The semi-weekly mountain Democrat., 1860-12-25

tn nations kneellng before hlm-the
thunder Of Sinai surpassed the eloquence
Of Cicero in Its grandeur and power,
for Il was more irresistible than the clash
Of arms and the tumult Of battle, and the
manner Of his warfare reversed the order
Of revolutions, giving new life to the COM
batants. And by what means did he
achieve so brilliant and beneficial revo-
lutiOnI Go muse amid the melancholy
and mouldering wrecks Of Jerusalem, and
ask the genius Of those sOlitudes. Go
and ascend the summit Of the far-iamed
Calvary-gO to the sepulchre Of the Sa-
viour, to the tomb Of the triumphant Re-
deemer, and to the garden where his dis
ciples slept under the influence Of grief,
and an inspiration from those scenes will
recite the story Of his sufferings and sOr-
rows, the history Of the redemption Of
man.
"Let US turn for moment and survey
that scene which eventuated in the eman.
cipation Of . world. Let US contemplate
that character Of all others the most H.
lustrious and divine. We behold the man
to appearance but q man, yet in fact en-
dowed with oil the attributes Of God.
The prophetic tongues Of men long monl'
dered into dust have Ioretold his dawning
and his doom, and his own intuitive
knowledge, his own prophetic soul, is
looking forward to that hour which must
bring the consummation Of that grand CO.
tastrophe which was destined to rescue
millions from misery but he shrank not
from the sacrifice which Was necessary TO
the consummation. The agOnics Of the
cross could not alarm him, neither had
the tomb any terror for him, for he was
confident Of the triumph, and that he
could descend, without fear, to that gloomy
repository which covers alike oil human
hopes and all human anticipations. No
human aniInosity or resentment dwclt in
his heavenly heart for with kindness
and consideration he designated the man
who should bctray him. FirmneSS and
dignity we're characteristic Of him, who
was not ignorant that the most cruel and
ignominious Of ell deaths awaited him.
Behold him bound and dragged before the
high priest Il adjure thee, sage CAiAphas,
in the name Of the living God, to tell me
whether thou art the Christ or not II
tell thee. returned the Saviour. thou
wilt not believe me /; but nevertheless, |
say to you, hereafter you shall See the
Son Of man sitting at the right hand Of
the power Of God, and coming in the
clouds Of heaven. The priest, hearing
his words, that he was the Son OF God,
cried out-He hath blasphCmed, and is
worthy of death. Ahi see how meckly
be bears the indignities heapcd upon him.
How melts the heart at the recollection,
that he who was at that moment prepar-
ing to redeem poor fallen man by the sac.
rifce Of his own sublime life, was also
suffering the scorns, the taunts, and buf.
fetings Of those same creatures for whom
his blood was to be shed. The fall of Pc.
ter at that period was = conspicuous cx.
ample Of the weakness Of human nature
and the strength Of human resolution,
for he no sooner became conscious of his
fall, than he attempted to rise by repent
ance.
"Let US survey the Saviour before ri.
late, whom the crowd is calling upon the
Judge to condemn. Let his blood fall
upon Us and our children, cried his &C.
cuscrs; and never was an imprecation
more faithfully fulfilled, more avengingly
executed. Plate, borne down by the
torrent Of his passions, stopped not to
listen to the dictates Of duty, the plead
ings Of pity, Or the cries Of injured inno-
cence.
ain mOurnful silence, let us follow the
condemned Saviour to the summit Of Cal.
vary, and witness that spectacle which
struck terror to the spectators, and melt
ed even the heart Of adamant. We zee
him with his crown Of thorns, and bend.
ing beneath the weight Of his cross. The
prOphesy Of Isaiah is fulfilled, for he is
ranked with sinners. See him nailed to
the cross. II was the sixth hour Of the
day, and what dresdful hour! We are
informed, by the incontestiblc evidence Of
sacrcd writ, that . mournful darkness
Overspread the face Of heaven, and shroud.
ed the earth asin mourning. There hung,
at that tremendous hour, the adorable
Mediator between God and man, . spec
tacle for men and angels, an example Of
undying love and mercy! There he hung,
bleeding and in agony and though bis
suferings were insuIted, he sought no re-
venge, for his thoughts were the thoughts
Of peace. Father, JorOire them, for they
knOW not OhGt they do. How tender,
how touching were his words! Covered
with wounds, he was, emphatically, that
man Of sUrOws and pains that Isaiah had
described. Knowing that ell things which
had been foretold vera fnlf1lled that Ill