earth. Hence, the Eastern sages bent their 
 steps aright when, in keeping with the voice of proph- 
 ecy, they followed his natal star to the City of David in 
 search of the new-born King of Glory. 
 
 A brief biographical sketch of the King's parentage 
 will not be without interest in this connection. It will 
 also lead us most naturally to the events immediately 
 connected with His humble though royal birth. For 
 these interesting reminiscences we are indebted largely 
 to uninspired writers, and consequently can not vouch 
 for the truthfulness of all their detailed statements. 
 
 Joseph, the adoptive father of Jesus, was the son of 
 Jacob, and a just man, the noblest of God's creatures. 
 He was an honorable Jewish patrician, whose fortune 
 had likely been swallowed up in some political revolu- 
 tion, or Judean war, leaving him only his manly arms 
 and humble trade by which to support himself and a 
 large family. Israel had no castes in her society. 
 Hence manual labor was no disgrace to her purest and 
 best sons. Some of her tribes, it is true, were more 
 
14 THE ADOPTIVE FATHER. 
 
 illustrious, and some of her families more noble than 
 others. But among the twelve tribes, Judah had al- 
 ways held the preeminence. Among her many fami- 
 lies, the house of David was ever the most highly hon- 
 ored. And Joseph was both of the lineage of Judah, 
 and also of Davidical descent. Yet this high-born old 
 man was a contented widower, and an humble carpenter. 
 
 Joseph was poor in this world's goods, but he pos- 
 sessed treasures of grace, and a sanctity of soul which 
 fitted him preeminently for the position he was called to 
 occupy. He was not the most powerful, but the safest; 
 not the wisest, but the most worthy of all the sons of 
 Judah to become the protector of the Maiden Mother 
 and the guardian of her Infant Son. So Mary did not 
 lower her dignity so very much after all by espousing 
 the village carpenter. In fact, their marriage proved to 
 be a holy and most happy alliance, fraught with bless- 
 ings alike congenial to both. Joseph proved to be a 
 loyal husband, and in affection a most devoted father, 
 whose chief and constant thought was the care of his 
 Virgin wife, and the protection of her Royal Offspring. 
 
 Mary, the mother of Jesus, also sprang from the lion 
 tribe of Judah and the royal family of King David. She 
 was born in the city of Nazareth, and educated in the 
 Holy Temple at Jerusalem. The names of her parents 
 were Joachim and Anna. Her father was of Nazareth, 
 and her mother of Bethlehem. They married. Their 
 lives were pious and faultless before men, and plain and 
 right in the sight of the Lord. They grew rich, but 
 were exceedingly charitable. They had lived together 
 for about twenty years in the esteem of men and the 
 favor of God, but without children, when they made a 
 
THE VIRGIN S PARENTS. 1 5 
 
 solemn vow, promising the Lord if he would favor them 
 with an offspring they would devote it to his most 
 sacred service for life. 
 
 Just after this had occurred, Joachim, and others of his 
 tribe, went up to Jerusalem with their offerings to attend 
 the Feast of Dedication : but when the high-priest saw 
 him, in company with his neighbors, he despised both 
 him and his offerings. He also asked him why he, being 
 childless, had presumed to appear among those who had 
 children, claiming that the offerings of one who had been 
 judged unworthy of an offspring would not be accept- 
 able to God. This unexpected, and unjust reproach 
 confounded Joachim with shame and sorrow. So he 
 would not return home, lest his neighbors should pub- 
 licly reproach him in the same manner ; but retired to 
 where his shepherds were keeping their flocks in the 
 wilderness; and there he fasted forty days and nights in 
 prayer and supplication to his God. 
 
 Soon after this an angel stood by him with a great 
 light, and seeing he was troubled at his appearance, 
 said, Joachim, be not afraid, for I am an angel of the 
 Lord, sent to inform you that your prayers are heard, 
 and your alms accepted of God, who hath both seen 
 your shame and heard you unjustly reproached for 
 having no children. The angel then informed him that 
 God was the avenger of sin, but not of nature ; and that 
 when he caused barrenness it was that the offspring 
 might not be the product of lust, but the gift of his 
 grace. The heavenly messenger also referred very 
 touchingly to the barrenness of the beautiful Sarah, af- 
 terwards mother of Nations; then to the beloved Rachel, 
 mother of Joseph, the deliverer of his people: and finally 
 
1 6 THE ANGEL TALKS WITH JOACHIM. 
 
 to the honored mother of the valiant Samson, and the 
 holy Samuel, who were numbered among the distin- 
 guished judges of Israel. 
 
 The angel then told Joachim that his wife Anna 
 should bring forth a daughter, that they should call her 
 name Mary, that she should be filled with the Holy 
 Ghost, and according to their vow be devoted to the 
 Lord from her infancy. He also said that the child 
 should neither eat nor drink any thing unclean, nor have 
 her conversation among the common people ; but be 
 reared in the Holy Temple, that she might not fall under 
 slander or suspicion of any thing that was bad. But his 
 most marvelous revelation was, that, in the process of 
 years, this same holy child, who was to be born in a mi- 
 raculous manner of one who was barren, should herself, 
 while yet a virgin, in an unparalleled way, bring forth 
 the Son of the Most High God, who should be called 
 Jesus, and according to the signification of his name be 
 the Saviour of all Nations. The sacred messenger then 
 gave Joachim the following sign as an evidence of the 
 truthfulness of his words, and quickly departed : When 
 you come to the golden gate of Jerusalem, you shall 
 there meet your wife Anna, who, being very much trou- 
 bled that you returned no sooner, shall rejoice greatly 
 at your coming. 
 
 The angel then appeared to Anna, who mourned both 
 on account of her barrenness and supposed widowhood, 
 and informed her also that a daughter should be given 
 her whose name she should call Mary, and that she 
 should be blessed above all women. He said she should 
 be full of grace from her birth, continue three years 
 with her parents and then, being devoted to the service 
 
THE VIRGINS BIRTH. 1 7 
 
 of the Lord, she should not depart from the Temple 
 until she arrived at the years of discretion ; and while 
 yet a virgin and a maiden she should bring forth a Son, 
 who by his grace, name and works, should be. the Sav- 
 iour of the world. The heavenly comforter then gave 
 Anna the same sign he had given her husband, and sud- 
 denly disappeared. So they both left the places where 
 they were, and, in keeping with the angel's prediction, 
 met at the golden gate of Jerusalem, where they related 
 each to the other their angelic visions ; and being fully 
 satisfied, with the promise of an heir, they rejoiced and 
 gave due thanks to the Lord, who exalts the humble and 
 rewards the faithful. 
 
 In due time Anna brought forth a daughter, accord- 
 ing to promise, and they called her name Mary. The 
 child increased in strength, and they made her chamber 
 a holy place, suffering nothing uncommon or unclean to 
 come near her. When she was a year old her father 
 made a great feast at which he presented the Virgin to 
 the chief priests, who took her and said, The God of 
 our fathers bless this girl, and give her a name famous 
 and lasting through all generations. The old legendary 
 writers surrounded the childhood of the Virgin with a 
 multitude of strange prodigies which are not sufficiently 
 authenticated to warrant a notice in this connection. 
 
 When Mary was three years old, accompanied by 
 other undefiled daughters of the Hebrews, they brought 
 her into the Holy Temple with suitable offerings by 
 which their vow was perfected. They presented the 
 interesting little Virgin to the high-priest, who received 
 •and blessed her, saying, Mary, the Lord God hath mag- 
 nified thy name through all generations, to the very end 
 
1 8 MARY IN THE HOLY TEMPLE. 
 
 of time ; and placing her upon the third steps of the 
 Altar she ascended the stairs with the grace of one of 
 perfect age, and all the people loved her devotedly. 
 Her parents were also filled with wonder, and left her 
 praising God, because she did not desire to return home 
 with them, but willingly remained with the other virgins 
 in the apartments assigned them, where they were to be 
 reared and educated in the Holy Temple. 
 
 As the young Virgin advanced in years, she also in- 
 creased in all of the graces and perfections of woman- 
 hood. So, when she arrived at the age of fourteen, the 
 wicked could lay nothing worthy of reproof to her charge, 
 and the good all admired her purity of life and chaste 
 conversation. 
 
 At this juncture the high-priest made a public order 
 to the effect that all the virgins of her age, being of 
 proper maturity, who had public settlements in the 
 Temple, should return home, and, according to the cus- 
 tom of their country, endeavor to get married. The 
 other virgins all readily yielded obedience to this com- 
 mand. But the Virgin Mary said she could not comply 
 with it, because her parents had devoted her to the 
 Lord, to whom she had also vowed perpetual virginity. 
 This brought the high-priest into a difficulty. He did 
 not wish to dissolve a vow, neither did he desire to in- 
 troduce a new custom to which the people were entire 
 strangers. So he called the principal persons of Israel 
 together and counseled them as to how he had best 
 proceed in so difficult a matter. They unanimously 
 agreed to seek directions from the Lord. This resulted 
 in a call for all of the marriageable men of the house of 
 David to come and bring their rods, that he by whom 
 
THE MYSTERIOUS BETROTHAL. 1 9 
 
 the Lord would show a sign, might become the husband 
 of the Virgin Mary. So, when they presented their rods 
 to the high-priest, a dove proceeded out of the rod of a 
 certain widower advanced in age, flew upon his head, 
 emblematical of his purity, and every one saw plainly 
 that the Virgin was to be given to Joseph. When the 
 usual ceremonies of betrothing were over, Joseph re- 
 turned to Bethlehem to set his house in order for the 
 marriage. But the Virgin, with several other maidens 
 appointed to attend her, returned to her home in Galilee. 
 The long looked for period had arrived. The time 
 for the incarnation of the King of Glory was at hand. 
 The angel Gabriel received the mysterious message for 
 earth, and gladly withdrew from the shining courts of 
 heaven. The celestial messenger spread his vast silvery 
 wings, and with lightning speed left behind him the golden 
 streets, the palatial mansions, the emerald walls, and the 
 pearly gates of the Heavenly Jerusalem. He soon 
 reached the end of his delightful journey with his mes- 
 sage of mercy, and a countenance all aglow with angelic 
 joy. Descending softly through the hazy air like a falling 
 star, he most gracefully lowered himself in the humble 
 town of Nazareth. The heavenly harbinger sought at 
 once the presence of the meek and modest maiden, and 
 hailed her with his mysterious salutation, as the highly 
 favored of the Lord. The virtuous Virgin was much 
 troubled at his angelic presence, wondrous ways, and 
 marvelous words. His unexpected eulogy, his strange 
 story, and his celestial majesty, were well calculated to 
 stir her sincere soul to its utmost depth. But the merci- 
 ful messenger mildly said, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast 
 found favor with God. The Holy Ghost shall come 
 
20 GABRIEL S WONDERFUL STORY. 
 
 upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall over- 
 shadow thee, and thou shalt bring forth a son, and call 
 his name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the 
 Son of the Highest : and the Lord God shall give unto 
 him the throne of his father David : and he shall reign 
 over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom 
 there shall be no end. This was glory enough for the 
 highly honored Maiden. Virginal maternity was with- 
 out a precedent under the sun: yet Mary, the purest and 
 holiest of all Virgins, believed its announcement by the 
 holy angel, and meekly replied, Behold the handmaid 
 of the Lord, be it unto me according to thy word. 
 
 Then the angel departed, and, in a few days, Mary 
 hastened to the hill country of Judea to visit Elizabeth. 
 When she entered the home of Zacharias and saluted 
 her cousin, Elizabeth recognized in the voice of her sal- 
 utation the Mother of her Lord : and, being filled with 
 the Holy Ghost, she pronounced a prophetical blessing 
 upon the humble Virgin, which called forth from her lips 
 that beautiful and ever memorable canticle of praise in 
 which she magnified the Lord for her exaltation in be- 
 ing chosen Mother to the world's Promised Redeemer. 
 Mary remained with Elizabeth about three months, up 
 to the birth of John the Baptist, and then returned to 
 her home in Nazareth of Galilee. 
 
 Soon after this, Joseph went from Bethlehem to Naz- 
 areth for the purpose of marrying his betrothed Virgin. 
 But, seeing her condition, he was much distressed in 
 mind, and sorely grieved at heart. Not knowing what 
 course to pursue, he finally purposed privately to put 
 an end to their agreement, and as privately to put her 
 away. But while he meditated upon these things, an 
 
JOSEPH AND MARY ARE MARRIED. 21 
 
 angel appeared to him in a dream, banished every doubt 
 of her guilt, and confirmed every hope of her innocence. 
 Joseph knew now that Mary had been guilty of nothing 
 inconsistent with her sacred vow of virginity, but that 
 her miraculous conception was a supernatural work of 
 the Holy Ghost. So he willingly married her, whom 
 he also kept in purest chastity until after the birth of 
 the King of Glory. 
 
 About six months later, the Roman Emperor decreed 
 that the world should be taxed. The customs of such 
 occasions required every man in Israel to be at his na- 
 tive city. So Joseph returned with his family from Naz- 
 areth to Bethlehem. When they reached the little city, 
 they found the public inn full to overflowing. They were 
 the recognized descendants of David, Israel's greatest 
 King; but their honored lineage could not secure lodg- 
 ing for them in the great house which still bore the 
 name of their royal ancestor. They were forced, at 
 length, to seek shelter for the night in a dismal, door- 
 less, stony cell — a cave used for a stable. 
 
 The time had now fully come for the fulfillment of 
 the Messianic oracles delivered by the prophets of Is- 
 rael. The night of the Nativity came silently on in all 
 its oriental loveliness. The ashen gray began to mingle 
 with the snowy white around the borders of the distant 
 horizon. The evening shades drew nearer, and a thin, 
 hazy appearance gathered, like the smoke of incense 
 from off some vestal altar, over the honored city of 
 David. The soft twilight, like silvery mist, melted 
 away in the deep blue sky, and the beautiful stars of 
 night, as if kindled by one electric flash, burst forth in- 
 to flame all over the broad domains of darkness. A 
 
22 THE BIRTH OF CHRIST. 
 
 strange light enveloped the cave, and a signal glory 
 veiled the canopy of the heavens. Here the holy Vir- 
 gin gave birth to the world's Royal Redeemer, wrapped 
 him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger. 
 Here prophecy found its fulfillment: For unto us a 
 Child was born. Here the New-born King, whose 
 throne has been exalted above all the kings of the 
 earth, found his first bed among the beasts, and his first 
 cradle among the poor. But he, who was born in such 
 an humble place on earth, lives in the most exalted 
 state in heaven, where he will reign through everlasting 
 ages as the King of Glory. 
 
 However, the humble manner in which this Extraordi- 
 nary Child made his advent into the world did not long 
 conceal the glory of his coming. The holy angels soon 
 made known to some honest shepherds, who were on 
 the plains of Bethlehem, keeping night-watch over their 
 tender flocks, the incarnation of the long Expected Mes- 
 siah. The celestial song flooded the skies and rolled 
 over the earth, in the richest strains and sweetest melo- 
 dies of heaven, as the angel throng chanted in raptur- 
 ous joy, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth 
 peace and good will toward men. 
 
 "In heaven the rapturous song began, 
 And sweet, seraphic fire 
 Through all the shining legions ran, 
 And touched and tuned the lyre. 
 
 "Swift through the vast expanse it flew, 
 And loud the echo rolled: 
 The theme, the joy, the song was new- 
 'Twas more than heaven could hold. 
 
THE SHEPHERDS WORSHIP HIM. 23 
 
 "Down through the portals of the sky 
 The impetuous torrent ran, 
 And angels flew, with eager haste, 
 To bear the news to man : 
 
 "' Peace on the earth, good will to men, 
 From heaven's all glorious King.' 
 The world in solemn stillness lay, 
 And heard the angels sing." 
 
 The heavenly music ceased. The angelic vision dis- 
 appeared. The delighted shepherds took counsel to- 
 gether and started for Bethlehem. They soon reached 
 the cave, beheld the Babe, and offered, in deepest hu- 
 mility, the mite and homage of the poor to their Infant 
 King. 
 
 It seems strange that these humble men of toil were 
 informed, while kings and princes were left in ignorance 
 of the advent of the King of kings and Lord of lords. 
 Even the devout priests, honored Pharisees and learned 
 Rabbis knew nothing of the Wonderful Babe in the 
 Manger. Hence they had taken no account of the 
 Virgin-born Prince whose throne was to be set up in 
 the hearts of millions, and whose kingdom was to endure 
 as the sun, for ever and ever. 
 
 The high estate and lowly condition of Heaven's 
 earth-born King were alike the marvel of men and the 
 wonder of angels. So, when the enraptured shepherds 
 had found and worshiped the King of Glory, they re- 
 turned to their nocks, praising God and publishing 
 through the mountains the marvelous story of that 
 holy night, and the glory that should follow in the days 
 to come. 
 
 The nativity of our King should be commemorated, 
 
24 THE KING S BIRTH COMMEMORATED. 
 
 with gifts of love and songs of joy, by young and old, in 
 all lands and in all ages. It should be made an event, 
 annually, of great joy to all people — joy to the poor, be- 
 cause the King came to make them rich : joy to the 
 rich, for he came to make them richer still : joy to^ the 
 simple, because he came to make them wise unto salva- 
 tion : joy to the wise, for he came to give them true 
 wisdom : joy to the mourning and sorrowing ones of 
 earth, because he came to comfort and bind up their 
 broken hearts ; and joy to the guilty, condemned and 
 despairing ones, for he came to take away transgression, 
 bear the sins of many, and give himself a ransom for all 
 men. Thank God, the flood of joy, which flowed from 
 the Manger of Bethlehem, is wide enough to encompass 
 the earth with its glory, rich enough to bless every hu- 
 man soul with its mercy, and deep enough to roll on 
 through all time and over boundless eternity. 
 
ffhe fnfant flpng. 
 
THE INFANCY OF THE KING. 
 
 Chapter II. 
 
 Go and search diligently for the young child. — Matt. 2 : 8. 
 
 The most sacred testimonials, from earth and heaven, 
 cluster around the innocent infancy of Jesus. They 
 draw our fond hearts, like chords of love, to the cradle 
 of his holy innocence, where wisdom and glory, in em- 
 bryo, slept with the slumber and developed with the 
 growth of our Infant King. Whether the Holy Babe 
 was sleeping or playing, the sacred innocence of celestial 
 infancy was ever enthroned upon his gentle brow. An 
 atmosphere of mildness and meekness always filled the 
 home, and surrounded the pathway of his feeble infancy. 
 
 Never before had meekness and humility been com- 
 bined with such royal majesty and matchless glory. 
 The Infant King was the Son of the Highest, — the Heir 
 of Heaven, but of poor, humble, earthly parentage, nei- 
 ther distinguished for learning, riches, rank nor power. 
 The Saviour could have astonished the world at his 
 coming. He might just as easily have made his appear- 
 ance, clothed in the splendors and glories of heaven, 
 with a shining retinue of angels to herald, with golden 
 trumpets, his royal advent into the world. But he came 
 not in the state of a King, or with the glory of a con- 
 queror ; with the parade of a monarch, or the trumpets 
 
 (25) 
 
26 THE HOLY FAMILY AT BETHLEHEM. 
 
 of victory. He chose to come, however, simply in the 
 weakness of human poverty, and the helplessness of in- 
 nocent infancy. But, in this Baby King the power of 
 heaven was only veiled for a time with the weakness of 
 earth, and the strength of omnipotence clothed in the 
 feebleness of the flesh. For this Infant of a few hours 
 was also the Ancient of Days. 
 
 The Holy Family was still at Bethlehem. They had 
 no doubt moved their head-quarters from the stable to a 
 more congenial home. The Royal Babe was cradled 
 no longer in a manger. He was now lulled to sleep in 
 the loving arms of his maiden mother. Joseph and 
 Mary doubtless looked with deepest reverence and pur- 
 est affection upon the sweet face of the sleeping Infant 
 by night, and fulfilled, with tenderest solicitude and the 
 most fervid devotion, the ministrations of parental love 
 by day. They pondered, alike in their hearts, the things 
 which they had seen and heard, wondering what man- 
 ner of man their Son should be ; and how his would 
 affect their own and the world's future destiny. Thus 
 a few days passed quietly by in the humble home of the 
 Holy Family, filled with loving service and growing 
 hope, with no eye to cast an envious glance, and no 
 heart to entertain a hostile feeling toward the New-born 
 Heir to Israel's throne. 
 
 The important events which clustered around the 
 infancy of the Baby King were well calculated to inspire 
 the world with the hope that he would one day mount 
 the royal throne of his father David, establish it in peace 
 and righteousness, and reign as King of kings to the 
 end of time. But the evangelists do not dwell upon the 
 minor incidents connected with his infancy. Luke enters 
 
THE CIRCUMCISION. 27 
 
 somewhat into details, with a singular sweetness in his 
 sacred narratives, but does not dwell at length even 
 upon the few which he mentions. In all probability he 
 gathered these fragmentary, but fragrant, sketches from 
 the consecrated lips of the Virgin mother herself. The 
 depth to which she buried, and the sacredness with 
 which she treasured, all these events in her loving heart 
 made her the fit receptacle of such delicate truths, and 
 the most natural historian of his infant years. 
 
 The four inspired Gospels of his Maturity mention 
 but four events connected with his infancy. These we 
 will now present in their regular chronological order. 
 Then we will notice briefly some of the more interesting 
 incidents narrated in the uninspired Gospels of his In- 
 fancy. 
 
 The first of these sacred events was his Circumcision. 
 This occurred in Bethlehem, according to the directions 
 given in the Mosaic law, when the Infant King was but 
 eight days old. The Supreme Lawgiver had volunta- 
 rily placed himself under the law given to regulate human 
 life. Therefore he rendered perfect obedience, to all 
 its requirements of him, as its legitimate subject. While 
 a minor he rendered passive obedience through the 
 agency of his parental guardians, and afterwards, actual 
 obedience in his own personal submission to, and ful- 
 fillment of, all its divine precepts and sacred obliga- 
 tions. He came not to destroy a single commandment; 
 but to fulfill every iota of God's law then obligatory 
 upon men. Hence he willingly submitted to the bloody 
 rite of circumcision, and thus, in this highly typical ordi- 
 nance, prefigured, the flowing of his own sacrificial 
 blood upon the cross, even when but a Tender Infant 
 
28 THE PRESENTATION OF THE INFANT. 
 
 only eight days of age. Thus early his blood began to 
 flow, to cease only in death. 
 
 But when they circumcised the Holy Infant, they also 
 gave him a name. As the angel had predicted, they 
 called him Jesus. This name was so rich in meaning, 
 and so full of promise, that its significance should have 
 been recognized at once by all Israel. Jesus, Jehovah's 
 salvation, was a personal name to be borne by One who 
 had emptied himself of all his glory that He might 
 dwell, for a time, sinless among sinful men. Christ, the 
 Anointed of the Lord, was his official name, afterwards 
 borne to indicate that he was a Prophet, Priest and 
 King in Israel. There is something in a name when 
 worthily borne. The name, Jesus Christ, is potent. It 
 bears a hidden mystery of such marvelous sweetness 
 and wonderful power as often moves the stubborn will, 
 melts the hardened heart, and subdues the rebellious 
 soul. To consecrated lips this magic name is sweeter 
 than honey or the honey-comb ; to cultivated ears, it is 
 heavenly music, and to all loving, devoted hearts, it is 
 joy unspeakable and full of glory. 
 
 "Precious name, oh, how sweet! 
 Hope of earth and joy of heaven ! " 
 
 The second of these memorable events was his Pres- 
 entation. This took place at Jerusalem when the Holy 
 Infant was forty days old, or thirty-two days after his 
 circumcision at Bethlehem. At this appointed time 
 Joseph and Mary carried their Royal Son into the Holy 
 Temple to present him to the Lord. They brought the 
 Lord of the Temple helpless into the Temple of the 
 Lord. The offerings required of the poor on such oc- 
 
A DOUBLE IN'CIDENT. 29 
 
 casions were two turtle-doves, or two young pigeons. 
 With this humble oblation, fit emblem of their inno- 
 cence and purity, the maternal Virgin presented herself 
 and Babe to the officiating priest for, and received, his 
 blessing of ceremonial purification. Jesus, being the 
 first-born Son of Mary, was of necessity redeemed by 
 Joseph from Temple service with five sanctuary shekels. 
 A double incident, his recognition by the aged Sim- 
 eon and the prophetess Anna, has rendered forever 
 memorable this first visit of the Infant King to the Holy 
 Temple. Simeon's recognition of the Little Messiah 
 especially is touchingly beautiful. As the flight of 
 years had swept on, so ardent had grown the old man's 
 faith and hope that this one thing he desired above all 
 others, that ere his eyes were closed in death they 
 might behold his Incarnate Saviour. So when the Holy 
 Family entered the sacred inclosure, with silver for the 
 ransom, and doves for the sacrifice, this good old man 
 also came into the Temple. He was a just and devout 
 man. He was extremely pious and venerable. He 
 lived in Jerusalem, and perchance was the successor of 
 Zacharias, possibly the high-priest and president of the 
 great Jewish Sanhedrim. At least he was an honorable 
 counselor, to whom it had been revealed by the Spirit 
 of Truth that he should not depart this mortal life until 
 he had seen the King oi Glory in the flesh. A legend, 
 contained in the Arabic Gospel of the King's Infancy, 
 makes the old man recognize the Sacred Babe as his 
 Saviour, in view of the fact that he saw him shining like 
 a pillar of light in the arms of the Virgin mother, while 
 angels stood around him in silent adoration, like the 
 guards of a king. Simeon, at any rate, was permitted 
 
30 THE STAR IN THE EAST. 
 
 to embrace the Heavenly Infant in his aged arms with 
 a consciousness of his Messiahship, and in his transport 
 of joy he exclaimed: Lord, now lettest thou thy serv- 
 ant depart in peace, according to thy word, for mine 
 eyes have seen thy salvation which thou hast prepared 
 before the face of all people ; a light to lighten the Gen- 
 tiles, and the glory of my people Israel. 
 
 The third of these important events was the visit of 
 the wise men to Bethlehem. The Star of the King's 
 nativity had made its appearance in the East. It was 
 seen and recognized by the Magi as the natal star of 
 the world's Redeemer. The transparent atmosphere 
 of that clime revealed the splendors of the heavens by 
 night with a glory unknown to other lands. The grand 
 phenomena of the beautiful stars, presented in that ori- 
 ental country, soon led to a belief in, and the study of 
 astrology. This superstition resulted erelong in the 
 worship of the heavenly bodies. These astrologers re- 
 garded the sun as the king of day, and the moon and 
 stars as rulers of the night. The planets, or wandering 
 stars, were their greatest mysteries. They called them 
 interpreters, and believed they did portend something 
 either fortunate or unfortunate, in all their strange 
 movements and varied aspects. They also held that 
 the position of these interpreters, at a child's birth, de- 
 termined unalterably its future fate or fortune. Hence 
 to cast " nativities " became one of the most important 
 functions of these Eastern astrologers. The Jewish 
 Rabbis at one time also dabbled in astrology. The cal- 
 culation of the stars became their chief glory. Though 
 they claimed that no planet ruled Israel, but that her 
 sons themselves were all stars. This science was at 
 
THE WISE MEN ARE SCHOLARS. 3 1 
 
 first confined to a priestly caste known as the Magi, or 
 wise men, of the East. But in after years the name 
 lost its wonted prestige, being applied to magicians who 
 practiced a much lower grade of magical arts. With 
 this class of magicians the life and portion of a child did 
 not depend in the least upon its conduct, but hung ex- 
 clusively upon its natal star. 
 
 But the Magi, of whom we speak, were no pretended 
 astrologers, or oriental soothsayers. They were wise 
 men, priestly in office and princely in power. They 
 were Persian scholars. The term Magi, as worn by 
 them, was one of dignity and power. It indicated that 
 they stood at the head of the literati of their age. 
 They came, as representatives of the Gentiles, to offer 
 their allegiance to the new-born King of Glory. 
 
 But the star which guided these wise men of the East, 
 in search of Israel's Infant King, was not one of the 
 fixed orbs which guide the pilgrim on the land and the 
 mariner on the deep. Nor could it have been one of the 
 wandering planets which move to and fro upon the 
 starry plains of night, rising and setting, sometimes 
 sooner, and sometimes later than the king of day. 
 Neither was it one of those transient meteors which burn 
 but for a moment, to go out in midnight darkness upon 
 the fields of night. It was a supernatural star which 
 led these Eastern sa^es from heathen darkness to the 
 Light of the world. It was a star brought into existence 
 by divine power for the express purpose of guiding 
 these princely embassadors to the place where they 
 could present their royal gifts, in the name of the Gen- 
 tile world, to the Infant King of Glory. 
 
 Like the pillar of fire which guided the hosts of Israel 
 
32 THE HEAVENLY BEACON. 
 
 through the barren deserts of the wilderness, so this 
 luminous star of the King's nativity led these wise men 
 of the East to the cradle of the world's Infant Saviour. 
 When they journeyed, it moved in advance of the sa- 
 cred caravan. But when they pitched their tents for the 
 night, it gently balanced itself over their camp like a 
 sleeping albatross upon poised pinions in the heavens. 
 
 " Beauteous star! once brightly beaming, 
 In the far off orient clime; 
 Still thy brilliant rays are streaming 
 Down the minster-aisles of time. 
 
 " Not alone, thou heavenly beacon, 
 For the Magi dost thou shine; 
 Not alone they heed thy token, 
 Hastening to Messiah's shrine. 
 
 " We, who dwell in later ages, 
 
 Hail the glorious Saviour's birth ; 
 We, with oriental sages, 
 
 Bearing gifts, would hasten forth. 
 
 "Oh! we love to hear the story, 
 How the Lord of life and light 
 Left his blissful home in glory, 
 To illumine earth's dark night. 
 
 L i Shine thou on, O starry stranger : 
 Tell the aged and the young 
 Of the Infant in the Manger, 
 And the song the angels sung. 
 
 "Shine thou on, O heavenly beacon, 
 To remotest regions shine, 
 Till all nations thou shalt beckon 
 To Messiah's holy shrine." 
 
THE STAR LED SAGES ENTER JERUSALEM. 33 
 
 But when the Magi caught sight of the lofty towers 
 and glittering domes of Jerusalem, their beautiful guide 
 suddenly disappeared in the depth of the deep blue 
 sky. The God of heaven does not uselessly prolong 
 his miracles when human agency is a sufficient guide : 
 so thought the devout Magi ; and hence they entered 
 the Holy City at once, and inquired of those who ought 
 to have known, where they would find the new-born 
 King of the Jews. 
 
 These star-led sages reached Jerusalem a few days 
 after the presentation of the Holy Infant. The strange 
 report soon went the rounds in the Holy City. It 
 passed from lip to lip, and from home to home. Certain 
 members of the priestly caste from Persia are in the 
 city, desiring information concerning a New-born King 
 to the Jews, whose natal star, they say, has guided 
 them from their distant homes in the East to the Prom- 
 ised Land. Such an embassy upon such an extraor- 
 dinary mission was well calculated to throw the entire 
 city into a perfect commotion. The people were wild 
 with enthusiasm, and thrilled with hope. The expecta- 
 tion, even of the Rabbinical schools, was raised to its 
 highest pitch of excitement. Strange catastrophes and 
 unusual phenomena in nature had often been coincident 
 with the greatest events in human history. Why, then, 
 should they doubt the prophecy of Balaam and their 
 own traditions, which prepared them to believe that a 
 great star would make its appearance at the advent of 
 the King-Messiah? They expected their King to come 
 as a Beacon Star, shining amid the sorrows and sins of 
 earth, and casting a halo of divine glory over the gloom 
 
 and darkness of death. 
 3 
 
34 HEROD THE GREAT. 
 
 But while the Baby King, cradled in the Manger at 
 Bethlehem, slept sweetly in its holy innocence, — upon 
 his couch of gold, in the most gorgeous chamber of his 
 royal palace, at Jerusalem, lay a sleepless king, old in 
 years, but older still in crime and misery. He lived in 
 his own palace, in constant dread of the assassin's knife, 
 hating and behated by all around him. He had fought 
 his way to the throne with bloody hands and a crimson 
 heart. He had retained his sceptre at the sacrifice of 
 many human victims. The memories of a murdered 
 wife and slaughtered children reproached him still by 
 day, and haunted him ever by night. Sleep, for weeks, 
 forsook his eyes, and slumber departed from his eye- 
 lids. A strange rumor terrified and vexed his jealous 
 soul. It was currently reported that the Legitimate 
 Heir to David's throne had been born in Bethlehem of 
 Judea. He had also been told that angels had cele- 
 brated his birth with songs of joy and tidings of glad- 
 ness. This king was Herod the Great, who had lost 
 every thing worth living for. His peace of mind was 
 gone, his honor lost, and his soul forfeited. Bleeding 
 victims stood around him, in his dreams by night, and 
 the Descendant of Israel's ancient kings was the burden 
 of his heart by day. The fatal predictions kept afloat 
 by the Pharisees, and the divine oracles of the ancient 
 seers were revolved over and over in his mind, until, in 
 his imagination, he saw the Warrior King upon his 
 royal throne, overrunning the world with his victorious 
 conquests. These things, bitter as wormwood, sank 
 deep into the dark and desolate soul of the aged mon- 
 arch. 
 
 On the day that the Magi entered Jerusalem, unfavor- 
 
THE MAGI BEFORE HEROD. 35 
 
 able reports were brought up hourly from the troubled 
 city to the suspicious and bloodthirsty old king. Night 
 came on, and he turned the strange reports over and 
 over in his mind, trying to divine what they did portend, 
 as he lay tossing upon his royal couch. He was mad- 
 dened with fear, and saddened with remorse. At length 
 he dozed; but started in his sleep, for he caught the 
 gleam of a dagger behind the drapery of his golden couch. 
 He shuddered, for he heard his oppressed subjects rising 
 in revolt along the streets of the city. He arose, for 
 he felt his throne shaking beneath him with the throes 
 of a mighty revolution. He awoke, but found it all a 
 dream. Herod was old, diseased and dying. Few and 
 evil were to be the remaining days of his wretched life. 
 But he was finally resolved that the Infant King of 
 Bethlehem should not embitter his exit out of this, into 
 a still darker world. Willing to extinguish at one stroke 
 all the glories beheld by the prophetic seers of Israel, 
 he decreed that Bethlehem's new-born King should 
 die. 
 
 In order to accomplish the wicked purpose of his heart, 
 Herod summoned the authorities of Israel before him at 
 his palace, and demanded of them the prophetic birth- 
 place of their Expected Messiah. They readily re- 
 sponded, Bethlehem of Judea. He now dismissed the 
 Jewish authorities, and privately called the wise men of 
 the East to his palace. He questioned them closely as 
 to the time when the star had made its appearance, and 
 then, under pretense of a similar desire with themselves 
 to worship the Infant Redeemer, he gave them the 
 desired information, and started them to Bethlehem, 
 saying, Go, search diligently for the young child, and 
 
$6 THE MAGI GO TO BETHLEHEM. 
 
 when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I 
 may come and worship him also. 
 
 The Magi gave the most implicit credence to these 
 false and deceptive words of the Idumean king, and 
 departed with gladness for the city of David. And 
 lo, when they were but a short distance from Jerusalem, 
 their sacred guide reappeared, and went before them 
 until it came and stood over where the Divine Infant 
 lay. They had grown familiar with this lovely star, and 
 hence hailed its return, in this time of need, with exceed- 
 ing great joy, even as the coming oi^ a faithful friend 
 whom they had mourned as lost. But when these joy- 
 ful sages reached the city of Bethlehem, and marched to 
 the spot pointed out by the beautiful star which hung 
 in loveliness over the residence of the Holy Family, they 
 entered the house, beheld the Celestial Infant, and 
 offered him their royal gifts in acts of the most devout 
 adoration. They felt that they were well paid for the 
 toils and privations of their long and tedious journey 
 when they saw the Infant Redeemer of the world pil- 
 lowed upon the maiden bosom of the Virgin mother, 
 and were permitted to fall down and worship him as the 
 earth-born King of Glory. 
 
 The divine purpose in directing these wise men to the 
 place of the King's nativity was not simply to gratify 
 their curiosity ; nor was it solely for the purpose of 
 honoring them with the exalted privilege of presenting 
 their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh to their 
 Spiritual King. This important event answered many 
 purposes in the divine economy. It aided in defeating 
 the wicked design of a wicked king. It provided means 
 for the support of the Holy Family in their flight to 
 
HEROD DUPED BY THE WISE MEN. 2)7 
 
 Egypt. It drew from the great Jewish Sanhedrim, in 
 confirmation of prophecy, the declaration that Beth- 
 lehem of Judea was to be the birthplace of the Promised 
 Messiah. It prepared the Gentiles more fully for the 
 reception of the Gospel in after-years. It also taught 
 the world, among many other valuable lessons, that no 
 gifts are too costly to be presented to the Poor Naza- 
 rene ; and that no men are so wise and great, but they 
 owe the homage and adoration of their hearts to the 
 humble King of Bethlehem. 
 
 When Herod found that he was duped by the Magi, 
 who, being warned of God, had failed to report to him 
 their success, he was exceedingly angry. The bold 
 usurper trembled with fear upon his bloody throne. He 
 rested not until he had resolved to slay every male 
 infant in and around Bethlehem under two years of age, 
 lest that one Holy Babe, whom the Eastern sages had 
 saluted as their Infant King, should escape his malignant* 
 vengeance. He who had meanly put to death his own 
 children, for fear they would shorten his wicked reign, 
 would now, in a general massacre, willingly and mali- 
 ciously murder innocent infancy by the wholesale, that he 
 might if possible defeat the purposes of heaven in the 
 death of Zion's Infant King. But not so ; the eye which 
 never sleeps nor slumbers, watched over the Babe of 
 Bethlehem for good. Joseph slept: but a celestial light 
 fell upon the face of the sleeper. A heavenly messenger 
 warned the old man in a dream of approaching danger, 
 and bade him take the Virgin and her Royal Son, and 
 flee in the silence and darkness of the night into the 
 land of Egypt. 
 
 Herod was doomed to hopeless disappointment. The 
 
38 SLAUGHTER OF THE INNOCENTS. 
 
 steps of his throne were already wet with the blood of 
 his best friends, whom he had murdered to make it 
 secure. But rank jealousy still rankled in his poisoned 
 breast. Age had brought a deeper, deadlier hatred to 
 his malignant soul, and fitted it for more terrible deeds 
 of darkness. He sat amid the splendors of his royal 
 palace in a solitude deeper than death. His anger, like 
 dark clouds on the wings of the wind, spread all over 
 the land until it settled down in its madness upon the 
 peaceful town of Bethlehem, where it gave full vent to 
 its fiery indignation in the shameful slaughter of its help- 
 less innocents. A band of soldiers went forth and exe- 
 cuted his heartless decree upon her doomed infants. 
 And a wail of woe went up from the bosom of many a 
 broken-hearted mother, whose sun of joy had been 
 totally eclipsed by this dark cloud of death, which swept 
 like a besom of destruction over their royal city. These 
 •innocent little martyrs paid dearly for the honor of 
 having been born with Jesus. But they secured the 
 greater honor of reigning with him in glory. 
 
 Herod's treacherous conduct, in this matter, teaches 
 us that those who choose this life as their portion forfeit 
 all peace on earth, and all hope of heaven. Sorrow and 
 sin darken the pathway of their pilgrimage through life, 
 and the night of death soon settles down upon their 
 guilty souls, with no promise of returning day. God's 
 withering curse seared the brain, and his almighty wrath 
 prepared a doom for Herod, which shuddering nature 
 can not contemplate without the most fearful forebod- 
 ings. He died with a nameless malady — eaten alive by 
 the worms. His doomed soul crossed the Stygian river, 
 crimson with crime, to find no entrance to the Elysium. 
 
THE FLIGHT INTO EGYPT. 39 
 
 Such is the fate of the King's enemies ; and such is the 
 doom of the damned. 
 
 The fourth of these noted events was the flight into 
 Egypt. Joseph heeded the admonition of the angel, and 
 the Holy Family started as refugees to the land of bond- 
 age. A sad journey awaited both mother and Infant. 
 They must pass over desert wastes, and under a scorch- 
 ing sun, for hundreds of miles. They must also travel, 
 with but few of the comforts of life, in constant dread of 
 being overtaken and murdered by Herod's men of war, 
 or insulted and robbed by strangers in a heathen land. 
 This was a cold reception for the Infant King, who came 
 as a Light to all nations, but was compelled to flee for 
 life, from his own country, into a land the very symbol 
 of darkness and death. 
 
 Revelation, yes, even tradition, is silent so far as the 
 details of this long and perilous pilgrimage is concerned. 
 But an unseen guardian must have guided the soft and 
 silent march of the sacred exiles. The Divine Hand 
 must have led them by day, and provided a secure asy- 
 lum for them by night. For they journeyed through a 
 desert overhung by a fiery sky, and swept by simoons 
 more treacherous than the wondrous waves of the dreaded 
 ocean. The illusive mirage of the desert often threw 
 across their trackless pathway lakes of blue and sparkling 
 waters which the thirsty travelers could never reach, and 
 filled the heavens with strange phenomena which doubt- 
 less made the Virgin mother shudder and draw her Dar- 
 ling Babe closer to her heaving bosom when no danger 
 was nigh them. So they passed on for weeks, with the 
 sun pouring his burning beams upon their defenseless 
 heads by day, and the moon shedding her soft, silvery 
 
40 THE HOLY FAMILY IN EGYPT. 
 
 light over the shadeless and barren wastes by night, 
 until, a thousand trials and dangers passed, the holy 
 fugitives were at last safe in the land of their refuge. 
 
 The Holy Family was in Egypt, the nursery of an- 
 cient knowledge ; but also the devotee of the most 
 shameful idolatry. They gazed with admiration upon 
 her granite obelisks, lofty temples and colossal pyra- 
 mids. It was a country richer and more populous than 
 the Holy Land : but to them it was wanting in charms ; 
 for it was the land of their lonely exile. The great 
 desert was stretched out between them and the native 
 home from which they had virtually been banished. 
 
 Inspiration is silent as to the sojourn of the Holy Fam- 
 ily in Egypt. Legendary writers, however, give us 
 some incidents of interest in this connection. One of 
 these quaint old legends tells us that they soon went to 
 Heliopolis, a city of considerable importance, where a 
 large colony of Jews lived. As they approached the 
 gates of the city a majestic date tree, worshiped by the 
 Arabs of the place, slowly bent its shady branches as if 
 saluting the young Master of Nature, who was cradled 
 in the arms of his Virgin mother. And, as they passed 
 quietly under the granite archway, the great idol of the 
 city, with all the idols of the neighboring temples, fell 
 prostrate to the ground, creating a wonderful consterna- 
 tion among the people. These romantic legends also 
 represent the Virgin as performing many miraculous 
 cures with the water in which she washed the swaddling 
 clothes of her Heavenly Infant. By this means, they 
 say, she gained great favor with, and received a hand- 
 some support from the people whithersoever they chanced 
 to journey. They also represent the Holy Family as 
 
AMONG THE ROBBERS. 4 1 
 
 visiting Memphis, seeing Pharaoh and abiding three 
 years in Egypt, where the Baby Jesus, it is said, also 
 did very many miracles, neither recorded in the Gos- 
 pels of his Infancy, nor yet in the Gospels of his Per- 
 fection. 
 
 After a stay, variously estimated at from one to three 
 years, in the land of refuge, God sent an angel and 
 called his Son out of Egypt. When Joseph was in- 
 formed of Herod's death, the Holy Family set out at 
 once for Palestine. Another rather remarkable legend 
 tells us that on their return they had to pass through a 
 certain desert region infested with a band of robbers. 
 Hoping to avoid coming in contact with them, they 
 passed through these parts in the night. But, behold, 
 in their journey, they found two robbers in the road, 
 accompanied by a great number of confederates, who 
 were asleep. The names of the two on watch were 
 Titus and Dumascus. Titus besought his companion to 
 let the Holy Family pass quietly along without being 
 perceived by their comrades in crime. But Dumascus 
 refused ; whereupon Titus offered him forty groats, 
 giving his girdle as a pledge, and thereby secured his 
 silence. When Mary saw the kindness shown them by 
 this robber she said : The Lord God will receive thee 
 to his right hand and grant thee pardon of thy sins. 
 Then Jesus said to his mother, When thirty years are 
 expired the Jews will crucify me at Jerusalem, and these 
 two thieves shall be with me upon the cross : Titus 
 upon my right hand and Dumascus upon my left, and 
 from that place Titus shall accompany me to Paradise. 
 
 They completed their long and perilous journey, and 
 at last reached the coasts of Judea. It must have been 
 
42 THEY RETURN TO PALESTINE. 
 
 sweet after their long and lonely exile among heathens 
 to breathe once more the pure air, and gaze again upon 
 the lofty mountains of their own dear, native, Christian 
 land. 
 
 But, when they entered Palestine, they evidently 
 intended making Bethlehem their future home. This 
 was perfectly natural. Bethlehem of Judea was the 
 honored city of their distinguished ancestry ; and the 
 birthplace of their own Royal Son. Many heroic and 
 hallowed associations clustered around the sacred city 
 of David and David's Greater Son. But circumstances 
 were such as forbade them running the risk of keeping 
 the Legitimate Heir to Israel's throne so near Jerusa- 
 lem. They were told that the treacherous Archelaus 
 had succeeded his father Herod ; and they feared, if he 
 learned of their return, he too would regard their Son 
 Jesus as his Rival for the throne, and put him to death. 
 So they went into Galilee and took up their abode, in 
 the place of their former residence, at Nazareth, that he 
 might be called a Nazarene. And so ended the inter- 
 esting history of the infantile days of the Infani King 
 of Glory. 
 
THE CHILDHOOD OF THE KING. 
 
 Chapter III, 
 
 The child grew and waxed strong in spirit. — Luke 2 : 40. 
 
 Childhood has always been surrounded, necessarily, 
 by a halo of romance peculiar to itself. Biographical 
 literature, both ancient and modern, abound with anec- 
 dotes of infancy, incidents of childhood and intimations 
 of boyhood life, as well as with the grand achievements 
 of manhood's riper years. 
 
 It is perfectly natural, even praiseworthy, for us to 
 desire to know all we can possibly learn about the early 
 life of Jesus. But, strange to say, the evangelists do 
 not mention a single incident occurring in what we 
 might properly call his childhood years. The well- 
 known surroundings of this period, with some beautiful 
 legendary stories, however, enable us to sound, though 
 with some reserve, yet with much certainty, the sacred 
 depths of this simple but sublime epoch in the life of 
 the Child-King. 
 
 The mournful days of their exile were passed, and 
 the Holy Family breathed once more the pure mountain 
 air of their own loved land. Once more they w r ere 
 housed in their humble home, at Nazareth. Of the 
 inner home-life of the Blessed Family, we know but 
 
 little. It is like the hidden streamlet, or the Holy of 
 
 (43) 
 
44 ORIENTAL HOME-LIFE. 
 
 holies, veiled from our vision. Occasionally, however, 
 we may catch a view of the lovely scene, in the study 
 of the after-life of its Central Figure. As coming 
 events cast their shadows before them, so the revealed 
 truths of his public ministry throw some bright rays of 
 light back, upon the otherwise hidden scenes of the 
 early home-life of the Wonderful Nazarene. And the 
 country, its peculiar people and their fixed customs, 
 enable us to look into that oriental home with a good 
 degree of certainty as to many of its sacred usages and 
 simple services. 
 
 Oriental life differed materially from the modernized 
 mode of living. Our ideas of progression place society 
 in a whirl of incessant changes ; while their conservatism 
 retains the habits and customs of the past with a super- 
 stitious tenacity peculiar to themselves. Orientals cling 
 by nature to the old as sacred and best, rejecting the 
 new as novel and worthless. They resist, to the death, 
 the least innovations upon the customs of their fathers. 
 Hence the mission of Jesus was doubly difficult. To 
 change the formalities of the old dispensation into the 
 spirituality of the new, was bound to meet with the 
 gravest opposition, and prove to be no easy or ordi- 
 nary task to perform. To supplant the Jewish relig- 
 ion, with its sacred forms, feasts and ceremonies, by the 
 Christian religion, with its simple but significant ordi- 
 nances, was to be a herculean work. But in after years, 
 as we shall see, our Child-King was fully equal to the 
 mighty task. 
 
