New-York tribune., 1894-04-22
"VHE PROPHET ISSA."
HIS STORY TOLD IN THE UNkNO"N
LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST"

- o.,..so, traveller Nicolas Notovich, IN
,,icb ba publishes the biography OF THE prophet
Issa" claimed to have been discovered Oy MN -
a r,uddbist monastery In Thibet. When on VISIT
TO one OF the numerous monasterleS Noto'I'''' "
a conversation with Lama. learned Oh t"e f'0p
Issa who IS worshlpped by the priests as one ol
the Incarnations Of Buddha. but Of whom the COM
mon people know very little. AFTER lhVes''sa' 'iO'
he succeeded in discovering the biography or this
prophet in the great monastery Himms, III 'he SUI
roundings Of Teh the capital OF Ladak Inc p'eaA
ing Of his foot compelled him to make prolonged
stay In this monastery, ard the Lama nnaiiy coiii-
nlied with his wishes by communicating 10 MIN
Issa's biography from large scrolls made up oI
leaves which had turned yellow from Old age Inc
Pail text was translated by interpreter Notovitcn
carefully writing down the contents. The story ol
the book is substantially as follows:
The earth trembled and the heavens wept over
the great crime committed in Israel There the
great and lust Issa was tormented and killed, IN
whom dwe,t the soul OF the universe Merchants
coming from Israel relate about this event as io!-
lows: Israel inhabits fertile country "hch gives
two harvcss in the year and feeds many herds buI
israel on account of sins, caused Gods anger. Goa
punished them by making them slaves to the rich
and powerful Pharaos who rule over Egypt The
Israelltes were treated in Egypt worse than the
animals They had 10 do hard labor their podles
were covered with wounds. and they had not sum
cicnt food to satisfy their hunger. Then they re-
Now there was ruling Pharao renowned Tor
his many victories, his great riches and the great
edinces he had erected. lie had two sons, the
name Of the younger being Mossa. This Mossa
learned many sciences from the wise men OF lsrael.
Mossa was very popular in Egypt for the kindness
and pity he showed to all the suffering When
Mossa saw the Israeltes, in spite of their hard
chastisement did not give up their God for the
worship Of the gods of Egypt which were made by
the hands OF man. he. too became believer In the
Invisible God Of the Israelitos. and he went 70 ms
father and begged Of him 20 mitigate the lot or the
unhappy people. But Pharao waved angry ana IN
creased the hardships Of the Israetes Then there
came the pcstf,encc which destroyed many men
and cattle. Mossa presented himself again before
pharao saying that 1t the God OF Israel VINO
thus sent punishment over Egypt Nhereupoh
Pharao ordered Mossa to lead the slaves OF Israel
far away and 10 found city, where ne should
live with them. So Mossa left Egypt with all the
Israolitas and brought them to the country wnicn
they had forfeited on account Of their sins There
he gave them laws and taught them TO pray To-
God the Invisible and ail-mercfu Creator. After
Nossa's death Israel became powerful and lived
long time in great happiness. Later however lsraei
forgot their God and His commandments so that
they brought again Gods punishment upon them
selves Foreign armies invaded the country ana
finally there came heathens from the country or
Roelcs; they subjected the sraelites. placed their
c4ptiins rs governors them, compelled the
inhabitants 20 sacrifice to the heathen gods, Killed
the children AMI carried many men and women into
slavery Then Israel wept and lamented and prayed
20 God TO pardon.
In that time came the moment which COD nad
oh )sen % rcincarnate In n human being who should
show ~ erring men the way 10 perfection And
there llyoI a poor but plous family God blessed
tholr frs,-born. and chose him for his tool. lssa-
such was his name-began very early to speak OF
the only ami invisible God. and ID admonlsh the
TO him and said that fhe Spirit OF God was speak
ing through the boy When Issa reached the age OF
thirteen they In accordance with the CUSTOM
wanted % give him wife in marriage. and fhe |
wealthiest people anxious to have him for |
a son-ln-law. But Issa left secretly and joined |
merchants going 70 India In order 70 make himself |
perfect IN the word OF God and 70 study rhe laws |
og tho rrea, Ruddha At first he settled among the |
\rvas His reputation had preceded him. and when |
he iourneyed through the land Of the five streams |
OPcndshabJ the followers OF the God Dshain asked /
him - settle in their midst. He. however. went 10 |
the Brahmans where the Vedas became known to !
him
The pages which follow give moa, minute ac- |
count Of how Issa made enemies OF the Brahmans. |
because Of his taking seriously the doctrine OF the
equality Of men before God. and his consequent !
attack upon the caste system furthermore be- !
cause OF his denial OF the divinity OF the Nedas and
Purlnas. OF the trinity and the incarnations OF |
NlSlnl
his teaching that the Spirt Of God was in every |
human being and especially in those who were
low born and worked in the sweat OF their brows.
They relate how Issa. 10 evade the snares Of the |
Brahmans fed into the mountains to the Buddhists,
where he acquired the Pail language and the |
wisdom Of fhe Sutras; how. later on. Buddha chose |
him In order to preach his word Whereupon Issa |
went 10 the hcathens preaching against idolatry |
and teaching God. the creator Of the universe and |
the father Of all men. who Is worshipped 10y |
purity and perfection and not by sacrifices; how.
In Persia he condemned the Evil Principle and the |
Divinity OF the Zendavesta-whereupon he had TO |
ny before the wrath OF the priests; and how,
finally. when twenty-nine years old, he returned !
% his home.
The Israetes had greatly 10 suffer from the
heathens and they were much discouraged Issa
consocd them: they should persevere in the wor
ship OF the one true God. for he had pardoned
them. and the salvation was az hand. They
should, however. worship God in the spirit. and
erect for him "A temple In their hearts. Now. all
the people nocked together hear Issa. Pilaus the
chief governor OF the country in Jerusalem. be-
came greatly alarmed. especially when he was
Informed by his suborlnates that Issa aroused the
people by telling them that they would be
delivered from the foreign invaders. Pilatus there
fore. ordered that Issa should be arrested and
brought before tribunal; but, in order not 10
excite the people. he wanted to have him judged by
he priests and learned men OF Israel. The Judges
then put TO lssa all kinds OF questions. but he
defended himself and his teachings. whereupon fhe
Judges declared that they could ind him guilty
II any crime whatever. They acquitted him. and
told the governor that ne had been -nformed by
his officials When Pilatus heard Of this result he
grew very angry. though he did not give vent TO
his wrath. He sent out spies with the order 10
watch Issa. note all his acts and speeches and
repor' To him everything. Issa however, continued
10 teach and to preach. and everywhere people
locked together to listen to his words. The spies
put TO Issa all kinds OF deceitful questions. but he
answered them very cleverly. one OF these ques-
ions lssa made the subject OF great speech-on the
respect due to women Thus he taught three years, |
and they were not able to raise any accusation
lgalnst him. But his ever increasing nnnuIarItv |