The Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1846-1852, 1849-01-19

Plate, "If the Christ had been borne un-
der the purple, he would not have been
adored. Listen. To your friendship ]
will submit the events of my life; you will
aferward Judge whether am worthy of
your hospitality"
On my arrival at Jerusalem, took pos.
session ofthe Pretorium, and ordered
splendid feast to be prepared, to which |
invited the Tetrarch of Judea. with the
high priest and his officers. At the ap.
pointed hour, no guest appeared. This
was an insult offered to my dignity. A
few days aflerward, the Tetrarch deign-
ed to pay me visit. His department
was grave and deceitful. He pretended
that his religion forbade him and his at
tendants to sit down at the table of the
Genties aud offer up libations with them,
| thought it expedient to accept Of this
excuse; but from that moment was con-
vinced that the conquered had declared
themselves the enemies ofthe conquerorS.
At that time Jerusalem was, of all con-
quered cities, the most difficult to govern.
So turbulant were the people that lived
in momentary dread of an insurrection.
To repress it, | had but single Centu.
rian, and handful of soldiers; reques.
ted reinforcement from the Prefect of
Syria who informed me that he had
scarcely troops sufficient to defend his
own province. lnsatiate thirst ofempire!
extend our conquest beyond the means
of defending them!
Among the various rumors which came
to my ears, there was one that attracted
my attention. A young man it was said
had appeared in Galilee, preaching with
a noble uncIion, a new law in the name
of God who had sent him. At first. ]
was apprehensive that his design was to
stir up the people against the Romans;buI
soon were my fears dispelled. Jesus Of
Nazareth spoke rather as friend of the
Romans than ofthe Jews.
One day, in passing by the place oI
SiIoe, where there was concourse oi
people, observed in the midst Of the
group, young man leaning against tree
who was calmly addressing the multitude
| was told that it was Jesus. This
could easily have suspected, so great wa
the difference between him and those
who were listening to him. lie appear
ed to be about thirty years of age. His
golden colored hair and beard gave to hi
appearance a celestial aspect. Neve
have seen a sweeter or more seren
countenance. What contrast between
him and his hearers with their blac
boards and tawny complexion. Unwil
ling to interrupt him by my presence,
continued my walk, but signifed to m
Secretary to join the group and listen.
The Secretary's name was Manlius
He was the grandson of the chief of tn
conspirators, who encamped in Etrura
waiting for Catiline. Maniius was an an
l cient inhabitant of Judea, and we'll aC
: quaiuted with the Hebrew language
S He was devoted to me, and was worthy c
;. my confidence. .... .....
On returning to the Pretorium, l foun
Maniius, who related to me the word
. that Jesus pronounced at Siloe; neve
i have heard in the Portico, Or read in tn
k works of the Philosophers. any thing tina
), can be compared to the maxims of Jesus
One of the rebellious Jews, so numerou
> in jerusalem, having asked him if it wa
Q lawful to give tribute to Caesar or no
+ Jesus replied: Render unto Caesar I'll
4 things that are CeSQr'S, and render &n,
God tile things that arc Gods.
1t was on account of the wisdom ofhi
I sayings, that | granted so much liberty
J. the Nazarene; for it was in my power t
a have had him arrested and eXiled to tn
!, Pon:us; but this would have been contra
g ry to that Justice that has always charac
y terized the Romans This man was ne
y ther seditious nor rebelious. extend
ed to him my protection, unknown pei
d haps to himself. Hewas at liberty to ac
. to speak, to assemble and address tn
people, to choose disciples, unrestraine
by any pretorian mandate.
l, Should it ever happen, say, that tn
}. religion of our forefathers be supplante
IT by the religion ofJesus, it will be to h
is noble federation that Rome shall owe he
y premature obsequies-whilst |, misert
u BILE wretch!-I shall have been the il
d slrument ofwhat the christians call Prov
Q dence, and we-Destiny.
t. But the unlimited freedom granted {
d Jesus revolted the Jews--not the poo
e but the rich and powerful. is tru
,, Jesus was severe on the latter; and tn
d was political reason, in my opinion, n
III to control the Nazarene. "Scribes az
" Pharisees!" would he say to them, yc
s; are race ofvipers!-you: esemble pal
e ted sepulchres!" At other times
IN would sneer at the proud aims af the Pu
1t Iican, telling him that the mite of Il
IS widow was more precious in the sight
IN God. lur,T .r'.
" New complaints were daily made
a. the Pretorium against the insoeRce of j
= sus. | was even informed that some mi
at fortune would befal him--that it wou
~ not be the first time that Jerusalem HI
ID stoned those who called themselves prop
ets--and that if the Pretorium refuse
a. justice, an appeal should be made to CT
s, sar. .-
lg ThisI had prevented, by informil
I'd Caesar ofall that happened. My condu
IS, was approved of by the Senate, and
es was promised reinforcement of troo
c. after the termination Of the Parthian Wi
st Being too weak to suppress seditio
resolved upOn adopting measure th