The whole human family is sick. From the days of our progenitors down to the present time, all have been the subjects of an awful malady. The blighting hand of a disease far more destructive than pestilence has been laid heavily upon young and old, rich and poor, king and subject. All have suffered from its terrible ravages. It has, drenched this beautiful world in blood, and made it one vast burying-ground. It has changed Eden-happiness into burning tears, bitter [53] lamentations, and insufferable agonies. Sin is in our midst, rioting in the destruction of body, soul and spirit. We speak not of the reason why God has permitted it to be introduced into our world, or allowed suffering and death to follow in its footsteps. We have to do with facts, not with things fictitious. Speculations may be beautiful and pleasing, but are of no real value. After all our rounds in idealism, we must come back to the point of departure, take our stand on terra firma, and grapple with the difficulties, dangers and sufferings that environ us.

      It can not be questioned that sin has taken a deep hold on our race, in consequence of which all are sick and need a physician. Man needs a physician, not only because he is diseased of sin, but because he is unable, in the absence of assistance, to relieve himself. Though the loftiest being in the rank of created intelligences, he is far too weak and short-sighted to devise a plan which will effectually destroy sin, remove its consequences, and restore him to his lost possessions--his original greatness. No, man can not do this. His past acts are a sad verification of the truth of this remark. Can then a physician be found altogether competent to heal all who will abide his instructions? Such a physician came into our world eighteen hundred years ago. He carne from heaven in order to heal the sick, and to take such as would hear his voice and submit to his will to a land where there is no more sickness, no more death.

      Let us look at a few of the leading features in this great and good physician's character. We trust he may appear to those who need his aid, the chiefest among ten thousand, and the one altogether lovely:

      1. His Wisdom.--All that God knew in the past, Jesus knew; all that God knows in the present, he knows; all events, great and small, that shall transpire in coming ages, are known to him as well as to the Father. He knows man infinitely better than he knows himself. Man's greatness, weakness, powers of mind, capacities of soul--his glory, his shame, his nothingness, are open to him. He walked with man the tedious round of life--is well acquainted with his character in all its shades and attenuations--is wise enough to instruct the wisest, and lowly enough to reach the humblest. His sermon on the mount has been admired by infidel and Christian. The learned and great have contemplated with astonishment its unfathomable depths of wisdom and knowledge, while the meek and lowly have found consolation from its pure and holy teachings. No sham, no deception in this sermon. It will bear the severest scrutiny. Infidels say that Jesus was merely a great philosopher--the wisest and best that has ever lived. On this supposition, how shall we account for the wonderful display of wisdom in this inimitable sermon? Did he obtain it from Moses and the prophets, the bards and holy seers of Israel? [54] It can not be proved that he did. At least the premises for the conclusions to which he arrived, have never yet been brought forward from Old Testament Scriptures. It is presumable they never will be, inasmuch as they would long since have been offered to the world, had they been found there. But it may be said that he obtained his wisdom from the Gentile world. Satisfactory proof that he did, has never yet been produced. His name was never enrolled in a Gentile school. He never sat at the feet of any philosopher, great or small. He was never found in the Academy, the Lyceum, or the Porch. His feet never trod on Grecian, Roman, or Persian soil. He never engaged in metaphysical disquisitions, or in dark, bewildering argumentation, which so much delighted Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, and the wise men of the East. His wisdom is far above all human wisdom. Nothing in story or in song is comparable to it. It uproots and grinds into powder the wise sayings, the proud maxims, the most profound systems of ethics, ever given to the world by the so-called moral philosophers. Surely the wisdom of Jesus could not have sprung from the wisdom of this world. Like his kingdom, it is not of this world. Whence, then, came the wisdom and knowledge of Jesus? He was not educated as a philosopher, but was born and reared in poverty. He borrowed not from Jew or Greek. Whence, then, came his wisdom and knowledge? Whence that power which enabled him to speak as never man spoke; that enabled him to give lessons of wisdom such as had never been given; that enabled him to present views in regard to the government of body, soul and spirit, such as had never been heard; that enabled him to instruct mankind, as having a complete knowledge of the diverse and increasing wants of all, in every condition, in every circumstance, in prosperity and adversity, in affluence and poverty, on land, on sea, in all kingdoms, in all lands, and through all time? We are forced to the conclusion that the immense and unfailing treasures of wisdom and knowledge possessed by Jesus Christ, came from above--are of heaven and not of men--and that the exhibitions of his powers and capacities are worthy his divine origin.

