CHAPTER I.-THE DEITY.

Address to the reader. Preparation of the heart. The caravan
Night. The lost child. An anxious search. Jerusalem at even
ing. The temple. The boy found. The question and reply
Mary's feelings towards her son. His appearance, and character
He stands alone. The Deity. Survey of the Universe. The
proper station. The sun. The moon. Jupiter; his satellites.
Distance. Exact regularity. The celestial clock. Sirius. The
Panorama of the Universe. Childish illusion. No visible Deity.
The Spirit; seen only in his works. Various manifestations.
Un-
worthy conceptions of God. Exhibitions of power; love; benev-
olence; skill. Moral character displayed in Jesus Christ.

Studying God's character. Practical considerations. His works

examined. An experiment. The ripe apple's stem. Juices.

Bells. The vine and its tendrils. Contraction. The dew drop

Its supports. Highly finished work. Water. The fleecy cloud.

Snow storins and snow flakes. Perfect workmanship. The bub-

ble. Its structure. Its wonderful mechanisın. Intellectual and

moral exhibitions. An imaginary walk in June. God is love

The robin and his nest. God's care of him. The pair. The

scene changed. January. Plans for protection. The winter
home. The Chrysalis. The ant. God a father. A magistrate
too. System. Firmness and decision. The suffering child. Its
mother. Physical law sustained. God's determined decision
General laws. Moral law. The wretched dwelling. The inte-
rior. Misery. The father's return. Unpunished guilt, and suf-
fering innocence. Penalties. Language of the Bible. Leading
traits of the Divine character. Second manifestation. The Holy
Spirit. Contrasts of character. Influences of the Spirit. Testi
mony of the Bible; of witnesses. United testimony. The Son.
Seeing face to face. Studying God's character. True mode.
Approaching the Deity. Access by Jesus Christ. Conclusion.

CHAPTER II.-THE MAN CHRIST JESUS.

The Savior's first words. His last words. Perfection. Common

illusion. Real claims of Christianity. Mahometanisın. Pagan-

ism. The worldly man. His character and habits. Seriousness.

He is changed. One kind of religion. His great business. His

final account. Consequences. Samuel's business. How a child

may imitate the Savior. The glory of God. Acting as a stew-

ard. Worldliness. Love of furniture. Dress. The work of

God. Low pursuits. The arts and refinements of life. The en-

joyments of life.

The Savior's character. Energy. Mildness and forbearance. His

story of the Samaritan. His rejection at Samaria. Plans. Bold

and systematic action. His personal boldness. Nights of prayer.

Style of speaking. Sermon on the Mount. The assembly. His

missionaries. Results. Key to his character. Courage. The

night in the garden. Suffering. Lights and weapons and armed'

men. Real courage. Three great traits. Love of nature. Kirk

White. The Savior's metaphors. The lily. Insensibility of men.

The garden. Its wonders. The Savior's taste and sensibility.

His mode of addressing men. Moral sympathy. Reasoning. He

loved his friends. He loved his mother. Proof. Filial affection.

13

CHAPTER III.-HUMAN DUTY, OR THE SAVIOR'S MESSAG

TO MANKIND.

A difference between the gospels and the epistles. Wrong way to

read the Bible. Right way. The schoolhouse. A stormy night.

Trouble. The lost cap. Conversation. The Teacher's perplexity.

The plan formed. Penitence necessary before forgiveness. Dis-

tinction illustrated. A dialogue. Forgiveness of Joseph. The
Teacher's walk. Effect on the boys. Joseph. The Teacher's
return. Moral effect of Christ's sufferings. Essentials.
penitent child. The shipwrecked minister. The savages.
science, the universal monitor. Duty plain. John the Baptist.
Jonah. Voice of conscience. Personal duty plain, though univer-
sally neglected.

The

Con-

God's design in the creation. The ten commandments. Analysis of

the moral law. Its character. Effects of obedience to it. Spir-

itual obedience to it. The Priest and the Levite. Various ways

of beginning to obey. The absent master. The disobedient boys.

