:Ji'>>- '^*^ 
 
Itheological seminary,! 
 
 I Princeton, N. J.^ Jr^ZfJ 
 
 
 B T 215 -,-&Z42— . 
 Brice, A. b. ca. 1770. 
 Scriptural facts and 
 annotations on the divinity 
 
 
^ 
 
* 
 
/ 
 
SCRIPTURAL FACTS 
 
 AND 
 
 Annotations 
 
 ON THE 
 
 DIVIXITT OF THE MESSIAH. 
 
 >99®d(<^^f®«99« 
 
 BY 
 
 THE REV. A BRICE. 
 
 RECTOR OF ST. JaMEs', SUFFOLK. 
 
 BUNGAY: 
 
 PRINTED BY C. BRIGHTLY; 
 
 And Scld by 
 
 F. and C. RiviNGTON, St. Paul's Church Yard 
 
 W. Miller, No. 5. Old Bond-ftreet, 
 
 London i 
 
 And Berry & Rochester, 
 Norwich, 
 
 1799. 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 — ■ m fgm^ &. 
 
 I HROUGHOUT the follouing xcork, it is 
 the Author s intention to convey amusement as 
 'well as instruction to the reader : The amuse- 
 vient priricipally arises from a statement oj cir- 
 cumstances truly marvellous and interesting ; 
 many of which are indisputable fads ^ confirmed 
 by the clearest chain of evide7ice ; others are 
 imaginary, yet not inconsistent with the former. 
 The j acts are taken from the sacred writings ; 
 the i77iagina7y deduced /ro;?? observations con- 
 tai7ied in those writi7?gs. The instructio7i is J or 
 the most part of amo7^alnatU7^e^ 7iot i7ni7iediately 
 delivered as fro7n the Author, but by diffc7xnt 
 characters i7itroduced upon inany occasions: 
 These are chose7i frG7n the va7nety of i7itelligent 
 'Beings ichich we have cuty account of m sacr^ed 
 hist07y. 
 
 The a8s of these persons are strongly indica- 
 tive of their several characlers, and suited to- 
 the particular circu7nstances for which they a7X 
 brought fo7^xvard, Fro77i the beginning to the 
 
 A g 
 
IV 
 
 tnd, roL'iteccr is said or donc^ has an evident 
 tendencif to the MesoiaJi. From his birth to 
 his ascension ; his life, doctrine, miracles, and 
 ressureclion, are endeaxonred to he introduc- 
 ed in a clear and comprehensive point of viexv. 
 To make a favourable impression upon the mind, 
 and advance the interest of Religion ought to 
 be the main object of every person, but more par- 
 ticularlij when it is recollected, its fundamental 
 principles have been in a great measure obli- 
 terated in a neighbouring kingdom. 
 
 If up07i perusal the zcork shall be found to 
 ansxcer the intended end, the Author s labour 
 will be amply compensated by the reception — if 
 not, lie must make a virtue of iiecessity, and 
 content himself zcith the purity of his intentions, 
 though the prochiction be doomed, as other's have 
 beeti before, to oblivion. He has co7itracled the • 
 Preface as much as possible, consistent xvith the 
 principle of the work; satisfying himself with 
 merely stating the outlines, and wishing to avoid 
 the unnecessary superfluity too often adopted 
 upon similar occasions. 
 
ERRATA. 
 
 Page 9. line 20, for affeBion read affections 
 
 . 38. — 24, for and read or, 
 
 . 43. — 9, for w;^ read a^er^. 
 
 . 141. — 1, after crme read ^0 6fl:^e. 
 
 , 196. — 3, for ought read aught. 
 
 ^21. — 27, after /?«/e read ^^, 
 
 . 222. — 23, after expert- add ewce^* 
 
 — ~ 315. — 10, after ^/?«// read ^e. 
 
> 
 
SCRIPTURAL FACTS, 
 
 ■ gags^ ^o ■ ■ I 
 
 A HE Infernal Spirit having long peTceivedf 
 with malice, terror, and envy, the rapid suc- 
 cess of the Messiah after the resurre6iion of 
 Lazarus, his fears increased daily, in propor- 
 tion to the imminent danger which aimed at 
 the total subversion of his authority; — at 
 length, in the utmost confusion, and with 
 all possible expedition, he convened the prin- 
 cipal ministers of his kingdom upon Mount 
 Hermon. Like a blasted cedar upon Leban- 
 on he stood ereft amidst his apostate angels; 
 and in his guilty mind, grief, indignation, 
 and terror alternately struggled. His expres- 
 sive looks attention commanded ; an awful 
 silence held them mute; not a breath, not a 
 whisper was heard, while the rebellious Arch- 
 angel thus proceeded : * O, ye thrones, fxinh 
 
 fi 
 
cipalltles, dominions, and powers, with pati- 
 ence attend, while those events I relate, which 
 now demand more than ever your serious 
 deliberation — Ye cannot but recoUecl the 
 threaterting denounced in Paradise, *' the 
 * seed of the woman ihall bruise thy head." 
 The birth of Cain, until wx found by expe- 
 rience our fears were groundless, gave us 
 infinite uneasiness. From that period till 
 the flood, our dread of dan seer was nearlv 
 obliterated. Nothing but an universal 
 deluge cotdd defeat our conquests, and 
 divest us of that empire we had gained over 
 the human race. Shortly after, our power 
 over the descendants of Noah, we recovered, 
 insomuch that distin<?t kingdoms, and priu- 
 cipahties to each of you I assigned. As 
 Gods over these ye were acknowledged, 
 and according to your desires worlhipped 
 with various rites : all the dominions I al- 
 lotted to you are unnecessary to mention ; for 
 an inheritance I have divided among you 
 the nations of the world; not one of these 
 our authority has opposed, but the detested 
 and infamous kingdom of Judah. There, 
 indeed, a settlement we often gained, 
 but never for any period could hold it ; 
 this is the only despicable spot where, a-^ 
 
sovereign, our enemy is acknowledged ,' 
 even here we have many friends, who pro- 
 fess subjed;ion to him in disguise. By con- 
 tinual struggles we have gained, not only 
 the dominion of their hearts, but also the pos- 
 session of their bodies; from their distradled 
 imaginations, excruciating pains, and dis- 
 ordered senses wc shall derive no small gra- 
 tification. In fliort, after everv endeavcnir 
 used by our opponent to €re6l his kingdom 
 upon the ruin of ours, we have acquired an 
 universal empire, ^^ For all the kingdoms 
 ' of the world are mine, and to whomsoever 
 ^ I will I give them." 
 
 * In the midst of prosperity how often liave 
 
 * we been surprised? How tremendous was that 
 
 * heavenly voice, which I once distinctly heard 
 
 * on one of the mountains of Moriah, while in 
 
 * my reptile form I lay concealed? It was in. 
 
 * these words direcied to Abraham, ^* In thy 
 *' seed fliall all the families of the earth be 
 ^^ blessed I" This appeared to be the threat- 
 
 * ening of old again renewed, and denoted 
 
 * no less than a complete annihilation of our 
 
 * authority. We soon perceived a nation 
 
 * raised in the land of Ham, and the most 
 
 * terrible difficulties imposed upon our sub- 
 
^ jefts there ; our firmest friends in the Red 
 
 * sea perished, and even Canaan became a 
 
 * prey to our opponents. The continual ef- 
 
 * forts to banish the execrable race upon va- 
 
 * rious occasions, I need not particularize ; at 
 
 * length, we gained ten of their tribes by un- 
 
 * wearied assiduty ; and I hoped to have com- 
 
 * pleted the conquest over the other two, 
 ^ when Rezin, king of Syria, and Pekah the 
 
 * son of Remaliah joined in the confederacy ; 
 
 * but the expedition failed ; then were my fears 
 
 * revived, for while in the form of a Raven I 
 ^ entered Jerusalem, I saw the Prophet Isaiah 
 
 * conversing with Ah az, and heard him dis- 
 
 * tin6lly pronounce the following words, 
 1^ The Lord himself shall give you a sign, 
 *' behold a virgin shall conceive, and bear 
 ^* a Son, and shall call his name Immanuel." 
 
 * The son of a virgin must assuredly be the 
 
 * seed of the woman, A long series of for- 
 
 * tunate events had almost totally removed the 
 
 * dreadful panic occasioned from these words, 
 
 * particularly when I perceived their city and 
 
 * temple destroyed, and their nation led cap- 
 
 * tive into the very center of our dominions, 
 
 * There I expe6ied to have gained a complete 
 
 * conquest, but to py great mortification, 
 
 * they had raised more than ever a greater ^in- 
 
 * tipathy to our divinities: 
 
* upon their restoratioti to their native 
 country, which you are aware gave us so 
 much uneasiness, the same threatening was 
 again repeated by the last of their Prophets 
 in these words, ** The Lord whom ye seek 
 
 ' shall suddenly come to his temple ; even 
 ' the Angel of the Covenant whom ye delight 
 'in.*' The same degree of vengeance has 
 infused itself through every age ; we have 
 been tormented with fears, buoyed with 
 vain hopes, and blasted with perpetual dis- 
 appointments, and had not Michael the 
 Arch-angel stood up in the defence of that 
 nation, our most heroic and trusty supporter 
 Antiochus had assuredly crowned our expec- 
 tations with the greatest success. It is 
 nearly 500 years since their return from Ba- 
 bylon, and during that time, we have never 
 had it in our power to dissipate their affec- 
 tion from our grand opponent ; either by 
 terror or allurement. Our state is in the 
 most imminent danger ; yet some of you 
 may perhaps be insensible of our present si- 
 tuation. 
 
 * Attend then, ye foreign princes, far rc- 
 ' moved from the dangerous scene, ye gover- 
 * nors of the distant globe, and all ye powers 
 
16 
 
 ^ whoj iii blind obedience to oiif ■vvlll, lead 
 
 * the favage tribes, from the eastern boinula- 
 
 * ries of China and Japan to the western Bri- 
 
 * tifli Ifles, and from the fultry iliore of An- 
 
 * gola to the frozen Scythian hills, hear, 
 ' while I state to you things unknown, and 
 ^ replete with horror. 
 
 * Not many years since, the horrid din of 
 ' war ceased through the earth, and in a great 
 * part of our dominions peace prevailed ; thi^ 
 profound calm was a miserable omen of the 
 approaching storm which soon commenced. 
 Suddenly a star appeared, this was known 
 by certain Philosophers in the East, to be 
 the sign of a mighty prince being born in 
 Judea, they left their native country con^ 
 du6led by its gentle rays, and arrived in Je- 
 rusalem, enquiring for the newborn king : 
 the city was alarmed, the prophets were 
 consulted, and it appeared the ]^»Iessiah 
 would be born in Bethlehem. Tlie words of 
 Balaam then occurred to me, ^' There shall 
 * come a star out of Jacob, and a sceptre shaH 
 ' rise out of Israel." Immediately I dc|>arted 
 for Bethlehem. There, in the tender em- 
 braces of an aifc6tionate and bloominc: mo- 
 ther I beheld a heavenly infant encircled; 
 
' never did my eyes behold ach'ld so extreme- 
 ly lovelv, so divine ; a sweet serenity, a 
 mild benevolence, sat on each brow ; in 
 every feature a Godlike majefty was strong^- 
 ly marked. An awful respccl, a profound 
 veneration and love irresistible, suddenly 
 seized my heart, and for a moment my 
 whole soul pos?essed : but reflexion soon 
 roused me to my former state. oVIy feai-s 
 arose,— the lovely infant, and the tender 
 mother I detested : I fled from the horrid 
 place ; Herod, my servant, in his jealousy 
 I coniirmed, and roused all the terrors of 
 his soul : Disappointed by the philosophers, 
 and ignorantof his supposed rival, he, with- 
 out diihculty, assented to my designs ; the 
 ministers of his vengeance were sent forth, 
 and all the children oi Bethlehem, and the 
 adjacent country immediately put to death. 
 From that period I judged all danger at au 
 end, I imajrined him siain amono- tiie infant 
 tribe. 
 
 ' Oft did I search, but never till thirty years 
 
 * expired, find him ; at last, standing by the 
 * 'river Jordan, Mhere the multitude were 
 
 * baptized l)y John, there I beheld him com* 
 
 * ing out of the water, and heard a voicd 
 
Trom Iteaveii, saying, *^ This is my belov- 
 * ed Son in whom I am well pleased :" Never 
 did malice, rage, and envy take such posses- 
 sion of my soul, since the fatal day, when 
 with the direful thunder of his Almighty 
 Father, he drove us headlong over the bat-* 
 tlements of Heaven, into the hissing flames 
 
 of the infernal deep. Our destrudion, 
 
 said I, is now at hand, the seed of the 
 woman appears at l^st ; the enraged fury of 
 Heaven's eternal King, is now in the frail 
 habit of mortality disguised. From the time 
 of his baptism, 1 watched him with a careful 
 eye. Into the lonely wilderness for prayer 
 and contemplation he retired. There, like 
 Moses on the cloudy top of Mount Sinai, 
 without any food, forty days he lived. The 
 wild beasts of the desert crept gently by him 
 forgetting their w^onted fierceness, nor did 
 the voracious lion, when he approached 
 with hideous roar, distend his foaming jaws. 
 Like the kind and domestic animals, they 
 fawned and licked his feet alternately: 
 Sometimes they sported around him, as 
 once we saw them in the delightful fields 
 of Eden. Hungry and faint, at length, 
 he wandered through rocks, and thorny 
 briars, and branching woods, sometimes ift 
 
*tfVe gloomy sTrad-e, and sometimes in tfic 
 
 * open light, in search of acorns, herbs, or 
 
 * roots, but none he found. As a wandering^ 
 'shepherd I then approached him; I meant to 
 **try his temper, as once I tried the first pa- 
 
 * rents of the human race, and found them 
 *' weak. O Son of God, said I, you seem to 
 ** be the person I beheld lately on the banks 
 
 * of Jordan, and with that name honoured 
 '^ by a voice from heaven, what do you mean 
 ••by secluding from society, and dwelling 
 
 * with the wild beasts of the desart ? Here 
 
 * you must perish, for nature finds no support 
 
 * in these lonely wilds ; you appear quite ex- 
 '^hausted with hunger, and unless you con- 
 ^ vert these stones into bread by a miracle, 
 *'you must assuredly die before you can arrive 
 'at the habitations of men, or find any supply. 
 ' By this I intended that he should distrust 
 
 * his Fathers providence. But my design 
 
 * he soon perceived, and answered, that bread 
 
 * alone does not preserve the human life, but 
 
 * the power of God, who supports the human 
 ' body in the most extraordinary man- 
 
 * ner without it. I then retired, and 
 'scarce had I departed, when the truth of 
 
 * what he said struck my infernal heart; im- 
 ^ mediately ^ host of angels appeared, and 
 
 C 
 
14. 
 
 with heavenly food refreshed him* Soorr 
 after, on the battlements of the temple I 
 placed him; there he firmly stood, survey- 
 ing the various hills and vallies, fertile fields, 
 and winding streams, gardens and stately 
 palaces— Now, Son of God, said I, plunge 
 thyself down from hence, trust in thy Al- 
 mighty Father, fear no harm, thus he hath 
 promised to preserve thee, '' He will give 
 ^ his angels charge concerning thee; and in 
 ^ their hands shall they bear thee up, lest at 
 ^ any time thou dash thy foot against a stone," 
 here my idea he quickly discovered, and re- 
 plied, it behoves us to confide in God in 
 present dangers; we must not wantonly 
 plunge into difficulty to tempt his power or 
 goodness, to work a miracle for our preser- 
 vation. Failing in these points one more 
 I resolved to try. I carried him up into an 
 exceeding high mountain, and with accu- 
 racy pointed out in their greatest splendor, 
 the kingdoms of the world. Behold, O Sou 
 of God, here are obje6ts not unworthy your 
 serious regard, they are designed for you, 
 though mine at jpresent ; freely will I sur- 
 render them, if you will but bend one 
 knee, and acknowledge the generous gift. 
 Scarce had I spoken, when w^ith conscious^ 
 
3^ 
 
 'indignation, he replied, *' Satan, begone, 
 
 * no more tempt me, for it is written, *' Thou 
 ^' shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him 
 /' only shalt thou serve." Rapid as the fork- 
 
 * ed lightning I vanished ; his piercing looks 
 
 * cut my very soul ; beyond the reach of 
 
 * temptation I found him, unshaken as the 
 
 * deep rooted hills before the gentle breeze of 
 
 * of the morning. 
 
 ' From that period, as a Prophet he ap- 
 peared, travelling through Gallilee and 
 Judea, with unremmitting care, exhort- 
 ing repentance and remission of sins, in all 
 their cities and villages, in every syna-. 
 gogue, and in the temple ; with the most 
 powerful argument enforcing his doctrine, 
 that the kingdom of heaven or the dispen- 
 sation was at hand. His instructions are 
 all confirmed by miracles of the most extra- 
 ordinary kind : he commands the deaf to 
 hear, the dumb to speak, the blind to see, 
 the lame to walk ; and in the twinkling of 
 a moment it is done. A word of his mouth, 
 or a touch of his hand, instantly allays the 
 burning fever, or the withered limbs restore 
 to their accustomed vigour. The bloated 
 hydrops, shaking palsy, and mox)n&hinc 
 
1,5 
 
 madness, yea, all diseases dissipate at hh 
 approach, and blooming health his steps 
 attend. Om* power is fled, nor dare wfe 
 presume to torture whom he wills to save. 
 The dark and lonely regions of the dead are 
 within his power. This very morning, in 
 the presence of many, Lazarus of Bethany 
 he raised to life, who five days since expir- 
 ed, and in the gloomy mansions of the g;ra^^ 
 lay confined. The attentive crouds, with 
 eager delight, beheld the triumph of his 
 power, and with pleasing admiration all his 
 do6lrine echoed. In short, his design is 
 this, to establish his kingdom upon the 
 ruin of ours. What must we expe6l, should 
 he prevail? Nothing less than a speedy 
 exile from the earth, and a close confine- 
 ment in the dark abyss, where a doleful re-» 
 gion of woe, and prison of horrible despair, 
 tyhall again receive us, and the blasted and 
 devoted victims of insatiable and eternal 
 vengeance. I have summoned you upon 
 the most pressing occasion. Never was the 
 safety of our persons, and the interest of 
 the empire in greater danger ; now is the 
 period for our united wisdom to exert itself j 
 rack your inventions, with freedom declare 
 what seern^ most eligible to. be adopte^ 
 
* either for the confusion of our enemies, or 
 'in our own defence ; thoughts are brooding 
 ' in my mind, but they are not matured ; I 
 ^ will therefore postpone the disclosure until 
 
 * you have dcHvered your various opinions/ 
 
 Satan thus concluded hislaboured harangue, 
 his eyes dejcded, tears dropt of unutterable 
 distress, Mdiilst the keenest ano;uish wninir 
 his heart. A solemn horror on every coun- 
 tenance was strongly figured, a deadly groaii 
 'burst from the whole a.s.sembly like thunddr 
 rolling in the sky above. At the awful sound 
 Mount Hermon trembled, Syrion s founda- 
 tions felt the shock ; the lions terrified from 
 their dens started ; the leopards fled along the 
 -hills like the frighted iambs before the prowl- 
 ing wolves. 
 
 In unutterable woe, and silent expe6latioU 
 they sometime remained. At length, Belial 
 -rose, Belial the apostate angel, who holds the 
 effeminate sons of pleasure in the downy 
 bonds of sensual delight; by him seduced, 
 their days they spend in gay amusements; 
 the varied dance, the harmonious sound, 
 the sparkling bowl, and dark defiled embrace, 
 amorous riot, and thoughtless dissipation, 
 
u 
 
 with never-ceasing toil their miserable days 
 consume. Ghastly and pale the licentious 
 diEmon from his seat arose, with fearful as- 
 pect, and trembling joints, like his deluded 
 sons when death unexpe6led stares them iu 
 the face. To speak he thrice attempted, but 
 sorrow closed his lips ; at length he said. 
 
 * O Prince of Heavenly Powers, Sovereign 
 Ruler of this terraqueous globe, beyond dis- 
 pute, perhaps beyond description our dan- 
 ger is great, no tongue can paint the ter- 
 rors I feel, nor can I forget the time, when 
 in the burning deep, a sad retreat we. sought 
 from the insufferable vengeance of our Al- 
 mighty foe. The fearful denunciation thro' 
 every age has run, '* The seed of the wo- 
 ' man shall bruise thy head;" these words 
 will destroy with eternal fury all our host; 
 our opponent will never repent, nor yet can 
 we, for we delight in all we do ; as soon 
 shall light and darkness be reconciled as he 
 and we; to resist his thundering power is 
 impossible, to bear his dreadful indigna- 
 tion is intolerable, all we can do is to sus- 
 pend his wrath, *' and put far off the evil 
 day." This 1 deem worthy of all our pains,, 
 could we possibly gain it. Hear then^ my 
 
19 
 
 proposal. Jesus of Nazareth is doubtless the 
 Son of God, the Messiah promised to the 
 Jewish nation ; in his outward circumstan* 
 CCS, he appears a man of the meanest rank, 
 from the crowd distinguished, only by hea- 
 venly power and spotless innocence, an ex* 
 traordinary Prophet raised up like Moses, 
 the chosen seed of Abraham to instru(5l, 
 for I apprehend his commission extends no 
 farther than to that people. Now, what if 
 we should persuade the Jev/s to receive him, 
 and yield submission to his authority ? The 
 end will justify our means, be not surprised. 
 If we persuade the Jews to give him a kind 
 reception, as the Son of God and the long 
 expected Messiah, this may suspend the 
 wrath of Heaven for a time, this a reprieve 
 may gain till better success attend us. A 
 truce from war is often made with prudent 
 foresight, in order to obtain by stratagem 
 greater advantage over the adverse party. 
 Let us now suppose him unanimously elect- 
 ed for their king. What can we lose ? 
 No part of our dominions, for they our 
 authority dispute. But mark how much 
 we gain; should they willingly receive 
 him, this event would confound all the 
 prophets, and prove them liars ; for they 
 
m 
 
 ^'have unequivocally foretold '^ that the Me^- 
 '* slab, would be despised and rejefted of 
 ^ men, cut off from the land of the living, 
 *' and brought unto the dust of death." These 
 ''predictions he knows, and has foretold that 
 *'m the heart of the earth he shall be three^ 
 ' days and three nights. It is impossible un- 
 
 * less these things be accomplished he can 
 ^be the Messiah ; and therefore could we 
 ' persuade the Jews to receive him by any 
 'means, then all the prophets, as well as him- 
 
 * self, would be deceived, and their vain pre* 
 
 * science terminate in public fraud. This 
 'must be desirable. Not that I love the 
 'Jews, nor yet the Messiah, our inveterate 
 ' and determined foe ; I hate them both, 
 ' and with infinite pleasure could behold his 
 'sufferings, triumph in his death, and in 
 ' their destru(51ion. The multitude are at- 
 ' tached to his interest, they are disposed to 
 
 * receive him as their king ; the Chief Priests, 
 *ihe Elders, and great men of the nation for 
 *^his meanness despise him ; these persons 
 
 * are our trusty servants; which ever way we 
 '•please we can bend their inclinations. Our 
 '"influence let us unite, and by every argu- 
 ' ment persuade them to choose this man for 
 '* their king. They expert a M^orldly prince, 
 
6t 
 
 * so let him be ; for though he should rcign iij 
 ' Judea, our authority over the nations may 
 ' still remain secure. Should we succeed, 
 *^ then the Prophets will be liars, and him- 
 
 * self a deceiver. You have my advice, but 
 
 * any other I will with satisfa6lion attend to.' 
 
 Scarce had he ended, when Abaddon rose ; 
 a. horrible frown dwelt on his countenance^ 
 strongly indicating inward trouble, and f\i- 
 rious discontent. Oftentimes on the whirls 
 wind, with sounding wings he rides, over 
 hills, and plains, and o'er the raging deep, 
 the towering cedars fall at his approach, an4 
 the oaks of Bashan groan beneath his steps. 
 From low'ring clouds he often darts his fire, 
 and through the dismal sky tremendous roars; 
 while fear, and death, and desolation mark 
 his horrid paths. With furious visage, venge- 
 ful heart, and thundering voice he thus ber 
 gan: 
 
 * Ye mighty Gods, and Rulers of this lower 
 
 * world, the most imminent danger must as* 
 
 * suredly attend our present state; when a base 
 ' submission, and timid acquiescence with the 
 
 * designs of our detested enemies, have beeix 
 ;*^o enthusiastically countena»ced in this as- 
 
 D 
 
2^ 
 
 ^aembly. Not that I have any suspicion of 
 BeliaFs fidelity and fervent zeal for our in- 
 terest. Of this I am well satisfied ; never*? 
 theless, the best intentions, the most laud* 
 able and patriotic designs frequently fail 
 through improper means. Excessive timi- 
 dity is apt to confound and alann the mind, 
 when terror ascends the throne where for- 
 titude should dwell, wisdom is immediately 
 on the wing. Let us beware of serious and 
 fatal errors. It would be matter of great 
 joy to me to defeat the purposes of our ene- 
 mies, to behold the words of the Messiah 
 disappointed, and the prophecies of old 
 totally frustrated. This might come to pass, 
 could he be prevailed upon to accept a 
 worldly kingdom ; but I am well assured he 
 never will. Have ye not already been ap- 
 prized, how on the mountains airy top he 
 spurned the gift of all our empire ; and least 
 it should be thought his refusal proceeded 
 from personal revenge against our sovereign 
 prince, or a contempt of the terms upon 
 which it was offered : I myself observed him 
 once in the barren desart, after he had fed 
 a great multitude with a few loaves and 
 small fishes, unequivocally reje(5l the go- 
 
 * vernment of his native country when they 
 
95 
 
 ''were upon the eve of forcing him to accept 
 
 * it. Into a lonely place I observed him re- 
 
 * tire to avoid their importunity. It is true» 
 •he loves to rule over men, but then it i$ 
 
 * over their hearts, their wills and affe6tions ; 
 
 * by the force of truth, and by the charms of 
 
 * virtue bringing them into subjection to the 
 
 * laws of God ; all other power he utterly dis-p 
 
 * claims. Shall we be his servants? Shall wc 
 
 * support his interest, by informing the world 
 
 * that this is the Son of God, the long expe6l^ 
 
 * ed Messiah ? No, if some have already ac- 
 
 * knowledged it through fear, or to blast his 
 
 * ministry, it is not prudent to persevere ; 
 ^ and you are aware we are absolutely prohi- 
 
 * bited under pain of his immediate displea- 
 
 * sure. But, admitting there was no danger, 
 
 * why confess his power, and to the Jewish 
 
 * nation publish his title? With an intention 
 
 * we are told, that they may ele6l him for 
 
 * their king. Let us imagine him placed du 
 
 * the throne of his ancestors, by the free con« 
 
 * sent of high and low, how irreparable must 
 ^ be our loss ? We lose the affcdions of all 
 
 * that submit to him, and can we imacfine his 
 
 * power will end there? AVill he permit u^ 
 ' quietly to reign over the rest of the world, 
 
 * or can wc think him inditferent abgut other 
 
 D3 
 
£4 
 
 * tiations, and contra6ling his love within tha 
 
 * narrow sphere of his own countrymen? No^ 
 
 * ills views are far more extensive. Have 
 ^ not, th^, prophets said, ** that in him all the 
 ■/ nations of the earth shall be blessed ; that 
 -*Mie shall be for a light unto the gentiles, and 
 *^for salvation to the ends of the earth ; that 
 ** he shall speak peace unto the heathen, that 
 *' his dominion shall be from sea to sea, and 
 "^ from the river to the ends of the earth.'* 
 
 * These are the decrees of the Almighty and 
 
 * his anointed ; if these come to pass, our 
 
 * kingdom is inevitably lost. Our duty is to 
 
 * put in execution every means to prevent the 
 ' apparent danger. Some bold and daring 
 
 * enterprise must effect it, and not the arts of 
 ■ mean compliance and slow deceit. His 
 
 * death is decreed, be it so, it is better that 
 
 * he should die, than live and reign for ever^ 
 y But die he shall not, as the prophets ha\^e 
 
 * foretold, by the hands of men, in mild obe- 
 1^ dience to his Father's will, and with kind 
 ^ affection to them who shed his blood; there 
 
 * the merit lies. A sudden, unexpected death, 
 ' and almost without pain, a death which 
 v^ermit§ no time for reflection, or room foi^ 
 ' patience, resignatioii to the will of heaven^ 
 
 * Qy ineeknes3 towaids men; such a deati 
 
' merits no rewanl, it has no vh'tiie in ^» 
 ^ If the Son of God should di^ in thi^ manner 
 
 * no advantages can be reaped by himself 
 ' or the human r^ce, for in the eye of God 
 
 * the sufferings of men have no vaUie, any 
 ^ further than as they are attended ^vith vir- 
 
 * tuous dispositions in the mind of him Avho 
 ^ suffers. A sudden death inflicted on the 
 
 * Messiah, would not anly frustrate the inten- 
 ^ tions of Heaven, but would defeat the an* 
 
 * cient prophecies, and secure our kingdom, 
 
 * from the attack with v/hich it is threatened, 
 
 ' By various means v^ithin my pov/cr this 
 ^ may he accomplished ; should I from the 
 
 * burning caverns of Mount Etna, or the 
 ' flames of Vesuvius, raise a pitchy cloudy 
 ^ charged with venomous seeds of death, con- 
 "' dueling, yet not ilispersing it by a gentle 
 ^ wind over the sea, till hovering in Judea, 
 ' I in the pestilential damp quickly surround 
 ^ him, and in an instant dash to atoms the 
 ^springs of life; or high in the liquid air 
 
 * form a dense cloud .of vast extent, eithe? 
 ^ on the hills or over the plain whereon lie 
 
 * stands ; by a gentle gale dirc6^ted to that 
 ' side which, illuminated by the §un, a large 
 
 * concavity is formed, from thence ti^e soia^ 
 
49 
 
 ^ beams are colle6led in a poi^t, where the 
 
 * strong expansive heat repels the ambient 
 
 * air; this suddenly recoils with strong elastic 
 
 ■ force ; from thence the whh*ling blast be^ 
 ' gins, while men, and beasts, and trees, and 
 
 * stately towers tossed to and fro fly mingling 
 
 ■ through the sky. In this manner, I once 
 ^ destroyed the sons af Job, and if ye con- 
 - sent so shall the Messiah perish; or, ifyepre- 
 
 * fer, I will burst in lightning from the clouds, 
 
 * and in a moment blast our dangerous foe. 
 
 * Thus did I once confound with instant 
 
 * death, the numerous flocks in the land of 
 
 ■ Uz and ail the servile train.' 
 
 Scarce had he concluded, when, lo ! his 
 breath enrasred was turned into flames; his 
 wide extended nostrils poured out a furious 
 storm, which roared along the hills, atremenel- 
 ous signal of his awful power, and deadly ma^ 
 lice against the So^ of God* 
 
 The direful God of Ammon instantly rose to 
 public view. A calm deliberate malice, inspir- 
 ing his votaries with cruel superstition, joined, 
 with the most profound hypocrisy, concealed 
 with ^ stiff and tbr;nal gravity darkened Im 
 
£7 
 
 soul; an enormous cloak died in blood, and 
 teekingwith human gore, gliastly to view, v/as 
 thrown over his tremendous and disgusted 
 shape. None of tlie infernal crew was ever 
 Worshipped with more barbarous rites than 
 him. . The dreadful cries of infants burning, 
 the bitter wailings of parental sorrow, mixed 
 with the hoarse sound of rattling drums, com- 
 posed the music of his infernal sacrifice. 
 Thus did the apostate Jews in the valley of 
 Hinnom consume in the fire to devils their 
 sons and daughters. Near Satan's ri2;ht hand 
 this infernal Spirit stood, and after rolling 
 his hideous eyes around him, thus proccedr 
 €d: 
 
 * Hear, O Immortal Spirits, friends digni- 
 
 * fied with great renown, and mighty powei* 
 
 * over this terraqueous globe, I now advise^ 
 ' but would studiously avoid the extremes of 
 
 * abject fear and blind impetuous rage. A 
 
 * deliberate malice that permits one diligent? 
 
 * ly to seek the most proper means^ and p^v* 
 ' tiently to wait the regular time to put them 
 ^ in execution, appears best to me. That the 
 
 * ^lessiah should be put to death, Abaddou 
 
 * has proposed ; so far I think he is right, 
 ' but I differ 4u the means, sudden foi'ce will 
 
"* not clc>, that is beyond oiir powder to accoHi^ 
 
 * plisli. By woeful experience we know the 
 
 * superior strength of our Ahnighty foe; wit- 
 
 * ness the gloomy, deep, and burning lake. 
 
 * where in the utmost eonsternation we for- 
 
 * merly fled to. Have ye forgotten his words 
 ''when at the beginning he said, ''Arise, 
 " thou dreadful, thou horrible abyss, be thou 
 ** the prison of all my future foes. " Swift 
 
 * as the word it sprung from unessential light 
 
 * He only frowned, and then the flames rolled 
 
 * hissing round the dreary dungeon of the 
 
 * dtep. We cannot do what he wills not tcf^ 
 
 * be done. Was our power equal to our ma- 
 
 * lice, we should not have been reduced to 
 "• the necessity of long consultations; By hi» 
 
 * permission we escaped from hell, and rang- 
 *ed the Spacious earth; by his permission^ 
 
 * not by matchless power, now on Hertnon* 
 
 * cloudy top Ave stand, and weigh with pru- 
 
 * dent foresight what may come, or what our 
 
 * limited power or skill may do, to advance 
 *the interest of our kingdom. The roaring 
 ^tempest Abaddon means to send, or poison- 
 
 * ing vapours round the Son of God, the 
 
 * thunders he will cause to roll, and the pierc- 
 
 * ing astherial lightnings to blast him in a 
 
 * moment. This might be donC if his power 
 
^ras uncbntrouletl. Has he, forgotten ^hat 
 happened in the land of Ham, when in the 
 field of Zoan Moses stretched out to heaven 
 his awful i-bd ; lo, the ponderous cloud 
 poured down the rattling hail, and flaming 
 fire, while flocks, and herdsj and fruitful 
 trees, and verdant fields all perished in th6 
 min2:led storm. Where was he then? Oi^ 
 why did he not dire^the cloud over the de* 
 tefled fields of Goshen, and over our avow* 
 ed enemies pour out his vengeance? If he 
 commands the florm. Why did the strong 
 east wind drive back the Egyptian sea? If 
 the clouds colle6f, the thunders roar, and 
 the lightnings dart at his command, Why 
 did the Assyrian host, the zealous votaries 
 of his rock, perish in a moment before 
 Jerusalem's walls ? An angel from heaveir 
 we know the storm dire^ed, lior could 
 Abaddon, with all his might and force col- 
 le6ted, the dismal consequences prevent. 
 
 * In the land of Uz we once beheld him, 
 
 * clothed in fire, and riding on the whirlwind, 
 
 * while amidst our foes he scattered desola* 
 
 * tion : but his power's confined, *^ behold 
 ** all that he hath is in thy power, only upon 
 ** himself put nut forth thv hand." To bla5t 
 
 E 
 
5^ 
 
 JH the Son of God would be a fruitless attempt, 
 for the stormy winds and flaming fire fulfil 
 his word; this, while he passed the lake of 
 Galilee w-e perceived; a perfect calm had 
 smoothed the surface of the deep^ and dis* 
 played a polished mirror to the iky ; at that 
 time in sound repose he lay, while Abaddon 
 said, I will try my authority and power, I 
 will plunge yon prophet in the foaming 
 deep, the wind arose, the boisterous bil- 
 lows rolled above the deck, and ghastly hor* 
 ror was marked in every face ; the Son of 
 God awoke ; he gently said, *' be hushed 
 ^ ye winds, ye roaring waves be still." The 
 winds obeyed, the rolling waters sunk in si* 
 lent peace. In Gadara we felt his powerj 
 we shuddered at his froAvn, and thousands at 
 his rebuke departed. Even a whole legion 
 of our host could not so much as drown the 
 swinish herd, without his permission first 
 obtained. Almighty power his words attend, 
 and bands of angels his paths surround. Vio- 
 lence therefore, I judge impracticable; but 
 supposing that might do, the consequence 
 I greatly dread. Nothing could raise the 
 vengeance of the Almighty to a higher 
 pitch. What if his indignation should 
 plunge us in the burning lak-e, and his 
 
^ wrath in a moment blow up the flames ten 
 ' thousand times more fierce than ever? Or^ 
 •what if worse than this should happen? for 
 ' who can tell what boundless wrath and m- 
 
 * finite power may do ? The Son of God muft 
 ' die, as all the Prophets have foretold, if by 
 
 * the hands of men he dies, so much the bet- 
 
 * ter ; in that case, the consequences will be 
 
 * advantageous to us ; the chosen seed of 
 ' Abraham will be then cut off, for such a 
 
 * crime rejected ; the fird will rid us of a na- 
 
 * tionwho have rebelled againft our authority; 
 
 * the last will reduce them to our obedience. 
 
 * Here it may be objeded, shall we with an 
 
 * event concur, so clearly decreed by heaven, 
 
 * and with a design perhaps to overthrow the 
 ' interest of our kingdom ? To this I reply, 
 
 * that the death of the Messiah was never de- 
 
 * creed bv heaven. For he who sent him in- 
 
 * to the world has given nunaberless proofs of 
 
 * his divine commission, bv his miracles and 
 
 * doctrine, the tendency and intention of these 
 
 * is to cause all men to believe, and yield to his 
 
 * authoritv; the evidence is so clear and con- 
 ' vincing, that we ourselves cannot rejed it. 
 
 * If God meant that all men should assent to 
 
 * the truth when fully presented to their minds ; 
 
f hie could ncvei* intend they should oppose it 
 
 * If he comma.nde4 the Jews to beheve himj 
 
 * he must consequently have prohibited 
 |an^ degree of violence; can God de- 
 f'cree the death of his son, and yet forbid 
 
 * pieu to fulfiH that decree ? Can he will con- 
 ' tradi6liona? Surelv not, in all our discove- 
 ■ ries we have never detected inconsiatencies 5 
 
 * therefore I infev that God never decreed, 
 
 * nor intended the death of the Messiah ; he 
 
 * only foresaw the Jews would obstinately re-? 
 
 * je6l him, and in the end put him to deaths 
 
 * and for reasons wisely concealed, he decreed 
 
 * npt to oppose them. Now, if he foresaw 
 
 * the Jews would commit so heinous ^ crimen 
 
 * shall we endeavour to subvert it ? No, 
 
 * ratl^er let us by all possible means hastei^ 
 
 * the event, which will liberate u^ from our 
 
 * §)e and involve that nation in guilt and de- 
 
 * spair. The plan I would propose for the 
 
 * accomplishing our ends is this; you observe, 
 
 * for the meanness of hjs birth he is despised 
 < by the Chief Priests, Elders, Scribes, an4 
 ^Pharisees; for the freedom of his rebukes 
 *-they detest him, and ip consequence of his 
 *' growing fame among the people, he is aii 
 
 * obje6i of envy; these passions are well 
 ' suited to our purpose, let us ftrengthea 
 
3^ 
 
 tlieni daily; for where these are predomr- 
 nant, no evidence however Itrong can pos* 
 sibly succeed. These meji have ah'eady 
 formed designs against him, nothing but 
 the terror of admiring multitudes has re- 
 strained them within bounds. These regard 
 him as the Messiah, but I flatter myself thera 
 will be no difficulty to transfer their lov^ 
 into hatred, and their admiration into con- 
 tempt The multitude are always fickle and 
 indecisive, of true merit insensible,- guided 
 by passion, seldom led by reflection, like 
 the tempeltuous waves tossed to and fro 
 with every wind. They all ejxpecl a con- 
 quering Prinqe, from high to low, a IMesi* 
 ^iah who, from the Roman yoke shall libe- 
 rate them, and reign in matchless splen- 
 dor over all the workL These hopes must 
 unquestionably be frustrated, anddisappoint- 
 meuc will alter their opinion, damp their 
 esteem, and rouse their indignation. What 
 must he appear to their prejudiced minds? 
 an imposter worthy of an ignominious 
 death. This be clearly foresees, and 
 so may we. The resurrection of Lazarus 
 presents an occasion for admitting political 
 alarm into the minds of the great; the 
 ^oiice of faoiic with. toi3gu£s innumerable 
 
* and rapid wings will blow the wondVous story 
 
 * in every ear. Haste then, ye Princes, sum- 
 
 * men up your resentment; swift as the solar 
 ^ beams to Mount Zion let us fly, the Priests 
 
 * alarm, and the Sanhedrim speedily assemble; 
 
 * let us rouse every furious passion in their 
 
 ■ breasts ; I will endeavour to preside, and 
 ' didlate what they say. My grand design is 
 
 * to inspire them with bravery, to drive popu- 
 
 * lar fears far away, that a sentence may 
 
 ■ quickly be carried into execution against 
 
 * the Messiah as an imposter. If he makes 
 
 * no resistance, as I am sensible he will not, 
 
 * his resignation will be deemed by the crowd 
 
 * as a proof of his weakness, a scandalous dis-- 
 
 ■ appointment of their hopes, and a satisfac** 
 
 * tory excuse for abandoning his cause.* 
 
 Shouts of applause and approbation burst 
 from every mouth as soon as he concluded. 
 The furious noise on Bashan's hills was heard, 
 and on Gilboa's barren rocks the distant mur-* 
 murs rung. 
 
 This ostentatious triumph had no sooner 
 ended in a profound silence, when at Satan^s 
 left hand Mammon rose. In glittering chains 
 by him the sordid sons of avarice are led th^ 
 
S5 
 
 ifnlVrng slaves of his authority ; taught by h\s 
 mild insinuating tongue, they anxiously con- 
 ceive that riches and comfort arc synonymous, 
 that truth and justice, conscious worth, sa-^ 
 cred honour, and all the n^liant charms of 
 virtue, arc only vain and empty names com- 
 pared with gold. Behind this daemonic ty- 
 rant, an infamous train of various forms were 
 posted, ready to execute his will. There 
 treachery was manifeft with double face and 
 fraud disguised in garments of simple truth, 
 and generous hearted honesty. By him stood 
 Violence dyed with blood, and seizing a 
 poignard in his right hand; Oppression, with 
 terrific claws, brandishuig an iron rod of 
 length enormous, and frowning horr blc on 
 all beiueath him; these were the attendants 
 upon his person, accompanied by many 
 others, the trusty ministers of his despotic 
 will ; every eye was fixed, and every ear with 
 accurate attention listened, while thus lie dc'- 
 livered the secret counsels of his malignant 
 heart. 
 
 ' Ye Gods of this wide world, with satis- 
 * faction I have perceived, though many 
 ' schemes have been proposed to this asscm- 
 jj^bly, the saa\e zeal and ciitiiusiasiTi Ibr iv.^x 
 
"•common intefest Is evident tliroughout 
 
 * The last advice I mod applaud, wiih some 
 
 * little variation to improve the plan, and 
 
 * render our deliberations more compleat, 
 
 * No doubt the Chief Priests and Elders arei 
 ' disposed to forward our designs, the popu- 
 
 * iar fury is the only restraint upon their zeal, 
 
 * this will in all probability continue until an 
 
 * opportunity offers of apprehending the Mes- 
 
 * siah by a manoeuvre consi.^tent with theii* 
 ' ' own security. Open violence may be pro- 
 
 * du6tiv^e of much difficulty and danger; but 
 
 * secret fraud, and dark nodurnal Aviles may 
 ^ attain the M'ish'd for end. One traitor has 
 
 * accomplished what hosts of armed foes could 
 
 * not achieve. *' The Son of Man must be 
 ** betrayed/* 1 heard himself pronounce these 
 
 * words, while secretly I lay, and Judas me 
 
 * embraced with fond desire; oft did he view 
 ^ my glittering form, he worshipped me, he 
 ^adored me in his heart; by degrees I se* 
 
 * crctly stole into his imagination; ever since 
 
 * his whole tf^in of thoughts I have direfted ; 
 ^ in hopes of endless store and w^orldly pomp, 
 
 * he follows the Messiah, anxious for the 
 
 * day when he shall sit upon the throne of 
 
 * David, and reign supremely triumphant 
 "*0VGi* all the earth. What if I persua-dt^ kiiis 
 
5r 
 
 man, that nothing but violen<!e ^vould excite 
 the indignation of his master; that seU-dc- 
 fence, and nothing else will induce him to 
 confound his enemies, and assume his na- 
 tive right as God's anointed, and the king 
 of Israel. If I once prevail upon him to 
 credit this, will he not seize the first oppor- 
 tunity of delivering him into the hands of 
 his opponents. He believes him to be the 
 Messiah ; he believes the Messiah will never 
 die, and therefore may imagine no difficulty 
 can arise from such an 3.6t. Let tis, con- 
 formable to the advice proposed, convene! 
 the Sanhedrim, establish their prejudices, 
 strengthen their passions, . and superintend 
 their deliberations, until the decree for hi^ 
 apprehension is passed. This will give Ju- 
 das a fair opportunity of betraying him. 
 What then can he do< either resist, or quiet- 
 ly submit If he resists, then he hiniself 
 and all the Prophets will be judged im pos- 
 ters ; if he submits, then his friends will be 
 disappointed in their expedations. They 
 look for a powerful Prince, invincible in 
 war, the terror of nations, the viftorious 
 conqueror of this present world. All this 
 they expe6t from him, who can lieal the 
 sick, and overthrow daemons with a word. 
 
* But all their hopes shall end in eonfusiotri 
 
 * grief, and cruel despair, while infamy, pain, 
 
 * and death shall be his fate. Then we may 
 'reign secure and prosperous, unless the 
 ' Almighty, . whose power is infinite, disturbs 
 
 * our peace. 
 
 Here his oration closed, when Satan, with 
 a terrific smile of approbation the whole as- 
 sembly thus invoked : 
 
 * Ye eighty Princes, with heartfelt plear- 
 sure I have attended to youri several propo- 
 sitions ; in the general wish you seeni 
 agreed, nor is it to be supposed that all our 
 Princes can perceive \fhat is most eligible 
 in every case; but when superior wis^loni 
 points out the surest way to gain success^ 
 what should the inferior do but immediately 
 acquiesce without a murmur. In this, our 
 union and the strength of our empire con- 
 sists, in having one grand view, the public 
 good, and a chearful submission to every 
 means by which it may be advanced. Not 
 like the puny race of mortal men, where 
 divided interests, partial views, and vain 
 conceit of knowing ail, plunges them into 
 
3$ 
 
 ^ difficulty, ^ncl makes them ieasHy submit ti 
 • our superior sway. 
 
 * Moloch and Mammon have pointed out 
 * the surest means to atchieve our purpose; 
 ^ they have anticipated the veiy scheme which 
 has long lay brooding in my mind. They 
 have advanced the same arguments which 
 occurred to me, and I congratulate yoa 
 upon the prosped of succeeding in a case 
 so desperate and replete with danger. Un-^ 
 foreseen circumstances may give occasion to 
 future deliberations. In the interim, let us 
 depart, and make such observations upon the 
 state of things as may be necessary to our 
 designs; let us convene the Sanhedrim.; 
 excite their fury, and infuse darkness thro* 
 their minds. Let Judas be uro:ed to be- 
 tray his Lord and blaster, and all the rest 
 of his disciples be tormented with terrific 
 forms of death, while I endeavour, amidst 
 a combination of miseries, to involve him 
 in the depth of despair.* 
 
 Innumerable legions at these words bowed 
 found their hellish Chief, when a thundering 
 roar from the impending clouds gave the sig-*. 
 ual of departure. In a moment i\\Q^ fled 
 
40 
 
 from Mount Hermon, in number like tli^ 
 buzzing inse6ls which dance in the sun's mild 
 evening rays. Through all the earth they 
 dispersed in legions, in scattered parties, or 
 wandering individuals, from the fruitful coasts 
 of Sharon, to the lofty hills of Arnon, and 
 ii'om Lebanon to the barren rocks of Edom ; 
 jevery where they dropt unseen, particularly 
 on Mount Zion in Jerusalem, where they 
 perched on the walls like voracious vultures 
 anxious for their prey» 
 
 Scarce had the radiant sun diifused itself 
 overJudea, whenNahash, Tilon, andShamma, 
 arrived in Jerusalem from Bethany. These 
 were distant relations of Lazarus, but foes to 
 Jesus ; men of abandoned lives, and yet firm- 
 ly attached to the interest of the Chief Priests 
 and tlie traditions of the Elders. Though 
 these persons had been witnesses of th^ re- 
 Surre6iion of Lazarus, and of the divine 
 power of him who raised him from the 
 dead ; yet they were so unbelieving, that 
 immediately upon arriving in the city, they 
 Sv'ent to the palace of the Chief Priest, where 
 having waited for a considerable time in a 
 xnagnificcAt haU^ Caiaphas appeared, wiiea 
 
41^ 
 
 Kahash addressed him in the followinsr man:- 
 ner: 
 
 ^ O, Caiaphas ! potent Priest of the most 
 supreme God, matter of no inconsiderate- 
 moment could have justified our disturbing 
 your repose at so unseasonable an hour; 
 a6luated by a veneration for Aaron's suc- 
 cessors, and an ardent desire to serve our 
 native country, we came to state an extraoiv 
 dinary fad, which, in our idea, demands a 
 speedy investigation, as the consequence 
 may be productive of much danger. We 
 are aware of the trouble, and perplexing 
 apprehensions the rulers of Israel have al- 
 ready experienced, from the remarkable 
 condu6l of Jesus of Nazareth. None of 
 his a6lions have been in any degree alarm- 
 ing, compared with what we clearly perceiv- 
 ed yesterday. — A distant relation of ours 
 died in Bethany about five days since, and 
 was buried ; upon that occasion we assisted 
 at the funeral of our departed friend, and 
 deemed it humanity to visit his two 
 sisters, mIio were inconsolable at the lo.ss 
 of a beloved brother, and endeavour to 
 administer them some comfort. While 
 WG v/ere present, this wandering Prophet 
 
44 
 
 * arrived in town, together 'W'ith his disciplel 
 
 * The excessive grief of the sisters revived 
 
 * upon his appearance, for they as well as the 
 ' deceased were firxply attached to his inte- 
 
 * rest. The opinion they entertamed of his 
 '^ wonderful power only increased their sor^ 
 ^ tow; for, thouglit they, had he been herfe 
 *.o«r brother might have been save ;'*— thi^ 
 ^ they infonned hirn, when he desired to h6 
 
 * conduced to the sepulchre. Accordingly, 
 
 * with the two sisters and many others, w6 
 ■ went with him immediately to the place, 
 ^ which appeared to be a cave, and the en* 
 f trance closed by a large stone. At the? 
 
