Ingraham_The_Prince_of_the_House_of_David.txt topic ['13', '324', '378', '393']
LETTERS FROM ADINA.
LETTER I.
My Dear Father: My first duty, as it is my
highest pleasure, is to comply with your com
mand to write you as soon as I arrived at Jeru
salem ; and this letter, while it conveys to you in
telligence of my arrival, will confirm to you my
filial obedience.
I will not fail to write you by every caravan
that leaves here monthly for Cairo; and if there
are more frequent opportunities, my love for
you, dear father, and sympathy for you in your
separation from me, will prompt me to avail my
self of them.
My journey hither occupied many days, Rabbi
Ben Israel says seventeen, but although I kept
the number up to ten, I soon became too weary
to keep the account When we travelled in
sight of the sea, which we did for three days, I
14 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
enjoyed the majesty of the prospect, it seemed so
like the sky stretched out upon the earth. I
also had the good fortune to see several barges,
which the Rabbi, who was always ready to grat
ify my thirst for information, informed me were
Roman galleys, bound some to Sidon and others
into the Nile; and after one of these latter, as it
was going to you, I sent a prayer and a wish.
Just as we were leaving the seashore to turn off
into the desert, I saw a wrecked vessel. It looked
so helpless and bulky, with its huge black body all
out of the water, that it seemed to me like a great
sea-monster, the Behemoth, stranded and dying;
and I felt like pitying it. The Rabbi gave me to
understand that it had come from Alexandria,
laden with wheat, bound for Italia, and been cast
ashore in a storm. How terrible a tempest must
be upon the sea! I was in hopes to have seen a
Leviathan, but was not gratified in the wish. The
good Rabbi, who seemed to know all things,
told me that they seldom appear now in the Mid
dle Sea, but are seen beyond the pillar of Her
cules at the world's end.
At Gaza we stopped two days. We entered
the gateway of which Samson carried away the
gates, and I w r as shown the hill two miles to the
south-east where he left them. Many other
places of interest were shown me, especially the
field, which our path led across, where he put to
flight the Philistine hosts with much slaughter.
A lion's cave was also pointed out to me, out of
which came the lion which Samson slew, and
upon which he made his famous riddles.
THE PKINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 15
The dry well into which the ten Patriarchs
lowered the Prince Joseph, their brother, was
also shown me by our Arab guide, and the rock
on which the Ishmaelites told down the pieces
of silver. I fancied the old Arab related the oc
currence with more elation than was needful, as
if he took pride in perpetrating the fact that our
noble ancestor had once been the purchased
slave of theirs. I noticed, several times during
the journey, that the Ishmaelites of Edom in our
caravan took every occasion to elevate their own
race to the disparagement of the sons of Israel;
indeed, Aben Hussuff, our white-bearded chief
of the caravan, in a wordy discussion with Rabbi
Ben Israel at Isaac's well, where we encamped,
would have it that Isaac was the son of the bond
woman, and Ishmael the true heir, but disinher
ited and cast out through the wiles of the bond
woman, who would have her own son the
inheritor. But, of course, I was too well
instructed in the history of my fathers to give
heed to such a fable; though the Arabs all took
part with their chief, and contended for the truth
of what he asserted as warmly and zealously as
the learned Rabbi did for the truth of his own
side.
The morning of the last day of our journey we
caught sight of the Sea of Sodom and Gomor
rah, at a great distance to the east. How my
pulse quickened at beholding that fearful spot so
marked by the wrath of Jehovah! I seemed to
see in imagination the heavens on fire above it,
and the flames and smoke ascending as from a
16 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVIB.
great furnace, as on that fearful day when they
were destroyed, with all that beautiful surround
ing plain, which we are told was one vast garden
of beauty. How calm and still lay now that
sluggish sea beneath a cloudless sky! We held
it in sight many hours, and once caught a
glimpse of the Jordan north of it, looking like a
silver thread; yet, near as it appeared to be, I was
told it was a good day's journey for a camel to
reach its shores.
j After losing sight of this melancholy lake, the
glassy sepulchre of cities and their countless
dwellers, our way lay along a narrow valley for
sometime, when, all at once, on reaching an
eminence, Jerusalem appeared, like a city risen
out of the earth, it stood before us so unexpect
edly; for we were still, as it were, in the desert;
yet so near on the side of our approach does the
desert advance to its walls, that it was not two
miles off when we beheld it.
I cannot, my dear father, describe to you my
emotions on beholding the Holy City! They
have been experienced by millions of our people
they were similar to your own as you related
them to me. All the past, with its mighty men
who walked with Jehovah, came up to my mind,
overpowering me with the amazing weight.
The whole history of the sacred place rushed to
my memory, and compelled me to bow my head,
and worship and adore at the sight of the
Temple, where God once (alas, why does He no
longer visit earth and His Holy House?) dwelt
in the flaming Shechinah, and made known the
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 17
oracles of His will. I could see the smoke of the
evening sacrifice ascending to the skies, and I
inwardly prayed Jehovah to accept it for thee
and me.
As we approached the city several interesting
spots were pointed out to me, and I was
bewildered with the familiar and sacred
localities which I had known hitherto only by
reverential reading of the Prophets. It seemed
to me that I was living in the days of Isaiah and
Jeremiah, as places associated with their names
were shown me, rather than in the generation to
which I properly belong. Indeed, I have lived
only in the past the three days I have been in
Jerusalem, constantly consulting the sacred
historians to compare places and scenes with
their accounts, and so verify each with a holy
awe and inward delight that must be felt to be
understood; but, dear father, you have yourself
experienced all this, and therefore can under
stand my emotions.
We entered the city just before the sixth hour
of the evening, and were soon at the house of
our relative Amos, the Levite. I was received
as if I had a daughter's claim to their embraces ;
and with the luxuries with which they surround
ed me in my gorgeously furnished apartments, I
am sure they meant to tempt me to forget the
joys of the dear home I had left.
The Rabbi Amos and his family all desire to be
commended to you. As it is his course to serve
in the Temple, I do not see much of him, but he
seems to be a man of piety and benevolence, and
2
18 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
greatly loves his children. I have been once to
the Temple. Its outer court seemed like a vast
caravansera or market-place, being thronged
with the men who sell animals for sacrifice,
which crowded all parts. Thousands of doves
in large cages were sold on one side, and on
another were stalls for lambs, sheep, calves, and
oxen, the noise and bleating of which, with the
confusion of tongues, made the place appear like
anything else than the Temple of Jehovah. It
appears like desecration to use the Temple thus,
dear father, and seems to show a want of that
holy awe of God's house that once characterized
our ancestors. I was glad to get safely through
the Bazaar, which, on the plea of selling to sacri-
ficers victims for the altar, allows, under color
thereof, every other sort of traffic. On reaching
the women's court I was sensible of being in the
Temple, by the magnificence which surrounded
me. With what awe I bowed my head in the
direction of the Holy of Holies! I never felt
before so near to God! Clouds of incense
floated above the heads of the multitude, and
rivers of blood flowed down the marble steps of
the altar of burnt offering. Alas ! how many in
nocent victims bleed every morning and evening
for the sins of Israel! What a sea of blood has
been poured out in the ages that have passed!
What a strange, fearful mystery, that the blood
of an innocent lamb should atone for sins I have
done! There must be some deeper meaning in
these sacrifices, dear father, yet unrevealed to us.
As I was returning from the Temple I met
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 19
many persons walking and riding, who seemed
to be crowded out of the gate on some unusual
errand. I have since learned that there is a very
extraordinary man a true prophet of God, it is
believed by many, who dwells in the wilderness,
fifteen miles eastward, near Jordan, and who
preaches with power unknown in the land since
the days of Elijah and Elisha. It is to see and
listen to this prophet that so many persons are
daily going out from Jerusalem. He lives in a
cave, feeds on plants or wild honey, and drinks
only water, while his clothing is the skin of a
lion; at least, such is the report. I hope he is a
true prophet of Heaven, and that God is once
more about to remember Israel ; but the days of
the Prophets have long passed away, and I fear
this man is only an enthusiast; but his influence
over all who listen to him is so remarkable, that
it would seem, and one has almost the courage
to believe, that he is really endowed with the
Spirit of the Prophets.
Farewell, dear father, and let us ever pray for
the glory of Israel. Your affectionate
ADINA.
LETTER II.
My Dear Father: The excellent Rabbi, Ben
Israel, has just made known to me his intention
of returning to Egypt to-morrow, and has wait
ed upon me, to inquire if I had any commands
to entrust him with, for my friends in Alexan
dria. Instead of this letter, which he will be the
bearer of to you, I would rather commit myself a
second time to his care, and instead of placing
this parchment in your hand, let him lay your
child again upon your bosom. But it is by your
wish, dear father, that I am here, and though I
sigh to behold you once more, I will try to be
content in my absence from you, knowing that
my discontent would cause sorrow to bow down
your gray hairs.
So far as a daughter can be happy from the
home of her youth, I have everything to render
me so. The good Rabbi Amos in his kindness
recalls your own mild and dignified countenance,
and Rebecca, his noble wife, my cousin, is truly
THE FKINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID 21
a mother in Israel. Her daughter Mary, my
younger cousin, in her affectionate attachment
to me, shows me how much love I have lost in
never having had a sister. It is altogether a
lovely household, and I am favored by the God
of our fathers in having my lot, during my exile
from my home on the banks of the beautiful
Nile, cast in so peaceful and holy a domestic
sanctuary.
The street in which we dwell is elevated, and
from the roof of the house, where I love to walk
in the evening, watching the stars that hang over
Egypt, there is commanded a wide prospect of
the Holy City. The stupendous Temple, with
its terraces piled on terraces of dazzling marble,
with its glittering fountains shooting upward
like palm trees of liquid silver, with its massive
yet beautiful walls and towers, is ever in full
sight. The golden arc, that spans the door which
leads into the Holy of Holies, as it catches the
sunbeams of morning, burns like a celestial cor
onet with an unearthly glory. I dare not gaze
steadily upon that holy place, or imagine the
blinding splendor within, of the visible presence
of Jehovah, in the Shechinah once present there.
Yesterday morning I was early on the house
top, to behold the first cloud of the day-dawn
sacrifice rise from the bosom of the Temple.
When I had turned my gaze towards the sacred
summit, I was awed by the profound silence
which reigned over the vast pile that crowned
Mount Moriah. The sun was not yet risen; but
the east blushed with a roseate purple, and the
22 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
morning star was melting into its depths. Not
a sound broke the stillness of the hundred streets
within the walls of Jerusalem. Night and si
lence still held united empire over the city and
the altar of God. I was awe-silent. I stood
with my hands crossed upon my bosom and my
head reverently bowed, for in the absence of man
and his voice I believed angels were all around
in heavenly hosts, the guardian armies of this
wondrous city of David. Lances of light now
shot upwards and across the purple sea in the
east, and fleeces of clouds, that reposed upon it
like barks, catching the red rays of the yet un-
risen sun, blazed like burning ships. Each
moment the darkness fled, and the splendor of
the dawn increased; and when each instant I ex
pected to see the sun appear over the battle-
mented heights of Mount Moriah, I was thrilled
by the startling peal of the trumpets of the
priests: a thousand silver trumpets blown at
once from the walls of the Temple, and shaking
the very foundation of the city with their mighty
voice. Instantly the house-tops everywhere
around were alive with worshipers! Jerusalem
started, as one man, from its slumbers, and, with
their faces towards the Temple, a hundred thous
and men of Israel stood waiting. A second
trumpet-peal, clear and musical as the
voice of God when He spake to our
father Moses in Horeb, caused every knee
to bend, and every tongue to join in
the morning song of praise. The murmur of
voices was like the continuous roll of the surge
THE PKINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 23
upon the beach, and the walls of the lofty Tem
ple, like the cliff, echoed it back. Unused to
this scene, for we have nothing like this majesty
of worship in Alexandria, I stood rather as a
spectator than a sharer, as it became thy
daughter to have been, dear father. Simul
taneously with the billow-like swell of the
adoring hymn, I beheld a pillar of black
smoke ascend from the midst of the
Temple, and spread itself above the court
like a canopy. It was accompanied by a blue
wreath of lighter and more misty appearance,
which threaded in and out, and entwined about
the other, like a silvery strand woven into a sable
cord. This latter was the smoke of the incense
which accompanied the burnt sacrifice. As I
saw it rise higher and higher, and finally over
top the heavy cloud, which was instantly en
larged by volumes of dense smoke that rolled
upward from the consuming victim, and slowly
disappeared, melting into heaven, I also kneeled,
remembering that on the wings of the incense
w r ent up the prayers of the people; and ere it
dissolved wholly, I entrusted to it, dear father,
prayers for thee and me!
How wonderful is our religion! How mys
terious this daily sacrifice, so many hundreds
of years offered up for the sins of our fathers and
of ourselves! How, I have often asked myself
since I have been here, how can the blood of a
heifer, of a lamb, or of a goat, take away sins?
What is the mysterious relation existing be
tween us and these dumb and innocent brutes?
24 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
How can a lamb stand for a man before God?
The more I reflect upon this awful subject, the
more I am lost in wonder. I have spoken to
Rabbi Amos of these things, but he only smiles,
and bids me think about my embroidery; for
cousin Mary and I are working a rich gold
border in the phylactery of his next New Year's
garment.
The evening sacrifice, which I witnessed yes
terday, is, if possible, more imposing than that of
the morning. Just as the sun dips beyond the
hill of Gibeah, overhanging the valley of Aijalon,
there is heard a prolonged note of a trumpet
blown from one of the western watch-towers of
Zion. Its mellow tones reach the farthest ear
within the gates of the city. All labor at once
ceases! Every man drops the instrument of
his toil, and raises his face towards the summit
of the house of God. A deep pause, as if all
held their breath in expectation, succeeds. Sud
denly the very skies seem to be riven, and shak
en with the thunder of the company of trumpet
ers that rolls, wave on wave of sound, from the
battlements of the Temple. The dark cloud of
sacrifice ascends in solemn grandeur, and some
times heavier than the evening air, falls like a
descending curtain around the Mount, till the
whole is veiled from sight; but above it is seen
to soar the purer incense to the invisible Jeho
vah, followed by a myriad eyes, and the uUer-
ance of a nation's prayers. As the daylight
faded, the light of the altar, hidden from us by
the lofty walls of the outer court of the Temple,
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 25
blazed high and beacon-like, and lent a wild sub
limity to the towers and pinnacles that crowned
Moriah.
There was, however, my dear father, last even
ing, one thing which painfully marred the holy
character of the sacred hour. After the blast of
the silver trumpets of the Levites had ceased,
and while all hearts and eyes were ascending to
Jehovah with the mounting wreaths of incense,
there came from the Roman castle adjoining the
City of David a loud martial clangor of brazen
bugles, and other barbarian war-instrunrents of
music, while a smoke, like the smoke of sacrifice,
rose from the height of David's fortified hill. I
was told that it was the Romans engaged in wor
shiping Jupiter, their idol God! Oh, when,
when shall the Holy City be freed from the re
proach of the stranger! Alas, for Israel! Her
inheritance "is turned to strangers, and her
houses to aliens." Well said Jeremiah the
Prophet, 'The kings of the earth and all the in
habitants of the world would not have believed
that the adversary and the enemy should have
entered into the gates of Jerusalem." How truly
now are the prophecies fulfilled, which are to be
found in the Lamentations: 'The Lord hath
cast off His altar, He hath given up into the
hands of the enemy the walls of her palaces: they
have made a noise in the house of the Lord, as in
the day of a solemn feast." For these things I
weep, my dear father; even now, while I write,
my tears drop on the parchment. Why is it so?
Why does Jehovah suffer the adversary to dwell
26 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
within his holy walls, and the smoke of his abom
inable sacrifices to mingle with that of the offer
ings of the consecrated priests of the Most High?
Surely, Israel has sinned, and we are punished
for our transgressions. It becomes the land "to
search and try its ways and turn unto God," if
perhaps He will return and have mercy, and re
store the glory of Israel. Our kings are the ser
vants of the Gentiles. Our laws are no more.
Our prophets no longer see visions. God has
gone up in anger, and no longer holds discourse
with his chosen people. The very smoke of the
daily sacrifice seems to hang above the Temple
like a cloud of Jehovah's wrath.
Nearly three hundred years have passed since
we have had a prophet that divine and youth
ful Malachi! Since his day, Rabbi Amos con
fesses that Jehovah has ceased from all known
intercourse with his people and holy house; nor
has He made any sign of having heard the pray
ers or heeded the sarifices that have been offered
to Him in His time! I inquired of the intelli
gent Rabbi, if this would always be thus? He
leplied, that when Shiloh came there would be a
restoration of all things that the glory of Jeru
salem then would fill the whole earth with the
splendor of the sun, and that all nations should
come up from the ends of the world to worship
in the Temple. He acknowledges that we are
now under a cloud for our sins; but that a
brighter day is coming when Zion shall be the
joy of the whole earth.
My conversation with Rabbi Amos, dear
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 27
father, a conversation which grew out of the sub
ject of the Roman garrison occupying the cita
del of David, and offering their pagan sacrifices
by the side of our own smoking altars, led me to
examine the Book of the Prophet Malachi. I
find that after plainly alluding to our present
shame, and reproaching the priests "for causing
the people to stumble," and thus making them
selves "contemptible and base before all na
tions," he thus prophesies: "Behold, I will
send my messenger, and he will prepare the way
before me, and the Lord whom ye seek shall sud
denly come to his Temple; and he shall sit as a
refiner and purifier of silver, and he shall purify
the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and
silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an
offering in righteousness. Behold," adds the
divine seer, "I will send you Elijah the prophet
before the coming of the great and dreadful day
of the Lord."
These words I read to-day to Rabbi Amos
indeed, I was reading them when Rabbi Ben
Israel came in to say that he departs to-morrow.
The excellent Amos locked grave, graver than I
had ever seen him look. I feared that I had
offended him by my boldness, and, approaching
him, was about to embrace him, when I saw
tears were sparkling in his eyes. This discovery
deeply affected me, you may be assured, dear
father; and, troubled more to have grieved than
displeased him, I was about to ask his forgive
ness for intruding these sacred subjects upon his
notice, when he took my hand, and smiling,
28 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
while a glittering drop danced down his snow-
white beard and broke into liquid diamonds
upon my hand, he said, "You have done no
wrong, child: sit down by me and be at peace
with thyself. It is too true, in this day, what the
Prophet Malachi writeth, Ben Israel," he said,
sadly, to the Alexandrian Rabbi: "The priests of
the Temple have indeed become corrupt, save
the few here and there! It must have been at
this day the Prophet aimed his words. Save in
the outward form, I fear the great body of our
Levites have little more true religion and just
knowledge of the one God Jehovah, than the
priests of the Romish idolatry! Alas, I fear me,
God regards our sacrifices with no more favor
than He looks upon theirs! To-day, while I
was in the Temple, and was serving at the altar
with the priests, these words of Isaiah came into
my thoughts and would not be put aside: To
what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices
unto me? ' saith the Lord; 'I am full of the burnt
offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and
I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of
lambs, or of he goats. Bring no more vain obla
tions; incense is an abomination unto me; I am
weary to bear them; yea, when ye spread forth
your hands I will hide mine eyes from you;
yea, when ye make many prayers I will not hear;
your hands are full of blood ! Wash you ; make
you clean. Cease to do evil; learn to do well! '
"These terrible words of the prophet," added
Rabbi Amos, addressing the amazed Ben Israel,
"were not out of my mind while I was in the
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 29
Temple. They seemed to be thundered in my
ears by a voice from heaven. Several of the
younger priests, whose levity during the sacrifice
had been reproved by me, seeing me sad, asked
the cause. In reply, I repeated, with a voice
that seemed to myself to be inspired, the words
of the prophet. They turned pale and trembled,
and thus I left them."
"I have noticed," said Ben Israel, "that there
is less reverence now in the Temple than when
I was in Jerusalem a young man; but I find that
the magnificence of the ceremonies is increased."
"Yes," responded Ben Amos, with a look of
sorrow; "y es as the soul of piety dies out from
within, they gild the outside. The increased
richness of the worship is copied from the
Roman. So low are we fallen! Our worship,
with all its gorgeousness, is as a sepulchre white
washed to conceal the rottenness within!"
You may be convinced, my dear father, that
this confession, from such a source, deeply
humbled me. If, then, we are not worshiping
God, what do we worship? If Jehovah of Hosts,
the God of our Fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and
Jacob, hides his face from our sacrifices, and is
weary with our incense, whom does Israel wor
ship? NOUGHT! We are worse off than our
barbarian conquerors, for we have no God; while
they, at least, have gods many and lords many,
such as they are! Alas, alas, the time of the
judgment of Jerusalem seems to be at hand.
The Lord must suddenly come to his Temple,
and as a refiner! I am deeply impressed with
80 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
the conviction that the day is very near at hand!
Perhaps we shall see it in our lifetime, dear
father!
Since writing the last line I have been inter
rupted by Mary, who has brought to see me a
youth, son of a noble Jewish ruler, who was slain
by the Romans for his patriotic devotion to his
country. He dwells near the Gaza gate, with
his widowed mother, who is a noble lady, hon
ored by all lips that discourse of her. Between
this young man and Mary there exists a beauti
ful attachment, not ardent enough to be love,
but sincere enough for the purest friendship; yet
each day their friendship is ripening into the
deepest emotion. He has just returned from
the vicinity of Jericho, where he has been for
some days past, drawn thither by curiosity, to
see and hear the new prophet, alluded to by me
at the close of my last letter, whose fame has
spread far and wide, and who is drawing thous
ands into the wilderness, to listen to the elo
quence that flows from his mouth. The young
man had been giving Mary so interesting an
account of him that she desired me also to be a
listener! In my next I will write you all I heard;
and I trust, dear father, you will patiently bear
with me in all things; and believe that, however
I may, from the investigating character of my
mind, venture upon sacred mysteries, I shall
never be less a lover of the God of our Father
Abraham, nor less the affectionate and devoted
Adina to thee! Adieu.
ADINA.
LETTER III.
My Dear Father: This morning, as I was
coming from the Temple, whither I had gone to
worship and witness the imposing ceremony of
the presentation of the First Fruits, I noticed a
vast pile of edifices crowning the opposite rock,
which I was told was the Tower of Antonia. It
seemed to frown sternly down upon the Temple ;
and upon its battlements glittered, at intervals,
numerous Roman eagles. I had so often heard
you relate historical events connected with this
celebrated castle, that I regarded it with peculiar
interest You, who had so frequently de
scribed it to me, seemed to stand by my side as I
gazed upon it. The four towers, one at each
corner, are still as they stood when you fought
from the northernmost one, and defended it
single-handed against the Romans. But now
these barbarians throng its courts, and their
bugles, which have sounded from the conquered
walls of every land on earth, are even heard in
the ears of the citizens of Jerusalem. The inso
lence and power of the Roman garrison have
82 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
made the beautiful walk about the base of the
Tower almost deserted; but of this I was not
aware; and, attended only by my Ethiopian
slave, Onia, I lingered to admire the splendor of
the cloister once surrounding the treasure-house
of the Temple, with its terraces supported by
white marble pillars, fifteen cubits high, when
two Roman soldiers coming from one of the city
gates, approached me on their way back to the
castle. It was then that I saw I was alone, the
company who had left the temple with me being
gone far in advance of me. I drew my veil
closely, and would have passed them with a
rapid step, when one of them placed himself in
my path, and catching hold of my veil, tried to
detain me. I left it in his grasp and was flying,
when the other soldier arrested me. This was in
full view of the castle, and at my shrieks the bar
barians in the castle laughed aloud. At this
crisis appeared a young Centurion, who was on
horseback, coming down the rocky path that
ascends the Rock of Zion, and calling aloud to
them, he galloped forward, and with his sword
put the men, who were drunk with wine, to
immediate flight, and rescued me, at the same
time sending the two soldiers under arrest into
the castle. He then addressed me in the gen
tlest manner, and apologized for the rudeness I
had met with at the hands of his men, saying that
they should be severely dealt with. I was struck
with his manly beauty, his civility, and his air of
patrician command, although he could not have
been more than eight and twenty. In order to
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 33
escort me safely to the streets below, he alighted
from his horse, and leading him by the rein,
walked by my side. I confess to you, dear
father, I had not reached the house of my relative
before my prejudices against the Romans were
greatly modified. I had found in one of them as
courteous a person as I had ever met with
among my own countrymen, and for his sake I
was willing to think better of his barbaric land
and people. He saw through my prejudices, and
how I shrunk from him as he walked by me; and
while we descended the height, he spoke elo
quently in defence of his native land, of its fair
daughters, of its wise men, its brave chiefs, its
power and glory, and its dominion over the
whole earth!
When I heard him use these last words, I
sighed deeply, for Judah, it is prophesied, should
have dominion over the whole earth, and these
Romans, therefore, hold the dominion that right
fully belongs to our people. How is this, dear
father? How is it that these barbaric men are
permitted by Jehovah to hold the sceptre that is
the rightful heritage of the Lion of the tribe of
Judah? How many times in a day, since I have
been in Jerusalem, have I been reminded of the
degradations of my people? How is it that these
enemies of Jehovah, these worshipers of false
gods, stand in the Holy place, and usurp the
power that God has given to us?
I put these questions to Amos, the good
priest, after I had returned home; for my ac
count of my adventure naturally led to a conver-
3
34 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
sation upon the Roman dominion over the earth.
It appears that this noble Centurion is not un
known to Rabbi Amos, who speaks of him as
one of the most popular Roman officers in com
mand in the city. I am glad to hear this. He
also gave me warning not to approach again
near the garrison points of the town, as the sol
diers take pleasure in giving annoyance to the
citizens.
While I was writing the above, a commotion
Avithout, as if something unusual was occurring,
drew me to the lattice, which overlooks the
street that goes out of the gate to Bethany, one
of the most frequented thoroughfares in the city.
The sight that met my eyes was truly imposing,
but made my heart sink with shame. It was a
pageant, with banners, eagles, trumpets, and
gilded chariots! but not the pageant of a king of
Israel, like those which dazzled the streets of
Jerusalem in the days of Solomon and King
David! not the triumphant passage of an Israel-
itish prince, but of the Roman governor! Pre
ceded by a cohort of horses, he rode in a gilded
war-chariot, lolling at his ease beneath a silken
shade of blue silk, fringed with gold. The
horses were snowy-white, and covered with sil
ver mail, and adorned with plumes. He was
followed by another body of cavalry, chiefly
composed of richly attired young men, and at
the head of them, looking more like a ruler and
prince than the indolent Pilate, I beheld the gen
erous Centurion who had aided my escape from
the two soldiers. His eye sought the lattice at
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 35
which I stood, and I drew back, but not before
he had seen me and saluted me. Certainly,
father, this youth is noble and courteous enough
to be a Jew, and should any providence cause us
to meet again, I shall try and convert him from
his idolatry to serve the living Jehovah. I was
not pleased with the appearance of the governor.
He is a dark, handsome man, but too fleshy, and
with the countenance of a man given to much
wine; and I learn that he is naturally indolent
and luxurious, and deficient in decision of char
acter. He is a particular friend of the Roman
Emperor, and to his partiality he owes the gov
ernorship here. It is, however, better to have a
table-lover and idle man for our master, than a
cruel and active tyrant like his predecessor, in an
insurrection against whom was slain that emi
nent man, the father of John, the cousin of Mary,
of whom I spoke to you in my last letter.
And this reminds me that I had something to
relate to you. You will remember, dear father,
that I alluded to an excitement that is increasing
every day, in reference to a new prophet, who is
preaching in the wilderness of Jericho, and
whose life is as austere as was that of Elijah!
For three weeks past several parties of citizens
have been to the valley of Jordan to see and hear
him, and have so far been carried away by him,
as to have been baptized of him in Jordan, con
fessing their sins. Among these is John, the
cousin and betrothed of Mary, who, having
heard much said of the power with which this
man spoke, by those who had returned, also
36 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
went to satisfy his curiosity, and, as he says, with
a secret hope that God had again remembered
Israel, and sent to us a prophet of reconciliation.
Upon his return we saw that his countenance
was animated beyond its wont, for he is usually
of a sad and gentle aspect, and that his fine eyes
beamed with an ardent hope, that seemed new
born in his soul. He thus recounted to us his
visit to the prophet of Jordan:
"After leaving the gate and crossing the brook
and valley of Kedron, I encountered a large
company, who were ascending the road that
winds over the south side of Olivet. These were
men, women and children, and they were pro
vided with food in baskets, and travel as our
people do, when they come up to the Feast of
the Passover. I found on joining them that
they were directing their steps also towards the
wilderness, in order to hear the great prophet,
whose fame was in all men's mouths. Among
them were priests and judges, Sadducees, and
Pharisees, and Esenes, and even men of no faith;
for even in Judah we have many ten thousands
who believe in no God, so long has it been since
Jehovah hath visited his people!
"Passing on ahead of this company, I being
well -mounted, and they travelling slowly, I at
length reached the summit of the hill, from
which I obtained a distant view of the valley of
the Jordan, and even thought I could make out
the town of Jericho, though the distance was
thirty or more miles. I looked back to take a
parting glance at the city. How like the "City
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 37
of God" it crowned its lordly hills ! All the glory
of Jerusalem, of the past, came before my mem
ory, and I sighed that that glory had departed,
not in the destruction of its edifices, for Jerusa
lem is still magnificent and imposing, but in the
downfall of its power. I heard, distant as I was,
the strains of the Roman bugles, echoing over
the valleys where the prophets, priests and kings
lay buried, and reverberating from the Temple
walls, the sacred echoes of which, aforetime, had
been awakened by the voice of God! Geth-
semane, the fair garden of Solomon, where he
tried to create a second Eden, lay at my feet, its
walls broken, and its walks wild and overgrown;
here and there a fig or an olive, or a palm tree
only, remaining to tell the passing traveller that
here was 'the delight of gardens, the abode of
pleasure and of mirth, from which were excluded
all who were sorrowful, that no tears might fall
upon its enameled floors, dedicated to voluptuous
joy/ Thib description of it, given by our poets,
passed through my mind, as I beheld its melan
choly and deserted aspect looking more like a
place of tears than joy, as if its shades would
invite the sorrowful to weep in them, rather than
the silvery feet of the 'dancer!
"I soon reached the pretty town of Bethpage,
where, at the inn, I beheld several horsemen just
mounting to go in the direction of Jericho. Sev
eral of them I knew, and, on joining the caval
cade, learned they were for the most part drawn
out of Jerusalem on the same errand of curiosity
with myself. But one of them, however, a
38 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
wealthy young noble of Arimathea, was actuated
by the same holy desire that burned in my
bosom, a desire that we might, in the prophet
who was called John, discover a man sent from
God. The others were bent on commerce, on
pleasure, on mere idle curiosity, to see one of
whom every one talked in all the land of Judea.
As Joseph of Arimathea and I rode together, we
conversed about the man we expected to see,
and the different reports which were noised
abroad respecting him. My companion seemed
to believe that he was a true prophet, for being
very well read in the Scriptures, he said that the
seventy weeks of Daniel were now about com
pleted, when the Messiah was to come. I then
asked him if he believed that the Messiah, who
was to be 'a Prince and King, and have domi
nion from the sea to the ends of the earth/ would
come in the wilderness, clad in the skins of wild
beasts? To this he replied, that he could not
regard this prophet as the Messiah, for when the
Christ should come, he was 'suddenly to come to
the Temple/ and that we should doubtless first
see him there; but that he was greatly in hopes
that the prophet we were Agoing to see, would
prove to be the forerunner, foretold by Malachi.
Having a roll of the Prophet Daniel with me, for
I took the prophets along to compare what I
should hear the preacher of Jordan proclaim
with them, I saw to my surprise, that not only
the seventy weeks had about reached their com
pletion, but that the expiration of the 'thousand
two hundred and ninety days' drew presently
THE PRINCE OP THE HOUSE OP DAVID. 39
nigh! We were both surprised at this coinci
dence with the advent of this new prophet; and
joy and fear trembled in our hearts, tempered
with hopes we dared not utter.
" Those who have heard him/ said Joseph, as
we rode into the village of Bethany, 'say that he
publicly proclaims himself the forerunner of the
Messiah. The opinion of the more ignorant
who have listened to him is, that it is Elijah him
self, risen to life! while others assert that it is
Enoch, come down from heaven; and not a few
believe him to be Isaiah/
"In this manner, conversing, we crossed the
hill of Bethany, where, tradition says, stood the
Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, and
also, where rested the foot of Jacob's ladder; and
from which place, it is believed by many, all
good men after the resurrection shall ascend into
the third heaven; for it is the common belief that
the throne of Jehovah is directly above it.
"At length, after a long day's ride, during
which we had overtaken and passed many large
companies hurrying forward to hear the
prophet, also meeting many returning, spreading
wonderful accounts of his eloquence, wisdom
and power, we came in sight of Jericho. The
city is very stately, with its Roman towers and
palaces, it being the favorite summer resort of
the governors. Its situation, in a green valley,
was refreshing to the eyes, after our dreary ride
all day over the broken and barren hills. On
our left, a mile before you come to the town, we
passed the ruins of the tower and house of Kiel,
40 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
who rebuilt Jericho in the days of the Kings.
To the right was the field where the Chaldean
army defeated our fathers in battle, and took
King Zedekiah captive; it was now covered with
beautiful gardens, and smiled as if peace had
ever dwelt in its sweet shades. On an emi
nence, to the north of us, about half a league off,
Joseph, who had often travelled this way, made
me take notice of the ruins of Ai, and of the hill
of ambush, where lay the warriors of Joshua,
who surprised and cut off the city. As we
approached the city, I could not but recall the
period when Israel's hundred thousands, shod
with the sandals they had worn forty years in the
wilderness, marched seven times around it. In
imagination I heard their martial tread shaking
the very earth, and beheld the princely Joshua,
standing aloof on an eminence near, directing
the solemn march. I heard again the thunder
of the trumpets of the hosts of God seven times
sounded, and saw the proud wall of the city
fall, darkening the whole heavens with the
clouds of dust that rolled over the heads of awe
struck Israel. But how different was the reality!
The setting sun was gilding the firmly standing
towers, turrets, pinnacles and battlements of the
Roman city, lending to it a splendor that moved
the soul to admiration; and the blue sky bent
serenely without a cloud above it; and the circl
ing vale, instead of echoing to the tread of an
armed host, for whom Jehovah fought, was now
filled with Roman knights and ladies on gay par
ties of pleasure, and processions of maidens
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 41
moving to the cemetery of the tombs, clad in
snow-white vestments, casting flowers in their
path, and chanting sacred songs; for it was the
day in which the daughters of Jericho celebrate
the hapless fate of the lovely daughter of
Jephtha, by visiting her sepulchre; for she was
born and buried in this city, where Jephtha long
dwelt.
"At the gate we were stopped by a Roman
soldier, who demanded our passports and the
traveller's tribute, which humiliating affair
settled, we rode into the city; for it was our
intention to pass the night there, and early in
the morning walk to the banks of the Jordan,
where we understood the prophet was teaching
and baptizing."
At this point of the narrative of the cousin of
Mary, dear father, I will close this letter. We
had all listened with the deepest attention, not so
much for the interest it contained in itself, as on
account of the admirable manner in which he re
cited what he had seen; his face being calmly
beautiful, his eyes soft and expressive, his voice
musical, and his w T hole aspect the true and
expressive manifestation of the intelligence,
gentleness, amiability, and noble ardor of piety
which belong to his whole character. In my
next I will resume his narrative, dear father, for
when I have given it to you wholly, I have many
things to ask you to which it gives rise in my
mind. May the blessing of the God of Israel be
upon thee, my dear father!
3 ADINA.
LETTER IV.
My Dear Father: I have had the pleasure
to-day, not only of hearing from you, but of
being assured of your continued welfare. The
messages of parental affection contained in your
letter are cherished in my heart. The costly
gifts of your generous love, sent by you with the
letter, and which were safely delivered from your
hand into mine, by your faithful servant Elec,
will be worn by me with all a daughter's pride.
I regret to hear of the death of Rabbi Israel,
while I rejoice that the high office he held with
so much dignity has been bestowed upon you by
the Pro-consul ; for though you may not need its
emoluments, dear father, such selection is a flat
tering proof of the estimation in which you are
held by the Roman Governor.
You need not fear, my dear father, that I shall
be carried away from the faith of Israel by any
strange doctrines; I will take counsel by your
wisdom, and be cautious how I adventure in my
THE PRINOE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 43
inquiries upon too sacred ground. I have freely
written to you for your advice, and I trust that
you will not look upon my inquiries as expres
sions of doubt, but as searchings after what is
true. I know you are read in the law above all
Jews, and that any difficulties I may meet with
in observing things here in Jerusalem, especially
in the worship and ceremonies of the Temple,
you will remove for me.
In my last letter, which will not reach your
hands for some days yet, I commenced giving
you the narrative of John, the cousin of Mary,
who went down into the wilderness to see and
hear the prophet of Jordan. I will not take it
upon myself to decide or form an opinion upon
anything yet, dear father, but state facts, and let
your wisdom instruct me into the truths that
may grow out of them. One thing which your
letter states gratifies me, and gives me confi
dence; it is these words: "Do not fear that the
integrity of the laws of Moses, or of the worship
of the Temple, or the predictions of the Proph
ets, can be moved by any investigations that man
can make into them. They are founded in truth,
and will abide forever. The worship of Israel
fears nothing from inquiry. But while you ask
and question about sacred things, remember that
they belong to God, and must be inquired into
with awful reverence and profound humility.
Any inquiries made into the prophecies with an
eye to search out their day of fulfilment, are
proper and useful; and as this day seems to be
that of fulfilment rather than that of prediction,
44 THE PRINCE OP THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
your studies may be suggested and directed by
heavenly wisdom, and, if so, they will be guided
to their true issue. As I am so far removed from
you, I cannot judge concerning this prophet
your first letter named as being in the wilder
ness; yet I should not be surprised if the fullness
of time indicated by Isaiah were near at hand, for
the events you enumerated seem to proclaim its
approach, such as the lax worship in the Temple;
the worship of the Roman idols on Mount Zion ;
the profanation of the altar; and the rule of the
heathen over the empire of David. Let us fer
vently pray, my child, for the fulfilment of the
prophecies, which promise Messiah to our
stricken people! Let us supplicate for the rising
of the Star of Jacob, the Prince of Peace, who
shall erect his throne on Mount Zion, and whose
sceptre shall be a sceptre of righteousness; under
whose wide dominion Israel shall lift up her
head and rule the nations. My daily prayer,
with my face towards Jerusalem, is, that I may
live to behold the hope of Israel, and with my
eyes see the splendor of the glory of Shiloh."
These words of yours, my dear father, give
me courage. I believe, with you, that the day of
fulfilment or the Prophets is dawning; and per
haps is nearer than we believe. When I have
completed the history of John's journey to Jor
dan to hear the prophet, you will understand why
I speak with such hopeful confidence; and you
will agree with me that this preacher of repent
ance is not one of the class of false prophets,
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OP DAVID. 45
against whose chimeras your letter so properly
cautions me.
"We arose at dawn," said Mary's cousin, in
continuation of his interesting narrative, "and,
leaving the inn, we took our way out of the city
by the eastern gate, which we easily found, inas
much as a quarter of the city was in motion, and
moving in the same direction. Here we were
detained by the Gentile guards for full half-an-
hour, till the multitude had become so immense
as to tread one upon another, and fill the whole
street. Nevertheless, we had to wait till the
indolent Captain of the Gate chose to be dis
turbed in his morning repose, and then bathe his
dainty limbs, and then break his fast, all which
he did very deliberately, before he would suffer
the gate to be opened! Such slaves are we
to such masters! Oh, when shall arrive the day
when, as saith Isaiah, 'our gates shall be opened
continually; they shall not be shut day nor night,
that men may bring unto thee the forces of the
Gentiles, and that their kings may be brought
captives to our feet.'
"Having passed out of the gate, my friend of
Aramathea and myself separated a little from the
crowd, and crossed the plain towards Jordan,
which was about a mile and a half off. The morn
ing was balmy; the sun made all nature .elad.
The dew reflected a myriad lesser suns, and the
earth appeared strewn with diamonds. For a
little way the road lav between fields of corn and
grarclens; but soon it crossed the open plain, on
which were droves of wild asses, which lifted
46 THF PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
their small, spirited heads on our approach, eyed
us with timid curiosity, and then bounded off to
the wilderness southward with the speed of ante
lopes. As the great body of the people took
their way obliquely across the plain, we knew the
prophet must be in that direction, as it proved;
for we at length found him on the banks of the
Jordan, full half a league below the landing and
ford, which is opposite Jericho, on the great car
avan road to Balbec and Assyria, that long and
weary road so often travelled by our forefathers
when they have been led into captivity the road
which so many kings have watered with their
tears! We gazed upon it with emotion of sad-
ness, and with tearful prayers that Jehovah
would return and visit once more the remnant of
his people, and not be angry with us forever!
Atter we had approached the Jordan some dis
tance above the ford, we beheld the multitude
listening to the prophet far to the south of us, on
the edge of the desert, which approaches in this
quarter very near Jericho. As we traversed the
banks of the flowing stream, we came all at onc?
upon a pillar of stones partly in the water,
This,' said my companion, stopping, 'is the
Mount of Twelve Stones, which Israel set up to
commemorate the passage of Jordan. Here
they crossed on dry ground/
"I counted them, and found but nine of them
remaining. What vicissitudes, I reflected, had
not Israel passed through since the hands of our
fathers placed that heap together! Generations
of judges and long lines of kings ; captivities sue-
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 47
ceeding captivities; wars, conquests and defeats,
and subjection, finally, till we are no longer a
people; having a king, indeed, but whose sceptre
is a mockery a Herod, holding his crown at the
courtesy of the Imperial Monarch of Rome.
Alas, with the end of the reign of such a king,
the sceptre will forever depart from Judah!" he
added, bitterly.
"Then will Shiloh come!" exclaimed my
cousin Mary, with animation.
"Yes; Judah must be abased to the lowest
step, before she can rise, and with Shiloh king,
her glory will fill the whole earth," responded
John, with hope once more beaming in his eyes.
"At length we drew near the dark mass of
human beings which we had Deheld afar off, as
sembled around a small eminence near the river.
Upon it, raised a few cubits taller than their
heads, stood a man, upon whom all eyes were
fixed, and to whose words every ear was atten
tive. His clear, rich, earnest tones, had reached
us as we approached, before we could distinguish
what he said. He was a young man not above
thirty, with a countenance such as the medallions
of Egypt give to Joseph of our nation, once their
Prince. His hair was long, and wildly free about
his neck; he wore a loose sack of camel's hair,
and his right arm was naked to the shoulder.
His attitude was as free and commanding as that
of a Caucasian warrior, yet every gesture was
gentle and graceful. With all his ringing and
persuasive eloquence there was an air of the
deepest humility on his countenance, combined
48 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
with an expression of the holiest enthusiasm.
The people listened eagerly to him, for he spake
like the Prophets of old, and chiefly in their
prophetic words! His theme was the Messiah:
" 'Oh, Israel, return unto the Lord thy God,
for thoti hast fallen by thine iniquity,' he was
saying, as we came up, as if in continuation of
what had come before, Take with you words,
and turn unto the Lord, and say unto Him:
Take away all iniquity and receive us graciously.
Behold, He cometh who will heal your backslid
ing, and will love you freely! He will be as the
dew unto Israel! He shall grow as the lily, and
cast forth his roots as Lebanon! His branches
shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive
tree, and his fruit shall be for the healing of the
nations! They that dwell under his shadow shall
return and dwell evermore; and it shall come to
pass that whosoever shall call on the name of
the Lord shall be delivered, for besides him there
is no Savior/
" 'Of whom speaketh the prophet these
things?' asked one who stood near me, of his
neighbor, and then of me, for by this time we
had taken places as close to the prophet as we
were able; for I did not wish to lose one word
that should fall from the lips of a man who could
thus empty cities, and people the wilderness with
their inhabitants.
" 'Of Messiah listen!' answered him, a Scribe
near, as if not pleased to have his atten
tion interrupted by his side talk. 'His words are
plain. Hear him/
THE PRINCE OP THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 49
" 'Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, for the day of
the Lord cometh!' continued the prophet, in a
voice like that of a silver trumpet; 'for, behold,
the day is at hand when I will bring again the
captivity of Judah. Put ye in the sickle, for the
harvest is ripe! The day is at hand when the
Lord shall roar out of Zion and utter his voice
from Jerusalem.'
" 'Art thou not Elias?' asked one, aloud.
:t 'I am he of whom it is written, the voice of
one crying in the wilderness, make straight a
highway for our God. The day of the Lord is at
hand. I am but the herald who is sent before
to prepare the way of the Lord!'
" 'Art thou not the Messiah?' asked a woman,
who stood near him, and seemed to worship his
very lips.
" 'He who cometh after me is mightier than I,
whose shoes I am not worthy to bear!' he re
sponded, in the deepest humiliation of manner.
'He who cometh after me hath his fan in his
hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor and
gather the wheat into the garner; but will burn
up the chaff with unquenchable fire. Therefore,
repent ye, repent ye, take words and return unto
the Lord your God. Repent and be baptized
for the remission of your sins; for the day
cometh which shall burn as an oven, and take
heed that ye be not consumed! The axe is laid
at the root of the tree ; therefore, every tree that
bringeth not forth good fruit shall be hewn
down and cast into the fire/
" 'Master/ said a Levite, 'dost thou speak
4
50 THE PRINCE OP THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
these things to us, who are of Israel, or to these
Gentiles and Samaritans?' for there were not a
few Roman soldiers among the multitude, drawn
hither by curiosity, and also many people from
Samaria, nay, even from Damascus.
'' 'Go and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saith
the Lord, for my people hath committed two
evils; they have forsaken me, the fountain of liv
ing waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken
cisterns, that can hold no water. The Lord hath
made me this day an iron pillar and- brazen wall
against the whole land against the kings of
Judah, against the princes thereof, against the
priests thereof, and against the people of the
land! and yet thou sayest, O Israel, thou hast not
sinned. Thine own wickedness shall correct
thee, and thy backsliding shall reprove thee.
Repent and do works meet for repentance, every
one of you, for ye have polluted the land; neither
say, where is the Lord that brought us up out
of the land of Egypt? I am provoked to anger
every day by your hardness of heart and stiff-
neckedness. Amend, amend your doings!
Trust not in lying words, saying, The Temple
of the Lord, The Temple of the Lord, The
Temple of the Lord! Ye have made it a den of
robbers! Your sacrifices therein are become an
abomination to the Lord!'
' This would touch us who are priests, mas
ters/ said a priest, with a crimson brow. 'We
are not robbers !'
" Thus saith the Lord/ answered the youthful
prophet, as if it were God himself, speaking from
TIIE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 51
Horeb, so that we trembled as we heard him:
'Woe be unto the pastors that destroy my sheep;
I will visit upon you the evil of your doings.
How is the gold become dim how is the most
fine gold changed! The precious sons of Zion,
comparable to fine gold, how are they esteemed?
Her priests were purer than snow! they were
whiter than milk; they were more ruddy in body
than rubies; their polishing was of sapphire!
Their visage is blacker than coal; they feed the
children of my people with ashes for bread!
Woe to Zion, for the sins of her prophets and the
iniquities of her priests. Run ye to and fro
through the streets of Jerusalem, and seek in the
broad places thereof, saith the Lord, if you can
find a man that executeth judgment, that seek-
eth truth! Though they say the Lord liveth,
surely they swear falsely. Hear ye this, O
priests, and harken, ye house of Israel! Woe
unto you, ye priests, for ye have transgressed!
I have seen in the prophets of Jerusalem a hor-
lible thing; they commit adultery and walk in
lies, saith the Lord. My people have trans
gressed, for the lack of knowledge! Therefore, I
will reject thee, saith the Lord; thou shalt be no
priests to me since thou hast forgotten the law of
thy God. Like people, like priests! Therefore
doth the land mourn, and every one that dwell-
eth therein languisheth. Therefore do swearing
and lying, and killing and stealing, and commit
ting adultery, break out in the land, because
there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of
God in the land. Woe unto you, ye priests!'
52 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
Many of the Levites then turned and left him,
and went away greatly murmuring; and they
would gladly have done the prophet a mischief,
but they feared the multitude, who said he had
spoken only the truth of them. 'But the elders
of Israel, who are not priests, and who spring
from Abraham, shall be saved by Abraham,
master?' asserted, or rather inquired, a rich ruler
of our city, after the tumult caused by the with
drawal of the Levites had a little subsided. The
youthful prophet rested his dark eyes, like two
suns, upon the old man's face, and said impres
sively, 'Begin not to say within yourself, we have
Abraham to our father, for I say unto you,' he
added, pointing to the pebbles at his feet, 'that
God is able of these stones to raise up children
unto Abraham. He is of Abraham who doth
righteousness; therefore repent, and bring forth
fruits meet for repentance.' ' :
Here was heard some murmuring among a
group of many Pharisees and Sadducees at these
words, when, sending his lightning glance to
wards them, as if he could read their very hearts,
he cried:
:e 'O generation of vipers ! Who hath warned
you to flee from the wrath to come? The day
cometh when he who is to come shall sit as a
purifier by his furnace. Bring forth, therefore,
fruits meet for repentance. Wash thy heart
from wickedness, that thou mayst be saved.
And ye, daughters of Judah, repent you of the
vain thoughts that lodge within you,' cried he,
addressing- many females in rich apparel and
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 53
plaited hair, 'gird ye with sackcloth, lament and
howl; put away these abominations out of my
sight, and fear the Lord. Though thou clothest
thyself with crimson, though thou deckest thyself
with ornaments of gold, though thou rentest thy
face with painting, in vain shalt thou make thy
self fair; for I hear the voice of the daughters of
Zion bewailing themselves, spreading forth their
hands in the day when they are spoiled and de
spised for their iniquities. Repent ye, for the
kingdom of heaven is at hand !
" 'Hear, O Israel! Am I a God at hand and
not a God afar off, saith the Lord. Hear ye the
message of the Most High, for the day hath
come when Jehovah shall once more visit the
earth and talk face to face with his creatures.
Behold the day hath come, saith the Lord, that
1 will raise unto David a righteous branch, and
a king to reign and prosper, who shall execute
judgment and justice on the earth.
" 'Behold the day hath come, saith the Lord,
in which Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall
dwell safely, when I will set up shepherds over
them, who shall feed them, and they shall lack
nothing!
" 'Arise! shine, for the light is come! Hear, O
Israel, for Zion's sake I will not hold my peace;
I will not rest until the righteousness thereof go
forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as
a lamp that burneth. Arise, shine, for thy light
is come and the glory of the Lord is risen upon
thee! Darkness covereth the earth, and gross
darkness the people, as saith Esaias; but the
54 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OP DAVID.
Lord shall rise upon thee, and his glory shall be
seen upon thee. The Gentiles shall come to his
light, and kings to the brightness of his rising.
He shall be called The Lord Our Righteousness,
and shall be a crown of glory in the hand of the
Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy
God. The Spirit of the Lord is upon me to
proclaim the acceptable year of his coming. He
liath set me a watchman upon thy walls, O
Israel, and I may neither hold my peace day nor
night, nor keep silence, nor seek rest, till he
come, who hath sent me forth his messenger be
fore his face. How can I refrain from my mes
sage of joy? How shall I not speak of his fame?
His sons shall come from afar, and his daughters
shall be nursed at his side. The people of the
nations shall fly as a cloud, and as doves to their
windows, to behold, fall down, and adore him.
The isles shall wait for his law, and kings shall
minister unto him, even unto the Holy One of
Israel. Saith he, I, the Lord, am thy Savior
and thy Redeemer, the mighty one of Jacob. Say
ye to the daughters of Zion, Behold thy salvation
cometh; behold, his reward is with him, and his
work before him. Ho, every one that thirsteth/
he now cried, raising his voice like the chief of a
host, till the farthest heard, 'come ye to the
waters; yea, come buy wine and milk, without
money and without price. Incline your
ear and come unto him. Hear, and your
soul shall live. Repent, keep justice and
judgment; and prepare a contrite heart to
offer to him when thou shalt behold him;
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 65
for thus saith the High and Lofty One that in-
habiteth eternity, whose name is Holy, I dwell
in the high and holy place with him, also, that is
of a contrite and humble spirit. Peace, peace
to him that is afar off, and to him that is near,
saith the Lord.
" 'Sing unto the Lord a new song, and his
praise from the ends of the earth: for thus saith
God the Lord, he that created the heavens and
stretched them out; he that spread forth the
earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that
giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit
to them that walk therein: Behold my servant
whom I uphold mine elect in whom my soul
delighteth: I have put my spirit upon him; he
shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles; a
bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking
flax shall he not quench. I, the Lord, saith
Jehovah, addressing the only begotten, I have
called thee in righteousness, and will hold thy
hand and keep thee, and will give thee for a
covenant of the people, for a light of the Gen
tiles, to open the blind eyes, to bring out the
prisoners from the prison. I am the Lord, that
is my name, and my glory will I not give to an
other; yet have I made him my first-born, higher
than the kings of the earth. Look unto him, and
be saved, all the ends of the earth ; for unto him
every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.
Our Redeemer, the Lord of Hosts is his name,
the Holy one of Israel !'
"All this was spoken with an enthusiasm and
fire that made every pulse bound.
56 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
"Such," said John, "was the extraordinary
style of this mighty prophet's preaching, and to
those who read the books of the Prophets, every
word shone with the brightness of the sun. I
fancied I had only to look around to behold the
Messiah! The immense multitude stood awed
and silent when he had ceased. I gazed upon
him with the most adoring reverence. My
heart filled with holy joy; for I believed and
knew that God had remembered Zion, and was
about to display his wonders more remarkably
on earth than ever had been witnessed before.
Leaving the eminence, he said, and I thought he
fixed his eyes on me, 'Ye who desire to be bap
tized for the remission of sins, that your hearts
may be cleansed for the visitation of this Holy
One of God, follow me to the river side!
Thousands obeyed, and I one of the first. I
trembled all over with a sweet pleasure, when he
took me by the hand, and asked me if I believed
in Him who was to come, and would prepare
the way for His abode in my heart by being
baptized, which rite also was to be a sign and
pledge that when I should behold the Shiloh
rising, I should acknowledge Him. Not less
than one thousand were baptized by him that
day in Jordan, confessing their sins, and hopes
of pardon through the name of the unknown
One, who was soon to come. Among these
were Pharisees and Sadducees, rulers and law
yers, and one grey-headed Roman soldier.
Joseph of Arimathea was not baptized, as he said
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 57
he wished to examine into the extraordinary
subject fully before he could believe.
"After the baptism, the whole company dis
persed in groups, and the prophet returned into
the wilderness till the cool of the evening, where
his repast was the wild honey of the desert, and
the locust-berry of the ravines. When he reap
peared, he again spoke to an increased multi
tude. In this second sermon, he explained more
clearly the application of the glittering chain of
prophecies he had given utterance to in the
morning to Messias, and thus enabled me to see
more clearly the true character of the expected
Messias than I had before done."
With this remark of his, dear father, I close
my long letter. I make no comments. I will
only say, that my expectations are actively
awake, and that I am looking, with thousands of
others, for the near advent of the Messiah.
Your daughter,
ADINA.
LETTER V.
My Dear Father: Although but three days
have elapsed since I completed my last letter to
you, I am so solicitous to have your judgment
and counsel upon the remarkable events now
occupying the public mind of Israel, that I can
not withhold giving you the further relation of
the remaining circumstances connected with the
visit of Mary's cousin, John, to the divine
prophet of Jordan. Inasmuch as his words have
made a deep impression upon my mind, and
moved me to believe with" him in the truth of
this prophet's words, it is proper that you should
know with me all that he has told me,and which
have influenced my feelings and opinions, in
order that you may judge of the weight and value
at which all I have heard is to be estimated; and
be assured, dear father, that I am ready to be
governed in all things by your wisdom and
learning. Listen, then, with your usual good-
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 59
ness, to the residue of this young man's narra
tion.
"After the prophet had ended his second dis
course, and baptized two hundred more in the
sparkling waters of Jordan," resumed the elo
quent cousin of Mary, "he sent them away to the
city to lodge and buy meat; for few, in their
eagerness to hear him, had brought provisions
with them. Many, before leaving him, drew
near to receive his blessing of love, and it was
touching to see venerable men, with locks shin
ing like silver, and leaning upon a staff, bend
their aged heads before the youthful Elias, as if
in acknowledgment of his divine commission.
Mothers also brought tneir infants, that he
might bless them; and youth and maidens knelt
reverently at his feet in tears of love and peni
tence. Calmly he stood upon the green shores,
like an angel alighted upon earth, and blessed
them in words all new to our ears, but which
thrilled to our hearts with some secret power
that agitated us with trembling joy.
" 'In the name of the Lamb of God, I bless
theef
"What can be the meaning of these words?"
asked Mary, with her gentle earnestness. Her
betrothed could only reply, that he knew not.
"At length, one after another, the multitude
departed, save, a few who encamped beneath
trees on the banks of the river. Joseph of Ari-
mathea and I were left almost alone, standing
near the prophet, and regarding him with rever
ential curiosity. The sun was just disappearing
60 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
over the distant towers of Jericho, and painting
with the richest purple the hills between the
river and Jerusalem. Jordan, catching its red
dening radiance, rolled past like a river of liquid
gold embanked in emerald. The brow of the
prophet, lighted up by a sun-ray that shone be
tween the branches of a pomegranate tree,
seemed like the face of Moses when he came
down from Sinai, a glory of light. He appeared
rapt in heavenly meditation, and we stood silent
and gazed upon him, not daring to speak. At
length he turned towards us, smiled, and salut
ing us, grasped the crook or staff on which he
had been leaning, for he was weary and pale
with his labors of the day, and slowly walked
down the shore in the direction of the wilder
ness. He had not advanced many steps when I
felt an irresistible impulse to follow him. I
burned to talk with him to sit at his feet, and
ask him questions about the great things I had
heard him utter in both of his discourses! I
wished him to explain and unfold what had
seemed mysterious, and yet teeming with mighty
revelations. I panted for light for knowledge.
I yearned to have him open the Scriptures to me,
and give me that illuminated understanding of
them which he possessed. I therefore said to my
companion:
" 'Let us follow him, and learn more of these
great things, which we have' this day heard/
"Joseph, like myself, being anxious to hold
converse with him, at once assented, and we pro
ceeded slowly after him, as he moved in a con-
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 61
templative mood along the desert path. The
sun had already gone down, and the full moon
rose on the opposite shore, and the prophet
stopped as if to gaze upon its autumnal beauty.
We drew near to him. He beheld us, but did
not avoid us; seeing which I advanced with timid
confidence, and said:
" 'Holy prophet of the Most High God, wilt
thou permit two young men of Israel to speak to
thee, for our hearts yearn towards thee with
love?'
" 'And we would fain keep thee company in
the desert, Rabbi/ added Joseph, 'for it does not
seem well for thee to dwell thus alone/
:t 'But chiefly/ said I, 'we would inquire of thee
touching the advent of the Mighty Personage
whose near coming thou dost foretell/
: ' 'Friends/ said the prophet, in a calm and
serene manner, 'I am a dweller in the desert, and
alone, from choice. I approach men only to pro
claim my message. The delights of earth are
not for me. My mission is one. Its duration is
short. Its aim worthy the greatest prophet of
God, yet am I the least of them, not worthy to
be called a prophet; and before the splendor of
Him whom I announce to the world, I am the
dust of the balance. If thou hast sought me to
search after knowledge, come and sit down with
me upon this rock, and let me hear what thou
hast to say, that I may answer thee and go my
way/
"This was said softly, gently, almost sadly, and
in a tone that made me love him more and more.
62 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
I could have cast myself upon his bosom and
wept there; for I was deeply touched that one
should be chosen by Jehovah to become his
prophet to earth, and yet show such lowliness of
heart and sincere humility. We seated our
selves, one on either side of him, for he refused
to permit us to place ourselves upon the ground
at his feet, saying reproachfully, as he did to
those whom he had seen kneel to him, 'I also am
a man!' The scene and the hour were well fitted
for such a converse as we were about to hold.
The broad disc of the moon poured a flood of
orange-tinted radiance full upon us, and lent a
hallowed softness to the divine countenance of
the youthful prophet. The Jordan, dark as
India's dye, darted swiftly past at our feet, be
tween its deeply-shaded banks, sending up to our
ears the faintest murmur of its pebbly passage.
Above our heads swelled the vaulted arch of the
Temple of Jehovah, with its myriad of altar fires.
To our left lay Jericho, just visible, looking like
a black mass of castellated rock, unilluminated
save by a single watch-fire which burned upon
its loftiest tower. Behind us stretched the des
ert waste, cheerless and yet grand, in its desolate
distances. Afar off rose upon the air, and was
borne to us at intervals, the voice of a singer in
one of the camps; and near us, upon an acacia
tree, sat a solitary bulbul, which ceaselessly sang
its sweet and varied hymn to the listening moon.
" 'All things praise God shall we be silent?'
said the prophet. 'Let us sing the evening
hymn of the Temple/ He then commenced, in
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 68
a rich, melodious chant, such as I had never
heard from the priests, our sacred psalm to the
whole creation of God. We joined our voices
with his, and the tide of praise floated over the
waters, and echoed and re-echoed from the op
posing shores, as if the banks and stream, trees,
hills and sky, had found voice as well as we:
** 'Praise ! praise ! praise ye the Lord !
Praise Him in the heights ! Praise Him in the seas !
Praise Him men of Israel ! Praise ye the Lord !
For He exalteth high His people,
And reigneth evermore !
Praise Him all ye angels ! Praise Him all ye hosts !
Praise Him sun and moon, and all ye stars of light !
Praise Him fire and hail ! Praise Him storm and snows!
For He judgeth the earth in righteousness,
And reigneth evermore !
Praise ! praise ! praise ye the Lord !
Praise Him winged fowl, and herds, cattle and all beasts!
Praise Him kings and people, princes, priests, and judges!
Praise Him youths and maidens, old men and young children !
Praise the name, let them praise the name,
Praise the name of the Lord God of Hosts !
For His name alone is excellent,
His glory above the heavens :
Israel is His first born a people well -beloved!
Praise ! let Israel, therefore, praise Him !
Praise Him evermore,
Evermore,
Ever, evermore .
64 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
"Never shall I forget the effect produced upon
my inmost being by this hymn, sung at such a
time, and in such a place, and in such a company.
The prophet sang as if he was leading a choir of
angels. My heart leaped at the chorus, as if it
would break out, take wing, and leave the earth !
When we called on the winds and the fowls of
the air to praise Jehovah with us, it may be
fancy, but the thrilling voice of the bulbul
seemed to pour from its throat a wilder, richer,
more joyous tide of song, and the audible wind
bent the adoring trees, and mingled its mystic
whispers with the psalm of men! Surely,
thought I, it is good for me to be here, for this is
none other than the gate of Paradise!
"After a few moments' silence, the prophet
spoke and said:
" 'You sought me, brethren of Israel, can I do
aught for you ?'
" 'We would hear more, great prophet, touch
ing this mighty man, if man he may be termed,
who is to come after thee/ said Joseph.
"I can tell thee but little, my brethren, save
what thou hast heard from me this day. The
future is veiled. I bear a message, indeed, but I
may not break the seal and read. I am but the
courier of God to man. To you it will be given
co know what is now unknown to me. Happy,
thrice happy are ye who will behold face to face
the Divine One whom I can only behold afar off.
If it be permitted me to see him, it will be but for
a brief space, for when he cometh I depart, my
errand is done. Blessed are those who live to
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 6-1
witness his glory, and to hear the gracious voice
of God that proceeds from his annointed lips/
" 'When will be his advent, and with what
form and power cometh this Divine Being?' I
asked.
" 'As a man, but not with comeliness of form
that men should desire him. His appearance
will be humble, lowly, and meek/
" 'Yet, you say to-day, Rabbi/ I continued,
'that his power should be infinite, and that of his
kingdom there should be no end. You spoke of
the glory of his dominions, and the humiliation
of Gentile kings beneath his sceptre/
" 'This I cannot explain it is a mystery to
me! I speak as God, by whom I am sent, gives
me utterance. I know that He who cometh after
me is greater than I, the latchet of whose shoes
I am not worthy to unloose!'
" 'You taught us this evening that he would be
the Lord from Heaven; and yet that Esaias saith
he will be despised and rejected of men, wounded
for our transgressions, and bruised for our ini
quities!'
" 'The spirit of God teaches me that these
words apply to Shiloh ; but I cannot comprehend
how these things can be/ he answered, with deep
sadness.
" 'May I remind you, good Rabbi/ said
Joseph, 'that you taught us how that this Divine
Personage should die, though Lord of Life, and
be numbered in his death with transgressors,
though the Holy One of God!'
" 'And such will be the events that are
6
66 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
ordained to happen; but seek not to know what
no man hath had revealed to him. The Divine
Messiah himself must be his own interpreter.
Blessed will be the eyes that behold Him, and
listen to the wisdom of His mouth, and keep the
law of His lips!'
" 'May I ask you, holy prophet of the Lord/
said Joseph, 'how is it that He whom you are
sent by God to bear witness to can be the Deliv
erer of Israel, when you predict for him so sad a
fate? Messiah is to restore Jerusalem, and the
glory of the Temple, and the splendor of its wor
ship, so saith Esaias, so say Ezra and Jeremiah.
He is called a Mighty Prince, a King, the
Redeemer of Israel, who shall rule the nations
and have dominion from sea to sea, and from the
river to the ends of the earth! We, therefore, in
the Messiah of the Prophets, have looked for a
powerful potentate, who shall reign in Jerusalem
over the whole earth, and subdue all nations,
bringing their kings captive at his foot-stool, and
binding their princes with chains; before whom
every knee shall do homage a Monarch who
shall not leave a heathen sandal to tread on the
sacred soil of Judea, and who shall establish the
worship of Jehovah in every place where now
rises a temple of idolatry/
" 'His kingdom is not of this earth/ answered
the prophet, impressively.
" 'How, then, can we interpret the Prophet
David, who maketh the Lord to say: I have set
my King upon my holy hill of Zion. Also, how
shall we interpret those sayings of Esaias, who,
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OP DAVID. 67
prophesying of the blessed Christ of God, hath
these words:
" 'Of the increase of his government and peace
there shall be no end, upon the throne of David,
and upon his kingdom, to order it and to estab
lish it with judgment and with justice, from
henceforth, even forever?*
" 'I know not. These secrets are with God.
I can reveal nothing. I am but the trumpet
through which Jehovah speaks; I know not the
words 1 utter. This I know, that the least child
and lowliest hireling that liveth in the day of
Messias is greater than I. I am the last of the
prophets. I stand on the threshhold of that
glorious kingdom, the greatness and brightness
of which they saw afar off, like some heavenly,
indistinct vision. Nearer than they, I am per
mitted to catch clearer glimpses of its glory, and
it may be vouchsafed to me to see more than I
now see; but of this I have no certain revelation;
It is for me to open the last door that leads out
from the night of prophecy into the glorious
dawn of the day of fulfilment ; but I am not per
mitted to enter beyond the threshhold, or share
in its blessings. All who come after me will be
preferred before me. But the will of Jehovah be
obeyed! I am his creature, and to murmur be
comes not dust. Rather let me rejoice that the
day-star is about to rise, though his beams shine
on all the earth but me!' This was said with the
most touching pathos.
"We were both deeply moved, I, myself, even
to tears, at hearing these words spoken by him.
68 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
My heart yearned towards him with the most
sacred sympathy. I sank on my knees, and kiss
ing his hand, bathed it with my tears.
He gently raised me, and said in a sweet voice:
''' 'Brother beloved, thou shalt see Him to
whom I bear witness, and he will love thee, and
thou shalt repose in his bosom!' At this say
ing," continued the cousin of Mary, whose voice
was tremulous with lively sensibility as he spoke
hereof, "I burst into tears; and, rising, I walked
a little ways apart, and lifting up my eyes
towards heaven, I prayed the God of our fathers
that I might be found worthy of this blessed
honor."
" 'And shall I also behold this mighty Son of
God?' asked Joseph, with solicitude.
"The prophet took his hand in his, and fixing
upon him his eyes of prophetic brightness, said
slowly, and in tones awe-inspiring and painfully
sorrowful :
" Thou shalt one day bear him in thy arms,
and lay him upon a couch, which thou hast pre
pared for thine own repose. Thou knowest not
now what I say, but thou shalt remember it when
it come^h to pass!'
"When he had thus spoken, he rose, and wav
ing his hand to us both, he walked rapidly away
towards the desert, and was soon lost to the eye
in the obscurity of the darkness which hung over
in
" ' Didst thou hear him?' at length, after some
ninute's pause, asked Joseph of me. 'What can
l;*s words mean? they are prophetic of some
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 69
fearful event. His eyes betrayed some terrible
meaning. My heart is troubled.'
" 'And mine rejoiceth/ I answered. 'We shall
see Him! I shall be near Him! Oh, if he be
like this sweet prophet of God, I shall love him
with all my soul's being. How wonderful that
we are to be thus associated with this Divine
Person! Welcome the hour of his blessed
advent !'
" 'Wilt thou welcome the advent of a sufferer?'
said a voice so near that it startled us by its
abruptness; and, looking round, we saw, stand
ing within the shadow of a wild olive tree, a
young man who was a stranger, but to whom I
afterwards became deeply attached. His face
was pale and intellectual, and his form slight, but
of the most symmetrical elegance. His question
at once made me sorrowful, for it recalled the sad
prophecies of Esaias.
" 'He is also to be King and Monarch of the
world, and infinitely holy and good/ I said. 'It
thou hast been near, thou hast heard the glorious
things the prophet has spoken of Him/
" 'I have been near I was reclining beneath
this tree, when you seated yourselves there. Be.
not deceived. The divine man who is to come
is to be a man of sorrows and acquainted with
grief. He is to be rejected by Israel, and
despised by Judah. Those whom he comes to
bless will despise him for his lowliness and
obscurity. His life will be a life of tears, and
toil, and heaviness of heart, and he will at last be
cut off from among the living, with the ignominy
70 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
due only to a transgressor. Dost thou welcome
the advent of a sufferer?'
' 'But how knowest thou this? Art thou a
prophet?' I asked, with surprise and admiration.
" 'No, brother, but I have read the Prophets.
I heard, moreover, the words of this holy man,
sent from God, and he dwells more on the
humility of Christ than on his kingly grandeur.
Believe me, the kingdom of Shiloh is not of this
world. It cannot be of this world, if such is to
be his life and death; and that it is to be his life,
Esaias clearly states. Let me read to you his
words.' He then took a roll of parchment from
his bosom, and read by moonlight that myste
rious and inexplicable passage, which beginneth
with the words: 'Who hath believed our
report?' When he had ended, and perceived the
assenting impression he had made upon our
minds, he resumed: This is not the history of a
prosperous earthly monarch, but rather the pain
ful record of a life of humiliation, of shame, and
of contempt.'
" 'But, thou dost not say, brother,' said
Joseph, with some warmth, 'that the sacred
person borne witness to by this prophet is to be
an object of contempt?'
" 'Does not Esaias say that he will be despised,
beaten with stripes, rejected of men, imprisoned,
and put to death as a transgressor of the law?'
" 'There can be no question but that Esaias
speaks of the Messiah/ I remarked.
" This prophet of Jordan now bears full testi
mony to Esaias, and plainly maketh application
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 71
of his words to Him whom he has come before
hand to proclaim/ answered the young man,
with singularly graceful eloquence in all he said.
'Let us, who have been baptized this day for the
remission of our sins, expect a Messiah of sor
rows, not a conquering prince. Let us behold
one who is to humble himself beneath the yoke
of human infirmities, that he may be exalted, and
draw all men after him to a kingdom in the
heavens.'
"'But, the throne of David/ objected
Joseph
" 'Is at the right hand of God/
" 'But Jerusalem, and its rule over the
nations '
" 'Jerusalem that is above, is above all/
" 'But his kingdom that is to be everlasting
" 'Is where life is everlasting. How can he
rule an everlasting realm here on earth, without
living forever, and his subjects also? Read not
the prophets so. As Adam fell and lost Para
dise, so Messias, like a second Adam, must, as
man, humble himself in human nature, to atone
for our guilt ; and having made full atonement for
us by his life and his death, he will purchase the
kingdom of Paradise for the race of man ; but he
restores it to us not on earth, but translated on
high, where the angels still guard it in the king
dom of God. It is this kingdom which this
prophet proclaims as being at hand, and the path
to which our leader and king can only tread
through the mire of Adam's sin, which spreads
through this world; but without taint of sin upon
72 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
his robes. He being the bearer of our iniquities,
we shall thereby escape their chastisement.
Healed by his stripes, we shall be free from the
penalty which our sins demand. Laid upon him
will be the transgressions of the world; and by
one mighty sacrifice of himself, thus laden, as a
sin-offering, he shall make atonement for the
great family of Adam, and restore our race to
reconciliation with Jehovah. Such is to be our
/ooked-for Messiah. Alas, while we look for
him, let us mingle tears with our gladness, and
humble ourselves, that one so \ioly and excellent
should be destined to endure these things for our
sakes; and when we behold him, let us sink at his
*eet in grateful adoration of his love and charity,
of his mercy and goodness, of his noble self-
denial and voluntary upgiving of himself as a
sacrifice for us; for there could be no higher or
more valuable victim than he in the universe of
God; therefore, he hath offered himself, accord
ing to the words of the prophet, recording his
Offer, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God!'
