Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1869-04-06
A Picture of Jesus.

surprises US, but as we contemplate
him, our surprise changes into admira-
ton. The more we examine the more
we discover in his words profound
thoughts and lofty sentiments which,
till then, had never entered our minds
of his superior worth and his superhu-
man atmosphere. Jesus lives and
breathes as in his own element. There
he moves freely, he speaks without
effort; all is familiar to him-he is
at home. Heaven is his country, ho-
illness is his nature, eternity is his
life. He does not demonstrate, as we
mere men are obliged to do who
have no right to be believed on our
simple assertions; he speaks like
God, whose word is law. Nothing
embarrasses him, he speaks of heaven
and hell, life and death, the judgment
and eternity, as of things he has seen,
and which belong to his domain. His
constant thought is about the kingdom
of God, and he is solely occupied with
the will of his Father, and the sancti-
fication of humanity. His feet scarce
ly touch the earth, his heart is ever
in heaven. We feel that he is a stran-
ger to the filthy affairs Of this world !;
even the functions of a secular judge
are beneath him; possibly his hand
was never soiled with contact with
money. He is simple and humble,
but grave. He never utters a Jest
ing word, not even a useless one; nor
does he ever speak in order to dis
play his intellectual superiority. And
as a last noteworthy feature, Jesus
certainly wept; but we do not learn
that he ever laughed. Yet he never
forgot his disciples, nor ever lost
sight of the most remote generations
OF sinners that were to come after him.
His thoughts, like his love, embrace
the universe. Surely, this is the Son
of God,
If now we pass from the words to
the actions of Jesus, we are filled
with the same admiration. 1t has
been asserted that Jesus patronizes
the poor and threatens the rich; it
would be more truthful to say that he
takes no account of either poverty or
riches; gold and stubble are of equal
value to him. 1t is the spiritual CON
ditiOn of those who approach him
which claims his attention. What he
demands is not lofty thoughts or no
BILE sentiments, but a moral condition
which Is possible to all. He asks for
a heart which, though broken and con
trite, yet expects every thing at his
hands-heaIing grace, salvation, and
eternal life. When Jesus performs
miracles they do not astOniSh him; he
is engaged in his own proper work.
We may, indeed, reject them without
examination but when we honestly
study them, we find il to be quite nat
ural that the Son OF God should work
such miracles; especially since these
miracle. have nothing in common with
the prodigies ola tbaumaturgus, whose
aim is to taScinate the eye and to mis-
lead the Imagination. The mighty
works of Jesus are just what We
might expect from a God who created
and now Sustains us; he gives food
health, lite, forgiveness, to all who, il
faith, lay their wants before him. I'm
believer, you are surprised, and you
do not know what conclusion to draw
from these miracles, but you dare not
deny them. Be sincere, and confess
that there is something in them be
yond your apprehension. Believer
are you delighted. These miracles
seem to you the natural operations of
the Son of God. You learn from
them that he gives comfort, healing
and forgiveness. lie were not Coo
did he at otherwise Let but Jesus
speak, and your attention is redoub
led. His maxims, by penetrating in
to your spirit, give you light; thu
more you study them, the more yol
find them beautiful and brilliant will
the light of truth. They are like th,
starry heavens, which reveal to you
earnest gaze new depths, filled will
new lights, of which even the mos
dim are clear. Moreover, that which
removes from you the fear Of delu
sion, is the fact that al these marvel
have, as t. .r enc aud aim, not tn
satisfaction Of your curiosity, but tn
publication of your heart, the raisin!
of your mind, ana the kindling o.
your devotion. Yes; this is the tes
by which we prove the pure gold Of
, the character of Jesus Christ. 1t i
not possible to contemplate him with
out moral gain. The glow of life i
communicated from him to us; it pei
vades our being, it blesses and sanct
fies US. Jesus is the spiritual sun tina
warns and WHITES our souls. n
one but God can make us thus a
once better and happier.-N. Rou'
1 setS Christ Of the Gospels. -