 * sepulchre the grief of his relations and 
 
 * friends was excessive, and stron2:lv indicated 
 ^ the keenest sensibility ; Jesus himself bor^ 
 
 * -a share in this melancholy scene, and dropt 
 ^ a manly tear for his departed friend, 
 
 * After ^ short time had passed in this jnan- 
 ^ ner, Jesus ordered the stone to be removed ; 
 
 * \t was obsen^ed that the putrified corp^ 
 
 * would be insupportable; but he insist* 
 
 * ing, It was accordingly done. Instant- 
 
 * ly, with his eyes to heaven uplifted, ^ 
 ' a short prayer he uttered. Then, turning^ 
 •to the sepulchre, with a majestip lool; 
 
A3 
 
 * and dignified tone he cried aloud, '* La- 
 •* zarus come fortli :" To the great amaze-' 
 *• ment of the spc6tators, he instantly arose, 
 
 * and came out of the tomb, with his hands 
 
 * and feet tied in grave clothes, and his head 
 
 * bound round with a napkin. Some stand- 
 
 * ing by were then commanded to loose him 
 ' and let him go. Wonder, fear, and joy, 
 
 * was strongly marked in every countenance; 
 
 * in deep silence and astonishment foi* some 
 
 * time every one viewed Lazarus, and he 
 •them; olten w^ould he examine his own 
 
 * hands, feet, legs, and arms, survey his body, 
 
 * and feel if all was real. At last, falling 
 
 * prostrate on the ground at the feet of Jesus, 
 
 * he most gratefully acknowledged the fiivour 
 
 * lie had received. Every one was seized 
 
 * with a sacred veneration for the Prophet 
 
 * who had raised him from the dead. We 
 
 * were deeply smitten w'ith awful surprize at 
 
 * what we beheld : yet, after many delibervite 
 
 * reflexions, we can scarcely credit what we 
 
 * saw with our eyes, and what was so evident 
 
 * to many. We are doubtful whether our 
 
 * senses have not deceived us; and yet, if 
 
 * we doubt this, we must doubt every thing ::^ 
 ^ We cannot deny a fact so well attested" there- 
 
 * fore wc arc indhied to doubt the power by 
 
44^ 
 
 which it was performed, and are fearful 
 least a6lioiis of this kind should occasion a 
 public disturbance; for the populace every 
 where are enthusiastically inclined to receive 
 him as the ^lessiah. But they are dect ived, 
 for who can believe, that evei^ the Roman 
 power will tremble at the name of this fic- 
 titious Prince, or cede their wide extended 
 conquests to a carpenter s son. Must. not 
 he be rm infamous iraposter, who assumes 
 the title of God's anointed, without the 
 dignity and appearance attached to that 
 sacred charader? Should the unthinking 
 multitude be so ignorant as tb ele6l him 
 him for their king, will it not fted the 
 flames of war, and bring desolation on our 
 native land? These fears have hurt our 
 night's repose, nor can we expe6l ease, 
 till these perplexing terrors, with the cir- 
 cumstance v/hich gave origin to them, were 
 fully stated to thee, most holy Priest, whose 
 enterprising zeal, and powerful influence, 
 can alone allay the approaching danger/ 
 
 This narrative v/as heard by Calaphas, with 
 the most lively emotions of envy, hatred, 
 surprise, and fear. * These are no imaginary 
 • terrors,' said he, ' for we have often dread- 
 
45 
 
 * €cl some terrible calamity might be the con- 
 
 * sequence of this man being- permitted to 
 
 * continue. A prudent forefight is highly ne- 
 
 * cessary to prevent what you suspecl ; and 
 
 * the information you have given, as it merits 
 
 * the consideration of the Sanhedrim, so shall 
 " it be submitted for tlieir serious deliberation 
 ' with every possible expedition.' 
 
 The informers instantly departed, when an 
 order was issued summoning the Sanhedrim, 
 which accordingly met in the temple. The 
 consultation here began with the speech of 
 Annas, father-in-law to the High Priest, an 
 infirm old man, of a weak understanding, ex- 
 tremely subject to fear, from the apprehension 
 of imaginary dangers, and now more so than 
 ever, from the exaggerated account he had 
 received from Caiaphas. With a grave and 
 sullen aspect, he thus- proceeded; 
 
 ' Ye Rulers of Israel, and descendants of 
 
 * the House of Aaron, how long shall we en- 
 
 * dure the terrors of approaching desolation, 
 ^ v/ithout endeavouring to subvert that misery 
 ^ which every prudent eye may see, and at 
 ^ the thought of which every considerate mind 
 ^instantly recoils. Jesus of Nazareth ha^ 
 
 G 
 
4$ 
 
 often been the subje6i of former delibera- 
 tions ; these have hitherto ended in stranjre 
 confusion, vain resolutions, and insignifi- 
 cant threats. His increasing reputation 
 cannot fail to alarm vis. Nothing of thi^ 
 nature was ever heard of in any former age, 
 that an obscure person, sprung from the 
 loins of a base mechanic, and still in a 
 state of the most abje(5l poverty, should 
 intimidate and perplex, to an unprecedented 
 degree, the Scribes and Pharisees, the 
 Priests and Eiders of Israel. It cannot be 
 denied he has wrought many extraordinary 
 miracles, the lepers have been cleansed, the 
 paralytic restored to their w^onted aclivity, 
 the blind to perfect sight, and the deaf to 
 their hearing ; he has caused the dumb to 
 fpeak with fluency, and the lame to walk 
 with freedom and agility. In short, the 
 diseased of all kinds are healed by a word 
 of his mouth, or a touch of his hand ; whe- 
 ther abfent or present, if he commands it, 
 the cure is immediately effe6led. Shall I 
 mention his power over the Infernal Spirits ? 
 that is univerfally known ; and what is more 
 astonishing, he has restored the dead to life 
 at feveral times; you have heard of the 
 daughter of JairuSj the widows foA of Nain, 
 
47 
 
 and BOW upon the testimony of ^vltnesses, 
 by no nie.ins prejudiced in his favour, I cart 
 affirm, that no later than yesterday, he has 
 raised to life a man of Bethany, who had 
 been dead five days, and lay consuming in 
 the 2;rave. Remote ages, and distant coun- 
 tries, may, if they are inclined, either doubt 
 or deny the truth of thefe extraordinary facets; 
 but it is impossible for us to question what. 
 we hnd daily fiipported by irresistible evi- 
 dence. We may indeed difpute the power 
 by which they are done, and in this cafe we 
 can only judge from the eifects produced ; 
 if thefe are good, the power is unquestion- 
 ably from God; but if they are bad, Satan 
 must be the principal instrument. At first 
 appearance we are induced to believe, that 
 to heal the sick, to cast out the devils, and 
 raise the dead must certainly proceed from 
 divine power. But let us consider their 
 remote consequences, and perhaps we 
 shall observe Gfreater difficulties than all 
 the good effects they have produced. We 
 cannot ascertain what will happen, but we 
 may form an idea of what is probable, and 
 if possible prevent future evils. What is 
 marvellous and surprising, particularly to 
 the multitude, generally engrosses the whole 
 
 G 2 
 
4% 
 
 ^ attention ; it so confounds and astonishes 
 *' the mind, that it allows no time for serious 
 'investigation, but commands their assent 
 
 * before reason is permitted to interfere ; thus 
 ^ we behokl the nation ah-cady biassed by his 
 
 * wonderful works, and the Son of Joseph 
 
 * improperly receiv^ed for the mighty heir of 
 '- David's throne. When the promisscd ]\Ies- 
 ^ 3iah appears in our land, we are assured by 
 
 * the Prophets, " that he shall be higher than 
 -' the kings of the earth, that his dominion 
 ^' shall be from sea to sea, and from the river 
 *^ to the ends of the earth ; they that dwell hi 
 *' the wilderness shall bow before him, and 
 *' his enemies shall lick the dust; the kings 
 •^ of Tarshish and the Isles shall bring pre- 
 *' sents, the kings of Sheba and Se])a shall 
 ■' offer gifts; yea all things shall fall down 
 *' before him, and all nations shall serve him." 
 ^ Who can with any degree of sense believe^ 
 ' that the son of a carpenter is the mighty 
 ' prince here described ? He has neither inte- 
 
 * rest, authoritv, nor birth to recommend 
 ■ him. How then can he have any pretensions 
 ' to be a king ? by no other means, than low 
 ' deceit and fierce rebellion stirred up by the. 
 ^ infatuated mob. How shall v/e ad in 
 f ^uch ^ dilemma ? Jiither we must oppose 
 
4a 
 
 * the contemptuous herd, or we must patient* 
 
 * ly acquiesce in their cle(^lion; if we adopt 
 ' the first, a civil Avar is tlic consequence, 
 ' the field of battle strewed witli Iiunian bo- 
 
 * dies must decide the day, and a multipU- 
 
 * cit}'' of distresses may pkmge ns into the 
 
 * grave. Suppose we submit to this pretend- 
 *" ed iMessiah, cither from necessity or choice*, 
 ^ with the idea of recovering our ancient pri- 
 
 * vileges, then what dreadful (ind innunier- 
 J able calamities may befal us ? A foreigii 
 ^ Power our land invades, viclorious KQmc 
 
 * will thunder at our gates; our native land 
 ' will become a scene of desolation; horror 
 
 and death may ride triumphant in every 
 'corner; our houses, our villacrcs, our cities, 
 
 * and even thi3 sacred temple may perish iu 
 " devouring flames, while our dearest relq.- 
 
 * tions and friends are led into captivity 
 
 * among the heathen. This may come, and 
 ' and Rome may do what Babylon did beforo. 
 ' Let us take warning from an ancient tradi- 
 ' tion, which says, that Armolus will come 
 ' in the latter days and destroy our nation. 
 ' The imperial city was founded by Ilomulus, 
 ^ who called it after his own name; this I ani 
 ' induced to think is the same with Armolus. 
 ' of whgm we stand in so much dana'cr 
 
5d 
 
 * Thus have I pointed out the dreadful conse 
 
 * qiiehces which in all probability may arise 
 ' from our suffering Jesus of Nazareth to 
 
 * work his miracles, deceive the multitude^ 
 'and lead them wherever he pleases: Exa- 
 
 * mine whether these apprehensions are well 
 
 * founded J and by what means the danger may 
 ^ be averted. 
 
 Anna^ having thus spoken, Alexander 
 tose.- The fame of Jesus had raised his envy, 
 and filled his heart with malice. Prejudice 
 liad contra6led his mind, which, with an im- 
 petuous temper, and an imperious spirit, ren- 
 dered him bitter and censorious to the last 
 degree. ^V'lth an inflamed look, and discord- 
 ant tone of voice he thus beo-an. 
 
 o 
 
 * Meii, Brethren, and Fathers, how often 
 
 * shall w^e be compelled to resume this detest- 
 
 * ed subjeQ: • that a man of the meanest rank, 
 ^ the son of a base mechanic, forever doomed 
 
 * to servile toil, like the false dissembling 
 ' Gibeonites, condemned to hew wood, who 
 ' themselves ought to have been hewn to 
 ^ death; that such a man should daringly 
 
 * assume the name of God's anointed, and 
 
 * every da}^ alarm us with the apprehesion of 
 
51 
 
 public danpfer. I never can speak, nof 
 think of liini without abhorrence. It is 
 true, he is admired by the populace, but 
 who are they ? the ignorant, the base, the 
 despicable refuse of the nation, men like 
 himself. Hkve any of the Rulers, or the 
 Pharisees believed? No, the meanest of the 
 people are his followers ; ^' they know not 
 ' the law and are accursed." He draws the 
 multitude after him by mysterious actions; 
 this is no new thing, the marvelious always 
 attra^l the mob*- in this manner the subjefit^ 
 of Busiris were deceived by the false mi- 
 racles of Jannes andJambres; the soft, the 
 insinuating smile of complacence, with 
 gentle and persuasive words, easily engage 
 their affections. By these solemn arts, he 
 imposes on the crowd, and ensnares them, 
 in the same manner as Absalom deceived 
 the people, and shook the very foundation 
 of his lather's throne. The charader of the 
 Messiah is justly delineated in the waitings 
 of the ancient Prophets; we only have 
 power to expound their meaning, for the 
 ignorant are not competent, nor have they 
 any authority to explain the Holy Scrip- 
 tures, Who can submit to the son of Jo' 
 ^cph, or choose a carpenter foj* their Jiij^g? 
 

 *' !<roiie but the base and sordid neople, wild 
 *'are ignorant of true ^vorth and real dignityl 
 ^ Shall this m;in, with his enormous axe, laV 
 ^ prostrate the majestic oak, the imperial tree; 
 
 * wliose far expanding boughs, even now ex- 
 
 * fend to distant nations ? Or shall he with 
 ^ hi.s ponderous hammer beat kingdoms intci 
 
 * dust? Or shall he who dwelt so Ions; in ob- 
 
 * scurity, inexperienced in arms, unskilled 
 ' in every manly art, shall he, I say, at length, 
 
 * ascend \\\(d. rapid car, and ride triumphant 
 ' o'er his vanquished foes? ^ " Shall he exe- 
 *^ cute vengeance upon the heathen, and pu- 
 *^ nishment Upon the people, binding theii" 
 ^' kings in chains, and their nobles with fet- 
 ** ters of iron?." Let him once atchleve thes6 
 
 * deeds of heroism, then, and then only shall 
 •^we bend to his imperious power. Until 
 'these ends are accomplished, all his preten- 
 *\sions are vain. 
 
 ^ It cannot be denied that important point?f 
 ' have been gained by him, the hearts of \\\t 
 ' people have been estranged, and we ar6 
 
 * rendered contemptible in their eyes; a dark 
 ** eclipse lies on our ancient glory; we c ail 
 
 * no longer boast of that esteem, honour, and 
 
 * sacred veneration which formerly we enjo^^- 
 
^5 
 
 ed ; w^ are sunk in the splendour of his su- 
 perior renown, hke the brightest stars in 
 sun's meridian blaze. Has substantial worth 
 aggrandized his name, or has purest sanctity 
 given erevation to his deeds ? No, he has 
 been guilty of base detradion, charged us 
 unjustly with execrable crimes, and denoun- 
 ced against us endless woes. These ''are his 
 shares to entrap the weak, and lower us in 
 their esteem ; by these artifices the multi- 
 tude are prejudiced against our authority, 
 and the world become his followers. By an- 
 cient right we are fixed in the seat of Moses^ 
 we are the Rulers of Israel, the only teach- 
 ers of the chosen people, and should be 
 treated ^vith honour, respe6l, and profound 
 submission; for so it is written, *' Thou 
 shalt not revile the Gods, nor speak ill of 
 the rulers of thy people;" by what right 
 then has he calumniated our names, and 
 loaded us with reproach. \^ hat lliall we 
 think of him who pours contempt upon the 
 traditions of the Elders, and condemns our 
 religious worship as vain and insignificant ? 
 for these are his words, I am credibly inform- 
 ed, '^ In vain do they worship God, teach- 
 * ing for doftrines the com aiandm eats of 
 
 n 
 
54 
 
 ^* men, for ye have made the word of God of 
 *^ none eiFe6t by your traditions." If he re^- 
 
 * p-arded the God of our fathers, or the lav/ of 
 
 * Moses, would he frequently and publicly 
 
 * prophane the holy Sabbath ? Certainly not, 
 ' but this he has done with confident assur- 
 
 * ance; by healing diseases, suffering men to 
 
 * carry their beds, and his own disciples to 
 
 * pluck the ears of corn upon that sacred day^ 
 ' What is yet more impious, he dares to par- 
 
 * don sin, which none but God himself can 
 
 * do. He vows vengeance against the cho- 
 ' sen race, and expulsion from the promised 
 ' land, thouQ-h God has sworn to Abraham 
 
 * and his seed to be their God for ever. Have 
 
 * you not trequently heard him represented 
 ^ as *^ a glutton, a wine-bibber, a friend of 
 *' publicans and sinners," these appear to be 
 
 * his favourite associates, these he prefers, as- 
 
 * serting that they shall enter the kingdom of 
 
 * heaven in preference to us, whom he de- 
 
 * scribes as the vilest hypocrites, the children 
 ^ of the devil, and the heirs of damnation/ 
 
 * This is the admired person we are called 
 ^ upon to receive as the long expe6>ed Mes- 
 
 * si ah. The idea of such a man I abhor, and 
 
 * bra,nd him with the epithet of a daring im* 
 
'poster. He appeals to miracles, I am in* 
 ' formecl, as a proof of his divine commis- 
 ' sion ; but to me they are none ; they 
 
 * are delusive arts, such as the sons of Ham 
 ' could boast, when they turned rods into 
 ' serpents, and waters into blood. There are 
 
 * false miracles as well as true, this is evi- 
 
 * dently inferred by Moses, when he says, 
 ' ' If there arise among you a Prophet, or a 
 " dreamer of dreams, and giving thee a sign 
 *^ or a wonder; and the sign or the wonder 
 '^ come to pass whereof he spake unto thee, 
 *' saying, let us go after other Gods, which 
 *^ thou hast not known, and let us serve 
 ^* them. Thou shalt not hearken to the 
 ^^ words of that Prophet, or that dreamer of 
 *^ dreams, for the Lord your God proveth 
 " you, to know whether you love the Lord 
 ** your God with all your heart, and with all 
 ''your soul;" this is precisely our present 
 
 * case, and Moses has ordained how we are 
 ' to a(5l, in the following words, '' and that 
 
 * Prophet, or dreamer of dreams, shall be put 
 '^ to death, so shalt thou put away the evil 
 *' from the midst of thee." The wonders done 
 
 * by this man, are so many, and done in so 
 ' public a manner, that it is impossible to 
 
 H2 
 
50. 
 
 * question them. The pomt is, by what poV-i 
 
 * er are they wrought ? Many doubt, and foir 
 ' my own part I positively deny that they are 
 
 * wrought by the divine power : The reason ^ 
 
 * assign is this, we have often demanded of hirOi 
 ' a sign from heaven ; but this he would ne^, 
 
 * ver grant, telling us '^ that as Jonas wa% 
 ^' three days and three nights in the whale's 
 *^ belly, so shall the Son of Man be three 
 *' days and three nights in the heart of the 
 *' earth;" which was nothing to the purpose^ 
 
 * for if his miracles are done by the power of 
 
 * God, he could with ease have given us a 
 
 * sign from heaven, as well as upon the earth 
 
 * You may recoUeft, that when Rezin of Sy- 
 
 * ria, and Pekah the son of Remaliah came 
 
 * with their confederate armies against this 
 
 * city, that the Prophet Isaiah said unto 
 
 * Ahaz, ** Ask thee a sign of the Lord thy 
 ** God, ask it either in the depth, or in tliQ 
 *' heigth above." The Prophet would hav^ 
 
 * granted either, but this man positively re^? 
 
 * fuses our request; the reason is apparent^ 
 ' because it is not in his p \ver. We know that 
 
 * nothing is too difficult for the Lord, an4 
 
 * therefore I conclude his miracles are wrought 
 
 * by Belzebub, or by the amazing charm of 
 
^ the tetragrammaton ^\ wliicli by same meanjr 
 ' he has secretly obtahied. 
 
 ^ This man beyond all doubt is an imposter; 
 ^ none surely cauld have a better opportunity 
 ^•of knowing him, than hi^ own countrymen; 
 
 * these, I am told, were at one time so exas^ 
 ^ perated ^yith his condud, that to avoid de^ 
 
 * stru(^ion by being thrown over the rocks, 
 
 * he made a precipitate retreat. A Prophel 
 
 * sent from heaven will never, to aggrandize 
 
 * his fame, publish a notorious falshood ; this 
 ^ without difficulty I can prove him guilty of, 
 
 * by witnesses who heard him affirm that ho 
 
 * was elder than Abraham, *' Before Abrahaiu 
 *^ was, I am," said he. By this speech the 
 
 * fury of the populace was. encreased to so 
 
 * great a degree, that they threatned to stone 
 
 * him to death. This transport having siib-« 
 
 * The word Jehovah, consisting of four Hebrew 
 letters, a word wliich the Jews, from superstjtioug 
 Veneration, never pronounce. The Rabbis say that 
 Moses, by virtue of the word Jehcvvah, engraved oa 
 his miraculous rod, performed all the prodigies fpokeii 
 pfin Scripture; and that Jesus Christ whilst he wa:^ 
 in the Temple, having stolen this ineffable name, bys 
 vmuc of tiie sume^ wrought all his miracles. 
 
 Vide Calmet's Dictiouarj% 
 
K 
 
 8 
 
 •sided, cowardice succeeded. I admit that 
 an attempt against him may be attended AMih 
 alarming consequences, on account of his 
 interest having prodigiously increased; but 
 the danger will daily augment; therefore 
 should we through abject cowardice, and 
 base timidity, permit liim to proceed, the 
 contagiofi will spread, and his fadion be- 
 come too formidable to suppress. The pow- 
 er of his eloquence dwells upon his tongue^ 
 while the attentive crowd lose their reason 
 in astonishment. Neither Greece nor Rome 
 could ever produce a person so well adapted 
 to mislead the people, and disseminate se- 
 dition far and wide. You recolle6l; how 
 the officers executed our orders, when once 
 sent to apprehend him ; they went ; and in 
 a moment his soft persuasive tongue van- 
 quished their hearts; they returned without 
 fulfilling the obje6l of their mission, and de- 
 clared as an apology '' that never man spake 
 * like this man* " Danger appears in view, 
 enlivens our fear, and should awaken our 
 resolution before it be too late. The pass- 
 over draws liigh, who can tell but that may 
 be the fatal day predestined for wild uproar 
 and fierce rebellion ? The nation will asscm^ 
 bic at that period, aud delusive arts will be 
 
59 
 
 *pra6^Becl upon that occasion. What if he 
 
 * should demaud the sovereign power ? Will 
 ' not his followers support his claim ? Un- 
 ' questionably they will. Shall we our autho* 
 
 * rity quietly surrender, and give way to the 
 'impetuous torrent of popular choice? or 
 ';SWord in hand defend our rights? A melan^ 
 ^ choly alternative ! Disgrace, nay death may 
 
 * be the consequence. Why then should we 
 ^ hesitate to preserve the public tranquillity ? 
 ' Our interest, authority, lives, and every 
 ' thing that i^ dear and valuable in this world 
 ^ imperiously demand justice of that impo.ster. 
 ' One of these two mast happen; either he 
 
 * must fall, or we must perish. Let us in* 
 ^stantly publish a decree, commanding eve^ 
 ^ry man to declare wdiere he may be found,- 
 ^ .that he may be apprehended, tried, -and 
 ''punished .according to his crimes/ 
 
 During the foregoing speech, a variety of 
 passions agitated the mind of N icodemiis ; he 
 vas full of indignation at the bitter revilinu's 
 ©f Alexandci*, vexed to hear an innocent and 
 vorthy man treated so contemptuously. He 
 adored the conversation ai>d character of 
 Jesus; but was fearful of giving oifence to 
 his brethren by speaking too boldly and opc^* 
 
iy; therefore -with prudential care he ek- 
 pressed himself in the followiAg manner : 
 
 * Men of Israel, and children of the stock. 
 
 * of Abraham, it cannot be denied, that every 
 ' means by which deception can be detected, 
 
 * or rebellion averted, demands our conside- 
 
 * ration, and merits the highest applause. 
 ^ Sedition comes from the lower regions, and 
 ^ should be driven back to its accursed habi- 
 
 * tation, to groan in chains and penal fire, 
 
 * The monster newly born is easily overcome, 
 
 * but when the enormous shape grows fierce 
 
 * and conscious of its own strength, then^. 
 
 * nations perish in its jaws, or groan beneath 
 
 * its feet. Had Theudas who fed the flaniej 
 
 * of rebellion, or Judas of Galilee executed 
 ' their nefarious designs, wx had this hour 
 
 * been numbered with the dead, or slaves to 
 
 * Tyrannical Ambition. They perished ac- 
 ^ cording to their crimes, and God grant 
 ^ that they may be the lot of those who at^ 
 ^ tempt to overturn the approved constitution 
 ^ of their native country. The time is fast 
 
 * approaching, when the great Messiah will 
 
 * bless our land with hberty, peace, and uni- 
 
 * .versal empire. DanieFs seventy weeks have 
 ''liearly finished their tedious round, the 
 
* sceptre is almost fled from Judah, b\ih 
 branches are withered, and our roots decay 
 under the cold damp shade of mighty Rome. 
 The Prince of Peace must soon appear, and 
 the good are in anxious expe6tation for the 
 redemption of Israel; this may give rise to 
 ambitious claims, a bold pretender may de- 
 ceive the unwary, and destruction arise from 
 the misapprehension of ancient prophecies. 
 But while we avoid one extreme let us guard 
 against another, that is groundless fear, 
 jealousy and hatred. These have often 
 kindled the horrors of war, and shed inno* 
 cent blood. Bethlehem and all the coasts 
 can testify, that about thirty years ago tbeif 
 harmless infants perished by the sword. 
 Some imagined the Messiah was then born, 
 and Herod seems to have been of that opi* 
 nion, when through fear and jealousy of 
 the infant king^ he committed such wantoa 
 and unparalleled barbarity. Why fhould we 
 fear any danger from Jesus and his follow- 
 ers? I can perceive no reason for it; and 
 am well convinced he manifests the sincerest 
 regard for Moses and the Prophets, that he 
 stri(:tly enjoins honour and submission to out 
 authority. Attend to his own words, and 
 
 ♦judge him with candour and mipamality, 
 
 I 
 
f' The Scribes and Phcirisees .sit in Mose^ 
 *^ sea,t, whatever therefore they command 
 *' vou to do, observe and do it." When the 
 ' lepers are cleansed by him, he sends them 
 ' dire6iiy to the Priests, and commands them 
 
 * to offer a sacrifice according to the law.* 
 ' Why should we apprehend dan gel' from such 
 
 * a man ? or suspect any treachery in him who 
 ^ commands his followers to obey us? Con- 
 
 * sidering he generously heals the diseased,"^ 
 
 * casts out devils, and sometimes raises the 
 ' dead, it is not surprising that he should be 
 
 * numerously attended; nor is it the iono- 
 
 * rant only that request his assistance. The 
 
 * Rulers of certain synagogues, some of our 
 ' own nobility, and a very honourable-centu- 
 
 * rion have applied to him for relief, and ob- 
 
 * tained it. There is one circumstance which 
 
 * induces me to believe, he can have no evil 
 
 * design against the government ; the fa(5l is 
 ' well attested by many thousands who were 
 
 * e}'e witnesses. Having fed a multitude in 
 
 * the desart with a few loaves and small fiflies, 
 
 * they were so astonished at the miracle, that 
 
 * they instantly conckuled he was the Mes- 
 
 * siah, and unanimously offered to accept 
 
 * him for their king. Had he been ambitious, 
 ^ here was a fair opportunity ; but he declined 
 
* the dimiitv ; thev intrcatcd. nav, went about 
 ' to compel him, but in vain, for he private- 
 
 * ly withdrew into a secret place, and left 
 
 * them peaceably to disperse. This may 
 ' clearly give us fullsecm*ity that he hasnoin- 
 
 * teution to disturb the government, or usurp 
 
 * any national authority. Various are the 
 
 * conjectures concerning this wonderful man ; 
 
 * some imao-ine he is the ^Messiah, *' others 
 " suppose him to be Elias, or one of the an- 
 ** cient Prophets returned to this world." 
 
 * Some are induced to brand him as an im- 
 
 * poster, while Herod, in whose jurisdiction 
 
 * he principally resides, '* is of opinion tliat 
 ^ he is John the Baptist risen from the dead.'' 
 
 * The Roman Governor has not noticed him,* 
 
 * which indicates, that he is under no appre- 
 ^ hension of danger. Amidst such a contra- 
 
 * riety of opinions, how can we judge with 
 
 * any certainty of his character ? d ubtless he 
 ' has friends as well as foes ; the former per- 
 
 * haps may magnify his merit and the latter 
 
 * depreciate his good name. What mode is 
 
 * most adviseable to adopt in this case ? To 
 
 * believe both is impossible ; to credit only 
 
 * one, leaves us in doubtful suspence, or un- 
 
 * deragross mistake ; to condemn a man with- 
 
 * out hearing what he has to say in his do 
 
 12 
 
* fence, is unjust, ^nd forbidden by tbe law» 
 
 * Audi alteram partem is a principle of stri(^ 
 
 * justice and sound policy. It is my decided 
 *. opinion that we should either take no notice 
 
 * of him, or suspend our judgment until an 
 ^ opportunity ofters of enquiring into his pre- 
 
 * tensions by a solemn and personal investi:- 
 ' gation ; and if it appears he cannot produce 
 ' proof of a divine mission, then let him be 
 
 * convided and puniihed as an imposter. 
 
 pis^content was evidently apparent in each 
 countenance, and rage sparkled in every eye. 
 j(Vs soon as he had concluded, Joseph imme- 
 diately rose; a man who had gained a high 
 teputation for his power and wealth, but more 
 ^o for his virtue and piety. Fortitude was 
 Tisible in his look, and solid reason dwelt 
 vpon his tongue. The inheritance of his an*» 
 eeetors, situated on the fertile hill of Arima- 
 thca, was the usual place of his residence, 
 ^here the greater part of his time he passedi 
 in contemplation and retirement ; the sacred 
 •writings yielded him constant amusement. 
 \Vhen in society, he was an accurate obser^ 
 t^er of human condu6t, when alone, he was 
 pious and d«evout. The important a6lions and 
 IIQ.ndt^rfVi character of Jesus Ix^d ixcqumilyi 
 
€4 
 
 hccn the sul)je<**l of his tlieme and praise. "No 
 person of less dignivy and consequence could 
 have gained a patient hearing after what haA 
 been advanced by Nicodemus, as soon as he 
 attempted to speak^ the confused niurmurings 
 of the Chief Priests and Elders subsided, whea 
 thus he stated the undisguised sentiments of 
 his generous heart. 
 
 * Ye Rulers of Israel, your attention I must 
 
 * request for a short time. It is nov\' more 
 
 * than three years since Jesus of Nazareth apr 
 
 * pearcd as a teacher of Galilee and Judea; 
 
 * his character is differently represented ; but 
 
 * by this time surely his genuine or.e might 
 ' have been accurately known. The ^vhole 
 
 * nation has had an opportunity of being 
 
 * acquainted with his doctrine, for it was not 
 
 * dehvered secretly, but in the most public 
 ^ manner, in every synagogue, nay, in the 
 
 * very temple itself. His miracles can give 
 
 * no serious offence to any person ; has he 
 
 * not been. eyes to the blind, and feet to the 
 
 * lame? Has he not opened the ears of the 
 **deaf, and caused the dumb to speak ? Has 
 *'he not delivered many from the power of 
 
 * malignant daemons, and raised some from 
 f \h.^ hdbitation3 of the dead ? Thesl; are facts 
 
m 
 
 indisputable, dotie daily, before a multitud*' 
 of witnesses. Yet, after this, he is branded 
 with the vile epithet of an imposter, and 
 must account for his conduct before oar 
 tribunal. What fliall we say in cm' •own 
 vindication ? Have we not by the most cri- 
 minal negligence suffered "him to delude 
 the people for a long time ? how many op- 
 portunities have we had e'er now, to demand 
 an account of his a6tions ? He has been ho 
 stranger in Jerusalem, thousands have heard 
 him in this most holy temple, and have ob- 
 served Avith silent wonder and admiration 
 the glory of his power. The fear of the mul- 
 titude is an unmanly excuse ** The fear 
 ' of man bringeth a snare, but sanctify ye 
 
 * the Lord of hosts, and let him be vour 
 ' fear and your dread, for we judge not for 
 ' men, but for the Lord, who is with us iii 
 ' the judgment," and therefore we ought to 
 judge righteously. This can never be at- 
 attained, unless we impartially receive the 
 evidence on both sides. 
 
 * Much has been said in opposition to this 
 ' just man, you have heard his accusers M^ith 
 ' patience. Equity demands your attention, 
 
 * while I offer in his behalf that which strikes 
 
6r 
 
 * rne to be iiiatcvial for your consideration* 
 '>- nie, we are informed, imagine him to be 
 'an im^joster; but wliat proof liave we of 
 ' this ? iia^ he urged any do<5lrines incompa- 
 'tibie with righteousness and truth, or €on* 
 
 * trary to any of the divine attributes? If he 
 ' has, let them be substantiated. Has he 
 
 * maintained any doctrine ineonsistent with 
 
 * the divine law, or the perfection and fehcity 
 ^ human nature ? If he has, let it be fairly 
 ' proved. On the contrary, has he not ex- 
 
 * pounded, recommended, and enforced the 
 ' law and the prophets? *' Think not that I 
 *' am con:ic to destroy the law or the pro- 
 *' phets, said he, I am come not to de- 
 *^ stroy, but to fuHill. For, verily I fay 
 *' uuto yau till heaven and earth pass, one 
 "jot or one tittle fliall in no wise pass 
 ^'from the law, till all be fulfilled." What 
 ' more could any man say in support of the 
 ' sacred writing-s? It is not the conduft of 
 
 * an imposter. If miracles are proofs of a di- 
 ^ vine mission, how can we deny him to be a 
 ' Prophet ? Neither Zoan"s field, nor Edom s 
 ' flood, nor the liowlings of the vrildernes.% 
 
 * nor tlie streams oi Jordan, none of these 
 ^ can boast of miracles so full of grac« 
 
 * and mercv as those I have stated. li% 
 
 * many of the former, our' ancestors bcheid 
 
'^ the power, justice, and indignation of the 
 
 * Ahiiighty. In the latter, we observe his 
 
 * tender pity and compassion, his kind affec- 
 
 * tion and good will to the miserable and dis- 
 
 * tressed. 
 
 ' It is well known John the Baptist wroiight 
 
 * no mira(^les, yet he was universally regarded 
 *as a Prophet; let us attend to his opinion 
 
 * of this man, v/hen We sent Priests and Le- 
 
 * vites to Bethabara to enquire whether he 
 
 * was Elias or the Messiah, he answered he was 
 
 * neither ; being sent only to prepare the ap- 
 
 * pcarance of the Messiah, by preaching the 
 
 * dodrine of repentance, and remission of 
 
 * sins to all who waited for redemption in 
 
 * Israel. He told them that the Messiah was 
 
 * already come ; but was unknown^ to the 
 
 * world. What is yet more extraordinary, 
 
 * upon the very day after, as he was walking 
 
 * with some of his disciples, he observed Jesus 
 
 * of Nazareth, and told them unequivocally 
 
 * he was the person. At another time, when 
 
 * baptizing at the streams of Ennon, I am 
 
 * informed by authority some of his disciples 
 
 * moved with envy, complained that Jesus 
 "• was more successful in gaining proselytes 
 'than he. He replied, 1 am rejoiced to hear 
 
€9 
 
 * it, for T before informed you T was not the 
 Messiah, lie only whose glory you seem to 
 envy, is the man; the number of his dis- 
 ciples will increase daily ; but mine shall 
 be diminished. Since the death of their 
 master, his disciples have followed this man. 
 Whatever John said has been truly fulhUed. 
 Therefore I conclude the characters of the 
 two persons must either stand or fall toge- 
 ther. If John was a true Prophet, Jesus 
 can be no imposter. If Jesus be a deceiv- 
 ver, John must have been involved in the 
 same plot, which appears altogether improb- 
 able. I am told they were strangers to each 
 other, living at a diftance, men of very dif- 
 ferent tempers. 1 he one extremely gentle 
 and famihar; the other referved, diliaat 
 and auftere. 
 
 * Many are prejudiced agalnft Jesus for the 
 meanness of his birth, and low eft ite ia 
 this world. But what is birth ? a mere ac* 
 cident, out of the power of every man. 
 God gives us birth, but he gives it by whom 
 he pleases ; *' he maketh rich, and he maketli 
 'poor*." How often has he hurLd the 
 
 * 1 Sam. ii. 1» 
 
Y^'i? 
 
 
 
 mighty from fieir splendid tllrofies, and 
 advanced the obscure to themoft important 
 offices? Was not Moses once in the situation 
 of an helpless orphan, exposed among the 
 flags of the river ^vile? And yet God raised 
 him to be the leader of his people, and king 
 ofJesliurun. David the son of Jesse was 
 once a shepherd, musician, and armour 
 bearer to Saul the son of Kish, until God 
 exalted him to the throne of Israel. Amos 
 was neither a prophet nor a prophet's son, 
 he was merely a herdsman, and a gatherer 
 of sycamore fruit, and yet the Lord took 
 him as he followed the flock, and bade him 
 Go prophecy unto my people Israel. A 
 man's birth can neither add to, nor detract 
 from his personal merit, '* his life consistetb 
 ^ not in the abundance of the thino-s which 
 ' he possesseth*'. " I despise the son of a 
 king if he is a bad man, I honour and es- 
 teem the son of a carpenter if he be a good 
 man, and a friend of his country. What 
 though some of his neighbours should treat 
 him with contempt? Is there any thing 
 strange in that? Must we suppose them all 
 to be competent judges of true merit and 
 
71 
 
 personal M^orth ? Surely not. Fools of eve- 
 ry kind, high or low, rah or poor, judge of 
 men only from their outward appearance, 
 til is is a false standard, lor there are many 
 circum?jtances in human life which reduce 
 the greatest to a level with the meanest. 
 > either wealth, nor power, nor worldly 
 S|>leiidour can mak*^^' us great in the sight .f 
 God; virtue only is estimable in his account. 
 If we judge by this standard, who can be 
 greater than he who instructs the ignorant, 
 comforts the afilicted, reforms the vicious, 
 heals the diseased, casts out devils, and 
 raises the dead. His freedom of speech I 
 find has caused nmch offence, — Is there 
 any thing new in that ? The prophets and 
 men in every age have been odious for the 
 same reason. We may every day observe 
 the truth of Solomon's observation. ^' Re- 
 ' prove notascorner left he hate thee, rebuke 
 ' a wise man and he will love thee*.'* If we 
 are conscious of these offences laid to our 
 charge; why should we be offended? Let 
 us reform, and his rebukes will cease. The 
 same freedom he uses with all ; — Is it not 
 a proof of syftematical integrity when he 
 
 * PruY. ix. S. 
 
72 
 
 * flatters no human being ? Can lie give 
 ^ a more positive assurance of his regard 
 
 * to God, and love to his country than 
 ' by advancing the interest of religion, and 
 ' the reformation of bad men at the expence 
 ^ of his own life? Was not this the work of 
 
 * all the prophets? who were generally de- 
 
 * splsed, persecuted, and put to death on 
 
 * that very account. 
 
 ' He has threatened the destru6lion of our. 
 ^ city and nation ; so did tlie ancient pro- 
 
 * phets, and you are aware by the Chaldean 
 
 * army their words were exa^Hy accomplished. 
 ' \\ hatcver veno-eance has been threatened 
 ' againft our land for impiety, appears to have 
 
 * a strong foundation in the prophecies of 
 
 * Daniel, *' Seventy weeks are determined 
 *' ujon thy people, and upon thy holy city, 
 *' to fuiish the transgression, and to make an 
 *' end (.f sins, and to make reconciliation for 
 *' iiiiquity, arid to bring in everlasting righ- 
 *' teousiiCss, and to seal up the vision and 
 ^' and pioj hecy, and to anoint the most holy: 
 *' Aih\ the [;coplc of the prince that shall 
 *^ come, shah destroy the city, and the sane*- 
 ^' tuary, and the end thereof shall be with 
 ** a tlood, and uuto the end of the war^ de- 
 
^' solations are determinecl*/' These seventy 
 ' weeks are nearly concluded ; take heed, 
 ' theretbie, what ye do to this man, lest the 
 ^ evil you are anxiou^ to avoid be hi a tenfold 
 * degree inlupportable. 
 
 * If we permit this man who assumes tire 
 character of the IMessiah and king of the 
 Jews to Hve, we are told the Roman ar- 
 mies may invade our territories — these ap- 
 prehensions are to me -altogether without 
 foundation. Beyond all doubt the Roman 
 Governor v/ill consult his owi int^i .st, as 
 wtU as the public tranciuility. Vv liy should 
 timidity seize us when he appears insensible 
 of danger. 
 
 ' He has been accused of publicly violat- 
 ing the Sabbath ; but how does that appear? 
 He heals the diseased, and casts out devils 
 u; on that day; — Is there any impiety in 
 this? Vviil any man be bold enough to an- 
 swer what he advanced in his justilication ? 
 
 * I iie seventy weeks in Dunlei ix. 24. are meant 
 of weeks of years, and make up four hundred and 
 ninety years. Tiiis mode of reckoning years by 
 daNS is not unusu.tl in the sacred writings. Vide Gea» 
 Xxix. 27. — £zek, iv..4, 5. — ilev, xii. 6. xiij. 5. 
 

 '* "What man," said he, '^ shall there be 
 '' among you, that shall have one sheep, and 
 *' if it tall into a pit on the Sabbath day, will 
 ^' he not lay hold on it and lift it out? How 
 " much then is a man better than a sheep ? 
 '' Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the 
 *' Sabbath days*." ''To do justice and 
 *' judgement is more acceptable to the Lord 
 *' than sacrificef . '• 
 
 ^ If the traditions of the Elders oppose the 
 
 * divine law, why should we defend them, or 
 
 * be dissatisfied when the contradiction is ex- 
 
 * posed. The word of God seems to be the 
 
 * only rule for our faith and praftice. '' To 
 *^ the law and to the testimony, if they speak 
 *' not according to this word, it is because 
 *' there is no hghtin them J." 
 
 ' For presuming to pardon sin he is charged 
 
 * with blasphemy. True it is, that none can 
 ^ pardon sin but God: but if God has CoiIq- 
 
 * gated that authority and power to him, to 
 ^ heal the affli6led, and raife the dead, may 
 
 * not the same authority to pardon sin be de- 
 
 * legated also. The one is as difficult as the 
 
 ^ Matt. xii. 12, t Frov. xxL 3. % Ifa. viii. 20^ 
 
^other, and the on€ tends ftrongly to con- 
 
 * tirm the other. 
 
 ' The charpe of pluttonv, drunkenness, 
 *and a familiarity Avith publicans and sin- 
 
 * ners of which he has been accused, must 
 
 * fall when his apology is considered, " They 
 *' that be whole need not a physician, but 
 *' they that are sick. For I am not come to 
 ** call the rif^hteous, but sinners to repent- 
 *' ance*.'* How can any person inbtru6l and 
 
 * reform the vicious, without conversing with 
 
 * them? From the detestation of their vices, 
 * -we may be induced to hate their persons, 
 ' and avoid their conversation ; but he 
 
 * that seeks after the degxnerate, in order to 
 
 * reform and save them, must possess an un- 
 
 * common degree of goodness and condescen- 
 
 * sion, a man seldom to be found in the pi^- 
 
 * sent age. ^V'hy should he be condemned 
 ' for preferring repenting Publicans, to im- 
 ' penitent Scribes and Pharisees, for God will 
 
 * do the same.^ 
 
 ^ There are £ilse miracles as well as true, I 
 "* admit, and Closes has clearly explained the 
 
 ■^^-^ ' ' " - . 1— ^i. 
 
 * Alatt, ix. 12, 13. 
 
70 
 
 *diiierei3CC. The false Propliet says, '* Let 
 *^ us g:o after other Gods which thou hast 
 *' not known, and let lis serve them; thou 
 '^ shalt not hearken to the words of that pro- 
 '•^ phet^." Can this be appHed to Jesus of 
 
 * Nazareth ? Or where is tl)e similitude be- 
 
 * tween the magicians of Egypt and him ? 
 ' Their miracles were wrought in confirma- 
 
 * tion of the grossest idolatry, and to mairi- 
 ' tain the authority of a weak and tyrannical 
 
 * Prince ; mischief they did, but could not 
 ^ remove it. By Moses and Aaron tliey were 
 ^ confounded, who in the name of the true 
 
 * God wrought their miracL'S, in confirma^ 
 ^ tion of his divinity, and the reformation of 
 •^ the Egyptians from the moft abominable 
 
 * idolatrv. No miracles of an immoral or 
 ^ impious tendency ought to be regarded. 
 ^ Surely this is not the case with Jesus of Na- 
 
 * zareth. Has he ever proposed to withdraw 
 *us from the worship of the true God? Has 
 ' he promulged any do61rines contrary to rea- 
 
 * son, or incompatible with tlie perfec:tions of 
 ^ the deity? Has he ever recommended any 
 ' thing dishonourable to God, or injurious 
 
 * to men ? Make that appear, and 1 will boid- 
 
 * Deut. xiii. 2, 3. 
 
n 
 
 * ly brand him an imposter, and deserving 
 ^ an ignominious death. Upon all occasions, 
 ^ he recommends to the people, the worship 
 'of one God, even the God of Abraham, 
 
 * Isaac, and Jacob : None observes it with 
 
 * more scrupulous exactness than himself. 
 
 * In the name of God his miracles are wrong! it 
 
 * and to his power he ascribes them ; they are 
 
 * performed in confirmation of the moft pious 
 
 * and useful doctrines. C.ai these be deemed 
 
 * false miracles? if so, there neverwere any true. 
 
 * It surprises me these wonders of the divine 
 ^ grace ihould he attributed to the agency of 
 
 * the Devil, nothing can be more repugnant 
 'to the feelings and chara(^er of that malig- 
 *nant Spirit, or more subversive of his king- 
 ^dom. Who can credit that Satan is friend- 
 
 * ly to us, that the apoftate angels compas- 
 
 * sionate our misery, that division reigns in 
 ' hell; and half their armies combat in our 
 ^ cause? Such inccmsistencies no rational 
 ' being can believe. Jesus of Nazareth has 
 ' overcome the impious ; they fly his pre- 
 ^ sence, and tremble at his rebuke. 
 
 * Shall we conclude he wanted power, be« 
 ^ icaufe he denied a sign from heaven ? No, 
 
 L 
 
7S 
 
 we know hi^ power extends to the regions 
 ot* the dead. Have ve not heard how in 
 Cana of Gahlee he turned water into wine? 
 How thousands vs^ere satisfied with a small 
 portion of food ? How hf rehuked the stormy 
 winds, and tempestuous sea, and they obey- 
 ed hnn ? 'lo demand of him a fign from 
 Heaven perhaps was unreasonable, after s© 
 little attention was paid to his terrestial ca- 
 reer. What signs could we desire from hea^ 
 ven? Suppose the radiant sun should be 
 turned into darkness, or the silver moon 
 loft in the no6lurnal sky : If the tremendous 
 thunder shorUd roar along the heavens, and 
 o'larins: meteors ila^h above our heads. If 
 these should occur accordiug to our desire, 
 and in obedience to his command, our cu- 
 riosity might be indulged, and our wonder 
 excited : but would all objections be remov- 
 ed? No, incredulity might persevere in its 
 unreasonable demands, and ini|)ute these 
 to the established laws of nature. If Satan 
 has power to woik miracles on earth, v/by 
 not in the air also ? We are more liable to be 
 deceived by distant objects, than by those 
 that are near ; there can be no deceit where 
 we have an opportunity of scrutinizing with 
 familiarity, which is the ca,sc with the mi* 
 
79 
 
 / racles of Jesus, and the evidence is so irrc- 
 ' sistible that no man can have elironteiy 
 * to deny them. 
 
 * As for the amazing charms of the tetra- 
 gram mat on, to which the performance of 
 his mighty works by sope are attributed, it 
 hardly needs an observation ; for surely no 
 combination of sounds or letters can ever 
 work a miracle. When he refused a sio'u 
 from heaven, he gav^e us one sufficiently sa- 
 tisfactory, ^' For as Jonas was three days 
 ' and three nights in the whale's belly, so 
 ' shall the Son of Man be three days and 
 ' three nights in the heart of the earth*." 
 Time can only explain thfe meaning of thefe 
 words, as they point to some future event. 
 Appealing to the signs of the times, he 
 desired our impartial consideration, Da- 
 niel's i'eventy weeks are nearly expired, for 
 thits reason the coming of the Messiah can- 
 not be far diftant. Thirty years ago, au 
 extraordinary sign appeared in the heavens, 
 a beaming ^tar of uncommon magnitude 
 was observed in the aerial height; at that 
 time certain wise men from the eaft arrivtdl 
 
 ■^U — ( i t fit d . .>■■■,, . . . '■' 'J.. , «,..■.■ .JlSJ g 
 
 * Alatt. xii. 40^ 
 
8ir 
 
 ^ in Jerusalem, concluded from their native 
 land by its tardy movement through the 
 sky, enquiring for him who was born to be 
 King of the Jews. Stri6t examination wa^ 
 made into the place of his nativity ; Bethle- 
 hem was fixed upon as foretold by the Pro- 
 phet. Til is is a fa6f well attested. I might 
 alfo appeal to the testimony of certain men 
 living near that city, M'ho at the fame time 
 were fiurprised by a vision in the night when 
 watching their flocks, '^ Behold an aiigel 
 ' appeared to them, saying, Fear not : for 
 ' i bring unto you good tidings of great joy, 
 ^ which shall be unto all people ; for unto 
 ' you is born this day, in the city of David, 
 ' a Saviour, which is Chrift the LoixP." If 
 any shall question the veracity of this facl, 
 I will appeal to another which cannot be de- 
 nied, and which all muft remember with 
 horror and indignation, I mean the ilaugh-* 
 ter of all the children from two years old and 
 u)uler in that country. To account for an 
 aClion so superlatively barbarous and inhu^ 
 man, in any way, than by admitting the 
 truth of these extraordinary facls, the ap- 
 ptarance of the star, the declaration and 
 
 * Luke ii. 10, li^^ 
 
81 
 
 enquiry of the wise men, the informatlori 
 given concerning the place of the Messiah's 
 birth, by th-e Scribes and Pharisees is utter- 
 ly impossible. These seem to have convin- 
 ced Herod that the Messiah was then born, 
 and dreading the loss of his power and au^^ 
 thority, in order to prevent it he practised 
 the moft wanton cruelty ever heard of iu 
 any age. If the Messiah v/as then born, 
 we have every reason t<^ believe that tlie 
 Divine Providence would not sutler liini to 
 perish in the common slaughter, for we are 
 told. *' that he shall abide for ever*." 
 About twenty years ago a child appeared in 
 this very temple, immediately after the pass- 
 over; whose unbounded genius and under- 
 standing astonished every one that heard 
 his conversation with our learned Rabbis, 
 What if this child fhould be the same that 
 escaped the vengeance of Herod, the same 
 who now teacheth the people, and worketli 
 miracles? These were the signs (^f the times» 
 John tiie Baptist bore witness of him, he 
 ^ was doubtless a prophet, and it is evident 
 in all the country of Judea what extraordi- 
 nary signs occurred to his father Zaeh arias; 
 
 ♦ John xii. 34. 
 
