THE

BAPTIST MISSIONARY MAGAZINE.

VOL. XXVIII.

APRIL, 1848.

NO. 4.

"THE GLORIOUS GOSPEL OF THE BLESSED GOD.”—1. Tim. 1:11.

(Continued from p. 73.)

WHAT IS THE GOSPEL?

In indicating the true answer to this momentous inquiry, we do not deem it necessary to enter into any formal dissertation upon the doctrines of Christian theology, or upon what is termed the philosophy of Christianity. Our object is to seize upon a few characteristic features, and so present them that some just conception of the whole may be caught by the hearer. The gospel in its proper sense, as distinguished from the whole body of revealed truth, may be comprehensively termed that series of facts and system of doctrines narrated and set forth in the writings of the evangelists and apostles, together constituting what we call the New Testament.

THE FACTS OF THE GOSPEL.

A great portion of this wonderful book is occupied by a simple narration of facts;-the principal of which relate to the birth, the life, the doctrine, the death, the resurrection, and the ascension to heaven, of Jesus of Nazareth, and the subsequent spread of his doctrines through the instrumentality of his chosen apostles and disciples. Let us look at some of the more prominent of these facts. And that we may have a nearer and more vivid view, let us in imagination transport ourselves back in the history of our world somewhat more than eighteen centuries, and to the land of Palestine, then nearly the geographical centre of the civilized portion of the globe. In the vicinity of Bethlehem a group of pious shepherds are watching their flocks in the solemn stillness of the night. Suddenly a dazzling radiance bursts from the dark skies above them. And as every eye is turned upward to the brilliant phenomenon, a glorious being from the upper world is revealed to their astonished gaze. Every heart sinks congealed with terror; but hear that voice in tones of seraphic melody, "Fear not: for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." And as the sign is given by which the reality of the vision might be tested, around the celestial messenger and stretching away on either side thronged a vast concourse of shining ones robed in the splendors which heaven alone can furnish. Hark! they are singing. What words are these

which come floated down on waves of heaven's music? "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will towards men." The wondering and ravished shepherds hasten to Bethlehem to see with their own eyes the thing. which the Lord had thus made known to them. There, precisely as the angel said, they find the babe, but in all external circumstances how great the contrast to the scene they had just witnessed. Here the human eye sees nought but poverty, obscurity, desertion and humiliation. Let us pass on some twelve years. The babe of Bethlehem has grown into a manly and ingenuous lad. We see him sitting modestly, but independently, among the renowned doctors of the nation in the then hall of instruction in the temple, filling them with unutterable astonishment at the profoundness and reach of his understanding, and his familiar acquaintance with the mysteries of divine science. We pass over a score of years. A man of peculiar and unearthly aspect appears in the desert country of Judea east of the city of Jerusalem, proclaiming an entirely new message to the people, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." He arrests universal attention and produces a profound sensation in all classes, from the lowest to the highest. He is acknowledged as a messenger from God, and immense multitudes resort to him and beg to receive the new rite which he declared he was divinely commissioned to perform upon all who obeyed the great injunction of his message. While the eyes of all are intently fixed upon him, and their ears eagerly catching every word that fell from his lips, he solemnly declares he comes but as a herald to proclaim the approach of another infinitely his superior,—for whom he is not worthy to perform even the most menial of offices. Directly that personage is seen advancing from the crowd. In his mild and serene aspect we at once recognize the features expanded and matured of the remarkable child we saw among the learned doctors. He asks to receive himself, at the hands of the holy man, the rite he was administering to the multitude; but, divinely perceiving his true character, the baptizer shrinks in profound humility from the service. Being assured it was the divine will, he reverently acquiesces, and lays the sacred body of the mysterious individual beneath the yielding waves of the Jordan, and as he rises from the chrystal waters, behold an impressive wonder,-the heavens are opened, and a glory descends and settles as a lighting dove upon his head, and a voice is uttered from the viewless air, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Henceforth this man, thus accredited by the divine testimony, appears as a public, independent teacher of the people, and is known to them by the name of Jesus of Nazareth. For three years he unremittingly discharges this office, setting forth and inculcating a code of moral doctrines which reflect the purity, the spirituality and eternity of heaven itself; perfectly, beautifully and most impressively exemplifying them all in his own person; performing the meanwhile a series of the most stupendous and beneficent miracles and uttering predictions concerning himself and future events entirely beyond the range of human sagacity and human probability. He gathers round him a small number of disciples, chiefly from the humbler walks of life, takes them into the most intimate friendship with himself, carefully instructs them in respect to his real character and mission and the nature of the kingdom he had come to establish on earth, and unequivocally declares himself to be the Son of God, and claims the highest prerogatives of divinity. But strange and inexplicable contradiction! Just as the clear conviction of his true character had taken possession of the minds of his disciples, and they were exulting in view of the honor and glory which awaited them as his peculiar favorites, he declares he is about