"When the young man had spoken, he walked
away. Impelled by an unconquerable impulse,
I followed, and took him in my arms, and
-mbracing him, said: 'Of a truth thou art a
prophet! Thy words come home to my heart
like the echo of ancient prophecy/
" 'Nay. I have learned these things from the
study of the Scripture/ he said, with angelic
candor and modesty. 'But I have been aided,
how much I have no words to tell thee, by one
who hath wisdom and truth abiding in him above
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 73
all men, and whom it is my happiness to have
my bosom friend, as he is near my own age. If
I am wise, or virtuous, or good, or know the
Scriptures, it is that he hath been my counsellor
and teacher.'
" 'What is his name?' I asked, 'for I also would
go and learn of him.'
" 'He withdraws from the public eye, and hath
little converse with but few, and shuns all notice.
Without his permission I could not take thee to
him. Yet I will ask him, if you desire it.'
" 'What is his appearance, and where doth he
dwell?' I inquired, more deeply interested.
" 'He abides at present at Bethany, my own
city. He is so beloved by us, that we detain him
as our guest. But he dwelleth at other times
with his mother, a holy widow of great sanctity
and matronly dignity, living at Nazareth, in
humble condition, and he contributes by labor to
her support, with the most exemplary filial piety :
thus setting an example to the young men of
Judah, who in this age make a mock of parental
restraint, and under the evil practices which the
free license of the wicked custom of Corban
giveth, neglect them, and no more do aught for
their father or mother. Indeed, no person ever
approaches and speaks with him, without leaving
him a wiser and better man/
" 'Verily/ said both Joseph and I together,
'you have only increased our desire to behold
him. His appearance must be noble/
" 'He possesseth neither beauty of form nor
comeliness to strike the eye ; but there sits upon
74 THE PRINCE OP THE HOUSE OP DAVID.
his brow a serene dignity, tempered with mild
ness, that commands the respect of age, and wins
the confiding love of childhood. His eyes beam
with a light, calm and pure, as if shining from
interior holy thoughts, and they rest upon you,
when he speaks, with a tenderness of love that is
like the dewy light of the young mother's gaze,
when she bends in silent happiness and tears
over the face of her first-born. He never smiles,
or rather his face is one soft sunshine of smiling
rays, tempered in an indescribable manner with
a settled look of sadness, an almost imperceptible
shade of permanent sorrow, that seems to fore
shadow a life of trial and suffering. When he
reads from the Phrophets, and unfolds to us with
a wisdom that we can regard only as given him
from heaven, the great truths that relate to the
long-looked-for, and, as we now believe, the
near-present Messiah, he seems to speak by
inspiration, yet without emotion, but calmly and
naturally, in a low-toned voice, that is never
lifted up at any time, nor ever heard in the
streets/
' 'He must be another prophet,' said Joseph,
with deep earnestness.
" 'He does not prophecy, nor preach,' an
swered the young man.
' 'What is his name?' I asked.
" 'Jesus, the NazareneT
"We both promised to remember this name;
and as our way to Jerusalem lay through
Bethany, we wished much to call and see him;
but this step the young man mildly objected to,
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 75
t*xitil, he, having made known our wishes to him,
he then might, if he desired to see us, send into
Jerusalem for us to go to Bethany.
"As the young man was then about to move
away, I asked him his name, as he had greatly
drawn out my heart towards him, and I felt that
if I could be his friend, and the friend of the wise
young man of Nazareth, who sojourned with
him, I should be perfectly happy, and have no
other desire save, indeed, to live till the Mes
siah came, that I might behold him, and lay my
head upon his sacred bosom.
" 'My name is Lazarus, the Scribe/ he
answered, as he took his leave."
"What," interrupted Mary, when her cousin
had spoken this name, "then I know him well.
It is the brother of Mary and Martha, both my
friends at Bethany, where I passed a week last
year, just before the Passover."
"I am glad to hear that," said John, "for this
will be a closer bond of friendship between us.
The next day we renewed our acquaintance, and
after three days, departed together homeward.
Upon arriving at Bethany, he learned that his
friend had gone to Cana, in Galilee, on a visit
with his mother, to the house of one of her kins
folk, whose daughter is in a few weeks to be
married."
Having now, my dear father, communicated
to you all that John related to us, you will see
what grounds there are to look upon the prophet
of Jordan as a man sent from God, or to believe
that he is the true Elias, whom Malachi hath
THE PRINCE OK THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
foretold, and who, as the most learned of the
Scribes say, must first come to proclaim the
approach of the Prince of Peace, the Sliiloh of
Israel's hopes. My emotions, my ideas, my
opinions-, at present, are conflicting and full of
indecision. On one hand, I am ready to become
one of John of Jordan's disciples, and be bap
tized of him, looking with faith unto Him who is
to come after. On the other hand, I tremble lest
all should be a delusion, for it does not seem pos
sible that it is my lot to live in that blessed age
when Messiah cometh, a period toward which all
the patriarchs and prophets have looked, desir
ing to see His day, but died without possessing
the promise, beholding it only afar off. The
infinite greatness of this privilege is all that
causes me to doubt. Instruct me, dear father;
open to me the treasures of your wisdom. Thou
art read in the prophets. Doth the youthful
prophet of the wilderness truly use their predic
tions in their application to Messias? Is it that
the intellectual Lazarus truly drew the sad por
traiture of His dark career on earth? How are
the opposing prophecies to be reconciled in
another manner than the young man of Bethany
has unfolded them? Explain to me one other
interpretation, dear father, how he can be both
king and a prisoner! Lord of life, yet suffer
death! With a kingdom boundless as the world,
yet despised and contemned of men!
The account brought by John has set Rabbi
Amos to studying the Prophets, and, indeed, all
men are looking into them with interest
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 77
unknown before ; for the multitudes that go away
from the new prophet, noise his predictions
abroad, throughout all the land. May God be,
indeed, about to bless his people, and remember
his inheritance!
ADINA.
LETTER VI
My dear Father: Health and peace to thee.
and all my friends honored and beloved in Alex
andria! I have again seen the excellent Ben
Israel, with whom, four months ago, I came
from Egypt, to sojourn in Jerusalem. He not
only delivered to me your letters, with the
acceptable gifts you kindly sent by him, but also
assured me of your welfare in all things. He is
at present absent at Damascus, whither he w r ent
soon after his arrival here, in order to buy the
celebrated Syrian blades of that city, which he
takes down to Egypt at a great profit, with other
merchandise. He assures me that he is gaining
much wealth by his caravans of commerce, at
which I rejoice, for he is an amiable and worthy
man. His entreaties, that I would return to
Alexandria with him, would nearly have over
come my resolutions of remaining here, but for
the commands you have laid upon me to avail
myself of the peculiar privileges which Jerusalem
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 79
s for improving the mind; and were it not
I am deeply interested in the issue of the great
expectation of Israel. Your letter, dear father,
commands me to banish this "novelty" from my
mind, and continue humbly to worship Jehovah
after the manner of our fathers. I trust this I
shall ever do, my dear father; and did I discover
in this prophet any disposition to bring in a new
faith, opposed to the ancient faith of Abraham,
I should tremble to entertain it for a moment.
You say that this man must be "a false and base
prophet," or he would not herald a master so
low and despised as he professes will be the
Christ he bears witness to. "There have been
many false Christs and false prophets, my child,"
you add, "and Israel has run after them, as they
now run after this John of Jordan, and the result
has been, that they have either perished in the
wilderness or been cut to pieces, with their
deceiver, by the jealousy of the Roman Gover
nors, who looked upon such assemblies as
seditious. Hold fast, my child, to the religion of
our fathers, and be not carried away, as I fear
you are in danger of being, by this wild preacher
of repentance. The kingdom of Messias is not
a kingdom of repentance and of humiliation, but
one of victory, of glory, and dominion. Touch
ing those prophecies of humility and abasement
which this prophet of Jordan applies to Messias,
they have no application to our expected Shiloh
and Prince. They either apply to some lesser
prophet, who will be the forerunner of the true
Christ (for that he will have a forerunner, the
80 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
Scriptures speak too plainly for doubting), or, as
some say and believe, especially do the Pharisees,
there are to be two Messiahs, one who shall come
in humiliation and suffering to the Gentiles, as an
atonement for the expiation of their sins, and one
to come to us in regal power, and in circum
stances of glory and splendor, such as no poten
tate hath ever manifested, and who shall make
Jerusalem the metropolis of the globe, and the
kings of the earth tributary at his feet. Such is
our Messias, whom the Lord of Hosts send us
speedily, to lift Judah from the dust of her
humiliation! If the base person this prophet of
the desert heralds be a Messias, he is one to the
Gentiles only, whose great iniquities need the
self immolation and humiliation of one come
from God, in atonement herefor; but he is not a
Messiah to Israel, nor the mighty Prince who
shall sit in David's seat on the throne of Zion.
Therefore, my child, you, as a daughter of Israel,
have no interest in this novelty that cometh out
of the wilderness, and after which half the land
hath foolishly run mad. Wait, be patient, the
day of Israel's glory shall truly arise and shine,
and all nations shall see it and rejoice. Think
no more of what thy cousin hath told thee.
When Messias cometh, He will be heralded by a
more glorious and eminent person than a young
man of thirty, clothed in skins, and for food eat
ing locusts and wild honey, whose origin and
authority no man knoweth. Believing that your
good sense and sound judgment, my Adina, will
at once lead you to adopt my views, I shall not
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 81
urge them further, as if I seriously feared your
defection from the house of your fathers, an
event which would bring my gray hairs down
with sorrow to the grave. It is my belief that
this prophet preaches only himself, and, under
the mysterious and deceitful notions of another
to come after him, is but gathering an expectant
multitude around him, to wield them as instru
ments for his own ambitious ends; and by the
time you write me again, I expect to learn from
you that he openly proclaims himself the Christ,
after all; or that he, with all who are led by him,
will be destroyed by the swords of the Roman
legions."
How can I write to you, my dear father, that
which is now rushing to my pen, after such an
expression of your sentiments as you have made
in this extract from your letter? But I know
you are wise, and will not evade truth, in what
ever form it may offer itself to you, and I there
fore, with confidence in your justice and wisdom,
will faithfully make known to you the events
relating to the prophet which have transpired,
and may take place in Judea during my abode
here. Hear me always with candor, and judge
without partiality; for this is, without doubt, a
day of wonderful revelations. I fancy that I
can now see your brow darken, and that you say,
"enough of this. Are we to have more of this
new prophet?" Yes, my dear father, more still,
and more extraordinary circumstances I am
about to relate than I have yet written; for the
6
82 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
very priests of the Temple have become believers
in the youthful Seer.
You will remember how that John, Mary's
cousin, stated that many priests and others were
offended at the plain preaching of the prophet,
whom they went out into the wilderness to see.
When they returned to Jerusalem, and made
known to the other members of the House of the
Priests what had been spoken against them, by
the application to them of the words of Esaias
and Jeremias, and other Prophets, there arose at
once a great outcry against him. Many of th'e
Levites even forgot their duties in the Temple,
in holding discourse with the Scribes and Phari
sees, and others, in the streets, in the arches of
the gates, and in the market-places, touching this
new prophet, and his bold denunciations of
them, being so much the more grieved at them
because they were, alas, but too well merited by
the looseness of their lives. At length, Annas,
who is High Priest with Caiaphas, sent two of
the most learned men of the Temple, Levites of
weight of character, to invite the prophet to
Jerusalem; for Annas is a wise man, and not
easily carried away by popular feeling; and, as
Rabbi Amos hath told me, he is disposed to look
upon the preaching- of John, for sitcri is his name,
with a serious and reverential eye. The messen
gers returned after the fifth day, and made their
report openly in tlie Court of the Temple, where
the High Priests sat to receive th'em, expecting
to behold the prophet in their company. At
length, the assembly being convened, the two
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 88
learned and venerable Levites both rose up, and
declared that they had delivered the message to
John, the son of Zacharias, the prophet of Jor
dan, and that his answer was given with the
reverence due to the station of the High Priest
who had sent to him:
"Go and say to the noble High Priest," said
he, "that I am the voice of one crying in the
wilderness, as it is written in the book of the
words of Esaias, the Prophet, who, foreseeing
my day, saith, 'The voice of one crying in the
wilderness, prepare ye the way of the Lord, make
his paths straight/ All flesh will soon behold
the salvation of God. My errand is not to city
nor temple, nor into any house of Israel will I
enter. He who would hear my testimony to
Him who is to come after me, let him seek me
in the wilderness, whence only I am commanded
to lift up my voice till Shiloh come."
When the priests heard this answer, they were
greatly enraged, and many fiercely cried one
thing, and many another; some that he should
be sought out and stoned to death for defying
the High Priest (which he did not do, as it was
for him to obey God rather than man); others,
that he should be accused to the Procurator,
Pontius Pilate, Governor of Judea, as a seditious
and dangerous person, and fomentor of insur
rections. Caiaphas was of the latter opinion,
and wrote, from his tribunal, an epistle to the
Roman ruler, making accusation hereof against
the prophet of the desert, and recommending
him to secure his person, lest further mischief
&4 ' THE PRINCE OF THE Hol'SE OF 1UVI1.
should come of it; adding, that Tiberius Caesar,
hearing of the matter, would conceive it to be a
movement of the whole Jewish nation, desirous
of casting oft" the Roman rule, under a new chief;
and thus bring down an army upon the land,
utterly to destroy it. But the milder Annas
viewed the whole matter in a different light, and
said:
"Men and brethren let nothing be done
hastily. If this man be a false prophet, he will
soon perish with his lies, and we shall hear no
more of him. If, peradventure, as it would
appear, he is sent from God, let us not make
haste to do him a mischief, lest, haply, we be
found fighting against the Lord of Hosts."
This moderation found favor with but few, but
of these few, Rabbi Amos was one. But if the
priests who thronged the outer court, in pres
ence of the High Priest, were deeply moved at
the report of the prophet's answer, their excite
ment became well nigh uncontrollable, when
both Melchi and Heli, their messengers, rose up,
waving their hands for silence, and declared,
that, after having listened to the prophet to
whom they had been sent, they were convinced
of the truth of his words, and of his divine com
mission, and been baptized of him in Jordan,
confessing their sins.
Only the sanctity of the Temple prevented the
five hundred priests rushing upon them, and
smiting them when they heard this. They were
at once placed under arrest by order of the High
Priest Caiaphas, for acting in a manner unbe-
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 85
coming a priest of the Most High God: "For,"
said he, "this is to degrade the Temple to the feet
of a wandering imposter, and is an open acknow
ledgment that virtue hath left the worship of
Zion, and must be sought for in the deserts of
Jordan. Which," he called aloud, ''which, men
of Israel, is the greatest, the altar of the Lord, or
the waters of Jordan? the Priest of the Most
High, or he of the wilderness? Away with these
recreant blasphemers, to be tried and adjudged
according to our sacred laws." The people who
had heard John preach, hereupon were only
prevented from rescuing the two priests by the
presence of a guard of Roman soldiers, for which
Caiaphas promptly sent.
From this account, my dear father, you can
form some idea of the excitement which the
preaching of this new prophet is producing
among all classes. The poorer sort of people
are his advocates, and the rich and the rulers,
the priests and the great men of the nation,
oppose him, save a few among the best and the
wisest. Of these few is Rabbi Amos, who is
engaged all the time he is not on duty in the
Temple, in searching the Scriptures, to see if
these things are so; and at every prophecy he
reads, he is more and more convinced that the
day of Messias is at hand, and that this prophet is,
without doubt, he who was to be sent from God
in the "spirit and power of Elias," to prepare the
way before him. Every evening there are
assembled at our house from twelve to eighteen
of the chief men of the Jews, who often pass half
86 THE PRINCE OP THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
the night in warm discussions upon these great
things; those among them who have heard John,
being disposed to give him the high rank he
claims, as forerunner of Shiloh. Among these
is Stephen, a man whose father was High Priest,
and who is himself a lawyer and stuclent of no
mean repute. He has not yet heard John, the
prophet, but he openly said last night that, after
the most careful examination of all the Prophets,
he was firmly of the opinion that the day of their
fulfilment was close at hand; and that, for his
part, he was willing to hail the prophet of Jordan
as the true herald of Messias. Hereupon, two-
thirds of the company said the same thing, but
the others doubted, and cautioned the rest not
to be too rash; that it was time enough to believe
in Messias when he himself should come in his
own person.
Such, my dear father, is the present condition
of the mind of the people of Jerusalem. If the
Prince of Glory should, indeed, suddenly appear,
there could be scarcely more excitement, though
it would be of a different nature. There is some
thing sublime to see a young man, who dwelleth
alone in the wilderness, poor and unknown, thus
moving the great heart of a nation; surely, his
power must be divinely derived. You ask me,
and so is the question constantly put by the
Scribes, and Pharisees, and Priests, to the
disciples of John: "Does he perform miracles?
Show me a miracle', and I will believe in him ; for
this is the only test of a true prophet's Divine
commission." No, dear father, he has per-
THE PRINCE OP THE HOUSE OF DAVID. ST
formed no miracle, unless it be one continuous
miracle, whereby he keeps in the wilderness a
multitude, daily enlarged, from the outpouring
gates of every city in Judah, listening to his
words, and bowing their heads to the sacred
waters of his penetential baptism.
As next week Rabbi Amos does not serve in
his course in the Temple, and as he will have
some affairs that will take him to Gilgal, where
he has three fields now ripe for the sickle, he has
yielded to the desire of his daughter Mary and
myself to accompany him; for he does not con
ceal from us that he shall make it a point to visit
and hear the prophet, as it will be but two hours
travel from Gilgal to the place where he
preaches. You will, I fear me, object to this
journey. But if the worship of our fathers has
nothing to fear from falsehood, it surely has
nought to fear from truth; and in either case I,
as a true daughter of Israel, have nothing to
lear. If the prophet teach what is false, I shall
remain true ; and if he teach what is true, shall I
not be the gainer? I hear you say this is but
feeble and womanly argumentation. But as you
have given me the credit of, more than once,
declaring it to be your belief, that I am old and
wise enough to judge for myself in most matters,
I beg you will suffer me to hear the prophet with
my own ears, in order that I may decide whether
I ought to give heed to his predictions, or reject
them as the visions of a dreamer. One thing is
clear if the Christ that John prophesies be the
true Son of the Highest, and is, in reality, to
88 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OP DAVID.
make his appearance ere long, in humiliation and
poverty, his rejection by the High Priests, and
by the rich and powerful of Judah, is certain.
May God, then, remove blindness from our eyes,
that, if this be the very Messias indeed, Israel
may recognize their king, and not do so fearful
a thing in their pride as to reject him openly I
In this case, who will stand between God and our
ill-fated race? Therefore, my dear father, it
behooves every man in Israel to examine this
matter with a sober and humble mind, and move
with caution in opposition to what may prove the
dearest hopes of our people. When I shall have
returned from the desert, whither we are to
travel on litters and mules, I will write you all
that I have heard.
You will remember the young Roman Cen
turion, to whose courtesy I was indebted in
rescuing me from the rudeness of the two Gen
tile soldiers. He has preserved, since then,
acquaintance with Rabbi Amos, who speaks of
him with respect; and as he has of late expressed
some interest in knowing what the studies are
which occupy the Rabbi so constantly when
he calls to see him, which he has done frequently,
a copy of the Prophets was placed in his hands ;
but as he professed he was not learned enough
to read Hebrew, the good Rabbi, who believed
he saw in him a hopeful convert to the faith of
Judah, called in Mary to read and interpret to
him. But her knowledge of the Roman tongue
did not prove sufficient, and at her request, the
Rabbi sent for me, to come into the marble hall
THE PRINCE OP THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 89
of the corridor, where they sat by the fountain,
under the shade of the acacia, which Amos says
you took, with your own hands, from Isaiah's
grave, and planted here, many years ago, and
which I therefore call "my father's tree."
"Come hither, Adina," said my uncle, in his
benevolent tones: "here you behold a noble
Roman youth whom you must be too generous
to have forgotten." I bowed, and scarcely lifted
my eyelids from the tesselated floor; for there
was a fire in the glance of the handsome youth
that they could not encounter. He said some
words of salutation, but I only heard the voice,
which fell upon my heart with a strange vibra
tion like the effects of music. Surely, these
barbarians of Italia have the richest language of
all men; compared with it, our Hebrew is harsh,
and strangely gutteral. "The Roman Centu
rion," continued Amos, "hath desired to know
something of the sacred books of our nation, of
which he saith he hath heard much; and of the
prophecies, from which he believes the famed
Sibylline books were composed."
"I have studied the sacred books of Etruria,
of Gaul, and those of the Goths and the Druids,
of Egypt, and of Persia, as well as of my own
people," said the Centurion, modestly, " but in
all these I find rites and ceremonies, doctrines
and laws, that are unworthy to emanate from the
supreme Jove of so vast a universe. We,
Romans, in the multiplicity of our Gods, in deify
ing everything, in reality deify nothing! Every
thing we call God, but we realize God nowhere."
6
90 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OP DAVID.
"Then thou hast well directed thy inquiries
touching this book," answered Amos, with
warmth, and loking on the Roman with respect
ful compassion. "Here is to be found the true
and only revelation of Jehovah to men. Here is
developed a divine character, worthy of the
Creator of the universe. Here are laid down
laws and ceremonies, rites and doctrines, com
mands and precepts, that are worthy to emanate
from the Father and God of all men. Thou
shalt hear and judge for thyself. I am but im
perfectly skilled in the Roman tongue, save for
daily intercourse, but here is an Egyptian
maiden who can interpret for thee in the idiom
of Grecia, or of Italia, and I will place the sacred
scroll in her hands, while I listen. Come, Adina,
open and read the beginning of the Book of
Moses."
I obeyed, as I would have obeyed you, dear
father, and, seated at the feet of Amos, I read
and translated aloud into Greek, which the
Roman youth had said was even more familiar
to him than his native tongue (as it is to all
educated persons in the world), the first five
hundred lines. These, as you know, give an
account of the creation of the world, and of man,
of his defection, and his expulsion from Para
dise; of the promise of Messias to restore what
he had lost; of the curse denounced upon the
creation, and the slaying of the Patriarch Abel,
with the population of the earth, its wickedness,
and destruction by the flood,
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 91
To this the youthful warrior listened with the
profoundest respect and attention; and when he
had thanked me, and asked permission to come
and be further taught from pages which he said
seemed, indeed, to be written with the finger of
the Supreme Lord of the universe, he asked if
the Messias had yet come who was to restore all
things? and if not, when was he to be looked for?
This inquiry led to a conversation upon the
preaching of John in the wilderness, and his pre
dictions of the near advent of Shiloh. Rabbi
Amos, seeing that he became deeply interested in
the subject, made me turn to the particular
prophecies of Daniel, Esaias, David, and others,
and read them to him: both those which
described, in golden words, the glory and domin
ion of his power, and those which represented
him as despised and rejected. After I had read
all which the Rabbi directed me to read, the
young man remained some time very thoughtful.
At length he said, with animation: "I can now
comprehend why men run into the wilderness.
I should like to hear this prophet."
When Amos told him that he contemplated
journeying to Gilgal the next week, and intended
to visit the desert to hear him, he at once asked
permission to be of his company; but when I
remarked that Mary and I were also to go, nis
dark eyes beamed with pleasure, and he imme
diately said:
"I will accompany you with a squadron of
horse, as the roads are not safe, for no longer
92 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
yesterday we received a rumor that the cele
brated robber chief, Barabbas, at the head of a
large band, has made his appearance again on
the hills, between Ephraim and Jericho, and had
robbed not only two caravans, but many of those
who were travelling to hear this prophet. I will
make an expedition against him, after seeing you
safely in Jericho."
When we heard of this robber, we were not a
little disposed to decline our journey; but Rabbi
Amos thanked him, and said he would gladly
accept his escort, "inasmuch," he added, smiling,
"as I know you Roman knights here in garrison
have but little to employ your time, and would
esteem it a privilege to have an excursion of this
kind. Moreover, you say you must go against
this bandit; so we do not so much draw on your
courtesy as take shelter under your duty."
It is, therefore, decided, dear father, that we
leave early next week for Jericho and Gilgal, and
go also into the wilderness, to see and hear the
prophet. On my return, I shall not fail to write
you without delay. Till then, withhold your
judgment, and have confidence in mine. With
holy aspirations for the coming of the kingdom
of David, and the restoration of his throne in
Zion, I remain, with filial love, your daughter,
ADINA.
[John, cousin to Mary, who I erroneously told
you in my second letter was the son of the rich
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 93
matron whose husband was slain by the Romans,
and is only her nephew, as, doubtless, you are
aware, has gone to the Lake of Galilee, where
his father and brother have ships, and many ser
vants, engaged in fishing, in order to look after
their welfare. He may meet us at Gilgal.]
LETTER VII.
My Dear Father: My trembling fingers
scarcely hold the light reed with which I am
about to write you concerning the extraordinary
things I have seen and heard; but they tremble
only with joy. Oh, my father, my dear, dear
father, Messias has come! I have seen him! I
have heard his voice! He has truly come! Oh,
joy, joy! My eyes have beheld him of whom
Moses and the Prophets did write! But let me
not anticipate. In order that you may believe
as I believe, though you have seen Him not, I
will give to you an account of those events which
have happened since my last letter was sent to
you. I will try to write free from emotion, and
keep my bounding heart still, and my hand calm,
while I set in order all that has taken place, that
your understanding may judge of them with that
candor and wisdom which makes men see in you
the wisest Israelite in the land of Egypt.
You will recollect that in my last epistle, which
THE PKIXCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 95
went by the Cairo caravan, I mentioned that
Rabbi Amos, taking advantage of the recess in
his duties at the Temple, the course of the ven
erable Elihud being now waiting upon the altar,
made up his mind to pay his annual visit to the
wheat fields which he has in charge, near
Jericho, and which, as you know, are not his own
lands, but are in trust to him for the heirs of
Manasseh, of the tribe of Benjamin, who was
slain in trying to rescue Jericho from the
Romans. Rabbi Amos also felt no little curi
osity to hear John of Jordan, as he is called,
whose fame has spread far and wide. At the
request of Mary and myself, he consented that
we should accompany him. John, the young
man who is betrothed to my cousin, having gone
to the sea of Galilee to see about certain ships
which were there in charge of his brother James
and his father, was to meet us at Gilgal, and
accompany us to Jordan; for he thinks and
speaks of nothing now but the prophet of the
wilderness, from whom he feels that he suffers
great loss to be absent, even for a day.
The road from Jerusalem to Jericho had
become recently unsafe, on account of the bold
ness of an insurrectionary chief called Barabbas,
who a year ago made insurrection against the
Romans, but was defeated, and his band dis
persed into the mountains south of the sea of
Sodom; but, at last, driven to famine, he has
taken to robbing caravans ; and since the number
of travellers has increased so much between Jer
usalem and Jordan, to hear John, and be bap-
96 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
tized of him, he has fallen upon large parties of
them, and taken from them all their goods and
money. On this account Rabbi Amos accepted
the courteous offer of the escort of the young
Centurion, who had been ordered by the Pro
curator, Pontius Pilate, to keep the road open
between Jerusalem and Jericho; for even the
Roman couriers were stopped by this fearless
robber and slain by him. The pride of Rabbi
Amos shrunk from this dependence upon a
Roman arm, in making a peaceful journey
through his own land; but there is, alas! dear
father, no one now among the seed of Abraham
to assert their rights. We can only bow our
heads to the yoke the Lord God has placed upon
our necks.
It was faint dawn when we rose from our
couches to prepare for the journey. The mules
upon which we were to ride were brought into
the court by the two swarthy Gibeonite serfs,
whom Rabbi Amos holds in his service, and
companioned with rich saddles covered with
Persian saddle-cloths, embroidered with gold.
The two pack mules w r ere also made ready, on
one of which was the travelling equipage of my
cousin Mary and myself, which Rabbi Amos
smilingly said, took up more space than the
goods and travelling wares of a Damascus mer
chant. At sunrise, after we had kneeled upon
the house-top, in view of the Temple, and sent
up our prayers with its sacrifices and clouds of
ascending incense, we descended to the court
yard to mount for the road. There was a stout
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 97
mule for good Rabbi Amos, though the Centu
rion sent him a handsome Persian horse to ride;
but my uncle said that he had never trusted him
self on so uncertain an animal as a horse in his
youth, and he thought he should scarcely adven
ture such a feat in his old age; so he preferred his
mule.
Having got ourselves seated upon our cush
ioned saddles, and our veils ready to draw over
our faces, we expected each moment the arrival
of the Centurion and his cohort of horse; but a
Numidian slave came running, and, bowing to
the ground before Rabbi Amos, said that the
Centurion would meet us at the corner of the
two ways, beyond the walls, at Absalom's Pillar.
Whereupon we all mounted, and took our way
towards the East Gate. We were five persons
in all, Rabbi Amos, my cousin Mary and myself,
and the two Gibeonites, both of whom were
young men, whose fathers for many centuries
had been servants in the family of Amos, even
from the time of Joshua, when this people
deceived him by their craftiness, and were
doomed to perpetual servitude. I am much
struck with the appearance of this singular race
of men. They have very dark faces, eagle-
beaked noses, flashing black eyes, and slender,
lithe forms. They look cunning and treacher
ous, but seem to be cowardly, and easily con
trolled by firmness. They are incapable of any
attachments, and gratitude seems to be thrown
away upon them. I heard a singular tradition
about them from one of the Levites, who often
7
98 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
visits Rabbi Amos; which is, that they are de
scended from the servants of Noah, which were
saved with him in the ark, but who, as being of
an inferior rank, were not included in the record
of Noah's family. But, doubtless, you have
heard the same tradition.
The morning was bright and cheerful, with the
golden sun pouring its light over temple and
tower, castle and roof, wall and rampart, hill and
grove, valley and brook, one and all of which
were lighted up with the glory of his morning
beams. As we turned the street leading to the
Sheep Gate, we passed the house of Caiaphas,
the High Priest, whom I saw standing upon the
marble porch of his superb palace. He was not
arrayed in his sumptuous robes, with the breast
plate of dazzling stones, and kingly cap, as I had
seen him in the Temple; but was dressed in a
flowing black robe, over which was thrown a
scarf of white linen; and upon his snow-white
locks he wore a scarlet hood, a dress common to
all the priests, so that if I had not recognized
him by his tall and commanding form, and flow
ing white hair, and piercing eye, as he surveyed
us, I should not have known that it was the High
Priest. He spoke to Rabbi Amos, who did him
reverence, and lowly did I bend my own head
before the majesty of the representative of God
on earth.
A little further on, we met a party coming from
the country beyond Kedron, with large cages
upon their mules, laden with turtle-doves and
young pigeons, which they were carrying to the
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 99
Temple, to be sold there for sacrifices. My
heart pitied the innocent things, whose blue,
pretty heads were thrust by the dozen through
the rough bars of their rison houses, as they
cast their soft eyes up at me, as if asking me to
deliver them from their bondage. And when I
reflected that they were to offer up their innocent
lives for the sins of the men and women of
Israel, my cheek burned with the blush of shame,
that we were so guilty before the Lord God, that
the innocent must die for us. As Mary was rid
ing behind me, in order to let the laden mules
pass with their immense cages, one of the turtle
doves, affrighted by the noise of the streets,
extricated itself from between the bars, and,
spreading its wings, flew into the air, and then
taking its flight for the country, soared far above
the city walls, and disappeared in the distance.
I felt rejoiced at the innocent bird's escape, and
sent my good wishes for its safe return to its
lodge in the wilderness. Just before we reached
the Sheep Gate, by which we were to gain the
Jericho road, we met a poor blind man leading a
a lamb, or rather, being led by a tame lamb. He
also had two pigeons in his bosom. He was
asked by Rabbi Amos, who knew him, whither
he was going. He answered that he was going
to the Temple to sacrifice them. "Nay," said
Amos, with surprise, "thou wilt not sacrifice thy
lamb, Bartimeus!"
"I have promised them to God, Rabbi Amos,
and I may not break my promise without sin."
100 THE fiUNctJ otf fttfc iiotJsE of tAViD.
"But thy lamb leadeth thee everywhere. It is
eyes to thee. Thou canst not do without it."
"God will provide me another lamb," he
answered, his face beaming with hope.
"But thy doves? Thou earnest by them many
a mite in a day, they are so well taught in cun
ning and pleasant tricks to please children. If
thou must sacrifice according to thy vow, spare
these so needful to thee, .and here is money to
buy doves and another lamb," answered my
benevolent uncle.
"Hear what I have to say," answered Barti-
meus. "My father became sick, and was likely
to die, and I vowed a vow to God that if he
would heal the old man, my father, I would sac
rifice unto him one of my doves. The next day
my mother, who has nourished my childhood,
and loved me, though I was born blind, with all
her heart was also taken sick. I then vowed my
other pigeon. The same night my little
daughter, my little blind daughter, whose face I
never saw, and who never saw her father's face,
was sick nigh unto death. Then it was that I
vowed all that remained to me, even the lamb of
my bosom, whom I love next to my child! My
father, my mother, my child, are restored, and in
my joy I am on my way to the Temple to offer
these gifts of God to him. It will be hard, sir,
to part with them, I shall miss them so much;
but shall I not perform my vow? It will be hard
but God will not let blind Bartimeus suffer, since
He will see that he offer eth, in offering his two
little doves and his lamb, all that he hath."
?HE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 101
With these words he moved on, the lamb,
obeying the string which he held, softly moving
on before; while I could see the sightless eyes of
the righteous son and father trickle tears, as he
kissed, and kissed again, the doves that lay in his
bosom. This little occurrence made me sad;
yet I honored the resolute piety of this poor
man, whose eyes, though they saw not men,
seemed to see God and feel his presence. There
is still humble piety in the land, my dear father,
and finding it not among the proud and splendid
priests, we must look for it in the hearts of the
poor and humble, like Bartimeus.
Upon reaching the Sheep Gate, we were not
detained by the Roman captain, who kept others,
examing their passports, and taking gate-money
from those who were without them; for though
foot passengers may pass in and out free, yet
from those who ride horses or mules is exacted
money, unless they have passes signed by the
Procurator. But the captain of the gate no
sooner saw us, than he, with great civility, made
us pass through the gate in advance of others
who were ready to go through, saying that the
young Centurion, whose name, I think, I have
not told you, is /Emilius, had given him orders
not to detain us. The stern, iron-cased Roman
soldiers that stood about the gate, struck me as
having just the aspect and forms of men who
would conquer the world. When I reflected
that there was not a city on the earth, at whose
gates did not stand just such men as these,
armed, and clad, and bearded like them, I could
102 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
not but respect the universal power of the
Roman empire, while I feared it.
Once outside of the gates, the air blew fresh
from the hills of olives, laden with fragrance.
After being so long confined within the walls and
narrow 7 streets, it seemed to me that I had just
broken out of my cage, like the pretty, blue-
headed turtle-dove, and I felt like winging my
way, too, to the free deserts, if wings of a dove,
so ardently longed for by King David, could
only have been given me. On our right, not far
from the gate, Rabbi Amos pointed out to me
the pool of Bethesda, and turning my eyes
towards it, I beheld a most touching spectacle.
All the five porches were filled with sick and
impotent folk, the lame, halt, blind, and withered,
waiting, as my uncle told us, for the moving of
the waters; for, at certain seasons, he said that
God sends an angel down into the pool to trouble
the water, when, whosoever steps in first, is made
whole of whatever disease he may have. I could
not but stop my mule to regard so remarkable a
sight as this congregation of miserable people,
of whom there must have been no less than four
hundred; some leaning, pale and haggard,
against the columns, some creeping about in
helplessness, like brutes trying to get nigher the
pool, from which the stronger thrust them back ;
some reclining patiently upon their beds, in
humble waiting for God's time; and others being
borne hither on the shoulders of men. Sud
denly, as I was about to ride on, and shut out
this painful sight, one of the most extraordinary
THE PKINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 10?
scenes that human eyes could witness took place,
The surface of the pool, which was hitherto per
fectly placid, all at once became agitated, as if it
7vere boiling, and began to swell, rush, or rather
swing from side to side, in a remarkable manner.
No sooner was this seen, then there arose from
the throng of wretched invalids who crowded its
steps, a cry of four hundred voices all at once,
shrieks of joy, shouts of wonder, words of
amazed exclamation, while a simultaneous move
ment took place of the whole mass of human
bodies, which became as wildly tossed to and fro
as were the waters. Those nearest plunged
madly in, while those behind rushed down, some
wildly shrieking in their agonizing haste, and
some uttering the most fearful curses, as they
found their way obstructed by the impenetrable
masses before them. The most weak and impo
tent being most eager, and being farthest off,
made superhuman exertions to gain the pool,
howling, and climbing with hands and feet, over
the backs of others, to be hurled to the ground
and trampled upon by others who were behind
them. Some strong men who tried to open the
way for one they were carrying, drew their
knives, and proceeded to cut their way through
the haggard and mouthing wretches who
crowded the way, which violence being seen by
the Romans from the gate, they went down,
some score of them, with drawn swords, to quell
the tumult; for the whole pool was in an uproar
Unable to endure the dreadful scene, we rode
rapidly on, but T afterwards heard that Hefore
104 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
quiet was restored, several men were slain, and
that five of those who had got into the pool were
drowned beneath the feet of those who recklessly
leaped in, over the heads of others, upon them.
''Is it possible," I asked Rabbi Amos, after we
had reached the borders of Kedron, "that it is
the act of an angel that can produce all this
confusion and outbreak of the worst of human
passions?"
''There is no doubt that the troubling of the
waters is a miracle," he answered. "The act of
the angel is good. His touch gives a healing
power that cures diseases; and shall his benevo
lence be answerable for these dreadful and dis
gusting consequences which we have just
witnessed?"
I was silent; but I sighed for the wickedness
of man, that can make even God's gifts curses in
the reception of them.
We now turned a little to the right, for as the
bridge by which the road of Jericho is usually
gained was being solidly rebuilt by the Romans,
we had to follow the brookside till we came near
Absalom's Pillar, at the sight of which, the whole
history of that misguided young prince came
before me. How wonderful, that the glorious
head of golden hair, of which he was vain, and
of which the poets of that day speak more than
once, should have been the instrument of his
death! There were ancient oak trees in sight,
which the Rabbi said were old enough to be part
of the forest through which he rode so fatally,
and, doubtless, were. He showed me the pit
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 105
into which the ten young men who slew Absa
lom cast him, heaping great stones upon him.
It is close beside the pillar. This prince must
have been as brave as he was beautiful and diso
bedient, that when hanging by his hair in the
oak, and incapable of doing them harm, it should
require "ten young men to compass him and
smite him." How interesting to me is every
spot about Jerusalem! I seem to live in the
ancient days, when I see the scenes where have
been enacted the great events which constitute
the history and glory of our nation.
We had hardly reached the place where the
two roads meet, when we heard to the west the
sound of the galloping of a large body of horse,
and the next moment the young Roman Centu
rion came in sight, by the road from the Horse
Gate, riding at the head of a troop of horse,
whose martial appearance, with the ringing of
their armor, and the melody of their bugles,
made my blood le?,p; and I am sure, if I could
have seen my eyes, I should have discovered in
them a martial fire. yEmilius looked like a
Prince, and his burnished armor shone in the
sun like armor of fire. At his side rode a youth,
who bore the eagle of his band; but the Centu
rion himself carried in his hand only the badge
of his rank, which was a vine-rod bound with
rings of gold. He saluted us with that courtesy
which distinguishes his every motion, and then
dividing his troop into two bodies, half of whom
trotting on ahead, led the van, and the other
half, falling behind, served as a rear-guard. He
106 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
then gave the word to move forward. The Cen
turion himself rode either by the side of Rabbi
Amos, or near our bridles, but he did not so far
occupy himself with us as to forget his duty as
captain, which he fulfilled with the utmost vigi
lance, especially after we passed the village, and
entered upon the desert space that lies beyond
Bethany.
Farewell, dear father, till my next, when I will
resume my narrative of the events which have
taken place since I left Jerusalem. The God of
our father Abraham be your defence and shield.
Your affectionate daughter,
ADINA.
LETTER VIII.
My Dear Father: The very kind manner in
which you have received my communications
respecting the extraordinary prophet now draw
ing all Judea after him into the wilderness, and
the assurance that I can obtain from your wis
dom, learning and piety, a solution of all diffi
culties, and a true guide to the truth, prompt me
to continue freely, and in detail, the relation of
events that have passed under my experience. I
shall, in my accounts of the marvellous occur
rences that I have witnessed, and may yet wit
ness, not only convey to you the impressions
made upon my own mind, but upon the minds
of many others, of the wise, and learned, and
great, who also have heard and seen these things.
Thus you will have the weight of many testi
monies, which you will doubtless hold in respect
in proportion to the dignity, and wisdom, and
rank of the persons.
My last letter ended with an account of the
108 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
Roman escort, under the authority of the young
Roman Centurion, who, as I have before written
to you, with so much courtesy proffered its pro
tection to our little party. The day was yet
early, the sun not having got more than an hour
and a half high above the Arabian hills, and the
air was of that buoyant elasticity so agreeable
to breathe, and which strikes me as one of the
peculiar blessings of this holy land of our fathers.
In Egypt there is a want of life in the torrid air
at this season, that we do not here experience;
and as I rode along, I felt as if I would gladly
mount the Arabian of the desert, and fly across
the sandy seas of Edom, with the fleetness which
amazes me whenever I see the children of the
desert ride; for a band of thirty came near us
from a gorge as we approached Bethany, and,
after watching us a few moments, scoured away
into the recesses of the hills, like the wind, as a
detachment of a score of our Roman escort was
ordered to gallop towards them. Upon this,
Rabbi Amos said that we were fortunate in hav
ing such strong protection, for this party of the
children of Esau would otherwise have attacked
and plundered us, as they are wont to do every
party of Israelites they fall in with; and the
recent concourse of so many people to Jordan,
has drawn them boldly near Jerusalem, says the
Roman Centurion, in great numbers, to lay in
wait for, and rob them. Thus, the hostility
which began between the patriarch Jacob and
the patriarch Esau, has never yet been healed,
but rankles in the bosoms of their descendants
THE ffcmcfi OF tHfi SOtiSE OF bAVlD. 10
even to this day; and still, "Esau hateth Jacob,
because of the blessing wherewith his father
blessed him." The Romans greatly admired
the horsemanship of these children of Esau, and,
upon their heavy horses, armed with their iron
armor, it would have been vain to have followed
them to their retreats.
We soon afterwards reached Bethany, from
which we had a gorgeous view of the Holy City
of God, with its lofty Temple glittering in the
sunbeams, like a mountain of architectural sil
ver. The tower of Antonia darkly contrasted
with its splendor, and the citadel of David
frowned over the walls with a warlike majesty
that deeply impressed me. Ah, how could I
gaze upon the scene, my dear father, without
emotions of awe, wonder, adoration, and grati
tude! I drew rein, and entreated Rabbi Amos
to delay a few moments, while I surveyed Jerusa
lem, which, familiar as it might be to him, and
to all the rest of our cavalcade, was new to me;
but he was too far ahead to hear me, for I had
already been lingering for some seconds ; and the
Centurion, riding up to my side, stopped respect
fully, with a portion of his command, and said
he would await my leisure. I could not but
thank him for his civility, and then turning to
the city, I was soon lost to all else but the awful
contemplation of it. Irresistibly, as I gazed, I
went back, in memory, to the time when our
father Abraham was met before its gates by Mel-
chisedek, its king, who received regal homage
from him. I saw again, David coming forth
110 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
from its lofty portals, at the head of armies, to
conquer the surrounding nations. I beheld the
splendid trains of oriental monarchs, of the kings
of the South, and the kings of the North, and of
Sheba, the queen of happy Arabia, winding
through its pleasant valley, and entering in to
prostrate themselves before Solomon, the prince
of wisdom, glory, and power, the fame of whose
wisdom and greatness filled the whole earth.
Alas! the whole earth is now filled with the story
of the shame and bondage of Israel! But the
day cometh, dear father, when she shall lift up
her face from the dust, and put on regal gar
ments, and God shall place a crown upon her
head, and her glory and dominion shall be with
out end. This certainty quenched the tears that
burst into my eyes, as I contrasted the present
with the past. In memory, as I continued to
gaze, I saw the armies of the Assyrians, and the
armies of the Chaldeans, the armies of Egypt,
and of Persia, of Cyrus, and of Greece, all, each
in its turn, encompassing the Holy City, and
conquering it, even though God dwelt therein
in the mysterious fire of the Shechinah. But the
presence of Jehovah, in a city or in a heart, will
not save it from its foes, if the city or the heart
be not with God; and we know from the Proph
ets that the hearts of our fathers were far from
God; and, therefore, were they delivered up to
their enemies to be scourged. Oh, my dear
father, that our people of to-day would learn the
fearful lesson that the past teacheth them!
"You should see Rome," said the Centurion,
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. Ill
who had watched my emotion evidently with
surprise. "It is a city of grandeur unequalled.
It covers six times more space than this city, and
it contains three hundred and sixty-five temples,
while Jerusalem contains but one!"
''There is no God but one," I answered,
impressively.
"We believe that there is one God, who is the
author of a great multitude of lesser gods, and to
each we erect a temple."
Upon this, touched with pity that one so noble
in mind and person should be so ignorant of the
truth, I began to show him from the Prophets
that God was one, and that all things were made
by Him. But he, plucking a blossom from a
tree which was within reach, said:
"It is beneath the dignity of the Father of the
gods, the great Jove, to descend to make a flower
like this; or shape a crystal ; or color the ruby; or
create that golden-dyed humming-bird which
nutters among those fragrant blossoms. He
made the sun, and moon, and stars, and earth,
but left the lesser works to inferior deities. Talk
to me of thy One God, and prove to me, maiden,
that He made all things, and is One, and thy God
shall be my God."
It was then no time for me to endeavor to
combat this error, but I have reserved to myself
the first convenient opportunity to endeavor to
instruct him in the truth as it is revealed from
Heaven to our favored people. He has already
manifested an inquiring spirit into our holy faith,
and Rabbi Amos has taught him many things
112 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
from the books of Moses, but sufficient only to
lead him to desire to know more; but not to erad
icate from his heart his pagan superstitions.
The gentleness of his nature, his sound judg
ment, the frankness of his character, the ingenu
ous temper of the whole man, inspire me with
great confidence that he will be ultimately con
vinced of his errors, and embrace the faith of
Israel.
We now rode forward through the principal
street of Bethany, and soon came to the house of
your former friend, Rabbi Abel, who died many
years ago at Alexandria, when he went there with
merchandise, and after the welfare of whose
children you desired me to make inquiries. They
are now, as you are aware, grown to the full
estate of manhood and womanhood, and still
dwell at Bethany. Being friends of my cousin
Mary, it was decided that we should stop there
to rest half an hour before proceeding on our
way. It was a plain and humble dwelling, be
fore which Rabbi Amos assisted me to alight;
but there was an air of sweet domestic repose
about it that at once came home to my heart, and
made me love the place even before I had seen
the inmates, who had come out to receive, and
gone in with my cousin; but on hearing of my
arrival, there came out a fair young girl of
twenty-two, with the most amiable expression of
affectionate welcome; and, approaching me,,
with mingled respect and love, she embraced me,
while Rabbi Amos pronounced our names to
each other. I felt immediately as if I were in a
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 113
sister's arms, and that I should love her aiways.
Next came forth a young man of about thirty
years of age, with a countenance of exceedingly
interesting expression, full of intellect and good
will. He was pale and habitually thoughtful,
but a fine friendly light beamed in his dark,
handsome eyes, as he extended his hand to wel
come me. You have already had a full descrip
tion of him, and of his character, in one of my
former letters, and need not be told that it was the
son of your friend. At the threshold, Martha,
the eldest sister, met me, but with more cere
mony, and made an apology for receiving into so
lowly a dwelling the rich heiress of Alexandria,
as she termed me; but I embraced her so affec
tionately, that this feeling passed away instantly.
I was much struck with this whole family. Each
member of it possessed attractions of a peculiar
kind; and in all three I seemed to have found two
sisters and a brother. Martha busied herself at
once to prepare refreshments for us, and soon set
before us a frugal but agreeable repast, more
than we desired; for we all insisted that we
needed nothing, as we had not been long in the
sadle. Mary, in the meantime, and Lazarus, sat
on either side of me, and asked me many ques
tions about Alexandria, and particularly if I had
ever seen their father's tomb. And when I told
them that at my father's request I had kept the
flowers fresh about it, they both pressed
hands and thanked me so gratefully, that tears in
my own eyes answered to the tears in theirs.
How shall I describe to you the loveliness of
8
114 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
the person of Mary, and yet not so much the per
fection of feature as the soul which animates
them, and lends them a charm that I cannot ade
quately convey to you? Her eyes are of that re
markable color so seldom seen among our peo
ple, and when it is, is of a richer and more ceru
lean tone than is found in the azure-eyed natives
of the north. They are as blue as the skies of
Judea, and yet possess all the starry, torrid splen
dor of the eyes of the Hebrew maids. Her hair,
which is a soft, golden brown, is worn knotted in
\vavy masses about her superbly moulded neck.
Her air is serene and confiding, and she has so
little art that she lets you read all the secrets of
her pure soul in the summer heaven of the sweet
eyes I have spoken of. There is an indescribable
pensiveness about her that is most touching, and
at the same time pleasing.
Martha, the oldest, is of a more lively dispo
sition, yet more commanding in her aspect, be
ing taller, and almost queenly. Her eyes and
hair are jet black; the former mild, and beaming
with intelligence, like those of her brother
Lazarus, whom she resembles. She has a win
ning voice and a manner that leads you to feel
strong confidence in her friendship. She seemed
to take the whole management of our entertain
ment upon herself, which the quieter Mary left to
her, as if a matter of course, preferring rather to
talk with me about the land of Egypt, where our
fathers were so long in bondage, and about
which all our young people in Judea have such
awful ideas. Mary asked me if I was not afraid
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 115
to dwell there? if I ever saw the tomb of the
Pharaohs? and if the seventy pyramids of the
Nilus were not the work of our forefathers?
Lazarus conversed chiefly with Rabbi Amos, who
questioned him with much interest about the
prophet John of the wilderness, to whom, you
will remember, I wrote you Lazarus had paid a
visit. After our repast, Martha showed me three
beautiful bands of embroidery, which she was
working for the new veil of the Temple to be
put up next year; for the sisters live by working
needle-work for the Temple, and Lazarus makes
copies of the Law and Psalms for the priests. He
showed me his copying-table, and the rolls upon
it, some partly done, some quite complete. He
also showed me a copy of the book of Isaiah,
which he had just finished, and which had occu
pied him one hundred and seven days. It was
exquisitely executed. Another incomplete copy
was thrown aside, and was destined to be burned,
because he had made a mistake in forming one
letter; for if an iota be added too much, the work
is condemned and burned, so strict are the
priests that perfect and immaculate copies of the
Law, and none others, shall exist. Mary, also,
showed me a beautifully embroidered foot-tablet,
which the wife of Pilate, when she was last from
Cesarea, ordered for herself.
"I shall not receive coin for it," said Mary,
"but present it to her; for she has ever been very
kind to us ; and when, last year, she and the Pro
curator Pilate, her lord, came up from Cesarea to
Jerusalem, about the time of the Passover, she
116 THE PRINCE OP THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
sent her own household physician to heal Laz
arus, who was taken sick from over-much con
finement to his tasks. She knew us only by in
quiring who it was who worked the embroider
ing of the altar mantles, which she had much
admired."
Seeing upon the table a richly worked book-
cover of silk and velvet, with the letters "I. N."
embroidered in olive leaves upon it, I asked her
if that, it being so elegant, was not for the High
Priest?
"No," answered Martha, with brightening
eyes, speaking before her sister could reply, "that
is for our friend, and the friend and brother of
Lazarus."
"What is his name?" I asked.
"Jesus, of Nazareth."
"I have heard John speak of him," said my
cousin Mary, with animation, and appealing to
me, reminded me how John had repeated what
Lazarus had spoken to him of his friend from
Nazareth, which I have written to you. "I should
feel happy," added my cousin, "to know him
also."
"And from what I have heard of him," said I,
"it would be, indeed, a pleasure to see him."
The two sisters listened to us with pleasure,
and Martha said :
"If you had been here a few days ago, you
would have seen him. He left us, after being
with us three weeks, to go to Nazareth again.
But he requested to .meet Lazarus at Bethabara,
on the third day from this, for some important
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 117
reason ; and my brother will go, for he loves him
so that he would cross the seas to meet him."
"Then," said Rabbi Amos to Lazarus, "if you
are to journey so soon towards Jordan to meet
your friend, you had best 1 *oin our company, and
share our escort." To this Lazarus, after some
consultation with his sisters, consented.
What a happy family, thought I, is this! The
sisters happy in each other's love, the brother
happy in theirs, all three united as one in the
purest affection, and yet a fourth is added to the
circle, whose love for the three is equal to theirs
for him I Humble in station, poor, and depen
dent upon the labor of their hands for their daily
bread, yet their household is one that kings
might envy, and which no gold or jewels could
purchase.
I left this blessed abode of fraternal friendship
with regret, and felt that I should be perfectly
happv if I could be admitted as a fifth link in the
wreath of their mutual love. Even the Roman
Centurion had been struck with the air of peace
ful repose reigning there, and spoke of it to me
as we rode away.
About noon we stopped at a caravansera, half
the way to Jericho from Bethany. Here we
overtook a friend of Rabbi Amos, the venerable
and learned scholar and lawyer, Gamaliel. He
was, he confessed, also riding to Jordan, to have
an interview with the prophet, being persuaded
to seek it on account of an extraordinary dream
he had, which he repeated to his friend Rabbi
Amos, but not in our hearing; but the effect
118 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
upon my uncle excited a good dal of my curi
osity to know what it was, but he has been studi
ously silent upon the subject. Accompanying
the lawyer, Gamaliel, was a young man who was
his disciple, and who went with him as a com
panion by the way. His name is Saul; and I
noticed him particularly, because I overheard the
venerable lawyer say that he was the most re
markable young man who had ever sat at his feet
to learn the mysteries of the law. This young
law-disciple and Lazarus rode together, and
talked long and earnestly by the way, the former
thinking that nothing but mischief would come
of the new prophet's preaching, while the latter
warmly defended him and his mission as divine.
To their conversation the Roman Centurion lis
tened 'with the closest attention, for Saul was
learned in the Prophets, and drew richly from its
stores to prove that the true Messias can never
be heralded by so mean a messenger as this
preacher of repentance in the wilderness. Saul
eloquently drew a gorgeous picture of Messias'
coming, and the splendor of his reign, and that
angels and heavenly signs, and not a wild man of
the wilderness, with water baptism, should pre
pare the way before him.
At length, as the day closed, we came in sight
of the walls and towers of Jericho, but succeeded
in reaching the gates only after they were closed.
But the presence of the young Centurion caused
them to be immediately reopened, and we were
admitted, with some hundreds, who, having
reached the gate after it was shut, now begged
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 119
and received permission to enter in our com
pany.
The next day we proceeded to Gilgal alone, the
road being perfectly safe, the courteous Roman
having early the same morning issued from the
gates, in haste to pursue the famous Barabbas,
who had the last night attacked a caravan within
four leagues of Jordan, and taken much booty, as
well as slain many men.
"I now write to thee beneath the roof of the
summer residence of Rabbi Amos. To-morrow,
early,'' says a passage which I copy from my
journal, written there, "we are going to Betha-
bara, a little village beyond Jordan, but on its
banks, near which we learn John is now bap
tizing, he being no longer at the ford of Jordan,
where my cousin Mary's betrothed, John, found
him, and was baptized of him a few weeks ago.
Lazarus has gone on with Saul, and the learned
Gamaliel, with many lawyers and doctors in
company, who desire to see and hear this prophet
of the wilderness."
Indeed, dear father, the advent of a prophet is
of so rare an occurrence among us, that the bare
idea that John the Baptizer may be a true
prophet of God, has moved the great heart of
Israel, and stirred up curiosity, hope, and marvel,
in the highest degree ever known in the land.
There seems to be but one subject, and but one
thought. Every man says to his neighbor:
"Have you seen or heard the new prophet? Is
he Messias, or is he Elias?"
My next letter will give you a narration, my
120 THE FRINGE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
dear father, of what I witnessed at Bathabara.
and will, perhaps, more deeply interest you than
anything I have yet written.
That the hope of Israel may not be long de
ferred, and that we may receive the Messias,
when he cometh, in humble faith, in honor, and
in love, is the prayer of
Your affectionate daughter,
ADINA.
LETTER IX.
My Dear Father: In these letters to you
which give an account of my excursion with
Rabbi Amos to the Jordan, I hope you will par
don the details which I enter into, for it is my
earnest desire that you should see everything
with my eyes, as if you had been present with
me; in order that you may, though absent, be
able to judge as if you had been an eye-witness of
the remarkable events of which I have under
taken to give you a complete history. I know
that your liberal mind, and your sense of equity
and justice, will lead you to read all I have to
write before you take upon you to make a reply
to the facts which, with filial love and reverence,
I present to your consideration.
After Rabbi Amos had reached the house in
the wheatfields of Gilgal, where he intended to
take up his sojourn for the two weeks of harvest,
and had directed his servants what to do, he
kindly told us that he was ready to accompany
122 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
my cousin Mary and myself to the Jordan, to hear
the prophet. It was with no little gratification,
therefore, that my cousin and myself once more
mounted our mules, and proceeded towards the
place where we heard the prophet was baptizing.
But we had not ridden a great way from the
house when we overtook two men on foot, with
staves in their hands and wallets upon their
shoulders. As we passed, one of them raised
his cap with respect to Rabbi Amos, who, from
his rank as a priest, and his venerable appear
ance, always commands the homage of all men.
"Whither goest thou at such a pace, friend
Matthew?" said Rabbi Amos, returning his
salute, for he seemed to know him. "Canst
thou leave thy tax-gathering these busy times to
go into the wilderness?"
The person, who was a man of stout figure,
with dark hair and beard, and a look of intelli
gence, but whose costume was plain and ill-
worn, smiled, and answered:
"If a man would find the payers of tribute
now-a-days, good master, he must not stay at
home, forsooth, but go into the wilderness of
Jordan where all men have gone. Verily, this
new prophet emptieth our towns, and we publi
cans must remain idle in our seat of customs, or
go with the tide."
"Thy words are near the truth, friend Mat
thew," answered my uncle; "but hast thou no
other motive in thy heart than looking after thy
Roman coins, in taking this journey from
Jericho?"
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 123
"1 have curiosity to see a man whom multi
tudes resort to from Galilee, and from Decapolis,
and from Jerusalem, and from all Judea, and
from beyond Jordan."
''And thinkest thou," continued my uncle, as
the two men walked along by the side of his
mule, "thinkest thou this prophet is a true son of
the prophets?"
He works no miracles, unless, indeed, the
power of his preaching be a miracle," answered
Matthew.
'This man is an imposter. There can be no
prophet unless he proves his mission by mira
cles," suddenly said the companion of Matthew,
speaking up abruptly in a sharp and unpleasing
voice. Now neither Mary nor I liked the face of
this man from the first. He was of good height,
he was well-featured, and his attire was rich; but
he had a haughty air, combined with a cringing
deference to Rabbi Amos, that made me think he
must be a hypocrite. He smiled with his mouth
and teeth, but at the same time looked sinister
out of his eyes. He had an air of humility which
seemed to me to be put on to conceal the pride
and wickedness of his character. He looked like
a man who could artfully deceive to gain his sel
fish ends, and who would kneel to you to over
turn you. The sound of his voice confirmed my
first impression of him. Upon his speaking,
Rabbi Amos fixed his eyes upon him, as if he did
not like the manner of his breaking in upon the
conversation, and then mildly replied:
"Moses performed no miracles. Aaron, or
124 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OP DAVID.
Aaron's rod was the instrument whereby these
were done before Pharaoh. This prophet may
be as Aaron to the great Prophet he foretelleth.
What is thy companion's name, friend Mat
thew?" he asked, aside, as the other walked on
ahead.
"His name is Judas, called Iscariot. He hath
been engaged by me to bear the moneys I col
lect in the country villages; and as we are to
gather taxes both at Gilgal and Bethabara, he
cometh with me."
We now came in sight of the Jordan, but could
discover no crowd upon its banks. While we
were wondering at not beholding any signs of
the multitude, we met a stranger who was riding
a horse, and coming from the northward, who,
seeing us apparently in perplexity, inquired with
courtesy, if we were not seeking John the proph
et. Upon Rabbi Amos replying in the affirma
tive, the horseman informed us that he had re
moved up the river, some two hours' ride, and
was then baptizing at the little village of Betha
bara, on the east bank of Jordan ; and he added,
that not less than eight thousand people must be
thronging the shore.
"Dost thou know this stranger?" asked of
Matthew Rabbi Amos, who had gratefully
thanked him for his intelligence, looking back
after him, as he rode on. "I saw thee salute
him."
"He is an officer of Herod the Tetrarch's
household," was the response, "a Hebrew of
great wealth, and he payeth more tribute-money
HE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 125
to the emperor from his lands than any Israelite
between Jericho and Jerusalem."
At length, dear father, after hastening the
speed of our mules, and riding pleasantly for two
hours along the verdant banks of Jordan, we
came in sight of a square tower of stone, peering
above the trees, which marked the site of the
village of Bethabara. "That tower," said Rabbi
Amos, "stands over a cave in which Elijah long
dwelt, and in which Isaiah at one time concealed
himself from his enemies. It is now called the
Tower of Elijah/ From the summit of yonder
hill, at the left, the prophet was caught up, and
ascended to heaven upon the chariot of fire ; and
near where you see the single rock, Elisha
divided Jordan, with the fallen mantle left him
by the asceading prophet of God."
All these places, with many others, which the
intelligent Habbi Amos pointed out to us, were
very interesting to me, for nothing commands
my atention so profoundly as allusions to the
scenes of the olden days of the prophets and
kings of Israel. While my eyes were fixed upon
the hill, and my imagination presented to me
Elijah upon the chariot of heaven, disappearing
amid the clouds, there was an opening in the
wood before us, and all at once we beheld a
scene that made my heart cease to beat, it was
so new and wonderful. At that place the river
takes a broad curve, and the opposite village of
Bethabara lies in the hollow of it, forming the
centre of half a circle. This wide curving shore
was alive with the human heads that filled it.
125 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
Nol a place could be seen where some one did
not stand. And of this vast multitude every eye
was concentrated upon the prophet, as from the
crescent tiers of the amphitheatre in Alexandria,
all gaze at once upon the scenes passing in the
arena. lie was standing upon the opposite shore
(for Jordan here was very narrow, and can be
forded), on the verge of the water, addressing the
countless assembly that stood opposite and half
encircling him. Near him, behind, and on either
side, sat his disciples, at least a hundred in num
ber, chiefly young men. Behind, rose the Tower
of Elijah, and receding farther from the shore lay
the sweet village of Bethabara, with its green
gardens and snow-white walls.
The clear voice of the youthful prophet of the
wilderness fell distinctly on our ears, so great
was the stillness of the vast audience. We could
not approach very near on our mules, and, dis
mounting on the outskirts of the throng, we left
them with the two servants, and on foot drew as
near to the place where the prophet stood as we
could. Many of the people, seeing and recog
nizing Rabbi Amos, made way for him, so that
at length we stood directly opposite the speaker,
with a full view of him, so that we could hear
eviery word. To my surprise, I saw John, the
cousin of Mary, standing close to the prophet,
And listening with the deepest and most reverent
Attention to every w r ord he uttered. The subject
of the prophet's discourse was as before, and as
always, the coming of the Messias. Oh, that I
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 127
could, give you, my dear father, the faintest idea
of the power and eloquence of his words!
''There is no remission of sin without shedding
of blood," he said earnestly. 'The baptism of
water with which I baptize you is unto repent
ance; but there must be blood outpoured ere sin
can be washed away! Do you ask me if the
blood of bulls and goats take not away sin? I
answer and say unto you, that the Lord hath said
that he delighteth not in these rivers of blood.'"
"For what, then, great prophet," asked one of
the chief Levites who stood near us, "For what,
then, are the sacrifices ordained by the Law of
Moses? For what, then, the altar and the
Temple, and the daily sacrifice of the Lamb?"
"For what," repeated the prophet, with his
eyes beaming with the earnest light of inspira
tion, "For what, but as types and shadows of the
true blood of the real and true sacrifice
appointed by God from the foundation of the
world! Think ye I can slay the lamb of my
flock for the sin of my soul? If God demands
thy life, shall he accept the life of a brute? Nay,
men of Israel, the day has come when your eyes
shall be opened. The hour is at hand when the
true meaning of the daily sacrifice shall be under
stood. Lo! the Messiah cometh, and ye shall
see and believe!"
There now came several persons towards him
who desired baptism. While he was baptizing
these persons, both men and women, I saw
appear on the little mound near the tower from
which Rabbi Amos had said Elijah ascended,
128 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
Lazarus, the brother of Martha, accompanied
by a man of about his own years, of an indescrib
able dignity and grace of aspect, combined with
an air of benevolence and peace that at once
attracted me.
"It must be the friend of Lazarus," said Mary
to me; for she had discovered them at the same
time. "See with what calm serenity he gazes
upon the multitude, yet retiring in his manner,
as if he shrank from the common eye!" He was
wrapped in a vesture of dark blue cloth, which
was folded about his form; his head was bare,
and his dark hair flowed down about his should
ers. He seemed so unlike all other men, in a
certain majesty united with sweetness, that
marked his whole air, that I could not withdraw
my gaze from him.
The prophet, at the same moment, rested his
eyes upon him, and as he did so, I saw a change
come over his face, as if he had seen an angel.
His eyes shone with unearthly brilliancy, his lips
parted as if he would speak, yet had lost the
power; and then, with his right hand stretched
forth towards the noble stranger, he stood for a
moment like a statue. All eyes followed his, and
the direction of his stretched-out arm. Sud
denly, he exclaimed, and oh, how like the
trumpet of Horeb his voice rung:
"Behold!"
There was not a. face in that vast multitude
that was not directed towards the little eminence,
where Lazarus, evidently amazed at the attitude
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 129
and words of the prophet, and the gaze of all
that way, stood by his friend.
"Ye have asked wherefore is slain the daily
lamb," continued the prophet. "The day has
come when the lamb of sacrifice, which can take'
away no sin, shall cease. Behold!" and here he
stretched forth both arms towards the dignified
stranger: "Behold the Lamb of God which
taketh away the sins of the world. He it is who,
coming after me, is preferred before me. He it
is to whom I bear witness, as the Messiah, the
Son of the Highest! There stands the Christ of
God! Behold the only true Lamb, whose blood
can wash away the iniquities of us all! He hath
stood among you He hath walked your streets
He hath sat in your homes, and I knew him
not, till I now behold above Him the sign of the
Messiah, and, therefore, know I that it is He
who is to redeem Israel!"
When the prophet had thus spoken in a voice
that thrilled to every bosom, we beheld the
august stranger advance towards the prophet.
He moved on alone. Lazarus had fallen pros
trate on his face when he heard that it was the
Messiah with whom he had thus been on terms
of friendship. As he continued to come for
ward, all was expectation in the immense multi
tude. The mass of heads swayed this way and
that, to get a sight of his face, which I could see
was serene, but pale and earnest. John, the
cousin of Mary, seeing him approach, lowly
knelt, and bowed his head in reverential awe and
love. Those who stood between him and the
9
130 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
prophet moved apart, and left an open path for
him to the water-side. He walked at a slow and
even pace, with an air of humility, veiling the
native dignity of his kingly port.
The prophet, on seeing him come near,
regarded Him, as it seemed to me, with more
awe than all others.
"What wouldst thou of thy servant, oh,
Messiah, Prophet of God, mighty to save?" he
said, in tremulous tones, as the Messiah came
even some paces into the water towards him.
"To be baptized of thee," answered the Christ,
in a still, quiet voice, that was heard to the re
motest bounds of the crowd. Never, oh, never
shall I forget the sounds of that voice, as it fell
upon my ears!
"I have need to be baptized of Thee, and
comest Thou to me?" answered the prophet, with
the lowliest humility and awe of manner, and
with looks expressive of his amazement.
"It becometh us to fulfil all righteousness,"
answered Messiah, mildly; and when He had said
this, the prophet, though still with a manner of
doubt, and with the holiest reverence, adminis
tered unto Him, in the sight of all the people,
the same baptism which he had administered to
his disciples.
And now, my dear father, comes to be related,
the most extraordinary thing that ever took
place in Israel, and before human eyes, and
which it must be clear to you bears unquestion
able testimony, that Jesus of Nazareth, the noble
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 131
stranger baptized in Jordan, and to whom John
bore witness, is truly Messias, the Son of God.
No sooner did the baptized stranger go up out
of the water, than there was heard above all our
heads a noise of rolling thunder, although the
sky was cloudless; and when we looked up we
beheld a dazzling light, though it was noon-day,
brighter than the sun; and from the midst of this
celestial splendor there darted with arrowy
velocity a ray of light, which descended upon the
head of the Christ. Some of the people said it
thundered; and others that it lightened; but
judge the amazement and admiration of all, and
the dread awe that shook every soul, when, amid
the glory above his head, was seen the form of a
dove of fire, with outspread wings overshadow
ing Him as it were, and from the heavens, what
was supposed to be thunder, shaped itself into the
voice of God, which uttered these words in the
hearing of every ear:
"This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well
pleased. Hear ye Him."
At hearing these words, a great part of the
multitude fell on their faces. Every cheek was
pale, and each man gazed on his neighbor in
wonder and fear. When the majestic, yet ter
rible voice had given utterance to these words,
the light disappeared, the dove reascended to
the skies, and was lost to the sight; and Messias,
who alone seemed unmoved and calm amid all
this awful scene, went up from the river, and dis
appeared suddenly from my earnest gaze. At
length, when men came a little to themselves,
182 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
and would gaze on Him whom all knew now to
be the Christ, no one could find Him, so effectu
ally had he withdrawn himself from their
homage.
Your affectionate
ADINA.
LETTER X.
My Dear Father: I will commence this letter
by asking your dispassionate perusal of my pre
ceding epistle, and entreating you not to let any
prejudice unworthy of the wisdom and liberality
by which you are distinguished among men, lead
you to reject, without examination, belief of the
events which have formed the subject of my
recent letters to you, and to close your mind to
the convictions to which they may give rise.
Please, my honored and beloved father, please to
consider impartially the things of which I have
written, the preaching of John, and his baptism
of Jesus, whom, before ten thousand people, he
declared to be Messias, to whom he bore
witness, and how the voice of God, as audible in
the ears of all as that which shook Horeb, pro
claimed from heaven that he was "His beloved
son!" Think of all this, and ask yourself seri
ously, "Is not this the Christ?"
This question need not pass far on its way ere
134 THE TRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
it finds a response from my lips and heart:
"Yes, it is the Christ, and I will believe in Him!"
I can see your face, my dear father, change its
expression of mild benignity, as you read this
confession from my pen! I can see you look
both displeased and grieved. But you have no
reason to fear that I shall do or believe aught
that will bring shame on your gray hairs, or your
name. If thou art a Jew, and proud of being
descended from the lineage of the Patriarchs
who walked with the Lord, I am also equally
proud of my nation and of my faith. In believ
ing Jesus of Nazareth to be the Messias of God,
I do not make myself less a Jewess; but, with
out believing it, my dear father, I could not be
completely a Jewess. Has not the Messias of
our nation been the burden of Judah's prayer,
and of Israel's hope, for ages? Does not the
belief that Messias cometh, constitute one of
the great characteristics of the Jewish race? Do
the Gentiles look for the Christ? If not, then,
and we alone look for him, and every mother in
Israel hopes, tremblingly, with joy and doubt,
that he may be found in her first-born son, is it
that I am less a Jewess, or rather, that I am only
a true Jewess, when I believe Jesus to be the
Messias, seeing in Him all that a Messias could
bring, even the voice of God, in testimony of His
Mission? But I sincerely trust, my dear father,
that I am defending my belief unnecessarily, and
that when you come to read and compare, and
examine well, you will rejoice with me that God
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 135
has remembered Israel, and that He is about to
take away her reproach among the nations.
I shall wait for your next parcel of letters with
the deepest solicitude, in order that I may know
what your decision is in reference to these extra
ordinary things which are coming to pass. You
will not hear them only from my letters, dear
father, for the report of these wonders is broad
cast over the land, and men who witnessed the
baptism of Jesus, will, no doubt, report in Egypt
vvhat then took place, especially the voice of God
rolling like articulate thunder along the cloud
less sky, and the descent of the fiery dove upon
the head of the new Prophet. Merchants of
Damascus and of Cairo were present, leaving
their trains of camels a little way off; and Arab
horsemen sat in their saddles on the outside of
the crowd; while Roman soldiers, strangers from
Persia and Edom, and even the merchants from
Media, with numerous people, Gentiles, as well
as Jews, were seen mingled with the multitude.
This thing, therefore, was not done in a corner.
The voice I plainly heard, and understood every
word! It seemed to me to come from the far
blue depths of Heaven, at an immeasurable dis
tance, but with the clearness of a trumpet, and
the sonorous majesty of thunder. But the light
which descended was the most dazzling that
human eyes ever encountered; and though when
descending with the velocity of lightning, it
seemed like a lance of fire; yet, upon reaching
the bared head of Jesus, as He came forth out of
the water, it assumed, as I before stated, the
136 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
shape of a dove; and, resting upon Him, over
shadowed Him with its wings of light, and cast
over his whole person a glittering splendor, like
the sun. This lasted for full a minute, so that all
eyes beheld it, and then came the voice from
heaven! The brilliancy of the light from the
dove was so resplendent that I could not behold
it; and when I looked again it had disappeared;
but a halo of softened lustre shone still around
the head of Jesus, and his face, like that of
Moses, emitted rays of glory. While thousands
either stood stupefied, or fell upon their faces in
adoration and fear, He withdrew himself from
the multitude, no one knew how, save two per
sons, whose eyes never wander from him. These
were the cousin of Mary, John, and Lazarus, the
brother of Mary and Martha.