 The home-life of the Holy Family, in keeping with 
 the age in which they lived, was no doubt both humble 
 and quiet, simple and serene. Its reality must have 
 
GORGEOUS PICTURES BY PAINTERS. 45 
 
 differed materially from the fancy and gorgeous pictures 
 of its most elaborate painters. They have unwisely 
 seated the Virgin mother and her Holy Child, in the 
 midst of ease and luxury, upon stately thrones, under 
 canopies of blue and purple, and mantled them with 
 robes of richest colors, embroidered with gold and 
 clasped with priceless gems. It is true, if the Child- 
 King had dwelt in the most gorgeous palace ever built 
 by human hands, this would have been a wonderful 
 concealment of his heavenly glory. Or, if he had 
 received nothing but the royal gifts and most devout 
 homage of all nations, with every language and tongue 
 burdened with his praise, still it would have been 
 infinite condescension upon his part. But how much 
 more significant and humiliating was his wonderful 
 condescension when he passed by the stately palace of 
 kings, and the marble mansions of the rich, to dwell, 
 unhonored and unknown by the world, in that humble 
 and obscure home at Nazareth! though after all it was 
 the holiest and happiest home on earth. This Virgin- 
 born Child, who came to brighten all human homes, and 
 beautify all the paths of human life, with his own tran- 
 scendent life and triumphant death, knew full well that 
 the hovels of the poor were not necessarily the abodes 
 of wretchedness, or the mansions of millionaires the 
 habitations of happiness. He knew that princely homes 
 were often burdened with the sighs and groans of wounded 
 hearts ; while the huts of poverty and penury were as 
 frequently filled with the songs of joy and shouts of 
 gladness. 
 
 This Child-King's childhood days must have been 
 very happy days. Innocence is a cause, with happiness 
 
46 THE MODEL HOME. 
 
 as one of its most legitimate effects. How fragrant, 
 then, must have been the happiest years of the Saviour's 
 life, even those sinless days of his innocent childhood ! 
 The presence of this Wonderful Child must have made 
 the humble home of the Village Carpenter the happiest 
 of all homes. The gentle and sanctifying influence of 
 one loving, consecrated heart is sufficient to breathe the 
 blessings of peace upon any unholy family circle. No 
 shameful discord can long resist its harmonizing power. 
 No vulgar tyranny can long withstand its beneficent 
 sorcery. No profane language can long linger around 
 the sacred precincts of its holy altar. But Joseph's was 
 no ordinary home. With a just and devout father to 
 guide, a loving and' devoted mother to hallow, and the 
 most interesting and innocent of all sons to illuminate 
 it with the very light of heaven, it could but have been 
 a model home, where peace, purity and piety offered 
 rare inducements to angel visitants to stay their wav- 
 ing wings awhile on earth. 
 
 A beautiful picture of the unity, love and harmony 
 of this model home is seen in a reference to it contained 
 in the Apocryphal History of Joseph the Carpenter, in 
 which Jesus himself is the Speaker. After stating that 
 Joseph had four elder sons and several daughters by 
 a former wife, of whom Justus, Simon, Esther and 
 Thomas had married and gone to their homes, Jesus 
 adds: But Judas and James the Less and the Virgin, my 
 mother, remained in the house of Joseph. I also con- 
 tinued along with them, not otherwise than if I had 
 been one of his own sons. I passed all my time with- 
 out fault. I called Mary my mother, and Joseph father, 
 and in all they said I was obedient to them. Nor did I 
 
PARENTAL AFFECTION AND ADORATION. 47 
 
 ever resist, provoke their anger, or return any harsh 
 word or answer to them. On the contrary, I cherished 
 them with immense love, as the apple of mine eye. 
 Blessed home! Wonderful Child! Would that all 
 homes could be modeled after this pattern, and all chil- 
 dren be induced to imitate this royal example of filial 
 obedience and love. 
 
 Joseph and Mary also loved the Royal Child de- 
 votedly. This passionate love of these devoted parents 
 for their Remarkable Offspring was characteristic of the 
 nation to which they belonged. The Child Jesus was, 
 no doubt, the center of attraction around which the life 
 and love of that consecrated household constantly clus- 
 tered. They not only loved, but also adored the Holy 
 Child. For while he was their Beloved Child, they also 
 recognized him as the Offspring of Heaven. Hence, 
 while there was parental affection both pure and deep 
 in their hearts, there was also holy adoration, both sa- 
 cred and devout, in their souls for the Celestial Child. 
 It was perfectly natural that Mary should love him most 
 of all, and more than all. He was her only Child, and 
 therefore the sum of her maternal solicitude and happi- 
 ness, and the chief source of her earthly joys, as well 
 as the only hope of her heavenly bliss. Mary united 
 with a mother's love a maiden's purity, and conse- 
 quently loved her Son, perchance, as no other mother 
 ever loved her child. No wonder ! Mary was a sacred 
 Virgin, called of God to nourish with her own milk, and 
 cradle in her maiden arms the precious Little King of 
 heaven. 
 
 Jesus, in the truest sense of the word, was a child. 
 He must, therefore, have looked and acted in many re- 
 
48 MATERNAL LESSONS OF LOVE. 
 
 spects much like other children would under similar cir- 
 cumstances. He, no doubt, played around the work- 
 bench, gathering chips and blocks for toys, when Joseph 
 was working at his trade. He ran playfully along be- 
 fore his mother as she carried her earthen pitcher to 
 and from the fountain for water. He busied his little 
 hands, with childish joy, assisting his parents in their 
 daily tasks. And he rejoiced, with childish fervor, when 
 his red caftan, bright tunic and many-colored sash as- 
 sured him of another pleasant visit with his parents to 
 the village synagogue. 
 
 The tutelage of her Holy Child was one of the Vir- 
 gin's chief delights. His first lessons were given by 
 her in the sanctuary of their own sacred home. The 
 richest treasures of the mother's mind and heart were 
 poured daily into the growing intellect and opening af- 
 fections of her Beloved Son. And his rapidly develop- 
 ing powers gave back in his childhood life all that was 
 grand and good in these maternal lessons of love. Just 
 as the fragrant flower sends forth the sweet odors which 
 fall upon it in the hours of sunshine and cultivated care, 
 so the Appreciative Son returned with deepest gratitude 
 all of the tender solicitude of his devoted mother. The 
 maternal toils, privations, and sacrifices of the true 
 mother always entitle her to the respect, confidence, 
 and love of the children for whom she lives and labors. 
 And they are unworthy sons and daughters who, un- 
 mindful of these sacred obligations, fail to honor and re- 
 vere her who gave them birth and watched, in tears 
 and tenderness, over their childhood life. 
 
 Under the wise counsel of Joseph, the Young King also 
 learned many of the richest and most profound lessons 
 
A GROWTH OF SINLESS BEAUTY. 49 
 
 of his childhood days. God made no mistake in select- 
 ing a counselor for his Incarnate Son. Joseph was 
 not a profound scholar, but he had a rich and ripe ex- 
 perience in the divine life, which qualified him preem- 
 inently for the soul-culture and heart-development of 
 the Young Nazarene. The Little Fellow was deprived 
 of the advantages of a regular literary education, 
 but his supernatural abilities compensated amply for 
 any deficiency in his secular training. And there were, 
 no doubt, many sweet spirits, among the favored asso- 
 ciates of his parents, who shed the light of their holier 
 natures and higher lives upon the family gatherings at 
 Nazareth, none of which would be lost upon this most 
 Remarkable Child. 
 
 Little Jesus was not endowed with infinite wisdom, 
 nor clothed with absolute power during his sweet and 
 holy childhood life. He experienced in his growth and 
 development all the limitations to which the flesh is heir, 
 with all the inconveniences of human nature in its sin- 
 less state. The Child grew and waxed strong in spirit. 
 Me grew as other children do, save his was a more rapid 
 growth — a growth of sinless beauty — a perfect and har- 
 monious development of his physical, mental, and moral 
 natures. The faculties of his mind developed so rap- 
 idly that, ere his youthful days had flown, he had at- 
 tained to the perfection of human knowledge, and was 
 reaching out after the consummation of heavenly wis- 
 dom. Though there were some things which Jesus, in 
 his human capacity, never knew, for the simple fact that 
 it was not necessary, or best that he should know them, 
 and hence the Father did not reveal them to him while in 
 the flesh. But, for a Child, he was certainly a most eager 
 4 
 
50 MORAL DEVELOPMENT. 
 
 and gifted Learner. His childish enthusiasm and unpar- 
 alleled progress must have kindled in the hearts of his 
 honored instructors the greatest admiration for the wise 
 Little King. His noble and manly bearing could but 
 have won the esteem and love of all whose exalted priv- 
 ilege it was to be intimately associated with him, even 
 in his childhood life. 
 
 The King's character, or moral nature, began also 
 to develop itself when he was quite young. The Child 
 waxed strong in spirit. In other words, he increased 
 wonderfully in his conception of moral truth, and grew 
 strong, and still stronger, in the fixedness of his pur- 
 pose to meet all the obligations of the moral law in 
 perfecting a representative character for the fallen race. 
 In this model character we find purity without a stain. 
 His little feet remained entire strangers to the paths 
 of sin and folly, while his young heart was growing 
 more and more familiar with the duties, as well as with 
 the woes and sorrows, of humanity. In his life we 
 have a sun without a spot. The rising of this Spotless 
 Sun was the death warrant of the Mosaic Economy. It 
 was the withdrawing of the sable curtains of a long 
 ebon night, and the ushering in of a brighter and bet- 
 ter day, when unfettered and redeemed humanity wor- 
 shiped the Father of all in spirit and in truth. His 
 life was a perfect exhibition of love. His young soul 
 was an entire stranger to selfishness. Love and hu- 
 mility were among the principal characteristics of his 
 childhood life. Hatred and arrogance were alike alien 
 to his royal character. His demeanor, from sweet in- 
 fancy to generous manhood, partook largely of the 
 meekness and lowliness which characterized his public 
 
THE PIOUS CHILD OF EARTH. 5 1 
 
 career in the world. He who came to heal the sorrow 
 and take away the sin of the world, was himself, even 
 in childhood, the world's great Moral Exemplar. 
 
 Early piety also characterized the childhood life of 
 the Growing King. He was truly and devotedly pious. 
 Good thoughts were perfectly at home in his pure and 
 innocent little heart. The way of duty, when made 
 plain, was easily chosen by his loving and obedient 
 soul. He walked in the ways of righteousness, even 
 during the first feeble steps of his innocent life. Min- 
 istering spirits supported the weakness of the flesh, and 
 the Pious Child of earth soon ran with alacrity and de- 
 light in the ways of God. The tender mind of the 
 Young King willingly received the truth, but positively 
 rejected the error. His little heart eagerly embraced 
 the good, but cautiously turned away from the evil. 
 His young soul warmed up under the genial rays of 
 virtue, but shunned, as it would the deadly upas, the 
 dark shades of vice. He was truly and purely spiritual 
 in his devotions from his youth up. In him was con- 
 densed all that is good, exalted, and spiritual in human 
 nature. He alone developed heaven's ideal of humanity, 
 and became the fit Representative and Guide of his 
 ruined race. Thus, in childhood's tender years, the 
 Youthful King presented the world with a model char- 
 acter, not only preeminent in its moral grandeur, but 
 also without a parallel in its spiritual excellency. 
 
 The King's pathway through life was often rough, 
 but strewn with many blessings : his afflictions were 
 sometimes sore, but always mingled with infinite com- 
 passion ; and his death was the most shameful and ig- 
 nominious, but crowned at last with eternal glories. 
 
52 AN EXAMPLE FOR CHILDREN. 
 
 The Little King was the humble Child of Heaven. 
 He manifested no artificial pride or regal haughtiness 
 in his conduct, not even through the weaker years of 
 his childhood life. He was ever courteous and obliging 
 to all around him. Hence he grew in their favor and 
 seated himself deeply in their affections. He soon 
 learned that pride and impudence were inseparable 
 companions ; that haughtiness and cruelty marched hand 
 in hand ; while humility and love always journeyed to- 
 gether, beautifying and adorning the same noble char- 
 acter through life. This royal example of the Child- 
 King points all children early to the King's Highway of 
 Holiness, which leads up through the dark trials, trou- 
 bles, and tribulations of earth to the ineffable joys, bless- 
 edness, and glories of heaven. 
 
 With this remarkable life before us we should learn, 
 early and always in our thoughts, to link with the 
 attainments, the privileges of humanity ; with the priva- 
 tions, the enjoyments of earth; with the duties, the 
 promises of religion; with the trials, the supports of 
 life, and, above all, should we link with the sins of men 
 the Saviour of Sinners. 
 
 It is the part of wisdom in children to view life in its 
 true light, and then, like the Child Jesus, fulfill, with 
 wonted fidelity, all its sacred obligations. To do this 
 we must see to it that our little hearts are rieht before 
 God ; and the sooner we get them right the better it 
 will be for us ; for then our lives will much more easily 
 harmonize with his divine will. 
 
 But, children, this Child-King lived and finally died 
 for us. We are, therefore, under special obligations to 
 him, and ought at least to live for Jesus. Think just 
 
LIVING FOR OUR KING. 53 
 
 one moment: For what, or for whom are you living? 
 Some people live only for pleasure, but lay up for them- 
 selves sorrow and deepest regret. Some live for riches 
 alone, but are exceedingly poor at death. Some live 
 for honor and renown, but die " unknown, unhonored, 
 and unsung." Others live exclusively for safety. They 
 gather around them a thousand earthly shields, but 
 finally lie down exposed to the dangers of an endless 
 death. All such persons work hardest for poorest pay ; 
 they spend most, and receive least in return ; they live 
 to no purpose, and die without any hope in death. For 
 the vain delusions of time they forfeit the lasting happi- 
 ness of eternity ; for the transient gratifications of earth 
 they surrender the infinite fullness of heaven. But, 
 children, there are those in the world who live for 
 Christ. They manifest their gratitude to him in rearing 
 monuments, sacred to his memory, in their life's con- 
 duct. They lose sight of the world in their devotion to 
 the Cross of Christ. Their feet are walking the earth, 
 but their hopes are anchored in heaven. Their treas- 
 ures and their hearts are there. They have a title to 
 an inheritance worth infinitely more than all the treas- 
 ures, riches and honors of earth. Such persons live 
 for a noble purpose, and will die in the triumphs of a 
 living faith in Jesus. Children, imitating this Child- 
 King in your lives, you may so live, so die, and finally 
 reign as kings and priests with him forever in the Par- 
 adise of God. 
 
THE BOYHOOD OF THE KING. 
 
 Chapter IV, 
 
 Jesus increased in wisdom and statwe, and in favor with God and 
 man. — Luke 2: 52 
 
 The boyhood life of Jesus is of special and peculiar 
 interest to the world. But this portion of his history is 
 almost barren of recorded facts, and must, therefore, be 
 largely conjectural. Inspiration records but one single 
 event occurring in this period of his life, and that just at 
 its close. And the gaps in the Apocryphal writings, 
 covering his boyhood days, are very numerous, and 
 some of them exceedingly large. It reminds one of the 
 majestic ruins of some ancient city of the desert, with 
 here and there a gigantic column standing as firm as 
 the everlasting hills, while all around its departed glory 
 lie the drifting sands of a bleak and sterile waste. 
 
 In many respects the Young Galilean must have been 
 much like other boys of his day and age. He possessed 
 the buoyant spirit of boyhood life. He loved the so- 
 ciety of his fellows. He enjoyed the innocent amuse- 
 ments and harmless sports, as well as the necessary rec- 
 reations, of boyhood days. He had a home congenial 
 to these natural inclinations. Nazareth was the flower 
 of Palestine. Of all the Galilean towns it is said to 
 
 have been the most lovely for situation, and most to be 
 
 (54) 
 
NAZARETH OF GALILKE. 55 
 
 desired as a retired and attractive home. It was beau- 
 tiful and romantic beyond description. It was regarded 
 in spring-time as a princely paradise, because of its 
 great number and variety of beautiful flowers. Its pict- 
 uresque streets were terraces on the hill slopes, which 
 overlooked the fertile plains and flowery vales beneath. 
 It was a mountain village, with pure air and sunshine 
 free. Then, it was a fit and fortunate home for the in- 
 nocent Youno- Nazarene. The Father made no mistake 
 in the orderings of providence which sent his Son to 
 this quiet and beautiful little city, to be reared up 
 among its lofty mountains and liberty-loving populace. 
 Here the Boy King, with his jovial companions, climbed 
 the towering hills, and rambled through the lovely val- 
 leys, as boys are naturally wont to do in their hours 
 of pastime and recreation. Here Jesus spent most of 
 the years of his earthly pilgrimage. Here the happv 
 days of his youthful life flitted away, like the golden 
 moments of a pleasant dream. Among these hills, in 
 these valleys, and on these streets, he spent the roman- 
 tic years of his boyhood life. In his humble though 
 happy home at Nazareth, drinking in the purity and 
 freedom of its mountain air, this true-hearted and cren- 
 erous Boy of Heaven, quick in intellect, vivid in imagi- 
 nation, and gifted in all the noble characteristics of 
 youthful life, developed into the perfect manhood of a 
 Wonderful Nazarene, in whom there could be found no 
 guile. Then if there be a spot on earth to which the 
 Christian pilgrim may justly turn as the place which 
 fitly symbolizes innocence, purity, and happiness, it is, 
 of all others, the sacred home of the Holy Family in 
 Nazareth of Galilee. 
 
56 BUSY BOYHOOD HOURS. 
 
 Jesus made the very best of his boyhood hours. He 
 gave none of those precious moments to idleness. A 
 large proportion of this time was given to his intellectual 
 and moral development. A greater part of this period 
 of his life was doubtless spent in a school of some char- 
 acter. For, strange as it may seem to us, we must 
 remember that the Boy Jesus passed through all the 
 stages, and was subject to all the necessities of human 
 life. He was purely a human being, Evil alone had 
 no seed, and consequently no growth in the spotless 
 Young King. The innocence of infancy was never lost 
 by him. He sanctified all the periods of human life 
 through which he passed. He lived without sin, in the 
 perfect development of all the Christian graces which he 
 afterwards inculcated, in so far as they effected a sinless 
 life. He was humanity's Ideal from the cradle to the 
 cross. His human life was a perfect reflex of the divine 
 character. His heart was the most sacred temple of 
 the Holy Ghost, which was given him without measure. 
 His soul was a divine mirror which gave back to earth 
 and heaven all of their imparted grace, and its own in- 
 nate glory. He saw things just as they were, and har- 
 monized his grand and eventful life, even during its 
 earlier stages, with all the varied scenes and peculiar 
 surroundings through which he was called to pass. He 
 made no mistake through all the sacred but perilous 
 journey of life. He continued increasing all the time 
 in wisdom as he grew in stature, and waxed stronger 
 in spirit as he augmented in favor, both with his heavenly 
 Father and his fellow-man. 
 
 The maiden mother continued to exert considerable 
 influence in the more rapid development of the wonder- 
 
JESUS IN THE JEWISH SYNAGOGUE. 57 
 
 ful character of her Sinless Son. But, after the many 
 sacred lessons given him by the Virgin and the more 
 advanced instruction of Joseph, the little Boy King was 
 carried to the Jewish synagogue for the still higher 
 training" of the learned Rabbis. For the education of 
 poor Jewish boys at that time was confined almost 
 exclusively to moral and religious instruction. During 
 this period of his life, the Rabbis were in the height of 
 their ecclesiastical glory. They had been driven from 
 the political arena by Herod the Great, and hence had 
 turned their attention chiefly to the discussion of reli- 
 gious questions. The Boy Jesus availed himself of every 
 opportunity thus presented him for the study of the Holy 
 Scriptures. He had soon mastered thousands of the 
 legal definitions and decisions comprised in the elaborate 
 religious jurisprudence of his day. So that at twelve 
 years of age he was more than an equal for the Rab- 
 binical schools at Jerusalem. Both his questions and 
 his answers astonished beyond measure even the learned 
 doctors of the law. He had not taken his seat in the 
 synagogue at Nazareth Sabbath after Sabbath in vain. 
 Neither had the Young Nazarene studied the Scriptures 
 privately, week after week, for naught. He had stored 
 away for future use, as every boy should, all the valu- 
 able lessons learned in God's holy sanctuary, or culled 
 from his Revealed Will, until his whole existence, at this 
 age, was purely and spiritually religious. 
 
 The Boy King also studied nature. His happy al- 
 lusions to, and striking illustrations from natural things, 
 in some of the richest lessons of his after-life, show most 
 conclusively that he had been a close and successful 
 student of every thing around him. But whatever he 
 
58 THE YOUNG GALILEAN'S WISDOM. 
 
 may have gathered from natural and human sources, he 
 was also the Pupil of Heaven. He opened his little 
 heart daily, and received wisdom from God, who giveth 
 to all liberally and upbraideth none. His richest lessons 
 came directly from the Father, who willingly bestowed 
 wisdom without measure upon his Divine Son, whose 
 will was completely lost in his own. 
 
 The Young Galilean had a mind sufficiently compre- 
 hensive to grasp intuitively the sequences of coming 
 events. He did not need to be brought up at the 
 feet of a Gamaliel. Neither was it necessary for some 
 learned Rabbi to initiate him into the mysteries of the 
 arts and sciences of his day. He had already learned 
 many of the grandest lessons both of science and theol- 
 ogy directly from nature and Revelation. And he was 
 also in constant communication with heaven. Hence he 
 was soon the Master of Science, and most profoundly 
 versed in sacred lore. In him were afterwards hidden all 
 the resources of knowledge, and all the treasures of 
 wisdom. The grand truths which he inculcated, during 
 his public ministery, prove most conclusively that he did 
 not receive his education solely from man. These great 
 truths emanated from a mind so vast and comprehensive, 
 and a soul so pure and lofty, that the former could 
 never have been perverted, neither the latter contam- 
 inated, by all the scholastic disputations, magical decep- 
 tions and traditional legends of the misguided age in 
 which he lived. For it must be admitted that all the 
 worldly wisdom of that period, though exhausted on one 
 individual, could never have produced such a profound 
 moral instructor as even the Boy Jesus was at twelve 
 years old. 
 
THAT INWARD MONITOR HEEDED. 59 
 
 The Young King had a meek and meditative soul, 
 vast in its youthful expansions, and infinite in its con- 
 tinued developments. He also had a lofty soul which 
 royalty could not dazzle ; an humble soul which honors 
 could not trouble ; a pure soul which knew no vexation, 
 and a noble soul which walked calmly alike through the 
 joys, and sorrows of life. Being perfectly conscious of 
 his own superiority, he journeyed on through this world 
 with his ears ever open to that inward monitor whose 
 whisperings always admonish us to flee the wrong and 
 pursue the right. He recognized in this monitor, the 
 sacred voice of his own soul speaking to the outer man 
 in accents both audible and divine. Our souls are the 
 citadels of our strength. There is light for us in the 
 path trod by the Saviour. If we journey in that light, 
 we are saved; but if we miss that path, we are lost. 
 To shield ourselves successfully from the great adver- 
 sary of souls, like the Boy King, we must guard well all 
 its sacred avenues. For, the citadel once taken, the 
 forces must all soon surrender. The soul once cap- 
 tured, and all is lost. Give thy soul to God, that it may 
 be strongly fortified against the pow T ers of darkness. 
 
 In his boyhood days, Jesus was simply learning how 
 to live that he might afterward, both by precept and ex- 
 ample, teach ethers the same great lesson. The real 
 victories of life are gained in our apprenticeship at 
 learning how to live. The master struggle for conquest 
 is right along on this line. There is no failure if we 
 have once learned this grand lesson. We can not, 
 therefore, learn it too soon or at too great a sacrifice. 
 Success and failure, both here and hereafter, are but the 
 necessary consequences of right and wrong living. Sue- 
 
60 HOW TO LIVE, LOVE AND LABOR. 
 
 cess accompanies right living just as certainly as effect 
 follows its legitimate cause. And failure, sooner or later, 
 is inevitable whenever a wrong principle controls our life- 
 actions. What is right living? It is living for God, 
 through Christ, who is our life. For, when we live 
 right, our lives are hid with Christ in God. The Boy 
 Jesus lived right. His manners were always sweet and 
 attractive. His demeanor was ever generous and cap- 
 tivating. He loved every body, and the good all loved, 
 and honored the pure and precious Boy of Nazareth. 
 He was growing large, but he still remained subject to 
 the will and wishes of his parents. He never forsook 
 the counsel of his God. The benedictions of the former 
 ever rested upon his sacred head. And he walked, at 
 all times, conscious of the divine presence of the latter. 
 The Father's grace ever distilled gently, and softly up- 
 on the Young Son, like the falling dew or the morning 
 light. 
 
 The Boy King not only taught us how to live ; he al- 
 so taught us how to love and labor. Just as his was 
 the only perfect life, so his was also the only perfect 
 love and labor the world has ever known since the fall 
 of man. His love went far beyond that of his fellows. 
 It was absolutely perfect in character, and infinitely per- 
 fect in degree. He loved with purest and deepest de- 
 votion those whose thoughts, purposes and hopes were 
 kindred to his own. But he also loved with chords 
 stronger than death his own inveterate and avowed ene- 
 mies. So he loved more than his own life all sinners — 
 even a world of fallen, depraved humanity. But the 
 Boy Jesus was also a Worker. He both sanctioned and 
 sanctified manual labor, the humble, but only honorable 
 
THE KING A CARPENTER. 6 1 
 
 means of support for a vast majority of our race. The 
 King was a Carpenter. He learned this humble trade, 
 and made it the honorable means of his support for 
 years. In this example he showed what a noble, and 
 manly thing it is to work, even where idleness is the 
 stamp o( aristocracy. He recognized in labor the girdle 
 of manliness and the salt of life. He saw that it was 
 the saviour of the body Irom effeminacy, and of the 
 soul from pollution and crime. His labors through life 
 were incessant and most arduous. And they had ref- 
 erence mainly, if not solely, to the good of those for 
 whom he toiled. No mercenary motives ever controlled 
 his actions for a moment. He was perfectly content to 
 labor for others, while he had not where to lay his own 
 sacred, and weary head. The present and future hap- 
 piness of mankind were the grand mainsprings which 
 impelled him forward, in all the labors and sacrifices of 
 his ever busy and most eventful life. 
 
 There is a unique charm, in the vein of self-denial, 
 which ran through the entire life of Jesus. His was the 
 only absolutely unselfish life ever lived on earth. And 
 it seems most unnatural to withhold the homage, and 
 adoration of our hearts from so worthy a Personage. 
 Our King lived, a man among men, sharing alike the 
 joys and sorrows of humanity, and dignifying the hum- 
 blest avocations, and professions of life in his own hum- 
 ble occupation. He made every thing subservient to 
 religion ; and thus inaugurated a system of benevolence 
 which dethrones selfish devotion to our own personal 
 interests, and crowns our lives with loving service and 
 self-sacrificing devotion for the good of others. The 
 natural currents of his benevolence, which flowed so 
 
62 A CRITICAL PERIOD OF LIFE. 
 
 freely during his ministry of mercy, broadened and 
 deepened at his sacrificial death into an overflowing sea 
 of charity toward sinning, and suffering humanity. Let 
 us ever imitate his noble example and live, love and 
 labor until the Master says : It is enough ; well done, 
 thou good and faithful servant. 
 
 Jesus was twelve years old. This was a critical age 
 for a Jewish boy. At this period of life, if not sooner, 
 he was obliged to learn a trade upon which he could de- 
 pend for his future support in case of an emergency. 
 He was also emancipated, in part, from parental author- 
 ity. At this age he became a subject of the law. He 
 was no longer counted among the "little folks;" but 
 was now recognized as belonging to the "grown up" 
 class. He was now treated more like a man than a boy. 
 This age was a decisive epoch in his literary pursuits : it 
 qualified him for the battle-field ; and also authorized 
 him to enter the marriage relation. Such were the 
 changes and conditions to which the Young King was 
 subject at this period of life. 
 
 The parents of Jesus went annually to Jerusalem, to 
 attend the feast of the Passover. The law did not re- 
 quire the presence of the women at their three great 
 Jewish festivals — the Passover, Pentecost and the Feast 
 of Tabernacles. But, the pious devotion of many mothers 
 in Israel forced them to join their husbands in, at least, 
 some of these sacred pilgrimages to the Holy City. 
 Jesus was now ready to assume the responsibilities of 
 the law in his own person. So he accompanied his par- 
 ents on this occasion, perhaps for the first time, to the 
 great feast of the Passover. This journey, through a 
 country and to a city teeming with such sacred wonders, 
 
THE BOY KING GOES TO JERUSALEM. 63 
 
 and associated with so many marvelous events in the 
 history of his peculiar people, must have exerted a power- 
 ful influence upon the Devoted Boy. They journeyed 
 on with the multitudes for several days. When they 
 caught sight, at last, of the lofty towers of Jerusalem, 
 they saw that the wings of the Roman Eagle were still 
 overshadowing her past grandeur, and concealing her 
 wonted glory. But, towering far above her massive 
 walls, with its gilded roofs and marble colonnades, were 
 seen, glittering in the sunlight of heaven, the glories of 
 that Holy Temple toward which the lonely exiles of Is- 
 rael from all lands turned, in their prayers, with such 
 deep and fervid devotion. 
 
 The Boy King was at last in full view of the great 
 city of which his royal father David sang so touchingly, 
 and for which the lonely captives of Babylon yearned, 
 with such tender emotion, as they sat weary by the 
 waters, and removed their hanging harps from the weep- 
 ing willows to wail that mournful dirge in memory of 
 her never-to-be-forgotten privileges. Knowing so well 
 its history, and seeing so clearly its coming doom, 
 the Boy Saviour must have looked with reverential 
 but sad emotions upon the Holy City. They entered 
 the metropolis, and mingled with its overflowing mul- 
 titudes. 
 
 The pilgrims, at this Passover, from every part of the 
 country, might have been numbered by thousands. The 
 city could not accommodate the vast crowds. They 
 reared for themselves temporary booths, which furnished 
 sufficient shelter for their temporary wants. This feast 
 lasted a week, and was an occasion of much happiness, 
 and deep religious emotion to many in Israel. 
 
64 THE BOY AMONG THE DOCTORS. 
 
 The great Passover ended. The immense caravans 
 started back on their homeward journeys. Music and 
 mirth enlivened their returning pilgrimages. Some 
 say the men, women and children formed three separate 
 divisions of each moving caravan, during the hours of 
 travel. At any rate, it was a very easy matter, in that 
 great sea of humanity, to lose sight, for a time, of an 
 interesting boy just budding into manhood. At night- 
 fall of the first day's journey, the parents of the Young 
 King learned that their Sacred Son was missing from 
 the band of returning pilgrims. They were much per- 
 plexed, and retraced their steps with haste to Jerusalem, 
 in search of their Lost Boy. After three days of anx- 
 ious inquiry and diligent effort, to their great surprise, 
 they found the Young Rabbi seated in the Holy Temple, 
 among the learned doctors of the law, who were both 
 charmed and confounded at the depth of his profound 
 questions, and the accuracy of his wonderful answers. 
 The sacred record informs us, that all who heard him 
 were astonished at his understanding. But the Gospel 
 of his Infancy, enlarging on this brief story, adds so 
 much to its interest, without displaying any want of 
 harmony with the divine record, or fidelity to the sacred 
 truth, that we feel disposed to give the account here in 
 full. 
 
 When Jesus was twelve years old, Joseph and Mary 
 brought him to Jerusalem to the feast, and when the 
 feast was over they returned. But the Lord Jesus con- 
 tinued behind, in the Temple, among the doctors, elders 
 and learned men of Israel, to whom he proposed sev- 
 eral questions of learning, and also gave them answers ; 
 for he said to them, Whose son is the Messiah ? They 
 
A LEARNED DISSERTATION. 65 
 
 answered, The son of David. Why then, said he, does 
 he in the Spirit call him Lord ? when he saith, The 
 Lord said to my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, till I 
 have made thine enemies thy footstool. 
 
 Then a certain principal Rabbi asked him, Hast thou 
 read books? Jesus answered, he had read both books, 
 and the things contained in books. And he explained 
 to them the books of the law, and precepts, and stat- 
 utes ; and the mysteries which are contained in the 
 books of the prophets ; things which the mind of no 
 creature could reach. Then said that Rabbi, I never 
 yet have seen or heard of such knowledge ! What do 
 you think that boy will be ? 
 
 When a certain astronomer, who was present, asked 
 the Lord Jesus, if he had studied astronomy, Jesus 
 replied, and told him the number of the spheres and 
 heavenly bodies, as also their triangular, square and 
 sextile aspect ; their progressive and retrograde motion ; 
 their size and several prognostications ; and other 
 things which the reason of man had never discovered. 
 
 There was also among them a philosopher, well 
 skilled in physic and natural philosophy, who asked the 
 Lord Jesus if he had studied physic. He replied, and 
 explained to him physics and metaphysics ; also those 
 things which were above and below the power of nature ; 
 the powers also of the body, its humors and their ef- 
 fects. Also the number of its members, bones, veins, 
 arteries, and nerves ; the several constitutions of body, 
 hot and dry, cold and moist, and the tendencies of them ; 
 how the soul operated upon the body ; what its various 
 sensations and faculties were; the faculty of speaking, 
 anger, desire ; and, lastly, the manner of its composition 
 5 
 
66 THE LOST BOY FOUND. 
 
 and dissolution, and other things which the understand- 
 ing of no creature had ever reached. Then that philos- 
 opher arose, and worshiped the Lord Jesus, saying, O 
 Lord Jesus, from henceforth I will be thy disciple and 
 servant. 
 
 But while they were discoursing on these and such 
 like things, his mother Mary came in, having been three 
 days walking about with Joseph, seeking for him. 
 And when they saw him sitting among the doctors, 
 and in his turn proposing questions to them, and giv- 
 ing answers, she said to him : My Son, why hast thou 
 done thus by us ? Behold, I and thy father have been at 
 much pains seeking thee. He replied : Why did ye 
 seek me ? Did ye not know that I ought to be em- 
 ployed in my Father's house ? But they understood 
 not the words which he said to them. Then the doc- 
 tors asked Mary if he was her son ; and when she said 
 he was, they said : O happy Mary, who hast borne such 
 a son ! Then he returned with them to Nazareth, and 
 obeyed them in all things. And his mother kept all 
 these things in her mind ; and the Lord Jesus grew in 
 stature and wisdom, and in favor with God and man. 
 
 It was perfectly natural that this learned galaxy of 
 divines should have been charmed, and confounded at 
 the presence of this noble-hearted boy as he stood be- 
 fore them, in all the beauty and simplicity of his boy- 
 hood life, discoursing so profoundly about divine things. 
 Especially was this true, when they remembered that 
 he had not been educated in the Rabbinical schools at 
 Jerusalem. For, like the enemies of Jesus in after- 
 years, they often made the very common mistake of 
 substituting erudition for learning, or knowledge for 
 
A VOICELESS PERIOD. 67 
 
 wisdom. They were slow to comprehend this impor- 
 tant fact, that true learning, or wisdom of the purest 
 and deepest mold, was independent of, and infinitely 
 above all that constituted the knowledge or erudition 
 of their Rabbinical schools. Though perfectly con- 
 scious of his divinity, having just emitted from his royal 
 majesty so many rays of his kingly glory, with all the 
 manliness and humility of a dutiful son, the Young 
 King returned with his earthly parents to Nazareth of 
 Galilee, and was still obedient to them in all the re- 
 quirements which they made at his hands. 
 
 We are told that from this time Jesus gave himself to 
 the study of the law, till he arrived at the end of his 
 thirtieth year. About eighteen years then passed away 
 with no record of his words of wisdom, or deeds of 
 noble daring. Not a footprint is left on the sands of 
 time to mark definitely any of his mysterious journey- 
 ings. We only know, that during this long period of 
 his life, it was his custom to teach in the synagogue on 
 the Sabbath day, and that by some means he captivated 
 the hearts of the people, and continued to increase in wis- 
 dom and stature, as he grew in favor with God and man. 
 During this voiceless period the Silent Nazarene must have 
 astonished the multitudes occasionally with the depth 
 of his constantly increasing wisdom. Their hearts, no 
 doubt, often melted under the gentle influence of his 
 sweet spirit of love. And at times he doubtless charmed 
 his large audiences with his youthful eloquence. For 
 his was an eloquence of his own. It was peculiar to 
 himself. It differed alike from the majestic diction of 
 the ancient prophets and the emphatic exaggerations 
 of the proud Rabbins of his day. It was simple, yet 
 
68 HIS WONDERFUL WORDS OF LIFE. 
 
 sublime. It was eloquence, the most humble in its pre- 
 tensions, and yet the grandest in its loftier flights. 
 
 During these solitary vigils of the Young Galilean, he 
 became more and more conversant with the loftiest 
 conceptions of Israel's sacred seers, who had been so 
 richly endowed through the channel of divine inspiration. 
 The learned and eloquent Young Nazarene became 
 eminently qualified to instruct, and continued to teach 
 the people in the synagogue at Nazareth. Those who 
 listened to his soul-stirring words were among the most 
 highly favored auditors ever assembled in this world. 
 For there was grandeur and harmony in the sublime 
 truths he uttered. There was life in the thought, music 
 in the voice and melody in the soul of the Young Orator. 
 Like the gentle breezes which swept the y^Eolian harp 
 of the royal prophet, the harmonious breathings of a 
 more sublime inspiration, kissed the melodious chords 
 of a sweeter harp struck by the fingers of his Royal Son. 
 The Gifted Speaker'spoke with such winning grace and 
 matchless power that his hearers were often astonished, 
 but gladly listened to his tender accents of love and 
 wonderful words of life. 
 
 The Young King spoke as one having innate authority. 
 He made no appeal to others to substantiate his state- 
 ments ; for his highest authority rested in the obvious 
 truthfulness of his own words. If he occasionally referred 
 to the Jewish Scriptures, it was simply to show how per- 
 fectly his teachings harmonized with the voice of inspi- 
 ration. This divine authority touched all hearts ; silenced 
 all lips, and forced even his opponents to acknowledge 
 that he had spoken all things well. These sacred truths 
 had never before been expressed with such childlike 
 
HIS DIVINE ART AND HOLY UNCTION. 69 
 
 simplicity and infinite wisdom. Religion had never 
 before been brought, with such authority, so near the 
 every-day life of the world. The Wise Nazarene looked 
 right down into the hearts, and expressed the ways and 
 wants of his audiences as none had ever done before. 
 His matchless voice sank into the very depth of their 
 souls, and they could but acknowledge the authority of 
 its awful and resistless power. He spake as one having 
 divine authority. Jesus above all others possessed that 
 divine art and holy unction which should ever character- 
 ize the Gospel ministry. These qualifications, so neces- 
 sary to success in the ministry, are not innate, but heaven- 
 derived. The Father bestowed them upon his Immacu- 
 late Son in all their fullness and power, because he asked 
 for them in the simplicity of his implicit faith, and with 
 a heart always open for their reception. Let the ministry 
 imitate his noble example, and they will scon be able to 
 manifest his power, and show forth his glory in the proc- 
 lamation of his Gospel of Grace to the ends of the earth. 
 We love to contemplate the private life of the Silent 
 King during these voiceless years of his sinless soli- 
 tude. Here we find an exhaustless fountain of sacred 
 
 lore. The noble Young" Nazarene knew nothing of the 
 
 <_> <_> 
 
 vile passions which corrupt the hearts, or the personal 
 sins which agitate the souls of young men, in all the 
 avocations and callings of life. His was a heart full of 
 grace, a soul replete with grandeur, and a destiny to be 
 crowned with infinite glory. Never have men seen so 
 many perfections blended in any other character. Never 
 will the world witness such grace and grandeur united 
 in a mere mortal man. Jesus was the Masterpiece of 
 Humanity, the Wonder of Ages, the Ideal of Heaven. 
 
JO THE SILENT AND SINLESS YEARS OF JESUS. 
 
 The silent hours of this secluded, and solitary life of 
 the Young King are full of precious lessons, overflowing 
 with consolation and encouragement to the apparently 
 insignificant and obscure of earth. These lessons teach 
 us that prominent action, public service and brilliant 
 success are not essentials to true and noble living. 
 They also teach us that the lot of those who spend their 
 years in private life, unhonored and unsung in the pub- 
 lic arena, is the safest and happiest lot after all. 
 
 All of these silent and sinless years of Jesus were 
 spent in toil, submission and obscurity ; in contentment, 
 humility and prayer, that he might prepare himself well 
 for life's great mission, and leave an example worthy of 
 imitation to all ages. It was during these private years, 
 in the midst of evil associations and unhallowed sur- 
 roundings, that the Spotless Nazarene developed that 
 perfect representative character for the world. It was 
 at this time, and under these circumstances that he kept 
 the law perfectly, and thus taught by example what he 
 afterwards taught by precept — how to live a life wholly 
 consecrated to the service of God. Jesus, in his private 
 life, was the Moral Hero of the world. Moral excel- 
 lency always adorned his matchless character. And his 
 laws, — personal, relative and religious, — were all rec- 
 ommended by his own example, before they were en- 
 forced by his sovereign authority. So ended the boy- 
 hood days and private life of the King of Glory. 
 
THE NATURE OF THE KIXG. 
 
 Chapter V. 
 
 Verily lie took not on him the nature of angels. — Heb. 2:16. 
 
 The nature of the King of Glory is one of the most 
 profound mysteries connected with his manifestation in 
 the flesh. This mistery consists in the harmonious 
 union of the human and divine elements in one and the 
 same Remarkable Personage. Inspiration represents 
 Jesus Christ as possessing both a human, and a divine 
 nature — as being both God and man. If we fail fully 
 to comprehend this great mystery, that is no reason for 
 rejecting the revealed fact, any more than a failure to 
 fathom the relations of a united soul and body, would 
 justify us in denying this universally admitted truth. 
 Jesus Christ was a Compound Being, with a two-fold 
 nature. He was most emphatically our God-man. He 
 was Divinity, revealed to us in humanity. To prove 
 these important truths, and in so doing to set the King 
 of Glory before our readers, in the depth of his humilia- 
 tion, and the height of his exaltation, will be our pur- 
 pose in the present chapter. 
 
 The two-fold nature of the King is seen clearly in the 
 
 four-fold Gospels of the Evangelists. They wrote their 
 
 respective biographies of the Saviour from four different 
 
 stand-points. And in this God-man of these Gospels 
 
 (71) 
 
J 2 A DIVINE PORTRAITURE. 
 
 we find the most compassionate and perfect mannood 
 mysteriously united with the Incarnate and Divine Son- 
 ship. Jesus, viewed from the stand-point of his four- 
 fold Gospel, is a person of the most profound interest to 
 all lovers of sacred history. The enemies of these Gos- 
 pels have represented their teachings as a mass of 
 myths, legends and ideal creations, unworthy the life 
 and lessons of the real or actual Jesus. This, however, 
 is but the subterfuge of ignorance and infidelity, and a 
 virtual acknowledgment of their inability to account for 
 their miraculous narratives and lofty moral tone, on any 
 other hypothesis than that of their inspiration. For 
 they know that the sacred stories of these Gospels are 
 no floating mass of visionary legends, or cunningly de- 
 vised fables, but the embodiment of truths the most 
 wonderful and sublime. They must acknowledge that 
 these four Gospels portray the same Great Character 
 from different points of view. The unity of this Char- 
 acter, as seen from these different stand-points, is suffi- 
 cient proof to disclose forever the odious fallacy, which 
 gives to this grandest of all characters a mere ideal cre- 
 ation. The fact is, and his enemies all realize it, the 
 portraiture given us by these four Evangelists was 
 copied from the life, and is the correct delineature of 
 an Individual, who really existed in the divine, but hu- 
 manized, Personage of Jesus Christ, the God-man. 
 
 These four Gospels are mere memoirs of the Sav- 
 iour's public ministry, presenting to the world the great 
 fundamental principles of Christianity. Yet, each Gos- 
 pel, viewed from its proper stand-point, is a faithful rec- 
 ord of his life, and bears on its own face certain positive 
 proofs of its authenticity and inspiration. Who would 
 
THE SYNOPTIC GOSPELS. J3 
 
 question for a moment the authenticity, ana truthfulness 
 of a Life of Washington, simply because it chanced to 
 be the result of the combined efforts of four different bi- 
 ographers, viewing ihe Father of our country, in his 
 eventful life, from as many different stand-points ? Let 
 us glance for a moment at such a Biography of this 
 truly great and good man, and see if we can find aught 
 in it to condemn or disparage. The first has written 
 from a historical stand-point, giving the incidents of his 
 life in regular detailed order, with no special reference 
 to their character or importance. The second has 
 written from a moral stand-point, noticing only such 
 events as bring out the more striking moral lessons of 
 his grand and influential life. The third has written 
 from a military stand-point, detailing most minutely all 
 of the adventures of his soldier-life with their purity of 
 purpose and deeds of heroic, and noble daring. But 
 the fourth, viewing him in the glory of his statesman- 
 ship, has written from this exalted stand-point, dwelling 
 almost exclusively upon the scenes, and surroundings of 
 that period of his life out of which shines the true no- 
 bility and grandeur of his lofty soul. They all differ 
 materially, and yet they all agree harmoniously. Just 
 so with the Synoptic Gospels of Jesus Christ. They 
 are but so many Biographies of the Saviour's life writ- 
 ten from as many stand-points, and hence differing ma- 
 terially in their general make-up, but agreeing most 
 perfectly in the concord of their unity. Let us look for 
 a moment at these Biographies also, and see if there be 
 any grounds for condemning and rejecting their harmo- 
 nious presentation of truths relative to the life and 
 teachings of the King of Glory. 
 
74 A JEW TO THE JEWS. 
 
 The first of these Gospels was written by Matthew, a 
 Jew to the Jews, and hence from a Jewish stand-point. 
 He was one of the twelve apostles, and consequently 
 an eye-witness to much that he recorded. He gives 
 them the genealogy of Jesus back through the lineage 
 of King David to the Father of the Jewish race, and 
 there he stops. That answers his purpose. He pre- 
 sented him to the Jews as the Lion of the tribe of Ju- 
 dah. His object was to influence them to accept him 
 as their Promised Messiah. Hence he showed them 
 how Jesus loved his enemies ; how he sent the apostles 
 first to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, and then 
 gave them the parables of the sower, the marriage 
 supper and others of importance bearing on the same 
 point. He then led them to the scenes of his transfig- 
 uration, and showed them Moses and Elias, the repre- 
 sentatives of their Law and Prophecy, talking with 
 Jesus about the consummation of his great work. He 
 also pictured to them the destruction of their Beloved 
 City, and their shameful crucifixion of their Rejected 
 Messiah. Here is one of Ezekiel's living creatures 
 with the face of a lion. 
 
 The second Gospel was written by Mark. He was 
 not an apostle, but for years the constant companion of 
 Peter, and also his faithful interpreter. And no doubt 
 many of the detailed facts, memorable sayings and in- 
 teresting doings of the Saviour, recorded in his Gospel, 
 were the sweet reminiscences given him by this distin- 
 guished apostle. But Mark wrote as a servant to serv- 
 ants, and hence from a menial stand-point. He took 
 the Master up, without any genealogy, when ready for 
 service, and followed him through his life of toil and 
 
A GOSPEL FROM THE HUMAN STAND-POINT. 75 
 
 labor, sorrow and servitude, as the Common Servant of 
 the people. He presented Jesus to the populace as 
 One who had worked many miracles, wrought many 
 cures, calmed the raging tempest, cast out legions of 
 devils, healed all manner of diseases, raised the dead, 
 fed the multitudes, walked on the waves, unstopped the 
 deaf ears, opened the blinded eyes, blessed the little 
 children and taught his disciples that the chief among 
 them should be servant of all. Here is the creature of 
 burden with the face of an ox. Here is the Servant- 
 King, bearing the weight of our woes and the burden 
 of our sins. 
 
 The third Gospel was written by Luke. He was a 
 doctor ; and its medical terms show most conclusively 
 that its peculiar phraseology came from the vocabulary 
 of a physician. Luke was not an apostle, but for a time 
 the fellow-traveler of Paul, the great apostle of the Gen- 
 tiles. He wrote his Gospel to humanity ; and hence 
 from the human stand-point. He traced the genealogy 
 of Jesus clear back to Adam. He gave an interesting 
 account of his birth, and recorded some incidents of his 
 infancy. He brought him on up to manhood, increasing 
 in stature, and growing in knowledge and wisdom with 
 the flight of years. He led him to the Jordan, conse- 
 crated him a Priest forever after the order of Melchise- 
 dec, and started him out upon his public ministry. Jesus 
 was tempted of the devil, succored by the Father and 
 gained a most signal victory for humanity. He preached 
 in Galilee, chose his twelve apostles, sent out the sev- 
 enty, invited to the Gospel feast, spoke of his lost sheep, 
 received the prodigal son, wept over Jerusalem, was 
 mocked by Herod, sentenced by Pilate, crucified by his 
 
j6 A GOSPEL FROM THE DIVINE STAND-POINT. 
 
 enemies and buried by his disciples. Here is Ezekiel's 
 living creature with the face, and fate of a man. 
 
