And yet there is no theme more full of sublime, exciting, and instructive interest. All the heroism which the annals of chivalry record pale into insignificance in presence of the heroism with which the battles of the cross have been fought, and with which Christians, in devotion to the interests of humanity, have met, undaunted, the most terrible doom.
The task is so difficult wisely to select and to compress within a few hundred pages the momentous events connected with Christianity during nearly nineteen centuries, that more than once the writer has been tempted to lay aside his pen in despair. Should this book fail to accomplish the purpose which he prayerfully seeks to attain, he hopes that some one else may be incited to make the attempt who will be more successful.
In writing the life of Jesus, the author has accepted the narratives of the evangelists as authentic and reliable, and has endeavored to give a faithful, and, so far as possible, a chronological account of what Jesus said and did, as he would write of any other distinguished personage. The same principle has guided him in tracing out the career of Paul and the apostles.
It has not been the object of the writer to urge any new views, or to discuss controverted questions of church polity or theology. This is a history of facts, not a philosophical or theological discussion of the principles which these facts may involve. No one, however, can read this narrative without the conviction that the religion of Jesus, notwithstanding the occasional perversions of human depravity or credulity, has remained essentially one and the same during all the centuries. We need no additional revelation. The gospel of Christ is “the power of God and the wisdom of God.” In its propagation lies the only hope of the world. Its universal acceptance will usher in such a day of glory as this world has never witnessed since the flowers of Eden wilted.
THE BIRTH, CHILDHOOD, AND EARLY MINISTRY, OF JESUS.
The Roman Empire.――Moral Influence of Jesus.――John.――The Annunciation.――The Birth of Jesus.――Visit of the Magi.――Wrath of Herod.――Flight to Egypt.――Return to Nazareth.――Jesus in the Temple.――John the Baptist.――The Temptation.――The First Disciples. ――The First Miracle.――Visit to Jerusalem.――Nicodemus.――The Woman of Samaria.――Healing of the Nobleman’s Son.――Visit to Capernaum. ――Peter and Andrew called.――James and John called.――The Demoniac healed.――Tour through Galilee.