The people, after recovering a little from their
amazement and awe, were looking for Him, and
inquiring whither he had gone, some gazing into
the water, some towards the wilderness, some
even gazing upwards into heaven, of which I was
one, as if they expected to behold Him ascending
upon a chariot of dazzling clouds towards the
throne of his God and Father, who had acknow
ledged Him to be his Son. The general impres
sion was, that He was taken up into Heaven;
and some wept that a Prophet was sent to be
taken so soon; while others rejoiced that
the Lord had not forgotten to be gracious unto
the house of Israel; some doubted, and called it
magic and sorcery; and others, who were doubt
less filled with their own wickedness, mocked,
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 137
and said the voice was thunder, and the light
lightning. But here they were disputed against,
for said hundreds, "There is no cloud in the sky,
then whence could come thunder and light
ning?''' But the majority believed, and greatly
rejoiced at what they had seen and heard. The
prophet John, of Jordan, appeared to me to be
more surprised at what had taken place than any
others. He looked constantly around for Jesus,
and then, with his hands clasped together and
uplifted, gazed heavenward, as if satisfied, with
the thousands around him, that he had been re
ceived up into Heaven.
The excitement which the sudden disappear
ance of Jesus produced, led to a universal sepa
ration of the multitude, who dispersed in all
directions, some to seek for Him, some to spread
the news of what they had seen, and all forget
ting John, whom they had hitherto followed, in
the greater splendor of the new Prophet, whose
advent had been so remarkably accompanied by
fire and voice from the sky.
Rabbi Amos and our party remained stand
ing near the water, for he did not wish us to be
lost in the retiring throngs, and he desired to
speak with John, who stood alone in the midst
of the water, precisely where he had baptized
Jesus. Not one of his disciples remained with
him. Rabbi Amos drew near, and said to him:
''Holy prophet, knowest thou what man, if
man he may be called, was just baptized by
thee?"
The prophet, whose eyes had been steadfastly
138 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF 1AVID.
raised all the while, bent his looks with tearful
tenderness upon Rabbi Amos, and said, plain
tively and touchhrgfy:
"This is He of whom I said After me cometh
a man which is preferred before me, for He was
before me. And I knew Him not; but He that
sent me, to baptize with water, the same said
unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit
descending and remaining on Him, the same is
Ke that baptizes with the Holy Ghost. And I
saw the Spirit descending like a dove, and I saw
and bear record this is the Son of God !"
"And whither, oh, holy prophet of Jordan,"
asked Rabbi Amos, with deep and sacred inter
est, ''whither has He departed?"
"That I know not! He must increase and I
must decrease, whether He remaineth on earth,
or be taken up into Heaven! My mission is now
drawing to its close: for He to whom I have
borne witness is come."
"And is He come to depart so soon forever?"
I asked, with deep interest; "shall we behold
Him no more?"
"The hidden things belong to God. I know
not whence He came, for I knew Him not until
the Spirit descendeth and abode upon Him, nor
whither He goeth. Ye have heard my testi
mony that this is the Messias, the Christ, the Son
of God r
Thus speaking, he turned and walked out of
th'e water, on the side towards Bethabara, and
disappeared among the trees that fringed the
bank. I now looked in the face of Rabbi Amos.
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 139
upon whose arm Mary was tearfully leaning, still
under the influence of the terror which the scenes
she had been a spectator of, had produced in her
soul. His face was grave and thoughtful. I
said, "Uncle, dost thou believe all that thou hast
seen and heard?"
U I know not what to say," he answered, "only
that the things which I have beheld this day are
evidences that God has not forgotten his people
Israel!" He said no more. We left the banks
of the Jordan in silence and awe, and remounting
our mules, which the two Gibeonite slaves held
for us in waiting, under a palm tree not far off,
we returned towards my uncle's house at Gilgal.
On the way, we constantly passed crowds of
people who were riding and walking; and all
were in high talk about what had taken place at
the river. The impression seemed to be that
Jesus had gone up into Heaven.
But, my dear father, it is with deep joy that I
am able to tell you that this wonderful person is
still on the earth, and doubtless permitted to
remain for some great purpose. I stated that
my cousin John, and Lazarus, the Secretary of
the Scribes, had kept their eyes upon Him from
the first, and that they had seen Him pass down
the river, where some projecting and overhang
ing trees hid Him at once from view. Though
they often lost sight of Him, they yet followed
Him by the print of His sandals in the wet sand
of the shore; and at length came in view of Him,,
as He was leaving the river bank, and going
towards the desert, between two hills, which hid
140 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVIb
Him from their eyes. But one of the
men said to the other, while both were burning
with wonder and love:
"Let us not fail to overtake Him, and follow
Him, whithersoever He goeth; for with Him
must be the well of life, as He is the highly
favored of God."
So they went on; but though they moved on
rapidly, they next saw Him far distant, crossing
the arid plain that stretches south towards
Jericho and the desert. They ran very swiftly,
and at length overtook Him, calling "Master,
good master, stay for us, for we would follow and
learn of thee !"
He stopped, and turned upon them a look so
pale, and marred with sadness and anguish, that
they both stood still and gazed on Him with
amazement at such a change. The glory of hip-
beauty had passed away, and the beaming splen
dor which shone from his countenance wa?
wholly gone. The expression of unutterable
sorrow that remained, pierced them to the heart,
Lazarus, who had been so long his bosom friend^
wept aloud. "Weep not, thou shalt see me
another day, my friends/' he said. "I go now to
the wilderness in obedience to the Spirit which
guideth me thither. Thou shalt, after a time,
behold me again. It is expedient that I go
whither I go."
"Nay, but we will go with thee," said Lazarus,
earnestly. "If thou art to endure evil, we will be
with thee."
"There must be none to help. There must
THE P1UNCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 141
be none to uphold," He said firmly, but sadly.
"I must tread the wine-press of temptation
alone!"
He then left them, waving his hand for them to
go back, which they did sorrowfully, wondering
what his words meant, and wherefore it was
needful for Him to go into the desert, where cer
tain mysterious trials seemed to wait for Him;
and they wondered most of all at the change in
his countenance, which from being lustrous with
celestial light, was now, said Lazarus, "marred
more than the sons of men." From time to time
the two. young men looked backward to watch
the receding figure of the Christ, till they no
longer distinguished Him in the distance of the
desert, towards which He steadfastly kept his
face.
The two friends then came to the house of
Rabbi Amos, at Gilgal, the same night, and there
Lazarus made known to us what I had just re
lated. It affected us all deeply; and we sat
together late at night upon the porch under the
fig trees, talking of Jesus, and the things that had
transpired concerning Him that day ; and though
we all rejoiced that He was on earth, we wept to
think that He was driven by some destiny un
known and unfathomable by us, to dwell alone in
the wilderness.
Now, my dear father, how wonderful is all
this! That a great Prophet is among us cannot
be denied. The sun of John the Baptizer's fame
dwindles into a star before this Son of God !
That He will draw all men unto Him, even into
142 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
the wilderness, if He takes up His abode there,
cannot be questioned. But all is mystery, awe,
curiosity, wonder, and excitement just now. No
one has settled upon any opinion as to what will
be the end of these things. Rabbi Amos advises
all persons to wait patiently the issue, for if God
has sent a Prophet, He must have a mission
which in due time He will come forth from the
wilderness to deliver. In my next I may be able
to write you something further touching the
development of that which remains so much
enveloped in mystery. May the God of our
father's house come forth indeed from the Heav
ens, for the salvation of His People.
Your devoted and loving
ADINA.
LETTER XI.
My Dear Father: In my last letter to you, I
spoke of our return from Jordan, to Gilgal, to
the country house in the wheat fields of Peniel,
where Rabbi Amos sojourns during the two
weeks of harvest. At the house were assembled,
not only John, the cousin of Mary, and the noble
Lazarus, but also Gamaliel, and Saul, his disciple,
of whom I have before spoken, who were invited
to partake of my uncle's hospitality for the night;
besides, the court of the dwelling was thronged
with strangers, and the common people, who,
being far from their homes, and without food,
had freely been invited to lodgings and food by
the hospitable priest.
As we sat up late, conversing upon the re
markable events of the day, an observation made
by John, when speaking of the change in the face
of Jesus, that "His visage was marred more than
the sons of men," led the venerable Gamaliel to
say to us :
144 THE FlilNCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
"Those are the words of Esaias, and are truly
spoken of Messias, when He shall come."
''Let us consult Esaias, then, and see what
further he hath said," cried Rabbi Amos. "Mary,
bring hither the roll of the Prophets."
My cousin Mary returned, and placed it on a
small stand before him, for, as I said in my last,
we were all seated in the porch, where the even
ing breeze was cool. A lamp then being
brought, I held it above the roll of parchment,
while my uncle found the part of the Prophet to
which the words belonged.
"Read aloud, worthy Rabbi," said the philoso
pher Gamaliel, "we will all listen; for though I
do not believe this young man who was to-day
baptized is Messias and Christ, who is to restore
all things to us, yet I am prepared to reverence
Him as a Prophet."
"And," answered Rabbi Amos, "if we find the
prophecies do meet in him which we look "or to
meet in Messias when He cometh, wilt thou be
lieve, venerable father?"
"I will believe and reverently adore," answered
the sage, bowing his head till his flowing white
beard touched his knees.
"Read, Adina, for thy eyes are young," said
my uncle: and obedient, though embarrassed be
fore such an audience, I read as follows:
"Behold, my servant shall deal prudently, he
shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high.
As many were astonished at thee, His visage was
so marred more than any man, and His form
more than the sons of men."
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 145
"How completely," said John, "these words
described his appearance on the verge of the
desert."
"But," said Saul, Gamaliel's disciple, "if this be
prophesied of the Christ, then we are to have a
Christ of dishonor, and not one of honor and
glory. Read one part that you have omitted,
and you will see that there are words that import
a higher condition than that of this unknown
person, whom John the Baptizer himself con
fessed he did not know, nor ever beheld before."
I read on, as follows: "Behold my servant shall
be exalted and extolled, and be very high. He
shall sprinkle many nations ; the kings shall shut
their mouths at Him. He shall lift up his hand
to the Gentiles, and set up his standard to the
people. Kings shall bow down to Him with
their faces to the earth, and lick up the dust of
his feet!"
"There! such is our Messias," exclaimed Saul.
"Yes, it is a Christ of power and dominion who
is to redeem Israel," added Gamaliel; "not an
unknown young man, scarcely thirty years of
age, who carne from whence no one knoweth,
and hath gone as he came. As for the Christ,
we shall know whence He cometh!"
At hearing this great and good man thus dis-
couise, dear father, my heart sank within me; for
I could not but confess that these prophecies of
honor could not apply to the humble person
John had baptized ; for Lazarus had already told
us that his friend Jesus was of humble birth, a
carpenter's son, and his mother a widow; that he
10
146 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
had known him from boyhood, but known him
only to love him. I now looked towards him,
but I took courage when I saw that the words of
Gamaliel did not in the least dim the light of his
faith and confidence, which sparkled in his eyes,
that his friend Jesus was truly Messias of God.
But my eye fell on what follows, and as I read it
I gained more confidence: "He hath no form nor
comeliness: and when we shall see him there is
no beauty that we should desire him."
"If the first part of this prophecy," said Laz
arus, his fine eyes lighting up, as he looked at
Saul, "be of the Christ, as you have confessed,
then is this last of him; and the fact that you
reject him, is but the fulfilment of this part of the
prophecy."
Hereupon arose a very warm discussion be
tween Gamaliel and Saul on one side, and Rabbi
Amos, John, and Lazarus, on the other, the for
mer contending that the prophecies referred to
two distinct Christs, one of whom was to be
lowly and a sufferer, and the other honorable
and a conqueror; while the latter maintained,
that the seemingly opposite predictions referred
to but one Christ in two different periods and
circumstances of his life.
"But let this be as it may," said John, after the
arguments on both sides had been exhausted,
"how will you, O Gamaliel, and you, Saul, get
over the extraordinary voice and fiery appear
ance which distinguished the baptism?"
"That must have been a phenomenon of na
ture, or done by the art of a Babylonish sorcerer,
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 147
whom I saw in the multitude," answered the
philosopher.
"Did you not hear the words?" asked Rabbi
Amos.
"Yes, Rabbi; nevertheless, they may have been
thrown into the air from the lungs of the sor
cerer; for they do marvellous things.
"Would you suppose that a sorcerer would be
disposed to apply the sacred words of the Lord?"
asked John, earnestly.
"By no means," he answered, reverently.
"If Rabbi Amos will allow me, I will show you
the very words in King David's prophecies of
Messias."
All looked with interest on John, as he took
from his mantle a roll of the Psalms. He read
as follows, looking at Gamaliel:
"Why do the rulers take counsel together
against the Lord, and against his anointed? I
will declare the decree. The Lord hath said
unto me, Thou art my son; this day have I be
gotten thee.' ''
Upon hearing this read, Gamaliel was
thoughtful. Rabbi Amos said: "Of a truth, we
Jews believe these words were to be spoken to
our Christ by the Lord Jehovah. Have we not
heard this prophecy fulfilled this very day in our
ears?"
"It is extraordinary," answered Gamaliel. "I
will search the Scriptures when I reach Jerusa
lem, to see if these things be so."
"And the light in the form of a dove! Dost
148 THE PRINCE OP THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
thou find an explanation for that?" asked Rabbi
Amos.
"No," answered he; "and I will withhold all
further opinion for the present."
"It becomes you, O Gamaliel," said Rabbi
Amos, ''who art a father and teacher in Israel, to
know whether these things be so, that thou
mayest teach thy disciples."
"But," said Saul, with some vehemence, 'listen
while I read some prophecies also." And he un
rolled a book of the Prophets and read these
words :
"Thou Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be
little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of
thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be the
Ruler in Israel, whose goings forth have been
ever of old, from everlasting." "Now, you will
confess, Rabbi Amos," he added, with a look of
triumph, "that this refers to our expected Mes~
sias."
"Without doubt," answered my uncle
"but"
"Wait," said Saul, "until I read you another
prophecy: 'I have made a covenant with David,
Thy seed will I establish forever, and build up
thy throne to all generations. His seed shall en
dure forever, and his throne as the sun before
me. Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that
I will raise unto David a righteous branch.'
Now you will all admit, brethren, that these
prophecies refer to Messias. He is, therefore,
come of the lineage of David, and he is to be
born in Bethlehem. Show me that this Jesus,
THE PKINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 149
the Nazarene, fulfils both conditions in his own
person, and I will prepare to believe in him."
This was said haughtily, and with the air of
one who cannot be answered.
But immediately Lazarus rose to his feet and
said: "Although I did not before know of this
prophecy, that Christ was to be born in Bethle
hem, yet I am overjoyed to find the fact respect
ing Jesus fulfills it. He was born in Bethlehem
of Judah. This I have known some years;
and"
Here, while my heart was bounding with joy,
Gamiliel said sternly, "I thought this man was
born in Nazareth?"
"He has lived," answered Lazarus, in : Naza-
reth from childhood only. During the days
when Caesar Augustus issued a decree that aii the
world should be taxed, his mother, and Joseph,
her husband, went up to the city of David to be
taxed, which is Bethlehem, and there Jesus was
born, as I have often heard from her lips. But it
is on the records in the proper office of the Tem
ple, and can be referred to there."
"Admitting, then, that he was born in Bethle
hem," said Saul, who appeared to be much given
to argument, "you have to prove his lineage from
David's line."
"Wherefore did his parents go to Bethlehem,
David's city, unless they were of the royal line?"
asked Rabbi Amos ; "for none went to any other
city to be taxed than that of their own family.
The fact that they went there is strong evidence
that they were of David's house.
150 TUP: ritiNCE OF TIIK IIOUSK OF DAVID.
"Everyone born in the city of David," re
marked Gamaliel, "is not of necessity of David's
house; but it is surprising if this Jesus was born
in Bethlehem."
"But may not his lineage be ascertained with
out a doubt from the records of the tribes, and
of their families, kept by the command of the
law in the Temple?" I asked of my uncle.
"Without question. These books of the gen
erations of our people are to be relied on," he
answered.
"In fact/' said Gamaliel, "they are kept with
the greatest acctvacy, and so ordained by God.
for the very reason that when Messias cometh
we may know whether he who claims to be such
be of the house of David or no. I will examine
the book of the Generations, and see if his
mother and father come of the stock and seed of
David."
"And if you find that they do," asked John,
with emotion, "can you doubt any longer
whether Jesus be the Christ. Will not the fact
of his being born in Bethlehem, and of the line
age of David, not to speak of the witness of
God's own audible voice, heard by our ears this
day will not these facts lead you to believe that
he'is the Christ?"
"They will prevent me from actually rejecting
him," answered the cold philosopher. "But
every child bprn in Bethlehem, and of the house
of David, and there are many in Judah, fulfills,
so far, the conditions of these two prophecies;
they are not, therefore, Messias."
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 151
"What more can you ask for?" asked Mary,
with feeling, for she as strongly believed that
Jesus was the Christ as I did, and she was pained
by so many doubts, and such subtlety of objec
tion from those who were so learned in the
Phrophets. But men reason and reason, while
women simply believe.
"Miracles?" answered the disciple of Gamaliel,
and glancing at the face of his master
inquiringly.
''Yes, miracles," answered the sage. "The
Messiah is to heal the sick by a word, restore
sight to the blind, cast out devils, and raise even
the dead." And here he desired Saul to read the
particular prophecy giving the power of miracles
to the Christ.
"If he restore the blind and raise the dead, I
will doubt no longer," answered Saul.
There was, at this moment, an interruption
caused by a noisy dispute in the court among
some of John the Baptist's disciples, some of
whom were disposed to acknowledge fully the
superiority of Jesus ; while others, still indulging
the full fervor of their first conversion, stoutly
contended for the transcendent greatness of him
whom they regarded as their own Prophet.
Rabbi Amos, as host, went out to put an end to
these disputings, when Gamaliel retired to his
chamber, and the conversation was not renewed.
Thus, you see, niy dear father, that even on
the very day of these -events by eye-witnesses
themselves, there is much difference of opinion
concerning who Jesus is ; and, therefore, I do not
152 THE PHINCE OF THE HOUSE OK DAVID.
expect you, who are so remote from the scene,
and who know them only by report, to believe all
at once, as I myself do. Will you write me, and
tell me what view you take of all this subject, and
what can be brought from the Scriptures to
prove that Messias has not yet come?
The next morning, early, the people departed
from the court where they had lodged ; and when
the sun was about an hour high, we also took
saddle and rode to Jericho, where we passed the
day with Miriam, the daughter of Joel, who was
cousin to my mother. We found them in very
great affliction, and they could not be comforted
by any consolations which we could administer.
It seems that her daughter Marah, or Mary, as
they call her, had been so unfortunate, from her
extraordinary beauty, as to attract the notice of
/Emilius Lepidus, the Prefect of the Legion, who
did honorably, though a Roman, and one of our
conquerors, ask her in marriage of her parents.
But they, being Hebrews, could not consent to
such a union with a Gentile, and kept her with
great strictness, so that he might never behold
her again. But Marah, being very much
devoted to the love of the noble Roman, and he
being also attached to her, they met by strata
gem, and she fled with him to the town of Mag-
dala, where he has a villa. She is, therefore, lost
forever, to the faith of her fathers, by this simple
flight with a Gentile lover, who, though he
marry her according to the Roman laws, doth
not make her an honorable wife according to our
own. This event was the cause of our finding
THE PKINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 153
the house of Miriam a house of mourning. It
has produced great indignation among the Jews
against the Romans. Mary was, I am told, the
most beautiful maiden of the tribe of Benjamin,
with golden brown hair that flowed to her very
feet, and she was beloved by all who knew her.
Thus am I disappointed in seeing her, as I hoped
to have done; and the pearl armlet which you
wished me to bestow upon her, I still retain in
my possession, a sorrowful memorial of the loved
and lost.
Lazarus has returned to Bethany, where his oc
cupation demands his attendance; but his friend
John remained with us, having agreed, with Laz
arus, that he would go into the desert and not
give up his search for the Divine Prophet, Jesus,
until he had found him; for both young men feei
a? sad as if they had lost a beloved and honored
brother. Your daughter,
ADINA.
LETTER XII.
My Dear Father: How shall I thank you for
your forbearance with me, and your kind
answers to all my letters, rilled, as they are, with
so many inquiries and opinions, which must sur
prise, and perhaps, displease you. You say that
you have read all that I have written with impar
tiality, and that you do not marvel that "one
whom you are pleased to call so imaginative and
full of sensibility as myself, should be affected by
what has passed under my observation in Judea."
You nevertheless refuse, on your part, my dear
father, to listen, with the least proximation to
belief, to the extraordinary recital I have given
you. You are pleased to question the reality of
the voice at Jordan, and the presence of the dove
of fire, and to refer it, as many others try to do
who actually witnessed it, to an illusion of the
senses. You are willing to admit that Jesus may
be bora at Bethlehem, for many whom you know
"who are not prophets, neither sons of prophets,
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF IAVID. 155
were born there." You are willing to admit that
he "may be of the lineage of David, for David's
descendants are as numerous as they are poor
and obscure, yet they are not Messias, nor pre
tend to be Christ's." You are content with
doubting the accuracy of the memory of the
mother of Lazarus, as to the scene in the Temple,
though acknowledging you have often seen both
Simeon and Anna in the Temple, and about the
time stated by her. But your main objection to
receiving John's evidence that this is the Christ,
is, "that he is poor, of humble station, destitute
of influence, received baptism of a man, when the
Messias was to be the baptized of God." "Who,"
you ask, "of the wise and the venerated, and the
learned, and the aged, with years and experience;
who of the doctors, and lawyers, and priests;
who of the Scribes, and who of the Pharisees,
and of the great men of Israel, are to unite in
acknowledging as Him of whom Moses and the
Prophets did write, as the central sun, around
which all the dazzling prophecies of Esaias
revolve ; as the end and crown of the law ; as the
Lion of the tribe of Judah ; as the Shiloh of the
nations; as the Wonderful, the Counsellor, the
mighty God .and the Prince of Peace; as the
glory of Israel, and the Joy of the whole Earth
an obscure young man of thirty, unlearned in let
ters, the son of a carpenter, a citizen of Nazareth,
a city proverbially mean, without name, charac
ter, power, rank, wealth, influence, or talents,
and the last that was heard of whom was,
that he had fled into the desert." You add, dear
156 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
father, that this mere enumeration of what the
true Christ ought to be, with the enumeration of
what is wanting in this man, should be sufficient
to convince ine that I have given my sympathies
and faith to one who has no claim to them. You
say, further, "that you do not call my Messias an
imposter, because, so far as you can learn, he has
professed nothing, declared nothing, respecting
himself. In silence he appeared, and in silence
disappeared, none knowing whence or whither;'*
and you close your review of my history by say
ing, "that you shall wait for further development
before you can give the subject your serious con
sideration."
In your next letter, where you again allude to
the theme, you say, that if this prophet reap
pears, and from his own lips declares himself sent
from God, and by an appeal to undisputed
miracles, gives proof of his divine mission, de
claring himself to be the Christ, you will then
believe in Him, provided the whole of the proph
ecies can be shown to meet in his person.
On this ground, I am willing that the issue
should be met, dearest father; and you add, with
your usual candor, "that you will not hesitate to
acknowledge as the Christ a man who fulfills all
prophecy in his own person, though he come in
a state and condition contrary to your precon
ceived notions of the character of the Messias;
for that it would be safer for you to question the
correctness of your own interpretation of the
Messiac prophecies hitherto, than the identity of
one, in whom, without question, do meet all the
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE. OF DAVID. 157
golden threads of the predictions relating to the
Christ." Here I am content, my dear father, to
let it remain, being fully persuaded that though
this humble young man, Jesus, hath come lowly
and obscure, yet He will prove himself to the
world that He is the true Messias, Christ of God.
Now, my dear father, let me resume the inter
esting subject, of which my letters have been so
full; and, moreover, as you have desired me still
to keep you informed of all that transpires touch
ing Jesus of Nazareth, and as no theme upon
which I can write is so pleasing to me, I will nar
rate all that I have heard since I last wrote to
you.
It is now eight weeks since our return from
Gilgal. For five weeks after we reached Jerusa
lem, we heard nothing of Jesus until John reap
peared. He and Lazarus came into the city
together, and to the house of Rabbi Amos. Our
first inquiry was:
''Have you seen him? Have you heard any
thing from him?"
''John has seen him," answered Lazarus,
seriously; "ask him and he will tell you all."
We looked at John, who sat sad and pensive,
as if he were dwelling in his mind upon some
painful, yet tender sorrow. The eyes of my
cousin Mary, which always caught their lustre
from his, were shaded with an inquiring look of
sympathy and solicitude.
' "You are not well, I fear," she said, placing
her fair hand upon his white brow, and putting
158 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
back the hair from his temples. "You have been
long away, and are weary and ill."
"Weary, Mary? I shall never complain of
weariness again, after what I have beheld."
''What have you seen?" I asked.
"Jesus in the desert; and when I remember
him there, I shall forget to smile more."
"You found him, then?" I eagerly asked.
"Yes, after days of painful search. I found
him in the very centre of the desert of Ashes,
where foot of man had never trod before. I saw
him upon his knees, and heard his voice in
prayer. I laid down the sack of bread and fishes,
and the skin of water I had brought with me to
succor him, and with awe drew near where He
stood."
"How did you find him there?" I asked, with
that painful interest which exacts all details.
"By his footsteps in the sand and ashes. I
saw where He sat down to rest, and where two
nights he reposed upon the ground. I expected
to find him perished, but each day I discovered
his progressing footsteps, and followed them.
As I now drew near him, I heard him groan in
spirit, and He seemed to be borne down to- the
earth by some mortal agony. He seemed to be
talking to some invisible evil beings who assailed
him.
"Master, good Master, I said, I have brought
thee food and water. Pardon me if I have
intruded upon thy awful loneliness, which is
sacred to some deep grief; but I weep with thee
for thy woes, and in all thy afflictions I am
THE PRIXCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 159
afflicted Eat, that thou mayest have strength
to endure thy mysterious sufferings.
"He turned his pale countenance full upon me,
and extended towards me his emaciated hands,
while he smiled faintly, and blessed me and said:
" 'Son, thou art very dear to me. Thou shalt
one day be afflicted for me, but not now, and
understand wherefore I am now a sufferer in the
desert.'
"Let me remain with thee, Divine Messias, I
said.
' Thou believest, then, that I am He?' he
answered, regarding me with love.
"I replied by casting myself at his desert-
parched feet, and bathing them with my tears.
He raised me, and said, 'Go thy way presently.
When the time of my fasting and temptation is
past, I will see thee again.'
"Nay, I will not leave thee, I asserted.
" 'If thou lovest me, John, thou wilt obey me/
he answered, with a tone of gentle reproof.
"But thou wilt first eat of the bread I have
brought, and drink of the water, I entreated.
Thou kno\vest not W 7 hat temptation thou art
offering to me,' he replied, sadly. Thou hast
not enough for thine own needs. Go, and leave
me to gain the victory over Satan, for which I
was led by the Spirit hither T
"I once more cast myself at his feet, and He
lifted me up, kissed me, and sent me away. You
would not have known him. Worn to a skele
ton by long abstinence, weak through suffering,
He looked but the shadow of himself. He could
160 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
not have lived if there had not been a divine
power within to sustain him. His existence so
long, for He had been at the desert five weeks
without food, when I found him, was a miracle,
proving the power of God to be in him !"
"For what mighty work among men is God
preparing him?" said Rabbi Amos, with emotion.
"Surely He is a Prophet come from God."
"Think you He is still alive?" I asked, with
anxious fears.
"Yes," answered John; "I am come to tell you
He was sustained through all, and after forty
days He came forth from the wilderness, and
suddenly presented himself on the banks of Jor
dan, among John's disciples. I was standing
near John, discoursing of the Christ, and mar
velling when his exile to the desert would ter
minate, when the Prophet, lifting up his eyes,
cried with a loud voice full of joy:
" 'Behold the Lamb of God, upon whom the
Spirit descended ! He hath come forth from the
furance, like gold seven times tried in the fire!
He it is who taketh away the sins of the world.'
"I turned, and beheld Jesus advancing. He
was pale, and wore an expression of gentle, un
complaining suffering, on his benign counte
nance. His calm, chastened, dignified aspect, the
serene composure and peace of his looks, awed
me, while they caused me to love him. I
hastened to meet him, and was kneeling in joy
at his feet, when He embraced me as a brother,
and said, 'Faithful, and full of love, wilt thou fol
low me?'
THE rUINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 161
''Whithersoever thou goest, I answered
'Where dwellest thou, Divine Master?' then
asked one of John's disciples, Andrew by name,
who was with me.
"''Come and see/ he answered; and we went
after him with joy unutterable, that we had at
length found him."
"What passed between him and the Baptizer,"
asked Rabbi Amos, "at the river side, on this
meeting?"
"Not a word. They met and parted like
strangers, John going away across Jordan into
the wilderness, as Jesus entered the village of
Bethabara; and, approaching the house of a
widow, where he abode, He went in, and we fol
lowed him, and took up our abode with him.
Oh, how shall I be able to make known by
words," added John, "the sweet expression of
his discourse? In one day, in his presence, I
grew wise; his words filled the soul like new
wine, and made the heart glad. The next day
He wished to go into Galilee, and so to Nazareth,
where his mother "dwelleth; and, as I had made
up my mind to follow him as his disciple hence
forth, I have only come hither to make known
my purpose to Mary, to arrange my affairs in the
city. To-morrow I leave again, to join this, my
dear Lord, at Cana of Galilee"
"Oh, happy, and to be envied, friend and
brother," said Lazarus. "How gladly would I
go also, and be one of his disciples! but the care
of my mother and sisters cometh upon me, and I
must deny myself the happiness of being ever
11"
162 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
near this divine man, and listening to the heav
enly wisdom that flows from his lips. How blind
I have been, not to have discovered, under his
gentle and loving character, and unobstrusive
wisdom, the Messias. Truly, he was among us,
and we knew him not."
"Canst thou divine at all his purpose?" asked
Rabbi Amos of John, "whether he intends to
found a school of wisdom, to preach like the
prophets, to reign like David, or to conquer like
his warrior namesake, Joshua!"
"I know not, save that he said He came to
redeem that which was lost, and to establish a
kingdom that shall have no end!"
Upon hearing this, all our hearts bounded with
hope and confidence in him, and we altogether
burst forth into a voice of thanksgiving, and sang
this hymn of praise:
" O sing unto the Lord a new song : for he hath done mar
vellous things : his right hand and his holy arm hath gotten the
victory.
"The Lord hath made known his salvation: his righteous
ness hath He openly shewed in the sight of the heathen.
" He hath remembered his mercy and his truth towards the
house of Israel : all the ends of the earth have seen the salva
tion of our God.
" Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth : make a
loud noise, and rejoice, and sing his praise.
"Sing unto the Lord with the harp: with the harp and the
voice of a psalm.
" With trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyful noise
before the Lord, the King.
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 163
" Let the sea roar, and the fullness thereof: the world, and
they that dwell therein.
" Let the floods clap their hands : let the hills be joyful to
gether.
" Before the Lord; for He cometh to judge the earth : with
righteousness shall He judge the world, and the people with
equity."
There was this morning no little excitement
produced among the Chief Priests by a formal
inquiry sent by Pilate to Caiaphas, the High
Priest, asking whether this new prophet was to
be acknowledged by them as their Messiah, "for
if he is to be, it will be my duty," said the Gov
ernor, "to place him under arrest, inasmuch as
we understand the Jewish Messias is to declare
himself king!" Upon this, there was a tumultu
ous assembling together of the Priests in the
porch of the Temple, and with many invectives,
they agreed to send answer to Pilate that they
did not acknowledge Jesus of Nazareth to be the
Christ. They were led to this the more urgently,
inasmuch as they feared an arrest of Jesus would
give the Romans occasion for arresting other
Jews, and so bring on the nation great troubles;
just as, a few years ago, when a certain impostor
rose up and called himself the Christ, the
Romans were not satisfied with taking and
destroying him, but they punished with fines
every city in Judah. Therefore, the Priests both
denied to the Procurator any knowledge of Jesus,
and entreated him not to pay any attention to
him, till, indeed, he should find that he openly
took the lead of armed men. What Pilate will
164 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE O1 A IAVtt.
conclude to do, I know not. Rabbi Am^s in
formed us that the Procurator had got some
news by a courier that morning, that Jesus, on
his way to Cana, had been followed by full a
thousand people, who, having recognized him as
having seen him baptized of John in Jordan,
hailed him as the Christ.
Thus, you see, my dear father, that this divine
person is already taking hold of the hearts of the
people, and arousing the jealousy of our enemies.
Be assured that the day will come when He will
lift up his standard to the Gentiles, and draw all
men unto Him. The dvelopments of his power
are daily taking place; and although He has yet
performed no such miracle as would be deemed
by you a test of his divine mission, yet I have no
doubt that in due time He will give this proof,
and all other needful manifestations, that He is
the Christ of God.
Your loving
ADINA.
LETTER XIII.
My Dear Father: I have received your last
letter by the Cairo merchant, Heber, the son of
Malachial, and having read it to Rabbi Amos,
he said, after careful reflection thereupon, that he
could not agree with you in your opinion touch
ing the undimmed glory of Messiah, viz.: "that
he is to come as a King, and Mighty Leader of
Hosts, and reign and prosper, and rule the earth,
King of the kings of the earth/' He desires me
to ask you what is meant by "Messias being a
man of sorrows and acquainted with grief," as
prophesied of him; and how you interpret, dear
father, other than as referring to a violent end,
the words of the wise Daniel, "And after three
score and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off,
but not for himself?" Uncle also desires me to
ask you to examine into the time named by
Daniel, when Messiah, the Prince, is to come,
and take note that we live in the day of the close
of the threescore and two weeks, whereof the
166
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
prophet writeth and saith, "Know, therefore, and
understand, that from the going forth of the
commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem
unto Messiah the Prince, shall be seven weeks
and threescore and two weeks." Rabbi Amos
says, the time for the appearing of Christ is
come, as all must confess who read the Prophets;
and the only reason Jesus is not believed to be
he, is that he conies in poverty and humility,
fasting and suffering. But, my dear father, may
it not be ordained that He shall come in lowli
ness and end in power? Oh, that you could have
the faith in Jesus of Nazareth, that He is
Messias, that I have, dearest and most honored
father! Since I last wrote you, my faith has
been confirmed by the testimony, which in one
of your letters you demanded. You said, "let
me hear that he has done an authentic miracle in
attestation of the divinity of his mission, such a
miracle as was prophesied Messias shall do, as
healing the sick by a word, restoring the blind
to sight, and raising the dead, and I will prepare
to believe in him."
A miracle He has performed, dear father, and
one, the genuineness of which is not disputed
by anyone. I can give you the particulars best
by extracting from a letter written by John to
Mary, a few days after his departure to join Jesus
at Nazareth : for John has joined himself to him,
and become his disciple.
"Upon reaching Nazareth," says the letter, "I
was guided to the humble dwelling occupied by
the mother of Jesus, by a large concourse of
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF I) AVID.' 167
people gathered aoout it, of whom inquiring, I
learned that it was to see the new Prophet they
had assembled. 'What new prophet?' I asked,
wishing to know what the multitude thought of
Jesus.
" 'The One John of the wilderness foretold/
answered one.
" They say he is Messias/ replied another.
" 'He is the Christ/ boldly asserted the third.
"Hereupon, a Levite, standing by, said scorn
fully, 'Does Christ come out of Galilee? You
read the prophets to little purpose, if you see
therein any Christ prophesied to come out of
Nazareth of Galilee/ Hereupon, seeing the
faith of many staggered, I said, 'Brethren, Christ
is truly of Bethlehem; and verily Jesus, though
he dwelleth in this place, was born in Bethle
hem/ 'Thou canst not prove it, man/ said the
Levite, angrily. 'The stranger speaketh truly/
spoke up both an old man and a gray-haired
woman in the crowd; 'we know that he was not
born here, and that when his parents moved here,
when he was an infant, they then said he was
born in Bethlehem. We all remember this well/
"Hereupon, the Levite, seeing that he had not
the people with him, passed on his way, while I
went to the door of the house where Jesus dwelt
with is mother. There were two doofs, one of
which led into a work-shop, where I noticed the
bench and tools of the occupation at which he
toiled to support himself and his mother.
This sight made me half question whether he
who was an humble artisan, whose tools and
168 THE PKINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
shop I saw before me, could in truth be the
Christ of God, the Prince Messias whom all the
patriarchs and prophets looked forward to with
the eye of faith, desiring to see his day! and it
required the recalling of the wonderful scenes of
his baptism, the holy dove and voice of God, and
his miraculous preservation in the wilderness, to
revive my assurance; but when, as I entered the
dwelling, I saw him standing, teaching those
who hung on his lips, and listened to his calm
\-oice, and heard the sublime wisdom of his in
structions, beheld the dignity of his aspect, and
the heavenly benignity of his manner, I forgot
the carpenter, I forgot the man, and seemed to
behold in Him only Messiah the Prince, the Son
of God.
"Upon beholding me, he extended his hand,
and received me graciously, and said, pointing to
five men who stood near him, regarding him
with mingled love and reverence, These are thy
brethren, who have also come out of the world to
follow me.'
"Of these, one was Andrew, who was, as well
as myself, John's disciple, and we were talking
with him when Jesus came forth out of the wil
derness. Another was Andrew's brother, whose
name is Simon, who, hearing his brother speak of
Jesus as the Christ, had gone with him to see
him; and had no sooner beheld him than he
joined himself to him; and Jesus, from the firm
ness and immovable zeal of his character, which
He seemed to understand, called him also Peter,
or Stone. The fourth disciple was of Bethsaida,
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 169
the city of Andrew and Peter. His name was
Philip, and he followed Jesus from having been
prepared by John the Baptist to receive him.
He was, however, so overjoyed at finding the
Christ, that he ran to the house of his brother
Nathaniel, and finding him in his garden, be
neath a fig tree, at prayer, exclaimed, 'We have
found Him of whom Moses in the law and the
prophets did write, the Messias of God!' 'Where
is He, that I may behold Him?' asked his
brother, rising. 'It is Jesus of Nazareth, the son
of Joseph,' Philip answered. Upon hearing this
answer, the countenance of Nathaniel fell, and he
replied, 'Can there any good thing come out of
Nazareth?' 'Come thou, and see for thyself/
answered Philip. Nathaniel then went with him
where Jesus was. When Jesus saw him ap
proaching, he said to those about him, 'Behold
an Israelite, indeed, in whom there is no guile!'
'Whence knowest thou me?' asked Nathaniel,
with surprise, for he had heard the words which
were spoken. Jesus answered, and said, 'Before
Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig-
tree, I saw thee/ Upon hearing this, Nathaniel,
who knew that he was all alone in his garden,
and unseen at prayer, when his brother came,
regarded the serene face of Jesus steadfastly, and
then, as if he beheld therein the expression of
divinity, he cried before all the people, 'Rabbi,
Thou art the Son of God! Thou art the King of
Israel!' Jesus looked upon him as if pleased at
his confession, and said, 'Because I said unto
thee, I saw thee under the fig-tree, believest
170 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
thou? Thou shalt see greater things than these.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, hereafter ye shall
see heaven open, and the angels of God ascend
ing and descending upon the Son of Man.'
"These four, Andrew and Peter, Philip and
Nathaniel, were then present in the house with
him; and, to my surprise and joy, with them
stood my own brother James, whom Jesus had
seen on the lake in his boat, and called him, when
James left all and followed him. Thus we were
six disciples in all, bound to him by ties of con
fidence and love. The mother of Jesus, a noble
and matronly woman, still beautiful, and with a
face of the holiest serenity, was present, and
gazed with love and tenderness upon her Son,
listening to his words, as if she also would learn
of him that wisdom which hath descended upon
him from above. The next day James and I
went to the sea of Tiberias, but two hours' dis
tant, to see our father Zebedee, and transfer our
interests to him, and, during the afternoon, Jesus
passed near the shore on his way to Cana, when,
calling us, we left our ships with our father, and
joined him. His mother, and many of her kins
folk were of the company, all going to a mar-'
riage of the cousin of the family. Upon out
arrival at Cans, we Avere ushered into the guest-
chamber, and Jesus, in particular, was received
with marked resoect by the Hebrew master of
the house, though he was an officer in the service
of the Romans. We here met Elizabeth, the
mother of John the Baptizer, who is a relative
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 171
of Mary, the mother of Jesus. The meeting be
tween them was very touching.
" 'Ah,' said the mother of the prophet, as she
looked upon Jesus, who was talking with the
governor of the feast, 'How blessed art thou, O
Mary, to have thy son ever with thee ! while I am
a mother, arid yet no mother. The son whom
God gr.ve me He hath taken from me to be his
prophet, and he is to me as if he were dead ! Since
his twelfth year he has been in the wilderness,
knowing no man, until six months ago he came
forth to proclaim the advent of thy holy Son!'
"The marriage feast at length commenced.
The wine which should have come from Damas
cus, had not arrived, the caravan having been
delayed by the insurrection near Cesarea. The
guests had, therefore, but little wine, and the
chief ruler of the town presiding at the feast, see
ing that the wine had given out, bade the ser
vants to place more upon the board. The
mother of Jesus, who knew that the wine was
out, turning to him, said, They have no wine!'
for it seems that she knew the power that was
within him, though he had not yet manifested it
openly. I sat next to him, and heard her when
she whispered to Jesus. He looked grave, and
said with a slight tone of respectful reproof, and
applying to her that title, which we in Judea be
lieve most honorable of all others, 'Woman,' he
said ; 'what have I to do with thy private requests
for the exercise of my power? You wish me to
perform a miracle before this noble company,
that they may behold and believe on me. Mine
172 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
hour for manifesting my glory to men is not yet
come, nevertheless, in obedience to thy wish, my
honored mother, I will do what thou desirest me
to do.'
"She then thanked him with deep emotion, and
turned to the servants and beckoned to them,
while her cheek borrowed a rich color from her
hidden joy, and her eyes, kindled with the feel
ings of a mother about to see her son display
powers such as only come by the gift of God, and
which were to seal Him as a Prophet, before the
eyes of Jew and Gentile. For mys Mary, not
anticipating, or suspecting what was to take
place, I regarded the nervous emotions of the
joyful mother with marvel. When two or three
of the servants approached, she said to them:
' 'Whatsoever He saith to you, do it.'
"They then fixed their regards upon him,
awaiting his commands, as little suspecting what
they would be as I did. The face of Jesus, ever
calm and dignified, now seemed to express a cer
tain consciousness of pow r er within, that awed
me. Casting his eyes upon several stone vases,
which stood by the door, empty, he said to them :
" 'Fill the water-pots with water/
"In the court, in full sight from the table, was
a well, to which the servants went with jars,
which I saw them fill with water, bear in upon
their heads, and pour it out into the water-pots,
until they had filled them all, six in number.
While this was going on, the governor of the
feast was relating to the guests, and fixing their
attention, as well as his own, how Herod and
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 173
Pontius Pilate had recently become enemies, be
cause the latter, on his way from Cesarea Phil-
ippi to Jerusalem, to be present with his forces
during the weeks of the Passover, having come
to a caravansera at night, which was occupied
by Herod and his body-guard, turned them out
to make room for his own, saying that a Roman
Procurator was more honorable than a Jewish
King of Galilee. 'It will be long/ added the
governor, as the last water-pot was filled, 'before
this quarrel will be made up between them. But
we talk, my friends, and forget our wine.'
" 'Draw out now, and bear unto the governor
of the feast/ said Jesus to the servants.
"They obeyed, and pouring rich, blood-red
wine into the jars which I and others had seen
filled up with water from the well, the amazed
servants bore it to the chief of the feast. He had
no sooner filled his goblet and tasted it, than he
called to the bridegroom, who sat in the middle
of the table, and said:
" 'Every man, at the beginning, doth set forth
good wine, and when men have well drunk, then
that which is worse, but thou hast kept the good
wine until now/
" 'Who hath brought this wine?' asked the
bridegroom, drinking of the water that was made
wine. 'Whence it came, sir, I know not/
"Then the servants and others told that they
had filled the six water-pots with water to the
brim, at the command of Jesus, and that when
they drew out, behold, it flowed forth wine in
stead, of water. Upon this there was a general
174 THE PRINCE OP THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
exclamation of surprise; and the governor of the
feast crying out, 'A Prophet hath been among
us, and we knew it not,' rose to approach and do
honor to Jesus; but he had already conveyed
himself away, rising, and passing out through the
door, and sought the solitude of the garden.
Thither I followed him, and worshiping him, sat
at his feet and listened to him, while he unfolded
to me wonderful things concerning himself,
showing that he is truly the Son of God, and the
very Christ. But these things I cannot speak to
thee of now, for I do not clearly understand all
that he is to be, save that I know he is destined
to suffer, and to be exalted. Doubt not," con
cludes the letter to Mary, "doubt not that Jesus
is the Christ. His miracle at Cana, of turning
water into wine, is a public display of his divine
power. All men at the feast have believed on
Him, and his fame is spreading abroad through
out Galilee and Samaria. He has told me pri
vately that he must soon visit Jerusalem, and he
will there openly proclaim his mission as the
Christ of God."
In this manner, my dear father, writes the be
trothed husband of my cousin Mary; and I have
given you the extract from this letter, in order
that you may see that Jesus is already attracting
great attention, that he has disciples, and that he
is by no means poor, who has the power to con
vert wells of water into wine. From this letter,
you must perceive that Jesus is, at leasts a
Prophet, equal to Elijah, who kept full the cruse
of the widow of Zarephath. If, therefore, you ac-
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 175
knowledge this much, you must confess that he
is a good man. Now, a good man will not lie.
Yet, Jesus hath said to John, that He is the
Christ! How, then, dear father, can any
one deny, who believes him to be a prophet,
that he is more than a prophet, even Mes-
sias? Pardon your daughter for thus pre
suming to reason with you, but I am so
earnest that you should believe, that I some
times forget the daughter in the disciple of Jesus.
As for my uncle, the good and learned Rabbi
Amos, he is more than half his disciple; and I
have no doubt that when Jesus shall present him
self in Jerusalem, and he can see him, and hear
his divine teachings, he will cast off all prejudice
and become his follower.
The rumor of the miracle at Cana has reached
Jerusalem since I began this letter, and I hear
that it has produced no little excitement in the
market-places and courts of the Temple. Rabbi
Amos, on his return from sacrifice, a few minutes
ago, said that he saw more than thirty priests,
with rolls of the Prophets in their hands, en
gaged in looking up the prophecies of Christ.
So, my dear father, you see that the young man
"who came," as you remarked, "no one knew
whence, and went no one knew whither,"
is already taking hold of the attention of
Israel, and stirring up the minds of all men to
investigate his claim to be the Christ.
Your affectionate daughter,
ADINA.
LETTER XIV.
My Dear Father: You will not require the
testimony of my letters to enable you to appre
ciate the fame of the wonderful young man of
Nazareth, Jesus, who is daily proving himself a
Prophet, indeed, and mighty before God, show
ing all the people that God is with Him. Not a
stranger cometh into Jerusalem who does not
bring report of some new miracle which He hath
done, some wonderful manifestation of his
power. He still delays coming to Jerusalem, but
is engaged in preaching the coming of the king
dom of David and of God on earth, teaching in
the sinagogues, and showing from the Prophets
that He is truly the Messias. And his fame for
wisdom, for knowledge of the Scriptures, for
power to teach, and for miracles, has gone
abroad through all Syria, so that they bring to
him, sick persons, both rich and poor, even from
Damascus, to be healed of him; and he heals all
who are brought unto him, whether possessed of
THE PRINCE OP THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 177
devils, lunatic, or having the palsy. His foot
steps are attended by thousands, wheresoever he
goes, and even the Governor of Philippi, in his
chariot, hath mingled in the throng, and kneel
ing at his feet, asked the health of his son, who
was palsied; and his son was healed by him, by a
word, though many leagues distant. While I
now write, a company is passing by the open
window, bearing upon beds two wealthy men of
Jerusalem, who have been given over by their
physicians, who are going to him to be cured;
for all Jerusalem talks of nothing else than the
wonderful miracles of Christ. There was a man
who wove baskets, who has occupied a stall op
posite our house for many years. He had lost
entirely the use of his legs, for twelve years, and
had to be carried to and fro. Hearing of the
feme of Jesus, he was seized with a strong desire
to have him perform a miracle upon him. For
this purpose he begged money from the priests,
as they went by to the Temple, but though some
gave, all laughed, saying that he could not be
cured, inasmuch as one of his limbs was with
ered. But the man had faith, and having begged
money enough for his journey from the benevo
lent, hired two men to convey him five days'
journey into Galilee. At the end of three weeks
he returned, walking upright, and well in body
and limbs! All the city flocked to behold him;
and he related that how when he had reached
Capernaum, where Jesus was, the crowd was so
great that his bearers could not for some time
get near him. At length, Jesus moved on, heal-
12
178 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
ing the files of sick as he passed through them,
at a word. "Seeing me," said the man, "he fixed
his eyes upon me, and said, calling me by name:
' 'Great is thy faith. As thou hast believed,
be it done unto th.ee/
"Immediately my legs and ankle-bones re
ceived strength; I leaped from the litter to the
giound, and found that I was whole, without
pain or illness. I would have fallen at his feet in
ecstasy of joy, but the crowds which pressed him
separated me from the sight of him. But I filled
the air with shouts and hallelujahs to the Son of
David!"
This man, my dear father, I now see daily,
moving about, sound in limb and health; but this
one instance is but one of a thousand. John,
who follows Jesus everywhere he goes, and is a
witness of all that he does and teaches, writes to
Mary, that "the sick and afflicted from all parts
of the land of Galilee, from Decapolis, from Jeru
salem, from beyond Jordan, even from Lesser
Asia, come to him. When my beloved master,"
he writes, "comes forth from a synagogue, where
he has been reading the Prophets to the people,
who hear him gladly, I have beheld two hundred
persons, the lame, the palsied, the withered, the
blind, the possessed of devils, and persons
afflicted with all manners of diseases, laid in
rows before the gate of the synagogue, awaiting
his coming forth. Those who bore them were
standing in eager, expectant groups near them.
It was a painful, yet sublime spectacle, to behold
the hollow eyes of those wretched sufferers,
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID 179
turned towards the door as the people came run
ning forth, shouting, 'He comes! He comes!'
The writhing torments of the possessed with
devils ceased for the moment, and groans gave
way to expecting silence. Jesus at length ap
pears, and upon seeing his face, that ever
expresses holy benignity and innate power, they
set up touching cries of the most thrilling appeal
for his aid, and such appeals are never uttered in
vain. Going through the rows of beds and lit
ters, He lays his hand upon some, speaks a word
to others, touches the eyes of the blind and the
ears of the deaf, lays his hand gently upon the
head of the lunatic, and commands in tones of
authority, the devils to leave the bodies of the
possessed. And what is extraordinary," contin
ues John, "the devils always conduct with more
terrific violence as he draws near, and while they
leave the man with curses, they confess loudly
that Jesus is 'the Son of David the Son of
God!' and implore him, in the most abject man
ner, not utterly to destroy them! So great is
the multitude which everywhere follows him,
that he is often compelled to withdraw from them
by stealth, to get to some by-place of quiet,
where he can refresh his wearied strength for a
few days. At such times we, who are his imme
diate followers, have the benefit of his teaching
and private instructions. But he cannot remain
long away from the people. They soon pene
trate his retirement, and he never can refuse their
appeals to his miraculous powers to do them
good. How wonderful is he who thus holds in
180 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
his hand divine power! The power of kings is
nothing before that which he possesses in his
voice; yet, he is serene, humble, oh, how humble!
to our shame, and always calm and gentle. He
spends much time in private prayer to God,
whom he always addresses as his Father. Never
was such a man on earth. We, who know him
most intimately, stand most in awe of him; yet,
with our deep reverence for his holy character is
combined the purest affection. In one and the
same breath, I feel that I adore him as my Lord,
and love him, even as my brother. So we all
feel towards him. His engaging manners, his
patience with our ignorance, his forbearance with
our grossness, his ready excuses for us when we
are in fault, ere we have time to exculpate our
selves, all have bound us to him with ties that
can never be sundered. When I next write to
you," continues John, "I will relate to yQU, so far
as they are understood by me and my fellow-dis
ciples, the things which he reveals respecting
himself and the object of his mission on earth.
Some things, however, are not comprehended by
us, but he promises that we shall by and by
understand what now appears obscure to us."
Such, my dear father, is the tenor of the letters
which my cousin Mary receives from John, the
disciple of Jesus. They are all filled with ac
counts of his miracles, of his teachings, and of his
journeyings. When we shall see Jesus at Jeru
salem, I shall be able, from personal observation,
to write to you more particularly concerning his
doctrines and miracles. That He is the Christ,
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 181
thousands now believe; for they ask, very natu
rally, how could he do these things unless God
were with him? What is also of importance, it
has been proven by the results of the examina
tion made by some of the scribes of the Temple,
that he was truly born in Bethlehem, and that
both his mother, Mary, and Joseph, her husband,
are lineally descended of the house of David.
Moreover, Phineas, the venerable priest, whom
you know, hath borne testimony to the fact, that
when Jesus was an infant, during the reign of the
elder Herod, there arrived in Jerusalem three
eminent princes, men of wisdom and learning.
One of these came from Persia; one from the
Giecian province of Media; and one from
Arabia; and brought with them gifts of gold and
spices, and were attended by retinues. These
three princes reached Jerusalem the same day by
three different ways, and entered by three differ
ent gates, each 'unknowing the other's presence
or object, till they met in the city before Herod's
palace. One represented himself descended from
Shem, another from Japhet, the third from Ham.
The king hearing that these three strangers had
arrived in Jerusalem, he sent to know wherefore
they had honored his kingdom with a visit.
"They answered," says Phineas, as he yesterday
related the narrative in the presence of Caiaphas,
and many of the rulers and Pharisees, 'that they
came to do homage to the young Prince, who
was born King of the Jews/ And when Herod
asked what prince they spoke of, they answered,
182 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
'we have seen his star in the East, and are come
to worship him !' "
'' 'How know you the star you have seen indi
cates the birth of a Prince of Judea?' demanded
King Herod, greatly troubled at what he heard.
" 'It had a motion towards this city/ they an
swered, 'and we have been led by a heavenly im
pulse to follow it, and lo, it has led us to Jerusa
lem, over which, were it now night, you would
see it suspended, burning with the glory of a
planet; and it hath been revealed to us that it is
the star of the birth of one who is to reign King
of Judah ! Tell us, therefore, oh king, where this
august Prince is now to be found, that we may
worship him!'
"Hereupon," says Phineas, "the king issued
an edict for all the chief priests and scribes of the
people to assemble in the council chamber of his
palace. He then addressed them:
1 'Ye, to whom is given the care of the Books
of the Law and of the Prophets, whose study
they are, and in whom lies the skill to interpret
the prophecies, search therein, and tell me truly
where the Christ is to be born. Behold here
present these august and wise men, who have
come from afar to do Him homage; nay, more,
as they aver, to worship Him as God. Let us
have the courtesy to give them the answer that
they seek, and let us not be found more ignorant
of these things than those w r ho dwell in other
lands T
"Several of the Chief Priests then rose and
said, 'It is known, oh, king, to all who are Jews,
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 183
and who read the Prophets, that Messias comcth
of the house of David, of the town of Bethlehem;
for thus it is written by the prophet: "And thou,
Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, art not least
among the Princes of Judah, for out of thee shall
come a Governor that shall rule my people
Israel!" 1
'This question being thus decided," continued
Phineas, "Herod dismissed the council, and, re
tiring to his own private room, sent to the three
princes of the East to inquire of them what time
the star appeared. And when they had named
the very day and hour on which they had first
seen it, he was thereby enabled to arrive at the
probable age of the infant. He then said to
them :
" 'You have my permission, noble strangers,
to go to Bethlehem, and search for the young
child; and when ye have found him, bring me
word again, that I may come and worship him
also; for it is but meet that we should pay all
possible honors to a Prince of our realm, whose
birth is heralded in so unusual a manner, and to
worship whom even the East sends forth her
wise men/ They then left the presence of Herod,
and, it being dark when they left the palace, they
were overjoyed to behold the star which they
saw in the East, going before them. They fol
lowed it until it left Jerusalem by the Bethlehem
gate, and it led them on to the town of Bethle
hem, and stopped above an humble dwelling
therein. When they were come into the house,
they saw a ray of the star resting upon the head
184 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OP DAVID.
of an infant in the arms of its mother, Mary, the
wife of Joseph. They at once acknowledged and
hailed him as Prince and King of Israel, and fall
ing down, worshiped him; and opening their
treasures they presented unto him gold, frankin
cense, and myrrh, gifts that are offered on the
altar to God alone!"
When Phineas was asked by Caiaphas how he
knew this fact, he answered, that he, himself,
prompted by curiosity to see the Prince they had
come to worship, had followed them out of the
palace of Herod, out of the gate, and even into
Bethlehem, and witnessed their prostrations and
offerings to the infant child of Mary. "And,"
he added, "if this be doubted, there are many
Jews now living in Jerusalem, and a certain He
brew captain, now stricken in years, who can
testify to the slaughter, by Herod's command, of
the infants of Bethlehem; for this captain Jere-
mias led on the soldiers."
"And wherefore this slaughter?" asked Caia
phas. "It is not on record."
''Kings do not record their deeds of violence,"
answered Phineas. "Herod kept it hushed up
when he found that he gained nothing by it but
hatred. He slew them, in order that the infant
Jesus might be destroyed among them; for the
three wise men, instead of returning through
Jerusalem to their own country, and informing
him where they had found the child, departed
by another way; and when Herod found that
they were gone, he became so enraged, that he
sent out a party of troops, under Jeremias, their
THE PKIKCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 185
captain, who now liveth to testify, ordering them
to slay every child under two years of age in
Bethlehem, hoping, as I have said, to kill the in
fant Jesus among the number. But the child
escaped, doubtless, by God's powerful protec
tion; and his fame in his manhood this day fills
the ears of all Israel. The adoration of these
three men, who were sons of Shem, Ham, and
Japhet, represents the homage of the whole race
of mankind that shall yet be paid to Him!"
"Dost thou believe in him, also?" asked Caia-
phas, with angry surprise, looking sternly on
Phineas.
"I will first see, and hear him speak; and if he
appear to me to be Messias, I will gladly worship
him."
"Hereupon," said Rabbi Amos, who gave me
the details of the foregoing interview between
Caiaphas and Phineas, "there arose a great up
roar, some crying that Jesus was the Christ, and
others, that Phineas should be stoned to death."
Thus, you see, my dear father, how the evi
dence increases in value and importance, proving
Jesus to be the Messiah. His very cradle bears
testimony to his divine character; and, surely, do
his miracles now confirm the pledge given by
the remarkable circumstances attending his
childhood. The captain Jeremias, now a gray-
headed old soldier, having been called upon, tes
tifies that he obeyed such an order of Herod, and
that it was given within three days after the three
Princes of the East quitted Jerusalem for Bethle
hem. Now, my dear father, let me sum up the
12 ...,
186 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
evidences that Jesus is the Messiah. First, his
presentation in the Temple, when holy Simeon
and Anna worshiped and prophesied of him.
Secondly, the star which led the wise men to
Betlehem. Thirdly, their adoration of him in his
cradle. Fourthly, the testimony of John the
Baptist. Fifthly, the voice of God at his bap
tism. Sixthly, the descent of the Holy Ghost
upon him in the form of a dove. Seventhly, his
miracle at Cana of Galilee. And, lastly, the glit
tering coronet of miracles that now encircles his
brow, shedding a light and glory upon his path
that blinds and dazzles the eye steadfastly to be
hold. Tell me, dear father, is not this the
Christ?
Your affectionate and loving
ADINA.
LETTER XV.
My Dear Father: The inquiry you made in
your last letter, "What hath become of John of
Jordan, since the fame of Jesus hath so far
eclipsed his own?" I can answer, but with sad
ness. Your inquiry seems to infer that he would
feel envious of the power and the miracles that
distinguish his Successor. But, on the contrary,
John always plainly declared in his preaching,
that " he was not worthy to unloose the shoe
latchet of Him who was to come after him;" and
he distinctly said many times to all, that "He to
whom I bear witness must increase, but I must
decrease!" The mission on which John came
terminated when Jesus came. Soon afterwards
he left the wilderness, and entered Jericho, where
Herod was then dwelling. Here he preached in
the public places, and in the market, and on the
very steps of the palace, that God's judgments
were coming upon the earth, and that men must,
by repentance, appease his wrath ; and that Christ
188 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
would be the Judge of men! Now, while he was
thus speaking to the people, and the officers and
soldiers of the Tetrarch's guard, Herod himself
came forth upon the balcony to listen, for he had
heard much of John, and had long a desire to
hear him. The prophet no sooner beheld him,
than he boldly addressed him, and sternly re
proved him for the sin of having married the
widow of his brother Philip, contrary to law.
Now, Herod, it is said, did not show resentment
at this plain dealing, and inviting the prophet
into his hall, talked much with him, and in part
ing, offered him gifts, which John refused to
touch. The next day he sent for him again, to
ask him some questions touching the Messias
whom he preached. Now, Herodia, when it
was reported to her how that the prophet had
publicly spoken against her marriage with
Herod, became very angry; and when she found
that John was still favored by her husband, she
sent for Herod, and said, "that if he would please
her he must throw the prophet of Jordan into
prison." Herod would have excused him,
asserting that he was a man of God; but Herodia
only the more vehemently insisted that he should
be cast into prison. At length Herod yielded,
against his own will, and gave orders for the ar
rest of the prophet, who the same night was
thrown into the ward of the castle. When this
intelligence reached the followers of John, it
created great sorrow; and many went to see him
and talk with him. But he told them they must
think of him no longer; that his short stay was
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 189
drawing to its close; but that they must turn
their eyes towards the Christ the Sun of Right
eousness, whose rising was unto an everlasting
day. "Said I not unto ye," he asked of them,
"He must increase and I must decrease?'' For
some weeks this holy man, whose only offence
was that he had courage to reprove sin in high
places, remained in prison, while Herod each day
sought to find some excuse for releasing him
without displeasing Herodia, of whose anger he
stood in great fear, he being an abject slave to
his love for her. At length the birthday of Her
od arrived, and he conveyed word to John that
in honor of the day he would send and fetch him
out of prison, so soon as he should obtain the
consent of his wife, which he believed she would
accord to him on such an anniversary.
Now, after the feast, Philippa, the daughter of
Herodia and of her former husband Philip, came
in and danced before Herod; and being beautiful
in person and full of grace in every motion, she
so pleased her step-father that he made oath,
having drunk much wine with his guests, that he
would give her whatever she would ask, were it
the half of his kingdom. Her mother then call
ed to her, and whispered to her imperatively.
''Give me," said the maiden, turning towards
Herod, asking what her mother had commanded,
"the head now of John Baptist in a charger."
The king no sooner heard this request than he
turned pale, and said fiercely:
"Thy mother hath been tampering with thine
ears, girl." Herodia, however, betrayed no con*
190 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
fusion, but sat unconcerned. Herod, it is said
by those who were present, hesitated a long time,
and at length said: "Ask half of my kingdom and
I will give it thee; but let me not shed blood on
my birthday."
"Wilt thou falsify thine oath?" asked his wife,
scornfully.
"For mine oath's sake, and for these who have
heard it, I will grant thy desire," he at length
answered, with a sigh of regret and self-reproach.
He then turned to the captain of the guard, and
commanded him to slay John Baptist in prison,
and bring presently there his head upon a
charger.
At the end of a quarter of an hour, which was
passed by Herod in great excitement, walking up
and down the floor, and by his guests in silent
expectation, the door opened, and the captain oi
the guard entered, followed by the executioner,
who carried a brazen platter upon which lay the
gory head of the eloquent forerunner of Christ.
"Give it to her!" cried Herod sternly, waving
him towards the beautiful, but cruel and heartless
maiden, who stood near the inner door. The
executioner placed the charger in her hands,*
and, without turning pale, but with a smile of
triumph, she bore it to her mother, who had re
tired to an inner chamber. It is said, that no
sooner did she behold it, than she spat in the
face, and setting it up before her, reviled it. His
disciples, when they heard of his death, came to
Herod and asked the body of John, and taking it
away, buried it; but when they would have asked
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 191
the head also of Herodia, she answered, "that she
had given it to her dogs to devour!" So terrible
can be the revenge of a woman who fears not
God!
All the disciples of the murdered prophet then
went where Jesus w r as preaching and healing,
and told him what had been done to John.
"When Jesus heard of the death of John he was
very sorrowful," writes John, his disciple, to
Mary, "and went away into a desert place apart,
in order to mourn over the fate of his bold and
holy forerunner." In the meanwhile, the disci
ples of John Baptist, believing that the murder of
their prophet was but the first blow of a general
slaughter, iled into the deserts, and sought Jesus
to protect and counsel them. At length he found
himself surrounded by a great multitude, who
had fled from the cities, chiefly of John's disciples,
besides many who came to hear him preach, and
be healed of him. The place was a desert, and far
from any town. Forgetful of all else, save fol
lowing Jesus, they were without food. "Which,"
says John, writing to RabbiAmos, "we who were
his disciples seeing, suggested that Jesus should
send them away to the villages to buy themselves
victuals. But Jesus answered us and said quietly:
"They need not go away give ye them to
eat/
"And Simon said, 'Master, where can we get
bread for so many? There is verily here an army
to be fed, and we have among us but five loaves
and two small fishes/ Upon hearing this, JQSUS
said, 'It is enough ; bring them hither to me/
192 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
"We collected the bread and fishes, and I, my
self, laid them upon a rock before Jesus. He
then said to us, 'Command the multitude to sit
down on the grass/ And when they were all
seated he took the five loaves, and laying his
hands upon them and upon the two fishes, he
looked up to heaven and blessed them ; and then
breaking them into fragments, he gave them to
us, his disciples, and bade us distribute to the
people. As often as we would return for more,
we found the loaves and the fishes undirninished,
and I saw with wonder how when he would
break off a piece of one of the fishes, or of a loaf,
the same part would immediately be seen thereon
as if it had not been separated; and in this man
ner he continued to break and distribute to us
for nearly an hour, until all ate as much as they
would, and were filled; and when no one de
manded more, and he ceased to break, he com
manded us to gather up the fragments which
lay by his side, which he had piled up about him
as rapidly as he broke them off, and they were
twelve baskets full, over and above what was
needed. The number that were thus miraculously
fed was about five thousand men, besides nearly
an equal number of women and children. And
this mighty Prophet, who could thus feed an
army, voluntarily suffered forty days and nights
the pangs of hunger in the desert! He seems
both a man in suffering, and a God in creating!"
This wonderful miracle, my dear father, is one
that has too many witnesses to be denied. He
who could feed five thousand could feed all men!
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 193
Must not He then, who could feed all mankind,
be divine? Surely, this must be the Son of God!
If I should mention to you all the miracles which
have been done by him, I should fill many let
ters. Not a day passes that we do not hear of
some more extraordinary exhibition of his
power than the preceding. Every morning, when
men meet in the market places, or in the courts
of the Temple, the first inquiry is, "what new
wonder has he performed? Have you heard of
another miracle of this mighty Prophet?" In
deed, so great is the interest here felt to see
Jesus and witness his miracles, that where one
went to hear John preach in the wilderness of
Jordan, ten go to see Christ in Galilee. The
priests alone are offended, and speak evil of him
through envy. They say that he draws off peo
ple from the sacrifices; that he is preaching
another law than that of Moses; that he eats
with sinners; that he enters the houses of Samar
itans; and that he loveth Galilee rather ttian Jeru
salem, which they contend, is an evidence that
he is not the Christ who was "to come to the
Temple and send forth his law from Jerusalem."
They have even gone so far as to assert that
he performs his miracles by magic and the aid of
Beelzebub, the Prince of the devils. "If we suf
fer him to take men's minds as he doth," said
Caiaphas to Rabbi Amos yesterday, when he
heard that Jesus had walked on the sea to join
his disciples in their ship, and stilled a tempest
with a word, "the worship in the Temple will be
13
194 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
at an end, and the sacrifice will cease. He draw-
eth all men unto him."
Herod having, as I have said, slain John, and
hearing soon after of the fame of Jesus, said to
Herodia: 'This is John Baptist risen from the
dead, and therefore do mighty works show forth
themselves in him."
"If he rise from the dead threescore and ten
times, I will have his head," answered Herodia;
whereon Herod privately sent to Jesus, suppos
ing him to be John Baptist, to keep in the parts
of Galilee where he was. The Levites and
Scribes of the city contend that he is Elias, who
it is prophesied must come and restore all things
before Messias. Others believe that he is Isaiah,
or Jeremiah, raised from the dead; and some say
one thing, and others another thing. They are
willing to believe Jesus to be everything but
that which he is, viz., the true Christ, Son of the
Highest.
You have asked, dear father, in your letter,
"Where is Elias, who is to precede Messias, ac
cording to the Prophet Malachi?" This ques
tion Jesus himself has answered, says John,
when some Rabbis put it to him. He answered
them thus :
"Elias has come already, and ye have done
unto him whatsoever ye listed."
"Dost thou speak of John the Baptist?" asked
those about him when they heard this.
"John came in the spirit and power of Elias,
and therefore was he thus called by the prophet,"
was the answer of Jesus.
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 195
I have written you mainly of the miracles of
Jesus, dear father, as being evidences conclusive
of his divine power and authority to teach and
restore Israel. I have said little of his teaching,
as I have not yet heard him; but I have heard
those who have listened to him repeat much that
he has taught them. Such words of wisdom,
such pureness of teaching, such holy precepts,
and divine instruction, never fell from lips of man.
Oh, when shall I be so blessed as to hear his
voice, and hang on the eloquence of his lips! I
envy all who have heard him speak.
I did not tell you that besides the six disciples
whom I have named, he has chosen six others,
which twelve he keeps near his person as his
more favored followers, and whom he daily in
structs in the doctrines he came down from heav
en to teach. Of the thousands who never weary
going from place to place in his train, he has
selected seventy men, whom he dispatched by
twos into every city and village of Judea, com
manding them to proclaim the kingdom of God
as at hand, and that the time when men every
where should repent and turn to God, had come.
Thus you see, my dear father, that the solitary
and unknown young man, who was baptized not
a year since in Jordan, is now wielding more in
fluence in the land than the Roman Procurator
Pilate, or Herod. Nay, not many days since,
after he had fed another multitude by a miracle,
the people would have him made a king by force;
but he withdrew from the press, and retired into a
mountain alone, to escape this honor. There-
196 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
fore, dear father, he is no ambitious leader. His:
kingdom, if he is to be a king, is not to be re
ceived as the gift of men. Yet that he will be a
King is as certain as that he is the Christ; for
the prophecy says that Messias "shall sit upon
the throne of his father David." Who can look
into the future and behold the limit of his glory?
Already by faith I see him crowned by the same
mighty God who proclaimed from heaven that he
was his beloved Son, crowned King of kings and
Lord of lords; with his throne upon Mount Zion,
and the nations of the earth tributary to his scep
tre of righteousness, and illimitable dominion.
He is the stone cut out of a rock without hands,
that shall fill the whole earth.
You may charge me with being enthusiastic,
my dear father; but if Jesus be the Christ, earth
has no language that can express the splendor ot
his reign.
It is now commonly reported that he will be
here at the Passover. I shall then behold him,
and like the wise men, I shall worship him with
mingled awe and love. I will again write you,
dear father, after I see and hear him. Till then,
believe me your affectionate daughter,
ADINA.
LETTER XVI.
My Dear Father: While I write, the city is
agitated like a tumultuous sea. The loud mur
murs of the multitudes in the streets, and even in
the distant market place, reach my startled ears.
A cohort of Roman cavalry has just thundered
past toward the Temple, where the uproar is
greatest; for a rumor of an insurrection begun
among the people, has come to Pilot the Procu
rator. But this is no insurrection against the
Roman authority, dear father; alas, our people,
who were once God's people and the masters of
the East, are now too servile and submissive to
their pagan masters, the Romans, to lift up a
finger to remove their degrading yoke! Would
that it were a movement for the liberties of
Judea! The occasion of the tumult, which seems
to increase each moment, is an extraordinary act
of power on the part of the new prophet, Jesus,
that name become, by means of my pen, so
familiar to you, a name at which, I can say
198 THE PRINCE OP THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
without enthusiasm, every knee will yet bow,
both of Jew and Gentile ! I will relate to you the
circumstances; for this act of power from him is
another proof of his divine mission.
In my last letter, dear father, I stated that it
was commonly reported that this wonderful man
would be up to the Passover, and that all men
were talking of the approaching event, and really
thinking more of his presence here, than of the
Passover itself. Nay, it was said that many who
would not otherwise be in Jerusalem, would
come hither in order to see him, and to witness
some new miracle; and to-day Rabbi Amos says
the number of strangers in the city is hitherto
unprecedented.