 But the fourth Gospel was written by the beloved 
 apostle John. He wrote more especially to the Church ; 
 and hence from the divine stand-point. John wrote his 
 Gospel in his old age, and it contains many of the sweet- 
 est, and most precious reminiscences of his Lord's sacred 
 life and sacrificial death. He loved to contemplate the 
 Master as a Divine Being. He viewed him almost con- 
 stantly during his later years from the divine stand-point. 
 He saw in him the Alpha and Omega, the Incarnate 
 Word, the Rabbi, or Master of Israel, the Messiah, or 
 Christ of Prophecy, the Bread of Life, the Light of the 
 World, the Son of God, the Father's Gift of Love, the 
 Risen Saviour and the Ascended God. Here is Ezeki- 
 el's fourth living creature with the face, and flight of an 
 eagle mounting up to heaven. 
 
 These four Synoptic Gospels teach us three things, 
 concerning Jesus Christ, which can not be successfully 
 contradicted: namely, that he was verily and truly man; 
 that he was just as truly and verily God, and conse- 
 quently that substantial divinity, and real humanity were 
 combined in his person as manifested in the flesh. The 
 Christ of these Gospels then was evidently composed 
 of two distinct natures, the human and the divine. But 
 these two factors blended with such perfect harmony, 
 shaded into each other with such exquisite perfection, as 
 to constitute a most desirable unity, and give us, in the 
 mysterious person of Jesus Christ, but one Saviour. 
 This compound nature of the King is the combined re- 
 sult of the facts narrated, and not the artificial product 
 of its own delineators. For the Evangelists were most 
 
THE CHRIST OF THE GOSPELS. JJ 
 
 artless in the indirect creation of this wonderful charac- 
 ter of their Historic Hero. They recorded no bursts of 
 admiration at the displays of his matchless power, or 
 the manifestations of his infinite condescension. They 
 simply chronicled his words and works without approval 
 or applause; and thus they most successfully delineated 
 his distinctive character; brought to light his marvelous 
 nature, and gave the world its greatest wonder and rich- 
 est blessing, the Christ of his own inspired Gospels. 
 
 Then, if the Christ of these Gospels be a historic reality, 
 this satisfies all the historical statements, and conditions 
 of the case. But if he be a mere ideal creation, this 
 involves a mass of hopeless contradictions and sacrile-' 
 gious absurdities, from which reason, refusing credence v 
 intuitively recoils. For it would be impossible to aepict 
 a more perfectly human Jesus, or a more obviously divine 
 Christ than the Jesus Christ of these inspired Gospels, 
 which unite in him the highest conceivable dignity with 
 the lowest possible humiliation. History nowhere records 
 a more perfectly human, or a more genuinely divine 
 character than these Gospels give to Jesus Christ. The 
 human, and divine natures of the King then were in- 
 separately united, actually and closely blended, and 
 constituted the two principal factors in his mysterious 
 character, as delineated in this magnificent portraiture. 
 But none of the Spurious Gospels contradict this position. 
 They all, with one accord, chime in with inspiration 
 and pronounce his nature a combination of the human 
 and divine. 
 
 How humanity and divinity were harmonized in the 
 Incarnate Son, w r e can not tell. These combined natures 
 of the King baffle the comprehension of the finite mind. 
 
yS THE GOD-MAN AMONG MEN. 
 
 The relations which existed between these two elements 
 are also beyond the grasp of the ablest theologians of 
 the world. But that there was infinite wisdom, and ex- 
 hausted mines of wealth in this feature of the great 
 Remedial System, the history of all subsequent ages 
 fully attests. The God-man walked forth in his humanity 
 among men, and they readily recognized his divinity. 
 
 The Representative of heaven and earth was seen in 
 all the manifestations of his human weakness and divine 
 power. In the King earthly sorrow was blended with 
 heavenly wisdom, and eternal glory lost in his compas- 
 sionate love for sinners. His wonderful nature was 
 crowned with his personal originality. And his humanity 
 and divinity need no stronger proofs of the reality of 
 their existence than are to be found in his own extraor- 
 dinary life. 
 
 Vicarious suffering for sin, in human form, was possible 
 only when that form was clothed with the merits of a 
 divine nature. Hence we do not insist on the union of 
 the divine and human in Christ, as a mere mysterious 
 theological dogma ; but as a most important and practi- 
 cal element in the Divine Economy of human redemp- 
 tion. The presence of Deity on the field of battle, in- 
 dicated at once the power of sin, and the ruin it had 
 wrought in the world. It also pointed out the imminent 
 danger of the pending crisis. But while the divine 
 nature, with its fullness of grace and reserve of power, 
 insured a great victory, it was equally important, and 
 befitting that human nature should also be represented 
 in the person of the Mighty Conqueror, that sympathy 
 and sorrow might be mingled with grace and glory, in 
 the great work of man's salvation. The solitude and 
 
THE KING S COMPOUND NATURE. 79 
 
 shadows of a soul filled with the sorrows, and burdened 
 with the suffering of others, proclaim his distinctive 
 humanity, while the meekness and majesty with which 
 he bowed his mighty head, in behalf of his enemies, to 
 the fatal stroke of imperial justice, proves, beyond a 
 doubt, his matchless divinity. From the very depth of 
 of his crushed, and bleeding heart arose the fragrance 
 of deepest devotion to God, and of divine compassion for 
 man. The sacred influences of that horrible hour have 
 floated triumphantly down the stream of time, and are 
 destined to flood eternity with the loved memories of his 
 mercies and his woes. It is when seen in this two-fold 
 nature, that the Incarnation towers to the very heavens, 
 and sends down its showers of grace and floods of glory, 
 for the regeneration of a wicked world. 
 
 This mysterious union of the King's compound nature 
 was not perfected at his nativity. Humanity did not 
 drink in, or identify itself at once with all the infinite 
 perfections and attributes of Deity. The perfecting of 
 this union required years of growth, developement and 
 assimilation upon the part of his humanity. He must, 
 as a human being, develop in stature, increase in know- 
 ledge, advance in wisdom and grow in grace, and also 
 in favor with God and man for thirty years, before he 
 can, as God-man, complete in all the perfections of this 
 marvelous union, become the successful Mediator be- 
 tween God and man. He must also have an experience, 
 as well as a development, in his human nature, which 
 will fit him for the grave, and important mission of recon- 
 ciling depraved humanity with Exalted Divinity. He 
 must needs be touched with the feeling of human in- 
 firmities, before he could reach down, with his divine 
 
SO HIS HUMANITY AND HUMILIATION. 
 
 hand, clasp a fallen race and lift it up, out of the depth 
 and degradation of sin, into the marvelous light and 
 liberty of the Divine Presence. The perfection of this 
 union, however, was eventually accomplished. The 
 Model Man blended, at length, in perfect harmony with 
 the Gospel God. This gave to the world its greatest, 
 and most sublime prodigy — a God-man' as its Prophet, 
 Priest and King. 
 
 THE PROOF OF THE KING'S HUMANITY 
 
 is but the sad history of his humiliation. In his infinite 
 condescension, he left his eternal throne of glory, passed 
 by the higher order of intelligences, took not upon him 
 the nature of angels, but descended to the level of fallen 
 humanity, clothed himself in the corruptions of the flesh — 
 assumed our nature, and became our Second Adam and 
 Royal Advocate. The simple fact that he did become 
 our Second Adam, or the Last Representative of the 
 race, proves his humanity, and clothes him at once with 
 our fallen nature. For Adam represented human nature 
 as a unit — a single thing. He was on trial, under a law 
 which demanded the establishment of a perfect character 
 for the nature he represented. Perfect obedience was 
 the only condition upon which this character could be 
 formed. Upon no other terms could Adam ever be 
 confirmed, under the covenant of works, and conveyjto 
 those, who might afterwards wear this represented nature, 
 a legal standing before God. But Adam failed in this 
 obedience ; and human nature fell with his fall. Adam 
 was then banished, but not expelled. He was dead; 
 and death reigned over the nature which he had sub* 
 jected to the penalty of the law. It matters not what 
 
THE KING TO THE RESCUE. 8 1 
 
 death followed, as the penalty of this fall, for all death 
 is eternal in its nature. Death is not the mere absence, 
 or suspension of life, but its utter destruction. It is not 
 an agent, but an effect; and hence has no power to 
 stay its own reign. It could never end of itself. Xo 
 matter then in what form death came, in this penalty, 
 still it was eternal in its nature, and nothing short of 
 divine power could ever terminate its dominion, and 
 restore its subjects to the enjoyment of life again. 
 
 Our fallen nature lay in the meshes of sin and death, 
 from which it could never have extricated itself. But at 
 this critical juncture the King came to the rescue as our 
 Second Adam. He came to do for the race what Adam 
 had done, and also what he had failed to do. He came 
 both to represent human nature as a unit, and also to 
 establish for it a perfect character under the law. But 
 to do this the King himself must become a human be- 
 ing. He must wear human nature, before he can rep- 
 resent it. He must be made under the broken law, be- 
 fore he can magnify and make it honorable. 
 
 The fall of our first representative was through unbe- 
 lief and disobedience. The restoration by our Second 
 Representative was through obedience and faith. Adam 
 represented us under a covenant of works, which car- 
 ried with it a legitimate penalty — spiritual death. In 
 his fall we also fell under the penalty of that covenant. 
 But Christ came and represented us, under that same 
 covenant, until he had worked out for human nature a 
 perfect representative character under the law. He 
 then paid the penalty of that covenant for us in his spir- 
 itual death upon the cross, brought the race out from 
 under the covenant of works, with its paid penalty, and 
 
82 HE LOOKED LIKE A MAN. 
 
 placed it under the covenant of grace with its proffered 
 blessings. But this covenant of grace has its penalty 
 also, which is eternal death — everlasting banishment from 
 the reconciled presence of God. Human nature has 
 been placed on trial again. But under this covenant of 
 grace every man is his own representative, and is ac- 
 countable for his own conduct. Each one stands, or 
 falls upon his or her own act of obedience or disobedi- 
 ence. This covenant is one of equity: hence Christ 
 never has, and never will pay its penalty for any one. 
 If broken by an individual, he must meet the penalty in 
 his own person, for there will be none to pay it for him. 
 Then if we are lost, it will be in consequence of our 
 own, and not of Adam's transgression. 
 
 The form and features of the King are evidences of 
 his humanity. He looked like a man. He walked forth 
 among men, perfect in form and feature, with eyes beam- 
 ing with gladness or streaming with tears ; with a heart 
 beating with love, or melting with sorrow, and with lips 
 ladened with blessings, or silent in sympathy. His was 
 a manly majesty and a saintly beauty, which naturally 
 awakened in the mind feelino-s of religious veneration. 
 For he was not clothed with soft raiment, or clad in gor- 
 geous apparel. No kingly robes mantled his shoulders ; 
 no imperial crown adorned his brow. He wore a sim- 
 ple oriental peasant's garb. His attraction, as a man, 
 lay in his person and not in his apparel. Pilate says : 
 One day in passing by the place of Siloe, where there 
 was a great concourse of people, I observed, in the 
 midst of the group, a young man who was leaning against 
 a tree, calmly addressing the multitude. I was told it 
 was Jesus. This I could easily have suspected, so great 
 
DESCRIPTION OF THE KING. 8$ 
 
 was the difference between him and those who were 
 listening to him. He appeared to be about thirty years 
 of age. His golden colored hair and beard gave to his 
 appearance a celestial aspect. Never have I seen a 
 sweeter, or a more serene countenance. What a con- 
 trast between him and his hearers, with their black 
 beards and tawny complexion. * * * For some 
 time I contemplated with admiration and awe this ex- 
 traordinary type of man, a type of man unknown to our 
 numerous painters, who have given form and figure to 
 all the gods and heroes. 
 
 Jesus was a man of medium size, upon whose face the 
 purity anxLcharm of youth mingled with the thoughtful- 
 ness and dignity of manhood. His noble features were 
 marred by sorrow, and his grave countenance saddened 
 with grief. His pure, penetrating eyes had often glowed 
 through tears. Yet no man could look unmoved and 
 unawed into his calm and comely face. It was the face 
 of a man, but it wore too much of the grace and 
 majesty of the King in his beauty, or the Son in his 
 glory. Publius Lentullus, in a letter to the Roman 
 Senate, said : Conscript fathers, there has appeared in 
 these, our days, a man named Jesus Christ, who is yet 
 living among us, and of the Gentiles is accepted as a 
 prophet of great truth. But his own disciples call him 
 the Son of God. He hath raised the dead and cured all 
 manner of diseases. He is a man of nature, somewhat 
 tall and comely, with a very ruddy countenance, such 
 as the beholder may both love and fear. His hair is 
 the color of the filbert when fully ripe, plain to his ears, 
 whence downward it is more orient of color, curling and 
 waving about his shoulders. In the middle of his head 
 
84 JESUS GREW WEARY. 
 
 is a seam or partitio'n of long hair, after the manner of 
 the Nazarites. His forehead is plain and delicate, his 
 face without spot or wrinkle, beautified with a comely 
 red, his nose and mouth are exactly formed, his beard 
 is of the color of his hair, and thick, not of any great 
 length, but forked. In reproving he is terrible ; in ad- 
 monishing, courteous ; in speaking, very modest and 
 wise ; in proportion of body, well shaped. None have 
 seen him laugh, but many have seen him weep. A man 
 for his surpassing beauty excelling the children of men. 
 The fact that Jesus often grew weary, that his nature 
 demanded rest, food and sleep as he journeyed on 
 through life, is a strong evidence of his humanity. In 
 some respects his life was apart from men — unlike other 
 men ; but after all, he was more human than humanity 
 itself. He recognized, as no other individual ever did, 
 the ties and obligations which bound him to his fellow- 
 men. Man, in his simple humanity, was so precious to 
 Jesus that he had but little to say about the distinction 
 between men. It was enough for him to know that one 
 wore the same nature which he came to represent, be- 
 longed to the same race which he came to redeem, and 
 he was ready at once to welcome him to his heart, and 
 bear his burdens upon his own soul. The common 
 people soon learned to recognize in the Noble Naza- 
 rene a Friend to the needy, a Comforter of the afflicted 
 and the Preacher of Righteousness to the poor. Jesus 
 was the very essence of humanity, divested of all its 
 prejudices and imperfections. The purpose of his mis- 
 sion was to promote the happiness of his race, irrespect- 
 ive of station or standing, caste or nationality. His 
 great, warm, sympathetic heart reached out, in its affec- 
 
HIS SYMPATHETIC NATURE. 85 
 
 tions, after all classes and conditions of humanity. He 
 embraced every opportunity to enforce his salutary les- 
 sons, and confer his inestimable favors upon all men. 
 He placed himself among, and taught the great masses 
 of humanity as no other teacher had ever done, in all 
 the history of the world. Jesus has been humanity's 
 Greatest Benefactor. He has done more than all others 
 combined to stay the moving tide of misery, and amel- 
 iorate the sad condition of our race. His guiding hand 
 may be traced all along the lines of human history : his 
 commanding voice may be heard in all the reformations 
 of human society, and his controlling power may be felt 
 in all the conquests of human knowledge. His human 
 life is without a parallel in the world's history. It is 
 grander than the lives of all the great and good of 
 earth. And he, who was so powerful in his human nat- 
 ure, is almighty in his divine attributes, and even 
 Satan can not resist his matchless power. He will, at 
 length, burst open the last brazen gate of cruelty, made 
 fast with the iron bars of death, and let all his captives 
 go free. 
 
 The fact that Jesus entered so fully into sympathy 
 with others, and shed so many tears over them, express- 
 ive of his deep solicitude, is another strong proof of 
 his humanity. There is a halo of glory which clusters 
 around the sympathetic nature of the King, and pre- 
 sents him as preeminently human in the depth of his 
 feelings for sinning and suffering humanity. The King's 
 merciful mission to men had intimate relation to man's 
 bitterest bereavements and highest hopes, as well as to 
 his doubtful destiny. The great sigh of humanity's 
 sick, and saddened soul rose up from the deepest depth 
 
86 TEARS A LUXURY TO HUMANITY. 
 
 of its sufferings and sorrows, when men gazed up into 
 the helpless heavens, which appeared to keep the untold 
 secret of their future weal or woe locked up in its capa- 
 cious bosom. But, at last, that signal sigh found an 
 echo in the responsive soul of the Sympathetic Saviour. 
 And the sad sigh of true penitence rises to heaven no 
 more, without a ready response from the great heart of 
 the King, who is still touched with the feelings of our 
 infirmities. The King often wept. Tears are a lux- 
 ury to humanity: They open the heart for the inflowing 
 of the greatest, and most lasting of all joys. Jesus went 
 forth into the field as a laborer, toiling and weeping, 
 watering the seed sown with his own tears. He labored 
 on, under the shadow of a great sorrow, and toiled on, 
 under the weight of a mighty burden, that he might 
 comfort all who mourn, and pour the oil of gladness 
 into every bleeding and broken heart. There is hope 
 for the sinner, who weeps at the sight of the cross. 
 There is always good in tears, when they lead us to the 
 Fountain of Joy. The cross was designed to make men 
 weep, only that they might sing and shout for gladness. 
 When Jesus is formed in our hearts — the hope of glory, 
 our tears are lost in gratitude, our mourning turned 
 into gladness and we rejoice with joy unspeakable and 
 full of glory. 
 
 The depth of the King's humility, and infinite conde- 
 scension, prove his humanity. His incarnation furnishes 
 us with an example of condescension and humility, un- 
 paralleled in the world's history. He fathomed the most 
 fearful depth of humiliation. He took upon him the 
 form of a servant, and made himself of no reputation 
 that he might lift fallen humanity up from its low estate 
 
THE KING'S WEIGHT OF AGONY. Sj 
 
 of degradation and despair, to the hopes of a higher 
 and holier life. It was that his race might be treated 
 as innocent, that the King submitted to the shame and 
 humiliation of Calvary. It was that the world's iniquity 
 might be blotted out, that the blood of Jesus was shed 
 upon the cross. It was that he might spoil the domin- 
 ion of death, and throw wide open the gates of life to 
 all men, that the Condescending Conqueror consented 
 to enter the grave, and dwell among the dead. Calvary 
 was the scene of the King's most wonderful humilia- 
 tion ; the spot of his saddest and sorest trials, and the 
 place of his deepest and darkest condescension. Here, 
 Jesus died that sinners might live. Here, Christ paid 
 the debt that humanity could not pay. Here, the King 
 gave himself an humble ransom for the sins of the world. 
 Humility ! humility ! humility ! without a comparison. 
 
 The King's ^reat burden of sorrow, and immense 
 weight of agony are among the most powerful evidences 
 of his humanity. Every pang of sorrow, and every 
 piercing agony felt by the Suffering Saviour are so many 
 proofs of his dying love for a lost and ruined race. But 
 they are, none the less, evidences of his own humanity. 
 It was the angry cloud of a world's sin, which threw a 
 shadow of intense darkness over his burdened soul, and 
 left him hanging upon the cross smitten, afflicted and 
 forsaken of God. Here, he bore the burden of human- 
 ity's griefs, and carried the weight of her sorrows that 
 he might pour the oil of gladness into human hearts, and 
 the balm of consolation into wounded souls. But the 
 Man of Sorrows is also the fountain of great joy to all 
 people, and the Lamb of Agony, the well-spring of life 
 to the world. The mighty sorrow of the King's last 
 
88 the king's divinity. 
 
 night in the bloody Garden of Gethsemane, and the final 
 and fearful agonies of the next day upon the crimson 
 cross of Calvary, will be the wonder of holy angels and 
 redeemed men forever. 
 
 The purity and grandeur of the King's human nature, 
 you see, were often put to the sorest tests ; but never 
 found wanting. And his followers should learn from his 
 own life, that they are to pass through weakness to 
 strength, through failures to success, through defeat to 
 victory ; and through the sufferings, consequent to human 
 nature, enter at last into the joys of heaven. 
 
 tell most beautifully the story of his exaltation. For, the 
 Father hath highly exalted him, and given him a name 
 high above every other name, whether on earth or in 
 heaven. The sad scenes of his humiliation closed on 
 the morning of his triumphant resurrection, and the joy- 
 ful reign of his exaltation began. Jesus was buried like 
 a pauper, by the hand of charity, but, on the morning of 
 the third day, he arose Monarch of all his omniscient 
 eye could survey. He looked abroad, into infinite space, 
 compassed in his thoughts the vast regions of a bound- 
 less universe, filled with the glories and crowned with the 
 monuments of his own creative power, and called it all 
 his own. He slept in the tomb of Joseph the humiliating 
 sleep of death ; but he awoke, in his exaltation, King of 
 kings, to receive the devout homage and adoration of a 
 ransomed world. But if we would climb to the height 
 of the King's exaltation, we must measure the distance 
 from the cross of Calvary to his throne in glory. If we 
 would contrast faithfully his exaltation with his humilia- 
 
THE FOUNTAIN OF INFINITE GOODNESS. 89 
 
 tion, we must follow him from earth to heaven. And if 
 we would view successfully both the humanity and divin- 
 ity of the King of Glory, we must see him in all the im- 
 portant events between his cradle and his crown. 
 
 The infinite goodness of the King proves his divinity. 
 Nothing absolutely good can be found in a mere man : 
 there is no good in him. But Christ is the origin of all 
 that is crood in the world. He is of all real orood the 
 Bountiful Giver. The wicked may strive to be good, 
 but of themselves they can do nothing. They may surge 
 against the billows manfully, but they can never raise 
 their drooping heads above the wide and wasting waves 
 of death, which roll in fury over the troubled sea of sin. 
 Their only hope of rescue is to be found in a Divine Hand. 
 To the King may be traced, through the progress of the 
 ages, all the ameliorating influences brought to bear 
 upon suffering and sorrowing humanity. Every good, 
 obtainable by our fallen race, is centered in the life-work 
 or death-agonies of Jesus of Nazareth. Humanity was 
 surging in vain amid the storms of sin, w T hile divine 
 justice, like a great barrier, closed every avenue to the 
 city of refuge, and clashed to pieces every fond and 
 cherished hope of happiness. Burdened souls were 
 driven by the resistless tide of guilt against the in- 
 vulnerable laws of God, which guarded the eates of 
 heaven. But at last a rent was opened in the mighty 
 barrier, through the victory of the cross, and a narrow 
 pathway led humanity to the great Fountain of all Good. 
 
 The King's goodness was not without its visible mani- 
 festations in his eventful life. He fed the destitute 
 thousands, but suffered himself the pangs of hunger. 
 He administered consolation to those in deepest distress, 
 
90 THE FRIEND OF ALL CLASSES. 
 
 while he was preeminently the Man of Sorrows. He 
 cast devils out of many, yet was himself sorely tempted 
 of Satan. He lifted the burden of sin from the souls of 
 others, while bearing in his own body the sins of the 
 world. He raised many from the dead, and yet he sub- 
 mitted to the pangs and agonies of the most shameful 
 and cruel of all deaths. He went about constantly, 
 doing all manner of good both to the souls and bodies of 
 men. 
 
 The King was most emphatically the Friend of all 
 classes of sinners. He was equally ready to bestow 
 good upon the rich, who were courted and envied 
 on account of their abundant wealth, and the poor, who 
 were despised and oppressed because of their extreme 
 poverty. He visited alike the princely mansion of the 
 aristocratic Pharisee and the humble cottage of the hated 
 publican. He cordially tendered life to the rich young 
 lawyer, and with equal courtesy touched and healed the 
 outcast leper. No matter where he went, the multitude 
 of impotent, lame, maim, halt and blind crowded the 
 pathway of the Healer and Helper, hoping to attract 
 his attention, and receive his blessings. Goodness was 
 perfectly natural with the Saviour. He could not refrain 
 from pitying the poor, and nourishing the needy. The 
 object of his great mission into this sin-stricken world 
 was to do good — to bring joy to the living and life to the 
 dead. Only let us follow lovingly this Good Shepherd, 
 of humanity, through the days of peace and prosperity, 
 and he will tenderly lead us through the dark nights of 
 sorrow and adversity. Let us gladly walk with him in 
 the sunshine of life, and he will surely accompany us 
 through the shades and shadows of death. 
 
THE KING S MATCHLESS LOVE. 9 1 
 
 The matchless love of the King also attests his divin- 
 ity. He loved as no mere human being ever did, or 
 ever will love. His whole soul ran out in deepest solic- 
 itude, after the objects of his affections. His great 
 heart was constantly burdened, with the intense anxiety 
 he felt for the subjects of his compassionate love. 
 Jesus loved a world, steeped in sin and saturated with 
 crime, far better than that world, ransomed from death 
 with his own blood, has ever loved him in return. This 
 divine love, which the King brought from heaven to 
 earth, is deep enough to fathom the infinite ocean of 
 human grief. It has a height, but no top ; a depth, but 
 no bottom, and a length and breadth, but no dimen- 
 sions. It is broad enough to embrace in its arms of 
 affection all classes and conditions of humanity. The 
 King's loving heart felt a weight of untold anguish, in- 
 finitely heavier than any burden of sorrow ever borne by 
 mere human hearts. The great flood of human woe, 
 rushing down the ages, rolled its mighty burden of 
 grief upon the Man of Sorrows. Humanity, in its weak- 
 ness, was naturally too strong for Divinity, in its om- 
 nipotence. The infinite love of Jesus forced him to 
 stoop down and bless mankind, in its wretchedness. 
 Human sympathy indeed is precious, but the grief of 
 our poor hearts often demand just such compassionate 
 love as the Divine One alone can bestow upon us. 
 For, there is no cure for the greatest sorrows of life, 
 save that which the infinite love of Jesus brings to the 
 bleeding heart. Divine compassion is infinitely deeper 
 than human woes, and with such help, as it can bring, 
 our heaviest burdens are easily borne. Such compas- 
 sion and such grief are genial companions here. Like 
 
92 THE WORLD A GREAT LAZAR-HOUSE. 
 
 two kindred spirits, they walk, hand in hand, through 
 this life, but they part forever at the Jordan of death. 
 
 The world was one great lazar-house. Reason was 
 blinded; conscience was paralyzed; passion raging with 
 delirium; hope trembling with feebleness, and faith sink- 
 ing in unbelief when the King of Glory brought strength 
 to the feeble, courage to the fainting and victory to the 
 dying soul, through the manifestations of his infinite 
 love for the world. This wonderful love is the true 
 foundation upon which the sacred story of the cross re- 
 poses in perfect security. Here is the central figure of 
 Christianity, which the feeble efforts of infidelity, in its 
 varied forms and phases, can never move from its moor- 
 ings. Such divine love, with its bounties, should not 
 be slighted by human hatred, with all its wants and 
 woes. Our gratitude to the King should only be meas- 
 ured by this infinite love, which has a hold upon the 
 heart of the world that can never be severed. 
 
 The fearless fortitude of the King bears testimony in 
 favor of his divinity. His was not a heedless spirit, 
 nor the reckless daring of one who rejoices in danger. 
 But it was cool, calculating heroism, such as the world 
 had never known before. In the King, all the virtues 
 and graces were perfectly developed. He was calm, 
 meek, gentle, harmless and docile as the lamb. But at 
 the same time, he had moral courage, fortitude and 
 daring sufficient for the conquest of the world. He was 
 bold enough to meet, and powerful enough to over- 
 come every enemy. The King knew no fear. He 
 could not falter. He had the courage of a lion. He 
 walked fearless and alone over the wild wastes, and 
 through the sore temptations of the desert. He stood 
 
THE CONFLICT WAS HIS OWN. 93 
 
 calm and serene before kings, who trembled in his pres- 
 ence. And when the dark counsels of the rulers were 
 complete, and they mustered courage to summon him 
 before their tribunals of injustice, he hesitated not to 
 meet them face to face. More than once he had antici- 
 pated death, with its gathering storms of sin and sor- 
 row. He knew full well that every step brought him 
 that much nearer the rugged cross of Calvary. But he 
 held on his way without wavering. He only needed to 
 commune awhile with heaven, in order to gird up his 
 soul for the mock trial, sore scourging and crowning 
 agonies of the cross, and the spirit had soon gained the 
 ascendancy over the flesh. Jesus knew that the awful 
 conflict was his own — that he must tread the wine-press 
 of this fearful agony alone. For there were none to 
 hold his hand, or strengthen his heart as he passed 
 through the critical crisis. He was perfectly conscious 
 of the fact that his own right hand, and his holy arm 
 must bring him the victory. For he knew that, in the 
 hour, and during the power of darkness, he would be 
 deserted by his disciples, and forsaken by his God. 
 But still his fortitude failed not. For, when the ap- 
 pointed time arrived, he met his fearful fate with the 
 daring of a great Moral Hero in the" strife of battle. 
 His heroism was divine. 
 
 The heavenly majesty of the King is also a strong 
 evidence in favor of his divinity. There was too much 
 of heaven about him to be all of earth. Celestial maj- 
 esty sat enthroned upon his gentle brow. The heav- 
 enly shades of his features, blended with the earthly 
 but to deepen, and enrich them. The divine nature was 
 so woven into the human as to give him, in all his meek- 
 
94 THE KING S ROYAL CHARACTER. 
 
 ness and humility, a majestic bearing without a parallel 
 in the archives of history. 
 
 The perfect character of the King furnishes another 
 argument in favor of his divinity. Jesus presented the 
 world with a character admitted by the most eminent 
 enemies of the Cross to be the greatest that ever ex- 
 isted either in fact or fiction. No other character, 
 whether real or ideal, approaches, even approximately, 
 the grandeur of the King's royal character. And it is 
 most remarkable that this sublime character evoked 
 alike the admiration of the simple and the wise, and 
 speaks alike powerfully to the higher affections of both 
 the good and the bad. This great moral character in 
 its highest perfection has for the lowest mind, in its 
 infinite condescension and solicitude, a charm by which 
 he may be led to imitate the Saviour's royal example. 
 But the author of this character claimed to be divine ; 
 and he was either all he claimed to be, and what proph- 
 ecy and history represent him as being, or his charac- 
 ter, even for truthfulness, stands impeached, and the 
 whole fabric of Christianity is overthrown. This exalted 
 character can only be accounted for on the theory of his 
 divinity. 
 
 The King's perfect knowledge of men gives us an- 
 other plea in favor of his divinity. Jesus mastered hu- 
 man nature. He knew man perfectly, and needed not 
 the testimony of any concerning him. We may im- 
 agine there was something penetrating in his soft brown 
 eye, that touched it with the brightness of poetic inspi- 
 ration. One glance from that all-seeing eye of the Di- 
 vine Prophet laid bare the inmost recesses, and revealed 
 all the secret thoughts of the soul. He saw and knew 
 
THE KING S MORAL ELEVATION. 95 
 
 men as they could not see and know themselves. He 
 not only read the hidden purposes of their hearts, but 
 also understood full well the fearful consequences of 
 their lives in all their varied and, to them, uncertain re- 
 sults. He still has a perfect knowledge of all men. 
 The scenes which gild the past pleasures of the sinner, 
 but deepen the dismal shadows of his present sorrows, 
 and darken the impenetrable gloom of his eternal des- 
 tiny, are all spread out before the omniscient vision of 
 the King of Glory. 
 
 The moral elevation of the King speaks loudly in fa- 
 vor of his divinity. Aside from the Jewish nation, an- 
 tiquity had no just conception of moral evil. With them 
 an action was either guiltless, irresistible, or else Deity 
 was responsible for its consequences. Neither priests 
 nor people had any aim or desire, in their sacrifices and 
 oblations, beyond the removal of physical defilement. 
 There was, to them, a magical effect in propitiatory rites, 
 though they did not change, even the inclination of their 
 wills, from evil. But Jesus reached a moral elevation 
 far above that of his a^e and surroundings. His code 
 
 o o 
 
 of morals constituted a system of the highest conceiva- 
 ble elevation, and was applicable alike to all classes and 
 conditions of humanity. His teachings were marked 
 by a moral tone so far above his own, or any other age, 
 as to place them at once far beyond the reach of man's 
 invention. The estimate which Jesus placed upon mere 
 ritualistic worship, in an age when rites and ceremonies 
 with many even of his own nation, constituted the sum 
 total of religion, proved him to be the great Spiritual 
 Head of the Levitical Priesthood. And the sagacity 
 with which he looked into, and opened up the mysteries 
 
g6 the son's equality with the father. 
 
 of the future, showed him to be the greatest of all the 
 prophets, with more than ordinary inspiration. Divine 
 redemption, by a Divine Redeemer, is already the key- 
 note to our holy religion, and its future developments 
 will be the wonder of the world. This glorious strain 
 will break out erelong in living music from multiplied 
 millions of regenerated souls, and the grand chorus 
 shall shake the earth with the sweet hallelujahs of time, 
 and rend the heavens with the loud hosannas of eternity. 
 
 The King's claims to equality with the Father ought 
 to settle, at once and forever, the question of his divin- 
 ity. For, if equal to the Deity, then to him belonged 
 the infinite perfections of* all the divine attributes. Like 
 the Father, he must have possessed a wisdom omniscient, 
 a power almighty, a presence universal, a holiness im- 
 maculate, a goodness overshadowing all, a justice with- 
 out respect to persons, a truth firmer than the founda- 
 tions of the everlasting hills, a mercy reaching even the 
 rebellious and a love embracing all mankind. All the 
 infinite attributes of Deity clustered around the pathway 
 of Jesus, like so many burnished orbs, encircling the sun 
 in his brilliant career through the heavens: therefore he 
 must have been divine. 
 
 The calmness and dignity of the King, in the pres- 
 ence of earth's dignitaries, proved him to be infinitely 
 above all who were in authority. The exact fulfillment 
 of prophecy, in the person of the Humble Nazarene, 
 bore sacred testimony to the justice of his claims to the 
 Messiahship. The authority by which he forgave sins, 
 and wrought many miracles, showed him to be more than 
 a mere man. The claims he made, upon his subjects, 
 recognized the King's inherent worthiness of their un- 
 
MANY PROOFS OF HIS DIVINITY. 97 
 
 bounded homage and adoration. The annulling of old, 
 and the enunciation of new precepts and principles, 
 pervaded by the deepest spirituality, attested his divinity. 
 The song of angels, the voice of the Father, and a 
 thousand other things proclaimed his Immaculate Son- 
 ship. The King spoke as a God, and his matchless 
 voice gave no uncertain sound. Many of the sayings 
 of Jesus would have been sheer presumption, if uttered 
 by a man devoid of all consciousness of indwelling divin- 
 ity. Yea, more ! It would have been arrogance, incon- 
 sistent with either humility or holiness, for any mere 
 human being to assume such prerogatives as Jesus took 
 to himself. But the matchless victories of his perfect 
 life, and the immortal trophies of his sacrificial death, 
 award him the honor of divine prerogatives. Go to the 
 cross, if you desire farther evidence of the King's divin- 
 ity. The darkened heavens, the quaking earth, the 
 rending rocks, and the rising dead, all bear sacred testi- 
 mony to this grand truth, which men presumptuously 
 deny. Here the King seals all his claims to the Mes- 
 siahship, with the overwhelming testimony of his own 
 bloody agonies, upon the cross. His double mode of 
 speaking of himself proved his two-fold nature, just as 
 its analogy in us proves that we are both mortal and 
 immortal. But some acknowledge, that he was almost 
 a God ; and yet say, after all, he was only a mere man. 
 Whatever falls short of infinity, falls infinitely short of 
 Deity. The King was either divine, or else he was in- 
 finitely below Divinity. He proves himself to be infi- 
 nitely above humanity, by speaking so far in advance of 
 all ages ; and therefore he must be divine. But his 
 
 church stands to-day, in the center of all history, upon 
 7 
 
98 THE POTENCY OF HIS RELIGION. 
 
 the Rock of Ages, triumphantly proclaiming his divinity. 
 And all the false theories, with reference to his super- 
 human character, and superior moral excellence, which 
 would rob him of his divine glory, crumble and fall be- 
 fore these sublime revelations from heaven. 
 
 The religion, inaugurated by the King, proves his 
 divinity. The divine origin of his holy religion need no 
 longer be called in question, since its own intrinsic value, 
 as well as its external glory, is being manifested every- 
 where in the lives and labors of its ardent devotees. 
 Every page of ecclesiastical history is a sacred witness 
 to the simplicity and fidelity with which this holy religion 
 has enthroned itself in the hearts, and held its sway in 
 the lives of the King's followers. It exerts a controlling 
 influence over its subjects. It beautifies our speech, 
 with truth and purity; adorns our deportment, with 
 courtesy and refinement ; clothes our persons, with grace 
 and culture, and fills our homes, with peace and plenty. 
 It lifts us up, when we will be lifted by it, to the per- 
 fection of beauty, and the grandeur of holiness. It en- 
 ables us to keep our desires, appetites and passions, 
 all in willing subjection to the laws of purity, truth and 
 love. In fact, this religion of the cross has already 
 worked wonders in the world. It has curbed human 
 passion, checked inhuman cruelty and branded, as in- 
 famous, beastly suicide. It has, to some degree, rem- 
 edied the wrongs of all classes of humanity, and amel- 
 iorated the sufferings of the whole race of mankind. 
 It has protected the captive, rescued the gladiator and 
 freed the slave. It has fed the orphan, sheltered the 
 poor and nursed the sick. It has also elevated woman- 
 hood, purified manhood and crowned the tender years 
 
LIKE ITS DIVINE AUTHOR. 99 
 
 of childhood-life with a halo of sacred innocence. This 
 holy religion is still clad with all its heaven-born fresh- 
 ness and glory. Time can never whiten its locks, palsy 
 its hands, or diminish its power. It is, like its author, 
 divine, and hence destined to live on, in immortal youth, 
 forever. 
 
 No religion has a simpler form of worship, a more 
 sublime code of morals or grander truths to sustain it, 
 than the religion of the cross. The Jewish system had 
 become extremely burdensome to the conscientious, and 
 a most fruitful source of hypocrisy to the mischievous 
 masses. The Rabbis, by their unique expansions and 
 artificial interpretations, had converted their religion into 
 a life-Ion^ servitude. And the scribes and Pharisees, 
 with their senseless traditions and cold formalities, had 
 poisoned the purest principles of its morality, and 
 deadened the strongest pulsations of its spiritual life. 
 But Jesus expanded this dwarfed religion of the Jews 
 into a catholic religion for the whole world. His religion 
 
 o o 
 
 is absolutely free from everything of a narrowly con- 
 tracted, or selfish character. It is that much like its 
 Divine Author. He was a Jew, but loved even the 
 Samaritans. He was of the seed of Abraham, but em- 
 braced, in the arms of his affections, all mankind as a 
 common brotherhood. He regarded with tender solici- 
 tude and deepest emotion the descendants of Jacob, but 
 loved no less devotedly the poor Gentile publicans and 
 sinners. When Israel's ideal of a religious life was 
 realized, only in the man who withdrew from society, 
 and buried himself in the ascetic caverns of the moun- 
 tains, or lost himself in the deepest solitudes of the 
 deserts, Jesus brought his religion into the very homes, 
 
IOO A POWER FOR GOOD. 
 
 hearts and lives of men. For the penance and solitude 
 of the hermit, he substitutes the benevolence and sun- 
 shine of the active laborer in his moral vineyard. He 
 gave no sanction to the celibacy of the ascetic, or to the 
 monastic life of the monk. His religion is designed to 
 give a sunny face and a warm heart to its devotees. 
 Heaven will lavish her blessings and honors upon all its 
 faithful advocates. 
 
 The religion of the cross has wielded a greater in- 
 fluence for good in human hearts, and exerted a mightier 
 power over the mind of humanity than all the other 
 religions of the world combined. Take as an example 
 modern Spiritualism with its boasted wonders, and what 
 has it done for fallen humanity? Who has it made 
 better or wiser by its marvelous disclosures ? With all 
 its alleged powers of penetrating into the secrets of the 
 unseen world, it has made no man either holier or hap- 
 pier. It is a miserable failure, and its most ardent 
 votaries are perfectly conscious of the fact. And just so 
 it is with Mormonism, Mohammedanism, and a score of 
 other isms, which we might mention. But the religion 
 of Jesus Christ is an acknowledged power for good in 
 the world. He placed it upon a sure foundation. The 
 principles it inculcates are fundamental. They look both 
 to our happiness here, and to our eternal happiness here- 
 after. They are also practical. They fulfill the whole 
 law of God. They make a want of power, the only 
 limitation of obedience to God. The true ideal of this 
 genuine religion reflects, with its pure and all-embracing 
 love, the very image of its Divine Author, and hence 
 bears the seal and sanction of heaven. 
 
 Prior to the King's advent individuality was either un- 
 
REASON WAS POWERLESS. IOI 
 
 known, or much restricted in its sphere of action. Con- 
 science had almost no liberty at all. Whatever the 
 State regarded as expedient must be done. Men 
 could not act untrammeled, even in private or social 
 affairs, much less in moral or religious matters. The 
 will, of the Governor was everything, while the wishes 
 of the individual subject were mere ciphers. But the 
 religion of Jesus inaugurated both a social and moral 
 reformation, which have swept over the nations of the 
 earth, giving force to individuality, and freedom to the 
 human conscience. 
 
 At the King's coming, reason was powerless. Her 
 dominion had been lost. Her frail barriers had been 
 swept away, by the surging tides of guilt. The religion 
 of the cross must supersede philosophy and moral eth- 
 ics, or the world is lost. The merciful mission of the 
 Messiah w T as her only hope. Many of the King's virt- 
 ues have survived his death. They have been trans- 
 mitted, through his followers, to succeeding generations, 
 until they have done much in reclaiming, and shaping 
 the world's destiny. The King's counsels have been 
 embalmed for ages, in the memories of his disciples. 
 They have exerted a controlling influence over their 
 lives of consecrated devotion to the Master. There was 
 something in the personal character of the King, that 
 produced a wonderful admiration for him in the hearts 
 of all his subjects. There have been martyrs to all 
 religious creeds. But no other religion ever marshaled 
 such an army of martyrs, who were willing to die be- 
 cause of the personal love they bore the founder of 
 their religious faith. But this feeling has always char- 
 acterized the martyrs of Christianity. 
 
102 RELIGION A DIVINE REALITY. 
 
 Before the Christian era, war was constantly being 
 waged. Might was everywhere recognized as right. 
 The stronger oppressed most cruelly the weaker. But 
 the peace-speaking voice of this holy religion has 
 echoed, along down through the passing centuries, until 
 war is no longer the rule, but the exception among 
 Christian nations. Queen Charity has been placed upon 
 the throne, her brow encircled with all the Christian 
 graces, and her life adorned with all the nameless virt- 
 ues of Christianity. Now right is in the ascendency; 
 controls might, and shields the helpless from the op- 
 pressor. Antiquity had her poor as well as her rich. 
 There were herds of paupers, in all her borders ; and 
 crowds of beggars, in all her streets, and on all her 
 highways. But it was reserved for the religion of Jesus 
 to found asylums of charity for the poor and unfortun- 
 ate, and hospitals of mercy for the sick, and suffering 
 of earth. 
 
 Then the religion of Jesus is not an imaginary, or 
 powerless something. It is not merely a religion of 
 notions, visions and ecstacies, but a devine reality. It 
 is a presence to be realized; a lesson to be studied, and 
 a power to be felt in the hearts, and exhibited in the lives 
 of men. It is no weird, romantic legend or cunningly 
 devised fable ; but a divine force, that molds character, 
 renews life and saves souls. It is a religion, which has 
 driven ignorance and superstition from millions of dark 
 homes, and filled them with the light of its own joy and 
 gladness. It is a religion, which has influenced men, 
 whose lips were once loud with cursing, and whose 
 hearts were once black with blasphemy, to sing in 
 praise, and plead in prayer the name of its Divine 
 
THE WORLD A LIFELESS WASTE. IO3 
 
 Author. Neither is it a religion destitute of sentiment, 
 feeling- or emotion ; for these are quite as essential to 
 acceptable service, as taste, reason or conscience. 
 
 Sin, like a besom of destruction, had swept over the 
 earth, with the chill of death in its blast. The dark 
 waves of pollution, and the blood-stained billows of crime 
 had dashed, in fury and violence, for four thousand years 
 against the citadels of justice and truth. Ruin and deso- 
 lation marked the ravages of sin. It had left many a 
 shipwrecked mariner stranded upon the shores of time. 
 The world, under its reign, had become almost a lifeless 
 waste. Its great heart was beating in fear, and strug- 
 gling in peril, while its life-currents were dashing madly, 
 amid the fires of passion, against the dark shores of 
 eternity. In this world, subdued by Satan and saturated 
 with sin, want and woe were gloomy guests, and vice 
 and misery their constant companions. But when the 
 religion of the cross poured its rays of divine light upon 
 the surrounding darkness, the prison of despair was 
 transformed into a garden of paradise, dens of iniquity 
 converted into sanctuaries of praise and this demonized 
 world made, once more, the abode of peace and the 
 vestibule of heaven. How can we question the divine 
 reality of a religion which displays such wonderful 
 power, in its onward march for the conquest of this sin- 
 cursed world ? 
 
 Certainly there is matchless power, and great grace 
 in the religion of the cross. It imparts an inspiration to 
 its devotees, otherwise unknown to humanity. It fires 
 our hearts with zeal, fills our souls with energy and 
 prepares us to meet death with the firmest faith, and 
 most fearless fortitude. It changes death, from a ven- 
 
104 A DEATH-BED SCENE. 
 
 omous serpent to a veiled angel ; from a dreaded demon 
 to a welcome messenger ; from the greatest possible 
 calamity to eternal gain. Hence, history records many 
 instances of Christian resignation and courage, in the 
 dying hour, without parallels in the archives of heathen 
 lands. But it seems strange that the dying never 
 weep. Perhaps the tears of the doomed are lost in de- 
 spair, while the weeping of the saved is turned into joy, 
 at the first glimpse of the eternal world. At any rate, 
 this divine religion must impart great comfort in the 
 hour of death. The Christian is pillowed upon a dying 
 bed. His physician assures him that his moments are 
 almost numbered — that he soon must die. His mind is 
 clear, his heart is glad and his soul is happy. Perfectly 
 calm and serene is his joyous spirit. No tear-drop dims 
 his aged eye. No murmur falls from his faltering 
 tongue. No word of doubt escapes his parched lips. 
 Sweetest resignation plays upon every feature of his 
 wrinkled brow. Heavenly hope speaks out in every 
 expression of his glowing countenance. He has lost 
 sight of earth. He gazes with infinite delight into 
 heaven. The sting of death is gone — lost in the enrap- 
 tured visions of life. He has fought all life's battles, 
 and won its last great victory. He has reached, at last, 
 the lovely Land of Bulah ; and his happy soul is floating 
 out upon a boundless sea of glory. A bright convoy 
 of angels are coming, on swift wings, to escort him home 
 to heaven. The last word has been spoken. The last 
 breath is being drawn. He is gone. Happy moment ! 
 Victorious death! He passes out most joyfully, mounts 
 the ascending chariot, a congenial companion for an- 
 gels, and takes up that most delightful of all journeys — 
 
WELCOMED TO THE LAND OF BULAH. I05 
 
 the swift transit from earth to heaven. They soon rise 
 above the splendors of the first and second heavens. 
 They speed on over the fields of light toward the New 
 Jerusalem. Now they enter the Heaven of heavens, 
 and all its matchless glories burst full on his enraptured 
 vision. Legions of angels and archangels, seraphim 
 and cherubim, greet him with their warmest congratula- 
 tions. Departed friends strike glad hands with him, 
 and bid him more than welcome to the Land of the 
 Blessed. Dear loved ones clasp him in their fond em- 
 braces, with all the raptures of heavenly love. The King 
 hails him eternally happy, and assigns him a home in the 
 mansions of glory. Happy soul, eternally blessed ! 
 
 Such are the evidences of his holy religion in support 
 of the divinity of its Royal Author. In fact, the King's 
 divinity constitutes the very essence of his religion. 
 Therefore, it must be a divine reality, else this religion 
 could not be a divine revelation. But this Divine King 
 guides the tiny insect, which flits in the sunbeam, and 
 supports the mighty archangel, whose brilliant wings 
 illuminate the heavens, in his rapid flight. This King 
 of Glory directs the atom of air in the whirlwind and 
 controls the burnine comet as it doubles heaven's wide 
 cape and returns to the earth, after the long lapse of 
 circling centuries. Who can longer doubt his divinity ? 
 
THE TITLES OF THE KING. 
 
 Chapter VI. 
 
 / know not to give flattering titles. — Job 32 : 22. 
 
