The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1853-08-04
EBENSBURG, THURsDiY, AUGUST 4, 1853.


my veins, and that my body is bent down under
the load of years, it is not surprising that PLATE
should sometimes .tremble; but then | was
young-in my veins flowed the Spanish mixed
with Roman blood, as incapable Of fear as it
was of puerile emotions.
When the Nazarene made his appearaBe, 1
was walking in my basilic, and my feet seemed
fastened with an iron hand to the marble pave
ment. He was calm, the Nazarene-calm as in
nocence. When he came up to me, he stopped,
and by single gesture, seemed to say to me,
here am l.
For some time contemplated with admiration
and awe this extraordinary type of mana type
unknown to our numerous painters who have
given form and figure to all the gods and to all
the heroes.
'Jesus," said to him at last-and my tongue
faltered-"Jesus of Nazareth, 1 have granted
you for the last three years ample freedom of
speech nor do L regret it. Your words are
those of sage. l know not whether you have
read Socrates and Plato but this / know, that
there is in your discourses majestic simplicity
that eleyates you far above those great philoso-
piers The emperor is informed of it, and l.,
his humble representative in this country, am
glad of having allowed you that liberty of which
you are so worthy. However, must not con-
ceal from you that your discourses have raised
up against you powerful and inveterate enemies
Neither is this surprising. Socrates had his en-
emies, and he fell victim to their hatred
Yours are doubly incensed against you on ac-
count of your sayings; against me, on account
of the liberty extended towards you. They
even accused Indirectly of being leagued
with you for the purpose of depriying the He
brews of the little civil power which Rome has
left them. My request do not say my order
is that you be more circumspect for the fu-
ture, cad more tender in rousing the pride of
your enemies, lest they raise against you the
stupid Dopulace, and compel me to employ the
instruments of justice.
The NaZarene calmly replied:
''Prince OF the earth, your words proceed not
from true wisdom. Say to the torrent to stop
in the midst of the mountain because it will up
root the trees of the valley the torrent will an
swer you, that it obeys the laws of the Creator.
God alone knows whittier dows the waters of the
torrent. Verify, say unto you, before the
rose of Sharon blossoms the blood of the just
will be split
''Your blood shall not be split" replied I,
with emotion. ''You more precious in my
estimation, 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 construe bounty
into fear Insolent wretchesi They not
aware that the wolf of the Tiber sometimes
clothes himself with the skin Of the sheep. 1
will protect you against them. My pretorium
is open to you as place of refuge-it is sa-
cred asylum"
Jesus careessly shook his head, and said,
with a graceful and divine smile;
s'When the day shall have come, there will
| be no asylum for the Son of Man, neither on
earth nor under the earth. The asylum of the
Justis there, (pointing to the heavens.) That
| which is written in the~ books of the prophets
must be accomplished
"Young man." answered 1 mildly, "you o.
blige me to convert my request into an order.
The safety of the province which has been con-
fded to my care requires it. You must observe
! more moderation in your discourses. Do not
infringe my orders, you know. May happiness
attend you. . Farewell"
..Prince of EARTH, replied Jesus, s.I come not
to bring war into the world, but peace love and
charity. l was born the same day on which
Caesar Augustus gave peace to the Roman world.
Persecution proceeds not from me. [ expect it
from others, and win meet it in obedience to the
will of my Father, who has shown the way.
Restrain, therefore, your worldly prudence. 1t
is not in your power to arrest the victim at the
foot Of the tabernacle of expiation."
So saying, he disappeared like bright shad-
ow behind the curtains of the basilic.
Herod the Tetrach who then reigued in Judea
and who died devoured by vermin, weak
| and wicked man, chosen by the chiefs of the law
| to be the instrument of their hatred. To him
the enemies of Jesus addressed themselves to
wreak their vengeance on the Nazarene.
Had Herod consulted his own inclination he
would have ordered Jesus Immediately to be put
to death but though proud of his regal dignity,
vet he was afraid of committing an act that
might diminish his influence with Cesar.
Herod called on me one day at the Pretorlum,
and on rising to take leave, after some insignif
can't conversation, he asked me what was my
opinion concerning the Nazarene.
I replied, that Jesus appeared to me to be one
of those grave philosophers that great ma tions
sometimes produce; that his doctrine was by no
means dangerous; and that the intention of
Rome was to leave him that freedom of speech
which was justified by his actions. Herod smi-
led maliciously, and saluting me with ironical
respect, he departed.
The great feast of the Jews was approaching;
and their intention to avail themselves Of
the popular exultation which always nianifests
itself at the solemnities of q passover. The city
was oyerhowing with tumultuous lpulace,
clamorng for the death of the Nazareae. My
emissaries informed me that the treasure of the
Temple had been empolJ ed in bribing the people.
The danger was pressing. Roman centurion
had been insulted.
/ wrote to the Prefect of Syria, requesting
hundred foot soldiers, and the same number of
Cavalry. He declined saw myself alone with
handful of veterans in the midst of rebellious
city-too weak to suppress disorder, and having
no other choice left than to tolerate it.
They had seized upon Jesus; and the sedi-
tious rabble, although they knew they had moth
ing to fear from the Pretorium, believing, on
the faith of their leaders, that winked at their
sedition, continued vociferating-.Crucify him
cruelty him! !"
Three powerful parties at that time had COM
bined together against Jesus. First the Herodl-
ans and Sadducees, whose seditious conduct
seemed to have proceeded from double motive;