^ bow, in an instant he was struck dumb, 
 ^ and remained s])eechless, till the bhth and 
 ■ circumcision ot' his son, when he immedi- 
 
 * ately foretold, sa}ing, *' And thou child 
 *^ shalt be called the Prophet of the Highest, 
 ^\ for thou shalt go before the face of the 
 ^* Lord, to prepare his ways^/' These are 
 ^ some of the extraordinary signs performed 
 
 * by this man, though not, I am informed, 
 
 * yet forty years *f age; the truth of them, 
 ^ as well as the amazing works latterly done 
 ^ by him, claim our serious deliberations. 
 
 ^ Upon a certain occasion he made use of 
 
 * these remai'kable words, ^' Eetore Abraham 
 ^ ' was I am t- " At first view, I grant they have 
 
 * the appearance of falfhood : but is it to be 
 ^ supposed that a person of conmion pru- 
 ' dence would attempt to deceive the world, 
 ^ by affirming that as true, which every one 
 ^ must know to be false? Far less is it to be 
 ^ supposed from one, who in every instance 
 ^ has discovered a direct enmity to ever} fpe- 
 ^ cies of dissimulation. This mckices me to 
 
 * think his words are misinterpreted. C eiv 
 ' tain it is he was not born before Abraham, 
 
 Sim- ■ " -^ 
 
 * JLuke i. 76. t johnviii, 58. 
 
83 
 
 ** and yet liis words seem to imply that lie ex* 
 isted previous to Abraliain: These are t\v6 
 different points ; the one is manifestly false, 
 the other may be true lor any thing wd 
 know to the contrary. I do not pretend 
 io understand his meaning; but I tlnnk 
 there is no impossibihty in what he says; 
 Some imagine hint to be Jeremias, or one of 
 the ancient Prophets returned to this world ; 
 his ao'c has never been* thought incon- 
 sistent with that supposition. If we sup-*- 
 pose him to have been an angel, the sams 
 with Michael, whom the Prophet Daniel 
 calls tlie first or chief of all the heavenly 
 Princes, the great Princ.e which standcth 
 for our people, or our Prince by way erf 
 distinction from all others; what if theft 
 Prince ILould be the angel of Go'^l's presence, 
 mentioned by Isaiah, the angel, that saved 
 our fathers from all their afflietions, the an- 
 gel that appeared to Moses in the burning 
 bush, the angel that wrestled with Jacob 
 and blessed him, the angel that appeared 
 to Abraham in the plains of ^iamre, and 
 that rained down brin:stone and fire upon 
 Sodom and Gomonha from the Lord of 
 Heaven. Let us imagine this person de- 
 scending from the Heavens, and Iniug in 
 
•84- 
 
 •* a hiimaii body for the space of thirty years 
 
 * upon earth, might he not according to this 
 •'supposition affirm with the greatest consist- 
 
 * ency '* Before Abraham was, I am." 
 
 ' Be that as it may, the idea of offering vio- 
 *lcnce to a person whose power is so great, 
 ^ and whose condu6l so exemplary, is too 
 *shockiiio; to admit of the least countenance 
 ' or encourap-ement. It is not the multitude 
 
 * I fear, his power far exceeds their united 
 
 * forces; he who heals the s'ck, can wound 
 
 * the whole ; he who raised the dead can in- 
 ^ flict death. Already he has suffered many in- 
 ' dignities, his meekness, patience, and lor- 
 "* bearance are truly unaccountable ; ^\ ho can. 
 -* tell how long they may continue ? Recoiled 
 
 * what the Prophet Elijah did to the two cap- 
 ^ tains of Ahazeah, and their companies, he 
 ^ called for fire from Heaven and consumed 
 ^ them. Beware lest the commandment of the 
 '* Lord be in any degree violated, ^hich or- 
 > daineth, ''Touch not mine anointed, and 
 ^* do my Prophets no harm*. '' 
 
 At these words, murmur and confusion pre- 
 vailed so much that none cruld hear his 
 
 * Fsa, cv* 1^. 
 
85 
 
 voice, while every eye beheld hun with scorn- 
 ful indignation. 
 
 Caiaphas the Higli Priest rose up, and 
 immediately silence was reftored. He had 
 attended with malignant pleasure to the 
 speeches of Annas and Alexander, because 
 they corresponded with his own prejudiced 
 inclinations: Nicodemus and Joseph having 
 removed every objection, with so modest and 
 becoming a freedom, he did not attempt to 
 answer what they had so forcibly advanced ; 
 but having recourse to worldly policy, he 
 spoke in the following manner. 
 
 * Ye Rulers of Israel, and heads of the 
 
 * house of Jacob, your attention I muftrequeft 
 
 * for a short time, while I lay before you the 
 
 * the true state of the case, as I apprehend 
 
 * much time has been taken up to little pur- 
 
 * pose. Many things have been advanced in 
 
 * opposition to this man, and not a little has 
 
 * been urged in his defence, not only the po- 
 
 * pulace but the Sanhedrim are divided in 
 ^ their opinions; and perhaps it is impossible 
 ' that we should all exactly correspond in our 
 
 * ideas. The queftion is not, whether he be 
 
 * a true or a false Prophet, whether he be 
 
 M 
 
8^ 
 
 
 guilty or innocent, but whether the state 
 be in danger, or not? This, I am of opi- 
 nion, may be answered in the affirmative. 
 You M^ill , observe, he is followed by great 
 numbers wherever he goes. Whether he be 
 in the villages, or in the cities, or in the 
 wilderness, he is constantly attended by an 
 immense retinue. Bevond all doubt this 
 will give umbrage to the Romans, who are 
 jealous of then- power, and alarmed at the 
 first appearance of a revolt. Their appre- 
 hensions of danger will be followed by aa 
 army, to disperse these numerous assem- 
 bhes. What will be the consequence ? Will 
 they suddenly abandon his person, whom 
 they imagine a great . Prophet, and even 
 the Messiah himself? Most assuredly not, 
 the high opinion formed of him, together 
 with the expe6lation of liberty, coiu|uefl 
 and power under his protection, will ani- 
 mate their courage, and induce them to re- 
 sist. War will then be declared against our na- 
 tion, when we are in no condition to defend 
 ourselves, or recover our expiring liberty: 
 
 * These melani:holy consequences will follow 
 
 * from suffering him to go free. The case is 
 
 * clear, either he or the whole nation muflv 
 
 * perish, it is more expedient that one many 
 
«7 
 
 * be lie never so innocent, should fall for the 
 ' public security, than the whole nation 
 
 * be ruined upon his account. I am of 
 
 * opinion not a moment should be lost, and 
 ' for that purpose, let a decree be immedi- 
 ' ately proclaimed, commanding every man, 
 ' upon pain of our eternal displeasure, to 
 ' discover him, in order that he may be ap- 
 
 * prehended.' 
 
 Nicodemus and Joseph boldly dissented 
 from this decree, and many others secretly 
 in their hearts : but the majority of the San- 
 hedrim agreed with the Chief Prieft, and con- 
 firmed his sentence by the sanftipn of their 
 authority. 
 
 No sooner was the decree published for ap- 
 prehending Jesus, when fame with rapid 
 wings, and a thousand tongues dispersed the 
 news over the adjacent country. Various 
 were the opinions upon this occasion ; soma 
 were filled with indignation at a sentence so 
 unjuft and impious; some attached to the 
 Scribes and Pharisees, applauded the decree, 
 with the most intemperate zeal, and inde- 
 cent enthusiasm ; others seemed in a ftato 
 ff uncertainty, indulging a variety of cou* 
 
]e6tures as to the issue of such an extraor? 
 dinary affair. When the news reached Be- 
 thany, which was in the evening, Jesus and 
 his disciples retired from the dangerous 
 scene to a city called Ephraim upon the 
 confines of the wilderness. Being aware the 
 time predided for his death was not arrived, 
 he withdrew into that secret place in order 
 to avoid the rage of his implacable enemies. 
 There his time was spent in familiar inter- 
 course with his disciples, and in fervent de- 
 votion towards God. In this manner was 
 he engaged until the Passover, when all his 
 sufferings were to end in an ignominious 
 death. Aware of this, he secreted himself 
 no longer ; and in conformity to his hea- 
 venly Father's will, he journeyed with his dis- 
 ciples to Jerusalem. As they drew near, he 
 was warned of the sentence published by the 
 Sanhedrim, and of the danger he exposed 
 himself to by publicly appearing in the city 
 upon that occasion. To which he replied, 
 
 * Let no difficulty of that sort terrify you, 
 ^ for thouo'h it behoves us to consult our own 
 ^ security consistent with the divine will, 
 ^ which hitherto 1 have done upon every oc- 
 
 * casion, yet we should never be so muchf 
 ^ pverawed by timidity, as to doubt the pro- 
 
vidence ©f God, or fail in our obedience to 
 him, let the difficulty be never so apparent. 
 It remains for ^-ou only, to enquire what 
 God commands to be done, in every situa- 
 tion of life, and to discharge that witli for* 
 titude and integrity, never considering in 
 the scale what may be the issue of the event: 
 leaving that to Providence who direds 
 all thino's for the bed and moil salu-^ 
 tary purposes. By the law of Moses ^we 
 ought cordially to commemorate the re- 
 demption of Israel from the Land of Egypt 
 and the house of Bondage; we may indeed 
 be exposed to danger by doing so at this 
 time, when the Chief Priefts and Elders 
 have resolved to apprehend and put me to 
 death ; and I am well convinced their inten- 
 tions they will put into execution. Often 
 have I acquainted you, and now inform 
 you again, that every thing which the Pro^ 
 phets have written concerning me will 
 shortly be fulfilled. At the Passover, the 
 Jews will apprehend me; they will condemn, 
 insult, and abuse me in the most provoking 
 manner, deliver me into the cuftody of the 
 Gentiles, who will scourge and crucifv me 
 as an imposter; y>;t after three days I shall 
 r^^e aoain, I am not ignorant of my dan^ 
 
90 
 
 * ger, nor am I unwilling to suffer in obe-* 
 
 * dience to my father's will' 
 
 The disciples were much deje6led and 
 alarmed at these words, and though he ex- 
 pressed himself in the clearest manner, yet 
 being incompatible with their confirmed pre- 
 judices, they could not comprehend his 
 meaning. After a short pause spent in grief 
 and perplexity, Peter said to him, ' Lord, 
 ' I am at a loss to understand your meaning, 
 
 * and hope the things you have stated will 
 
 * never come to pass, for they appear incon^ 
 ^ sistent with the ancient Prophets, and re- 
 ^ pugnant to our sanguine wishes. The evil 
 ■ inclination e>f your foes I do not doubt, but 
 ^ it becomes you to defeat their designs, or 
 
 * avoid their unbounded malice.' 
 
 At these words, Jesus viewed Peter, with 
 a mixture of pity and indignation : ' You 
 
 * imagine,' said he, ' you have given me 
 ^ friendly counsel; but you are much deceiv- 
 - ed, you have a6led the part of an adver- 
 
 * sary, advising disobedience to the will of 
 
 * God, who by my death purposes to establish 
 
 * a kingdom of righteousness and truth. You 
 
 * appear not to have a proper conception of 
 
9i 
 
 ^ this matter; you are anxious for a worldly 
 ' kingdom, and fondly conceive, that I shall 
 Miave dominion over the Jews, and all othef 
 
 * nations with the pomp and splendour of an 
 
 * earthly kino-. Neither my security nor the 
 
 * glory of God have you in view, but the gra- 
 
 * tification of your own ambitious inclinations, 
 
 * Those you must abandon, and look with 
 
 * anxiety for the literal accomplishment of 
 ' my words. ' 
 
 After tills severe reprimand, they followed 
 him in profound silence, with sorrow, terror, 
 and disappointment contendingin their breast, 
 until they arrived m Bethany, at the house of 
 Simon the Leper, who saluted them with the 
 most joyful hospitality. During the time 
 refreshment was preparing, Jesus conversed 
 upon various topics, equally pleasing and in- 
 stru6]ive: Lazarus together with his two sis- 
 ters abode in the same house; finding a con- 
 venient opportunity, he thought proper to 
 notice to Jesus, that he had at divers times 
 meditated upon the state of the dead, from 
 which he had obtained such a miraculous de*- 
 liverance, and observing he could not recoi- 
 led what passed di^tring that time, he was- 
 induced to think that it was a state of tot^ 
 
9i 
 
 Insensibilit}^ without thought, aAion, or en- 
 joyment, and that the idea of re-entering 
 that state, filled his imagination with perpe- 
 tual melancholy. 
 
 Jesus answered, '^ you ought not to con- 
 ^ elude, that death is either a suspension, or 
 ^ extinction of thought and activity, be- 
 ^ cause you have no recolle6lion of what pas- 
 
 * sed during that time, for if you ruminate 
 ^ upon your past life, you will have but an 
 '^ i m p e rf e 61 re m em b r an c e of t h e i n nura e r abl e 
 ^ thoughts in which you have been a6tually 
 ^ eno'aired. To think and a6l is one thinsr, 
 '^ to recolle6l your thoughts and actions is 
 '^another; the state of the dead differs from 
 ^' the living, and it is highly improper you 
 ^ should be conversant of what passed in that 
 
 * invisible world. The wisdom of God is ma- 
 ^ nifestly apparent from what he reveals iii 
 "^this life, and you may conclude, that he is 
 
 * not less wise and good to men, in conceal- 
 
 * ing many things from their present view; 
 ' whatever is useful he has made abun- 
 
 * dantly clear ; but whatever is useless he 
 ^ hath concealed from the eyes of the liv- 
 
 * ing; therefore cast a\vuy all useless enqui- 
 ' fiQS concerning the state of departed souls, 
 
95* 
 
 ^ and rest assured, that death will nrtt he the? 
 
 * end of vour existence, that there is another 
 
 * and a better world, where every one shall 
 
 * be happy or miserable, according to the 
 
 * deeds done in the body, whether good 
 
 * or evil.' — The conversation here ended,* 
 when they all partook of the supper pre- 
 pared for their entertainment. Here was 
 abundance without luxury, friendship with- 
 out dissimulation, truth without detraction, 
 temperance without austerity, and religion 
 without hypocrisy; one only must be except- 
 ed, for while ]\Iary who attended and stood 
 behind Jesus, listened with pleasing admira- 
 tion to what he said, in a sudden transport 
 of the purest love, and most grateful affec- 
 tion, she poured a vial of precious essence 
 Upon his head and feet, and wiped them 
 with her hair, which hung in graceful though 
 UHadorned ringlets down her shoulders. 
 This a<5l Judas eyed with a look of disappoint- 
 ed avarice ; and pausing a little, he said, 
 
 * This is certainly most unnecessary extrava- 
 
 * gance, for that ointment which is of great 
 
 * value might have been sold at a high price 
 
 * and given to the poor.' This was a vile 
 subterfuge, for he regarded not the poor; 
 but bemga person of insatiable covetou^ness/ 
 
 N 
 
and purse-bearer to Jesus and his disciples^ 
 he was mortified because the ointment had 
 not been sold, and the money placed in his 
 hands, that he might as he had done before, 
 convert it to his own infernal benefit. This 
 his gracious master was not unacquainted 
 with, and replied with great mildness and 
 condescension, ' Reprove her not for wl at 
 
 * she has done, she merits applause, it iS a 
 
 * token of her kind regard and grateful rlis- 
 
 * position, by honouring me before my 
 
 * death; which be assured is not far distant; 
 
 * for this is the last anoniting I shall receive. 
 
 * This precious ointnient she would willingly 
 
 * bestow upon my dead body, as a tok' n of 
 
 * respe6l, and I cannot suppose you will con- 
 
 * demn her for manifesting it upon that UiC- 
 
 * morable occasion : As to the poor, for whom 
 *■ you seem so deeply concerned, you will al- 
 ^ ways have them with you, and if you are 
 
 * so disposed can never want opportunities ta 
 
 * relieve them ; you ought not to murmur, 
 
 * for in a short time all expences upon my 
 
 * account will totally cease.' 
 
 Judas heard this rebuke with sullen silence^ 
 and the rest of the company with mournful 
 surprise; it appeared wonderful that he could 
 
95 
 
 speak in such positive terms concerning ati 
 event so dismal and unexpefted, and with a 
 mind so calm and serene. The time of rest 
 approaching, they kneeled down, when he 
 with fervent prayer, committed himself and 
 his friends to the divine protedion, after 
 Avhich they retired to repose. 
 
 The chearful dawn having ushered in the 
 day, they arose and performed their accus- 
 tomed devotions. In a short time a multi- 
 tude arrived from Jerusalem ; these persons 
 had gained information the evening preceed- 
 ing that Jesus was in Bethany; excited by a 
 strong desire of seeing him and Lazarus whom 
 he had raised from the dead, they colle6led 
 in great numbers, each enquiring of his ac- 
 quaintance into the . particulars of that ex- 
 traordinary fa6l, and desirous of seeing* 
 two persons, of whom they had heard such 
 wonderful reports. Every circumstance beings 
 attested by so many witnesses of indisput- 
 able veracity, they were fully sensible he 
 was the long expeded Messiah. But so great 
 was the obstinacy of the Chief Priests and 
 Pharisees, that observing so many '' goir»g 
 ** to see Lazarus^," they determined to put 
 
 ^— — — . -a » 
 
 * Johnxii. d. 
 
■9S 
 
 him to death also, because numbers daily de^ 
 jserted tlieir party, and believed on Jesus up- 
 X)n his account. 
 
 The multitude perceiving he was about tp 
 'xlepart, with many others proceeded to at- 
 tend the feast of unleavened bread. When 
 in view of Bethpage, a village in Mount OH- 
 fvet belonging to the Priests, and knoAving 
 .that his sufferings were at hand, he deter- 
 4nined no longer to conceal his real dignity, 
 ;0r avoid the malice of his enemies ; therefore, 
 -resolving to enter the city, in meek and low- 
 Jy majesty, as the Prophets had foretold, he 
 ^commanded two of his disciples to lead 
 Jbe way, saying unto them, * Go into the 
 .* village over against you, and straight- 
 
 * way ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with 
 ^ her; loose them and bring them unto me: 
 
 * And if any man say ought unto you, ye 
 
 * shall say, the Lord hath need of them ; and 
 
 * straightway he will send them*." Accord- 
 ingly they departed, while the multitude im- 
 patiently waited the event. In a short time 
 their surprise was increased, for precisely asr 
 he had foretold, they returned with the ass 
 
 * Matt, xxio 2, 3. 
 
97 
 
 andthje colt, having found every circumstan^f; 
 to correspond according to his order. This 
 tended so much the more to sU-eno-then the 
 idea they entertained of his being the Mes- 
 siah. Some of them having spread their gar* 
 ments on the colt, he rode along in humble 
 and peaceful majesty, as kings and righte* 
 ous men had done in the days of ancient 
 simplicity. No gaudy equipage, nor pranc* 
 ing steed did his train attend, no sounding 
 clarion, nor armed body, no pomp, nor splen- 
 dour of terrestial pride, no vain procession, 
 nor ghttering parade did he assume, like 
 empty mortals fond of being viewed, admir- 
 ed, and feared by gazing multitudes. Tho* 
 divinely great, with modest dignity he shap- 
 ed his course, while thousands pouring from 
 the city met him on the way. In testimony 
 of their homage, some spread their garments 
 on the road as he passed, while others strcAV- 
 ed branches of palm-trees before him, an usual 
 circumstance on the triumphant entrance of 
 a mighty prince at a solemn festival; the 
 multitude both behind and before exclaiminfT 
 with enthusiastic admiration, ■ II osanna: 
 
 * Blessed is the King of Israel that cometli 
 
 * in the name of the Lord *:' The iovful sound 
 
 I II I II 1 1*« 
 
 ' ^ ' ~ -—^ 
 
 * John xii. 13* 
 
98 
 
 p-j 
 
 /e-echoed from the hills, and songs melodi-. 
 ous pierced the distant skies. Some of the 
 Pharisees moved with envy, and offended 
 at the homage paid to Jesus by the multitude, 
 and dreading the loss of their authority, in- 
 treated him that he would rebuke his disciples, 
 and not permit them to make such an inde- 
 cent noise. Jesus replied, * By no means, it 
 
 * is meet that some should be permitted to set 
 
 * forth the praises of God with joyful hearts, 
 
 * since you who ought to have been most for- 
 
 * ward, through envy and malice refuse to do 
 '*^it; truly if these should desist, God would 
 ' even work a miracle to raise up others to glo- 
 < rify his name, rath-er than admit of silence 
 *- upon so solemn an occasion.' Approaching 
 Mount Olivet, where they had a view of 
 the city, he stopt for a short time ; the multi- 
 tude eyed him with anxious expe61ation, as he 
 earnestly looked upon Jerusalem ; he mourn- 
 ed, the tears began to flow; at length he 
 raised his voice and exclaimed, 
 
 * O city of the living God! once pui^e, O 
 
 * sacred Salem! once thy Lord's delight, but 
 
 * now detested for thy impieties; O that thou 
 
 * hadst been so wise to have refleded in the 
 
 * last extremity, on the tender invitations of 
 
99 
 
 Divine mercy ! Now alas ! it is too late^ 
 thy c]a\s are nearly finished, thv suu 
 declines, and soon will set in blood ; the 
 time I know full well, the awful time ap- 
 proaches fast, when lo, thy foes shall come 
 in hostile arms, the Roman soldiers shall 
 surround thy walls ; I see their trenches 
 formed about thee, and hemmed on every 
 side ; on all thy bulwarks their battering en- 
 gines play ; death rides triumphant through 
 thy streets, and in thy temple stands his 
 bloody throne; no flight without, xio secu- 
 rity tound within, no house nor walls to 
 shield thee from thy foe : Thy doom is pas- 
 sed, the sentence issued forth, is sealed in 
 heaven, and soon shall be fulfilled.' In this 
 
 manner did he bewail the desolation of hh 
 
 cruel foes. 
 
 As he passed through the valley of Jeho* 
 shaphat, in mournful silence the multitude 
 attended hnn, refle6ling upon his awful pre- 
 diction. At length he crossed the Brook 
 Cedron, and passing by the fountain of Sliilo, 
 he entered the city with all his retinue. 
 The inhabitants were alarmed at a train so 
 numerous; but when they found it was Je- 
 'stis of Nazareth the Prophet of Galilee^ thry 
 
100 
 
 yecei\'cd him with extreme joy. The Chief 
 priests and Pharisees moved with envy and 
 jage, reasoned thus one Vvith another; * Do 
 ^ not you perceive the approaching danger? 
 
 * The more he is opposed, the more his po- 
 ' pularity increases; other measures must be 
 
 * adopted, and speedily executed ; in a short 
 
 * time we shall be entirely abandoned, and 
 
 * left destitute of resistance.' 
 
 Immediately upon entering the city, he 
 %ent diredly to the Temple to instruct the, 
 people : when he had entered the Court 
 of the Gentiles, which was appropriated for 
 proselytes to worship in, he found it most 
 Jiorridly perverted from its original intention, 
 tind turned into a public market where ava- 
 rice practised her various arts of deceit. There 
 ^vere stalls in abundance for exchanging of 
 liioney, persons who sold cattle, doves, and 
 the like; when he beheld the profanaticm of 
 that sacred place, fired with pious zeal, he over-^ 
 turned their tables and stalls, boldly expelling 
 their irreiio-ious owners, and informino- them 
 how intolerable it was to see the house of 
 God which had been consecrated to the di- 
 tine worship, converted into a market for 
 the pra6lice of covetousness and extortion. 
 
101 
 
 A horrid dread seized the breasts of those 
 guilty men, wliich, connecled with a sense of 
 his authority and their own infamy, made 
 them fly without attempting the leafl opposi- 
 tion. 
 
 The temple being cleared, crowds colle6led 
 around him from every quarter of the city^ 
 taking with them the affli6i:ed of every kind. 
 He viewed their woes with the moft tender 
 sympathy and compassion; they implored 
 his aid, and they obtained it. On a sudden 
 their diseases were healed, and not one affli(5l- 
 ed person was found in the whole assembly. 
 Never was astonishment greater, never was 
 gratitude more sincere, their hearts were fill- 
 ed with ecstac|y^, and their tongues uttered 
 forth his praise, the voice of acclamation re- 
 echoed through every court, '^ Hosanna to 
 '^ the Sou of David.*" The Chief Priests 
 highly incensed, exclaimed, ^ Our last de- 
 
 * cree is fruitless, for nond; dare apprehend 
 ' him; let us endeavour if possible to provoke 
 him to say something offensive to the people, 
 
 * or extort some declaration from his own 
 
 * Matt. xxi. 15. 
 
 Q 
 
103 
 
 ' mouth that will enrage the Governor, and 
 
 * expose him to the punishment of the Ro- 
 
 * man laws.' While the Chief Priefts were 
 plotting his downfall, not merely the multi- 
 tude of the Jews, but even inquisitive stran- 
 gers were anxious tojiear and be aequainteci 
 with him, especially some Greeks who came 
 from the borders of Galilee to worship in the 
 outer court of the temple; these bt-'cg ac- 
 quainted with Philip one of the twelve, who 
 lived in Bethsaida in the country of Galilee, 
 earnestly entreated that they might be admit- 
 ted into his presence, and have an opportu- 
 nity to converse with him, Philip informing 
 Andrew of it, they told their master; who 
 answered, ^ If the Greeks are desirous of see- 
 ^ ing me and hearing my infi;ru(^tions, they 
 
 * ai^ welcome, for the tinie draws near when 
 ' my power and glory shall be manifested not 
 ' merely to the Jews, but to ail the nations 
 
 * of the world; this is but a small token of 
 ' the success which my doftrine shall obtain 
 
 * in the world after my death. '' Veril}^, 
 " verily, I say unto you, except a corn of 
 '' wheat fall into the ground and die, it abid- 
 '' eth alone : but if it die, it bringeth forth 
 '^ much fruit*." In hke manner my fnture 
 
 * johnxii, 24» 
 
10*J 
 
 ' glory, and the number of my disciples, 
 shall be infinitely greater after my death 
 than at present. As my kingdom hes be- 
 yond the grave, and as it is necessary that 
 I obtain the possession of it by a variety of 
 sufferings; so must you; for rest assured, 
 if any man, through an immoderate third 
 after this workl, sliall preserve his hfe by 
 avoiding persecution, or forsaking my reli- 
 gion; that man siiall loose everlasting life 
 in the world to come. But he who is desir- 
 ous to forfeit every thing that is dear ia 
 this world for the sake of virtue and relio'ion, 
 shall in the next receive eternal p'lorv and 
 honour. If therefore any person is induced 
 to become my disciple, he must tread in my 
 steps and be prepared to suffer the Avorft for 
 my sake and a good conscience. The dread 
 of these things will doubtless fill your breast^ 
 with horror; nor is it strange, I feel thq- 
 awful prospe6l fills my soul wirh sorrow; 
 here nature shrinks, O God, in that dread- 
 ful hour support me!' Then raising his eye.<i, 
 
 to heaven, he exclaimed, ' O Father, to thy 
 will I entirely resign myself; let all my suf- 
 ferings magnify thy holy name.' Inftautly 
 
 an awful voice was heard from heaven, pro- 
 
 liouncing these words, ' Hitherto have I VQ^ 
 
104 
 
 ' received glory from all thy anions, and 
 
 * henceforth shall I receive glory from all thy 
 ' sufferings.' Many who heard the voice dis- 
 tin6lly, thought an angel spoke to him ; 
 others who heard it imperfe6lly, imagined it 
 was the sound of thunder in the sky. Sur- 
 prize seized all the people, when Jesus said, 
 
 * The voice you have heard came from 
 
 * heaven, not upon my account, as though I 
 ' stood in need of any assurance of my Fa- 
 ' ther's love and affection; No, it was merely 
 ' for your sakes, that ye may have an indis- 
 ^ putable proof of the divinity of my mission, 
 ' and that ye may be satisfied all my suffer- 
 ' ings will end in the extraordinary manifes- 
 
 * tation of the divine glory. The time will foon 
 
 * arrive when the pov/ers of darkness shall 
 
 * be stript of their dominion ; Satan, the God 
 
 * of this world, who has so long deceived the 
 
 * nations by keeping them in ignorance, su-^ 
 
 * perstition, idolatry, and all manner of ini- 
 ' quity, shall soon be divested of his power; 
 
 * for when I am raised from the earth, and 
 
 * depart this world, then all nations and pco~ 
 
 * pie shall hear my do6trine, embrace my re- 
 
 * ligion, abandon their idolatry, and seek for 
 ^salvation by me alone.' At these words 
 ,some of the Jews replied, ^ What do you 
 
^ mean by departing out of the world, for we 
 
 * are informed by the Prophets, that when 
 ' the IMessiah cometh, he shall abide for ever, 
 
 * and that his kingdom shall never pass 
 
 * away; if you are the JMessiah, why do you 
 
 * talk of quitting the world? And if you arc 
 
 * not the Messiah, why do you arrogate to 
 
 * yourself his tiile by calling yourself the Son 
 
 * of Man, as Daniel describes liim ?' To this 
 he replied, ^ I have often acquainted you 
 ' who I am, and have given you the moft sa- 
 ' tisfactory assurances of my divinity; but 
 
 * ye have not regarded them; take heed 
 ^ therefore, lest ye resist the truth, and de- 
 
 * spise the light which is offered to you ; if 
 ' ye do, in a short time ye will be left in 
 ' darkness, be given up to .your own corrupt 
 ' affeclions, and permitted to wander in igno- 
 ' ranee, superstition, and incurable preju- 
 ' dices. Ye affeCt to believe in God, when 
 
 * at the same time, ye obstinately reject 
 ^ my do6lrines and miracles which evidently 
 
 * bear the stamp of Divine wisdom and ^M- 
 
 * mighty power. I came from heaven to en- 
 ' lio'hten the world, to remove the o-ross io-- 
 ' norance, and to reform the abominable im- 
 ' pieties that prevail in it; therefore if any 
 ' man refuses my doftrine^ or lives m opposi< 
 
106 
 
 ^ tion to it, his present guilt and final con- 
 
 * dem nation shall be increased to tlie last 
 
 * degree : Not that I will now pass sentence 
 
 * upon men, or punish them for their unpar- 
 
 * donable wickedness; no, that is not the in* 
 ^ tention of my present coming; lam sent 
 
 * to reclaim and save the world by every 
 
 * means of mildness, gentleness, and love, 
 
 * and to prepare them for everlasting bliss in 
 
 * the world to come. If these fail, then at 
 
 * my second appearance, which will be to 
 
 * judge the world in righteousness, they will 
 
 * be inexcusable ; for the do6lrine I now teach 
 
 * will testif}^ against them, and greatly en« 
 ' hance their hnal condemnation. This must 
 ^ be the case, observing the instructions I 
 
 * deliver are not of my own invention, but 
 ^ a revelation of the divine will, conilrined 
 
 * by miracles, which none but the Almighty 
 ^ power can produce^ 
 
 Having thus spoken, he withdrew from tho 
 temple, and returned with his "disciples to 
 Bethany, as the declining sun drew near the 
 
 western hills. '^ Various were the eifeds of 
 
 I, 
 
 his do6trine upon the minds of the Jews, 
 the unbiassed part of the people admired 
 Jiini, and were fully sensible that he was th(^ 
 
lo; 
 
 Messiab ; some of the principal men, and 
 chief rulers were induced to credit it: but 
 the dread of banishment from the syna- 
 (yoguc, prevented tb.e candid deckxration of 
 their opinions ; being unwilling to suffer the 
 odious appelation of heretics and apostates, 
 and wishing to enjoy tlie approbation of men, 
 and a reputation in thi: world, in preference 
 to that of God and a good conscience, they 
 concluded it more plausible to conceal than 
 to make an open disclosure of their senti- 
 ments. The Chief Priefts and Pharisees v/ere 
 greatly incensed, and by any means deter* 
 mined to destroy him. 
 
 Early in the morning after a calm repose, 
 he poured out his soul with fervency to the 
 Almighty, and departed with his disciple^ 
 for Jerusalem ; as tliey journeyed, he perceiv* 
 ed at some distance a ligtree, whose verdant 
 leaves seemed to promise abundance of fruit; 
 distressed with hunger he turned aside and 
 found it barren ; having searched to no pur- 
 pose, at length he said, ' Thou barren tree, 
 
 * sad emblem of the Jewish nation, be thoil 
 
 * likewise an emblem of their fate; henceforth 
 
 * let the poA\cr of vegetation cease, let all 
 
 * thy branches withc.rj and thy roots decay,' 
 
108 
 
 Scrirce had he spoken when the leaves began 
 ta fade, and all its vi^'our died away. 
 
 Proceeding on his way^ he went into the 
 city and entered the temple, where crov/ds 
 assembled to hear his instructions. Many 
 Priests and Elders entered the court as he was 
 addressing' the people; awed by his presence, 
 and the dread of the multitude, they listen- 
 ed some time very attentively ; when one of 
 them proceeded in the following manner. 
 
 * For a considerable time we have observed 
 *^ your condu6l; it appears very unaccount- 
 *able; yesterday 3 ou entered the city with 
 
 * an immense retinue, usual for persons only 
 ^ of extraordinary dignity; you assumed the 
 ^ power of Governor of the place, by turning 
 ^ out the merchants and othei's employed in 
 
 * a trade both necessary and lawful ; and now 
 "■you teach openly as though you were ap- 
 *■ pointed by the Sanhedrim ; pray, by whose 
 *' authority do j^ou thus so arrogantly acl ?' 
 To this moil arrog'ant queftion, he replied, 
 
 * Suffer me to aik you a very simple one, 
 
 * which if you answer, I will instantly in- 
 ^ form you by whose authority I do these 
 
 * things: When John the Baptist publicly 
 
 * taught and baptized the people^ did he ad 
 
109 
 
 ^ by the Divine Power, or was it only a 
 * scheme of his to deceive the multitude?* 
 They retired to deliberate, and were greatly 
 embarrassed; ' For,' said they, Mf we admit 
 the divinity of John the J3aptist, then we 
 condemn ourselves for not regarding the 
 testimony he advanced concerning this 
 man ; if John was a true Prophet, Jesus 
 must be one also : On the other hand, if we 
 reje6l the divine means, and brand him as 
 an imposter, we are in danger of being ston- 
 ed by the multitude ; it is preferable there- 
 fore to pretend ignorance:' Accordingly 
 they returned for answer, ' that they could 
 not tell by what power John preached and 
 baptized the people.' Then said Jesus, 
 Neither will I tell you by what authority I 
 do these things ; for observing ye have re- 
 jected the most positive testimony, certain- 
 ly ye will not receive my individual affirma- 
 tion. Those whom ye treat with the great- 
 est contempt, even publicans and heathens, 
 were fully satisfied John a6ted by divine au- 
 thority; they received his instruftion and 
 repented of their sins : But ye who pretend 
 enthusiastic zeal for religion, despised his 
 dodrinCj mcreasing your impiety, an^ with 
 
1 10 
 
 ^ the most inveterate malice opposed the 
 
 * truth. Ye have trodden in the steps your 
 
 * fathers did before; God raised up wise men 
 
 * and prophets, to instruct and reform them, 
 ^ but they were persecuted in every age. 
 
 Now he has sent his own son, ye also treat 
 him contemptuously, and to com pleat your 
 enormities are seeking his destruction, 
 bringing upon your heads the vengeance of 
 heaven, and the tremendous curses denoun- 
 ced in the law of Moses; for in a short time 
 your nation shall be overthrown, and your 
 city consumed with fire. ' At these words 
 the principalJews exclaimed, ' God forbid!' 
 They assuredly will, ' said he, * for so it is 
 written, '' the stone which the builders re- 
 ' je61ed, the sanje is become the head of the 
 ' corner*. " that is, the Messiah, whom the 
 Jews rejected, shall unite into the church 
 the Gentiles, even as the principal corner 
 stone unites and supports the two sides of a 
 build in Of. Then shall the chosen seed of 
 Israel be cast off from their impieties, and 
 the Gentile nations become servants of the 
 living God.' 
 
 ■•^' - , ' ■ ■ - . - 
 
 * Matt. xxi. 42. 
 
Ill 
 
 The Chief Priests and the Pharisees were 
 so inflamed at these words, but for the terror 
 of the niLdtitude, they would have instantly 
 put him to death. Perceiving the danger of 
 such an attempt, they retired and communed 
 one with another how they might compass 
 their end. Many of the Pharisees and He- 
 rodians entered into a plot, in order to ex- 
 pose him to the indignation of the multitude, 
 or the punishment of the Roman law, and 
 with an air of esteem they addressed him in 
 the following manner: 
 
 ' Sir, we are truly sensible you are a teacher 
 
 * of the divine law, you expound it accurate- 
 
 * ly, and we are induced to think, upon eve- 
 ^ ry occasion you deliver your sentiments dis- 
 
 * interestedly, without regarding persons, fear, 
 
 * or affe6lion ; avIU vou therefore solve a dif~ 
 ^ ficulty, which appears to us of importance, 
 
 * Is it lawful for the Jews who are the pecu- 
 ' liar people of God, and under his immediate 
 
 * jurisdi6lion, to pay tribute to Caesar and 
 ' bend to the authority of the Romans, or 
 ^ not ?' — Here they expecled to have their end 
 answered either way: for had he replied in 
 the affirmative, the people who detested the 
 Ramw Government would have considcreci 
 
11^ 
 
 him as an enemy to their religioi^ and liber- 
 ties; had he answered in the negative, then 
 the Herodians, who were strongly attached 
 to the interest of C^sar, would have accused 
 him of sedition, and exposed him to the fury 
 of the Romans. This he knew, and there- 
 fore replied, ' Why do ye attempt to involve 
 ' me in a snare? Your gross dissimulation, 
 ' and mischievous designs I am aware of; 
 
 * nevertheless, shew me the tribute money/ 
 This being done, he looked upon it and said, 
 
 * Whose image and superscription is this?' 
 they answered' * Csesar's.' ' Well then,' said 
 he, ' render him what you admit to be his due, 
 ' and submit to his authority consistently 
 ' with the laws of God, and the pradisc of 
 ' religion.' The reply mortified and vexed 
 them most exceedingly. 
 
 After their departure, a number of Saddu- 
 cees, persons of wealth and power, began to 
 dispute upon the do<^lrine of a future state, 
 which they positively denied. ' Sir, said one, 
 ^ you must admit that every opinion in reli- 
 ' gicn which is attended with consequences 
 > manifestly false and absurd ought vo be re- 
 
 * jested ; this is the case with some of 
 
 * your doctrines; especially concerning the. 
 
113 
 
 resurredion or future state. Let us suppose 
 a woman to have been seven times a wiclo^, 
 married to seven brothers, as the law allows 
 in a certain case, when the woman dies and 
 enters into a future state, play hi form u% 
 which of the seven brothers shall claim her 
 as his wife ; they have all an equal rights 
 and vet cannot all have her; this must 
 cause great contention in that imaginary 
 ?tate of which you talk so frequently : Why 
 do you teach a dodrine so fraught with ab- 
 surdity?' 
 
 To this he replied, ' Your argument has iH 
 foundation in gross ignorance, you falsely 
 suppose a future state to be in every respect 
 like the present, but you are deceived. 
 You cannot but observe what havock is 
 made in this world every day by death, and 
 was it not for marriage the earth would soou 
 be depopulated, and reduced to a lonely 
 waste; but in the next world there are no 
 diseases, pains, nor any more death, for 
 they who shall be deemed worthy to obtain 
 that world, shall be freed from the incon- 
 veniencies of this mortal life; there shall be 
 no marrying, for there will be nom.ortalit}', 
 ^ nor succession of generations : but like the 
 
114 
 
 ' Angels of God, they shall live in the posses- 
 
 * sioii of consummate glory, and never fad- 
 ' ing happiness. You must be very ignorant 
 
 * of the Divine Power, if you deny the possi- 
 ' bility of such a state, and you must be no 
 ^ less ignorant of the Holy Scriptures if you 
 ' reje6l its reality ; many passages are clear, 
 ^ and if you consider what God said to Moses 
 ' at the burning bush, you will find a convinc- 
 'ing proof of my do6trine; ^' I am the God 
 '* of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the 
 ^' God of Jacob*;" this was several hundred 
 
 * years after tlieir death: the relation Avas not 
 *" dissolved, he was, and is still their Gody 
 
 * which could not be, had they as you affirm, 
 ^ perished both soul and body ; he is God 
 ^ only of those who have a real existence 
 
 * and en joy life, Avliich is the case of those who 
 
 * depart this world; death merely destroys the 
 ^ wonderful stru61ure of the human body, 
 
 * while the soul which is of a different sub- 
 
 * stance, enters into another state, and at 
 *' the resurredion will be clothed with a body 
 ■' glorious and immortal. Can you imagine 
 *■ that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob received 
 ^ the just reward of their piety and virtue iii 
 
 '* Exod. iii. 6, 
 
115 
 
 this world, Avhcre tbcy lived as strangers and 
 pilgrims? Assuredly nvot; a better state 
 awaited them in the next. The desire of 
 immortality is rooted in human nature, the 
 wise and good in every age have lived and 
 died in hopes of a better world ; it is the 
 foundation of virtue and religion ; the com- 
 fort of those who undergo death in the cause 
 of righteousness; itunfolds all the intricacies 
 in the present state of things, and recon- 
 ciles men to the divine government. No- 
 thing but conscious guilt, and the dread of 
 future punishments, can induce men to 
 take shelter in the horrors of annihilation ; 
 it infuses darkness and confusion througli 
 all the works of God ; it is the parent of 
 vice, the nurse of impiet}', and the source 
 of endless woe,' 
 
 These sentiments were delivered with such 
 mildness and majesty, that the Sadducees 
 were confounded, and withdrew instantly, 
 leaving the astonished multitude to trium])h 
 ill their defeat. 
 
 The Pharisees assembled upon hearing' thi^, 
 in order to dispute, and perplex him in his 
 dodrine; accordintjlv one of tliem who was 
 
$, scribe, or an interpreter of the law, demand- 
 ed which was the most important of all the 
 divine commands? to which he replied, 
 ' Thou shalt love tlie Lord thy God v/ith all 
 ^ thine heart, and v/ith all thy soul, and with 
 ^' all thy might*." This is the first and 
 'most important, and ought to be observ- 
 
 * ed with the g-reatest fidelitv; the next in 
 
 * dignity and excellence is, ^' Thou shalt 
 *' love thy neighbour as thyself f." This an- 
 swer satisfied the Scribe, who replied, * You 
 ' have asserted what is certainly true, for 
 
 * obedience to God, and good will to all 
 ^ men, ought to be preferred above all posi- 
 ' tive institutions.' ' If these be yonr true 
 
 * sentiments,' said Jesus, 'you are not far 
 
 * from being one of my disciples, and if you 
 
 * persevere according!}, you will be a true 
 
 * member of the church of God upon earth, 
 ^ and at last shall be admitted into his ever- 
 
 * lasting kingdom. Since I have unequivo- 
 
 * cally answered all your questions, suffer me 
 *to put one to you. Can you inform me of 
 
 * what family you expe6l the Messiah will be 
 
 * born?' To this he answered, ' He must be 
 ^ the Son of David.' ^ Well then,' said he, 
 
 • M I J— . — i n III— ^»P«— «a— — —^■—W »— — M^— — ^^»»»— ""^"^i— ^— ■— ■— » 
 
 '-• DciU. vi. 5, t Lev. xlx, l8. 
 
H7 
 
 ' how vv^Ill you reconcile that witli what i^^. 
 .'said in the Psahiis, where David by thespi- 
 
 * rit of inspiration speaketh in this manner, 
 *' The Lord said unto my Lord, sit thou at 
 " mv rio^iit hand until I make thine enemies 
 *' my footstool".'* This you admit to be spo- 
 
 * ken of\the Messiah ; now, therefore, if Da • 
 ' vid thus called the Blessiah his Lord, How 
 ' can he be also his son? Can the same per- 
 
 * son be his superior and inferior' ? The pha- 
 risees beino- io-norant of the Messiah's real 
 characler could give no answer to the ques- 
 tion ; and finding- themselves infinitely infe- 
 rior to him, in point of understanding, 
 quickness of apprehension, acuteness of ex- 
 pression, and force of reasoning, they retired 
 mortified at their disappointment. 
 
 As the evening drew nigli, he quitted tJie 
 city to avoid the secret machinations of his foes, 
 and returned to Bethany, where he remained 
 that night. On the morrow he repaired to Je- 
 salem ; passing along, his disciples were asto- 
 nishcd to observe the fig-tree withered and 
 dried up by the roots. He said ' Do you con- 
 
 * ceive this an extraordinary thing? Ifyoufirm- 
 
 * ly believe and trust in the power of God, be 
 
 Vs. ex. 1. 
 
lis 
 
 * assured you shall be able to perform a great- 
 
 * er miracle than this ; if it were necessary 
 
 * to remove the mountains and cast them into 
 
 * the sea, in order to confirm your do61rine, 
 
 * God would immediately do it. For what- 
 
 * ever you shall ask, in order to confirm your 
 
 * do6lrine and ministry^ with assured faith 
 
 * and confidence in the divine power, he will 
 ^ certainly grant; but beware lest you implore 
 
 * the divine assistance in any nefarious under- 
 ' takine'.' Havinsc entered the citv, he went 
 to the temple, Vv^here he began to instru6b 
 his disciples in the presence of a vast con- 
 course of persons. ' (ruard against the scribes 
 'and pharisees,' said he, ' for they are bar- 
 ' dened and incorrigible, I have experienced 
 
 * this from many trials; they have often been 
 
 * silenced, but never convinced ; at least 
 
 * thev have never had the candour to own it. 
 
 * Superciliousness and hypocrisy are their 
 ' leading features ; and to establish a reputa- 
 
 * tion they are ill deserving of is the main 
 
 * point they have in view. Above all things 
 
 * strive to obtain the approbation of God = 
 
 * Never impose authority over the consciences 
 
 * of other men, nor submit to the imperiou-s 
 
 * di61ates of those who are disposed to tyran*^ 
 
 * ize over your faitho Recollect you have no 
 
119 
 
 master upon earth excepting me, to whom 
 alone ye must account for your conduct iu 
 matters of reHgion. Guard against ambi- 
 tion, nor aim at worklly dignity ; for pride 
 is ahvays the forerunner of contempt, and 
 humility is sure to be attended with honor. 
 Woe unto the scribes and pharisees, for they 
 will neither themselves nor suffer others to 
 enter into the kingdom of heaven. They 
 are cruel and rapacious, rigorous and tyran-* 
 nical, especially to the widow and fatherless 
 who are incapable of resisting their imposi- 
 tions ; and what tends to aggravate their 
 guilt, is their injustice, eovetousness and 
 oppression are disguiseel under a pretence of 
 uncommon sandity and devotion. An ex- 
 traordinary enthusiasm for their own party 
 has annihilated every consideration for 
 others, whom they treat most contemptu- 
 ously. Their strength is exhausted in making 
 proselytes to their opinions, without regard- 
 ing whether the convert be virtuous or vici- 
 ous. Their religion is composed of ceremo- 
 nies, and their lives are stained with the 
 blackest enormities. None pretend a great- 
 er veneration for the ancient prophets, at 
 the same time they are urged by a spirit of 
 persecution, and tread in the paths of th^u: 
 
120 
 
 ^ incorrigibk ancestors. For these ofieiices 
 ^ shall the vengeance of heaven be dirccled 
 ^ against this generation. O Jerusalem how 
 ^ horrid is thy guilt ? How often hast thou 
 ^ persecuted the prophets, and shed the blood 
 ^ of those who sought thy recovery. How 
 ^ often v/ould I have colle6led thy children 
 Mvith the most tender aifeciion, even as a- 
 ' hen gathereth her brood under the protec- 
 ^ tion of her wings; alas 1 ye despised me. 
 
 * The anxious solicitations of Divine Mercy 
 
 * have been repeated in every age, but in 
 '■vain, for thou hast rejected them all with 
 
 * with the most consummate impiety. The- 
 ' day of mercy, is near at an end, this bloody 
 ' city shall become a ruin, and this magniii- 
 ^ cent temple be consumed in the flames ; the 
 ' time approaches when ye shall be forced to 
 
 * acknowledge me the true Messiah, and the 
 'Son of God.' 
 
 At these words he departed, leaving the 
 iiiultitude exceedingly moved by a variety 
 of passions. Some who were partial to the 
 Pharisees, were roused with indignation at' 
 the freedom Avith which he rebuked their 
 Crimes ; others applauded his r<psolution, and 
 iipprove^l of what he said, while many were. 
 
moved with terror cit liis a.\vnil prcdicrions, or 
 overwhelmed with grief at his lait farewell; 
 for he never after appeared as a teacher; 
 conversing* only in private with his disciples, 
 to whom he expressed himself in the most fa- 
 miliar manner. Withdrawing from the tem- 
 ]3le, one of them meditating upon his last 
 words to the people, in treated that he AV^ould 
 behokl the beauty of the ediiicc, and observ- 
 ing at the same time what a pity it woulrl hr. 
 to deftroy such a wonderful ftru(Jl:ure. 
 