      2. His Goodness.--We have no desire to pronounce a eulogy on the character of Jesus Christ. The poor commendations of the great and learned, have added nothing to its excellency. For centuries it has been before the world, and is at this moment as stainless, pure and irreproachable, as it was in the beginning. In his ministrations, Jesus was surrounded by the bitterest enemies--by Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes and Herodians--by all the malignant sects and parties of Judea--and still no blot was ever fixed upon his character. His words and deeds were closely scanned by his enemies; but nothing could be detected unworthy his position, or the glorious work in which he was engaged. The simplicity, beauty, purity, truthfulness and power [55] displayed in all his utterances, in all his actions, struck with wonder and astonishment those who thronged his presence, and induced multitudes to acknowledge him as their Lord and Master.

      When John was in prison, he sent to Jesus to know if he was the One that should come, or should another be expected. "Jesus, answering, said to those who came, Go your way and tell John what things you have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached; and blessed is he whosoever shall not be offended in me." Jesus desired John to know that he was engaged in doing good--what was the character of his work--and therefore instructed the disciples of John to tell what they saw and heard. Doing good was his constant employment. Whether in Jerusalem, in Nazareth, in Bethany; whether along the winding streams, the fruitful vales, or on the palm-covered hills of Judea, Jesus is seen, he will ever be found engaged in the same blessed, godlike work--doing good to all around him. He came to seek and save the lost; he sought them everywhere, with a deeper solicitude than ever parent sought an erring child. Whenever and wherever found, he administered to their wants, taught them the way to God, instructed them how to meet the difficulties of a rough world, and how to bear the many disappointments and misfortunes to which flesh is heir. In healing the sick, cleansing the leper, dispossessing the demoniac of the evil spirit, giving sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf, life to the dead; on the Mount of Olives, at the well with the Samaritan woman, at the grave of Lazarus weeping with Mary and Martha, walking on the stormy Sea of Galilee, uttering his sad prophetic lamentation over Jerusalem, in the garden of Gethsemane, praying to his Father, at the Bar of Pilate and Herod, going to Calvary, or expiring in awful agonies on its summit; his majesty, his goodness, his condescending love and tender compassion to the children of men, shine forth with celestial glory. How kind, how generous, how magnanimous he was; how pure his words, how elevated his thoughts, how godlike his deeds. How simple in his greatness, how truly great in his simplicity! Hard must be the heart and cold the feelings of him who can contemplate the sayings and doings of Jesus without emotion. Unnumbered are the evidences in favor of the goodness and condescending love of the Lord Jesus Christ. When man had revolted from the government of God, had wandered from the path of truth and righteousness, had become bewildered in the thick darkness of a world that knew not God, Jesus, leaving the communion of his Father, of angels, of seraph and cherub, came into our world in order to redeem the human family from the thralldom of sin. Heaven was interested in his advent on earth. An angel, to Judah's shepherds, keeping watch over their [56] flocks by night, proclaimed: "Behold, I bring you glad tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people;" and "suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, peace on earth, and good will towards men." Blissful tidings, joyous announcement, prophetic of the regeneration of the world. Great is the work of salvation, great the work of our redemption; the blessings to be enjoyed transcendently great.

      3. His Power.--A physician may possess wisdom, goodness, and condescension, and still not have sufficient power to accomplish the intended good. Has Jesus the necessary power? Ii the New Testament be a truthful record, he possesses power over all spirits--celestial, terrestrial and infernal; over all things in heaven, on earth, and under the earth. As vast as is the universe, so far does his power extend. In contemplating his power, we will glance at a few, and only a few, of the characteristic features of his miracles.