Yesterday my cousin John came unexpectedly
into the hall of the fountain, in the rear of the
house, where we were all seated in the cool of the
vines, with which Mary's taste has covered a wall
of trellis-work. Uncle Amos was in the act of
reading to us from the Prophet Jeremiah, a
prophecy relating to the Messias that is to come
(nay, that is come, dear father), when John ap
peared. Mary's blushes welcomed him, and
showed how dear he was to her. Uncle Amos
embraced and kissed him and seated him by us,
and called for a slave to bathe his feet, for he was
dusty and travel-worn. From him we learned
that his beloved master, Jesus, had reached Beth
any, and was reposing from his fatigues at the
hospitable though humble house of Lazarus,
Mary and Martha. When we heard this we were
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 199
all very glad; and uncle Amos particularly
seemed to experience the deepest satisfaction.
"If he comes into Jerusalem," said he, warmly,
"he shall be my guest. Bid him to my roof, O
John, that my household may be blessed in hav
ing a Prophet of God step across its threshold."
"Oh, by all means do not forget to ask him to
remain through the Passover with us," exclaimed
Mary, earnestly looking up into the young dis
ciple's face, and laying her hands confidingly
upon his wrist.
"I will tell my beloved Master thy wish, Rabbi
Amos," answered John. ''Doubtless, as he has
no home, nor friends in the city, he will remain
under your roof."
"Say not no friends!" I exclaimed. "We are
all his friends here, and fain would be his dis
ciples."
"What! Rabbi Amos also?" cried John, with
a glance of pleasurable surprise at the venerable
Priest of God.
"Yes, I am ready; after all that I have heard
and seen, I am ready to confess him a Prophet
sent from God."
"'Yes, he is more than a prophet, O Rabbi
Amos!" answered John. "Never prophet does
the works Jesus does. It seems that all power is
at his command. If you witnessed what I wit
ness daily, as he traverses Judea, you would say
that he was Jehovah descended to earth in human
form!"
"Nay, do not blaspheme, young man," said
Rabbi Amos, with some severity of reproof.
200 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
John bowed his head in reverence to the re
buke of the Rabbi, but nevertheless answered re
spectfully and firmly, "Never man did like him.
If he be not God in the flesh, he is an angel in
flesh invested with divine power."
"If he be the Messias," I said, "he cannot be
an angel; for are not the prophecies clear that
Messias shall be 'a man of sorrows?' Is he not
to be 'the seed of the woman?' a man and not an
angel?"
"Yes," answered John, "you remember well
the prophecies. I firmly believe Jesus to be the
Messiah, the Son of God. Yet, what he is more
than man, what he is less than God, is incompre
hensible to me and to my fellow-disciples. We
wonder, love, and adore! At one moment we
feel like embracing him into our arms as a
brother deary beloved; at another, we are ready
to fall at his feet and worship him ! I have seen
him weep at beholding the miseries of the dis
eased wretches which were dragged into his
presence, and then with a touch with a word,
heal them: and they would stand before him in
the purity and beauty of health and strong man
hood! I have seen him with a voice of com
mand, as never man spake, expel devils from
those who were possessed by them : and I have
heard the devils submissively beg not to be sent
to their own place, but to be permitted by him to
remain roaming still in the air and on the earth,
until the hour of their final sentence shall pro
ceed from the lips of God. Even the devils are
thus subject unto him, so mighty is his power;
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID 201
and all diseases disappear before his eye, like the
foul air of the fens before the beams of the morn
ing sun!"
"And yet," said Nicodemus, a rich Pharisee
listened without interrupting, for it is his wont
to come in and out as he will, being a friend of
my uncle, "and yet, young man, I heard you say
that Jesus, of whom you and all men relate such
mighty deeds, has remained at Bethany to re
cover from his fatigue. How can a man who
holds all sickness in his power be subject to mere
weariness of body? I would say unto him, Phy
sician, heal thyself!"
This was spoken with a tone of incredulity by
this learned ruler of the Jews; and stroking his
snowy beard, he waited of John a reply; for like
many of the chief men, nay, most of them, he w T as
hard to believe all he heard of Jesus; for as yet
he had not seen him; nor would he be likely to
visit him were he to come into the city, in order
to see for himself, lest his popularity among the
Jews be diminished; for he is a man of remark
able ambition, and aims one day to be the chief
governor of the people; therefore though he
should really be convinced that Jesus is the Mes-
sias, I fear he would not have candor enough,
for fear of the Jews, to confess it. Such is my
opinion of my uncle's friend, the rich and
powerful Pharisee. But John answered him and
said :
"So far as I can learn the character and power
of Jesus, his power over diseases is not for his
own good, but for the benefit of the multitude.
13
202 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
He uses his power to work miracles to do good
to others from love and compassion, and to show
forth the divine power in him. His miracles are
used only as the proofs of his Messiahship. Be
ing a man with this divine power dwelling in him,
for us, he is subject to infirmities as a man; he
hungers, thirsts, wearies, suffers, as a man. I
have seen him heal a nobleman's son and restore
him to strength and activity by a word, and the
next moment seat himself, supporting his aching
head upon his hand, looking pale and languid,
and without strength; for his labors of love are
vast, and he is often overcome by them, those
who follow him to be healed not giving him time
to repose at night. Once, Simon Peter, seeing
him ready to sink with very weariness, after heal
ing all day, asked him and said: 'Master, thou
givest strength to others, why suffer thyself
when all health and strength are in thee, as in a
living well, to be weary!'
" 'It is not mine to escape human infirmities
by any power my Father hath bestowed upon me
for the good of men. It behooves me to suffer
all things. Through suffering only can I draw
all men after me!' '
John said this so sadly, as if he were repeating
the very tones in which Jesus had spoken it, that
we all remained silent for a few moments. I felt
tears fill my eyes, and I was glad to see the proud
Pharisee, Nicodemus, looked moved. After a
full minute's serious pause, he said:
"This man is doubtless no common prophet.
When he comes into the city I shall be glad to
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 203
hear from his own mouth his doctrines, and to
witness some potent miracle."
"Surely/' said Amos, "if he be in truth a
prophet, we ought not to reject him. We ought
to examine fairly his claims to be sent from God
to our people."
"Certainly," answered Nicodemus, "we Phar
isees are ready to give him a fair hearing. It
would seem that by coining to Jerusalem from
the provinces, where hitherto he has been
preaching and doing miracles, he means to
challenge the whole people to acknowledge him
as a prophet."
"Prophet he is, without doubt," answered
Amos. "It is not the question now whether he
be a prophet or not, for the hundreds he has
healed are living witnesses that he has the spirit
and power of the old prophets, and is truly a
prophet. The question that remains is, whether
he be the Messiah, or not?"
Nicodemus slowly and negatively shook his
head, and then answered:
"Messias cometh not out of Galilee."
"He will prove himself to be Messias with
power," answered my cousin John, *with zeal.
"When you hear him speak, Rabbi Nicodemus,
the grace of his lips, and the depths of his wis
dom, will charm you into belief; and without
miracles you will acknowledge that he is the
Christ."
At this moment, a sudden, wild, joyful cry from
Mary, thrilled our nerves, and, looking towards
the door, we saw her folded in the arms of a
204 THE PKINCE OF THE HOUSE OP DAVID.
young man whom I had never seen before. My
surprise had not time to form itself into any def
inite opinion of what I saw, when I beheld the
young man, who was exceedingly handsome, and
the picture of health, after kissing the clinging
Mary upon her cheeks, leave her to throw him
self into the arms of Rabbi Amos, crying:
"My father, my dear father!"
My uncle, who had stood amazed, and wonder-
ingly gazing on him, as if he could not believe
what his eyes beheld, now burst into profound
expressions of grateful joy, and as he clasped the
young stranger to his heart, fell upon his neck,
and wept, with scarcely power to articulate the
words :
"My son! my son! Lost, but found again!
This is the Lord's doing, and is marvelous in our
eyes."
John also embraced the new-comer, while the
Ruler stood silent with wonder. Who the young
man was whose arrival was producing such
emotion, and why he should be hailed as a son
by my uncle Amos, I had no idea; and while I
was looking bewildered upon the scene, Mary
ran and said to me, with tears of gladness shin
ing in her dark eyes :
"It is Benjamin, my lost brother, beloved
Adma!"
"I did not know you had a brother," I an
swered in surprise.
"We have long regarded him as dead," she
replied, with mingled emotions. "Seven years
ago he became lunatic, and fled to the tombs
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 205
without the city, where he has long dwelt with
many others who were possessed with devils.
For years he has been a madman, and has neither
spoken to nor known us, and we harve tried to
forget that he lived, since to remember, it made
us miserable, without hope of his restoration.
But oh, now behold him! It seems a vision!
See how manly, noble, like himself, he is, with
the same sweet smile and smiling eyes."
She then flew to take him by the hand and lead
him towards me, all eyes being fixed upon him,
as if he had been a spirit.
When he saw their wondering ga;;e, he said:
"It is I, both son and brother to those dearest
to me. I am in my right mind, and well."
"Who has effected this change, so extraordi
nary, oh, my son?" inquired Rabbi Amos, with
trembling lips, and keeping his hand on Benja
min's shoulder, as if he feared he would vanish
away.
"It was Jesus, the Prophet of the Highest,"
answered he, with solemn gratitude.
"Jesus!" we all exclaimed in one voice.
"I could have said so," answered cousin John,
calmly. "I needed not to ask who had effected
this great work upon him. Nicodemus, thou
knowest this young man well ! thou hast known
him in childhood, and beheld him in the madness
of his lunacy, among the tombs. Dost thou
doubt now 7 , whether Jesus be the very Christ?"
Nicodemus made no reply ; but I saw from the
expression of his face that he believed.
"How was this thing done to thee, young
206 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
man?" he asked, with a deep interest and visible
emotion.
"I was wandering near Bethany this morning/'
answered the lost and restored one, with modesty
and feeling, "when I beheld a crowd which I
madly followed. As I drew near, I beheld in
their midst a man, whom I had no sooner cast
my eyes upon, than I felt seize me an ungovern
able propensity to destroy him. The same fury
possessed seven others, my comrades in madness,
and together, with one mind and will, we rushed
upon him, with great stones and knives in our
hands. The crowd gave way and fell back
aghast, and called him to save himself. But he
moved not, but, left alone in a wide space, stood
calmly awaiting us. We were within a few feet
of him, and I was nearest, ready to strike him to
the earth, when he quietly lifted one finger, and
said "Peace!" We stood immovable, without
power to stir a foot, while our rage and hatred
increased with our inability to harm him. We
howled and foamed at the mouth before him, for
\ve then knew that He was the Son of God, come
to destroy us.
; 'Come out of the men, and depart quickly!'
he said, in a tone of command, as if to us, but
really to the demons within us. At his word I
fell at his feet in a dreadful convulsion, and my
whole body writhed, as if it had been wrestling
with an invisible demon. Jesus then stooped
and laid his hand upon my brow, and said, 'Son,
arise! Thou art made whole!'
"At these words a black cloud seemed to be
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 207
lifted from my mind, and to disappear; the glory
of a new existence appeared to dawn upon my
soul, while his voice melted my heart within me.
Bursting into tears, the first I have shed for
seven years, I fell at his feet and kissed them, and
embraced them, wholly overcome with a new
sense of peace, and of inward happiness
unspeakable.
" 'Go thy way, and fear God, that thou fall not
a second time into this captivity to Satan!' he
said, raising me to my feet. I then followed him,
rejoicing and blessing God, until he entered the
house of a Centurion, near Bethany, when I
hastened hither, to gladden your hearts with the
sight of me restored to my right mind."
When Benjamin had done speaking, we all
gave glory to God, who had given him back to
us, and who had sent so great a prophet among
men. As Nicodemus took his leave, I overheard
him, congratulating the happy father, say, that he
should embrace the first opportunity to have an
interview with Jesus; and when my uncle told
him that he hoped to entertain the mighty
Prophet as his guest, the Ruler desired permis
sion to visit him here upon his arrival, "but
secretly,'' I heard him add, in Rabbi Amos's ear,
as he took his leave.
I commenced this letter, dearest father, by an
allusion to a great commotion, which is agitating
the whole city, and which was caused by an act
of power on the part of the Prophet Jesus, who,
this morning, two hours ago, entered the city,
and proceeded at once to the Temple, followed
208 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
through the streets by an innumerable multitude,
such as was never known in Jerusalem before.'
But as I have taken up so much of this letter,
in relating what passed yesterday in the hall of
the Fountain, I will leave the account of the
tumult, the voices of which are still to be heard, .
for my next letter, which I shall write this even
ing; for now, that all events are so interesting
connected with the great Prophet Christ, I shall
write to you almost daily, that I may keep you
advised of all things that come to pass, even as
you desired me to do. This request, dear father,
filled me with joy. It was an assurance to me
that you have begun to take an interest in these
wonderful things concerning Messias, and it
leads me secretly to hope that you may yet be
lieve in Him, and accept Him as the Anointed
One of God, which, without doubt, he is, as both
his words and his mighty works do testify.
When I get a package of letters made up, I
shall send them by Israel Ben Judah, with the
caravan that leaves eight days after the Passover.
May the God of our Fathers be with you, and
bless you, and all the holy people of the Promise,
Your loving daughter,
ADINA.
LETTER XVII.
My Dear Father: The last letter which I sent
to you, was written during an extraordinary
tumult which prevailed in the city, an account of
which I promised to give you in the present one.
I will do so now. When, on the morning of the
Passover, it was noised abroad that the Prophet
of Galilee was entering the city by the gate of
Jericho, the whole city was stirred, and from the
houses and shops poured forth crowds, which
turned their steps in that direction. Mary and I
went upon the house-top, hoping to see some
thing; but far and near was visible only a sea of
heads, from which a deep murmuring' arose, like
the ceaseless voice of the ocean chafing upon a
rocky shore. The top of the gate-way was
visible from the place where we stood; but it was
black with the people who had crowded upon it
to look down. There was heard, at length, an
immense shout, as of one voice, which was fol-
14
210 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
lowed by a swaying and onward pressure of the
crowds.
"The prophet must have entered the gate,"
said my cousin Mary, breathlessly. ''How they
do him honor! It is the reception of a king!"
We were in hopes he would pass by our house,
as we were on one of the chief thoroughfares; but
were disappointed, as he took the way round the
foot of Mount Zion, and ascended the hill of
Moriah to the Temple. A part of the ascent to
the house of the Lord is visible from our roof,
and we had the satisfaction of seeing the Prophet
at a distance. We knew him, only because he
was in advance, and the people, while they
walked near him, yet left him a little space. The
nighest one to him, Mary said, was her cousin
John, though at the distance I could not have
recognized him; but the eyes of maidenly affec
tion, though mild as the dove's, are as piercing
as the eagle's. The head of the multitude dis
appeared beneath the arch of the Temple, and
thousands upon thousands followed after; and, in
the rear, rode the young Roman Centurion,
whom I have before spoken of, at the head of
four hundred horse, to keep order in the vast
mass. Mary could not recognize him, saying it
was too far to tell who he was; but I knew him,
not only by his air and bearing, but by his scarlet
pennon, that fluttered from his iron lance, and
which I had bestowed upon him ; for he told me
he had lost one his fair Roman sister, Tullia, had
given him, and, as he so much regretted its loss,
I supplied its place by another, worked by my
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 211
own hands. As this was an act of kindness only,
to a stranger, dear father, 1 know you will not
disapprove of it; though being done for an idola-
tor may not please you. But I am full of hope,
dear father, that this noble and excellent youth
may yet become a Jew; for he loves to listen to
my teachings from the Prophets, and last week
he told me that he could never weary hearing me
read to him from the books of Moses, and from
the sublime Psalms of King David; which, he
says, surpass any poems, either in his own
tongue, or the Greek. Thus, by attention and
forbearance I assuredly believe that he may be
led to renounce his idolatrous faith, and become
a worshiper of the God of Hosts.
The multitude, as many as could gain admis
sion, having entered the great gate of the
Temple, for a few minutes there was a profound
stillness. Mary said:
"He is worshiping, or sacrificing, now."
"Perhaps," I said, "he is addressing the people,
and they listen to his words."
While I was speaking, there arose from the
bosom of the Temple, a loud, irregular, strange
outcry, of a thousand voices, pitched to high
excitement. The people without the gate
responded by a universal shout, and then we be
held those nighest the walls retreat down the hill
side in terrified confusion, while, to increase the
tumult, the Roman horse charged up the hill,
seeking to penetrate through the masses, to
reach the gate out of which the people poured
like a living and tempest-tossed 'river, before
212 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
which the head of the cohort recoiled, or was
overwhelmed and down-trodden! I held my
breath in dreadful suspense, not knowing the
cause of the fearful scene we beheld, nor to what
it might lead. Mary, who knew both her father,
and her cousin and betrothed were exposed to
whatsoever danger was threatening those who
had gone into the Temple, became overcome by
her apprehensions of evil to them, and, burying
her face in her hands, she sunk down almost in
sensible by my side. My attention was then
drawn to her, away from the scene on Mount
Moriah, and, leading her down into the apart
ments of the house, I saw no more of what fol
lowed. But a quarter of an hour had not passed,
when Samuel Ben Azel, who had, the day before,
come up from Nain, to the Passover, with his
mother, who is a distant relative of Rabbi
Amos, entered, and explained to us the cause of
the scene I had witnessed, assuring Mary, at the
same time, of the safety, both of her cousin and
her father. His account was thus:
"The Prophet Jesus having entered into the
Temple, with the multitudes following him to see
what he would do, found all the courts filled with
merchants, changers of money, and sellers of
cattle to the sacrificers. Portions of the sacred
place were divided off by fences, in which thous
ands of sheep and cattle were stalled; and be
tween almost every two colunms of the vast por
tico, sat at their tables, men, whose business it
was to change the foreign money brought by the
Jews from Greece, Egypt, Elam, Parthia, and
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 213
Africa, who had come up to the Passover, for
Jerusalem and Roman coin, which only the sell
ers of the cattle and sheep will receive for what
they sell. On his way to the inner Temple, the
Prophet found his path so obstructed by the
stalls and the tables of the brokers, that he had
to go round them, and often turn back and take
a less hedged-up avenue. At length, finding
upon the very lintel of the Court of the Priests, a
priest himself engaged at a table as a money
changer, and near him a Levite, keeping a stall
for selling doves and sparrows to the worshipers,
he stopped upon the step, and, turning round,
cast his calm, terrible eye (for it was terrible then,
mild as it was before), over the scene of noisy
commerce and bartering. Every face was turned
towards him in expectation. The half-completed
bargain was suspended, and buyer and seller di
rected their gaze, as by a sort of fascination, not
unmingled with a strange awe and fear, upon
him. Those who had crowded about him, drew
back farther and farther, slowly, but irresistibly
widening the space between them and him, they
knew not by what impulse, till he stood alone,
save nearest him was John, his disciple. The
uproar of buying and selling suddenly subsided,
and even the loud lowing of the cattle, and the
bleeting of the sheep, stopped, as if a supernat
ural awe had seized* even the brute creation at
his presence; and only the soft cooing of doves
stirred the vast, death-like stillness of the place,
but a moment before a scene of oaths, cries,
shouts, running to and fro, buying and selling,
214 THE PRINCE OP THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
the ringing of money, and the buzz of ten thous j
and voices. It was as if a hurricane, sweeping
with deafening uproar of the elements over the
lashed ocean, had been suddenly arrested, and
followed by a great calm. The silence was dread
ful! It stopped the very beating of my heart.
Every eye of the vast multitude seemed to fasten
itself on the Prophet, in expectation of some
dread event. I thought of the world hereafter to
be assembled before the tribunal of Jehovah,
awaiting their sentence. The step of the Temple
upon which he stood seemed to be a throne, and
the people before him expecting judgment.
Suddenly, the silence, which had become op
pressive, was broken by a young man near me.
who gave vent to his feelings by a piercing-
shriek, and fell insensible upon the marble floor.
There was a general thrill of horror, yet the same
awful stillness succeeded this startling interrup
tion. That one intense shriek had spoken for u?
all, given expression and outlet to what we all
felt. Suddenly, the voice of the Prophet was
heard, clear, authoritative, and ringing like the
trumpet that shook Sinai when the Law was
given, and made all the people to quake:
: 'It is written, my Father's house shall be
called a House of Prayer! but ye have made it a
den of thieves !'
'Tie then picked up from the pavement at his
feet a small cord, which some one had thrown
down, and, doubling it in the form of a scourge,
he advanced. Before him fled the changers of
money, priest, and Levite, sellers of oxen, sellers
THE PKINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 215
of sheep, and sellers of doves, escaping in such
haste from the terrible displeasure of his counte
nance, that they left their property to its fate,
seeking only their personal safety.
" 'Take these things hence,' he cried, 'make
not my Father's house a house of merchandise!'
"Such a scene of confusion and flight was
never witnessed as now followed! The whole
mass was in retrograde motion. I was borne
along with the current. Money-tables were
overturned on all sides; but not the most avari
cious thought, at that moment, of stopping to
gather any of the gold and silver which the rush
ing thousands trampled beneath their feet. It
was not the whip of small cords before which we
fled, for he touched no man therewith ; but it was
from his presence! We were driven like chaff
before him. To the eyes of all, the little whip
seemed to blaze and flash above their heads, as if
it were the fiery sword of the destroying angel.
Nothing but terror, flight, escape, was thought
of. In a few moments, the Priest's Court of the
Temple was cleared of every soul, and we were
driven across the Court of Israel, and the broader
Court of the Gentiles, towards the south gate.
On looking back, I saw that the prophet no
longer pursued, but stood alone, Master and
Lord of the Temple. The whip was no longer
in his hand; and his whole attitude and expres
sion of face was changed from that of their late
terrible power, to an air of the profoundest com
passion, as he looked after us, still flying from his
presence.
216 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
"But I had no time to marvel at this extraor
dinary change, for the multitude still sought to
escape, and bore me onward, and I lost sight of
him. At the gate we were met by a cohort of
Pilate's cavalry, and pressed backward into the
Temple. The scene now became appalling.
What, with the Roman spears in front, and the
Prophet behind, the multitude fearing to go
either way, trode one upon another, trampled the
weak under foot, and filled the air with curses,
shrieks, and horrible outcries, of mingled pain,
rage and terror. How I escaped, I know not,"
added Samuel, as he completed his narration,
"but, on finding myself outside of the gate, I at
once, with hundreds, sought shelter in the city,
and happy am I to have reached this place of
security; for the Romans are scouring the streets,
driving all the people into their houses."
When Samuel had ended, and we were won
dering at this new exhibition of the mighty power
of the Prophet Jesus, the street in front of our
dwelling was filled with persons seeking their
homes. Some cried, "the terrible Prophet!"
others, "the Romans!" and some, by their out
cries, seemed to fly from equal fear of both. In
the rnidst of this tumult, dear father, I sat down
to write you my last letter, while the events were
fresh, and lest other events should come in and
crowd these from my mind.
Ah, my dear father, Jesiis of Nazareth must be,
indeed, invested with powers divine! He, who,
with a word and a look, for the whip in his hand
could not, says Rabbi Amos, have hurt a child,
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OP DAVID. 217
can thus impel thousands of men before him,
could make the whole world fly from the terrible
majesty of his presence! My uncle, Rabbi
Amos, who, on his return from the Temple, cor
roborated what Samuel had stated, added, that as
Jesus stood alone, possessor of the gold-strewn
floors of the Courts of the Temple, the High
Priest advanced towards him, and with awe, not
unmixed with anger, demanded of him by what
authority he did these things, seeing that he took
upon himself to purify the Temple.
His answer was, "My Father's House must
not be made a house of merchandise. Zeal for
the glory of His Temple hath caused me to do
these things."
"Art them the Christ?" asked the High Priest,
still standing some distance off from him.
"If I tell thee that I am, ye will not believe/'
"When Christ shall come, he will rescore all
things," answered the High Priest.
"And I have begun this restoration by expel
ling from the Temple those who defile it, and
restoring it to be a House of Prayer, according
as my father hath ordained."
"And who is thy father?" asked Caiaphas.
"God is my Father; and to do His will am I
sent into the world. I came not of myself, but
my Father sent me. It is written of me, 'He
shall suddenly come to His Temple, and be as a
purifier and refiner of silver.'
"What sign showest thou that thou art sent,
and hast authority to do what thou doest here
to-day within the Temple?"
14
218 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OP DAVID.
''Hast thou not had proof of my power from
heaven," answered Jesus, stretching forth his
hand towards the still terror-stricken multitude.
"Destroy this temple, and in three days I will
raise it up! Be this to you, and all Judea, the
sign that I am sent by my Father, who is in
heaven. As He hath given me commandment,
so I do!"
At this there was a great murmuring, said
Rabbi Amos, for many of the priests, with Annas
also, had got boldness, and drew near to hear.
"He cannot be a just man," said Annas, "nor
doth he honor God, if he would have us destroy
the Temple!"
"Yet, if he be not sent of God, whence hath he
this power over men?" answered another.
"He doeth this by Beelzebub, whose prophet
he doubtless is," said Annas, in a loud tone, "for
a true prophet would not seek the destruction of
God's holy House!"
Thereupon, there was a multitude of voices,
some crying one thing, and some another; but
the most part asserting their belief that Jesus was
a just man and divine prophet. Caiaphas at
length obtained silence, and said to him :
"Tell us plainly Art thou the Christ, the Son
of the Blessed, that we may believe in Thee?"
"I am!" calmly and firmly answered the
Prophet; and, raising his eyes to heaven, he
added, impressively, "I am come down from
God!"
When, adds my uncle, Annas heard this, he
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVIDo 219
lifted up his voice in an exclamation of horror,
and, rending his clothes, he cried out:
"Hear ye this blasphemer! Let us cast him
forth from the Temple, which he pollutes!"
But no man dareth approach the Prophet,
whose mighty power had so recently been ex
pressed in the expulsion of the merchants and
buyers from that sacred place.
"Bear witness," then said he, sorrowfully,
rather than in anger, "that I have come unto my
own, and ye have received me not! This Temple
of rny Father, from \vhich you would drive me
forth, shall no longer be the dwelling-place and
altar of Jehovah. The day cometh when your
priesthood shall be taken away and given to
others, and among the Gentiles shall arise to my
Father's name, on every hill, and in every valley
of the earth, holy temples, wherein he shall de
light to dwell; and men shall no longer need to
to worship God in Zion, but in all places shall
prayer and praise be offered to the Most High.
This Temple, which ye have polluted, shall be
thrown down, till not one stone remaineth stand
ing upon another; and ye shall be scattered, be
cause ye knew not the time of your visitation?"
Thus speaking, the Prophet quitted the
Temple, leaving the High Priest, and priests, and
Levites, standing gazing after him, without
power to utter a word. Rabbi Amos, who saw
and heard all this, says that nothing could have
been more striking than the contrast presented
between the two men, the High Priest and Jesus
220 THE 1'KINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
(if it be lawful to call him a man, dear father), as
they talked with each other; the one clothed in
magnificent garments, with a glittering tiara
upon his brows, his port lofty and proud, his hair
and beard white as snow, and his whole appear
ance majestic and splendid with outward rich
ness! the other, youthful, clad in coarse garments,
with a gray Galilean mantle folded about him,
sandals much worn upon his feet, and his whole
garb mean and covered with the dust of his jour
ney on foot from Bethany; while the severe sad
ness of his face, which seemed beautifully, and
touchingly chastened by prayer and suffering,
contrasted strongly with the stern, harsh face of
Caiaphas, flushed with anger and envious
hostility.
"He passed out of the Temple with an even
pace, neither looking back at his enemies, nor
followed by them. I beheld John join him, and
hastened to ask him to invite him to my house, to
sojourn and eat the Passover with me, but he dis
appeared, and I lost sight of him. But, at the
gate, I encountered a man, leaping and singing,
whom the Prophet had healed by a touch, as he
passed out, though the man had been paralytic
for thirty-one years. Thus does this mighty per
son never cease to do good."
Such, my dear father, is the account given by
Rabbi Amos of what passed in the Temple.
That Jesus is the Christ, is now beyond question ;
for he has openly acknowledged it to the High
Priest.
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 251
Adieu, dearest father. The -servants are bring
ing in boughs for the booths, and I must close
this letter, with prayers to our father's God for
your peace and welfare.
ADINA.
LETTER XVIII.
My Dear Father : The last letter, which I re
ceived by the hands of the Roman courier, filled
me with gratitude, at learning from it your recov
ery. When I heard from Ben Israel of your ill
health, I felt like flying with the wings of a dove
to reach your pillow, and administer to the com
fort of the venerated and loved author of my
being. The God of our fathers be praised in
raising you up; and that He may preserve you
long to me, shall be my daily prayer.
You say in your letter, dear father, that you
have read with interest all my letters, and more
especially those which relate to Jesus of Galilee,
the mighty Prophet now vouchsafed to Israel.
You say that you are ready to acknowledge him
as a prophet sent from God, "for evidently no
man could do such great works, except God be
with him." "But," you add, "while I am ready,
my child, to recognize him as a prophet of the
Lord, I am far from seeing in him the Messias
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 223
promised to our people! Aside from the lowli
ness of his parentage, and his humility of condi
tion, travelling on foot, and without retinue (while
Messias is to be a Prince and King), he can have
no claim to be the Christ, because he comes out
from Galilee. Doth Messias come out of Galilee?
Let Rabbi Amos, who seems ready, I perceive,
to acknowledge him as the Christ, let him
examine the writings of the Prophets, and see!
Hath not the Scripture said that Christ cometh
of the seed of David, and out of the town of Beth
lehem, where David was? Search and look, for
no prophet, much less Messias, cometh out of
Galilee/'
To this objection, dear father, also made, I
believe, in a previous letter, Rabbi Amos desires
me to say, that he has investigated the records of
births kept in the Temple, and finds, as I have
before named to you, that Jesus was born in
Bethlehem. He afterwards removed, with his
parents, to Egypt, and thence returning to Judea,
settled in Galilee, where he was brought up. Of
these facts in his history, not only Rabbi Amos
is satisfied, but Nicodemus also, whose learning
you will not gainsay, and the latter, very much to
our surprise, and my own delight, added, yester
day, when we were talking over the subject at
supper, "there is a prophecy, O, Rabbi Amos,
which strengthens this mighty Prophet's claim
to be the Messiah."
"What is it? Let me hear all that can
strengthen!" I asked earnestly; not, dear father,
224. THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID .
that my confidence in him needs confirmation,
but I wish others to believe.
"You will find it in the Prophet Hoseas," an
swered Nicodemus, "and thus it readeth: 'I
have called my son out of Egypt/ These words
refer to Messias, without question, as say all the
doctors of the law."
"It is a new argument for Jesus, then/'
answered Rabbi Amos.
My heart bounded with joy, dear father, at
hearing this prophecy named; but judge my
emotions when Nicodemus, taking the roll of the
Prophet Isaiah in his hand, read the words that
follow, and applied them to Jesus, "Beyond Jor
dan, in Galilee of the Gentiles, the people which
sat in darkness have seen a great light!" This
changes the objections to his coming from Egypt
and from Galilee, into additional proofs of his
claims to be the Messias.
I hear you now ask, dear father, with many of
the rich and influential citizens of Jerusalem,
"Have the rulers begun to believe in him?" Yes,
Nicodemus does begin to believe that He is the
Christ, being more and more assured of it the
more he examines the divine Scriptures. O, my
dear father, that you could see Jesus, and hear
him discourse, as I have done! All your doubts
would then be dissipated, and you would be will
ing to sit at his feet, and learn of him the words
of life. How shall I describe him how shall I
cause you to hear and see him, as I have heard
and seen?
In my last letter, I informed you that Rabbi
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 225
Amos had invited him to sojourn with us during
the Passover. John, the cousin of Mary, con
veyed to him the invitation of my uncle, and he
graciously accepted it, and came hither yester
day, after he had quitted the Temple, from which
he had with such commanding power driven
forth the merchants and money-changers.
Hearing the rumor flying along the streets,
"The Prophet conies! the Prophet comes'/'
uttered by hundreds of voices of men and chil
dren, I hastened to the house-top, which com
manded a view of the street, to the foot of the
Temple. The whole way was a sea of heads.
The multitude came rolling onward, like a
mighty river; as I have seen the dark Nile when
pouring its freshening floods along its confined
banks.
Mary stood by my side. We tried to single
out, amid the advancing throng, the central per
son around whom undulated the sea of heads,
and whose progress gave occasion to so mighty a
commotion. But all was so wildly confused with
the waving of palm branches that we could dis
tinguish nothing clearly. While I was straining
my gaze to make out the form of the Prophet,
Mary touched me, and bade me look in the oppo
site direction. As I did so, I beheld yEmilius
Tullius, the young Roman Centurion, of whom I
have before spoken, now Prefect of Pilate's Le
gion, advancing at the head of two hundred
horses, at full spur, in order to meet and turn
back the advancing column of people.
As he came opposite the house, he looked up,
15
226 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
and seeing us upon the parapet, he gracefully
waved his gleaming sword, saluting us, and was
dashing past, when Mary cried out:
"Noble sir, there is no insurrection, as some of
the people have doubtless told thee, but this vast
crowd moving hitherward is only an escort to the
Prophet of Nazareth, who cometh to be my
father's guest."
"I have orders from Pilate to arrest him, lady,
as a disturber of the peace of the capital."
"Shall a prophet suffer because his mighty
deeds draw crowds after his footsteps, noble
Roman? If thy troops advance, there will be
collision with the people. If thou wilt withdraw
them a little, thou wilt see that when the Prophet
crosses my father's threshhold, they will go away
in peace."
The Prefect said nothing, but seemed to look
at me for some words, which seeing, I earnestly
entreated him to do the Prophet no violence.
"For thy wishes' sake, lady, I will here draw
up my troop; especially, as I see that the people
are unarmed."
The Centurion gave orders to his horsemen to
draw up in a line opposite the house. The mul
titude now drew near; but many of those in ad
vance, seeing the Roman horse, stopped or fell
back, so that I now beheld Jesus appear in front,
walking at an even, calm pace, John at his side,
and also Rabbi Amos was with him. As he
came nigher, the people, for fear of the long
Roman spears, fell back, and he advanced, almost
alone. I saw John point out to him the house.
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 227
The Prophet raised his face and gazed upon it an
instant. I saw his features full. His countenance
was not that of a young man, but of a person past
the middle age of life, though he is but thirty.
His dark, brown hair was mingled with gray, and
in his finely-shaped, oval face were carved, evi
dently by care and sorrow, deep lines. His
beard was black, mingled with gray, and fell
upon his breast. His large, hazel eyes, appeared
to be fixed on us both for an instant, with benig
nity and peace. Deep sadness, gentle, not stern,
seemed to be the characteristic expression of his
noble and princely visage. There was an air of
manly dignity in his carriage and mien ; and as he
walked amid his followers, he was truly kingly,
yet simplicity and humility qualified this native
majesty of port. He seemed to unite both awe
and love, in those who saw him, to command our
homage and sympathy.
As he drew near where the Roman Prefect
sat upon his horse, the Prophet inclined his body
slightly, but with a courtesy indescribable, to the
young chief, who bent low to his saddle-bow in
acknowledgment, as if to a monarch. We were
both surprised, as well as gratified, dear father,
at this act of homage from the Roman knight to
our Prophet, and I thought more kindly than
ever of yEmilius.
Passing the horsemen, John and Rabbi Amos
conducted Jesus to our door; but before they
reached it, there was a loud cry from several
harsh voices to the Roman, to arrest him. On
looking from whence these shouts came, I saw
228 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OP DAVID.
that they proceeded from several of the priests,
headed by Annas, who were pressing forward
through the crowd.
"We call upon you, O Prefect, to arrest this
man! Shame on thee, Rabbi Amos! Hast thou
also believed in the imposter? We charge this
Galilean, O Roman, with having made sedition.
He has taken possession of the Temple, and,
unless you see to it, he will have the citadel out
of your hands. If you arrest him not, we will
not answer for the consequences that may befall
the city and the people."
"I see nothing to fear from this man, O ye
Jews," answered /Emilius. "He is unarmed, and
without troops. Stand back; keep ye to your
lemple. It is from your outcries comes all the
confusion! Back to your altars! If commo
tions arise in the city, Pilate will make you
accountable. All the rest of the people are
peaceable, save only yourselves."
"We will take our complaint before the Pro
curator, cried Annas, who was the chief speaker;
and, followed by a large company of angry priests
and Levites, with staves in their hands, he took
his way towards the palace of the Roman gov
ernor.
I looked my gratitude to yEmilius, for taking
part with the Prophet.
The multitude now began to retire, as the Ro
man horse slowly moved up the street, and Jesus
being received into the house by Mary, who de
scended" to open the door, quiet was soon in a
measure restored; though at one time a large
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 229
concourse of persons, whose money-tables had
been cast down, came to complain of their losses,
and would have attacked the house but for Rabbi
Amos, who went forth and civilly addressed them
showing them that if they had sold and bought
in the Temple, contrary to law, and that if Jesus
had driven them forth alone, he must be a
prophet, for only a prophet could make a thous
and men flee before him ; "and if he be a phophet,
my friends, he has acted by command of God,
and take heed, lest in avenging yourselves
against him, you be found righting against God."
With such words he caused them to retire,
though many sick, lame, halt, and blind, and in
firm, as well as a group of lepers, stood a long
time, without calling upon the prophet to come
forth, and touch them and heal them.
In the meanwhile, Jesus was taken into the
inner hall, and water being brought, Rabbi Amos
himself removed his sandals, and washed his feet;
while Mary, to do him all honor, dried them with
a rich veil, which she had just worked in antici
pation of her coming bridal with her cousin
John. It was at this moment I entered the hall.
Desirous as I had been to behold and speak with
the Prophet, now that I could behold him face to
face, I shrunk with awe. He raised his eyes, and
beholding me, said :
''Daughter, come thou also, and bid me wel
come with these dear friends; for I know thou be-
lievest in me, and wouldst that thy father also
should believe. Be patient, and hope; for thou
230 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
shall yet behold him whom thou lovest, my disci
ple!""
As thus he spake, he extended to me his hand,
upon which I let fall a rain of tears of joy. I
knew that he knew my heart and thoughts, and
that his words would prove true. Yes, dear
father, you also will believe, as we all believe.
You also are to acknowledge Him as the Christ.
They were in the room, not only Amos, and
John, and Mary, but the Priest Elias, cousin to
Caiaphas, who, desirous of hearing from the lips
of the Prophet his sublime teachings had come
in with him. There were also present five men
whom I never saw before ; but who, as John said,
were his disciples. One of them was a short,
compactly-made man, with high, energetic fea
tures, a bold brow and an eagle eye, with an air
of singular determination, like a soldier. His
name was Simon Peter. Another was a tall, in
tellectual person, with a calm, thoughtful air,
who seemed to hang on every word his master
uttered, as if he were listening to the very oracles
of God. His name was Andrew, and he is a
brother to Simon. But I had no eye or ear for
any one but Jesus. I saw that he seemed weary
and pale, and for the first time I noticed a wound
oozing blood upon his temple, from which he
seemed to suffer, as from time to time he raised
his hand to it. Desirous of serving so holy a
person, I hastened to prepare liniment, with
which, bringing it into the hall, I was about to
bind up his wound, which John said had been
caused by a stone thrown by some wicked hand.
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OP DAVID. 231
But the Priest Elias put me rudely back, and
said, "Nay, maiden, let us witness a miracle!"
He then turned to the Prophet and said, "Mas
ter, we have heard much of thy power to do mir
acles, but have seen none done by thee! If thou
wilt presently show me a miracle, I will believe, I
and all my house! Thou hast a wound gaping
in the temple; heal it with a touch, and I will ac
knowledge thee the Christ, the Son of the
blessed !"
Jesus turned his eyes upon him and said,
"Elias, thou readest the Prophets, and should
know whether he who speaketh unto thee be the
Christ or no! Search the Scriptures, that thou
mayest know the time of his visitation is come,
and that I am He! One prophecy fulfilled is of
more value than many miracles. But I do no
miracles to relieve my own sufferings. I came
into this world to suffer. Isaiah wrote of me as a
man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief!
Blessed are they who not seeing, shall believe.
Ye believe that I am a prophet, and come out
from God. It is well. Shall a prophet, then, de
ceive? If I am a prophet (and ye doubt it not),
and I say that I am the Christ, why will ye not
believe me? If I am a true prophet, come
out from God, I cannot lie. Yet ye believe me
when I say I am a prophet, and ye are displeased
if I say I am the Christ. If ye believe me at all,
then believe what I say unto you, that I am the
Christ."
"But, master," said the aged Levite, Asher,
"we know whence thou art even from Galilee.
232 THE PKIXCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
But when Christ cometh, no man knoweth
whence he is!"
"It is true, O man of Israel, ye both know me
and whence I am. Yet ye know not Him who
sent me. Ye do not understand the Scriptures,
or ye would indeed know me, whence I am, and
who hath sent me. But ye know neither me nor
Him that sent me, for I am come out from God.
If ye had known Him, ye would know me also.
The time cometh when ye shall know whence I
am and believe in me; but now your hearts are
darkened through ignorance and unbelieving.
I have told you plainly I am the Christ."
When he had thus spoken with great dignity
and power, there were many present who were
offended, and some voices murmured against
him. Then Rabbi Amos led him forth to the
apartment he had prepared for him; but the peo
ple remained warmly discussing the subject, and
were greatly divided about him, some saying that
he was Christ, and others denying it; while others
cried aloud that he did his miracles by Beelze
bub, Prince of the devils.
"And so," said my cousin John, bitterly, "and
so it is wherever my beloved master goes.
Detraction and envy, malice and unbelief, fol
low his footsteps, and daily his life is menaced,
and no place is a place of shelter for his aching
head."
In going to his apartment, the Prophet had to
cross the court, and as I was watching his retir
ing footsteps, I saw four men who had climbed
to the house-top from the street, the doors being
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 233
shut, let down a, fifth in a blanket at the very feet
of Jesus. It was a man afflicted with the palsy,
and grievously tormented, and their own father.
Jesus, seeing their filial love, stopped and said,
kindly:
'"'Young men, what would you have me to do?"
"Heal our aged father, holy Rabbi."
"Believe ye that I can do this?" he asked, fix-
ing his gaze earnestly on them.
"Yes, Lord! we believe that thou art the
Christ, the son of the living God! All things
are possible unto thee!"
Jesus looked benignantly upon them, and then
taking the venerable man by the hand, he said
to him in a loud voice, so that all who were
looking on heard him:
"Aged father, I say unto thee, arise and walk!"
The palsied man instantly arose to his feet,
whole and strong, and after casting a glance*
around upon himself, he threw himself at the
Prophet's feet, and bathed them in tears. The
four sons did the same, while all the people who
witnessed the miracle shouted, "glory to God,
v/ho hath given such power unto men!"
Jesus then withdrew himself from the grateful
group, who, embracing their father, wept upon
his neck, and then the whole four escorted him,
two on each side, with their arms about him, and
about each other, into the street, where they
were received by the multitude with loud cries of
gratulation; for the old man had been well
known in the city by all men, as palsied and un
able to walk for thirty years.
15 , '
234 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
Such, my dear father, are the increasing testi
monies Jesus bears, by miracles, as well as by
words, to his being Messias.
The God of our fathers keep you in health.
Your loving daughter,
ADINA.
LETTER XIX.
Dear Father: The visit of the Prophet Jesus
to the city has produced results of the most
amazing character. His numerous miracles,
performed in the open day by a word, or a look,
or a touch, or a command, the power of his
preaching, the excellency of his doctrines, which
are evidently divine, his clear assertions that he
is the very Christ, have all contributed to bring
the first men of Israel, rulers as well as people,
to believe in him! During the four days he re
mained at the house of my uncle Amos, the
chief men of the city came to hear him, and, if
possible, to see some miracle performed by him.
The priesthood is divided. Caiaphas has pub
licly recognized him as a prophet, while Annas
has publicly declared that he is an imposter; and
thus two parties are formed in the city, headed
by the two priests, and all men have taken sides
with one or the other. But the majority of the
common people are in favor of Jesus, believing
236 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
him to be the Christ. The Pharisees most oppose
him, because he boldly reproves their sins and
hypocrisies; and though they fear him, they hate
and would destroy him, for he preaches so plainly
against their wickedness, that the people have
ceased to respect them. Even Nicodemus, who
at first was inclined to accept Jesus as a Prophet,
finding the Pharisees against him, and being un
willing to lose his popularity with them, kept
away from the house where Jesus was by day;
but his curiosity to learn more of him, led him
to visit the holy Prophet secretly by night. This
he did twice, coming alone in the darkness, and
being let in by his friend, Rabbi Amos. What
the result of these interviews was, I can only tell
you from Mary's account. She overheard their
conversation, her window opening up on the cor
ridor, where Jesus had been seated after supper,
alone in the moonlight for full an hour, gazing
meditatively heavenward. His pale and chiseled
features in the white moonlight seemed radiant
as marble, and as cold, when Rabbi Amos came
and announced the ruler Nicodemus, as desirous
to speak with him.
''Bid him come in and see me, if he has ought
to say to me," answered the Prophet, turning
towards him.
"Nicodemus/' added my cousin Mary, "then
came to the corridor, carefully wrapped in his
mantle; and looking about to see if he were un
observed, he dropped it from his face, and, bow
ing reverently, said to the Prophet:
"Pardon me, O Rabbi, that I come to thee by
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 237
night; but by day thy time is taken up with
healing and with teaching. I am glad to find
thee alone, great Prophet, for I would ask thee
many things."
"Speak, Nicodemus, and I will listen to thy
words," answered the Prophet.
"Rabbi," said the ruler of the Pharisees, "I
know thou art a teacher, come from God; for
no man can do these things that thou doest ex
cept God be with him. That thou art a mighty
Prophet, I believe, as do all men: but art thou
theMessias? Tell us plainly!"
"If I tell thee, Nicodemus, thou wilt not be
lieve," answered Jesus, mildly. "I will ask you
one question. Whence cometh Christ?"
"He is the son -of David, and cometh out of
Bethlehem."
"Thou hast well answered. Rabbi Amos, here,
will tell thee that he has examined the records.
Ask him whose son he is who speaketh unto
thee."
"The son of Joseph and Mary, of the lineage
of David's house," answered Rabbi Amos. "The
record of his birth I have seen, O Nicodemus,
and also have Caiaphas and many others. Thou
canst examine for thyself, if thou wilt come to
the Temple with me to-morrow."
"Thy word suffices, O Rabbi Amos; for who
ever knew thy lips to utter falsehood?"
"The same record shows that the great
Prophet, now here among us, was born in Beth
lehem, in the days of the taxation," answered
Rabbi Amos.
238 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OP DAVID.
"Thence whence is it, O Prophet, that thou
cometh out of Nazareth of Galilee?" asked Nic-
odemus, doubtingly.
"I will tell thee, Nicodemus," answered Jesus.
"My parents dwelt in Nazareth, and as they so
journed at Bethlehem, to be registered in their
own family town, David's town, I was born!
Thus am I of the line of David, of the town of
Bethlehem, and also as it was prophesied of me,
a Nazarene. Dost thou ask more? Dost thou
believe?"
"Yea, Lord; but how read the Prophets that
Messias is to be a king, and to rule the whole
earth?"
"My kingdom, O ruler of the Pharisees, is not
of this world! I am indeed a king, but of a
spiritual kingdom. My kingdom, unlike all
earthly kingdoms, has no end; and those who
become its subjects must be born again, or they
cannot see it!"
"Born again?" answered Nicodemus, with
surprise, "How can a man be a second time born
after he is grown to manhood? O Rabbi, thou
speakest in parables."
"Art thou a wise man of the Pharisees, and a
master in Israel, and knowest not what I say?"
answered the Prophet. "Verily, verily I say
unto thee, except a man be born of water and of
the Spirit he cannot enter my kingdom. He
who is born of Adam is of the flesh, and of
Satan's kingdom, of which Adam was; but he
that is born again is born a spiritual man, and is
of my kingdom; for I come to build up a king-
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 239
dom on the ruins of Satan's seat. Marvel not,
then, that I say that the sons of Adam must be
born again to the sons of God. If ye would
enter into my kingdom and live forever, ye must
be born again, even of water and of the Spirit."
"How can these things be? Pray, master,
explain, that I may know what this mystery
meaneth. How can a man be born when he is
old?"
"What! dost thou stumble at the very thres
hold of the doctrine of my kingdom, O Pharisee?
If ye cannot believe earthly things, how shall ye
understand the heavenly things, which ye seek
to know? He that would be my disciple must
be born again! Your first birth is under Satan's
power, which rules the world as it now is in
bondage; your second birth is into His kingdom,
who has come to destroy Satan's and build up
His own. This birth is spiritual."
Upon this Nicodemus rose and said, with a
shake of the head:
"I will hear thee again, O Rabbi, of this
matter touching the new birth, of which thou
speakest."
When Nicodemus left him, Rabbi Amos said,
"Is it indeed true, O master, that thou art to
establish a kingdom?"
"Yes, Rabbi Amos, a kingdom in which
dwelleth righteousness," answered the Prophet.
"And shall all nations pay us tribute?"
"Thou knowest not what thou sayest, O
Rabbi. But the veil shall be removed from
thine eyes when thou seest the Son of man lifted
240 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
up on his throne, as Moses lifted up the serpent
in the wilderness."
"Where will be thy throne, O Messias? Wilt
thou expel Romans from the city of David, and
reign there?"
"Thou shalt yet behold me on my throne, O
Amos, raised above the earth, and drawing all
men unto me."
"Wilt thou have thy throne in the clouds of
Heaven, O Master, that thou shalt be raised
above the earth upon it?" asked Rabbi Amos.
"My throne shall be set on Mount Calvary,
and the ends of the earth shall look unto me,
and acknowledge my empire. But thou
knowest not these things now; but hereafter
thou shalt remember that I told thee of them."
Jesus then rose, and bidding his host good
night, retired to the apartment which was as
signed him, and Mary remained wondering at
his sayings.
Thus, dear father, it is made certain from his
own words, that Jesus is the Christ; that he is
to establish a kingdom; that he will stand on "a
throne high and lifted up," as saith the Prophet,
and all the earth shall acknowledge him. But
why his throne should be on Calvary instead of
Mount Zion, Rabbi Amos wonders greatly, in
conversing with us to-day ; for Calvary is a place
of skulls, and of public executions, and is
covered with Roman crosses, where every week
some malefactor is crucified for his crimes!
And yet it is more mysterious still, his saying
that we must be born again. But John
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 241
remarked that there are many things which he
says to him and his disciples, which Jesus plainly
tells them they cannot yet understand, but will
by and by remember; and that he tells them now
that then, when they see these things fulfilled,
they may remember that he told them of them
and believe in him; and have confidence that
other sayings and prophecies of his, yet further
in the future, will come to pass.
Jesus, in all that he says, in all that he does,
proves that he is omniscient and omnipotent!
Whatever he wills to do, he doeth. Never man
had power such as dwells in him. This morn
ing, as he was going forth from the house to
depart into the country, a man lame from his
youth, seated upon the threshold, caught him by
his robe, saying, "Master, heal me!"
"Son, thy sins be forgiven thee," answered
Jesus, and then passed on; but the Scribes and
Pharisees who stood about, when they heard
this, cried, "This man, be he prophet or no,
blasphemeth; for God alone can forgive sins!'*
Jesus stopped, and turning to them, said:
"Which is easier, to say to this man, who has
not walked for twelve years, and whose legs and
arms are withered, as you see, Thy sins be for
given thee/ or to say, 'Rise and walk?' If I can
bid him rise and walk as aforetime, and he does
so before your eyes, is it not proof to you that I
have power to forgive his sins also? For who
could make him to rise and walk but the power
of 'God alone, who also forgiveth men's sins?
16
242 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
But that ye may know that the Son of God hath
power on earth to forgive sins, Behold!"
The Prophet then said in a loud voice to the
lame man, "Arise, take up thy bed, and go to
thine house!"
Immediately the man rose to his feet, leaping
and praising God, and taking up the mattress
upon which they had brought him to the door,
he ran swiftly away to show himself to his kins
folk, while all the people shouted and praised
God!
Thus did Jesus publicly show men that he
could forgive sins, if he could heal, as the power
to do both came equally from God. Does not
this prove that he is the Son of God?
You should have seen him, dear father, as he
left our house, to go away into Galilee. Mary
and I fell at his feet and bathed them with our
tears. Rabbi Amos, and even Nicodemus,
kneeled before him, with many others, asking his
blessing; mothers came with their infants, that
he might lay his hands on them; and the sick and
impotent were placed by their friends in his path,
that his shadow in passing by might heal them.
Hundreds brought handkerchiefs, amulets, and
sprigs of cypress torn from the booths, in order
that they might bring them in contact with his
garments. The street was lined with all the
afflicted of Jerusalem; and as he moved on
between the rows of wretched sufferers, whose
hollow eyes and shrivelled arms were turned
imploringly towards him, he healed by words
addressed to them, as he moved on, so that
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 243
where he found disease before him, stretched on
beds, he left behind him health and empty
couches. We all wept at his departure, and
followed him to the Damascus gate. Here
there were assembled a large company of Levites
and priests, among whom were mingled some of
the most desperate characters in Jerusalem.
Knowedge of this fact reached Rabbi Amos,
who at once sent a message to JEmilius, our
Roman friend, informing him that he appre
hended that there would be an attempt made to
assassinate Jesus at the going out of the gate,
and asking his aid.
^Emilius placed himself at the head of fifty
horse, and reaching the gate, pressed the crowd
back and took possession of it. When Jesus
passed through the armed guard beneath the
arch the young Roman courteously offered him
an escort to the next village.
Jesus, graciously looking on him, said:
"Young man, I need not thy help. My hour
is not yet come. They cannot harm me till my
hour arrives. I am not yet given by my father
into their hands! Take my blessing, and one
day thou shalt know to whom thou hast offered
the aid of thy troop?"
The Levites and their hired murderers now
pressed forward, and broke through the cohort
to reach Jesus, uttering wild and fearful cries;
but j'Emilius charging them, routed them, and
put several to the sword. He then rode to the
side of the Prophet, offering him the best horse
in his company. This accommodation Jesus
244 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
refused, but walked by the Roman soldier, who
insisted on escorting him, affably conversing
with him, and teaching him wonderful things
touching the kingdom of God.
JEmilius, who informed me of these things,
conducted him as far as Ephraim, and then was
about to leave him to return to the city, when
four lepers came from the cemetery of the tombs,
near the village, and crying out afar off, said:
"Thou blessed Christ, have mercy on us!"
Jesus stopped, though his disciple Peter would
have bidden the lepers to hold their peace, as it
was late, and his Master was weary; but Jesus,
who never wearies doing good, called the lepers
to approach. As they did so, the whole com
pany of people, as well as the Roman soldiers,
drew back to a distance, in horror at the sight of
these dead-living men. They came timidly
within twenty paces of Jesus, and stood still,
tremblingly !
"Fear not," said he, "I will make you whole!"
He then advanced towards them, and laying
his hand upon each of them, they all, at the
touch, were instantly changed to well men, with
the buoyant form, clear eye, and rich bloom of
health!
When yEmilius saw this miracle, he dis
mounted from his horse, and falling at Jtsus'
feet, cried, worshiping him :
"Thou art Mercury or Jupiter, O mighty God!
Give me wisdom and power from the skies!**
"Rise, young man," answered Jesus, sadly
looking upon him ; "thou shalt have wisdom and
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 245
grace, but not from thy gods; there is but one
God, even the Father; worship him, and he will
reward thee!"
yEmilius said to me that his heart thrilled at
these words, with others he had spoken in the
way, and he promised me that he would hence
forth "cast aside his gods and believe in the God
of Israel, and in Jesus, his holy Prophet."
Is not this blessed news? "Lo! he proclaims,"
as saith the prophet, "liberty to the Gentiles."
Now, my dear father, I have thus far faithfully
written all that I have heard and witnessed
respecting Jesus, as you desired. You must see
that he is more than a Prophet, and is the very
Christ, the son of the Blessed. Withhold, oh,
withhold not, your belief longer. Thousands
believe in him, love and reverence him, as
Messias. Daily his power over the hearts and
minds of men is increasing. The common peo
ple worship the very dust of his sandals. The
priests believe and tremble; but, like Herod,
when he was an infant in Pethlehem, would
destroy him, lest he should supplant them.
They say the daily sacrifice will cease, the
Temple fall to ruins, and the faith of Israel
depart, if Jesus be suffered to live and preach,
and do these mighty signs and wonders among
the people. But all this establishes his claims!
Did not David prophesy of Messias, that when
he should come, "The kings of the earth would
set themselves, and the rulers take council to
gether against the Lord and against his
anointed? But he that sitteth in the heavens
246 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVTD.
shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in deri
sion." Thus, dear father, all things more and
more go to prove Jesus of Nazareth to be the
Christ of God.
Your affectionate and loving daughter,
ADINA.
LETTER XX.
My Dear Father: It is many months since
you have received a letter from me, written with
my own hand; and I rejoice that I am so far
restored to health as to resume my correspond
ence with you. I cannot speak to you too
warmly in praise of my uncle Amos and cousin
Mary, during my illness. By their care and
nursing, under the blessing of God, I am now
nearly well. The pure air of the mountains of
Galilee being recommended to me, they jour
neyed with me thither, and, at the foot of Mount
Tabor, in the lovely village of Nain, I have
passed many weeks, reviving each day.
We are now at the humble abode of a widow,
whose husband has been lost on the Great Sea,
on which he was a seaman, in one of the mer
chant ships of Cesarea. The cottage of the
widow stands in a garden, from which is a sub
lime view of Tabor, in all the majesty of his
mountain grandeur. One day, while I was in
248 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
tiie garden walking, two men, dusty and travel-
worn, stopped at the half-open gate, and, salut
ing us, said:
"Peace be to this house, maiden, and all who
dwell here."
"Enter," said the widow, overhearing them,
"enter, and ye shall have water for your feet, and
bread for your hunger."
The two men then entered and seated them
selves; and having been refreshed by the poor,
but hospitable widow, one of them rose and said :
"This day is salvation come to this house.
We are ambassadors of Jesus of Nazareth, and
go from city to city, proclaiming the day of the
Lord at hand, for Messias is come!"
At hearing these words, Mary and I both ex
claimed with joy that we had both seen and
heard Jesus at Jerusalem, and believed on him.
Upon this they looked greatly pleased; and
answered our inquiries respecting the Prophet;
that he was in Samaria, preaching and working
miracles, and proclaiming his kingdom. When
we heard this we rejoiced exceedingly, for we
had not heard of him for a long time. From
them we learned that he had chosen twelve
apostles, who always went with him, and were
daily taught of him: and also, more recently,
seventy others, whom he sent, two and two, into
every city, to herald his approach.
"Will he, then, come to Nam?" said the
widow, with emotion. "I should be willing to
die, so that I could lay my eyes once upon so
great and holy a man!"
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OP DAVID. 249
"Yes, he will come hither," answered the men;
"and when we shall report to him your hospi
tality to us, he will visit your house ; for he never
forgets a cup of water given to one of his
disciples."
The men then departed, calling the peace of
God upon our abode. They had not been gone
many minutes, before we heard a great commo
tion in the market-place, near by. Upon going
to the house-top, we beheld these two men
standing upon an elevation, and preaching the
kingdom of Christ at hand, and calling upon all
who heard them to repent of their evil deeds, and
lead a godly life; for Jesus would one day judge
them according to the deeds done in the body.
Upon this, some cried out against Jesus, and
others threw stones at the two men; and when
we reached the house-top, we saw one of them
remove his sandals and shake the dust from
them, saying, in a loud voice:
"As ye reject the words of life, your sins re
main upon you, as I return to you again the dust
of your city."
They then departed, followed by Levites, and
men of the baser sort, who fairly drove them
from the town. This hostility, we found, was
caused by an order from the Great Sanhedrim, to
all the synagogues and priests in the land, that
they should denounce all who preach Jesus of
Nazareth as the Christ.
While we were grieving at his enmity against
a Prophet sent from God, whose life was a series
of good deeds, there entered hastily a fair young
13
250 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
maid, whose name was Ruth. She held an open
letter in her hand, and her beautiful face glowed
rosily with some secret joy, which contrasted
strangely with the present sadness of our own.
We knew Ruth well, and loved her as if she had
been a sister. She was an orphan, and dwelt
with her uncle, Elihaz, the Levite, a man of influ
ence in the town. She was artless, unsuspecting,
and very interesting in all her ways.
"What good news, dear Ruth?" asked Mary,
smiling at her bright smiles. "A letter from
whom?"
"For Sarah," answered the pretty maid, blush
ing so timidly and consciously, that we half sus
pected the truth.
"But, that is not telling us from whom," per
severed Mary, with a little playfulness.
. "You can guess," she answered, glancing over
her white shoulder, as she bounded away from us
into the house.
We were soon after her, and heard her as she
cried, putting the letter into the dear widow's
hand :
"From Samuel!"
"God be blessed," cried the widow, "my son
liveth, and is well."
"Read, dear Sarah," cried the maiden. "He
was at Alexandria when he wrote this, and will
soon be at home. Oh, nappy, happy day!"
added the over-joyed girl, quite forgetful of our
presence. But we had long known the story of
her pure love for the widow's son, and she had
made us confidants of all her hopes and fears,
THE PRINCE OP THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 251
and read to us all the letters that came from him
on the seas, for he went down to trade in the sea
in ships, like his father before him. We knew,
too, that the youthful wanderer loved her with as
much devotion, as she loved him, and our hearts
sympathized with her in her true affection.
"Nay," said the widow, "my eyes are filled
with tears of gladness ; I cannot see to read. Do
thou read it aloud. Let Adina and Mary also
know what he writeth. Is the letter to m*% or
thee, child?"
"To to me, dear Sarah," answered the
maiden, with a momentary embarrassment.
"Likely likely; it is most natural that thou
shouldst get the best part of the epistles. But
so I hear and know he is well, it is the spme,
writeth he to me or thee!"
Ruth then cast a bright look upon us, and
thus read aloud from the letter from over the
sea:
"Dearest Ruth: I fear you have been impa
tient at my long silence; but I love you not less,
though you do not often hear from me. Now
that 1 am safe, I will write to you, which I would
not do in a state of uncertainty. Know, that
after our ship left Cesarea for Crete, we were
caught by a north wind, and, in striving to make
the east end of the island, we lost way, and were
driven upon Africa, where we were wrecked, los
ing all our cargo, and the lives of many who
sailed with us. With others, I was taken by the
barbarians, and carried inland to a country of
rocky mountains, and there became a bondman
252 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
to one of the chief men of the nation wherein I
was captivated. At length, inspired by a con
sciousness of the anguish you and my beloved
mother must suffer, should you never more hear
tidings from me, I resolved to effect my escape.
After great perils, I reached the seaside, and, at
the expiration of many days, by following the
coast, I was taken on board by a small ship of
Cyprus, and conveyed to Alexandria. The
vessel was owned by a rich merchant of my own
people, Manassah Benjamin Ben Israel, who,
finding me sick and destitute of all things, just
as I escaped, took me home to his hospitable
house, and treated me as a son, till I recovered
my health and strength; saying that he had a
daughter far away in Judea, and he hoped that if
she ever needed the aid of strangers, God would
repay him by making them kind to her."
Here Mary and I looked at each other with
agitation and pleased surprise.
"It was my father," I exclaimed, with emo
tion; "I rejoice that his house became thy son's
home, O lady. Blessed be my father!"
When Sarah heard that it was at your house,
dear father, her son had been so hospitably enter
tained, she embraced me again and again, and
entreated me to convey to you her heartfelt grat
itude; which I do herewith. And it is, dearest
father, because you know and love this young
man, so providentially thrown upon your care,
that I shall be so particular in recounting what I
am about to do concerning him.
Ruth ended the reading of the letter, which
THE PBINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 253
told that he should return in the first ship bound
to Sidon, or Cesarea, when he hoped to behold
her and his mother face to face, and to receive
as his bride, the maiden he had so long loved
and cherished in his heart.
Sarah seemed now to be drawn closer to me
in affection, and also so did Ruth, since they
have learned that I am the daughter of the noble
Jew who did so much for Samuel in a strange
land. At length, as the day drew near for me to
leave, to return to Jerusalem, my health being
quite invigorated, we were all taken with de
lighted surprise at the appearance of the long
absent son and lover in the midst of our happy
circle.
Mary and I had once seen him, and we were
now impressed with his manly and sun-browned
beauty, his bold air, and frank, ingenuous man
ner. We could not but agree that the pretty
Ruth had shown fine taste. He gave to me the
package which you desired him to forward to
Jerusalem, and thus, we all round had reason to
rejoice at his coming. But alas! my dear father,
our joy was short-lived! Little did we anticipate
how speedily our rejoicings were to end in
mourning! The very night of his return, he was
seized with a malignant fever, which he had
brought from Africa with him; and we were all
overwhelmed with grief.
It would be impossible to paint to you the
anguish of the mother; the heart-rending distress
of his betrothed, as they bent over his couch, and
254: THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
saw the fierce plague burning him, as if he were
in a furnace.
Unconscious of their presence, he raved
wildly; and sometimes fancied himself suffering
thirst on the burning sands of Africa; and now,
battling with the barbarians for his life. All that
physicians could do, and his friends could do
for he was greatly beloved as well for his own
sake as for his mother's and Ruth's all was of
no avail. This morning, the third day after his
return, he expired, amid the most distressing
agonies. Poor Ruth! She cast herself, in per
fect abandonment of grief, upon his lifeless and
disfigured corpse; and, now that they have re
moved her from the chamber of death, her
shrieks fill the house. His mother sits by him,
the image of despair, holding his cold hand in
hers, and uttering wails of woe sad enough to
rend a Roman's heart:
"My son! my son! lost and found, to be torn
from me forever! Oh, that I had died for thee!
Thou and Ruth would then be happy. Would
to God I had died for thee, oh, my son, Samuel,
my son!" It is like David bewailing Absolom.
I write this sad news to you, dear father,
knowing how deeply you will mourn his death;
for your letters show me that you have formed
for hirn almost a paternal attachment, carried so
far as a promise to provide him with a ship to
trade in Egypt, after his marriage with Ruth
shall have taken place. Alas! instead of a bridal,
behold a funeral. Already the bearers are at the
door, and in a few minutes he will be borne forth
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 255
upon the dead-bier to the burial place without
the city.
"Oh," sighs Mary near me, as I write, "oh,
that Jesus, the mighty Prophet, had been here;
he could have healed him!" John had sent to
her a message, saying that he is travelling this
way, on his message of healing and teaching, and
may be here this evening. But what will it
avail, dear father? Even Jesus cannot return
the dead to life! It was never known that the
dead rose again. Oh, if he could have been here
yesterday, his power over diseases would have
enabled him to save his precious life! But
regrets are useless. The noble young man is
dead, and will live again only in the resurrection
of the just.
I hear the heavy tread of the dead-bearers in
the court below. The shrieks and wails of the
mourning women thrill my soul with awe. But
above all, pierces the wild cry of anguish of the
bereaved mother! Ruth's voice is hushed. She
has been, for the last hour, inanimate as marble,
sitting, with a glazed eye and rigid features, gaz
ing on vacancy. Only by her pulse can it be
said she lives! Poor maiden! The blow is too
terrible for her to bear.
My cousin Mary has, this moment, received a
small roll of parchment, which, from the flush in
her cheek, I know to be from her betrothed.
She smiles sadly, and with tears in her eyes,
hands it to me.
I have read it, dear father. It reads as fol-
256 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
lows, if I have time to transcribe it before the
call to follow the dead forth to burial is given:
u Gadara, beyond Judea.
"The bearer, beloved, is one of the disciples
of Jesus. His name is Bartimeus. He was
blind and poor, and subsisted by begging; and,
as you see, his sight is restored, and he insists
now on going from town to town, where he has
been known as a blind man, to proclaim what
Jesus has done for him. He takes this to you.
I write to say that I wish thou mayest prosper in
all things, and find the health for which thou
and thy cousin sought the air of Mount Tabor.
I have no greater joy than to hear of your wel
fare. This letter cometh, beseeching thee, lady,
that as we love one another unfeignedly, so may
we soon be united in that holy union which God
hath blessed and commanded. I would have
thee bear in remembrance that thou gavest thy
promise hereto when last we met at Nazareth.
But, having much to say, hereupon, I will not
commit it to paper and ink; but, by to-morrow,
or the day after, I trust, to come to you, and
speak with you, dearly beloved, face to face,
those things which now come to my lips. Fare
well, lady, and peace be with you, and all in your
house. Greet thy friends in my name, letting
them know that we shall shortly be with you,
with Amos, your father, now our dear brother in
the Lord. There are many things which I have
seen and heard, touching my holy Master, Jesus,
and his holy mission to the world, which I will
declare unto you when we meet, that you also
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 257
may have fellowship with us in those things
which we know and believe concerning him.
My Master saluteth thee, and all in your house;
Amos, also, greeteth thee with a kiss. This is
the second epistle I have written unto you from
this place."
"Oh, that the mighty Prophet had come one
day sooner!" cried Mary. ''What woe and
anguish would have been spared poor Ruth and
his mother! But the will of Jehovah be done."
We hear now, dear father, the voice of the
governor of the funeral, bidding us come down
to bury the dead.
Farewell, dearest father. I know you will
shed a tear to the memory of the noble youth,
whose death has this day filled all Nain with
mourning. As I look from the lattice, I see the
concourse of people to be immense, filling all
the street. Now, may the God of our father
Abraham preserve and keep you, and suffer us
once more to meet face to face in joy and peace.
Your dutiful and sorrowful daughter,
ADINA.
17
LETTER XXI.
My Dearest Father: I seize my pen, which I
laid down an hour ago, in order to follow to his
burial, the son of our hostess, to recount to you
one of the most extraordinary things which ever
happened, and which fills us all with such joy
and wonder, that I fear my trembling fingers will
scarcely express legibly what I have to tell you.
As I told you in my letter just finished, I was
called away to accompany the weeping mother
to the burial place outside of the gates. But
when I reached the courtyard, where the body of
her son lay upon a bier, which the bearers had
already raised upon their shoulders, the deep
grief of poor Ruth overcame her wholly, and I
led her to her room, where she sank insensible
upon her couch. I could not leave her in her
situation, and the procession went forth from the
house without me; Mary, as she walked, sup
porting upon her arm the bereaved mother, clad
in her mourning weeds.
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 259
As the funeral train passed the lattice, it
seemed endless, so vast a number of people ac
companied the body, to do honor to a widow in
Israel. At length it passed by, and I was left
alone with the motionless Ruth. She seemed to
sleep, though every few moments she would
murmur the name of the dead. I sat by her,
reflecting upon the mysterious ways of God in
bringing this widow's son safely home from the
thousand dangers to which he had been exposed,
from shipwreck and bondage, to gladden her
soul with his presence for a few hours, and then
to die in her arms! As I gazed on the marble
countenance of the bereaved maiden, I could not
but pray that she might not recover from her
swoon, to revive to the bitter realization of her
loss, and to the renewal of her grief.
Suddenly, I heard a very great shout. I
started, and hastened to the lattice. It was re
peated louder, and with a glad tone, that showed
me it was a shout of joy. It seemed to come
from beyond the city walls, and from a hundred
voices raised in unison. I knew that the house
top overlooked the walls, and seeing that Ruth
moved not, I ascended rapidly to the parapet, the
shouts and glad cries still increasing as I went
up, and exciting my wonder and curiosity.
Upon reaching the flat roof, and stepping upon
the parapet, I saw coming along the street,
towards the house, with the speed of the ante
lope, Elec, our Gibeonite slave. He was waving
his hands wildly, and crying out something
which I could not distinctly hear. Behind him I
260 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
saw two youths running also, appearing to be the
bearers of some great tidings.
I knew something wonderful must have oc
curred, but could not divine what it could be.
On looking towards the gate, from which direc
tion the shouts, at intervals, continued to
approach, I discovered, on the hill-side of the
cemetery, many people crowded together, and
evidently surrounding some person in their
midst; for the whole order of the procession was
broken up. The bier, I could not discern, nor
could I comprehend how the solemnity of the
march of the funeral train was so suddenly
changed to a confused multitude, rending the
sky with loud acclamations. The whole body of
people was pressing back towards the city.
The persons whom I had first seen running
along the street, now made themselves audible
as they drew nigher.
"He is alive! he is alive!" shouted Elec.
"He has been raised from the dead!" cried the
young man next behind him.
"Tie lives, and is walking back to the city!"
called the third, to those who, like me, had ran
to their house-tops to know the meaning of the
uproar we heard.
"Who who is alive?" I eagerly demanded of
Elec, as he passed beneath the parapet. "What
is this shouting, O Elec?"
He looked up to me with a face expressive of
the keenest delight, mixed with awe, and said:
"'Young Rabbi Samuel is come to life! He is
no longer dead. You will soon see him, for they
THE FRINCK OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID 261
?.re escorting him back to the city; and every
body is mad with joy. Where is Ruth, the
maiden? I am come to tell her the glorious
news."
With emotion that I cannot describe, hardly
believing what I heard, I hastened to Ruth, in
order to prevent the effects of too sudden joy.
Upon reaching the apartment, I found that the
voice of Elec, who had shouted the news, of
which he was the bearer, in her ears, had roused
her from her stupor of grief. She was looking
at him wildly and incomprehensibly. I ran to
her, and folding her in my arms, said:
"Dear 'Ruth, there is news good news! It
must be true. Hear the shouts of gladness in all
the town!"
"Lives!" she repeated, shaking her head; "no,
no, no! Yes, there!" she said, raising her
beautiful, glittering eyes to heaven, and pointing
upward.
"But on earth also," cried Elec, with positive-
ness. "I saw him sit up, and heard him speak,
as well as ever he was!"
"How was it? Let me know," I cried.
"How? Who could have done such a miracle
but the mighty Prophet we saw at Jerusalem?"
he answered.
"Jesus?" I exclaimed with joy.
