Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1855-05-20


clsration, between himself and all the fsbricators
of religion What audacity, what saerilege, what
| blasphemy if it were not tTue say more; the
universal triumph of an affirmation of that kind, if
the triumph were not really that Of God himself,
would be plausible excuse and the proof of ethe-
! ism. ...,-.,. ..-r.. f....-.. .-.
| Moreover, in propounding mysteries Christ is
| harmonious with nature, which is profoundly mys-
ferrous. From whence do l come 4? whittier do /
| go! who am I? Human life isa mystery in its
origin, its organization, ard its end In man and
| out of man, in nature, everything is mysterious
And can wish that religion should not be mys-
terious? The creation and the destiny Of the world
are an infathomable abyss, as also is the creation
and the destiny of each Individual. Christianity
at least does not evade these great questions 1t
meets them boldly. And our doctrines are solu-
tion of them for every one who believes.
''The gospel possesses a secret virtue, myste-
rious efficacy, warmth which penerates and
sootLes the heart. One finds, in meditating upon
it, that which one experiences in contemplating
the heavens. Behold it upon this table this book
surprising all others there the Emperor deferenti
ally placed his hand upon III never omit to read
it, and every day with the same pleasure.
Nowhere is to be found such series Of beau
tifu ideas, admirable moral maxims, which pass be-
fore us like the battalions of celestial army, and
which produce in our soul the same emotion which
one experiences in contemplating the Infinite sd
vance of the skies, resplendent in summers night
with all the brilliance of the stars. Not only is
our mind absorbed, it is controlled, and the soul
can never go astray with this book as its guide
Once master of our spirit the faithful gospel loves
US. God even is our friend, our father and truly
our God. The mother has no greater care for the
infant whom she nurses
What proof of the divinity of Christi With
an empire so absolute, lie has but one single end,
the spiritual amelioraton OF individuals the purity
Of conscience, the union to that which is true the
holiness Of the soul. .--
"Christ speaks, and at once generations become
his by stricter closer ties than those of blood by
the most sacred, the most ndissolube of all unions
He lights up the fame of love which consumes self
love, which prevails over every other love. The
founders Of other religions never conceived of this
mystical love, which is the essence of Christianity
and is beautifully called charity In every attempt
to effect this thing, namely to make himself below
ed, man deeply feels his own impotence. So that
Chrst's greatest miracle undoubtedly is, the reign
of charity. -.s - go. .-...-s ..-
Il have so inspired multitudes that they would
die for M. God forbid that / should form any
comparison between the enthusiasm of the soldier
and Christian charity, which are as unlike as their
cause. @ ,
~But, after all, my presence was necessary; the
lightning of my eye, my voice, word from me;
then the sacred fire was kindled in their hearts,
do indeed possess the secret of this magical pow
er, which lifts the soul, but could nevor impart
it to any one. None of my generals ever learnt it
from me. Nor have | the means of perpetuating
my name and love for me- in the hearts of my men,
and to effect these things without physical means
"Now that | am at st. Helena now that / am
alone chained upon this rock, who fights and wins
empires for me? who the couriers of my misfor-
tune? who thinks of me? who makes efforts for me
in Europe? where are my friends? Yes two or
three, whom your fidelity mmortalizes, you share,
you console my exile
Here the voice of the Emperor trembled with
emotion, and for moment he was silent. He
then continued:
eyes, our life once shone with all the brilliance
of the dadem and the throne; and yours Bertrand,
reflected that splendor as the dome of the Inva-
lides gilt BY u.s. reflects the rays ofthe SUM- But dis
asters camei the gold gradually became dim. The
rain of misfortune and outrage with which l am
daily deluged has effaced all the brightness We
are mere lead now General Bertrand, aud soon
shall be in my grave.
"Sueh is the fate of great men, So it was with
Caesar and Alexander. And too, am forgotten
And the name of conqueror and an emperor is
college theme Our exploits are tasks given to
pupils by their tutor, who sit in Judgment upon US,
awarding US censure or praise And mark what
is soon to become OF me, assasSinated by the En-
glish oligarchy, l die before my time and my dead
body too, must return to the earth to become food
for the worms. Behold the destiny, near at hand.
of him who was called the great Napoleon. What
a deep abyss between my deep misery and the eter-
nal reign of Christ which is proclaimed, loved,
adored, and which is extending over all the earth
Is this to die? Is it not rather to live? The
death of Christi 1t is the death of God"
For moment the Emperor was silent As
General Bertrand made no reply, he solemnly adj
ded, "If you do not perceive that Jesus Christ is
God, very well, then 1 did wrong to make you gen
eral''