The reader will perceive that the history of Jesus Christ is the clue which I have endeavored to follow; that is, the work is intended to exhibit religious truth as it is connected with the various events, in the life of our Savior. In first introducing him to the scene, I consider his exalted nature as the GREAT MORAL MANIFESTATION OF THE DIVINITY to us. Then follows a view of his PERSONAL CHARACTER, and of his views of RELIGIOUS DUTY. From this last subject we turn aside a little to consider the general CONDUCT OF MANKIND, its CONSEQUENCES, and the principles on which these consequences can be averted by PARDON; and then we return again to the history of the Savior, -to the scenes at the LAST SUPPER, and at the CRUCIFIXION. His PARTING COMMAND, and PArtING PROMISE, bring us to the CONCLUSION of the volume.

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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 storms and snow flakes. Perfect workmanship. The bub-

ble. Its structure. Its wonderful mechanism. 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,

13

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

illusion. Real claims of Christianity. Mahometanism. 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. 49

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. The
penitent child. The shipwrecked minister. The savages. Con-
science, the universal monitor. Duty plain. John the Baptist.
Jonah. Voice of conscience. Personal duty plain, though univer-
sally neglected.

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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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 sin 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. Sin 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 human

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.

way to find peace. Justified by the law.

Example. The sinning child. Change

Justification. Peace of conscious rectitude.

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.

The

Lasting effects of sin

in his moral position.

A

Peace of forgiveness.

Their permanence.

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.

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