"Who else could it be? Yes; he met the bier
just outside But here they come!"
Elec was interrupted in his narrative by the in
creased noise of voices in the streets, and the
tramp of hundreds of feet, The next moment
262 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
the room was filled with a crowd of the most
excited persons, some weeping, some laughing,
as if beside themselves. In their midst I beheld
Samuel walking, alive and well, his mother cling
ing to him, like a vine about an oak.
"Where is Ruth?" he cried. "Oh! where is
she? Let me make her happy with my
presence."
"I gazed upon him with awe, as if I had seen a
spirit.
Ruth no sooner heard his voice than she
uttered a shriek of joy. "He lives he indeed
lives!" and springing forward, she was spved
from falling to the ground by being clasped to
his manly breast.
"Let us kneel and thank God!" he said.
For a few moments the scene was solemn and
touching, beyond any spectacle ever exhibited on
earth. The newly-risen from the dead knelt in
the midst of the floor, with his mother on his
right, leaning her head upon his shoulder, and
Ruth clasped in his left arm, and fast embracing
him as if he were an angel, who would else
spread his wings and ascend, leaving her behind.
Mary and I knelt by her side, while all the people
bowed their heads in worship, as he lifted up his
voice in grateful acknowledgments to the Giver
of life and health, for restoring both to him.
When he had performed this first sacred duty, he
rose to his feet, and received all our embraces.
Hundreds came in to see his face, and every
tongue was eloquent in praise of the power of
Jesus.
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID 263
"And where is this holy Prophet?" I asked of
Mary. "Shall he be forgotten amid all our joy?"
"We thanked him there with all our hearts,
and bathed his hands with tears of gratitude,"
she answered; "but when they would have
brought him into the city in triumph, he con
veyed himself away in the confusion, and no one
could see aught of him. But John, who was
with him, told me he would come into the city
after quiet was restored, by and by, and he would
bring him to our abode."
"Oh! I shall then behold him, and thank him
also," I cried. "Make known to me, Mary, the
particulars of this wonderful miracle," I asked of
her; for though I saw Samuel now seated, and
eating in the room, served by his glad mother
and the happy Ruth, while all looked on, to see
if he really ate, and though I believed in the
power of Jesus to do all things, yet I could
hardly realize that he whom I had seen carried
out a dead man on his bier, I beheld now seated
at table, partaking of food, alive and well.
"I will tell thee all," answered Mary, whose
face shone with a holy light, radiating from her
intense happiness; and, leading me apart, she
said :
"As we went weeping forth, slowly following
the bier, and had passed the gate, we saw, com
ing along the path through the valley leading to
Tabor, a party of twelve or thirteen men on foot.
They were followed by a crowd of men, women
and children from the country, and were so mov
ing that they would meet us at the crossing of
264 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
the stone bridge. Hearing some one say, 'It is
the Prophet of Nazareth, with his disciples,' I
looked earnestly forward, and joyfully recog
nized Jesus at their head, with John walking by
his side.
" 'Oh, that Jesus had been in Nain, when thy
son was sick!' I said to the widow, pointing him
out to her, as the Prophet and his company
stopped at the entrance to the bridge, and drew
to one side, for the way was too narrow for both
parties to cross at the same time. Upon looking
up and seeing him, and marking his benign
countenance, and how sorrowfully he gazed
upon her, and recollecting how he might have
prevented her son's dying, had he been in Nain,
the poor lady could no longer command her
grief, which broke forth afresh; and covering her
face with her veil, she wept so violently that all
eyes were piteously fastened upon her. I ob
served that the holy Prophet's rested upon her
with compassion; and, as the widow came oppo
site where he stood, he advanced a step towards
us, and said in a voice of thrilling sympathy:
"Weep not, mother. Thy son shall live
again !"
" ' I know it, O Rabboni, at the last day/ she
answered. 'He was so noble so young he
was all to me, and had been so long absent in far
lands, only to come home to die. I know that
thou art a Prophet come from God, and that all
good works follow thee. Oh, if thou hadst been
here, my son need not have died. Thy word
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 265
.vould have healed him. But now he is dead!
dead! dead!'
The bereaved mother then poured forth her
tears afresh.
' 'Daughter, weep not. I will restore thy son!'
" 'What saith he?' cried some Pharisees who
were in the funeral; 'that he will raise a dead
man? This is going too far/ And they smiled
and scoffed.
"But Jesus laid his hand upon the pall over the
body, and said to those who bare the bier:
" 'Rest the bier upon the ground/
'They instantly stood still and obeyed him.
He then advanced amid a hushed silence, and,
uncovering the marble visage, touched the hand
of the dead man, and said, in a loud and com
manding voice:
"' 'Young man, I say unto thee, Arise !'
''There was a moment's painful stillness
through the vast multitude. Every eye was
fixed upon the bier. His voice was heard by the
spirit of the dead, and it came back to his body.
There was visible a living, trembling emotion of
the hitherto motionless corpse! color flushed the
livid cheek; the eyelids opened, and he fixed his
eyes on Jesus; he raised his hand, his lips moved;
he sat up on the bier, and then spake aloud in his
natural voice, saying:
"Lo! here I am.'
"Jesus then took him by the hand, and, assist
ing him to alight upon his feet, he led him to his
mother, and delivered him to her, saying:
Woman, behold thy son!'
17
266 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
"Upon seeing this miracle, the people shouted
with joy and wonder, and there came a great fear
on us all; and, lifting up their voices, they who
so lately mourned and bewailed the dead, glori
fied God, saying, /God has indeed visited his
people Israel. A great Prophet is risen up
among us. The Messias is come, and Jesus is
very Christ, with the keys of death and hell/
"With such w^ords and exclamations, and
great shouts of rejoicing, the multitude sur
rounded the restored young man, and proceeded
to escort him back to the city; the great mass of
the people being attracted more by the raised to
life than by the august person by whose act it
had been done. I sought out Jesus, to cast my
self at his feet, but he shrunk from the homage
and gratitude which his mercy to us had awak
ened. Thus, humility is an element of all
power."
Such, my dear father, is the narrative of the
restoration to life again of Samuel, the son of
Sarah, of Nain. I give it to you in its simple
outlines. It will not fail to command your be
lief. The miracle was performed in open day, in
the presence of thousands. The opposers of
Jesus, the hostile Scribes and Pharisees, do not
deny the miracle, for they were convinced of the
reality of the death of the young man; for he
died, as I have before said, of the plague, and his
corpse was a loathsome sight t? those who beheld
it; yet, wonderful to relate, when he was restored
to life by the power of Jesus, he sat up, free from
all external signs of the putrid disease, his skin
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OP DAVID. 267
fair and smooth, and his whole aspect that of
ruddy health and manly beauty. No man could
doubt, therefore, that a miracle had been per
formed, and of the most extraordinary kind; for
never was it heard before that the dead were re
stored to life. This miracle of restoration from
the dead, of Samuel, the widow's son, has caused
hundreds this day to confess his name, and to
believe in him as the anointed Shiloh of Israel.
Since writing the above, I have conversed with
Samuel upon the consciousness which he had of
being dead. He replies, that it seemed to him
that he had been in a dream, the chain of which
was now broken, and could not be recollected
again. "Fragments," said he, "of a delightful
condition of splendor; of glory and bliss; of
music ineffable, and scenes indescribable, passed
before my mind for a few moments after standing
upon my feet; but they presently melted away;
and I can now only recollect that there were
such! When I found myself upon the bier, I
felt no surprise; for, the fact that I was being
taken to my burial seemed instinctively to pre
sent itself to my reanimated consciousness."
Many of the doctors have been to see him
through the day, and have put profound ques
tions to him, touching the state of the soul out
of the body ; but he could give them no satisfac
tion, all appearing to him like shining fragments
of a gorgeous vision.
Jesus came into the town during the evening,
and abode with us. You should have witnessed
how the gratitude of the happy mother, and of
268 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
the no less happy Ruth, exhibited itself. They
anticipated his every wish, and seemed to desire
that he had a thousand wants, that they might
administer to them. But his life is simple his
wants few. He thinks little of comforts; and so
that he can speak of the kingdom of God to those
about him he forgets to partake of the food be
fore him. We also forget all things else when he
speaks, and stand or sit around him, drinking in
the rich eloquence of his wise lips. The more I
see of him, dear father, the more I stand in awe
of him, and love him.
Mary is to-morrow to become the bride of
John, and Jesus will be present at the wedding,
for, while he severely rebukes sin and folly, he
sanctifies, by his presence, the holy rites of mar
riage, which God ordained. Next month, the
seventh day of the month, the happy Ruth con
sents to give her hand to the noble youth whom
she has so wonderingly received alive from the
dead.
On the eve of the seventh day I shall depart
hence, with John and Mary, for Jerusalem,
whence I will write you again.
Your loving daughter,
ADINA.
LETTER XXII.
Once more, my dear father, I address a letter
to you from this holy city. This morning, when I
awoke at the sound of the silver trumpets of the
priests, ringing melodiously from the top of
Mount Moriah, I experienced anew that pro
found devotion which the children of Abraham
must always feel in the city of God, and in the
presence of His very Temple. As I ascended
the roof of the house to prayer, the gorgeous pile
of the Temple towered heavenward from the
summit of Moriah, in all the magnificence of its
celestial beauty. The azure wreaths of incense
were already curling upward into the still skies,
while the murky cloud sent up by the burnt sac
rifice rolled darkly above the pinnacle, casting an
awful shade over all the Temple. As it sailed
slowly onward, and hung above the valley of
Kedron, the sun rose and gilded its massive
edges as if they had been turned out with gold.
Louder and clearer rang the trumpets, and every
270 THE PRINCE OP THE HOUSE OP DAVID.
house-top soon had its group of worshipers,
while along the streets rolled the tide of people,
some leading lambs, others driving goats before
them, others carrying doves in their bosoms, to
be offered to the Lord by the priest. It was a
joyous morning to me, dear father, for yEmilius,
the noble Roman Prefect, was this day, volun
tarily to present himself at the Temple, to be
made a proselyte to the holy faith of Israel. I
will not now detain you by recording the argu
ments by which he was led to renounce idolatry
and become a Jew! Pilate, the Procurator, fav
ored, instead of opposing it, believing that it
would conciliate the Jews in favor of the Ro
mans; he resolved, therefore, to grace the right
with his presence. I could see him proudly roll
ing onward towards the Temple in his gilded
chariot, escorted by a score of guards, blazing in
their Grecian cuirasses. I sought in vain the
form of TEmilius; but he reached the Temple by
another street. The morning was, therefore, ad
ditionally lovely to me. I thought I had never
seen the olive groves, on the hill-side, beyond the
king's gardens, so green, nor the harvest so yel
low, as they undulated in the soft breeze of the
opening morn. The lofty palms everywhere ap
peared to bend and wave their verdant fans with
joyous motion. The birds in the palace gardens
sang sweeter and louder; and Jerusalem itself
seemed more beautiful than ever. While I was
gazing upon the scene, and adoring God, and
thanking him for the conversion of yEmilius,
Rabbi Amos came, and said that he would take
THE PlilNCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID, 271
us to the Temple, for he was at leisure on that
morning. We were soon on our way, climbing
the paved pathway to Moriah. Oh, how sub
limely towered the divine Temple above our
heads, seemingly lost in the blue of the far
heaven! The great gates opening North and
South, to the East and West, were thronged with
the multitude pressing through; while, from the
galleries above each gate pealed forth the clear-
voiced trumpets of God in ceaseless reverbera
tion. My uncle pointed out to me the massive
doors, all overlaid with sheets of beaten gold, and
the floor of green marble, on which we trode.
He bade me notice the costly entablature of col
ored stones, exquisitely worked with the Gre
cian's chisel; and especially the roof of fretted
silver, set with precious stones, the onyx, beryl,
sapphire, carbuncle, and jasper. I was dazzled
by the magnificence, and awed by the vast extent
of the space of splendor surrounding me; while
ten thousands of people were to be seen moving
towards the altar of sacrifice. From that superb
court, I was led into a hall nearly a hundred
cubits in length, its ceiling of pure gold, sus
tained by a thousand and one columns of
porphyry and white marble, ranged alternately.
Such richness I had never conceived of, or
thought possible on earth. But when Rabbi
Amos explained that they all were made after
patterns of heavenly things, I ceased to marvel,
and only wished I might one day dwell in those
celestial abodes, where, the holy Jesus teaches
us, are mansions not made with hands, of endless
272 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
duration, reserved for all the good and virtuous.
I was not permitted to approach the sacred
chamber, where stood the four thousand vessels
of gold of Ophir, used in the sacrifices on great
days; and this being a high day, I saw no less
than six hundred priests standing about the
altar, each with a golden censer in his hand.
Beyond was the holy ark of the covenant, over
which the cherubim hovered, their wings meet
ing, and between them is the mercy-seat! As
this was the Holy of Holies, I was not permitted
to see it; but its position was pointed out to me
within the veil, which conceals from all eyes but
that of the High Priest once a year, the seat oi
God's throne on earth, alas, now left vacant since
the glory of the Shechinah departed from the
Holy of Holies !
The air of the vast Temple was delicious with
the fragrance of burning frankincense. As the
victims bled, and the smoke ascended, the people
fell on their faces and worshiped God. It was
an impressive scene, and made my heart stand
still. I seemed to expect to hear the voice of
Jehovah breaking the stillness that followed.
But, after a few moments' silence, a sudden
trumpet note thrilled every soul in the countless
multitude. It was followed by a peal of music
that shook the air, from a choir of two thousand
singers, male and female, of the sons and daugh
ters of Levi, who served in the Temple. Enter
ing from the southern court, they advanced in
long procession, singing sacred chants, and play
ing on sacbut and harp, psalter and nebble,
*
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 273
chinna and tympana. As they ascended to the
choir, their voices, mingling with the instru
ments, filled all the Temple. I never heard be
fore such sublime harmony; especially when, on
reaching the elevated choir, a thousand Levites,
with manly voices, joined them, and the whole
company chanted one of the sublimest of the
Psalms of David. I was overcome my senses
dissolved in a sea of seraphic sounds; my heart
swelled as if it would break, and I found relief
only in a flood of tears.
When the chant was concluded, the whole
multitude responded, "Amen, and Amen," like
the deep voice of an earthquake suddenly shak
ing the foundations of the Temple.
At length I beheld a train of priests following
the High Priest as he marched thrice around the
altar. In the procession I discovered a company
of proselytes, escorted by twelve aged priests,
with long snowy beards, and in vestments of the
purest white. Among the proselytes, which
numbered full a score of men, from almost every
nation, I detected the tall and noble figure of the
Roman /Emilius. He was robed in a black gar
ment from head to foot. But upon approaching
the baptismal basin, two young priests removed
this sable dress, and robed him in white. I then
saw him baptized into the family of Abraham,
and a new name given him, that of Eleazer. I
heard the silver trumpets proclaim the conver
sion, and the multitudes shouting their joy!
Of the rest of the ceremony I have no recollec
tion, as, after the baptism of .TEmilius, I was too
274 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
happy to see or think of any one else. There
stands now, dear father, no further bar to our
union. ^Emilius is become a Jew, and hence
forth will worship the God of our fathers! 1
know you said in your last letter to me that you
feared the noble young Roman was led by his at
tachment to me to renounce his religion, and not
from honest conviction of its truth and of its
falsehood. But I am assured, dear father, that
he acts from conviction. The conversations he
has had with me, and with Rabbi Amos, and
other of the learned doctors of our nation, whom
he has met at our house, with the careful reading
of the Scriptures of the Prophets, have not only
convinced him that the Lord God of Israel is the
only God of the whole earth, but that the wor
shipers of idols are the worshipers of Satan, who
hath set up that religion in opposition to that of
the true God.
While I was lifting up my heart in gratitude
for the happy conversion of ^Emilius, and while
the Jews were crowding about him to extend to
him the hand of fellowship, rejoicing that so
ndted a person should embrace our faith, Uncle
Amos drew my attention by exclaiming with
gladness:
"Behold! there is Jesus!"
"Where?" I cried, trying to discover the divine
Prophet among the multitude.
"Standing by yonder pillar of porphyry. John
is on one side of him and Peter on the other.
He is pointing to the altar, and explaining or
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 275
teaching them something. Let us try and ap
proach him!"
We at once made our way, but with difficulty,
towards the spot where we had discovered him.
The rumor that the Christ was in the Temple
rapidly spread, and the whole multitude pressed
towards the same point. At length, we attained
our object so as to get within a few feet of him.
Here a tall, richly attired Greek addressed Rabbi
Amos, saying:
"Sir, tell me who that youthful Jew is, whose
countenance is stamped with firmness and benev
olence, so finely combined in its expression;
whose air possesses such dignity and wisdom;
whose noble eye seems filled with a holy sadness,
and whose glance is full of innocence and sweet
ness. He seems born to love men and to com
mand them. All seek to approach him. Pray,
sir, who is he?"
'That, O stranger, is Jesus of Nazareth, the
Jewish Prophet," said Uncle Amos, delighted to
point him out to a foreigner.
'Then am I well rewarded for my journey in
turning aside to Jerusalem," answered the Gre
cian. "I have ever heard of his fame in Mace
donia, and am rejoiced to behold him. Think
you he will do some great miracle?"
"He performs miracles not to gratify curiosity,
but to bear testimony to the truths he teaches,
that they are delivered to him of God. Hark!
He speaks," cried my uncle.
Every voice was hushed, as that of Jesus rose
clear and sweet, and thrilling, like a celestial
276 THE PRIXCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
clarion speaking. And he preached, dear father,
a sermon so full of wisdom, of love to man, of
love to God, of knowledge of our hearts, of
divine and convincing power, that thousands
wept; thousands were chained to the spot with
awe and delight, and all were moved as if an
angel had addressed them. They cried, "Never
man spake like this man!" and certainly never
human lips dispensed such wisdom.
When he had ended, the priests, seeing that he
had carried the hearts of all the people, were
greatly enraged, and not being able to vent their
hatred and fear in any other way, they hired a vile
person by the name of Gazeel, a robber, to take
one of the blood-stained sacrificing knives from
the altar, and creep towards him behind the
column, and assassinate him. The robber drew
near, and taking a favorable position to execute
the deed, raised his hand to strike the Prophet
from behind, when Jesus turning his head,
arrested the hand of the assassin in mid-air, by a
look! Unable to move a muscle, Gazeel stood
betrayed to all eyes in this murderous attitude,
like a statue of stone.
When Jesus had exhibited him to all the vast
concourse in this manner for a few minutes, he
said to him :
"Return to those who hired thee. My hour is
not yet come ; nor can they have any power over
me until my Father's will be fulfilled concerning
me."
The assassin bowed his head with deep hu
mility; the knife dropped from his hand and rang
THE PJilXCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 277
upon the marble floor; and he sank at Jesus' feet,
imploring forgiveness. The people would have
torn Gazeel in pieces, but Jesus said:
"Let him depart in peace. The day shall
come when he will be willing to lay down his life
to save mine. Ye, priests, go about to kill me,"
he added, fixing his clear gaze upon the group
which had sent Gazeel. "For what do ye seek
my life? Because 1 bear testimony to the
wickedness of your own. Ye lay heavy burdens
on the people, and will not lift them with one of
your fingers. I have come to my own, and to
my Temple, and ye receive me not. The day
cometh when this Temple shall be thrown down,
and not one stone left upon another; and some
who hear me shall behold and mourn in that day.
Oh, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets,
and stonest them that are sent unto thee, how oft
would I have gathered thy children together, as
a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings,
and ye would not. Thou shalt be left desolate
and cast out from among cities, because thov:
knewest not the day of thy visitation. But ye,
who would escape these troubles, seek to enter
my kingdom, which shall have no end; fly to the
Jerusalem which is above, and which is above all.
whose foundation is eternal, and whose Temple
is the Lord God Almighty, who is also the light
and glorv thereof."
Upon hearing these words, there arose a great
cry from ten thousand voices:
"Hail to Jesus, the king of Israel and Judah!
278 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
Hosanna to the Prince of David! We will have
no king but Jesus."
At this shout, which was caught and repeated
beyond the four gates of the Temple, the priests
cried aloud that the people were in insurrection.
Pilate, who was, with his guard, just leaving
the Court of the Gentiles, hearing it, turned to
ask what it meant. One of the priests, desirous
of having Jesus slain, quickly answered, 'That
the people had proclaimed Jesus, the Nazarene,
king," and that he was already placing himself at
the head of the people.
Hearing this, Pilate sent off messengers to the
Castle of David for soldiers, and with his body
guard turned back to the Temple gate, charging
the people, sword in hand.
The tumult was now fearful, and the blood
shed would have been great, but Jesus suddenly
appeared before him none saw how he had
reached the place and said:
"There is no insurrection, O Roman! I am
Jesus. I seek no kingdom but such as my
Father hath given me. Neither thy power, nor
thy master's, is in peril. My kingdom is not of
this world."
Pilate was seen to bend his proud head with
low obeisance before the Prophet, and said
graciously:
"I have no wish to arrest thee. Thy word, O
Prophet, is sufficient for me. Of thee I have
hitherto heard much. Wilt thou come with me
to my palace, and let me hear thee, and see some
miracle?"
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 279
"Thou shalt see me in thy palace, but not to
day; and thou shalt behold a miracle, but not
now."
When Jesus had thus said, he withdrew him
self from Pilate's presence; and those who would
have sought him to make him a king could no
where discover him.
The result of this attempt of the people to
make the Prophet their king, and under his
direction to overthrow the Roman power, has
been, that the Roman authorities, instigated by
Annas and the priests, begin to look upon Jesus
with eyes of jealousy; and Pilate this morning
told a deputation of priests, who waited on him
to petition him to arrest and imprison the Pro
phet, that on the first proof they could bring him
of his hostility to Caesar, he would send soldiers
to take him. To-day Jesus was refreshing him
self in our house, when several Scribes and Phar
isees came in. I saw by their dark looks they
meditated evil; and secretly sent Elec with a
message to /Emilius, (now Eleazer), asking him
to be at hand to protect Jesus; for ^milius is
devoted to him as we are, and Jesus takes delight
in teaching him the things of the kingdom of
God.
Jesus, knowing the hearts of these bad men,
said to them, after they had seated themselves,
and remained some minutes in silence:
"Wherefore are ye come?"
"Master," said Jehoram, one of the chief
Scribes, "we know that thou art a Teacher come
280 THE PKINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
from God, and fearest no man, nor regardest the
person of any man."
"Yes," added Zadoc, a Levite of great fame
among the people, "we have heard how boldly
thou speakest at all times; and that thou shrink-
est from no man's power not even Pilate, nor
Herod, nay, nor Caesar, could make thee refrain
from what thou wiliest to utter. Is it lawful for us,
Jews, the peculiar nation of God, to pay tribute
to Caesar, who is an idolator? Is it lawful for us
to obey the laws of Pilate, rather than of Moses?
We ask this as Jews, to a Jew. Tell us frankly;
for thou fearest not the face of any man."
"Let the question rest simply upon the tribute
to the Romans," answered Jehoram. "Master,
ought we, the holy nation, to give tribute to the
Emperor Caesar?"
Jesus looked fixedly upon them, as if he read
their wicked designs, and said:
"Show me the tribute money."
Zadoc handed him a penny, the Roman coin
sent into Judea by Caesar, as our currency, and
which we return to Rome again in tribute.
When Jesus had taken the money, he looked on
the head of Augustus stamped upon one side,
and then turning to them, as they waited breath
lessly for his answer, said sternly:
"Whose image and whose name is here im
pressed?"
"Caesar's," eagerly answered the whole party.
"Then render unto Caesar the things that be
Caesar's, and unto God the things that be God's,"
was his calm and wonderful answer.
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 281
I breathed again; for I feared he would answer
openly that tribute ought not to be paid, which
they hoped he would do, when they would imme
diately have accused him to Pilate as teaching
that we ought not to pay tribute to Rome, and so
a fomenter of rebellion.
But the divine wisdom of his answer relieved
all our minds ; while the Scribes and Levites, his
enemies, looked upon him with amazement, in
terchanged glances of conscious defeat, and left
the house.
Such, dear father, is his wisdom, that his ene
mies cannot triumph over him. Oh, that you
could see him and hear him. It is worth a visit
from Egypt to Jerusalem to see and listen to
him, and behold his miracles, of which he every
day performs one or more; till disease, deformity,
leprosy and sickness, seem to have disappeared
from Jerusalem and all Judea.
When /Emilius arrived, and found Jesus alone
with our family, unharmed, he spoke freely his
satisfaction.
"yEmilius," said Jesus to him, "thou art now
become a Jew. One step more, and thou shalt
enter the kingdom of Heaven."
"What step, dear master?" he asked, earnestly.
"Thou must be baptized with the Holy Ghost,
and thou shalt be partaker of eternal life."
"Rabboni," said JEmilius, "I verily thought
that to be baptized a proselyte of thy people was
to be Moses' disciple, and to have the seal to life
eternal. Have I still more to do?"
"To be my disciple, JEmilius. I am the end of
18
282 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUS OF DAVID.
the Law of Moses. He that believeth in me,
though he were dead, yet shall he live. I give
eternal life to as many as believe in me. But
thou knowest not now what I say; thou shalt
know hereafter."
yEmilius would have questioned him further,
but Jesus left him, and went forth into the
garden, where he remained late at night in medi
tation and prayer.
I am rejoiced, dear father, that you permit me
to accompany my Uncle Amos to Cesarea. We
leave after the new moon. Believing, my dear
est father, that all I have written you touching
Jesus has not been in vain, and that you are, with
me and thousands in Israel, ready to believe him
that he is the Christ, the Deliverer of Jacob,
I remain your affectionate daughter,
ADINA.
LETTER XXIII.
My Dear Father: I have received with joy
your letter, in which you say you shall leave
Egypt with the next Passover caravan, in order
to visit Jerusalem. Already you must be on the
way, and are by this time near Gaza, where my
Uncle Amos says the caravan will halt to-morrow
night. My heart bounds to embrace you, and
my eyes fill with bright tears at the thought that
I shall once more gaze upon your noble counte
nance, and hear the loved tones of your paternal
voice. My happiness is augmented to know
that you will be here while Jesus is in the city;
for it is said, and John, Mary's cousin, asserts it,
that he will certainly be at the Passover. I wish,
dear father, oh, I wish you to see him, because I
feel that you would be unable to resist the con
viction that he is the very Messias of God, of
whom Moses and the Prophets wrote. But if
his words, that divine eloquence and wisdom
which flow from his sacred lips, do not convince
19
28-4 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
you, the miracles he will do in proof of his mis
sion will be resistless. These miracles are daily
becoming more and more mighty and amazing.
For himself, for his own aggrandizement, and
personal safety (for often has his life been put in
peril by his foes), he never resorts to this divine
power; but to give attestation to his words of
truth that he came from God, to heal the suffer
ing, to relieve the distressed, he daily performs
them. If man never spake like him, man never
worked wonders such as he works. He has con
verted water into wine; healed by a word the
dying son of the nobleman, Chuza, Herod's first
officer of his household, though many leagues
from him at the time ; he stilled a fearful tempest
on the sea of Tiberius, by speaking to it and
commanding peace! In the country of the Gad-
arenes he cast out unclean spirits from many de
moniacs, who, in coming out of the bodies of
those they had possessed, acknowledged his
power, and confessed him, as if against their will,
to be the Christ, the son of David. Of the rais
ing of the daughter of the ruler Jarius, and of the
son of the widow at Nain, I have already written
you. Besides these miracles of healing and rais
ing from the dead, he has been seen walking
upon the sea a league from the shore, as firmly
as if he trode upon a floor of porphyry; which
many of the fishermen seeing, they were filled
with terror, and made all sail to flee to the land,
where they spread it abroad. He has restored
sight to the blind, whose eyes were wholly gone ;
and created new limbs where legs and arms had
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 285
been lost for years. Last week, Eli, a para
lytic, whom you knew, a scribe of the Levites,'
whose hand has been withered nine years, so that
he had been dependent on the alms of the wor
shipers in the Temple for his bread, hearing of
the power of Jesus, sought him at the house of
Uncle Amos, where he was abiding; for it was
our blessed privilege to have him our guest, for
John, his beloved disciple, being betrothed to the
fair daughter of Uncle Amos, my gentle cousin
Mary, always led the Prophet to our house.
Jesus was reclining with our family at the
evening meal, at the close of the day on which
the uproar had taken place in the Temple, as de
scribed in my last letter but one, when Eli came
and stood within the door. Humble and doubt
ing, his knees trembled, and he timidly and wist
fully looked towards Jesus, but did not speak. I
knew at once what the afflicted man came for,
and approached him, saying, "Fear not, Eli; ask
him, and he will make thee whole!"
"Ah, lady, I fear it is too much happiness for
me to expect. It is more than I dare dream of.
But I have come to him, hoping." His voice
trembled, and tears dropped from his eyes, as he
thought of his family in poverty, and of his own
helplessness. "How shall I speak to the great
Prophet, daughter I, a beggar at the gate of
the Temple? Speak for me, and the Lord shall
bless thee, child. My tongue cleaves to the roof
of my mouth !" i
Jesus did not see the poor man, his face being
turned towards Rabbi Amos, to whom he was
286 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
explaining the meaning of the sacrifice of Abel.
But leaving this conversation, he said, in a gentle
voice, without turning round :
"Come to me, Eli, and ask what is in thy heart,
and fear not; for if thou believest, thou shalt re
ceive all thy wish !"
At this Eli ran forward, and casting himself at
Jesus' feet, kissed them and said: "Rabbi, I am a
poor, sinful man; I believe that thou art the
Christ, the Son of the Blessed!"
"Dost thou believe, Eli, that I have power to
make thee whole?" asked Jesus, looking steadily
upon him.
"I believe, my Lord," answered Eli, bowing
his face to the ground.
"Thy sins, then, be forgiven thee. Rise and
go to thy house, and sin no more, lest a worse
thing come upon thee."
"This man! forgiveth he sins also?" cried the
venerable priest, Manasses, who was at the table,
"He is a blasphemer! for God alone forgiveth
sins. Will he call himself God?" And he ros^,
quickly up and rent his robe, and spat upon the
floor in detestation.
"Manasses," said Jesus, mildly, "tell me
whether is it an easier thing to do : to say to this
man kneeling here, 'Thy sins be forgiven thee/
or to say, 'Stretch forth thine hand whole as the
other? ""
"It would be more difficult to do the latter,"
answered Manasses, surprised at the question.
"Who alone can do the latter, oh, priest?"
"God alone, who first made him," answered
THE PRINCE OP THE HOUSE OF DAVIL-. 287
Manasses, gazing upon the withered arm, which,
shriveled to the bone, hung useless at his side.
"If, then, God alone heals, and God alone for-
giveth sins, both acts, Manasses, would r oe of
God! Therefore," said Jesus to the paralytic, "I
say unto thee, Eli, stretch forth thy hand whole!"
The man, looking upon Jesus' face, and seem
ing to derive confidence from its expression of
power, made a convulsive movement with his
arm, which, his mantle falling off, was bared to
the shoulder, exhibiting all its hideous deformity,
and stretched it forth at full length. Imme
diately the arm was rounded with flesh and mus
cles; the pulse filled and leaped with the warm
life-blood, and it became whole as the other.
The change was so instantaneous that it was
done before we could see how it was done. The
amazed and wonderingly delighted Eli bent his
elbow, expanded and contracted the fingers, felt
the flesh and pressed it with his other hand, be
fore he could realize that he was healed. And
he then lifted up his voice in praise to Jehovah,
and casting himself at the feet of the Prophet,
cried :
"My Lord, and my God!"
"Thou art now healed, Eli," said Jesus, im
pressively; "go, and sin no more!"
"Master, thou knowest all things! Lo! my
sin even was not hid from thee, though I believed
no eye beheld it. Men and brethren," he con
tinued, addressing those who were assembled,
"well did this holy Prophet of God say unto me,
at the first, 'my sins were forgiven,' instead of
288 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
bidding* me stretch forth my hand; for it was a
sin that brought on my paralysis, as a punish
ment for it. I had copied a parchment for the
Levite, Phineas, the tax-gatherer for the Temple
service, and wickedly altered a figure in an
amount, by which I should be a gainer of four
shekels of silver. Instantly upon writing the
last figure I felt a stroke of palsy, and my arm
fell dead at my side. It was God's punishment.
This was eight years ago. No eye knew the
deed but God's and my own ; but I have repented
it in deep humiliation. Therefore, as my with
ered arm was for the punishment of my sin, well
did my Lord, the mighty Prophet, say unto me,
'my sin was forgiven/ for then would my punish
ment have been removed ; for I felt already at his
word the blood coursing through my parched
veins!"
Upon this frank acknowledgment, Manasses
cried in amazement, ''Truly, God is good to
Israel. The hour of his promise is como.
Verily, oh, Jesus of Nazareth, thou art the Son
of the Highest! Forgive a worm of the dust,
and my sins also!" And the proud priest fell at
Jesus' feet, and bowed his snow-white locks upon
them in adoration and reverence.
If, then, dear father, the secret sins of men are
known to Jesus; if he forgives sins as well as
heals; if he removes the temporal penalties which
God inflicts upon men for their iniquities, what
name, what power, what excellence shall we give
to him? Shall we not, with Esaias, call him "the
Wonderful, the Counsellor, the Mighty God, the
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OP DAVID. 289
Prince of Peace, who shall sit upon the throne of
David to establish it with justice and judgment
henceforth, even for ever?" "Who," I repeat,
with Manassas, "who forgiveth sins but God
alone?"
How shall I be able to remember and repeat
all the other mighty works which Jesus has done
in proof of his divine power! You must have
heard how he fed, from a small basket of bread
(the frugal provision which a lad had brought
into the desert for his mother and his brothers),
no less than five thousand men, not naming the
women and children. The vast multitude had
followed him far from the cities to listen to his
teachings; people of all classes and tongues, in
cluding not a few Roman captains. When the
mighty host was an hungered, he caused them to
vsit down on the grass, and from the basket he
took forth bread, inexhaustibly increasing unto
his hand as he distributed; so that when all had
eaten, there were gathered twelve times as much
in fragments as the little basket originally held.
Who, dear father, but Messias could do this
miracle? He who could thus create bread at his
will, is He not the Lord of the harvests of the
earth? My mind is overwhelmed, my dear
father I am filled with astonishment and awe,
when I reflect upon the might, power, and
majesty of Jesus, and I fear to ask myself, who
more than man is he? Is he verily the awful and
terrible Jehovah of Sinai, visible in the human
form? Oh, wondrous and incomprehensible
mystery! a man with Arnighty power, and mani-
290 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAYID.
festing the very attributes of Jehovah, the Lord
of hosts, walking the earth, conversing with men,
dwelling in our habitations, eating and drinking
with us, and sleeping with the peaceful helpless
ness of an infant beneath our roofs. I dare not
trust my thoughts to penetrate the mystery in
which he walks among us in the veiled Godhead
of his power. His beloved disciple, John, says
that Jesus has promised the day is not far off
when this veil will be removed, and we shall then
know him, who he is, and wherefore he has come
into the world, and the infinite results of his
mission.
The Passover is nigh at hand, when we shall
again behold the majesty of his presence. I
have just heard that Lazarus, the amiable brother
of our cousins Mary and Martha, is taken- sud
denly ill, and I close this letter in order to ac
company my cousin Mary and her father to
Bethany, from whence they have sent us an ear
nest message of entreaty. May God preserve his
life!
Your devoted daughter,
ADINA.
LETTER XXIV.
My Dear Father: As I was closing my last
letter to you, intelligence reached my Uncle
Amos, that Lazarus, the amiable brother of
Martha and Mary, was very ill. The message
was brought by Melee, the old Gibeonite slave,
who, with tears in his eyes, communicated to us
the sad news. My cousin Mary and I at once set
out to go to Bethany with him, Uncle Amos
kindly offering his two mules for us to ride upon,
promising himself to come out also after the
evening service in the Temple, if Lazarus should
be no better.
We were soon beyond the city-walls, on the
road to Bethany, guided by an aged servant,
who, every few minutes, would urge us to ride
faster; and then, lifting his hands and eyes, he
would lament the danger of the young man, and
the destitution of his sisters, should he be re
moved from them, he being:, dear father, their
only support, as I once wrote you; his occupa*
292 1HE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
tion being* that of copying out rolls of the Proph
ets, for the uses of the various synagogues.
Although we did not expect to be able to do
much by hastening to our dear relatives in their
affliction, yet, we hoped, by our presence and
heartfelt sympathy, to relieve much of the solici
tude of the beloved sisters for their dear brother.
"Knowest thou, Melee, the disease that has
suddenly seized my cousin?" asked Mary, as we
wound slowly up the path that leads around the
steepest side of Olivet.
"Ah, dear me, noble lady, I know not," an
swered Melee, shaking his head: "He has just
returned from the city, where he had been stay
ing night and day for a week, laboring industri
ously to complete a copy of the Five Books of
the blessed Moses for the Procurator's chief cap
tain, for which he was to receive a large sum in
Roman gold."
"What was the name of this captain who seeks
to obtain our holy books?" I asked, hope half
answering the question in my heart.
"JEmilius, the brave knight, they say, who was
made a proselyte at the last Passover; the same
who nearly captured the famous robber, Barab-
bas, my lady."
I was rejoiced to hear this proof of the steady
desire of the princely Roman knight to learn our
sacred laws, you may be assured, dearest father.
But Melee went on speaking, and said :
"It was his hard work to complete this copy
which made him ill ; for he slept not, nor ceased
to toil, until he had completed it; and when he
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 293
came home, with the silver-bound roll in his
hand, and laid it upon the table before his sisters,
he fell, at the same moment, fainting to the
ground. When they raised him up, he was in a
fierce fever, and raved so that he knew no one
around him."
"Alas, poor Lazarus!' we both exclaimed, and
urged our mules forward at a faster pace, our
hearts bleeding for the sorrow of his sisters, and
for his sad condition. I have already told you, in
a former letter, in which I described my visit to
the house of Mary and Martha, what a noble and
good young man their brother was how he was
beloved by all who knew him; and commanded
the respect of his superiors by his dignity of
bearing, while his manly beauty won the hearts
of the maidens who were his sister's friends. I
told you how diligently he toiled for the mainte
nance of those dearly loved sisters and helpless
mother, thinking only of their comfort, forgettul
of his own. I also related how that his many
virtues had won for him the friendship of the
equally youthful Prophet Jesus, who loved to
make his abode his often abiding place ; and lofty
must the virtues and excellencies of a man be,
dear father, to command the holy friendship of
this man of God. Nearly of the same age, they
walked and discoursed together in sweet com
panionship, like Jonathan and David in the
golden age of our country's glory.
At length, an hour after leaving the gate of the
city, we drew near to Bethany, and beheld the
roof of the house of Lazarus. Upon it. watch-
294 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
ing towards Jerusalem for us, we discovered the
graceful form of Mary, who no sooner saw us,
than she waved her hands in earnest longing.
In a few moments we were in her arms, mingling
our tears together.
"Does he yet live?" I asked, scarcely daring to
ask, as she led us into the house.
"Yes, lives, but fails hourly," answered Mary,
with forced composure. "God bless you both
for hastening to me."
At this moment, Martha's pale and suffering
face, beautiful even in its pallor, appeared in the
door of the inner room. Upon seeing us, she
advanced, and, taking both our hands in hers,
she said, in a touching whisper, "You have come,
sweet friends, to see my brother die!"
She then led us into the room, where lay upon
a couch the form of the invalid, whose perilous
condition had brought a pang to the hearts of so
many dear and loving ones around him. Upon
entering the apartment, he turned his lustrous
eyes upon us, and seemed to recognize us, as he
smiled faintly a grateful recognition. Noble and
beautiful as his countenance was in health, I
thought that its expression, with his brilliant
eyes and feverish cheek, was now superhuman.
"He has slept a little," said Martha, softly, to
me; "but his fever is consuming him. He has
closed his eyes again, and seems heavy; but his
slumbers are restless, as you see; and he seems
to think his dear friend, Jesus the Prophet, is by
him; or he talks of Ruth, as if she were not
present."
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 295
''And who is Ruth, dear Martha?" I asked, as
I was about to follow her out of the room, leav
ing her brother to his weary repose.
"Alas! it w r as for Ruth's gentle love's sake he
now lies there," she answered; ''there is the sweet
maiden kneeling by the other side of his couch,
her tearful face buried in the folds of the cur
tains of his couch. She leaves him not a mo
ment; nay, though he does not seem to be sen
sible of her presence, yet, when she has once or
twice left the room, he awakes directly and calls
for her."
I turned, and regarded with tender interest the
graceful and half-concealed form of the young
girl as she bent over his pillow, her hand clasped
by his. At this moment she looked up, and
directed her gaze towards me. Her face was in
expressibly lovely, bathed, as it was, in its glitter
ing tear-dew, and her large, glorious eyes
seemed like heavens of tenderness and love.
Her hair would have been raven black, save that
a golden bronze enriched its waving masses at
every play of the light upon it. As our eyes
met, she seemed to receive me into her soul, and
my heart to embrace hers. Lazarus moved and
murmured her name, and she dropped her eyes,
and bent like an angel over him.
"Who is this marvellously lovely maiden?" I
asked of Martha, as we went into the court of the
hall.
"The betrothed bride of our beloved brother,"
answered she; "sit with me here in the shade,
beneath this vine, and I will tell thee their sad
296 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
story. Lazarus, you know, dearest Adina, is a
writer in the Temple, and by his labors has lived
in humble competence, and surrounded us all
with many comforts, nay, luxuries; for all we
have, our mother and we owe to his filial and
fraternal love. His attachment to us led him to
forego the pleasure of all other society; for he
said he found in our sweet bond of sisterly love,
all that he required to render him happy. He
was, therefore, insensible to all the attractions of
the maidens who are our acquaintances and
friends; and, when, a few months since, our
mother was gathered to her fathers, he said he
felt more than ever his duty to devote his life to
our happiness. We would fain have induced
him to seek a companion for life, knowing his
noble nature, and how he possessed in an emi
nent degree those amiable qualities which would
render, as his wife, happy and honored, any
daughter of Israel. But when urged by us, he
would smile, and playfully say, that he had but
a very little heart, and that it would hold no more
love than mine and Mary's.
"A few weeks ago, as he was engaged late and
alone in the copying-room of the Temple, upon a
roll which the noble .ZEmilius had ordered, and
which he desired to have completed on a certain
day, and for which he was to give him a large
sum, he was startled by the sudden entrance of a
young girl in great terror, who seemed to be fly
ing from pursuit. Upon beholding him, she
bounded towards him, and, casting herself at his
feet, implored his protection. Amazed and in-
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OP DAVID. 297
terested, he promptly promised it, but had hardly
spoken the words, before Annas entered, and ad
vanced towards her. His face was flushed with
rage, and his voice was loud and fierce, as he
demanded her at the hand of my brother.
" 'Nay, my lord Annas/ answered Lazarus,
boldly; 'were a dove to seek shelter from a hawk
in my bosom, I would protect it, much more a
distressed maiden of the daughters of Abraham !'
and he placed himself before the fugitive.
''' "Darest thou protect from me? She is my
child, a wicked and disobedient daughter of
Belial! Resign her to me, young scrivener, or I
will have thee sent to the lowest dungeon of the
castle of David/
" 'Oh, save me ! save me !' cried the young girl,
as Annas advanced to seize her. 'I am not his
child! I am the orphan of Rabbi Levi, who left
me and my estate to this false priest, as a sacred
charge ; and, having done, I know not what, with
my inheritance, he would sell me in unholy mar
riage to a Greek captain in the Roman Legion,
who offers him large bribes in gold for me. And
when but now he would have delivered me up to
him, I fled to the altars of my God for the protec
tion which man denied me; and, ignorant of the
way, and lost in the labyrinth of the Temple, I
found myself here. Rather than be given into
the hands of this fierce and terrible Grecian,
whom I have seen only to dread, I will cast my
self down from the height of the Temple!'
"And, to the surprise and horror of Lazarus,
she bounded from the lattice, and stood upon the
19
298 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
edge of the rock, which looks sheer three hun
dred feet down into the valley beneath.
' Thou seest, oh Annas, to what thy cupidity
for gold will drive this maiden. Has the land of
Israel sunk so low, that its chief priest will sell
the daughters of the land for gold to the lust of
the Gentiles? Is this the way thou givest pro
tection to orphans? Leave her; and until I find
a protector for her, she shall be a sacred guest
with my sisters, in their humble abode !'
; Thy life shall pay for this arrogance, young
man/ answered the priest. 'I have power over
both, and will exercise it/
' 'Not to the danger and wrong of this maiden,
my lord Annas, whom Jehovah will protect,
since she has trustingly sought the sheltering
wing of his altars/ answered my brother, firmly.
'If you continue to persecute her, I will appeal to
the Procurator, Pontius Pilate, against thee.
Thou already knowest, that Roman justice
knows how to punish Jewish guilt with terrible
severity/
"''The result was," continued Martha, "that the
wicked priest, alarmed by the threat of appeal to
Pilate, relinquished his present purpose, and left
them, breathing menaces against my brother.
The same day Lazarus conducted the maiden,
whom you already guess to be Ruth, to our
house; and she has since then been our guest,
and has won all our hearts, as well as our dear
brother's. Pilate, to whom Lazarus appealed,
has placed the shield of his protection between
them and Annas. It was to obtain money, to be
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 299
!
able soon to wed Ruth, that our brother has at
length fallen a victim to his arduous toils, and
now lies on the brink of the grave." /
"Is there no hope for him?" I asked, after
listening to her touching narrative.
"None! The physicians say that he will never
rise again."
"There is one hope left," I said eagerly.
"What is that?" demanded Martha.
"Jesus !" I answered ; "send to him, oh Martha,
and he will yet save him, and raise him up to life
and health."
I had no sooner spoken, than Mary, who over
heard me, uttered a scream of joy.
"Yes, Jesus has the power to heal him, and
Jesus loves him! He will come and save him
the moment he hears of his danger."
Immediately, Mary wrote on a slip of parch
ment, these brief and touching words:
"Lord, behold he whom thou lovest is sick!
Hasten to come to us, that he may live; for noth
ing is impossible with thee."
This message was forthwith despatched by the
hands of a young friend to Bethabara, beyond
Jordan, where we learn Jesus at present abides.
We have, therefore, no hope for our dear rela
tive, but in the power of the Prophet. I will
write as soon as we hear. Dear father,
Your attached daughter.
ADINA.
20
LETTER XXV.
My Dear and Honored Father: It is with
emotions of the deepest grief that I convey to
you the sad intelligence of the death of Lazarus.
It is amid the low sounds of the plaintive moans
of his bereaved sisters over his lifeless form, and
with my tears almost blinding my overflowing
eyes, that I write to you. The hand of the Lord
hath fallen heavily upon this household, and
stricken down its prop, smitten the oak, around
which clung these vine-like sisters, vine-like in
their dependence upon him, and confiding trust
in his wisdom and love. Now prostrate in the
dust they lie, stunned by the sudden and mysteri
ous stroke of God's providence.
I have spoken to you of the noble character of
Lazarus, in a former letter, dear father, how that
by writing in the Scribe's room in the Temple,
he supported his venerable mother and sisters,
while they, in their affection, labored with the
needle in embroidery work, wherein they had
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 301
very delicate skill, in order to lighten his labors.
To the young men of Israel, Lazarus was held up
by the Elders, as a pattern of filial and brotherly
virtue, and honest industry; and to his sisters,
Mary and Martha, other maidens were directed
to look for examples of maidenly piety and dili
gent household thrift. Their humble dwelling
was the home of hospitality and" kindness, and
thithjer the Prophet of God, Jesus, loveth to
resort whensoever his great labors will permit
him. Nearly of the same age, a holy friendship
had sprung up between him and Lazarus, who
so loved the Blessed Anointed One of God, that
he would readily have laid down his life for him.
I have told you, dear father, what a happy house
hold I have seen it when Jesus completed the
number; for he stayed so much with them when
not preaching, or when wishing to rest a day or
two from his \veary toil, that they came to regard
him as one of their family. Mary would devise
ways to do him honor, and show her respect and
affection, by working for him silken covers for
the Books of the Prophets, which Lazarus would
copy and present to his beloved friend; while
Martha seemed ever to be thinking what and
how she should administer to his comfort, by
providing every delicacy for her table. But so
that Jesus could find listeners to his words of
truth and wisdom, like Mary who loved to sit
at his feet and hear the golden language fall from
his sacred lips he thought not of meats or
drinks.
One day, when I, with Mary and Lazarus, was
802 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OP DAVID.
listening to his heavenly teachings, wrapt in
wonder and absorbing interest, Martha, who was
preparing the meal, came and desired Mary to
come and assist her; but the dear, pious girl,
heeded not nor heard her, she was feeding, so
forgetful of all else, upon the celestial food that
fell from the lips of Jesus, who was talking to us
of the kingdom of God and the glories of heaven,
and the necessity of holiness to dwell there. At
length, Martha, finding that Mary heard not, ap
pealed to Jesus, saying something sharply:
"Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath
left me to serve alone? Bid her, therefore, that
she help me/*
We turned with surprise to hear her, who was
usually so gentle and good, thus forget what was
due to the presence of the Prophet; and Lazarus,
blushing, was about to speak and excuse his
sister, who looked as if she were much worried
with her domestic troubles; but Jesus said kindly
to her:
"Martha, Martha, thou art careful and
troubled about many things; thy household
takes up too much of thy time and thoughts. In
this world, but one care is truly worthy of the
regard of men, which is to provide sustenance
for the soul ; for the body perisheth. Mary hath
chosen more wisely than thyself. While thou
carest much for the wants of the body, she careth
for those of the spirit, and thus has that good
part which shall not be taken away from her.
Think not, beloved Martha, of sumptuous living
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OP DAVID. 303
for me, who have no earthly goods, not even
where to lay my head!"
"Say not thus, oh, say not so, dear Lord/'
cried Martha, suddenly bursting into tears at
Jesus' touching words, and casting herself im
pulsively at his feet; "this house is thy home
ever beneath its roof, while I have one above me,
shalt thou have where to lay thy head! Say not
so, my Lord !"
We were all moved at Martha's pathetic ear
nestness. Jesus raised her up, and said to her,
gently:
"It is thy love for me, I well know, that
maketh thee so careful and troubled to provide
for me at thy bountiful table. But I have meat
to eat that ye know not of. Thus, to teach the
truths of God, as thou findest me doing to these,
is to me meat and drink, for herein I am doing
my Father's will, who sent me."
I have been particular in giving you, dear
father, these details of the domestic relations ex
isting in the abode of Lazarus, and the sweet
friendship that resided in their bosoms towards
Jesus, and his familiar, brotherly love for them.
You can now understand why, when Lazarus
was taken ill, after his laborious vigils to copy
the manuscript for the Roman Centurion, a mes
sage was at once sent to Jesus, who was in Beth-
abara beyond Jordan; for a physician of Jerusa
lem, whom the noble Caiaphas had sent out to
Bethany, on hearing of the sudden sickness of
the youthful Secretary, to whom he was greatly
attached, for all people did love him who knew
304 THE PRINCE OP THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
him this physician had at once pronounced him
in danger of sudden death from inward bleeding
of the lungs.
"Why, then," you may ask dear father,
"should they send for Jesus, when death was
certain. Jesus," you add, "was no physician, or
if he had been, he could not reverse the fate of
the dying young man!"
The fact, dear father, that under these circum
stances they did send to Jesus to come and heal
him, shows that it was not as a human physician
they desired his presence, but as the miracle-
working Prophet of God! It proves, and will, I
trust, prove to you, dearest father, that they
who should best know his power, believe as
suredly that he could save their brother. It is
testimony irresistible towards sustaining his
claim to have come down from God ! It is those
who are most intimate with others who do know
them best. Now, that the sisters of Lazarus
sent a message presently to Jesus to interpose
between death and his life, shows that they
plainly believed he had not only the power of
miracles, but had power over death; and that
they had witnessed instances of his power suffi
cient to give them faith in his ability to save their
brother; while they knew that his love for him
would certainly prompt him to exert it.
In my last letter I closed with informing you
of the departure of the messenger. After he had
gone out of sight from the door, and the last
echo of his horse's hoofs ceased to be heard by
the long-listening ears of his sister Martha, I re-
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 305
entered the room where Lazarus lay. He was as
white as marble. His large, black eyes seemed
to be twice their usual size and brilliancy. He
breathed with difficulty, and every few moments
he would be compelled to have his head raised,
in order to free his mouth from the welling blood
that was constantly bubbling up from the broken
fountains of his life. Mary's tender privilege it
was to render him this service of love. As she
bent over him. looking downward with anxious
fondness into his pale, intellectual face, watching
every shadow of the change that the sable wing
of advancing death cast over it, I thought I had
never gazed on a more lovely being! Who, in
beholding the seraphic beauty of her face, the
brilliant light of her dark eyes, which were now
glittering with sisterly grief, the graceful expres
sion of her proud, Rebecca-like head, and the
superb outline of her figure, where love and
majesty seemed blent to mould a second Eve
who, in the admiration of her person, could read
within and beneath all the secret sorrow of her
soul! Who would believe that a dark cloud
rested on her spirit, and that her happiness was
no longer on earth! As I gazed upon her, I
forgot, for the moment, the dying young man,
about whose form her snow-white arms were en
twined, his head reclining upon her bosom, her
raven tresses bronzed with a golden light, all
unbound and floating above him, and far over
his pillow, like a rich veil interwoven of sable
silken gloss and threads of gold. I could not
gaze upon that abundant hair without recalling
306 THE I'RINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
the day not long before, when, at the dwelling of
Rabbi Joseph Solomon, she drew near suddenly
to Jesus, who was his guest, and bathed his feet
with her fast flowing tears, mingling therewith
her kisses, and then dried them with her shining
hair!
And wherefore did she weep upon the feet of
Jesus? you may ask, dear father. They were
tears of gratitude and penitence. Her history
you know, at least as rumor had it three years
ago, with evil additions thereto. It is true, Mary
sinned, and should not be exculpated; but her
sin was in leaving her maternal roof, yielding, in
her unsuspecting innocence, to the dazzling
temptations of the young prince Herod. It is
not true that she was tempted by ambition and
power. She has poured into my ear all her sad
and touching story. Prince Herod had but re
cently returned with his father Antipas, from
Rome, and was a youth comely in person, well
skilled in the fascinations that easiest win the
hearts of the guileless. By accident he saw Mary
one morning at the palace of Pilate the Procura
tor, whither she had gone to deliver the wife of
the Governor a piece of embroidery-work which
she had done at her command. It would seem,
that having made inquiries touching her condi
tion in life, he feigned to be a writer of parch
ments, and thus readily making the acquaintance
of the unsuspecting Lazarus, was readily intro
duced beneath his roof. Here, as an humble
scribe, dressed in plain and coarse apparel, he
often came, and succeeded in winning the heart
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OP DAVID. 807
or the lovely girl. At length, in an evil hour, sne
listened to his temptation secretly to elope with
him, to be united to him at his mother's house,
he having urged to her that his open marriage
would estrange from him the regards of his
uncle, a wealthy scribe, who desired, if he mar
ried not for seven years, to enrich him with his
wealth.
To this tale she listened. But instead of being
taken by him to the roof of the mother, of whom
he had falsely spoken to her, she found herself
seized, and her mouth stopped by the leader of a
party of horsemen, who suddenly came up the
path, and who, dismounting, placed her on be
fore him. The young scribe, mounting a led
horse, headed the band, and the whole escort
galloped northward at rapid speed. Ignorant in
whose power she was, and fearing for her be
trothed husband as well as for herself, supposing
that he was forcibly in their hands also, she tried
by listening to ascertain what was to be done
with her. and who her captors were. To her
surprise she heard the voice of her lover giving
directions to the horsemen from time to time,
which she could hardly believe; but when the
moon rose, she succeeded so far in removing her
veil as to enable her to recognize him as the
leader of the troop.
After riding all night, they stopped at a well,
near Samaria, at dawn of day. Here refresh
ments were offered her, but she refused them,
and begged to be permitted to speak to her lover.
But he did not come near her. After an hour's
308 THE PRINCE OF TITTC HOUSE OF DAVID.
rest in the caravansera, they once more pro
ceeded on their route in a northerly course.
Leaving Mount Gerizim in the rear, with the
Jordan on their right, they at noon reached the
base of Mount Tabor. After three hours' re
pose, they crossed the eastern shoulder of the
mountain, from which was a magnificent view of
the sea of Galilee. Descending the mountain,
they reached, just as the sun set, the gate of a
castle that overlooks the town of Nazareth.
This they entered, and the portals closed upon
her.
But I will not be weary with too minute a nar
rative, dear father; my object is only to vindicate
my cousin Mary from intentional guilt.- Ushered
into superb apartments, her lover, attired in all
the splendor of a prince, soon appeared before
her, and acknowledged he had been deceiving
her; that he was Herod Valerius, the son of the
Herod Antipas, Tetrarch of Galilee, and that she
was now in one of the palaces of his family.
Who can describe the horror, shame, and grief of
this cruelly deceived and erring girl! Bitterly
did her tears flow at the too trusting step she had
taken, thus sinning against God. But tears and
repentance, implorations and entreaties for per
mission to return to her humble home, were in
vain. As she had sown, she had reaped.
At the expiration of three months, she suc-
seeded in making her escape, and fled to the feet
of Mary of Nazareth, the mother of the Prophet
Jesus. To her she made known all, and received
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 309
her sympathy while she bowed her penitent head
beneath her reproofs. Here it was that she first
beheld the holy Prophet, and received from him
the consolations of the forgiveness of heaven for
her sin. Led by his noble mother, she bent her
steps back again to her father's house. All
Bethany knew of her shame that is, knew that
she had fled with the dissolute prince Valerius,
and was living with him in sin at his castle in
Galilee; but they knew not any extenuating cir
cumstances. So she entered Bethany closely
veiled and with hurried step sought the shelter of
her mother's arms, if, peradventure, they would
be open to receive her.
At length, after many weeks, all who knew her
were acquainted with the truth, and their cold
censure was softened into pity; and as she went
about doing good, as she visited, like an angel,
the sick and sorrowing, she won back all hearts,
and was loved and honored as before. But the
cold world still looked upon her as a guilty one
'as a sinner; but had they known how deep her
sorrow was for all the past, they would also have
removed the barbs from the sharp arrows of their
tongues.
Since then, all the generous care of Lazarus
and Martha, and of their friends, has been to
make her forget the past: and as it is three years
since what I have described happened, the pre
vailing gentle sadness that now shades her coun
tenance, alone shows to the loving gaze of those
around her what she has suffered. It was Jesus
310 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
who reconciled her to her brother and sister, and
hence her deep gratitude to him, which she has
shown, not once, but many times, when he has
been their guest, by bathing his feet with her
tears, and wiping them with the hairs of her
head. Her place is ever at his feet. Lovely and
guilty one, her tears are her daily offering to
heaven, and will atone for deeper guilt than hers,
if tears do wash away sins ; but she says nothing
has given consolation to her heart like the voice
of Jesus, when he said to her, "Daughter, thy
sins be forgiven thee!" 'The words," she added
to me, "penetrated my heart, and illuminated the
darkness of my soul with ineffable, unspeakable
peace!"
I commenced this letter by informing you of
the departure of the good and generous, and
pious Lazarus. He fell asleep in death as an in
fant sinks to slumber in its mother's arms, grad
ually sinking from the loss of blood, growing
fainter and fainter till his eyes closed, his pulse
ceased to throb, and his noble heart to flutter,
like an escaping bird beneath the hand's light
pressure.
All too late was Jesus sent for! He is dead!
To-morrow his burial will take place. Alas!
how suddenly has perished the noblest young
man in Judea!
Farewell, dear father! My heart is full; I can
write no more. The day after to-morrow I re
turn to Jerusalem, when I will write you again.
You said in your last letter you would soon leave
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OP DAVID. 311
Egypt for Judea, for the purpose of taking me
back to my dear native valley of the Nile. The
God of Abraham preserve you in your journey,
and bring you in safety to the embraces of
Your loving daughter,
ADINA.
LETTER XXVI.
My Dear Father: In my last letter I told you
that Lazarus was dead! I write this to say that
he that was dead is alive! Lazarus lives! He
whom I saw dead and buried, and sealed up
within the rocky cave of the tomb, he is alive
again from the dead; and at this moment, while
I am penning this extraordinary account, I hear
his voice upon the porch, as he is engaged in re
lating what has transpired respecting himself to a
crowd of wondering people from Jerusalem.
Even Pilate, the Roman Procurator, stopped his
chariot at the door this morning, to see Lazarus,
and have speech of him.
How, my dear father, how shall I find ade
quate language to tell you all that has happened
within the last twenty-four hours! How shall I
make you fully believe the marvellous recital
which I have taken up my pen to make! I know
not how to begin the wonderful narrative, for the
joy that prevents me from arranging my
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 313
thoughts and presenting the facts intelligently to
ou. God has indeed remembered his chosen
people Israel once more, and shown his power
among us!
You have already been informed by me how
rapidly Lazarus failed after his sudden attack of
hemorrhage of the chest, and that he soon died;
and that, in hopes that he might avert death,
Jesus was sent for at the first to come to him.
But Bethabara was a day's journey, and ere the
messenger reached him the soul of his friend had
fled. The next day he was buried; a very large
concourse of people from the town of Bethany,
and from Jerusalem, coming to his burial; for he
was greatly beloved; even the chariot of the
noble lady, Lucia Metella, the good and virtuous
wife of Pilate, was present to do honor to the
obsequies of him who had no other renown than
his virtues.
The funeral procession was so very long, that
strangers pausing, asked what great master in
Israel, or person of note, was being taken to the
sepulchre.
Some answered, "Lazarus, the industrious
scribe!" Others said, "a young man who has
devoted his life to honor his mother!" Others
answered, as Lazarus himself, were he alive,
would have had them:
"It is Lazarus, the friend of Jesus!"
This living, was his proudest title; and dead,
he would have desired no other. Ah, dear
father, may the day yet come when you shall
deem such a title greater honor than the gold of
20
314 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
Egypt, or all the glory of your proud descent
from Abraham and David!
The place where they were to lay him was the
cave in which both his father and mother were
entombed. It was in a deep, shady vale, that
opened into the valley of the Kedron. It was
thickly shaded by cypress, palm, and pomegran
ate trees; and a large tamarind grew, with its
stately branches, overclasping the summit of the
secluded place of sepulchre, while an abrupt cliff
of Olivet hung impending down, like the shaggy
brow of a giant looking down upon the spot.
Above the tree-tops, in the direction of Kedron,
were visible the majestic heights of the distant
Temple, and the warlike battlements of the city
of David, while the sunlight, glancing upon the
dazzling shield of a sentinel who was standing
upon its loftiest watch-tower, caused it to gleam
like a lesser sun. The remote swell of a Roman
bugle from the head of a cohort, which was just
issuing from the gate of Damascus, came softly
and musically to our ears, as we stood in silence
about the grove wherein we were to place the
dead. JEmilius, the Centurion, was also pres
ent, wearing a white scarf above his silver cuir
ass, in token of grief; for he also loved Lazarus.
Of him, dear father, I have not of late spoken;
for should I begin to write of him, I should have
no room in my letters for any other theme.
You will soon see him, and judge for yourself
how worthy he is of your confidence, and all the
iove of my heart. I am too grateful to you,
dearest father, for not refusing your consent to
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 315
our union, but only withhold it until you reach
Jerusalem. The blessed winds waft your bark
swiftly to Jaffa, that I may soon embrace you,
and present to you the noble yEmilius, who is as
faithful a worshiper of our God as if he were a
son of Abraham by birth rather than. by adop
tion.
The sacred observances at the grove being
over, they raised the body of the dead young
man from the bier, and four youths, aided by
/Emilius at the head to support it, conveyed it
into the yawning cavern. A moment they
lingered on the threshold, that Mary and Martha
might take one more look, imprint upon its icy
cold lips one last kiss, press once more his un
conscious head to their loving and bursting
hearts. I also gazed upon him, weeping at theix
sorrow, and sorrowing to behold so noble a face,
beautiful as chiseled alabaster, about to be con
signed to the loathsome worm of the charnel-
house. He was so good, and excelling all his
companions in all things great and pure, and
lofty in character; my tears flowed, and I felt
that had I not loved ^milius, I should have
loved Lazarus.
The young men moved forward into the gloom
of the cave. Mary rushed in, and with
disheveled hair, cried:
"Oh, take him not away forever from the sight
of my eyes ! Oh, my brother, my brother, would
that I had died for thee! for I am willing to lie
down with the worm and call it my sister, and
sleep in the arms of death, as on the breast of my
21
316 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
mother! Thou wert happy and honored, and
should have lived! I am wretched and heart
broken, and such only should die! Oh, brother,
brother, let them not take thee forever from the
sight of my eyes! Without thee, how shall life
be life!"
^milius entered the tomb, and tenderly rais
ing her from the body, on which she had cast
herself in the eloquent abandonment of her wild
grief, he led her forth, and beckoning to me,
placed her in my arms.
Martha bore her own griefs with more com
posure, but her face expressed how deeply she
was moved within, thus to say adieu forever to
her only brother, to her beloved Lazarus, who
had been the strong rock which had presented
ever its front to the shock of the stormy billows
of this life, as they threatened her and Mary, and
was a tower of strength to them in the day of
trouble; as well as an exhaustless fountain of
holy domestic joy!
The body being placed in a niche hollowed
out in the rock, was decently covered with a
grave mantle, all but the calm face, which was
bound about by a snow-white napkin. Maidens
of the village advanced and cast flowers upon
his head, and many, many were the sincere tears,
both from beneath manly lids and those of vir
gins, which bore tribute to his worth.
The burial ceremonies being ended, five
strong men replaced the ponderous stone door
closely fitting the entrance to the cave, and so
THE PRINCE OP THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 317
secured it by letting it into a socket that it would
require a like number to remove it.
As we were retiring with heavy hearts from
performing this last duty to the beloved dead, the
sun sank beyond the blue hills of Ajalon in the
west, in a lake of gold, gilding the pinnacle of
the Temple, and making it appear like a gigantic
spear elevated into the sky. From the Levites
at evening sacrifice came mellowed by the dis
tance the deep chant of the Temple service,
uttered by two thousand voices. The cloud
from the altar sacrifice ascended slowly into the
still air, and catching the splendor of the sun's
last beams, shone like the pillar of cloud and of
fire which stood above the tabernacle in the
wilderness. The laborers in the harvest were
hastening towards the gates, ere they should be
shut for the night by the Roman guards; and
dwellers in the village were hurrying forth, lest
they should by chance be held in the city over
night.
There was a sacred hush in the sleepy atmos
phere that seemed in sympathy and touching
harmony with the scene in which we had just
borne a part. With Mary leaning sobbing upon
my shoulder, I sat upon a rock near the tomb,
giving my heart up to the sweet influence of the
hour. We were alone, save ^Emilius, who sat
upon his horse near by, and seemed to be gazing
upon the beauty of the evening scene. Martha
and my cousin, with John, had returned to the
now desolate home of which Lazarus had been
the light and the honor.
318 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
"I am calmer now," said Mary, after a while
raising her head, and looking into my face, her
splendid eyes glittering brimfull with tears: ''I
am better now! The peace of the sweet holy
skies seems to have descended, and entered my
heart. The heavens of my soul are as clear and
pure, and peaceful, as those above me! The
spirit of Lazarus pervades all, and hallows all I
see! I will weep no more. He is happy, very
happy, and I will try to be holy and go to him,
for he cannot come to me!"
At this moment we heard the tramp of horses'
hoofs, and ^Emilius, startled thereby from his
reverie, recovered his seat and laid his hand upon
his sword; for though the Romans have the
mastery in our land, as conquerors, they are not
loved; and scarcely a week passes without some
conflict between the soldiers of the Legion and
the common people among the Jews; and even
the officers have been attacked when riding
abroad from Jerusalem not sufficiently attended.
yEmilius, therefore, who had with him only his
white-haired Celtic servant,. Frwynn, prepared to
receive a foe or welcome his friends. The next
moment, around a rock projecting from the
shoulder of Olivet, appeared first, one horseman
in the wild, warlike costume of an Ishmaelite of
the desert, brandishing a long spear in the air;
then another and another similarly clad and
armed, and mounted on superb horses of the
desert; then dashed in sight alone, a tall, daring-
looking young man, in a rich costume, half
Grecian, half Arabic, though his dark, handsome
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 31 9
features were decidedly Israelitish. He rode a
superb Abyssinian charger, and sat upon his
back like the heathen centaur I have read of in
Latin books, which /Emilius has given me to
read. Upon seeing me, he drew rein and smiled,
and waved his jeweled hand with splendid cour
tesy; but at the sight of yEmilius, his dark eyes
flashed, and leaping to his feet in his stirrups, he
shook his glittering falchion towards him, and
rode with a trumpet-like cry full upon him.
The brave Roman soldier received the charge
by turning his horse slightly, and catching the
point of the weapon upon the blade of his short
sword.
"We meet at last, oh Roman!" cried this wild,
dashing chief, as he wheeled his horse like light
ning, and once more rode upon the iron-armed
Roman knight.
"Ay, Barabbas, and with joy I hail thee," re
sponded JEmilius, placing a bugle to his lips.
At hearing the clear voice of the bugle awak
ing the echoes of Olivet, the dread robber chief,
cf whom you have heard me speak before, dear
father, said haughtily, and with a glance of con
tempt:
'Thou, a knight of the tribune, and com
mander of a legion, call for aid, when I offer thee
equal battle, iiand to hand, and ask not my own
men's swords."
"I know no equal battle with a robber. I
would hunt thee as I would do the wolf and the
wild beasts of thy desert," answered yEmilius,
pressing him closely. At a signal from the rob-
320 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
her chief, his four men, who had reigned up a
short distance off, near the tomb of Lazarus, sent
up a shrill, eagle-like scream, that made my
blood stand still, and rode down like the wind to
overcome /Emilius.
Hitherto I had remained like one stupefied at
being an involuntary spectator of a sudden bat
tle; but on seeing his danger, I was at his side,
scarce knowing how I. reached the place.
"Retire, dear Adina," he said, "I shall have to
defend both thee and myself, and these barbar
ians will give my both hands enough to do."
As he spoke, he turned his horse's head to meet
the four-fold shock, and I escaped, I know not
how, with the impulse to hasten to Bethany for
succor. But heaven interposed its aid a de
tachment of the body guard of Pilate, which
^Emilius had left in an olive grove to bivouac
and refresh themselves and horses, hearing the
recall of their chiefs bugle, came now threading
up the hill, a score strong of armed men, bearded
Gauls, who had served in Britain against the
Picts. At the sight, Barabbas and his party fled,
like wild pigeons pursued by a cloud of Iturean
hawks. Barabbas, however, turned more than
once to fling back defiance to his foes, ^milius
by this means came up with him, seized the crim
son sash which encircled his waist, and held him
thus, both fighting as they rode. The troops
soon came up with them, and after a desperate
battle the celebrated robber chief was taken
alive, though bleeding with many wounds, and
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 321
bound with his own sash to the column of one of
the tombs. yEmilius was but slightly hurt; and
I never saw such bright joy as sparkled in his
eyes, that he had at length captured the bold
bandit leader, who had so frequently before es
caped him, and to get possession of whom he had
made so many attempts. There lay at length in
his power the terror of all the country between
Jericho and Jerusalem, a bound captive. He
smiled still proudly defiant, and looked haughty
and wildly noble, even in his bonds. His men
were also taken; and giving them, with their
chief, into the charge of his soldiers, to convey to
the prisons of Jerusalem, yEmilius rejoined Mary
and I, and accompanied us to the house of the
two sisters.
It appears that Barabbas, emboldened by the
rumor that a rich company of merchants were to
leave Jerusalem at day-break, for Damascus, had
advanced near the city with a few followers, to
lie in wait for their coming out, and hang on
their path until they should have entered a defile
in the mountains of Bethel, where his troop were
lying in ambush; and it was while seeking a
shelter from notice among the tombs in the vale
of Olivet that he came suddenly upon us, ^Emil-
ius says that he will assuredly be crucified for
his numerous crimes. Dreadful punishment!
and for one so young and prepossessing as this
desert robber to come to such an ignominious
and agonizing death; to hang for hours under
the sun-beams by lacerated hands and feet, till
322 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
death comes from slow exhaustion of all the
powers of nature. I am amazed that so polite
and humane a nation as the Roman can inflict
such a cruel and agonizing death, even upon
their malefactors. Last week, as I was walking
with my Uncle Amos among the sepulchres of
the kings outside of the north gate, being pre
vented from re-entering the gate by the passage
of a Roman Legion to suppress an insurrection
in Samaria, we passed round by the western
gate, to reach which we had to pass the foot of
the Hill of Calvary, upon which two crosses were
erected, on one of which hung the still living
body of a seditious Jew, executed by order of the
Procurator. He writhed fearfully, while his
groans penetrated my heart. I covered my eyes
and my ears, and begged Rabbi Amos to hurry
with me from such a fearful spectacle. Yet it
was in full sight of the city, of the road; and
many spectators, both of women and men, lin
gered to gaze. Ignominious, indeed, must the
life of a man have been, for him to be justly
doomed to suffer such a death.
In this letter, dearest father, I intended to re
late to you how Lazarus has been restored to
life, but it is already taken up with so much, that
I defer it to my next. But, believe me, that
Lazarus is living and well, and thousands are
crowding into Bethany, and thronging the
house, to see this great thing that hath happened.
