Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1863-08-28
The Christian Religion.
BY REV. J. T. SAWYER.

directions. but III mas AWAY . SSNHiNN ~
US that those who deny or tacltly ignore
the miracles recorded in the New Tesla
ment, must either reject Christianity al
together, or virtually admit miracle
equal TO all our Savior and his apostles
ever wrought.
The case stands thus. About 1868
years ago there was born Of poor and oh.
scure parents, child in Bethlehem Of
Judea, a few miles from Jerusalem. His
father, or reputed father, was a carpenter,
and had a residence in Nazareth Of Cal
lice, where this child was brought up, as
is supposed, at the trade his father fol
lowed. He enjoyed few advantages for
education. OF the whole circle Of Greek
and Roman learning as it then existed,
he seems to have been as profoundly ig-
norant as though it had not been. And
even of the higher Hebrew or Jewish
culture, such as raised their scribes and
rabbits above the common people, he APP
pears to have enjoyed no share. That
he could read and write we have evil
dence, but beyond this all is dark.
At the age OF about thirty years, this
unIettered Galiean began to preach
AT first he went about the sea Of his ma
tive country, amidst the towns and villa
ges that thickly studded its romantic
shores. Here be gathered some disci-
pies, chiefly fishermen; and with them
be went from place to place, and finally
traversed considerable portions OF what
was the ancient Inheritance of the Jew
ish people. He visited Jerusalem on
several occasions. How long his minis
try continued is not determined, but we
shall not err widely if we confne it with
in the limits between eighteen months
and three years. His preaching soon ex-
cited opposition, and this grew more and
more violent, till finally the religious au-
thorities among his own countrymen had
him arrested; he passed through the
forms of two trials, first Lefore the jew
ish high priest and the sanhedrim, and
secondly before PLATE, the Roman gov
ernor. He was tried before one court on
the charge Of blasphemy, and the other
on that Of treason, and was very unjustly
condemned in both. Plate declared, in
deed, that he found no fault in him, but
finally yielded TO the clamors of his jew
ish accusers and ordered his cruciGxion,
which took place on the very day be was
condemned. Such is the outward history
of Jesus of Nazareth, whom we now call
the Christ, and whose religion we call,
after its author, Christianity.
We have purposely omitted all refer
ence to his real or pretended miracles.
And now we beg the reader to mark the
singular and even astonishing success
which attended and followed this young
mans labors. Without learning, without
wealth, without influential friends, and in
opposition to all these, rs they were pos
sessed by bis enemies, he gained converts
TO his doctrine. His religion was de.
nounced as false and blasphcmous, and
yet it spread. Before his death be ap-
pointed several Of bis disciples, as desti-
tute of worldly culture ms himself, to be
apostles, and them he made his minis
tiers. They repeated what they had
learned of their Master and after his
death, notwithstanding all the dangers to
which they were exposed, they went
forth devoting themselves with tireless
assiduty and energy to the promulgation
of the doctrine they had received from
his lips. They gathered bodies of belle
ver5 into churches, They travelled far
and wide, and before their lives were
ended, they saw their beloved religion
planted in all the principal cities of the
surrounding countries 1t was preached
in Corinth and Athens and even in i'm
perial Rome. 1t met opposition every
where, and yet it prospered. Kings per.
secuted it, and yet were conquered by it,
and it was only two or three centuries
bef5re II was recognized on the throne of
the Caesars. And now after so many
centuries, it is the religion acknowledged
and professed by about three hundred
and City millions of our race, or one
quarter of the whole population of the
earth.
But what is more remarkable still is |
the fact that Christianity has won its
way by its own native force, without
arms or violence, and at this moment en-
braces the most enlightened ard civilized
nations of the world. The young peas
ant of Galilee is day the great religi-
Gus Teacher of mankind. And blended
with his religion is all The science, the
literature, the art worth naming among
the human race. The thoughts-nay,
the very words Of that early martyr to
human prejudice and passions, have gone