Weekly Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1853-1861, 1855-03-15
Popularity of the Gospel Narrative.

Theirs (the New Testament writer's " is
a history of miracles the historical picture
of the scene in which the Spirit of God was
poured on all flesh, and signs and wonders
visions and dreams, were part ofthe essentials
of their narratives. How is all this related
With the same absence Of high colouring and
extravagant description with which other
writers notice the ordinary. occunenees of the
world partly, no doubt, for the like reason,
that they were really familiar with miracles
partly too because to them these miracles had
long been contemplated only as subservient
measures TO the great object and business of
their ministry-the salvation of mems souls.
On the subject of miracles the means to this
great end, they speak in calm, unimpassioned
language /; on mans sins, change of heart on
hope, faith, and charity on the objects IN
short, to be effected, they exhaust all their
feelings and eloquence. Their history, from
the narrative of our Lords prosecutions, to
/ those of Paul, the abomination of the jews,
embraces scenes and personages which claim
from the ordinary reader continual ehnsion
of sorrow, wonder, or Indignation. In wri-
tiers who were friends of the parties and adj
herents of the cause for which. they did and
suffered so great things, the absence of it is on
account even of the cnIcifxion. Not one burst
of indignation or sympathy mixes with the
details of the narrative. Stephen, the first
MARTYR is stoned and the account comprised
in these few words, they stoned Stephen
calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, re-
ceive my spirit The varied and immense
labors and sufferings of the apostles are
slightly limited at, or else related in this dry
} and frigid way: And when they had called
the apostles, and beaten them they command
ed that they should not speak in the name of
Jesus, and let them go''-Actsv V. 40, Al. "And
there came thither certain Jews, from Anti
och and lconium, who persuaded the people,
and having stoned Paul, drew him out of the
city, supposing he had been dead. Howbeit
rs the disciples stood roundab him, he rose
up, and came into the city and the next day
he deposited with Barnabas to Derbe''-Aets
J xiv. IS, 20. Had these authos no feeling
ffodeof me- reTe:fved f8ern Il tfir
, common sympathies and sensbility of human
nature Read such passages as ST. Paul.
parting address to the elders of Miletus the
, saIR apostles recommendation of the Of.
Tending member Of the Corrinthian ChnchtS
pardon, and more than ALL the occasional
: bursts of conflicting feeling, in which anxious
apprehension for the faith and good behayio
Of his converts is mixed with the pleasin:
e recollectin of their conversion, and the min
1 lister and the oman are alike strongly displayed.
r and it will be plain that Christianity exercis
ed no benumbing influence on the heart. No
; their whole soul was occupied within one oh
ject which predominated over all the mean
: subservient 10 it, however great those mean
: might be. In the storm, the pilots eye is tire
= on the heodland a0hich must he aCeatle,ed al III
crisis Of rictOry or defeat the general sees onl
= deposition to be carried and tie dead and u,
= instruments Of death fan around him nheefed
/ On the salvation of men, on this one point, til
}. witnesses of Christ and the ministers of hi
Spirit, expended all their energy of feelin
e and expression. All that occured-lnis
h chance, persecution, and miracle-were glanC
ed at by the eye of faith only in subservienc
= to this mark of the prize of their high callins
II as working together for good, and all exemI
n from the associations which would attach {
such events and scenes when contemplate
d by themselves and with the short sightedne:
/ of uninspired men. Miracles were not to thei
e objects Of wonder, nor mischances a subject
sorrow and lamentation. They did all, the
suffered all, to the glory of God."-LOndo
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