 He replied, ^ Do you admire these things, 
 
 • and view them with pity ? Be assured, that 
 ' when God is banished from men's hearts, 
 ^ he considers not their most stately temples, 
 ^ and therefore I repeat, that M^ithin a few- 
 ' years this buildiuQ- shall be entirely desti-ov- 
 ^ ed, and not one stone left upon another, 
 
 * that shall not be thrown down.' Their sor- 
 row was i-n creased at this reply, and tbey fol- 
 lowed him in mournful silence until they 
 came to Mount Olivet, where after much fa~ 
 tii2'ue he sat down to rest. While these aw- 
 fu\ impressions v/ere seated in their hearts^ 
 Simon Peter moved by a curiosity natural ta 
 the human mind, addres^d his master in the 
 following word.s, " Lord^ you have often foix- 
 
* tald the deftruclion of this city, and the de-- 
 
 * solation of Judea, we conclude at that time 
 ^ your kingdom will be established, and your 
 
 * enemies put under your feet/ 
 
 Jesus replied, * Beware least any person 
 ^ deceive you with false ideas of my king- 
 
 * dom; impost ers will arise each pretending 
 ^ to be the Messiah, sent with a divine com- 
 ^ mission, to extricate tlie Jews from the Ro- 
 
 * man power, and to establish an earthly king- 
 
 * dom in Judea. Many who have rejeded 
 
 * me, will follow the rebellious standards of 
 nhcse impious men; confusion and civil 
 
 * wars w^ill be the consequence. The Jew^s 
 ^ shall be divided even at the time when they 
 ^ are attacked by their common enemy the 
 ^Pvomans: Pestilence and famine shall in- 
 ^ vade the city, fury and death shall run 
 
 * through every corner, feaiful visions shall 
 
 * appear in the heavens, and horrible omens 
 ^ of desolation be seen on earth. Be not 
 ^ afraid, neither permit your integrity, to be 
 ^ moyed in the midst of these disasters: for 
 
 * the Jews will revile and persecute you for 
 
 * my name sake; they will take you before 
 
 ■ their magistrates as crim.inals, anil scourgei^ 
 ^ you ill tlieir synagogues ^s vile apostates :^ 
 
123 
 
 Tliey will confine yon in tlicir prisons J put 
 some of you to death, and upon Othets ex- 
 ercise the most wanton cruelty. Le ii 't 
 dismayed at the idea of these things, fdf 
 with wisdom and fortitude I will inspire yoUj 
 so that noiie of your opponents shall hax^e 
 power to cope with you. Yea^ the inoffe 
 you are opposed, the more strongly shatl 
 your doctrines prevail, so much so that 
 your voice shall go through all the earthy 
 and your words to the end of the world- 
 Persecution will attend vou wherever voii 
 go, for ye shall be the hatred of all nations 
 for my name's sake; nevertheless, rest as- 
 sure<l, that not a hair of you shall perish i\>. 
 the destrudion of Jerusalem. As to the 
 signs which shall immediately precede; oh- 
 serve, when ye behold the city besieged by 
 the Roman armyj v/hich Daniel calls, ** thi2 
 ^ abomination that maketli desolate*," thfe 
 final destrudion of the Jev/ish nation is alb. 
 hand. Whoever is in tlie open country, 
 let him instantly flee to the mountains; let 
 no person tarry in expe6lation of saving his 
 goods, but v,ith all possible expeditioA 
 escape as Lot did out of Sodom, witiiout se 
 
 »*> >' m, 
 
 * Dan. xij. li- 
 
124 
 
 ** ijaucii aslookiiig behind hiiH. For that daV 
 
 * shall be a day oi'- awfal and sudden ven- 
 
 * g€ance, a day when all the judgments 
 ^ tlu'eatiied by the ancient Prophets shall be 
 ^executed upo.n.tUis wicked and incorrigible. 
 
 ■ nation. AVoe unto them v»dio are unable to 
 ' escape on that day, for no kingdom under 
 
 ■ heaven ever sutlered the dreadful calami- 
 *^ties that await the Jewish nation; the 
 
 * greater part shall perish by famine and pes- 
 ' tilence, by mutual slaughter and sedition 
 / among themselves, and by the sword of the 
 :,^ victorious Romans, who sliall carry the re- 
 / maiuder into captivir}', and scatter them 
 
 * throuo'hout all lands. The city shall be 
 ^ razed to its foundations, and the land of 
 ^ promise remain in the possession of the 
 
 * Gentiles, until the Jevrs shall confess my 
 ^ name^ submit to my authority, and joyfully 
 
 * receive me as the only hope of Israel, 
 
 * Thus I have informed you of the signs 
 ^ which shall precede the destruction of Jeru- 
 
 * salem, when their religion and government 
 f shall be totally dissolved. Then it shall 
 
 * appear manifest to the unprejudiced world, 
 ^ that I am the true JMessiah, the king of 
 
 * Israel, and the Son of God with power : 
 
 * Then shall the gpspel be preached through- 
 
125 
 
 ** out all nations, and mine eleft be collected 
 ^ from the four corners of the earth. The 
 ^ time approaches, for there are some of tliis 
 ' generation who shall live to see these tilings 
 /fulfilled. 
 
 ^ Desolation shall be an emblem of the 
 last Judgment; the exa6l period when 
 these shall come to pass is a profound se- 
 cret, unknown to angels and men. Be 
 therefore prepared, lest national destruc- 
 tion, personal death, or the final judgment 
 come upon you unexpectedly. After the 
 revolution of certain ages, I shall retuni 
 again to this world, not in the obscure po- 
 verty of my present state, despised, and 
 persecuted as ye now see, but in the glory 
 of my Father, brighter than the sun, cloth- 
 ed in the splendour of Divine majesty, in- 
 numerable hosts of angels shall then mini- 
 fter unto me, ten thousand times ten thou- 
 sand shall stand before me. Then shall the 
 awful trumpet sound, the tremendous voice 
 of which shall awaken the dead, and rouse 
 the inhabitants of this world; my servants 
 shall then arise, arrayed in splendid robes 
 of immortality, and those living in that day 
 in a moment shall be clianged, as some of 
 you perceived me on the Jlount, Avhen Mo- 
 
 R 
 
1^6 
 
 ses and Elias conversed with me. Ten 
 thousand legions of angels shall then de- 
 scend, and collecl all iny saints from 
 eveiy corner of the earth, as Elijah once 
 ascended in a chariot of fire, so shall they 
 asrcend the clouds, and in radiant circles 
 stand around my throne : While the last 
 generation of wicked men, struck with 
 horror, shall seek for shelter in every dark 
 retreat ; but no asylum shall they find, for* 
 at my summons the impious dead of every 
 age, shall from the close confinement of the 
 grave, and from the bottom of the raging 
 deep arise ; terror shall dwell on every coun- 
 tenance, and faultering tongues, and trem- 
 
 *^ bling joints betray the inexpressible anguish 
 of their guilty hearts. Then shall ye dis- 
 tinguish the righteous and the impious, 
 them that feared God, and those that fear- 
 ed him not; then shall every deed be weigh- 
 ed in an equal balance, and the divine law 
 be the standard of final judgment ; then 
 will I render to every one according to his 
 works, whether they be good or evil. No 
 sooner shall the dreadful sentence be passed, 
 than the dissolutionof this world will speed- 
 ily approach ; for at my word, the lurking 
 seeds of fire shall burst in flames from the 
 
 * earth beneath ; the boiling ocean shaU 
 
127 
 
 * ascend in vapour, and burning mountains 
 
 * melt into the plains; the lightnings flash 
 
 * from every cloud, and tremendous thunders 
 
 * roar along the heavens, the elements on fire 
 ' shall melt with fervent heat, and every 
 
 * thing that lives and breathes expire. Then 
 ' utter darkness shall involve that dreary, 
 
 * dismal world, where all the race of impious 
 
 * men and rebel angels, shall be doomed to 
 
 * weep and mourn their helpless fate for crimes 
 
 * and follies past, far, far excluded from the 
 ' throne of God, banished for ever from that 
 
 * blissful world, where I and all my holy an- 
 ' gels dwell in purest light, in perfect love, 
 ' and never-ending joy, All this shall come 
 ^ to pass ; therefore with the hope of such un-n 
 ^ speakable felicity, support yourselves under 
 ^ all the mortifications of this mortal life.' 
 
 The evening approaching, he arose and 
 went to Bethany, where he abode that night, 
 and on the following day passed the time 
 with his disciples, in a(5ls of piety and prepa- 
 ration for his approaching death. The even- 
 ing drawing near, he sat down to supper. 
 At this time he expressed the most endearing 
 affection, and the greatest humility ; during 
 the time they were at supper, he rofc from hii. 
 
1 28 
 
 place, and throwing aside his upper garment, 
 gilt himself with a napkin, like a servant 
 waiting at a feast; then pouring water into a 
 bason; he began to wash their feet, and to 
 wipe them, proceednig in order as they sat 
 at table. Peter surprised at such an instance 
 of humility and condescension, said unto him 
 ^ Lord you shall nevef wash my feet, this is a 
 ' favour I am unworthy of It is beneath 
 ' your dignity to perform so mean an office 
 ^ to your own Servants-, who ought upon eve^ 
 ' ry occasion to attend upon you.' He replied 
 
 * you are ignorant of my intentions. Peter 
 still declining, his Master answered, ' Unless 
 ' you submit to be washed by me you cannot 
 ' be my disciple, nor have any interest in the 
 
 * happiness of my Kingdom.' Then said Pe- 
 ter, ' If it be so Lord wash mc all over.' Je- 
 sus replied, * There is no necessity for that, 
 ^ for as he that comes out of a bathing place 
 ^ hath his whole person clean, excepting his 
 
 * feet, so are ye my disciples, clean, but not 
 
 * alt of you.' Having performed this cere- 
 .inony he resumed his place at the table. 
 
 * Ye are at a loss my friends,' said he ^ to 
 ' comprehend the meaning of my condu6l. Ye 
 ' have all confessed me to be your Lord and 
 
 * Master^ but that is iiot sufficient unless^ you 
 
129 
 
 obey my commandments, and follow my 
 example: with that view I have proposed a 
 trial of your sincerity, and a test of your 
 obedience. True it is, that I am superior 
 to you all ; in no instance have I displayed 
 any thing like hauteur in my actions ; on. 
 the contrary, I have stooped to perform the 
 meanest offices of kindness and friendship; 
 how much more then, does it become you 
 to behave in the same manner one to 
 another ; let your humility appear to all 
 men, nor be ashamed to dp to one ano- 
 ther as I have done to you. 
 
 ^ As friends and brethren I have always 
 ' treated you, and with reason might expeft 
 ' a return of grateful aifeclion ; yet it is pain- 
 ' ful for me to know, that after all my kind- 
 * ness, one of you will betray me; as David 
 ' once complained, so may I, *' My own fa- 
 ^'' miliar friend in whom I trusted, who eat 
 '^ af my bread, has lift up his heel against 
 ^^me*." 
 
 Consternation seized them all at these 
 words, and the keenest sorrow filled their 
 
 ** Psalm xli, 9. 
 
130 
 
 Ijearcs, every one observing the coimtenance 
 pf his neighbour, and wondering who it was 
 that could be guilty of so base an a<5i:ion. 
 John who sat next his master, and enjoyed 
 ^n extraordinq,ry degree of his esteem, at a 
 signal from Peter, in treated with a whisper 
 \yho that person was ? he gently answered, 
 
 * It is the person to whom 1 shall give a mor- 
 
 * sel when I have dipped it;' which he did 
 immediately to Judas, observing at the same 
 time * What you intend to do, do quickly:" 
 None at the table comprehended his meaning, 
 for they supposed he had only given orders 
 to Judas to procure some necessary provisions 
 for the approaching feast, or that he should 
 give something to the poor. Accordingly he 
 arose and departed, while Mammon possessed 
 his imagination, and in the lonely night pro- 
 ceeded to Jerusalem. As he passed along he 
 thus reasoned with himself. He assuredly 
 must be the Messiah, his a6lions abundantly 
 prove it ; the secrets of the heart he knows, 
 and is no stranger to my designs. The mul- 
 titude have lately declared him to be the Mes- 
 siah, and yet he declines to assume the sove- 
 reign power; if the Prophets are not mistak- 
 en, he must be our king, ' He shall have dp- 
 ' minion from sea to sca^ and from the river 
 
131 
 
 * to the ends of the earth, f" The M'ords of 
 Gabriel to his angel mother will certainly 
 come to pass, * Behold thou shalt conceive 
 ^ in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and 
 
 * shalt call his name Jesus, he shall be 2:reat. 
 
 * shall be called the Son of the Highest, and 
 
 * the Lord God shall give unto him the 
 
 * throne of his lather David, and he shall 
 
 * reign over the house of Jacob for ever, and 
 
 * of his kingdom there shall be no end J." 
 •When these things are fulfilled, we shall be 
 
 freed from the Roman yoke, and raised to a 
 state of exalted prosperity more glorious than 
 any nation before enjoyed. In that case, 
 may not his immediate disciples and friends 
 look for the most distinguished situations un- 
 der his auspicious reign. Thus much he onc^ 
 promised in these words, * When the Son of 
 
 * man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye 
 
 * shall also sit upon twelve thrones,. judgini> 
 
 * the twelve tribes of Israel. §" This will 
 certainly come to pass; but when, and by 
 -what means I cannot conje6lurc. His pa- 
 tience, meekness; and forbearance have hi- 
 therto been wonderful, no injuries could rouse 
 
 isp 
 
 t John Ixxli. 8. | Luke I. 31, 32, Sv'^. 
 
Ejni to retaliate, or infli6l piuiisliment mi tlic 
 offenders; but he cannot always support such 
 indignities; true, he has only suffered con- 
 tempt, reproach, and threatenings; wlien 
 danger appeared, he always avoided the fury 
 of his foes, and ordered us to follow his ex- 
 ample. But should they make any attempt 
 iipon his life, no doubt he w ill a6l differently, 
 for self defence is always justifiable. I am 
 satisfied of his innocence, and consequently 
 lie has a rjght to defend himself Who can 
 cloubt his power that has seen his miracles ? 
 Certainly he who has healed all manner of 
 diseases w^ith a word of his mouth, or a touch 
 of his hand, can as easily inflict them ; he 
 jjifho has given life to the dead, can also cause 
 <fleath; he who appeased the storm, can paci- 
 iy the tumults of the people ; he who restrains 
 the devils, can set bounds to the persecutions 
 of the Avicked. If Elijah could destroy the 
 Captains of Ahaziah and their companies, a 
 AV'ord from him can blast their powxr, and 
 wither all their strength, and this must fol- 
 low if once they provoke his indignation. 
 The Sanhedrim have lately published a de- 
 cree, commanding every one to give infor- 
 ination, that he may be apprehended ; Where 
 can be the crime iii sucli information ? He is 
 
J33 
 
 scquainted with my intention, and approved 
 of it : Now let me retle^ upon the conse- 
 (}iience. Should I deliver him into their hands 
 how will he comport himself ? His c-jusS is 
 good, and is eloquence surprising; ofttii has 
 he silenced his adversaries. Some he h?*s al*- 
 ready gained to his interest ; possibly he may 
 prevail by his reasoning and miracles; should 
 they bend to his authority all difficulties arc 
 over, his kingdom will be established, and 
 the whole nation submit to his government. 
 But suppose the Sanhedrim should rejed the 
 strongest evidence, and remain inflexible, 
 will they presume to offer violence to one 
 whom the multitude adore, and admit to be 
 the Messiah, and King of Israel ? Certainly 
 not. The same cause will produce the same 
 effects; the dread of the people has hitherto 
 restrained their fury, and will continue to do 
 so. The Rulers must unquestionably stibfnlt 
 to an authority which they cannot controul. 
 Supposing the worst, that the people will ei- 
 ther abandon his intercst altogether, or join 
 his enemies, which surely never can be the 
 case, What wdll be the consequence ? Self- 
 preservation, the defence of his friends, and 
 the maintenance of a good cause, will in- 
 duce liim to confound his inveterate enemie^^ 
 
 3 
 
and punish tlieir obduracy with instant de- 
 struction. The dread of his vengeance will 
 cause the submission of others, and every one 
 "wiir instantly receive him for their king\ This 
 appears to correspond with the words of the 
 prophet, ' Kiss the Son lest he be angry, and 
 ^ ye perish from the way, when his wrath is 
 * kindled but a little ; blessed are all they 
 ^ that put their trust in him*. ' This is the 
 consummation of my hope, for until he is 
 possessed of royal dignity we have not the 
 least prospe6l of power, wealth, or honor. 
 My condu6l at first sight may appear base 
 and perfidious, but the end is good, and that 
 will either justify or extenuate the means. I 
 merely intend giving him an opportunity of 
 exerting his authority, and ascending the 
 throne of his ancestors. I only do what Hu- 
 shai the Archite did when he leagued in the 
 rebellion of Absalom, that he might the 
 more effe6iually advance the interest of Da- 
 vid. If there should be any thing criminal 
 in it, I have only to confess my fault and 
 then I am certain of forgivenefs. 
 
 Deluded by the secret power of Mammon, 
 in this manner Judas reasoned until he ap- 
 
 « »l » I I I II J IB 1 I ■ ■ ■ I " ' ' ' : ■ ■' » ■ I. < 
 
 * Ps. ii, i2v 
 
135 
 
 proachecl the city, when he went immediate- 
 ly to the palace of the High Priest, where a 
 number of the Chief Rulers were colled;ed to- 
 gether. Here they were employed in deep de- 
 liberation about the most proper means of ap- 
 prehending Jesus, without incurring the cen- 
 sure of the people. Judas was admitted in the 
 midst of their ditHiculty, and perceiving every 
 circumstance conform.able to his wishes, he 
 proposed openly, for a pecuniary conskle- 
 ration, to deliver him into their hands, at a 
 period when ijo assistance could be given by 
 the people. The offer was received with 
 great applause, and a promise immediately 
 made of thirty pieces of silver, as a reward 
 for his service. This he considered as a mode- 
 rate recompence ; but in the expedatian of 
 gaining an immense fortune by thedestrud;iou 
 of the Rulers, and the advancement of his 
 Master, he accepted the proposal, and agreed 
 to deliver him into their custody, in a place 
 and at a time convenient for that purpose. 
 
 In this treacherous manner was Ju<la,s em- 
 ployed, while his Master was comforting the 
 rest of his disciples. As soon as this perfidi- 
 ous man was departed, Jesus said to them^ 
 * My friend^, in a very short time the glory 
 
 ^o 
 
 VJ /«4 
 
1 36 
 
 of God shall be manifested in my death, as 
 wonderfully as it has been in my life ; for as 
 I have intended the honor of God in all 
 my actions, so will I in my last sufferings. 
 I am convinced that he will support me un- 
 der them, and raise me in a little time to in- 
 doncdivable glory and dignity, over all 
 things in heaven and on earth. Ye will 
 lament my departure ; but suffer not your 
 ,tpust in (rod nor in me to be the least sub- 
 verted; what I promise shall assuredly be 
 accomplished. Behold the spacious earth 
 and .starry heavens, the wonderful creation 
 Extended far beyond your present view, 
 yea, far beyond the power of your imagina- 
 tions ; there is my father's house built in 
 the deep center of unbounded space. Ten 
 thousand worlds unseen and unconceived 
 are only so many different apartments in 
 that magnificent habitation. There his in- 
 tellig-ent offspring, an innumerable family 
 of .diiferent orders, hold their various abodes 
 in regions of purest light and endless love. 
 Th^ world in which you reside is hot 
 cnt- of those mansions ; it is merely a semi- 
 nary.^ fej^: the infant race of mortal men, 
 where they m\ist- be trained for a state of 
 more exalted perfcftion in the unknown 
 
137 
 
 M'Orkls above. From this I shall soon de- 
 part, but mourn not ; upon your account I 
 am going away in order to prepare a more 
 fit habitation ; when I have accompHshed 
 that, I will return to condu6l you thither, 
 wliere we shall dwell in everlasting peace 
 and jo}, where sin and death shall be no 
 more. During my absence love one ano* 
 ther as sincer.ely as I have loved you : For 
 you I have undergone inconceivable seve- 
 rities, and for you I shall suffer death. This 
 is my commandment, it is the fundamental 
 law of my kingdom, and by your conformi- 
 ty to it you shall be distinguished from all 
 other men, and manifest to the world the 
 excellency of my religion. The men of this 
 world shall in a little time see me no more ; 
 but with you it shall not be so, for very soon 
 I shall see you again ; your hearts shall re- 
 joice, and your joy nomanshall deprive you 
 of. - The Jews I am aware, vyill glory at 
 my death, and ye shall be grieved ; but your 
 mourning shall be of short continuance; for 
 within three days I will ri5e agam, and meet 
 you in Galilee. i\Iark weii my words, for 
 they shall never tail. \ our present lamen- 
 tation I consider as a strong proof of vour 
 affectiovi i but ye muj^t give more ^ub^iantiai 
 
13^ 
 
 * proofs of its sincerity in my absence. All 
 
 * my commands you must implicitly obey ; 
 
 * he that regards me will do so : but he who 
 
 * deliberately breaks them has certainly no 
 ^ true regard for me, let his profession be ne- 
 
 * ver so ixreat. These thino-s I have mentioned 
 
 * lest your minds should be too much depress- 
 ^ ed at my approaching fate, that when it 
 
 * happens ye may recoUe^l how accurately I 
 
 * have told you every circumstance. One 
 
 * thing more I have to observe for your con- 
 ^ solation ; when I am gone the Holy Spirit 
 
 * will descend in my place ; he will console 
 
 * you in all tribulations, assist you in all diffi- 
 ' culties, teach you all things, and bring to 
 ' your recolieclioil whatsoever I have spoken. 
 
 In the morning the disciples colle6led toge- 
 ther in order to meet their Lord. Their 
 hearts were deje6i;ed with sorrow, and a me- 
 lancholy sadness appeared on every face. The 
 impression of the previous conversation 
 rested forcibly upon their minds. During" 
 his discourse they took an opportunity to en- 
 quire in what house he intended to eat the 
 Passover. In ansAver, he commanded Peter 
 and John to go instantly to the city, ' Where, 
 said he, ' as soon as ye have entered, ye Vf^l 
 
13S 
 
 * observe a man carrying a pitcher of vv^alc r f 
 
 * follow him into the house, and enquire for the 
 ^ guest-chamber where I may eat the Passf> 
 
 * verwith my disciples; and without difficul- 
 *ty the Master of the house will shew you ^ 
 
 * large apartment well furnished : let the ne- 
 
 * cessary preparations be made there.' Ac* 
 cordingly they departed, and when they en* 
 tered the city they found every circumstance 
 a2:reeable to the divine foresio-ht of their Mas- 
 ter. Every thing being performed according 
 to the law of Moses, Jesus and the rest of 
 the disciples arrived in the evening at the ap- 
 pointed house, and being seated at the table, 
 feasting on the sacrifice he thus began, 
 
 * I have anxiously longed, my dearest 
 
 * Friends, to eat this Passover with you be- 
 
 * fore I ^ suffer death. The intention of the 
 
 * Institution is well known to the Jewish Na- 
 
 * tion. The account of its appointment was 
 ^ so interesting, that in every age it has been 
 ' held in sacred remembrance by the chosen 
 
 * Seed of Jacob. How terrible was that nirfit 
 
 * when Death rode triumphant through the 
 
 * land of Egypt ; in every house the horrid 
 ' cry was heard, and all the first-born seed 
 
 * of mau and beast were slain» The Divine, 
 
* Mercy spared our Fathers in the Land of 
 '' Goshen, and passed over habitations, sprink- 
 '•ied with the blood of the Paschal Lamb; and 
 
 * thus they were delivered fron bondage, and 
 ^ redeemed from death. In every age, with 
 
 * a grateful remembrance they have rene\ved 
 
 * the sacred rite. This Passover is a type of 
 
 * my death, which shall free the world from 
 
 * worse than Egyptian bondage. By my blood 
 
 * thousands shall be redeemed from the ser- 
 
 * vitude of sin, the tyranny of Satan, and 
 
 * everlasting destru6Hon in the world to come.' 
 Then taking a cup filled , with wine, as was 
 customary upon that occasion, he gave 
 thanks, and said to them, ' Take and drink 
 *this as the last Paschal Commemoration 
 
 * which we shall celebrate in this manner. 
 
 * From henceforth I will drink no more of 
 
 * the fruit of the vine, vmtil my kingdom 
 ^ be established, and the shadow^s pf the cere- 
 
 * monial law fully abolished. I have already 
 
 * told you, and now I tell you again, that 
 
 * one of you will betray me into the hands of 
 
 * my implacable enemies : the thought of 
 
 * such dire ingratitude from one who professes 
 ' to be my friend greatly distresses me. ' They 
 were exceedingly dejected at these words, 
 wondering who it was that could be guilty of 
 
141 
 
 crime. After a pause, they began to saj^, 
 one by one, * Lord, is it I? ' To which he 
 answered, * lie that dippeth his hand with 
 ' me in the same dish, the same shall betray 
 ' me.' Judas, who had remained silent, put 
 the same question, * Lord is it I ?' He said 
 unto him, * Thou hast said. I must suffer 
 
 * according to the will of God, and the writ- 
 ' ings of the Prophets; but woe unto that 
 
 * man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed ! 
 
 * It had been good for that man if he had 
 
 * not been born.' At this rebuke, Judas 
 withdrew to the Palace of the Hiq-h Priest, 
 desiring with all possible expedition, a con- 
 siderable body of men might be assembled, 
 in order to apprehend the man, whom he 
 had agreed to deliver into their custody. 
 
 After the departure of Judas, Jesus address* 
 ed his disciples in the following manner. *My 
 
 * Friends, having with grateful hearts, ac- 
 
 * cording to the Divine appointment, cele- 
 ' brated the memorial of Israel's redemption 
 
 * from the land of Egypt, I shall appoint in 
 
 * its place the memorial of my own death, an 
 ' event far more interesting than the former.' 
 He then took bread, gave thanks to God, 
 brake it in pieces, and gave it to th^m sayings 
 
 T ' 
 
142 
 
 * Take, eat this as an emblem of my body, 
 
 * which is jjroken for you. I am the bread of 
 ' hfe Mdiich came down from heaven. My 
 ^ doctrine and example, my sufferings and 
 ^ death, are the means of your salvation ; 
 
 * therefore when ye eat of this bread if ye se- 
 
 * riously meditate upon these things, your 
 ' souls will be nourished unto eternal life.' 
 After this he took the cup, and presenting it 
 to them, he said, * Drink ye all of this, it is 
 
 * the memorial of my blood, shed for the re- 
 ^ mission of sins : by this shall the everlast- 
 ^ ing covenant be sealed, and the Divine 
 
 * Mercy be conveyed to men in every future 
 
 * period of the world. This I command you, 
 
 * and all my disciples to observe in every age, 
 
 ' as a second memorial of my death, until I 
 
 ^ come again for the eternal redemption of 
 
 / my people. Knowing I must shortly depart 
 
 * this world it behoves you, my disciples, to 
 , cast aside all immoderate attachment to the 
 ' perishing enjoyments of this life. Ye have 
 ^ often contended for superiority, and dispu- 
 
 * ted who shall be the greatest in my king- 
 
 * dom ; I behold with compassion the same 
 ' folly working in your hearts. Be wiser in 
 
 * future ; entertain no vain thoughts of wealth 
 ^ and power among men ; never think they 
 
' are worthy of contention. In the kingdoms 
 
 * of this world ye will often observe men of 
 ' the most profligate characters raised to the 
 ' highest dignities ; pride, covetousness and 
 
 * ambition, supported by fraud, and strength- 
 
 * ened by violence, these are commonly the 
 
 * step? of tlieir exaltation. Such is the course 
 
 * of this world : but in my kingdom it shall 
 
 * not be so. There every person shall rise to 
 
 * honor and glory in exa6l proportion to his 
 ^ merit. The meek, lowly, and generous 
 ' shall be advanced above all others. Learn 
 
 * from my example : ye have observed in Avhat 
 
 * manner I have lived. I never aspired to 
 
 * power and" dominion. I never sought af- 
 ' ter Riches, nor affected the ostentatious 
 ' pride of human life ; my chief aim consisted 
 ' in doing the Will of God, and promoting 
 
 * the happiness of men. From these I derive 
 
 * my highest pleasure, and in them I f.nd my 
 
 * greatest glory. Observe what a reception f 
 ' met with from the world, and how much I 
 
 * have been rejeded of men ! How then can 
 
 * ye entertain the hopes of better treatment ? 
 
 * Have I endured contempt and reproach, 
 
 * and do ye expe6l to meet with honor and 
 
 * and esteem ? Have I lived in poverty, and 
 ' do ye expe6l power and eminence ? Have 
 
 T2 
 
144 
 
 * I submitted to the keenest strokes of adver- 
 
 * sity, and can ye flatter yourselves with the 
 
 * vain thoughts of lasting prosperity ? No ye 
 
 * must expe6l contempt, poverty, and persecu- 
 ' tion : I warn you to be upon your guard 
 
 * and arm yourselves with fortitude and reso- 
 
 * lut^on, The time is near, the hour of dan- 
 
 * ger is fast approaching, the horrid scene 
 
 * draws nigh. The dread of death will soon 
 ^ arise in every heart ; then shall ye be scat- 
 
 * tered every man to his own, whilst I, your 
 ' Lord, shall be left alone amidst surrounding 
 
 * foes ; yet then I shall not be alone, for my 
 
 * Father, in whom I trust, will support me/ 
 Peter replied with an inconsiderate zeal, cor- 
 responding with the natural warmth of his 
 temper, * Lord fear not our resolution in the 
 
 * time of danger : at least for my part I am re- 
 
 * solutely determined, that tho' all men should 
 
 * forsake thee I never will.' In like manner 
 all the rest declared. Jesus however being 
 acquainted Vv'ith their different chara6i:ers, to- 
 gether with the temptations which v/ere ap- 
 proaching, infornied them, however sincerq 
 their resolutions might be, yet they were not 
 sensible of their own weakness, and could 
 not determine what their condud would be 
 when the time of trial came. Turning to 
 
145 
 
 Peter, he said, ' Beware Simon lest the impe- 
 
 * tuosity of your temper, too apt to exceed thn 
 
 * cahn deliberations of reason, should hurry 
 ' you into some dangerous temptation. For 
 
 * I now inform you, that Satan intends to try 
 ' you severel}^ I have prayed for you, lest 
 ' your faith should fail ; and my prayer shall 
 'not be in vain. Only recollect that when you 
 ' are converted, strengthen your brethren, and 
 ^ endeavour to support their desponding spi- 
 ' rits.' Peter again replied, without suspect- 
 ing his own weakness, or regarding his ]\Ias- 
 ters admonitions, ' Lord, go where you will I 
 ' am resolved to follow you. Neither impri- 
 
 * sonment nor death shall ever seperate me 
 
 * from 3^0 ur companv.' * Alas ! Peter,' said 
 his Master, ' you are too presumptuous, your 
 
 * confidence will hasten your fall ; for I now 
 
 * tell you that before the dawning of the day, 
 
 * yea before the cock crow twice you will no 
 
 * less than three times unequivocally deny 
 ' that you ever knew mc. The dark and dis- 
 
 * mal hour is at hand, a sudden tempest rises 
 
 * from the deeps of hell, the powers of dark- 
 
 - ness and wicked men combined, will vent. 
 
 * their utmost indignation against me, and 
 
 * will, to all appearance, for a time prevail, 
 
 * then sorrow and consternation shall seize 
 
146 
 
 * your hearts, and ye will be tempted to view 
 
 * me and my cause as desperate and abandon- 
 
 * ed. Be not dismayed ; let your faitli and 
 
 * hope support your drooping spirits, in due 
 *• time I will break the bands of death, and 
 ' rise triumphant from the grave/ Rais- 
 ing his eyes to heaven, he prayed in the fol- 
 lowing manner. 
 
 *" O my God and Father the hour is come, 
 ^support me in this great distress, that my 
 
 * death may advance thy glory, and accom- 
 
 * plish the redemption of thy people. I will 
 
 * patiently endure the keenest sufferings, that 
 ^ the world may be brought to the knowledge 
 ^ of thee, the only true Cod, and of me thy 
 
 * well beloved son, whom thou hast sent from 
 ' heaven, I have honored thee in all my ac- 
 "" tions, and performed the work thou gavest 
 ' me to do, Support me under all my sor- 
 ^ rows, raise me in triumph from the grave, 
 ' and elevate me to the possessison of that 
 ' aloi'v, which I enioved before the world was. 
 
 * Thy will to my disciples I have faithfully 
 ' declared, and they have seriously believed 
 *^in me. Now, O Father ! I pray in their be- 
 ^ half, not for the impenitent in this world, 
 ' who rejecl the lightj and avoid the paths of 
 
everlasting life. Preserve them when I am 
 departed, assist them in the pursuit of righ- 
 teousnefs and truth, and let them be united^ 
 in faith and love, even as thou and I arc 
 one. Hitherto I have preserved them by 
 my doclrine and example ; none of them have 
 deserted me, but that perfidious wretch Avha» 
 now has joined my foes. The world I know 
 will haJ:e, and perfecute them on my account; 
 l)ut let thy power defend them, thy wisdom 
 guide them, and thy good fpirit assist them 
 in pubiibhing the gofpel throughout ail na- 
 tions. In like manner, O Father, I pray 
 in beiialf of all thofe who shall be converted 
 by their ministry, that as I am in thee, anJ 
 thou in me, so the\ mav be united in^tlie 
 indiffoluble bands of pure faith and hoiv' 
 love ; that by the integrity of their lives, 
 and their mutual love to one another, and 
 towards all men, the world may be sensible 
 of the divine authority and excellence of 
 their religion. O, righteous Father, the 
 wicked have not known thee, nor are tiiey 
 difpofed to obey thy Vv'iU : but I have known 
 thee, and have studiously made known thy 
 will to my disciples, who have chearfuliy 
 received, and suicerely obeyed it. There- 
 fore will I continue to infuucl tliem, that 
 
14& • 
 
 * they may arrive at the suilimit of perfedioti, 
 
 * that the love wherewith thou hast clistin2:uish- 
 /eel me may reign among them. 
 
 These words were uttered with an air of difr- 
 tiity and resignation, infinitely superior to 
 the most animated devotions of the sons of 
 Inen. ^ Let us retire/ said he, ' to the wont- 
 
 * ed phice where darkness, silence, and soU- 
 
 * tude, may favour our meditations ; there 
 
 * lies the dismal scene, the awful prelude to 
 
 * an ignominious death; for the time ap- 
 
 * proaches when all that has been said by the 
 
 * eminent Prophets muft be accomplished, 
 
 * ^ly father wills that I should now submit^ 
 
 * and what he wills I am ready to obey.* 
 
 In solemn sadness thev left the house, when 
 lowering clouds obscured the face of heaven, 
 no twinkling stars nor silver moon appeared ; 
 all nature buried in the shades of night, lay 
 wrapt in silence. The Son of God could find 
 110 rest; his v\^eary friends, oppressed with 
 sorrow, toil, and anxious fear : nay his very 
 enemies were deprived of peace. Impelled 
 by Satan, tortured with envy, and roused to 
 madness by infernal fury, they were anxious^ 
 ]y waiting in the Palace of Caiaphas, till Ju- 
 
U9 
 
 das would appear to give the promised infor- 
 mation. The Messiah had scarcely passed the 
 gates, and crossed the gentle stream, where 
 towering cedars increased the shades of night, 
 when in the following manner he a^ldressed 
 his melancholy friends : 
 
 * Beware, lest sudden danger iliould over- 
 
 * come your resolution ; this I am sensible will 
 ^ be the case, for so it is written, '' Smite the 
 ** Shepherd, and the sheep shall be scatter- 
 *• ed*." Your boasted courage will soon fail, 
 ' and all of you be offended this night on ac - 
 
 * count of me,' The appearance of danger 
 every moment increased ; a mournful silence 
 prevailed till they arrived at Gethsemenc, a 
 vineyard near Mount Olivet, where frequent- 
 ly he passed the night in solitary prayer and 
 contemplation, When he had entered the 
 garden he said to them, * Remain in this 
 
 * place, watch and be mindful of what may 
 
 * happen : pray frequently that God may for- 
 ' tify you against approacliing danger,' Eight 
 of the disciples remained, while Jesus, toge- 
 ther with Peter, James, and John advanced; 
 when in mournful accents he thus revealed the 
 
 * Zech. xiii. 7. 
 
 u 
 
c!reaclfiii Agonies of his exalted mind. ' Alas i 
 . * my dearest Friends, little are ye aware of 
 
 * what I suffer; the dreary prospe(5ihcs open to 
 ' my view ; surrounding terrors of ungodly 
 ' men. the malicious furv of infernal hosts, 
 
 * and the tormenting pangs of an ignomini- 
 
 * ous death, these and more than these op- 
 
 * press my soul, and sink me to the dust 
 
 * Await ye here and watch whilst I retire/ 
 To a distant arbour he advanced, whose in- 
 termingled branches and thick arched roof, 
 doubled the horror of that awful night. There 
 he lay prostrate on the cold damp earth, 
 while dismal thoughts of approaching v;oe 
 ran in rapid succession through his troubled 
 mind. There Satan meant to plunge him in 
 despair, for lo ! amidst the gloomy shade, in 
 in a form more terrible than imagination yet 
 conceived, he arose, and with a voice more 
 hideous than ever addressed the human ear, 
 he thus began : 
 
 * O Son of God, is this the end of all thy 
 
 * labours for the chosen race 1 Three vears 
 
 * and more, have I beheld thy weary wander- 
 ^ ings, thy incessant toil, thy words, and all 
 
 * thine a61;ions full of grace and power. Yet 
 
 * thy labour is all in vain ; contempt and per- 
 
sedition are the only returns for all thy 
 kindness : How justly do the} merit thy 
 hatred and indignation ; think of them no 
 more, nor lose thy affedtions upon such a 
 worthless race of contemptible beings; rouse 
 all thy aversion, let thy wrath be kindled 
 against the sons of men ; abhor the ungrate- 
 ful, and let thy heavy curse fall upon that 
 guilty nation which gave thee birth. Be- 
 hold Judas, one of thine own disciples, in 
 consert with thy inveterate foes, are about 
 to apprehend thee ; the rest of thy friends, 
 are faitliless as well as he ; even now, they 
 slumber in profound security, disobedient to 
 thy orders, and unconcerned about thy suf- 
 ferings. This instant I beheld thine ene- 
 mies in close array advancing from the city. 
 Like a thief dete6led in nocturnal fraud, 
 they will seize thee with impious hands, and 
 load thee with insolent abuse; I heard their 
 consultations, and now behold thy doom, 
 unpitied and forlorn shalt thou expii^ upon 
 the cross in agonizing pajn. Thus shall 
 thy glory end in sad disgrace, and boasted 
 virtue sink thee to tlie grave. Forsaken 
 thus by God and all thy friends, what wilt 
 thou do? Cast hope away, trust neither God 
 
 Us" 
 
\5S 
 
 * iiof man, now fly, or fight, or perish in de?- 
 
 * spalr.' 
 
 Thus the Son of God in bold disdain re- 
 plied ; * Abhorred fiend, apostate from the 
 world of bliss, I regard not thy hideous form, 
 thy infernal malice, thy dark envenomed 
 rage, pointed against my Father, me, and 
 ail the human race. I know what I must 
 suffer, the keenest sorrows now surround 
 my soul ; these God permits, nor shalt thou 
 gain an atom, for I will endure them all in 
 meek submission to his will, and what ho 
 wills is ever good ; I will bear them all for 
 wretched men, and worse I would endure if 
 worse could be. Thou temptest me to hate 
 the human kind, distrust my Father, and 
 perish in despair. O words infernal ! detest- 
 ed as thyself; how justly art thou doomed 
 to endless woe. I love the human race, I 
 wish them well ; but thou their deadly foe, 
 wouldst ruin all, and sink them down to 
 hell. If they rejc6t and persecute their- 
 friend, thou art the cause, the first great 
 cause, who led them all astray. Had they 
 but known from whence I came, and who I 
 am, they never would have thought of such 
 
155 
 
 * contempt ; but taou perverse and past recd- 
 
 * very, hardened in thy sin, hast no excuse, 
 
 * Neither is it in thy power, nor in tlic power 
 
 * of all my foes to bring me to the grave were 
 
 * I induced to save my life. I am resolved 
 
 * to suffer death conformable to the will of 
 
 * God ; and by my death I will bruise thy 
 
 * head, I will break thy power, and bring re- 
 
 * demption to the chosen race. I will trust 
 ' in God, and by his grace conquer all my 
 ^ foes. Therefore, begone, thou base peril- 
 ' dious daemon, tempt my wrath no more, 
 
 * lest sudden vengeance send thee to the 
 
 * deep, the dark abyss of everlasting pain.' 
 
 Satan terrified at these words, instantly va- 
 nished ; when Jesus with his hands and ey^s 
 uplifted, thus presented his fervent supplica-^ 
 tions : ' O, Almighty Father, sovereign Lord 
 
 * of all things, my shield, my refuge, and 
 
 * only hope in sad distress ; must I endure 
 
 * the sharpest sorrows, and suffer the most 
 
 * excruciating pains ? Ah ! must I drink the 
 
 * black envenomed cup, filled with the bitter- 
 
 * est ingredients? Hear me in the sad hour 
 "' of darkness and distress; save me from death, 
 ■and prevent the enormous guilt of shcd- 
 
 * ding innocent blood. If this can save them 
 
154 
 
 ' from the wrath to come, O save them now, 
 
 * and save me from their rage ; but if" nothing 
 
 * short of mv bioodcan redeem a guilty world, 
 
 * I patiently acquiesce in thy Almighty Will. 
 
 After these words he left the harbour, and 
 passed through the silent solitary gloom, when 
 a multiplicity of sorrows filled his mind ; for 
 by a divine foresight he perceived Death ap- 
 proaching with all its terrors ; he surveyed 
 the persecution of his friends ; the ruin of his 
 country; the contempt of his grace; and the 
 everlasting perdition of impenitent sinners. 
 J lis melancholy prospe6l oppressed his tender 
 heart to such a degree, that he fell into a 
 fcloody sweat, which distilled in drops, and 
 dyed with crimson the humid eartli. No 
 longer could his feeble joints support the 
 weight of his at]fli6ted body ; down he dropt, 
 and reclining on his arm breathed groans of 
 unutterable woe. While thus he lay in ago- 
 nizing pain, and sorrow, a band of angels 
 istood invisible around, and viewed his suifer- 
 ings with pity and admiration. Gabriel who 
 had been sent to fortify him, when he per- 
 ceived his spirits so far exhausted, arrayed 
 himself in robes of purest light, his counte- 
 nance and ,gesture expressed a celestial dig- 
 
155 
 
 tilty, mixed with the greatest compassion! 
 an air of esteem was blended with that awful 
 veneration and respect due to the person of 
 30 great a suiferer, and thus he addressed the 
 Messiah. 
 
 * O Son of God, could angels weep like 
 
 * mortal men, Angels would weep in saddest 
 
 * sorrow for thy distress. Thv safferino-s we 
 
 «' I/O 
 
 * view with tender sympathy, and with the 
 
 * highest admiration behold thy fervent love 
 ^ to God and man ; we perceive thy heroism, 
 
 * meekness, patience, and resignation with 
 
 * transporting wonder and astonishment; the 
 
 * remarkable virtues of thy life, we esteem as 
 
 * the most compleat standard for our imita* 
 ' tion: Confirmed and encoura2:ed by thv 
 
 * spotless example, we pei'severc in cveriast- 
 
 * ing love to God and men, we contempla.te 
 
 * thy a<51ions with delight, we encamp around 
 
 * thy paths, and sound thy praises through. 
 
 * the lofty fky. Thou great Messiah, the 
 
 * eternal Son of God, brave sorrow, shamc^ 
 
 * pain, and death; bruise Satan's head, re- 
 
 * deem the chosen race, and ride triumph- 
 
 * ant to thy Father's throne.'— The Angel 
 taking him by the hand, revived his deieclol 
 
15G 
 
 spirits, strengthened every limb, and becam^i 
 invisible as before. 
 
 Jesus returned to his disciples, but found 
 them asleep, exhausted with weariness and 
 sorrow. ' Awake, my friends,' said he, 
 ^ Awake ;* and gently rebuked their security ; 
 ^ Alas, Peter, this is inconsistent with the. 
 
 * declaration you lately professed ; how can 
 
 * you die with me, when you will not so much 
 ^ as watch one hour in my deep distress ? 
 *' Watch ye, and pray, lest ye enter inta 
 ^'temptation: the spirit truly is ready, but 
 *' the flesh is weak*." After this he again 
 retired, praying as he had done before ; but 
 when he returned lie found them wrapt in 
 the sweetest slumber: The third time he 
 withdrew and poured out his soul in strains 
 of bitter anguish, and pious resignation, 
 saying, ' Father, if thou be willing, remove 
 
 * this cup from me : nevertheless, not my will 
 .^ but thine be donef:' He found them still 
 asleep : * Awake, my friends,' again he cried, 
 
 * neither the time nor place will admit of 
 ^rest; your weakness I pardon; the ene- 
 
 * my is near at, hand. 
 
 * Mark xiv, 38. t L^^^ ^^^^- 42. 
 
157 
 
 They arose immediately. By the time 
 they reached the disciples, who had re- 
 inained near the gate, the glaring beams of 
 torches poured upon their sight, and filled 
 their hearts with terror ; a multitude in arms 
 having surrounded the vineyard. They 
 crossed the valley in profound silence, and to 
 prevent alarm, their lights concealed till they 
 had gained the spot where Jesus was ; sudden- 
 ly their torches appeared lest darkness should 
 favour his escape. These precautions were 
 unnecessary, he knew their intentions, and 
 desired not to evade the danger. 
 
 Judas instantly approached with a coun» 
 tenance strongly marked with guilt ; he 
 saluted his INIaster, he embraced and kis* 
 sed him, with all the outward demonstra* 
 tions of honor and respe6l. In this man- 
 ner he was pointed out to the multitude, and 
 distinguished from his disciples. Immediate- 
 ly with drawn swords, and staves uplifted, the 
 enraged mob surrounded him ; when with a 
 mild majestic voice he thus addressed the 
 traitor : 
 
 '* Judas is this your friendship for me? 
 *' Betrayest thaiv the sou of man with s. 
 
 X 
 
*^ kiss*.'* — The perfidious wretch confounded 
 stood, and the croud remained in awful sus» 
 pence. He then demanded whom they 
 sought? They replied, ^ Jesus of Nazareth;' 
 to which he answei^d, ' I am the very man ye 
 *;seek.' To shew how awful goodness is, and 
 how easily he could have defeated the most 
 daring attempts against his life, a divine pow- 
 €r unbraced their nerves, deprived them in 
 an instant of all their strength, and threw 
 them prostrate on the earth. There had they 
 perished in their impious attempts ; but he 
 had compassion, and permitted them to rise^ 
 When they had recovered, he demanded 
 again, ' Whom seek ye ' } They answered, 
 ' Jesus of Nazareth.' Then said he, * I am 
 ' the man ; if your designs are against me, 
 * suffer my disciples to depart unmolested.' 
 At these words, Malchus, a servant of the 
 Hio'h Priest, stretched forth his liand to se- 
 cure him ; when Peter, impelled by the most 
 ardent zeal, drew his sword and cut off his 
 right ear. Speedy vengeance would have 
 stained the garden with Simon's blood, had 
 not his Master, who calmed the raging 
 deep, appeased the tumult. Turning to 
 
 * Luke xxii, 48» 
 
159^ 
 
 Malchiis he salcl, * Patience, young man/ 
 * pardon the precipitancy of my disciple ; T 
 ' will heal thy wound/ Then touching his 
 ear, the blood ceased to flow, the pain abated, 
 and all was sound and perfect. Looking at 
 Peter, who stood confused, agitated by a \ a- 
 riety of passions, and the sword yet drawn in 
 liis hand, he said, ' Put up thy sword, nor 
 ever attempt to fight in my defence ; for 
 be assured, those Avho have come in arms 
 against me, shall in the end perish by the 
 sword of their enemies. It is my Father s 
 Will that I should suff^er ; and what he wills 
 I am ready to endure. No man can take 
 my life without my own consent ; for even 
 at this time, should I pray unto my Father, 
 he w^ould send more than twelve legions 
 of Angels to defend me ; but then how 
 should the scriptures be fulfilled, for this was 
 foretold by the Prophets, and 1 frequently 
 warned you of it.' Then addressing himself 
 to the multitude, he said, * Why came ye here 
 in the darkness of the night, armed with 
 swords and staves, as if you were in pursuit 
 of a robber, who must be taken by surprise, 
 or overcome by violence ? Have I ever con- 
 cealed myself from you ? Or did I ever in 
 ^ seditious manner appear Mith men in m-m^ 
 
 X ^ 
 
160 _ 
 
 ^ to defend mj person ? No, I taught daily 
 ^ in your temple ; there I healed your sick ; 
 * had I been guilty of any crime why did you 
 ^ not apprehend rae ? But this is the period 
 ^ appointed for my sufferings ; God permits 
 ^ you to execute your nefarious designs.' The 
 soldiers immediately apprehended him, while 
 distracting terror overpowered his disciples. 
 
 AH hopes being destroyed they fled, and 
 left their Lord amidst surrounding foes. With 
 a dejected heart and weary step, he proceed- 
 ed along the valley. No tender eye beheld 
 him with compassion ; every heart gloried at 
 the event, and guarded the afflicted prisoner 
 with exultation. Having entered the city 
 they conducted him to the habitation bf An- 
 nas, where he was bound with cords as a cri- 
 minal, and from thence to the palace of the 
 High Priest, where the Sanhedrim, who were 
 resolved to destroy him, had assembled in ex- 
 pectation of his arrival. 
 
 Peter recovering a little, addressed John 
 in the following manner ' 
 
 ^ What shall we now do ? Our Lord is qsli- 
 * ried off a prisoner by his e^emies^ and. oi^r 
 
161 
 
 brethren are fled. O sad and unfortunate 
 night ! But what more could I have done ? 
 Willingly would I have fought in liis de- 
 fence. Now he is in the custody of those 
 who seek his life, and I am impatient to 
 know the consequences. Unquestionably 
 he is competent to deliver himself; we have 
 observed his power over all diseases; we be- 
 held his power over hell and death. Who can 
 resist that potent arm the winds andseaobey. 
 The Almighty God wherever he goes, de- 
 fends him ; and in a moment divine wrath can 
 blast his enemies. His words I well remem- 
 ber. * ^ All ye shall be offended because of me 
 * this night*:* I shall be left alone, yet I 
 am not alone, because mv Father is w^ith 
 me. If the Almighty be on his side, as 
 rao&t assuredly he is, what can his enemies 
 do against him ? Let us observe the end. 
 Perhaps he means to confound the wicked 
 by awful and speedy vengeance ; possibly 
 his kingdom may commence with ad;s of 
 deadly power against those who have despis- 
 ed his grace. It is still my firm resolutionj 
 that whatever be the inclination of others, 
 * I will never forsake him.' 
 