 There are two hundred and one different names and 
 titles, by which the King is designated in the Holy 
 Bible. We can only notice a few of the more important 
 of these sacred appellations in this chapter. 
 
 The enemies of the King called him, in derision, the 
 Friend of Sinners. No more precious, or appropriate 
 title could have been given him. We are all sinners ; 
 and should be happy to know that Jesus is our dearest 
 and best Friend. His merciful mission, to earth, was in 
 the interest of sinners. The burdens of his life were all 
 borne for sinners. The agonies of his death were all 
 endured for sinners. Then truly, Jesus was the Friend 
 of Sinners. He pities the poor helpless sinner, but 
 hates sin with an eternal hatred. He died that the 
 guilty, condemned sinner might live ; but he can not re- 
 gard the enormity of his sin with indifference, not even 
 with the least degree of allowance. 
 
 The King is a Friend indeed, because a Friend in 
 need. Sinners are all in need of salvation. They ought 
 to be rescued from the power and dominion of sin. 
 Jesus is able, and willing to accomplish this work. He 
 
 only waits an expression, which indicates a sincere de- 
 
 (106) 
 
THE FRIEND OF SINNERS. IO7 
 
 sire to be saved, upon the sinner's part. His divine 
 power stands pledged to assist human weakness, at any 
 and all times, in liberating itself from the bondage and 
 thraldom of sin. But the feeble must seek the aid of, and 
 cooperate with the Mighty, before the sin-fettered soul 
 can be set at liberty ; and the sinner be made a saint. 
 The King's almighty power, and infinite mercy must 
 wait for the consent of finite minds, and the reception of 
 human hearts, before light can banish darkness, and life 
 reign over the subdued dominion of death. Human 
 faith must reach forth and take hold of Divine Might ; 
 the trembling hand must be laid in the Omnipotent 
 Grasp; the dying sinner must be delivered over to the 
 Living Lord, before the prison doors of sin can be 
 thrown open, and the captive soul be set at perfect lib- 
 erty. The human and Divine must ever cooperate, in 
 this great work of saving sinners. 
 
 The King is a Friend, who brings help to the friend- 
 less. He is the Soul-seeker, who follows hard in the 
 foot-prints of the lost and ruined sinner. But, with all 
 the manifestations of his unsought friendship and deep 
 solicitude, the sinner often hesitates, falters, draws back 
 and stays the Arm of infinite power, outstretched for his 
 own rescue from eternal death. The gentle voice of 
 Jesus only, can break the deep slumber of those who 
 are sleeping the sleep of sin, and who fain would sleep 
 on, even until death, were it not for the timely warning 
 of this, ever Watchful Friend. But human faith must 
 prepare the way for Divine Work, and human effort fol- 
 low up the victories gained by Divine Power, in bring- 
 ing the wandering- soul back to God. Many of the 
 brightest exponents of our holy religion have been men, 
 
IOS THE SUBSTITUTE FOR SINNERS. 
 
 who walked with this Friend of Sinners, amid sorrows, 
 sufferings and sacrifices, searching for the loved and 
 lost of earth. 
 
 But this best of all friends voluntarily became the sub- 
 stitute for sinners. He gave his own life-blood freely to 
 quench the fires of guilt, burning in the sin-sick souls of 
 suffering humanity. But this Great Sacrifice fails to 
 win the hearts of many prodigal sons and daughters. 
 They go on heedless and heartless with a sinning, sor- 
 rowing, dying world, while this warm-hearted, Sympa- 
 thetic Friend is ever tendering them, in his own pre- 
 cious name, happiness here, and heaven hereafter. But 
 if sinners sometimes seem determined to go on to 
 endless destruction, we ought to make the way as hard 
 as possible for them to travel. We should hold the 
 cross of Calvary up constantly before their eyes; throw 
 the mangled and bleeding body of the Friend of Sinners 
 incessantly at their feet, and sprinkle their unhallowed 
 pathways, all along through life, with the precious blood 
 of Jesus. 
 
 Malachi speaks of the Messiah as the Messenger of 
 the Covenant. Glorious messenger of a most precious 
 covenant ! Covenant, after covenant, had been given 
 to the world. They paved the way for this new cove- 
 nant of grace, which was to be established upon better 
 promises, and milder propositions. These covenants 
 were often broken, and trampled under foot. The race 
 had wandered far from God. The world had lost her 
 love for truth, and her hope of holiness. Her saints 
 were without sanctity ; her heroes without honor, and 
 her poor without protection. Her power was fast wan- 
 ing, with the loss of faith ; for her wisest men were deny- 
 
THE MESSENGER OF THE COVENANT. IO9 
 
 ing facts, and following fables. The tombs and temples 
 of Egypt, the philosophy of Greece, the splendors and 
 luxuries of Babylon, with the golden eagles and conquer- 
 ing legions of Rome, could never restore her departed 
 power, or bring back her wonted glory. She must wait 
 the coming of the Messenger of Mercy. The ushering 
 in of glad tidings to the world, must be reserved for the 
 Messenger of the new Covenant of grace. The honor 
 of lighting up the dark world, with the joys of a golden 
 age, must be awarded to One mightier in power, and 
 surpassing in glory all the great and good of earth. 
 
 The Heavenly Messenger came at last, with his won- 
 derful message of salvation by grace ; opened a door of 
 hope to those, who were driven to the very verge of 
 despair, and directed all wanderers to the Fountain of 
 Living-waters, and the Highway of Holiness, leading up 
 to heaven and to God. The calm, sweet voice of the 
 Merciful Messenger sounds out, over the troubled ocean 
 of life, and his hopeful words quell the fears of all hearts, 
 and lead the multitudes on, through the drifting clouds 
 of doubt and despondency, into the light and liberty 
 of a living faith in Jesus. The stream of time is still 
 coursing its way down through the centuries, and as the 
 currents of human life ebb and flow upon its shores, 
 many watchmen upon the walls of Zion, by the authority 
 of the Messenger of the Covenant, are still inviting 
 dying men and women everywhere to pass in at the 
 open gate of mercy, and walk the golden-paved streets 
 of the New Jerusalem. 
 
 Paul called the King, the Mediator of the New Tes- 
 tament. The New Testament is simply the King's will, 
 more fully revealed to men than ever before. To give 
 
IIO THE SUCCESSFUL MEDIATOR. 
 
 this Testament legal force, the Testator died, and dedi- 
 cated it with his own precious blood. This clothed it 
 with unquestionable validity. It was through this New 
 Testament, or perfectly revealed will, that the Merciful 
 Mediator hoped to effect a reconciliation between God 
 and man. Hence, he is very properly called the Medi- 
 ator of the New Testament. The King virtually en- 
 tered upon the administration of his mediatorial functions, 
 as soon as sin made its entrance into the world. His 
 divine appointment to this work, had been made, and 
 ratified in the eternal counsels of heaven, long before 
 the fall, or creation of man. But it was under this New 
 Testament that he made his sacrificial offering for the 
 sins of the world. 
 
 In order to be a Successful Mediator, it was necessary 
 that the King be identified with the interests of both 
 parties, and share alike, the confidence of both man and 
 God. Hence he became a God-man, intimately related 
 to both the offending, and offended parties. In this 
 mysterious relationship to God and man, he came as a 
 Powerful Mediator. The listening, longing world was 
 looking for a Mighty Monarch, with the march of armies, 
 and the casting down of thrones, but the Mediator of 
 the New Testament came, like the rising sun, in silence, 
 but with great power, and unparalleled glory. His 
 grand mission is destined to become the song of all 
 nations ; and the ultimate glory of his mediatorial work 
 will fill the Heaven of heavens, with the voices of his 
 endless praise. 
 
 The King's mediatorial work will not close, until the 
 last sinner is reconciled to God, or else banished forever 
 from his peaceful presence. For the time is coming, 
 
THE GOOD SHEPHERD. I I I 
 
 when this Wonderful Mediator shall have hushed every 
 discordant note in the world. Then all voices will be 
 blended, in perfect harmony with the Voice of Heaven : 
 and every spirit of man, beat in sweetest unison with 
 the one great Spirit of God. The human race needed 
 an Influential Mediator — one who could plead its cause, 
 bear its sins and save its souls. None but the Eternal 
 King- could be that Almighty Advocate, that Sinless 
 Saviour, that Matchless Mediator of the New Testa- 
 ment. 
 
 John speaks of the King as the Good Shepherd of 
 the sheep. In fact, they are the King's own words. 
 Jesus said, I am the Good Shepherd, and give unto my 
 sheep eternal life. With an allegorical parable, he set 
 before the authorities of Israel the distinguishing charac- 
 teristics of true and false teachers. In this apologue, 
 they could but see themselves as hirelings, false and 
 treacherous, and Jesus as the Good Shepherd, of both 
 Jews and Gentiles, who would prove true and faithful 
 even unto death. 
 
 This precious title places the King in one of his most 
 endearing relations to man. It is most expressive of 
 his deep solicitude, and tender watch-care over the help- 
 less and hopeless ones of his flock. Love has no better 
 emblem, than that which is found in this sacred title. 
 And it would be well for us to remember, that the Good 
 Shepherd is no mere hireling, but the Owner of the 
 flock ; and therefore One, who feels a special, personal 
 interest in the well-being of every member thereof. 
 There is also much comfort in the assurance, that this 
 Good Shepherd is perfectly familiar with all his flock, 
 insomuch that he can call each sheep, large or small, 
 
112 NINETY AND NINE. 
 
 by its own name, and anticipate its every want, in the 
 hour of darkness, danger or death. The Good Shep- 
 herd knows his own, if found at the dead hour of mid- 
 night, upon the bleak and barren mountains of sin, far 
 away from the sheltered fold. He speaks, and his gentle 
 voice is recognized by the wandering one. For he is 
 also known of his. He restores the soul, brings back 
 the wanderer, and keeps, until the day of eternal re- 
 demption, all whom the Father hath given him. 
 
 "There were ninety and nine, that safely lay- 
 In the shelter of the fold; 
 But one, bare one, had wandered away, 
 Far off from the gates of gold. 
 Out in the desert, he heard its cry, 
 Sick and helpless, and ready to die — 
 Away on the mountains wild and bare, 
 Away from the tender Shepherd's care; 
 But all through the mountains, thunder riven, 
 And up from the rocky steep, 
 There rose a cry to gates of heaven • 
 Rejoice, I have found my sheep; 
 And angels echoed around the throne, 
 Rejoice, for , the Lord brings back his own." 
 
 The King is represented, as humanity's most Skill- 
 ful Physician. Our hearts are by nature diseased ; and 
 our souls are sick even unto death. From the soles of 
 our feet, even to the crowns of our heads, there is no 
 soundness in us ; but wounds, and bruises, and putrefy- 
 ing sores, which have not been closed, neither bound up, 
 nor mollified with ointment. Sin had transformed our 
 beautiful world into a great moral lazar-house, and 
 filled it with inmates the most degraded and loathsome. 
 We can not refrain from stigmatizing it, as the deadly 
 
THE HEAVENLY PHYSICIAN. 113 
 
 upas-tree of the world, which has thrown its withering, 
 blasting, blackening, damning shadows over all kindred, 
 people and tongues of earth, until the world traveleth 
 in pain, even till now, and her sons and daughters, ev- 
 erywhere, are groaning under a burden of guilt and 
 miser)', the dire legacy to us, by sin bequeathed. But 
 the Great Physician has the never-failing antidote for 
 sin — the healing balm for the sin-sick soul — the elixir 
 of life for sinning and dying humanity. He is the Lamb 
 of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. This 
 leprosy of sin, like the fatal cancer, eats its way, living 
 and growing on what it consumes and destroys. But 
 our Heavenly Physician is perfectly familiar with this 
 loathsome disease of the soul. He carries with him its 
 only remedy. He opens the heart by his Spirit, puri- 
 fies the soul with his own precious blood, and imparts 
 life to the sinner, as the eternal gift of God. 
 
 We all need the services of this Skillful Physician ev- 
 ery clay, and every hour we live. We are always in 
 clanger. In the midst of life, we stand, side by side, 
 with death. The partition which separates the two 
 worlds is but a vapor. The transition from time to 
 eternity is momentary. At all stages, and under all the 
 varied circumstances of life, death, the solemn monitor, 
 stands by our side ready to lay his icy grasp upon us, 
 perchance without a moment's warning, and claim us as 
 his own. The distance between us and this orim mon- 
 ster, may be measured, at any time, with a single step. 
 Life and death are inseparable companions on earth. 
 They walk together, hand in hand, all the way through 
 this sin-cursed world. We are not, as we sometimes 
 
 imagine, simply traveling towards a fearful precipice, 
 8 
 
114 THE WICKED AND THE WORLDLY. 
 
 over which we will eventually fall into eternity. But we 
 are walking upon its very brink, all the way through this 
 uncertain life. Every point, in the path over which we 
 are traveling, has proved fatal to some way-worn pilgrim 
 of earth. And more than once, we have lost our foot- 
 hold upon the sands of time, and trembled, for a moment, 
 on the brink of eternity. Then, we can not afford to 
 venture another step, without the presence of this Great 
 Physician in whom we live and move and have our be- 
 ing. For just where our lamp of life may grow dim, 
 and pale, and fade from mortal sight, no one knows but 
 God. 
 
 There are times, when even the wicked and the 
 worldly, the prayerless and profane feel their need of 
 this Skillful Physician. It is in the wane of life, and the 
 loss of earthly hope. It is when moral darkness en- 
 shrouds the soul, and no ray of spiritual light penetrates 
 the surrounding gloom. It is when the pains of hell 
 get hold upon them, and the darkness darkens still. It 
 is when they realize that the light of life is fast reced- 
 ing, and, that darkness and death will soon be their 
 doomed companions, for evermore. In these critical 
 hours, there is nothing they so much desire, as spiritual 
 life. Oh, that the Heavenly Physician would come, in 
 the plenitude of his mercy ! Oh, that the light of an 
 eternal day would dawn, upon the blackness of this my 
 darkest night, that there might be night with me no 
 more forever ! Far better is it with us, if the Great 
 Physician always be a desired and welcome Guest, even 
 when the heart is glad, and the cup of our earthly joy 
 is full to overflowing. For then he will never forsake 
 us, in the hour of affliction, or desert us in the time 
 
THE DIVINE LAWGIVER. II 5 
 
 of our greatest need. This Skillful Physician can not 
 only restore, and sustain spiritual life ; but he also has 
 equal power over natural life and death. He holds the 
 keys, which unlock, both the graves of earth, and the 
 gates of heaven. He will make the dark portals of 
 death, to all his penitent patients, the gateway to an 
 endless and immortal life. 
 
 Isaiah saw the King, as a Divine Lawgiver. The 
 legal feature, in the plan of human redemption, is a very 
 interesting and important one. Prior to the King's ad- 
 vent, the law demanded justice; and nothing short of 
 justice could meet, and satisfy its righteous claims. But 
 when the Divine Lawgiver came, he represented us in 
 the stern courts of justice, where he met, and satisfied 
 all its claims upon humanity. He then introduced, into 
 the great web of moral law, a stripe of equity, and formu- 
 lated it in the golden rule, which he gave to the world. 
 Justice required an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, 
 and life for life. But equity, as introduced by Jesus, 
 opened the way for the exercise of mercy. In fact, equity 
 is an important element in the divine government. It is 
 the pivot upon which our eternal destiny turned. For 
 by the deeds of the law no flesh could be justified. 
 However, equity is not in conflict with, but simply an 
 enactment added to the divine law, by this Divine Law- 
 giver. And this essential element, in the divine govern- 
 ment, has since been also embodied in all the civil codes 
 of the world. So that now, equity, in our courts of as- 
 sizes, often secures our rights even in the absence of 
 law, while justice meets out our claims, only in fulfillment 
 of the law's requirements. Just so in the divine govern- 
 ment. All the benefits of the law, secured to its devotees 
 
Il6 EQUITY THE LAW OF MERCY. 
 
 under the old dispensation, upon the principles of jus- 
 tice, and in consequence of obedience, are now bestowed 
 upon us, in the absence of justice, upon the principles 
 of equity, through faith in our most Merciful Lawgiver. 
 
 Equity, in the divine government, is the law of mercy. 
 The sun of justice sank behind the gloomy horizon of 
 Golgotha, on the day of the crucifixion, and the sun of 
 mercy rose in gladness, on the morning of the third day, 
 to shed his first soft rays of light upon a ransomed world. 
 The language of equity is, Mercy hath prevailed, there- 
 fore let favor be shown to the wicked. 
 
 Now burdened souls, with all their guilt, 
 
 And all their weight of woe, 
 May pardon, at the mercy-seat, 
 
 Find every time they go. 
 
 Mercy pleads long, and importunately with the im- 
 penitent sinner. But she will not always plead in vain. 
 She knows her appointed bounds, and there she will 
 turn, on insulted wing, and kindle into a tempest of 
 eternal vengeance to sink his sin-polluted soul to the 
 lowest depth of endless perdition. 
 
 The King, at his coming, assumed that judicial and 
 legislative authority, previously exercised by others. No 
 sinister motive could have induced him to decline the 
 honor to rule, awarded him by the Father. His admin- 
 istration has been perfectly equitable. He knows no 
 partiality. He wrongs no one, that benefit thereby may 
 accrue to another. His reign is unimpeachable. But 
 to crown all culture, and develop the purest and noblest 
 Christian character, man must heed the commandments, 
 keep the precepts and walk in the statutes of love and 
 
A GREAT TEACHER FROM HEAVEN. I I J 
 
 mercy, delivered to us by this Divine Lawgiver. This 
 he can do, only through God's assisting grace. 
 
 Nichodemus recognized the Kincr as a Great Teacher 
 sent from heaven to instruct humanity in the way of life. 
 The race was sitting in darkness, and in the shadow 
 of death. Generation after generation, on their way to 
 the tomb, had asked in vain for the way of life. The 
 devotee had urged the inquiry, at the shrine of his idol 
 god ; the priest had plead for light at his heathen altar ; 
 and the ancient sage had repeated the cry, as he walked 
 amid the works and wonders of creation : but no answer, 
 not even an echo, returned to lighten their pathway, as 
 they journeyed on, through the darkness, toward the 
 regions of death. Ignorance, on this subject, was uni- 
 versal and complete. It had settled down, like a pall, 
 over the face of all lands. Darkness covered the earth, 
 and gross darkness the minds of the people. All things 
 proved the necessity of a Great Teacher, sent from God, 
 to unfold the deep mysteries of life, and lift the hearts 
 of men to a glorious and immortal destiny. 
 
 At length this Great Teacher made his appearance, 
 and threw a halo of light and glory over a world, wrapped 
 in (doom, and shrouded in death. He came with lessons 
 
 o 
 
 of love, ladened with heavenly wisdom ; and all bore him 
 witness, and marveled at the gracious words which pro- 
 ceeded out of his mouth ; for they were spirit, and they 
 were life. There was a grandeur in his maxims, and a 
 wisdom in his words, such as the world had never known 
 before. He was the world's Greatest Teacher. His 
 instructions did more toward solving the great problems 
 of human life, than all the teachings of earth's philoso- 
 phers and sages combined. He was also unlike all 
 
Il8 RICH, RARE AND ROMANTIC. 
 
 other teachers, a living illustration of the truths he 
 taught. He exemplified every lesson he inculcated. 
 He taught no less by example, than by precept. Men 
 of the broadest intellectual culture, in all subsequent 
 ages, have recognized in him the symbol of divine wis- 
 dom, and the realized ideal of human perfection. 
 
 This Great Teacher adopted a method of instruction, 
 so rich, so rare, and yet so ^romantic, that thousands 
 thronged to hear his wonderful words of wisdom ; and 
 listened with the most intense interest and eagerness to 
 his gracious lessons of life. His teachings were not, as 
 some have insinuated, a mere eclectic system, borrowed 
 from the religious sects and teachers of his day. He 
 was most emphatically the Teacher of teachers. For, 
 when he spoke, the wisest could not answer; neither 
 could the bravest stand before his burning words of 
 wisdom. He silenced alike the great and the small, the 
 illiterate and the learned of earth. For his was not the 
 culture of men, but the wisdom of God. His was the 
 erudition of heaven, not of earth. He was truly a 
 Wonderful Teacher. His grand lessons opened the 
 gates of heaven so wide, at times, that men saw more 
 of its glory in a single moment, than they had ever seen 
 before in all their lives. And yet, in the trivial incidents 
 of life, he often found the most forcible illustrations of 
 moral truths. And, even in some of the innocent amuse- 
 ments of his day, he saw the brightest and best symbols 
 of spiritual life. 
 
 But the devotees of a dead religion, crucified and em- 
 balmed in its oral traditions, were illy prepared to receive 
 and appreciate the divine originality, and heavenly unc- 
 tion, with which the Spiritual Nazarene instructed them in 
 
ONE RELIGION FOR ALL RACES. I 1 9 
 
 the ways of life and salvation. Their sages had no just 
 conception of a religion adapted alike to the wants of all 
 classes, and conditions of humanity. They claimed that 
 the folly of his teachings were patent, in the fact that he 
 sought to introduce one religion for all nations. They 
 thought that the aristocracy of the world would never 
 deign to stoop to a religion, in common with the lower 
 castes of society. But the Great Teacher proclaimed 
 the brotherhood of man, by revealing a common Father, 
 and a similar destiny to the entire race. He taught the 
 world many important truths. But, in the interest and 
 sympathy, which he manifested for all classes, and con- 
 ditions of humanity ; in the spirit of his bearing toward 
 the noble, and the ignoble among men ; and above all, 
 in his picture of the great judgment, where race and rank 
 will be unknown, are imbedded some of the grandest 
 lessons of his fruitful life. But all this glorious light was 
 darkness to blinded eyes : and all these living truths 
 were dead to hardened hearts. 
 
 The Great Teacher had before him all classes of 
 hearers. He preached to the cold and indifferent, the 
 shallow and impressive, the worldly and ambitious, the 
 aristocratic and luxurious, as well as to the faithful, and 
 fruitful among men. The proud and haughty, he sent 
 to the law of Moses ; but the humble and submissive he 
 led to his own Gospel of Grace. The great burden of 
 his teachings was the denunciation of sin, and the prom- 
 ise of pardon. He pointed out a light to console the 
 obedient, and a flame to consume the disobedient. He 
 taught men how to make the best of both worlds. His 
 object was to make every man his own master, and ena- 
 ble him to bring all the faculties of his being into harmony 
 
120 VIRTUE VERSUS VICE. 
 
 with the divine will. Truth was the great instrumentality 
 he made use of to transform, purify arid elevate the 
 human family. Religious truth was the principal ele- 
 ment in all his public instructions. He constantly dealt 
 out unalloyed truth to his large audiences — truths which 
 shook, to their very center, the sandy foundations of the 
 votaries of infidelity. His manner of imparting knowl- 
 edge has impressed these divine truths upon the great 
 heart of the world. They still sink deep into the souls, 
 and linger long in the memories of all his true, and faith- 
 ful disciples. 
 
 This Great Teacher dealt not with questions of specu- 
 lative curiosity, but with subjects of the greatest prac- 
 tical, and spiritual import. With many of the ancients, 
 virtue was but the offspring, or outgrowth of nature ; 
 and vice, merely the madness of men. Compare the 
 doctrines of moral evil, and human responsibility, as set 
 forth in the teachings of Jesus, with the vague ideas of 
 heathendom, and you will see, at once, the paramount 
 importance of his sacred mission among men. His 
 words were the reality of hope, and the very embodi- 
 ment of life. None, like him, had ever fathomed the 
 depths of the world's spiritual necessities, or revealed 
 the hidden secrets of life, with such words of fire. The 
 masses recognized in his teachings, the power and in- 
 spiration of a life, unknown to the scribes and Pharisees, 
 who followed so scrupulously the traditions of the elders. 
 And the spirit of his Gospel breathes the inspiration 
 of love into our lives, imparts the fullness of hope to 
 our hearts and pours the blessings of heaven into our 
 souls. 
 
 Christian friends, Jesus is our Great Teacher, and we 
 
THE SAVIOUR OF SINNERS. 12 1 
 
 are his humble disciples. The relation we sustain to 
 him, implies a oneness with him in the great work of 
 lifting the church, into a higher and holier life, and the 
 salvation of a lost and ruined world. Our hearts should 
 always beat, in perfect unison, with the sympathetic 
 heart of the Saviour, in his purposes, and plans to res- 
 cue the perishing of earth. For we can not afford to 
 negative our professions, by refusing to cooperate with 
 him in any of the labors, or sacrifices necessary to the 
 salvation of souls. We need but follow the instructions, 
 imbibe the spirit and become co-workers with Jesus ; 
 and we may go forth to walk and talk with him on 
 earth, as Adam did with God in Paradise, until we step 
 over the border, into a brighter and better land, where 
 we will reign eternally with him in glory. 
 
 The King is universally recognized, in the Scriptures, 
 as the Saviour of Sinners. He was the Messiah of 
 the prophets. Ancient prophecy all centered in him, as 
 its Sacrificial Saviour. F^or centuries the world waited, 
 and watched for the Promised Deliverer. At length he 
 came, with the message of life and salvation. He came 
 to rescue sinners from the vortex into which they had 
 fallen, that they might not be forever lost. He came to 
 pay a debt which he did not owe, to relieve them of a 
 debt they could not pay. He came to save them from 
 a ruin, in which the tempest of sin had involved the 
 world. He came to awaken hope, in the despondent 
 hearts ; to kindle life in the souls, and to restore the 
 fallen images of a great God to the lost sinners of a 
 dying world. Jesus carried a world of sorrow in his in- 
 nocent heart, and the burden of a world's guilt upon 
 his sinless soul, as he marched from the Pretorium to 
 
122 A MIRACLE OF MERCY. 
 
 Golgotha, And the testimony of all the Gospels point 
 to him as the Suffering Saviour of Calvary. Storms of 
 persecution, and floods of sorrow swept over his grief- 
 smitten soul, like a mighty avalanche, as he hung in 
 agonies upon the crimson cross. But he willingly bore 
 all these shameful burdens, that he might bestow upon 
 the world all needed blessings. For the prime object 
 of his merciful mission was to give eternal life to sin- 
 ners, at the cost of the most humiliating of all deaths — 
 even the death of the cross. 
 
 The salvation of sinners is a miracle of mercy. They 
 are saved, only because divine mercy is deeper than hu- 
 man folly. God does not paralyze the wicked hand, 
 palsy the blaspheming tongue, nor blot out of existence 
 those, who refuse him a place in his own universe, sim- 
 ply because he is a God of mercy. He refused once to 
 let the sun shine upon man's greatest sin, to show the 
 world how great his mercy was in sending the Light of 
 Life to those, who so much preferred to walk in the 
 darkness of death. So, mercy is one of the chief attri- 
 butes of the Saviour of Sinners, through which we have 
 received the blessings of salvation. His mercy brought 
 him, seeking and searching through all the barren wastes 
 of sin and death for the loved, but lost of earth. The 
 presence, of the Mighty Healer, and the aid of the Mer- 
 ciful Helper is the only hope of the guilty, and helpless 
 soul. Through his infinite mercy alone, can we hope to 
 receive eternal life. For his mercy is the only refuge for 
 sinners, and the secure citadel for his saints. He en- 
 ters the heart, sick with sin, and it is his merciful pres- 
 ence, which makes it a place of joy and gladness for 
 evermore. 
 
HEAVENS RICHEST BLESSING. I 23 
 
 The Saviour of Sinners is the world's Greatest Bene- 
 factor. He brought with him heaven's richest blessing 
 for man. That blessing makes the poorest of earth 
 heirs of a rich and endless inheritance in glory. Jesus 
 proclaimed, to all men, a full and free salvation. The 
 precious truths he uttered have lifted humanity up toward 
 the gates of heaven. He still speaks to the sin-burdened 
 soul with the voice of peace, and the promise of rest ; 
 and all within is joy and gladness. A deeper peace, 
 and a much more profound and blessed rest, than this 
 world can ever give, has come to every sin-stricken, and 
 life-seeking sinner, who has laid his heavy burden down, 
 in penitence, at the foot of the cross. The Saviour 
 awakens the triune faculty of faith, hope and love, in 
 every contrite seeker, and sends him forth rejoicing in 
 the pardon of sin, and the power of life. He fills each 
 trusting heart with a faith, which lifts the veil of the un- 
 seen world, and reveals the glories of a Heavenly Para- 
 dise. He brings back the lost treasure of hope, and 
 with it anchors the redeemed soul to that within the 
 veil. He binds, with the golden cords of love, each be- 
 lieving, hopeful sinner, that the heart of a ransomed 
 world may beat, in happy unison, with the great heart 
 of Infinite Love. Thus he is constantly lifting a dying 
 world up, out of darkness and death, into the light, and 
 blessedness of an endless life. 
 
 The Cross of Christ is the hope of the world. It is 
 to humanity what stars are to the night, or rather, what 
 the sun is to the clay. The Saviour of Sinners was a 
 man without sin. He knew nothing - of the burden of 
 personal guilt, or of the sense of personal pardon. Yet 
 he hung in agonies upon the cross of death, that the 
 
124 HOPELESS WITHOUT THE CROSS. 
 
 vilest sinners might lay hold upon the crown of life. 
 Without this cross then, the sinner has no Sacrificial 
 Saviour ; no Paschal Lamb ; and consequently, no hope 
 of heaven. . Without this cross, the Christian has no 
 Elder Brother ; no Compassionate Intercessor, and 
 hence, no heavenly mansion, in which to repose when 
 the toils, and conflicts of his earthly pilgrimage are 
 passed. Here, the Saviour died, that sinners might 
 live. Here, he also endured the deepest agonies of 
 earth, that ransomed souls might be crowned with eter- 
 nal glory. Here, he lifted his supplicating voice in 
 prayer, for those who nailed him there. All lives would 
 be worse than hopeless, and all deaths the beginning 
 of endless despair, were it not for the Cross of Calvary. 
 If we desire deeper conviction, more devout penitence, 
 or greater sorrow for sin, we need only come nearer the 
 cross of a Suffering Saviour, where justice and mercy 
 meet, and a Just Judge pardons a guilty sinner. Then 
 as Christians, we should employ all the charms of music, 
 all the fervor of devotion, all the consecration of life and 
 all the power of the pulpit, with which to tell a lost 
 world the sacred story of the consecrated cross. For 
 when reason fails, and warnings are heard in vain ; when 
 blessings are spurned, and chastisements are despised ; 
 when the hope of heaven no longer allures, and the 
 fear of hell no longer alarms, then the infinite love of 
 the Saviour of Sinners, as seen in his sufferings upon 
 the cross, will often touch the prodigal's heart, unseal 
 the fountain of tears, and bring the wayward wanderer 
 back to his Father's house. 
 
 Christ never intended, that any should purchase heaven 
 with good works, or royal gifts. He kindly tendered 
 
THE REDEEMER OF A RANSOMED WORLD. 1 25 
 
 life and salvation to all men, without money, and with- 
 out price, upon the simple condition of faith in him, as 
 their personal Saviour. With such an offer before us, 
 we should not stop one moment to argue the question 
 of acceptance. Living faith should always go before 
 blind reason, when we contemplate spiritual things. It 
 is folly to delay, madness to defer, when the greatest 
 blessings, for time and eternity, may be had for the ask- 
 ing. Especially is this true, when we consider that our 
 eternal destiny may depend upon decisive, and immedi- 
 ate action ; since the opportunity for choice may be 
 gone in a moment, and gone forever. Yet, many delay 
 their return for years. Some wait even until the tender 
 feelings, ardent hopes and wakeful conscience of their 
 youthful days are all buried beneath the guilt and sin of 
 a long life, spent in rebellion against the Gracious King. 
 In such hearts, the seed of divine truth seldom finds 
 soil sufficiently congenial to germinate, and spring up 
 into eternal life. But there is some hope for the aged 
 sinner. Truth never loses its divine power. And the 
 King is able to save, even to the uttermost, the very 
 chief of sinners. This is sufficient to inspire us with 
 unbounded confidence in him, as an All-sufficient Sav- 
 iour. We can not over-estimate, either his power, or 
 willingness to save. Neither can we trust him too soon, 
 nor too implicitly; for he desires nothing else so much, 
 as he does the salvation of sinners. 
 
 The King of Glory is the Redeemer of a ransomed 
 world. In ancient times, it was the custom to put a 
 redemption price on captives taken in war, and allow 
 their friends to redeem them, if they would. The money 
 given to buy back from prison, and from death, was 
 
126 THE COURTS OF HIS GRACE. 
 
 called the ransom, or redemption price. The world has 
 been captured, by the powers of darkness. Silver and 
 gold would not redeem a single soul. The redemption 
 price was the blood of the Just. The world must be 
 ransomed, or all would have been lost. So Jesus 
 came to our rescue; and bought us back with his own 
 precious blood. He paid the stipulated price, in heav- 
 en's own coinage. He gave himself a ransom for all 
 men. He threw open the prison doors of death to the 
 world, and bade all the prisoners of sin, and sorrow 
 walk out into the courts of his grace, and enjoy the lib- 
 erty of purchased redemption. None should hesitate 
 a single moment, to accept this proffered liberty. For, 
 could we turn back the hand, on the dial plate of time, 
 to the day, when the King hung in agonies upon the 
 cross, and gaze, with our own eyes, upon the tragic 
 scene, which purchased our redemption ; all hearts would 
 doubtless melt, with deepest contrition ; all heads become 
 fountains of tears ; and all souls embrace, with a most 
 ardent love, the world's Dying Redeemer. How could 
 we remain any longer in cruel bondage to Satan, with 
 bursted bars, opened doors, and dying agonies, all invit- 
 ing us so cordially, in the name of the Royal Redeemer, 
 to happiness, and to heaven ? 
 
 The World's Redeemer has a heart to pity, and a 
 soul to sympathize with all classes, and conditions of 
 suffering humaity. His compassionate soul yearns for 
 the deliverance of every sin-fettered captive, who lingers 
 in the land of bondage, from the idle, worthless dude 
 of wealth, to the most wretched, poverty-stricken vaga- 
 bond, that ever sat beneath the dark canopy of sorrow, 
 or the sable curtains of death. His was truly a mission 
 
HIS MINISTERS OF MERCY. 1 27 
 
 of mercy. He came to cheer the hopeless, and lift up 
 the fallen among men. He came to restore the outcast, 
 and pardon the guilty of our race. He came to seek, 
 and to save the lost of earth. His blood was shed for 
 those, who made it flow. His voice was lifted in behalf 
 of those, who silenced it in death. His soul was made 
 an offering- for those, who crucified him upon the cross. 
 And he gloried in this merciful mission, which reached 
 even his own foul murderers. 
 
 Why did the King redeem us from death, says one, 
 and still leave us to struggle with the weakness of the 
 flesh, and the adversary of souls all the way through 
 life? We answer, because many of the most valuable 
 lessons of life are learned in its darkest trials, and deep- 
 est troubles. We must walk on in fear, if we would 
 learn the great lesson of faith. We must journey be- 
 neath the shadows of the deepest sorrows, to learn, 
 that all his providential dispensations are but ministers 
 of mercy, to all those who see the bow of promise upon 
 the brow of the darkest clouds, which gather over the 
 pathway of their painful pilgrimage. Again, every trial, 
 patiently borne, adds joy and strength to the humble 
 soul. Every triumphant conflict, with the powers ol 
 darkness, increases our courage in the great spiritual 
 warfare. There is no joy like that of the conqueror, 
 who fights against the powers of evil, and gains a vic- 
 tory for himself, and his God. If we would be truly 
 happy, we must learn to suffer patiently, resist manfully 
 and contend nobly in life's great battle. We must free 
 ourselves from the power, and dominion of sin, by fight- 
 ing our way valiantly to the realms of light and liberty. 
 The self indulgent, who seek happiness, in shunning 
 
128 THE DARK PILGRIMAGE OF LIFE. 
 
 duty, know nothing of the real joy, and exultation of 
 true victory. The crowns of heaven are all reserved 
 for conquerors. The robes of Paradise are all to be 
 worn by soldiers. The heavenly mansions await the 
 weary reapers, who will return with great joy, bringing 
 their sheaves with them to glory. 
 
 Though infinitely compassionate, the Great Redeemer 
 never promised to ward off the stroke of affliction, even 
 from those who walk closest to him, through all the dark 
 pilgrimage of life. He says to all his followers, In 
 this world ye shall have tribulations. His promises of 
 unalloyed happiness, all point, through the gateway of 
 darkness and death, to the mansions of light and life. 
 Yea more ! he often sends the dark nights, and long 
 winters of trial, trouble and tribulation upon us, that 
 all the Christian graces, and heavenly virtues of our holy 
 religion may be developed and strengthened, the more 
 beautifully to adorn our saintly characters. We must 
 not conclude then, that the Infinite Redeemer has for- 
 gotten us, because we fail to recognize his divine pres- 
 ence, in all the dark hours of peril, temptation and be- 
 reavement. We need not desire to see, at all times, the 
 Helping Hand, which guides our feet, and guards our 
 way. It is enough for us to know, that we are fighting 
 under the King's banner of love ; that we are sailing on 
 the old ship of Zion, with the Captain of our Salvation 
 at her helm ; and we will look back after a while, from 
 the broad, sunlit hills of heaven, upon the dangers, 
 storms and conflicts, through which we have passed, 
 with all our regrets lost in gratitude and love for him, 
 who has manifested his own power and glory, in our 
 timely deliverance. We will all have to hum, occasion- 
 
THE MORNING STAR. I 29 
 
 ally, the song of sorrow here ; but it will only tune 
 our hearts, with sweeter harmony, and enable us to sing, 
 with deeper joys, the songs of redemption hereafter. 
 Those who walk through the fiery furnace of affliction, 
 hoping against hope, or sit down in the house of mourn- 
 ing shedding tears which water their own hearts, will 
 finally be led forth by the hand of a Merciful Redeemer, 
 into the light, and gladness of a heavenly day. Then the 
 long and happy clay which we shall spend in heaven 
 will be brighter and better, because we have found so 
 much night, in our earthly pilgrimage. 
 
 This great redemption work, shall be carried on, until 
 the vices and vulgarities of the world have all vanished. 
 Then truth shall speak forth from every lip, virtue adorn 
 every life, and peace find lodgement in every heart. 
 This Regal Redeemer of the world will actually accom- 
 plish every thing foreshadowed in the law, and predicted 
 by the prophets concerning his wonderful redemption 
 rei^n. He has already set up the sign of redemption 
 on earth ; placed the ensigns of his glory in the heav- 
 ens, and waved the bloody banner of the cross in vic- 
 tory, at the very gates of hell. And he will push for- 
 ward the victories of the cross, until all the powers of 
 darkness are forever subdued ; the redemption of both 
 our souls and bodies are finally complete, and then he 
 will reign, as King of Saints, eternally in glory. 
 
 The King represented himself to the Revelator, as 
 the Morning Star of the moral world, shining forth 
 in beauty and grandeur, from the heavens of his own in- 
 finite love. This then is the last, and in some respects 
 the most striking figure the Saviour ever used, in re- 
 vealing himself to a dark and benighted world. His 
 9 
 
130 A PERMANENT POLAR STAR. 
 
 humble advent was but the falling of the first soft beams 
 of light, from this bright Morning Star, upon the sable 
 darkness of a long moral night to humanity. For a 
 time, this Beautiful Star hung low in its golden orbit. 
 Sometimes its mellow light was well nigh obscured ; 
 and again, its radiant splendors trailed in the dust. 
 The Young King shed his light gradually, like the light 
 of the morning, upon the benighted pathway of human 
 life, shaded with the sombre curtains of death, until he 
 eventually ushered in the glories of a brighter, and bet- 
 ter day to sinning, and suffering humanity. For the 
 Star, which once shone in humble obscurity, now leads 
 the shining hosts of heaven, as the Chief among ten 
 thousand, and the One altogether lovely. 
 
 Many brilliant stars have risen, and shone with efful- 
 gent glory for a time, upon benighted humanity : but 
 this brightly beaming Morning Star rises far above all 
 others, and continues to shine with ever-increasing glory, 
 while they pale, and fade from our moral vision. While 
 on earth, Jesus was separate from sinners in his thoughts, 
 feelings and affections. He was spotless, and without 
 guile. He stood alone, in the moral world. Now he 
 dwells apart, in his lofty purity. He has become a per- 
 manent Polar Star, in the heavens of our faith. Like 
 the star of the morning, ever beautiful and bright, he is 
 shining silently, and alone, in the spiritual heavens, 
 while all other stars have grown dim, and faded from 
 our lingering view. 
 
 This Morning Star speaks of the changeless sympathy, 
 and undying affection of our King of Love. It stands 
 as a pledge for the future — an everlasting security for 
 all ages. In the darkest hours of our darkest nights, its 
 
THE EBON NIGHT OF MORTALITY. I3J 
 
 burning beams of light fall upon our souls, inspiring 
 them with the hope of immortality, and eternal life. 
 This Friendly Star moves on, in its matchless career of 
 sympathy, and love, through all the storms, and con- 
 flicts of this mortal life, always pointing way-worn pil- 
 grims to a land of rest — a home in heaven. It is the 
 Sure Herald of an endless day. This is the ebon night 
 of mortality. Death is all around us. The earth stands 
 thick with tombs. Millions are annually marching on 
 toward the grave. But, high above this dead, and dy- 
 ing world, serenely beams the bright Morning Star of 
 hope, Sweet Harbinger of an eternal clay. 
 
 Watchman, what of the night? Tell us what its signs 
 of promise are. The morning dawneth ; day is breaking, 
 and the light of life is bursting, in floods of glory, upon 
 a benighted world. The Morning Star is already far 
 above the Eastern horizon, and begins to shine with 
 matchless power, and great glory, upon the oriental 
 world. The precious name of King Jesus is already 
 peerless in power, among the greatest forces of earth. 
 Universal dominion is inscribed upon the snowy folds of 
 his cross-banner ; and the petty kingdoms of this world 
 are being rapidly added to the growing empire of the 
 King of Glory. The gentle light, of this steadily Rising 
 Star, is already melting away, into the azure dawn of an 
 eternal day. The earth, with all its darkness and death, 
 is quietly receding; and heaven, with all its light and 
 life, is gradually bursting in upon our enraptured vision. 
 The darkness, of mortality's long night, is rapidly giving 
 way, to the glorious light of an endless immortality. 
 
 Malachi hailed the King, as the Sun of Righteous- 
 ness, rising, with healing in his beams, upon all the 
 
132 LITTLE SUNS IN LOW ORBITS. 
 
 nations of the earth. Life was on the wane. The light 
 in men was darkness intensified. The world was man- 
 tled with night, and shrouded in death. Little suns 
 hung low, in their humble orbits, like lamps of glory on 
 the battlements of heaven ; while still lesser lights 
 spangled the dark vault of ignorance and superstition, 
 for four thousand years. The world waited, and watched 
 for the ushering in of a holier and happier day. At 
 length the morning dawned, in all its beauty and loveli- 
 ness. The King unfolded the vision of his glory, with 
 such royal magnificence, that all other lights were com- 
 pletely eclipsed, in the radiance of his dazzling splendors. 
 The Sun of Righteousness arose, in power and great 
 glory. Darkness fled, pursued by the rays of divine light, 
 until the night of death was soon lost in the day of life, 
 and immortality brought to light in the Gospel of Jesus. 
 Life is still diversified, with sunshine and shadows. 
 One moment is full of light and the next darkened with 
 clouds. To-day we live in the light of hope ; but to- 
 morrow grope our way in the darkness of despair. This 
 week we are basking in the balmy summer of life, but 
 the next finds us silent in the chilly winter of death. 
 The darkest nights of grief, often follow the lightest 
 days of earthly joy. The shadows of eternity, often fall 
 across the brightest paths of time. And the angel of 
 death, often darkens the threshold of the happiest homes 
 on earth. How important it is then, that we have a 
 Sun of Righteousness beneath whose genial rays we 
 may warm our hearts, and vitalize our souls, for the 
 fearful struggles of life and the solemn realities of 
 death. If we would let our feeble lights, with their 
 borrowed rays, so shine, as to illuminate our own path- 
 
*33 
 
 ways, and shed a mellow radiance upon those around 
 us, we must walk in the sacred precincts of this Sun of 
 Righteousness, which is destined to drive back the 
 darkness of a dismal night, and flood the world with 
 the glories of a perfect day. It will make radiant, with 
 its divine glories, all lands, from East to West, and 
 encircle the earth, from pole to pole, with its heavenly 
 beams of light and life. For it is the Sun oi Mercy, 
 and the Light of the World. 
 
 A Light, which is the life of men, has come to us, 
 from the eternal world. And we can well afford to dis- 
 pense with the torch-light of reason, and all other minor 
 lights, unless we prefer the flickering rays of tapers, to 
 the splendors of a cloudless sun. This Sun of Right- 
 eousness rose with healino- in his beams, that the blind 
 of earth might see, and the dead live through all etern- 
 ity. It finds the sinner sitting in the valley and shadow 
 of death, or wandering in this world of woe, and lights 
 him back, through its golden gates, unto the heaven of 
 endless glory. The prisoners of darkness, and the 
 victims of death hear the footfalls of the Humble King, 
 as he passes by their lowly dungeons, and follow him 
 forth into the broad sunlight of an endless day, and a 
 glorious destiny. The iron doors, of the dark kingdom 
 of death, are thrown open everywhere ; the light of the 
 glorious Sun of Righteousness shines in, and the invit- 
 ing voice of the Prince of Life sounds through all its 
 cells of sorrow, and the dead awake to live for evermore. 
 The sinner, upon whose benighted soul the first ray of light 
 has just flashed, bringing with it the gift and evidence 
 of eternal life, feels like he was basking in the very sun- 
 shine of the King's eternal glory. His happy soul is 
 
134 THE KING OF KINGS 
 
 full of light and love, and he rejoices that the King has 
 set up his throne in the heart for a peaceful, glorious 
 and endless reign. Upon all such, this Sun of Right- 
 eousness rises, and shines forever in glory. 
 
 Paul speaks of Christ, as the King of kings, and 
 Lord of lords. And Jesus himself said, in answer to 
 Pilate's inquiry, Thou sayest that I am a King ; to this 
 end was I born, and for this purpose came I into the 
 world. His silent bearing indicated, that he was born 
 to command ; and his graceful movements betrayed, at 
 every step, the majesty of a King. Infinite Majesty had 
 never before assumed the form, and functions of a serv- 
 ant. Royalty had never before stood, and knocked, 
 without invitation, at the doors of rebellious hearts, seek- 
 ing peaceful admission, through its own voluntary sacri- 
 fices. But this Humble Nazarene, of the Gospels, was 
 a King of kings, the sceptre of whose power is supreme, 
 over both the seen, and the unseen world. His domin- 
 ion is universal. It includes the petty domains of all 
 other kings and potentates. And none can go beyond 
 the sound of his commanding voice, or compass the 
 reach of his regal power. In the person of Jesus Christ, 
 there was nobility of thought ; grandeur of character, 
 and a moral worth, before which heaven and earth were 
 forced to pause, and bow in reverence and adoration. 
 For, during the thirty years in which he walked the 
 earth in humility, he was but a King in Disguise, greater 
 than all the kings of his race. He was, most emphatic- 
 ally, the King of kings, and Lord of lords. 
 
 The great events, in the earthly career of their Hon- 
 ored King, were matters of paramount importance to 
 the hosts of heaven. Holy angels loved to trace the 
 
THE KIND-HEARTED KING REJECTED. 1 35 
 
 steps ; listen to the words, and witness the deeds of this 
 Mighty King, whose heavenly glory was veiled beneath 
 the garb of a Galilean Peasant. The places where he 
 was born, lived, labored, suffered and died are all en- 
 shrined forever in the memories of those vieilant visi- 
 tants, and inscribed indelibly upon the lasting records of 
 heaven. 
 
 Jesus was born King of the Jews. He was the Legit- 
 imate Heir to Israel's throne. But the Jews rejected 
 their Worthy King. They were wedded to their formal- 
 ities. Their religious system had made them slaves to 
 the letter, but strangers to the spirit of their law. But 
 after all, it is easier for the carnal mind to obey the let- 
 ter, than to submit to the spirit. It is quite easy to be 
 cold and haughty ; but rather difficult to be humble and 
 spiritual. It is one thing to be a bigoted formalist, but 
 quite a different thing to be an humble, and obedient 
 subject of the meek and Lowly King. While the Kind- 
 hearted King was rejected by the scribes, he was wor- 
 shiped by the publicans. While the Pharisees despised 
 him, he was adored by sinners. And while he was per- 
 secuted by those in authority, even unto death, he was 
 reverenced, and loved devotedly by many of their sub- 
 jects. The Jews expected, in the person of their Mes- 
 siah, a great earthly king, whose regal majesty 1 and 
 power would be overwhelming to the nations. They 
 preferred a mighty monarch, with a conquering army, 
 to the Despised Nazarene with his cross of agonies. 
 Hence they took no cognizance of his kingship, save to 
 deny his right to reign, and lead him to the cross, rather 
 than honor him with a crown. 
 