Suffice for me to tell you, at the close of this let
ter, that it was Jesus who raised him from the
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 323
dead, the Prophet of God of whom you are yet
in doubt whether he be the Messias or no! Ah,
is he who raised the widow's son of Nain who
walked on the sea a league to his disciples' boats
who stilled the tempest by the word of his
power who fed five thousand men with five
pounds weight of bread who healed the noble
man Hadad's son who raised the dead daughter
of the Galilean ruler, Jarius who restores the
deaf, the blind, the dumb, by a word, a touch, a
look around whose path and life are gathered
together such a multitude of testimonies to his
superhuman power, in prophecies, in mighty
works, and in glittering miracles ah, my dear
father, is he only a common man; is he an im-
poster? Oh, is he not, is he not the Son of God
the Messias of the Prophets the Lion of the
tribe of Judah the Deliverer and future glory
of Israel? Is he not He whose day of splendor
Abraham saw afar off, and was glad? Is He not
Shiloh, whom the patriarch Jacob beheld rise up
to wield the sceptre of Israel? Is He not the
mighty Son of God, whom the burning pen of
Esaias records in these words of inspiration:
"Unto us a child is born unto us a son is
given; and the government shall be upon his
shoulders : and his name shall be called Wonder
ful, Counsellor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting
Father, the Prince of Peace; who shall sit upon
the throne of David, and establish it with justice
and judgment from henceforth, even forever!"
Think of these things, dear father, ponder
324 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
them well, and let not the poverty of Jesus be a
stumbling-block to your faith in Him as Messias.
That he has raised Lazarus from the dead, is
alone proof to me that He is the Son of God.
Your affectionate daughter,
ADINA.
LETTER XXVII.
My Dear Father: Your letter has filled me
with joy that I can poorly express by my pen.
It was received this morning by the courier from
Egypt, with the package, both being safely
placed in my hands, nine days only after they
quitted your own. I kissed them, and pressed
them again and again to my heart, at the thought
that they were so lately touched by your fingers.
The letter assures me that you are certainly to
leave at the new moon, and after a few day's de
lay at Gaza, will be with me not many days after
wards. This letter I shall send so as to meet
you at Gaza.
Three years, three long years, dearest father,
have passed since I last saw your venerable and
kind face. Ah, when you come, how I shall love
you. and hang upon you, and watch every look,
and catch your every word ! It is true, my Uncle
Amos has been next to a father to me, all affec-
326 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
tion and goodness; but no love or care can hold
the place of a father's to a daughter.
When 1 review the interesting scenes I have
passed through, the wonderful events which I
have witnessed since I first came to Jerusalem,
nearly three years ago, with the caravan of Rabbi
Ben Israel, I do not regret my long absence from
you, dear father; for to have been in Jerusalem
during the period I have named, is a privilege
that Abraham and all the patriarchs and prophets
of God would have coveted. During that period
the Messias has walked the earth, clothed with
divine power, and familiarly gone in and out of
Jerusalem before all eyes, performing miracles,
and doing mighty works which never man did.
I have learned to love and honor that blessed
Prophet as the Son of the Highest, and the An
ointed of the Lord; I have sat at his feet, and
listened to his heavenly teachings, and the wis
dom of his sacred lips has made me wise.
But I have not yet made known to you the
particulars of the greatest miracle of power and
love of all those wonders which he has done, viz.,
the raising up of Lazarus from the dead, and I
will here recount them as they occurred.
When Mary and Martha, finding Lazarus
given over by the physicians as past possible re
covery from his grievous illness, had dispatched
the message to Jesus, as I have already stated,
they began to be more cheerful with new-born
hope, saying:
"If our dear Rabbi, the holy Prophet, corner
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID 321
he will heal him with a word, as he has done so
many of the sick."
"Yes; many whom he knew not, he has re
stored to health by a touch," remarked Martha,
"how much more, Lazarus, whom he loveth as a
brother! O that the messenger may press for
ward with all haste!"
"If Lazarus should die ere he come," hesita
tingly remarked my gentle cousin, the betrothed
of John the disciple, "he could bring him to life
again, even as he did the son of the widow at
Nain."
"Yes, without doubt, unless it were too late,"
remarked Martha, shrinking at the thought that
her brother should die; "but, if he be long dead
it will be impossible."
"Nothing is impossible with Jesus," answered
Mary, her eyes brightening with trusting faith.
Thus the hours passed between mingled hopes
and fears; and ere Jesus came, the mantle of
death was laid over the face of their dead brother.
"Lazarus is dead, and Jesus is away!" was the
bitter and touching cry made by the bereaved
sisters, as they wept in each other's arms.
The next day the burial took place, as I have
described already to you, dear father, in my last
letter, and yet no messenger came from Jesus.
The morning of the third day the messenger re
turned, and said that he had found the Prophet
on the farther bank of the Jordan, where John
had baptized, and that he abode in an humble
cottage in the suburbs of Bethabara, with his dis
ciples, and was engaged in teaching the things of
328 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
the kingdom of God, and unfolding the proph
ecies to many who resorted unto him.
The bearer of the sad tidings from the two sis
ters delivered his simple and touching message:
"Lord, behold he whom thou lovest is sick!"
"And what said he? how did his countenance
appear?" asked Martha, of the man.
"He betrayed no surprise, but said calmly to
me, 'Son, I know it! This sickness shall not be
unto death. It shall be for the glory of God; for
hereby will my Father permit me to be glorified,
that men may see and believe truly that I came
out from God/ "
"What said he more?" asked Martha, sorrow
fully and doubting.
"Nothing more, lady; and having given my
message, I departed," answered the man.
"Alas! he knew not how ill his friend was,"
said Mary, "or he would not have said it was not
unto death, and would have hastened with you."
"Thy Lord should know all things, daugher,"
said a priest who stood by. "This ignorance of
the danger of Lazarus, and his assertion that he
would not die, shows that he is an imposter. Is
not Lazarus dead and buried?"
At this, Martha's faith seemed for a moment
shaken, but Mary eloquently defended her broth
er's absent friend, and holy Prophet, saying,
"That when Jesus should come and speak in per
son for himself, he would make his words plain,
and show them to have been spoken with
wisdom."
With what deep sorrow they mourned their
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 329
brother; and their tears fell the faster in that they
felt assured he would not have died had Jesus
been there. Their faith and confidence in him
underwent a sore trial as day after day passed,
and nothing more was heard from him.
"He has forgotten us," answered Martha.
"He should be near to console us in our deep
affliction, though he came not to heal our
brother."
"Nay, sister, do no think hardly of the blessed
friend of Lazarus," said Mary, with soothing
tones, as she caressed her elder sister. "I feel
that if he had seen fit he could have raised up our
brother, even speaking the word from Bethabara.
It was not needful he should see him to heal him ;
for dost thou remember how he healed Lucius,
the Centurion's son, yet at the time he was a
day's journey distant from him.
"And why, oh why, did he not save Lazarus!' 1
exclaimed Martha, bitterly.
"In that he did not, sweet sister," answered
Mary, gently, "it was for the best. Did he not
say to the messenger, his sickness should be to
the glory of his power."
"But not his death, Mary, not his death! He
is dead four days already; and how can the grave
give glory to the power of Jesus? Will he raise
him up, since corruption has begun, nay, began
ere we laid him in the cold sepulchre? Oh,
speak not to me of the cruel prophet. He loved
not Lazarus, or he had not the power to save
him. Nay; leave me, Mary, to the bitterness of
my grief."
21
330 THE FKINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAY ID.
"Ah, dear Martha, how soon is thy faith in
Jesus, when proven, become nought!" said
Mary, bending upon her from her dark, earnest
eyes, looks of sad reproach. "Shall one day
overturn your years of holy friendship for him?
Because he answered not our prayer to come to
Lazarus, think you he loved him not, and is in
different to our anguish? He is wronged by
your reproof, and injured by your want of confi
dence in his love and care for us."
"Pie can heal a proud and rich ruler's son, but
he heeds not the cry of the poor and lowly," per-
severingly answered Martha, expressing in her
looks the intensity of her feelings against Jesus.
"The death of Lazarus be upon his head!"
"Ah, sister, God forgive thee, and let thy grief
excuse thy words. Though he slay me, I will
trust in him," exclaimed Mary, laying her hand
on her sister's shoulder, while holy firmness and
a resolute light beamed in her shining and tear
ful eyes.
While they were thus discoursing, one came
running swiftly towards the house, and, breath
less with haste, cried to them and to the Jews
sitting there, who had come to comfort them
concerning their brother:
"The Prophet! the Nazarene! He comes!"
Almost at the same moment, Melee, the Gib-
eonite, entered and said:
"Jesus, the Messias of God, is at hand! He
already entereth the village with his disciples."
At this intelligence, the mourners who sat with
Mary and Martha in the vine porch rose up to
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 331
go and meet him; but Martha, shrieking with
sudden joy, sprang up, and more quickly than
they reached the street, and, running with great
speed, came where Jesus was.
Mary, who had received the news without be
traying any other emotion than the secret and
holy joy of a heart that had confidence all along
in her Lord, instead of hastening to meet him,
rending her hair with grief, like her sister, pro
ceeded to prepare a room for the hospitable en
tertainment of the beloved Prophet, when he
should come in, thus taking Martha's place; and
when she had arranged all, she sat down with me
in the house, her heart filled with joy, and her
face expressive of her calm and quiet happiness.
"I knew he would come! I knew he would
not leave or forsake us in our deep sorrow,
Adina," she said, two or three times; and, as the
confused noise of advancing footsteps fell upon
our ears, her heart beat quicker, and, with the
glow that joy and expectation made to enrich
her face, I thought she looked more beautiful
than ever before.
When Martha came near Jesus, whom she met
just entering Bethany, walking with four of his
disciples along the dusty road, and looking
weary and travel-worn, she ran and threw her
self at his feet, crying:
"Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother
had not died!"
Jesus, taking her hand, raised her up, and said
with emotion, for he was deeply moved ;
22
332 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
"Lazarus sleepeth, Martha. I am now come
to awake him out of his sleep."
"Lord, if my brother slept only, he would not
have been buried. He is dead, and hath been
dead four days.'*
"I spoke of his death, Martha! Lazarus is
dead; but death to those whom my Father loveth
is sleep. The good die not, only the wicked.
Their death is eternal, where the worm dieth not.
I say unto thee, Lazarus is not dead but sieepeth ;
and he shall rise again!"
"I know, O Rabboni, that he shall rise again
in the resurrection at the last day."
Jesus then said unto her, lifting his celestial
glances towards heaven:
"I am the resurrection and the life. Ke that
believeth in me, though he were dead, shall he
live! and whosoever liveth and believeth in me
shall never die' Believest thoti this, daughter?"
"Yea, Lord, I believe that thoit art the Christ,
the Son of God, which should come into the
world. I know that whatsoever thou wilt ask
of God, God will give it thee, and that even now
thou couldst bring Lazarus back again!"
"Corruption and the worm have begun their
work." said a proud and unbelieving Pharisee
near, on hearing this; "whatever may have been
the state of the ruler's daughter, and of the son
of her of Main, Lazarus, the scribe, at least, is
dead!"
To this speech Jesus made no reply, but turn
ing to Martha, said softly:
"I am rejoiced that thy faith in me hath come
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 333
back into thine heart, for thou hast doubted, oh
daughter of little faith, in that I came not at thy
call. It was needful that thy brother should die,
that I might display the power of God in me by
raising him up. This day my Father shall be
glorified, and the world shall truly know that I
come from Him who is Life, and the giver of
life. Go, thou, and tell thy sister that I am here,
and would have her come and speak with me!"
Martha, then, overjoyed, and wondering that
Jesus should have known her thoughts, so as to
reproach her for her little faith as he had done,
hastened to her sister, and entering, cried:
4 I have seen the Lord! He calleth for thee,
Mary. Come and see him as he sits by Isaiah's
fountain, near the market-place ; for he hath said
he will not enter our house until he crosses the
threshold with Lazarus by his side!"
Her \vords made my heart bound with an in
describable thrill! Lazarus to come again into
the house alive, walking with Jesus! I buried
my face in my hands, overcome with an idea so
full of joy, terror, wonder, and supernatural awe.
Mary lose quickly, and went out, scarcely sup
porting herself upon her failing limbs for tremb
ling joy, and a sweet, undefined hope of she
knew not what immeasurable and unbearable
happiness about to come upon her. Certain of
her Jewish friends from Jerusalem at that mo
ment met her at the door, not knowing that
Jesus had entered Bethany; and began to com
fort her, and to ask her if they also should go
334 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
with her to weep at the grave of Lazarus; for
they said:
"She goetli unto the grave to weep there!"
"She goes to see Jesus, the friend of Lazarus,
for he calleth her," answered Martha, smiling
with eagerness, and speaking with an animation
that presented a singular contrast to her late
deep grief.
Mary hastened to where Jesus sat by the foun
tain, bathing his dusty and wounded feet, and
discoursing to those about him upon the resur
rection of the dead. Upon seeing Mary, he ex
tended his hand, but she sank at his feet, and
bathing them with her tears, wiped them with
her gleaming black hair.
"Lord," she said, in her sister's words, with
great emotion, "if thou, Lord, hadst been here,
my brother had not died."
Then bowing her head to the edge of the
marble basin, she \vept very heavily. The Jews,
men and women, who stood about, being
touched with her sorrow, also wept, while glitter
ing tears coursed their way down the face of the
beloved John, his disciple, who stood near.
Jesus sighed deeply, and groaned in spirit as
he beheld her grief, and their mourning with
her. His sacred countenance was marred with
the anguish of his soul.
"Rise, let us go to the grave where he lieth!"
he said to them. "Where have ye laid him?"
"Come, dear Lord, and see," answered. Mary,
taking him by the sleeve of the robe, and draw-
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 335
ing him towards the place of the tombs in the
vale of Olivet.
In the meanwhile, at home, Martha had been
diligently, and with strange cheerfulness, getting
in readiness the room of Lazarus. She swept
and dusted it, and garnished it with fresh flowers,
which she gathered in the little garden.
"This is the rose he set out and loved. This
is the violet which blooms immortal. I will
place it upon his pillow," she said with joyous
hilarity, softened by the most lovely look of
peace; while hope shone in her eyes like twin
morning stars ushering in a glorious day. She
spoke scarcely above her breath, and moved on
tip-toe.
"For whom is this preparation, dearest Mar
tha? For Jesus?" I asked.
"Oh, no! The Lord's own room is ready.
Mary has prepared that. This is Lazarus's
room, and I am decorating it for him!"
"Dost thou truly believe that he is coming
back from the dead?" I asked, between doubt"
and strange fear.
"Believe! Oh, yes. I know that nothing is
impossible with him ! I doubt no more. My faith
trembles no longer. He will raise up my brother,
and this day he shall sit down at our table with
us again, and this night rest his head in peaceful
slumber upon this pillow which I am strewing
with his favorite flowers. Never had house two
such guests as we shall have this day the Mes-
sias of God, and one come back alive from the
dead!"
336 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OP DAVID.
At this moment we heard the noise of the
multitude passing by, and it being told us that
Jesus was going to the grave, Martha, embracing
me with a heavenly smile, drew me gently after
her, to follow the blessed Prophet to the tomb.
All Bethany was in his footsteps. Wonder and
eager expectation were on every face. There
was no outcry; no lawless uproar in the vast con
course, but rather a subdued unde. -current mur
mur of awe and curiosity.
How shall I describe Jesus, as he then ap
peared! He wore upon one shoulder, from
which it \vas almost dragged by the eager hand
of Martha, a blue garment, woven without seam
throughout, the affectionate work and gift of the
two sisters. His face was pale and sad, yet a
certain divine majesty seemed resting thereon,
so that his calm, high forehead looked like a
throne. His large, earnest eyes, richly brown in
hue, and darkly shaded by sable lashes, were full
of sorrow. His chiseled mouth was compressed,
but the swelling of the nether lip betrayed the
effort he made to suppress the outbursting oi
his heart's deep grief.
Slowly he moved onward, and entering the
cemetery, he stood before the tomb of his be
loved friend.
For a few moments he stood gazing upon the
door of the cave in silence. There reigned an
expectant hush among the vast throng. Mary
knelt at his feet gazing up into his countenance
with a sublime expression of hope and trust
Martha drew softly near, and fell upon her knees
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 337
by the side of her sister. Jesus looked tenderly
upon them, and then resting his eyes upon the
tomb, he wept. Large, glittering tears rolled
down his cheeks, and glanced from his flowing
beard to the ground. One of the precious drops
struck upon the back of my hand, as I knelt by
the side of the sisters.
"Behold how he loved him!" whispered the
Jews present.
Others said:
"Could not this man, which opened the eyes
of the blind, have caused that even this man
should not have died?"
Jesus, uttering a deep sigh, now came nearer
the grave. It was, as I have before said, a cave,
and a stone lay upon it. With a slight move
ment of his right hand to those who stood by,
he said in a tone that, though low, was heard by
the whole people, so solemn was the surrounding
stillness,
"Take ye away the stone!"
"Lord," said Martha, "by this time he is offen
sive, for he hath been dead four days."
"Daughter," said Jesus, looking on her, "said
I not to thee a little while since, if thou wilt be
lieve that I can raise up thy brother, thou shalt
see him alive again. Believe, and thou shalt
behold the glory and power of God!"
The men, then, with some difficulty took away
the stone from the door of the sepulchre, and
stood it upon one side. The dark vault yawned
with gloomy horror, and so corrupt was the air
338 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
that rushed out, all fell back from it, save Jesus
and Mary, several steps.
Jesus stood looking into the cave, where, as
our eyes became accustomed to the darkness
within, we could discern the corpse of Lazarus,
covered with the grave mantle, and his face
bound with the napkin which was already dis
colored with the sepulchral damp of the grave.
Raising his hands towards heaven, and lifting
up his holy eyes, which were yet moist with
tears, Jesus said in a voice of indescribable
pathos and earnestness of appeal, and with a
manner of the most awful reverence :
"Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.
And I know that thou nearest me always; but
because of the people which stand by do I offer
unto thee this prayer, that they may believe that
the power I have cometh from thee, and that
they may believe thou hast sent me. And now,
oh Holy Father, may I glorify thee on the earth
with the power which thou hast given me!"
He then turned towards the tomb, and stretch
ing forth his hand, he cried with a loud voice,
that made every heart quake:
"Lazarus, Come Forth!"
My blood stood still in my heart. Scarcely
daring to look, I looked and beheld what all eyes
also saw, the corpse stand up within the vault,
and turning round with its face towards us, came
forth, bound hand and foot with grave clothes,
and his face bound about with a napkin. His
countenance was like marble for whiteness, and
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 839
his eyes, which were open, looked supernaturaliy
brilliant.
At beholding him, a simultaneous shriek burst
from the bosoms of the people, and a backward
rush of all who were nighest the cave.
Martha, uttering her brother's name, fell for
ward upon her face, and lay insensible.
"Loose him and let him go free!" said Jesus,
calmly, to the petrified and amazed men who had
taken away the stone. Mary was the first one
who had the firmness to approach him, and re
move the napkin from the sides of his face, while
others, taking courage by her example, hastened
to unswathe his arms and feet. In a few mo
ments he was free from his outer grave clothes,
and the color of his cheeks came to him, his lips
flushed brilliantly with red, his eyes looked natu
ral, and beamed with wonder and love as he
gazed about him. Seeing Jesus, he was about
to cast himself at his feet in gratitude (for he
seemed to know all that had happened), but the
mighty Prophet drew him to his embrace and
kissed him. Mary, at first shrinking from awe,
now threw herself, blind with tears of joy, into
his arms, and Martha was raised up by him to
his manly breast, and his loved voice, breathed
tenderly into her ear, recalled her to the con
sciousness of her happiness.
But my pen refuses to find language to express
the unspeakable emotions of joy and gratitude,
words of love and praise, that filled all hearts.
Lazarus, the new-born from the dead, blooming
in the rich hues of complete health, walked
340 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
homeward by the side of Jesus, while the sisters
hung upon him with deep thankfulness over
flowing their happy hearts. Now the great
Prophet, now Lazarus, and now Jesus again, re
ceived the plaudits of the vast throng of people.
Hymns were chanted to Jehovah as we passed
through, the streets, and so many fell down to
worship Jesus, that it was long before we crossed
the threshold of the dwelling, which Jesus did
indeed enter with Lazarus by his side. And
Martha did see him sit at the same table, and that
night saw his head rest in deep slumber upon the
flower-strewn pillow which her faith and love had
prepared for him.
Thus, my dear father, have I given you a re
cital of the particulars of this mighty miracle,
the report of which has rilled all Jerusalem with
amazement, arid must lead the priests and the
people to acknowledge Jesus to be the Messias
of God, him of whom Moses and the Prophets
did write. Do you doubt longer, my dear
father?
This letter will meet you at Gaza. With the
hope of soon embracing you, I remain as ever,
Your loving daughter,
ADINA,
LETTER XXVIII.
My Dear Father: Your letter from Gaza
came safely to my hands this morning, by the
courtesy of the Roman courier of the Procurator.
I read it with deep grief and feelings of the sad
dest disappointment. Instead of a letter, I ex
pected to see you in person, and when I heard
Melee call out that a horseman had alighted at
the gate, I ran down into the court, crying, "My
father, my dearest father!'' and when, instead of
rushing into your embrace, I was met by the
mailed and helmeted figure of an armed Roman,
you may judge of the reaction upon my heart.
1 read your letter with tears; but you have
taught me to bear patiently what cannot be re
voked, and I have schooled my impatience till
the God of our fathers shall bring you, in his own
good time, to your loving and longing daughter.
I trust that the two Arabian merchants, from
Eziongeber, whom you are delaying to see, will
not be long journeying to Gaza, and that on
342 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
their arrival you will speedily conclude the com
merce, which you write it is so important to your
interests should be effected. In the meanwhile I
will try and wait with serenity and peace the day
of your coming, and continue to write to you as
the only solace which can compensate for not be
holding and speaking with you. Like all my
letters, dearest father, the theme of this will be
Jesus, whom I unspeakably rejoice to hear you
are beginning to regard with more favorable
eyes, saying in your last letter, these words,
which made my heart bound with joy:
"Were I to resist the testimony of the miracles
which this wonderful Nazarine Prophet hath evi
dently done, especially that of raising Lazarus,
the scribe, from the dead, I fe^r I should be fight
ing against God; for who can restore life and
soul to the dead but Jehovah alone! The fame
of the raising of Lazarus, as well as many of the
other miracles which he has done, has reached
me by other channels than your letters, and the
accounts fully corroborate all you have 'so en
thusiastically written. Nay, there is now here
in Gaza, on his return from Damascus, to Alex
andria, my friend, Abraham Gehazi, the silk mer
chant, who was passing through Bethany at the
moment, and, halting with his party, witnessed
the miracle. He spoke with Lazarus, and con
fesses to me that Jesus is evidently a mighty
Prophet, sent from God ! This I am ready to be
lieve, also, my daughter; and when I behold him
I am ready to do him the homage I would offer
to Isaiah or Daniel, were thev now alive. That
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 343
he is the Christ, I cannot yet believe; for Christ
is to be a prince and king, and to sit on the
throne of David, and give laws to the nations;
before whom every crowned head shall fall pros
trate, every knee bow in reverence, and at whose
feet the sceptres of the earth shall be laid in sub
mission! A humble carpenter's son, prophet of
God though he may be, cannot realize the idea
of the person of the Messias! Turn to Esaias,
and behold how his language glitters with the
splendor of the prophesies he enunciates of the
power, glory, and dominion on earth, of the Son
of David! How can these prophetic words ap
ply to the prophet whom you love to honor?
That the hand of the Lord is upon him, and that
mighty works show forth themselves in him,
doubtless cannot be disputed; but that he is the
Shiloh of Jacob, the kingly Lion of the tribe of
Judah, I cannot, for a moment, entertain the
idea; for if I accept him as Messias, neither have
I, nor my countrymen at large in Israel, nor the
scribes, nor the fathers in Jerusalem, read the
Prophets aright, but rather with eyes blind
folded ; for to J esus they do not, cannot aim, else
we have altogether misunderstood what is writ
ten in Moses and in the Prophets, and in the
Psalms, concerning the Christ."
Such, my dear father, is a part of your letter,
which I quote, in order to reply to it, if I may do
so, without presumption.
You confess, dearest father, that you are at
length convinced that Jesus is a Prophet, and
that God is with him, for he could not do such
344 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
great miracles, except the power of God was
upon him. Now, if God co-operates with Jesus ;
if God, so to speak, lends him his power, endows
him with his own attributes, so that, like God, he
heals, stills tempests, restores lost limbs, raises
the dead from their graves alive again, it is be
cause God has chosen him from among men, in
order to clothe him with his mighty and divine
attributes. Now, that he chose him, and invested
him therewith, it is evident that he did so because
he delights in him; because he loves him, and
would greatly honor him. To be the chosen re
cipient, by the Lord God Jehovah, of such mighty
powers, Jesus must be good, must be holy, pious,
and full of those holy virtues in which the Al
mighty delights ; in a word, God must approve of
his character and be content with whatsoever is
done by him.
Now Jesus, thus favored by God, whose power
to work miracles you yourself, my dear father,
have confessed must be conferred by Jehovah
alone, distinctly and everywhere asserts that he
is Messias, the Son of God, the Shiloh of Israel,
of whom Moses and the Prophets so eloquently
wrote. Besides claiming for himself this high
character, he was heard, both by my Uncle Amos
and myself, in the synagogue at Bethany, two
days after he raised Lazarus from the dead, to
read from Esaias the words following, and apply
them to himself, which he had done also before
at Nazareth:
"The spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he
hath anointed me to preach the Gospel to the
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 345
poor: he hath sent me to heal the broken
hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives,
and recovery of sight to the blind: to set at
liberty them that are bruised: to preach the ac
ceptable year of the Lord."
When he had read this prophecy, which all our
people, dear father, do acknowledge to refer to
Messias, when he cometh, he closed the book,
and gave it again to the officiating scribe, and
sat down. The synagogue was thronged, so
that people trod upon one another; for the fame
of his miracles had brought people to hear and
see him, not only from Jerusalem, but from all
Judea, and Decapolis, and beyond Jordan; nay,
his fame, it seemeth, is spread abroad in all the
world. All eyes are now intent, and all ears are
ready to hear what he should speak. He then
said unto them-, "This day is this Scripture ful
filled in your ears. Ye ask me, oh scribes and
men 01 Israel,- to tell you plainly who I am,
whether I am the Christ or no. What saith the
Prophet of the Messias when he shall come? Ye
have just heard his words. If such works as he
prophesieth do show forth themselves in me, ye
know who I am."
Here a voice cried out in the assembly:
"Tell us plainly, art thou Christ, the Son of the
Highest?"
At this direct inquiry there was intense in
terest shown to hear the reply.
Jesus was about to answer, when a man, who
stood near the reading desk, in whom was an un-
22
346 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
clean spirit, cried out, with a shrieking voice of
mingled terror and awe:
"Let me alone! Leave me as I am, thou Jesus
of Nazareth! Art thou come hither to destroy
me ! I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of
God?"
Upon this Jesus turned to the multitude, and
said: "The very devils bear witness to me, who I
am! and if these should hold their peace, these
walls would find voices, and speak." Then Jesus
rebuked the devil which possessed the man (who
was Jaius, a Roman proselyte of the gate, who
had long spread terror .in the suburbs, by his ex
ceeding madness and ferocity), and said to the
devil, in a voice of a master commanding a bond
slave:
"Hold thy peace, Satan! The Son of Man
needeth not, though thou givest it, thy testi
mony. Hold thy peace, and come out of the
man !"
At this word the man uttered a fearful cry of
despair and rage, and foaming at the mouth, cast
himself, or rather was thrown down by the devil
within him, to the ground; where, after a mo
ment's terrific struggle, with contortions of
bodily anguish, he lay senseless as if dead.
Jesus took him by the hand, and he stood up,
and looking in the face of the Prophet with earn
estness and wonder, he burst into tears of grati
tude, exclaiming:
"I am escaped as a bird out of the snare of the
fowler; the snare is broken, and I am escaped.
God hath delivered me out of the hand of my
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. St
enemy!" He then sat at the feet of Jesiii calm,
grateful, happy, and in his right mind, while all
gazed on him with wonder; while from the great
mass of the people rose a great shout (for they
were all amazed), saying:
"This is none other than the Christ, the son of
David! This is the king of Israel!" While the
loud shouts of "Hosanna! hosanna! hosanna!"
cheered by a thousand voices, "Hosanna to our
king!" shook like a passing storm the syna
gogue.
At this, when the noise had a little subsided,
some of the Scribes and Pharisees said, reprov
ing him for not rebuking" these cries-.
"Who is this that suffereth himself to be hailed
as king! This is treason to the emperor!"
At this moment, TEmilius, the Roman knight,
appeared at the door of the synagogue, attended
by half a dozen soldiers, he happening to be pass
ing at the moment on some duty, and stopped to
listen. No sooner did the eyes of these wicked
Jews catch the gleam of his helmet, and behold
his tall plume rising above the head of his people,
than they cried out, with eager loyalty, to their
conquerors, at the same time looking at ^Emilius,
to get his approbation:
"We have no king but Csesar! Down with
the traitor! He who maketh himself king rebels
against our most mighty emperor. Away with
him! Arrest him, most noble Roman! Drag
him before the Procurator Pilate!"
^Emilius who well understands these envious
Jews, and who is wise in the knowledge of what
23
348 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
Jesus teaches, and who loves him as a brother,
and reveres him as a father yEmilius remained
quiet, giving no signs that he would do the will
of these wicked enemies of the Prophet. Jesus
then said, in a loud, clear voice,
"My kingdom is not of this world! I seek not
an earthly throne or earthly sceptre. My king
dom is from above. Ye say truly, I am king,"
he added, with indescribable majesty of manner;
"and hereafter ye shall behold me sitting upon
the throne of heaven, high and lifted up, with the
earth my foot-stool, and before me every knee
shall bow, of things in heaven, of things on earth,
and things under the earth!"
When he had thus far spoken, he could not
proceed farther, on account of the sudden and
immense uproar which his words produced.
Some shouted "hosannas;" others said he blas
phemed; one cried for the Roman guard, another
for the priests, to eject him from the tribune;
many rushed towards him, to cast themselves at
his feet, while many, putting their fingers in their
ears, hurried forth from the synagogue, crying,
"His blasphemies will cause the house to fall
upon us, and crush us!"
Never was such an uproar heard. In the
midst of it Jesus conveyed himself away, none
knew where; and when I returned to the house
of Martha, I heard his low, earnest, touching
voice in prayer to God, in his little chamber.
He had sought its sacred quiet, to be alone with
his Father in Heaven! At times I could hear
him praying and supplicating, in tones of the
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 340
most heart-breaking pathos; at others, the silence
of his room was only broken, at intervals, by
sighs and pitiful groans, that seemed to come
from a breaking and crushed heart! Oh, what
hand may remove the veil, and reveal what
passed there in that holy retirement, between the
Prophet and his God! It was late in the day
when he came forth, Martha having softly tapped
at his door, to say that the evening meal was
prepared, and alone waited for him. When he
appeared, his face was colorless and bore traces
of weeping, and though he smiled kindly upon us
all, as he was wont to do, there was a deep-seated
sorrow upon his countenance, that brought tears
to my eyes! ./Emilius joined us at the table, and
with dear Lazarus and with Uncle Amos, we
passed a sacred hour; for the Prophet ate not,
but talked to us much and sweetly of the love of
God; and as all listened, the viands were for
gotten, notwithstanding Martha more than once
ventured to remind her blessed guest that such
and such a thing was before him, and that she
had prepared it for him with her own hands.
But, like him, we all feasted upon the heavenly
food, the bread of life, which fell, like manna,
from his consecrated lips.
Such, then, my dear father, is the testimony,
as you have seen, in what I have above related,
which Jesus publicly bears to himself, that he is
the very Christ who should come into the world.
There can be no further doubt of the fact now that
he has so plainly stated it, pointing to the proph-
350 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
ecies, which he is daily fulfilling by mighty
works, in proof of the truth of his assertion.
Now to what irresistible conclusion, to what
inevitable consequence, do we arrive? Is it not
that He is the Christ? This result cannot be
avoided. Either Jesus is Messias, as he asserts,
and his miracles prove, or he is not. Now if he
is not, then he is an imposter and a falsifier, as
well as a fearful blasphemer of Jehovah! If he is
these three, we then have the Almighty confer
ring upon an imposter his own Almighty attri
butes, giving him power to heal, to cast out
devils, to control the elements, to raise the dead!
that is, bearing testimony to the truth of one
whom He never sent, empowered, nor author
ized to be his Christ, and in whom there is no
truth.
Moreover, the miracles of Jesus, you admit,
prove him to have come from God, while you
deny his claim to be Messias. Now, if Jesus
truly came from God, as, looking at his miracu
lous power, you readily admit, he cannot be a
sinner: he, therefore, cannot assert of himself
what is not true. Yet he asserts that he is the
Christ. He, then, either did come from God, or
he is a deceiver, and there is no truth in him!
But you will not consent to charge such char
acter upon a man who heals with a word, who
casts out demons, who raises the dead to life, and
who proclaims such pure precepts, and the neces
sity of holiness in men, in order to enjoy the
favor of God! We, therefore, are forced to the
Irresistible conclusion, that either the miracu-
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID 351
lous power, with which Jesus is invested, did
come from God, and that he is, as he says, the
true and very Christ of the prophets and pa
triarchs, or that God has endowed a blasphemer
of his name, an imposter, with his own powers,
and indorses the imposture by continuing these
powers to him in every miracle that he performs.
Jesus is, therefore, the Christ. Do not, by any
artful subterfuge, dearest father, attempt to avoid
this conclusion! Jesus is the Christ, or we make
both God and the Prophet liars and co-partners
in an enormous imposture ! Jesus is Christ, and
let God be true, though all men be found liars.
Pardon me, dearest father, if I have been too
warm and urgent in my efforts to bring you to
accept Jesus as the Christ. Convinced, as I am,
that he is Messias, I cannot but ardently desire
that you, also, should come to the knowledge of
this truth. What he is yet to be, how he is yet
to develop his majesty and power, is unknown
to us all. Some do think that he will enter Jeru
salem, ere long, attended by tens of thousands of
his followers, and that before him Pilate will
peaceably vacate his Procuratoral chair, and re
tire, not only from the Holy City, but from
Judea, with his legions; and that Jesus will as
cend the throne of David; the glory of the age
of Solomon be revived under his rule; and with
the kingdom of Judah for the centre of his power,
he will extend the sceptre of his dominion from
sea to sea, and from the river of Egypt and of
the East, to the ends of the earth, till all nations
shall fall down before him, emperors and kings
352 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OP DAVID.
sit at his feet, and every tongue and language
and speech in the whole world acknowledge him
to be the King of Israel, King of kings and Lord
of Lords; while under the splendor of his reign
Jerusalem and Judah will be more powerful than
all the cities and kingdoms that have ever been
on the earth, and to the dominion and glory of
our people there will be no end.
Such, dear father, is the future of Jesus, as
looked for by all his disciples, save one, and this
is John, the betrothed of my cousin Mary. He
is more closely intimate with Jesus than any
other man; and is so beloved by him that he
makes known to him many things which he with
holds from the rest. John, on hearing our views
of the coming glory of the Prophet, looks sadly,
and says:
"Not now not here not in this world! The
glory of Jesus you will behold, but first, we must
pass through the valley of darkness, the gate of
the tomb. His kingdom is not on the earth, but
in the heavens. Here, I fear, he will pass
through suffering and sorrow, and, perhaps, a
painful death, for he has told me that he came to
suffer and die, and that he can only win, bleeding
from every vein, the kingdom, over which he is
hereafter to reigri in endless dominion. Pre
pare your hearts, dear friends," he would say, "to
be rent, and your eyes for tears, rather than fill
your imaginations with pictures of glory, splen
dor and power. He has distinctly said to me, 'I
must first suffer many things at the hands of
men, before I enter upon my reign of glory,
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 353
The Jews will seek me to kill me, and I shall be
taken from among you; but let not sorrow fill
your hearts. Death can have no power over me
save such as I permit it to hold. I lay down my
life, and I take it again. Through much tribula
tion and sorrow must the Son of God win the
sceptre of this earth from him who hath the
power over the nations, even from Satan, the
prince of this world. I shall conquer, but I must
first fall. Yet fear not! I shall make death the
gateway to Paradise for you all!'
"Such," -says John, "are the mysterious and
sorrowful words which he has often spoken to
me. What they mean, or how to understand
them, I know not; for I cannot comprehend how
lie who can raise the dead can die, or how he who
can calm a tempest can suffer himself to be taken
and slain by men, the tempest of whose wrath
he could as easily pacify!"
Thus, dear father, do we discourse together
about this wonderful Prophet, whose future life
is all a mystery, save that, from the prophecies,
we know it is to be inconceivably glorious, but
from his own lips, first to be inconceivably sor
rowful. But, whether on a throne, giving laws
to the world, or in the dust, borne down by the
deepest woe, I shall still love, honor, reverence
Him, and trust in Him, as my Saviour, my
Prince, and the Holy One of God !
Your devoted and loving
ADINA.
LETTER XXIX.
My Dearest Father: With what emotions of
grief and amazement I commence this letter, you
can form no just conception. Jesus, the Pro
phet of God, is a prisoner to the Roman power!
He is accused of making himself a king, and of
a conspiracy to re-establish the throne of David !
And who, think you, have accused him of this
noble effort, but the Jews, our own, his own peo
ple! men who should glory in seeing the do
minion of the Caesars at an end; men who should
blush longer to have Mount Zion commanded
by a Roman citadel. These base, degraded, and
wicked scribes and priests, whom I am ashamed
to call my countrymen, have accused the
divinely-gifted Jesus, before Pilate, of rebellion
and treason! And at this moment, while I write,
he is in the ward-room of the Procurator's pal
ace, held a close prisoner.
But I fear not the issue! He cannot be holden
of hi* foes, save by his own free will. He can,
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 356
with a word, turn his chains into bands of sand,
and by a glance render his guards dead men!
He will, therefore, escape their bonds! They
can have no power over him. But will not the
Lord God punish our nation for this sin and en
mity against His Christ? You will ask, my
father, why, if he possesses such mighty power,
hath he suffered himself to be taken prisoner?
This question I cannot answer. It troubles me.
I wonder, and am transfixed with amazement.
Everyone around me asks the same question.
Our house is thronged with his friends, who,
midnight as it is, have come hither to hear if the
rumor is true. Five of his disciples are with
Uncle Amos in the court, giving an account of
the manner of his arrest, which I will relate to
you, although it increases the mystery.
It seems that to-day, after eating the Passover
with his twelve chosen friends, he went forth
with them towards Olivet, and there seating him
self beneath the shade of a tree, he talked with
them very sadly, saying that his hour was come,
that he had ended his work, and that he was
about to be delivered into the hands of sinful
men.
John, upon being questioned by cousin Mary
and myself, thus told us: It was evening, and
the south side of Olivet lay in deep shadow. We
were all sorrowful. We felt each one of us, as if
some grievous evil was pending over us. The
tones of our beloved Master's voice moved us to
tears, as much as his words, which latter were
full of mystery. We were all present, excepting
356 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
Iscariot, who had remained in the city to dis
charge the costs, he being our purse-bearer, of
the Passover Supper, and pay for the hire of the
room. At that supper Jesus had said very
plainly, that one of our number would betray
him into the hands of the priests; who, since his
triumphant entry into the Holy City, preceded
and followed by the multitude, shouting hosan-
nas, and proclaiming him Messias, had diligently
sought his life. At hearing our Lord say these
strange words in accents of touching reproach,
we were all deeply moved ; and Peter and the rest
at once questioned him, individually, if it were
they. I was resting at the moment, with my
cheek on the shoulder of Jesus, and said softly:
"Lord, who is it that betrayeth thee? I will
forthwith lay hands upon him, and prevent his
doing thee harm!" Jesus shook his head, and
smiling gently, said:
"My beloved brother, thou knowest not what
J:hou wouldst do. The Son of Man must needs
be betrayed by his own friends, but woe unto
him who betrayeth me. See thou who dippeth
bread with me into the dish!"
I looked, and saw Judas reach forward, and
dip into the dish at the same instant in which
Jesus dipped; but in his eagerness, or from con
scious guilt, his hand trembled, he spilled the salt
on the board, and the sop fell from his grasp into
the bowl; upon which Jesus gave him the piece
he held, saying to him, with a remarkable expres
sion in his clear, piercing eyes: "Judas, what
thou doest do quickly!"
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 357
We were surprised at the tone and manner in
which this was spoken, but supposed the com
mand had reference to some of Judas's duties,
little suspecting what fearful thing he was to do!
Instantly Judas rose from the table, and without
a word, or casting a look at any of us, went out.
For a few moments, after his footsteps had
ceased to be heard, there prevailed a heavy
silence in the chamber; for a strange fear had
fallen upon us ; why we could not tell ; and look
ing into one anothers faces, and then into our
dear Master's, we seemed to await some dread
event. His face was placid, and full of affection,
as he looked upon us. The momentary cloud,
which shaded the noble profile when he spoke to
Judas, had passed off, and there was the serenity
of a cloudless sky in his face.
"My children," he said, "I am to be with you
but a little while longer. The hour of my de
parture is at hand. Remember my last words,
Love one another! In this shall all men know
that ye are my disciples."
"Lord," cried Peter, "we will go with thee!
Thou shalt not leave us! nor go without us!"
"The priests seek to kill thee, and thy foot
steps are watched!" exclaimed Andrew, earn
estly.
"Yes, we will not suffer thee, dear Rabbi, to go
abroad alone," said James, with enthusiasm;
"our hearts and hands will defend thee!"
^"Whither wilt thou depart, Lord?" I asked,
with emotion. "Thou wilt not trust thyself to
the Jews?"
358 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
Thus we all, eagerly and tearfully, gathered
around him, alarmed and grieved at the words
he had said, He regarded us lovingly, and said:
"Little children, I must leave you. Whither I
go you cannot come!"
"Though thou wentest to the uttermost parts
of the sea, I will follow thee, my Master and
Lord!" exclaimed Peter. "Whither goest thou,
that we may not follow? I will lay down my life
for thee, and so will all these!"
With one voice we asserted our devotion to
our beloved Master, and secretly, I asked him
whither he intended to go, and why he forbade
us to go with him?
"As Abraham bound Isaac his son, and laid
him upon the wood, so shall my Father cause me
to be bound and laid upon the wood; and shall
slay me, a sacrifice for the sins of his people!"
"Not so! not so! Lord," cried Peter. "I will
die for thee, ere a hair of thy head shall fall."
And the warm-hearted disciple drew his sword,
and placed himself by the side of Jesus, as if to
defend him.
"Wilt thou die for me, Peter?" said Jesus, gaz
ing on him with a sad, sweet look: "Verily,
verily, Peter, thou little knowest thyself. The
cock shall not crow twice, heralding the coming
morning, ere thou shalt thrice deny that thou
knowest me!"
"Deny thee, Lord!" repeated Peter, with
amazed grief and horror in his looks.
"Yes, Peter," answered Jesus, firmly, but
kindly; "deny that you ever knew me; for the
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 359
time draweth near when there will be safety only
in confessing ignorance of Jesus the Nazarene.
And all of you," he added, while his voice grew
tremulous, and tears glistened in his eyes, "all of
you shall be offended because of me, this night;
ye shall be ashamed to confess that you are my
disciples, and ye will think me a deceiver, and
will be displeased at me. Yea, every one of you
shall desert me ; for thus it is written : 'The Shep
herd shall be smitten, and the sheep shall be
scattered!' "
At hearing these words, we knew not what to
answer; but I kissed my dear Lord's hand, and
said, that if danger were hanging over him, as it
seemed, 1 would share it with him!
When he saw that our hearts were troubled,
and that we were sad, and that the faithful Philip
sobbed aloud, at being supposed capable of aban
doning his Master, he added, "Let not your
hearts be troubled; I go to prepare a place for
you in my Father's house!"
"Thy father, Lord, liveth at Nazareth, and
hath but two small apartments in his humble
house," said Thomas; "how sayest thou that we
are all to lodge there!"
"Thomas, thou canst understand only what
thine eyes see. I speak of my Father who is in
Heaven. In His house are many mansions."
Jesus then began plainly to tell us that he was
to die, and that by his death we should be ad
mitted into a heavenly Paradise, and live forever.
We could not understand all he said, but we
knew that he was soon to be taken from us; and
360 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
sorrow filled all our hearts. After discoursing
with us in the most touching words, he at length
said:
"Come, let us go over to Cedron, to the gar
den we so much loved to walk in."
We went out with him, inclosing him as a
guard, to conceal his person from the Jewish
spies, as well as to defend him. Peter and
James went before with drawn swords. In this
way we passed through the gloomy streets, and
forth from the gate, which Pilate suffered to be
open day and night, on account of the crowds at
the Passover, coining in and going out. The
moon shining brightly, and by its light glancing
on the face of Jesus, by whom I walked, I saw
that it was sadder than its wont, while he spoke
but little.
We at length crossed the Cedron, and entered
the dark groves of Olivet. Familiar with all the
paths, we advanced to a central group of the
venerable Olivet trees, beneath which Abraham
used to sit, and there Jesus, turning to us, said,
in a voice of the deepest woe:
"Friends, the hour of my time of trial is come!
My work is ended. I would be alone! Remain
you here, and watch, for we shall be sought for.
Come with me, Peter, and you, also, James. I
am going to pray yonder."
"Not take me, also, dear Lord?" I said, sor
rowfully.
"Yes, thoti art always with me, beloved," he
answered ; "1 will not leave thee now."
So leaving the eight friends to keep watch
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 361
against the intrusion of his enemies, who were
known to be everywhere seeking him, he walked
away to the most secluded recesses of the garden.
He stopped at the place, near the rock, where
Adam is said to have hidden from Jehovah ; and,
saying to us, in a sorrowful tone: "Tarry ye here,
while I go apart, and pray to my Father," he
went from us about a stone's cast, and kneeled
down, where a thick olive branch, hanging low
to the ground, concealed him from our view. I
was so solicitous lest he should leave us, and we
should see him no more, that I soon softly ad
vanced near to the spot, and beheld him pros
trate on the ground, while deep groans broke
from his heart. I heard his voice murmuring,
but could not distinguish the words, broken by
grief; only the tones were those of strange hor
ror and dread.
As he prayed thus, in great agony, I suddenly
beheld a swift light pass by me, as if from the
skies, and an angel stood by the side of Jesus,
bending over him, and raising him up from the
ground. A soft bright glory shone around the
spot, so that Peter, seeing it, advanced towards
me, supposing some one had entered the garden,
bearing a torch. I beckoned to Peter to be
motionless, and he gazed with me in speechless
astonishment and admiration upon the form of
the angel, from whose glorious face was emitted
the radiance which illumined the place where
Jesus was. As the angel raised Jesus from the
ground, we saw that his countenance was con
vulsed with anguish; and upon his brow stood
23
362 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
great shining drops of sweat, mingled with
blood, which oozed from his pallid temples, and
rolling down his marble cheeks, dropped to the
ground. Never had we beheld a human visage
so marred by sorrow, so deeply graven with the
lines of agony.
The angel seemed to utter soothing words, and
pointed, with his shining hand, towards heaven,
as if to encourage him with hope, and give him
strength. The face of Jesus grew more serene;
he raised his eyes with a divine expression of
holy submission, and said, in a strong voice:
"Thy will, not mine, O God, be done!"
The angel then seemed to embrace and kiss
him, and rose and disappeared, like a star return
ing into the blue depths of heaven; while Peter
and I stood by wondering, and full of awe, at
what we saw.
"How looked the angel?" I asked of my cousin
John, interrupting him in his recital.
"As a young and noble youth, with a coun
tenance so dazzling I could not look upon him
steadily. He seemed to be clothed in flowing
raiment, silvery white; and a fragrance, more
delicate and grateful than the subtlest attar of
roses of India, was diffused by his presence
throughout the garden, while the sound of his
voice seemed to fill all the air with strange musi
cal vibrations, unlike anything heard on earth."
"Had the angel wings?" asked my cousin
Mary.
"Nay. I could not well discern," answered
John. "His robes seemed to shape themselves
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 363
into wings, as he rose from the earth; and when
he stood they flowed with living grace about his
god-like form. After the departure of the angel,
Jesus seemed calmer, and as we did not wish
longer to intrude upon his sacred privacy, we
softly returned to where James lay asleep. We
remained for some time conversing together
upon the wonderful vision we had seen, which
confirmed us in the certainty that Jesus came
from God, and was in truth the Messias, that
should come; but at length, wearied with our
day's excitements, we must have fallen asleep, for
we were suddenly startled by the voice of our
dear Master, saying:
"Why sleep ye, children? But the hour is
past for watching. Ye may sleep on now, for
though your flesh is weary, your spirit is willing.
I need your aid no longer!"
But we refused to sleep longer. We then ad
vanced to where the other disciples were, and
found them also asleep.
"Arise, let us be going!" cried Jesus, in a tone
that roused them to their feet; "they are at hand
who seek me!"
While he was speaking, we saw many lights
gleaming through the trees, along King David's
walk, and the tramp of feet fell on our ears. We
soon saw a large party advancing into the midst
of the garden, who walked rapidly, and spoke
only in undertones. We at once took the alarm,
and said to Jesus:
"Fly, dear Master! Let us ascend the hill,
24
364 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
and escape by the way to Bethany; for these are
enemies."
"Nay," answered our dear Master; "I must
submit to my Father's will. It must needs be
that I deliver myself into the hands of these men ;
how else shall the Scriptures be fulfilled! Seek
safety in flight for yourselves; but I must go
whither they will lead me."
"Not so, Lord," answered Peter. "There is
time for thee to escape; or if not, we wall stand
by thee, and defend thee!"
So said all the disciples. Jesus shook his
head, and said, with a sad smile, "Ye know not
now 7 what ye say, or would do. My hour is
come!"
While he yet spake, the multitude drew nearer,
and those who had the lead, raising their torches
high above their heads, discovered us, with Jesus
in the midst. To my surprise I beheld Judas
acting as their guide, for he alone knew where
his Master was to be found at that hour. Upon
discovering Jesus, this wicked man ran forward,
with expressions of attachment in his face, and
kissed Jesus on the cheek, saying:
"Hail, Master! I am glad I have found thee!"
"Judas," said Jesus, "betrayest thou the Son
of Man with a kiss!"
When Judas heard this, he turned to the multi
tude, at the head of which I recognized some of
the chief priests, and most learned scribes of the
Temple, and cried aloud:
"This is he! seize him, and hold him fast!"
Thereupon the crowd, to the number of ten-
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 365
score men, among whom were the vilest sort of
people, rushed forward to lay hands upon Jesus:
the moon and torches shedding almost the bright
light of day upon the whole group.
At seeing them advance so furiously, with
spears, arid clubs, and swords, Peter and James
placed themselves before Jesus, to defend him,
while I, being unarmed, cast myself across his
breast, to shield his heart with my body. The
more bold men in the crowd coming too near,
Peter smote one of them with his sword, as he
was reaching out his arm to grasp Jesus by the
shoulder, and clave off his ear. At seeing this
the crowd uttered a fierce shout, and were press
ing upon us, when Jesus raised the palm of his
hand, and said, quietly:
"Whom seek ye?"
Instantly the whole mass rolled backward, like
a receding billow rebounding from the face of an
immovable rock, and every man fell with his
forehead to the ground, where they lay for a min
ute stunned; and we twelve stood alone, save
Judas, who had not been struck down, and now
remained gazing with amazement and terror
upon the prostrate enemies of Jesus.
"Lord!" cried Peter, astonished, "if thou canst
thus repel thy foes, thou needest not fear them
more. Shall I smite Judas also?"
"Nay put up thy sword, Peter! Let him re
main to witness my power, that he may see that
he nor his have any power over me, save what I
give them."
While he was thus speaking, the men rose to
their feet, and instead of flying, they seemed to
366 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
be infuriated at their discomfiture; and as the
chief priests cried out that it was by sorcery they
had been stricken down, they rushed madly for
ward, and laid their hands upon Jesus, and upon
us all. In vain I contended against numbers to
rescue Jesus! in vain the sword of the valiant
Peter flashed in the torchlight, and fell upon the
heads of the captors; overpowered by numbers,
we were defeated, and driven from the field of
contest, leaving Jesus in the hands of his ene
mies!
When John had gone thus far in his relation,
dear father, our tears and his w r ere mingled. We
wondered that Jesus, who could, as he had
shown, destroy his enemies with a wave of his
hand, should suffer them to make him their
prisoner; for in their hands he knew he must die!
This amazes and bewilders us. At one moment
we are tempted to lose our confidence in him,
and believe, as many now begin to say, that we
have been following a deceiver, and in the next
to trust fully in him, and that he will yet over
come his enemies, and be restored to us. Every
step we hear at the door makes our blood bound,
for we think it may be our beloved Lord escaped
from the hands of his captors. We must wait
the issue with hope and faith! To-morrow will,
perhaps, reveal all. The mystery that envelops
this great Prophet is inscrutable. The seeming
contradictions that make up his character, be
wilder us. But we try and comfort ourselves
with the word of his promise:
"Ye know not now : but ye shall know by and
by, and shall believe truly, that I came out from
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 367
God! What seems to you mysterious, shall be
made clear as light. Wait, and have faith, and
all shall be made known which now you under
stand not. Let no trials and degradations ye see
me pass through cause your faith to fail. I am
come into this world to conquer; but it is expe
dient first that I humble myself; but if I stoop, it
is to raise up the world with me, when I rise
again !"
Ah, it is stooping, indeed, for this Prince of the
Prophets to suffer himself to be led away bound
by his foes! But we hope with trembling, dear
father, remembering his words!
I have omitted to mention to you what more
John related, touching the arrest of the Prophet.
As the chief priests bound and laid their hands
on him, there was heard above in the air the
sound of myriads of rushing wings, and the
gathering signal of a trumpet echoing in the
skies, as if a countless host of invisible beings
were marshalling, armies by armies, in the mid-
heaven. At this fearful and sublime sound, all
raised their heads, but saw nothing; and Jesus
said, with a majestic and commanding look, such
as I never before beheld upon his face:
"Ye hear," he said to us, " that I am not with
out heavenly friends! I have only to pray my
Father, which is in heaven, and He will bid
twelve legions of his angels, now hovering,
sword-armed, in the air, and yearning to defend
me, descend to my aid! But I may not use my
powers for myself. I came on earth to suffer.
As a man, I must submit to all things that come
upon me; nor make use of more means in my
368 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
behalf than a man can do ! For this I came into
the world. Lead on, I go with you!"
Thus, dear father, was Jesus borne away by a
fierce multitude, and dragged into the city, fol
lowed by a shouting and insulting crowd, who,
seeing that, notwithstanding his miraculous
powers, they could secure and hold him, mocked
him only the more, making light of powers
which could not prevent the capture of his per
son. Some even reviled him on the way, and
asked him to call down the twelve legions of
angels; while others said they were hungry and
thirsty, and would have him turn water into wine
for them, and give them bread by another miracle
of loaves.
John, whose interest in, and affection for Jesus,
led him to follow them, disguised in a Roman
soldier's cloak, heard all this; but Jesus made no
answer, only walking quietly along, patiently en
during all they said and did.
As they entered the Damascus gate, the Ro
man guard, seeing the immense crowd and up
roar, stopped them to learn the cause of the
commotion.
"We have here a traitor and conspirator, O
Captain of the guard," answered Eli, the chief
priest; "a pestilent fellow, who calls himself
Christ, a king. We have, therefore, with this
band of hired soldiers, taken him, as he was met
secretly, with twelve of his fellow conspirators,
plotting to overthrow the government of Caesar,
and make himself king of Judea."
"Long live Csesar! Long live the emperor!"
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 369
shouted the Roman soldiers. "We have no king
but Augustus Imperator!"
Upon this, many of the soldiers cried, "Take
him before the Procurator! He will give him
his deserts, who would take his Procuratorship
from him! To Pilate! To Pilate!"
U T Annas!" shouted the Jews. "First, to
Annas!"
Then, with some shouting one thing, and
others another thing, and with vast numbers of
those who had come up to the Passover pressing
to get sight of the Prophet, he was hurried
towards the house of Annas, who is the most
popular man among our people, and whose in
fluence over them is unbounded. On reaching,
with great uproar of voices, and by the light of
torches, the dwelling of the High Priest's son-in-
law, they called him to the roof of the house, to
which he came in his night apparel ; for it was by
this time near the hour of midnight.
When Annas knew that the prisoner was Jesus,
he uttered a fearful oath of joy and wicked satis
faction, and coming down into the court, bade
them bring the prisoner in. The calm majesty
of Jesus abashed him, and checked the course of
insulting questions he began to put to him. At
length, finding that the Prophet would make him
no reply, he caused him to be bound still more
closely, and sent him to Caiaphas the High
Priest, saying to him:
1 Caiaphas will find voice for thy tongue, O
Prophet! So, thou wouldst destroy the Temple,
and callest thyself the Lord Jehovah! Out, blas
phemer! Away with him, or the house will be
370 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
swallowed up with the presence of one so im v
pious. Away with the blasphemer! Pilate will
make thee king in truth, and give thee a Roman
throne, to which, so that thou mayest not pres
ently fall from it, he will nail thee, foot and
hand!"
At this the crowd shouted their approbation;
and many cried:
"To the cross! to the cross with him!"
But others said: "Nay, but to Caiaphas!"
While the Roman soldiers asserted that he
should be taken before Pilate.
With renewed uproar, they tumultuously
pressed forward, their way lighted by the red
glare of a hundred torches. John followed, but
being recognized as one of his disciples, by a
soldier in Jlimilius's legion, he was seized, and
only escaped by leaving his cloak in the hands of
the rude Roman; for such was the prevalent
hatred to Jesus, that they called for his followers,
and would have taken them also had it been in
their power. Five of the disciples, who have es
caped arrest, are now in this house, whither John
fled on eluding the grasp of the soldier. We are
all sad and anxious. To move in favor of Jesus
is only to share his fate, and do him no service;
besides, I am pained to say, two or three of his
disciples begin to doubt whether he is Messias.
since, instead of establishing his promised king
dom, he is now a prisoner, and menaced with
death.
Yet, through all, dear father, I trust in him,
and hope. I cannot doubt his truth and power.
I have seen him bring Lazarus from the grave,
THI PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 871
and I will not believe but that He can save him
self, and will save himself, from their hands. It is
only when I shall behold him really no more see
him really dead, that my faith in his divine mis
sion will waver. If he should be slain, then,
alas! not only will perish forever all my hopes,
and those of his trembling, weeping disciples, but
the hopes ot the restoration and glory of Judah ;
for verily we have believed that it is He which
should have redeemed Israel! With eyes
blinded with tears, I can scarcely subscribe
myself,
Your sad, but loving daughter,
ADINA.
LETTER XXX.
My Dear Father: I know not how to write
I know not what to say. Dismay and sorrow fill
my heart. I feel as if life were a burden too
heavy to bear. Disappointment and regrets are
all that remain to me. He, in whom I trusted
He, whom thousands in Judah had begun to look
upon as the hope of the nation He who, as his
now wretched disciples trusted, would have re
deemed Israel Jesus, has been delivered, this
morning, by the Roman Procurator, to be con
demned to death, and they have crucified him!
Tears of grief unutterable fall upon the parch
ment as I write, and, more eloquently than any
words, tell you how I am smitten by this heavy,
heavy blow! Jesus the noble, mild, courteous,
and wise Prophet, who taught with such grace
and wisdom, and whom we believed to be sent
from God to be the Saviour of our people, and the
Prince who should sit on the throne of David, to
restore the former splendor of our nation is
THE PKINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 373
dead! With him have perished all our hopes!
When he bowed his bleeding head on the cross,
the necks of weeping Judah bent once more to
the dust, to receive the yoke of Rome, from
which they believed he would have delivered
them. With him has been quenched the rising
light of the sun of the Messias, who we hoped
and believed that he was. But we hope no more!
The daughters of Israel may now sit in the dust,
and cover themselves with veils of woe; for he in
whom they trusted is dead! Confounded and
dismayed, his followers wander in the fields, or
hide themselves from the multitude who seek
their lives also. Alas! I cannot refrain from
weeping bitter, bitter tears. How hath the Lord
covered the daughters of Zion with a cloud in his
anger, and cast down from Heaven unto earth
the beauty of Israel. "All they that pass by," as
saith the Prophet, "will clap their hands at us,
who trusted in him, and wag their heads at the
daughters of Jerusalem: Is this the man the
mighty Prophet, whom men called the Son of the
Highest, the Messias of God the Prince of
David the excellency of wisdom and the joy of
the earth? The punishment of thine iniquity is
accomplished, O Daughter of Zion!"
Thus do I weep, and thus do I complain; for
verily fear and a snare is come upon us, desola
tion and destruction, O my father! We know
not which way to turn! He in whom we trusted
has proved as one of us, weak and impotent, and
has suffered death without power to save himself.
He that saved others could not escape the death
of the Roman cross! While I write, I hear the
374 THE PRINCE OP THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
priest Abner, in the court below, mocking my
Uncle Amos in a loud voice:
"Your Messias is dead! A famous great
prophet, surely, you Nazarenes have chosen
born in a stable, and crucified as a thief! Said
I not that he who could speak against the Temple
and the priesthood was of the devil?"
Rabbi Amos makes no reply. Shame and
despair seal his lips. Thus our enemies triumph
over us, and we answer only with confusion of
face. Even the disciples are outlawed, and a re
ward offered by Caiaphas for their arrest ; and all
those who, two days ago, were so full of hope,
and proud to sit at the feet of Jesus, and to follow
him whithersoever he went, now fear to confess
that they have ever known or seen him. It is
only the high rank, as a priest, of my Uncle
Amos, which protects him or his household from
arrest.
But, my dear father, to whom I have ever con
fided all my feelings and thoughts, shall we pro
nounce Jesus an impostor! Oh, can he whose
very countenance was stamped with celestial dig
nity, whose lips dispensed truths such as the
wisest philosophers and holiest prophets
have loved to study and teach; whose
whole life has been blameless, and who
has lived only to do good can he be, must
he be pronounced a deceiver? When I re
call the sick he has cured, the indigent he has re
lieved, the mourners he has comforted, the igno
rance he has enlightened, the dead he has up
raised, the sublime truths he has taught, his love
of God, his respect for the worship of the Temple.
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 375
the perfect morality of his daily life, the sincerity
of all he said, and the universal sympathy which
seemed to fill his bosom for all who were in sor
row I cannot, oh, I cannot bring my pen to
write the word "impostor," in association with
his name. But what shall I substitute? Alas! I
feel desolate and miserable, like those who, con
fiding all -their heart's treasures to another's
keeping, whom they believed good and true, find
that he was unworthy of confidence and betrays
their trust. Jesus asserted that he came on earth
to establish a kingdom, and sit on the throne of
David; and that all nations would receive their
laws from Jerusalem. Where, now, is his power?
Where his throne? Where his laws? His power
is ended in death! His throne is the Roman
cross, placed between thieves; and the Roman
laws, or rather power, which he was to destroy,
have condemned himself to death !
This unexpected, this unlooked-for, startling
result has stupefied me! And not only me, but
all who have been so led by fascination to trust
in him. Even John, the beloved disciple, I hear
now pacing the floor of the adjoining room, sob
bing as if his noble heart would burst! Mary,
my cousin's sweet voice, I catch, from time to
time, trying to soothe him, although she is
stricken, like us all, to the very earth; for she
trusted in Jesus, if possible, with more faith than
I did; and hence her dismay at his death, at the
sudden termination of all her hopes in him, and
of his restoration of Israel is in proportion. We
have wept to-night in each other's arms, till we
had no more tears to shed ; and I have left her to
376 . THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
pour out my griefs to you. The unhappy John
despairingly answers her:
"Do not try to comfort me, Mary! There is no
ground for hope more! He is dead dead
dead! All is lost! We who trusted in him have
only to fly, if we would save our wretched lives,
into Galilee, and return once more to our nets!
The sun which shone so dazzlingly has proved a
phantom light, and gone out in darkness. He
whom I could not but love, I see that I loved too
well, since he was not what I believed him to be.
Oh, how could he be so like the Son of God, and
yet not be? Yet I loved him as if he were the
very Son of the Highest! But I have seen him
die like a man I have gazed on his lifeless body!
I have beheld the deep wound made in his very
heart by the Roman spear! I cast myself upon
him, and implored him, by his love for me, to
give some sign that he was not holden by death !
I placed my trembling hands over his heart. It
was still, still motionless as stone, like any other
dead man's! The flesh of his corpse was cold
and clammy! He was dead dead! With him
die all our hopes the hopes of Israel!"
"He may live again," said Mary, softly, and
hesitatingly, as if she, herself, had no such hope.
"He raised Lazarus, thou dost remember!"
''Yes, for Jesus was living to do it!" answered
John, stopping in his walk; "but how can the
dead raise the dead! No, he will never move,
speak, nor breathe again."
Thus, dear father, are we left to mourn with
shame at our delusion, and with utterly wrecked
hopes. I candidly acknowledge that I have been
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 377
too hasty to confess Jesus as Messias of God; but,
oh, what could I do but believe in one who
seemed so like an angel from heaven a celestial
Prince! There is a dreadful and deep mystery in
it all. To the last we believed he would free
himself, and escape death! For our sins God
has suffered this great disappointment to come
upon us all.
I try to seek some consolation in recalling all
that he was, good and holy; but this retrospect
only darkens the cloud of the present; for I irres
istibly argue: How could he, who was so good,
prove so great a deceiver? I live and breathe,
while he, who taught me that he had life in him
self, and who I believed could raise me from the
dead, if I died, he is now dead and laid in the
tomb; and yet I Live! He, over whom, we
fondly believed, Death could have no power,
since the doors of sepulchres opened at his voice,
and let forth their re-living tenants, he has been
conquered by death, and proved himself only the
mortal son of Joseph, and the widowed Mary.
She is inconsolable. Her distress is heartrend
ing to witness. Not only has she lost her only
son, about whom all her maternal sympathies
were entwined, as the vine encircles the lofty
palm, but she is humiliated in the very ashes of
shame, that he has died, leaving the thousands
who trusted to his word, fugitives for his name's
sake, and disappointed in all they expected from
him. Even now I hear her heavy sighs, from the
couch where she lies, broken-hearted, in my
aunt's chamber, to which John led her, after the
execution of Jesus, at his request. She asks to
24
378 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
be left alone, and I forget my own sorrows when
I think upon hers, which are greater than she can
bear; for, all at once, her son has been hurled
from the position in which he drew all eyes up
after him, and has died an ignominious death,
leaving behind him the stigma of an impostor's
fame. This pierces her heart more keenly, than
that she has been made childless. "Oh," I
heard her say to Rabbi Amos, when she came
into the house, "oh, that he could have deceived
me thus he whom I believed to be the soul of
truth. Alas! my son my son better hadst
thou remained in thy humble shop, leading a
lowly and useful life, than, for the temporary
popularity of a Prophet's name, have held out
hopes and promises to thy followers, that thou
couldst never realize, and meet with such a death !
This has made my heart bleed indeed! My gray
hairs will go down to the grave with shame, that
I am the mother of him who has deceived Israel."
But I will not dwell on this universal sorrow
sorrow mingled with mortification for the pride
of all has been humbled to the dust. I will give
you a description, dear father, of what occurred
after the arrest; for I wish you to be acquainted
with every particular respecting him, that you
may see how perfectly he sustained the lofty
character, which drew all men after him, to the
last standing before his judges, like a man sub
lime in the consciousness of innocence, and com
manding even the involuntary respect and admi
ration of his foes. Oh, how could he have been
a deceiver? Yet he is dead, and in that he is
dead, he has failed in all the glorious things
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 379
which he promised concerning himself. "His
death," says his disciple Peter, who was here to
night, to ask John what should now be done by
them, "his death is his infamy!"
But I will not further delay the account of his
trial and condemnation; for you will be earnest
to know how such a man could so fall as to be
condemned to a malefactor's death! In my last
letter I spoke of his arrest through the traitor
ous part enacted by Judas. Led by his captors,
bound by the wrists with a cord, he was taken
from the dark groves of Olivet, wherein he had
been found at prayer, and conducted with great
noise into the city by Csesar's gate. It is near
this archway that Rabbi Amos lives. It was the
third hour of the night, and I had just gone to
my room, which overlooked the street of David,
when I was startled by the suddenly-heard out
cries of fierce men, breaking the night's stillness.
Then I heard the quick challenges of the Roman
sentinels, the galloping of several horsemen, and
a confused tumult; the cries, in the meanwhile,
increasing. But I will copy for you Mary's ac
count of it to Martha, just written by her, instead
of adding any more to my own.
"I went out upon the basilica, which over
looked the street," says Mary to her sister, in her
letter, "and beheld a multitude advancing, with
torches flashing; and soon they came opposite
the house, at least two hundred men, half-clad
and savage-lookine, with flashing eyes and
scowling looks. Here and there, among them,
was a Levite urg-inp" them on, and I also beheld
Abner, the priest, firing their passions by loud
380 TITK PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
oratory and eager gesticulations. Behind rode
five Roman horsemen, with levelled spears,
guarding a young man, who walked in front of
their horses' heads. It was Jesus. His rich
auburn locks were dishevelled, his beard torn, his
face marred, and his garments rent. He was
pale and suffering, but walked with a firm step.
I burst into tears, and so did Adina, who had
come out to see what was passing. He looked
up, and said, touchingly, 'Weep not for me,
daughters of Jerusalem, but weep for yourselves.'
"He would have said more, but the priest
smote him rudely upon the mouth; and the
crowd, following his example, would have done
him further insult, but for the Roman soldiers,
who turned their spears every way, to guard him
from violence; for they had rescued him from
the terrible rage of the Jews, by their centurion's
orders, and were commanded to bring him safely
before Pilate. So, thus guarded and escorted,
by the men who thirsted for his blood, he was led
onward to the Pretorium, where the Roman Pro
curator resided. Gradually, the whole multi
tude, horsemen, Jews, priests, torch-bearers, and
captive, disappeared in the distance; and silence,
a dread and unearthly silence, succeeded. I
turned and looked in Adina's face. She was
leaning, colorless as marble, against one of the
columns of the basilica.
" 'What can all this mean?' she said, with emo
tion. 'Can it be possible he has suffered himself
to be taken He who could destroy or make
alive with a word? What means this dreadful
scene we have just witnessed?'
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 381
"I could not answer. It was inexplicable, in
comprehensible to me. All I knew was what my
eyes just beheld, that Jesus, our Prophet, our
King, our Messias, on whom all our hopes and
the joy of Israel rested, was dragged, a prisoner,
through the streets, helpless and without a
helper. I trembled with, I knew not what, un
known forebodings. Suddenly Adina cried:
'' 'He cannot be harmed! He cannot die!
He is a mighty Prophet, and has power that will
strike his enemies dead! Let us not fear. He
has yielded himself, only the more terribly to de
feat and destroy his foes. We will not fear what
Pilate or the priests will do ! They cannot harm
the anointed Shiloh of the Lord!'
"While we were yet talking, dearest Martha, a
dark figure passed steathily along beneath the
basilica, and seemed to court the shadows of the
house. At this moment, my father, Rabbi
Amos, opened the outer gate, with a torch in his
hand, to follow, at our request, the crowd of peo
ple, and see what should befall Jesus. The light
glared full upon the tall, spare form of Peter, the
Galilee fisherman. His dark, stern features
wore an expression of earnest anxiety. In his
hand he carried a naked sword, on which were
visible drops of blood.
" 'Is it them, Peter!' exclaimed my father.
What is this? Who has ordered the arrest of
Jesus? What has he done?'
" That hateful and envious man, Caiaphas,
seeks to destroy him, and has bribed, with large
lures of gold, the baser Jews to do this thing-.
Come with me, Rabbi, and let us die with him!'
382 THE FRINGE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
and the Galilean pressed eagerly forward at a
pace with which my father could not keep up.
''And this was an hour ago, and yet no news
has come from the Pretorium ; but, from time to
time, a dreadful shout from the hill, on which
the palace of Caiaphas stands, breaks upon my
ears; and the glare of unseen torches illumines
the atmosphere high above the towers of the
palace. It is a fearful night of agony and sus
pense. Adina in her painful uncertainty, but for
my entreaties, would go forth alone towards the
Pretorium, to hear and know all. I can keep
myself calm only by writing to you. Adina has
also commenced a letter to her father, recording
these sad things, but she drops her pen, to start
to the balcony at every sound. When will this
fearful night end! What will the morrow re
veal! Adina is confident nothing can befall the
holy Prophet, for he who could raise your
brother Lazarus from the dead cannot fear death.
Besides, has he not promised that he has come
from God, to be king of Israel? If he enters the
Pretorium a bound captive to-night, it will be to
sit upon the Roman throne within it to-morrow,
with Pilate in chains at his feet! I write this, to
send to you by Elec at dawn, that you and Laza
rus may hasten to come into the city to us. ...
"It is an hour since I wrote the last line. The
interval has been one of agony. Rumors have
reached us that the priests insist on Pilate's pass
ing sentence of death on the Prophet. The
cries, 'Crucify him! crucify him!' have distinctly
reached our ears. John is now here. About
half an hour after Jesus passed he reached the
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 38&
house, nearly destitute of apparel, his clothing
having been torn off from him by the Jews, in
their efforts to make him prisoner also. He is
calm and confiding, saying that his beloved
Master can never be injured by them; and that
he will, ere many hours, deliver himself from his
foes, and proclaim himself king of Israel, with
power such as man never had before! May the
God of Jacob defend him! John has just gone
up to the Temple, to get news, in disguise of a
priest, wearing my father's robes. I tremble lest
he be discovered, and taken; for the Jews are as
bitter against the followers as against their
Master.