 * Mat. xxvi, 3 1. 
 
ir>£ 
 
 John replied in great perplexity, * I know 
 ' not what to say or do ; fear terrifies me, yet 
 
 * hope and love strongly induce me to follow 
 ' him.' They went, and in solemn sadness ap- 
 proached the city, enquiring for the palace 
 of Caiaphas. John being known to the High 
 Priest, immediately entered the hall, after the 
 company that condacled his Master, whilst 
 Peter having no acquaintance, remained 
 without the door, until John requested he 
 Blight be admitted. Instantly he was ac~ 
 cused by the maid with being one of the dis- 
 ciples, alarmed at the suspicion, and fearing 
 the consequence^ he replied, *I an) not.' Ad- 
 vancing forward he approached the crowd 
 that stood around the fire, expe^iing to pass 
 unnoticed, and to observe in security what 
 was doing ; when the High Priest addressed 
 Jesus in the following manner, 
 
 "^ Your repeated offences, your seditious 
 
 * proceedings, and your false pretensions to 
 ^ the exalted title of the Messiah, we have 
 •^ long: endured with too much clemency. 
 ' Your sins have at length deteded you, and 
 
 * justice cries aloud for speedy vengeance upon 
 
 * your guilty head. Inform me the names-, of 
 
 * your discipleSj what their station and busi- 
 
163 
 
 * «ess? What do you propose by assembliiig 
 ' such multitudes in every corner? What art 
 
 * the peculiar dodrines you teach ? And who 
 
 * do you pretend to be ? 
 
 With undaunted majesty he replied : "^ If 
 
 * you desire to find the truth, and judge with 
 ^ equity, ask mine accusers, let them assert 
 ' what they have feen and heaixl, enquire of 
 
 * the Scribes and Pharisees, and all that know 
 
 * my doctrine. You demand as if I taught 
 ^ secretly; whatever I delivered was in pub- 
 ' lie, and in the face of all the world, I 
 ^ taught in your temple and synagogues, on 
 ^ your Sabbaths, and solemn feast days ; in 
 ^ .places of the greatest concourse ; in secret 
 ' I have never asserted any thing to bring 
 ■* the least disgrace upon my name. 
 
 An officer belonsiintx to Annas, desirous of 
 sliewing his antipathy to Jesus, and to ingra- 
 tiate himself with the High Priest, in a furi- 
 ■Gus rage struck him on the face, saying, 
 
 * How dare vou answer the Hi<>:h Priest in 
 ■'this manner? Do you pretend to dictate 
 ■^ how lie shall proceed in judgment?' 
 
 Jesus replied with the greatest meekness ; 
 
 * If I have spoken with unbecoming freedom. 
 
*or asserted that which is crhiiiiial, accuse 
 
 * me before the council as you ought to do : 
 
 * but if I have not transgressed, why do you, 
 
 * contrary to the laws of justice and huma- 
 
 * nity, smite me uncondemned, and even in 
 
 * the presence of the court?'— No attention 
 was paid to his solemn appeal ; no rebuke 
 given to the unjust man ; equity was a stran- 
 ger to their proceedings, and malice boiled 
 in every heart. 
 
 Peter standing by, one of the servants re-* 
 Golleding that he had observed him in com- 
 pany with Jesus, charged him with being 
 one of his disciples. In great confusion Peter 
 affirmed he knew nothing of the man, and 
 immediately withdrew into the porch, where 
 after midnight the cock crew. 
 
 The Chief Priests having at all events de- 
 termined to destroy Jesus, suborned false 
 "Witnesses, who were interrogated ; but as their 
 testimony was either trifling, or materially in- 
 consistent, no plausible foundation could be 
 laid, for a sentence against him. At length 
 two men appeared, who alledged they heard 
 liim declare, that he w^ould destroy the tem- 
 ple, and rebuild it in three days, affirming 
 
rS5 
 
 that he discovered a hostile desio-n a^'ains't 
 the whole city. To this charge he made no 
 reply, being founded entirely on malice, 
 and a misrepresentation of his words. This 
 they were aware of, for when he remained si- 
 lent the High Priest indignantly rose, and de- 
 manded, ' Have you nothing to answer ? Can 
 ' you make no reply to the accusation allcdg- 
 
 * ed against you ' ? Jesus being sensible they 
 intended to extort an answer with an evil 
 view, and to interpret it into an accusation, 
 held his peace. Then said the High Priest, 
 
 * I am told many of the deluded multitude 
 
 * esteem you as the Messiah, and that in the 
 
 * most impious manner you publicly assumed 
 
 * that sacred charader; I therefore adjure you 
 
 * by the dreadful and tremendous name of 
 
 * God, in whose pre&ence you now stand, 
 ' that you unequivocally inform us, whether 
 
 / you are the Messiah, the Son of God ? ' He 
 replied instantly, * I am the very person, and 
 'though I now stand before you as a crimi- 
 
 * nal, despised and atllioled, yet I came ivom 
 
 * heaven, and thither will I return ; of this in 
 
 * a short time voii shall have a con vine in o- 
 ' proof, when I come to take vengeance up- 
 ' on the Jewish nation, to establisli my king- 
 
 * dom among the Gentiles, and to judge the 
 
 Y 
 
166 
 
 '\YoY\d at the last day.' The High f^riest 
 greatly incensed, exclaimed with fury, ' Her^ 
 "^ is the most notorious blasphemy, What need 
 ' have we of witnesses ? Ye have heard him 
 ' with your own ears, what is your opinion ' ? 
 They unanimously cried aloud, * He is guil- 
 ' ty of the most flagitious crime, and merits 
 
 * an io-nominious death.* 
 
 He was then condemned as a blasphemer, 
 and ordered to be closely confined until the 
 morning. The servants in the interim treat- 
 ed him with unheard of rudeness, and gross 
 contempt: some in derision pulled him by the 
 hair of his head, others having blindfolded 
 him, struck, and grossly insulted him in the 
 most barbarous manner, saying, * You who 
 
 * pretend to be the Messiah, inform us if you 
 
 * are able, who it M^as that struck you last ' ? 
 And with various other indignities he passed 
 that dismal night. 
 
 John during the whole trial was filled with 
 surprise and contempt at the gross partiality 
 of the chief Priests and elders. When he be- 
 held his injured Master standing at the tribu- 
 nal of his enemies, the most tender sympathy 
 preyed upon his generous heart. When he 
 
i6r 
 
 fecollecled his patience and prudence, his 
 meekness and magnanimity, he was trans- 
 ported withAvonder and admiration. But when 
 he reflected upon the exalted hopes he had 
 formerly entertained, and the grievous disap- 
 pointment that was likely to ensue, he was 
 overpowered with despair. Immediately upon 
 hearing the unjust sentence pronounced, and 
 perceiving the rudeness of the multitude to= 
 wards his Master, overcome wnih grief he se- 
 cretly departed from the house. Peter had 
 iikcAvise departed a short time before; for 
 when the false witnesses were accusing his 
 master, a relative of IMalchus who was stand- 
 ing near him, instantly approached upon hear- 
 ing him speak, and said, ^ You are certainly 
 
 * one of his disciples ; by your language I 
 
 * perceive you are a Galilean, and I am con- 
 
 * hdent you were with him in the garden; you 
 
 * are the man that attempted to defend him,' 
 Peter fearing that he should be apprehended 
 as a criminal, in the utmost confusion denied 
 the third time in the most solemn manner that 
 he had an} knowledge of the person. Scarce 
 had he uttered the denial when the cock crew; 
 Jesus at that instant arraioned before the 
 High Priest, turned round, and with an ex- 
 pressive look, cast his eyes upon Peter, who- 
 
 Y2 
 
iGs 
 
 ill an instant was struck with remorse, for he 
 well remembered the words of his blaster, 
 ^' Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny 
 '^ me thrice. And M'hen he thought there^ 
 *'on he wept*." Fully sensible of his guilt, 
 he withdrew, and gave vent to iiis sorrow in 
 in a lonely retreat. 'Alas ! said he, what have 
 ' I done ? Denied my Lord, my Master, and my 
 
 * Friend ; Him Mdiom I confessed and believ- 
 
 * to be the Son of God. Three times I deni- 
 
 * ed him, ahnost to his face, and with horrid 
 
 * oaths. O perjury, the basest peijury ! 1 me* 
 
 * rit a curse — 1 cursed myself — a tremendous 
 ■ curse hangs over my guilty head; of this litS 
 ^ kindly forewarned me ; this aggravates my 
 'guilt. ^' Watch and pra}^," said he, " Sa- 
 *' tan hath sought to sift thee." ' How true 
 
 * are all his words ! I am sifted now indeed, 
 
 * I am merely chaff before the vvind. Ah ! 
 
 * wretched man, what shall I do? What mad- 
 
 * ness led me to that detested pl^ce. I went 
 
 * to see the end, an endless one to me. I 
 
 * thought to have seen his foes abaslied, but 
 '' vain were all my hopes. Had he stretched 
 ' forth his arm, the first and heaviest stroke 
 
 ■f Mark :>;lv. 7.2; 
 
169- 
 
 Ihad surely friUen on my perjured head. Ju^ 
 ' das betrayed him, and I have denied him. Ah 
 
 * frail inconstant wretch ! I would have fought 
 ' for him in the garden, yet I denied him in 
 
 * the palace. I am worse than Caiaphas, worse 
 ^ than all his public foes. Did ever affronted 
 ' innocence look so mild? These gentle looks 
 
 * have filled my soul with horror. O dreadful 
 
 * guilt ! The crowing of that cock I shall ever 
 
 * remember. I perceived his penetrating coun- 
 
 * tenance, then all my guilt rose horrid to my 
 ^ view. Once I heard him pronounce these 
 
 * awful words, more awful now than ever^ 
 ^' Whosoever shall deny me before men, him 
 *^ him Avill I also deny before my Father 
 " which is in heaven^." He certainly had me 
 ^ in view, O Jesus, forgive the wretch that 
 
 * basely has denied thee ! Will repentance 
 
 * avail me nothing? He preached repentance, 
 
 * and so did I in his name ; will he then rejecl 
 
 * the penitent ? No, he cannot, here is my 
 
 * hope, I bitterly repent, he knows my weak-? 
 
 * ness, he will surely pity me ; when he fore- 
 t saw my fall he prayed for me, and God as- 
 '^ suredly heard his prayer,' 
 
 * M^t, :}i. S3v 
 
170 
 
 No sooner had the ^ngel Gabriel consoled 
 the Messiah than he ascended throuoh the 
 liquid sky, nor staid his rapid course, 'till 
 he reached the yielding surface of the aerial 
 flood, and stood ered, as on a sea of glass^ 
 diffused around this gross terraqueous globe. 
 There, in the vast circunifercnce of the at- 
 inosphere, ten thousand clouds are formed 
 and disappear, raised by the solar heat in 
 every clime, from the earth below, and from 
 the watery deep. With tremendous noise 
 thunders roar, and fly around on wings of 
 flaming fire. From thence the rain distils in 
 gentle showers, or falls precipitate in rapid 
 floods ; the rattling hail or fleecy snow de- 
 cends upon the earth. There, cold and heat, 
 and moist and dry, convened in dusky vap- 
 ours, swim over the hills, or fly in wild con- 
 fusion, while the tempest roars ; when rarified 
 they mount on high, and melt in liquid air; 
 but if condensed, they quickly fall, and pour 
 their contents on the verdant plains. It is 
 only in the lower regions, over the land and 
 sea, those stormy vapours hold their furious 
 reign : far above, the thin transparent air, 'm 
 pure and peaceful, even to the utmost verge, 
 where the refined «ther fills the ambient space, 
 there, angels breathe immortal life and joy^ 
 
171 
 
 there tliey stand, or walk, or fly, wliich way 
 they will, independent of all material attrac- 
 tion. From thence, they view the various 
 Ways of men, as we behold with curious eyes, 
 the creeping inserts at the bottom of a pure 
 transparent fountain. The immense fky, 
 llretched far above our heads, and which ap- 
 pears an azure concave to our view, is ob- 
 served by angels far distant on the sBtherial 
 plains, as a chrystal sphere around the earth ; 
 but v.'hen beheld much nearer, it seems a 
 flood, calm and serene, a sea without a Ihore, 
 at whose transparent bottom this globe ap- 
 pears, sometimes obscured by wandering spots, 
 such are the clouds to angels in the sky. On 
 the vast circumference of that sphere, Ga- 
 briel arrived, and viewed afar, Raphael de- 
 scending from above, with a mighty host of 
 cherubims — they dropt aromnd him upon the 
 azure plain, when Gabriel thus proceeded. 
 
 * O thou exalted Prince, thou leader of angc- 
 
 * lie hosts, may I enquire from whence, and 
 ' who are these, and what their business to 
 
 * this lower world? Strangers they appear to 
 
 * me, in reij^ions far remote thev surelv dwell : 
 ' in all my iournies from the throne of God 
 ' to this inferior M'orld, I do not recoUecl to 
 
"* have seen their equal. Matters of gfeat iitl^ 
 
 * portance, no doubt have brought them herC) 
 
 * if it be lawful for me to enquire, or for you 
 
 * to relate the occasion of their journey, I 
 
 * shall attend with pleasure.' Raphael re- 
 plied in the following terms : * A matter of 
 
 * universal concern to the intelligent creation 
 ' has brought them to this world from their 
 ' native habitation, their business here is nO 
 ' secret. Ten hundred times and more, has 
 
 * yon dark earth seen the revolutions of day 
 ' and night fmce the Almighty Father from 
 ^ his splendid throne, pronounced these words; 
 *' This is my beloved Son in whom I am well 
 *' pleased*.' Ye saints, and all ye blessed 
 
 * angels, within the vast circumference of my 
 
 * dominions ; assemble now in yon far distant 
 
 * world, near where Ujciel holds his radiant 
 
 * throne ; there-^'olls the earth, encompassed 
 
 * by the wandering moon, whose paler beams 
 ' and varying face, divide the seasons, and 
 
 * measure out the time to mortal men ; on 
 ' yonder earth dwells my beloved Son, my 
 
 * only Son, in whom my glory is expressed. 
 
 * Though he appears to the inhabitants of that 
 
 * worlds a person in every respe^'l like them, 
 
 *^ Mst. ill, i7. 
 
''yetl behold his glory beaiiling through the 
 « flefli; oil him my chief regard fhall rest, 
 ' when suns" and stars wither and decay. 
 
 * Go then, and mark his sufferings, behold 
 
 * his glorious deeds, and learn from his life 
 ' how men and angels ought to live.' 
 
 'Thus from his splendid throne the Etefual 
 spoke ; his voice was heard with extatic obe- 
 dience, and immediately they affembled in 
 flaming squadrons from ten thousand worlds. 
 Since that time they frecjuently descended to 
 behold his wondrous works, and again af- 
 cended ; on the pure convexity they travell-^ 
 ed far to the east with the rising Sun. The 
 earth they viewed, beheld its variety of cli- 
 mates ; the nations sunk in ignorance they 
 deplored, and marked thofe lands where the 
 fallen Angels held their impious thrones. 
 This perhaps you know. But as for these 
 bright legions whom now you see, they are 
 strangers indeed, the inhabitants of far dis- 
 tant worlds, lately sprung from Chaos and 
 eternal night. On the utmost verge of na- 
 ture is their dwelling place, near the dark, 
 the deep, the infinite abyss of boundless 
 space, where God alone resides; three years 
 *" and more have they travelled on their way^ 
 
 Z 
 
' swifter than the beams of yon refulgent star; 
 
 * and hav^ing- passed unnumbered worlds^ and 
 
 * glorious systems, suns and revolving planets, 
 
 * stretched out in empty space, far beyond 
 
 * the reach of mortal eyes, or human thought, 
 ' they now embrace the rising day, and the 
 
 * arrival of other angelic powers, when all 
 
 * the sons of light shall with amazement be- 
 
 * hold the suiferings of the great Messiah.'* 
 
 Gabriel with rapture listened, and then re- 
 plied, ' From the earth and presence of the 
 
 * jMeffiah I am just returned. There, I be- 
 
 * held him sunk in the most abje6l sorrow, 
 
 * oppressed with agony and unnuterable woe. 
 ' The quick apprehension of his own death, 
 
 * combined with the tender feelings of com- 
 
 * passion for the miseries of the human race, 
 
 * had exhausted his strength to such a degree^ 
 ^ that he fell to the ground, and had nearly 
 ' expired in a bloody sweat. I administered 
 ' every consolation to hiu), and ilrengthened 
 
 * every fainting limb. Though from his foes 
 
 * he could have escaped, he would not ; and 
 'though his power is infinitely fuperior to 
 ' their united strength, yet he will by no 
 ' means defend his person, nor blast with in- 
 ' dignation their impious designs ; Angels 
 
Vi5 
 
 ' may view the horrid scene, but dare not in- 
 terpose. Whatever God permits, he is will- 
 ing to suffer: neither friends, nor foes, nor 
 hell, nor earth can shake the purpose of his 
 soul. Such spotless virtue; such filial obe- 
 dience to God, and love to all the human 
 race ; such meekness, condescension, and 
 magnanimity, never yet appeared in heaven 
 above, nor on the earth beneath. I eyed 
 him with tender pity, I beheld him with the 
 srreatest admiration, and havino: ministered 
 to him in his great distress, I ascended the 
 Heavens again, and with anxiety wait the 
 high commands of our Almighty fovereign/ 
 
 * This charge I bear,' replied the mighty 
 
 * Prince ; * Here let us rest until morning 
 
 * light arrive, until all our armies assemible 
 
 * where we stand, then shall ye hear what 
 
 * wonders mufl be done by potent angels, 
 ' while the great ]\Iessiah suffers.' 
 
 A bright Seraph stood on Raphael's right 
 hand, who the Angelic powers commanded, 
 that dwelt in the most distant worlds, border- 
 ing on the utmost wtYg^ of nature; celestial 
 majesty from his countenance beamed, while 
 he thus the fervent wishes of his heart express 'd, 
 
 7 2 
 
I7ii 
 
 ^ O thou exalted Prince, who our joyful 
 
 * legions conducted from the empyrean to 
 
 * this, lower world, let us hear the virtues of 
 
 * this man divine, that Son of God, who now 
 
 * remains afflicted on the earth. Ten thou- 
 ^ sand worlds and more, fdl up the boundless 
 
 * space between this dark globe, and the star- 
 ^ ry regions where we dwell. In these we 
 
 * have ever discovered unerring wisdom, al- 
 ' mighty power, and everlasting goodness ; 
 *but how these qualities appear and in what 
 ' manner they are difplayed to the inhabitants 
 ^ of this world, we neither know, nor can con- 
 
 * ceive. Inform us then until the dawn- 
 ^ ing light arise, who tliat person is whom 
 ^ you call the Son of God, for we thought all 
 
 * Angc !•? had been his sons. He appears more 
 
 * dear than all, why does he live obfcure in 
 ' von daik world ? Why in that world is he 
 'so n)uch distressed? And wherefoi'e must 
 
 * he die r ' . ■ 
 
 Raphael answered, with a countenance re- 
 plete with majesty and sweet benevolence* 
 
 * Not hours, but years, might roll away, be- 
 ^ fore the half be told, that might be told of 
 ^ of him. The Son of God is he who made 
 
177 
 
 tills lower world where now he dwelK', and 
 every other seen by mortal or immortal eyes. 
 God maile them all 'tis true, but made them 
 all by him. I saw the day when the fouu- 
 datioiis of the earth were laid, and the hea- 
 vens stretched out. I then beheld, and 
 thousands more besides, when clothed with 
 majesty divine, him swiftly descending into 
 the empty space. He commanded, audio! 
 the various elements of this material world 
 sprung up in wild confusion. He said, Thoii 
 glorious light arise, and at his word the light 
 appeared. Thou azure sky extend thy am- 
 ple sphere around the globe, and so it was. 
 Retire ye floods and let the veAlant earth 
 appear with hills and dales ; the verdant 
 earth with hills and dales were seen, with 
 various seas and rolling floods, collected in 
 the hollow deep. Shine ibrth thou radiant 
 sun, thou paler moon and twinkling stars, 
 send forth your silver beams, and rule the 
 lonely night; the llaming sun blazed in the 
 
 * sky, the day shone forth, and in the night 
 
 * the moon and stars appeared. The hide- 
 
 * ous monsters in the rolling tide, and every 
 ' iish that cuts the yielding stream, he then pro- 
 
 * duced, and everv fowl that wine's the lucid 
 
 * air I these from the watery element, sprung 
 
178- 
 
 * at his command. Thou fruitful earth, 
 ' he said, bring forth the various tribes of 
 
 * brutal life, the wild, the tame, the great, 
 
 * the small, the swift, the slow, on rocky 
 '* mountains, and on level plains ; lo, at his 
 ' word the teaming earth brought forth her 
 
 * various kind, in full perfection, all without 
 ' a fault. These he made in six succeffive 
 
 * days ; we saw the different parts arise in gra- 
 
 * dual order, not at oiice, for then only had 
 ^ we seen the stupendous effe6^s of Almighty 
 
 * pov/er ; but as in order every part sprang up 
 ^ at his command, we could discern the wise 
 
 * design, and beautiful contrivance of the 
 ^ whole. Then it was, that ten thousand 
 
 * cherubims and heavenly saints stood round 
 
 * the rising world, where six dark globes, en- 
 
 * compassed by their moons of various size, 
 ^ at due distances move, in just proportion, 
 
 * round the central Sun. With transporting 
 ^admiration we beheld each day new won- 
 ^ tiers rising to our view. From darkness and 
 '^ wild confusion, we perceived the dawning? 
 
 * of order and harmony carried on by alow 
 ' degrees to full perfection, and all the parts 
 ' so wisely settled, as to form one grand and 
 ^complicated machine, whose various mo- 
 ^ tions tend to produce the happiness of all 
 
179 
 
 * that dwell therein. At the sight of the ere- 
 
 * ation, tea thousand Angels on their goldea 
 ' harps his praise resounded, and the Sons of 
 ' God vociferated in raptures of excessive 
 
 'joy-' 
 
 * The last and nohlest of his work was man; 
 him he formed after his own image; the 
 dust of the earth supplied materials for his 
 body; his soul was of a divine original, cap- 
 able of immortality, and invested with do- 
 minion over all the inferior creatures. Twd 
 only were formed at the beginning, from 
 whom innumerable multitudes have since 
 descended. These in a state of trial \wtTQ 
 placed ; immortal life and never fading hap- 
 piness were to be the reward of their obedi- 
 ence; death and final woe, the consequence 
 of their rebellion, and the juil punishment 
 of their disobedience. Satan, the leader of 
 apostate angels, in disguise entering their 
 peaceful habitation, deceived and drew them 
 into guilL Then had they perished by the 
 sword of justice, but mercy interposing, 
 saved their lives, yet not for ever; an im- 
 mortality on earth to them had been their 
 ^ greatest curse ; then entered death, and all 
 
 * that springs from dust, returns to dust again. 
 
ISd- 
 
 Sfercy appointed this to be tlie terror of 
 vice, and trial of virtue, to cut off the in- 
 corrigibic from society, and deliver the 
 righteous from the evils to come. Js o soon- 
 er had rebelhon entered, than a promise of 
 deliverance from sin and death v/as made 
 to them, by one v/ho fliould descend from 
 their loins, one who should destroy the 
 power of Satan, and raise them from the 
 dead to a blessed inimortality. At length, 
 when all nations had revolted from the true 
 God, joined in rebellion with Satan, and 
 fallen into the grossest idolatry, he appear- 
 ed to Abraham the Fatherof the Jewish na- 
 tion, renewed the original promise, made 
 choice of his posterity as his OAvn peculiar peo-* 
 pic, delivered to them his laws, and ruled 
 over them in a special manner by a series 
 of extraordinary dispensations. The joyful 
 tiiiie approached when God intended to re- 
 deem his people, and destroy the kingdom 
 of Satan by the mediation of his well belov- 
 ed Son, whose character and ministry he 
 had clearly foretold by the Jewish Prophets. 
 The time being fully accomplished, the very 
 time when the world stood most in need of 
 him, his glory he threw aside, left the hea- 
 vens^ and descended to this lowxr work), 
 
181 
 
 not in the glorious majesty pf a power divine, 
 nor in angelic form, a pure jethcrial sub- 
 stance such as ours; but wonderful to relate, 
 united to a human body, and by a divine 
 pov/er conceived, in the virgin's womb he lay 
 concealed, full nine successive moons; at 
 length a feeble infant he breathed the vital 
 air, and viewed the glimmering dawn of 
 light throug^i mortal eyes. In low disguise 
 he thus appeared like all the sons of men^ 
 subject to pains and wants, to peril, toil, and 
 death. No regal pomp, or splendour of 
 terrestrial power in him was seen. Full thir- 
 ty years he lived in mean obscurity, un- 
 known to men ; but seen, admired, and 
 guarded by angelic hosts. The Almighty 
 Father, then with awful voice proclaim- 
 ed him, ' His well beloved Son ;^'' Angels, 
 men, and devils heard the voice ; Sa- 
 tan confounded, trembled at the sound, 
 and feared confinement in the burnins: lake. 
 In vain, he tried his wiles, and all the 
 snares he could invent, but nothing could 
 seduce tlie Son of God. Inspired by 
 the sacred light of heavenly wisdom, he 
 
 * Mat. iii, i7. 
 
 Aa 
 
preached repentance to the chosen race-, 
 and life eternal to all that trust in him. By 
 the most wonderful a6ls of power and grace 
 he gave abundant proofs of his divine au- 
 thority. Satan urged by infernal fury con- 
 spired against his life, that life more preci- 
 ous than the heavens, and all their nume- 
 rous hosts; yea God permits that sacred life 
 to fall, as the only means to save a sinking 
 world. This he knows will come to pass, 
 this he will bear in pure compliance to his 
 Father's will, and kind compassion to the 
 human race. So pure and perfect shall 
 his righteousness appear, that for his 
 sake, and the encouragement of piety 
 amongst men, a pardon will be granted to 
 all who believe, and dutifully acquiesce in 
 his laws. Within three days he will arise 
 from the dead, and ascend the heavens, sit 
 on the right hand of God, far above all 
 principality, and power, and might, and 
 dominion. Then shall the power of Sa- 
 tan be destroyed in every nation; righ- 
 teousness and truth shall spread afar, even 
 to the uttermost parts of the earth, and 
 the inhabitants of this world become the 
 servants of the living God. The end of all 
 things shall th^en approach, the dead shall 
 
183 
 
 ' be raised, men and devils shall be judged, 
 
 * and the inferior world shall perish in de- 
 
 * vouring flames; the wicked sliall be punisli- 
 ' ed, and the righteous rewarded with ever- 
 
 * lasting glory. ' 
 
 Raphael had scarce concluded, when lo ! 
 the clear convexity of Heaven was covered 
 with pure cetherial spirits, compared close, 
 and numberless as the dew of Hermon, or 
 the pearly drops, on the rosy fields of Sharon. 
 Over the lucid hemisphere they stood, in per- 
 fect order, circle within circle, as in the trou- 
 bled pool, wide and more wide the swelling 
 circles move; Judea was the centre, the scene 
 of awful deeds, nor was the light obscured by 
 all these numerous hosts; still they remained 
 invisible to mortal eyes ; yet v/henever they 
 please they clothe themselves in robes of air 
 condensed and dyed with various light. No 
 sound of wild confusion or hideous uproar 
 ever was heard ; a solemn silence dwelt on 
 every lip. At length the great iEtherial trum- 
 pet blew, this trumpet once before was heard 
 pn Sinai's cloudy top, but never since, nor 
 shall be heard again by mortal ears, until the 
 Messiah rend the Heavens in fl-iming fire, 
 ^nd raise the dead to life. Then with an aw* 
 
 d \, a ^j 
 
184 
 
 fill voice Raphael spoke, and thus proclaim- 
 ed the Almighty's dread commands. 
 
 ' Ye Saints, yc Angels, ye thrones, domi- 
 nions, and powers attend ; this day the Son 
 of God must die, not hy constraint; con- 
 strained indeed by love, but not compelled 
 by force. The abandoned Je^\^s, actuated 
 by the powers of darkness, have ah*eady de- 
 creed his death; and God, who can bring 
 Gfood out of evil, suifers them to execute 
 their dire designs; glory to himself, and 
 everlasting joy to all good men, shall be the 
 reward of his temporal sufierings; the sin 
 of the w^orld shall destroy the Lord of life, 
 and by his death its power shall be dissolv- 
 ed, the accursed serpent shall bite his heel^ 
 and in just disdain shall grind the snake to 
 dust. Die he must by the hands of sinful 
 Uien, as tlie Piophets have foretold, and 
 branded with the opprobrious appellation of 
 an iniposter; but God intends the impar- 
 tial wrrld in every age, shall be convinced 
 oi* his innocence, and of the divine power 
 by which he a6ti:;d. lor this purpose, Ne- 
 •riah descend iustantly to the earth, go to 
 Jerusalem, enquire for the perfidious disci- 
 I le ; awaken in his soul the horrors of con- 
 
185 
 
 scions guilt, a sense of shame, and the tcf* 
 rors of future puni.shmcnt, that in the bit- 
 terest agonies of remorse he may confess liis 
 crime, and testify the purity of liis aflHdcd 
 Lord. Let his confession be public, in or- 
 der to stamp indcfible disgrace upon his as- 
 sociates ; then let despair hurry the guilty 
 wretch to sudden death, a death intli6led 
 by those very hands which received the pur-^ 
 chase money for his Master s life. This shall 
 acquit the Son of God from the malicious 
 imputation of imposture and deceit. As the 
 Jews intend to inflict upon the IVIessiali the 
 most ignominious death, the Roman Gover- 
 nor must be applied to, a man covetous, 
 bloody and unjust; before his tribnnal 
 shall the Son of God appear ; therefore 
 Zedakel descend, and Vvhen he sits in 
 'judgment banish from his mind all preju- 
 
 * dice and partiality ; impress upon the im- 
 
 * agination of his Consort when asleep, 
 
 * such an alarming vision, as may induce 
 
 * her husband, to lean to the righteous, 
 ' and spare the eftusion of innocent blood ; 
 
 * when he shall pronounce through fear 
 
 * of the Jews, the unjust and cruel sen- 
 
 * tence, let him pui)licly declare, by some 
 
 * expressive sign, that by menaces, and cou- 
 
186' 
 
 *'4:rary to every principle of justice and hii- 
 ' manity, it was extorted, and with relLi6l- 
 * ance granted. Whoever then shall exa- 
 ' mine his dodrines, his life and miracles^ 
 too'ether with the confession of Judas, and 
 the declaration of Pilate, will perceive in the 
 clearest lischt, that Jesus was no deceiver, 
 but the true Messiah, and the Son of 
 God. This awful day must be recorded 
 while the sun and moon exists; the hea- 
 vens above, and the foundations of the 
 earth must feel the pangs of their inno- 
 cent and dying Lord; eveiy age must 
 behold the dreadful scene with deep dis- 
 tress, in solemn sadness, and with fear- 
 ful omens of approaching woe. All joy 
 shall cease, every pensive heart shall mourn, 
 and deadly horrors fill the wretched land. 
 The flocks shall cease to feed, the herds in 
 mournful accents low, the fowls of heaven 
 shall seek a safe retreat, and hells dark 
 mansions vomit up their dead. The inier- 
 nal hosts shall obtain a speedy triumpli^ 
 and heavens brio-ht leo-ions tremble at his 
 death. Then near the earth let us descend, 
 and resting upon the inferior clouds, with 
 wonder view the distressing scene. While 
 - be remains upon the earth, and when \\'e 
 
187 
 
 behold his sacred Hmbs stained with crim^ 
 son blood, Eliphal, put thou out the golden 
 lamp of heaven, nor let the radiant sun to 
 the earth its lustre shew, for then the great 
 Messiah dies. Let sudden darkness spread 
 its sable wings, and cast an awful gloom 
 over all the land, whilst he who is the 
 worlds great luminary, hangs in a sad eclipse 
 upon the cross. When his last expiring 
 words are heard, let Gabriel to Mount Ca- 
 valrv descend, and shake the earth and rend 
 the solid rocks; let the opening graves throw 
 up their dead ; and the shocking ravages of 
 mortality expose to public view. By these 
 miracles God intends to signalize the death 
 of his well beloved Son, to rouze attention, 
 to awaken well disposed minds, and to pre- 
 pare them for greater evidence yet to come. 
 
 The orders being executed by the Arch- 
 angel, they instantly descended, and resting 
 on the lowering clouds, critically observed 
 the extraordinary transaclions o^ the day. 
 
 The rising sun having dyed with crimson 
 the eastern clouds, the wild bcists of the fo- 
 rest retired to their dens, and adlive persons 
 commenced the labours of the dav; when. 
 
158. 
 
 l>y the authority of the Chief Priest, Jesus 
 was led a prisoner to the eouncil chamber in 
 the temple, where tlie Sanhedrim had assem.- 
 Hed in order to try him, the night preceding 
 "being illegal, as to time and place: With an 
 intention of giving the air of justice to their 
 proceedings, they put lilm again to the bar. 
 In meek and peaceful dignity he stood, when 
 the High Priest exclaimed, ' On a former 
 
 * occasion you confessed yourself to be the 
 ' JMessiah, the Son of the living God, and 
 ' the Kino- of Israel, do vou now retrad, or 
 
 * still persist in the same declaration?' 
 
 He replied, ' I am sensible you will pay no 
 
 * credit to niy assertions, though I fliould 
 ' ^* confirm them by indisputable evidence; 
 
 ' neither will you permit me peaceably to de- 
 
 * part : nevertheless, I will neither conceal, 
 ^ nor deny my real characler, to avoid your 
 
 * indignation ; I therefore again inform you, 
 ^ that I am the Messiah, foretold and describ-- 
 
 * ed by the ancient Prophets ; of this you 
 
 * shall be convinced, and compelled to 
 ' confess the truth, when I come to take 
 
 * vengeance upon the Jewish nation, and to 
 •judge the world in righteousness.' 
 
189 
 
 Without hesitation they pronounced him 
 a blasphemer, an imposter, and worthy of 
 death. According to the law of INIoscs, the 
 blasphemer was subjed to be stoned ; a pu- 
 nishment though severe, yet they deemed it 
 insufficient. Therefore that he misrht suifer 
 the most ignominious and painful death that 
 the Roman Laws could intli6l, they bound 
 him as a Malefador, and led him immediate- 
 ly to the Governor, a man of an husty impe- 
 rious temper, a judge whose decisions were 
 ever in favour of those who gave the greatest 
 douceurs ; haughty, tyrannical, rapacious, 
 and admirably adaj^ted to accomplish their 
 wicked ends. 
 
 Judas in the meantime disappointed by 
 the sentence of the Council, and the meek 
 deportment of his injured Lord ; began to 
 repent, and determined if pradicable to 
 save his master's life. He went to the tem- 
 ple with the purchase money of his ini- 
 quity in his guilty hand, and addressed the 
 Chief Priests and Elders in the following 
 terms. 
 
 ^ I now find, ye have condemned that 
 * righteous man, whom I perfidiously betray- 
 
 Bb 
 
r^ 
 
 ed; conclemned him contrary to every {)riii* 
 ciple of equity, and against my own expec- 
 tations. Three years and more have I been 
 his intimate companion and disciple ; I have 
 observed his miracles ; and narrowly watch- 
 ed his adions; during that period, I have 
 never perceived the least offence in his con- 
 duct either to God or man. Had he done 
 amiss, no one could have a better opportu- 
 nity to testify against him than myself; 
 of his innocence ye seem satisfied ; ye 
 never had recourse to my testimony, and 
 even thofe that did appear, ye were under 
 the necessity of rejecting, as insufficient to 
 establish any crime. Fully sensible of the 
 purity of his heart, and too inconsiderately 
 counting upon your integrity, I presumed 
 he would have been acquitted. The idea 
 of his dissolution fills my soul w^ith horror : 
 I am conscious I have betrayed his inno- 
 cent blood, and under the goading agonies 
 of remorse, I now solemnly confess my crime, 
 and with detestation abandon the accursed 
 bribe. Refle6l seriously what ye do ; never 
 permit that unjust and cruel sentence to be 
 executed, lest his blood should cry aloud for 
 vengeance on the whole, nation, and crush 
 me, the miser-able author of his unhappy 
 fate.' 
 
191 
 
 The arguments of Judas made no impres- 
 sion on the Priests, who indifterently replied, 
 '' What is that to, us? See thou to that :*' We 
 ' have found him guilty, not indeed by the 
 
 * force of witnesses, but by his own unequi- 
 
 * vocal confession, which is clearly sufhcieut 
 
 * to condemn any criminal : He is a blasphe- 
 "' mer, an imposter, and therefore must die.' 
 Judas having heard their determination, and 
 despairing of forgiveness, threw down the 
 money in the temple, and retired to a solitary 
 place, whcrCr the ruins of antiquity, and a 
 melancholy gloom of a tall cypress, overhang- 
 ing the wall, and extending its branches of 
 deadly hue, struck his guilty mind with ad- 
 ditional horror. In retirement, the aggrava- 
 tion of his offence forcibly occurred to him; 
 at length, overpowered by despair, he ex- 
 gJaimed in the following manner : 
 
 ' Wretch that I am V/hither shall I fly — 
 
 * fiy where I will, guilt attends me, venge- 
 •* ance pursue:^ me. I have perfidiously be- 
 
 * trayed the innocent blood of my best friend 
 
 * — the Q-reatest of Prophets — vea, the Son of 
 
 ^«mr 
 
 ^- Matt, xxvii. 4, 
 Bb2 
 
19^ 
 
 * God, and the long expe6led Messiah : Hoi^ 
 rible crime ! committed against the strong- 
 est light — ^perpetrated with consummate de- 
 liberation, — and in defiance of repeated ad* 
 monitions. In consert with his mortal foes, 
 and under the mask of friendship, I saluted 
 my master, and kissed him with a treach- 
 erous smile. Cursed thirst of gain, to what 
 extremity hast thou reduced me ? Long have 
 I increased my store by the peculation of 
 the poor! I am utterly undone : No riches 
 can soothe my guilty breast, — kingdoms 
 have lost their value in my estimation, I 
 scorn them all : — Alas ! he is doomed to die, 
 all hopes of life are at an end. Wby did I 
 not credit his words, '^ that he would suffer 
 ' many thnigs of the Chief Priests and elders, 
 ' and at length be put to death? " And must 
 1 be the horrid cause of all his sufferings ? 
 Tormenting thought how can I endure theel 
 Neither solitude nor society can give me ease. 
 IMonsterof the human race, a companion only 
 for daemons and n-yself ! Shall I pray ta 
 God ? No, impossible \ My sins are un- 
 pardonable. The irrevocable sentence is 
 already proclaimed ; last night I heard it 
 ) roil- ills own lips— '^ but woe to tliat man. 
 *- by whom tlic son of man shall bq betrayed I 
 
193 
 
 ' Good were It for that man if he liad never 
 ' been born*." His words I regarded not, 
 but now I feel their awful force. Cursed be 
 the hour when I was born, and the moment 
 I first drew in the vital air. I sinned wan- 
 tonly supposing his goodness would rea- 
 dily forgive me — Will he now forgive ? No, 
 he cannot, he never will reverse the aw- 
 ful judgment. Shall I burst through the 
 guards that surround him, and supplicate 
 for mercy at his feet? No, the verv sio-ht of 
 the o'uards would increase my torment: 
 How could I behold him in that miserable 
 state? His penetrating eyes, and gentle 
 look would add fuel to tlie flames already 
 kindled in my bosom. Heaven and earth, 
 are pointed at me; God and all his angels 
 are my foes — men and devils hold me in de- 
 testation — the clouds above frown dreadful 
 over my guilty head ; these ancient ruins 
 appear to tremble at my crime. Ye lighten- 
 ings destroy me in a moment, ye tremend- 
 ous walls crush my bod\' to the dust, let 
 some stormy tempest hurl me hence T)n its 
 furious wings, and dash m^ headlong on 
 
 * Mark i^iw 21. 
 
183 
 
 * some mountains craggy top, or plunge me 
 in the foaming deep. — O earth ! how canst 
 thou bear the load of so much guilt ! open 
 thy wide extended jaws, and sink me ten 
 thousand fathom below the regions of the 
 dead. Thy lights O Sun, upbraids me; even 
 life so valuable to all, torments me. O God^ 
 grant me but one favour, blot me out of 
 thy creation, and let all pain, sense, thought^ 
 and recollection for ever cease. To thee, 
 O death, I now appeal ! Thou last resource 
 of distra6led misery, approach and end my 
 woes. Since none will grant relief, I will 
 free myself — ^These hands, these impious 
 hands received the accursed bribe, these 
 very hands shall grant the wished for suc- 
 cour. That aged tree, that far extending 
 bough, that ruined wall, and this strong 
 girdle, all these combined shall end my 
 
 * wretched days, and make a s^d atonement 
 
 * for my crime. — What thoughts are these ! 
 
 * Fear begone I- — Welcome death, despair de-^ 
 ' fies all pain/ 
 
 With looks of infernal horror, he then pr6^^ 
 ceeded through an aperture in the wall, and by 
 a girdle suspended to a branch extending 
 over it, terminated his miserable existence v 
 
195 
 
 III the most Convulsive agitation he remained, 
 until the knot loosing, he suddenly fell on 
 the pointed ruins beneath, burst asunder, and 
 mingled his bowels with the dust. 
 
 Jesus in the mean time was led to the. 
 Governor's palace, where a guard of soU 
 di:rs and servants were placed : but being 
 heatheiis, the Priests refused to enter lest 
 they should be defiled by approaching too 
 liCar such persons. The Governor being 
 informed that a prisoner was brought, against 
 whom an inmiediate order M'as requested 
 for public execution, desired to know his 
 crime. Conscious of the iniquity of their 
 proceedings, and unwilling that an enquiry 
 sliould be made, they answered in general, 
 that if he were not a criminal, they would 
 not have accused him. The Governor re- 
 plied, * If his crime be of a rcHgious nature 
 
 * take him and judge him according to your 
 
 * laws, for I am an entire stranger in those 
 
 * matters.' * He is unquestionably a crimi- 
 ^ nal,' they ans^vered, * we have already ad- 
 
 * judged liim deserving of death ; but as it is 
 
 * not lawful for us to inflict that punishment 
 
 * which the enormity of his crime deserves.^ 
 
19G 
 
 * vre request from you an order for his imme- 
 
 * diate crucifixion/ * The man mav be in- 
 
 * nocent for ought I know,' said the Gover- 
 
 * nor, * \Vliy woukl you have me condemn 
 
 * him without even knowing his crime? You 
 
 * must exhibit an accusation against him, or 
 
 * I positively refuse to interpose. 
 
 Reduced to the necessity of charging him 
 with some enormous offence, and knowing 
 the dependance of the Governor upon the 
 Roman Emperor, they accused him with se- 
 dition, asserting with the greatest confidence, 
 that he had attempted to pervert the minds 
 cf the people from their customary obedi- 
 ence to the Government, forbidding tbem 
 to pay tribute to Ca3sar, and asserting 
 that he was the Messiah, the only King 
 C'f the Jews. Pilate hearing these words 
 deeilied it necessary to enquire into the 
 truth, and having taken his seat in the judg- 
 ment hall, addressed Jesus in the follow- 
 ing terms ; ' You have now heard the crimes 
 
 * whereof you are accused. You are permit- 
 
 * ted to speak in your defence; be under no 
 
 * fear but candidly state what you have to 
 ay in your vindication,* 
 
 
197 
 
 Jesus answered with a countenance and 
 tone replete with innocence and dignity; 
 You have for fome time held the Govern- 
 ment of Judea ; I have frequently taught in 
 the temple, and in the synagogues, upon 
 every public occasion, both in the city and 
 country .* during that time, have you ever 
 heard any thing prejudicial to me, or that 
 wore in the smallest degree the appearance 
 of sedition ? Or do you merely proceed up- 
 on the clamour raised by the people ? If 
 so, take heed that you are not impos- 
 ed upon, for you will find the accusation 
 is founded entirely upon the ambiguity 
 of a single word; they inform you, I 
 pretend to be King of the Jews, and would 
 endeavour to convince you I am an ene- 
 my to CiEsar; that is not the case, I 
 have no design to establish a world- 
 ly kingdom in opposition to the Ro- 
 man Government; my ideas are quite the 
 contrary.' - 
 
 Pilate replied, ^ I am no Jew, I know not 
 
 * your intentions, nor in what superstitious 
 
 * sense you may use certain words; the rulers 
 ^ of your people, who are competent judges, 
 ' iiave brought you bcfoxe me as a perfon en- 
 
 Co 
 
198 
 
 * gaged in seditious pra6lices ; if the charge 
 ^ be not true, convince me of yourinnocence, 
 
 * for I am open to convi6lion. ' 
 
 Jesus answered, * I indeed propose to 
 
 * ered a kingdom, but it diifers materially 
 
 * from those of this world, and has no ten- 
 
 * dency to create disturbance in the ciyil go- 
 
 * vernment. Were I inclined to assume the 
 
 * royal power, like other kings, I would have 
 
 * commanded my servants to fight; but that 
 
 * I absolutely forbade them, on the contrary, 
 
 * I exhorted them to be subject to the higher 
 
 * powers, to render to Ciesar the things that 
 ' are Caesar's, and to God the things that are 
 ' God's. My kingdom is wholly of a spiritual 
 
 * nature, consisting in the obedience of men's 
 ' wills and affections to the laws of God/ 
 
 * After this explanation, said Pilate, you 
 
 * must admit in general, that you have taken 
 
 * the title of a king?' — ' True,' replied Jesus, 
 
 * but it is only in the sense I have now ex- 
 
 * plained the word. For that end I v/as born, 
 
 * and for that purpofe I came into the world, 
 
 * that I might bear witness to the truth ; 
 ' there is no compulfion in my kingdom, nei- 
 ' ther shall the sword be unsheathed in de- 
 
199 
 
 * fence of my aiithonty. I came to publish 
 
 * the laws of God to the inhabitants of this 
 
 * ^vorkl, and to enforce obedience by the re- 
 ' wards and' punishments of a world to come. 
 ' Whoever sincerely loves, and is ready to em- 
 ' brace the truth, will hear my testimony, 
 
 * be convir^ced by it, and faithfully obey it.' 
 
 Pilate descended from the tribunal and ad- 
 
 * dressed the Priests and Eklers in the foUow- 
 
 * ino* manner: ' I have examined the maa 
 
 CD 
 
 ' whom ye brought before me as a seditious 
 
 * person, and a pretender to the kingdom of 
 
 * Judah. After the stri^lest enquiry there 
 ' appears to me no foundation whatever for 
 ■ the charge. I know not what particular 
 ' dodrines he may have taught contrary to 
 
 * your religious opinions, neither does it be- 
 
 * come me to form an opinion upon subjeds 
 
 * of that tendency: As to the government, 
 ^ I cannot find that he ever attempted to raise 
 
 * a commotion, or claimed any authority in 
 ' this province.' 
 
 The Jews were enraged, and furiously ex- 
 claimed ; '' Be assured he is both dangerous 
 
 * and seditious, for not merely Judea, but all 
 
 * Galilee can testify the-truth of what we 
 
 Cc2 
 
200 
 
 * assert. He has travelled over, the country^ 
 ':aTid spread his do6triiies far and wide, from- 
 
 * the very confines, to this city.' 
 
 r Pilate finding that Jesus came from that 
 country, and generally resided there, con- 
 ceived his cafe more immediately came un- 
 der the comizance of Herod. In order there- 
 fore to get rid of the importunity of the Jews, 
 and of so odious an affair, he sent him to He- 
 rod, who was at Jerusalem, on account of the 
 feast. Herod rejoiced at the appearance of 
 Jesus, for he had; long, desired to see, and 
 coaverse. with such a wonderful man. He 
 w^-sr accused of sedition by the Chief Priests, 
 as he: had been before Pilate: Conscious of 
 bis. innocence, and knowing the iniquity of 
 hisj accusers, ; he made no reply. '.Herod per- 
 loejviing;. their • - an-alice, pronounced openly, 
 thjit. the crimed al]edge(l against him, could 
 not be established by sufficient evidence; 
 
 * So far are the cliaiges from being true,' 
 said he, ' particularly in Galilee, I have for 
 
 * soHiC years heard many wonderful things 
 
 * conjc?e5rni*"ig.this man, yet I never found any 
 / accuse > him with sedition; though multi- 
 
 * tudes ha/ve attended to hear his dodrine^ 
 
 * J neyer l^inew of any riot, or insurreclion^ 
 
C!01 
 
 ' QCcasioned by his followers ; on the coiitmry, 
 " to speak impartially, I have always found 
 ^ his followers the most peaceable subjects, 
 * under these circumstances the charges ap- 
 'pear to nie to be void of foundation.' In 
 order to satisfy his curiosity, Herod p,ut 
 several questions to Jesus; ' Inform me/ 
 said he, ^ who you are, for various are the 
 reports concerning you ; some imagine yoa 
 are Elias, or Jeremias, or one of the anci- 
 ent Prophets returned to this world ; othei^ 
 suppose you to be John the Baptist risen 
 from the dead ; Which of these do you pre- 
 tend to b e ? ' — J e s us m ad e n o r e ply. * \\^ hat, ' 
 said Herod, ' are vou afraid to oive an ac- 
 count of yourself? A Prophet you certainly 
 pretend to be, I have frequently heard -of 
 your miracles, but never saw them ; now 
 you have an opportunity to give a proof of 
 your extraordinary power, if you possess 
 any/ 
 
 Jesus knowing his licentious chara6i:er and 
 worthless disposition, did not think proper to 
 exert it, either to save his own lite, or to srra- 
 tify the vanity of a wicked Prince; he there- 
 fore remained silent. Herod highly offendctl, 
 began to treat him with ridicule. * 1 his fel- 
 
0()0 
 
 I 
 
 ' low Is sullen, stupid, or afraid t6 speak in 
 ' the presence of his superiors,' said he ; ' it 
 
 * clearly proves his meanness of birth :' turn- 
 ing to the officers, he said, ' your military ap- 
 
 * pearance has inspired his soul with terror; 
 ^ he must look formidable at the head of ait 
 ' army : Who would not tremble at the pre- 
 
 * sence of such a king? He is now disguised^ 
 
 * let him therefore be clothed in appa?eU be- 
 ^ coming his Majesty/ In cruel derision he 
 was dressed in a purple robe, and for a 
 considerable time made the ludicrous ob-- 
 jeel of Herod and his court. Having suf- 
 fered many indignities with meekness and 
 serenity, he was remanded to Pilate, who ad- 
 dressed the Chief Priests thus, 
 
 ^ You have brought this man before me^ 
 ^ as a seditious person, a disturber of the go- 
 ' vernment, and a seducer of the people ; I 
 ^ told you, that after the most impartial in- 
 ^ vestigation, I could find no fault in him^ 
 
 * Even Herod himself, who is of your own 
 
 * persuasion, and understands your laws and 
 
 * customs better than a Roman ; even he, I 
 ^ say, has found no truth in your allegations. 
 ^ Surely neither Herod nor myself are of his 
 
203 
 
 * party ) we have no expe6lations from him, 
 
 * we hold our authority under Cassar, and 
 ^ could we find any evidence, we would reajdi- 
 ^ ly comply with your request. If he imagines 
 ^ himself a king, he is clearly a very inoffen- 
 
 * sive one, there is nothing formidable in his 
 
 * appearance ; he is neither able to defend 
 
 * himself nor injure you ; he has neither 
 ^ guards to attend him, nor friends to recom- 
 ''mend him, nor armies to figiit his battles 
 
 * and crown him witli vidorj^ His preteii- 
 
 * sions to royalty connecS-ed with the meanness 
 
 * of his appearance, render him an object of 
 
 * contempt. That was th^ punishment He- 
 
 * rod thought proper to intli^t; lest ye shouJd 
 
 * think it too lenient, 1 v/ill order him to he 
 
 * severely scourged and ^tt at liberty, ' 
 
 Lenity vv^as so disgusting to their enraged 
 tempers, that they loudly exclaimed for im- 
 mediate death, and nothing less than cruci- 
 fixion would satisfy them, t^ilate unwilling 
 to shed the blood of an innocent person, de- 
 manded what evil he had done ? '' For my 
 
 * part I find no fault in him, much less any 
 '^ ofibucc deserving of death.' His feelings 
 exaspc^-ated their fury, ^nd made them tlic 
 xnore clamorQu.s.fgr aspeedj execution. \VJia?. 
 