 The King is the Arbiter of human destiny. He 
 
I36 THE ARBITER OF HUMAN DESTINY. 
 
 looked into the eyes, and read, with ease, the most pro- 
 found secrets of all hearts. He viewed the hearts, and 
 revealed, most accurately, the destiny of all souls. It 
 was not necessary for him to wave a wand, utter a mean- 
 ingless incantation, watch the moving stars, listen to the 
 moaning winds or roaring waters to find out the secrets 
 of human destiny, or to convince the most illiterate, 
 that he had power over the unseen world. Unlike hea- 
 then priests, he had only to speak the word, and his 
 divine power was manifest to all men. Nor was the 
 King of kings ignorant of his own destiny. He saw the 
 end, from the beginning. He knew that he must pass 
 under the rod, and over the cross, to reach the crown. 
 He was perfectly conscious of the shame and agonies, 
 which lay in his pathway to glory. He often contem- 
 plated the sad scenes of Calvary, in contrast with the 
 lifting up of the everlasting gates, and the ascension of 
 his Father's throne, where he would reign forever, as 
 King of kings, and Lord of lords. 
 
 The King of kings can justly claim the services of 
 all hands, and the homage of all hearts. For he ac- 
 quainted himself with our griefs, and bore all our sor- 
 rows, that we might behold his crown, and share his 
 glory. The travail of his soul was for the salvation of 
 men. The agonies of his death were the yearnings of 
 infinite love, and the struggles of infinite power to re- 
 claim the wandering, and rescue the lost. . His whole 
 life, through all its mysterious sufferings and sacrifices, 
 was but one prolonged, and awful drama, which ought 
 to move the world to tears, and win all hearts for the 
 Crucified King. The closing scenes of Calvary, alone, 
 ought to conquer the world, with its kings and its king- 
 
THE GREATEST AND GRANDEST EMPIRE. 1 37 
 
 doms, for Jesus. Because the billows of woe, upon the 
 great ocean of human grief, all sink to rest, when com- 
 pared with the dying agonies of the King upon the 
 cross. 
 
 The kings of earth, by force, and the force of circum- 
 stances, have founded great kingdoms among men. 
 But the King of Glory has established upon the pure 
 principles of love, the greatest, and grandest empire the 
 world has ever known. Millions of his happy subjects 
 live, and if needs be, would die for the honor of their 
 Gracious King. He conquered them by love ; and 
 holds them, in willing obeisance, by the same means. 
 When once converted, the soul is brought into perfect 
 harmony with the will of the Supreme King. He di- 
 rects the ways, controls the thoughts and governs the 
 passions of his subjects. He draws them to, and incor- 
 porates them into himself, through the strong cords of 
 his undying love. Their souls are charged with the 
 electric force of his holy religion, and they are no longer 
 their own sovereigns, but willingly bow, in sweet and 
 loving subjection, to the King of kings and Lord of 
 lords. But in his absolute sovereignty, the sole object, 
 of the Adorable King, is the present and future happi- 
 ness of these most obedient, of all subjects, and his 
 own eternal glory. 
 
 Fidelity then, upon the part of his subjects, is what 
 the Kin or demands. This, we can well afford to eive. 
 For, marching under his banner, we are perfectly safe ; 
 following his counsels, we are always right, and fighting 
 his battles, we are sure to be brought off more than con- 
 querors in the final conflict. Let us go do the King's 
 bidding then ; and our influence for good will deepen 
 
I38 FIDELITY, AND ITS REWARDS. 
 
 and widen, so long as there is a soul to be saved, in 
 this wide world of ours. It may be small, at first, but 
 it will prove powerful in the end. A pebble is dropped 
 in the water, and the circlets of its waves reach the 
 most distant shores of the oval ocean. A little bird 
 wings its way through the air, and sets in motion a 
 force, which is felt around the earth, and among the 
 stars. So every act of obedience, to Heaven's King, 
 starts a wave of light, and joy, and gladness, which shall 
 roll on through endless ages. In the King's service, 
 every faithful effort will be rewarded with success, and 
 every valiant struggle crowned with victory. The me- 
 morial, of all who offer their sacrifices upon the altar of 
 faith and love, will ever be held in grateful remem- 
 brance, by the King of Saints. And every soldier of 
 the cross, who proves his fidelity, shall be awarded a 
 crown of righteousness, and shall reign forever, with 
 the King of kings, as a prince and priest in the kingdom 
 of glory. 
 
THE MINISTRY OF THE KING. 
 
 Chapter VII. 
 
 But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry. — Heb. 8: 6. 
 
 The public ministry of the King began when he was 
 thirty, and lasted only three years. It was full of lights 
 and shadows. It was diversified with sunshine and 
 showers. It was lulled into calms, and swept by storms. 
 These three years were the most eventful upon record. 
 They were fraught with the richest benedictions of 
 heaven. They were pregnant with the greatest blessings 
 for humanity. And they were replete with the grandest 
 exhibitions of the King's goodness, grace and mercy. 
 This ministry is, very naturally, divided into his words, 
 his works and his ways. These constitute the rich 
 legacy, which the King has left to the world. And they 
 ought to be studied, appreciated and imitated by all 
 men. Under these three headings, we propose to com- 
 pass, in this chapter, the most important events in the 
 King's ministerial life. 
 
 The words of the King were many, and precious. 
 Only a small fractional part of them were left upon 
 record. But those we have are the embodiment of wis- 
 dom and power. They are transcendant, and immortal. 
 They are spirit, and they are life. They burn their way 
 to the very core of our hearts. They sink deep into our 
 
 (139 ) 
 
I40 WORDS OF WISDOM. 
 
 inmost souls. They are the power of God unto salva- 
 tion, to every believing sinner. These words of life are 
 our richest treasure. They came burdened with the 
 offers of salvation, and the promises of heaven. They 
 are our most sacred trust. We should guard them as 
 the apples of our eyes, even until death. They are the 
 best weapons of our spiritual warfare. We should 
 wield them effectually in every battle of life. To this 
 end, our heads, and our hearts, all ought to be full of 
 them. But it is ours to send these precious words out, 
 in their divine potency, that all men may hear the King's 
 call of mercy, and accept his tender of life and salvation. 
 
 In these immortal words, of the King, lay hidden all 
 the riches of wisdom ; all the graces of culture, and all 
 the sacred beatitudes, with which human society has 
 since been blessed. When Jesus spoke, his object was, 
 not to amuse and entertain, but to edify and save. His 
 messages of love always carried with them, the sacred 
 fire of a soul burning with the most fervid zeal, and in 
 sore travail for the salvation of sinners. These holy 
 words of wisdom and grace, which dropped fresh from 
 his sacred lips, while on his mission of mercy, among 
 mortal men, were the grandest that ever saluted human 
 ears, and the sweetest that ever found lodgement in 
 human hearts. The very simplicity of the sacred stories, 
 in which he embodied these grand truths, and through 
 which he communicated such important lessons, kindled 
 the imaginations, fired the hearts and burned their way 
 into the very souls of his humble and honest auditors. 
 
 The King's voice had in it more than man's power, 
 mingled with more than woman's tenderness. It was 
 strong enough, for thousands to hear his wonderful 
 
JESUS SPOKE, AS NEVER MAN SPAKE. 141 
 
 words, and yet gentle enough, to catch the infant's 
 ear, and ravish, with its sweetness, the tenderest heart. 
 The divine grace of the Gentle Speaker, gave him a 
 strange mastery over the multitudes, who followed him, 
 and listened, with throbbing hearts, to his words of weight 
 and wisdom. He wore the air of a calm and exalted 
 superiority ; but the least expression, of tenderness and 
 sympathy, drew all honest hearts around him, in sub- 
 mission and admiration. His voice was the key-note to 
 the meaning of his every message of mercy. Such stern, 
 and stubborn facts, clothed with such gracious, and lov- 
 ing words, never fell from human lips before. 
 
 Jesus spoke, as never man spake. He spoke, as one 
 having divine authority, even the authority of a Universal 
 King, who speaks without the least restraint, and with a 
 perfect right to demand universal obedience. Jesus was 
 a young man, but he spoke with higher authority, greater 
 grace and more wisdom than all the ancients combined. 
 Never did a mere human teacher, mingle such meek- 
 ness and majesty in his person ; never did an earthly 
 sage, dwell upon so lofty a theme, with such a lowly 
 spirit ; and never did holy prophet, pour out the burden, 
 or joy of ages and nations, in such humble yet exalted 
 strains, as did the Majestic Messiah manifest, in deliver- 
 ing the truths of his own everlasting Gospel to the 
 world. The King clothed his language with such au- 
 thority, as the wisest, and best of earth had never 
 assumed. But still he spoke, with deepest humility, the 
 words of life and salvation. These words, at once so 
 simple and sublime, must have been all they purported 
 to be, the words of a God-man. 
 
 The King" also clothed his gracious words with the 
 
I42 THE COMMON PEOPLE HEARD HIM GLADLY. 
 
 incidents, and surroundings of a daily life full of simplic- 
 ity, industry and frugality. This gave them a peculiar 
 interest to the common people, who could the more 
 readily comprehend, and the better appreciate their 
 valuable lessons. These heavenly words were like the 
 dew of the morning, falling in blessings upon the tender 
 hearts of the poor, meek and merciful, who heard him 
 so often, and so gladly. See the King of Heaven, in 
 the bow of the rocking ship, teaching the thronging 
 crowds upon the sea shore! How calm! how conde- 
 scending! how patient! He bears with the rude, pities 
 the ignorant and instructs the gathering multitudes. 
 They catch the tone of his persuasive, and commanding 
 voice, and wonder at the sweetness and grace, the wis- 
 dom and power of the heavenly words, which fall from 
 his loving lips. They listen, with longing, for the living 
 water and bread of life, which these words set before 
 them, in such bounty, and with such liberality upon the 
 part of the King. No matter when, or where he taught, 
 by the seaside, in the synagogue, or on the mountain 
 top, he always spoke the words of eternal life, in such a 
 way that the common people heard him gladly. The 
 manner of the King exerted a wonderful influence upon 
 his audiences. It repelled the rude and vicious, but 
 invited the timid and distrustful. It often silenced the 
 harsh voice of censure among his enemies and inspired 
 the sweet notes of praise, in the ranks of his followers. 
 These words, spoken by the King, are universally 
 acknowledged to be the most potent ever uttered by 
 mortal man, or heard by mortal ear. Wherever re- 
 peated, they have carried light into dark homes, kindled 
 hope in desponding hearts, and given victory and life 
 
WORDS OF WARNING AND APPROVAL. 1 43 
 
 to dying souls. These precious words of Jesus still 
 live, and will live on, speaking the same life-giving 
 truths, so long as the world shall stand. They were 
 spoken by a voice which must be heard, and should be 
 heeded by all men. They address our understandings, 
 and reasoning faculties, with arguments, and evidences 
 of infinite power. They quicken our consciences with 
 an awful sense of violated law, and the fearful forebod- 
 ings of divine retribution. Thev over-awe our souls 
 with the sad solemnities of death and the dreadful 
 realities of eternity. Jesus always had words of ap- 
 proval and encouragement, for the faithful and obedient, 
 which girded up the loins, and strengthened the hearts 
 of his disciples. He also had words of rebuke and 
 warning, for the disobedient and rebellions, which fell, 
 with ponderous weight, upon the souls of the wicked, 
 often silencing the audacity, and blasphemy of his bitter- 
 est enemies. Though these words were all barbed 
 arrows, in the hearts of the King's enemies ; yet they 
 were spoken in deepest sympathy, and divine love for 
 the sinner. They breathed forth the devotion of a true 
 and faithful Friend to all men. One who sealed the 
 sincerity of his appeals to sinners, with the testimony of 
 his dying love upon the rugged cross. 
 
 The King discoursed to the people, as the Author, 
 and Founder of the Gospel of Grace. When he spoke, 
 the eyes of all were fastened upon him. His tone of 
 voice was so natural; his thoughts so clear and compre- 
 hensive ; his words so simple and significant, and his 
 doctrines so different from those of the Rabbis and ru- 
 lers of Israel, whose hard theological, or ritualistic dis- 
 cussions were so stale and technical, that all the people 
 
144 THE GREAT PREACHER OF ISRAEL. 
 
 testified, saying, This man speaks, as never man spake 
 before. The great Preacher of Israel was an earnest 
 speaker. His resistless eloquence charmed even his 
 enemies, until many of them quailed and cowered, under 
 his severe reprimands. He met all the real issues of 
 life, like a Moral Hero ; and grappled with all its pro- 
 found problems, like a Master Philosopher. The pointed 
 truths he uttered, cut their way to the very heart's core. 
 His method of sermonizing was far in advance of the 
 modern idea. There was nothing in his discourses to 
 provoke a smile, much less to create laughter. He 
 preached humility, forgiveness and universal charity. 
 This raised up against him, a host of bitter enemies, who 
 treated him as a vile impostor. But his words of warn- 
 ing were still stern and unyielding, though always sea- 
 soned with grace, and ladened with the promises of life. 
 Among the great preachers and benefactors of the world, 
 there are none to be compared with Jesus. In the wake 
 of his Gospel, learning and intellect have supplanted 
 ignorance and superstition : morality and refinement 
 have superseded vice and degradation ; and spirituality 
 and godliness have conquered beastliness and fiendish- 
 ness. And his church is mother to all the great insti- 
 tutions, which to-day bless and honor the world. 
 
 The principle upon which the King interpreted. Script- 
 ure was so new, so profound and so luminous, that it 
 completely confounded the wisest of his most bitter en- 
 emies, while it filled, with rapture and delight, the lov- 
 ing hearts of his devoted disciples. His divine wisdom 
 poured floods of light over the sacred pages of Inspira- 
 tion, for humanity. And his interpretations ought to 
 teach us, at least this one important lesson, that wher- 
 
THE COGENCY OF DIVINE INSPIRATION. 1 45 
 
 ever we find a mysterious passage, the most simple, and 
 comprehensive interpretation is likely to be the truest, 
 and the best exegesis of his inspired words. His in- 
 structions were rich with metaphors, maxims and para- 
 bles of general, as well as personal application. All his 
 words were ladened with important lessons, for those to 
 whom they were addressed. But many of them have a 
 broader, and deeper meaning, in their universal applica- 
 tion to humanity. And it is when we make these gen- 
 eral applications, that our own cases are reached ; our 
 hearts stirred within us, and our lives molded into har- 
 mony with heaven, through the power of his cogent 
 words. 
 
 The King spoke, not with the voice of erudition, but 
 with the cogency of divine inspiration. He whispered 
 words of peace and hope, to all hearts heavy with grief, 
 and burdened with fears. These silent whisperings, of 
 the King, were heard farther, and lingered longer in the 
 hearts of his people, than the loudest vociferations of 
 the devotees of infidelity, in all their vain opposition to 
 his mission of mercy in the world. His was not the 
 mere utterance of a man, which died away with the last 
 faint echo, that fell back from the mountain slopes : but 
 the wisdom of a God, which swept on down through the 
 centuries, purifying, and adorning the lives of millions 
 of the noblest, and best men and women, who ever lived 
 on earth. 
 
 Jesus went, from town to town, and from city to city, 
 teaching the people the way of life and salvation, most 
 perfectly. The vast multitudes were anxious to listen 
 and learn, at the feet of the Divine Instructor. They 
 were perfectly delighted ; and, in silent but rapt devo- 
 10 
 
I46 PREACHING WITH A NOBLE UNCTIOJN. 
 
 tion, they drank in the precious truths, which he brought 
 them from heaven. The sequel of his ministry shows, 
 that those who received his words, into good and honest 
 hearts, were made glad unto salvation; while those who 
 willfully rejected the truth went away, exceedingly sor- 
 rowful, even unto death. Just so shall it ever be. The 
 rejectors, of life, shall depart, without any hope of heaven. 
 But, infinitely bountiful will be the harvest of riches and 
 honor, which shall follow the faithful reception of his 
 precious words, even by the least, and lowest of the 
 sons of men. 
 
 Such doctrines as the King promulgated, illustrated, 
 as they were, by his own perfect life, and crowned by 
 his own triumphant death, could but exert a powerful 
 influence for good in the world. The inherent dignity 
 of manhood, the common brotherhood of men, and the 
 universal Fatherhood of God, as taught by Jesus Christ, 
 were among the many important lessons which he gave 
 to humanity. His divine injunctions were such, as even 
 the cold, selfish money changers could not resist, when 
 he used the scourge of cords, in driving them from th.e 
 Holy Temple. His words of authority were irresistible. 
 They hushed the storm, healed the sick, awoke the dead 
 and cast out devils. 
 
 Pontius Pilate said of the King, A young man ap- 
 peared in Galilee preaching with a noble unction, a new 
 law, in the name of the gods that sent him. Never have 
 I heard in the Pettico, nor read in the works of the 
 philosophers any thing to compare with the maxims of 
 Jesus. It was on account of the wisdom of his sayings 
 that I granted so much liberty to the Nazarene. I ex- 
 tended to him my protection unknown, perhaps, to him- 
 
HIS WORDS, THOSE OF A SAGE. 1 47 
 
 self. He was at liberty to act, speak, assemble and 
 address the people ; and also to choose disciples, unre- 
 strained by any Pretorian mandate. But this unlimited 
 freedom granted to Jesus provoked the Jews ; not the 
 poor, but the rich and the powerful. It is true that 
 Jesus was severe on the latter ; and this was a political 
 reason, in my opinion, not to restrain the liberty of the 
 Nazarene. To the scribes and Pharisees, he would say, 
 You are a race of vipers ; you resemble painted sepul- 
 chres. Pilate also passed this compliment upon Jesus 
 to his face : Your words are those of a sage. I know 
 not whether you have read Socrates or Plato, but this I 
 do know, there is in your discourses a majestic simplic- 
 ity that elevates you far above these philosophers. He 
 afterwards said to Herod, that Jesus appeared to be one 
 of those great philosophers that great nations sometimes 
 produce. His doctrines are by no means sacrilegious, 
 and the instruction of Rome is to leave him to that lib- 
 erty of speech which is justified by his actions. 
 
 But the people, among whom the King grew up, and 
 to whom he ministered, were a peculiar people. They 
 differed in many respects, from all other nationalities. 
 The spirit, opinions and customs which prevailed, and 
 influenced them, in their social, political and religious 
 life, were largely peculiar to themselves. The Judaism 
 of his day was especially peculiar. It had substituted 
 empty forms, and senseless ceremonies, for truth and 
 righteousness. Their religion had been reduced to a for- 
 
 o o 
 
 malism, in which there was neither legality, loyalty or love. 
 It was a ritualism which reached its culmination, when 
 it virtually assumed to be the whole of religion, and slew 
 the King of Glory, because he witnessed against it dead, 
 
I4S THE GREAT GOSPEL FEAST. 
 
 and damning formalities. The dense clouds along its 
 political horizon ; the mighty wreck of its sacred institu- 
 tions, and the general growth of corruption had already 
 broken up the great deep of Jewish society. Even the 
 holy priesthood had lost its wonted purity, and fallen a 
 prey to Idumean tetrarchs, and Roman procurators. 
 The great Jewish Sanhedrim was under the influence of 
 the wily Saducees, and the wicked Herodians. So noth- 
 ing was left the truly pious Israelites, but increased fidel- 
 ity to the Law of Moses, a longing desire for, and a 
 hearty reception of the Messiah of Israel, at his coming. 
 In this strange life, the Humble Nazarene, during his 
 public ministry, was the Central Figure, to which all oth- 
 ers were subordinate. When he commanded, they were 
 forced to obey. His powerful words of condemnation, 
 burned their way to all hearts, and riveted deep and 
 pungent conviction upon many souls. 
 
 In the parable of the King's great banquet, Jesus 
 taught the haughty scribes, and selfish Pharisees, that 
 God, in his divine displeasure, had rejected them and 
 theirs, and sent his servants out into the highways and 
 hedges, among the poor and destitute, even among 
 the Gentiles, to seek worthy guests for the great Gos- 
 pel Feast, which he had come to spread out before all 
 men. He taught them that it was one thing to be in- 
 vited; but another thing entirely to accept the Gospel 
 invitation, in the proper spirit. He told them plainly, 
 that many were called, but few were chosen. 
 
 The King, unheralded by friend or foe, six months be- 
 fore his crucifixion, appeared, in the midst of the great 
 Feast of Tabernacles, and began to teach the vast mul- 
 titudes of Israel, in the Holy Temple at Jerusalem. 
 
POWERFUL WORDS RENDER POWERLESS. 1 49 
 
 When the great Jewish Sanhedrim were informed by 
 their emissaries of his presence, they watched, with ma- 
 lignant hatred, and jealous hearts, all his merciful move- 
 ments among the multitudes. But, on the last days of 
 the great feast, they sent officers to arrest him, while he 
 taught the people, in the Holy Temple. The soldiers 
 entered the Temple, and stopped a moment, to listen at 
 the words of the Hated King. They soon felt, that 
 there was a guilty distance between them and the Hum- 
 ble Speaker. Hearing his powerful words, they became 
 powerless ; and could not fulfill their merciless mission. 
 Their strength was paralyzed, their courage lost and 
 their wills subdued by a force infinitely more potent than 
 their own. The sacred spell completely disarmed them. 
 And they returned to the authorities, with this strange 
 apology, for not having carried out their orders : Never 
 man spake like this man. After tantalizing the timidity 
 of the soldiery, and ignoring the; justice of Nichodemus' 
 wise suggestion, the defeated Council condemned the 
 Innocent Saviour without trial, and adjourned sine die. 
 They went to their homes, and Jesus withdrew to the 
 Mount of Olives. But early the next morning, Jesus 
 returned to the Holy Temple, sat down and taught all 
 the people. So it was, wherever the King went, his 
 words attracted the multitudes ; the scribes read the 
 law with but few to listen ; the priests were left almost 
 alone, at their evening sacrifices, and the rulers were the 
 more enraged, and determined to put him to death, be- 
 cause of his wonderful words. 
 
 The works of the King were wonderful, and divine. 
 All he did was not left upon record. It was too vol- 
 uminous. His mighty works constitute an important 
 
150 THE WORKS OF THE KING. 
 
 part of his great mission to humanity. His miracles of 
 mercy stamp, with the seal of heaven, the divine mission 
 of the Merciful Messiah. One of the grandest eulogies 
 ever passed upon the Beneficent Saviour, was couched in 
 these few short words : He went about doing good. 
 His life-work was one grand, harmonious effort to lift 
 the human family up to a higher, and a holier plain of 
 being. In unison with the deepest experiences of human 
 nature, and in concord with the loftiest sentiments of 
 the human soul, he lived and labored to this worthy end. 
 From every solitary retreat, from every sweet com- 
 munion with the Father, he came forth with deeper 
 sympathy for the sinning, and suffering : and with 
 renewed strength to succor, and to save the lowly, and 
 the lost. His was a noble work, most nobly done. He 
 did not sit down in the cool shade, and while away the 
 golden moments of his precious life, while duty was left 
 undone. He was always up and doing, with a will, the 
 work which the Father had given him to do. And even 
 those, who denied his miraculous gift, could not face the 
 force, or repel the power of many of his mighty works. 
 So, the moments which crown us, with worthily achieved 
 victories, are the most active, and consequently, the 
 sweetest, and happiest moments of our Christian pil- 
 grimage. 
 
 One of the most important works the King did, while 
 in the flesh, was the selecting, instructing and commis- 
 sioning of the twelve apostles to preach his glorious 
 Gospel. For this important work, he chose poor, illiter- 
 ate fisherman, who had spent their days steering their 
 crafts over the dark waters of Gennesaret, and gathering 
 the prey from their dripping nets, on the sea-shore. 
 
THE WEIGHT, AND WORTH OF DIAMONDS. 151 
 
 But these men, so simple, but so significant in life, were 
 men of experience. They were accustomed to hard- 
 ships. They were men of principle and integrity. They 
 were also great in soul, and rich in love for the Master. 
 There was but one exception to these general state- 
 ments. At the same time they represented almost every 
 shade of human character, from the confident Peter to 
 the doubting Thomas ; and every phase of discipleship, 
 from the loving John to the treacherous Judas. But 
 Jesus saw, beneath the rough exterior of these uncul- 
 tured men, the weight, and worth of unpolished dia- 
 monds. So the King often passes by the rich young 
 man, with his refinement and culture, and lays his hand 
 lovingly upon the head of the poor widow's son, in his 
 poverty and illiteracy, and says, Go preach my Gospel. 
 Jesus knew, these hardy fishermen would one day shine 
 forth, with unsurpassing splendors ; and hence he loved 
 them, in anticipation of their future devotion, and useful- 
 ness in his service. He was not diappointed. In the 
 midst of darkness and death, they hugged to their bosom, 
 the closer, a religion, the principles and promises of 
 which spoke to them, only of persecutions to be encoun- 
 tered, and sufferings to be endured in this world; but 
 of eternal life, and boundless glory in the world to come. 
 They walked hard in the footsteps, which he had left 
 them ; ever preaching his Gospel, and constantly glory- 
 ing in his cross, until their consecration to his service 
 was sealed, with their own precious blood. Jesus w T as 
 perfectly devoted to these apostles. He was identified 
 with them in all their struo-o-les, their sorrows and their 
 joys. He was at home in both the sad, and sunny ex- 
 periences of their lives. He exerted, at all times, a 
 
152 NEVER MAKES ANY MISTAKES. 
 
 powerful influence, for good, over their minds. He en- 
 trenched himself, most lovingly, into their hearts. He 
 ever unified their purposes, and harmonized their efforts, 
 in the great work of saving souls. So Jesus is inter- 
 ested in, and identified with, all his faithful ministering 
 servants to-day. We are all co-laborers, with him, in 
 the great, and grand work of saving a lost and ruined 
 world. 
 
 The King never makes any mistakes, in his calls for 
 laborers in his vineyard. If he prefers a young lad like 
 David, to a kingly man like Saul, it is no evidence of a 
 blunder. He calls men exactly suited to the work he 
 has for them to do, with all its surroundings and circum- 
 stances. The life-work, assigned each one of us, is just 
 where we can do the most, and the best service for the 
 King. And there is just enough time given us, to do 
 our work well, with none to throw away. With time 
 and talents, and opportunities all devoted to the King's 
 service, we will do our work nobly ; and the reward of 
 our labor will be given us, increased seven-fold. When 
 the King calls his servants to reckon with them, it will be 
 a sad day, indeed, for those who have nothing, but 
 buried talents, wasted time and neglected opportunities 
 to set before him. But, forever happy, those who have 
 toiled long, and labored faithfully in the Lord's vine- 
 yard. To them rest will be sweet, and heaven eternal 
 happiness. 
 
 The life-actions of the King were always in perfect 
 harmony with the sacred mission, upon which he came 
 into the world. Every act of his noble, self-sacrificing 
 life was in sweetest concord with the scenes, in which he 
 was the Principal Character. There was the most per- 
 
THE CONDUCT AND CALLING OF MEN. 1 53 
 
 feet agreement between the conduct of the Great Actor 
 and the sacred stage, upon which he acted the great 
 drama of his most eventful life. The happy harmonies, 
 of this grand life, bring with them many important 
 lessons to humanity. They teach us, that there should 
 always be perfect harmony between the conduct, and 
 calling of men. They warn us against the inconsist- 
 encies, and improprieties of a cold, formal profession of 
 religion. They admonish us to act nobly and grandly 
 our part in the Christian life. And they beckon us on- 
 ward and upward, in the full development of all the 
 Gospel graces, in happy harmony with the scenes, and 
 surroundings of that glorious kingdom, into which the 
 King hath called us, to act our part in the great spirit- 
 ual warfare, through which we are passing. Christians 
 who learn these grand lessons, and live worthy of their 
 chaste surroundings, become pillars of strength and 
 towers of glory in this kingdom of grace. Their foot- 
 steps track close upon the Highway of Holiness. Their 
 reminiscences of the past are kindred to the joys of the 
 future. With them, no discordant notes ever mar the 
 melodies of heaven. But those who fail to learn these 
 all-important lessons will find, all along the line of their 
 individual lives, a constant discord between their life- 
 actions, and the grand scenes in which they are called 
 to play their parts on the stage of human existence. 
 Yes, the glorious places of our life-actions, as members 
 of his dual kingdom, demand the most thorough conse- 
 cration of every thing, upon the part of all his subjects, 
 to the King of Glory. 
 
 The King, at one time, rescued his disciples from the 
 jaws of death. They were crossing the placid sea of 
 
154 JESUS WALKING ON THE WATERY WAVES. 
 
 Galilee. Night came on, and with the darkness came 
 peril and storm. The great deep of little Gennesaret 
 was broken up. The maddened billows ran mountain 
 high. Their little ship rocked, like a drifting bubble 
 riding on the rolling waves. The disciples had already 
 seen, in these dark, wicked waves, the winding-sheets 
 for their watery graves ; and heard in these surging, 
 senseless billows, the death-knell, as they thought, of 
 all their earthly hopes. But, in this hour of peril and 
 storm, Jesus came walking, in majesty, upon the watery 
 waves, to perform one of his most wonderful works. 
 The Kinp- of the troubled sea, over which she was rid- 
 ing, amid the buffeting billows, was soon at the helm of 
 the trembling little barque. In the blackness of the 
 night, and through the darkness of the storm shone the 
 glory of the Coming Deliverer, whose foot-prints were 
 left upon the waves and whose commanding voice 
 sounded out over the watery waste, speaking peace to 
 the burdened billows of the surging sea. In the midst 
 of this mighty commotion, the King of Storms said to 
 wild Gennesaret, Peace, be still, and there was a great 
 calm. The angry billows were hushed into silence. 
 The rocking ship glided smoothly on to the desired 
 haven. And the sea-sick mariners were soon in their 
 homes again, happy in relating to loved ones the perils 
 of the past night, with its wonderful deliverance from 
 the raging tempest. 
 
 Life is but a sea, with its endless diversity of joys and 
 sorrows, clouds and sunshine, calms and storms, over 
 which humanity is making its perilous voyage, from the 
 cradle to the grave. The vessels on which we sail are 
 hurried on, in their silent courses, as swiftly as the flight 
 
THE PERILOUS VOYAGE OF LIFE. 1 55 
 
 of time can move them ; and they will land us, erelong, 
 upon the unknown shores of eternity. The frail barques, 
 upon which we have launched, are both beautiful, and 
 lovely. And they glide gently, but rapidly down the 
 silvery stream of time. They seem self-moved, but are 
 drawn by the golden, swift-winged moments of an hour. 
 These little life-boats, in which we have embarked, are 
 liable, at any time, to be driven by the fearful tempests 
 of grief and sorrow, or tossed by the cruel storms of ad- 
 versity and despair upon the unknown, and fatal rocks 
 of the mysterious deep, over which we are sailing so 
 rapidly. We are all out upon this uncertain sea of life. 
 The currents of time are bearing us all, on our voyage, 
 rapidly through the perils of the deep. There is no stay 
 of time, or check of tide to those whose sails are set for 
 the eternal shores. Onward, over the dangerous sea 
 of life, across the dark river of death, we hasten to our 
 fate, or fortune, beyond the tossing tempests of time. 
 We should therefore study well the perils, and safe- 
 guards of our life-voyage through the earth. In all the 
 calms, and storms of life, we should keep our bearing, 
 and hold our course well for the Port of Peace, until we 
 pass beyond the shadows of the tempests, and enter the 
 haven of an endless life. For we are all sailing, either 
 for the blessed harbor, where we will anchor safely in 
 the haven of eternal rest, or else we are drifting reck- 
 lessly among the breakers, doomed to sink, for want of 
 a sure anchor, amidst the perils of storm and tempest, 
 to rise no more forever. 
 
 If we would make ours a successful voyage, and reach, 
 at length, the desired haven, in triumph, we must lash 
 our life-boats to, and board the Old Ship of Zion. The 
 
I56 ENTERING THE PORT OF PEACE. 
 
 Captain of our Salvation must pilot us safely over the 
 dangerous sea of time. The angry elements above, and 
 the strong currents beneath would soon dash our frail 
 barques to ruin, upon the hidden rocks of time, were it 
 not for the infinite wisdom, and power of our Great 
 Pilot. But those who sail on the Old Ship of Zion, 
 guided as she is by the Master Pilot of the seas, need fear 
 no evil. For they may always hear his welcome voice, 
 as he sounds the depth over which they sail, through 
 the sunshine, and shadows of their variable voyage. 
 They may also feel his gentle touch, as he casts the 
 steadfast anchor of hope, amid the storms of death, to 
 stay their vessel from shipwreck, as they near the rocky 
 shores of eternity. See the tried and true Old Ship ! 
 Her gallant prow is set towards the mansions of light 
 and life. She is making rapid strides for the Port of 
 Peace. The King of Glory is at her helm, and a suc- 
 cessful voyage is inevitable. She is nearing the shores 
 of the better land. She rides triumphantly into the 
 haven at last, amid the welcome hosannas of angels, 
 and the loud hallelujahs of the redeemed. Joy ineffable ! 
 Glory infinite and eternal ! Farewell sin and sorrow ! 
 earth and time, adieu ! Welcome, thrice, and forever 
 welcome the scenes of beauty, and the sense of life, 
 which crown our beings with endless, and immortal 
 glory. Heaven is our home at last; and will be our 
 home for evermore. 
 
 During the early part of the King's ministry, he made 
 some very interesting, and successful missionary tours 
 through Galilee. On these circuits, his preaching was 
 both private and public, in towns, villages and country- 
 places. These were missions of mercy ; and formed 
 
MISSIONARY TOURS THROUGH GALILEE. 1 57 
 
 the brightest episodes in his most eventful life. As he 
 passed along the highways, the impotent people, who 
 had heard of his marvelous cures, called upon him for 
 mercy ; and a touch from the fingers, or a word from 
 the lips of the Great Healer and Helper, and virtue 
 went out from him, to change the whole tenor of their 
 lives, and gladden, perchance, the entire future of their 
 existence. 
 
 At the close of his last journey through Galilee, the 
 Merciful Missionary was filled with divine compassion 
 for the neglected multitudes, who had thronged around 
 him during his ministry among them. He saw them, as 
 sheep without a shepherd ; as a harvest ripe unto the 
 sickle, without a reaper ; and as a neglected vineyard, 
 without a laborer. So he commissioned seventy of his 
 disciples to go out, by twos, and traverse these destitute 
 regions, confirm his teachings, and perform among them 
 all needed works of love and mercy. His parting in- 
 structions, to them, were full of warning and comfort. 
 Their mission was to be simple and self-supporting. 
 The open hospitality of Galilee was ample for their main- 
 tenance. Here we have two essential elements to suc- 
 cessful missionary work in any age, or among any 
 people. 
 
 The King's miracles of healing were among his most 
 wonderful works. These were not mere wanton displays 
 of divine power. They were all rich, in their moral 
 significance, and potent in their spiritual import. They 
 were full of precious, and practical lessons to humanity. 
 How truly powerful were all of his mighty miracles. He 
 willed it, and the water was turned into wine. He 
 touched the eyes, closed from birth, and the blind man 
 
158 IMPORTANT SPIRITUAL LESSONS. 
 
 rejoiced at the first sight of nature's beauties. He 
 blessed a few loaves and fishes, and there was sufficient 
 for thousands, enough and to spare. He spoke, and 
 the dead lived. He rebuked the powers of darkness, 
 and devils were cast out of the dumb. He declared 
 himself the resurrection and the life, and Lazarus came 
 forth from the tomb, a fit subject to be loosed, and set at 
 liberty. We would be perfectly safe in saying, that mul- 
 tiplied thousands were healed by him, during his public 
 ministry. The maim, the lame, the halt, the blind, the 
 deaf, the dumb, the leper, the demoniac and the sick, 
 with all manner of diseases, were the objects of his 
 mercy, and the subjects of his healing power. 
 
 There are important spiritual lessons taught us in all 
 these temporal healings. They were but exhibitions of 
 that infinite love and mercy, which long to heal the sin- 
 sick souls of all men everywhere. Take, for illustration, 
 the healing of a leper, and see how strikingly it repre- 
 sents the conversion of a soul. Leprosy is the very 
 synonym for sin. There is such a striking resemblance 
 in their origin, development and effects, that " the lep- 
 rosy of sin" is an expression, no less trite, than true. 
 The ban of the sacred law shut the leper out from the 
 society of his friends and kindred, and drove him from 
 the privileges of the holy sanctuary. He was doomed 
 to walk comfortless and alone, in the shadow of a great 
 sorrow. His life's journey was to be completed in sack- 
 cloth, and deepest lamentations. His doom was far 
 worse than death ; and his destiny, through life, much 
 more terrible than the grave. But the healing power, 
 of the miracle-working King, restored him to society, 
 with all its sacred immunities. Just so it is with the 
 
BLENDED INTO HEAVENLY HARMONY. 1 59 
 
 sinner, in conversion. He is restored to the society of 
 the good. The barriers are all broken down. The 
 fetters are all shaken off, And the banished soul is 
 welcomed to all the privileged immunities of earth and 
 heaven. 
 
 The conversion of souls, or the forgiveness of sins, 
 was the most wonderful work the Eternal King did 
 while on earth. We love to contemplate Jesus in all 
 his labors of love, and works of grace. But we rejoice 
 most in the presence of his sin-pardoning power — his 
 sin-killing, and soul-saving work. Before it, the wild 
 and wayward became gentle and gallant. Their rough, 
 uncouth manners became calm and candid. Their harsh 
 voices, and grating discord were melted into sweetest 
 music, and blended into heavenly harmony. And their 
 sin-pardoned souls were filled with joy and gladness un- 
 utterable, and full of glory. The convicted man stood 
 before the King, as his own accuser. He sat in judg- 
 ment on his own case, and unhesitatingly rendered a ver- 
 dict of guilty. The solemn thought, of living without 
 peace, and dying without pardon, was too heavy a burden 
 for even the chief of sinners to bear. He looked up into 
 the face of the Sympathetic Saviour, and humbly, and 
 earnestly plead for mercy. Jesus said, Thy sins are for- 
 given thee ; and the burden of guilt and condemnation 
 was all removed. The sinner, instantly, became a saint, 
 and rendered to the King all the glory of his salvation. 
 Now none of the losses, or crosses of earth could de- 
 stroy his peace of soul. Neither could the saddest dis- 
 appointments, nor the deepest sorrows rob him of his 
 cherished hope of heaven. Henceforth he will walk the 
 earth, a sovereign, amid want, poverty and penury, if 
 
l6o THE WAYS OF THE KING. 
 
 needs be, knowing that boundless stores of wealth await 
 him, in the mansions of the blest. Such are the effects 
 of the sin-pardoning, and soul-saving power of the King, 
 in his wonderful work of regeneration. 
 
 The most brilliant feats, and features of human life 
 sink into insignificance, when compared with the mar- 
 velous, and miraculous works of Jesus. At times, the 
 fame of these mighty works filled the whole land. But, 
 notwithstanding all he did and said, many rejected him, 
 his words and his works. 
 
 The ways of the King are without a parallel in the 
 annals of history. No one else ever lived just such a 
 grand life ; or died just such a triumphant death, as did 
 Jesus of Nazareth. The sacrificing life, and sacrificial 
 death of the King has enriched the whole world, and 
 flooded millions of souls with the joys of salvation. No 
 other individual ever walked through the same lowly 
 valleys, or journeyed over the same exalted highways, 
 that Jesus did. His ways, like his words and works, 
 were peculiar to himself. 
 
 The King began his weary journey, over the stony 
 paths, and across the desert wastes of earth with tender 
 feet, and a bleeding heart. At times, his steps were 
 followed by rejoicing thousands, who hung in deepest 
 silence on his precious words, and watched, with deep- 
 est solicitude, his miraculous works. Wherever he 
 went, in his public ministrations, the multitudes thronged 
 around him, eager to catch a word, witness a miracle or 
 receive a blessing. Sometimes, however, he journeyed, 
 silently, and alone, over mountain wilds and desert 
 wastes, in secret meditation, or sacred devotion. He 
 often climbed the hills, and mountains of Palestine, in 
 
SEEKING SYMPATHY AND SALVATION. l6l 
 
 the golden light of the morning; and as often descended 
 into the fertile valleys and verdant vales, under the sun- 
 set skies or starry heavens at night-fall. But often, 
 during his public ministry, he was troubled with the 
 most inveterate enemies, watched by secret spies, and 
 blasphemed by the merciless rabble. But still, grace 
 and gladness followed in his footsteps. Joy and grati- 
 tude hovered round his pathway. And voices of praise, 
 and forms of beauty often welcomed him, at his coming. 
 His eager heart always burned with the sacred fires of 
 love. Hence, his ways were crowded with exhibitions 
 of his grace, and manifestations of his glory. But soon 
 the shadows, of gathering tempests, began to fall upon 
 his noble brow. And he gradually assumed the feat- 
 ures, and functions of the Man of Sorrows. 
 
 The King's countenance was veiled, at times, in 
 deepest sadness, but he always wore a look of gentle- 
 ness so infinitely tender and touching, that the multitudes 
 of young and old, rich and poor were constantly drawn 
 to him for sympathy and salvation. He fed the hungry 
 in the desert, and healed the halt on the highway. He 
 went from city to city, blessing the needy, and seeking 
 and saving the lost. His time was spent largely among 
 the poor toiling classes of earth. He loved to mingle 
 among those who had neither wealth, honor nor 
 office in the world. But, during the noon-tide of his 
 ministry, all classes thronged his pathway in such vast 
 multitudes, that even his enemies said, The world has 
 gone after him. The laboring and heavy-ladened, of 
 every class, were always objects of his mercy. His 
 greatest blessings were reserved for those oppressed by 
 sin. It was a part of his divine mission to bring com- 
 
1 62 THE MAN OF SORROWS, A SACRED MYSTEK* r . 
 
 fort and consolation to others, though himself a Man of 
 Sorrows, and acquainted with grief. While walking 
 himself, through the valley, and shadow of death, 
 he was hanging out a beacon-light for the world. 
 It does seem that in his deepest mysteries, sometimes, 
 lay hidden his richest blessings. And beneath his 
 mightiest sorrows, were often found his matchless mer- 
 cies. The Man of Sorrows was, himself, a sacred mys- 
 tery to the world. With all their prejudice, hatred 
 and unbelief, he found his way to the hearts of men, 
 saved their souls and sealed them heirs of heaven. 
 
 The King's ways were indeed wonderful. He was 
 the Honored Guest in a princely mansion yesterday. 
 To-day he is the Humble Visitor at the poor man's 
 cottage. To-morrow, left at the mercy of an ungrateful 
 world, he has not where to lay his sacred head. He 
 was driven from Bethleham, the place of his birth. He 
 was expelled from Nazareth, the home of his youth. 
 He was spurned from Capernaum, his residence by 
 adoption. He journeyed to Jerusalem, where he was 
 betrayed ; and bore his cross to Calvary, where he was 
 crucified, as the Rejected King of the Jews. This 
 Peasant King wore, in all his travels, a peasant's garb. 
 No patriarchal robes mantled his broad shoulders. No 
 silver sandals clasped his weary feet. And no golden 
 tunic graced his royal brow. On his body were the 
 marks of sin ; yet, in his person were to be found 
 brightness without a spot, and purity without a crime. 
 But he took upon his soul the burden of a still greater 
 agony ; and marched with firm, and fearless step to 
 Golgotha, to meet its dreadful penalty. 
 
 John the Baptist was the King's forerunner. This 
 
THE VOICE IN THE WILDERNESS. 1 63 
 
 was to the Jews an age of doubt, a time of uncertainty — 
 a transition period. The sceptre had departed from 
 Judah, and they anticipated some mighty revolution. 
 Crime was almost universal, and no remedy had been 
 found for the ruin it had wrought. Iniquity had well 
 nigh run its race, and reached its goal. The voice of 
 the wilderness, in its calls to repentance, was stirring to 
 its inmost depth the great heart of Israel. The Har- 
 binger brought with him a strange, but hopeful message. 
 His preaching was heart-searching, and intensely prac- 
 tical. The lessons he inculcated were deep in their 
 moral significance, and universal in their spiritual appli- 
 cation. All classes thronged to his ministry and listened 
 with eagerness to his solemn warnings, and stern rebukes, 
 as he endeavored to prepare the way of the Lord, by 
 making his paths straight. But while the people mused, 
 in their hearts, concerning the true mission of this man 
 of the wilderness, he informed them of the silent, but 
 majestic presence of the King of Glory. 
 
 Jesus came, and demanded baptism at the hands of 
 John, that the law might be fulfilled, before he entered 
 upon his priestly functions. The wild prophet, who had 
 confronted kings with rebuke, and unmasked the proud 
 Pharisees with indignation, felt his lofty bearing fall in 
 the silent and sinless presence of the Unknown Naza- 
 rene. He acknowledged at once his inferiority ; but 
 finally submitted to the Saviour's request, and baptized 
 him with the waters of the Jordan. And, as the King 
 went up from the waters, the Spirit descended, in shape 
 like a dove, and lit upon his head, in the presence of 
 all the people, as a token of his Messiahship; while a 
 voice from heaven proclaimed him, the Beloved Son, 
 
164 THE TERRIBLE TEMPTATION. 
 
 in whom the Father was well pleased. Thus Jesus 
 was initiated into his priestly office. 
 
 Peace, pleasure and plenty rilled the whole valley of 
 the sacred Jordan. The most luxuriant vegetation 
 covered the fertile plains with blooming beauty. From 
 these scenes of pleasure and fields of plenty, the King 
 was carried forth by the Spirit, into the Wilderness of 
 Temptation. Here, in a most desolate region — a weird 
 and demon-haunted solitude — a hot and horrible desert 
 waste — a wilderness of caverns and gorges, environed 
 with death and desolation, the Saviour was sorely 
 tempted by Satan. The story of this mysterious tempta- 
 tion is no mere allegory, but a sad reality. The great 
 struggle was personal, and powerful. It was humanity's 
 Best Friend in personal conflict with man's most power- 
 ful foe. The great battle was fought, and the matchless 
 victory was most worthily won. Jesus met, and foiled 
 the mighty tempter, in the wilds of the wilderness. 
 After this signal victory, the ordinary temptations of 
 life floated over his sinless soul, as lightly as the mists 
 of the morning sail over the azure blue of heaven. 
 This temptation is not without its special lessons of 
 life for us. It shows us how a calm, strong and fear- 
 less man may overcome, under great disadvantages. 
 It also teaches us how the weakest may obtain strength, 
 which will ripen into victory over the strongest foe. 
 With a proper use of the weapons it places in our hands, 
 the weakest are made strong, and the most timid need 
 not fear the combined powers of darkness. 
 
 The King, accompanied by his three favorite apostles, 
 journeyed toward the memorable Mount of Transfigura- 
 tion, and ascended its lofty height. It is not certain 
 
THE MOUNT OF TRANSFIGURATION. 1 65 
 
 whether Mount Tabor, Mount Hermon or some other lofty 
 peak, was the scene of this most wonderful event. Tradi- 
 tion, however, points to Mount Tabor, and crowns it with 
 the honor of being the place where the King revealed so 
 much of his celestial glory to mortal man. It was even- 
 ing's calm and silent hour, when he climbed the mount- 
 ain slopes with his chosen witnesses. The grandest 
 scenes of nature surrounded them ; and refreshed their 
 weary souls with thoughts, and aspirations kindred to 
 those of angels. In such a frame of mind as this, they 
 kneeled upon the sacred Mount in humble, grateful de- 
 votion. Their prayers, the sweet incense of loving 
 hearts, were offered up. Then, according to oriental 
 custom, the disciples wrapped their abbas around them, 
 lay down upon the green grass, in the open air, and 
 were soon cradled in the lap of nature's sweet restorer — 
 balmy sleep. 
 
