Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1839-10-30

SIC JmplUuA vi ullllICuCc Ill tie tTuL0 OIL
their own story, or of art to cloak this diff
6dence from the notice of the most severe
and vigllant observers. The manner of
the New Testament writer's does not car
ry in it the slightest idea of its being an
assumed manner. 1t is quite natural.
quite unguarded. and free of all apprehen-
sion that their story is to meet with any
discredit or contradiction from anv ofthose
numerous readers who had it fully in their
power to verify or to expose it. We see
no expedient made use of TO obtain or 10
conciliate the acquiescence of their read
efs. They appear to feel as if they did
not need it. They deliver what thew have
to say, in round and unvarnished man.
ner; nor is it in general accompanied
with any of those strong asseverations bv
which an impostor so often attempts 10
practice upon the creduity of his victims.
Ia the simple narrative of the eyaneel-
lists. they hetray no feeling of wonder at
the extraordinary nature of the events
which they record, and no consciousness
that what they are announcing is to ex-
cite any wonder among their readers
This appears to US to be a very strong
circumstance. Had i! been the newlv
preached tale of an impostor, he would. in
all likelihood. have feigned astonishment
himself or at least have laid his account
with the doubt and astonishment of those
to whom it was addressed. When per.
son tells wonderful story to com MANY
who are totally unacquainted with it, he
must be sensible, not merely Of the sur.
prise which is excited in the minds of the
hearers, but OF corresponding sympathy
In his own mind with the feelings of those
who listen to him. He LAYS his account
with the wonder, if not the incredulitv. OF
his hearers; and this distinctly apnear RS
In the terms with which he delivers his
story and the manner in which he intro.
duces 1t. 1t makes a wide difference, if
on the other hand. he tells the same story
to company, who have long been an.
prlsed OF the chief circumstances. but who
listen to him for the mere purpose of OBJ.
tanning more distinct and particular mar.
ratlve. Now, in as far as we can collect
from the manner of the eyangelists, thew
stand In this last predicament. They dc
not write as If they were imposing a nov
city upon their readers. In the lanoua ore
OF Luke. they write for the sake of eivioo
more distinct information and that the
readers might kaoao the certainty of those
things, qcherean they had been Instructed
In the prosecution of this task, they deliy.
er themselves with the most familiar and
unembarrassed simplicity. They do no,
appear to anticipate the surprise of their
readers, or to be at all aware, that the mar
vellous nature of their story is to be any
obstacle to Its credit or reception in the
neighborhood. At the first performance
OF our Savior's miracles, there was a
strong and widely spread sensation owe,
the whole country. HIS fame soent abroad
and all people acre amazed. This is
quite natural and the circumstance of no
surprise being either felt or anticipated
by the evangelists, in the writing of their
history, can best be accounted for by the
truth of the history itself. that the EXPERT
ence OF years had blunted the edge of nov.
city, and rendered miracles familiar. no,
only to them, but to all the people to whom
they addressed themselves.
What appears to US most striking in.
ternal evidence for the truth of the Cos
pei, IS that perfect unity of mind and of
purpose which is ascribed to our Savior
Had ne been an imposto1, he could not
have foreseen all the fluctuations of his
history, and yet no expression of surprise
IS recorded TO have escaped from him
No event appears to have caught him un-
prepared. We see no shifting of doctrine
or sentiment, with view to accommodate
to new or unexpected circumstances. His
parallels and warnings to his disciples
give sufficient intimation that he laid his
account with all those events which ap-
peared to mis- unenlightened friends to be
so untoward and so unpromising. In ev-
cry explanation of his objects we see the
perfect consistency OF a mind before whose
prophetic eye all futurity lay open; and
when the events of this futurity came
round, he met them, not as chances that
were unforeseen. but as certainties which
he had provided for. This consistency Of
his views is supported through all the va
rlations OF his history, and it stands final
ly contrasted in the record of the evangel-
ISIS with the misconceptions, the surprises.
the dlsappointments of his followers. The
gradual progress of their minds from the
splendid antlcipations of earthly grandeur,
to full acquiescence in the doctrine of q
crucihed Savior, throws stronger light
on the perfect unity of purpose and of con-
ceptlon which animated his, and which
can only be accounted for by the inspira.
ton that filled and enlightened it. |, NAV
have been possible enough to describe a
well-sustained example of this contrast
from an actual history before US. 1t is |
dlfhcult, however. to conceive, how if |
could be sustained so well. and in a man.
ner SO apparently artless, by means Of in