204. 
 
 tlVe ..noise had in a great degree abated, some 
 among the multitude, who regarded him 
 MS a prophet, and inwardly condemned the 
 chief Priests, thought of an expedient to li- 
 berate him, by demanding the release of 
 a prisoner at the time of the feast. Pilate 
 cordially assented, and offered to their choice 
 Jesus or Barabbas. Allowing them time for 
 deliberation, he went into the hall, and thus 
 reasoned with himself : ' Certainly there is no 
 
 * comparison between the two men ; Jesus has^ 
 
 * been admired and followed by the people, 
 
 * the Chief Priests and Elders are his only 
 ^ enemies ; the multitude surely will prefer 
 'him to that infamous wretch Barabbas/ 
 While Pilate thus reasoned Alexander, 
 the mortal enemv of Jesus, exerted all 
 the power of his eloquence to dire6l the peo- 
 ple in their choice. 
 
 ' Men of Israel beware what ye do, upon 
 *your decision matters of the last importance 
 
 * evidently depends. IMany there are present 
 *who attended the retinue of that ambitious 
 ' and deceitful man, when he entered the ci- 
 ' ty riding upon an ass. Be wiser now than 
 ^ ye were at that time, and suffer not such 
 ' bold and blasphemous pretensions to impose 
 
^5 
 
 '.Upton your credulity. Are ye not inspired' 
 with resentment against such a daring impos- 
 ,ter ? Is this the desire of all nations, the 
 king of Israel, the mighty prince that was 
 to come, the glorious Messiah whose domi- 
 nion shall extend from sea to sea, and from 
 the river to the ends of the earth ? What 
 can ye expe6l? He is neither equal to de- 
 fend himself nor deliver you. Where are 
 his boasted miracles? Has the Almi^fh- 
 ty forsaken him ? No ; say rather that the 
 Almighty never was with him. How egre- 
 giously have ye been duped ! Had he been 
 the ]\Iessiah, he could without difficulty 
 have confounded his enemies; but being an 
 imposter, he is now confounded himself, 
 smitten of God and affli6led. A foolish ad- 
 miration once deceived you, let not an effe- 
 minate compassion deceive you now. Ba- 
 rabbas, I admit, is a criminal, condemned 
 foj^A'obbery and murder, but Jesus of Naza- 
 reth is worse, and has been justly condemn- 
 ed as a, blasphemer. Barabbas has offered 
 violence to a few individuals, but Jesus has 
 deceived a great part of the nation. Vio- 
 lence and bloodshed excite horror and in- 
 dignation, we therefore avoid them ; but re- 
 ligious imposture allures the unthinking^, 
 
 Dd 
 
206 
 
 * ensnares them in the net of intricate deki- 
 sion, and causes them ever to delight in 
 misery. Barabbas therefore ought to he 
 the obje6l of your choice. As your friend, 
 the friend of my country, and the mouth of 
 our wise and holy Sanhedji'im, I speak. Can 
 ye despise our authority, dbubt our integrity, 
 or forsake your OAV^n interest to gratify a 
 mean and dangerous imposter? No, my 
 fellow citizens, I am induced to form a bet- 
 ter opinion of you. Think e'er it is too late, 
 abandon the man who has so long deceived 
 you, and suffer him to receive the reward 
 of his crimes.' 
 
 The multitude were easily biassed. Pilate 
 growing impatient, returned, and demandect 
 
 * Whom will ye that I release unto you, Jesas 
 
 * or Barabbas?' With an enraged voice they 
 
 * all exclaimed, 'Barabbas!' 'What,' said 
 he, ' shall I do with Jesus, whom they call 
 ^ the Messiah?' They replied, ' Let him be 
 
 * crucified.' ' Why,' said Pilate, ' what evil 
 ' hath he done ? would you cruci/y an inno- 
 ' cent man? Nevertheless, to please your in- 
 ' dignation, I will chastise him and let him 
 ' go.' They still cried out with greater fury, 
 ^ Let him be crucified, ' During the conf it- 
 
£07 
 
 sLon, a servant brought a letter to Pilate frorr^ 
 his wife to the following effed. 
 
 iC 
 
 By all the Gods I entreat thee, O Pilate, 
 have no hand in gratifying the malice of 
 the Jews, by condemning that just man 
 now before thee, for in my dream I beheld 
 him barbarously murdered by the Jewish 
 Priests. From his innocent blood which 
 ran in streams through the public streets, 
 there immediately arose a flame of fire, so 
 furious and terrible that nothing could ex- 
 tinguish it. In an instant, the city and 
 adjacent country were involved in one 
 dreadful conflagration. The terrors of my 
 dream have nearly distra6led my soul, — I 
 awoke and found some relief; but the aw- 
 ful impression still possesses my confounded 
 imagination. Remember that dreams are 
 from Jupiter, and often warn us of what 
 shall come to pass." 
 
 Pilate, having perused the letter, resolved if 
 possible to save his life. He perceived the 
 danfjer that mio-ht result from an enraQ:ed 
 multitude, he thought of Mark i\nthony, who 
 by exposing to public view, the murdered 
 body of Ca)sar, first excited the compassion 
 
 Dd^ 
 
of the people, and then roused their indigna- 
 tion against his murderers. With the same 
 view he ordered Jesus to ]be led to the corn-* 
 mou hall by the soldiers, who stripped him^ 
 bound him to a pillar, and scourged him with 
 unrelenting severity, until his tender flesh was 
 torn asunder, and the pavement dyed with 
 precious blood. They clothed him in a pur- 
 ple garment, plaited a crown of thorns, and 
 set it upon his head, put a reed in his hand, 
 imitating a sceptre, and kneeling down they 
 exclaimed in derision, - Long live the king 
 of the Jews ;' then taking the reed from 
 his hand, they struck him on the head until 
 the thorns sunk into his flesh ; they spit in 
 his face, smote him on the cheek, and treat- 
 ed him most contemptuously. With unshak- 
 en fortitude, astonishing meeekness, and in- 
 vincible patience, he bore every indignity. 
 In th^t deplorable condition, Pilate led him 
 forth, decorated with the ornaments of mocl^ 
 majesty, his head, face, and body streaming 
 with blood, the multitude fixing their eyes up- 
 on him, the governor addressed them in the 
 following manner. 
 
 ' Behold the man so much admired of latCy 
 ^ the man who taught in your temple, and 
 
£09 
 
 healed your diseased friends, mark how my 
 iiocent and mild he appear?, not a frown 
 ever was observed on his countenance, nor 
 an anory word ever'droi)t from his lips; 
 behold the sad reverse of foitune, — not lon^ 
 since in crouds ye followed him, amazed at 
 all he said or did; now ye persecute him 
 with rage and unexampled fury. See the 
 ludicrous garb in Avhich he is clothed, the 
 crown of thorns how it sinks into his flesh. 
 Behold that placid countenance stained 
 with blood ! Is it not alone sufiicient to 2:ra- 
 tify resentment and to excite compassion in 
 your hearts? Have ye no mercy, no pity for 
 an harmless, inoifensive man? Is it possible 
 ye can be so lost to the cries of justice and 
 humanity, as to reject an innocent person, 
 and prefer a wretch condemned for sedition 
 and murder. I find no fault in him, Plerod 
 found none, why then will ye be so implac- 
 able? His life depends upon your word, 
 speak that word and he shall live.' — They 
 «till cried out, ' Away with him, cru- 
 * cify him, crucify him.' Pilate observing, 
 instead of requesting a favour, they appeared 
 disposed to frighten him into a compliance, 
 by mutiny, in an angry tone exclaimed, 
 ' Since nothing short of crucifixion will satisir. 
 
210 
 
 fy your unfeeling hearts, go, execute your 
 cruel sentence, and let the consequence fall 
 upon your unworthy heads ; it shall never 
 be infli6ted by my consent, or by my autho- 
 rity.' — One of the Priests cried out, ^ We 
 are amazed at your declaration, though he 
 appears innocent to you, he is unquestion- 
 ably guilty, for according to our law, a 
 man who arrogates the chara6ler of a Pro- 
 phet is worthy of death. This he has open- 
 ly done, yea more, he pretends to be the 
 Son of God, which is the highest degree of 
 blasphemy.' 
 
 Pilate was astonished, and pausing, said 
 within himself. What man is this? I have 
 heard many surprising reports concerning 
 him ; the Jews have a6ted in a strange incon- 
 sistent manner, and now alledge an accusa- 
 tion entirely new : — After thus reasoning, he 
 returned to the Judgment-seat. Jesus being 
 placed at the bar, Pilate enquired who he was, 
 from whence he came, of what family he v^as 
 descended, and who were his immediate pa- 
 rents ? Jesus made no reply. Pilate hurt at 
 his silence, said, 'Why do you not answer.^ 
 * You are aware that I have power either to 
 ^ release or crucify you. ' He then said, * 1 
 
£11 
 
 could M'ith ease secure luyseTf, so that nei- 
 ther you nor the Jews could injure me ; but 
 it is the will of my heavenly Father, from 
 whom your power is derived, that for the 
 most important ends I should be delivered 
 into your hands ; as it is manifest they im- 
 portune you to put me to death, I confers, 
 •your compliance is infinitely less criminal, 
 than their unprovoked cruelty in demand- 
 ing my life. 
 
 Pilate admiring his modesty, meekness, 
 and innocent deportment, again addressed 
 the multitude: — 'The more I investigate 
 ^ the condu<5t of this man, the more I am sa- 
 
 * tisfied of his innocence. His deportment 
 
 * is truly praise-worthy; he discovers no re- 
 
 * sentment against you for all the indignities 
 
 * he has suffered, such n)eekness, fortitude, 
 ' and magnanimity under persecution, 1 have 
 *" never before witnessed ; ye have alledged 
 
 * a strano'c accusation a<>:ainst him : but that 
 *" has no connexion with the crimes hitherto 
 
 * laid to his charge. He calls himself the 
 
 * Son of God, vou sav, and for au2:ht I know 
 
 * it may be true : I have heard so many 
 
 * things of an extraordinary nature, from pcr- 
 ^ sons of undoubted vcracitv, that I am in- 
 *' duced to believe there is something in his 
 
212 
 
 cliaracler that approaches divinity, and 
 far surpasses the rest of men. I have en- 
 quired into his origin, his parents and fa- 
 mily, to all which questions he remained 
 silent, yet his silence did not appear to pro- 
 ceed from suUenness, conscious guilt, or 
 confusion, but from an inAvard sensibility^ 
 irreatness of mind, and a submission to tbfe 
 will of heaven, to which he refers all his 
 sufferings. We have had men of our own 
 nation descended from the Gods, who were 
 distinguished by some extraordinary a6lions. 
 If this man be the Son of God, what daring 
 impiety will ye be guilty of, if in the vio- 
 lence of your indignation ye put him to an 
 infamous death : Beware then what ye do; 
 some of the gravest men of antiquity, the 
 "svisest lawgivers, and the best friends of their 
 country have fallen victims to the ignorance, 
 envy, and malice of an enraged fa6lion. 
 This, I fear, is now the case. Set bounds 
 to your indignation, be guided by the laws 
 of justice and humanity; let Barabbas meet 
 the reward of his crimes, and suffer an in- 
 nocent man to be restored to liberty.' 
 
 The sentiments of Pilate were delivered 
 
 with energy and enthusiasm, and sufficiently 
 
 indicated the high opinion he entertained of 
 
213 
 
 his innocence, but in vain, for the Chief 
 Priefts had so inflamed the minds of the mul- 
 titude, that neither the authority of the Go- 
 vernor, nor the force of reason, nor the voice 
 of equity, nor the feelings of humanity were 
 any longer regarded ; at length they proceed- 
 ed to indirect tlireatenings against the Gover- 
 nor, when Alexander with an air of boldnefs 
 thus began. 
 
 * It is evident you are disposed to reject our 
 suit in defiance of our flrenuous entreaties 
 to the contrary. Here is a person who as- 
 sumes the charader of King of the Jews, a 
 man who will seize the first opportunity up- 
 on the government of this province. We 
 have brought him before your tribunal, we 
 have supplicated justice, and though you 
 derive your authority from Cassar, yet you 
 hesitate to put in execution the necessary 
 punishment. Recoiled:, that any man who 
 arrogates sovereignty without the approba- 
 tion of Tiberius, is his avowed foe, and in 
 this instance you are not Caesar's friend ; re- 
 fle6l upon your own danger, and preserve 
 your authority, by immediately complying 
 with the request of the people, ' 
 
 Ee 
 
Pilate aware of the jealous disposition of 
 Tiberius, and how easv it would be to niisre- 
 present his condu6t, and conceiving his fall 
 niight be the consequence, returned to the 
 public tribunal in a deje6led manner, and 
 once more addressed the multitude : 
 
 ' Behold, O ye hard-hearted and implac- 
 
 * able Jews, the poor man, whom ye have 
 
 * accused of assuming the title of your king. 
 
 * He is one of your own nation, a teacher of 
 ' your own religion, a man of wonderful meek- 
 ^ ness and affability; what benefit can ye pro- 
 ' pose by his death ? Is it possible ye can be 
 
 * unanimous, and that no man will venture 
 ' to plead in his behalf?' — They cried out, 
 with increased fury, *' Let him be crucified^l" 
 Many of them were strongly disposed to mer- 
 cy, but the dread of an enraged fa6lion van- 
 quished their honourable feelings. 
 
 Pilate perceiving their obflinacy, replied in 
 a scornful manner, ' What, shall I crucify 
 
 * your king ?' — They retorted, ' We have no 
 ' king tut Cassar, whose interest you are 
 
 •^^- Matt. XXV i. 23 
 
£15 
 
 * disposed to defeat' Finding no arguments 
 could penetrate their adamantine breasts, that 
 nothing but indignant clamour prevailed 
 among the multitude, he acquiesced, and 
 commanded the Centurion and Soldiers, who 
 had previously inflided the punishment, to 
 concluci: him to mount Calvary, and there 
 prepare for his immediate crucifixion. In or- 
 der to testify how reluctantly he passed the 
 unjust sentence, he called for water and wash- 
 ed his hands before the multitude, exclaiming, 
 
 * I call the (irods to witness my innocence, 
 ' ye well know I have exerted the summit of 
 
 * my power to prevent the shedding innocent 
 ' blood. I found no fault in him, but your 
 
 * riotous importU'iity has compelled me to 
 ' condemn him. If ever the righteous Gods, 
 
 * who are the avengers of injured innocence, 
 
 * or the roman Senate, shall investioate this 
 ' affair, the cruelty must rest with you for 
 ''I am innocent of the blood of that just 
 '' man.' Then answered all the people, and 
 said, ' His blood be on us, and our children.*' 
 
 When the condemnation of Jesus had been 
 declared, the soldiers unrobed hhn, clotlied 
 
 * Mat. xxvii. 25 » 
 Ee9. 
 
2 Iff 
 
 liim in his own garments, and placed upoa 
 his painful shoulders, already mangled with 
 the scourge, the ponderous heam on whicl^ 
 he was doomed to die ; they led him to Mount 
 Calvary, the place of public execution, amidft 
 an innumerable multitude of Spedators, \vho 
 thronged the streets. Exhausted by the bit- 
 terest sorrow and excruciating pain, he faint- 
 ed under the deadly weight of his cross ; but 
 meeting accidentally on the road one Symon 
 of Cyrene, him they compelled to bear it. 
 
 Among the vast crowd that followed to the 
 execution, there were many v^omen, the rela- 
 tions and friends of Jesus and his disciples, 
 who could not behold the melancholy sight of 
 suffering innocence, M'ithout the bitterest la- 
 mentation. Jesus observing it, he raised his 
 countenance bloody and disguised, and said, 
 *' Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for 
 *^ me: I knew this would happen, and I bear 
 *' it with patient resignation to the divine 
 *' will; ratlier weep for yourselves and chil- 
 *' dren, ior behold the days are coming, in 
 *' the which they shall say^ Blessed are the 
 ** barren, and the wombs that never bare, and 
 '^ the paps that never gave suck. Then shall 
 ^^ they begin to say to the mountains, fall ovi 
 
217 
 
 *• us; and to the hills, cover us*. If tiOcI 
 *^ permits the innocent for wise and good 
 '^ ends, to suffer so much infamy and torment 
 '^ as I now bear, how dreadfid do you think 
 *^ will be the vengeance of an offended God, 
 '' when he comes in righteous judgment to 
 ^^ punish this incorrigible nation?'" — He pro- 
 nounced these words with an air of sorrow 
 and compassion, not like a vindictive man 
 who rejoiced in tlie overthrow of his enemies. 
 Two criminals convicted of robbery, were led 
 to execution with him. This was intended 
 by the Chief Priests, to impose upon the mul 
 titude who might imagine that Jesus was 
 equally criminal. 
 
 Arriving at Golgotha, the fatal place where 
 the guilty make an atonement by the just 
 forfeiture of their lives, some of his friends 
 presented him wine mingled with myrrh, 
 Avith a view to fortify his nearly exhausted 
 spirits, and render him insensible to theterroi^ 
 of approaching death; but that he declined, 
 fully resolved to suffer the worst that malice 
 could inflicl. He v/as immediately stript of his- 
 garments, raided from tlie ground, and nailed 
 
 * Mjtt. xxiii. 28, 29, 30. 
 
218 
 
 to the cross, while streams of blood issued from 
 liis hands and feet. In the same manner the 
 two thieves were crucified, the one on the right 
 hand, the other on the left, and that he 
 might be distinguished from those abandoned 
 criminals, an inscription WcS written hy Pi- 
 late, on the contrary side of the cross, in La- 
 tin, Greek, and Hebrew, containing these 
 words, '^ Jesus of Nazareth the King of the 
 *^ Jews"f. Many of the Jews were highly 
 incensed, deeming it a public insult to the 
 nation, therefore they entreated the Gover- 
 nor that he would write, but that he said, 
 ^ 1 am King of the Jews.' Pilate highly pro- 
 voked at their insolence, and wishing so far 
 to do justice to an injured person, answered, 
 ^ What I have written, I have written:;:/ 
 
 Jesus was no sooner nailed to the cross, 
 than the four executioners began to divide 
 his dress, which was all he had on earth. 
 His inner garment being without a seam, 
 they were unwilling to divide it, therefore 
 cast lots whose it should be. During the pe- 
 riod of his crucifixion, a strange compound 
 of mournful lamentation, and triumphant 
 
 -^> 
 
 t Johnxix. 19. X Johnxix. 32> 
 
^19 
 
 scorn was heard among the spe6lators. His 
 affli6tecl friends bewailed his death most bit- 
 terly: but his cruel enemies insulted him 
 with scoiis and reproaches; and ^' railed oft. 
 ** him, wagging their heads, and saying, ah, 
 '' thou that destroyest the temple and buiid- 
 *' est it in three days, save thyself, and come 
 " down from the cross. Likewise also the 
 ** Chief Priests mocking, said among them- 
 '* selves, with the Scribes, He saved others, 
 * ' himself he cannot save. Let Christ the king 
 *^ of Israel descend now from the cross, that 
 *' we may see and believe. And they that 
 *' were crucified v\ith him reviled him*." To 
 their insolent remarks he made no reply; but 
 looking to the heavens with a countenance 
 full of the deepest sorrow,, and exrpresslve of 
 the most agonizing pain, he exclaimed, ^^Fa- 
 ^' ther, forgive them, for they know not what 
 '' they do. I" At the same time one of the 
 thieves which were crucified with him, a man 
 of the most abandoned and depraved mind, 
 said in a discontented and sullen manner; 
 ' If you be the Messiah, why do you not de- 
 * scend from the cross and save yourself and 
 ' us?' But the other who was of a different 
 
 * Mark xv. 29, 30, 31, 32. f Luke xxiii. 34. 
 

 disposition, patient under his siiflferhigs, be- 
 cause he deemed them just, attentive to the 
 deportment of Jesus, convinced of his inno- 
 cence, and fully sensible that he was the Mes- 
 siah, shocked at the wickedness of his com- 
 panion, rebuked him, saying, ' How can you 
 ' be so utterly insensible of your own condi- 
 
 * tion, as to insult a dying person, and one 
 
 * who is innocent:' — then addressing himself 
 to Jesus, he said, ' Lord, I believe you to 
 
 * be the Messiah, and that after all your suf- 
 ' ferings, God will exalt you to a state of in- 
 
 * conceivable glory ; I entreat you, therefore, 
 ^ Avhen you obtain the possession of your 
 
 * kingdom, to have mercy upon me.' ' Fear 
 ' not,' replied Jesus, '' To-day shalt thou be 
 *' with me in Paradise*." 
 
 In the mean time, the mother of Jesus, 
 and her sister Maiy, the wife of Cleophas, 
 and Mary Magdalene, with John his beloved 
 friend, all in the deepest sorrow stood near 
 the cross. In their agonies of distress, they 
 o-azed on every feature stained with blood, 
 and felt by sympathy the pangs of their dy- 
 ing Lord. No language can describe his 
 
 f Luke xxiii. 43. 
 
221 
 
 mother's grief. In inournful silence she re- 
 mained, nor could her eyes endure the sight 
 of her Son, groaning in torment, streaming 
 'vvith blood, dying like. a slave, or as the vil- 
 est malefador murdered by the hands of cruel 
 men, bearing all with meekness, praying for 
 his enemies, submitting patiently to the will 
 of God, and expiring in the most exalted 
 hope of another and a better world. Often 
 she raised h^reyes to the cross; but confound- 
 ed at the mournful sight, she burst into a 
 flood of tears, while her heaving breast could 
 scarce contain her throbbing heart, almost 
 broken by the keenest w^oe. Jesus beheld 
 his- mother with the strono-est emotions of 
 sympathy and filial love. At length he ad- 
 dressed her: ' O woman ! thou tenderest of 
 parents, whom I still revere ^/ith my dying 
 
 * breath ; be not too much deje6led. Behold 
 ' the man who possessed my affection, regard 
 
 * him henceforth as your only son ; and you, 
 ' my dearest friend, John, regard her as your 
 ^ mother; and when I am departed treat her 
 
 * with kindness and esteem.' 
 
 The glorious lamp of day having gained its 
 meridian height, on a sudden the radiant 
 beams began to fade, the face grew pak, 
 
 • Ff 
 
if astonished, at tlie depravity of men, and fill- 
 ed with horror at the sufferings of the Son of 
 God, it lay concealed for three long hours be- 
 hind the sable and melancholy veil of ancient 
 iiight. A gloomy horror dwelt on every 
 brow, and terror seized the human breast: 
 The affrighted birds fled to their solitary man- 
 sions ; the lowing herds quitted their pasture, 
 and looked with unusual sadness, the flocks 
 staring round, stood amazed at the unexpe6l- 
 ed night, Avhile each domestic animal retired 
 in haste to its accustomed shelter. Nature 
 in the saddest sorrow, threw aside her splen- 
 did robes of various colours, and covered all 
 her Avorks in deepest mourning: The songs of 
 Angels ceased around the throne of God : the 
 heavenly legions reclining on the darkened 
 clouds, beheld bis sufferings with a mixture 
 of sorrow, terror, and admiration ; while the 
 infernal powers, metamorphised into buzzing 
 inserts, danced with mahgnant joy, and hell- 
 ish triumph over the neighbouring hills. In 
 the summit of their exultation, they experi- 
 the goading agonies of disappointed rage, 
 •when they perceived that nothing could 
 disconcert his mind, or inflame his temper 
 ^vith the least tindure of revenge, siillen 
 discontent, or gloomy despair. He remain - 
 
223 ^ 
 
 ed languishing in sorrow, and declining in 
 strength until three in the afternoon, when 
 raising his eyes to heaven, and pouring out 
 his heart to God, he cried aloud, ' Aly God, 
 my God, why hast thou forsaken me ? Re- 
 proached and insulted, tortured and cruci- 
 fied by the hands of ungrateful men, they 
 now think I am abandoned and cast off by 
 thee ; all that see me laugh at my sorrows 
 and with insolent scorn ridicule my dying, 
 pains : But Thou, the ev^erlasting Friend of 
 injured innocence, oppressed, and affli6led 
 virtue, thou art he who sent me into the 
 world, and hitherto hast supported me. 
 Now, in this my last, my greatest agony 
 and disti'css, thou canst not, wilt not for- 
 sake thy well beloved Son, in whom thou 
 art well pleased. Behold, O Father, my 
 blood drops down like water, my sinews 
 stretched, my bones disjointed, my heart 
 melted with' a burning heat, my strength 
 exhausted, my spirits fail, my tongue parch- 
 ed with intolerable thii-st, the pangs of death 
 have seized my afflicted soul, and the pams 
 of hell encompass me, for there is none to ^ 
 help me besides tliee.' — Whilst he prayed 
 some, from the similitude of his M'ords, not * 
 (Comprehending what he meant, ridiculed 
 
 Ff.^ 
 
£24 
 
 ' his prayer, and exclaimed, ' He called for 
 
 * Elias, let us observe whether he will come 
 
 • and take him down.' When he complained 
 of intolerable thirst, one of the soldiers dipt a 
 spun ge in vinegar, mingled with wormwood 
 and gall, and fixing it on a reed, offered it to 
 jiim on the cross. As soon as he had tasted 
 the abominable mixture, he turned away his 
 head, and cried with a loud voice, not like the 
 feeble accents of a dying man, but with the 
 strong q.nd masculine voice of one in peifecl 
 health : ^^ Father, into thy hands I commend 
 *' n)y spirit*\"-— Having uttered these words, 
 he gently bowed his head and expired with- 
 out a oToan. 
 
 No sooner had he breathed his last, than 
 the foundations of the earth began to shake, 
 Blount Calvary trembled, the solid rocks were 
 rent a:^under, and the sepulchres of the dead 
 exposed to viev/. llie astonished spectators 
 looked around them, with a deadly paleness, 
 and ghastly terror dwelt on every face.. Many 
 CO Kiomned thi j/ rashness, bev/ailed their 
 o'uilt, and se^me*! fullv sensible t)f his inno- 
 ce- cc vviiOTii rbty had so perfidiously destroy- 
 
 er 
 
 ^- Luke xxiii. 46, 
 
2C5 
 
 ed; they shook their licads, smote their 
 breasts, and Mriing then* guilty haiids^ 
 while tliey returned with fearful perplex,- 
 ity to the city. The Roman Centurion 
 who commanded the soldiers after he hnd 
 recovered from his surprise, thus proceeded: 
 
 * Certainly so dismal a day was never 
 Mcnown before: darkness be^an at noon, 
 ' and is not yet ended; the moon in her full 
 
 * orb, and yet the sun totally eclipsed. When 
 ' he expired how dreadful was the earth- 
 
 * quake, observe the amazing fraclure made 
 ' in the solid rock ; behold how the srraves 
 
 * stand open! Tlie very dead are disturl^ed in 
 
 * their gloomy niansions! See the skulls, the 
 
 * various bones how they are bcattered to and 
 
 * fro upon the hill! What can it mean? The 
 ^ Gods are exasperated against the unjust 
 'proceedings: Nature appeared to totter 
 *\vhen he died; — doubtless he was the Son 
 
 * of God. Herod found no fault in him, 
 
 * neither did the Governor, convinced of his 
 
 * innocence, every method he tried to save 
 
 * his life, but in vain, no shadow of proof 
 
 * could be alledged against him ; yet the Jews 
 
 * were implacable. Such mildness of temper^ 
 
226 
 
 'joined with such a majestic look, such a 
 
 * peaceful covuitenance, so much tranquility, 
 
 * fortitude and patience, under such base treat- 
 ' ment, was never before seen or heard of. 
 ' Such a love for his countrv, such meekness 
 ^ and benevolence towards his enemies and 
 
 * persecutors, such tender affection to his re- 
 
 * lations, such confidence in th€ Deity, hope 
 'and assurance of a future reward for ail his 
 
 * sufferings; proves him to the plainest de- 
 ' monstration to have been a most wonderful 
 ' man. We admire Socrates; Socrates was 
 ^ far inferior to him ; one died likq aphiloso- 
 ^ pher, the other died like a God. How 
 ^ strong and forcible were his last words, not 
 ' like those of a man worn out with protracted 
 ^ woe, biit one in perfe6l health ; death seeii^ 
 ^ ed to await his signal; he died not from ne- 
 ' cessity but choice ; not from a deficiency of 
 ' strength, but from a desire to depart from 
 ^ abandoned and wicked men. His deport- 
 Anient astonished me, and of this lam certain, 
 
 ' Jie was a righteous man.^ \ 
 
 No sooner had Jesus expired than his soul 
 immediately entered the world of departed 
 spirits"^^ vast and boundless region beyond 
 the eatcs of death; a world divided into twQ 
 
oo 
 
 27 
 
 parts by a bottomless gulpb through which it 
 is impossible to pass. That to the right, call- 
 ed Paradise, admits none but the just, who 
 having passed through a state of trial upon 
 iXirth, enter therein, and live in purity until 
 a certain period, when they re-enter their bo- 
 dies made then incorruptible and immortal. 
 On the left enter the souls of the wicked, 
 there they are confined as in a doleful prison^ 
 until the end of the world, when they a?c 
 again embodied and undergo the adequate 
 punish u. cut of their crimes. In that state, 
 excluded from the material world, the lively 
 representation of their past exploits are con- 
 tinually in their view. There sensible of the 
 past, aud timid of the future, they experience 
 the most aoonizino- remorse. A stronc^ ima- 
 gination commands their variety of thought, 
 and presents innumerable scenes of inexpres- 
 sible anguish, A perpetual train of dreadful 
 visions, far more terrible than the dreams of 
 a guilty wretch stained with innocent blood, 
 passes in continual succession through their 
 minds, from Vvhichthcy can never be deliver- 
 ed, until the sound of the last trumpet awakes 
 them from the dead to more lasting pains. 
 In Paradise, the righteous, though excluded 
 from the world of sense and flesh, vzcoWcft 
 
 / 
 
the past; with joy tliey refleft upon every 
 viiluoLis action, and triumpli in the assured 
 hope of a more perfect state of everlasthig 
 felicity. There fancy steered by the purest 
 reason, presents scenes of exquisite delight. 
 No painful refle(51ion', no goading passion, can 
 in the least disturb the cainl serenity of their 
 ininds; social love, and mutual joy, and 
 peaceful contemplation lill their souls with 
 
 linspeakable satisfaction. 
 
 / 
 
 ' On the right, the soul of Jesus entered- 
 liifter he expired. All his pains in an instant 
 dissipated; he felt immortal joy and incon- 
 ceivable delight. As soon as he entered, 
 thousands of spirits haifed him with joyful 
 congratulations: ' Hail, mighty Saint,' they 
 cried, Vfar greater thou appearest than all 
 that ever passed the gates of death, most wxd- 
 €omc to the blessed world.' / All hail,' he 
 said again, to thronging multitudes which 
 stood around, ' on earth no doubt many of 
 
 * you have heard of me, and anxiously await- 
 
 * edmy appearance — Adam, thou first of men, 
 
 * great parent of the human race, I know thee 
 
 * -well. It w as I who informed you in the 
 
 * o-arden of Eden '^ that the seed of the wo- 
 ** man should bruise the head of the serpent;' 
 
Abraham, my venerable friend, it was I who 
 promised '' that in thy seed all the nations 
 ' of the earth should be blessed.' With thee 
 I conversed in the plains of Mamre. imme- 
 diately before the destruction of Sodom and 
 Gomorrha. And all ye holy prophets, who 
 at divers times, foretold the coming' of the 
 Messiah, it was I who endowed you with the 
 spirit of inspiration ; I am the very man of 
 whom ye wrote. AVhen the fulness of time 
 arrived, I threw aside my glory, took upon 
 me the form of a servant, and was made iii 
 the likeness of man. I am the seed of the 
 woman, and was born of a virgin ' The 
 seed of Abraham accordhig to the flesh, '' a 
 ' rod of the stem of Jesse, and a branch out 
 'of his roots.' In me all your predictions 
 are accomplished. I have been despised 
 and rejeCled, a man of sorrows, and well 
 acquainted with grief; wounded for your 
 offences, and bruised for your iniquities; cut 
 off from the land of the livino;, and for the 
 transgression of my people have I been smit- 
 ten. I came to mine own, but mme own 
 received me not ; blinded by their pre- 
 judices, and led astray by vicious pas- 
 sions, they condemned me to die as an 
 imposter; niy body even now hangs upon 
 
 Ct o* 
 
* the cross, yet here I am without spot or blc- 
 
 ^ mish. Ye have all passed the gates of 
 
 * death, and your bodies lie compounded with 
 
 * the dust ; here the exalted powers of your 
 
 * rational nature ad; uncontrouled in the state 
 
 * of pure intelligence ; but whilst ye remain 
 ^ entirely separated from the material world^ 
 
 * your felicity must be imperfed, for in that 
 
 * world which extends through boundless re- 
 
 * gions, the infinite perfe6i:ions of my Father 
 
 * are displayed in an infinity of objects, and 
 
 * amazing dispensations of providence. Those 
 
 * perfections ye cannot perceive until agaift 
 
 * united with bodies refined, setherial and im- 
 
 * mortal. Your past experience supplies the 
 
 * material for your present refledion and eu- 
 *joyment: but the time approaches when 
 ^ your minds shall be expanded with new ideas 
 
 * flowins: in an eternal succession of inconceiv- 
 ^ able joys. I came to apprize you of that 
 
 * glorious and most perfect state which shall 
 ^ commence at the general resurr.ection ,* as a 
 ' proof, in the space of three days I will re-* 
 
 * turn to the earth, resume my former body, 
 ' and within forty day^ after, will ascend to 
 ^ the imperial throne of my Father. No soon- 
 
 * er shall I arise from the dead, than some of 
 
 * 3^ou shall follow me to life, appear amongst 
 
231 
 
 * men, and ascend with me into the heavens. 
 ^ This shall be to all a type of your resurrec- 
 
 * tion in due time, and your final ascension 
 
 * to the regions of never-fading glory/ 
 
 When the -evening drew nigh some of the 
 Elders approached the Governor, and thus 
 addressed him ; ^ Sir, as three malefactors 
 have been crucifxcd, we request that you will 
 put a period to their sufferings, and order 
 their bodies to be taken down from the cross: 
 according to our law, the bodies of the dead 
 cannot be exposed to public view beyond the 
 day of execution ; for upon the evening we 
 arc commanded to bury them : To-morrow 
 is not only our Sabbath, but also one of our 
 chief festivals, and it would be highly im- 
 proper that the joy of our people should be 
 interrupted by the appearance of such ob- 
 jccls. We trust you will comply v.'ith our 
 request, particularly as it is usually donq 
 upon the festivals of the Emperor.'— The 
 Governor consented, and they departed. In 
 order to prevent deceit, they deemed it ex-» 
 pedient to see the Governor's mandate car- 
 ried into execution themselves. When they 
 arrived at Mount Calvar}^, they perceived the 
 two thieves o-roanino; in the most excruciatinf^- 
 
 pain ; immediately their legs were broken, 
 
 G o- o 
 
^3^ 
 
 ^ and an. end put to their torture. — No symp- 
 toms of life appearing in Jesus, tliey thought 
 it unnecessary to brake his legs; but suppos- 
 ing he might be in a fainting fit, and that he 
 could not be so soon dead, to remove every 
 impediment, one of the soldiers pierced his 
 side with a spea^y when instantly gushed fortl^ 
 from the wound water and blood. 
 
 His disconsolate friends still remained in 
 view of the cross, waiting with impatience to 
 observe how his body would be disposed of, 
 As soon as it was removed, Jos,eph of Arinia- 
 thea took it under his prote6lion. Immedi- 
 ately after the darkness and earthquake which 
 followed the crucifixion, he, together with 
 the multitude returned into the city, and went 
 directly to the Governor and thus addressed 
 hjm : 
 
 ' Sir, you cannot bui^ have, observed with 
 
 * liow niuch cruelty that righteous man has 
 
 * been destroyed. Constrained by the fury 
 ' of an inveterate faction whicph nolhing could 
 'resist, you were compelled to deliver him up 
 
 * to their malice. You are not unacquainted- 
 ' with his astonishing greatness ^hen living, 
 
 * and must have observed A\hat A\onclers at- 
 
 * Icudtd Lis Gcath: the uiiiiivmral darknesjs. 
 
^ and dreadful earthquake aburidantly cour 
 firms your solem];L,d,Qf larat ion of Ilia inno- 
 cence; tlic cUukucss ceased, and the earth 
 U'eniblvxl as soon, as he q.\pired. Many ap- 
 pear;. nov/ to relent,, th.e dreadful prodigies of 
 this day have convinced them of their crime, 
 they are truly sorry, but, alas ! it is too late, 
 proaii llic prosecution of that extraordinary 
 man I ever dissented ; but as you well kno\v 
 it was dangerous to speak openly; his ene- 
 mies to their everlasting disgrace, have ob- 
 tained their desire. rPossibly tliey may in- 
 sist that Ins body .shpukl be cast into 
 the pifblic places of the dead, ,lle lias :d- 
 ready undergone too much obliquy ; suf- 
 fer him in testimony of your esteem at least 
 an honourable intermiCnt^ This I propose 
 to bestovv" upon him, and earnestly intreat 
 that his body, l)y ^•our authority, mav be 
 delivered to me.' 
 
 The Goycrnor surprized tliat he vras dead, 
 but being satisfied of the truth, comphed 
 without hesitation. Joseph immediately went 
 \o provide linen, and ^\'s:rj thing necessary 
 for em.balming tlie body; he then returned to 
 Mount Calvary, and having delivered the 
 orders of the Governor, bound the bodv in 
 
234 
 
 the linen, with spices, after the manner of 
 embalming persons of distin6iion. In mourn- 
 ful silence he then carried it to an adjacent 
 garden where he had provided a new sepulchre 
 for himself, hewn with great labour and ex- 
 pence out of a solid rock. There the body of 
 Jesus was deposited, after which the door 
 was closed with a stone of an immense 
 weight. 
 
 Mary Magdalene, and the other women 
 wha were present at his death, remained at 
 some distance when his body was taken down 
 and embalmed, nor would they venture near 
 the sepulchre, but stood afar off and beheld 
 the place of his interment. As soon as they 
 returned to tlie city, not knowing the honour 
 that was done to their Lord, they went to 
 purchase the necessary ingredients for em- 
 balming his body, intending to apply them 
 when the Sabbath was over. The transac- 
 tions of the day afforded abundant materials 
 for litigation. The Chief Priests, the Elders 
 and Pharisees who had carried on the prose- 
 cution with such obstinate malice ; ascribed 
 the darkness and earth(|uake to the divine 
 displeasure against him for blasphemy : Whilst 
 tiiany of the multitude terrified at the 
 
2J5 
 
 signs they had seen, benan boldly to af- 
 firm that God was cnrao-ed ao;ahist theii' 
 nation for the death of Jesus. His disci- 
 pics and friends were inconsolable, timid 
 iind siknt. The public confession and death 
 of Judas was universally known, and very 
 much insisted upon by those who were in- 
 duced to favour his master. 
 
 The sable night had no sooner covered the 
 face of nature with her dark and melancholy 
 veil, when Satan with his dcemonic peers as- 
 sembled on Mount Tabor, and in sullen dig- 
 nity thus disclosed the counsels of his hcait- 
 
 * We have observed with satisfaction the 
 
 * good effeds of our past deliberations; the 
 "* Son of God is dead, and lies secreted within 
 
 * the bosom of yonder rock. Yet, our vie- 
 
 * tory is nevertheless incompleat, his mortal 
 
 * part, a frail system of organized matter, it 
 
 * is true we have subdued: This I tear will 
 ^ avail nothing; his virtue remains invin- 
 
 * cible even in death itself. Plis obedience 
 ^ to God, and love to men, have been ren- 
 
 * dcred more consDtcuous, bv a variety of 
 Mhe keenest suiferings; instead of being 
 *^*lcriouSj I fear vre are the vanquish'^ 
 

 * parfV. His dccith would be of uicoiicelv'- 
 ^ abic advaiita.jj^e to us, could we bv any 
 ^ stratag;eni detain ]\\m in tb.e grave; but: 
 
 * timt is ]>cyond the .Tnirits of our power: 
 ^ Frequently he forct*old his resurrection^ 
 ' and should that be verified, as doubtless 
 ^ it will, the consc(;ucnces must be dread- 
 *ful; for if all tlie nations of the earth are 
 ^ to be blessed in biini, tlicn it is evident tliat 
 
 * all nations must confess liini to be the Son 
 
 * of God, and should th.at come to pass, we 
 'can expecl nothing short of total annihi- 
 ' lation, and a n^iserable confinement in the 
 ' iufernal lake from which we have escaped, 
 ' Let us suppose him risen from the dead, to 
 Mvdiom Mill he appear? It must be to the 
 ' whole uation, as he formerly did, or to his 
 
 * discijdes only. Lct.us reflecl what miay oc^ 
 ' cur from both tliese suppositions. If he 
 
 * should ar^near to the whole nation, and con- 
 ^ verse familiarly with every description of 
 ^ men, they will eitlier believe in him, or 
 
 * they will not; if they shouhl believe in iiim, 
 
 * then our power over the Jcwisbi nation is 
 ' totally lost ; and worse \vc my dread, for 
 ^ thejpurity of his docirine, tlie power of his 
 ' miracles, and the sancfity of Ids life, com- 
 H>ined with the uiiit^d testimonv of Jcw?^ 
 
237 
 
 and Gentiles, who saw liim pubUciy con- 
 denuied and put to death ; these connected 
 may occasion every nation to revolt from 
 our authority. We have but one alterna- 
 tive U]X)n this supposition, to persuade our 
 subjeds in remote parts, that the account of 
 his death is fictitious, calculated merely to 
 impose upon the workl. If his resurre6lion 
 be expedient to convince the Jcms that he 
 is the Son of God, the same degree of evi- 
 dence will be necessary to satisfy every 
 other nation; and therefore he must be put 
 to death, and rise again in every other coun- 
 try as well as in Judea. That can never be, 
 as the proof must depend simply upon the 
 credit of a nation universally abhorred, and 
 already judged too credulous; we have some 
 reason to hope by a proper management of 
 their prejudices, our faithful subjects will 
 give no credit to such an improbable rela- 
 tion. But admitting he appears as public 
 as usual, may we not with good reason ex- 
 pe(5i;, that the Chief Priests, the Elders, many 
 of the Scribes and Phari-^ees, but particular- 
 ly the whole sect of the Sadducees will still 
 denv him to be the Messiah. Thev have 
 already resisted the most powerful evidence 
 
 of his divinity, when he healed their discas- 
 
 II h 
 
23S 
 
 ed and raised their dead. His own resur- 
 rection will be only another miracle, and 
 the same motives that actuated their re- 
 jection before, will cause them to re- 
 je6t him again. We are aware that the 
 strongest arguments fail when inconsistent 
 with men's temporal interests and inclina- 
 tions. If he should appear to the whole 
 nation, we must endeavour to convince 
 them that he was taken from the cross be- 
 fore he expired, having fainted through ex- 
 quisite pain, and that by the kind interposi- 
 tion of his friends he recovered. It will ap- 
 pear the more credible, when they consider 
 how improbable it is he should have expired 
 so soon, and that when the legs of the two 
 thieves were broken, not the smallest vio- 
 lence was done to him. If the Jews are 
 once prevailed upon to credit this, then we 
 may exped to behold him again treated 
 as an im poster, and every attempt made to 
 destroy him. But supposing the evidence 
 of his resurre6tion to be as strong as possible, 
 as in the case of Lazarus, yet by a prudent 
 management of their passions and prejudices, 
 they may persevere in their opposition, and 
 support our interest notwithstanding all he 
 can do to the contrary, they will certiainly 
 pay no credit to his prophecy respedling the 
 
239 
 
 destru6lion of Jerusalem, and the dispersion 
 of the Jewish nation. Let us now consider 
 what may be the consequence of his appear- 
 ing only to his disciples, which I am^induc- 
 ed to think will be the case, from his own 
 words, * Yet a little while, and the world 
 ' seeth me no more ; butyesceme: because 
 * I live; ye shall live also.' If so, the truth 
 of his resurreftion must depend simply upon 
 their testimony, which I trust will not be 
 regarded by the Jewish nation ; for who will 
 credit a fa6l so improbable upon the decla- 
 ration of a few contemptible fishermen ? But 
 foreseeing what might happen, » he said, 
 ' If they have rejeded me, they will also re- 
 ■* je6l you.'' We have the confidence to hope 
 not only to see their testimony despised, but 
 themselves persecuted and put to death. 
 Persecution it is clear they cannot bear; 
 and if we may judge of their future con- 
 du6l by their past, we have no reason to fear 
 any danger. One betrayed him, another 
 denied him, and the rest forsook him in dis- 
 tress. There is therefore no room to believe 
 that even they will discover true fortitude 
 in support of his cause. 
 ^j _ . , _^ 
 
 * John xiv. 10, 
 UhQ. 
 
£40 
 
 ' To weaken their testimony, in favour of 
 
 * his resurrection, we must persuade the Jcm^ 
 ' that his disciples stole him away in tlie 
 
 * night, and invented the story of his resur- 
 ' reciion, merely to strengthen their credit, 
 'and impose upon the Avorld. This unques- 
 ' tionably will be admitted as an incontest- 
 ^ ible fa6l by all who continue inveterate 
 ^ against him. A few despicable persons, 
 ' without learning, or wealth, power or inte- 
 Vrest, must stand in opposition to the whole 
 ' world; they must prevail upon the Jewish 
 ' nation to receive for their Messiah a con- 
 
 * demned makfador. Such is repugnant to 
 ^ their expe61atipns; for however the multi- 
 ' tucle may have been inclined to favour him 
 
 * when living, there is no room to imagine 
 ' they will carry their partiality beyond the 
 ^ grave. Tl^e contempt that attached to him 
 
 * will fall upon his disciples and friends. If 
 ' they remain in their native country, their 
 
 * testimony will cease with their existence; 
 
 * it tlj^y seek an asyhim in other nations, 
 
 * what can they do? they cannot propagate 
 
 * their doi'inne on account of their inability; 
 
 * but supj}0sing them competent, who will 
 • '^ give crtciit to whuL they assert? Will ;h^ 
 
241 
 
 nations of tiic woild abandon the religioa 
 in which they liave been educated, a reli- 
 gion confirmed by the imperial aiitliorit}'-, 
 and esteemed by the most learned philoso- 
 phers? ^V\\[ the world give up their religion 
 to compliment a few straggling Jews, per- 
 secuted and banished their native land? 
 Or Avill they accept a religion quite new^ 
 and published among an obscure people, by 
 a man condemned and crucified as a male- 
 factor? AVill they receive such a religion? 
 a religion incompatible with their former 
 sentiments, contrary to their fixed customs, 
 opposite to their passions, worldly views, and 
 inclinations, is it at all probable they will 
 do it? It would surpass every miracle, 
 and yet it must be done, if ever the king- 
 dom of the JMessiah is established upon earth. 
 It strongly wears the appearance of impos- 
 sibility ; therefore we may liop^ the con- 
 sequences of his resurre6t:ion w^ill not be s^ 
 fatal as at first we apprehended. It is ex- 
 pedient that our interest be exerted to 
 strengthen the prejudices of men and to 
 darken their understandings against the 
 most positive evidence; let us add ne\^ 
 force to every passion, heighten every appe^ 
 tite, and confirm our trusty subjects in their 
 
f obedience. Let us depart, and attentively 
 
 * observe what passes in Jerusalem, mark the 
 ' various reflections of the Priests and people, 
 ' concerning the Messiah and his disciples. 
 ' We may enter the city, and easily penetrate 
 ' every corner, since he whose frown former- 
 ^ ly terrified us, lies still and inoffensive in 
 
 * his grave.' 
 
 Immediately upon the wing they mountedj, 
 in number like the locusts, dropt in Jerusa- 
 lem, passed through every street and place of 
 secrecy, carefully observing what was said or 
 done, by friends or foes. The disciples in 
 the interim were dispersed through the city : 
 With sorrow and disappointment they passed 
 the lonely night in }>aoken slumbers, and 
 dreams of sad distress. With the first dawn 
 they arose, and piously observed that holy 
 rest which had been appointed the sacred me- 
 morial of the world's creation, and Israel'^ 
 redemption from the Land of Egypt. 
 