 But while the apostles slept and slumbered, the Mas- 
 ter was suddenly transfigured. He was crowned with 
 light. A vision of surpassing beauty, mantled his 
 lovely form. And a diadem, of glory, circled his ma- 
 jestic brow. The apostles awoke, to behold the King in 
 his unparalleled glory. His countenance shone above 
 the brightness of the sun. His garments were whiter 
 than the driven snow. And his entire person was 
 wrapped in a perfect halo of radiant glory. With him 
 also appeared Moses and Elias, clothed with all the 
 beauty and luster of celestial beings. Oh ! what a won- 
 derful scene burst, in all its glory, upon the enraptured 
 vision of the apostles, at the moment of their waking. 
 There, in the darkness of the night, made darker still 
 by the blackness of sin shone the glorified form of their 
 
1 66 FUTURE RECOGNITION, 
 
 Gracious King, the Representative of the Gospel ; and 
 in the same flood of golden glory, were the celestial 
 presence of the representatives of the Law and the 
 Prophets. What a grand trio ! the Lawgiver of Sinai, 
 the great Prophet of Carmel and the Messiah of the 
 World, all blended in perfect harmony. The law kept, 
 the prophecy fulfilled, - and the Gospel confirmed! The 
 darkness of Sinai, and the mysteries of Carmel were all 
 aglow with the glories of Calvary. The three were 
 there talking together of the King's decease, and the 
 glory that should follow. No wonder Peter said, Mas- 
 ter it is good for us to be here ; and desired to erect 
 three tabernacles for them. 
 
 Among the many precious lessons taught us by this 
 memorable event, we will notice but one in this connec- 
 tion. This is taught very plainly, by implication, in 
 many passages of scripture ; but in this event, it shines 
 forth from a cloudless firmament, telling us that we shall 
 know each other in our glorified bodies. It is a practi- 
 cal demonstration of future recognition. No problem 
 could be more definitely solved. The cravings of human 
 nature demand future recognition, as a certainty. The 
 Bible responds to this demand, in all its assurances that 
 the resurrection will reunite our souls and bodies, with 
 their wonted individuality, and personal identity. The 
 glorious anticipation of a reunion with our dear, departed 
 ones, are infinitely sweeter and richer, when enhanced 
 with the universal conception, or glowing with the con- 
 fident expectation of not only seeing, but also knowing 
 them in the better world. 
 
 Sometimes we fail, at first, to recognize our dearest 
 friends on earth, when long absence has changed their 
 
AFTER WONDERFUL CHANGES. 1 67 
 
 forms, and refashioned their features. So it may be, 
 when we meet some of them in heaven. They will have 
 undergone wonderful changes. When we see our aged 
 fathers and mothers in glory, they will not be tottering, 
 with faltering steps, along the golden-paved streets of 
 the New Jerusalem. But glowing, with heavenly grace, 
 and buoyant with eternal life, they will bound along over 
 the celestial highways, with all the beauty and energy 
 of spiritual manhood and womanhood. And our darling 
 babes, rosebuds plucked in the spring of life, may be so 
 changed by the transition to, and the growth of heaven, 
 that we will not, at first, recognize the dear little, loved 
 ones. Attendant angels may have to point them out, 
 before we can know them, in their new forms of beauty, 
 and fullness of life. But if so, we will not be the less 
 happy, when our eyes are gladdened with beholding the 
 lovely faces, and glorified forms of these our, at last, 
 recognized parents and children. Yes, thank God, we 
 will all know each other there. For this knowledge is 
 an element absolutely essential to the existence of that 
 joy, which is to be so unspeakably great, and infinitely 
 full of celestial glory. 
 
 The heavenly communion, on the mountain heights, 
 had ended ; and the Royal Master, with his trio of com- 
 panions, had wound his way down the deep descent 
 into the low level of human life, at its mighty base. 
 Here were assembled the eager multitudes, waiting 
 anxiously the King's coming. An event had just oc- 
 curred, in their midst, which alarmed his disciples, and 
 agitated the great assembly. The disciples had failed 
 to cure a demoniac boy ; and were withering under the 
 innuendos of the scribes and Pharisees. At this juncture 
 
1 68 INFINITELY TENDER, BECAUSE INFINITELY PURE. 
 
 of the pending crisis, the thronging multitudes caught 
 sight of the Mighty Nazarene, and greeted him with 
 their warmest salutations. Jesus was informed of the 
 circumstance by the father ; who now presented his boy 
 to him, praying his divine interposition in his behalf. 
 His malady was, indeed, a fearful one. His case was 
 too desperate and deadly for ordinary means to avail 
 any thing. But, at the words of the King, though with 
 a desperate struggle, the evil spirit came out of the 
 boy ; and he was soon clothed, and in his right mind. 
 
 In this memorable event, we are taught two important 
 lessons. First, that there are forms of evil so deep- 
 seated, and inveterate, that nothing short of fasting and 
 prayer, upon the part of God's people, can ever free the 
 victims from eternal death. Second, that to a perfect 
 faith, linked with divine power, all things are possible, 
 which fall within the range of God's will. 
 
 The Pharisees, at one time, that they might, if possi- 
 ble, entrap the King, dragged degraded misery to the bar 
 of mildest justice ; and opened the most flagrant guilt, 
 before the eyes of stainless innocence. This cold, pitiless 
 brutality was extremely provoking to One, who was in- 
 finitelty tender, because infinitely pure. Jesus loved those, 
 whom others hated ; praised those whom others scorned, 
 and comforted those, whom others crushed. This divine 
 tenderness and deep compassion won for him the most 
 passionate devotion of some, and the highest admiration 
 of many. On this occasion, as usual, the Just Judge 
 was also merciful. Having foiled the crafty designs of 
 his enemies, in a reaction upon their own guilty souls, 
 which drove them from his sacred presence, Mercy 
 meekly said to misery, Go sin no more. 
 
THE CRY OF TEN LEPERS. 1 69 
 
 On the Kings last journey, from Galilee to Jerusalem, 
 the plaintive cry of ten lepers greeted his ears, and 
 touched his tender, sympthetic heart. The voice of 
 misery again found its answer, in the echo of mercy. 
 He bade them go show themselves to the priest for 
 ceremonial cleansing, that they might enjoy all the rites 
 and privileges of social and religious life. At the sound 
 of his potent voice, they felt the strong currents of pufe 
 life-blood coursing through their veins, with its wonted 
 energy and vitality. 
 
 But only one of these healed lepers returned, to 
 give thanks to the Merciful Nazarene ; and he was a 
 Samaritan. Jesus rewarded him. He also pardoned 
 his sins, and saved his soul. This event teaches us, that 
 temporal blessings are appreciated by a small minority 
 of men ; that we are more likely to call for divine aid, 
 when afflicted in body, than when burdened in soul; 
 that greater blessings are sure to follow gratitude for 
 smaller favors, and that the voice of true supplication, 
 may always find its counterpart in the salvation of the 
 sinner. 
 
 Pilate, a short time before the crucifixion of the King, 
 fearing an insurrection of the people, says he resolved on 
 adopting a measure, which promised to reconcile the 
 enemies of the Nazarene, and establish the tranquility 
 of the city. So he wrote to Jesus, requesting an inter- 
 view with him, at the Pretorium. Jesus came, and Pilate 
 trembled from head to foot. In referring to this inter- 
 view with Jesus, Pilate wrote the Emperor of Rome, as 
 follows : You know that in my veins flows the Spanish, 
 mixed with Roman blood, as incapable of fear, as it is 
 of puerile emotion. But when the Nazarene made his 
 
170 JESUS BEFORE PILATE. 
 
 appearance I was walking in my basilic ; my feet re- 
 mained fastened as with an iron hand to the marble 
 pavement, and I trembled on every limb, as a guilty cul- 
 prit, though he was calm — the Nazarene — calm as inno- 
 cence. He stopped when he came to me, and, by a 
 signal, seemed to say, I am here. * * * At last- I 
 said to him, Jesus — and my tongue faltered — Jesus of 
 Nazareth, I have granted you for the last three years 
 ample freedom of speech, nor do I regret it. * * * 
 I am glad of having allowed you that liberty, of which 
 you are so worthy. However, I must not conceal from 
 you the fact that your discourses have raised up against 
 you powerful and inveterate enemies. This is not sur- 
 prising. Socrates had his enemies, and he fell a victim 
 to their hatred. But yours are doubly incensed against 
 you, both on account of your sayings against them, and 
 the liberty also which I have extended towards you. They 
 have even accused me of being indirectly leagued with 
 you, for the purpose of depriving the Hebrews of the 
 little civil power which Rome has left them. My 
 request — I do no say order — is, that you be more cir- 
 cumspect in the future, and more tender in arousing the 
 pride of your enemies, lest they raise against you the 
 stupid populace, and compel me to use the instruments 
 of justice. The Nazarene calmly replied : Prince of the 
 earth, your words proceed not from true wisdom. Say 
 to the torrent, Stop in the midst of your mountain home, 
 because it will uproot the trees of the valley, and the 
 torrent will answer you, that it must obey the laws of 
 the Creator. God alone knows whither flows the torrent. 
 Verily I say unto you, before the Rose of Sharon blos- 
 soms, the blood of the Just shall be spilt. I replied 
 
NO ASYLUM FOR THE SON OF MAN. 171 
 
 with emotion, Your blood shall not be spilt. You are 
 more precious in my estimation, on account of your wis- 
 dom, than all the turbulent and proud Pharisees, who 
 abuse the freedom granted them by the Romans, con- 
 spire against Caesar and construe our bounty into fear. 
 Insolent wretches ! * * * I will protect you against 
 them. My Pretorium is open to you as an asylum — it 
 is a sacred asylum. Jesus, carelessly shaking his head, 
 said, with his wonted grace, and a divine smile, When the 
 day shall have come, there will be no asylum for the 
 Son of Man, neither on earth, nor yet under the earth. 
 The asylum for the Just is there (pointing to the heav- 
 ens). That which is written in the books of the prophets 
 must be accomplished. I mildly answered, Young man, 
 you oblige me to convert my request into an order. 
 The safety of the province, which has been confided to 
 my care, requires it ; you must observe more modera- 
 tion in your discourses. Do not infringe. You know 
 my orders. May happiness attend you. Farewell. To 
 which Jesus meekly replied : Prince of the earth, I came 
 not to bring war into the world, but peace, love and 
 charity. I was born on the same day on which Augustus 
 Caesar gave peace to the Roman world. Persecution 
 proceeds not from me. I expect it from others, and will 
 meet it in obedience to the will of my Father, who hath 
 shown me the way. Refrain, therefore, your worldly 
 prudence. It is not in your power to arrest the Victim 
 at the foot of the Tabernacle of expiation. And, so 
 saying, he disappeared like a bright shadow behind the 
 curtains of the basalic. 
 
 At one time, the King traversed the regions of Tyre 
 and Sidon with his apostles. On this perilous journey, 
 
172 HIS WAY UPON THE WATERS. 
 
 he healed the Syro-Phenician woman's daughter, the 
 deaf man of Decapolis, and did many other wonderful 
 works. 
 
 At another time, the way of the King was upon the 
 waters of Galilee. Omnipotence slept on the rolling 
 waves. In the hour of danger and darkness, his dis- 
 ciples awoke him with their calls for deliverance. The 
 King's voice was heard upon the troubled waters. The 
 words of Jesus went floating out again, over the buffet- 
 ing billows of the sea, and there was a great calm. So 
 we may be called to pass through the moanings of a 
 night-blast of sorrow, as we are sailing silently through 
 the sunshine, and shadows of time, towards the shifting 
 shores of eternity. But, if we hail the King of Glory on 
 our way, the storms will soon be over, the darkness for- 
 ever passed, and the day-break of eternal life will soon 
 light up the distant shores of an endless immortality. 
 
 But, a short time prior to his apprehension, the King 
 answered the call of the bereaved sisters, went to Beth- 
 any, and raised his friend Lazarus from the dead. Be- 
 reavement always touched his tender heart with deepest 
 sympathy. A thrill of emotion swept over his entire 
 being, and a flood of tears streamed from his weeping 
 eyes, as he approached the entrance to the dark and 
 dismal cave, where one of his dearest friends slept the 
 silent sleep of death. The stone was rolled away. Jesus 
 raised his eyes to heaven, thanked the Father for the 
 confirmation of his prayer, and with a gentle voice awoke 
 the dead sleeper, tradition says, to the enjoyment of 
 thirty more years of light and life in this world. 
 
 The Jewish authorities now claimed that a Great Crim- 
 inal was running at large, whose words and works en- 
 
A MATCHLESS MIRACLE. iy$ 
 
 dangered the safety of both church and state. So after 
 the resurrection of Lazarus, the Sanhedrim met in great 
 perplexity. They dreaded the result of this matchless 
 miracle ; and hence, with treacherous purpose, sought to 
 lay hands upon their Coveted Prey. Caiaphas and An- 
 nas were dividing the functions of a disgraceful priest- 
 hood at this time. In the midst of their evil counsels, 
 Caiaphas advised them to sacrifice this One Victim, in- 
 nocent or guilty, in order to save the whole people. 
 The Council readily accepted his wicked proposal, and 
 the secret fiat went forth at once, that the Despised 
 Nazarene must die. The King was conscious of their 
 deadly designs, so he retired to Ephraim to await the 
 fullness of time, before he would submit to death at their 
 hands. 
 
 When the time of the great Paschal Feast drew near, 
 Jesus saw the pilgrim bands marching toward Jerusalem. 
 So he left his place of retreat, and journeyed with a 
 Galilean caravan to the Holy City. The King walked 
 alone, in advance of his disciples, in mournful medita- 
 tion, with all the majesty of infinite meekness. At 
 length he paused, and told them the sad, sad story of 
 his arrest, trial and crucifixion, by the rulers of the Jews. 
 But they did not comprehend him. They were still 
 dreaming of earthly thrones, and golden diadems, while 
 the Master's thoughts were associated with the bloody 
 cross, and the thorny crown. 
 
 They journeyed on. By the way, near Jericho, the 
 city of palms, sat blind Bartemius, with his companion in 
 misery, begging alms of the passing multitudes. Being 
 informed that Jesus of Nazareth was in the company, 
 they raised their voices in cries for mercy. He called 
 
174 JESUS AT JERICHO. 
 
 them to him, opened their eyes, and they followed the 
 rejoicing multitudes, glorifying God with full hearts, and 
 happy souls. 
 
 The great caravan rested at Jericho. The King was 
 the Welcome Guest of the honored little publican. 
 Zacheus had long desired to see the Prince of Prophets. 
 When Jesus unexpectedly called his name, and bade 
 him hasten down from the sycamore tree, it must have 
 been with great joy, that he led the Messiah to his own 
 house. But the multitude murmured, because the King 
 put up with the rich little publican. However, his was 
 a mission of love to the lost : and, with one touch of 
 that love, he unsealed the little man's heart, opened his 
 full purse to the poor and brought life and salvation to 
 him and his household. 
 
 The caravan marched from Jericho, the shaded city ; 
 and the King led the way through the long, sultry, bar- 
 ren gorge which led to Jerusalem. They reached the 
 end of their journey six days before the great Passover; 
 and Jesus put up again at the honored home of Bethany. 
 He had often resorted to this holy, happy home, where 
 he was a welcome and most highly Honored Guest — the 
 distinguished, and most Royal Visitor. 
 
 The next evening the King's friends gave him a sup- 
 per. They regarded it a privilege, to feast the Noblest 
 Guest that ever graced the festal board on earth. The 
 supper was given at the house of Simon the leper. 
 The disciples were also invited. The Chief Guest, and 
 his distinguished companions, came in at length, and 
 surrounded the festal board. Jesus occupied the place 
 of honor. Lazarus was also present at this sacred fes- 
 tival ; and many believed on Jesus because of him. So 
 
A TIMELY ANOINTING. I 75 
 
 the rulers, at Jerusalem, held a consultation, as to how 
 they might best get rid of this living witness to the 
 resurrection power of their Rejected Messiah. 
 
 One of a most important series of sacred events, 
 which cluster around the closing scenes of his waning 
 life, occurred while they were feasting. It was the 
 anointing of the King to his burial. Mary came in with 
 an alabaster box of precious, and costly ointment ; and 
 poured the sweet perfume over the head, and feet of 
 her Blessed Master. And while the delicious fragrance 
 filled the entire house, as an evidence of her gratitude, 
 love and devotion, she wiped his weary, wayworn feet 
 with her long, flowing tresses of golden hair. 
 
 Mary was censured by Judas, whose greatest vice was 
 avarice ; and who placed a less estimate upon his Mas- 
 ter, and bargained, it is thought, that same night to be- 
 tray him for thirty pieces of silver. Others regarded it 
 as a useless expenditure ; thought it too rich a luxury 
 for a passing moment, but were ready to pity, and for- 
 give the rash act, as they regarded it. None but the 
 more spiritual present could appreciate this free-will 
 offering. But Jesus spoke out in Mary's defense. The 
 King said the anointing was timely, and appropriate ; 
 and that it should serve as a memorial of her devotion, 
 through all coming generations. History bears the 
 most sacred testimony to the truthfulness of his words 
 of approval. We can not over-estimate the value of 
 such fervid devotion. Its gifts never surpass the love 
 of the giver, or the worthiness of him to whom they are 
 given. The most precious gift, to Jesus, is always 
 the one which costs the giver most, be it a mite, or a 
 million. It is what it costs us, that gives value to our 
 
176 THE HUMBLE PROCESSION. 
 
 donations, services and sacrifices, and makes them most 
 acceptable to the King. Then nothing should be 
 deemed too costly to give cheerfully to him, who gave 
 himself for us. Our very best time and talents should 
 be consecrated most affectionately to Jesus. 
 
 There was a general belief, that the King would be 
 present at the Paschal Feast. But none knew that the 
 Lamb of God was to be slain, as the Sacred Sacrifice of 
 that memorable Passover. The arrival of the Galilean 
 Prophet was to be an event of the most intense interest. 
 When it was known on Sunday morning, that he would 
 enter the Holy City that day, many were ready to go 
 out to meet, and welcome him as their King. He left 
 Bethany on foot, followed by the multitudes. But ere 
 he reached Jerusalem, they lifted him upon a colt, and 
 the triumphal procession began. It was no seditious, 
 or political movement, but rather the outburst of relig- 
 ious joy. It was not the enthusiasm of ambitious triumph, 
 but the simple exultation of his despised disciples. The 
 King rode, not upon a war-horse, but on an animal, the 
 symbol of peace. He entered the city, not as a mighty 
 conqueror with the spoils of war, but as a meek and 
 Lowly King, bringing the blessings of salvation, and the 
 hopes of heaven. 
 
 The procession paused. The King wept, for the 
 second time, over the doomed city. He uttered his 
 prophetic lamentation of her coming destruction. He 
 saw that she knew not the time of her visitation, and 
 would not heed the things which belonged to her peace, 
 that she might indeed be the joy of the whole earth. 
 
 The multitudes moved on. The pilgrims, at Jerusa- 
 lem, heard the glad shouts of the coming company, and 
 
JESUS IN THE HOLY TEMPLE. 177 
 
 streamed out to meet the humble procession. There 
 was a general jubilee. Palms of victory were waved in 
 the air ; olive branches of peace were strewn in the way, 
 and the garments of rejoicing multitudes were scattered 
 along his path, while thousands of voices swelled the 
 song of welcome to the triumphant King of Glory. 
 Even the children joined the swelling chorus, with shouts 
 of hosannas to the Son of David. The haughty Phari- 
 sees, mortified at these Messianic, and kingly titles, 
 commanded the Master to rebuke his disciples, but were 
 sorely rebuked themselves in his gentle reply. 
 
 The procession reached the gates of the city in tri- 
 umph. The multitudes dispersed. Jesus dismounted, 
 entered the Holy Temple, purged it, and began once 
 more his merciful ministrations within its sacred walls. 
 Sufferers came, and were healed. Sinners sought him, 
 and were saved. The authorities listened to his gra- 
 cious words, witnessed his wonderful works and feared 
 the unknown results. But still they despised, rejected 
 and condemned their most Merciful King. The chil- 
 dren of the Temple, in their innocent delight, prolonged 
 the glad hosannas which had welcomed him to their city. 
 But the Pharisees indignantly called his attention to 
 them, only to meet with another shameful defeat in his 
 apt reply, Yea, have ye not heard, Out of the mouths 
 of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise. 
 
 At this time, some Greeks came to Jesus. An inter- 
 esting tradition says, they were the emissaries of the 
 king of Edessa, .who sent them to seek healing in his 
 name; and tender Jesus an asylum in his comfortable 
 little city. This legend adds, that though Jesus declined 
 his offer, yet he rewarded his faith by writing him a 
 12 
 
1 78 THE DAY OF PARABLES. 
 
 letter, healing his disease and giving life to him and all 
 his house. Thus the Day of Triumph ended ; and 
 Jesus took the twelve at night-fall, and returned to 
 Bethany. 
 
 On Monday morning, the King came early to the city, 
 and again entered the Temple. A stately, and most 
 formidable deputation from the great Sanhedrim waited 
 upon him. They hoped to overawe the Despised Naza- 
 rene with their flowing robes, imposing presence and 
 commanding address. They at once demanded his au- 
 thority, for teaching and healing in the Holy Temple. 
 Upon what authority do you, a poor, illiterate Nazarene, 
 assume the faith and functions of a Rabbi, and Prophet 
 in Israel? His reply confounded them. Was the bap- 
 tism of John from heaven, or of men ? But they would 
 not answer, save to their own shame and confusion. We 
 can not tell. So Jesus dismissed them, by declining to 
 give any authority, save that which they found in his 
 own Divine Personage. This was another terrible 
 wound, which his enemies would never forgive, nor 
 forget. This defeated deputation was forced to the 
 back-ground ; and Jesus continued instructing the people. 
 He spoke in parables that all could understand. In 
 these parables he showed the Jewish hierarchy, that 
 they were guilty of lying lip-service, blind presumption 
 and wicked rebellion, in their shameful rejection, and 
 contemplated crucifixion of their Messianic King. He 
 forced them to admit, that God could in justice deprive 
 them of their exalted privileges, and give their vine- 
 yard to the Gentiles. These things so enraged them, 
 that they would have rushed violently upon him, had they 
 not feared the people. But night closed the Day of 
 
THE DAY OF TEMPTATIONS. 1 79 
 
 Parables ; and the King returned, unmolested, to his 
 village home ; while his enemies met again, in dark 
 counsel, to see how they could best accomplish his 
 speedy destruction. 
 
 The next morning ushered in the Day of" Tempta- 
 tions. Jesus arose early, and with his apostles entered, 
 for the last time, the courts of the Holy Temple. He 
 was barely seated, before the Herodians and Pharisees 
 approached him, with the strategy of a deeply-laid 
 scheme for his destruction. These Herodians were 
 Herod's satraps — mere provincial courtiers, basking in 
 the starlight of a petty tyranny. Their existence had 
 only a political significance, for they stood outside the 
 current of religious life, in open defiance to all the Mo- 
 saic institutions. The simple fact, that the Pharisees 
 would tolerate partnership with such characters for a 
 moment, shows how deep, and deadly their hatred was 
 for the Humble Nazarene. As though a dispute had 
 risen between them, these crafty Herodians, with their 
 wonted cunning, courtesy and compliments, desired the 
 Great Prophet to decide the question, as to whether or 
 not it was lawful to pay tribute to Caesar? They hoped, 
 if he answered in the affirmative, the multitudes would 
 forsake, and help to slay him ; but, if in the negative, 
 that he would secure the ill-will of the Roman authori- 
 ties, who would willingly put him to death. But their 
 hypocrisy was unmasked, and their hopes soon blasted. 
 They admitted that their national coin bore the image 
 and superscription of the Emperor, and consequently 
 was the acknowledged symbol of his legal authority. 
 Therefore Jesus commanded them to render to Caesar 
 his dues, as an earthly ruler ; and to God, that which so 
 
l8o THE SEVEN-FOLD WIDOW, 
 
 justly belongs to him, as their Eternal Sovereign. Hu- 
 miliated by this unexpected failure, they smothered their 
 malice, and reluctantly retired. 
 
 The Sadducees, hoping better success would attend 
 their efforts, now ventured into his divine presence, 
 with their silly question about the seven-fold widow, and 
 desired him to tell whose wife she would be in the 
 morning of the resurrection. They thought to array their 
 entire sect against him, by calling him out on this sub- 
 ject. But a gentle reproof, setting forth the true nature 
 of the resurrection body, and the angelic relation of the 
 redeemed in heaven, silenced at once these supercilious 
 Sadducees. 
 
 But still unwilling to give up the struggle for mastery, 
 they sent a learned scribe to the Saviour, with a ques- 
 tion upon which the two great Rabbinical schools were 
 disagreed. These schools had added immensely to both 
 the ceremonial and moral laws of Moses. They had 
 reached the conclusion, that they aggregated six hundred 
 and thirteen. But which was the greatest command- 
 ment, of all that number of affirmative and negative pre- 
 cepts? This was the question, which the conceited 
 scribe proposed to Jesus. He expected his answer to 
 alienate one or the other of these strong elements from 
 his following. But not so. Jesus summed up the whole 
 decalogue, in love to God and man, saying, On these 
 two commandments hang all the Law and Prophets. 
 And none could object to his answer, though entirely 
 foreign to the purpose of his enemies. This was their 
 last effort to entrap the Saviour by the words which fell 
 in wisdom from his sacred lips. 
 
 The King now put one question, bearing directly upon 
 
AND THE SEVEN-FOLD WOE. l8l 
 
 their Messianic hopes, to his learned and arrogant in- 
 terrogators. But their superficial knowledge failed to 
 subserve their purposes, on this all-important subject. 
 So they laid their hands upon their mouths in silence 
 and in shame, before the great multitudes. But the 
 bitter venom, of their malignant hatred, had not been 
 extracted by the long forbearance of the Saviour. The 
 midnight darkness of their souls had not been illumined 
 by the meridian light of his matchless wisdom. They 
 courted their own blindness, denied their gross igno- 
 rance, and would not repent of their most heinous sins. 
 Their purpose to destroy the Innocent Nazarene was 
 irrevocably fixed in their wicked hearts. Infinite love 
 had failed to win them for Jesus. There was no longer 
 any hope of their reconciliation to the King. They 
 were stereotyped in unrepentant malic*', and must be 
 doomed to eternal banishment. Stern justice was now 
 summoned to the front. And in the audience of all the 
 people, Jesus rolled over their guilty heads, with the 
 weight of a crushing thunderbolt, his seven-fold woe 
 unto those scribes, Pharisees and hypocrites, who 
 sought to compass his death. In utter condemnation of 
 the past, present and prophetic future of their wicked 
 lives, the Divine Prophet solemnly pronounced the 
 Dreadful Denunciation upon them, and their doomed 
 city. He hung the purple cloud of divine retribution, 
 in prophetic vision, over the beauty, and glory of Jeru- 
 salem ; and bade them listen in dread and terror at the 
 gathering elements of destruction, which would soon 
 burst in fury on the defenseless heads of her unhappy 
 sons and daughters. 
 
 And, on leaving the sacred precincts of the Holy 
 
1 82 DISCOURSE ON THE LAST THINGS. 
 
 Temple, Retiring Deity, with one prophetic breath, lev- 
 eled its massive walls and magnificent splendors all in 
 the dust. Thirty-five years later found it smoldering in 
 the ashes of its own destruction. Then silently and 
 sadly the sacred company turned their backs upon, and 
 bade a final farewell to the great building, crossed the 
 Kidron, climbed to the summit of the Mount of Olives, 
 and sat down to rest. 
 
 The scene was well adapted to inspire the Saviour 
 with the most solemn thoughts, Deep down in the val- 
 ley beneath him lay the sad and silent Sea of Death. 
 Just behind him lay the Holy City, beloved and glorious 
 even in her sins. At his feet slept the lonely garden of 
 Gethsemane, so soon to be the sombre scene of his first 
 great agony. The gathering shades of the evening 
 deepened the gloom of the hour ; while the setting sun 
 of his natural life threw a still deeper darkness across 
 the sad scenes of his earthly pilgrimage. Amid the si- 
 lent shadows of. such a sacred solemnity, the Saviour de- 
 livered his farewell discourse to his sorrowing disciples, 
 on the Last Things. In this sermon he showed them 
 two distinct horizons, and pointed out, by the most fear- 
 ful signs and parables, two of the world's most memora- 
 ble events — the fall of the Jewish polity, or the last days 
 of that wicked generation, with its coming retribution ; 
 and the end of time, or the final account of the race, at 
 the dreadful judgment of the Great Day. In his sad 
 refrain, the King referred again to his betrayal and cru- 
 cifixion, then but two days in the future. So closed his 
 last matchless discourse, and so ended the last day of 
 his public ministry. And they arose, and walked to 
 Bethany to await the night of his darkest agony. Could 
 
THREE YEARS OF VARIED ACTIVITIES. 1 83 
 
 we but trace the footsteps of the King, from place to 
 place, day in and day out, as he went forth on his mis- 
 sions of mercy, during his ministry, we would have three 
 years of varied, and almost incessant labor, the crowded 
 activities of which would fill our souls with wonder and 
 amazement. But now the words of the King's public 
 ministry have all been spoken ; the works of his divine 
 mission have all been finished ; the ways of humanity 
 have all been trodden ; his time is fully come, and he is 
 ready to place heaven's seal upon all his words, works 
 and ways, in his own sacrificial death upon the cruel 
 cross. 
 
 '—"£-- -:_— 
 
THE CRUCIFIXION OF THE KING. 
 
 ■ » , . «>^» 
 
 Chapter VIII. 
 
 They * * * crucified the Lord of Glory. — i Cor. 2: 8. 
 
 The apprehension, trial and crucifixion of the King 
 of Glory was the most disgraceful and diabolical tragedy 
 that history has ever recorded. Death upon the cross 
 was, of all the cruel executions of antiquity, the most 
 terrible, and inhuman. And the shameful execution of 
 the Innocent Nazarene was marked with rare excep- 
 tions to all other crucifixions. Such cruelties, as were 
 then and there exhibited, knew no reverence, and felt no 
 compassion for the Innocent Victim. This story of the 
 cross, burdened as it is with sadness, loaded with sor- 
 row and crowned with the bitterest agonies, is by far 
 the most thrilling story of all ages. It is the story of 
 the world. It is a divine tragedy, without a parallel in 
 the archives of the universe. It is the most memorable 
 event ever marked by the shadows of time. It was the 
 consummation of the bloody sacrifices of ages. It was 
 the redemption of the world. It was the Author of 
 Life, hanging upon the cross, in the agonies of death. 
 
 The Passover, a great Jewish festival, was at hand. 
 Multitudes flowed together. The Holy City was crowded, 
 packed and jammed. Pilgrims, from every part of the 
 
 Holy Land, and Jewish wanderers, from every nation 
 
 ( 184 ) 
 
THE APPREHENSION OF THE KING. 1 85 
 
 under heaven, were present to take part in the great 
 national festival. The rulers of the Jews availed them- 
 selves of the popular exultation, which always manifested 
 itself, among the vile rabble, during the solemnities of a 
 Passover. They also employed the treasure of the Holy 
 Temple, in bribing the lewd and licentious fellows to 
 cry for the blood of the Hated Nazarene. 
 
 The apprehension of the King is the first scene in 
 the great tragedy. The indignant hatred of his ene- 
 mies knew no bounds, after his seven-fold woe was pro- 
 nounced against them. They were determined to com- 
 pass his death at the earliest possible date. To perfect 
 their plans, and accomplish their object, at once, they 
 met on Tuesday night, in the palace of Caiaphas the 
 high-priest. It was a motley and indignant mob, met 
 in council. The Pharisees, Sadducees, scribes, priests, 
 Herodians and elders of Israel, with all their differences, 
 and hatred lost, for the time bein^, in their common 
 and intense hatred for the Young Rabbi of Nazareth, 
 were uniting their efforts, in an unholy alliance, for the 
 destruction of the World's Messiah. From the deep, 
 and dark revenge of such an ungodly alliance, or combi- 
 nation, no earthly power could save their Virtuous Vic- 
 tim. They decreed that he should die without delay. 
 But not by violence, for fear of offending the multitudes. 
 The treacherous Judas was at their disposal, possibly 
 leagued with them in this dark and deadly council. 
 
 But they were doomed to disappointment, The King 
 did not return to Jerusalem the next day, as they ex- 
 pected. The multitudes listened in vain for the sound 
 of his matchless voice in the courts of the Holy Temple. 
 He was among the hills, resting in silence, or wrestling 
 
1 86 THE SACRED FESTIVAL. 
 
 in prayer, preparatory to the great struggle with 
 death. 
 
 But the next evening he sent two of his apostles in 
 advance, to prepare for the observance of the Paschal 
 Feast. Still later, accompanied by the residue of the 
 twelve, he entered the city, and went to the room where 
 they ate the Passover. Here Jesus pointed Judas out 
 as the traitor ; and bade him do his treacherous work 
 quickly. Here also the King girded himself, and washed 
 his disciples' feet, teaching them the lesson of humilia- 
 tion and self-denial for the good of others. Here, too, 
 the Savior instituted the holy Eucharist, to be ob- 
 served in memory of his anticipated sufferings and death, 
 to the end of time. The dark clouds, which had settled 
 upon their heads, glowed for a time, with the glories of 
 sunset's radiant splendors. The Master spoke many 
 words of comfort and warning to his faithful servants ; 
 referred to the prophecy which long since had numbered 
 him with transgressors ; and closed the sacred festival 
 with a prayer for the disciples of all ages. 
 
 Then they arose, left the guest-chamber, stepped out 
 into the silence of that oriental night, and started on 
 their moonlight march to sad Gethsemane. They 
 passed out through one of the city gates, crossed the 
 Kidron and climbed the gentle slope, which led to the 
 Garden of Prayer. As they journeyed on, under a mys- 
 terious weight of woe, the Master told them plainly that 
 their Shepherd should be smitten, and his sheep be 
 scattered abroad. He spoke of their becoming offended 
 in him that night ; and then listened in mournful silence 
 to their vows of fidelity, so soon to be broken. 
 
 But they reached the scene of his first great agony ; 
 
IN THE BLOODY GARDEN. 1 87 
 
 passed into the Garden, and the shadow of a great sor- 
 row fell upon them. The King knew that nothing re- 
 mained for him on earth, save the most Litter physical 
 torture, the most intense mental anguish and the deepest 
 possible soul-agony, until he expired amid the death- 
 throes of Calvary. 
 
 The curtain rises, and the terrible tragedy begins. 
 The site is a beautiful, but lonely Garden, deeply shaded 
 with olive trees, and fragrant with sweetest perfumes. 
 The spectators are the silent stars, the silver)- moon 
 and the listening angels. The actors are, the Innocent 
 Nazarene, and his eleven devoted, but timid apostles. 
 They are grouped together in sad, but sacred converse. 
 The majority of them are leit to wrap their mantles 
 around them, and sleep, for a time, upon the green- 
 sward, beneath the dark shadows of the olive, and the still 
 deeper gloom of their own midnight forebodings. The 
 Master, with his favored three, moves off about a stone's 
 throw, and kneels under the burden of a great sorrow, 
 in agonizing prayer. A grief, too great for utterance, 
 and a struggle, which could not long be endured, made 
 his soul exceeding" sorrowful, even unto death. 
 
 The King bade the three remain where they were, 
 and watch with him while he went yonder and prayed. 
 Jesus sinks down upon the earth, crushed beneath the 
 weight of his mighty agony. The Man of Sorrows lies 
 prostrate upon the cold, damp ground in long and earn- 
 est supplication to the Father, that, if possible, the 
 bitter cup of his sufferings, may pass from his sacred 
 lips. It is a place of many tears — the garden of a mys- 
 terious agony bedewed with bloody sweat. It is the 
 bitterness of death. Yet in sweetest resignation to the 
 
1 88 THE BITTER CUP. 
 
 Father's will, his Son is ready to drain the overflowing 
 chalice to its very dregs. This was a life and death- 
 struggle with the powers of evil for eternal victory, in 
 which great drops of the King's life-blood oozed out at 
 the pores of his skin, and trickled down upon the ground 
 like beads of rolling sweat. The Great Sufferer re- 
 turned to his chosen three, to receive a word of sym- 
 pathy from human hearts. But alas ! they all slept. 
 A gentle reproof was given, and he returned a second, 
 and a third time to commune with heaven. And with 
 his growing anguish, he falls again and again with his 
 face to the earth. Oh ! how bitter the cup, how fear- 
 ful the anguish; how piercing the thrice repeated cry: 
 Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me. But 
 how submissive the spirit, which adds as oft, Not my 
 will, but thine be done. This mighty struggle was far 
 more deadly than death itself. It was the voluntary 
 bearing of the immense burden of a world's guilt upon 
 his own sinless soul. It was the bowing down, in hum- 
 ble submission, of the mighty Head of Deity to receive 
 the awful stroke of divine justice, incurred by the fall, 
 and executed by the malice of man. But the Father 
 heard that master petition, and sent an angel to 
 strengthen the weakness of the flesh. A gentle radi- 
 ance rested upon the Sinless Sufferer, as he lay in 
 agonies and tears. His plaintive voice was hushed ; 
 his bitter anguish lulled to sleep, and he arose, victori- 
 ous from the mighty contest, with naught, save the 
 crimson traces of that bloody struggle, upon his match- 
 less form. Overcome with grief, the apostles have all 
 found momentary relief in deep slumber. But the scene 
 changes. 
 
JUDAS AFTER JESUS. I 89 
 
 Jesus awoke his disciples, and they all started toward 
 the garden gate. But, while his apostles had slept and 
 slumbered under their weight of sorrow, his enemies 
 had been wakeful, and vigilant in their active malignity. 
 When they reached the entrance, they met Judas and 
 his motley torch-light procession, ready to do their 
 nefarious work. The traitor was excited, pressed hur- 
 riedly into the enclosure in advance of his comrades in 
 crime, and prematurely gave the promised signal. At 
 a gentle reproof from the Master, he fell back toward 
 the entrance, through which the conspirators were begin- 
 ning to press their way. The King made no effort at 
 resistance or flight. Mis disciples tendered their serv- 
 ices in his protection. Twelve legions of angels, mighty 
 in power, hovered around him, waiting to obey his sacred 
 behests. But, not so. The hour of his apprehension 
 had come, and he was ready to meet the emergency 
 single-handed and alone. He knew that the victory must 
 be won by his own right hand, and his holy arm. 
 Hence, the Lamb was willingly led to the slaughter. 
 Calm and serene, in his kingly majesty, he stood before 
 his captors, and demanded the object of their mysteri- 
 ous mission. And when told that they sought Jesus of 
 Nazareth, he meekly replied, I am he. His divine 
 presence overawed, and his matchless voice laid them 
 on the ground at his feet. Thus, men of violence and 
 blood, whose feet had never faltered before in crime ; 
 men whose hands rejoiced in the clash of arms, and 
 whose voices were loudest in the cry of battle, cowered 
 and fell before the meek and merciful Messenger of 
 Heaven. His question, and their answer, were both 
 repeated. But not until he manifested a perfect will- 
 
I90 THE TRIAL OF THE KING, 
 
 ingness to become their Prisoner, did they dare lay 
 their unholy hands upon the Sacred Victim. So the 
 Mighty Conqueror voluntarily surrendered himself into 
 the hands of his enemies, as a Helpless Captive. These 
 ministers of death bound their Strange Victim. His 
 disciples became alarmed, and forsook him. Of the 
 people, there were none with him. His friends timidly 
 withdrew to the back-ground, during the remainder 
 of the fearful tragedy. Jesus was alone, and a Prisoner, 
 guarded and guided by the worst of foes. At their 
 command he marched, in his innocence, to the halls of 
 justice, to be mocked and scourged, tried and condemned, 
 crucified and buried. The first scene closes, and the 
 curtain falls. 
 
 The Trial of the King is the second scene in the 
 shameful tragedy. Jesus was a Captive, in the hands 
 of his merciless enemies, who claimed that he had been 
 running at large, for a long time, as a Great Criminal, 
 whose words and works endangered the peace, and 
 safety of both church and state. It was past midnight, 
 when they hurried him from the moon-lit shadows of 
 Gethsemane, over the Kidron, and through the silent 
 streets of the sleeping city, to the courts of justice ; or 
 rather of injustice. 
 
 The curtain rises again, and the sham, and most 
 shameful of all trials begins. They ushered the King, 
 first, into the presence of Annas, the ex-officio high- 
 priest, who, for nearly half a century, had virtually 
 wielded the sacerdotal power in Israel. Here the meek, 
 and Powerful Prince stood, a Submissive Prisoner for 
 preliminary trial, at the tribunal of a most malignant 
 enemy. No proof of guilt could be found against him. 
 
BEFORE ANNAS AND CAIAPHAS. I9I 
 
 Even circumstantial evidence of crime was wanting. 
 The judge questioned the Prisoner, with regard to his 
 doctrines and disciples, and received, in his mild reply, 
 a severe rebuke. This made his minions feel that their 
 master was false, and treacherous. They saw, at once, 
 that the hoary hypocrisy of the crafty old Sadducee, 
 stood abashed before the transparent innocence of the 
 Younor Nazarene. So one of his servants, with illegal 
 insolence, and inhuman violence, reproved, and smote 
 the Sinless Saviour, with the first blow which his sacred 
 form had ever felt. But even the insult of a slave was 
 borne in meekness by the Lord of lords. As though 
 proven guilty of a crime, beyond his jurisdiction, Annas 
 sent his Prisoner, in bonds, from a lower to a higher 
 court, to that of the civil, or acting high-priest, Caiaphas. 
 The priesthood strained its cruel prerogative to the ut- 
 most, in order to crush the High-priest of our Pro- 
 fession. 
 
 The scene changes. The King" stands before his 
 second judge. Caiaphas was high-priest that year, not 
 by the grace of God, but through the favor of a Roman 
 procurator. Many of the most desperate, and influential 
 of the King's enemies were present by this time. In 
 fact the whole council seems to have taken part in this 
 trial, before it was over. It was virtually a trial before 
 the great Jewish Sandhedrim. The very nature of this 
 tribunal, over which the high-priest Caiaphas presided, 
 made it extremely difficult for them to convict the Sav- 
 iour, even unjustly, of any crime worthy of death. 
 Their own party differences, and chronic hatred, were 
 almost insurmountable barriers. If they accused him 
 of being in opposition to the civil authority, that would 
 
192 THE SAVIOUR CONDEMNED TO DIE. 
 
 enlist for him the sympathies of the Pharisees. If they 
 dwelt upon his neglect of the traditional observance of 
 the Sabbath day, that would be in accord with the sen- 
 timents of the Sadducees. And if they complained of 
 the authority he assumed in the Holy Temple, there 
 were those in the council who had most heartily sanc- 
 tioned its cleansing. Jesus could easily have stirred up 
 these latent animosities ; awoke these slumbering pre- 
 judices, and disturbed this temporary compromise of 
 avowed enemies. In a few words, he could have upset 
 all their plans, and arrayed the different factions of that 
 council against each other with increased, and deadly 
 hatred; but not so. It was not his purpose to defend, 
 or defeat. But his prerogative was, to submit and die. 
 
 In their extremity, they sought those who were will- 
 ing to bear false witness against the King, that they 
 might put him to death, guilty or innocent. These 
 bribed perjurers were but too eager to testify against 
 the Sinless Son. Their false testimony did not agree. 
 Like vapor, it melted even before these wicked judges, 
 who could not reconcile it, so as to recognize it as valid 
 evidence. The continued silence of their Virtuous Vic- 
 tim, maddened these malicious persecutors. But at 
 length he broke the silence, to their joy, with the affir- 
 mation of his Messiahship. The false and malignant 
 Caiaphas threw up his blood-stained hands in holy hor- 
 ror, and said they needed no further testimony, since he 
 had made himself the Son of God. So the illegal ec- 
 clesiastical tribunal, with one voice, condemned the Sin- 
 less Saviour to death, upon his own sacred testimony. 
 
 Again the scene changes. The Pious Prisoner is 
 committed once more to the cruel custody of the vulgar 
 
THE OBJECT OE INSULT AND DERISION. 1 93 
 
 band which arrested him, and taken to the Hall of Judg- 
 ment to await the break of day that the entire Sanhe- 
 drim might legally condemn him to death. He was now 
 regarded, by all these priestly servitors, as a fit object 
 for insult and derision. So they heaped upon his de- 
 fenseless head all the contempt, disgrace and ignominy 
 that oriental servility was heir to. That silent meek- 
 ness, and divine majesty, which raised him infinitely 
 above his vile persecutors, seemed only to make him a 
 more Welcome Victim for their low and ferocious ri- 
 baldry. They blinded his eyes, spat in his face, struck 
 him^vith the palms of their hands, smote him with rods 
 and then bade him prophecy for their sport. Oh ! what 
 a sad, sad spectacle ; the Saviour of men in the midst 
 of a savage, and wanton varletry ; the Messiah from 
 heaven held in vile derision, by a merciless rabble ; the 
 world's Deliverer in bonds, as a Pronounced Criminal, 
 and the Judge of all men condemned by mortal man to 
 death. 
 
 At length, the sad hours of his saddest ni^ht were 
 passed, and the grey dawn shuddered in the morning 
 blushes of a still sadder day for the Suffering Saviour. 
 With the earliest twilight, in keeping with their oral law, 
 but ignoring the Revelation of God, the great Sanhe- 
 drim met, in full session, to condemn him legally; or, 
 rather to ratify the vile verdict of the high-priest's noc- 
 turnal council. So the dreadful sentence of the lower, 
 and illegal courts was now ratified by the greatest ec- 
 clesiastical tribunal on earth. And a derision, more 
 odious and reprehensible than that of any mere menials 
 and knaves, followed, when the taunts and jeers of 
 these sanctimonious dignitaries saluted the ears of their 
 J 3 
 
194 THE TRAITOR HANGS HIMSELF. 
 
 innocent, but thrice Condemned Victim. What a terri- 
 ble outrage ! these noisy vassals, railing on their Silent 
 King! the religious hierarchy, calumniating their own 
 Lowly Lord! the ministers of personal vengeance, sit- 
 ting in judgment upon the conduct of the Eternal Arbi- 
 ter of divine retribution ! the guilty Sanhedrim, render- 
 ing a verdict against their Innocent Messiah, through 
 whom alone they could hope for acquittal in the great 
 Day of Judgment ! 
 
 The traitor, and principal actor in the King's appre- 
 hension, who had also been a secure spectator during 
 his long, and lawless trial, hearing the infamous derision 
 of the council, realized what an awful crime he had 
 committed, in betraying his Master ; and filled with bit- 
 terest remors'e, went to the authorities, confessed his sin 
 and tendered back the guilt-money for which he had 
 sold his Lord into captivity. But they treated him with 
 indifference and contempt. He. was the broken instru- 
 ment, with which they had accomplished their fiendish 
 designs, now alike dishonored and despised. His re- 
 morse ripened into despair, with the sober thoughts of 
 his deed of infamy, when he saw that he could not undo 
 what he had unfortunately done. So he threw the money, 
 for which he had sold his soul and his Saviour, at the 
 feet of the priests, upon the marble pavement of the 
 Holy Place, and went out and hanged himself; fell, and 
 was buried in the Field of Blood. 
 
 The scene changes again. Early in the morning, the 
 high-priests, and their emissaries led their Innocent Vic- 
 tim to the Pretorium. They hurried him from a high, 
 to a still higher court; from a Jewish, to a Gentile tribu- 
 nal ; from a priest's, to a procurator's bar. They ex- 
 
HE PRISONER BEFORE THE PROCURATOR. 1 95 
 
 pected Pilate would readily ratify their decision, by 
 passing civil sentence, at once, upon their Hated Vic- 
 tim, and ordering his speedy execution. But, not so. 
 The Roman Governor was disposed to save the life of 
 the Noble Nazarene, and spare, if possible, his inno- 
 cence, the agonies of the cruel cross. The great San- 
 hedrim, with its vast numbers, and priestly prestige, 
 hoped, no doubt, to overawe the Governor when they 
 dragged the Innocent Nazarene into his princely pres- 
 ence, bound as a Condemned Criminal. The Pious 
 Prisoner presented a sad spectacle, to men and angels — 
 one which called forth the sympathies, and enlisted, at 
 once, the powers of the procurator in his behalf. 
 
 The Jews ushered Jesus, with many accusers, into the 
 Judgment Hall. But their hierarchs, stained with moral 
 guilt, shrank from the ceremonial pollution of a Gentile 
 court, lest they should be defiled, and could not eat the 
 Passover. Pilate noted the ineffable meekness, and 
 surpassing majesty of their Royal Victim ; and then went 
 out, and contrasted it, at a glance, with the pompous im- 
 piety, and insolent vulgarity of his haughty accusers 
 and their menial slaves. He then demanded the Jewish 
 authorities, to produce their accusations against the 
 Accused Nazarene. This astonished them. They de- 
 manded his speedy execution, upon the Roman cross. 
 But, to their surprise, Pilate now proposed a judicial in- 
 vestigation of the whole matter. His contempt for their 
 wicked fanaticism, and his higher sense of Roman justice, 
 forbade him giving the sanction of his tribunal to their 
 dark, and illegal sentence of death. The dignity of his 
 office would not allow him to become the mere execution- 
 er of their vague, and illicit verdicts against his best sub- 
 
I96 THE THREE CHARGES. 
 
 jects. Such, at any rate, seems to have been his passion, 
 and his purpose at the beginning of the trial. 
 
