The New York herald., 1874-12-28
LYRIC HALL.
MR.. ROCKINGHAM oS THE gEAgT OF CHRIST

MIR. ROCKINGHAM oS THE EEART OF CHRrsT--
NEW CONCEPTION OF HUMANITY.
TIE attendance at Lyric Hail was very large yes
terday morning. The platform was prolusely
decorated with nowers, the desk being entirely
hidden with smiiax aud roses. Mr. Frothlngham
announced his subject as 'rTne Heart OF Chtistn
Said Ee:-instead OF Christ being one person
there are tw0-ore the historical character, who
lived, wrought ana was crucifed in the reign oil
Tiberus Caesar; the other was spirit. How the
two came to be blended and confused
I shall not attempt to say, and yet
from the beginning OF Christendom the
two have been detachng themselves. and
now We see the difference. Christ was not an
historical character. he was an idea, concep.
tion, thought, an image OF the human mind.
Jesus was bern into moi, al LIE, OF mortal parents
Christ was not born into mortal life at all, had no
mortal parents The dates OF the births OF the
two can be accurately determined The Apostle
Paul exled himself to Arabia and 1t was alter his
three years OF seclusion that Jesus, like Minerva
from the head oil Jove, sprung into life. Paul had
never seen Jesus, and when he returned from
Arabia be did not seek those who could tell him
OF Jesus, but pursued his own conception. What
was the idea The Christ as conceived by Paul
was different from the Christ conceived by Jesus,
different from the Christ OF the Jews
Jesus called himself Christ the Jews called
Him Christ, but that was the Christ OF the Jews
q popular legenerator, sant-but still man,
VINO lived and had career ana died. The Christ
Of Paw was notning IKE ths, n He He was not born
human, but not as otter men are human. He was
human because He pltied, compassionated ana
loved; but his humanity was 80 transccnucnt that
it took Him outside OF the category OF human
character. This thousht-ior a thought and notn-
ing more He was-grew TIL The Idea presented
Tue CHRIST or IAAoINATIoN,
took His place In the eternal SKIES as being IN
every respect Commensurate and co ordinate with
God as the eternal and everlasting head
OF the Christian Cnurch. Attributes were
ascrioed to Him that could never belong
possessed OF goodness equal TO absolute tcgicc.
lion. lie was IN all respects the manifested deity,
For more than thousand years tais Christ,
seated on the heavenly throne. has presided over
the desiinies oil Chfistenaom. Let us try to un-
not a being; an idea, not a person. TO under.
stand religion we must take an inside vie " and
an outside view. Now as 70 the inside view, waat
ma DimUuS image Was set up before the a1mlring
gaze OF mankind; an image that flied the world
ness tnat no language can ever describe. lie
WAS teacher guide, consoer TO come TO this
privilege OF every living soul. But all the qualities
were not so sweet Cnrist could admonish and
rebuKe; He was the final Judge, with the poxer OF
eternaflife and death. But consider that though
the Judge consigntDg millions OF souls to perdt-
ton lie was the anal Judge only at the last
lostered The child, guided the man; HIS spirit be.
sieged every human soul, and only when every.
thing had Jailed was the poor soul abandoned, and
then VINO was the person who was the arbiter OF
their fate - No demon; but tAe king OF all be.
ngnty the prince OF all sweetness, only lie was
put on the throne aud made the final nudge, and
80 His very judgesiip shows the bcnlgnlty OF HIS
character.
MEN CREATE THE ATTRIBUTES
OF the beings they adore. Thousands OF years be-
fore Christ came deitlcs mad been placed tn the
skies by one race alter another, and never was al
Image placed In the heavens sweet 80 great IN
all benlGnites as the i1laae OF Carsf- Ipis IL lba