      These features distinguish the miracles of Jesus from all the pretended miracles of Mormonism, Mohammedanism, or Romanism. The miracles of Jesus Christ were wrought publicly, not secretly. They were wrought in the presence of friends and enemies, so that any fraud, trick, or conjuring, would have been instantly detected. Foes were ever nigh that slumbered not, nor neglected the slightest opportunity to entrap him. Yet he constantly mingled with the people, and by his stupendous works established his claims to the Messiahship. He spoke with authority, and acted with authority, and hence he spoke as never man spoke, and acted as never man acted. Without pomp and parade, without long and labored effort, or the tediousness of well-guarded preparatory steps, he performed all his miracles, beginning in Cana of Galilee, and, ending, on the shores of the Sea of Tiberias, after his resurrection. Let the places where and the circumstances under which the miracles of Jesus were performed, be compared to the places where and the circumstances under which the pseudo-miracles of Mormonism, Mohammedanism and Roman Catholicism have been got up, and offered to the world. The contrast will be striking, the inquiry will prove beneficial, and if faith in Jesus be weak, it will be strengthened.

      But the miracles of Jesus were wrought instantly. Days, weeks, and months were not required for their performance. In the name of his Father he spoke the word, and the lame walked, the diseased were healed, and the dead raised to life. Not so with those whose object is to deceive. They demanded more time in order to succeed.

      Also, the miracles of Jesus were performed for the purpose of doing good. They were all benevolent in design and character. Not one that has an evil tendency. This cannot be affirmed of the frauds and deceptions of Roman Catholicism, Mormonism, Mohammedanism, [57] and Paganism. These all have a far different object in view--a far different character--and subserve a far different end. No selfishness can be found in anything Jesus said or did. His character, as well as his words and deeds, is free from all accusation. He did not do good that he might gather up gold or silver. Though rich, for our sakes he became poor. He astonished all who came into his presence by his wonderful words and deeds, and yet he asked no reward--only required faith in him and obedience to his commands, in order to the present and ultimate well-being of mankind. He was "great in goodness and good in greatness." In him, for the first and last time on earth, was perfect goodness, wedded to perfect greatness. His life was, and is, and will forever remain, the brightest display of all those virtues and graces that can adorn the life, dignify the character, and ennoble the soul of fallen humanity. That Jesus is all-powerful to save, is manifest from his resurrection. He spoke to his disciples of his death, burial and resurrection. When he was crucified and buried, however, all their fond hopes seemed dispelled forever. They went to their former vocations. But early on the morning of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James, and other women, came to the sepulcher with sweet spices, to anoint the body of Jesus. They found not their Lord there. An angel had descended from heaven, rolled back the stone from the mouth of the sepulcher, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow. He said to the women, Fear not; you seek Jesus who was crucified; he is not here, but is risen; come, see the place where the Lord lay. No, he was not there. His grave was tenantless. His enemies said that his body was stolen while the guard was asleep; his disciples declared that he had risen from the dead. Infidelity has ever been puzzled to account for the fact that the body of Jesus was missing on the morning of the third day. However

infidelity, like Belshazzar on the fatal festive night, is here weighed in the balance and found wanting. Jesus was the first being that ever rose from the grave. All the sons and daughters of Adam no more disturb its dread silence. Alexander, Cæsar and Napoleon,

sleep the sleep of death, and will awake not until the morning of the resurrection. The dead, small and great, will break not their slumbers until the voice of the Archangel call them forth to judgment. But Jesus, on the morning of the third day, threw aside the habiliments of death, and walked forth in the majesty of his strength, mightier than all the proud heroes, statesmen and philosophers of earth. [58]

      4. Why are not all healed?--If Jesus possesses all wisdom, power, goodness, condescension and love, why are not the sin-sick healed of all their terrible maladies? The medicine may not be good, the prescription may be imperfect, the medicine may not be taken, or it taken, the prescription may not be followed. Such suggestion might, by some, be offered. But the medicine is good--is just such as humanity needs. All agree in exalting it. Even infidelity is constrained to acknowledge its many virtues. The fault can not be in the medicine. Wherever and whenever taken, it has proved effective in restoring and preserving health. Its wonderfully happy effects upon body, soul and spirit, may be seen by looking over those lands where it has been most severely tested. It is the only panacea known beneath the skies for the sins of our ruined race. It is the only infallible remedy which has been found, or which will ever be found, for the awful maladies that are preying upon the vitals of the miserable inhabitants of earth.

