a supernatural being." This suddenly alarmed the Jewish hierarchy; and this was the ruin of JESUS. The disinterestedness of his morality, his simplicity of life, his quaker-like inoffensiveness, might forever have saved him from persecution, had he foregone that attribute which claimed the adoration of mortals, and which stamped him, at once, an impostor in the opinion of the Jewish authority. This unprece dented pretension, would alone, have. rendered him dangerous to all those who dreaded a change: For when once a religion is established the presiding God is not permitted to interfere. But the eloquence of JESUS was frequently directed against the chief priests, the scribes, and the pharisees. Imprudent

་

man! He might have known that every establishment, religious or civil, is cruel and unrelenting in the degree it is perverted. Yet JESUS pursued these hypocrites even into their sanctuaries, and overwhelmed them in their own temples. This an effort of enthusiasm? No, their silence confirmed their conviction, and confessed the triumph of reason. If this man had seconded their views; if this man had thrown off his sackcloth, and doubly fringed his garments; if this man had associated with the chief priests, and the Jewish authority; and why did he not, if he was an impostor? If this man had only consented to have become what his countrymen were more than ready to have made him, doubtless his abilities

muft have rendered him an illustrious adventurer.

THE character of that age is well known. The Jewish hierarchy was paramount to the law of Moses. The ceremony of the tythe of mint, of annise, and of cummin was retained; even the seat of Moses was respected; but the spirit of the lawgiver had departed, The mantle of Elijah, long since worn threadbare, had been cast off for the fine linen of the East, an emblem of hierarchial purity. Imprudent man! did he not know that under such a system, virtue is odious, and truth, treason? Did he not know that, that man is worthy of death who dares attempt to bring back a corrupted age

to first principles? Surely if this man was an impostor, of all men he was most weak. He associated with the people, who were nothing, and neglected the hierarchy, who far nore commanding than the hierarchy of the present day, was supposed to possess the fabulous key of the Catholics.

Now opens upon us a new trait in the character of JESUS. The meek, the humble, the modest son of Mary is no longer vagrant from village to village, he no longer retires to the mountains, or frequents the sea shores, but boldly proceeds to the temple, that very temple, in which at the age of twelve years he had astonished all who heard him. There, in the midst of a

62

thousand enemies, regardless of the reverence of the place, in the temple of the most High God,his only weapon, the law of Moses, he throws himself in the face of the whole hierarchy. The Scribes and Pharisees, heartless as their own principles, are confounded: For,such is the dauntless attitude of the man, and such the noble frankness of his carriage, such the heart appalling terrour of his rebuke, and such the overbearing vehemence of his reproach, that every passion of the hierarchy, except the secret alarm of office, sinks under his superior presence. Though these humbled, proud men were clothed in authority; though an immediate apprehension was practicable; not a whisper from the lips of one of the