 The. Jews finally preferred three charges against 
 Jesus ; two of which were basely false, while the other 
 referred to a perfectly legitimate claim. They said he 
 perverted the nation ; forbade the people to pay tribute, 
 and called himself a King. Pilate, filled with disgust, 
 but embittered with fear, deigned to notice the last 
 charge only ; though they all bore the sanction of the 
 high-priests, and were backed by the rulers and rabble, 
 as wild with passion, and as dark with hatred, as the 
 angry elements of the raging sea. He ascertained, 
 at once, through the statements of the Accused, that he 
 had no just grounds upon which to take cognizance of 
 the case. Therefore he frankly confessed, that he found 
 no just cause of complaint against the Noted Prisoner ; 
 and proposed to set him at liberty. 
 
 But this public acquittal of the King, by the Governor, 
 kindled the fury of his foes into a still fiercer flame. 
 They resolved, that their purpose to crucify must not 
 be foiled, by him upon whom they relied for its bitter 
 consummation, when the Dreaded Victim was already in 
 their deadly grasp. Hence their voices rose in wilder, 
 deadlier tumult for the blood of the Just. By this time 
 the city was overflowing with a reckless, profligate and 
 tumultuous populace, which had joined the sedition, and 
 were clamoring vociferously for the crucifixion of the 
 Innocent Nazarene. 
 
 But Jesus- stood, in his conscious innocence, with 
 perfect composure, in the midst of this fierce tempest 
 of human passion. It was not the fear of his enemies ; 
 neither their iron mannacles, but the voluntary restraint 
 
PILATE IN TROUBLE. 1 97 
 
 over his own infinite power, which fettered his hands, and 
 made him their Harmless Captive. For, in his meek- 
 ness, there was concealed awful majesty ; in his resigna- 
 tion lay hidden divine authority, and in his humble sub- 
 mission slept the embodiment of almighty power. But 
 still he suffered, with but few to pity. He was defense- 
 less, with none to plead his cause. He was the King 
 of kings, with no diadem upon his royal brow. He was 
 the Eternal Witness for truth and love, in the hands of 
 falsehood, and hatred personified. 
 
 At this juncture, Pilate saw himself, in the midst of a 
 rebellious city, without strength to suppress the wild 
 commotion. He had a mere handful of veterans ; and 
 therefore, was forced to tolerate, what he could not pre- 
 vent. His palace, by this time, had assumed the aspect 
 of a besieged citadel. All Judea was pouring into the 
 devoted city. Jerusalem was inundated with crowds, 
 from their mountain homes in Galilee, and elsewhere. 
 And every moment increased the number of the sedition- 
 ists at the Pretorium. But, in the midst of this mighty 
 uproar, Pilate heard the name of Galilee mentioned, as 
 the chief scene of his public ministry ; and a most happy 
 thought suggested itself to his troubled mind. So, with 
 one master-stroke of political policy, he thought to rid 
 himself of the Princely Prisoner, by sending him to 
 Herod, the tetrarch of Galilee, who had more direct 
 jurisdiction over the case than himself, since Jesus was 
 one of his subjects. 
 
 So a^ain the scene changes. Through the thronged 
 streets, amid the jeers, and taunts of the vile rabble, the 
 Weary Sufferer was dragged, until brought into the 
 presence of Herod Antipas, the murderer of his great 
 
I98 JESUS BEFORE HEROD. 
 
 forerunner. The wily tetrarch was rejoiced to see Jesus. 
 He had desired, for a long time, to witness some of his 
 matchless miracles, and listen to some of his marvelous 
 maxims. His majesty questioned the Pensive Prisoner 
 with many words. But Jesus deigned not to utter a 
 single syllable in reply. His majestic silence was the 
 only compliment he paid to Herod's royal insolence. So 
 the wicked prince, with his men of war, ignored the in- 
 nocence, and mocked the misery of the Suffering Sav- 
 iour. The cunning old fox, dreading the fate of him 
 who pronounced the death sentence of the King, pro- 
 fessed humility ; protested his preference in favor of 
 Pilate, and committed the fate of the Grandest Galilean 
 that ever lived, to the hands of another. The royal 
 profligate sent the Silent Saviour back to the precarious 
 procurator. 
 
 Once more the scene changes. Once more spotless 
 innocence stood arraigned before the trembling tribunal 
 of the much perplexed, and wavering Governor. By 
 this time, the marble stairs, leading to the hall of justice, 
 groaned under the weight of the mighty multitude. The 
 vociferations of the infuriated and merciless mob shook 
 the royal palace to its very foundation. The relentless 
 rabble belched forth, in deafening cries, Crucify him, cru- 
 cify him ! Pilate says, There was but one, who appeared 
 to be calm in the vast multitude. It was the Innocent 
 Nazarene. Often, in our civil commotions, have I wit- 
 nessed the furious animosities of the multitudes ; but 
 nothing could be compared to what I witnessed in the 
 present instance. It might have been truly said, that on 
 this occasion, all the phantoms of the infernal regions 
 had assembled at Jerusalem. The crowd appeared not 
 
PILATE PRONOUNCES HIM INNOCENT. 1 99 
 
 to walk. They were borne off, and whirled as a vortex, 
 rolling along like living waves, from the portals of the 
 Pretorium, even unto Mount Zion, with howlings, 
 screams, shrieks and vociferations, such as w T ere never 
 heard in the seditions of the Pantheon, or in the tumults 
 of the forum. 
 
 But, after a second full and fair trial, Pilate told the 
 Jewish authorities, that their King was perfectly innocent 
 of all their unjust charges against him. He also pro- 
 nounced him spotless and pure, without guile ; and con- 
 sequently innocent of all crime, and hence infinitely 
 remote from any offense worthy of death. He even went 
 so far as to call for an ewer, and washed his hands in 
 the presence of the maddened multitude, thereby signi- 
 fying his disapproval of the deed which doomed him to 
 death. But, all in vain. It was the life-blood of their 
 Sinless Victim that these vile wretches thirsted for ; so 
 they answered, Let his blood be upon us, and upon our 
 children. Crucify him, crucify him. 
 
 Here was the Governor's golden opportunity to vin- 
 dicate the justice of his wise decision, by granting liberty 
 to the Lord. But, fearing a general insurrection, he 
 wavered, and fell from the claims of justice, to the law 
 of expediency. He ordered him publicly scourged. 
 Rude hands laid on his tender back the heavy rods. 
 His flesh was seamed and gored with the lictor's lash. 
 But, even this fearful cruelty, the very thoughts of which 
 make the heart shudder with anguish, failed to rouse 
 the sympathies of his presumptuous prosecutors. They 
 still found pleasure in gloating over his terrible agonies; 
 and took delight in adding insult to injury, and derision 
 to disgrace. Pilate then proposed to release Jesus, 
 
200 PILATE S WIFE ADMONISHES HIM. 
 
 after the custom of such occasions, as a mere act of 
 artificial grace upon the part of the people, rather than 
 as an act of acquittal by imperial justice. But his ene- 
 mies, who were as pitiless as death, and as remorseless 
 as the grave, cried out more vehemently than ever, 
 Crucify him, crucify him. 
 
 Pilate had been warned, in his own misgivings, and 
 convictions of right. But to strengthen, if possible, his 
 purposes of justice, his wife had also solemnly admonished 
 him, in a public message, to beware, and not condemn 
 the Just, and Holy One of Israel. She said, Last night 
 I saw him in a vision. He was walking on the waters. 
 He was flying on the wings of the winds. He spoke 
 to the tempest, and to the fishes of the lake, and all 
 were obedient to him. O Pilate ! evil awaits thee, if 
 thou wilt not listen to the vows of thy wife. Dread the 
 curse of a Roman Senate, dread the powers of Caesar. 
 Gladly would the Governor have heeded those solemn 
 admonitions; quickly would he have driven the Jewish 
 authorities, with contempt, from his presence ; and will- 
 ingly would he have set the Royal Captive at liberty, 
 but it was too late. Weakness, cowardice and guilt 
 were his insurmountable barriers. The bitter insults 
 which he had heaped upon the oppressed Samaritans : 
 the secret assassinations of the Jews, by disguised emis- 
 saries ; and the innocent blood of those Galileans, which 
 he had mingled with their sacrifices, all cried long, and 
 loud for vengeance. His former conduct had now re- 
 coiled on his own guilty head, and rendered his per- 
 sonal will, and wishes, themselves, barriers to justice. 
 As a result of past wrong-doing, he was now powerless 
 to do right, save at a great risk of loosing his procura- 
 
THE MOCK CORONATION. 201 
 
 torship, and possibly his life. Thus it always is with the 
 weak and wavering ones of earth. 
 
 The people clamored for the Paschal boon, which 
 Pilate had offered them. But they would not accept it 
 in the person of the Humble Nazarene. They preferred 
 one Barrabbas, a seditionist, and a robber, to the Sin- 
 less Saviour of the world. They loathed the Innocent, 
 but loved the guilty one. They chose the murderer, 
 but rejected the Messiah. Pilate released unto them 
 Barrabbas ; but still they were not content. In vain he 
 sought to reconcile the rabble, to the release of their 
 Rejected King. The chief priests had prevailed upon 
 the multitudes, to join them in demanding his crucifixion, 
 and the more the procurator sought to release their 
 Priceless Prisoner, the more vehemently they rent the 
 air with their wild, and hideous yells of, Away with this 
 man ! Crucify him, crucify him. 
 
 Then the guards took Jesus back into a private hall 
 of the Pretorium, where, in the presence of the Roman 
 cohorts, they went through the heartless ceremonies of 
 a mock coronation. They plaited a crown of thorns, 
 and placed it upon his royal brow. They stripped off 
 the white robe, with which Herod had unwittingly rep- 
 resented his innocence and purity, and put on the pur- 
 ple robe, fit emblem of his royal dignity. They also 
 placed in his hands the reed-sceptre, striking symbol of 
 that matchless power, and divine authority, which would 
 spring up out of the weakness, and submission of that 
 helpless, and apparently hopeless hour of savage tor- 
 ture. Then, with feigned solemnity, and the most de- 
 risive homage, they passed before him, bent the knee 
 and offered their mock salutations of, Hail, King of the 
 
202 PILATE S LAST EFFORT TO SAVE JESUS. 
 
 Jews, little knowing how minutely they were prefiguring 
 the time when every knee shall bow r and every tongue 
 confess him, King of kings and Lord of lords, to the 
 glory of God the Father. 
 
 But Pontius Pilate still desired, and still strove to save 
 the life of the Tortured Victim. He took him forth 
 again before the merciless multitude, his bleeding brow 
 crowned with thorns, and his lacerated back robed in 
 purple, and, in that touching language which has since 
 thrilled millions of hearts with deepest emotion, he ex- 
 claimed, Behold the man ! But the Gentile soldier, who 
 had shed blood upon many a battle-field, plead all in 
 vain with a heartless Jewish priesthood, for the rescue 
 of the Sinless Sufferer. This time the chief priests, and 
 officers led the mutinous multitude in the sad refrain of 
 their death liturgy, Crucify him, crucify him. 
 
 The Governor now proposed to connive at their sin, 
 if they would but take, and crucify him themselves. 
 But they stubbornly demanded absolute sanction ; and 
 would be put off with nothing short of his condem- 
 nation, and crucixion by the civil authorities. But, on 
 learning that Jesus claimed to be the Son of God, Pilate 
 made one more desperate effort to release him; for his 
 fears were greatly intensified. But the Jews threatened 
 him with Caesar ; and the proud procurator, reluctantly, 
 yielded to their demands. Time had moved heavily on, 
 with the Submissive Sufferer; and he was ready to wel- 
 come the last scene in the divine tragedy. The Gover- 
 nor had failed, in repeated efforts, to rescue the King 
 of Glory from the death-grasp of his evil enemies. The 
 authorities, dignitaries and sanctities, of Israel had re- 
 peatedly rejected their King; and w T ere still anxious to 
 
THE CRUCIFIXION OF THE KING. 203 
 
 deliver him over to the Gentiles, to be crucified upon a 
 Roman cross. In calm, majestic silence stood the Bleed- 
 ing Victim, upon whom all eyes were fixed, waiting pa- 
 tiently to hear the final decision of the guilty Governor, 
 which he knew would condemn him to die. So the 
 dreadful sentence was at last pronounced. It fell in 
 broken accents from trembling lips — a sentence which 
 doomed the world's Greatest Benefactor to the most 
 terrible death ever invented by human cruelty — even 
 the ignominious death of the cruel cross. The second 
 scene closes, and the curtain falls. 
 
 Tin; Crucifixion of the King is the third, and 
 closing scene in the heartless tragedy. There is no 
 time now to question about the guilt, or innocence of 
 the thrice Condemned Victim. The sentence of death 
 has passed, and the law must be speedily executed. 
 Jesus was led from the Judgment Hall ; and prepara- 
 tions for the triple execution began at once. The sol- 
 diers stripped the scarlet robe, stained with innocent 
 blood, from the Royal Redeemer, and clad him in his 
 own artless apparel. They prepared the huge cross, 
 and laid it, in part at least, upon his shuddering 
 shoulder. 
 
 The Centurion marched the Paschal Lamb out, in 
 company with two vile victims, amid millions of specta- 
 tors, coldly inquisitive, or furiously hostile, and the 
 cross-procession moved on towards the place of a skull. 
 This was a sad procession indeed ; but the most mem- 
 orable, that ever moved upon earth. It was more signifi- 
 cant than any triumphal march, and far more sorrowful 
 than any funeral cortege the world has ever known. 
 The Man of Sorrows was now on the Sorrowful Way to 
 
204 JESUS FAINTS AND FALLS. 
 
 death. Sadly, silently, sorrowfully he totters towards 
 Golgotha, with the cross, the dread instrument of his 
 own death-torture, upon his bended back. The air was 
 rent with taunts, insults and blasphemies, as he dragged 
 his weary, aching limbs towards Calvary, to die, that his 
 vile tormentors might live. 
 
 But on the way to death, the King fainted, and fell 
 under the weight of his mighty burden ; and the cross 
 was laid on one of his disciples, Simon, a Cyrenean. 
 They hurried him on, in his weakness, to the agonies of 
 Calvary. As they marched on, over the Via Dolorosa, 
 a mighty volume of sympathy rolled up from the bleed- 
 ing hearts of the devoted women, who followed him to 
 the cross with boundless sorrow. Their great grief 
 found vent only in expressions of sympathy, and com- 
 passion for the Suffering Saviour. They beat upon 
 their breasts, and rent the air with their mournful, and 
 motherly lamentations, until the King bade them, as 
 daughters of doomed Jerusalem, weep rather for them- 
 selves, and their children. 
 
 Still, the Bloody Victim, the Living Sacrifice, with his 
 face swollen from the cruel blows of the smiter, and 
 blood-stained from the crown of piercing thorns, fol- 
 lowed by the boisterous and maddened mob, was hurried 
 on to Golgotha, with none to ask for his release, or 
 delay his execution. At length they reached the fatal 
 spot, where the Lamb of God was to be sacrificed, to 
 satisfy the demands of justice. Here the Divine Victim 
 was to be substituted for all human victims ; and pro- 
 pitiate for the sins of the whole world, in order to 
 appease offended heaven. Here the great sacrifice was 
 to be offered, which would reach back in its efficacy to 
 
THE PLACE WHERE THE KING DIED. 205 
 
 the first transgression, and forward through futurity, to 
 the consummation of time. From this altar of expiation, 
 the blood of the Just was to roll in life-giving streams, 
 which would wash away the sins of the world. 
 
 The place where the King of Glory died is the most 
 sacred spot on earth. Men may revere the memory 
 of their illustrious dead. They may rear monuments in 
 honor of the patriot, the statesman and the philanthro- 
 pist ; but in all the archives of history there is no name 
 like that of Jesus, and no shrine of devotion before 
 which men bow, to be compared with the cross of Cal- 
 vary. The Cross of Christ is the central point in human 
 history; the boundary line between the ancient and 
 modern worlds, and the connecting link between earth 
 and heaven. 
 
 We love to contemplate the King in his life-work on 
 earth; for each act has its place in the divine economy, 
 and every achievement its lesson ol love for suffering 
 and sinning humanity. But we love most to view him 
 in the agonies of his death ; because the lessons associ- 
 ated with the most precious memories of Christ cluster 
 around the cross, and lift us nearest to heaven. My 
 soul delights to revel amid the serene, sublime and sun- 
 shine virtues of the King's holy life; but it derives 
 pleasures infinitely deeper and purer, beneath the shad- 
 ows of his crimson cross, and in the gloom and glory of 
 his new sepulchre, left empty on the morning of the 
 third day. But the hour had fully come, for the offering 
 up of the great sacrifice ; and the Voluntary Victim was 
 ready to die. 
 
 The curtain rises, at nine o'clock in the morning, and 
 the last scene in the divine tragedy begins. The King 
 
206 THE TWO KINGS FACE TO FACE. 
 
 of Glory stands face to face, with the king of terrors ; 
 but shudders not, during all the lingering agonies of 
 his most dreadful death. The rude soldiery threw him 
 upon the rugged cross, the instrument of his cruel death- 
 torture, exposing his lacerated flesh and bleeding wounds 
 to the gaze of the vast multitude of spectators. And, 
 with deadening blows, they drove the huge spikes 
 through his tender hands ; hands which had ever ad- 
 ministered to the wants of the poor and needy. They 
 also sent the iron nails, with retentless stroke, through 
 his precious feet ; feet which had always run upon wil- 
 ling errands of love and mercy for fallen humanity. 
 Now the crimson cross, with its living burden hanging 
 helpless upon it, was lifted up, and with cruel thug 
 dropped into the appointed soil, causing the most ex- 
 cruciating pains and agonizing groans. There the 
 King, upon four bleeding wounds, hung between heaven 
 and earth, a wounded weight of innocent agony. At 
 every movement of the Submissive Sufferer, each vein 
 and tendon of his crushed and mangled body throbbed 
 with incessant anguish, and intensified agony. Never did 
 a confessor, on the rack, or a martyr, amid the flames of 
 death, experience such fearful tortures of both soul and 
 body, as Jesus endured at this moment ; while a storm 
 of shocking shouts, mocking cries and bursts of hoarse 
 laughter went up from the raging rabble, in deafening 
 volleys of visionary victory. 
 
 But soon was seen, over the head of the Despised 
 Nazarene, written, in the three great languages of the 
 ancient world, the true, but troublesome inscription in 
 which Pilate had given vent to his indignation against 
 the authorities of Israel, representing their Tortured 
 
NUMBERED WITH TRANSGRESSORS. 207 
 
 Victim to all spectators, as The King of the Jews. 
 This poisoned their hour of triumph. It showed the in- 
 timate relation of the cross to the nationalities of the 
 world. So they sent, and besought the Governor to 
 change the timely title, which he had given to the Cru- 
 cified Nazarene. But, all in vain. What I have written 
 is true, and changes not, was the import of Pilate's re- 
 ply. So the Dying King, the truest, the greatest and 
 the noblest of his race, still reigned, though his throne 
 was but a rugged cross, and his crown a bloody wreathe 
 of piercing thorns. Amid all the jeers, taunts, and in- 
 sults of his dying hours, the Silent Sufferer opened not 
 his mouth, save to encourage, inspire with hope or, in 
 some way, add to the happiness of others. Racked 
 with the pain, and covered with the shame of a crucified 
 criminal, no faltering words fell from his sacred lips. 
 Forgiveness is the only revenge which finds lodgement 
 in the heart, or expression in the words of the Sinless 
 Sufferer. But his majestic silence, royal innocence and 
 immaculate holiness radiated a halo of glory around the 
 cross, which pleads far more eloquently than the deep- 
 est pathos of mortal woe, or the bitterest wails of dying 
 agonies. 
 
 The Kingf. wno knew no sin, was numbered with 
 transgressors. On either side they crucified a thief, to 
 make more humiliating, if possible, his ignominious 
 death. For a time these criminals joined the merciless 
 persecutors, in casting insults into the teeth of the Dy- 
 ing Saviour. But at length the Suffering Innocence, 
 which hung in meekness by his side, shamed into silence, 
 and deepened into penitence the flagrant guilt of one of 
 these justly punished outlaws. So, as the heartless re- 
 
208 PARDON UPON THE CROSS. 
 
 proaches of his enemies merged into deeper, and dead- 
 lier blasphemy, the penitent thief called for mercy; and 
 bowed his guilty head, in humble submission, before the 
 Crucified King, whose very weakness was matchless 
 power, and whose seeming defeat was the most trium- 
 phant of all victories. The King spoke, and the miser- 
 able malefactor received pardon on the cross. One 
 word from his sacred lips lifted the heavy burden of 
 guilt from the bleeding heart of the dying thief; and 
 the bitterness of death, in his sin-sick soul, was lost in 
 the deeper thrill of love, which honored the voice of 
 Jesus. The King's ear, even amid the agonies of the 
 cross, was quick to catch the faintest accents of faith, 
 though they fell, in weakness, from the lips of a dying 
 malefactor. So, we believe, the shortest sigh of genuine 
 penitence, which goes up from dying lips, is heard, by 
 the Infinite Redeemer, amid the loudest hosannas of 
 heaven. The promises of the cross say to the supplicat- 
 ing soul, though its last prayer be its first, This day 
 shalt thou be with me in Paradise. The Christ of the 
 cross tenders to trusting penitents everywhere, the very 
 best of earth, and the whole of heaven. 
 
 The four soldiers, in special charge of the King, 
 divided his garments among themselves, and for his 
 seamless coat they cast lots. Thus they fulfilled the 
 prophecy which said, They parted my raiment among 
 them, and for my vesture they did cast lots. 
 
 The fierce heat of the sun beat down upon the de- 
 fenseless head of the Royal Victim. The sufferings of 
 the crucifixion were intensified by the fearful loss of 
 blood, and a burning, raging thirst followed the painful 
 convulsions of the cross. So he called for water ; but 
 
THE SILENT AND SUBMISSIVE SUFFERER. 209 
 
 they offered him vinegar mingled with gall instead. 
 But he refused to drink it, possibly because he knew it 
 would becloud his faculties, though it promised to miti- 
 gate his sufferings. 
 
 Human sympathy would, at least, have let the Victim 
 of such an agony die in peace. But the malignant 
 hatred of his enemies ignored all the claims of compas- 
 sion ; and, with the most vindictive irony, the Rabbis 
 and rulers led the vile rabble, for three long hours in 
 their rough taunts, bitter gibes and haughty sneers, in 
 which they poured insult and mockery upon their Cru- 
 cified King. But Jesus knew what the victories of the 
 cross demanded. Hence he bore its indignities and 
 agonies, with unwavering submission and fortitude. De- 
 spising its shame, he endured, most patiently, all its 
 sufferings. Not a murmur escaped his fevered lips. He 
 was reviled, but kept his peace: smitten, but resisted 
 it not : mocked, but bore it all in silence ; and afflicted, 
 but opened not his mouth. In the deepest depth of his 
 dying agonies, he called for no human comforter, or 
 angel deliverer, to prevent his being " perfected through 
 suffering." In his silence and submission, he fulfilled 
 the prophecy and proved himself to be the Promised 
 Messiah. In his cross, the Dying King saw the sign 
 of his coming glory ; and in his great sacrificial death, 
 the opened gateway to his eternal throne in heaven. 
 
 But there were those, in that vast assembly, whose 
 hearts beat in deepest sympathy with the Suffering Sav- 
 iour. For all his acquaintance, and the devoted women 
 which followed him from Galilee, stood afar off, behold- 
 ing all these things, with bleeding hearts, and burdened 
 souls. His mother's woes were also mingled with the 
 14 
 
2IO NATURE IN SYMPATHY WITH THE NAZARENE. 
 
 deeper sorrows of her Suffering Son. The Virgin Mary 
 looked through tears upon her Dying Boy, as he hung 
 in agonies upon the cruel cross. The prophetic sword 
 was now piercing through her loving, and submissive 
 heart. But the Son had not forgotten his mother. For, 
 turning to her, and his beloved disciple, a face veiled in 
 many sorrows, and eyes dimmed with many tears, he 
 honored the maternal love of the one, and the loving 
 fidelity of the other, in a few words which provided a 
 home for the childless widow, and gave to John the 
 dearest of all mothers. 
 
 All nature sympathized, deeply, with the Crucified 
 King in his dying agonies, x^t twelve o'clock the heav- 
 ens were gradually darkened, and remained so for three 
 long hours. The waning light gave a gloomy aspect to 
 the surroundings, befitting the mournful tragedy. The 
 darkness increased, until a thick veil shrouded the face 
 of the fading firmament. The stars shone out like 
 funeral torches, shedding over the tragic scene a pale, 
 lurid light, which gave to the mass of spectators the 
 weird appearance of an assembly of hideous demons. 
 A deep midnight darkness had veiled the sun, and shut 
 out the light of heaven at midday. Midnight darkness 
 had mantled the earth at noontide. It was night at 
 high-noon in the streets of the doomed city. It was 
 night all over the Holy Land, where Jesus had let his 
 light shine as a sun for many days. It was also night 
 in the dark souls of the King's enemies, where the 
 blackness of darkness reigned supreme. It was mid- 
 night upon the path which many had that day chosen, 
 and must travel forever. It was a dark, and terrible 
 night upon all who had lifted the puny arm of flesh, 
 
NIGHT AT NOON. 211 
 
 to blot out of existence, if possible, the Light of the 
 World. 
 
 Night came on at noon, that human hearts might not 
 be hardened at a deed done by the powers of darkness. 
 Darkness came at midday, to teach men that they could 
 no more do without the Sun of Righteousness, than 
 nature could afford to dispense with the king of day. 
 The rulers of Israel had attempted to blot out of exist- 
 ence the Sun of Righteousness ; and God smote all the 
 people with midnight blindness. The Holy City had 
 closed her eyes against the Light of Life ; and Jehovah 
 veiled the heavens in deepest darkness. The keepers 
 of the city sat sad, and silent in their watch-towers by 
 the gates. The sentinels stood still upon her lofty battle- 
 ments. And the Roman legion forgot its midday parade 
 through her busy streets. All nature gave signs of 
 dissolution, and this dark noontide uttered prophecies 
 of irretrievable woe to the panic-stricken multitudes who 
 groped their way, they knew not where, in the dreadful 
 darkness of a day swallowed up in the blackness of 
 night. 
 
 This supernatural eclipse of the sun was one of the 
 Messianic prodigies, pointed out by prophecy, which sig- 
 nalized the displeasure of heaven at the crucifixion of 
 her King. This was also the hour and power of dark- 
 ness with the King of Light. It was midnight at noon 
 to Jesus ; for the darkness of his death was deep and 
 desperate. Clouds of sorrow had often saddened his 
 heart, and darkened his pathway ; but this was sorrow's 
 deepest, darkest night — the black ebon night of death. 
 The Prince of Lieht was now brought face to face with 
 
 o o 
 
 the demon of darkness, in deadlv conflict. But the 
 
212 THE ROCKY SIDES OF GOLGOTHA. 
 
 battle was not hopeless, nor the victory uncertain. The 
 dread crisis was soon passed. With infinite ease the 
 Victorious Victim vanquished his powerful foe, and tri- 
 umphed gloriously over the combined powers of dark- 
 ness and death. 
 
 But the sickened sun and the shuddering earth both 
 testified to the magnitude of the enormous crime of the 
 King's crucifixion. They both gave evidence of deepest 
 grief at, and closest sympathy with, the sorrows of their 
 Expiring Author. This supernatural darkness of the 
 sun was accompanied by the most violent shocks of a 
 mighty earthquake. The sun, in all his journeying, had 
 never looked down upon such a sad sight, as that pity- 
 ing noon-day mantled with the pall of midnight darkness. 
 And the earth refused to let her inhabitants gaze on 
 such an awful scene, without feelings of deepest awe 
 and divine reverence. Hence, while the rocky sides of 
 Golgotha were bursting open, a wonderful reaction took 
 place in favor of the Dying Nazarene. The rocking 
 earth filled the hearts of friends and foes alike with 
 terror and dismay; and the cries of the multitudes went 
 up amid the convulsions, and ruins of nature, in humble 
 acknowledgment of his Messiahship. The Centurion 
 expressed the sentiments of thousands of hearts, when 
 he said, Truly this was the Son of God. 
 
 Pilate says, By degrees the day darkened like a win- 
 ter's twilight. I, the continued governor of a rebellious 
 province, was leaning against a column of my basilic, 
 contemplating, athwart the dreary gloom, these fiends 
 of torture dragging to execution the Innocent Nazarene. 
 All around me was deserted. Jerusalem had vomited 
 forth her indwellers through the funeral gate that leads 
 
A PROLONGED MARTYRDOM. 213 
 
 to the gemonica. An air of desolation and sadness 
 enveloped me. My guards had joined the cavalry; and 
 the centurion, to display a shadow of power, was en- 
 deavoring to keep order. I was left alone, and my 
 breaking heart admonished me that what was passing 
 at that moment appertained rather to the history of the 
 gods than to that of man. A loud clamor was heard 
 proceeding from Golgotha, which, borne on the winds, 
 seemed to announce an agony, such as had never been 
 heard by mortal ears. Dark clouds lowered over the 
 pinnacle of the Temple, and settling over the city, cov- 
 ered it as with a veil. So dreadful were the signs that 
 were seen, both in the heavens and on the earth, that 
 Dionysius, the Areopagite, is reported to have ex- 
 claimed, Either the Author of nature is suffering, or the 
 universe is falling apart. 
 
 The crucifixion of the King was but the culmination 
 of a prolonged martyrdom. His sighs had been many 
 and deep ; his sorrows the burden of years ; and his 
 agonies the shadows of death, which had hung in black- 
 ness over his sinless soul from the cradle to the cross. 
 Now the tide of battle was rolling high. The storm, 
 which was suddenly to hush his soul in death, was 
 sweeping over the Incarnation of Power in its wildest 
 fury. Darkness still lay like a pall upon the earth ; and 
 spiritual death fell, like an avalanche of woe, upon the 
 soul of the Suffering Son, whom the Father had forsaken. 
 But soon the tide of battle turned, justice dropped 
 her pointless sword. Mercy's tears of pleading were 
 turned into tears of joy, and the redeeming shout was 
 sent ringing down the ages to cheer and comfort the 
 helpless hearts of humanity, It is finished — Redemp- 
 
214 
 
 THE VICTOR S SHOUT OF VICTORY. 
 
 tion's work is consummated — the atonement for the sins 
 of the world is accomplished. 
 
 All was soon over. With a loud voice, the shout of 
 eternal victory, the King cried, It is finished, com- 
 mended his spirit to the Father and, in a shriek of more 
 than mortal agony, bowed his mighty head, gave up the 
 ghost and died. The great veil of purple and gold was 
 suddenly rent in twain from top to bottom. The graves 
 of the sleeping saints were opened ; and many of them 
 arose and made their appearance before the living, in 
 the streets of the Holy City. So closed the divine 
 tragedy ; and so ended the long agony of years, and 
 the sad, sad story of the cross. 
 
[E RESURRECTION OF IE KING. 
 Chapter IX, 
 
 With great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the 
 Lord Jesus. — Acts 4: $2>- 
 
 We left the body of the Crucified King- hanging- life- 
 less upon the cross. The sun was fast sinking toward 
 the western horizon, when the darkness rolled away 
 from Calvary's Consummated Sacrifice. The chief 
 priests, who had inaugurated their sacred feast by the 
 murder of their Rejected Messiah, were much alarmed 
 lest the sanctity of the Jewish Sabbath be defiled, if the 
 bodies remained on the crosses. Hence they besought 
 Pilate that the legs of the victims might be broken, in 
 order to hasten their deaths, that they might be taken 
 down before the setting of the sun. But when they 
 came to Jesus, seeing no signs of life, they preserved 
 the symbolism of the paschal lamb of which he was the 
 Great Antitype. But, to be certain that his soul had 
 passed out into the unseen world, one drove his keen 
 spear deep into his side, from which flowed the crim- 
 son stream of life that settles forever the reality of his 
 most positive death. 
 
 Death brings out the true meaning of life. It un- 
 covers its virtues, reveals its fragrance and adorns all its 
 
 grand achievements. No man w r as ever so great, in the 
 
 (215) 
 
2l6 JOSEPH BEGGING THE BODY OF JESUS. 
 
 estimation of men, before, as after he had passed, o with 
 heroic fortitude, through the trying ordeal of death. So 
 it was, that the noble self-sacrificing death of the King 
 did more than any thing else to give tone, cast and em- 
 phasis to the great life he had lived. That grand life 
 would long since have been only a thing of the past, no 
 longer moving the hearts, and shaping the destiny of 
 men, had it not been crowned with a still greater, and 
 grander death in which it survived, and has swept on 
 down through eighteen centuries, molding the lives, and 
 modeling the deaths of millions of earth's happiest sons 
 and daughters. 
 
 But Pilate says, Towards the first hour of the night I 
 threw my mantle around me, and went down into the 
 city toward the gates of Golgotha. The sacrifice was 
 consummated. The crowd was returning home ; still 
 agitated, it is true ; but gloomy, taciturn and desperate. 
 What they witnessed had stricken them with terror and 
 remorse. * * * Sometimes groups of men and 
 women would halt, then looking backward towards Mount 
 Calvary, would remain motionless, in expectation of wit- 
 nessing some new prodigy. I returned to the Pretorium, 
 sad and pensive. On ascending the stairs — the steps of 
 which were still stained with the blood of the Nazarene — 
 I perceived an old man in a suppliant posture, and be- 
 hind him several women in tears. He threw himself at 
 my feet, and wept bitterly. It is painful to see an old 
 man weep. Father, said I to him, mildly, who are you, 
 and w 7 hat is your request? I am Joseph of Arimathea, 
 replied he, and am come to beg of you, upon my knees, 
 permission to bury Jesus of Nazareth. Your prayer is 
 granted, said I to him, and at the same time ordered 
 
A BURIAL WITH THE RICH. 217 
 
 Manlius to take some soldiers with him, and superintend 
 the interment, lest it should be profaned. 
 
 They took the body of the Dead King down from the 
 cross, and tenderly bore it to the tomb. This was the 
 saddest funeral procession ever seen on earth. The 
 company was small, but their grief was too deep for 
 utterance. Their demeanor was in keeping with the 
 solemnity, and sacredness of the occasion. The light of 
 a life dearer to them than their own had crone out, in 
 darkness and in death. The darkest night that ever 
 mantled the earth was gathering its evening shades 
 around them, when they reached the garden, and came 
 to the new sepulchre. Mere the faith of his followers 
 must have faltered. Here they felt that they were to 
 bury the hopes of a wicked world. From this service of 
 love and sorrow they were to go forth, they knew not 
 where, in darkness and despair. But they laid their 
 sacred burden down, in tears, at the mouth of an open 
 grave. 
 
 The necessary preparations for the King's burial were 
 soon made. The mangled and blood-stained body was 
 carefully washed and wrapped in fine white linen. It 
 was also perfumed with myrrh and aloes provided for its 
 imperfect embalment. His obsequies were not so humble 
 as had been his fortune through life. Jesus had lived 
 in poverty ; had been crucified as a malefactor, but was 
 buried as a King. Joseph and Nicodemus, both men of 
 means and honorable councilors, were interested in his 
 burial. The one furnished the royal sepulchre and fine 
 linen robes, and the other the costly perfumes which 
 gave him a burial with the rich in his death. 
 
 The last kiss, the pledge of undying love for their 
 
2l8 THE GREAT PASCHAL SABBATH. 
 
 Sleeping King, had been given. Then they laid his 
 sacred body in the new tomb, hewn out of a rock, rolled 
 a great stone against its entrance, and the hurried 
 burial of their Beloved Master was over. And his body, 
 cold and chill in death, was left in the silence and soli- 
 tude, the damp and darkness of the rocky tomb, while 
 the disciples went their way to mourn over what they 
 conceived to be an irreparable loss. 
 
 But the world should rejoice to know that the Prince 
 of Life passed through the dread ordeal of death, and 
 took away its sting and its stigma ; entered the dark 
 portals of the tomb, and robbed it of all its terror and 
 its gloom. For now death is a welcome guest to his 
 faithful followers ; and the grave but a resting-place for 
 the weary bodies of his sleeping saints, while their 
 happy souls bask with him in the light and glory of a 
 Heavenly Paradise. 
 
 The Buried King slept quietly in the new sepulchre 
 that night. The next day was the great Paschal Sab- 
 bath. The courts of the Holy Temple were filled with 
 formal worshipers. The white-robed priests were busy 
 with their offerings for -the sins of Israel. The voices, 
 and trumpets of the Levites were loud and long in their 
 calls for devotion. The high-priest, in his sacerdotal 
 robes, showed with gorgeous splendor before the gazing 
 multitudes. But it must have been with feelings mingled 
 with fears, that they passed through the services of that 
 memorable day. A portentous omen faced the throng- 
 ing crowds of the Temple all day long. The Holy of 
 holies, for centuries veiled in awful majesty, save to the 
 high-priest who was only allowed to enter it annually, 
 was now laid open to the inspection of the vulgar and 
 
THE SEPULCHRE SEALED AND GUARDED. 2IO, 
 
 the vile. The presence-chamber of Deity, no longer 
 filled with divine glory, was now exposed to the gaze of 
 every wandering eye and wayward glance. The scenes 
 of the past eventful day still crowded upon their melan- 
 choly memories. The innocent blood called down upon 
 their own, and the heads of their children, was still fresh 
 upon their crimson souls. 
 
 But the chief priests, fearing the resurrection of the 
 King, went to the Governor, at evening fall, and 
 obtained permission to place the seal of state upon the 
 mouth, and station a company of soldiers around the 
 door, of the sepulchre of the Sacred Dead. This was 
 done under pretense, that his disciples might come by 
 night and steal him away ; and then proclaim his resur- 
 rection from the dead, as an evidence of his Messiah- 
 ship. The authorities of Israel could not deny the 
 wonderful prodigies, associated with his sacrificial death. 
 The Jewish Talmud shows how far the)- were, even from 
 disbelieving these stupendous miracles. The fact is, 
 they knew too well that the foot of him, who was to 
 bring glad tidings to Israel, had already left its sacred 
 imprints in the valleys, and on the mountains of the 
 Holy Land. They were but too conscious of the fact 
 that they had crucified the Lord of Glory. And their 
 only hope was to thwart, if possible, the purposes of 
 heaven, in preventing his resurrection from the dead. 
 
 The King slept away another night quietly in the 
 tomb. But, when the first streaks of dawn began to 
 silver the darkness and usher in- the lieht of the third 
 day, the devoted Marys, all unconscious of what had 
 been done the evening before, were hastening to the 
 sacred sepulchre with more spices and ointment to com- 
 
2 20 THE RESURRECTION OF THE KING. 
 
 plete the temporary embalmment of their Buried King. 
 They started from the city while it was yet dark, but so 
 swiftly the dawn ripened into day, that, ere they reached 
 the garden and came to the tomb, two suns had risen 
 to flood the world with their light and their glory. 
 
 Jesus, the Sun of Righteousness, had risen from the 
 dead with healings in his beams for all the nations of 
 the earth. He rose early, even while the Holy City still 
 slept in the balmy breezes of the morning dawn. For 
 during a mighty earthquake an angel descended from 
 heaven, and rolled away the stone from the door of the 
 sepulchre ; and the Crucified King came forth unseen 
 by the sentinels, who became as dead men for fear of 
 the angel whose countenance was like lightning and 
 whose raiment was white as snow, and fled in terror and 
 dismay at sight of the celestial vision. At any rate the 
 devoted women, who were so early at the sepulchre, not 
 knowing who would roll away the stone for them, found 
 it already open, empty and without a sentinel, save the 
 angels who informed them of the King's resurrection, 
 saying, Come, see the place where the Lord lay. 
 
 The King's body was evidently missing. No one 
 denied this fact. But what became of it ? This is the 
 question that agitated the public mind, and stirred the 
 great heart of the populace. There were but two ways 
 to account for its absence from the tomb. One was to 
 accept the invention of his enemies, who with large 
 bribes had induced the guards to testify to a falsehood, 
 saying that his disciples came, in the darkness, and stole 
 him away while they slumbered and slept. Now the 
 Jewish hierarchy knew that it was death for a sentry to 
 be found asleep at his post. So they promised to stand 
 
THE TESTIMONY OF THE SLEEPERS. 221 
 
 between the soldiers and danger, in case the story 
 reached the Governor's ears. But this invention, it is 
 easy to see, bore, upon its very face, the impress of 
 falsehood. If asleep, the sentinels could not know what 
 had become of the body of the Crucified Nazarene. To 
 say the least of it, sleeping witnesses should bear silent 
 testimony. The second way to account for the missing 
 body of the Buried King was to credit the testimony of 
 the angels and those to whom he appeared after his 
 resurrection from the dead. Here were competent wit- 
 testifying to a truth of which they were- perfectly 
 cognizant. They were witnesses whose veracity could 
 not be called in question for a moment. And the)' tes- 
 tified, with divine grace and great power, to the resur- 
 rection of the Lord Jesus. 
 
 The King's resurrection is a fundamental fact resting 
 upon the highest order of historical evidence, and divine 
 revelation. History affirms nothing more positively 
 than it does the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the 
 dead. The writings of the New Testament show most 
 conclusively that a general belief in this historic truth, as 
 the fulfillment of prophecy, existed soon after the cruci- 
 fixion, even while its events were still fresh alike in the 
 memories of friends and foes. Sacred history also in- 
 forms us that the King brought with him from the grave 
 a unique and divine dignity, which proved him, beyond 
 all doubt, to be the world's anticipated, but Rejected 
 Messiah. This evidence makes his resurrection a fact 
 as absolutely certain, as either his birth or his death, 
 and glorious enough to transfigure all his sorrows and 
 sufferings into joy and gladness for evermore. 
 
 But a general belief in the King's resurrection could 
 
222 NO MERE MENTAL HALLUCINATION. 
 
 not have been the result of a recovery from a swoon 
 after his crucifixion and burial. Nor could it possibly 
 have been from a mere mental hallucination upon the 
 part of his disciplies, who claimed to have seen their 
 Risen Lord. They did not, in the height of credulous 
 enthusiasm, see mere visions of the Risen King. But 
 Jesus revealed himself to them, after his matchless pas- 
 sion, in their calmest, and most deliberate moments, as 
 those to whom the story of his resurrection seemed, at 
 first, as an idle tale, by such infallible signs and proofs as 
 to convince the most incredulous among them that he 
 was verily their Risen Redeemer. These evidences of 
 his resurrection revived, in the bleeding hearts of his 
 followers, every hope crushed out by the crucifixion of 
 the Divine Master, and became the bond of union which 
 held the church together after his glorious ascension. 
 Six weeks after his resurrection, their faith in this grand 
 event, became the basis upon which all Christians built 
 their hopes of immortality and eternal life beyond the 
 grave. And upon this sure foundation the Christian 
 world has stood for nearly nineteen centuries with un- 
 shaken faith in the promises, and power of this Risen 
 Saviour. Now, if this faith had been merely an idle be- 
 lief in a ghost story, it would long since have come to 
 naught. But, not so. It has been accompanied by a 
 human energy, and a divine power sufficient, in the face 
 of the gravest possible opposition, and the most eminent 
 perils and powers of earth, to sustain the ponderous 
 weight of his growing kingdom down through the gath- 
 ering ages of time ; and will be amply sufficient to bear 
 her grandly and gloriously on to ultimate, and univer- 
 sal victory. 
 
INDIVIDUAL LIFE BEYOND DEATH. 223 
 
 But the words of life which dropped in love from the 
 lips of the King, are the embodiment of this vital truth, 
 and he himself, after his resurrection, the representative 
 of this individual life beyond the scenes and agonies of 
 natural death. For his life, after the resurrection, was 
 just as real, positive and personal to his disciples as 
 was the same Individual life of which they had seen the 
 fruits with their own eyes, and felt the power in their 
 own hearts, during the three years of his public minis- 
 try. Individual life, as a reality; personal death, as a 
 certainty, and a distinctive resurrection, as a completion 
 of our personal individuality beyond the grave, can 
 never more.' be called in question, since Jesus lived, died 
 and rose again as the Great Exemplar of this mysteri- 
 ous triad — life, death and the resurrection. For the body 
 at death is not more intimately identified with the body 
 at birth, than will be the resurrection bod)- with the body 
 at death. Every body will carry its wonted identity with 
 it through the dim portals of death, into the gateway of 
 an endless existence beyond the scenes of the tomb. 
 And the glorified sons of the redeemed, at their re-union 
 on the morning of the resurrection, will recognize the 
 fact that their new bodies are identical with the old. 
 Each soul will also know, perfectly, the individual char- 
 acteristics of all others, since they will all be seen, 
 through these transparent bodies, just as they are in 
 the sight of God. For these grand lessons were taught 
 the world, when the King showed himself alive to so 
 many, after his mysterious passions, by such infallible 
 proofs, and in ways best calculated to comfort the hearts, 
 and confirm the faith of those who recognized him as 
 their Risen Lord and Exalted King. 
 
224 IMPORTANCE OF THE RESURRECTION. 
 
 We are now ready to affirm, that the resurrection 
 of the King was an event of paramount importance, 
 both to the church and the world. In proof of this po- 
 sition, we need only remind you of the fact, that, after 
 the fall of Judas from his apostleship,- another was 
 chosen in his stead for the express purpose of bearing 
 testimony to the resurrection of the Master ; and that 
 the twelve did with great power give witness, while 
 great grace was upon them, of the resurrection of the 
 Lord Jesus. Poets, sages and philosophers had, for 
 centuries, regarded individual life as a wandering 
 thought, a bodiless dream or, at best, as a mere spiri- 
 tual essence, without form or fashion, to be lost, at 
 death, in the great ocean of eternal existence, or dis- 
 solved in the mysterious realm of utter dissolution for 
 both soul and body. But the resurrection of the King 
 has taught the world the grand lesson, that individual 
 life is a real, positive and complete vital force here, 
 which will carry its wonted identity, and exalted per- 
 sonality with it, through the ordeal of death, into the 
 joys, or sorrows of an endless life beyond. 
 
 But what evidence have we of the King's resurrec- 
 tion ? We know he lived, died and was buried. No 
 one denies these facts. But some have called in question 
 the truthfulness of his resurrection from the dead. Let 
 us examine the witnesses, and produce the testimony in 
 favor of this fundamental doctrine, upon which our holy 
 religion is founded. For, while our Christianity has so 
 many massive pillars to support it, we regard the resur- 
 rection of the Lord Jesus Christ as the grand central 
 pillar, the key-stone of the arch that shuts and binds the 
 whole in one impregnable fortress, against which the 
 
TESTIMONY IN FAVOR OF HIS RESURRECTION. 225 
 
 billows of opposition have beat in vain for eighteen cen- 
 turies. By preaching this precious doctrine, of Jesus 
 and the resurrection, with great power, the apostles 
 overcame the deadly fascinations of ancient mythologies, 
 conquered rebellious kingdoms, and triumphed glori- 
 ously over the heathen world. And the result of a be- 
 lief in, and the preaching of the resurrection of Jesus 
 Christ, is one of the most infallible proofs of its divine 
 reality. 
 
 Our first witnesses are the many saints who came 
 forth from their graves, after the King's resurrection, 
 and appeared in Jerusalem, to the great terror and 
 consternation of the inhabitants, as the trophies of 
 his matchless victory over death, hell and the grave. 
 These were all living witnesses, from the 1 regions of 
 the dead; and though they ma)- have borne silent, yet 
 they bore the most powerful testimony in favor of the 
 resurrection of the Lord Jesus. 
 
 Our next witnesses are the astonished sentinels who 
 deemed it useless longer to guard an empty grave; and 
 fled in terror and dismay to the chief priests, to whom 
 they related all the strange things which they had seen 
 and heard at the sacred sepulchre. In their unvar- 
 nished story, they also bore the most positive testimony 
 to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. But in the face 
 of this strong evidence from their own guards, the Jew- 
 ish authorities, with but the shadow of a chance to es- 
 cape the inevitable, attempted to hide these stubborn 
 facts behind a refuge of lies, too incredible to be be- 
 lieved by even the most credulous of earth. 
 
 But Pilate himself tells us, that the sepulchre was 
 found empty a few days after the crucifixion of the Naz- 
 15 
 
2 26 ANGELIC TESTIMONY. 
 
 arene;; and that his disciples published all over the 
 country, that Jesus had risen from the dead, as he had 
 foretold. 
 