 When the evening drew near, and the de- 
 clining sun approached the western hills, the 
 Priests assembled in the temple : §till they 
 laboured under strange fears and painful con- 
 jectures ; when the High Priest arose^ and 
 tjius addressed his brethren: 
 
 <^M 
 
243 
 
 ' Ye sacred ministers of the Most High, t 
 
 * am compelled to acquaint you with the re- 
 
 * suk of my refleclions, and to request your 
 
 * advice in a matter which demands our most 
 
 * serious consideration. You cannot be ig- 
 
 * norant of the omens which attended the 
 
 * death of tliat blasphemous Imposter ; you 
 
 * perceived the dreadful eclipse ; the rocks 
 
 * rent, the earth trembled,, the graves open- 
 ' ed, and an invisible haiKl rent asunder our 
 ' sacred veil : Such awful symptoms may ope- 
 
 * rate variously upon the timorous imagina- 
 
 * tions of the multitude. What may be the 
 
 * result, and what destruclive tendency they 
 
 * may have upon their senses, we can have no 
 
 * conception of: one thing we are apprized of, 
 ^ and ought therefore to be vigilant. When 
 
 * living, he boldly affirmed that on the third 
 
 * day he would rise again from the dead. 
 
 * Should that be verified, we are lost; the 
 
 * multitude will regard him as the Messiah, 
 
 * and treat us as the worst imposters. Our 
 
 * interest must then cease to exist, and our 
 'lives be in continual dans-cr. Thouo'h we 
 
 have no reason to suppose he will rise again, 
 
 * yet it is very probable some act of deception 
 
 * will be practised by his disciples. We must 
 
 * guard against every ii'tifice. Conformable 
 
'^to tlic direction of Pilate, his body, I airi in- 
 
 * formed, was delivered to one of liis friends, 
 
 * who has buried it in a garden, contiguous ta 
 ' the place of his crucifixion. Perhaps it ^\a-'? 
 
 * carried away with a view to conceal it until 
 
 * the tliird day, and then by sliewing the 
 ' empty sepulchre to insinuate he is risen I'roni 
 
 * the dead. Suclr artful condud after wliat 
 ^ has occurred, may obtain credit among the 
 ^ giddy and untliinking, and produce un- 
 ' pleasant consequences. In order to defeat 
 ** such a plan, it will be proper to exanrine 
 
 * tlie sepulchre this evening; if tlie body be 
 ^ already gone, his prediction must f ul, and 
 
 * his disciples be convided of ,CcUr\'ing on an 
 
 * imposture : but if it remains, perhaps his 
 ' disciples may take it before the morning, 
 
 * and circulate that he rose again agreeable 
 ' to his declaration. In order to prevent 
 
 * fraud, it is necessary that a strong guard be 
 
 * posted durii]g the niglit; and according to 
 *• their report, proper measures will be adopt- 
 
 * ed in future. Let us apply therefore to the 
 
 * Governor, for a guard until the expiration 
 
 * of the third day.' ^This was unanimously 
 
 ' agreed to. and application made to the Go- 
 
 * vernor in the following manner: 
 
'Sir, ^re have had an opportunity to refieft 
 upon an obs-ervation which the deceiver made 
 previous to his death, * After three days, said 
 he, I will rise again.' Though we are not in- 
 clined to credit his words, yet his disciples who 
 are engaged in the same cause, may in the 
 night remove the body, and then publish his 
 resurredion. Should it be credited by the peo- 
 ple, the spirit of tumultmay increase to such a 
 degree, that no authority will be able to keep 
 them in subje6lion. To guard against any evil 
 thatma}^ happen, we think it expedient that 
 you should appoint a guard to watch the se- 
 pulchre until the third day. ' To this the Go- 
 vernor answered, ' Your conduct very much 
 astonishes me, why trouble yourselves or me 
 so unnecessarily about a man, whose life and 
 death have been so extraordinary? He was 
 the obje6l of your averfion when living, and 
 now he is dead, his disciples are become the 
 obje6ls of your suspicion; your proceedings 
 are unaccountable: His disciples must ei- 
 ther be very few, or of a peaceful disposi- 
 tion ; for I observed yesterday when the 
 populace preferred a murderer, he had 
 not so much as one friend to speak in his 
 favour. You fay, you are fearful least his 
 disciples in the night should steal his bodj"; 
 
 li 
 
a4d^ 
 
 Vbut for -svliat purpose? Do you conceive 
 
 * they can restore it to life? Surely not; if 
 
 * they remove it, it can only be to bury it 
 elsewhere, and that I am confident they will 
 
 * never do. You imagine they will deceive 
 'the people, and cause them to believe 
 ^ he is risen iVom the dead ; Can you really 
 ' imagine they are so insane, or the peopje 
 ^ so destitute of reason and common sense as 
 
 * to credit such outrageous folly? Their de- 
 ' ception would then appear to all the world. 
 
 * What advantage can they derive from it? 
 ^ Is oihing but universal contempt; and in all 
 
 * probability their Master's fate. Your fears 
 ' are without foundation, but in order to gra- 
 ^ tify your unaccountable humour in this as 
 ' well as in every other particular, I have no 
 ^ obje6lion to comply with your request. The 
 
 ' guard appointed to protect the city, you may 
 ^ charge in my name to watch the sepulchre 
 ' under pain of deatJi, ^ long as you thinly 
 ^ necessar}^' 
 
 V 
 
 Having gained their point, immediately they 
 assembled the guard, and marched to the se- 
 pulchre, rolled away the stone, and found 
 the body wrapt in linen, cold and lifeless as 
 Joseph had left it the preceding day. They 
 
24T 
 
 closed up the entrance, nn;l to ])rcvcut iVaiid 
 between the' soldiers and the dibciphs, a seal 
 was fixed upon it, so secure, that none could 
 break it without a discovery. The guard 
 being posted at the sepulchre, and every pre- 
 caution taken, the Priests returned home, 
 while ghmmering twilight hovered on the 
 mountains. The disciples in the mean time 
 assembled where they had eaten the passover, 
 and were pitifully bewailing the fate of their 
 deceased Lord. Peter calling to his recol- 
 ledion these words, " When thou art con- 
 *'• verted strengthen thy brethren^" conceiv- 
 ed himself particularly called upon to comfort 
 them as much as possible: He accordingly 
 addressed them in the following manner. 
 
 ' ^ly brethren and companions in sorrow, 
 
 * our present situation is dangerous beyond 
 
 * description. Our beloved master is, alas, 
 
 * no more ; condemned and put to death as 
 
 * an impofter; he has suffered as a criminal, 
 
 * and slave, the most infamous tortures of 
 
 * the cross. He was once the admiration of 
 
 * the multitude, but like modern friends, 
 
 * they at length abandoned him to cruel de- 
 
 ' Vl^ V* 
 
 * Luke xxii. 32. 
 lis 
 
2:4S 
 
 spair. But why ought I to condemn t!i€\ 
 multitude? Are we better? Did not Ju- 
 das betray him ? Did not we all forsake 
 him m the time of danger? and with a bit- 
 ter heart, I here confess my crime, I perfidi- 
 ously denied him, and confidently affirmed 
 I never knew him. This he foretold, as 
 clearly as words could do : I candidly ac- 
 knowledge my guilt, and sincerely repent 
 my crime. For more than three years I 
 have been intimately acquainted with him, 
 shared in his familiar conversation, heard 
 his public instru6lions ; observed his mi- 
 racles, and watched his every adion. His 
 life was spotless, his doctrines pure and con- 
 sistent with his character, his miracles won- 
 derful, and his deportment truly worthy of 
 approbation. Could I have perceived any 
 thing that had a tendency to imposture, I 
 should never have lamented his death, but 
 have gloried in my deliverance from such 
 an artful man. I well know the inte- 
 grity of his character, and ii^ numberless 
 instances have observed the rectitude of his 
 heart. I am perfectly convinced he was 
 the Son of God, the true Messiah, and the 
 king of Israel, though he has met with an 
 ignominious death.. It is not possible thctt 
 
\ he could have been an impofter : for if God 
 ' ever sent a prophet into the world, he cer- 
 
 * tainly was one ; the purity of liis doctrine, 
 
 * and the sanctity of his deportment, do evi- 
 
 * dently prove his sincere affection to CJod 
 
 * and men ; his miracles and foreknowled<rc 
 ' of future events, do sufficiently declare the 
 
 * divinity of his mission. How often has he 
 
 * informed us that he would suffer many 
 
 * things of the Chief Priests, the Scribes and 
 Pharisees, and at length be crucified? I well 
 recollect, when he was transfigured upon the 
 Mount, Moses and Eiias appeared in thcii^ 
 glory, and communed with him respecting 
 his decease which should happen at Jeru- 
 salem. The whole chain of circumstances 
 are now verified, and are to me a satifactory 
 proof he was no imposter. God himself 
 can never deceive us, for I heard his voice 
 proclaiming, ^ This is my beloved Son : 
 'hear him.*' It is impossible that any hu- 
 man being could deceive the world, and in 
 the mean time plainly foretell his destruc- 
 tion in the undertaking. It is incompa* 
 tible with the principles of human nature; 
 such imposition never was, nor ever can bo 
 
 * Mark ix. 7. 
 
 c 
 
pta^llsed. We are disappointed in our 
 hopes, we imagined he would have redeem- 
 ed Israel from the Roman yoke, confirmed 
 us in the possession of our ancient liberties, 
 overcome all nations as the prophets fore- 
 told, and reigned for ever a great and pow- 
 erful king:. But, alas! he has now beaten 
 that dismal path, from whence no traveller 
 returns. When living, he raised Lazarus 
 from the dead, but we have no one endow- 
 ed with power to raise him. I am in the 
 greatest perplexity ; for a prophet he evi- 
 dently was, an imposter he could not be ; 
 we believed him to be the Messiah, and yet 
 all our hopes from him are at an end. He 
 told us hcM^ould quitthe world and go to the 
 father: I have been informed of persons 
 appearing after death, have we any reason to 
 exped: this ? I remember a short time since 
 his observations, ' A little while, and ye 
 shall not see me ; and again a little while, 
 and ye shall see me ; because I go to the 
 Father^.' But if he should appear a^ a de» 
 parted spirit, what benefit can we derive .^ 
 Will he redeem Israel from flavery, vanquish 
 the world, and reign over it? That can never 
 
 % 
 
 John xvi. 16. 
 
52.51 
 
 * be, the IMessiah -when he comes, shall abida 
 'Soy ever. The more I refle^-, the more am 
 
 * I perplexed. We must expert to be treated 
 ' with scorn since our master is dead, and iu 
 ^ all probability after tlie feast may be appro- 
 
 * bended and put to death. Thus much he 
 ' intended when he said, * Behold I send you 
 '' forth as lambs among wolves.^' Let us 
 ' therefore consult our own security, return 
 '' to Galilee, follow our former occupations, 
 ' and pass the remainder of our days in sor- 
 ' rowful obscurity, esteeming him as a great 
 '' Prophet, imitating his example, and lament- 
 
 * ing his untimely end. 
 
 As soon as Peter had concluded, John, the 
 beloved disciple, expressed himself to the 
 following purport, 
 
 ' What you have observed unequivocally 
 
 * proves that he was no imposter. ' Behold 
 '^ I send 3'ou foith as lambs among wolves,* 
 
 •^^ Ye shall be hated of all men for my name's 
 ;' sake f.' ' Yea, the time cometh, that who- 
 *^ soever killeth you Avill think that he doeth 
 
 ^ Luke X. 3. f Luke xxi. 17. 
 
 ^ 
 
252 
 
 *' God service*.* These ape clearly not the 
 words of a deceiver. Had he buoyed us up 
 with the expectation of wealth, and Avorldfy 
 grandeur, we might indeed complain that 
 he imposed upon us, and applaud the con- 
 duct of the Chief Priests. It is not pos-* 
 sible to justify them ; we indeed expelled 
 important services, but all our hopes arc 
 frustrated; yet, nevertheless every thing' 
 has been verified as he predicted. How 
 could he have foretold these things if he 
 had not been immediately from God? He 
 never was solicitous about wealth, or domi- 
 nion over men, he never promised to ad- 
 vance us in that way; '' The Son of Man 
 
 "' came not to be ministered unto, but to mi- 
 
 * nister, and to g-ive his life a ransom for 
 
 • many.f" He said, '^ If they have persecut- 
 ^ ed me, they will alfo persecute you. J' The 
 grand design he ever appeared to have in 
 view, was the reconciling men to God, 
 and unitins: one another in the bonds of 
 peace. No imposter would undertake a 
 work so honourable. With what facility 
 could he have avoided his enemies, previous 
 to his apprehension in the garden? yet he 
 
 ^ Johnxvi. 2» t Matt. x^. 28. ^J John xv. 2Q. 
 
255 
 
 would not retreat, neitiicr would he defeiifcl 
 himself by a miracle. Did you not jDerceive 
 how powerful his words v/ere, when they fell 
 prostrate upon the earth, yel he would per- 
 mit none to figlit in his defence. The rea- 
 son he assigned for his conduct you may ea- 
 sily recoiled:, ' The cup which my father 
 ' hath given me, shall I not drink it?' 
 ' Therefore doth my Father love me, because 
 ' I lay down my life that I might take it 
 * again, no man taketll it from me, but I lay 
 ' it down of myself*"* ^\'hen ]\la[chiis 
 was wounded, the facility with which lie 
 healed it was astonishing. I beheld with 
 the keenest anguish his meekness and hu- 
 mility in the palace of the High Priest ; I 
 heard him pi'ay for his enemies in the ago- 
 nies of death, and in his last moments com- 
 mend his spirit into the hands of his Father. 
 Such sentiments are foreign from those of 
 an imposter: He must be the person he de- 
 clared himself, the Son of God, the long 
 expefted Messiah. Can any thing but his 
 own promise relieve us? ^ And ye now^there- 
 ^ fore have sorrow; but I will see vou ao-ain. 
 
 John X. 17, l8, 
 
 Kk 
 
t54 
 
 ^ and your lieart shall rejoice, and your joy 
 ^ no man taketh from you.*' He promised 
 to rise again, but will he rise from the grave 
 as Lazarus did? Certainly he will not; for 
 if he should, he may be exposed to the same 
 treatment he has already experienced : His 
 foes are implacable and beyond the reach 
 of conviclion ; they even resolved to destroy 
 Lazarus, after they had the most undeniable 
 proofs of his resurrection. I well remember 
 by what argument he enforced the do6trine 
 of a future state against the Sadducees ; 
 ' I am the God of Abraham, and the God. 
 ' of Isaac, and the God of Jacob ? God is 
 ' not the God of the dead, but of the liv- 
 ' ingl." It appears from such mode of rea- 
 soning, that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob 
 are alive to God, and consequently risen 
 from the dead. In the same sense our mas- 
 ter is risen from the dead, and gone to Pa- 
 radise^ conformable to his declaration upon 
 the cross. We may therefore entertain san- 
 guine expe61ations of his appearing to us 
 again, perhaps in a similar manner as Moses 
 and Elias appeared to him on the Mount, 
 I think that may be fairly inferred from 
 
 ' — — ___ — . _ — j^ 
 
 * John xvi. 22. f Matt. xx. 32. 
 
2d5 
 
 ^ these words, ^' And ye now therefore have 
 *' sorrow; but I will see you again, and your 
 ** heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man 
 ^' taketh from you"*." Let us therefore still 
 
 * believe, notwithftanding all that has occur- 
 
 * ed, and hope for his appearance, when he 
 ' will accomplish our expectations, andcrowii 
 ' us with triumphant joy. 
 
 John having ended his exhortation, the dis- 
 ciples departed, and retired to rest. The ex- 
 alted principalities of heaven assembled above 
 the clouds, waiting for the approaching day, 
 when the archangel Raphael made the follow- 
 ing remarks, while thousands of angels at- 
 tended. 
 
 ' We have at length beheld, said he, the 
 ' most wonderful scene that ever happened in 
 
 * the dominions of God. We have beheld 
 ' him, who once in heaven scattered terror 
 ' and desolation among the apostate angels, 
 
 * led a prisoner upon earth, and grossly in- 
 
 * suited by the sons of men. We have be- 
 ^ held him, whose face did once shine above 
 
 ^'' John xvi. 22. 
 
 KkC 
 
256 
 
 ^ the brightness of the firmament, treated 
 
 * with the most contemptuous indignity. We 
 ^ have Ixiheld him who was once crowned with 
 ^ glory, disgraced with a wreath of thorns; 
 
 * him who A\^as the express image of the invi- 
 ^ sible God, turned into a spectacle of horror 
 
 * to t^e children of men. We have beheld 
 ' him, who was the admiration of angels and 
 ^ the terror of devils, contemned and perse- 
 ' Gutod by the sons of earth. The Lord of 
 ^ glory covered with shame, and the Prince 
 ^ of life expiring on a cross; yet in all these 
 ^ sufferings, neither the terrors nor allure- 
 
 ^ ments of this world, could corrupt his heart,. 
 ^ neither dasmons nor wicked men could stain 
 
 * the purity of his mind. Henceforth his 
 ^ snotless character shall be the unerrino* 
 ^standard of iierfection, ancl the pattern of 
 -imitation. Of all the crimes ever commit- 
 ^ ted on earth, we have now beheld the great- 
 ' est-; the Sonof God, and heir of all tilings, 
 
 ^ re}e(^>ed and wantonly murdered by the peo- 
 ' pie whom he sought to save. There is no 
 ' madness like that of sin ; it brought confu- 
 ' sion ii.to heaven above, and misery upon 
 ^ earth. The monster would devour the whole 
 ? creation, and, if possible, dethrone, and 
 f destroy the Almighty jjcvercign. What a 
 
257 
 
 complication of ^vickedness have we ])cv- 
 ceived iu the coiidiicl; of the Jev.s ! AVhat 
 astonishing* Imniiiity! What manly and un- 
 shaken fortitu(^'e !' What unruftled meeknessl 
 and inextinii'aishahle love have we beheld 
 in the sufferings of the IVlessiah. Here we 
 may contemplate with admiration the divine 
 wisdom in permitting such suiferings, for 
 the more glorious manifestation of exalted 
 virtues. We have beheld the riches of di- 
 vine love in the de^th of his own Son, for 
 the redemption of a rebellious world : IPany 
 thing can pofiibly produce the love of God 
 in the souls of men, this will assuredly do it. 
 We have now beheld the seed of the woman 
 bruise the head of the infernal serpent. The 
 first Adam was easily seduced, but the se- 
 cond is invincible, and hath achieved ths 
 most glorious victory over the pov/ers of 
 darkness. The human race i^'.ay ^>:i\^ per- 
 ceive how abominable in the sight of God, 
 all and every kind of wickedness must be, 
 when he sent his Son into the world, and 
 exposed him to a variety of the greatest 
 sorrows, and tlie most ignominious dcKth, 
 with a view of putting an end to its domi- 
 nion, overturning the empire of Satan, and 
 '^ establishing a l>ingdo;ii of everlasting riijh^ 
 
258 
 
 ^ tcousness. They may now perceive, that 
 ^ nothing is so truly acceptable as virtue and 
 ^ goodness of heart, when for the sake of the 
 
 * most perfect obedience, and spotless virtue 
 ''' of his own Son, he is willing to forgive all 
 ' penitent sinners who turn from their evil 
 '' ways ; for the sake of his obedience, every 
 
 * means of obtaining everlasting happiness, 
 ' shall be granted to a corrupt and pertidious 
 ' world. We have beheld the only meri- 
 ^ torious and all-sufficient sacrifice ottered up 
 ^ for the sins of men. Every other was me- 
 
 * rely a type, and therefore will in a short 
 ^ time cease. With great reason may we 
 ' therefore sing, as we formerly did on the 
 ^ day of his nativity, ' Glory to God in the 
 '^ highest, and on earth peace, good will 
 ^' towards men*." 
 
 * The time approaches when he must 
 '' rise as-ain conformable to his declaration. 
 
 * His resurrection is an event of the greatest 
 ^ importance, and must be confirmed by the 
 ^ strongest evidence. To the Jews he will 
 ' clearly not appear, that is a favour they are 
 ' totally unworthy of. His disciples only will 
 
 * JLukc ii. 4» 
 
^59 
 
 be the witnesses of his rcsurredion, and 
 their testimony will be sufficient to establifh 
 the fa6t to every impartial advocate of truth. 
 As for those who are hardened in tlieir 
 wickedness, no evidence will be adequate 
 to reclaim them. Certain w^omen who fol- 
 lowed him from Galilee have agreed to em- 
 balm his body at an early hour in the morn- 
 ing, and will meet at the sepulchre. That 
 they may have free communication, and 
 an opportunity of examining every circum- 
 stance, let us with the dawning light, con- 
 formable to the will of the Almighty Father, 
 descend into the garden. The soul of the 
 Messiah will return about that time from 
 Paradise, break the bands of death, and 
 shake the foundations of Mount Calvary, 
 Then with a gentle touch I will remove the 
 stone from the door of the sepulchre, and 
 remain clothed in celestial splendour, while 
 he rises from the dead, and leaves the dark 
 confinement of the tomb. His person I will 
 attend, and await his commands, when with 
 exalted joy we will publish his vic'lory ovei^ 
 hell and death. The guard will lose theif 
 senses immediately upon my appearance; 
 and become as dead men. When we are 
 departed, they will awake, fly into the c'lty^ 
 
^ aiKi relate the wonders tliey have seeif. 
 ' The strange report a\ ill thi'ough every street 
 ' resouii<l, and crowds assemble at the tom]>, 
 •^ where the presiunptive evidence of his re-, 
 
 * surre^tion will a|>pear, and induce every im- 
 
 * partial ohserver to receive the testimony of 
 ' his disciples. 
 
 When the morning:: lij>:ht be2:ari to dawn 
 through the eastern sky, and usher in the 
 dav. — a day prei^nant with an event more il- 
 lustrious and important, than any to be met 
 with in the annals of the world since tlie cre- 
 ation. Mary Biagdalene, and Mary the ma- 
 ther of James, went with anxious desire to 
 \isit tlie sepulchre of tlieir departed Lord; 
 when, lo ! the angelic host descended into 
 the o-arden. The earth beoan to shake im- 
 mediately ; the guard astonished turned round, 
 tut perceived nothing, until they observed 
 the stone rolling spontaneous from the se- 
 pulchre, Tliey retreated a ivw paces, when 
 in an instant their eyes were confounded with 
 ^n amazing splendour ; Raphael sat upon 
 the stone, his garments appeared of the purest 
 white, and tremendous lightening blazed 
 around his face : The soldiers perceived himj 
 and fell like dead m.en to tlic in'ound. Ir 
 
^64 
 
 Jlieir state of insensibility, Jesus burst asun- 
 tier the bands of death, while a number of 
 angels beheld with joyful admiration, his body 
 animated with renewed life ; instant ^y he 
 awoke as from the most profound sleep, when 
 the angel Gabriel having stript him of the 
 linen clothes, and napkin that was around 
 liis head, arrayed him in celestial robes, 
 which, like his body, could either transmit ox 
 reflect the rays of light, as he chose to be- 
 come visible or invisible. He stcpt with a 
 majestic air from the tomb, when ten thou- 
 sand cherubims surrounded his person, and 
 bending lowly to the earth, they exclaimed, 
 ' Welcome, O Son of God, to life eternal, to 
 
 * everlasting bliss, and highest honour, the 
 
 * just reward of all thy glorious deeds.' A 
 heavenly smile was visible in his counten- 
 ance, strongly expressive of conscious worth, 
 divine majesty, and universal love ; he view- 
 ed all with a pleasing approbation, and every 
 one beheld him with rapturous delight^ Away 
 lie went attended by the angelic train, and 
 dire6led his course to the habitations of many 
 favourite saints : When he arrived, he said, 
 with avoice of dignity and mildness, ^ Awake, 
 ' my friends, and return to life :' His voice 
 they heard; and started from the dust, witl» 
 
 LI 
 
«G^ 
 
 manly vigour, while blooming liealtli wa§ 
 Inarked in eveiy face. They beheld him 
 with grateful ecslacy, they fell prostrate and 
 kissed his feet, who had given them life. 
 
 The soldiers who guarded the sepulchre, 
 in the mean time awaking from their tranofe, 
 fled dire^lly to the city; when Mary Magda- 
 lene, and Mary the mother of James and Sa* 
 lome, advanced towards the sepulchre, with 
 an intention of embalming their Lord ; one 
 of them observed, ' Who shall remove the 
 ^ stone from the door of the sepulchre, for at 
 
 * his burial the united force of twenty men 
 ' could scarcely place it there? If we have not 
 ' strength sufhcient, when the rest of the wo- 
 
 * men are assembled, we must request the 
 
 * assistance of his disciples.' As they drew 
 near, to their great astonishment they per- 
 ceived the stone already removed. ' What 
 
 * can this mean,' Mary Magdalene remarked, 
 ' a number of persons must have been here 
 'before us, the door is open, and the body 
 
 * o'one ; but by whom taken and for what 
 ' end, I cannot conje6lure. I will instantly 
 
 * return and inform his disciples ; in the in- 
 ' terim, go ye to the sepulchre and wait lest 
 ^ llie rest of the women should arrive before 
 
263 
 
 ^ my return.' Accordingly she went with all 
 imaginable expedition to Peter and John, 
 when the other two advanced, and immedi- 
 ately upon entering the sepulchre, they saw 
 an ano-el sit tin 2: on the ris^lit clothed in a 
 white garment. The sight of him surprised 
 and terrified them prodigiously, ^ Be not 
 ' afraid,' said he, ^ I know whom ye seek, it 
 ' is Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified ; he 
 
 * is not here, he is risen from the dead, be- 
 
 * hold the place where his body lay : But de- 
 
 * part and inform his disciples, particularly 
 
 * Peter; behold he goeth before you into 
 ' Galilee, there will you see him, as he in- 
 
 * formed 3'ou before his death.' They fled 
 from the sepulchre terrified and amazed at 
 what they had heard and seen. Shortly after, 
 Peter and John whom they had observed run- 
 nmg at a distance, went, but terror prevent- 
 ed their uttering a word. The two disciples 
 being apprised by Mary Magdalene of what 
 ^he had seen and suspe^led, hastened to the 
 sepulchre, but John being the younger, ar- 
 rived the first. At the door he stooped down, 
 and perceived the clothes, but did not enter : 
 Peter having approached vvcnt in and perceiv- 
 ed the napkin that was about his head, not 
 with the linen clothes, but in a place by it 
 
 Lis 
 
264. 
 
 self. John then entered, and from the cir- 
 cumstances, together with the report of Mary- 
 Magdalene, he strongly credited that his 
 master was risen from the dead. Having 
 examined every circumstance, they returned 
 home, ^vhen on the way, John delivered the 
 undisguised sentiments of his noble heart. 
 
 ' When I refle6l upon the variety of inci- 
 dents that have occurred, there cannot 
 be a doubt of the truth of his resurrec- 
 tion ; though you and Mary Magdalene 
 conclude him to have been stolen in the 
 night, yet it appears to me altogether im- 
 probable; for who would steal him? Not 
 his friends, for what could they do with 
 him ? Has lie not been honourably interred ? 
 What could induce them to strip him of his 
 dead clothes? They would assuredly have 
 taken them also, and is it to be supposed 
 they would have bestowed so much time 
 and pains, to remove the linen and the 
 napkin, and lay them in separate places? 
 Clearly not ; had they intended to remove 
 his body, they would have done it in the 
 most expeditious nianner, just as they 
 ^ found it ; had it been done by friends, 
 ? would they not have told us, and requested 
 
t65 
 
 ' assistance ? For reasons equally strong, 1 
 
 * cannot believe any of his enemies would 
 
 * have stolen him awav, and left the clothes 
 
 * behind: Consider the weight of the stone 
 
 * which closed the entrance; it required many 
 ^ men to move it, nor can I conceive what 
 ' benefit they could derive by such an at- 
 
 * tempt. He is certainly risen from the dead, 
 
 * his words imply it, ' After three days I will 
 
 * rise again.' — Peter listened attentively ; but 
 many difficulties arising in his mind, he con- 
 tinued in great suspence, fully resolved to 
 Avitidiold his assent until the strongest evi- 
 dence obliged him to submit. 
 
 After they had departed, Mary -Magdalene 
 again arrived, and in the deepest sorrow, 
 with tears in her eyes, stooped down, and 
 looking in, she perceived two angels clothed 
 in white, sitting at the head and l^eet, where 
 the body of Jesus had lain. Instantly one of 
 them said, ''Woman, why do you look so 
 
 * desponding?' Overcome with grief she an- 
 swered, ' Some persons unknown have taken 
 ' away the body of my Lord, and I know 
 ' not where it is.' Turning about, she per- 
 ceived Jesus himself clothed in a mannct 
 $he had never before seen, and wlio ap^ 
 
266 
 
 peared an entire stranger to her, he de- 
 manded, ' Woman, why do you weep, and 
 ^ whom seek you in this place?' Supposing 
 him to be the gardener, she repUed, ' The 
 body of Jesus was lately deposited in this se- 
 
 * pulchre, it is gone, but by whom taken I 
 
 * know not.' Jesus in a familiar tone, called 
 
 her by her name: She looked in his face, and 
 
 recoiled ing his features, in extatic surprise 
 
 fell prostrate before him, embraced his feet, 
 
 and exclaimed with a trembhng voice, ' My 
 
 ' dearest Lord, are you then alive?' ' I am/ 
 
 said he, ^ but v.ow I cannot stay; detain me 
 
 ' not, nor take your last farewell, for I have 
 
 ' not ascended to my father, nor shall I leave 
 
 ^ the world for some time; you shall see me 
 
 *" again. Go, tell my disciples I am risen 
 
 ^ from the dead, and live for evermore ; in a 
 
 ' short time I shall ascend to my Father and 
 
 * your Father, to my God and your God, to 
 *• receive full power over every thing in hea- 
 ^ ven and on earth, and to prepare a place 
 ' for you, that where I am, you may be there 
 ^also.' He then disappeared, leaving her 
 overpowered with joy. In a second he pas- 
 sed through the air invisible, and meeting 
 Mary and Salome, who in terror had fled from 
 the sepulchre, and were near the city, he 
 
26? 
 
 saluted them ; his voice and countenance 
 they well knew ; overjoyed, they embraced 
 and worshipped him : AVhen lie exclaimed, 
 ' Be not dismayed, inform my brethren that 
 
 * I am risen from the dead; in a little time I 
 
 * shall see them in Galilee,' and immediate- 
 ly vanished. 
 
 The women and the two Apostles havinqj 
 left the sepulchre; Joanna arrived, together 
 with some other women, in order to embalm 
 the body. A sudden dread overwhelmed 
 them, when tliey found the stone removed ; 
 but they were more surprised when thev ob- 
 served the body gone, and the clothes 
 left behind. T\\ o angels appeared in shining 
 garments ; at the sight, they were more con- 
 founded than ever ; one of them demanded, 
 
 * Why search ye the sepulchre of the 
 dead, for a person that is alive? Jesus whom 
 
 * ye seek is not here, dead as you suppose, 
 *■ but risen again. You may recollect he 
 
 * informed his disciples when living, that he 
 ' should be delivered into tlie hands of wick- 
 ' ed men, be put to death, and should rise 
 
 * ag-ain the third dav: these circumstances 
 ^ are now verified.' They instantly remem- 
 
 * bercd that frequently the disciples luid d^- 
 
268 
 
 "bated in consequence of the declaration-, 
 !R.etLirning in a transport of joy and fear^ 
 scarce knowing what to believe, they went 
 to communicate to the disciples and others, 
 what they had heard and seen, but their nar- 
 rative met with little or no credit, for the re- 
 surredion was in itself so remarkable/ and 
 the minds of the disciples so dejeded and op- 
 pressed with grief, that though he had clear- 
 ly informed them he would rise again, yet 
 they entertained no hopes of it; neither 
 could they be persuaded to consider the 
 reports of the women, but merely as idle 
 tales. Peter reflecting in the mean time upon 
 every circumstance, immediately went to the 
 sepulchre, with others in order to see if the 
 angels mentioned by the women, were stdl in 
 that place ; but when they arrived none ap- 
 peared. Peter approaching the entra^ice, 
 perceived nothing but the linen clothes 
 liaving received no confirmation, he depart- 
 ed wonderfully perplexed. 
 
 The Cliicf Priests assembled in the council 
 chamber, in consequence of soniC of the sol- 
 diers who had guarded the sepulchre, having 
 ji-eported what had happened ; but being har- 
 olened to the last degree^ and haying advan- 
 
^5 
 
 ced in M'ickedness too far to retix?at, tliey con- 
 vened the Sanhedrim, with a view of consult- 
 ing what measures miglit he necessary to pre- 
 serve their authority, and to prevent the peo- 
 ple giving' credit to the evid-^nce of the resur- 
 rection. Alexander rose and delivered his 
 sentiments in the followin 2: strain. 
 
 * We are now reduced to the last extremity; 
 
 * every possible method has been adopted to 
 ' suppress the grand im poster, but every at- 
 ^ tempt has failed. The soldiers terrified have 
 ' fled from the sepulchre, the stone has been re- 
 ' moved by an invisible hand, and the body is 
 ^'gone. It is impossible to deny' indisputable 
 
 * fafts, the news will fly through the city, and 
 'create the utmost confusion ; his disciples 
 
 * will declare he is risen from the dead; 
 
 * the multitude astonished at the report, and 
 ^ reflecting upon what has occurred, may pos- 
 ' sibly believe it; if they should, they will 
 
 * brand us as murderers, cast oflT all respe6l 
 ' to our authority, and revenge his death. 
 ' It had been better to have placed no guard 
 
 * there, even though his disciples should have 
 
 * stolen him aAvay ; in that case it woukl have 
 ^ been very easy to have proved the deceit, 
 ^ but far different now, the report of the sol- 
 
 Mm 
 
'^ diers will give it an air of plausibility. Very 
 ' few of the guard have reported this matter 
 
 * to us, the rest no doubt will relate every 
 
 * circumstance as an apology for their flight. 
 
 * The fact cannot be contradi6ted ; the qucs- 
 ' tiop simply is^ how shall we account for these 
 
 * things, so as to give no encouragement to 
 ' the report and prevent any tumult among 
 ^ the people. 
 
 Caiaphas instantly replied, ' It is well 
 
 * known the guard was appointed with a view 
 ^ to prevent the disciples stealing the body ; 
 
 that will suggest a means of accounting 
 for every thing that has happened ; let us 
 persuade the people that while the soldiers 
 were asleep, the disciples stole it. We 
 must bribe the guard to propagate the re- 
 port, for their testimony is necessary to 
 irive it an air of credit amono; the mul- 
 titude. A liberal reward, together with 
 an indemnification from punishment will 
 easily bring them over to our interest. But 
 suppose Jesus should appear among us, it 
 may be accounted for, by afrirming he was 
 taken from the crofs before he was dead; and 
 if he should never publicly appear, who will 
 qredit his disgiples? They may endeavour 
 
271 
 
 ■ to render the account contracliciory and \nr 
 ' consistent, but I trust their influence will 
 ' have no weight, when opposed to our au- 
 ' thority. Let us call in the guard and dire6l 
 * them how to proceed.' — Accordingly the 
 soldiers were introduced, a large sum ot' mo- 
 ney was distributed among them, as well as 
 the following charge delivered by the High 
 priest : 
 
 * You cannot but be sensible that we have 
 liberally rewarded you, therefore we expe6b 
 gratitude will prompt you, to advance no- 
 thing that can in any degree be detrimental 
 to our interest; for if this extraordinary af- 
 fair be circulated, it may lay the founda- 
 tion of rebellion in J udea. To prevent so 
 dreadful an evil, it is expedient you inform 
 every person, that exhausted with continual 
 watching, sleep overcame you, during which 
 interval, the disciples stole the body ; should 
 the report reach the Governor, we under- 
 take to indemnify you from any punishment/ 
 
 The soldiers in consequence of such an as- 
 surance, received the money, obeyed their in- 
 structions, and reported that which they knew 
 to be false, contradictory, and dishonourable^ 
 
 U m a 
 
J 
 
 ar9r ^ 
 
 Th^ faS: being told b}^ the rest as it really 
 happen jcd, in order to palliate the crin^iuality 
 of their Ihght, and having received none of 
 the secret money which was given to their 
 companions, they persisted strongly in the 
 truth of their declarations. The different 
 reports flew w ith the rapidity of lightning 
 through the whole city, and curiosity so pre- 
 valent with many, Avas raised to so high a^ 
 pitch, that multitudes flocked to the sepul- 
 chre, comparing the different statements of 
 the soldiers, with the circumstances of the 
 time and place. Amazed at the contradi6lory 
 reports, among others, Joseph of Arimathea 
 went with all possible speed; immediately 
 upon his appearance, John a zealous Saddu- 
 cee spoke to the following effe(5l. 
 
 ^ The stone is removed, the body is gone^ 
 ^ are fa6}s that require no illustration; some 
 ' are at a loss to account for them, but I see 
 ' no difficulty, when I refle6l upon ij^e tes- 
 ^ timony of the soldiers; none can be so well 
 ^ acquainted with what passed as those that 
 ' were present. They inform us, oppressd 
 ' with fatigue, they fell asleep, during which 
 ' time the disciples removed the stone, and 
 ^ carried away the body; the account is simple 
 
^73 
 
 * and natural, and as for the contradictory evi- 
 ^ dcnce of tlie soldiers, there appears to me 
 *, nothing strange in that; some affirm they 
 
 * were terrified by an horrible apparition ; I 
 need scarcely tell you how often dreams have 
 excited the most dreadful apprehensions ; 
 the impressions are frequently as strong and 
 lively as when awake. That circumstance 
 proves plainly they were all asleep, and as 
 to the design of removing the body, it may 
 be accounted for without much difticult}^ 
 He was taken from the cross long before* 
 malefadtors usually expire ; and though the 
 legs of the two thieves were broken, to pu{ 
 a period to their torments, yet no violence 
 was done to him ; his apparent death seems 
 merely to have been a fainting lit, from 
 which he might recover, and in expe6tatioii 
 of it they stole his body. We have heard 
 of the recovery of persons after their burial, 
 this accounts for the condud of his disciples; 
 should he appear again there Mill be. nothing 
 extraordinary or miraculotis in it. Nothing 
 can render a pretended resurrection more 
 plausible to the ignorant who are prejudic- 
 
 "' ed in his favour, than a plot so well con- 
 ^ ccrtedj and sq happilv executed,' 
 
274- 
 
 Jo^ph who listened Mitli the most con- 
 temptuous indignation, in order to undeceive 
 the people, who appeared to place implicit cre- 
 dit in every circumstance a& stated by John, 
 replied ; 
 
 * It would gratify me exceedingly to see 
 ^ imposture fairly detecled and exposed to 
 ^ universal contempt; but I never can assent 
 
 * to that which is improbable, contradictory, 
 
 * and absurd, such are the leading features 
 
 * of hypocrisy, and too much appears in the 
 ^ statement so confidently delivered. We 
 
 * have been told that Jesus was taken from 
 
 * the cross before he expired, having faint- 
 ' ed with excessive pain. Demand of the 
 
 * centurion and soldiers who guarded the 
 ' cross, as to the truth of the assertion; they 
 ^ must know whether he was de^d or not ; 
 ^ though his legs were not broken, yet his 
 ^ heart was pierced with a spear, and the ef- 
 ' fusion of M^ater and blood clearly proves 
 ' the impossibility he could ever survive, 
 ^ Was not the sepulchre examined by the 
 ' Priests, who had all the proofs of his death 
 
 * that could be desired? Had his disciples 
 ^ expeded a recovery from a fainting fit^j 
 
-275' 
 
 ^ woultl they have huried him ? Would they 
 not rathei* have used all possible means, as 
 soon as he was taken from the cross for his 
 recovery ? Had they entertained any hopes, 
 would they have wrapped him m dead 
 clotlies, embalmed h-s body, and tlien have 
 left him alone in the gloomy cold sepulchre? 
 These questions require a serious answer. 
 I appeal to every man if such circumstan^- 
 ces do not abundantly prove, that hi^ dis- 
 ciples could never steal him in expefiatiou 
 of a recovery ; and if they could have no 
 hopes of restoring their master to life, .what 
 end could they propose by stealing his body? 
 It is asserted, with a view to impose upon 
 the world, and to induce us to believe thart 
 he rose again ; a supposition weak and 
 groundless to the last degree. Is it possible 
 that they could have formed a resolution, 
 so bold and desperate, as to force a guard, 
 well armed and accustomed to war? It i:j> 
 well known how thev behaved when their 
 master was apprehended ; they were seized 
 with such a panic, that they forsook him 
 and tied ; If they were void of courage to 
 defend him when living, how can we ima- 
 gine them capable of fighting for him when 
 dead ? Possijjly it will be said, the disciples 
 
276 
 
 * knew tiotliing of the guard until they arriv- 
 
 * ctl at the sepulchre, where by accident 
 
 * they found them all asleep: Admitting that 
 
 * to be true, though it is very improbable, 
 
 * can we suppose they would venture to roll 
 ' away the stone, and carry off the body? Such 
 
 * an attempt would have been rash to the last 
 
 * dejrree, and inconsistent with their known 
 ^ characters. There are yet greater difficulties 
 
 * remaining. Who can believe that a body of 
 
 * Roman soldiers, underthe strictest discipline, 
 
 * would all fall into a profound sleep at one 
 ' and the same moment of time, and thereby 
 
 * expose themselves to the severest punish- 
 
 * ments of the military law? But even admit-' 
 ^ ting that to be the case, would not the dis- 
 
 * ciples have been under great apprehensions 
 ^ lest the guard should awake while they were 
 
 * rolling away the stone, and carrying off the 
 *body? You may easily imagine what the 
 '*■ danger would have been. Would they in 
 
 * such precipitation have spent their time in 
 ' stripping their master of the winding sheet, 
 
 * and the napkin that was about his head, 
 ^ and placing them carefully in the sepulchre? 
 
 * Whoever rolled up the dead clotlies must 
 
 * have been under no apprehension of dan- 
 
 * ger. If thi^ guard were all asleep during 
 
277 
 
 * that tim^, how could they know that the 
 body was stolen ? or, How could they tell 
 that his disciples stole it? During- the time 
 of sleep our senses are so entirely lulled^ and 
 locked up, that we arc totally ignorant of 
 every thing that happens around us. It' they 
 saw and heard every thing ^o distinWlj^ thev 
 must certainly have been awake ; audit they 
 were asleep as they confess they were, then 
 it is impossible they can give any account 
 by \vhom or in what manner the body was- 
 removed. The soldiers likewise (hlfer in 
 their narrative ; some positively affirm and 
 swear that none of them were asleep ; that 
 when the morning began to appear they felt 
 an earthquake ; that immediately the stone 
 rolled spontaneously from the door, and that 
 some divinity sat upon it, from whose coun- 
 tenance the lightning flashed dreadfully in 
 their faces, so much so, that for a lenerth of 
 time they were considerably alarmed, that 
 when they recovered, they perceived no man 
 but fled precipitately to the city : In this 
 account they at first agreed, but why they 
 differ now is very remarkable. Suffer the op- 
 posite statements tobe impartially consider- 
 ed, and then every one may sec on which 
 side the strongest evidence rests. . Op. the 
 
 Nn 
 
278 
 
 one side, every circumstance is improbable 
 and self contradictory ; on the other, every 
 thing is probable and consistent, though mi- 
 raculous ; and what renders it more credible, 
 the life of Jesus was attended with the most 
 extraordinary miracles : We are aware of 
 the wonders which happened at his death, 
 we may therefore the more readily credit 
 that the stone has been rolled away, and the 
 body removed by some extraordinary cause. 
 With what reason can any man suppose his 
 disciples, have either invented or executed 
 such an incomprehensible plot, to deceive 
 the world into a belief of his resurredion, 
 you may judge as you think proper, never- 
 theless I am open to conviction, and will 
 with pleasure give attention to any explana- 
 tion of this mysterious business.* ' 
 
 Some time after, w^hen all had left the 
 sepulchre, Peter revolving in his mind the 
 strange accounts he had heard, went alone to 
 Mount Calvary, wandering melancholy and 
 pensive, agitated by a variety of passions, sud^* 
 denly his Master appeared. At the sight he 
 fell to the earth f but Jesus taking him by the 
 hand, said unto him, ' Peter, arise, I kno\y 
 ^ the sincerity of your repentance, I freel y 
 
^79 
 
 pardon you, and will strengthen your faith. 
 You can now no longer doubt the truth of 
 what I so often told you, that after three 
 days I would rise again. You may remem- 
 ber what passed on the Holy Mount, when 
 Moses and Elias conversed with me concern- 
 ing n)y sufferings at Jerusalem, and the glo- 
 ry that should follow after: All these things 
 are come to pass, and you are now fully con- 
 vinced by the testimony of your senses. 
 How could you doubt the truth of my words, 
 or the reality of my resurrection, after the 
 proofs I had given you of my power? Did 
 you not perceive me walking amidst the bil- 
 lows of the stormy lake? Did not you hear 
 me rebuke the winds and the seas ? Did not 
 you see how I raised to life the widow's sua 
 of Naim, the daughter of Jairus, and Laza- 
 rus of Bethany ? Did I not tell you in the 
 garden I had power to lay down my life, and 
 power to take it again? Was you not in- 
 formed by the women that I was risen from 
 tl>e dead ? Yet after these declarations you 
 remained dubious and perplexed: I have 
 appeared to you first of all my Apostles, to 
 remove your doubts, and alleviate your 
 desponding hopes, and at the same time to 
 convince you, that none is more acceptable 
 
 Nn 2 
 
SAG 
 
 ^ to m-e, than a repenting sinner; depait: 
 
 * therefore, and inlorin mv brethren that I 
 ' shallsee them in Galilee, and give them 
 
 * all necessary instruclions concerning th6 
 
 * kingdom of God, and their future con- 
 
 * du6t.' He then disappeared, leaving Peter 
 entirely overcome with joy and admira- 
 tion. 
 
 No sooner had Jesus departed from Blount 
 Calvary, than he entered the highway which 
 leads tjom tlie city to Emmaus, while two of 
 his disciples travelled before him at a little 
 distance, engaged in conversation about the 
 various reports of the day. ' I know not/ 
 said CIcophas, * what to think, of these 
 
 * things, what can they mean by reporting 
 
 * that we have stolen the body; such an 
 
 * idea never once entered into our minds, 
 ' 1 heard nothing of it until this morning; 
 'they affirm also that they were asleep; this 
 ^ story contradi(5is itself and acquits us, the 
 ' other IS more consistent, and seems to cor-* 
 ^respond with the account of the women, an 
 'angel could easily roll away the stone and 
 ^ terrify the soldiers. Everything surprises 
 ' and pcrple:Jves me, his conception and birth 
 i were miraculous. An angel foretold them, 
 
£81 
 
 his life was full of miracles, so was Iiis death, 
 and now his body is I'emoved by a miracle* 
 He was clearly the Messiah/ said the other 
 disciple, * yet the ignominious death he suf- 
 fered is a dilhculty 1 cannot get over, it is 
 inconsistent with every descri|)tion of the 
 Messiahs kingdom; had he lived, there 
 is no doubt l)ut he would have redeemed 
 Israel from the Roman yoke; but, alas ! his 
 mournful and unexpected death have blast- 
 ed our expectations,' Jesus having overtak- 
 en them joined their company as a stranger. 
 What conversation is it,' said he, * you are 
 engaged in ? You appear very dejeded, as 
 5f you had received bad tidings or sustained 
 ,some considerable loss, pray ,what is the mat- 
 ter?' ^ Is it possible,' replied Cleophas, 
 that you can be ignorant of the wonderful 
 things which have occurred in Jerusalem, 
 within these few days, and are now the en- 
 tire subje6i of conversation?' 'What do 
 you allude to?' replied Jesus. ' I mean,' 
 answered Cleophas, ' Jesus of Nazareth, who 
 appeared as a great Prophet sent from God^ 
 and one highly esteemed by the people on 
 account of his excellent doclrine and won- 
 derful miracles; but thie Chief Priests and 
 Rulers, jealous of his reputation, combined 
 
282 
 
 'against him, an,d contrary to every principle 
 '^of justice and humanity, have put him to a 
 
 * most infamous death. We imagined indeed 
 
 * that he wouki have redeemed Israel, and 
 ^ even after his death we were very unwilHng 
 
 * to give up our expectations ; but this being 
 
 * the third day, we are in the utmost per- 
 
 * plexity, and know not what opinion to en- 
 
 * tertain. Something very extraordmary in- 
 ' deed has been told us this morning, and we 
 
 * are very sohcitous concerning the event. 
 
 * Certain women who had conceived the same 
 
 * hopes, going early to visit the sepulchre^ 
 *^ found that his body was removed, and what 
 
 * is still more surprising, they informed us 
 Mhat a vision of angels appeared, assuring 
 ^ them that he was risen from the dead. 
 ' This appeared to us altogether groundless, 
 
 * until two of our friends went immediately to 
 
 * the sepulchre, and as the women had said,. 
 
 * they found the stone rolled away from the 
 •door, the body gone, and the dead clothes 
 
 * lying within, but they perceived no angels, 
 
 * neither did they receive any further intel- 
 
 * ligence, 
 
 Jesus replied, ' to you these things appear 
 
 * unaccountable ; Had you comprehended 
 
285 
 
 the ancient Prophets, you would have been 
 relieved from your difficulties, for in all their 
 writings you will fuid it clearly foretold of 
 the Messiah, tliat through indignity, re- 
 proach, and contempt, from the malice and 
 obstinacy of men, and at last by sufl'ering 
 an ignominious and cruel death, he should 
 be exalted to a glorious and eternal king- 
 dom. You imagined he would have re^ 
 deemed Israel, but what redemption did 
 you expe6l ? Deliverance merely from the 
 Roman yoke ? In this you were much mis- 
 taken ; know you not that the tyranny of 
 Satan is infinitely worse than that of Caesar; 
 that everlasting death in another world is 
 more dreadful than any servitude can pos- 
 sibly be in this? The grand end of the com- 
 ing of the Messiah is to deliver men from 
 the power of Satan, from the dominion of 
 sin, and everlasting death in the world to 
 come. Attend to what Moses and the 
 Prophets have said rcspe6ling the ^Icssiah/ 
 
 * When our first parents had sinned against 
 
 • God by the temptation of the devil in the; 
 
 * form of a serpent, the Lord said unto him, 
 *' I will put enmity between thee and the 
 /^ woman, and between thy seed, and her 
 
£84. 
 