Expostulation. How to begin. Giving cold water. Holiness is

submission. Various forms of piety. The conversion of a little

child. Spiritual darkness. The way to remove it. The various
ways of turning to God. Forms and ceremonies. Do this. Prac-
tice of the Apostles. Forms of worship. Example of Christ.
Changes necessary. Common error. One great denomination.
Disastrous results. Christ's sufferings.

CHAPTER IV.-HUMAN NATURE, OR THE SAVIOR'S RECEP-

TION AMONG MANKIND.

Human nature. The way to study it. The village. Morning. The

wife and mother. Industry. Benevolence. Exceptions rare.

Moral beauty. Night. The sick child. The proposal. Watch-

fulness. Moral beauty. Human virtue. Its two foundations.

The village examined. Real characters. The post office. Appa-

rent virtue. A distinction. No real difference of opinion about

human character. Alienation from God: settled and universal.

Evidences. Use of God's name. False religions. Mint, anise

and cummin.

The door of salvation open. Men will not enter. Insincerity among

Christians. Open vice and crime. Salvation offered to children.

Its reception. The little child. The wealthy merchant. The

message to him. Enmity against God. The amiable girl. Appa-

rent attention. Real indifference. Almost a Christian. Univer-

sal alienation from God. Dead in trespasses and sins. The real

difficulty. Spiritual blindness. The ungrateful child. The dia-

logue. Ingratitude. Moral insensibility. Spiritual blindness.

The horse and his rider. Insensibility. The common case.

Scene at evening. Feelings.

The Soliloquy. Wandering thoughts. Reveries. The confession.
The cold, formal prayer. Effect of sickness and suffering. The
sick man. A visit. Conversation by the way The unfeeling
heart. Consumption. Hopeless condition.

CHAPTER V.-PUNISHMENT, OR THE CONSEQUENCES OF

HUMAN GUILT.

Character of the Deity. Efficiency in government. Different es-

timates of it. Severe punishment. Necessity for it. Alternative.

Consequences of yielding to crime. Public sentiment. Petitions.

Public sentiment now. Impartiality. Opinions influenced by

character. Points illustrated. Time spent in sin. Fifteen sec.

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96

onds. Bad intentions. Immediate consequences. Inconsiderate-

ness. Object of punishment. Not revenge. Moral impression.

The petition. Satisfying justice. Dr. Johnson. Salvation by

Christ. Penitence. Its power in averting punishment. It makes

pardon desirable.

Application of principles. Nature and effects of sin. Cockfighting.

War. Spiritual blindness. Human insensibility to sin. Threat-

ened destruction. The alternative. Open unbelief. Indifference.

Mistaken views. The guilt of sinning against God. Case of the

child. The spread of siu must be stopped. Sin overruled for
good. The forgery. Its beneficial effects. Moral impression.
The authority of law sustained. Good often done by the commis-
sion and the punishment of sin. Difficulty. Divine power over
the human heart. The traveller. Spirit of controversy. God is
to be feared. The Savior. Insensibility to God's threatened
judgments. A form of unbelief. Christians should be affected by
it. Probation. Debt and credit.

The young man. Leaving home.

Allurements of sin. The Crisis.

The sore temptation and the struggle. Results depending. Con-

sequences of a defeat. Probation. Nature of it. Si perpetu-
ates itself. Its worst effects. Wandering from God. Can the sin-
ner return? Will the sinner return? God often employs suffering.
Arrangements for it in the human frame. Uses of suffering. Jehovah
is to be feared. Value of an efficient government. Conclusion. 122

CHAPTER VI.-PARDON, OR CONSEQUENCES SAVED.

Pardon possible. Always desirable when it is safe. The story of

the lost cap.
The Teacher's motives. Cases common. Not pre-

cisely analogous to the plan of salvation. The broken stucco.

Suffering of the innocent for the guilty. Effects of the substitution.