 But our most reliable witnesses are the angels who 
 descended from heaven, rolled away the stone, saw the 
 King come forth and bore the most sacred testimony to 
 the same, before the devoted women, who were early 
 at the sepulchre. Now, if we accept the evidence of 
 men, this timely testimony of the angels is still greater. 
 And they testified to this feasible fact in such simple, 
 and comprehensive language, that none, not even the 
 most illiterate, could fail to comprehend it. They said 
 plainly, He is not here ; he is risen from the dead. And 
 no evidence of earth can impeach this tangible testimony 
 from heaven. 
 
 But the Risen King appeared himself that morning, 
 first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast so 
 many devils, and then to all her companions who had 
 seen the holy visions and heard the angelic voices at 
 the door of his empty sepulchre. When he hailed them 
 in human voice, with the familiar words of a salutation 
 which they had often heard, he spoke so kindly and 
 tenderly that they knew it could be no other than the 
 voice of their Risen Jesus ; and hence they fell down, 
 took him by the feet and worshiped him. So when 
 they testified to his resurrection, in the presence of the 
 eleven apostles and the other disciples, they could say, 
 The Lord is risen indeed ; we were not only told so by 
 the angels, we found at the empty tomb, but we have 
 seen him with our own eyes, did fall down, take him by 
 his wounded feet and worshiped him; and we know for 
 a truth that he is risen from the dead. It is not strange 
 
APPEARANCES AFTER THE RESURRECTION. 227 
 
 that Jesus appeared first to this loving band of women 
 who came so early on the morning of that third day, to 
 pay him, as they thought, the last tribute of affection. 
 His distinct personality naturally led him to seek first 
 to comfort and confirm his most intimate and devoted 
 friends. They of all others would most easily recognize 
 the divine presence, and be most rejoiced to see him 
 alive again in the midst of the scenes of his sufferings, 
 and hard by the agonies of his cross. 
 
 But when the apostles heard the story of the King's 
 resurrection, Peter and John also made haste to the 
 sepulchre; and when they entered in, they found it 
 empty and in order. They say there was no sign of 
 violence or robbery — no evidence of haste or midnight 
 flight. Jesus seems to have risen early in the morning, 
 as one would rise from sleep. The grave-clothes were 
 lying in perfect order in one corner of the sepulchre. 
 The empty tomb resembled to them a sleeping-chamber 
 set in order by its occupant, for the visit of spectators, 
 rather than a pilfered sepulchre. 
 
 But the King appeared also to Peter, it is thought by 
 some, on the same day that he rose from the dead. 
 Paul says, He was seen of Cephas. However, we know 
 nothing of what passed between the Master and his 
 impulsive apostle at this private interview. After that 
 he was seen of James also. Neither have we any 
 account of this interview, save in the Gospel of the 
 Hebrews. Here we are told that James, the brother of 
 Jesus, after the last supper, tool^ a solemn vow neither 
 to eat nor drink, until he had seen his Risen Lord. 
 Therefore, soon after his resurrection, Jesus made his 
 appearance, blessed bread and gave it to James, saying, 
 
2 28 JESUS TALKS WITH TWO DISCIPLES. 
 
 Eat thy bread now, my brother, since the Son of Man 
 has risen from the dead. After his resurrection the 
 King came and went at pleasure, with the velocity of 
 thought. Doors, though bolted and barred, neither shut 
 him in, nor kept him out. But he always adapted 
 his disclosures to the requirements of his disciples. 
 Hence they always recognized him, ere his departure, 
 as their Risen Lord. 
 
 Again, the King appeared to two of his disciples, 
 while on their way to Emeas. He approached them as 
 a stranger ; and walked along with them over the hills, 
 and through the valleys, expounding to them the script- 
 ures of eternal truth. For, beginning with the law of 
 Moses, he passed down through the prophets, showing 
 them that it was necessary to the fulfillment of these 
 scriptures, that Christ should come, be crucified and 
 buried, and on the third day rise again. But finally he 
 was known of them in the breaking of bread ; and when 
 he disappeared, they set out at once, returned to Jeru- 
 salem and testified, to the residue of the disciples, that 
 the Lord had risen from the dead, and how he was 
 known of them in the breaking of bread. No wonder 
 they said to each other, as they returned to the city, 
 How our hearts did burn within us, as he talked to us 
 by the way, and opened to our understanding the script- 
 ures of eternal truth. For it is when Jesus communes 
 with his people, by the way, that their hearts burn within 
 them, and are made to glow with wonder and delight 
 on account of the fullness of his grace. 
 
 But the King also returned to Jerusalem that after- 
 noon, and appeared to his disciples, as they sat at meat 
 in a certain room with closed doors. He stood unex- 
 
NEWS TOO GOOD FOR CREDENCE. 229 
 
 pectedly in their midst, with the same pure, serene and 
 majectic presence which had both awed and attracted 
 so many hearts, and, with the same voice they had so 
 often heard, he pronounced the familiar salutation, Peace 
 be unto you. They believed him to be a spirit; for the 
 story of others was still regarded as an idle tale — news 
 too good for credence. But, to convince them that he 
 was verily their Risen Saviour, he called for meat, and 
 did eat before them, showing his hands and feet, and 
 telling them that a spirit did not possess flesh and bones 
 as he did. Then were the disciples glad, when they 
 saw that it was their Risen Lord. Jesus was there, in 
 his own person, to teach them that the life beyond the 
 scenes and shadows of death is just as real, as easily 
 recognized and as well known, in its individual identity 
 and personal characteristics, as is the present life of 
 mortal men. They knew he was their Risen Jesus ; for 
 they had felt the warmth of his divine presence, and 
 heard the tenderness of his welcome voice, and viewed 
 the signal signs of his cruel cross. With these impor- 
 tant facts before their own eyes, they could no longer 
 doubt the identity of his person, or the reality of his 
 resurrection. Thus the proofs of the King's resurrection 
 were put to the most practical tests, that the apostles 
 might know that he was risen from the dead, and with 
 great power bear witness to the same in their future min- 
 istrations. The King had passed from the natural to 
 the spiritual life, to show them how certainly and how 
 speedily this mortal can put on immortality. He crossed 
 over the dark stream of death and returned to life, that 
 the world might know that the footing is firm, and the 
 landing safe to all who follow in his footsteps. The 
 
23O DOUBTING THOMAS CONVINCED. 
 
 presence of Jesus, once more among his disciples, was 
 like the balmy breath of spring after the chilling winds 
 of a cold bleak winter. It filled their hearts with the 
 purest, and holiest joys, and flooded their souls with 
 the sacred light of a heavenly unction. 
 
 But doubting Thomas was not present, on this occa- 
 sion, to see for himself the Risen King. So, when he 
 returned, they all, with one. accord, told him they had 
 seen their Risen Lord ; and how he had been known of 
 them. But said Thomas, Except I see the prints of the 
 nails in his hands, and thrust my hand into his side, I 
 will not believe. There may be doubting Thomases 
 among my readers, who, with all this weight of evi- 
 dence before them, will virtually say, we do not be- 
 lieve. If so, may God pity, and pardon your unbelief. 
 
 Eight days later, or on the next Lord's day, the King 
 again stood in the midst of his disciples, the door being 
 shut as before, and greeted them with his usual saluta- 
 tion. The doubter was present, this time, to see for 
 himself. So the Risen Master, having laid bare his 
 wounded side, and stretched forth his holy hands with 
 their scarred palms, turned to his incredulous disciple, 
 whose presence showed a desire to believe the good 
 news, and with a rebuke, such as infinite love alone can 
 give to unbelief, he said, Thomas, reach hither thy fin- 
 ger, and behold the prints of the nails in my hands ; and 
 reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side ; and 
 be not faithless, but believing. At once his doubts 
 were all dismissed, his faith forever confirmed, and his 
 heart filled with joy and exultation in believing. Words 
 could not express the deep emotions of his solaced soul. 
 Convinced that it was his Risen Saviour, who stood be- 
 
ON THE SEA-SHORE OF GALILEE. 23 I 
 
 fore him, he threw up his hands, while the deepest 
 thought of his happy heart came bubbling up, and in- 
 voluntarily exclaimed, My Lord and my God. To which 
 the Saviour replied, Thomas, seeing, thou hast believed; 
 blessed are they that having not seen, yet have believed. 
 Christian reader, this blessing is ours. It has not been 
 our privilege to see the Risen Lord with the natural 
 eye, or like Thomas, to examine the prints of the nails 
 in his hands, and thrust our hand into his wounded side; 
 but we have viewed him with the eye of faith ; for having 
 not seen, yet we have believed in him as our Risen Re- 
 deemer, and hence the blessing is ours. 
 
 Again, some time after his resurrection, the King 
 appeared, at the flush of dawn, to seven of his disciples, 
 on the sea-shore of Galilee, where he manifested his 
 wonted interest in the laborers of earth. It had been 
 several weeks since they had seen their Risen Lord. 
 All but the last ray of hope had faded out, and they had 
 returned to their old occupation for a support. Peter 
 had led the way. He said, I will wait no longer on the 
 Master : I go a fishing. The rest said, We also go with 
 thee. So they went and toiled all night in vain — they 
 had caught nothing. But one moment, in the Master's 
 presence, crowned their efforts with unparalleled suc- 
 cess. They had spent a dark, and dangerous night 
 upon the sea; but the divine presence ushered in a 
 bright, and hopeful day as they neared the land. Jesus 
 came to them, as he always comes to his disciples, with 
 just such blessings as their peculiar circumstances de- 
 manded. He fed their hungry bodies, and feasted 
 their fainting souls. He gave these humble fishermen 
 their personal commissions, and sent them out to testify 
 
232 ON A MOUNTAIN IN GALILEE. 
 
 to his resurrection in all the world, that the toiling mill- 
 ions, upon the sea of time, might behold him with the 
 eye of faith, as he stands on the shore ready, and wait- 
 ing to bless them with all needed good — ever willing to 
 keep watch and ward over them, through all the stormy 
 voyage of life. 
 
 Shortly after this the King stood in the midst of 
 over five hundred persons, on a mountain in Galilee. 
 Perchance it was the Mount of Transfiguration. This 
 was the only place he had appointed, beforehand, to 
 meet the disciples after his resurrection. Hence great 
 numbers had gathered there to see their Risen Lord. 
 How will he come? in solitude and alone? or will he be 
 accompanied by a multitude of the heavenly hosts, to 
 sing the triumph of his mission of mercy, and the glo- 
 ries of the victory he won upon the cross ? Will he 
 look like he did to the favored three, on the night of 
 his transfiguration? Will holy men of old be found in 
 his shining retinue? How will he appear? This was 
 the all-absorbing question. But at length he stood in 
 their midst, the same Jesus he ever was, only changed, 
 in body, from the natural to the supernatural ; from the 
 mortal to the immortal. They soon recognized him as 
 the same Jesus who hung upon the cross, until the cen- 
 turion pronounced him dead, with the same identical 
 body that laid in the new tomb, until the morning of the 
 third day, when the corruptible was changed into the 
 incorruptible, and death swallowed up in victory. Whis- 
 pers ran through all the vast multitude: It is our Risen 
 Lord. And they bowed to worship a Resurrected Sav- 
 iour, but rose in adoration before the majesty of the 
 King of Glory, who said to them : All power is given 
 
JESUS SEEN OF PAUL. 233 
 
 unto me in heaven and in earth. He gave them col- 
 lectively their world-wide commission, authorizing them 
 to go into all nations, and preach Jesus and the resur- 
 rection to every creature. This glorious doctrine has 
 been most faithfully preached for nearly nineteen cen- 
 turies by many of the best, ablest and bravest men of 
 earth ; and it is still the sweetest, and dearest hope of a 
 dying world. 
 
 The King's last appearance, to his disciples, was on 
 the day of his ascension. He led them out from Jeru- 
 salem to the Mount of Olives, and gave the promise of 
 the Spirit, which came in such great power on the day 
 of Pentecost. When they reached the appointed place, 
 Jesus raised his hands in blessings, the disciples bowed 
 their heads in reverence, the words were soon spoken, 
 and their Risen Master became their Ascended Lord. 
 
 Paul, in writing to the Corinthians on this subject, 
 said : For I delivered unto you first of all that which I 
 also received, how that Christ died for our sins accord- 
 ing to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that 
 he rose again the third day, according to the scriptures : 
 and that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve : 
 after that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren 
 at once, of whom the greater part remain unto this pres- 
 ent, but some are fallen asleep. After that he was 
 seen of James ; then of all the apostles. And last of 
 all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due 
 time. So you see the King appeared some twelve or 
 fifteen different times to his disciples, and others, after 
 his resurrection, when they were permitted to examine 
 him closely, and satisfy themselves thoroughly that it 
 was their Risen Lord. Here is a host of competent wit- 
 
234 A PROPOSITION AND A PROMISE. 
 
 nesses in any court, bearing with great power, the most 
 positive testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. 
 But if we take the evidence of men and angels, the testi- 
 mony of God is infinitely greater. And God hath testi- 
 fied to the fact of the King's resurrection through the 
 voice of prophecy, in the words of inspiration and in 
 the person of the Son. 
 
 But the King's resurrection is an evidence of a gen- 
 eral resurrection, as we have already intimated. This 
 is the most precious thought connected with this inter- 
 esting subject. God hath both raised up the Lord, and 
 will also raise up us by his own power. Here we have 
 a proposition and a promise inseparably connected. 
 And the truthfulness of this grand assertion is the most 
 positive proof of the fulfillment of the precious promise, 
 by which it is accompanied. For if we believe that 
 Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which 
 sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. Clement, in 
 his letter to the Corinthians, said : Let us consider, 
 beloved, how the Lord does continually show us, that 
 there shall be a future resurrection ; of which he has 
 made Jesus Christ the first-fruits, raising him from the 
 dead. The sweet singer of Israel, while contemplating 
 his own resurrection, based, it seems, entirely upon his 
 faith in the resurrection of a Coming Messiah, whom 
 God had sworn with an oath that he would raise up to 
 sit on his throne, broke forth in such rich, and beautiful 
 strains as these : Therefore my heart is glad, and my 
 glory rejoiceth; my flesh also shall rest in hope. For 
 thou wilt not leave my soul in hell ; neither wilt thou 
 suffer thy Holy One to see corruption. Thou wilt show 
 me the path of life : in thy presence is fullness of joy ; 
 
DEATH PERSONIFIED. 235 
 
 at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. 
 When we look back, through eighteen centuries, into 
 the deserted sepulchre of our Risen Saviour, we can but 
 see it as the birth-place of his people's immortality. 
 For, when he bursted asunder the iron bars of the tomb, 
 and came forth a Triumphant Conqueror over death, 
 hell and the grave, he laid a foundation-stone upon Cal- 
 vary, the shock of which jarred the earth, awoke the 
 dead and shook the nether world with terror. But 
 when he shall bring forth the topmost stone, amid shout- 
 ings of joy, on the morning of the great resurrection 
 day, thank God, the dominions of death and hell shall 
 all perish, the last captive go free and the songs of the 
 bursting sepulchres of his sleeping saints be sweeter 
 than the chorus of the morning stars which sane to- 
 gether at creation's birth. The dark night of death 
 then is not to the dying Christian a starless night. It 
 has a promised morn, which hangs the rainbow of hope 
 over the sleeping dust of all our sainted dead. 
 
 Personify death ; and he is a rude, and heartless in- 
 vader; a cruel and treacherous foe, destitute of pity or 
 compassion, and deaf alike to the cries of infancy, the 
 appeals of manhood and the silence of old age. He 
 comes as a conqueror, and leaves the beauty of our 
 homes a desert waste. He lays his icy fingers upon the 
 forms of our loved ones, and they wither at his chilling 
 touch. He is a dark prince whose mandate all must, 
 sooner or later, obey. He is a reaper whose sickle will 
 ultimately cut down every human being in the wide, 
 wide world. He will continue to thrust his keen sickle 
 in until every stalk of bearded manhood, and every 
 flower of blooming childhood is leveled in the dust. 
 
22,6 HUMANITY CHANGED INTO IMMORTALITY. 
 
 But in the morning of the great resurrection our Risen 
 King will be the plague and destruction of this heedless 
 and heartless demon. Then death, the King of terrors 
 himself, shall die ; his empire be annihilated, and the 
 shouts of the redeemed be heard, in triumph, amidst 
 the ghastly ruins of his dark and desolate dominions. 
 The resurrection of the King has given us this blessed 
 assurance of final victory over death. Such is the pre- 
 cious legacy left us by a Risen Saviour. Death then is 
 not annihilation. Humanity must be changed into im- 
 mortality. The natural will ripen into a supernatural 
 body. The lower will be transformed into a higher de- 
 velopment of life. Our bodies must be planted in death, 
 and rise in the resurrection, before we can enjoy the 
 glories of the celestial life, in all its fullness. Infidelity 
 has written upon every tomb, Death is an eternal sleep. 
 But Christianity's epitaphs, over the portals of her sleep- 
 ing saints, all declare death to be the gateway to eter- 
 nal life, the shining portal to light everlasting, the ves- 
 tibule of glory, the entrance leading to the blissful courts 
 of heaven. The light, from the empty sepulchre, shines 
 as brightly as the noon-day sun without an intervening 
 cloud. The testimony of the Gospel confirms our most 
 sanguine hopes. Then the world need no longer grope 
 its way in midnight darkness. For the Risen Rock 
 upon which we rest our faith, and base our hopes of im- 
 mortality and eternal life, is as firm as the everlasting 
 pillars of God's immutable universe. 
 
 God's works all show a gradual development toward 
 perfection. The earth was at first formless and void. 
 The beauty, and symmetry of a perfect world were" 
 reached by successive steps of unfolding. The work of 
 
A SUPERNATURAL FACT. 237 
 
 creation is a series of gradations, reaching its climax in 
 man. A constant succession, and progression from the 
 lower to the higher orders of beine and life is seen in 
 all his works and ways. The perfect day comes by 
 gradual gradations of light, from the darkness of night: 
 first we have the twilight; afterwards the roseate hori- 
 zon, and then the sun shining in all his beauty and glory. 
 So came the revelations of God's li^ht and truth to a 
 dark and benighted world, with reference to the resur- 
 rection of the body, and the immortality of the soul. 
 The light of the resurrection dawned slowly upon the 
 human mind. It was but dimly seen, at first, by the 
 prophets. Rut as prophecy drew nearer the day of its 
 fulfillment, this precious truth became more clear and 
 definite. But it was left for the resurrection of the King - 
 to drive back the last cloud, and let this grand doctrine 
 shine forth in all its wonted splendors and glory. Pa- 
 ganism had no fixed ideas, and Judaism but faint rev- 
 elations of life beyond the narrow limits of the tomb. 
 Immortality was the dream of poets, rather than the 
 common faith of the people, until Jesus, in his own res- 
 urrection, brought life and immortality more fully to 
 light through the Gospel. 
 
 The resurrection is a supernatural fact, simple and 
 comprehensive only when viewed as lying in the realm 
 of the supernatural. It is necessarily mysterious in its 
 mode, because to accomplish it involves the agency of 
 infinite power. Then, the analogies in nature are not 
 direct proofs, but faint emblems of the resurrection of 
 the dead. They are merely intimations of God's pur- 
 pose concerning the dead, which show that the resurrec- 
 tion of the body is in perfect harmony with his thoughts, 
 
238 HIS OPEN AND EMPTY SEPULCHRE. 
 
 as revealed to us in the reproduction of natural things. 
 In this sense, day and night continually manifest a res- 
 urrection of the dead. The night lies down, and the day 
 rises up : or the day departs, and the night comes on. 
 So it is with the fruits of the earth. The seed, is sown 
 in the soil ; it dissolves in the course of time, and from 
 the dissolution God raises it up again, and from one 
 seed brings forth much fruit. Nor is the resurrection a 
 fact suggested by reason, or discovered by science. It 
 is a proposition without absolute proof, either in the 
 broad realm of nature, or the comprehensive province 
 of philosophy. Therefore, it is a doctrine belonging ex- 
 clusively to the supernatural world. It was shadowed 
 forth, only by the types, symbols and prophecies of the 
 Old Testament revelation ; and brought fully, and forci- 
 bly before the world, only through the teachings, and 
 resurrection of the Lord Jesus. His supernatural resur- 
 rection is the strongest argument, that can possibly be 
 presented in favor of the general resurrection of man- 
 kind. It was beyond all cavil, an ocular demonstration 
 of the power, and possibility of such a resurrection. 
 And the light which has shone from his open, and empty 
 sepulchre, for nearly nineteen centuries, is a satisfactory 
 pledge to all his faithful followers, that their humanity 
 will be completely swallowed up of immortality and 
 eternal life, in the morning of the great resurrection. 
 
 The promises of the Bible are the hope of the world. 
 These sacred oracles teach us that the resurrection of 
 the body is a provision made and embodied in the won- 
 derful plan of human redemption, to fit us for the enjoy- 
 ment of heaven. Without this gracious provision, death 
 would still wave his black banner in triumph over the 
 
THE FIRST SHEAF OF THE GREAT HARVEST. 239 
 
 tomb ; and his dark shadows would rise to heaven, and 
 throw their awful gloom over all our hopes of future 
 happiness. For our natural bodies are not suited to 
 future glory. If there, clothed in the flesh, we would not 
 be happy. The natural eye is dazzled by the light of 
 the noon-day sun ; much less could it endure the bright- 
 ness and glory of heaven. For the King of Glory 
 dwells in light which no man can approach, in the flesh, 
 and live. A sight of his divine glory, in its infinite full- 
 ness, would be as a devouring fire to the weakness of 
 human nature. Therefore, our vile bodies must be 
 fashioned like unto his glorified body, before we can 
 bask in his holy presence, and drink in the fullness of 
 his divine glory. But his providence, his prophecy and 
 his promises are all pledged to assure us, that our 
 resurrection from the dead will qualify us for heaven 
 and immortal glory, if we but fall asleep in Jesus. No 
 matter how great the miracle required to change our 
 bodies from the mortal to the immortal, that weighs 
 nothing when placed in the balances with infinite power. 
 Then the consummation of our well-founded hopes is 
 certain. For since Christ could not be holden of death, 
 neither can those who sleep in Jesus. They must rise 
 again. The King is their resurrection and their life ; 
 their lives are hid with God in him, therefore, because 
 he lives, they shall live also. In other words, the Risen 
 Jesus was the first-fruits of those who sleep ; the first 
 sheaf of the great coming harvest ; the first trophy won 
 from the dark dominions of death ; the first sleeper of 
 countless millions to awake from the sleep of death, 
 and rise to live for evermore. 
 
 Our Risen King is the great Head of Humanity who 
 
24O OUR RESURRECTION LIFE. 
 
 led the way from the prison-house of death, up to the 
 courts of immortality and eternal life. And his glorified 
 body is a pattern, after which he has promised to fash- 
 ion the glorified bodies of all his sleeping saints, on the 
 morning of the great resurrection. Then our resurrec- 
 tion life will be a much higher and holier life than this 
 we live in the flesh. It will lift us up to a more elevated 
 plane of being, where there will be a much more exten- 
 sive unfolding and a decidedly fuller development of all 
 our mental, moral and spiritual faculties. This resur- 
 rection of the body will complete and perfect in us the 
 great work of human redemption. It will reunite a 
 redeemed soul with a redeemed body ; and while the 
 former is stamped with the image of the Father, it will 
 fashion the latter after the likeness of the Son. This 
 will perfect man's salvation from the dominion of sin 
 and death. And, retaining his wonted identity, with a 
 glorified soul in a glorified body, he will enter the 
 courts of endless glory, in perfect harmony with all his 
 celestial surroundings, a legitimate and honored heir of 
 heaven. 
 
 The King's resurrection, then, is the prelude to that 
 great coming resurrection, which shall call from their 
 sleeping dust all the long line of Adam's apostate race. 
 Paul says, that Christ's resurrection proves the resur- 
 rection of all men. For since by man came death, by 
 man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in 
 Adam all die, ev$n so in Christ shall all be made alive. 
 But every man in his own order. Christ the first-fruits ; 
 afterwards they that are Christ's at his coming. * * * 
 But some man will say, How are the dead raised up, 
 and with what body do they come ? Thou fool, that 
 
OUR RESURRECTION BODY. 24I 
 
 which thou sowest is not quickened except it die. * * * 
 All flesh is not the same flesh: but* there is one flesh 
 of men, another of beasts, another of fishes and another 
 of birds. There are also celestial bodies, and bodies 
 terrestrial ; but the glory of the celestial is one, and the 
 glory of the terrestrial is another. There is one glory 
 of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory 
 of the stars ; for one star differeth from another star in 
 glory. We understand the apostle to mean, that just 
 as the heavenly bodies, the sun, moon and stars tran- 
 scend, in beauty and worth, the rugged mountains, dark 
 whirlpools and gloomy caverns of earth ; so our resur- 
 rected bodies shall be more beautiful and valuable, than 
 our natural bodies : that just as one star excels another, 
 in beauty, brilliancy and glory, so our celestial bodies 
 shall be far more beautiful, and glorious than these vile 
 corrupt bodies of ours. For, in this immediate connec- 
 tion, he adds, So also is the resurrection of the* dead. 
 It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption : 
 it is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory: it is sown 
 in weakness ; it is raised in power : it is sown a natural 
 body; it is raised a spiritual body. Yes, all our bodies 
 are to be sown natural bodies — laid in the graves bodies 
 of flesh and blood : but on the morning of the resur- 
 rection, they will come forth from the tombs spiritual, 
 and immortal bodies. For this corruptible must put on 
 incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 
 * * * Then shall be brought to pass the saying that is 
 written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, 
 where is thy sting ? O grave, where is thy victory? 
 The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the 
 
 law. But thanks be to God which giveth us the victory 
 16 
 
242 TH£ RESURRECTION OF LAZARUS. 
 
 through our Risen Christ. Oh! how glorious this an- 
 ticipated victory over death. 
 
 How touchingly sympathetic the soul-inspiring lan- 
 guage of the King himself, to the bereaved sisters of 
 the dead, and buried Lazarus, upon this all-important 
 subject. They came out to meet the Beloved Master, 
 fell prostrate at his feet, bathed in tears, and each of them 
 said, Lord if thou hadst been here my brother had not 
 died. Jesus answered, Thy brother shall live again. 
 Martha said, I know he shall live again, in the resurrec- 
 tion at the last day. Then Jesus replied, I am the 
 resurrection and the life ; he that believeth in me, though 
 he were dead, yet shall he live again; and whosoever 
 liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Then Jesus 
 came weeping to the tomb, commanded them to take 
 away the stone, lifted his heart to the Father in prayer 
 and cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. And 
 the dead did come forth, a fit subject to be loosed and 
 set at liberty, though bound in grave-clothes. Lazarus 
 had been named and numbered among the dead of 
 earth, but he arose from the tomb at the call of Jesus, 
 in the full possession of life. He had experienced the 
 dread mysteries of death, in a four-days journey upon 
 its dark and gloomy path; but returned, as much alive 
 as ever, at the call of a voice mightier than death. He 
 had tested the solemn realities of the grave, in a four- 
 nights sleep in its cold, dismal embrace ; but came back 
 from the sepulchre, in possession of the fullness of all 
 his faculties, and the wonted tenderness of every emo- 
 tional feeling, which constituted him the much-beloved 
 brother and genial friend, without a trace of the de- 
 stroyer's power to be seen upon his old person, or ex- 
 
PRECIOUS THOUGHTS ON THE RESURRECTION. 243 
 
 perienced in his new lease upon Hfe. The resurrection 
 of the King, who thus manifested his power to raise 
 others from the dead, has rolled the stone of unbelief 
 away from the tomb of human hopes, painted the rain- 
 bow of immortality on the black cloud of death and lit 
 up the pathway, from this dark world, to the mansions 
 of heavenly light. 
 
 There are many precious thoughts connected with 
 the resurrection of the dead. We have often felt, in 
 contemplating the reunion with loved ones, that we 
 would not give up, for this world, the sweet assurance, 
 that when we meet a sainted mother, in the glory-land, 
 it will be the same mother we loved so well on earth. 
 But when we see her there, it will not be as when we 
 last saw her here. Her brow will not be furrowed with 
 care ; her eyes will not be dimmed with age ; her head 
 will not be silvered over with gray hairs ; neither will 
 her body be cold, and lifeless in death. But arrayed, 
 with all the beauty, grace and glory of spiritual woman- 
 hood, she will meet, and greet us with a long and loving 
 welcome to the courts of endless life. This is the fash- 
 ion, Christian friends, after which we are to meet our 
 fathers and mothers, with all our sainted dead, in the 
 better world. But for all these lively, and soul-inspiring 
 hopes we are indebted to the resurrection, and teachings 
 of the Risen Redeemer. 
 
 But there is also a sad thought, yea, a sad reality 
 connected with this subject. Marvel not at this, said 
 the Saviour, for the day, and the hour is coming, in the 
 which all that are in their graves shall come forth, they 
 that have done orood unto the resurrection of eternal 
 life, but they that have done evil unto the resurrection 
 
244 A SAD THOUGHT INDEED. 
 
 of damnation. Sad thought indeed ! Heaven have 
 mercy on those who are posting their way toward a 
 resurrection to eternal death ! Dear dying sinners, since 
 life is so uncertain, death inevitable and especially in 
 view of the fact that you must rise again, will you allow 
 me, as one who loves your souls, to insist on your asking 
 yourselves, in the language of another, this one solemn 
 
 question : 
 
 How shall I leave my tomb? 
 
 In triumph, or regret ? 
 A fearful, or a joyful doom ? 
 
 A curse, or blessing meet ? 
 
 And since, as death overtakes you, eternity will meet 
 you, the judgment greet you and, if finally impenitent, 
 hell with all its horrors must receive you, will you not 
 also allow me to insist, that you give yourself no peace 
 of mind, no ease of conscience, and no rest of soul until, 
 in the language of another sweet poet, you can triumph- 
 antly sing : 
 
 In expectation sweet, 
 
 I'll wait, and watch, and pray, 
 
 Till Christ's triumphal car I meet 
 And see an endless day. 
 
 He will come. We write, as his embassador, to assure 
 you that the Great Deliverer will come, death fall beneath 
 his sword, his joyful prisoners burst their bars and rise 
 to meet their Risen Lord. Then the gladdest song of 
 all ages will be heard above the saddest lamentations 
 of time — even the song of eternal redemption. 
 
 We have one more thought on this subject, too pre- 
 cious to be omitted. In this life, some of us have bodies 
 which are maim, lame or halt ; bodies with blinded 
 
THE MORNING OF THE RESURRECTION. 245 
 
 eyes, deaf ears or faltering tongues ; bodies racked 
 with fever, tortured with pain, wasting away with con- 
 sumption or bowed down with age and infirmities. But 
 thanks be to God, in the morning of the resurrection, 
 when the bodies of the sleeping saints shall all come 
 floating in upon the spring-tide of immortality and eter- 
 nal life, there will be no Paul there troubled with a thorn 
 in the flesh, no Moses slow of speech, no Jacob with a 
 thigh out of joint, no Lazarus afflicted with sores, no 
 Job covered with boils, and no Methuselah bowed down 
 with age and infirmities. But, in the language of another 
 
 sweet poet : 
 
 Arrayed in glorious grace, 
 
 Shall these vile bodies shine; 
 And every shape, and every face 
 
 Look heavenly and divine. 
 
 Such is the evidence of the King's resurrection ; and 
 such its bearing upon our eternal destiny. 
 
THE ASCENSION OF THE KING. 
 
 Chapter X. 
 
 When he ascended upon high, he led captivity captive. — Eph. 4 : 8. 
 
 The mysterious interval between the resurrection and 
 ascension of the King is full of interest and instruction. 
 Though still manifesting himself personally to men, the 
 Risen Jesus was no longer of earth. He was now 
 a spiritual being, from the unknown regions of the dead. 
 He appeared to his disciples, only at intervals, leaving 
 no trace as to whence he came, or whither he went. 
 His visits were much like those of angels in olden 
 time. He mingled with men no more, as in the days 
 of the flesh. He gathered them no more around the 
 festal board. He led his apostles no more, in their 
 journeyings over the hills, and through the valleys of 
 the Holy Land. The personal familiarity of other days 
 would not have been in keeping with his glorified hu- 
 manity. They were still of the earth, earthy ; but he 
 seemed ready at any moment to lift his glorified body 
 up to heaven. Though occassionally in each other's 
 presence, they were separated by an infinite distance. 
 His disciples were still the heirs of time ; but the King 
 was now a being of eternity. They were still mortal ; 
 but he had put on immortality. They were still serv- 
 ants on earth ; but he was now the King of Heaven. 
 (246) 
 

 The Kin^ of Glory. 
 
THE PRECIOUS VISITATIONS OF THE KING. 247 
 
 These precious visitations of the Glorified King in- 
 spired his subjects with renewed zeal, implicit confi- 
 dence and the most enthusiastic devotion. They were 
 of such a spiritual caste as to convince them, that their 
 Master was about to quit this world. So they were grad- 
 ually prepared for the separation. Prior to his crucifixion 
 he said he had many things to reveal to them, which they 
 were not then prepared to receive. But, inasmuch as 
 what would have been incomprehensible before his 
 death and resurrection, was no longer dark or mysteri- 
 ous, being seen in the light of an empty grave and a 
 shining cross, he now communicated many important 
 truths pertaining to his dual kingdom in the world. 
 
 The crucifixion of the King was a fearful stroke ; but 
 his resurrection had imparted a lively hope to his apostles. 
 It had taught them how to bring good out of evil, light 
 out of darkness and life out of death. It learned them 
 to build, out of their deepest griefs and dying hopes, a 
 great stairway from earth to heaven. 
 
 Hut the ascension of the King is his transcendent 
 miracle. If we had no other evidence of his Messiah- 
 ship, than the fact of his reception up into glory, this 
 would be sufficient to satisfy any reasonable, or rational 
 mind that he was all he claimed to be. He had spoken 
 to his apostles, more than once, of his departure from the 
 earth — his return to the Father — his ascension to 
 heaven. But the time had come for this greatest of all 
 miracles — the crowning event in the King's history. 
 So about the fortieth clay after his resurrection, in the 
 golden light of an oriental noonday's sun, he led his de- 
 voted disciples out toward the sacred heights of Bethany. 
 They soon reached Mount Olivet; and while they gazed 
 
248 THE KING'S ASCENSION. 
 
 with admiration, and awe upon the heavenly scene, the 
 holy angels descended most gracefully to escort their 
 King home to glory. And, as they came, the gentle 
 breezes were ladened with the richest freight of melody 
 ever wafted through the soft blue skies of the Holy 
 Land. His parting benediction was lovingly pro- 
 nounced, and thankfully received. Then, unlike the 
 prophet Elijah, who was taken to heaven in a fiery char- 
 iot, the Risen Redeemer was gently borne upward on a 
 fleecy cloud, until' he vanished from their enraptured 
 vision. The golden skies formed a radiant vista, 
 through which the Glorified King rode up into the 
 Heaven of heavens. He ascended with the matchless 
 might, and majesty of a God ; and yet with that calm- 
 ness, and serenity befitting the genius of his Gospel, 
 and the charming characteristics of its Divine Author. 
 He speeds his way in triumph over the fields of light 
 towards the gates of the Eternal City. And as he 
 nears the pearly portals of the peaceful Paradise of God, 
 the shining retinue sings with holy, heavenly rapture : 
 
 "High raise your heads, ye lofty gates, 
 For see, the King of glory waits; 
 Ye everlasting doors arise, 
 And make a passage as he flies. 
 
 "But hark! the heavenly hosts inquire, 
 Who is this mighty conquering King? 
 In cheerful strains the answering choir 
 Lift high their voice, and sweetly sing : 
 
 "He is the Lord of boundless might, 
 High raise your heads, ye gates of light; 
 He conquered death, and hell, and sin ; 
 Lift up, ye doors, he shall come in. 
 
THE REIGN OF THE ASCENDED KING. 249 
 
 u But hark! again the angels say, 
 Who is this mighty Conquering King ? 
 Who rises to the realms of day ; 
 
 Whose praise with such applause ye sing? 
 
 ••The I.or<l. of boundless powei >sed; 
 
 God over all. forever blessed: 
 
 The Lord of hosts, the most renowned, 
 The King of endless glory crowned.' - 
 
 So the everlasting doors wore lilted up, and the gates 
 of pearl stood wide ajar; while the Conquering King: 
 swept in, and up the golden streets of the heavenly 
 Jerusalem, mounted his Father's throne and began to 
 share that glory with him again, which he enjoyed be- 
 fore the world began. 1 le led captivity captive, ascended 
 upon high and was received into glory, amid the loudest 
 hosannas, and the sweetest hallelujahs of heaven. 
 
 But this Ascended King is ultimately to reign over a 
 universal kingdom, and reign eternally. 1 lis mediatorial 
 dominion shall become universal on the earth, and his 
 triumphant reign will l>e eternal in heaven. Jesus is 
 the legitimate King oi Zion, the acknowledged Heir to 
 Israel's throne. Therefore he has a legal right to rule. 
 But he is also King, by divine appointment, and was 
 anointed of the Lord, with an unction which vested him 
 with all power, and supreme authority, both on earth 
 and in heaven. Then, trie Kino's right to exercise all 
 the regal functions pertaining to a universal kingdom, 
 and to enjoy all the royal privileges of a great spiritual 
 sovereignty can not be called in question. He is no 
 usurper. And though he was forced to wade through 
 blood to the throne; it was his own precious blood, spilt 
 for the redemption of the world. He was a Sovereign 
 
25O THE ETERNAL KING REIGNS ETERNALLY. 
 
 from all eternity. He ever exercised the functions of a 
 Rightful Ruler. As Deity, a necessary, and essential 
 dominion belongs to him, which is without beginning of 
 time, or end of days. His divine prerogatives remain 
 ever the same. He is the Eternal King; and must there- 
 fore exercise universal dominion, and reign eternally. 
 
 This Ascended King, as the world's Mediator, acts 
 by divine appointment. He wields only a delegated 
 power. However, this appointment antedates the fall 
 of man. But not until after his ascension, was the King 
 vested with the full authority of his mediatorial reign. 
 It was not until then, that his regal splendors, as Medi- 
 ator, were unveiled to men and angels. It was then 
 that his diadem of glory first shone forth, with trans- 
 cendent, and uniform lustre. But this appointment, of 
 the Son to the regal office, did not divest the Father of 
 his inherent right to reign. Nor was this special dele- 
 gation of divine authority, to the Mediatorial King, any 
 surrender of dominion upon the part of the Holy Trin- 
 ity. The Godhead always holds the balance of power, 
 and reigns in perfect harmony, through the joint will, 
 and common purpose of its triune existence, no matter 
 which person of the Trinity serves as the Executive of 
 the divine administration. But this Mediatorial King 
 shall continue to reign ; for no power can stay the progress 
 of his dual kingdom towards universal dominion. The 
 heathen may rage ; the people imagine vain things, and 
 the rulers of the earth take council together against the 
 Anointed of the Lord, but the broad empire of King 
 Emmanuel shall continue to grow — dominion after do- 
 minion, and kingdom after kingdom shall be added unto 
 it, until it includes all the kino-doms of this world. For, 
 
HIS UNIVERSAL REIGN. 25 1 
 
 " Jesus shall reign, where'er the sun 
 Doth his successive journeys run; 
 His kingdom stretch from shore to shore, 
 Till moons shall wax and wane no more." 
 
 The name of Jesus is a great factor, in the world's his- 
 tory, which increases in power, with every succeeding 
 generation. The divine potency of his lessons and life, 
 in their sacred influence upon men, has penetrated, and 
 is leavening the great mass of humanity. 
 
 But the dreadful contest for supremacy, which has 
 been raging for six thousand years between good and 
 evil, in this world, has shown Jesus to be a King, who 
 has never ceased to reign in, and rule over the hearts 
 of his subjects. Every official act of his, down through 
 the passing ages, prior to, and after his incarnation, 
 was a demonstration of his kingship. At his nativity 
 he did not simply enter upon, but was already in pos- 
 session of, his royal prerogatives. He was born a King. 
 Heaven and earth both bestowed royal honors upon 
 him, at his birth. His disciples recognized his right 
 to reign, even during the period of his deepest hu- 
 miliation ; and Pilate honored him with the title of 
 King, while hanging, like a vile malefactor, upon the 
 Roman cross. And ever since then the weight of his 
 royal sceptre has been felt among the nations ; and his 
 universal authority will soon be acknowledged by all 
 the kings of the earth. For his Father hath made him 
 his first-born, higher than, or supreme over, the kings 
 of the earth. And, as King of Nations, he hath prom- 
 ised him universal dominion in the world. So all 
 earthly rulers, whether great or small, subordinate or 
 supreme ; all civil authorities, whether legislative, judi- 
 
252 THE MILLENNIAL REIGN. 
 
 cial or executive, are finally to recognize him as Chief 
 Magistrate of the world, vested with supreme authority, 
 and exercising universal dominion. Yes, the period is 
 hastening on, by sacred bards foretold, when all nations 
 will gladly rally around the standard of the cross ; and 
 then the broad empire of heaven's Ascended King will 
 know no bounds, save those of a boundless universe. 
 
 A peaceful, prosperous and happy reign awaits this 
 King of kings on earth. This mighty empire which he 
 is establishing in the world, upon the pure principles of 
 undying, self-sacrificing love, will never perish. Its sway 
 over the hearts and consciences of men will grow wider 
 and deeper with the march of time ; and finally ripen 
 into universal, and perfect adoration, during the millen- 
 nial reign of a thousand years, which shall gladden all 
 hearts and homes on earth. 
 
 Having crossed the threshold of death, and conquered 
 the king of terrors, the King of Glory claims the trophies 
 of his matchless victory and asserts his right to lead forth 
 the captives rescued from the dominions of darkness 
 and death, into his blessed kingdom of endless light and 
 life. He will make good his claim to be the resurrec- 
 tion and the life of his sleeping saints. He is the only 
 hope of a dead and dying world. He has promised his 
 saints, that they shall sail over the bright ocean of eter- 
 nity beyond the dark sea of time. He says, The dark- 
 ness of death shall withdraw her sable curtains from the 
 tombs of the just and the morning of the resurrection 
 light up, with her immortal rays, the glories of an eter- 
 nal day. In the lapse of time, this Conquering King 
 will trample down the dominions of death and hell, and 
 lead captivity captive, the ransomed millions of earth. 
 
THE KING S SECOND COMING. 253 
 
 For this Ascended King, accompanied by legions of 
 angels, shall come again upon the rolling clouds of 
 heaven, in like manner as he went up to glory. But he 
 shall come without sin unto salvation. And seated in 
 mid-air, upon his great white throne, fit emblem of his 
 imperial justice, he will call the world to judgment. The 
 mighty archangel will step forth; and placing one foot 
 upon the land and one upon the sea, with his silver 
 trumpet he will sound the funeral note of time. He 
 will blow a blast so loud and shrill, that it will awake the 
 dead of earth on land and in sea. Then we will all 
 appear before the judgment seat of Christ. Infinite 
 wisdom will characterize all the proceedings of the Just 
 Judge. And his matchless power will be a compliment 
 to his infinite wisdom. All who pass through the life 
 and death tests of this dread judgment, will be forced 
 to submit to his infinitely just and righteous decisions. 
 Even the condemned will have to say amen to their own 
 eternal damnation. 
 
 This Celestial Conqueror will not leave the field of 
 battle, until he makes all enemies his footstool; and 
 sways a universal and unlimited sceptre over the world. 
 " For he must reign till he hath put all enemies under 
 his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is 
 death." Yes, even death, that grim monster of despair, 
 which for six thousand years has laid his cold and icy 
 fingers upon the lovely, the beautiful and the good of 
 earth, that demon of darkness, who has claimed for his 
 prey the king upon his throne, as well as the peasant 
 in his lowly cot, that iron-clad warrior of hell, who 
 has numbered the millions of our race, with the 
 pale-sheeted nations, which now sleep in the quiet 
 
254 THE TRIUMPHS OF ANCIENT CONQUERORS. 
 
 cities of the dead, shall at length meet with a shame- 
 ful and ignominious defeat. Even death shall be swal- 
 lowed up in victory, at the last grand and glorious 
 conquest of the Victorious King upon earth. For he 
 will snatch those who remain alive at his coming, from 
 the very jaws of death ; and, with those who come 
 forth from their graves, they shall be caught up with 
 him in the air. And then the melting firmament of the 
 heavens will echo to the triumphant shouts of the re- 
 deemed, " O death, where is thy sting ? O grave, where 
 is thy victory? The sting of "death is sin; and the 
 strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who 
 giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ/' 
 
 In ancient times, all noted conquerors followed their 
 conquests with triumphal marches. Returning, with the 
 spoils of war, and the captives taken, the conqueror, in 
 the van of his victorious army, with kings and noted 
 captives chained to his chariot wheels, would march, in 
 triumphal procession, to marshal music which stirred the 
 public heart, and fired the patriotism of the populace, 
 until the city rang with the shouts of applause, and 
 honor to the victor and his victorious army. These 
 processions were the glory of nations — the consumma- 
 tion of long-repeated struggles and conquests — the 
 crowning days of hard-fought battles and bloody vic- 
 tories. They were days of national triumph, and per- 
 sonal honor, which marked new epochs in the history of 
 nations ; and gave fame and fortune to the world's 
 historic heroes. 
 
 So the Ascended King is only waiting the consum- 
 mation of his work on earth, to have his triumphal 
 march. He is only waiting the day of finished victory, 
 
THE KING S TRIUMPHAL MARCH. 555 
 
 when, accompanied by legions of angels, he will come, 
 gather up the redeemed of earth — the trophies of his 
 matchless victory, and take up his heavenly march for 
 the city of the New Jerusalem. Grand, glorious and 
 triumphant indeed will be the march of this victorious 
 army, with the Captain of our Salvation in the van of his 
 shining retinue, which will fill the heavens with its glory. 
 There will be no captives, in that procession, groan- 
 ing, and wreaking in blood, at his chariot-wheels. But 
 the Conqueror and the conquered will all rejoice to- 
 gether, as they speed on in triumph over the plains of 
 light, toward the Blessed City. Listen ! ye lovers of 
 marshal music, to the grand chorus which bows the 
 lofty heavens to lend a listening ear to its melting 
 strains — music far sweeter than the chorus of the morn- 
 ing stars which sang together at creation's birth. Oh! 
 for the tongue of Dante to sing, as, from the 'highest 
 circle of Paradise, he beheld the magnificent vision of 
 all the events of time consummated in this heavenly 
 march, and sang in holy exultation, 
 
 " Behold the hosts 
 Of Christ's tiiumphal march, and all the fruit 
 Harvested by the rolling of the spheres." 
 
 Oh ! for the vision of Kepler to discern, in the move- 
 ments of the planets, the timing of Messiah's advent ; 
 and see all the heavenly bodies marshalled to do him 
 homage, and furnish music for his celestial march. Oh ! 
 for the fire of Handel to kindle prophecy, story and suf- 
 fering into song; and set all things in earth and heaven, 
 from the symphony of shepherds to the grand chorus of 
 archangels, aglow with the music of the Conquering 
 King's triumphal march. But neither Dante, Kepler 
 
256 HOSANNAS AND HALLELUJAHS OF WELCOME. 
 
 nor Handel, though they called upon all things celestial 
 and terrestrial, physical and moral, visible and invisible, 
 ever reached the lofty strains of the sweet singer of Is- 
 rael, when he tunes his lay to immortal eloquence, and 
 sings, as the heavenly hosts sweep on toward the New 
 Jerusalem. Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye 
 lifted up, ye everlasting doors ; and the King of Glory 
 shall come in. Who is this King of Glory ? inquire the 
 keepers of the gates. The Lord strong and mighty, 
 the Lord mighty in battle, is the response. Then the 
 grand chorus salutes their ears again, Lift up your 
 heads, O ye gates ; even lift them up, ye everlasting 
 doors ; and the King of Glory shall come in. Who is 
 this King of Glory ? The Lord of hosts, he is the King 
 of Glory. 
 
 The pearly gates fly open; the Conquering King 
 passes in, in triumph, with his ransomed hosts, and the 
 inquiry comes : Who are these ? The answer is given : 
 These are they, who came up through many tribula- 
 tions, have washed their robes and made them white in 
 the blood of the Lamb. And the Eternal City rings 
 with the loud hosannas, and sweet hallelujahs of wel- 
 come to the Triumphant King, and his victorious army. 
 
 Honor, majesty and dominion, be unto him, who sit- 
 teth upon the Throne of thrones, as Lord of lords for- 
 ever, and ever, for he is the King of Glory. 
 
Deacidified using the Bookkeeper process. 
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 Treatment Date: July 2005 
 
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