of pity for the
wretches who were driving the nails into his hands and feet, and prayed
in their behalf: 'Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.'
He did not seek or hasten his martyrdom, like many of the early martyrs
of the Ignatian type, in their morbid enthusiasm and ambitious humility,
but quietly and patiently waited for the hour appointed by the will of
his Heavenly Father.

But when the hour came, with what self-possession and calmness, with
what strength and meekness, with what majesty and gentleness did he pass
through its dark and trying scenes! A prisoner before Pilate, who
represented the power of the Roman empire, he professes himself a king
of truth, and makes the governor tremble before him. Charged with crime
at the tribunal of the high priest, he speaks to him with the majesty
and dignity of the judge of the world. And in the agony of death on the
cross he dispenses a place in paradise to the penitent robber. In the
history of the passion, every word and act are unutterably significant,
from the agony in Gethsemane, when, overwhelmed with the sympathetic
sense of the entire guilt of mankind, and in full view of the terrible
scenes before him--the only guiltless being in the world--he prayed that
the cup might pass from him, but immediately added, 'Not my but thy will
be done,' to the triumphant exclamation on the cross, 'It is finished!'
Even his dignified silence before the tribunal of his enemies and the
furious mob, when 'as a lamb dumb before his shearers he opened not his
mouth,' is more eloquent than any apology. Who will venture to bring a
parallel from the annals of ancient or modern sages, when even a
Rousseau confessed: 'If Socrates suffered and died like a philosopher,
Christ suffered and died like a God!' The passion and crucifixion of
Jesus, like his whole character, stands without a parallel, solitary and
alone in its glory, and will ever continue to be what it has been for
these eighteen hundred years, the most sacred theme of meditation, the
highest exemplar of suffering virtue, the strongest weapon against sin
and Satan, the deepest source of comfort to the noblest and best of men.

SUMMARY--CHRIST'S CHARACTER THE GREATEST MORAL MIRACLE IN HISTORY.

Such was Jesus of Nazareth--a true man in body, soul, and spirit, yet
differing from all men, a character absolutely unique and original, from
tender childhood to ripe manhood moving in unbroken union with God,
overflowin