The principle often applied. Another case. The students and the

joiners. Mischief. The proposed substitution. Its effects. Moral

impression. Peculiarities of the case. The offenders not peni-

tent. Favors received for Christ's sake. Illustration. Political

governments. Differences. No forgiveness provided for by hunan

laws. Two motives for punishment. Their operation in this case.

Substitute for punishment. The father's plan. Visit to the poor-

house. The scene. The abandoned. Consequences of truancy.

Moral impression made by the death of Christ. Extent and power
of it undeniable. Its present influence. Its prospective influence.
Necessity of atonement. Sacrifices. Preparation required. Sin-
cere repentance. Principles of moral government.

Application of the subject. Address to the inquirer. Source of

anxiety. Remedy. Anxiety needless. Redemption fully pur-

chased. Faith necessary.
Difference between faith and belief.

The electric machine. Christian faith. Doubts and fears. The

way to find peace. Justified by the law. Lasting effects of sin

Example. The sinning child. Change in his moral position.

Justification. Peace of conscious rectitude. Peace of forgiveness.

Joys of forgiveness. The sting of sin.

wounded spirit. The way to find peace.

pardon. Penitence essential to pardon.

Bunyan's view. Christian at the Cross.

burden. Come to the Savior.

Their permanence. A

The Savior. Peace and

Peace deferred. John

The way to remove the

CHAPTER VII.-THE LAST SUPPER.

Plan of this work. Analysis of preceding chapters. The last supper.

Jerusalem. Supposed feelings of the populace. The last passover.

Moral greatness of the occasion. The meeting. Anxiety and sadness.

152

The Savior's religious instruction. He pressed duty first. Nico-

demus. Theories of regeneration. The occasion. Topics now

brought forward. Free conversation. Truths adduced. His

testimony respecting himself. Philip's question. The way to

approach the Deity. Moral dependence. Ye have not chosen me.

The vine and the branches. Union with Christ. The Comforter.

His work upon human hearts. The disciple's question. The

prayer. Eternal life a gift. God's claim often resisted. The

happiness of yielding to it. Feeling of dependence safe: happy.

Religious experience. Trust in God. Physical danger. The

safe refuge. Other truths. Evidences of piety. Fruits. Com-

mon errors. Two errors. Abundance of talk. Insincerity.

Party spirit in religion. Its nature. Its spirit. Its effects. True

fruits of piety. The catalogue. Love. Joy. Peace. Long-suffer-
ing. Gentleness. Goodness. Faith. Meekness. Temperance.

Other occurrences at the interview. The Lord's supper. The Sa-

vior's view of ceremonies. Forms and feelings. Baptism. The

rainbow. Ceremonies symbolical. Monuments. A contrast.

The pyramids and the Lord's supper. Test of sincerity. Exact

obedience. The father's two directions. Principles of compliance.

Ceremonies of false and true religions. Meaning of Do this."

Circumstances excluded. Principles. Moral effect to be secured.

No dispute on this subject. Principies universally applicable.

Formalists. No denomination free. Liberality.

Difference of opinion unavoidable. Case supposed. Wine of Pales-

tine. Each church must judge for itself. Modes of ordination.

Admission to the church. True intolerance. Practical applica-

tion. Weak and sickly Christians. Directions. The sickly Chris-

tian. Preparatory lecture. Communion day. Feelings at the com-

munion table. Its true design. Its proper effects. Examination.

Confession. Reunion. Partaking unworthily. Guilt and conse-

quences of it. Lukewarm Christians. The sad alternative. The

Savior's farewell Hymn.

CHAPTER VIII.-THE CRUCIFIERS.

Dramatic interest of the narrative of the crucifixion. Its moral
effect often lost. Three stages of guilt. First stage; guilty fecl-
ing. Second stage; guilty intentions. Third stage; guilty action.
Illustrations. Sudden acts. God's view of guilt. Difference
between divine and human laws. Consequences no criterion of
guilt. The murderer. The feelings of the heart and external

conduct. The Lady. The rude boy. Application of these princi-

ples. The characters of the crucifiers. Their characters common.