##***#
"I have just seen a messenger, passing in great
haste along the street; and his horse falling, cast
him almost upon our threshold. It was the page
of ^Emilius, the noble Roman knight who is be
trothed to my cousin Adina. She hastened to
my aid. He was but stunned, and soon was able
to say, that he bore a message from Lucia Me-
tella, the fair and youthful bride of Pilate, urging
him to have nothing to do with the Prophet, but
give him his liberty; for she had just awaked
from an impressive dream, in which she saw him
sitting on the Throne of the Universe, crowned
with the stars of heaven, the earth the footstool
beneath his feet, and all nations assembled, and
doing him homage, while the gods and goddesses
of high Olympus cast their glittering crowns
and sceptres at his feet, and hailed him God!
"Such was the account given by the page to
Adina; and remounting his horse, he has con-
384 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
tinued rapidly on his way towards the Pretorium.
This report of the page has rilled our hearts with
joy and hope inexpressible. Confident that
Jesus is the son of God, we will not fear what
man can do unto him.
"It is now three hours past midnight, and the
dawn is chilly and cold, so that I cannot longer
hold my pen. I shall send this as soon as the
city gates are opened. Come at once to our
comfort; for this is no time for the friends of
Jesus to be out of Jerusalem.
"My father has returned. It is day. He says
nothing can save Jesus but his own divine power.
The Jews are in number many thousands, and
cry for his blood. Pilate has but a cohort of
soldiers, and fears to use force, lest the exasper
ated people break into open revolt, and take the
city from his hands, which they can do if they
will unite. 'He trembles,' said my father, 'be
tween fear to condemn the innocent, and fear of
the vengeance of the Jews, if he let him go.
Nothing can save the Prophet but his own
mighty miracle-working power. He who has
saved others, will surely save himself.'
"While my father was speaking, a man rushed
into our presence. He was low in stature, broad
chested, with a stiff, reddish beard, narrow eyes,
and sharp, unpleasant visage. His attire was
ragged and mean, as was his whole aspect. He
grasped in his right hand a small bag, which
rung like coin, as his shaking hand held it. He
trembled all over, and seizing my father by the
arm with the quick, nervous grasp of a lunatic,
cried hoarsely:
THE PKINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 385
"'Will he let them! will he! will he?'
"'Will he what, Judas? Of whom do you
speak? Art thou crazed? Thou shouldst well
be, after thy deed to-night/
" 'Will he let them kill him? Will he die? will
he die? Think you he will not escape? He can
if he will! Cords, to him, are ropes of sand!'
" 'No, no he is bound hand and foot,' an
swered niy father, sadly. 'He makes no defence!
I fear he will let them do as they will with him.
He makes no effort to save his life.'
"At this, Judas, for it was that wicked man,
beat his knotted forehead, in a frenzied manner,
with a bag of silver, and, with a look of horrible
despair, rushing forth, he cried as he went:
"'I will save him! The priests shall have
their money again. He shall not die! If I had
believed he would not do some miracle to escape
them, I never would have sold him. I hoped to
get their money, and trusted, if they took him,
for him to escape by his power. I did not dream
that he would not exert it to save himself. I will
save thee, innocent man of God, for I, not thou,
alone am guilty! Oh, if I had suspected this
but he shall not die!'
"With these ravings he disappeared towards
the Pretorium, leaving us all amazed at what we
had heard.
( 'Yes,' said my father, 'I see it now. Judas
hoped to secure the money and cheat the chief
priests, trusting to his divine power to get away
out of their hands. See the force of conscience!
He is now beside himself, with horror and re-
386 THE PRINCE OP THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
morse; for he knows that he whom he has be
trayed is a man of God, without sin or guile!*
******
"The sun is up. The fate of Jesus is sealed!
The Procurator has signed the sentence of death,
and he is to be crucified to-day! But with
Judas, I believe that he cannot die, and that he
will signalize the hour by some wonderful
miracle of personal deliverance. Thus, trem
blingly, we hope and wait."
Here terminates, my dear father, what my
cousin has written to Martha and. Lazarus, and,
as it is very minute, please to receive it as if
written by myself; for, during the night, I was
too greatly unnerved to write with the composure
she had done. But now, that all is over now,
that Jesus lies dead in the tomb and forever at
rest I have been able to resume my pen.
In my next I will give you an account of his
trial, as it was related to me by my Uncle Amos,
and by John, one of whom was present to the
last. This evening I am going to see the sepul
chre, where they have laid him; for, although he
has in his death so sorely crushed all our hopes
in him, and proved that he was not what he pro
fessed to be, yet my heart and affections hover
about his memory, and irresistibly draw my foot
steps towards his last resting-place. Though we
are deceived, I cannot hate his memory. Oh
no! I cannot T dare not trust mvself to say all
that I feel. I only wish I could forget him for
evermore, and regret that I have ever tried to
convince you that he was the Shiloh ^of the
Prophets. Yet never man spake like this man,
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 387
my dear father! and if Shiloh in truth come, he
can do no greater works than he has done. In
all things he was the Son of God but in his death!
This event dashes all our hopes and our faith in
him forever.
Your sorrowing, but loving daughter,
ADINA.
LETTER XXXI.
Dearest Father: I have only terminated my
last letter, to take up my pen for the beginning of
another; for 1 find relief, only in writing to you,
from the deep affliction which has struck me to
the earth. If anything can add to my mortifica
tion at the death of the Nazarene, Jesus, it is that
I should have endeavored so earnestly to make
you believe in him also. Forgive me, my dear
father; your wisdom, your knowledge of the
.Prophets, your judgment, were far above my
own. But who could have believed that he was
less than he claimed to be the very Son and
Messias of God. Oh! I shall never have confi
dence in a human being again; and the more
lovely, the more holy, the more heavenly the
character of anyone, the wiser and purer their
teachings, the more distrustful shall I be of them.
Tn the grave with Jesus is buried, henceforth and
forever, all trust in human virtue even when ac
companied by amazing miracles. I perceive that
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 389
a man may teach divine truths, nay, wear upon
his lineaments the very impress of an angel, may
heal the sick by a touch, walk the sea, raise the
dead, and cast out devils, and yet prove in the
end a deceiver. Alas for human truth! Alas
for poor Israel! which has thus been blinded!
They have beheld their idolized Shiloh nailed to
a Gentile cross, without power in himself to pre
vent this ignominy.
But I will turn from these painful thoughts,
and, as I promised in my last, will give you an
account of what passed at his trial, as you will be
desirous of knowing on what accusation his con
demnation was founded.
It is now the morning following his cruci
fixion, and I am calmer than I was yesterday,
and will be able to write with more coherency.
Tw T enty-four hours have passed since he was
nailed to the cross. His followers have been
since hunted like wild beasts of the wilderness.
Annas has hired, and filled with wine, fierce
Roman soldiers, and sept them everywhere to
seize the fugitive Nazarenes. John was espe
cially sought out, and the emissaries of Annas
came at midnight, last night, to the house to take
him; but we assisted him in making his escape,
'by means of the subterraneous passage, that
leads from the dwelling of Rabbi Amos into the
catcombs beneath the Temple. Mary of Naza
reth, the mother of Jesus, accompanied him, and
they got safely out of the city, and are now at
Bethany with Martha, whence they will go
to John's new home, near Gennesaret. Even
Lazarus, whom Jesus raised, has been made pris-
390 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF fcAVID.
oner, but was released by the influence of /Emi-
lius, the Roman knight, who has conducted him
hither, where he now is in safety; and ^Emilius
has also placed a guard about our house, for fear
of further Jewish violence. I therefore can write
to you undisturbed. /Emilius is the only one
who has any confidence left, since Jesus died, in
his promises. He says that Jesus plainly fore
told his death, and also that if he died, he would
rise again! Peter, also, recollects Jesus' saying
this; but Uncle Amos has no confidence, and
says:
"It is easy for any man to foretell that he will
die, and quite as easy for him to add that he will
rise again! But let us see Jesus rise again, and
we will believe in him indeed!"
But ^Emilius, though only recently a convert
from the Paganism of Rome, is firm in his faith,
that he will rise again to life; and, instead of giv
ing up all, as we do, he says that he should not
be amazed to be suddenly told by the soldiers,
whom he left to guard his tomb, that he had
burst forth alive from the dead! The confidence
of ^Emilius has almost inspired me with hope
again! But, my dear father, I saw his cleaved
side, the torrent of blood and water flow forth
from the horrid wound, and saw his lifeless head
hang down upon his breast. If he had not Been
pierced through, I might have hoped that he
could yet revive! But that he was pierced, re
moves all hope that he can be restored. He did
not swoon, and thus appear like one dead, or we
might trust to his restoration; but he was slain,
and I saw him lie a mangled corpse at the foot
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 391
of the cross, bleeding from five wounds, one of
which was through and through his heart. I
should rejoice to have the faith of dear ./Emilius ;
but I tell him that I have hitherto believed too
well, and that when Jesus expired, all faith in my
bosom expired with him.
But I have forgotten that I am to narrate to
you, dear father, the particulars of his accusa
tion, trial, and condemnation. As I was not
present at the Pretorium, I am indebted, for the
details which I shall give, in part to John, and in
part to Rabbi Amos, who were both there a por
tion of the night; Peter, and other disciples, as
well as /Emilius, have given me additional facts.
As soon as the mob of Jews, who had Jesus
under arrest, and which I saw pass the house,
reached the house of Rabbi Annas, he, from his
window, asked them whom they had in custody;
and when they answered that it was the "Naza-
rene Prophet,'' he said, with great joy;
"Bring him into the lower court, that I may
see him. By the rod of Aaron! I would have
him do some notable miracle for me."
And thus speaking, the white-headed old man
hastened to the court, which, on reaching, he
found thronged with the infuriated multitude,
mingled with the Roman soldiers. It was with
difficulty he made a passage to where Jesus
stood, both imprisoned and defended by a glitter
ing lattice of Roman spears. After regarding
him attentively, he said, with curiosity, yet with
sarcasm:
"Art thou, then, the King of the Jews? Hast
thou come to reign on the throne of David?
392 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
Show me a sign from heaven, and I will ac
knowledge thee, O Nazarene!"
But Jesus stood calm and dignified, making
no answer. Annas then angrily plucked him by
the beard, and a messenger at the same moment
arrived, to say that Caiaphas, the High Priest,
who had married the beautiful and haughty
Miriam, the daughter of Annas, demanded to
have Jesus brought before him. Upon this he
said, in a loud voice:
"Lead him to the Palace! Caiaphas, my son-
in-law, would see the man who would destroy
the Temple, and re-build it in three days."
There now arose a dreadful shout from the
priests and people who, rushing upon Jesus, at
tempted to grasp his person; and in protecting
him, as they had been commanded to do, the
Romans wounded several of the Jews. Here
upon there was a great cry of,
"Down with the Roman eagles! Down with
the barbarians! Death to the Gentiles!"
These cries were followed up by a fearful rush
of the mass of men, upon the handful of guards.
They were forced back, their spears broken like
straws, or turned aside, and Jesus successfully
wrested from their power. But in the height of
the battle, /Emilius, who had heard the tumult
from the castle, appeared with a portion of the
legion, of which he was Prefect, and instantly
charging the people, who fled before the breasts
of his horses, rescued the Prophet, but not
without the sacrifice of the lives of three of the
foremost.
"Rabbi," said yEmilius to the Prophet, with
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 393
compassionate respect, "I know thou hast power
from God to disperse, as chaff, this rabble of
fiends ! Speak, and let them perish at thy divine
command!"
"Nay, my son! I am come into the world for
this hour," answered Jesus. "This, also, is a
part of my mission from my Father. It becomes
me to endure all things, even death."
"You cannot die, my Lord!" said yEmilius,
warmly. "Did I not see thee raise Lazarus from
the tomb?"
"To die I came into this world; but not for
myself. I lay down my life, and I can take it
again. These men could have no power over
me, except my Father did grant it to them: and
what my Father doth, I do also. Seek not, my
son, to deliver me. This day was seen by
Esaias, who wrote of me. I must fulfil the
Prophets. There remains only that I be de
livered to judgment and to death !"
These words passed between them beneath the
portico, as yEmilius was loosing the sharp cords
from the bleeding wrists of the youthful Prophet.
"To Caiaphas! to Caiaphas!" now cried the
multitude, who had been for a moment awed by
the bold charge of the Roman horse, but now
grew bolder, as some men removed the dead and
wounded out of sight. "To the palace with the
blasphemer! for he who calls himself God is, by
our law, to be punished with death. To the
High Priest with him!"
"I can rescue you, Great Prophet!" said ^Emil-
ius, resolutely. "Give me the .word, and you
25
394 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
are mounted on my horse, and safe in the castle
of David."
'The High Priest has sent for me. He mnst
be obeyed/' answered Jesus; and ^Emilius, sur
prised at his refusal to escape, reluctantly es
corted him to the palace. The windows already
glared with the torches; and the superb Hall of
Aaron, within the Palace, was alight with a hun
dred flambeaux. The Romans entered, guard
ing their prisoner, and followed by a tumultuous
throng, which, each moment, fearfully increased
in numbers. Caiaphas was already upon his
throne, although it was the hour of midnight,
an unwonted time for him to sit in the council-
chamber; but his desire to have Jesus brought
before him,. of whose arrest in Olivet he had
been an hour before apprised by one of his emis
saries, led him to hold an extraordinary court.
A score of the elders and chief-priests were
standing about him, their dark, eager faces
earnestly watching the entrance, to get a look at
the approaching Prophet. Among the most
eager of all these was Caiaphas himself, who re
garded the eloquent Nazarene as his rival in the
eyes of the whole people, and had, therefore,
long- thirsted for his destruction. As Jesus
serenely entered, led by the sorrowful JEmilius,
Caiaphas bent his tall, gaunt form forward,
thrust his neck and huge black head in advance,
and, with keen eyes, and sharp, scrutinizing
glances, surveyed his youthful rival.
The multitude, pressing in, soon filled all the
vast hall, and even crowded upon the rostrum,
upon which were seated the scribes, elders, and
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID, 395
many of the principal priests. The Roman sol
diers, with clanging steel, marched in, and ar
rayed themselves on either side of the High-
Priest's throne, leaving Jesus standing alone
before its foot-stool. The scene must have been
striking, and full of painful interest, to the most
unconcerned present. The arched ceiling of the
chamber, supported by seventy columns of por
phyry, represented the deep blue heavens,
studded with glittering constellations in starry
gold. The walls were of jasper, superbly col
ored, with precious stones inlaid, representing
every variety of fruit and flower, in all their
native tints and varied forms of grace and beauty.
The hundred flambeaux reflected a thousand
times from the polished surfaces of the columns,
shed a magnificent light over all. The gorgeous
robes of the High-Priest, his dazzling tiara and
priceless breast-plate, refracted the radiant
beams with indescribable prismatic splendor.
The steel spear-heads and polished cuirasses of
the Roman guard, catching the light upon points
and bosses, gleamed like flames of fire; while the
silver crest of the helmet of yEmilius shone
among all this glory like a lesser sun.
Contrasting this brilliancy, surged, and
heaved, and moved below the dark masses of the
people, in their gray and brown caps and cloaks,
for the night was cold, and they wore their winter
garments; and all this dark ocean of human
forms gleamed with ten thousand eyes, flashing
like the phosphorescent stars, that glitter on the
surface of the up-heaving sea, when the shadow
of the storm-cloud hangs above it, and the winds
28
396 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
are about to be unbound, to lash it into fury.
So seemed this terrible sea of human heads
Jesus, the centre of their looks and of their hate,
the Pharos at whose feet these foaming billows
of passion broke with terrific power. He alone,
of all that countless host, he alone was calm
serene fearless! Caiaphas gazed upon him, as
he stood before his foot-stool, betraying admira
tion mingled with resentment. The scribes and
priests also gazed and talked together, with
looks of unusual interest. Caiaphas now waved
his hand, with a gesture for silence, and ad
dressed Jesus:
"So, then," he said, with haughty irony, "thou
art Jesus, the far-famed Galilean Prophet! Men
say thou canst raise the dead! We would fain
see a miracle. Thinkest thou if we put thee to
death presently, thou canst raise thyself?"
" 'Jesus,' said Rabbi Amos, who just entered,
and stood near, and saw all, 'Jesus remained un
moved. His bearing was marked by a certain
divine dignity, and an expression of holy resig
nation sat upon his features. He looked like
Peace, incarnate in the form of man ! A soft in
fluence seemed to flow from his presence, and
produce a universal, but momentary, emotion of
sympathy. Caiaphas perceived it, and cried, in
his harsh, stern voice:
" 'You have brought this man before me, men
of Jerusalem! Of what do ye accuse him?'
" 'He is a malefactor, or we would not have
brought him," responded a fierce voice from the
multitude.
" 'Let those who have accusations come for-
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE Q2 DAVID. 397
ward and make them. He is a Jew, and shall
have justice by our laws/
" 'Ye Jews have no power to try a man for his
life, most noble Caiaphas!' said JEmiYms. The
lives of all your nation are in the hands of Caesar,
and of his tribunals. You can put no man to
death !'
'This said /Emilius, in hopes that if Jesus
could be brought before Pilate, the Roman Pro
curator, he might be by him released, for he
knew Pilate had no envy or feeling against the
Prophet.
" Thou sayest well, noble Roman,' answered
Caiaphas; 'but for crimes of blasphemy against
the Temple, we are permitted by Caesar to judge
our people by the laws of Moses. And this man,
if rumor comes nigh the truth, has been guilty of
blasphemy. But we will hear the witnesses.'
"Hereupon several of the chief-priests and
scribes, who had been going in and out among
the crowd, brought forward certain men, whose
very aspect showed them to be of the baser sort.
One of these men testified that he had heard
Jesus say, that he would destroy the Temple, and
could again in three days rebuild it more mag
nificently than it was in the days of Solomon the
Mighty.
"Upon this testimony all the priests shouted,
'Blasphemer!' and called for him to be stoned to
death; and the passionate Abijah, the most viru
lent of the scribes, cast his iron ink-horn vio
lently at him, but one of the soldiers turned it
aside with his lance; at which there was a deep
398 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
murmur against the Romans, which Caiaphas,
with difficulty, silenced.
"A second witness was now produced by Abi-
jah, who testified, that Jesus had taught in
Samaria, that men would soon no longer wor
ship in the Temple, but that the whole earth
would be the temple, for Jews and Gentiles.
"This was no sooner heard, than some of the
men gnashed at Jesus with their teeth, and, but
for the gestures and loud voice of the High-
Priest, they would have made an attempt to get
him into their power. The noise of their rage is
described as having been like the roaring of all
the wild beasts of the wilderness, rushing to the
banquet of a fresh battle-field.
"A third witness, a man who had been notor
ious for his crimes, now came up. He carried
on his wrist a cock, with steel gaffs upon the
spurs, as if just brought up from the cock-pit to
bear testimony; for such were the sort of fellows
suborned by the priests. He testified that Jesus
said, that the day would soon come when not one
stone should be left upon another of the Temple;
that he had called it 'a den of thieves/ and the
priests 'blind guides' and deceivers; the scribes
'foxes'; and the pharisees 'hypocrites!'
"'But the fourth and fifth witnesses contra
dicted each other; neither did the testimony of
two others agree; one, who asserted that he
heard him call himself 'the Son of God/ was con
tradicted by others, who asserted that it was only
'the Son of Man/ and, in another instance, one
said he heard him say, that he and God were
One, while the other testified that what he said
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 399
was, that God was greater than he. Neither did
other witnesses agree together.
"Such opposite testimony perplexed and irri
tated Caiaphas, and confounded the chief-priests
and scribes. The High-Priest now began to
perceive that Jesus would have to be released,
for want of testimony against him. All the while
the prisoner had remained standing before him
bound, with his hands tied across his body, his
countenance mild, but heroic 'the firmness and
composure of innocence/ as /Emilius described
his bearing to be.
' 'What! Galilean and blasphemer of God
and His Temple! answereth thou nothing?' cried
the High-Priest; 'hearest thou not what these
witnesses say against thee!'
"But Jesus remained silent. Caiaphas was
about to break the silence by some fierce words,
when a voice was overheard the other side of
the columns, on the left of the throne, where was
a fire-place, in which was burning a large fire,
about which stood many persons. Rabbi Amos
at once recognized, in the violent speaker, Peter,
who had come in with him and John; the latter
of whom, in the disguise of a priest, stood not
far from Jesus, gazing tenderly upon him, and
listening, with the most painful interest, to all
that they testified against him: but Peter stood
farther off, by the fire, yet not less eagerly attend
ing to all that passed.
1 'Thou art one of the Nazarene's followers!'
cried the voice of a maid, who brought wood to
feed the fire. Thou needest not to deny it. I
400 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
am of Galilee, and knew thee when thou wert a
fisherman. Seize him, for he is one of them/
' 'Woman, I swear by the altar and ark of
God, and by the sacred Tables, I know not the
fellow! I never saw Galilee!'
r Thy speech betrayeth thee, now thou hast
spoken!' cried the woman; 'thou art a Galilean,
and thy name is Simon Bar Jona. I know thee
well; and how, three years ago, you and your
brother Andrew left your nets, to follow this
Nazarene!'
' 'May the thunders of Horeb and the curse of
Jehovah follow me, if what thou sayest be true,
woman. Thou mistakest me for some other
man. I swear to you, by the head of my father,
men and brethren, that I never saw his face
before!'
"As he spoke," said John, "he cast his angry
looks towards the place where Jesus stood. He
caught his Master's eyes bent upon him, with a
tender and reproving gaze, so full of sorrowing
compassion, mingled with forgiveness, that I
saw Peter stand, as if smitten with lightning.
He then pressed his two hands to his face, and
uttering a cry of anguish and despair, that made
the High-Priest start, and which went to every
heart, he rushed out, by the open door, into the
darkness, and disappeared. As he did so, the
cock, which was held tied upon the wrist of the
third witness, crowed twice, in so loud a tone,
that it caused some persons in the gross crowd
to burst into laughter, and to imitate him, greatly
to the annoyance of Caiaphas, who for some time
could not still the confusion. I then remem-
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 401
bered the words of Jesus to Peter, spoken but
twelve hours before: 'This night, even before the
cock crow the first watch of the morning, thou
shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me!' Upon
this," added John, "my confidence in my Master
came back, full and strong, and I felt that he
would not, could not, be harmed; for, that he
foreknew all things that could happen to him,
and would escape danger of death.
"At length, when order was restored, so that
Caiaphas could be heard, he again addressed
Jesus, saying, but with more respect than before:
" 'Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?
I adjure thee, by the living God, tell us plainly!'
"Jesus then elevated his princely form, and
bending his eyes upon the face of the High-
Priest, with a look so brightly-celestial that Caia
phas involuntarily dropped his eyelids to the
ground, answered, and said:
" 'If I tell you, O Caiaphas, ye will not believe!
If I prove it to you from the prophets, and by
my works, ye will not listen? If I say that I
am Christ, ye will not then acknowledge me, nor
let me go free! I have spoken openly to the
world, in the Temple, and in the synagogue. I
have concealed nothing. Ask them which heard
me, what I have said. Nevertheless, I say unto
you what I have before taught, that I am the
Christ, the Son of the Blessed; and hereafter ye
shall behold me sitting on the right hand of the
power of God, and coming in the clouds of
heaven/
"'Art thou the Son of God?' cried several of
402 THE PRINCE OF T1IK HOUSE OF DAVID.
the priests at once, while Caiaphas held up his
hands in horror.
" 'Ye have said that which I am/ answered
the Prophet, without changing, except to a sub-
linier look, the expression of his countenance,
which,'' says John, "seemed to shine, as he had
seen it in the Mount, when he was transfigured
before him.
" 'Men of Israel and Judah, ye hear his words!'
cried the High Priest, rending down the blue lace
from his ephod. 'Hear ye his blasphemy?'
" 'Said I not, son of Aaron, that you would
neither believe me nor let me go, if I told you
who I am?' said Jesus, firmly. 'I tell you the
truth, and ye call it blasphemy!'
" 'Answerest thoti the High-Priest so!' cried
Abner, furiously, 'the chief officer of the
Temple !' striking him with the palm of his hand
across the mouth.
''Jesus calmly answered, with the blood trick
ling from his lips: 'If I have spoken evil, bear
witness of the evil, and judge me by our law; but
if well, why smitest thou me?'
" 'Ye have heard the blasphemy,' said Caia
phas, extending his hands towards the people.
'What think ye? Need we any further witness
than his own mouth?'
" 'He is guilty of death!' cried Abner, in a
hoarse voice, his eyes, red with being up all the
night, glaring like a leopard's ; and advancing to
where Jesus stood, bound and bleeding, he spat
in his face thrice.
"This was followed by a loud outcry for his
death; and several vile fellows also spat upon
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 403
him, and pulled him by the beard, and for some
minutes it seemed to be the only thought of all,
who were any ways near him, to do him some
ignominy; and, but for the protection of /Emilius
and his soldiers, they would have torn him in
pieces.
" 'Is this Jewish justice?' cried ymilius, in
dignantly, to Caiaphas, 'Do you condemn and
kill a man without witness? Stand back,
hounds, for Romans are not used to see men
condemned without law. Back, fellows or
your blood shall flow sooner than his for which
you thirst!'
"At this determined attitude they gave back
for a moment, and left Jesus standing in the
midst, sad but serene.
"John ran to him, and \viped the blood and
uncleanness from his lips, and cheeks, and beard,
and gave him water, which the woman who had
recognized Peter, compassionately brought in a
ewer.
" 'Master, use thy power, and escape from
them !' whispered John.
" ''Nay tempt me not, beloved/ he answered.
'My power is not for my deliverance, but for that
of the world. For you I can do mighty works;
but for myself I do nothing. I came not to save
my life, but to lay it down! Mine hour is at
hand !'
*' 'Let not a handful of Romans frighten you,
men of Jerusalem!' cried Abner. There is not
a legion in all the city. Here we are masters, if
we will it! To the rescue! Let me hear the
Lion of Judah roar in his might, and the Eagle
404 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
of Rome will shrink and fly away. To the
rescue!'
"'Hold! men and brethren!' cried Caiaphas,
who had judgment enough to see that the first
blow would be the beginning of a revolution,
that would bring down upon the city the Roman
army quartered in Syria, and end in the destruc
tion of the nation. 'Hold, madmen!'
"But his voice was drowned amid the roar of
the human tempest. ymilius and his men were
borne away on the crest of the surge, and so
pressed by the bodies of the Jews that they could
not make use of their weapons. In the wild con
fusion, Jesus was carried, by fierce hands, to the
opposite end of the council-chamber; while Caia
phas strove to appease the wrath of yEmilius,
who insisted that the fate of Jesus should be left
with Pilate, the Procurator. After brief consul
tation with the chief-priests, elders, and scribes,
Caiaphas consented; though knowing that
Pilate, being a Pagan, would not heed a charge
of blasphemy, he resolved with the rest, that
nothing should be said of that before him, but
that he should be accused to him of sedition,
and setting up a kingdom in opposition to the
universal empire of Caesar.
"When ^Emilius, aided by the authority of
Caiaphas, at length came where Jesus had been
dragged, they found him standing blindfolded
among a crowd of the basest fellows of Jerusa
lem, who were amusing themselves by slapping
his cheeks, and asking him to tell, by his divine
knowledge of all things, who did it? They
would also hold money before his blinded eyes,
THE 1'KINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 405
and ask him to name its value or inscription;
and when he still kept silence, they struck him,
beat him with their hands, and cruelly smote him
with their staves to make him respond.
" 'We will let thee go, Nazarene,' said one, 'if
thou wilt tell how many hairs I have in my
beard!'
" 'Nay, let him divine!' cried another, 'what I
gave for my Passover-lamb, in the market, and
the name of the Samaritan of whom I bought it!'
" 'Out with your lambs, Kish!' shouted a third
fellow, thrusting himself forward, 'let me hear
him prophecy! It is a rare quail, a prophet, in
these dull times. What, Galilean, silent and
sullen! I will make thee speak, and sing, too!'
and he let a blow of his staff fall upon the head
of Jesus, which would have felled him to the
earth, but for the voice of Caiaphas, which ar
rested, in part, its force.
' 'Men of Israel !' he cried aloud, 'that this
pestilent Nazarene is a blasphemer, we have
heard with our ears; and, by our law, he ought
to die, because he hath made himself the Son of
God! But Caesar hath taken the power of life
and death out of our hands! We can put no
man to death, but the Romans only. That he
has spoken against Caesar, and is a seditionist,
can be proved. Let us take him before Pilate
with this accusation; and if he be found guilty
of death, as he will be, unless the Procurator
wink at a usurper's rising up in his government,
which he will not dare to do, we shall have the
Nazarene hanged on a Roman cross, ere the sun
406 TIIK PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
reaches the mark of noon on the dial of the
Temple.'
"This speech pleased the people, and having
re-bound Jesus, more securely, they cried, all
with one voice: 'to Pilate! To the Pretorium!'"
The multitude then poured out of the gates of
the palace, like a foaming and chafing river,
which hath overflowed its banks, and with ter
rible cries which we heard, startling the dawn,
even in our house, took the direction towards
the Pretorium. Of the hundreds of thousands
of Jews from the country, who crowd Jerusalem
like a bee-hive at this holy season, not one slept
that night, or was absent from that scene; and
the noise of the tramp of that multitude shook
the very foundations of Mount Zion, while the
murmur of voices was like the sound of many
waters.
It was with difficulty that yEmilius could pro
tect the Prophet in safety up the hill, and to the
entrance of the Pretorium, while he entered with
his prisoner, just as the sun gilded the loftiest
pinnacle of the Temple, and the trumpets of the
Levites sounded to prayers.
In another letter, dear father, I will continue
the account of his trial, the remembrance of
which, while I now write of it, almost rekindles
again all my love, faith, devotion and confidence
in him; for who but a man, God-sustained, could
have borne so meekly all his pain, insult, igno
miny, and shame?
ADINA.
LETTER XXXII.
My Dear Father: This is the evening of the
Great Day of the Feast, and the second day
since the ignominious execution of him whom
we all believed to have been a Prophet sent from
God nay, more than a prophet, Christ, the Son
of the Blessed! Yet he still lies dead in the
tomb, and his splendid prophecies of his future
glory, as King of Israel, have perished with him.
Alas! that one so good, and noble, and wise,
should have been a deceiver! Henceforth I
have no faith in goodness. I have wept till I
can weep no more.
I will now resume my narrative of his trial;
for I would, by showing you how like a true
prophet he bore himself, even before his judges,
in some degree excuse myself to you, for being
carried away by him, and accepting him for all
that he professed to be the very Messias of
Jehovah.
It is now the close of the High Day of the
408 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OP DAVID.
Feast. The slanting rays of the setting sun
linger yet upon the gilded lances that terminate
the hundred lesser pinnacles of the Holy House
of the Lord. The smoke of incense curls lazily
up the sky from its unseen altar, and the deep
voices of the choir of Levites, increased by those
of the tens of thousands of Judah, who crowd all
the courts of the Temple, fall upon my ears like
muffled thunder. I never heard anything so
solemn. Above the Temple has hung, since the
crucifixion yesterday, the cloud of the smoke of
the sacrifices, and it immovably depends over all
the city like a pall. The sun does not penetrate
it, though its light falls upon the earth outside
of the city; but all Jerusalem remains in shadow;
and, shooting over the cloud, the setting sun
beams, catching the lofty pinnacles, make the
gloom beneath only seem the more sombre.
The cloud is a fearful sight, and all men have
been watching it, and talking of it, and wonder
ing. It seems to be in the form of a pair of
black gigantic wings, spreading a league broad
over Jerusalem.
There it hangs, visible from my window; but
we are in some sort used to its dreadful presence,
and cease to fear; but we are lost in wonder!
This morning, when a high wind arose, blowing
from the great sea eastward, everyone expected
and hoped to see the cloud sail away before it in
the direction of the desert. But the only effect
the wind produced was to agitate its whole sur
face in tumultuous billows, while the mass still
retained its position over the city. The shadow
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID 409
it casts is supernatural and fearful, like the dread
obscurity which marks an eclipse of the sun.
And this reminds me, my dear father, to men
tion what, in the multiplicity of subjects that
rush to my pen for expression, I have omitted to
state to you; and what is unaccountable, unless
men have, in very truth, crucified, in Jesus, the
very Son of God. At the time of his death, the
sun disappeared from the mid heavens, and dark
ness, like that of night, followed over all the
earth, so that the stars became visible; and the
hills on which Jerusalem stands, shook as if an
earthquake had moved them, and many houses
were thrown down; and where the dead are
buried, outside of the city, the earth and rocks
were rent; tombs broken up, and the bodies of
the dead were heaved to the surface, and exposed
to all eyes; and some arose, and went alive into
the city, where many saw them, and on all sides
shrank away from them in terror. Others of the
dead bodies have lain all to-day, for the Jews
dare not touch them to rebury them, for fear of
being defiled. All this is fearful and unaccount
able. What will be the end of these things is
known only to the God of Abraham. Never
was so fearful a Passover before. Men's faces
are pale, and all look as if some dread calamity
had befallen the nation. Can the death of Jesus
be the cause of all these things? if so, he was the
Son of God, and men have done unto him what
soever they listed. If he be the Blessed Christ,
whom Caiaphas and the priests have had
crucified, the retribution of God's vengeance
upon our city and nation is but just begun. But
26
410 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
if he were the Christ, why did he not save him
self?
My last letter, my dear father, closed with the
termination of the examination of Jesus before
Caiaphas, the High-Priest, who, not being able
to convict him of anything save alleged blas
phemy, and not having the power in his hands
to condemn him to death on this charge, re
solved, in order unfailingly to secure his execu
tion, to charge him before Pilate, the procurator,
of sedition and treason against Caesar. But for
the fact, that the Romans had taken the power
of death from the Jewish nation, Jesus would
have been then stoned to death for blasphemy, by
order of Caiaphas; but a more ignominious
death, as a revolutionist and usurper of Caesar's
crown, was in reserve for him, at the hands of
the Roman law.
Guarded by JEmilius, who was his true friend
to the last, and followed by the envious Caia
phas, the fierce Abner, the captains of the Tem
ple, Scribes, Pharisees, Sadducees, Herodians,
and a mixed rabble of the Jews, artisans, peas
ants, robbers, beggars, and all the off-scourings
of the nation that pour into the city at the Pass
over season, he was led to the house of Pilate.
The Praetorian gates were shut by the Roman
guards, as the tumultuous crowd advanced, for
Pilate believed the Jews were in insurrection,
and was prepared to defend his palace; for so
few are the troops with him in the city, that he
has for some weeks held only the name of power,
rather than the reality. But when yEmilius ex
plained to the captain of the guard, that the
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 411
Jews desired to accuse Jesus, the Nazr.rene, of
sedition before the Procurator, he was admitted,
with the chief men of the city, into the outer
court of Antiochus ; but none passed beyond the
statue of Gesar, lest they should defile them
selves; and, at their call, Pilate came forth to
them. When he saw the vast concourse of peo
ple with Caiaphas and the chief priests, and many
rich Sadducees, and the leading men of Jerusa
lem in the advance, and Jesus bound, and dis
figured by the insults he had undergone, and
yEmilius and his few soldiers enclosing him with
their protecting spears, and heard the loud voices
of the multitude, as of wolves baying for the
blood of a defenceless lamb, he stood with
amazement for a few moments, surveying the
scene.
"What means this, ^Emilius?" he demanded,
of the young Prefect. "Who is this captive?"
"It is Jesus, called the Christ, my lord; the
Prophet of Galilee. The Jews desire his death,
accusing him of blaspheming their God;
and "
"But I have no concern with their religion, or
the worship of their God. Let them judge him
after their own way," said Pilate, indifferently,
and with an indolent air.
"But, most noble Roman," said Caiaphas, ad
vancing to the portico on which the Procurator
stood, "by our law he should suffer death; and
thou knowest though we can condemn, as we
now have done, this Galilean, we have no power
to execute sentence of death!"
"This is well said; but would you have me put
27
412 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
one of your nation to death for blaspheming your
God?. So far as that is concerned, O priest,"
added Pilate, smiling contemptuously, "we Ro
mans blaspheme him daily; for we worship him
not, and will have nought to do with your faith.
Let the man go! I see no cause of death in
him!"
He then spoke to /Emilius, and desired him to
lead Jesus to the spot where he stood. Pilate
then regarded him with mingled pity and inter
est. After surveying him a moment, he
turned to one of his officers, and said aside: "A
form divine, and fit for Apollo, or any of the
greater gods! His bearing is like a hero. Me-
hercule! The chisel of Praxiteles, nor of Phid
ias, ne'er traced the outlines of limbs and neck
like these. He is the very incarnation of human
symmetry and dignity."
The courtiers nodded assent to these cool
criticisms of the indolent and voluptuous Italian.
Jesus, in the meanwhile, stood motionless before
his judge, his eyes downcast, and full of a holy
sadness, and his lips compressed with immov
able patience. Pilate now turned to him, and
said:
'Thou art, then, that Jesus of whom men talk
so widely. I have had curiosity to see thee; and
thanks, Caiaphas, to thee, for this privilege.
Men say, O Jesus, that thou art wiser than ordi
nary men; that thou canst do works of necro
mancy, and art skilled in the subtle mysteries of
astrology. I would question thee upon these
things. Wilt thou read my destiny for me in
the stars? If thou answerest well, I will befriend
THE rKINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 413
thee, and deliver thee from thy countrymen, who
seem to howl for thy blood."
"My lord!" cried Caiaphas, furiously, "thou
must not let this man go! He is a deceiver, and
traitor to Csesar. I charge him and formally ac
cuse him, before thy tribunal, of making himself
king of Judea!"
To this the whole multitude assented, in one
deep voice of rage and fierce denunciation, that
shook the very walls of the Pretorium.
"What sayest thou?" demanded Pilate; "art
them a king? Methinks if thou wert such, these
Jews have little need to fear thee." And the
Roman cast a careless glance over the mean
and torn apparel, and half-naked limbs of the
Prophet.
Before Jesus could reply, which he seemed
about to do, for his lips parted as if to speak,
there was heard a sudden commotion in the
lower part of the court of Gabbatha (for thus the
outer court of the Pretorium, where they were,
is called by the Jew r s), and a loud, hoarse voice
was heard crying: "Make way give back! He
is innocent."
All eyes turned in the direction of the arch
way, when a man was seen forcing his path
towards the door of the Judgment-Hall, in front
of which Pilate was standing, with Jesus a step
or two below him.
"What means this madman!" cried the Pro
curator. "Some of you arrest him!"
"I am not mad he is innocent. I have be
trayed the innocent blood!" cried Iscariot, for it
was he, leaping into the space in front of the
414 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
portico. "Caiaphas, I have sought thee every
where!" he exclaimed, on seeing the High-
Priest. "Take back thy money, and let this holy
Prophet of God go free! I swear to you he is
innocent; and if thou harm him, thou wilt be ac
cursed with the vengeance of Jehovah! Take
back thy silver, for he is innocent!"
"What is that to us? See thou to that," an
swered Abner, the priest, haughtily; for Caia-
phas was too much surprised at this open ex
posure of his bribery of Judas to speak, his eyes
falling under the withering glance of the Roman
Procurator.
"Wilt thou not release him if I give thee back
the pieces?" cried Judas, in accents of despair,
taking Caiaphas by the mantle, and then kneel
ing to him imploringly.
But Caiaphas shook him off; Abner and the
chief-priests also spurned him from them,
as he approached them, when, at last, in a fren
zied manner, he threw himself at the knees of
Jesus, arid cried, in the most thrilling accents:
"Oh! Master! Master! thou hast the power!
Release thyself!"
"No, Judas," answered the Prophet, shaking
his head, and gazing down compassionately
upon him, without one look of resentment at his
having betrayed him, "mine hour is come. I
may not escape. For this I came into the
world."
"I believed thou wouldst not suffer thyself to
be arrested, when they should find thee in Olivet,
my Master, or I would not have taken their
money. It is my avarice that hath slain thee!
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 415
Oh God! Oh God! it is too late!" Thus crying,
he rose and rushed, with his face hid in his cloak,
forth from the presence of all, the crowd of men
giving back hastily, as he advanced through their
midst towards the outer gate.
This extraordinary interruption produced a
startling effect upon all present ; and it was a few
moments before Pilate could resume his exam
ination of Jesus, which he did by entering the
Judgment-Hall, and taking his seat on tiis
throne. He then repeated his question, but with
more deference than before: "Art thou a king,
then?"
"Thou saves t that which I am a king," he
answered, with a digmtv truly regal in its bear
ing; for all the time, bound and marred as he
was by the hands of his enemies, pale with suffer
ing, and with standing a sleepless and fearful
night upon his feet, exposed to cold and to in
sults, yet he had a kingly air, and there seemed
to float about his head a divine glory, as if a sun
beam had been shining down upon him; yet no
sunshine that day penetrated the dark-winged
cloud, that hung suspended low above the city.
"Thou, thyself, hearest him!" exclaimed Caia-
phas, standing upon the threshold of the Judg
ment-Hall of the Gentile governor, which he'
would not enter for fear of defilement.
"He hath, also, sought to prevent the people
from paying tribute to Caesar!" cried Abner,
shouting through an open window, for he also
would not, on account of the holy feast, be pro
faned by entering a Gentile house.
"He has everywhere publicly proclaimed that
16 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
he has been ordained of God, to re-establish the.
kingdom of Judah, and overthrow the power of
Caesar in Jerusalem," added the Governor of the
Temple, lifting his voice so as to be heard above
the voices of the priests and scribes, who, all
speaking together, vehemently accused him of
many other things, which we all knew not to be
true.
Pilate at length obtained comparative silence,
and then said to Jesus:
"Hearest thou these accusations? Hast thou
no answer to make? What defense hast thou,
Sir Prophet? Answerest thou nothing? Be
hold how manv things they witness against
thee!"
Pilate spoke as if he had taken a deep interest
in Jesus, and would give him an opportunity of
defending himself.
"He hath perverted the nation a most pesti
lent and dangerous fellow!" exclaimed Caiaphas.
"He is a blasphemer, above all men."
"'I have nothing to do with your religion. If
he has blasphemed your gods, take ye him and
judge him according to your laws," answered
Pilate.
"Thou knowest, O noble Roman, that we have
no power to execute to the death therefore do
v r e accuse him before thee."
"I am no Jew, priest! What care I for your
domestic and religious quarrels. He hath done
nothing, that I can learn, for which the laws of
Imperial Rome, which now prevail here, can ad
judge him to death. I, therefore, command his
release, as having done nothing worthy of cap-
THE PRINCE OP THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 417
ital punishment. /Emilius, unbind thy prisoner,
and let him go. I find no fault in him, that he
should be longer held in bonds."
Upon this the Jews sent up a cry of unmingled
ferocity and vindictiveness. Caiaphas, forget
ting his fear of defilement, advanced several steps
into the Judgment-Hall, and shaking his open
hands at Pilate, cried:
"If thou lettest this man go, thou art not
Caesar's friend. Thou art in league with him.
He that sets himself up as a king, in the wide
bounds of Caesar's dominions, wars against Caesar,
as well at Jerusalem as at Rome. If thou re
lease this man, I and my nation will accuse thee
to thy master, Tiberius, of favoring this Gali
lean's sedition. He hath stirred up all Jewry,
from Galilee to this place, and yet thou findest
no fault with him!"
When Pilate heard the name of Galilee, he
asked if the prisoner were a Galilean? Upon
being answered in the affirmative by the excited
priest, he said to /Emilius:
"Hold loose not his bonds just now! Herod,
the Tetrarch of Galilee, last night came up to
the Passover feast of his God, and is now at the
old Maccabean palace, with his retinue. Con
duct your prisoner to him, and let Herod judge
his own subjects. Present him with this signet
in token of amity. Tell him I will not interfere
with his privileges, and that I desire he would
take and judge the man as if he were in his own
tetrarchate.""
The chief priests and scribes now shouted with
approbation at this decision, for they began to
418 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
fear that Pilate would release him; and they knew
that the vacillating and reckless Herod would do
whatsoever would gain popular applause.
"If he sends us to Herod with him," said the
priest Abner, "his doom is sealed his blood is
ours!" And the multitude without hailed the
reappearance of JEmilius, and his unresisting
captive, from the Judgment-Hall, and followed
them across the marble pavement of Gabbatha,
into the street, crying:
"To Herod! to the Tetrarch of Galilee with
him!"
But Caiaphas, frowning and dissatisfied, re
mained behind, and Pilate, glad to get rid of the
delicate affair of condemning an innocent man,
to gratify the envy of the Jews, by sending him
to his enemy, Herod, smilingly came out, and
spoke to the gloomy High-Priest:
"Thou wert something sharp upon me just
now, my lord Caiaphas. Thou knowest I can
condemn men only for crimes committed against
the laws of the Empire. This Jesus has done
nothing worthy of death, were he called before a
tribunal in the capital of the world itself, Csesar
his judge."
"Noble Governor/' answered Caiaphas, stop
ping in his angry strides up and down the por
phyry floor of the outer portico, "thou forgettest
that I brought him not before thee on this charge
of blasphemy alone; but for sedition. By the
altar of God ! this is a crime known to thy laws I
wot!"
"True. You charge a young, defenceless,
quiet, powerless man, destitute of money, men,
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 419
or arms, an obscure fisherman or carpenter of
Galilee, of setting up a throne and kingdom
against that of Tiberius Csesar, the ruler of the
earth! The idea is absurd. It should be treated
only with ridicule. So will Herod say, when he
understands the affair."
"So will not Csesar say, my lord," answered
Caiaphas, with a sneer upon his curled lip; "if
you let this man go (for Herod will not, surely,
accept your courtesy, and judge him within your
jurisdiction), the Jewish nation will draw up a
memorial, accusing you to the Emperor, of pro
tecting treason. You will be summoned by the
Senate to answer the charge; and though you
should succeed in clearing yourself, you will have
lost your government, given to another, and for
your fair name, you will live, ever after, under
Caesar's suspicions!"
Here the High Priest, said my Uncle Amos,
who heard all that passed, looked with concen
trated maliciousness into the eyes of the Italian
ruler, who turned pale, and bit his lips with vex
ation.
"My lord priest, thou art bent, I see, on this
innocent man's death. I am no Jew, to under
stand how he has drawn upon himself thy terrible
wrath, and that of thy nation. It must have
been something I am incapable of comprehend
ing. I will see what Herod will say, who, being
a Jew, is familiar with your customs. But it
seems to me, O Priest, that the testimony of the
wretched man whom, I see, you bribed to betray
his master into your power, would now release
him!"
420 THE PIUNCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
Pilate now reseated himself upon his throne.
While he spoke, a youth threw himself from
his horse, at the door of the court, and drew near
the Procurator.
"What aileth thee, Alexander?" demanded
Pilate, on seeing blood on his temples, and that
he seemed faint.
"But a trifle now, my good lord. I was
thrown from my horse, who was startled at a
burning torch, lying on the ground; and was de
tained at a hospitable house until I was able to
remount, which brings me hither late."
"And why come at all? What news sends my
fair wife, that she should despatch you from my
house in Bethany at this early hour? No evil
tidings, boy?"
"None, my lord save this note."
The Greek page th'en handed his master a
small roll of rose-tinted parchment, tied with
scarlet thread. He cut the knot with his dagger,
and reading the contents became deathly pale.
Caiaphas watched him closely, as if he would
read, reflected in his eyes, the contents of the
note which had so deeply moved him.
"Caiaphas," said the Procurator, "this prisoner
must be released!"
"It is either his destruction, proud Roman, or
thine!" answered the High-Priest, turning and
walking haughtily away.
Pilate looked after him with a troubled air, and
then re-entered the Hall of Judgment, and seat
ing himself upon his throne, again read the
parchment,
" 'Have thou nothing to "do with this just
THE PRINCE OP THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 421
man,' he read, half aloud, 'for I have suffered
many things this day in a dream because of him!'
'The very gods seem to take sides with this ex
traordinary young prisoner,' he exclaimed,
'Would to Jove that Herod may have sense
enough to release him, and relieve me of this un
pleasant business. One might better keep in
subjection a province of painted and savage
Scythians, than these fierce Jews. I should be
well rid of my Procuratorship ; but I will not lose
it by accusation from them! I must save both
Jesus and myself!"
While he was yet speaking and musing with
himself, unconsciously, aloud, so that those who
stood about him, among whom was El Nathan,
the brother of the maid Mirza, who dwells in our
household, and from whom I received this por
tion of the narrative, there was heard a great
noise of voices, in the direction of the Maccabean
Palace; and as it grew nearer and more distinct,
Pilate started up, and cried:
"It is as I feared Herod gives them no satis
faction, and they come again to me! Oh, that
the gods \vould give me wisdom and nerve for
this trying hour, so that I condemn not the inno
cent, nor bring myself into the power of an ac
cusation to Caesar, from these wicked Jews!"
At this moment the multitude, increased, if it
were possible, in numbers and in vindictiveness,
reappeared, pressing Jesus before them. This
time hewas alone, /^Emilius havingbeen separated
from him in the palace, and kept by the crowd
from rejoining him. He was now unbound, and
upon his head was a crown of thorns, piercing
422 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
the tender temples, till the blood trickled all
down his face; upon his shoulders was clasped
an old purple royal robe, once worn by Herod,
in his state of petty king; and his hand held a
reed, as a sceptre; and as he walked along, the
bitterest among the priests, as well as the vilest
of the common fellows, bent the knee before him,
crying :
"Hail! King Jesus! Hail, Royal Nazarene!
All hail!"
Others went before him, carrying mock
standards while others, acting as heralds, ran,
shouting:
" 'Make way for the King of the Jews. Do
homage, all men, to Caesar! This is the great
Tiberius, Emperor of Nazareth! Behold his
glittering crown! Mark his royal robes, and see
his dazzling sceptre! Bend the knee bend the
knee, men of Judah, before your king!"
When Pilate saw this spectacle, and heard
these words, he trembled, and was heard to say:
"Either this man or I must perish! These
Jews are become madmen with rage, and de
mand a sacrifice. One of us must fall!"
Oh ! that I could write all I feel ; but I am com
pelled, my dear father, to end here.
Your affectionate child,
ADINA.
LETTER XXXIIL
My Dear Father: In this letter, which I
write in the solitude of my chamber, while all in
the house have sought repose, will be continued
my account of the trial, if such it can be called,
of Jesus. I have already shown you how he
was first taken to Annas, and thence dragged
before Caiaphas, who, unable to execute upon
him the sentence of death, sent him to the Pro
curator Pilate, charged with conspiracy; and he,
shrinking from condemning a man whom he knew
to be innocent of any crime, and yet fearing to
release him, lest he should be impeached by the
Jews to Caesar, sought to shift the responsibility
upon Herod, in whose tetrarchy lay Nazareth,
where Jesus ordinarily dwelt.
John, the faithful, and yet trusting disciple
whom Jesus loved, still kept near his captive
Master, and sought to cheer him by affectionate
looks, and, where he could do it with safety, by
kind acts. More than once he was rudely
424 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVIL.
thrust aside by the fiercer Jews, and once several
men siezed upon him, and would have done him
violence, as a follower of the Prophet, if Caia-
phas, to whom John is remotely related, and
who knows him well, had not interposed. In
deed, it was through this protecting influence of
the High-Priest, that the disciple was allowed to
remain near Jesus. And while John was thus
doing all that he could to soften the asperity of
his friend's treatment, we at home were exerting
ourselves to soothe the maternal solicitude of
Mary of Nazareth, his noble and heart-broken
mother, whom with difficulty we could restrain
from rushing to the palace, and casting herself at
the feet of the Procurator, to implore him to
interpose to save her son her only son from
the hands of his own countrymen! Thus a two
fold scene of anguish, at the palace and in the
house of Rabbi Amos, was passing. Mary,
Martha, and Lazarus, w r ere also with us, having
come into the city as soon as my cousin Mary's
letter reached them; and, besides, there were with
us four or five of the disciples, who had come in,
one by one, secretly, for fear of being seized by
the Jews, and were anxiously waiting here the
result, and firmly believing that Jesus would yet
free himself by his divine and miraculous power.
At every approach of a footfall at the door, they
eagerly cried: "It is the Lord!" But ah, in vain
their hopes and all our anticipations!
Herod, the Tetrarch of Galilee, who occupied
the old palace of the Maccabees, which Alex
ander the Macedonian, had built for Seleucus,
was breaking his fast with fruit and wine, at a
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 425
table overlooking, by a window, the street of the
Gentiles, when the noise of the advancing thou
sands of the Jews, who were bringing Jesus be
fore him, reached his ear. He started from the
table, and said:
"These people are surely up in insurrection
against Pilate!"
"No, great Prince," answered the lad Abel, his
cup-bearer, who is a cousin to John, and has told
me many of these things; "they have taken the
Nazarene Prophet, Jesus, and are trying him for
sedition."
"This uproar proceeds from no trial, but a wild
mob in motion, and they seem to be approach
ing," was his answer to him.
As Herod spoke, he went to the lattice of his
basilica, and beheld the head of the multitude,
just emerging into the street, from that which
descended from the hill of the Pretorium. At
first he could not make out of the confused mass
any individual objects.
"There are spears and Romans in the van
and I see priests and peasants mixed together.
I now see the cause of all the tumult a mere
youth, bound and soiled, and pale as marble!
What, sirs, this is not the Great Prophet, of
whose fame I have heard?" he said, turning to
his officers. "What mean they by bringing him
hither? Yet, Per B'ctcchom! I am glad to get
a sight of him!"
The crowd, like the swelling Nile, flowed
towards the gates, roaring and chafing like its
mighty cataracts, so that there was something
fearfully sublime in this display of the power of
27
426 THE PKINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
human passions. /Emilius, with difficulty, suc
ceeded in getting his prisoner into the piazza of
the palace, so closely pressed the crowd of Jews
around and upon him. At length he stood with
him before Herod, in his banquet-hall, at the
further end of which was a dias, or throne, where
the Tetrarch sat down, while the Jews filled all
the vast room with a billowy sea of eager faces.
"Most royal Prince," said yEmilius, kneeling
before Herod, and presenting the signet, "I am
sent by his excellency. Pontius Pilate, the Roraan
Procurator of Judea, to bring before you this
person accused of blasphemy! Ignorant of your
customs and faith, the Governor desires that you,
who are of his nation, would examine him : and,
moreover Pilate, learning that he is a Galilean,
and a subject of your jurisdiction, courteously
declines interfering with your authority."
When Herod Antipas heard delivered so
courteous a message from the Procurator, with
whom he had been some time at enmity, partly
on account of Herod's cruel murder of John the
Baptizer, whom Pilate thought much of, he was
pleased.
"Say thou, Sir Knight, to his Excellency, the
most noble and princely Governor of Judea, that
I appreciate his extraordinary civility, and that
nothing will give me more pleasure, in return
for such dignified courtesy, than to be considered
by him his friend; and that I regret any occur
rence that has hitherto estranged us. Convey
to him my assurances of the high estimation in
which he has ever been held by me."
, upon receiving this answer, arose,
'THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 427
and bowed, and then said, with the boldness
which characterizes him:
"Most noble and royal king, I pray you heed
not the charges of these Jews, touching this
prisoner. They have conceived against him a
bitter hatred, without just cause. He has done
nothing worthy of death! Pilate could find
nothing, whatsoever, in him deserving of the at
tention of the dignity of a Roman tribunal."
"Let thy prisoner fear not," answered Herod,
regarding Jesus attentively, as he stood before
him, in the calm majesty of innocence. "I will
not take Pilate's prerogative of judgment out of
his hand, so handsomely tendered to me. If he
hath blasphemed, Mehercule! the High-Priest,
the priests of the Temple itself," he added, laugh
ing, "do that every day of their lives; for religion
is at a low ebb among the hypocritical knaves.
I have nothing to do with their charges of blas
phemy, or I would have them all stoned to death,
without mercy. I will first see some miracles
wrought by thy far-famed prisoner, good ^mil-
ius, and then send him back to my noble friend
Pontius, whom his gods prosper in all things."
Herod, then fixing his eyes curiously upon
Jesus, who had stood silently before him, seem
ingly the only unmoved person in the vast con
course heaving and murmuring around him,
said to the soldiers:
"Unbind him! Some one bring water, to re
move the blood from his cheeks and beard. By
the staff of Jacob! he hath been roughly handled.
Men of Israel, it becomes not such as you to do
violence to a man before he is condemned; and
428 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
then if it be preyed he have done aught deserv
ing chastisement, let the law punish him. This
man is a Galilean, and I am bound to see him
have justice, and to protect him from wrong."
While he was speaking, water was brought,
and John, with. a napkin, wiped away the stains
of blood, which flowed from the wound on his
temple, inflicted by the staves of the Jews; and
also, removed the spots from his princely beard
and golden hair. He also arranged his mantle
about his form. Herod regarded, with interest
and looks of compassion, the pale and divinely-
serene countenance of the prisoner; and seemed
struck with the indescribable majesty of his as
pect and bearing, and the purity of soul that
beamed from his holy eyes.
"Art thou the Nazarenc, Jesus, of whom I
have heard so much?" he asked, in deferential
tones.
"I am he," was the quiet answer of the captive.
"Then gladly do I meet thee; for I have long
time desired to see thee ; and I would fain behold
thee do some miracle. Men say thou canst heal
the sick, restore the maimed, and raise the dead!
Does rumor belie thy powers? What! Art
thou silent? Dost thou not know who it is that
speaks to thee? Come hither, fellow;" he called
to a Samaritan muleteer, who stood in the crowd,
whose oval face and Jewish eyes showed him to
be both of Assyrian and Israelitish descent,
whose arm had been taken off by a sword, in a
contest with Barabbas and his robbers: "Come
hither, and let this Prophet prove his power and
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OP DAVID. 429
mission, by restoring thy arm whole, like as the
other!"
The man alertly came forward, and all eyes
were directed eagerly upon him, and upon Jesus;
but he thrust the stump of his arm, by Herod's
order, in vain before Jesus. The eyes of the
Prophet moved not from their meditative look
upon the ground.
"Art thou mocking us, thou false Christ!"
cried the Tetrarch angrily; "wilt thou neither
speak nor act? If thou art not an impostor, do
a miracle before us all, and we will believe in
thee!"
Jesus remained motionless, yet with a firm and
majestic countenance, that made him look more
kingly than Herod.
"He is a deceiver! He performed his works
through Beelzebub, who has now deserted him!"
cried the priests.
"Nazarene," said Herod, "I am a Jew also. If
thou wilt prove to me, by a sign that I will
name, that thou art the Christ, I will not only
become thy follower, but will let thee go free.
Your silence is an insult to my power. I warn
thee that my patience is not divine I make no
pretensions tt) superior sanctity. Thou seest
yonder marble statue of Judas Maccabeus.
Command the sword in its hand to wave thrice
above its helmeted head, and I will bend the
knee to thee! Nay wilt not? T will give thee
something easier to do! Seest thou the carved
pomegranates in the entablature of the wall?
Bid the one which hangs over this column to
430 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
turn into ripe, natural fruit, and fall at my feet!
No?"
"He has no power his friend Beelzebub hath
given him up into our hands! Death to the
necromancer! were the words which now made
the hall tremble,
"He is an accursed blasphemer! He would
destroy the Temple! He calls himself the Son
of God! He breaks the Sabbath-day! He is a
foe to our religion!" was shouted by Abner, the
priests, and the scribes.
"See the whirlwind thou hast raised, O Naza-
rene!" cried Herod, rising; "if thou art a Proph
et, no harm can they do thee; and if thou art
an impostor, if they kill thee, thou deservest thy
fate! I give thee up into their hands! Save
thyself, if thou be the Christ!"
Scarcely had Herod spoken these words, re
linquishing Jesus into the hands of his foes, than,
with a savage cry, as the famished jackals in the
desert rush upon their prey, they rushed upon
their victim. JEmilius could not protect him:
nay, some of Herod's soldiers, whom the Jews
had half-intoxicated with wine, joined them as
soon as they saw their master Antipas had cast
him off, and began to scoff and mock him, and
one of them thrust a helmet on his head, and
pulled the visor down over his eves!
"Nay," said Herod, on seeine this, "as he calls
himself a kine, crown him, and robe him rovally,
and place a ?cettre in his band; and vender block
will make him a proper throne! We must show
Pilate how we jews serve men who usurp the
power of his master Caesar!"
THE PKINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 431
No words could have better pleased the people,
save such as would have sentenced Jesus to
death. With a glad response, they began to put
into execution the hint he had so wickedly given
them. One of his men of war brought a cast-off
robe of purple, which belonged to Herod, and,
with loud shouts of laughter, and coarse jests,
they robed him in it, unresisting as the lamb
wreathed for the sacrifice. Some one then un
twined the creeping thorn, which grew on the
outer wall, and twisting it into the shape of a
crown, handed it over the heads of the men to
Abner, whose hatred against Jesus proceeded
from the well-known fact, that among the
changers of money, whom he drove from the
Temple, was a younger brother, who was mak
ing, by his business, great gains for the ava
ricious priest; who, therefore, never forgave this
act of the Prophet.
When Abner saw the crown, he smiled with
malicious gratification, and nodding approvingly
to the man, said:
"This is what we needed! Nothing could
have done better;" and with his two hands he
( placed it upon the head of Jesus, pressing,
cruelly, the sharp thorns into his* temples, till the
blood trickled from a dozen wounds. Jesus
made no complaint, but the pain forced large,
bright tears from his eyes, which rolled down his
cheeks, and fell along the purple robe like glit
tering pearls.
"Here is also a sceptre for our king!" ex
claimed the man with one arm, using this one to
reach a piece of reed, from which a Passover-
432 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
lamb has been slung, to those who were arraying
Jesus. This was thrust into his grasp, and he held
it patiently. His submission, his silence, his en
durance of pain, his constant dignity, the ma
jestic indifference which he seemed to manifest
to all their insults and tortures, brought tears
into the eyes of yEmilius; and John, unable to
benefit his dear Master, kneeling at his feet,
bathed them with his flowing tears, nor stirred,
though men trampled upon him, and smote him;
but he desired to suffer with his Master, and, as
he said to me, would gladly have borne in his
stead all his indignities. Even Herod stood
amazed at such God-like forbearance, and said
to his chief-captain: "If this man is not the Son
of God, he is worthy to be deified. Such sub
lime patience is more than human it is divine!
You Romans, ^Emilius, would make a hero of
such a man, and when he died worship him as a
god!"
"Then, mighty Prince, why suffer him to be
thus entreated?" asked /Emilius.
"It is his own choice. I have entreated him
fairly! I asked of him but one of those miracles
men say he works, as proof of his Messiahship,
and he works me none shows me no sign! The
inference is, that he can do none, and, therefore
is an impostor. Else why not prove to me his
pretensions by working a miracle?"
''Most royal Prince," said Abner, aloud, "thou
now beholdest the 'King of the Jews/ crowned,
robed, and sceptred!" and he pointed to Jesus.
"Hail! most puissant and potent sovereign of
Galilee! Hail! King of Fishermen!" cried
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID 433
Herod, mocking him, and seemingly greatly
amused at the jest. "If thou wilt tell me in what
part of cloud-land thy capital lies, I and my court
will pay thee a visit. Doubtless, thou hast a
brave army of Galilee fishermen, and a mighty
fleet of fishing boats! Hail! powerful king!
What, fellows, men-at-arms, and all ye gapers!
bend ye not the knee before this royal person
age? Do homage to your king!"
Upon this all who were around him kneeled,
and some, mockingly, prostrated themselves be
fore the Prophet; but he stood so very like a
monarch, that others, who were about to mock
him, refrained; and Herod even turned away,
with a troubled look, saying, abruptly:
"Take him back to the Procurator!"
Once more the vast multitude were in motion,
and, with cries and insults, escorted Jesus from
the presence of Herod, back to the Pretorium,
as I have already stated in my previous letter.
When Pilate beheld their return in this man
ner, and understood how that Herod declined
exercising his privilege in the matter, he was
greatly vexed. When, once more, Jesus stood
before him, arrayed, as I have described, in the
gorgeous robe and crown, Pilate, turning
towards Caiaphas and the priests, said, angrily:
"What more will ye have? Why bring this
man again before me? Ye say he perverteth the
people. Behold, I have examined him before
you. and have found no fault in him. You
proved nothing by your witnesses, touching
those things whereof ye accuse him. I then sent
you with him to Herod, and lo! the Tetrarch of
434 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
Galilee, one of your own nation, finds nought in
him worthy of death! Doubtless he has said
something about not paying tribute, and de
serves for this a light punishment, but not death.
I will chastise him, and charge him that he be
more cautious, and let him go."
"If thoti let this man go, thou art an enemy to
Tiberius," answered Caiaphas; "see thou what a
commotion he has raised in the city? If he is
released there will be a revolution, and Caesar
will come and take away our place and nation.
Is it better that all Judea should perish than one
man? It is expedient that either he die or the
people perish. Nothing less than his life will
now be received."
"In the name of Olympian Jove, O Nazarene,
what hast thou done to incense these Jews? If
thou art their king, prove it to them or to me,"
demanded Pilate, greatly troubled.
"My kingdom is not of the earth," answered
Jesus. "If my kingdom were an earthly one,
then would my servants fight, that I should not
be delivered to the Jews ; but my kingdom is not
of this world."
"Then thou confessest thyself a king!" ex
claimed Pilate, with surprise.
"Thou sayest that which I am a King. To
this end was I born, and for this cause came I
into the world, that I should bear witness to the
truth."
"Truth! What is truth?" asked the Roman;
but, without waiting for Jesus to reply, and see
ing that the Jews outside the Hall were becom-
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 485
ing more and more impatient, he hurriedly went
out to them, and said:
"1 find in the prisoner no fault at all. But ye
have a custom, that I should at the Passover
pardon a criminal out of prison, as an act of
clemency, in honor of the day. Will ye, there
fore, that I pardon and release unto you this
King of the Jews?"
No sooner had Pilate made this proposal, than
they all, with one voice, and furious gestures,
cried :
"No! no! not this man! We will not have
him released. We will have the vilest male
factor thy prison holds, rather than he!"
"Whom shall I then release unto you?" de
manded Pilate, in a tone of disappointment.
"Barabbas! Barabbas!" was echoed, and re
echoed, by ten thousand voices.
This Barabbas, dear father, is the same fierce
bandit, of whom I have spoken in one of my
earlier letters, two years ago. He has recently
been taken captive, while heading a revolt, in the
hill country south, and lies now under condem
nation of 'death, and was on that day to have
been crucified, with two of his lieutenants. But,
a,t the loud demand of the people, Pilate was
forced to send to the officer of the wards, to let
him go free; and it was but a short time before
he was escorted from his cell" to the front of the
Pretorium in great pomp, and became presently
one of the most active in hostility to Jesus.
Pilate, therefore, finding that the Jews would
be content with nothing less than the blood of
Jesus, returned, sorrowfully, into the Judgment-
436 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID
Hall, where he had left him seated upon the
lower step of his throne; for he could no longer
stand for weariness, and for the heavy treatment
he had undergone.
The residue of my narrative of the condemna
tion and crucifixion, I will give in the morning,
dear father,
Your loving daughter,
ADINA.
LETTER
My Dearest Fatb * : ~ I now resume the nar~
ralive of the cor -Cation, or rather sentence,
of Jesus, *&'** had been brought a second
time ^ r ^ c Pilate. The Procurator, finding
fV .. tne Jews would have the Prophet's life, and
: -h?^, if he resisted further, he, himself, would be
^ported to Caesar, as protecting a revolutionist
and usurper, vacillated, and showed an indecision
that became not a Roman Governor. His sense
of justice revolted at sacrificing, to the hatred of
the people, an innocent man, against whom no
accusation had been proven; and he feared for
bis own name and fame, should Tiberius, who is
always jealous of his Oriental Governors, believe
their statement of the case.
Jesus, as I stated in my last, had, from weak
ness, sunk upon the steps of the throne of the
Hall of Judgment. John knelt by him, bathine
the wounds in his temples, from which he had
boldly taken the crown of thorns. When Pilate
438 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
after giving the order to release the robber-chief,
Barabbas, came again where Jesus was, he
stopped, and regarded him attentively, and with
an expression of sorrow and admiration. The
youthful beauty, the dignity, even in his humilia
tion, the patience, and air of innocence, that en
veloped him, deeply impressed him. At length
he spoke.
'If thou b*. indeed a god, O heroic young man,
as thy patience -vould seem to prove thee to be,
thou needst not tc, f ear these blood-hounds, that
bay so fiercely for tli. blood. If thou art an im
postor and a sedition^ t i lou ver iiy me ritest
death. I regard thee but ng a yout hful enthus
iast, and would let thee go v ee; but I cannot
protect thee. My soldiers are rM,, cefl by send _
ing them to garrison Jericho and ^.^ tQ lesg
than three hundred men; and of these cu. rred
Jews there are half a million in the city. It lb
onlv by moral force, and show of power, thai T
keep them in subjection. If I release thee, not
only thou, but all'my troops, will be massacred;
for "we are but a handful in their grasp. Tell me
truly, art thou the son of Jupiter?"
When Jesus, instead of replying, remained
silent, the* Procurator said, sternly:
"What speakest thou not unto me? Knowes
thou not that I have power to crucify thee as a
malefactor, and power, if I choose to meel
risk, to release thee?"
Tesus looked up, and calmly said:
"Thou couldst have no power against me ex
cept it were given thee from above. Therefore,
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 439
h# that delivered me into thy hand hath the
gi^ater sin!"
And as Jesus said these words in an impres
sive tone, lie glanced fixedly at Caiaphas, who
was looking in at the door, as if designating the
High-Priest. Upon this Pilate pressed his
hands against his forehead, and paced several
times, to and fro, before the Judgment-seat, as if
greatly troubled. Caiaphas seeing- nis irresolu
tion, cried, harshly:
"'If thou let this self-styledmg go, O Gover
nor, thou art not Caesar's *riend! Our whole
nation charges him, befo^ J ou with setting him
self up to be our king jver us, when Tiberius is
the only king to - A . m we can owe allegiance.
Release the T^irper, n thou darest, and I would
not e-iv* " vo brass mites for th y head!"
gJLtdfe brow grew dark. He took Jesus by
,ne hand, and leading him to the portal, and
pointing to him, said aloud:
"Behold your king! What will you that I
should do with film! Looks he like a man to be
feared?-''
"We hve no king but Caesar!"
"Crucify him!"
'To the Cross with the false Prophet!"
"Death to the Usurper! Long live Csesar!
Long live Tiberius! Death to the Nazarene!
To the Cross! -to the Cross with him! Let him
be crucified!"
These were the various cries from ten thou
sand throats, that responded to the Procurator's
address. Impressed, as he has since said, with'
the innocence of Jesus, and remembering the
4:40 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
warning message sent him by his young and
beautiful wife, who held great influence over him,
he trembled with indecision.
"Why will you compel me to crucify an inno
cent man? What evil hath he done?"
"Crucify him! Crucify him!" was the deafen
ing response.
"I will chastise him, and let him go!"
"At your ^eril, release him, O Roman!" ex
claimed Caiaphbs, in a menacing tone. "Either
he or you must ii e this day for the people.
Blood must flow to i^pease tliis tempest!"
The tumult was no\ appalling. The voices
of the chief priests and l~ p ple kept up a cease
less uproar, calling for his -,, c ifi x ; on; an d in
vain Pilate appealed to their num^, and
tice. They drowned his voice with c . pl Qwn .
and his gesticulations for silence only mci^ ed
the roar of the human whirlwind.
When the Procurator saw that he could pre
vail nothing,but that rather the tumult increased,
he called for water, which was brought to him in
a basin, by his page; and, in the presence of the
whole multitude, he washed his hands, saying:
"I am innocent of the blood of this just per
son. See ye to it, oh Jews, ye and your High-
Priest!"
"His blood be upon us, and on our children,
answered Caiaphas; and all the people re-echoed
his language:
"Aye; on us and on our children, rest the guilt
of his blood!"
"Be it so," answered the Procurator, with a
dark brow, and face pale as the dead. "Take ye
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
him and crucify him, and may the God he
ships judge you, not me, for this day's deeds."
Pilate then turned away from them, and saic*
to Jesus, who stood unmoved, with the same
heroic and celestial serenity which he had mani
fested throughout the storm raging about him:
"Thou art, I feel, an innocent man; but thou
seest that I cannot save thee! I know thou wilt
forgive me, and that death can have no terrors
for one of fortitude like thine!"
Jesus made him no answer; and Pilate, turning
from him, with a sad countenance, walked slowly
away, and left the Judgment-Hall. As he did
so, one of his captains said to him:
"Shall I scourge him, according to the Roman
law, which commands all who are sentenced to
die to be scourged?"
"Do as the law commands," answered the
weak-minded Roman.
His disappearance was the signal for a general
rush towards Jesus, chiefly of the rabble, who, in
different about Gentile defilement, crossed the
threshold into the hall, which Caiaphas and the
chief priests had refrained from doing. These
fellows seized Jesus, and, aided by the men-
dragged him forth into the outer or
f^n; Here they stripped him, and, by
* - -tripes, s&ief captain, scourged him with
lacera^ an( j f,j ee ^. They then re-arrayed his
robe, \fcjh j j ln h a Jorm in the torn, kingly
2*2 crown; but flooved when he had
the cro* an* the ^ ^^ replaced both
28 ^C^^ ^ ^e more went
\ \
442 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
through the mockery of homage, kneeling, and
hailing him, "King of the Jews."
All this Jesus still bore with godlike majesty.
