The Newtown bee., 1893-08-04

d with child-like gentleness; the kingly | 'earing of the monarch, united with the humility of a menial servant; lofty | of power, joined to Il loWly l of life, uniform serious less, (not one recorded laugh) and yet a continual fitness of joy that is sublime. How full of repose is he! When others Ire fearful, he is calm. No power of earth ever disturbed the serenity of his soul. Like the tranquil lake, unswept by the storms or unbeaten by the winds, men ever saw in his deep nature reflected the image of Heaven. And how the spir- it of self-denial possessed him. He counted no sacrifice too great or cost too dear. His devotion to humanity knew no bounds. In gentleness and in love, in mercy, he ministered unto the tempted and sorrowful, the outcast and heavy laden, the poor and the oppressed, that he might lift them out of their poverty and shame and sin, into the life whereby they might become sons of God, inspir- ing them with a new hope and making them sons of God. Looked at from ev- cry point of view, how complete and per- feet was his nature. In youth and in manhood; in private and in public; in obscurity and in popularity; under oppo- sition and in the glow of success,
 HE WAS EVER THE SAME.
 The negative and the positive graces, in all their purity and power, shone re- splendent as the sun in the heavens.
 Now, here is a character which must be accounted for in some way. No so- phistrv can put it aside. How shall we estimate it? This picture of a perfect man is as undeniably hung before the gaze of a Christian world, as that Raphael's Transfiguration hangs in the Vatican at Rome. There it is, challenging the ad- miration of the world, believer and un- believer, friend and foe, Christian and in- fidel, and the universal verdict is, it is the consummation and crown of perfection, unapproached and unapproachable.
 Suppose, for the sake of inquiry, we assume for the moment sthat Christ did not possess this character; in what DO sition are we left? Remember, it was not denied at the time. Wouldn't it have beet? Neither the Jews, who hated Him nor the Romans, who despised H im, ever uttered a syllable in contradiction of the Gospel narrative. Could such book anC such a character be invented and palmeC off up.n the credulity of the people, with out calling forth a single word of protest Besides, that which is recorded of Chris is
 NOT CHARACTERISTIC OF THE AGE.
 It is not in keeping with the color anC tone of the spirit ana thought of tht times in which he lived. Neither Roman superstition nor Jewish corruption wer, capable of producing such unique per sonality.
 Again, this account of.the life of Chris was either written by good or by bat men. If by good men, it must be true If not true, this would prove the writer bad, which is contradiction of the pre- mise.
 If, on the other hand, it were writer by bad men, we have the strange anon ally of bad men inventing and imposin. a lie upon the people, and then dyins willingly in its behalf, which is the yer, highth of absurdity.
 "The man who could create such character, amid such surroundings, character which has held underits magi spell the whole Christian world, mus have possessed the powers of Christ him self, a genius immeasurably superior t. any other in history"
 1 Remember what Rosseau says, to sup pose that some one originated it woul
 be to suppose greater wonder than tn hero himself.
 Tichte, the German skeptic and athe
 ist,
 PAYS JESUS THE HIGHEST COMPLIMEN one man or genius can pay an other, making him the original pro ! phy. He also says, Jesus did nor than all other philosophers in bringin, Heavenly morality into the hearts ant homes of men," Again, "'rill the end o time all the sensible will bow low befor this Jesus of Nazareth, and all will hum bly acknowledge the exceeding glory o this great phenomenon" Again, Hi followers are nations and generations. Paul Richter calls Jesus "the purest o the mighty and the mightiest of tn pure, who with his pierced hands raised empires from their foundations, turned the stream of history from it's old chan nels and still continues to rule and guid the ages.' The comparison Rosseau in stitutes between Christ and Socrates il almost too well known to justify repeti tion. What difference between tn son of Sophroniscus and the son of Ma ry! Socrates dies with honor, surround ed by his disciples, listening to the mos tender words-the easiest death that on could wish to die. Jesus dies in pain dishonored, mocked, the object of uni versal cursing-the most horrible deatl which one could fear. At the receipt O THE CUP OF POISON,
 Socrates blesses him who could not giv, l it to him without tears Jesus, whil, suffering the sharpest pains, prays fo 1 his most bitter enemies. If Socrate lived and died like philosopher, Jesu lived and and died like God. Napo leon said, "Everything in Christ aston ishes me. His spirit overawes me ant his will confounds me. His ideas ant sentiments, the truths which lie amour anS his rafn1. nf nan1rirniaafr ,,c,