Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1868-04-22

table of man who does not use such
meat or bread for he is sinner. The
butcher who slaughters the animal eaten,
or the baker who prepares the bread.
must wash their hands properly or the
food is uncleau. So runs the endless
web Countless questions arise, as to
what is clean, what uuclean, and the law
yers sit daily in the courts of the temple,
give decisions, having practice quite as
extensive as that of many of the members
of the Suffolk or any other bar in the
United States.
1t is an age of philcsophic thought
and disputstion, Athens, Alexandria
and Rome have had their schools of phil
osophers and here in Jerusalem there are
politico-re schools The Saddncees
are free thinkcrs-opposed in almost
everything to the Pharisees-denyiDg the
oral lav-denying the resurrecticn-de-
nying the existence Of angels OF spirits.
There are also the Essenes. who live
strictly. doing penancc for sin. and other
sects and parties, all discussing religious
beliefs. forms and ceremonies, al expecting
the coming of a Messiah, spoken of by the
prophets---a leader who will throw of the
dominion of Rome, aud re establish the
throne of David.
TIE BIRTH OF CHRIST
1t is when the nation is at such state,
four years before the death Of Hcrod,
that VIC sec man and woman coming up
the Bethlehem road, bringing la5e aud
pair of turtle doves to the temple.
Familiar to all is the story of the birth
of that child in stable at Bethlehem
his presentation at the alter-an old
man and an aged woman taking him in
their arms, and speaking remarkable
words concerning him A few days later
caravan comes over this ridge of Olivct
f Ola the other side of the Jordan. and en-
ters the city, The men accompanying
it set all Jurusalem agog fy their ipquir-
les concerning the pl ice where the future.
King of the Jews was to be born. Start.
ling words they are to King Herod.
What rival is this? ? We know what
followcd--the babe taken to Egypt, and
weeping aud waiing ut Bethlehem.
Twelve years later we behold the child
in the temple, among the hair.splitting
lawyers, asking them wise questions. We
hear his reply to his mother: He must
be about his Fathers business. Mysreri-
ous words they are to the mother, and she
thinks seriously of them as she goes with
her sou up yonder slope, northwards. TO-
ward their distant home
AscENE IN THE TEMPLE.
Fifteen years more 60 by 1t is spring
time flowers arc in bloom and the grain
is waving on these hills Jerusalem is
crowded with people who have come to
celebrate the Passover Among the
multitude is young man twentyseven
years Of age--a carpenter from Nazareth
he who questioned the lawyers 10 his
childhood He has been baptized in the
river Jordan by his cousin, who lives a
sort of hermit life, sleeping in the lines
stone caves of these hills east Of US, eat
ing locusts. and horey made by the wild
bees, and who wears q camels hair SKIRT,
but who is highly esteemed by the people
as holy man.
Going in Imagination with the crowd
into the temple, we see the courts occupi-
ed by dealers in doves, pigeons, lambs.
sheep aud cattle and money changers---as
if the temple was the city market. We
behold that carpenter of Nazareth enter
ing the gate walking through the mag
nficept coloDqdes, gazing upon the scene
He is not an officer of the temple clothed
with authority. not member of the San
hediim, has received no appointment as
police officer, yet he drives out the whole
crew OF stall keepers. overturDs the tables
and clears the courts No wonder that
the people want to know where he obtain.
ed his authority for doing it,
The festival ended, he goes up the road
leading nortbward to Sama,ia, sitting
down to rest himself by well just out
side of that town, and has a talk with a
woman about well Of living water.
A year later he is here again to the
Passover He has been travelling the
while through Galilce, and is known now
as. the Great Teacher, the good Physician
and Wonderful Man No one utters such
words Of wisdom, 10 full Of tcauty and
truth There is no such physician as he
in all the land He cures all kinds Of
disease, fevers and leprosy, gives strength
to the lame and sight to the blind He
never has studied medicine, yet even. the