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

calm, the Nazarene, calm as innocence.
When he came up to me he stopped, and,
by simple gesture, seemed to say to me:
here am.
For some time | contemplated, with
admiration and with awe, this extraordi-
nary type ofa man-a type unknown to
our numerous sculptors, who have given
form and figure to all the gods and all the
heroes
Jesus" said | to him at last-and my
tongue faltered-"Jesus of Nazareth, |
have granted you for these last three
years ample freedom ofspeech; nor do |
regretit. Your words are those ofa sage.
| know not whether you have read So
cratus and Plato, but this know, there
is in your discourses a majestic simplicity,
that elevates you far above those philoso-
pliers. The emperor is informed of it;
and l, his humble representative in this
country, am glad ofhaving allowed you
that liberty of which you are so worthy
However, must not conceal from you,
that your discourses have raised up a
gainst you powerful and inveterate enc
mics. Neither is this surprising. So.
crates had his enemies, and fell victim
to their hatred. Yours are doubly in
censed; against you. on account of your
sayings; against me, on account of the
liberty extended towards you.
They even accuse me indirectly of be-
ing leagued with you for the purpose of
ldepriving the Hebrews of the little civil
power Rome has left to them. My re-
quest-I do not say my orders-is, that
you be more circumspect for the future,
and more tender in rousing the pride of
your enemies, lest they rouse up against
you the stupid populace, and compel me
to employ the instruments of justice.
The Nazarene calmly replied:
prince ofthe earth, your words pro.
ceed not from true wisdom. Say to the
torrent to stop in the midst of the noun
tain, because it will uproot the trees OF
The valley; the torrent will answer you
that it obeys the laws OF the Creator
God alone knows whittier flow the waters
of the torrent. Verify, say unto you, be
fore the rose of Sharon blossoms, the
blood ofthe just will be split"
"Your blood shall not Le split, replied
I. with emotion. you are more pre-
cious in my estimation, on account Of you
wisdom, than all these turbulent anc
proud Phalisees, who abuse the free
, dom granted to them by the Romans
conspire against Caesar, and construe ou
( bounty into fear. Insolent wretches!-
They are not aware that the wolf of thu
Tiber sometimes clothes himself with tht
, skin of the sheep. | will protect you a
gainst them.-My Pretorium is open t
you as place of refuge-it is sacrec
, asylum.
Jesus carelessly shook his head, ant
said, with graceful and divine smile:
= when the day shall have come, ther
will be no asylum for the Son of Mar
{ neither on the earth nor under the earth
The asylum ofthe Just is there (pointin
to the heavens). That which is write
s in the books of the prophets, must be ac
+ compished."
0 young man." answered mildly
t "you oblige me to convert my request int
. an order. The safety of the provinc
$ which has been confded to my care, re
S quires it, You must observe more mod
J, Grafton in your discourses. Do not ii
C fringe my orders; you know them.-Ma
o happiness attend you. Farewell"
prince of the earth" replied Jesus
s II come not to bring war into the worc
o but peace, love and charity. was bor
o the same night on which Caesar Augusta
g gave peace to the Roman world. Perse
J. cution proceeds not from me. expect
: from others, and will meet it in obedienc
/. to the will of my Father, who has show
: me the way. Restrain, therefore, you
: worldly prudence. tits not in your pow
/, er to arrest tho victim at the foot of til
, tabernacle of expiation."
d So saying, he disappeared like brigi
shadow behind the curtain ofthe basilicl
e Herod, the Tetrarch, who then reigne
d in Judea, and who died devoured b
is vermin, was a weak and wicked maj
n chosen by the chiefs ofthc law to be the il
l. strument of their hatred.-To him tn
l. enemies of Jesus addressed themselve
i to wreak their vengence on the Nazaren
Had Herod consulted his own iuclint
o tion, he would have ordered Jesus in
r, mediately to death; but though proud {
:, his regal dignity, yet he was afraid
s committing an act that might diminish h
1t influence with Caesar.
d Herod called on me one day at I'll
u Pretorium, and on rising to take leav
1. after some insignificant conversation, b
10 asked me what was my opinion concerI
D. ing the Nazarene.
10 replied, tina; Jesus appeared to |
Of one of those grave philosophers that gre
nations sometimes produce; that his do
at trine was by no means dangerous. an
g. that the intention of Rome, was justifie
s. by his actions. Herod smiled maliciou
Id ly, and saIuting me with ironical respec
I'd he departed. ... u.... n.
h. The great feast of the Jews was al
d preaching, and their intention was to
e. vail themselves of the popular exultafio
which always manifests itself at the s
lg emnities of the passover. The city vi
ct overhown with tumultuous populac
| clamoring for the death of the Nazaren
ps My emisaries informed me thatthe trea
Ir. ure of the Temple had been employt
n, in bribing the people. The danger W
at pressing. A Roman centurion had be'