Liberty advocate. [volume] (Liberty, Miss.) 1835-1866, 1838-02-03
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waiting for Catalina. Manlus was Al
ancient inhabitant of Judea, and well nc
Iquanted with the Hebrew language. Il
was devoted TO me, and was worthy O
my confidence.
On returning to the Pretorlum, | foun,
ManIlus who related to me the words tina
Jesus had pronounced at Siloc. Neve
have heard in the Portico, or read in III,
works of the philosophers, al$ thing tina
can be compared to the maximS Of Jesus
One of the rebellious Jews, so Aumorou.
IN Jerusalem, having asked him if it wa.
lawful 10 give tribute to Caesar or not, Je
vs. replied: Render INTO Cesar the thing,
's = are e CeSdr's, and unto GOD The thing
1t was on account Of the wisdom of his
sayings that granted so much liberty 10
the Nazarene; for il was in my power "a
have had him arrested & exiled to Pontus
but this would have been contrary 10 that
justice which has always characterized
tho Romans. This man was neither sedi-
tious nor rcbellious. extended to him
my protection, unknown perhaps 10 him.
SELL lie was at liberty to act, TO speak, 10
assemble and address the people, to choose
disciples, unrestrained by any pretorian
mandate.
Should it ever happen, say, that the
religion Of our forefathers be supplantcd
by the religion Of Jesus, it will be TO his no.
Bile federation that Rome shall owe her pre-
mature obseques-whilst |, miserable
wretch!--l shall have been the instru-
ment Of what the christians call Provi.
dence, and we-Destiny.
But this unlimited freedom granted TO
Jesus, revolted the Jews--not the poor, but
the rich and powerful 1t is true, Jesus
was severe on the latter; and this was
political reason in my opinion, not to con-
troll the liberty Of tho Nazarene. "Scrbes
and Phariseesm would he say to them,
"you are race Of vipers!--you resemble
painted sepulchres" At other times he
would sheer at the proud aims Of the pub
llcan, telling him that the mite Of the wild
ow was more precious in tho sight Of Cod
New complaints were daily made at the
Preorium against the insoIence Of Jesus,
| was even informed that some misfortune
would befall him-that it would not be the
first time that Jerusalem had stoned those
who called themselves prophets--and that,
if the Pretorium refused justice, an appeal
would be made to Caesar.
This had prevented, by informing Cp-
sar of all that happened. Ny conduct was
approved Of by the Senate, and | was pro.
missed a reinforcement of troops after the
termination Oft the Parthian war.
Being too weak to suppress sedition, !
resolved upon adopting measure that
promised to re-establish tranquility in the
city, without subjecting the Pretorum to
humliating concessions. | wro'c to Je.
sus, requesting an interview with him at
the Pretorium. He came.
Oh, Albinust now that my blood runs
cold in my veins, and that my body is bent
down under the load of vesrs, L IS not
surprising that Plate should sometimes
tremble; but then ! was young--in my
veins flowed the Spanish, mixed with the
Roman blood, as incapable of fear as it was
of puerie emotions.
When the Nazarene made his appear.
ance, | was walking in my basilick, and
my feet seemed fastened, with an iron
hand, to the masble pavement. He was
calm, the Nazarenc--calm as innocence
When !h,a came up to me, he stopped, and
by a simple gesture, seda:"e" +" say TO me
here am.
For some time, contemplated, with ad
miration and with awe, this extraordinary
type of mana type unknown to ouI
numerous scul ptors, who have given form
and figure 10 all the gods and all the he
roes.
"Jcsus," said | to him at last---and my
tongue faltercd-"Jesus of Nazareth,
have granted you, for these last three
years, ample freedom of speech; nor do
regret it. Your words are those ola sage
! | know not whether you have read Socra
| ties and Plato; but this | know, that there
is in your discourses, a majestic simplicity
that esevates you far above those grcn
philosophers. The emperor is informed
Of it; aud |, his humble representative ii
this country, am glad Of having allowed
you that liberty of which you are so wor
thy. However, must not concca! iron
you, that your discourses have raised "
against you powerful and inyetcrate enc
mics. Neither is this surprising. Socra
tics had his enemies, and he fell yicllmtt
their hatred Yours arc doubly lncenset
against you, on account OF your sayings
against me, on account Of the liberty OK
tended towards you. They even accuse
me indirectly of being loagued with you
for the purpose Of depriving the, Hebrew
of tho little civil power which hohe ia
left TO them. My request DO not sa.
my orders--is, that you be more c'rcun'
spect for the future, and more tender u
rousing the pride Of your enemies les
they raise up against you the STUPID po,f
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