 ^^seeci: it j^li all bruise tliy head, and tlioa 
 ^' slialt bruise his heel ^" These words ^vere 
 
 * spokeu with a vi^w to console the , guilty 
 'parents of the human race, and to give them 
 
 * hopes that whatever they had sacrificed b^ 
 •the malice a n d c raft i n qs s o f S a t a n , t h e v 
 
 * should recover by the seed of the wamaiTj 
 
 * that is, they should be restored to life again, 
 
 * and to the enjoyment of evciriasting bliss in 
 ^ the world to come; sThe seed of the. jxva- 
 
 * man is the Messiah, the same person fore- 
 
 * told by the Prophet Isaiah, " Behold a tfr- 
 s" gin shall conceive and bear a son, apd 
 ■*' shall call hia. name ,Immanuel.'t :' HtiX^e, 
 ** you never heard that Jesus of Nazareth w^s 
 
 * born of a virgin? Has he wot laboured witji 
 
 * indefatigable diligcjice to overturn the 
 •works of the devil, and deliver men -from 
 •his authority and influence? By the malice 
 •of Satan he has undergone persecution and 
 
 * death, by the secret influence of the old 
 *. serpent, Judas betray qd him, and the Jews. 
 *" have crucified him, they have bruised his 
 ■* heel, whilst in the interim his soul remains 
 •invincible, therefore he will assuredly over- 
 ' come the power of Sato^n, and destroy the 
 
 * empire of deatli. 
 
 * Gen. iii.- 15. t Isa. vii» i4. 
 
Ts it not said by David in the person 
 of the Messiah, *' Sacrifice and oft'oring 
 ' tliou didst not dcsira, mine eves hast 
 ' thou opened, burnt oli'crings and sai ofTcr- 
 ' ings hast thou not required: then said I, lo, 
 * I come : in the volume of the book it is 
 ' written of me, I dehght to do thy will, O 
 ' my God ; yea, thy law is written within my 
 ' heart. I have preached righteousness ia 
 ' the great congregation : Lo, I liave not 
 ' refrained my li})s, O Lord, tliou knowest. 
 ' I have not hid tliy righteousness within my 
 ' heart; I have declared thy faithfulness 
 ' and thy salvation ; I have not concealed 
 ' thy loving kindness and thy truth from the 
 ' great cono-rei2:ation*.' Were not these 
 words fully accomplished in the person of 
 your master? Did he not preach righteous- 
 ness to the whole nation ? You are sensible 
 he was a Prophet mighty in word and deed, 
 before God and all the people, conformable 
 to the words of Moses, the Lord thy God 
 shall raise up a Prophet unto thee from 
 among thy brethren like unto me, him shall 
 ye hear in all things whatsoev(j^r he shah say 
 
 * Psalm, xl. 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. 
 
 Oo 
 
as6 
 
 * unto you. Did lie not suffer death with 
 ' the utmost submission to the will of God, 
 
 * and with the kindest affe6lion to the sons 
 
 * of men? Could any sacrifice be so accept- 
 
 * able in the sight of God as the patient and 
 
 * meritorious death of such a person ? Be not 
 ' astonished then, if Jesus of Nazareth whom 
 
 * ye took for the Messiah was so unjust- 
 
 * ly put to death; it is only what the Pro- 
 
 * phr t Daniel foretold, ' i\fter threescore 
 
 * and two weeks, shall the Messiah be cut 
 *' off, but not for himself, and the people of 
 ** the Prince that shall come, shall destroy 
 ** the city and the san6iuary ; and the end 
 ^* thereof shall J3e with a flood, and unto the 
 *' end of the war desolations are determin- 
 *' ed*;' the weeks are now accomplished, the 
 
 * Messiah has been cut off. The prophet 
 
 * Isaiah has spoken to the same purpose con- 
 ^ cerninghim when hesaith, ''He was wound- 
 
 * ed for our transgressions; he was bruised for 
 '' our iniquities: the chastisement of ourpeace 
 '' was upon him ; and with his stripes we are 
 ^Miealed; like sheep we have gone astray: 
 ^' every one hath turned to his own way: and 
 •' the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of 
 
 3K 
 
 * Dan. ix. 26» 
 
287 
 
 '' us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflift- 
 '* ed; he is brought as a Lamb to the slaughter, 
 *' and as a sheep before his shearers is dumb, 
 *^ so he opened not his mouth. He was taken 
 ^' from prison and from judgment ; and who 
 ** shall declare his generation? for he was 
 '* cut oif out of the land of the living; for the 
 '^ the transgression of my people was he 
 ^^ stricken. It pleased the Lord to bruise him; 
 *^ he hath put him to grief : and made his 
 ** soul an offering for sin"*." It is manifest 
 
 * that the Messiah ought to have suffered, 
 ' you know that Jesus of Nazareth was treat- 
 
 * ed in this manner, Why then should you be 
 ^ under any difficulty ? Remember also what 
 
 * David saith concerning him ; * Why doth 
 '' the heathen rage, and the people imagine 
 '^ a vain thing? the kings of the earth set 
 *• themselves, and the rulers take counsel to- 
 *'' gether against the Lord, and against his 
 *^ anointed j".' You are surprised because 
 ' Herod and Pilate, with the Roman soldiers, 
 
 * and the Jewish nation united in persecuting 
 
 * your master, when it is evident that the 
 ' hand and counsel of the Lord determined 
 
 * that it should be done. Do you conceive 
 
 ^ Isa. liii. 5, 6, 7, 8, lO. t Psal. ii. 1. 2, 
 
 Oo^ 
 
288 
 
 ' it strange that Jesus in whom you trusted 
 
 * should be despised and rejected, v/lien the 
 
 * Prophet Isaiah has so clearly foretold that 
 
 * It should come to pass in these words, "He 
 *' is despised and reje61ed of men ; a man of 
 ** sorrows, and acquainted with gnef : and 
 '^ we hid as it were our faces from him ; he 
 *' was despised and we esteemed liim not*.* 
 ^ You were surprised at the treachery of Ju- 
 ' das, when he betrayed his ]\Iaster for thirty 
 
 * pieces of silver ; but the prophet Zechariali 
 
 * foretold it would be so ; " So they weigh- 
 '^ cd for my price thirty pieces of silver, a 
 " goodly price that 1 was prized at of themf/ 
 
 * If Jesus was shamefully treated by his ene- 
 
 * mies, it corresponded precisely with the 
 
 * words of Isaiah in the person of the Mes- 
 
 * siah, ' I gave my back to the smiters, and 
 ^' my cheeks to them that |>lucked oif the 
 *' hair: I did not hide my face from shame 
 *' and spittnig.:[:" Has not David described 
 ^ him surrounded with cruel persecutors, and 
 
 ^ thus complained ? ' Ihou hast brought me 
 " into the dust of death; for dogs have 
 *^ compassed me; the assembly of the wick- 
 ** ed have enclosed me; they pierced my 
 
 # Isa. liii. 3. t Zcch. xt i2, I 3= % Isa. L -^^ 
 
289 
 
 '^ hands and my feet ; I may tell all my bones,^ 
 "llicy look and stare upon me ; they part 
 ^' mv «:arments amoni*; them, and cast lotfs 
 ^' Upon my vesture*." Did not your master 
 
 * suffer these tliinos, and are not the cireum- 
 ' * stances of his death clearly pointed out? 
 
 * How then can you hesitate uhether he be 
 *" the Messiah ? You know with what cruel 
 ' insolence, and contemptuous derision hewa^s 
 
 * loaded in the agonies of death ; how justly 
 
 * might lie have complained in the words of 
 ^ the Psalmist, v.hieh can allude to none but 
 
 * the Messiah, ' 1 am a worm and no man; 
 ^' a reproach of men, and despised of the peo- 
 
 • <' pie. All they that see me laugh me to 
 '^ scorn, they shoot out the lip, -they shake 
 " the head, saying, he trusted on the Lord 
 " that he would deliver him; let him deliver 
 '' him, seeing he delighteth in him f/' You 
 
 • must be sensible your master was greatly in- 
 
 * suited whilst he hung upon the cross. This 
 i. instead of raising your doubts should rather 
 
 • confirm your faith in him as the true iNIes- 
 ' siali. Did thev not ffive him vineirar miner- 
 
 * led with gall ? and was not that foretold by 
 ^ David? ' Reproach hath broken my hearty 
 
 ff Psal, xxii. I5, l6, 37, i8» t Psal. x>4ii. 6, 7, 8. 
 
"•' and I am full of heaviness : and I looked 
 '•' for some to take pity, but there was none; 
 ^^ and for comforters but I found none. They 
 '^ gave me also gall for my meat ; and in my 
 ■'* thirst they gave me vinegar to drink. f" 
 ^ Did not your master suffer as a malefador, 
 ^ and in the company of such men? and 
 
 * was not the Messiah to die in the same 
 ^ manner as it was foretold by the prophet 
 
 * Isaial), ' And he was humbled with the 
 *' transo-ressors." In what manner was he 
 ' buried? Was it by the permission of the 
 ' Governor who alone has the disposal of ma- 
 *lefa6tors? Was he buried honourably, and 
 
 * by any of the rich and powerful men of the 
 '^ nation ? If so, the same was foretold of the 
 ' Messiah, ' And he made his grave with 
 '^ the wicked, and with the rich in his death; 
 ^^ because he had done no violence, neither 
 ^' was any deceit in his mouth |\" Did not 
 ^ onfe of the soldiers thrust a spear in his side? 
 ^ Think how minutely that corresponds with 
 
 * the "prophecy of Zechariah, ' And they shall 
 '^ look upon me whom they have pierced, and 
 '* they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth 
 '* for his only son, and shall be in bitterness 
 
 ^f~^' . .^.. .. .1 >, . > 
 
 t Ps. Ixix. 20. X Isa. liii. 9. 
 
2^1 
 
 " for him, as one that is in bitterness for hi^ 
 '^firstborn*." 
 
 * Now I appeal to your understanding^ 
 
 * whether these prophecies do not evidently 
 ' apply to the Messiah. Their meaning is 
 
 * obvious to every unprejudiced mind, and 
 
 * you have observed them literally accompliih- 
 
 * ed in the suiFerings and death of that 
 ^ persou you so much lament ; they do 
 
 * abundantly confirm his title, and prove 
 
 * beyond the shadow of a doubt that he 
 
 * was the true Messiah. It was necessary 
 Mie should SLdfer previous to his entering 
 
 * into the possession of his kingdom and 
 
 * glory, for this end it was foretold that he 
 ^ would rise again from the dead. Observe 
 
 * what the prophet Isaiah sa^^s, '^ When thou 
 *' shalt make his soul an offering for sin, 
 '' he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his 
 '* days, and the pleasure of the Lord ^hali 
 '^prosper in his hands||." How could he 
 
 * prolong his days after his soul became an 
 
 * offerino: forsin, or after he was brought un- 
 
 * to the dust of death, if he did not rise again, 
 ^ and live for evermore ? Consfder also the 
 
 i -^' I- _■! - — - - ^ ■ t mm mn , ,^m f--* 
 
 '* Zech. xiir 10. 11 Isa. liii. lOr 
 
-<S>(? 
 
 ^Nvorcls of David, to whom God had de- 
 
 * clared, that the Messiah should descend 
 
 * from his loins, and sit upon his throne. 
 *" Foreseeing' this, he spoke of his resur-* 
 ^ re6lion: ' I have set the Lord always be* 
 ^^ fore me; because he is at my right hand^ 
 *' I shall not be moved, therefore my heait 
 ^^ 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 thine holy one to see corruption :j:." 
 
 * From which it appears, that his soul was to 
 
 * return fiom thestate of the dead, before any 
 ^ corruption could seize his body. Every cir- 
 
 * cumstance manifestly proves that the IMes- 
 
 * siah was to suffer, to die, and rise again 
 
 * from the dead, these things were foretold 
 ^ by Moses and the Prophets : You have seen 
 
 * them accomplished, therefore suffer not 
 
 * your hearts to be distressed on account of 
 ' the ill treatment of your master. Did he 
 '^ never inform vou, that it beb.oved him to 
 ' suffer niany things of the Chief Priests and 
 -* Elders, be put to death, and to rise again 
 
 * the third day? The report ye have heard of 
 "* his resurretlion is not void of f ui)dation; 
 
 X Psalm xvi, 8, 9, 10. 
 
* if some of your friends have examined the 
 ' sepulchre, and found it as the women have 
 'testified; you have reason to imagine that 
 
 * he is aclually risen from the dead, and may 
 ' entertain the hopes ol* seeing him again, 
 
 * when your hearts shall rejoice, and all your 
 ' perplexities be at an end.' 
 
 The disciples attended with the keenest 
 anxiety, and were surprised to find a stran- 
 ger, as they supposed, so well acquainted with 
 the life and sufferings of their Lord ; they 
 were astonished at the manner in Avhich he 
 explained and applied the Scriptures. When 
 they approached the village, they earnestly 
 entreated him to remain M'ith them that even- 
 ing. At supper he took bread, gave thanks 
 to God, brake it, and gave it unto them ia 
 the same manner as he was accustomed be- 
 fore his death. Their amazement was beyond 
 description, they fixed their eyes upon his 
 countenance, gazed with silent admiration, 
 and at last perceived that it was their Lord. 
 No sooner was he known, than immediately 
 he disappeared. His departure tended so 
 much the more to excite their astonishment, 
 they turned round, and in silent wonder look- 
 ed at one another. At length Cleophas said, 
 
 pp 
 
2P4 
 
 He is certainly risen from the dead, we 
 have seen him and heard him as distin6lly 
 as ever we did hefore his crucifixion. I am 
 surprised how we could sup})ose him to be 
 a stranger; did you not reuiark how accu- 
 rately he repeated every prophecy relating 
 to the Messiah? how clearly he explained, 
 and how justly he applied them to the cir- 
 cun) stances of his death ? PI is articulation 
 was so distin6l:, and his sentiments delivered 
 with so much dignity and energy, that our 
 hearts were moved, our affections gained 
 over, and our understandings enlightened 
 to so great a degree, that none but himself 
 could have done the same. His disappear- 
 ing so instantaneously perplexes me, for I 
 cannot conceive how a human body can be 
 possessed of that power. My heart is so 
 overcome with joy, that I shall enjoy nq 
 rest until we return, though late, and in- 
 form our brethren of this miraculous inter- 
 view; such tidings will confirm the testi- 
 mony of the women, and fill their hearts 
 * with inconceivable bliss.' 
 
 After supper, they returned to Jerusalem^, 
 ivhere they found the Apostles and several 
 jpther disciples discoursing upon the resurre9- 
 
tion, and particularly his appearing to the 
 women and Peter on Mount Calvary. After- 
 wards they related his appearance, his con- 
 versation on the way to Emmaus, and the 
 manner in which he discovered himself at 
 supper. Upon that occasion every circum* 
 stance was investigated, and many questions 
 proposed by those who had not seen him. 
 Durino- their conversation, in an instant Je- 
 sus appeared in the midst, and saluted them 
 with his accustomed familiarity and kindness. 
 They were all agitated, and exclaimed as 
 though they had seen a spirit; perceiving 
 their trepidation, he said, ' What means this 
 
 * groundless fear? Behold my hands and feet; 
 
 * observe the print of the nails which fixed 
 
 * me to the cross, feel them, and be convinced 
 ^ that I am your master, risen from the dead 
 ' not with an apparent but a real body, even 
 
 * the same which suffered on the cross, for a 
 ' spirit has not the substance which ye cannot- 
 ^ "but be satisfied, I now have.' — -They rejoic- 
 ed exceedingly, yet they could scarcely be- 
 lieve the evidence of their senses ; he then 
 asked for meat, and they gave him some fish, 
 which he eat in their presence ; their doubts 
 were then entirely removed. As soon as he 
 was satisfied, he said, ' Ye now see the f^.il^ 
 
 Pp2^ 
 
' fillment of my words ; I frequently informed 
 
 * you that I should die at Jerusalem, and rise 
 
 * again the third day; these things have been 
 ' accomplished as the prophets have foretold/ 
 He then briefly explained the Scriptures re- '' 
 lating to himself, and instantly disappeared. 
 
 Thomas, one of the Apostles, being absent, 
 was informed of the appearance of Jesus, he 
 declared their senses had been imposed upon 
 by an apparition, and that unless he CG.:ld 
 have occular demonstration or the prints of 
 the nails, and the wound in his side, he would 
 not credit the resurredion. 
 
 After some days, they met again, and en- 
 deavoured to convince him by incontestable 
 arguments of the truth, but in vain; when 
 in an instant Jesus appeared, and after his 
 usual salutation, pointedly addressed Thomas. 
 
 * How is it possible you can rejecl the tes- 
 ' timony of so many witnesses ? Do you con- 
 
 * ceive their senses were absorbed by decep- 
 
 * tion ? If so, do you imagine this could have 
 
 * been done without a miracle? and can you 
 ^ suppose the Almighty would work one, 
 ^ with a view to make men believe a false- 
 
297 
 
 liood? Surely not; what other motive then 
 could you have for rejecting my resurrection? 
 Did you imagine they intended imposing 
 upon you? You liad no reason to &uspc<!il 
 that. If you doubt the testimony of com- 
 petent witnesses, in support of fafts whether 
 common or extraordinary, your knowledge 
 must be confined within a narrow sphere. 
 You must live in perpetual doubt and un- 
 certainty in the most important concerns of 
 this life. No revelation of the divine will 
 can ever obtain credit ainong men, because 
 a true revelation must necessarily suppose, 
 and be founded upon extraordinary facfs, 
 which the testimony of credible witnesses 
 can alone support. How many miracles 
 have you observed performed by me? If 
 you will not credit the evidence of your bre- 
 thren, how can you suppose any person will 
 credit ^'ours ." As vour unbelief is not found- 
 ed in obstinacy, but proceeds from a desire 
 of obtaining the fullest conviClion, I will 
 remove every doubt. Observe my hands 
 and feet, behold tlie prints of the nails, feel 
 them ; view my side^ and mark where the 
 spear pierced my heart; examine carefully, 
 and be no lonocr faithless. You have no\y 
 as strong evidence of my body as you couli 
 ■* have before my death. 
 
Tnoni as ash allied of his incrediilityj exclalnV 
 cd with ecstacy, ' Thou art indeed my Lord, 
 
 * the same who died upon the cross. ' Jesus 
 salth unto him, '^ Thomas, because thou hast 
 ^^ seen me, thou hastbehevcd; blessed are 
 *' they wlio have not seen, and yet have be- 
 *^ iieved ^\' — T have many thrngs to say unto 
 
 * you, but it is not safe that you should re- 
 
 * main any longer in this city ; return there-^ 
 
 * fore to Galilee, there I will meet you and 
 
 * o'ive further instrudions concernins: the 
 ' kingdom of God/ and immediately va- 
 ^ nished. 
 
 The disciples were desirous of seeing their 
 Lord after their return into Galilee. At 
 length, when Peter, Thomas, Nathaniel^ 
 James, John, and others were fishing upon 
 the lake of Tiberias, he appeared standing on 
 the shore; he enquired what success they had 
 met with ; supposing him to be a stranger 
 they replied, ' Though they had laboured 
 
 * all night, they had caught nothing.' He 
 then commanded them to cast on the right 
 side; they did so, and to their astonishment 
 they enclosed such a multitude, that Avitli 
 difficulty they saved their net. 
 
 * John XX. 29, 
 
299 
 
 John observed to Peter, tliat the person 
 '«\'hom they conceived to be a stranger, could 
 be no other than Jesus. Peter instantly 
 phmged into the deep, and swam ashore, 
 ^vhile the remainder secured the net in the 
 boat. On making the shore, they were 
 astonished to observe a fire and some loaves 
 upon the grass. The necessary preparation 
 being made, Jesus addressed them to the fol^ 
 lowing effe6l. 
 
 ' Ye now behold, my friends, your success 
 by attending to my advice; it is only the 
 forerunner of greater, in matters of inlinitc 
 importance : henceforth ye shall be fishers 
 of men, and wonderful shall be your success 
 in the world. Be but zealous as I have been, 
 and your reward shall be unspeakably great.* 
 Turning to Peter, he said, ' Simon, is your 
 love towards me beyond that of the rest of 
 my disciples r' ^ Truly, my Lord,' he replied, 
 you know full well the sincerity of my affec- 
 tion ;' Met that appear then, in your con- 
 duct,' returned Jesus, * especially in promotr 
 ing the salvation of my church and people.' 
 A short time after he asked the same question, 
 ^nd received a similar answer; and then ^ 
 third time^ when Peter appeared much griey- 
 
ed, and again replied, ' Lord tbou knowest 
 ^ the secrets of all hearts ; thou knowest that 
 ' I love thee.' I know it indeed,' said Jesus, 
 
 * and every kind action you do to them in my 
 ' absence, I esteem as done to me: I know 
 
 * you will do so, at the hazard of your life; 
 
 * for the time approaches, when you who 
 
 * girded yourself willingly, and stretched 
 ^ out your hands to me on the water, shall 
 "^ in your old age be girded by others, 
 
 * and stretch out your hands upon the cross, 
 ' where you shall die for my name's sake. 
 ^ Arise and follow me, for I have somewhat 
 
 * else to say.' — He went accordingly, when 
 turning round he perceived John ; he then 
 said, 'Lord, what shall become of him whom 
 ' you always treated with }>eculiar friendship?' 
 Jesus answered, ' That concerns not you, 
 ' follow me. What if he should remain un- 
 
 * til I come to take vengeance upon the Jgw- 
 ^ ish nation. I once informed you, there are 
 ^ some among you, which shall not see death, 
 ^ until they behold the kingdom of God with 
 ^ power. I have many things of importance 
 
 * to communicate, but another time will be 
 ^ more expedient,' and having appointed the 
 ^ place, he instantly disappeared. 
 
r» 
 
 01 
 
 The disciples went through the countiy, 
 giving information concerning the truth of 
 the resurrection. Every person an;>ciously 
 expected the appointed time ; when they as- 
 sembled upon a mountain, in number about 
 five hundred. Jesus appeared in the midbt, 
 and standing on an eminencCj every eye svas 
 fixed upon him ; admiration and fear closed 
 their lips; when looking around' he thus 
 be^an. 
 
 ' My friends, ye now perceive I am really 
 alive, the very same who died upon the cross, 
 ye have all the evidence of my resurredioii 
 that can be given. I was condenmed and 
 put to death as a blasphemer, for having de- 
 clared I was the Son of God, the true J\Ies- 
 siah, and King of Israel. My words are 
 abundantly confirmed. God has sealed the 
 truth of my doclrine, and the divinity of 
 my mission, by raising me from the dead, 
 as David foretold, ' I will declare the de- 
 ^ cree : the Lord hath said unto me, thou 
 ' art my Son ; this day have I begotten thee.*' 
 Though you believe I am the Messiah, Ih- 
 
 — _ ^ . .-.-•J 
 
 * Psalm ii. 7. 
 Qq- 
 
302 
 
 ^ tlierto ye have been ignorant of my king^ 
 ' ciom ; it is highly necessary that ye rightly 
 * understand it. 
 
 * Since the days of Abraham, the kingdom 
 of God has been confined within the limits 
 of the Jewish nation; * He sheweth his 
 ' Avord unto Jacob, his statutes and his 
 'judgments unto Israel. He hath not dealt 
 ^ so with any nation: and as for his judg- 
 ' ments, they have not known them*.' The 
 nations were ignorant, they were seduced 
 by Satan to the worship of idols, to the 
 grossest superstition, and every species of 
 wickedness. The ceremonial law was en- 
 joined as a partition, to separate the Jews 
 from every religious intercourse with the 
 Gentiles; — the time approaches when all 
 ceremonies shall cease, and the dispensation 
 of Moses be at an end. The king(J^om of 
 God shall be enlarged, and every nation 
 brought under his authority, as it is written 
 by the prophet Danielj ' And in the days 
 * of these kings shall the God of Heaven set 
 ' up a kingdom, which shall iiever be de- 
 ' stroyed : and the kingdom shall not be left 
 
 * Psal. cxlvii. 19, 2o. 
 
OAO 
 
 03 
 
 " to other people, but it shall break in pieoe^ 
 *' and coiisume all these kingdoms, and it 
 '' shall stand for ever"^,' and in me shall 
 ^ these words be accomplished, ^ I have o-ivx^i 
 *' thee for a light to lighten the Gentiles, and 
 *' the glory of th}^ people Israelf/ The same 
 ^ promise was made to Abraham ; ' In thy 
 '' seed shall all the families of the earth be 
 *' blessed." The Jews exped; a Messiah that 
 
 * will conquer the world, and reign over every 
 ' nation in the greatest pomp and splendour, 
 ' but they know not the Scriptures; I despise 
 
 * dominion obtained by force, ' ^ly people 
 *' shall be willing in the day of my power/' 
 ' Neither the allurements, nor terrors of this 
 ' world shall ever be employed in makino- 
 
 * proselytes to my authority. ' Rejoice great- 
 
 * ly, O daughter of Zion, shout, O daughter 
 *' of Jerusalem, saith the prophet, behold thy 
 *^ King Cometh unto thee: he is just, and 
 '^ having salvation; lowlv, and riding upon 
 '^ an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass; 
 *' and I will cut off the chariot of Ephraiin, 
 ** and the horse from Jerusalem, and tlie 
 *' battle bow shall be cut off, and he shall 
 *^ speak peace unto the heathen; and his do- 
 
 * Dan. ii. 44. f Luke ii. 3^, 
 
504 
 
 ^ minion shall be from sea even to sea, and 
 ' from the river even to the ends of the 
 ^ earth.*' My kingdom is indeed universal^ 
 for all power in heaven and on earth is given 
 unto me ; therefore I have appointed you 
 to preach the gospel unto ail nations, teach- 
 ing them to observe all thinQ-s whatsoever I 
 have spoken unto you. He that believeth 
 on me, and by baptism enters into an obli- 
 gation to o!)ey me, and lives accordingly, 
 shall be saved: but he that rejects the gos- 
 pel through obstinacy, or lives in opposition 
 to it after he has received it, shall assuredly 
 perish. Observe that none of your own in- 
 ventions be added to the doftrines I have 
 taught you ; and whatsoever ye leave upon 
 record, let it be the dictates of the Holy 
 Ghost, that every succeeding age may en- 
 joy the same gospel Avhich I have delivered 
 unto you; for if men search with diligence, 
 ^ and praetise with integrity, what is contain- 
 ^ ed therein, truth and righteousness shall pre- 
 ' vail in my kingdom. As soon as they in- 
 * troduce tlieir own dodrines and make their 
 ' own inferences the rule of faith and practice 
 f for others, then shall arise strife and conten- 
 
 * Zech. ix. 9, la 
 
305 
 
 tlon, hatred and persecution ; tl>en shall the 
 terrors and allurements of this world be em- 
 ployed as engines to establish an awful tyran- 
 ny over the conscicnees of men. Dy sucli 
 means, shall the purity and simi)lieity of tlie 
 gospel be lost amidst a boundless multitude 
 * of superstitious inventions: ibr as the Jews 
 have rendered the ordinances of God of 
 none etFecl through their traditions, so shall 
 it be in future as^es amonii: mv discij)les, till 
 at length, (oppressed \vith intolerable bon- 
 dage, they shall see their terror, sliake oft' 
 the yoke, and return again to the pure and 
 corrupted fountain of truth and righteous- 
 ness. By slow and imperceptible degrees 
 shall this corruption be introduced, ' and re- 
 moved after a series of time; then all the 
 ends of the earth shall turn unto God, and 
 all the kindreds of the nations bow before 
 him ; then shall the world enjoy a state of 
 purity, peace, and happiness. They '' shall 
 ' beat their swords into plough shares, and 
 ^ their spears into pruning hooks: Nation shall 
 ^ not lift up sword against nation, neithershali 
 ' they learn war any more*.' Then the spirit 
 of error and iniquity shall revive, but it shall 
 
 -' - , ' - -- ■■... — . . .. 
 
 * Isa. ii. ^. 
 
30^ 
 
 ^ not prevail; for suddenly will I appear in 
 ' the clouds of heaven with power and great 
 ' glory. Then will I raise the dead, judge the 
 
 * world in righteousness, and render iinto 
 
 * every one according to his works. There- 
 
 * fore, my friends, let nothing discourage you 
 
 * in the important work I have committed to 
 ^ your charge : for the Almighty will assist 
 
 * you by his spirit, and confirm your do6lrine 
 ' by a variety of extraordinary gifts and asto^ 
 
 * nishing miracles. Be faithful unto death, 
 
 * and I will give you a crown of life. You 
 
 * are sensible I was once dead, am now aliv^, 
 ^ and live for evermore, and have power over 
 ' hell and death. As my body w^as once like 
 
 * yours, frail and mortal, so shall yours become 
 ' like mine, incorruptible and immortal. My 
 
 * kingdom shall be your everlasting habita- 
 ' tion, and unspeakable joy the reward pf 
 
 * your labours. 
 
 Having completed his instrudions he be- 
 came invisible; all were astonished at his elo- 
 quence, and amazed at his sudden departure. 
 Immediately they descended from themoui;i- 
 tain, fully convinced that he was risen from 
 the dead; some few however were doubtfujl 
 
307 
 
 of the reality of his body, because he disap- 
 peared so instantaneously. 
 
 In the mean time, ^shlle Jesus instructed 
 his disciples upon the mountain, Satan, dis- 
 guised iji the form of a serpent, lay conceal- 
 ed in tlie cavdty of a rock, listening with at- 
 tention to every thing that passed : from 
 thence, like a vulture keen for blood, he 
 mounted the liquid sky, and precipitately rest- 
 ed in Gadara, upon the same precipice from 
 whence the swine had perished in the watcri^. 
 There his angels M-ere instantly assembled : 
 when their powerful Chief thus endeavoured 
 to console their desponding hearts. 
 
 * Attend, my friends, whilst I relate what 
 
 * may banish fear, raise our hopes, and ani- 
 ' mate our zeal. Not long since we thought 
 
 * the day of vengeance near at hand, when 
 ' hostile power compelled us to retire before 
 
 * the Son of God, and dread his awful word. 
 ' But now the danger is far removed, I anti- 
 
 * cipate his deep designs ; he intends to 
 " estrange our subjects in every nation from 
 
 * our obedience. With tliis view he.has se-* 
 
 * le6ted a few ignorant fishermen of Galilee, 
 
 * whom he intends sendinjj; into every corne>* 
 
308 
 
 ^ of the world, with the gentle force of per-^ 
 ' suasion, and the power of miracles, in ex- 
 
 * ped;ation of a general conquest. From the 
 
 * description I have heard him give of his 
 -' kingdom, and the instrudions he delivered 
 ' to his disciples, I can easily judge of the 
 ' measures necessary to defeat his designs,, 
 
 * As for the Jews, we have only to strengthen 
 ' their former prejudices ; for while they ex- 
 
 * peCl a temporal Prince like the mighty men 
 
 * of this world, they will never believe, and 
 
 * therefore they will treat his disciples as they 
 ^ have treated liim. We have every proba- 
 ' bility of success, whilst pleasure, riches, and 
 ^ honour have any influence upon their hearts. 
 ' The allurements of the world are with us ; 
 
 * few will .be inclined to enquire into the 
 ' truth of doctrines, the belief and profession 
 
 * of which must be attended with poverty, 
 ' shame, persecution, and death. The Jews 
 ' have reje<?icd the Messiah nutwithstanding 
 ' the miracles done by him in the most pub- 
 
 * lie manner ; how then can they beheve a 
 
 * miracle they never saw? for I am informed 
 
 * he never yet appeared to any but his dis- 
 
 * ciples ; and we may naturally ex peel that 
 
 * i\\t testimony of such mean and despicable 
 ' persons will be little regarded/ in opposition 
 
309 
 
 to public autliorit}^, and tlic deep rooter] pre- 
 jiidieesoi the people. As (or the kingdo/iis 
 of this world, which we have governed 
 for so many years, we have no reason to 
 imagine they will he seduced by a few con- 
 temptible fishermen. Our divinities have 
 been established, and held sacred I'or ages. 
 The multitude are strongly attached to our 
 interest: Our solemn rites are eaieuiated to 
 flatter their inclinations, and gratify their 
 passions. The influence of the Priests, the 
 ingenuity of the poets, the subtle reason- 
 ing of the philosopiiers, together with th.c 
 authority of the civil maoistrates, are all 
 united in support of our cause, liy tliX: 
 force of argument, and the power of mira- 
 cles, the filhermen will appeal to the reason 
 of mankind. Reason we know has but a 
 small scope in the conduct of men ; their 
 appetites and passions, strengthened by ha- 
 bit, confirmed by education, by examples, 
 by established laws, customs and manners^ 
 are the springs of human condudl, the prin- 
 ciples of all their anions. These are en- 
 gaged in support of our authority, \ind in 
 direct opposition to our adversary. l]ut let 
 us suppose the world should abandon our 
 ^ iiiterest, and submit to the I\less.iah ; yet 
 
310 
 
 tllcre is a possibility of coiTUpting liis reli- 
 gion, and rendering it useless. I am in- 
 foriped he is in perpetual fear of such an at- 
 tempt. His subjects will then be within the 
 pale of our influence. IJis doclrines >vill be 
 left upon record, as the only rule of faith 
 to all succeeding ages ; we must therefore 
 exert eviry method in our power to inspire 
 his followers with pride, ambition, covetous- 
 ness, mutual hatred, and discord. Persons 
 of that temper will esteem their own judg- 
 ment in religious matters-, as superior to all 
 others ; their opinions will be held sacred by 
 all their dependents. To support the credit 
 of such opinions, rewards mufc be conferred 
 upon those that believe, and punishments 
 inflicled on all who oppose them, B\^ which 
 means the inventions of men may be mingled 
 with the do^trmes of Christ, and in process 
 of time, the whole system of his religion may 
 be so changed, as to defeat the original de- 
 sign of it. By the traditions of the elders 
 we have rendered the writings of Moses and 
 the Prophets of none effect: By the same 
 traditions we may render ineffectual the 
 the writings of the Apo.stles. There is ano- 
 ther point to be observed, we must endea- 
 vour to introduce into the kingdom of Ch rist 
 
311 
 
 a general corruption of manners, and Me 
 need no'c be concerned, though men should 
 be called by his name, when in the n^ean 
 tunc their hearts and lives are suhjecl to our 
 authority. Tlie desia:n of his death and ic- 
 surre(5tion will be entirely frustrated, even by 
 his own disciples. If therefore we can per- 
 suade them but to break but one of his hr-vs, 
 and obsvinatcly persevere, we are safe, even 
 though they should from motives of worldly 
 interest obey all the rest. By such suc- 
 cess our kino'dom may be established even 
 in those places Mhere his authority is pub- 
 licklv acknowled^'cd. I understand that in 
 a short lime he will quit this world, ascend 
 to our ancient habitations, and take posses- 
 sion of an everlastinix kimrdoui in the he a- 
 vens. I rejoice at the idea of his departure, 
 and yet I cannot think oi' his asccjision 
 without the most envious resentment. lie 
 must pass through part of our dominions, — 
 shall we suffer him to proceed without nu.)le>^ 
 tation, orcan weniake no opposition- Surely 
 our native strenirtli, our ancii-nt courai>;e is 
 not yet exhausted. Let ns summon our 
 hosts in the np})er region of tlie air; let us 
 unite in close array, and hold the distant 
 war v/ith flaming thunderbojia cast down 
 
 \lv2 
 
'312 
 
 upon our foes thick as ihe rattling IiaiL 
 If tliey advance, Itt shields and swords, 
 and l()ng extended spears of keen irtherial 
 temper, staiul in firm opposition to tlieir 
 iiont; and whilst ^^c engage, let the rapi(^ 
 winos of ten thousand ano-ry cherubim$ 
 awake tlie whirlwinds furious blast, and toss 
 tlieni to and fro in the troubled oky, or head- 
 long plunge them to tlie earth in sad dis- 
 E^race aad terrible confusion. What thou-rh 
 we sliOUid not gain a vi(lory, we may never- 
 the-ess obtain some small revenge, and ob- 
 strin^t their passage to the upper world. If 
 ye agree, let us prepare for iiercest ])attle5j 
 avid diliirentiv watch the time of his de- 
 pari u re* 
 
 The loud voice of hellish appro])ation sound- 
 ed tlirongli tlie host, like distant thunder iu 
 the sk}^ No sooner had it cea.sed, than lik^ 
 a swarm of envenomed v/asps tliey overspread 
 the Land, and wiili keen attention observed 
 the point \\-liieli la^'ourrd their designs, until 
 within seven (lays of pentecost, wdien tlieele- 
 \'en, aeconhnj;; to appointment, assembled iu 
 Jenisalon. Jesus ap-neared, saluted them in 
 
 ihe most tender manner, and tlius proceeded. 
 
olo 
 
 "" ily dearest frieiuls, lliis is tlic last tiiiic 
 you will l)cliold nic upua cailb ; I aia novv^ 
 upon tlie eve of a^ceiuilng to my rather in 
 order to take possession oF nn' klnadom. 
 for more than three years I have cartfullv 
 instructed you; the very same instructions yc 
 must deliver to th.e worUl ; ye well know in 
 v/hat manner I have lived ; I have set you 
 an example; tlierefore do as I liave doni:. 
 unto you. As the Father sent me inta the 
 the world, so I send you; my divine mis- 
 sion Mas confirmed by miracles, so sliall 
 yours; nw resurrection is the last and strong- 
 est proof of my divinity, it is the basis, the 
 immoveable foundation upon "which my. 
 kingdom shall ^tand, it is also tlie proof and 
 pledge of your resurrection to everlasting 
 life, for as certain as I am risen from the 
 dead, so sliall ye. Durijig- forty days, I 
 have frequently appeared, and fully instruct- 
 ed you in all things pertaining to the king- 
 dom of God. On the first day of the Aveek 
 I rose from the dead, from henceforth let 
 the same be regarded with a sacred venera- 
 tion by all my disciples. I Ivave now ap- 
 pointed you to be the only ^\'itncsscs of my 
 resurrection, and the publishers of my re- 
 ligion among all nations; thi "yc must dt^ 
 
314 
 
 ^ at the hazard of your lives, for ye shall be 
 
 * hated of all nations for my name's sake. 
 ^ Be not dismayed, nor grieved at my absence, 
 ' for the Holy Ghost whom I shall send from 
 ^ heaven, will always be ready to guide and 
 
 * support you. Let us depart from the city, 
 ' for as ye have been witnesses of my resur- 
 ^ rection, so shall ye also of my ascension.' 
 
 Accordingly they followed him, unknown 
 by the guilty and thoughtless inhabitants, 
 tmtil they entered the road leading to Be- 
 thany. Scarce had they passed the Brook 
 Cedron when Peter addressed his master.' 
 Lord, you perceive the mean and servile 
 state of Israel, the chosen people of God, 
 they are servants in the land of promise, and 
 in bondage to the uncircumcised Romans ; 
 we are sensible of your power over every 
 thino: in heaven and on earth, will you not 
 therefore restore our ancient liberties, deli- 
 ver us from oppression, and grant us pro- 
 sperity as we formerly enjoyed.' To which 
 he answered, ' I have often told you tliat 
 my kingdom is not of this world; that it 
 consists entirely in a chearful and universal 
 obedience to the laws of God; that external 
 pomp and mngnificence have no relation ta 
 
3\^ 
 
 *^ 'It Instead of restoring tlic Jews to their 
 ancient liberties, the kino'doni of Cod shall 
 be taken from them, and tlie Gentiles who 
 believe In me, shall be chosen in their place. 
 But it is necessary first that the gospel 
 should be offered to the Jews, ^ for out of 
 ' Zion shall go forth the la^A-, and the word 
 ^ of the Lord from Jerusalem*',' thou2:h l 
 was persecuted and put to death in that city, 
 yet to them the first offers of mercy shall 
 made, and after their rejection, they shall 
 be rejected themselves, until after the revo- 
 lution of many years, when tlieir prejudices 
 shall be removed, and their understandings 
 enlightened ; then all Israel shall be saved, 
 and their nation restored as at the be^'in- 
 ning. But it is not proper that ye should 
 know the times and seasons, whicli infinite 
 wisdom has appointed for the accomplish- 
 ment of such events. As soon as I am as- 
 scended into the heavens, return ye into 
 the city, and there remain until the day of 
 Pentecost, ior there will be assembled de- 
 vout men at that time, out of every nation 
 • under heaven ; then shall the power of the 
 'Holy Ghost descend upon }ou in a visible 
 
 * Isa. ii. 3. 
 
^ and extraordinary manner, and yc shall 
 ' publish the trutli cf my resurrection, and 
 ^doctrines of salvation, to men of all nations, 
 ^ iii their own lano'iiao'es, to the astonish- 
 ' meat of all who sliall hear you, and observe^ 
 
 * the wonderful works done in my name/ 
 
 Havin<>' reached the top of IMount Olivet? 
 near Bethany, he stopt, and while liis disci- 
 
 * pies stood before him, he lifted up his hands 
 
 * and blessed them, saying, ^ Now, my dear- 
 "^ est friends, I have given you a commissiou 
 ' to preach the gospel among all natiotis. I 
 
 * have taught you by my doctrine, and led 
 
 * you by my example ; ' Be thou faithful un- 
 *' to death, and I will o-ive thee a crov/n of 
 *' life. And he that overcometh, and keep- 
 '* eth my words unto the end, to him will I 
 '■^ give power over the nations*/ Fare- 
 
 * well, my blessing be with you, the bles- 
 
 * sing of my Father be upon you ; when I 
 ^ am departed I will remember you, in liea- 
 ^ ven I will be your tnend, and when your 
 ^ work is finished, I will crown you with ever- 
 ' lasting honour and glory.' 
 
 jBj^iwiiiiw mill wi— — li^^^ w^rnrnnri ii 
 
 * Rev. ii. 10. 2^, 
 
317 
 
 Having concUulcd his exliortation, he as 
 sceiidcd throus:]! the vicl(lin<i: air, wliilst his 
 disciples, with uplifted hands, dejected heart?, 
 and wondering eyes, gazed upon him until 
 the clouds intercepted their view^ Two of 
 the angehc host appeared in shining gar- 
 ments, and pcrceivirg the disciples with 
 their eyes uplifted, they said, * Ye men 
 
 * of Galilee, ye disciples of the exalted Mes- 
 ' siah, why remain ye in such a jjosture, 
 
 * henceforward ye shall see him no more with 
 
 * mortal eves. But the time shall come, 
 ' when in the glory of his rather, and with 
 ' all his holy angels, he will descend into 
 
 * the lower w^orld, and render unto every one 
 ' according to his deeds. 
 
 The angels disappeared, and the disciples 
 returned to Jerusalem. Above the clouds 
 Avhich spread an obscure canopy over Judea, 
 6tood a chariot of divine workmanship; the 
 bottom more refined than the purest aether, 
 was solid, impenetrable, and transparent as 
 chrystal. Upon it was placed a throne of 
 inconceivable magnificence, the colour re- 
 sembling the meridian sky. A canopy co- 
 vered it, whose vaulted cornice displayed all 
 the beauties of the rainbow. The Messiah 
 
<^H| O 
 
 18 
 
 ?5eing sdateil, upwards the grand processioix- 
 1110 w:d in perfect order, in lie?.veniy splcn*- 
 dour, without envy, without ostentation, far, 
 distant; and as high as the fallen angels could 
 ascend, they descried the infernal crew, and 
 Satan in the front ready to intercept their 
 inarch. Scarce were thev seen, when distant 
 thunders roared ahove their heads, and flam- 
 ing thunderbolts descended, thick as the rattl- 
 ing hail upon the earth. Shields and helmets 
 of coelestial temper resisted all their force, fav 
 blessed ansrels are ever armed ao-ainst their 
 foes, nor can be conquered by apostate spi- 
 rits. Ten thousand clarions sounded throuo'h 
 the sky, and the vocal symphony of tlie hea^ 
 venly train joined at once the martial song. 
 
 Let God arise hi dreadful }X)mp of war, 
 And let confusion scatter all his foes ; 
 Let yon rebellious, proud, infernal host 
 Feel instant wrath, by liis avenging hand: 
 As darkened clouds of rolling smoke disperse, 
 When furious tempests roar along the sky, 
 Or like the wax, dissolvM In glowing fire, 
 So let our enhnles perish at his frown. 
 
 Far in the front the great Messiah's chariot 
 drove: incessant lip-htnino' flash'd around his 
 i^ead. The rapid wheels of the incensed che- 
 
f)]9 
 
 I'Liblms bct iieaveii on lire, tlic bellowiii'i- 
 tlmndcrs roared through all the host, and 
 furious whirlwinds rose tempestuous from 
 
 every an«:els winu*. 
 
 Satan, trembling with fear beheld their 
 -approach ; conscious of infernal strength, he. 
 knew it was in vain to fight, nor could he fly; 
 to ascend the heavens v.as impossible, and to 
 pass thro' the euibattled s^piadrons of hip in- 
 vincible fo^^s, he dreaded worse than hell; 
 be found no way to escape^ nor time to deli- 
 berate, for in an instant tlie burninfv chariot 
 of the Messiah drove with irresistible lurv over 
 his guilty head ; bruised and convulsed with 
 agonizing pain, he lay prostrate, trodden uu- 
 /der the wheels often thousand mighty angels. 
 ^ dreadful consternation seized his impious 
 crew, whilst the tremendous thunders roared 
 along the heavens, and the pointed lightnings 
 pierced the flying i'oc. Then had they perish- 
 ed in their bold attempt, had not the great 
 !^Iessiah for more in^portant ends, reserved 
 them to the general doom, when they and all 
 rebellious men shall perish in the biirnijig 
 bUe. 
 
 The thunders ceased, Aviien the Viclor's 
 r)raise was sumr in strains of celestial nielodv. 
 
 S3':! 
 
O great Messiah, glorious In thy power. 
 As in thy {rave ; thou hast ascended high, 
 And in triu nphai.t majesty divine, 
 pispers'd thy foes, who led the captive race 
 Of mortal men in strong delusive chains; 
 Thou mad'st them free, whom Satan had made slaves, 
 Thou mak'st them rich, whom Satan had made poor. 
 And God shall reign where daemons reign'd before. 
 
 Crowned with vi6lory over hell and death, 
 the Son of God ascended triumphant through 
 the second heavens. At length the third 
 and glorious one appeared, where the Al- 
 mighty holds his throne. Swift as the rays 
 of TiL^'ht, the p-reat Messiah and all his 
 train advanced near the splendid gates, tOQ 
 bright for mortal eyes to view. The walls of 
 a transparent and impenetrable su])stance, 
 were of immense height, and impossible for 
 any created being to ascend. There were 
 twelve gates pointing to the four quarters of 
 the universe, of most exquisite beauty, and 
 upon each was inscribed in blazing charac- 
 ters, THE JUST SHALL ENTER IN; onc more 
 particulariy magnificent which pointed to the 
 tLrraqueous globe, the iNlessiah approached, 
 when the heavenly song began, on golden 
 harps, joined by the vocal strain of all Ills 
 EaintSo 
 
321 
 
 Ye gates stand open, ye eternal doors 
 Of boundless bliss and everlasting joy, 
 Stand open now, disclose your splendid valves, 
 The King of Glory enters with his trahi. 
 But who is he you call the glorious King ? 
 That mighty Lord, the Prince of Angels bright. 
 The great Messiah, glorious now from death, ' 
 And crown'd with triumph over all his foes. 
 Ye gates stand open, ye eternal doors 
 Of boundless bliss, and never-ending joy. 
 Stand open now, untold your shining leaves, 
 The King of Glory enters with his train. 
 But who is he, that Glorious King renown'd? 
 That mighty Prince, o'er Cherubims so high? 
 The Lord of hosts, whose precious blood redeem'J 
 The guilty world from Satan, sin, and death. 
 
 Instantly the ponderous gates spontaneous 
 opened, when the chariot of the Messiah 
 rushed in, followed by an immense retinue 
 of saints, forming a procession at oace grand 
 and magnificent, beyond the capability of 
 human thought to conceive. In solemn 
 majesty he was conducted into the splen- 
 dour of his Father's <rlory. Immediatelv 
 the voice of God was heard from his aw- 
 ful throne, proclaiming, " Thou art my be- 
 ^' loved Son in whom I am well pleased ;' for 
 * since the moment thou first laid aside thy 
 ^ glory, I have seen thine actions, and ap- 
 

 "prove them all; therefore sit thou at my 
 ' right hand until I make thine enemies thy 
 ^ footstool Ask of me and I will o-jve 
 ' thee the heathen for tliine inheritance, and 
 ^ the uttermost parts of the earth for tiiy pos- 
 ' session : for because thoii hast humbled 
 ' thyself, and become obedient unto death, , 
 ^ even the death of the cross, therefore liave 
 * I exalted thee, and civen th<^'e a name, that 
 ' all things in heaven and on earth may suIj- 
 ^ mit to thy authority, and confess that Je- 
 ' sus Clirist is Lord, to the glory of God 
 ' the Father. =^' 
 
 The iMessiah having taken his seat on the 
 right haiul of God, the Almighty delivered 
 to him an immense volume, written in myste- 
 rious characters, which neither angels nor 
 men could read, and sealed with seven seals, 
 which none in heaven or en earth can open. 
 The book contained the eternal decrees oF 
 unerring wisdom, the charafters of angels 
 and m.en, their past, present, and future ac- 
 tions, the revolutions of states, kingdoms, 
 empires, and worlds unknoNvn ; the hiM's of 
 the divine government, with the various con- 
 
 * Phillipians ii. 8, 9, ii» 
 
32.3 
 
 hecrion?, relations, and final caiir»cs of alt 
 creat'.'cl beino-s. No sooner luul the Messiali 
 received the book, with the universal power 
 mid dominion ahnexed to it, than Enoch, 
 Mo.^es, Elij:i!i, aiul others, who liad borne 
 testimony against prevailing corruption, and 
 j)rophesied concerning the Messiah, fell down 
 and worshipped liini, saying, ^' Thou art wor- 
 ^' tliy to take the book, and to open the seven 
 ^' Seals thereof, for thou wast slain, and hast 
 *' iTdeemcd us unto God l)y tliy blood, out of 
 *' every kindred, and tongue, and people, 
 '• and nation, and hast made us unto our 
 '^ God, Kings and Priests: and we shall 
 *^ reio'u on the earth. ^'" Immediatelv An- 
 gels, Cherubims, and Seraphims innumer- 
 able, joined in one exalted chorus, exclaim- 
 ing, '' Bles-iing, and honour, and glory, and- 
 '' ])Owcr bo unto him, that sirteth upon 
 *' the throne, and unto the I\lessiah for ever 
 ^^ and ever. And the four and twenty eldei^s 
 -'^ fell down and worshipped him that livetli 
 ^' for ever and ever'f." 
 
 * Rev. V. 9, 10. t Rev. V. 13, 1 4. 
 
 fliYTS. 
 
BUNG AT'. 
 PRINTED BY CPIARLES ERIGHTLY. 
 
 1799. 
 
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