MY DEAR YOUNG FRIEND,

I am quite grieved the Ancient Paper you was so kind as to lend me, has not been returned to me; if I was out from this place I could procure another, and will do so, God willing; but I will tell you every word of it.

A DESCRIPTION OF THE PERSON OF JESUS,

As it was found in an Ancient Manuscript, sent by Publius Lentulus, President of Judea, to the Senate of Rome.

There lives at this time in Judea, a Man of singular Character whose name is Jesus Christ; the barbarians esteem him as a Prophet, but his own followers adore him as the immediate offspring of the immortal God. He is endued with such unparalleled virtue, as to call back the dead from their graves, and to heal every kind of disease with a word or a touch. His person is tall, and elegantly shaped, his aspect amiable and reverend; his hair flows into those beauteous shades which no united colours can match, falling into graceful curls below his ears, agreeably couching on his shoulders, and parting on the crown of his head, like the head dress of the sect of the Nazarenes. His forehead is very plain, smooth, and large, his cheeks without a spot or wrinkle, save that of a lovely red, his nose and mouth are formed with exquisite symmetry, his beard is thick, and of a colour suitable to the hair of his head, reaching a little below his chin, and parted in the middle like a fork, his eyes grey, bright and clear, quick and serene. He rebukes with majesty, counsels with mildness, pleasant in speech, and invites with the most tender and persuasive language; his whole address, whether by word or deed, being courteous and friendly, elegant, grave, and characteristic of so exalted a being. No man has seen him laugh, but the whole world beheld him weep frequently, and so persuasive are his tears, that the multitude cannot withhold theirs from joining in sympathy with his. He is very temperate, modest, and wise, in short, whatever this Phænomenon may turn out in the end, he seems, at present a man, for his excellent beauty and divine perfections, every way surpassing the Children of Men.

This is certainly a very pretty description of the human nature of our dear Lord, and I feel half inclined to suppose that our first parent Adam, was a little like him in person—this is only a carnal notion, I acknowledge, but I cannot forbear to indulge it. The psalmist David, said of Christ, eight hundred years before he came, “Thou art fairer than the children of men:” yet this dear visage and beauty was marred, spoiled, more than any man’s; grief had so affected him, that when but thirty, he looked like a man of fifty years of age. He was a man of sorrows, and his most intimate acquaintance was grief; he saw such an infinite evil in sin, the hourly insults poured upon God by the whole world; he saw Jehovah slighted, ridiculed, abused, hated, and opposed; his whole heart loved Jehovah, and this broke his heart, lay heavy on his spirits, and caused him to say, as in his own common prayer book, the Psalms, “Rivers of water run down mine eyes, because men keep not thy law.” He saw the dreadful state his own children were in, and what he had to endure to make an atonement for them. Every now and then one of his soul pangs took him; hence we read of his being troubled in spirit, agitated and troubled in soul. This was some time before his sufferings in the garden. But while we admire his outward beauty as man, what vast beauty possessed his mind—wisdom, prudence, chastity, holiness, zeal, understanding, faith, hope, love, and joy; in the principle—mercy, commiseration, pity, affection, patience, gratitude, and fidelity. Look at his actions, and they all correspond with the holy principles of his mind, and this holy nature was the image of God, the exemplar pattern and likeness of the new man of grace in the souls of God’s children; but Oh, what an exalted idea does the sacred pages give us of this blessed Jesus; he was, he is God-Man. His body was but the casket, his divinity the rich jewel it contained. He was united to the Son of God, to God the Son, who is over all, God blessed for ever. He is God-Man, he possesses every divine perfection; he is Jehovah, God and Lord; he is stiled, Jehovah 330 times in the old Testament; he is called God 90 times in the old Testament, and 25 times in the new. He has put away sin by his obedience and sufferings; he is exalted above the heavens. How truly beautiful and glorious he appears in the midst of heaven, wearing our nature, but shining brighter than a million suns—the delight of the Father and the Holy Spirit—the joy of saints and angels; and whatever was his appearance on earth, we can form no idea of his human nature in heaven. God bless you while young, with some very sweet views of him, that he may be dear to your heart in youth and age, in life and death.

So prays your affectionate well wisher,
Ruhamah.

LETTER XXXVII.

Achor’s tale, September 29, 1818.

Mr. G. Gray.

MY DEAR BROTHER,