Judas Iscariot. His p.obable character and plans. Trust conferred

upon him. His present followers. The church. Various ways

of betraying Christ's cause. The worldly pastor. The merchant.

The probal 'e intentions of Judas. Judas' excuses. The midnight

scene. Jerusalem. The valley. The garden. The coming forth

of the soldiers. Apparent discrepancy. The two accounts. Fear-

lessness of truth. Explanation. The encounter. Resistance.

Binding the prisoner. Jesus before the Priests.
Their two

charges. Blasphemy.

Political condition of the Jews. Capital punishment. The P

Governor. His hall. The Priests remain in the stre

apparent discrepancy. Truth and fabricati

Judas and the Priests compared. The spi

tention among denominations.

Peter. His appearance at the hall.

Peter's sin very common. His te

183

Denying Christ at the present day. The narrative resumed.

Characters of the parties. The dialogue in the street. Charge of

treason. Pilate and the Savior in the hail. Pilate's efforts. His

inquiries. His plan for avoiding a decision. Herod. The Sa-

vior's silence. Another plan. Barabbas called for. The excite-

ment. P.late's perplexity. The scourging. One more appeal

to the Savior's enemies. The decision. Character of Pontius

Pilate. The soldiers. Sinning in the way of business. Various

characters exhibited at the cross. His numerous friends.

Crucifixion. Inflammation. Thirst. Suffering. Death. The sol-

diers' visit at sunset. The body taken down. The disciples.

Moral effect of the scene.

CHAPTER IX.—THE PARTING COMMAND, OR THE MEANS

OF SPREADING THE GOSPEL.

I'lan of the work. Human life. Anticipated happiness. What

have I to live for? The work of a Christian. The Christian's

work. Means of doing it.

1. Holy life. Two kinds of influence. The salt of the earth. Duties

to ourselves. Common danger. Looking to others. Watching one's

self. Common way of evading duty. Influence of personal holiness.

Influence of action. Double motives. Bad principles cultivated

by religious acts. Influence of the heart greater than that of the

conduct. Holy example. Unholy example. The latter common.

11. Personal influence. Its value as a means of doing good. The

contrast. Repulsive piety. Its bad influence. The fault_gener-

ally incurable. Unsound logic. Supposed want of influence.

Extent and power of influence. The chief magistrate. The two

sisters. Mutual influence. Powerful but not extensive. The

child and his little brother. None too young to do good. Influ-

ence over brothers and sisters. Every Christian has an influence.

Effect of universal fidelity. Future spread of the gospel. The

church the pillar of the truth.

11. Study of human nature.
Paul. His preaching. Mistakes of Christians. Guides in the
study. The Bible. Observation. Books. Theories. Theolog-
ical notions. Want of skill. Careful study necessary.

IV. Use of property. Claims of Christianity. Common question.

Case supposed. The rude Islanders. Ways of reaching them. Vari-

ous plans. Co-operation. Money. Its nature as a means of doing
good. Examples of its power. Radiant points of piety. Sincere
motives. Piety begins at home. Success certain. Important trust
committed to Christians. Sublimity of the Christian's work.

v. Religious discussion. Written defences of Christianity. Early

associations. Instances. Religious antipathies; beyond the reach

of argument. Opinions hereditary. Irreligion the cause of error.

One great distinction. Influence of feelings. Instances. The

contention. The consumptive patient. Bias in religion. Sourc-

es of bias. Remedies. Inefficacy of argument. Hard to ac-

knowledge error. The remedy. Useless disputes. Language

misunderstood. Human character. Nature of disputes about it.

Misunderstanding. Dispute grounded on misunderstanding. Am-

biguity of cominon words. Proposed question and dispute arising

from it. Unimportant questions. Pride and self-conceit. The

limited powers of the human mind. Fruitlessness of controversies.

The test of the truth. Sin a disease. Efficacy of remedies.

Moral power of the truth The means of propagating it.

Mistakes often made. Example of

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