The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1843-06-29
From the Christian Herald,
JESUS, THE PHILANTHROPTST.

From the Christian Herald,
JESUS, THE PHILAETHROPTST.
Jesus, viewed in any light whatever, is
an extraordinary and sublime cha racter.
In all his Offices and relations, attributes
purposes he stands out as one possessed
of that excellence, which alone constitutes
true greatness, true glory. Moral excel
lence is the foundation Ct all that is truly
magnanmous or great This, Jesus, pos
sessed 10 a surprising degree, and is the
basis Of all that is admirable and lovely in
his character and person. We might con.
Template him in every relation be s"stans
with profit, and 10 our intellectual and
moral advantage. There is nothing com
mon or uninteresllng that relates to him.
All that pertains to his person, mission,
work, doctrine, purposes and life, is Won
der'ul and astonishing.
II we view him as the Son OF God, a
thousand considerations crowd in upon the
mind, which if expanded would fill vol
umes. Ii we contemplate him as our
Kihg and Prince, we are awed by thu
ma eSly Of his person, the clemency Of
his government, the glory of his conquest
the thunder OF his word, the might of his
power and the triumph Of his reign If
we speak Of him as our teacher, we are
struck with the originality Of his sub
the profoundness Of his discourses, the
power of his appeals, the cloqpence of his
speech, the simplicity Of his teachings, the
richness of his thought, and the subimity
of his doctrine. If we survey his birth,
his lie, bis history, his death, his rcSul-
rection, and his ascension, we are led 10
adore The purpose and wisdom OF him who
devised the plan, If we look at him as
our example, guide spiritual light, our
moral sun, our Leading star, the benefac-
Tor and friend Of our race, we recognize
| in him a suitableness for these relations.
Again; if we lock at him in The light of
"a pbiIanthropist, (and this is the view we
wish 10 take Of hIm,) we are struck more
than ever with the moral beauty OF his
character, and the perfection Of his mis-
sion.
The philanthropy OF Jesus was one Of
the most, in facl, II was the most proml-
nent characteristic Of his life. 1t was UNI
bounded. Ills boundless love for man.
kind, his benevolence toward the human
race, his seIl-slcrifice, his devotion TO the
work he announced as the business Of his
life; to preach the gospel 10 the poor-to
set at liberty them that are bound-.o
bind up the broken-hearted--:o comfort
hose that mourn, are among his chief ex-
celencies. He went about doing good
He came 10 seek and TO save that which
was lost. Such is declared to be his
work such the aim of his mission.
Not only was Jesus a phianlhropis: of
the highest order, but the system of reIi-
gion lie taught is striking for its disiuter-
csedness; and ii labors to plant this prioci-
pie in all its disciples. 1t boptizes them
with spirit that leads them to employ
themselves ia eitccing good for man, and
10 build their own happiness on The
promotion OF his. Compassion and love
seek the good, the happiness of our race
Benevolence extends the hand OF iberality
10 all who implore her aid. She turns
none empty away whom her source will
supply. She seeks out the needy, and
besses the sons of want and distress.
AS a philanlhropiSt, the character o
Jesus was of the highest order, inasmuct
as his mission was devoted to the mobiles
OF aims, the greatest Of purposes 1t hac
more TO do with the wants, the demand:
of the soul, than with those of the body
The great purpose of Christianity is a
phIanhro1ic purpose. 10 restore the
soul to the image Of God by imparling Il
it an active viltue, 70 awaken and quicker
mans higher nature, to dcvelope his NOR
al, his religions powers, to bring him tc
the abodes Of light and purify, TO cast
the soul anew, to fl! it for eternal com
munon with its ninite Father, is a faI
nobIer work than The creation OF the GU.
, ward universe. Jesus ever had this enc
, before him In his endeavors to do good
the soul was the principal object of re
gard
We say he loved man with a barring
love and Why was il2 He saw in mar
! the germ of the highes. order of life, {
capacity for endless improvement, and tn,
philanthropy of his mission exhibits tseI
In the sacrifices he madeto accomplish the
: work. We are apt to stop at the boun
) darles OF the external man, in our deeds
Of bcneroIence aud love, bat Jesus looked
f beyond it and penetrated the soul. We
f are apt TO tarry at the outer court; bul
| Jesus enters the holy of bolies, To feed
: the body and cIothe it with suitable raj.