      But the prescription--is it perfect or imperfect? No valid objection can be offered against it. It is simple and plain--easily understood--adapted to the highest and lowest capacity--to all in every age, clime and country; so that those who are spiritually sick, may easily ascertain how they may be restored to health.

      Since, then, the medicine is good, and the prescription faultless, and the physician the chiefest among ten thousand and altogether acceptable, man's perverseness and obstinacy may account for the fact that all are not restored to the enjoyment of spiritual health. Often the prescription for receiving the medicine is wholly neglected, and hence the consequences are fatal; often the prescription is observed but in part, and death is the inevitable result. Those who are self-willed--of a perverse disposition--calling in the aid of human physicians--taking human drugs and potions and nostrums, must perish. For them there is no salvation. And this to a very great extent is the case in this day. The heaven-commissioned physician and the heaven-prepared medicine are not unfrequently spurned and rejected. Thousands are thus acting. Such conduct is insulting to the' Most High God, and ruinous to the soul. Hence, many in the Christian world are sick and dying. They have followed and are now following human devices. They have been deceived, and are now being, deceived, by the spiritual quackery of the day. But in taking this medicine, all human devices, preparations or prescriptions must be studiously avoided. The wisdom of God far transcends the wisdom of man; and the directions given by Christ--our perfect physician--are far superior in excellence to all the concentrated wisdom of the wise, past and present. They are perfect, and can not with impunity be set aside, supplanted, or improved. Just as they are, must they [59] remain--without addition or subtraction. They point out the only means by which dying humanity can possibly live. In this age of moral and spiritual degeneracy, they can not be too highly valued, or too closely followed.

      Suppose a person to be sick. His system, from the crown of his head to the sole of his foot, is racked by a dreadful disease. Unless relieved, he must very soon enter the chambers of death. A physician is called for. One possessing all wisdom, power, goodness and love is procured. He informs the suffering victim that he has an infallible remedy--a specific for his disease; that it has never failed to restore the sick and the dying when properly administered--that it has been tested by millions in the past eighteen hundred years, and in every instance has proved effective--that unless he take this antidote he must inevitably die. But suppose the patient, addressing the physician, should remark, I acknowledge I am in a deplorable condition--am perhaps dying; I acknowledge that you are the only physician and possess the only antidote that can possibly cure me; still I desire to wait a little while, until I feel better, then I will take your medicine; or, I desire to wait until I feel like taking it; or, I can only take a part of it; or, I must take it in my own way; or, I think it unnecessary to be so particular as you prescribe; true you say I must be particular, and I know I must die unless you relieve me; but I must wait a little longer. What would be thought of the sanity of such a person, or of the wisdom of such suggestions? And how many thousands there are in this day who would condemn the unwise conduct of this suffering victim, and are acting with far greater folly. They are spiritually sick and dying, but before receiving that which alone can do them good, they desire to feel better; very desirous are they to be saved, but are unwilling to be guided by Him who holds in his hands life and death. They stop to talk about things essential and not essential, what they like and dislike, or what does or does not appear right and proper according to their preconceived notions of propriety, not consulting, as they ought to, the infallible directions of the great and good Physician. Or if they are constrained to consult' these, they must, as a matter of course, first inquire of Dr. Luther, or Dr. Calvin, or Dr. Wesley, before they can possibly ascertain the right method of taking the heaven-prepared antidote; thus virtually saying that God, who has spoken to the human family, has not made his word plain enough--that man's word must be consulted before God's word can be understood or obeyed. May God speed the day when all human creeds, confessions and formulas shall be repudiated, when all shall come to the Scriptures, without prejudice; believing all, doing all, confiding in all promises, and enjoying all rewards recorded in the Living Oracles of the Living God.

W. C. R.      

Sources:

1. W. C. R. "The Character of Jesus." The Millennial Harbinger 33 (September 1862): 423-426.

2. ----------. "Character of Jesus.--No. 2." The Millennial Harbinger 34 (January 1863): 23-26.

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