words all mankind have felt. The charm of his eloquence has departed, the beauty of his discourse is blemished through a halting translation, and the order is broken by chapter and verse, but the substance remains, and will for. ever remain, either an object of curiosity to taste, or of improvement to piety.

HUMAN nature was thought to be raised by the stoics, to a dignity, scarcely its own. But their moral austerity counteracted itself, and produced a. pride and intolerance not always compatible with social life. The discourse of JESUS on the Mount, gave a moral, which though built on humility, transcended the severity of the stoics, and taught man what he ought to be, rath

er than what he might be. The stoics made no allowance for human frailty. Even the milder virtues were treated with contempt. Pity was weakness, compassion a crime; and love was divested not only of sentiment, but of heart. They tied up the passions, and chastised the sensations. JESUS CHRIST, though he struck at the root of man's pride, offered no violence to his nature. JESUS offered no new system; he who addresses the human heart should never think of a system.

BUT why did not the civil authori ty arrest the progress of this man? We have already told the cause. JESUS CHRIST never offered a system. Of all men he was apparently least solicitous

G

of reputation for though he com manded, at pleasure, the passions of others, he never discovered a passion of his own. Beside, his public life was too unsociable for popularity, rather inspiring reverence, than courting fav our; though in a private circle he was willing to adapt himself, and sometimes lent his presence to domestic parties. A man of this description, of unassuming manners, whose constant doctrine seemed to impress on the multitude the duty of obedience, and even acquiescence under every form of government, could not be obnoxious to the Roman authority of that day. Patience, and resignation to others, is the doctrine most agreeable to a tyrant. Hence, the cause of the persecution of

this man must have been more deep and insidious than any alarm from the civil authority. But, was JESUS CHRIST an advocate for arbitrary power? Not Brutus was less so; with the feelings of prophecy, and with an unerring political foresight, he addressed himself, in general, to that great body of the community, who in all countries, and in all ages, can find little on which to repose, but a naked faith. Did he side with the rich against the poor? Not Aristides was more just. Did he inspirit the poor against the rich? Not Thurlow was more austere. The sagacity of Jesus. led him to foresee, that under every form of government, the strong strong would. prey upon the weak, that the rich would oppress the poor; that human society

was just like the pyramid, the bottom of which must forever support the whole weight, and that unless there was a sympathy on one part, and a moral feeling on the other, the community of men would become a system of aggression and countervail. No, JESUS CHRIST offered no new system. He only sublimated the religion of nature. Regardless of forms and ceremonies, he taught his disciples to look directly to heaven, in the midst of the single institution, the social board of bread and wine.

NOR was the civil power alarmed at this man's sudden renown. It was rather an admiration that followed, than a popularity that was courted.