New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-01-21
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
uR. rROTHINGHAMS CHRISTMAS AND
NEW YEARS DISCOURSES.

SPIRIT Two D,sooussKs. BY o. b. fnorHiseHAh-
sve. pt ~ psyid U. frsnei~
In these discourses which were preached To The
Ch,ra Unitarian Society in New-foIk, on the morn
~ OF Christmas aud New-Years Day, we ind al
oppressive statement of original ideas, awealth and
S,sutv of illustration, and fine harmony with the
pirit OF passing events which challenge the atten-
don of Q wider sudicnce than is usually attracted
by the Sunday preaching even Of our most eloquent
6vines. Mr.. rockingham, it would seem, is in the
Asbit Of avalng himself Of "times and seasons TO
iharpen the edge of his appeals; no occurrence Of
NE day is lost sight of as material for profitable
somment and judging from the discourses aireaay
before the public, he is not apt to waste much tc
h beating about the ancient ecclesiastca oushes;
but strikes boldly out into "esh folds and pastures
ssw," gathering fruits and herbage which II With
sat the sayory ancient relish possess certain spicy
aayor that has tie merit Of novelty, and is plqaln'
70 the taste, and perhaps not unwholesome TO Inc
constitution The first Of the present disconrses
considers the birth of Jesus as the spiritual man
DE grand ideal Of humanity realized in the heSi'
ne man who lifted up bis race into the region OF me
divine, and stood beautiful and sublime Oh the pm
aAcle Of the SOUL man 80 great In purity oil good
sciousuess the state of perfect communion with
God. indeed, before the mind Of tho great Christian
world, the state of perfect identity with God
nan whom the larger portion Of Christendom have
% scruple in calling God himself
In regard TO the connection of Jesus with the fans
4 history, MIR. rockingham attempts to relieve
ne spirit of his character and teachings from the
Ioubt. suggested by the researches Of modern criti
Sism.
In celebrating the birth OF Jesus, We do not dwelon
~ individual career; we do not vouch Tor TIC annc"
heity Of Ill the "details vi his private life; we ley no EN-
tha Is on senuineness Of the gospel or tho accuracy
q Il inedenIs of wLaever kind therein Recorded We
ksve all that TO the historical students Strauss snd
Renan may do what they with that The birth oil
Jesus ~ significant dating and locating truth OF
vVrldw ide import and prooontest interest 10 men
III tincs. His history Is q central point rornd "oich
very holy ideas crystalEa. With him have become as
sociated certain thoughts that burn in al pnre hearts
sertain laws OF life that sustain all those hearts, tain
moral and spiritual forces that STR and move all nohe
IVES Say what YOU viii about 6m figure IN history
p that you have bot his precise words aud cannot TEA
est what he taught; that yo- have no suhclthty an
thentcatei Of his deeds and cannot Tell just
What he dido that the events in his earthly career are
ysry dimly and consedy present to MS that you see
% evidence that lie the uneIling tereher, The eu
less man the immaculate saint which Chrsicndom las
supposed bin to be: say you w that the wonderful
porops OF this recorded story are incredible anu tl
be UNIV onderul portions lDay may not be receivable
- truepo msttsr II sti remains i'd puta6e that al
tais point Of time and occurred great outbreak
8spitual frce great truth received is oirth OF IT.
Jew birth hich alent " birth; asub'ne ana
gracious law was revealed which contained all promise
& ioy and bessedness for humanity. We LOOK back to
Nat spot aud ~ thai hour as to one m the turnns
Doints human destiny, one OF the CRITICAL points N
SQnan experience Of the centers OF power and VI
kght. .-
rea among those FURNISHES in that aud sedce OF
The rushing liferyer seem To ind tie cradle OF this
nost encb. nting Thouglthat man is tie child oil the
tu6nite 0v ing to origin sustenance, support inspir
Alton destiny bound to il by organic ties; related to
b. nearest aectiuns pledged ~ II BY gratitude duty
6ye der wing from IT, as by chiids claim consolation
oeAce lelp There we seem " lind Graded the truth
hat God In Father; Theodore Parker said-following
te Catholic Church, which has d MOther6 od-l ntier
aaa Mther in the bosom Of whom the human lives and
eonscousy NAV live; who may be seen IL all lis glory
and perfection by the simplest and most urtaugh heaf
Nat is pure. who may lie found by the simplest and
most soul that asprcs who maY be felt By tie
simplest and uBtaught spirit that Is obedient THIS
= tfe truth whose birth celebrate to-day. And we
sclebra,e ii associated with Jesus ttcase .hen We
celebrate associated with one OF the sfnpt end
ewest Of The least hOnored. one OF the least favored
sutwardly Of tie children Of men one who was peas
mt born; whose brotherhood s with the obscure
With hnm any IN its aspect and its common
at relations end whose entertaining Of this high ruth
= his meek bosom is ASSURANCE that 1t Is truth
which all mar entertain, DC they what they may be
Soor unhappy unfortunate. despised dishoncred ofthe
Earth At the distance Of nearly two thousand years We
still commemorate the birth OF this truth And still In
tAe association With Jesus for the truth CONTAINS
b. 1t clements OF unlimited expansions 1t ID for all time
and for ali people.
The collection Of narratives and other documents
concerning the life Of Jesus contained In the New
Testament are thus spoken of in their relation TO
his spirit, which, in the view Of the preacher,
6prms the essence of Christianity.
IN these books Of the New Testament Biographies
letters and poems the earliest literature Oi Chrhusl
the literature Of its crude infency rude disjoIntea
scany incohereuD the first fruits OF the spit
u,th witch the name of Jesus r. associated. And how
beautiful these first fruits grehow suggestive OF future
VINEYARDS and haryestsi These charming legends OF
ebidhood-the babe in the manger the virgin mother
She angels making the night lustrous Win their hash
ins wings and the plain vocal with their seraph song
Che shepherds startled from their sleep ~ the mucous
tomed glory; the eastern kings win their ge bmsd
Snrbans ard jeweIed robes kneelng before the little
shid beneath the radiance Of the wonderful star the
heavens that lay about the infancy Of our alth how
lovely those parallels fresh from tho heart o. natare
hose holy precepts breathing the soul Of the new dw
d. bcatiudss floating over the mutudes Ike white
winged doves How charming the tale OF mhecIe
which recounts in guileess wonder the way In which
aim ne spirit greeted and met and dealt with human.
iry. how Il made the lame walk the blind see the deal
Aesr how IL cleansed the eper and revived the par
altic and raised the dead. How touching the incident
Of mercy the prsser the tear the struggei ING
hoe book or collection OF books IA Kind Of nursery
nong chapied about cradle. The artess chronicles.
Srllipc how the newly born truth was welcomed, what
spestons were nut 10 H. what questions asked; how
n received the praise snd the blame OF men; who hon.
cred IL with their patronage or by their persecution,
who tried TO crown il king and who tried 70 crush II
- meefactoT in what temper 1t met rs nSfoftgnes
ko,e its sorrows faced its foes; what II wished aimed
=. purposed In that early day OF its lifehow interest
Ssting they Arel ibis great hymn oil the Apocalypse
about the Kingdom to come down from the skies
Che oyortrow OF tbs empires Of the EARTH the crown
Spr Of the sanity ones; the enthusiastic belle! IN the
sredy md perfect victory OF Justice, Truth and Mercy
syen within tho lifetime OF those standing near the
s1h rtations the warnings the pomises that hew nom
M to lin gaddeDng ssddenng the souls Of men and
women. lie enlistiDg missionaries o! fishermen and