The New York herald., 1871-12-25

me "a common condition OF humanity roucuns efror!
o. os jnomsnt semptetion and doubta SO long
Or mon 9oh. ISs sns sae sertn whether be nosea
walks the s. q 80
his SSSs S Or saa SCus
omnipotence-he wondered why he shouid ID
suffered 70 remain 50 long IN prison II Christ wsS
1T WAS THE OLD QUESTION,
o question older than John-how can the benencence
and justice Of God permit innocence to suIeif II
Vsa strange as GOD Sod co1d Gss permit s'
Apocalypse. what trial or faith i was.
IN sas sasrs good s,s man soha from Ss
Jesus9 And yet John Bunysn 10 MS prison vrots
book tnat has been published IN more lans
did not come up 70 Jonn's expectation. John
"came neither eating nor drlnking' ne was an
austere man. Christ came eating and drinking with
publlcans and sinners. Es6sl
JOHN DID NOT UNDERSTAND 1T.
1t is only a repetition OF the: old facs that nan
rarely realizes his expectation. The Messiah did
not @ come up % Johns IDEAL as he did Gld not come Y
versal, Go to St Peter's, one hundred feet
higher than the dome Of the Capitol anQ
the first expression OF the visitor is, 'Ig
THIS 81 Pe,sr'sp "A Byron says. "1ne s,sa Isna
os Mn
English lady went to hear John Wesley for the nrSe
time. When The services were over she said, ATha1
venture the assertion that Jesus Christ does nQf
come up 70 our expectation OF the Messiah; tnaa
appointed IN Jesus Christ In some particular Ihi9
fact is usually true touching regeneration. Thd
Of nys Ss
nen rses. a0S St '
people we muss remember ihat the imaginaiion
not the supreme faculty OF the human soul, but Inc
.TTrA CHRIsT's ANswRR TO JOHN We
was then considered. II contained fact, Q caution
ana eulogy. lie referred him to His works as hin
he Who Is not on oSended @ Il Men I John must IS -
signed; he must have confidence In Jesus Chrisf
Of the depntatIon; ior Christ would convlnce awaj
and not eulogse away the doubts OF John He knew
ana nas many VIII So %
e. cause sen.rn, rom praise and ,nsttery. as1ce @
rests HIS claim to the Messia1ship upon the
correspondence IN history and prophecy. They
the place ana time Of His brth-they also annOunceq
His character. We are bound to reach one Of tw6
conclusions-that the prophets have failed, or tha{
Or. Newman traced the correspondence between
the prophecies and their iulhlment IN Christ. we
pretences, or that they are so doubtful and ambgQ
GUS that we cannot unders ana them. In 0tnef
qures another revelation TO interpretit Jesus Chrsl
Is all that humanity requires IN doctrine. WhA
other doctrine can he added with all your imperial
intellect and your varied scholarship. your manln-
cent specuati0ns your independence Of rellgiOud
tnoughtsY What doctrine would you have that jesus
Christ mas not2 What power could be added to Hl5
p0werS What morality could be added to His sys-
tenn OF ethicsf How pure and noble life-hoW
adapted to every phase and character OF the human
race He came III the fullness OF tfme not that thq
world was prepared to receive Him, but in harmony
with the great principle OF Development Ih8
w0rlu most needed Him when He came. Christ il
alrsunicicnt ana we look not for another. :,
'The stores or Christianity were inexhaustblo. ~
her treasures infinite wisdom and knowledge apA
intellect may advance ana culmlnato In angeltd
strength. The human character may advance and
culmina.e In Gainrincss, and yet Christianity W14
lead the advance. and her cry VIII be higher anQ
bIgher, for her banner ts "ExcelSlOr.n