to be delivered into the hands of his implacable enemies and suffer the most horrible and shameful death. His own soul is seized with an insupportable anguish, and expressions escape him of mysterious and unaccountable import. As he predicted, the proud and carnal rulers of the people, who had long been offended and exasperated with his independent teachings and utter disregard of their authority, and his severe rebukes of their carnality and hypocrisy, after various fruitless efforts succeed at length in apprehending him. To the utter amazement of his disciples, whose still carnal views prevented them from understanding his predictions, he unresistingly yields to the violence of his enemies, meekly bears their cruel indignities and mockings during a protracted trial, in which every principle of justice is shamefully violated, is pronounced worthy of death by the great national council, and sentence extorted from an unprincipled pagan ruler that he should be crucified. In this trial and death there was concentrated upon the meek and unresisting victim every ingredient of humiliation, of ignominy and pain. Successful and frantic malice left nothing out that could add intenseness and bitterness to the cup of shame and agony which it pressed to his lips. Terrific phenomena of nature attend his expiring agonies. The sun is supernaturally darkened, the earth trembles and heaves, rocks burst;-the great veil of the temple, which curtained from human view the holiest place, by unseen hands is rent in two from top to bottom! His bleeding and mangled body is taken from the cross and securely entombed. But on the morn of the third day,—wonder of wonders,—he appears to his disciples alive (with the marks of his cruel wounds still upon him). He manifests himself to them, in various ways, times and places, during a period of forty days. He leaves no possible room for a supposed delusion. Every proof of which the case is susceptible is applied. The most doubtful are convinced, and rest in satisfied confidence and joy. Having completed and given his final commission in respect to his kingdom and its extension, he gathers round him his reassured and rejoicing disciples, ascends with them the Mount of Olives, and before their eyes, while intently gazing on him, he is taken up, and a bright cloud receives him and he is lost to their view.

THE NATURE OF THESE FACTS.

Are they indeed The conceptions The facts must

These facts respecting Jesus of Nazareth belong to human history. We mean they are all susceptible of proof by human testimony. historical verities? The record itself proves them to be such. of which these facts are realizations, are not of humau origin. have existed ere the conceptions could have entered the mind; and most especially so in respect to the whole character of Jesus Christ, as it stands out in bold and glowing relief upon the page of the simple record. The portrait was drawn from an original, or rather the unseen Spirit himself directed the strokes of the pencil of the unconscious limner. What strange commingling of the human and the divine, and yet so mysteriously blended with "shade softening into shade," that we can distinguish no place of union. While viewing him in one aspect we say, here is a perfect man; but as we gaze, lo, a God is before us! and we instinctively bow with undissembled reverence before the manifested Deity. See that little bark in the midst of the sea struggling with the furious winds and raging billows. Surge after surge is sweeping over the deck,—it is rapidly filling, and in momentary peril of going to the bottom. All on board have become impotent from fright and despair,-all, save One who