Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-02-18
Ertract from DR.. Channing's Nsw Discourses
CHRIST.

|
| The character of Jesus was original. He
! formed new era in the mOrai history oil the hu-
man race. His PERFECTION was not that Of his
age, nor a copy Of the greatness which has long
ensrossed the worlds admiration. Jesus stood
apart from other men. He borrow ed from none,
and leaned on none. Surrounded bs men Of low
thoughts, he rose to the conception OF a higher
form ofhuman virtue than had yet been realized
or imagined. and deliberately devoted himself to
its prem otion, as the supreme object Of his life
and death. Conscious of being dedicated to the
great work, he spoke with a calm dignity, an un.
affected elevation, which separated him from all
other teachers. Unsupported. he never wavered
sufficient to himself. he refused alliance with
wealth or power. Yet. with all this self.subsls-
tence and uncompromising energy. his character
was the m,Idest, the gentlest, the most atrac-
tive, ever manifested among men. 1T could not
have been fiction; for who could have conceived
it, or who could have embodied the conception
in such life as Jesus is said to have 'ed in &C.
lions. words manners 80 natural and uHsiuded,
SO imbued with reality, SO worthy Ut the the Son
Of Godl
The great distinction Of Jesus was philan-
tlropy. uniting grandeur ahd 'neekness in beauti-
full proportious; a phiianthophv as wise as 1t
was fervent, which cOnprehended the true wants
and the true good Of man, which compassionaied
indeed, his sufflrings from abroad, but which saw
in the soul the deep fountain Of his miseries, and
aboured, by regenerating this, to bring him to
pure and enduring happiness. So peculiar, SO
UNPARALLELED was the beneyolence OF Jesus, 'hstit
has impressed itself on all future times. There
went forth virtue. benehcent influence from
his character, which operates even now. Since
the death Of Christ, spirit OF humanity, unknown
before, has silently diffnsed itself over consid-
cradle portion OF the earth. A new standard OF
virtue has gradually possessed itself OF the vener-
alton of men.-A new power has been acting on
society. which has done more than all other eau.
ses combined, to disarm the selfish passions, and
to bind men strongly to one another and to God.
What monument have we here to the virtue Of
Jesus! and if Christianity has such Founder,
it must have come from Heaven.
There are other remarkable proofs Of the pow.
er and elevation of the character Of Christ. 1t
has touched and conciliated not few OF the de-
termined adversaries of his religion lnfdelity,
whilst ii has laid unsParing hands on the system,
has generally shrunk from offering violence to its
Author. In truth, unbeiievers have occasionally
borne eloquent testimony to the benignant and
celestial virtues of Jesus; and record this with
Measure, not only "a honorable to Christianity,
but as showing that uDbeef does not universally
scar the moral feelings, or breathe hostility TO
goodness. Nor is this all. The character Of
Christ has wi,hstood the most deadly and irresis.
tible foe Of error and unfouDded claims | mean.
Time. 1t has lost nothing Of its elevation by the
improvements Of ages. Since he appeared. soci
ety has gone forward, mems views have become
enlarged, and philosophy has risen to conceptions
Of far purer virtues than were the boast OF anti
guilty.
vsnced. il must still look upward lift would see
and understand Christ. H. is still above it
Nothing purer. nob'er, has yet dawned on human
thoughts Then Christianity is true. The de-
lineation Of Jesus in the Gospel. So warm with
life, and SO unrivaIed in loneliness and grandeur.
required the existence Of an original, To sup
nose tina, this character was invented bv unprin
cipled men, amidst Jewish and heather darkness,