the world. Alas, such is not the Christianity of the Churches at this day, nor at any day since the crucifixion; but is it not the Christianity of Christ, the one only Religion, everlasting, ever blest?[1]
CHAPTER VI.
THE MORAL AND RELIGIOUS CHARACTER OF JESUS OF NAZARETH.
Reverence and Tradition have woven about Jesus such a shining veil, that with the imperfect and doubtful materials in our hands, it is not easy to determine in detail and with minuteness the character that moved and lived among his fellow-men, and commenced what may he called the Christian movement. The difficulty is twofold: to avoid traditional prejudice, and to get at the facts. Perhaps it is impossible to separate the pure fact from the legendary and mythological drapery that surrounds it. Besides, the Gospels pretend to cover but a few months of his active life. Still some conclusion may be reached. From Christianity we have separated the life and character of Jesus, that we might try the doctrine by Absolute Religion; it now remains to examine the life of the man by the standard himself has given.
I. The Negative Side, or the Limitations of Jesus.
It is apparent that Jesus shared the erroneous notions of the times respecting devils, possessions, and demonology in general; respecting the character of God, and the eternal punishment he prepares for the Devil and his angels, and for a large part of mankind. If we may credit
- ↑ See the Critical and Miscellaneous Writings of Theodore Parker, Boston, 1843, Art. I. and X.; Sermons of Theism, Serm. III.— VI. Also, Relation between the Ecclesiastical Institutions and the Religious Consciousness of the American People; and Function of a Teacher of Religion.
