pillius, no doubt an excellent man, gained much of his consequence from the Egerian grove; and the secluded character of Mahomet threw a ray of divinity over the impostor. Lycurgus too offers a resembling incident which is said to have happened to Jesus. The oracle pronounced Lycurgus "Beloved of the gods, and rather a god than a man." A voice too proclaimed, "This is my be loved son in whom I am well pleased." The sacred chickens of the Romans, and the holy dove afford but a partial resemblance; and likewise the dove and the milk-white hind of Sertorius. The entry of JESUS into the temple, and the expulsion of the merchants, bear a strong likeness to the entry of Cromwell into the British parliament. These particulars are more striking in contrast with the general symplicity of the Carriage and conduct of JESUS.

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To all this, and much more which might be objected, I will only reply, that JESUS CHRIST, if he was an impostor, of all men was most weak, inefficient and wrong-headed. Of this his early catastrophe, and uniform eccentricity, are sufficient proof. On the contrary, if he was not an impostor, he may be. considered successful in an eminent degree. Not Alexander, who in the intoxication of pride forgot his father Philip, allied himself so equally to the Great First Cause, as did the Nazarene in his sober senses, and in his most unpromising circumstances. Yet the one, though a conqueror, whose head, above the clouds, became giddy from its own height, and whose eyes, dazzled in the splendor of his own glory, saw not the devastation which the print of his feet left behind, was but a laughing stock in his pretensions to

his own creatures and bacchanals, while the other, ready to become the servant of all, at the same moment, challenged unlimited faith to his sublime affinity. Therefore, if JESUS was an impostor, he was doubtless unsuccessful; but if he was not an impostor, it is too much to say he did not attain his object; especially as himself indicated as much in his last expression," It is finished!"

Yet who will say that JESUS CHRIST was either a weak man, or inefficient in his purposes? That he was wrong-headed, cannot be disputed with the moneyschemers, the ambitious, and the calculators on time and chance. But, however shiftless JESUS may seem to the man of the world, and however weak and unsuccessful he may appear to the politician, the mysterious and instant

command that he exercised over his numerous followers, himself profess edly the humblest of all, sufficiently marks the strength and power of his character. Nor was he by any means destitute of address and knowledge of the world. His conduct in several instances will best illustrate this strength of mind and ready judgment.

His decision on the question of the tribute money; and his rebuke to the hasty Peter, when he drew his sword on the servant of the high-priest, discover a quick and prudent judg ment. But his question to the Jews, on the baptism of John, surpasses in sagacity, any thing related of Socrates, in throwing his adversaries into a dilemma. His reply to those who questioned the propriety of plucking the ears of corn on the sabbath, is a mem

orable instance of temperate reproach. The young man too, who went away sorrowful, was the best possible illus tration of his own doctrine of grace.

WITH Such faculties, all-essential to an impostor, and such as might have commanded success in any of the u sual pursuits of ambition, Jesus, al, though a public man, preserved his original poverty, sought no offices, so, licited no friends, deprecated no enemies, and still claimed a share of the God-head; and although he persevered in this celestial claim, he carried himself with so much meekness and humility, that his public conduct was marked by no human motive; for sa little selfishness did the tenor of his life discover, that his predominant passion was a secret to his own disciples: So that, if JESUS CHRIST was an impostor,