Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1838-08-01

nc stopped, and by single gesture,
seemed TO say to me: here | am.
For some time, contemplated with
admiration and with awe, this extraor.
binary type of mana type unknown
TO our numerous sculptors who have
given form and figure to all the gods
and all the heroes.
"Jesus," said | to him at last--and
my tongue faltered--" Jesus Of Naza.
reth, have granted you, for these last
three years, ample freedom of speech
nor do | regret it. Your words are
those Of sage. know not whether
you have read Socrates and Plato but
this | know, that there is in your dis.
courses, majestic simplicity that ele.
Yates you far above those great phi
losophers. The emperor is informed
oft: and /, his humble representative
in this country. am glad of having al
lowed you that liberty Of which you
are so worthy. However, | must not
conceal from you, that your discourses
have raised up against your powerful
and inveterate enemies. Neither is
this surprising. Socrates had enemies,
and he fell victim to their hatred
Yours are doubly incensed against you,
on account of your sayings against
me, on account ofthe liberty extended
towards you. They even accuse me
indirectly Of being leagucd with you
for the purpose Of depriving tho He.
brews OF the little civil power which
Rome has left to them. My request
do not say my orders-is, that you
be more circumspect for the future,
and more tender in rousing the pride Of
your enemies, lest they raise up against
you the stupid populace, and compel
me 20 employ the instruments OF jus.
| tice."
| The Nazarene calmly replied:
| "Prlnce of the earth, your words
proceed not from true wisdom. Say
to the torrent to stop in the midst of
the mountain because it will uproot the
trees of the valley; the torrent will
answer you, that, it obeys the laws Of
the Creator. God alone knows with.
err flow the waters ofthe torrent. Veri-
| ly, say unto you: before the rose Of
Sharon blossoms, the blood Of the just
will be split"
"Your blood shall not be split" re-
piled |, with emotion. "You are more
precious in my estimation, on account
Of your wisdom, than all these turbu.
len, and proud Pharisees, who abuse
the freedom granted them by the Ro.
mans, conspire against Caesar, and con.
strue our bounty into fear. lnsolent
wretches They are not aware that
the wolf the Tiber sometimes clothes
himself with the skin Of the sheep. 1t
will protect you against them. My
Pretorium is open to you as place Of
refuge-it is sacred asylum"
| Jesus carelessly shook his head,
and said, with graceful and divine
smile:
"When the day shall have come,
there will be no asylum for the Son of
Man, neither on earth nor under the
earth. The asylum ofthe JUS; is there,
pointing TO the heavens.) That which
is written in the books of the prophets
must be accomplished"
Young man." answered | mildly,
"you oblige me to convert my request
into an order. The safety Of the prov
ince which has been conided to my
care, requires it. You must observe
more moderation liz your discourses.
Do not infringe my orders; you know
them. May happiness attend you,
Farewell"
"Prince OF the EARTH" replied Je-
sus, g. come not TO bring war into the
world, but peace, love, and charity.
| was born on the same day on which
Caesar Augustus gave peace to the Ro-
man world. Persecution proceeds not
from me. | expect it from others, and
will meet it in obedience to the will of
my Father, who has shown me the way.
Restrain, therefore, your worldly pru.
dence. 1t Is not in your power TO ar
rest the victim at the foot Of the taber-
nacle of expiation.
So saying, he disappeared like
bright shadow behind the curtains ofthe
basllick.
Herod the Tetrarch, who then reign
ed in Juden, and who died devoured by
vermin, was a weak and wicked man,
chosen by the chiefs of the law TO be
the instrument Of their hatred. To
him the enemies Of Jesus addressed
themselves, to wreak their vengeance
on the Nazarene.
! Had Herod consulted his own incli-
nation, he would have ordered Jesus
Immediately to be put to death but
though proud of his regal dignity, yet
he was afraid of committing an act
4haA .ainht diminish his influenza with