The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1838-06-19

devoted to inc, and was worthy oil my CONF
dence.
On returning to the Pretorium, found Mani
u.s. who related TO me the words that Jesus ha'
pronounced at Sloe. Never have heard IN thu
works of philosophers, thing that can be com
pared to the maxms of Jesus. One OF the re
beious Jews, SO numerous in Jerusalem, having
asked him if it WAS lawful to give tribute tt
Caesar or not, Jesus replied: Render unto Caesar
the things which are Cesar's and unto God the
things that are Gods
1t was on account of the wisdom of his say
| ing that granted so much liberty to the NaZa
rene; for it was in my power to have him arrest
ed and eXiled to Pontus but this would have
been contrary TO that justice which has Away;
characterized the Romans. This man was mel
thor seditious nor rebellous. l extended to hin
my protection unknown perhaps to himself
He was at liberty 10 act, to speak, to assemble
and address the people, 10 choose disciples, un
restrained by any pretorian mandate.
Should it ever happen-may the gods aver
the omen!-should it ever happen, say, that the
religion Of our foretatherS be supplanted by the
religion of Jesus, it will be to his noble tolera
ton that Rome shall owe her premature obse-
quies-Whlst L. miserable wrech!-IShall have
been the instrument Of what the Christians cal
Providence, and we-Destiny.
But this unlimited freedom granted to Jesus
revolted the Jews-not the poor, but the rich ano
powerful. 1t is true, Jesus was severe on the
latter; and this political reason, in nv o.
pinion, not to control the liberty of the Naza
rene. "Scribes and Pharsees!' would he say tC
them, "you are a race OF vipers;-you resemble
painted sepulchres!" At other times he would
sneer at the proud aims of the publican, telling
him that the mite OF the widow was more pre-
cious in the sight of God.
New complaints were daily made at the Pre-
! forum against the insolence of jesus. l was
even informed that some misfortune would be
! fall hn-tlIat it would not be the first time tina
Jerusalem had stoned those who had called them
selves prophets-and that if the Preorium re
fused justice, an appeal would be made TO Ce
sar.
This had prevented by informing Caesar o
all that happened. My conduct was approved
of by the Senate, and | was promised a reinforce
ment of troops after the termination of the Par
THAN war.
Being 100 weak to suppress sedition, resov'
ell upon adopting measure thar pronished &c
re establish tranquility in the city, without sub
jectng the Pretorium to humilialing concessions
| wrote TO Jesus, requesting an interview with
him at the Pretorium. He came
Oh, Albinus! now that my blood runs cold in
my veins, and that my body is bent down under
the load of years, it is not surprising that PLATE
should sometimes tremble, but when was young
in my veins flowed the Spanish mixed with
the Roman bloodas incapable of fear as it was OF
When the Nazarene made his Appearance |
was walking in my basilick, and my feet seemed
fastened, with an iron land, to the marble pave
menf. He calm, tie Nazarene-can as in
nocence When he came up to me, he stopped,
and by "A single gesture seemed to say to me,
here am.
For some lime, contemplated, with admira-
ton and with awe, this extraordinary type of a
man-a type unknown to our numerous sculp-
tors who have given form and Squire to all the
gods and all tie heroes
Jesus" said I TO him at last-and my tongue
Filtered" Jesus of Nazareth, / 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 or Plato; but this know, that there is
in your discourses ma estic simplicity that ele-
Yates you far above those great philosophers
The emperor is infor ned of it; and |, his hum
bic representative in this country, am glad OF
having allowed you that liberty of which you
are so worthy. However | must not conceal
from you, that your discourses have raised NJ
against you powerful and invsterato enemies
Neither is this surprising. Socrates had his en-
emies and he fell victim TO their hatred. Yours
are doubly ncensed against you, Oh account of
the liberty extended towards you. They even
accuse me indirectly of being eagned with You
for the purpose of depriving the Hebrews of the
litte civil power which Rome has left to them.
MY fetlueS!, L 90 nOl say NY OIuSIs--is, YOU
be more crcumspeet for the future, and more
tender in rousing the pride of your enemies, lest
they raise up against you the stupid popnace,
and compel me to employ the instruments OF JUS
tice."
The NaZarene calmly replied:
"Prince of the earth, your words proceed not
from true wisdom. Say to the torrent stop in
the midst oil the mountain because it will uproot
the trees of the valley; the torrent will answer
that it obeys the laws Of the Creator. God alone
knows whittier flow the waters of the torrent
Verify say unto You, before the rose ofSharon
blossoms, the blood of the just shall be split"
your blood shall not be split replied with
emotion. "You are more precious in my esti-
nation, on account of your wisdom, than all
these turbulent and proud Pharisees, who abuse
the freedom granted them by the Romans, con-
spire against Caesar and constitute our bounty into
fear Insolent wretches! They are not aware that
the wolf of the Tiber sometimes clothes him
self with the skin of the sheep. | will protect
you against them. My Pretorium is open to
you place Of refuge-it is a sacred asylum"
JaSus On ralasSy sbook his hpnd and said with