Not a murmur escaped his lips; not a glance of
resentment kindled the holy depths of his eyes,
which, from time to time, were uplifted to
Heaven, as if he sought for help and strength
from thence.
Not only yEmilius, but John, was now sepa
rated from him; but my uncle, the Rabbi, stood
near, in order to see what would follow; and to
use his influence, if possible, to induce the chief
priests to abandon the idea of killing him.
"Good Rabbi," said Jesus to him, "let them do
with me what they list! My Father hath given
me into their hands. I die, but not for myself;
I can keep or yield up my life, as I will."
"Oh, then, dear Master!" cried my uncle, "why
not save thyself? Why shouldst thou suffer all
this, and death also, if thou hast the power over
thy life?"
"If I die not, then were ye all dead! The
Scripture must be fulfilled, which spoke of me:
'He was led like a lamb to the slaughter/ "
Here Rabbi Amos could speak no more to
him, for the crowd dragged his off out of
court of Gabbatha, and so down the steep -"
in the direction of the gate of the^'P*? 6
leads to the Hill of Calvary, th^ce thevave
execution, where the Roijuave execute/
been masters of Jerusaj^ of crucifying. /} r
nals by their crueUmon took
gate, a Roman *""
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 443
under arms, and escorted him, followed by the
vast multitude.
Rabbi Amos accompanied the multitude, keep
ing as nigh to Jesus as the Roman soldiers, who
marched on each side of him, would let him.
On the way, as they crossed the open space
where once stood the palace and statue of Antio-
chus Seleucus, the eyes of the Rabbi were at
tracted by the cries and pointed ringers of many
of the people, to the body of a man lying dead at
the foot of a withered fig-tree. Upon drawing
nearer, he recognized the features of Judas, who
had so basely betrayed his Master. The spec
tacle which he exhibited was revolting, and hor
rid to look upon. About his neck was wound a
fragment of his girdle, the other half being still
secured to a limb of the tree, showing how he
had met his fate. The cord had broken by his
weight, and being a fleshy man, he had, most
dreadful to relate, in the fall burst asunder, and
the hungry dogs that infest the suburbs, were
feeding upon his bowels. With cries of horror,
several of the Jews drove them away, and the
Roman Centurion, whom Pilate had ordered to
crucify Jesus for the Jews, directed four of his
soldiers to convey the hideous corpse from sight,
and see that it was either burned or buried.
"If," said Rabbi Amos to John, who now re-
ioined him, "if the accusers of Jesus are to be
P u 'ished like this man, this will be a fearful day
for ti^p, men of Jerusalem. Judas, the betrayer,
dies beforwtus victim dies, and by his own hand.
1ms looks lik^pivine retribution, and, as if
29
444 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
Jesus were, in truth, the favored Prophet of the
Highest."
By this time, the people, who were dragging
Jesus to death, were got out of the gate, where a
cross of heavy cypress was obtained by the Cen
turion, from a yard near the lodge, wherein stood
several new crosses, awaiting whatsoever victims
Roman justice might, from day to day, condemn
to death. Two others were also brought out,
and laid upon the shoulders of two men, the lieu
tenants of Barabbas, who were also that day to
be crucified. The released Barabbas was himself
present, and the most active, in laying the cross
upon the back of the already faint and drooping
Jesus.
By the time the great crowd had passed the
gate, it was known throughout all Jerusalem,
that Pilate had given orders for the crucifixion of
the Nazarene Prophet; and, with one mind, all
who had known him, and believed in him, or
loved him, left their houses, to go out after him,
to witness his crucifixion; for, I forgot to say,
that Caiaphas had promised, if Jesus \vere de
livered up, his followers should not be molested.
Therefore, every person went out of the gate
towards Calvary. Mary, his mother, my cousin
Mary, Martha and her sister, Lazarus, John, and
Peter, and Thomas, and some women, his rela
tives from Galilee, and many others also went.
When we had got without the walls, we see***^
to leave a deserted city behind us. As fr f as ****
eye could embrace, there was a co'" lCless mi ^ tl ~
tilde moving along the vast *pace, between the
Gate of the Kings prfd Mount Calvary. Jesus
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 445
was borne in front, where we could now and then
catch the gleam of a Roman spear. We hast
ened to get near him, and, with difficulty, made
our way to the head of the throng; both foes and
friends giving back, when they saw his weeping
mother among us.
At the ascent of Calvary we found that, from
some cause, the course of the mighty current of
human beings was checked. We soon learned
the reason. Jesus had, at length, sunk to the
ground, under the weight of the wooden beams
on which he was to die, and fainted.
"He is dead!" was the cry of those about him;
but, as we drew near, he was reviving, some one
having offered wine to his lips, and poured water
upon his brow. He stood up, and looking
mildly around, and meeting his mother's gaze,
he said, touchingly:
"Weep not! Remember what I have often
told thee of this hour, and believe! The sword
pierces through thy soul, but it is held in my
Father's hand. Mine hour is come."
Thus speaking, he smiled upon his mother,
and upon us, with a certain look of Divine peace
illuminating his countenance.
Barabbas, the robber-chief, who had, in some
degree, taken the lead of the mob, now, with the
aid of three men, raised the cross to the should
ers of Jesus, and ordered him to move on. But
the young victim sank at once beneath the load.
Upon this they were at a loss what to do; for it
is ignominious for Jew or Gentile to aid in bear-
ing a malefactor's cross, and not a Roman would
touch it; and the Jews would not for fear of de-
446 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
filement, which would compel them to be set
apart afterwards for many days' purification.
Barabbas again raised Jesus to his feet, and be
gan to scourge him, to make him drag the heavy
beams up the steep of Calvary. But he had no
strength to advance three steps with it, though
he made the effort to obey his tyrannous execu
tioners. At this crisis they discerned a Syro-
Phcenician merchant, Simon of Cyrene, a vener
able man, well-known to all in Jerusalem, and
father of the two young men, Rufus and
Alexander, who were followers of Jesus, having
sold, the last year, all they had, in order to be
come his disciples, and sit at his feet, and listen
to his Divine teachings. Their father was, for
this, or some other reason, particularly obnox
ious to Caiaphas, and, on seeing him, he pointed
him out to the Centurion, "as one of the Naza-
reries," and suggested that he should be com
pelled to bear the cross after him.
The Cyrenian merchant was at once dragged
from his mule, and led to the place where the
cross lay, believing he was about to be himself
executed. But when he beheld Jesus standing,
pale and bleeding, by the fallen cross, and knew
what was required of him, he burst into tears,
and kneeling at his feet, said:
"If they compel me to do this, Lord, think not
that I aid thy death! I know that thou art a
Prophet come from God! If thou diest to-day,
Jerusalem will have more precious blood to an
swer for than the blood of all her prophets."
"We brought thee here not to prate, old man,
but to work. Thou art strong-bodied, Up with
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 447
this end of the cross, and go on after him!" cried
the chief priests.
Simon, who is a powerful man, though three
score years of age, raised the extremity of the
beam, and Jesus essayed to move under the
weight of the other; but he failed.
"Let me bear it alone, Master," answered the
stout Simon; "I am the stronger. Thou hast
enough to bear the weight of thine own sorrow.
If it be a shame to bear a cross after thee, I glory
in my shame, as would my two sons, were they
here this day."
Thus speaking in a courageous and bold voice,
and looking as brave as if he would as gladly be
nailed to the cross for his Master as carry it
after him (for Simon had long believed in him,
as well as his sons), he lifted the cross upon his
shoulders, and ascended the steep after Jesus,
who, weak from loss of blood and of sleep, and
weary unto death, had to lean, for support,
against one arm of the instrument of death.
Ah, my dear father, what a place was this, up
which we climbed ! Skulls lay scattered beneath
our footsteps, and everywhere human bones
bleached in the air; and we trode in heaps of
ashes, where the Romans had burned the bodies
of those whom they crucified.
At length we reached the top of this hill of
death, on which five crosses were already stand
ing. Upon one of them a criminal still hung,
just alive, who had been nailed to it the noon be
fore. He called feebly for water, but some de
rided, and all passed him unheeded. There was
\n empty space on the summit, and here the Cen-
448 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
turion stopped, and ordered the crosses to be set
in the rock, where deep holes had been already
cut for them. The crosses carried by the thieves
were now thrown down by them ; by one with an
execration, by the other with a sigh, as he anti
cipated the anguish he was to suffer upon it.
The larger cross of the three was that for
Jesus. It was taken by three soldiers from the
back of the old Cyrenian merchant, and thrown
heavily upon the earth. It was now that a crisis
approached, of the most painful interest. The
Centurion ordered his soldiers to clear a circle
about the place, where the crosses were to be
planted, with their spears. The Jews, who had
crowded near, in eager thirst for their victim's
blood, gave back slowly and reluctantly, before
the sharp points of the Roman lances, pushed
against their breasts; for the Centurion had with
him full three-score men-at-arms, besides a part
of Herod's guard. So great was the desire of
the Jews to get near, that helpless females could
not be otherwise than crowded away from the
immediate scene. John, however, held his place
close by his Master. He relates that Jesus con
tinued to evince the same sublime composure
when the Centurion commanded the crucifiers to
advance and nail the malefactors to their crosses.
The robber-lieutenant, Ishmerai, who was an
Edomite, upon seeing the man approach with
the basket containing the spikes and hammers,
scowled fiercely upon him, and looked defiance.
He was instantly seized by four savage-looking
Parthian soldiers, of the Roman guard, and
stripped, and thrown upon his back upon the
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OP DAVID. 449
cross. His struggles, for he was an athletic man,
were so violent, that it took six persons to keep
him held down upon the arms of the cross, and
his palms spread open, to receive the entering
nail; which one of the crucifiers, with naked and
brawny arms, by pressing one knee upon the
wrist, drove in, through the flesh and wood, with
three quick and powerful blows, with his short,
heavy-headed hammer. Ishmerai gnashed his
teeth as the nail entered the quivering flesh.
The other hand, in like manner, was fastened,
with difficulty, to the other arm of the wood; and
then, both feet being lapped together, a long,
sharp spear-nail was driven through both into
the timber, while a shriek, mingled with curses,
bore testimony to the agony suffered by the
wretched man.
Thus secured, he was left, bleeding and writh
ing, by the six crucifiers; for there are four to
bind the victim, one to hold the spikes, and the
sixth to drive them home with his hammer; and
from the glance I caught of their half-naked and
blood-stained figures, they were worthy to hold
the dreadful office, which made all men shun
them as if they were leprous.
They now approached Omri, the other robber,
who was a young man, with a mild look, and a
face, whose noble lineaments did not betray his
profession. He was the son of a wealthy citizen
in Jericho, and had, by riotous living, spent his
patrimony, and joined Barabbas. He had heard
Jesus preach in the wilderness of Jordan, and had
once asked him, with deep interest, many things
touching the doctrines he taught. John, who
450 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
had seen him talking with Jesus, a few months
before, at Bethabara, now recognized him, and
saw him regard the Prophet with reverential
looks; and more than once heard the latter speak
kind words to him as they climbed the hill.
When the crticifiers, with their cords, baskets,
nails, arid iron hammer, drew near him, he said:
"I will not compel you to throw me down, I
can die as I have lived, without fear! As I have
broken the laws, I am ready to suffer the penalty
of the laws/'
Thus speaking, he stretched himself upon his
cross, and extending his palms along the trans
verse beams, he suffered them to nail him to the
wood, uttering not a moan. He glanced towards
Jesus at the same time, with an expression of
courage, as if he sought to show him that the
pain could be borne by a brave man. And, per
haps, indeed, Jesus looked as if he needed a
heroic example before him to show him how to
die without shrinking, for his cheek was like the
marble of Faros, in its whiteness, and he seemed
ready to drop to the earth from weakness. His
youth his almost Divine beauty, which not even
his tangled hair, and torn beard, and blood-
streaked countenance, could wholly hide the
air of celestial innocence that beamed from his
eyes, drew upon him many glances of sympathy,
even from some of his foes. The Centurion, who
was a tall man, with a grizzly beard, and with the
hardy exterior of an old Roman warrior, looked
upon him with a sad gaze, and said:
"I do not see what men would hate thee for,
for thou seemest more to be a man to love; but
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 451
I must do my duty, and I hope thou wilt forgive
me what I do. A soldier's honor is to obey."
Jesus smiled forgiveness upon him so sweetly,
that the stern Roman's eyes filled with tears, and
he placed his gauntleted hand to his face, to con
ceal his emotion.
"Pilate would not do this grime, were there
another legion or two with him. It is the few
ness of his men-at-arms that compels him to
please these howling Jews."
This was spoken to Jesus, who made no reply;
for, at this moment, the crucifiers drew 7 nigh, to
prepare him, by stripping, for the cross, lying at
his feet.
But, my dear father, I can go on no farther
now with my narrative. I am weary, weeping
at the sad recollections it calls before me, and at
our present affliction. In my next T will give
you an account of the unhappy crucifixion of the
Prophet of Nazareth, and with him, the cruci
fixion and death of all our hopes in him as Mes-
sias of God.
Your affectionate daughter,
ADINA.
LETTER XXXV.
Jerusalem, Third Morning after the )
Crucifixion, j
My Dear Father: It is now dawn, and I have
arisen early, as I shall leave the city to-day, with
my Uncle Rabbi Amos, and the whole family, to
go to Bethany, to escape the Jews, who are dili
gently seeking the arrest of all in Jerusalem who
were followers of the slain Prophet. As an hour
or two will elapse before all is ready for our safe
departure, I will occupy the interval in complet
ing my narrative of the crucifixion of Jesus; es
pecially as Rabbi Amos, finding I have been so
careful, heretofore, in recording all things con
cerning him, desires me not to omit any particu
lars; as my account may hereafter be convenient
to refer to, and, perhaps, if necessary, be laid be
fore Caesar, in defence of such as may be sent to
Rome on charges of sedition. I feel that my
poor letters, dear father, are only valuable to you
and those I love; but, if they can aid in explain-
THE PRINCE OP THE HOUSE OF PAVTD. 453
ing anything for the exculpation of the poor
Nazarenes, who are now so despised, and vigi
lantly hunted, they are at the service even of the
mighty Tiberius himself. Their only merit is ac
curacy of detail and truthfulness, so far as cir
cumstances have enabled me to ascertain the
truth.
As I now resume my pen, to continue the par
ticulars of the crucifixion of the unhappy son of
Mary, who, widowed and childless, still remains
with us, mourning over her slain son, my heart
involuntarily shrinks from the painful subject,
and bleeds afresh. But there is a fascination as
sociated with all that concerns him, even now
that he is dead, and has proved himself as weak a
mortal as other men, which urges me to write of
him, and which fills my thoughts only with him.
I have just alluded to his grief-smitten mother.
Alas! there is no consolation for her. Her loss
is not like that of other mothers. Her son has
not only been taken from her by death, but has
died, ignominiously, on a Roman cross, executed
between two vile malefactors, as if he, himself,
were the greatest criminal of the three; and not
only this, but executed as a false prophet as a
deceiver of Israel with a thousand glittering
promises of Judea's future glory through him,
on his lips; which now, as his death proves, were
vain promises, and that he made them to deceive
his countrymen, for the temporary fame of draw
ing all men after him. She thus mourns, not as
other mothers, and refuses to be comforted.
Yet her love for her son that deathless ma
ternal love, which seems immortal in its nature,
454 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
is not buried with him. She, with dearest Mary
and Martha, have just gone out, secretly before
the Jews are astir, to pay the last duties to his
dead body, ere we depart for an asylum in
Bethany. They have taken spices, myrrh, and
aloes, and sweet herbs, for the purpose of em
balming the body; for his mother hopes to get
permission of Pilate to remove it some time to
Bethlehem, to be laid in the tomb of his fathers.
Until they return from this sad mission of love,
I will continue my subject.
When the Centurion, to whom was committed,
by Pilate, the charge of conducting the crucifix
ion of Jesus, gave orders to bind him also to the
cross, which lay upon the ground, like an altar
awaiting its victim, the four Parthian soldiers,
his brutal crucifiers, laid hold upon him, and be
gan to strip him of his garments, for his enemies
had put on him his own clothes, when they led
him out of the hall of Pilate. He wore a mantle
of spotless white, woven without seam, by Mary
and Martha, and which had been a present to
him, by the sisters, as a token of their gratitude,
for raising from the dead their brother Lazarus.
When I saw them remove this robe, which was
a visible attestation of his former power over
death, I could not believe that he could be him
self killed; but would yet break away, by some
mighty miracle, from his foes, and, scattering
them, like dust before the wind, proclaim himself,
with power, the very Son of God! But when I
perceived that he stood, calmly and sorrowfully,
letting them do what they would, I lost all hope,
and turned away weeping. His mother, sup-
TIHS PRINCE OP THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 455
ported by John, could no longer gaze upon her
son, and was borne afar off, crying thrillingly :
"Oh let me not hear the crashing of the nails
into his feet and hands! My son my son! Oh,
that thou wouldest now prove to thy mother that
thou art a true prophet!"
"What means this wailing?" cried the fierce
Abner; "who is the woman?"
"The mother of Jesus," I answered, indig
nantly.
"The mother of the blasphemer. Let her be
accursed !" he cried in a savage tone ; "thou seest,
woman, what is the end of bringing up an im
postor, to blaspheme Jehovah and the Temple.
Thy hopes and his, O wretched woman, have this
day miserably perished! So die all false Christs
and false prophets! Thou seest, if he were the
Christ, he would not stand there, and be cruci
fied, like a common malefactor!"
Mary buried her face in her hands, and wept
on my shoulder. She felt that it was too true!
I could not look towards the place where Jesus
stood. I dreaded to hear the first blow upon the
dreadful nails, and as she stopped her ears, I
would have closed mine also, but that my hands
supported her. I could hear the awful prepara
tions the rattling of the hard cord, as they
bound him to the cross, and the low, eager
voices of the four busy Parthians: and then the
rattling of the spikes: and then a silence like that
of the grave! Suddenly a blow of a hammer
broke the moment of suspense! A shriek burst
from the soul of his mother, that echoed far and
wide, among the tombs of Golgotha!
456 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
I could see hear no more! John has told me.
the rest. Leaving the stricken mother with me,
he and Lazarus drew near to where they were
unrobing the Prophet, in order to bind him to
the wood. They caught the eyes of their Mas
ter, who gazed upon them calmly and affection
ately. They said they had never before beheld
him appear so majestic and great! He looked,
as the Centurion afterwards said, "Like a god
surrendering himself to death, for the safety of
his universe!"
^ Nothing but the ferocious madness of the
Chief-Priests and Jews, could have prevented
them from being awed by the majesty of his
presence. And, besides, there sat upon his brow
heroic courage, with a certain divine humility
and resignation. Not the rough hands of the
barbaric soldiers, not the indignity of being
stripped before the eyes of thousands, not the
sight of his cross, nor of the thieves, nailed and
writhing on theirs, moved him to depart, by look
or bearing, from that celestial dignity which,
through all, had never left him.
He made no resistance when bound upon the
cross, but resigned himself, passively, into the
hands of his executioners, like a lamb, receiving
its death. "Father," he said, raising his holy
eyes to Heaven, "forgive them, for they know
not what they do." But his heroic soul could
not prevent the natural emotions of humanity at
pain. The piercing nails, rending his tender
flesh, made it quiver, and caused him to turn
deadly pallid, while a deep sigh escaped his
breast. Unlike the first robber, he did not re-
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 457
sist; unlike the second, he did not steel himself
to indifference; but he met his fate like a man
who fears not death, yet does not brave it!
''Great drops of sweat, when they nailed his
feet to the wood, stood upon his forehead," said
John, who remained near, to see his Master die,
and to comfort and strengthen him; "and when
the four men raised him and the cross together
from the earth, and let the end drop into a hole
a foot deep, the shock, bringing his whole weight
upon the nails in his hands, tore and lacerated
them, nearly dislocating the shoulders at the
same time, while every sinew and muscle of his
arms and chest were drawn out like cords, to sus
tain this unwonted weight upon them. The first
thief fainted from pain, at the shock caused by
the setting of his own cross ; and the second, cool
and defiant as he had been, uttered a loud outcry
of agony. But Jesus made no moan, though the
unearthly pallor of his countenance showed how
inexpressible was his torture.
Ah, my dear father, I would draw a veil over
this scene for it is too too painful for me to
dwell upon. To the last, John believed his Mas
ter would not die that he could not suffer! But
when he saw how that pain and anguish seized
heavily upon him, and how that he suffered like
other men, without power to prevent it, he
greatly wondered, and began to believe that all
the miracles that he had seen him perform must
have been illusions. He could not reconcile the
calmness and dignity, the heroic composure and
air of innocence, with which he came to the
29
458 THE PKINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
cross, with imposture; yet his death would, as-
suredly, seal as imposture all his previous career.
The three crosses, that of Jesus in the midst,
as the place of chief dishonor, being raised into
the air, and fixed in the sockets of the rock, the
Centurion commanded the adjacent space to
be cleared, and that the malefactors be left
to die. Oh, what a fearful death for Jesus!
for him whom we knew so well, and whom
we still loved, although he had deceived us.
There, thought we, he might linger two
or three days, dying slowly, as some have
done, and exposed to the fierce sun by day,
and the chilly winds of night, while about them
hovered, on steady wings, the savage birds of
prey, impatient for their feast.
Much of the residue of the account I have from
John, who remained at the last close to the cross,
while we stood afar off, with his weeping mother,
Mary of Bethany, Martha, Lazarus, and Mary,
the mother of Salome, and other women, our
friends from Galilee, who also had hope in Jesus
There we waited, in expectation of seeing him
do some mighty miracle from the cross, and de
scend unharmed, showing to the world, thereby,
his title to be the Messias of God.
The Centurion having placed a guard about
the crosses, to keep the friends of the crucified
from attempting their rescue, stood watching
them. The soldiers, who had nailed Jesus to the
tree, began to divide, with noisy oaths, his gar
ments among themselves, as well as those of the
two thieves, these being, by the Roman law, the
fee of the executioner. This division being
THE PRINCE OP THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 459
made, after some time, but not without high
talking, and drawing of their long Syrian knives
upon each other, they were at a loss what to do
with the large white mantle, without seam, which
the sisters of Lazarus had woven for the friend
of their once dead brother. A group of the
Roman guard being seated near, astride upon
the four arms of a fallen cross, playing at dice,
suggested that the Parthians should decide by
lot whose it should be. This the latter consented
to, and taking the dice-boxes in their bloody
hands, each of them threw thrice. The highest
number fell to the most ferocious of the four fel
lows, who, taking the mantle, wrapped it about
his huge form, and, pacing up and down before
the people, called, in a loud voice, himself a great
prophet, and asked, in his broken, barbarous
tongue, some of the Jews if they would like to
have him foretell their fortunes. At this they
began to cry out upon him, and stone him, as a
blasphemer and but for the interposition of the
Centurion, a tumult would have been made.
The soldier then proposed to sell the cloak,
which John joyfully purchased of him, by means
of the jewels of several of the women, who gladly
took rings from their ears, and bracelets from
their arms, I giving, clear father, the emerald
which you bought for me at Cairo. But I could
not see the robe, which Jesus had worn, thus
desecrated; for still, oh' yes, still we love him,
even in his death, which death was his and our
infamy! The mother of Jesus received the robe
with deep emotions of gratitude to us all. But
30
460 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
now, my dear father, how shall I describe the
scenes and events that followed?
After Jesus had hung about an hour upon the
cross, .^Emilius came from Pilate, and bore the
inscription, which it is usual to place above the
heads of malefactors, showing their name, and
the crime for which they are crucified. Above
the head of Ishmerai was wTitten, in Syriac:
"Ishmerai, the Edomite."
"A Robber."
Above that of Omri was inscribed, also, on a
leaf of parchment, in the same tonp-ue, his name,
and the nature of his crime, which was that of
robbery and blood-shedding.
Above the head of Jesus, by means of a small
ladder, was placed this inscription, in Greek,
Latin and Hebrew:
"This is Jesus,
"The King of the Jews."
When the wicked Abner read this, he turned
angrily to the Centurion, and to ./Emilius, who
stood sadly near the cross:
"Write not, O Roman, that he is 'King of the
Jews/ but that he said that he was King of the
Jews!"
"I have placed above him what Pilate has or
dered to be written," answered the Centurion.
Abner, upon this, mounted a mule, and hast
ened into the city to the Procurator, and laid his
complaint before him.
"What I have written, T have written, sir
priest," we have heard that the Procurator coldly
answered.
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 461
"But you, then, have crucified this man for
being our king, which we deny!" retorted
Abner.
"I will take his word, before that of all the
Jews in Caesar's empire," answered Pilate, an
grily. "He said he was a king; and if ever a
king stood before a human tribunal, I have had
a true and very king before me to-day; and I
have signed the warrant for his execution. But
his blood be on your heads ; for I was compelled
to do this deed, or lose my Procuratorship ; for
else you would have had me before Caesar as a
traitor. Leave my presence, Jew! Have I not,
against my own convictions of justice and hu
manity, consented to gratify your thirst for this
innocent person's blood? What more do you
demand? Is he not hanged? If you approach
my presence more on this subject, by the gods of
Rome, I will .crucify you, and ten score more ! I
will pile a hecatomb to his manes!"
Abner left his presence abashed, and returned
to the hill of crucifixion. The Jews, in the mean
while, mocked Jesus, and wagged their heads at
him, and reminded him of his former miracles
and prophecies.
"Thou, that raisedst Lazarus, save thyself from
death!" said a Pharisee.
"If thou art the Son of God, prove it, by com
ing down from the cross!" cried the leader of the
Sadducees, Eli.
"Thou, who saidst if a man kept thy sayings
he should never see death let us see if thou
canst avoid death thyself!" said Iddo, the chief
of the Essenes.
4C2 THE PKI3JCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
/Tie saved others himself he cannot save!"
mocked Ezekias, one of the chief priests.
^Emilius, finding it impossible to save the
Prophet from crucifixion, had come out to guard
him from the usual insults of the rabble, while he
was dying. He had now lost faith in Jesus as a
Prophet, but he loved him still as a man, and
pitied him for his sufferings. He talked with
him, and earnestly prayed him, as he hung, if he
were indeed a god, to show his power. Jesus
made no reply: but, shortly, said, in a faint
voice,
"I thirst."
The generous knight ran and filled a sponge
with the preparation of sour wine and hyssop,
usually given to malefactors, after they have suf
fered awhile, in order to stupify them, and render
them insensible to their sufferings. While
^milius was affixing a sponge, dipped in this
vessel of vinegar, upon a reed, split at the end to
hold it firmly, Ishmerai, who all the while, as he
hung, had uttered execrations upon his cruci-
fiers, and upon Pilate, called, howling fiercely,
to Jesus :
"If thou be the Son of God, save thyself and
us! If thou didst raise a man once from the
dead, thou canst, surely, keep us from dying!
Thou art a vile wretch if thou hast power as a
prophet, and will not use it for me, when thou
seest how heavy I am of body, and how my great
weight tortures me, with infernal racking and
rending of every joint."
But "Omri, rebuking his fellow, said :
"Dost thou not fear God, seeing thou art in
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 463
i
the same condemnation. We suffer justly for
our crimes, and to-day do receive the due reward
of our transgressions; but this young man hath
done nothing amiss, save to preach against the
wickedness of the priests, and for being holier
than they. Lord, I believe that thou art the Son
of God! None but the Christ could do the
works thou hast done, or suffer patiently, as thou
art doing. Lord, remember me wheji thou com-
est into thy kingdom, for I know thou wilt go
from this, thy cross, to thy throne, and there
reign for ever and ever. I have listened to thy
teaching on the banks of Jordan, and now be
lieve."
Jesus turned his bleeding head towards him,
and, with a smile of ineffable glory radiating his
pale face, said:
"Verily, I say unto thee, this day shalt thou be
with me in Paradise."
Omri, upon this, looked inexpressibly happy,
and seemed to rise superior to his sufferings.
The other cursed the Prophet aloud, and
gnashed at him with his teeth, with demoniacal
hatred.
At this moment, JEmilius came near with his
dripping sponge, and presented the reed upwards
to the parched lips of the suffering Jesus. When
he tasted it, he would not drink, for he perceived
it was the opiate which was usually given in
compassion, to shorten the anguish of the cruci
fied.
The robber, Ishmerai, now eagerly cried for
the sponge, and the prefect giving the reed to a
soldier, the latter placed it to the mouth of the
464 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
robber, whose swollen tongue protruded, and he
drank of it with a sort of mad thirst. The other
man, also, gladly assuaged his burning fever with
it, and soon both of them sunk into insensibility,
hanging unconscious of their situation, and
showing no other signs of life than the heavings
of their chests, arid, from time to time, the in
voluntary twitching of their muscles. But
Jesus retaining his senses, in all their clearness,
suffered all that such a fearful death imposes
upon its victim.
All at once, just as the sixth hour was sounded
from the Temple, by the trumpets of the Levites,
a cloud, which, formed by the smoke of the
numerous sacrifices, had hung all day above the
Temple, was seen to become suddenly of inky
blackness, and to advance towards Calvary,
spreading and expanding in the most appalling
manner, as it approached us; and in a few min
utes, not only all Jerusalem, but Calvary, the
Valley of Kedron, the Mount of Olives, and all
the country were involved in its fearful darkness.
The sun, which had before been shining with
noon-day brilliancy, became black as sackcloth
of hair, and a dreadful, unearthly, indescribable
night overshadowed the world. Out of the
centre of the cloud, above the crosses, shot forth
angry lightnings in every direction. But there
was no thunder attending it only a dead, se
pulchral, suffocating silence.
Of the thousands who had been gazing upon
the crucifixion, every one was now prostrate
upon the earth in terror! Jerusalem was blotted
out from our view; only an angry spot of fire-
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 465
red light, as it were the terrible eye of God it
self, was visible above the Temple, over the place
of the Holy of Holies. The crosses soon were
no longer visible, save by the fearful shine of the
lightnings, flashing fiercely from the dread and
silent cloud. The form of Jesus, amid the uni
versal gloom, shone as if divinely transfigured,
and a soft halo of celestial light encircled his
brow like a crown of glory ; while the dark bodies
of the two robbers could scarcely be discerned,
save by the faint radiance emanating from his
own.
The darkness continuing, many of the multi
tude at length ceased their moans, and the beat
ing of their breasts, and rending their garments,
and arose to their feet; but moved not; for none
could stir from his place, for the midnight depth
of gloom. They talked to each other in whis
pers. An undefinable dread was upon each
mind. The sudden overspreading of the dark
ness was unaccountable as it was frightful.
Mary, his mother, and Lazarus said, with awe,
both speaking together:
'This is his power. He has produced this
miracle!"
r And we shall behold him next descend from
the cross," said Rabbi Amos. "Let us all take
courage; and let what dismays his enemies, fill
us with joyful expectation."
Three hours three long and awful hours, this
supernatural night continued; and all that while
the vast multitude remained fixed, and waiting
they knew not what. At length the cloud above
the cross parted, with a loud peal of thunder,
466 THE PRINCE OP THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
while a shower of terrible lightnings fell, like
lances of fire, all around the hanging form of
Jesus, which immediately lost its halo and its
translucent radiance. His face, at the same time,
became expressive of the most intense sorrow of
soul, and he seemed, to all eyes, to be the central
point of this fierce wrath of the heavens.
A hundred voices exclaimed, with horror:
"See! he is deserted, and punished by the Al
mighty!"
We, ourselves, were amazed and appalled.
Our rising hopes were blasted by the livid light
nings, which seemed to blast him. His mother
gave utterance to a groan of agony, and sank
upon the ground, satisfied that her son was truly
accursed of God. At this moment, as if to con
firm all our fears, he cried, in the Hebrew
tongue, with a loud voice, that, in the deep
silence, reached the ears even of the Roman
guard on the citadel:
"Eloi! Eloi! My God, my God, why hast
Thou forsaken me!"
Upon this some ran to give him wine and
hyssop.
"Nay, let him live let us see if Elias will save
him!" answered Abner.
Jesus then turned his head, and looked affec
tionately upon his mother, and committed her to
the tender care of John, who stood supporting
her near the cross.
Suddenly the darkness, which had filled all the
air, seemed now to concentrate, and gather about
the cross, so that he became invisible. From
the midst of it his thrilling voice was once more
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 467
heard, as clear and strong as it rang over the
waters of Galilee, when he preached from a boat
to the thousands thronging the shore:
''It is finished ! Father, into thy hands I com
mend my spirit!"
As he uttered these words, a supernatural
glory shone around him, and, with a deep sigh,
he bowed his head upon his breast and gave up
the ghost.
The general exclamation of surprise that fol
lowed these clear, trumpet-tones, was suddenly
checked by a terrible trembling of the earth be
neath our feet, so that vast numbers of people
were cast down; the rocks of the hill of Calvary
were rent, and thrown upwards, while the whole
city shook with the convulsive throes of an earth
quake. The temple seemed on fire, and above
its pinnacle appeared a flaming sword, which
seemed to us to cleave the walls to their founda
tions; and while we looked, the sword changed
into the shape of a cross, of dazzling light, stand
ing high in the air, over the altar; and from its
golden beams poured rays so bright, that all
Jerusalem, and the hill country, for a wide ex
tent, became as light as noon-day. The ground
still continued to rock, and the sepulchres of the
kings, with the tombs of ancient prophets, were
riven by vast chasms, and the green earth was
strewn with the bones and bodies of the dead.
The dark cloud, which had begun to form first
with the smoke of the Temple, was now dissi
pated by the light of the fiery cross, and the sun
reappeared. Before it the glorious vision over
the Temple gradually faded out and disappeared,
468 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
The natural order of things gradually returned;
and men, smiting their breasts, began to move
towards the city, filled with awe and dread at
what they had witnessed. The Centurion, who
stood watching these fearful things, said, aloud,
to yEmilius:
'This man spake the truth. He was a God!"
"Truly,.'' responded /Emilius, "this was none
other than the Son of God the very Christ of
the Jewish Prophets. All things in the air and
on the earth sympathize with his death, as if he
were the very God of nature who has expired."
Sad and weeping, we left the dismal scene,
hanging our heads in despondency, having, while
wondering at these mighty events associated
with his crucifixion, abandoned, forever, all hope
that this was He, who should have redeemed our
nation, and restored the royal splendor of
Judah, the throne of the house of David.
I am, my dear father, your loving daughter,
ADINA.
LETTER XXXVI.
Jerusalem, Third Morning after the )
Crucifixion, j
My Dearest Father: I closed the last letter,
but to resume in another the sad narrative which
I have been writing to you. It is now half an
hour to sunrise, and as the party who went to
the sepulchre have not yet returned, I will still
continue my painfully interesting subject. The
mother of Jesus, who I thought went with the
two Mary's and Martha, remained at home un
able to bear the sight of her dead son.
On the day on which the wonderful events
took place, which I have detailed at large in my
last letter, that day which can never, for its signs
and wonders, be forgotten in Jerusalem, the chief
priests, at the head of whom was Abijah, met
Pilate as he was riding forth from the city, at
tended by a score of men at arms, to survey the
deep rents made by the earthquake, and to hear
from the mouths of all the people the particulars
470 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE 'OF DAVID.
of the marvels which attended the crucifixion of
Jesus. When they came near him, they be
sought him that he would command his soldiers
to take down the bodies, as the next day was a
high-day, and that it was contrary to their cus
toms to have criminals executed or left hanging
on that day.
"What think ye?" demanded Pilate, reining
up and soothing his Syrian war-horse, which,
startled at the dead bodies that lay near (for they
were crossing the place of open tombs), had for
some time tramped and plunged madly: "What
think ye, priests! Have you crucified a common
man! or a God? We think these mighty won
ders tell us that he was more than a man! All
nature sympathizes with his death! The sun
veiled his brightness, the heavens clad them
selves in mourning, the gods sent forth angry
lightnings; and the earth herself heaved and
rocked as if sharing the universal woe!"
The priests loked troubled, and seemed un
able to answer: but Tereh, the chief priest of the
house of Mariah, answered, and said:
"My lord, these were wonderful phenomena,
but they would have happened if thi3 Nazarene
had not died ! Here is a famous astrologer from
Arabia, who studies the skies, who says that the
darkness was caused by an eclipse of the sun,
and the dark cloud was but the smoke of the
sacrifices, and the earthquake was but a natural
and usual occurrence!"
"Stay, sir priest," answered Pilate: a we at
Rome, though called barbarians by you polished
Jews, have some scholarship in astrology. We
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 471
know well that an eclipse of the sun can take
place only when the moon is new! It is to-day,
on this thy feast day, at its full, and will to-night
rise opposite the sun! It was no eclipse, sir
priest, and thy Arabian is a false astrologer.
These events occurred because that man, your
king, has been executed."
"Why not for the two robbers as well?" de
manded Abner, with an incredulous sneer on his
lip.
Pilate made no answer, and was riding on,
when Tereh, in behalf of the chief priests, asked
permission to have the bodies of the crucified
removed from the crosses and buried.
"He cannot be yet dead, since it is only seven
hours since he was nailed to the cross," said
Pilate; "I will see for myself."
Thus speaking, the Roman Procurator spurred
on towards the top of the hill, followed by his
body-guard; now avoiding an open grave; now
leaping one of the freshly opened chasms; now
turning aside from some body cast up by the
earthquake. When he came in front of the
crosses, he saw that Jesus hung as if dead, while
the thieves still breathed, and from time to time
heaved groans of anguish, although partly in
sensible from the effects of the opiate which had
been administered to them.
"Think you, Romulus, that he has any life in
him?" asked Pilate, in a subdued tone of voice,
gazing sorrowfully, and with looks of self-re
proach, upon the drooping form of his victim.
"He is dead, an hour ago," answered the Cen
turion. "He expired when the earthquake shook
472 THE riUN'CE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
the city, and the flaming sword was unsheathed
in the air above the Temple! It was a fearful
sight, sir, and the more wonderful to see it
change in the shape of a cross of fire. I fear, sir,
we have crucified one of the Gods in the shape
of a man."
"It would appear so, Centurion," answered
Pilate, shaking his head. "I would it had not
been done! But 'tis past! The Jews desire
their bodies to be removed before their great
Sabbath. Caesar's orders are that they shall be
humored always in all things touching their re
ligion, which do not mitigate against the Im
perial laws. Let them have their desire. The
robbers are not yet dead!"
''Nearly so. I will break their legs and re
move their bodies, your excellency," answered
the Centurion.
Pilate then turned his horse and rode slowly
and sadly away from the spot. Romulus then
gave orders to his soldiers to remove the bodies.
One of them with a battle-axe approached the
robber Omri, and at two blows broke his knees.
With a shudder that shook the cross, he ceased
to move. The first blow upon the limbs of Ish-
merai caused him to open his eyes and to growl
a half-intelligible execration; but at the second
stroke his huge head fell upon his hairy chest,
and, muttering a curse upon his executioners, he
the next moment hung there dead! When the
soldiers came to Jesus they saw that He was
already dead. He seemed like a Phidian statue
of the whitest marble of Paros. His polished
limbs were shaped with celestial symmetry; his
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 473
golden hair was tossed by the evening breeze
about his brow and shoulders; his divine aspect
death could not mar; and the contrast he pre
sented to the rough forms of the two malefactors
between whom he hung, struck even the rude
soldiers.
''Let us not break his legs," said one to the
other, "it were sacrilege to mar such a manly
form."
"Yet, we must ensure his death ere he be taken
away," responded the other. "I will pierce him
to make sure !"
Thus speaking, he directed his spear to the
side of Jesus, and cleaved the flesh to his heart.
John, who stood near, and saw and heard all,
upon seeing this done, bowed his head to the
earth in total abandonment of hope! Until that
moment he had believed that Jesus would revive
and descend from the cross; for to the last all our
faith in his power to save himself was firm,
though greatly tried when we saw him in the
hands of the Roman soldiers. Even when w r e
beheld him nailed to the cross we did not give
up hope, for we had all seen him raise Lazarus
dead, and felt that he could free himself from the
cross alive also. And, although after the earth
quake, we left the hill and returned, sorrowing
and smiting our hearts, into the city, we often
lingered and looked back to w T here he hung, ex
pecting to see him descend from it, and proclaim
himself, by such a mighty miracle, the Son of
God. John, first having delivered the mother of
Jesus to our care, and many of the women and
others who had loved and followed him, re-
30
474 THE PKINCB OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
niained long watching him, and expecting some
great event.
But when the unhappy disciple saw the Roman
spear pierce his side, his own heart seemed to be
pierced also. Hope perished forever! Jesus
was dead dead, and thus proved a deceiver.
Yet his emotions were not of anger, but of sor
row; for he greatly loved him.
When he raised his head to gaze upon his cru
cified Master, he saw flowing from the rent in his
side two fountains together, one of crimson
blood, the other of crystal water. He could not
believe what he saw, until the soldiers and the
Centurion also saw it, and expressed aloud their
wonder at such a marvel.
"Never was such a man crucified before," ex
claimed the Centurion. "He is without doubt
one of the immortal Gods, and therefore have
the heavens and earth been moved with amaze
ment at the deed!"
When John saw that Jesus was indeed dead,
and all hope of his restoration to life was de
stroyed, he drew near, and asked permission of
the Centurion to be allowed to have the body;
for he had promised the mourning mother of the
dead son that he would recover it, if possible, for
sacred burial. But the Centurion, though a kind
and generous man, answered that he could de
liver the body to no one without an order signed
by the Procurator's own hand.
Upon this, John, after getting the promise of
the Centurion that the body should not be taken
down until his return, ran rapidly towards the
city to ask the consent of Pilate. But in the
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 475
meanwhile, Rabbi Joseph, the counsellor of
Arimathea, whom, my dear father, you have,
many years ago, well known to be a man of
probity and honor, and who stands high in favor
with Pilate, met him as he was skirting the wall
of the city with his cohort, and asked him if,
when Jesus should be pronounced to be dead, he
might take down the body and give it sepulture,
Pilate did not hesitate to give his ready consent
to this request, and taking from his purse a small
signet engraved with his cipher, he placed it in
the hands of the rich Rabbi.
"Go and receive the body of this wonderful
man," he said. "Methinks thou art one who
knew him well. What thinkest thou of him,
Rabbi?" Joseph perceived that Pilate asked the
question with deep interest, and seemed very
greatly troubled in mind, and he answered him
boldly:
"I believe that he was a Prophet sent from
God, your excellency, and that to-day has died
on Calvary the most virtuous, the wisest, and the
most innocent man in Caesar's empire."
"My conscience echoes your words," answered
Pilate, gloomily; and putting spurs to his horse,
he galloped forward in the direction of the Geth-
semane Gardens.
John, therefore, did not see Pilate, and on re
turning from the city weary and disappointed,
he met the ruler, Nicodemus, who, attended by
one of his Gibeonite slaves, was hastening into
town to purchase spices and linen to wrap the
body in, as our manner is to bury. From him
John learned, with great joy, how that Rabbi
476 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
Joseph had seen Pilate, and obtained from him
permission to take down and remove the body.
When John reached the cross, he found, that
Joseph, by the aid of Lazarus, Simon Peter,
Mary, Martha, and Rabbi Amos, had taken it
out of the socket in the rock, with its precious
burden, and gently laid it upon the ground with
the body still extended upon it. With many
tears and lamentations they drew forth the cop
per spikes from the torn hands and bleeding feet,
and with water from the brook Kedron, washed
the enrnarbling blood away, and wrapped the
alabaster limbs in the spices and white linen,
which Nicodemus presently arrived with.
The bodies of the robbers in the meanwhile
were taken, or rather torn down by the soldiers,
and cast together into one of the yawning chasms
rent by the earthquake, and covered by frag
ments of stone, which the soldiers, assisted by
some of the baser Jews who still lingered about
the place, cast down upon them.
In the still, holy twilight of that dread day,
the west all shadowy gold and mellow light, the
air asleep, and a sacred silence reigning in hea
ven and on earth, they bore away from the hill
of death the body of the dead Prophet. The
shoulders of Nicodemus, of Peter, of Lazarus,
and of John, gently sustained the loving weight
of Him they once honored above all men, and
whom, though proved by his death, to have
fatally deceived himself as to his Divine Mission
as the Christ, yet they still loved for his sorrow
so patiently borne, for his virtues so vividly
remembered.
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 477
Slowly the little group wound their way down
the rocky sides of Golgotha, the last to leave that
fearful place in the coming darkness. Their
measured tread, their low whispers, the subdued
wail of the women who followed the rude bier of
branches, the lonely path they trode, all com
bined to render the spectacle one of touching
solemnity. On reaching the valley between the
hill and the city, the shades of evening were
gathering thick around them. They took secret
\vays for fear of the Jews. But some that met
them turned aside with awe when they knew
what dead corpse was borne along; for the im
pression of the appalling scenes of the day had
not yet wholly passed away from their minds.
At length they reached a gate in the wall of the
garden attached to the noble abode of the
wealthy Rabbi Joseph, who went before, and
with a key unlocked it, and admitted them into
the secluded enclosure. Here the thickness of
the foliage of olive and fig trees created complete
darkness; for by this time the evening star was
burning like a lamp in the roseate west. They
rested the bier upon the pavement beneath the
arch, and awaited in silence and darkness the
appearance of torches, which Rabbi Joseph had
sent for to his house. The servants bearing
them were soon seen advancing, the flickering
light from the flambeaux giving all things visible
by it a wild aspect, in keeping with the hour.
"Follow me," said Joseph, in a low voice, that
w^as full charged with great sorrow, as the ser
vants preceded him with their torches.
The sad bearers of the dead body of Jesus
478 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
raised their sacred burden from the ground, and
trode onward, their measured foot-falls echoing
among the aisles of the garden. At its farther
extremity, where the rock of Moriah hangs beet
ling over the valley, and forms at this place the
east wall of the garden, was a shallow flight of
stone steps leading to a new tomb hewn out of
the rock. It had been constructed for the Rabbi
himself, and had just been completed, and in it
no man had ever been laid.
The torches flashed brightly upon its massive
door, and upon a dark cypress tree, the branches
of which drooped in majestic gloom around it.
It seemed the very temple and shrine of death,
so secluded so solemn so funereal was all!
The servants-, by command of Joseph, rolled
back the stone, arid exposed the dark vault of
the gaping sepulchre.
"How is it, most worthy Rabbi," said a Ro
man Centurion, suddenly apprising them of his
presence by his voice, "that you bury thus with
honor a man who has proved himself unable to
keep the dazzling promises he has allured so
many of you with ?"
All present turned with surprise at seeing not
only the Centurion, but half a score of men-at-
arms, on whose helmets and cuirasses the torches
brightly gleamed, marching across the grass
towards the spot.
"What means this intrusion, Roman?" asked
Rabbi Joseph.
"I am sent hither by command of the Pro
curator," answered the Centurion; "the chief
Jews have had an interview with him, informing
THE PRINCE OP THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 479
him that the man whom he had crucified had
foretold that after three days he would rise again.
They therefore asked a guard to be given them
to place over the sepulchre till the third day, lest
his disciples secretly withdraw the body, and re
port that their master is risen. Pilate, therefore,
has commanded me to keep watch to-night with
my men."
While the Centurion was speaking, several of
the priests whom Joseph knew drew near, bear
ing torches; and also a company of women and
relatives of Joseph and Mary, who had heard
where they were entombing the body, came to
see the place wherein he was laid.
"We bury him with this deference and respect,
Centurion," answered Rabbi Joseph, "because
we believe him to have been deceived, not a de
ceiver. He was gifted by God with vast power,
and therefore doubtless believed he could do all
things. He was too holy, wise, and good to de
ceive. He has fallen a victim to his own wishes
for the weal of Israel, which were impossible by
man to be realized. We do this honor to the
memory of one whom to know was to love, even
though we are disappointed in seeing him estab
lish the kingdom in Judah."
The body of Jesus, wrapped in its shroud of
spotless linen, and surrounded by the preserving
spices of Arabia, was then borne into the tomb,
and laid upon the table of stone which Joseph
had prepared for his own last resting-place. By
the light of the torches all present took a last
look of the body, even the women of Galilee
also, and ere they closed the tomb, Mary of Beth-
480 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
any, her sister Martha, and Lazarus, also ap
peared, to gaze a tearful farewell upon the im
movable features of the dead Prophet, for a
Prophet since the remarkable phenomena at
tending his death, we are all now assured he must
have been; and that we have misunderstood,
from their divine depth, many of his sayings and
prophecies concerning himself. Simon Peter
was the last to quit the side of the body, by
which he knelt as if he would never leave it, and
shedding all the while great tears of bitter
grief. John only at last drawing him gently
forth, enabled the Centurion and soldiers to close
the heavy door of the tomb. Having secured it
evenly by revolving it in its sockets, he placed a
mass of wax melted by a torch upon each side of
it over the crevices, and stamped each with the
signet of the Procurator, which to break is
death.
The Jews which were present, seeing that the
sepulchre was thus made sure by the sealing of
the stone, and by the presence of the vigilant
Roman guard of eighteen men, took their de
parture. Rabbi Joseph, Nicodemus, and the
rest of the friends of Jesus, then slowly retired,
leaving a sentinel pacing to and fro before the
tomb, and others grouped about beneath the
trees or on the steps of the sepulchre, playing at
their favorite game of dice, or gazing upon the
broad moon and singing their native Italian airs;
yet with their arms at hand ready to spring to
their feet at the least alarm or word of alert.
The tall, mailed figure of the Centurion standing
motionless, leaning upon the hilt of his long,
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 481
straight sword, in a meditative attitude above the
tomb, was at length shut out from the view of
the retiring disciples, by the angle in the path
which turned in the direction of the gate.
[Something fearful must this instant have hap
pened; for the house has just shaken as if with
an earthquake. What can be the meaning of
these wonders] ? Such, my dear father, is the
history of the arrest, trial, judgment, crucifixion,
death, and burial of the mighty Nazarene Proph
et. I have been thus particular, not only to
enable you to see, as if you had been present at
all that passed, but also at the request of my
uncle, Rabbi Amos, and to give vent to my own
fulness of emotion. It was also due to myself
who have believed in him so firmly, to show that,
although he was crucified and is dead, the extra
ordinary events which accompanied his crucifix
ion attested that he was more than a man, if not
the true Messias; and that, therefore, there is ex
cuse not only for me, for being his disciple, but
for all others who followed him. You can also
perceive, my dear father, from the honorable man
ner in which he was buried by the eminent coun
cillor, Rabbi Joseph, of Arimathea, that he was
deemed by him innocent of any crime worthy of
such a death; and that he believed him to have
been deceived, rather than a deceiver.
It is this view of his character, combined with
his patience, his dignity, his forbearance, his air
of divine innocence on his trial, which makes us
all still think and talk of him with tenderness and
tears. All that remains to us of him is his body,
482 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
and to this we have paid the homage of our rever
ential affection.
This morning Mary and Martha, with others,
have gone to visit his tomb in Joseph's garden (as
I have already said), for the purpose of embalm
ing it; and on their return we are to go to Beth
any for a few days until the violent hostility of
the Jews to his followers subsides. The Pro
curator is daily looking for four legions of Ro
man soldiers from Syria as a reinforcement, when
he will be able to protect us, and maintain com
pletely the supremacy of the Roman power. Oh,
that these forces were here on the day of the
crucifixion, for then, says Rabbi Amos, Pilate,
conscious of military strength, would have acted
freely, and saved Jesus from their hands.
I hear now the voices of Mary and Martha, in
the court of the street returning from the tomb.
They are pitched to a wild note of joy! What
can mean the commotion the exclamations
the running and shouting all through the corri
dors and court! I must close and fly to learn
what new wonder has occurred.
In haste, your affectionate daughter,
ADINA.
LETTER XXXVII.
Jerusalem, First Day of the Week.
Father, my Dear Father: How shall I make
known to you in words, the marvellous, joyous,
happy, happy, and most wonderful news which 1
have to tell! My heart beats, my hand trembles
with rapture, while a sense of profound awe im
presses all my soul. Jesus is alive! Jesus has
risen from the dead! Jesus has proved himself
to be the Son of God! Oh, now we know that
Jesus is, indeed, the Messias who should come!
Oh, that I could have doubted! Alas! that I
should have written to you such words of dis
belief and of doubt, and have thought him in my
heart a deceiver! But I have seen him, and he
has forgiven me! None of us understood his
words, which he spake to us before his cruci
fixion, concerning his death, and hence all our
consternation and despair. But now we clearly
perceive the meaning of all, and are amazed at
our dullness and disbelief. His death, to our b^
484 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
nighted apprehensions, seemed the seal to a life
of falsehood: the proof that he was a false proph
et, rather than, as we now know it to be, a
proof of his being the Son of God, by his resur
rection from the dead!
I can scarcely hold my pen for joy and wonder,
or collect my thoughts, for very amazement, at
what has transpired. But I will try, and calm
my emotions, in order, my dear father, to make
known to you the mighty events which have
come to pass to-day. ,
My last letter to you abruptly closed, as I was
interrupted by loud exclamations of gladness,
and great confusion, of running and calling, in
the courts and corridors below. Upon hearing
my name called by Mary, and others, in eager,
joy trembling tones, I hastened to go down. On
reaching the staircase I met my cousin Mary,
ascending, almost flying. Wonder, love, and
happiness inexpressible, beamed from her beau
tiful countenance. Meeting me, she threw her
arms about my neck, and essayed to utter some
thing, but her heart was too full, and bursting
into sobs, she wept convulsively upon my bosom,
in an ecstasy of delirious joy.
Amazed and confounded, not knowing what
had happened, I held her to my heart, and tried
to soothe her emotion. The voice of Martha
now reached my ears from the foot of the stairs,
talking rapidly to Rabbi Amos, who answered
with loud exclamations!
"What what hath happened? Speak, dear
Mary!" I asked, unable to wait longer in sus
pense.
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 485
She raised her head, and through her tears
and smiles, at length said, brokenly:
"He He is risen oh, He is risen from
the tomb!"'
"Who?" I cried, half-believing, yet doubting.
"The Lord! Our Mighty Master Jesus
the very Son of God, the Blessed! He is alive,
Adina alive and well!"
"You have seen a vision, or your grief, at his
death, Mary, has shaken your reason," I an
swered her.
Upon this she released herself from my arm,
and fixing upon me her large, earnest eyes, said:
"Adina, be not faithless, but believing. Jesus
is risen from the dead. He is alive, and walk
ing! I have seen Him he has spoken to Mary
of Bethany, Lazarus's sister, and 'so to me!
Oh, joy, joy! He is the very Son of the Highest,
and we have not been deceived; but we have
been blind, and deaf, and ignorant, not to have
understood that he must die, and rise again the
third day! Come delay not! I have flown
into the city to tell thee; and Mary has told Peter
and John, whom she met at the door, and who,
doubting, as thou hast done, yet have run to see
if these things be so. They will find the sepul
chre empty. Haste thee to go with us!"
While overwhelmed with wonder, and tremb
ling with joy, I was preparing to accompany her,
Martha appeared, her face radiant with celestial
happiness:
"You have heard the tidings of great joy, O
Adina!"
486 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
"Can they be true, Martha?" I asked, earn
estly.
"Yes, for I have seen him walking, heard his
voice, and touched him! You, also, shall see
him, for he hath sent us to tell his disciples."
At the gateway we met Mary of Bethany, who
had been telling John and Peter the news, and
had also made it known to Rabbi Amos and
Nicodemus. They were talking together in the
court, upon the crucifixion, when she burst in
upon them with the cries I had heard 'Tie is
risen He is risen!"
We three now hastened together towards the
garden of Joseph, I wishing my feet wings, that
I might reach the sepulchre sooner, fearing that
the vision of Jesus would be vanished ere I ar
rived. As we were going out of the gate, we
were met by four or five Roman soldiers, who,
with aspects stamped with fear, were running
past us into the city.
"What means this flight and terror, men?"
cried the captain of the gate. "You fly as if you
were in full retreat from an enemy. Speak,
Marius, you seem to have your senses!" he de
manded, of the youngest of the soldiers.
We paused to hear what he said.
"Per Dian, captain we have been terrified be
yond measure," answered the soldier. "My heart
beats yet, as if it were an alarum-drum. You
see, we were a part of the guard left in charge of
the sepulchre of this Jewish Prophet, crucified
three days ago. Before dawn this morning, as I
was pacing to and fro before the tomb, and my
comrades were reclining about at ease, and while
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 487
I was idly gazing at the morning star, fading
into the dawn, there suddenly shone round about
us a light, like a descending meteor, accompanied
by a rushing, like a legion of wings. The men
started to their feet in amazement! On looking
about us I saw a dazzling form, in the mid
heavens, with broad wings of gold, sparkling
with myriads of stars, every feather a star, and
clad in raiment white and gleaming as the sum
mer's lightning. This terrible presence, like
that of one of the Dii Immortales, made us fear
exceedingly, beyond any terror we had before
experienced. But when we saw this mighty
being descend straight towards the tomb, and be
held the resplendent majesty of his celestial vis
age, which blinded us, our hearts failed within us.
The angel, or god, alighted amid a blaze of radi
ance at the door of the sepulchre; and as his foot
touched the earth, it trembled, as if with a great
earthquake. The soldiers shook with terror, and
fell to the ground, before his presence, as dead
men. I stood, unable to move, frozen by fear to
a statue. He touched the great stone with one
of his fingers, and it rolled outward at his feet,
as if a catapult had struck it, and like a Jove
taking his throne, he sat upon it!
"But one thing more," continued the soldier,
"was wanting to fill my cup of terror to the full.
And it followed. I saw the crucified Prophet
rise up from the slab on which he was laid, and
stand upon his feet, and walk forth alive, with
the tread of some mighty conqueror! The celes
tial being, so terrible in his majestic splendor,
veiled his face with his wings before his presence,
488 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
and prostrated himself at his feet, as if in homage
to one greater than himself!
"I saw no more, but fell, insensible with terror,
to the earth. When, at length, I came to my
self, the tomb was filled with dazzling forms of
resplendent beauty; the air rung with music,
such as mortals never before heard; and I fled,
pursued by my fears, the rest of the soldiers ris
ing, and following me, each man fearing to look
back."
"This is indeed marvelous," answered the cap
tain of the gate; "I saw the light, and felt the
tremor of the earth; but I thought it was a
thunderbolt which had struck the ground near
the hill of Calvary. Go, let the Prefect yEmilius,
or Pilate himself, know what has happened."
The soldiers hurried forward into the city;
while, confirmed now in the certainty that Jesus
was risen, I hastened, with Martha and Mary, in
the direction of the garden.
"Thou believest now, Adina," said Mary of
Bethany, to me, as we flew along.
"Yes only let me behold him face to face,
and I shall then be willing, at that hour, to meet
death. How did the risen Lord look, Mary?" I
asked.
"There was the same benign and holy expres
sion the same divine majesty, the same loving
words, and celestial dignity."
"How and where did you behold him, Mary?"
I interrogated, as we drew near to the steep path
leading to the gate of Joseph's garden.
"When we reached the tomb, with our spices
and precious ointments, to embalm the body, we
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 489
found it open, and the soldiers, who had guarded
it, lying about upon the ground like dead men.
Upon the stone sat the archangel, but the re
splendent light of his apparel and countenance
were so tempered to our eyes, that, although we
believed that it was an angel, we were not terri
fied, for his looks were kind, and the aspect of his
face divinely beautiful, combined with a terrible
and indescribable majesty. We shook with fear,
and stood still, unable to move, gazing on him in
silent expectation.
: ' Tear not, ye/ he said, in a voice that seemed
to fill the air about us with undulating music,
'fear not, daughters of Abraham. I know that
ye seek Jesus, which was crucified! He is not
here, but is risen, as he foretold. Lo! see the
place where the Lord of Life, and Conqueror of
Death, hath lain!'
We then timidly approached, and looked in,
and saw the sepulchre empty; but a soft light
filled the whole place.
" 'Go and tell his disciples, that the Lord is
risen/ added the angel; 'and that he will go be
fore them into Galilee. There shall they see
him not many days hence!'
"When the angel had thus spoken to us/' con
tinued Mary, "we departed quickly from the
sepulchre with fear and great joy, and ran to go
into the city, to bring his disciples word, accord
ing to the command of the angel. But I had not
advanced so far as the gate of the garden, being
behind the rest, when I beheld Jesus himself
standing in my path. I stopped, between terror
and ioy.
490 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
" 'All hail! daughter of Israel/ he said, 'Be not
afraid. 1 am living, that was dead! It was
needful that I should die, and rise again, that I
might raise up from the dead all who die in me,
to life immortal. Go, Mary, and tell my mother
and my brethren, and Peter, and John, and
Lazarus, that I am risen, and that I have spoken
with you. Behold my wounded hands, that it is
I myself! Be not afraid! I am the resurrection
and the life!'
"I then cast myself at his feet, and worshiped
him; and when I looked up, he was gone.
"The others did not see him. We now con
tinued on to the city, as if we had wings; yet,
rapidly as we went, some of the same Roman
watch whom we met coming in just now, passed
us, in their flight and alarm ; for they fled at first
in different parties, different ways. But see!
we are now at the gate of the garden," added
Mary of Bethany, in a low tone of awe. "He
must be near us/'
But we approached the tomb without seeing
any man, having arrived before Peter and John,
who had been delayed some time at the Jaffa
gate, which route they took, as being nighest;
but it was not opened when they reached it, and
they were detained. We, therefore, found no
one at the sepulchre. It was open, and empty.
The stone in front, on which the archangel sat,
was vacant. As we drew near, a bright light
suddenly shone out from the tomb; and upon
going nigher I beheld two angels, clothed in
white robes, and with countenances of Divine
radiance, seated, one at the head, and the other
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 491
at the foot of the slab of marble, on which the
body of Jesus had lain. At the sight of these
noble and beautiful beings, which we knew were
sons of God, come down from heaven, we were
affrighted. I sank upon the stone which had
been rolled away, and remained without power
of emotion.
"Be not afraid, daughters of Jerusalem," said
one of the angels, speaking to us in the Hebrew
tongue; "He whom ye seek, liveth and dieth
no more! lie is risen from the tomb, which
could not hold him but through his consent; for
Jesus is Lord of Life, and Victor over Death and
Hell, forevermore! Go your way, and tell his
disciples that he awaits them at Nazareth, at the
house of Mary, his mother, by the sea-side."
The angels then vanished from our sight; and
at the same moment John and Peter came run
ning, and seeing the stone rolled away, John
stooped down, and looked in, and said that he
saw the linen clothes in which the body of Jesus
had been wrapped, lying folded together, and
also the napkin which had been bound about his
head. Peter now coming up, breathless with
eagerness and haste, no sooner saw the tomb
open, than he went boldly in, and carefully ex
amined all for himself. He then called to John,
who also went in, and both were convinced that
their Lord had indeed risen from the dead; and
when we made known to them what the angels
had said to us, that Jesus would go before, and
meet them in Galilee, they rejoiced greatly, and
shortly afterwards departed, to hasten into Gali
lee, no longer doubting, but believing, I also
32
492 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
returned with them, to convey the news to Mary,
the mother of Jesus, who had not left the house,
and scarcely her bed, in her great sorrow, since
the day of the crucifixion. Mary of Bethany,
however, remained, lingering near the tomb,
hoping that Jesus had not yet left the garden,
and that she might once more behold him.
Seated upon the steps of the tomb, weeping
for joy at his resurrection, and wishing once
more to behold him, she heard a footstep behind
her, and, turning round, saw a man standing near
her. It was Jesus himself, and kneeling, she was
about to clasp his feet, when he said to her:
"Touch me not, Mary, I am not yet ascended
to my Father. But go and tell Lazarus, and my
brethren, and my mother, that I ascend, ere
many days, unto my Father and your Father,
and unto my God and your God."
Jesus then vanished out of her sight; and she
came and told all these things to us, and to the
disciples; and we all, once more, believed that
Jesus was Messias and Christ, the immortal Son
of the Blessed. Such joy as filled the bosoms of
his friends was never before experienced by hu
man beings. Our happiness and exultation now
were in proportion to our depression before his
resurrection.
But what pen can describe, my dear father, the
amazement and consternation of Caiaphas, and
the chief priests, and the rest of his enemies!
The soldiers who had kept guard of the sepul
chre had entered the city by different ways, and
spread the report of the mighty miracle of the
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 498
resurrection through every principal street in
Jerusalem, as they fled through it.
Caiaphas hearing the uproar, sprang from his
couch to inquire the cause of it, and on being as
sured by his servants, "Jesus has burst his tomb
and risen alive from the dead!" he quaked, and
became deadly pale. But he soon rallied, and
sending for two or three of the soldiers, who were
describing vividly what they had witnessed to a
large concourse in the street, he questioned them
closely upon the facts. The soldiers' testimony
agreed together, and could not be gainsay ed.
When Pilate received the account from the
Centurion of the guard, he said:
"We have crucified a God, as I believed!
Henceforth I am accursed !" and leaving his Hall
of Judgment, he went and shut himself up in his
own room, which he has not since left. But men
say he neither eats nor sleeps, and that a dread
fit of gloom has settled upon his soul.
Caiaphas and the priests in the meanwhile as
sembled together in full sanhedrim, and hearing
the testimony of the Centurion, were convinced
that the fact could not be concealed of Jesus'
resurrection.
"Who had seen him alive?" demanded the
High-Priest.
"I have seen him my lord," answered the
Centurion, "I saw his pierced feet and hands as
he walked past me; and the morning breeze blew
aside his mantle and exposed to my eyes the
open wound made by the spear of my soldier
Philippus. He was alive, and in full strength of
limb."
494: THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
"Thou sawest a vision, Roman," answered
Caiaphas. "Come then aside with us, and let us
talk with thee."
In a few minutes afterwards the Centurion left
the court of the High-Priest's palace followed by
a Gibeonitish slave, bearing after him a vase of
Persian gold. He has told every one since that
he must have seen a spirit, for that the disciples
of Jesus came by night and stole away the body
of their master, while they slept, overcome with
watching. His soldiers have also been bribed
to tell the same tale.
Such is the false version that now goes about
the city, my dear father; but there are few that
give it credence, even of our enemies. As ./Emil-
ius, who is filled with great joy at the resurrec
tion of Jesus, to-day very justly says:
"If these soldiers slept on guard, they merited
death therefore by the military laws of the em
pire. If, while sleeping, their charge the dead
body of Jesus was taken away, they deserve
death for failing to prevent it. Why, then, are
they not placed under arrest by Pilate's orders,
if this story be true? Because Pilate well knows
that it is not true! He knows, because he has
privately examined many of the soldiers, that
Jesus did burst his tomb, and that angels
rolled away the stone without breaking his seals,
which could not have been left unmarfed, but by
a miracle. He knows that Jesus has arisen for
it is believed that he has also beheld him ; at least
such is the rumor of the Pretorium. It was the
form of Jesus visible before him, doubtless, that
drove him in such amazement from his Hall to
THE PKINCE OF THE ROUSE OF DAVID, 495
his secret-chamber; for it was remarked that he
started, turned deadly pale, and essayed to ad
dress the invisible space before him, as if he saw
a spirit. Therefore his soldiers are not molested
and their exemption from arrest, is proof that
the body of Jesus was not stolen away while they
slept. Besides, if they were asleep, these sol
diers, how could they tell that it was stolen away,
and declare the persons who did it?"
This is the unanswerable reasoning of the Pre
fect JEmilius ; and thus you see, dear father, that
Caiaphas can gain little by his briberies and dili
gently circulated falsehood. That Jesus of
Nazareth is alive from the dead is true, and if I
had not seen him, the evidence is complete
enough to convince me of the fact.
Besides the facts which I have stated, is the
increasing testimony of the thousands, who, to
day, have gone out of the city to see the sepul
chre where he was laid. They say, both enemies
of Jesus as well as our friends, that it was impos
sible for the door to have been opened by any
human being, not by Pilate himself, without mar
ring the seals. They also assert that to remove
the stone by night, which would require four
men, and to bear forth the body, would have been
impossible if the guard had been present; and if
they had been asleep, they must have awakened
them with the heavy noise made by rolling the
massive door along the hollow pavement outside
the sepulchre.
"If," say the common people, "the watch slept,
why does not the Procurator put them to death?"
This question remains unanswered, and the
496 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
watch go about the streets unharmed! My dear
father, remember no more my unbelief, but with
me, believe in Jesus, that He is the Son of God,
the Saviour of Israel, the immortal Christ of the
Prophets.
Your affectionate daughter,
ADINA.
LETTER XXXVIII.
Bethany, House of Mary and Martha, \
one month after the Passover, j
I deeply regret, my dearest father, the delays
which have detained you so long from arriving
at Jerusalem, but I trust that ere many days, the
caravan for which you wait will reach Gaza, and
that you will be enabled to resume your journey
to the Holy City. I am now at Bethany, where
I have been some time making it my home, for
such was the hostility of the Jews, incited by the
chief priests, against us, that, by Pilate's com
mand, we were compelled to leave Jerusalem on
the day of the resurrection, to remain until their
hatred had in some degree subsided; for he said
that the continued presence there of the disciples
of Jesus, kept up constant occasion for tumult
and interposition of the Roman authority.
Uncle Amos has retired for the present to his
farm, near Jericho; but will be here to-morrow
to remain with us. Therefore when you come
498 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
near to Jerusalem, instead of going directly into
the city, turn aside by the road leading past the
king's gardens and go up the brook of Ked-
ron, into the way of Bethany. I pray that God
may preserve you in safety, and soon permit me
the happiness of once more embracing you, after
three long years of separation.
And what events have transpired, and to which
I have been a witness in these three years!
From the preaching of John the Baptiser and
the baptism of Jesus by him, unto the glorious
resurrection of the mighty Son of God!
Favored, indeed, have I been to have been a
dweller in Judea, during this eventful period, and
to have seen and heard these things, which no
other age of the world can parallel! But so far
as one could know them, who was not an eye
witness, you, my dear father, have been faithfully
informed of them through my letters. You
have, therefore, before you the same testimony
as I have, and those who have seen and now be
lieve. Once more, my dear father, read care
fully over the whole narrative, from the first let
ter, and thus, with all the facts fresh in your
mind, answer to yourself this inquiry:
"Was not this man the Son of God? Was not
he the very Christ, the divine and long-looked
for Messias? Was he not that mighty Prophet
which should come into the world? If he were
not, who is He? Who is He at whose birth the
air was filled with angels, over whose couch hung
a celestial star; before whose infant feet the three
wisest men of the world, Shapha of Egypt, the
son of Ham, Beltazar of Assyria, the son of
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 499
Shem, and Thoropha, of Grecia, the son of
Japhet, representing- the family of mankind,
bowed in adoration and worship, as to a God!
Who is He for whom Herod the first slew three
hundred and two-score children in Bethlehem,
in order to reach his life? Who was He whom
John the Baptiser proclaimed the "Lamb of
God," whose blood was the only fountain for sin?
Who was he at whose baptism the heavens were
opened above his head, and the spirit of God de
scended upon him in the form of a dove of light,
while the voice of the Lord, like the voice of
many thunders, proclaimed from the depths of
the cloudless skies, "This is my beloved Son?"
Who was He, my dear father, at whose word the
tempest became still; the billowy waves placid;
the winds hushed? Who was He that healed the
sick and leprous by a word; who restored a lost
arm or leg by touch ; who by a look re-animated
the lifeless limb of the paralytic ; who raised the
daughter of Jairus ; healed the Centurion's serv
ant; restored to life the son of the widow of Nain;
cast out a legion of devils from Beor, the Levite;
restored the deaf and dumb nephew of the Gov
ernor of Syria to hearing and speech; gave to
his disciples also the same power to do miracles;
feeds at one time four thousand men, and another
time five thousand, from a few pounds of bread
and a few fishes, which a lad could carry Jn a
basket; whom Moses and Elias came from the
regions of the blessed, shining in resplendent
glory, bright from the presence of the Father, to
visit and hold communion with; who calls forth
from the tomb of corruption Lazarus to life and
500 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
health; who once while praying, was answered
by a voice from Heaven in the hearing of many
people, "I have glorified My name, and will
glorify it again?"
Who was He, my father, at whose trial nothing
could be found against him, and who, when de
livered to execution by Pilate to save himself
and appease the Jews, was publicly declared to
be an innocent man, by the act of the Procura
tor, in calling for water and washing his hands,
and saying that he was clear of his blood, for he
found no fault in him? Who was He at
whose crucifixion the heavens grew black as
sackcloth, the sun withdrew its light, the stars
shot from their spheres, the lightnings leaped
along the earth, the earth itself quaked, and the
dead sprung from their graves? Who was He
who on the third day burst the bars of the tomb,
received as he walked forth the homage of an
archangel, whose servants were a seraph and a
cherub, waiting behind him in the tomb; who
appeared alive to his mother to the women of
Galilee to Mary of Bethany, to Martha and
Lazarus, and last of all to me also? Who was
this wonderful person, my father who was He
but the Christ? Oh, read, reflect, compare the
prophets that speak of Messias, with the life, and
words, and deeds of Jesus; and the life of Jesus
with the prophets. There thou wilt see that he
has proven himself to be the very Christ, by
what we in our ignorance looked upon as the
seal affixed to an impostor. Isaias prophesied
of the Christ whom he saw afar off, that "he
should be a man of sorrow;" that he should be
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 501
"despised and rejected of men;" that he should
be brought "as a lamb to the slaughter;" that he
should be "taken from prison and judgment, and
cut off from the land of the living;" that he
should be "numbered with the wicked in his
death, and make his grave with the rich !" How
light, how clear, how plain, all these prophecies
now are to me, and to us all ! How wonderfully
in their minuteness they have been fulfilled, you
already know.
His resurrection also was foretold by himself,
but we did not understand his words until now.
When he spoke of destroying the Temple and
raising it in three days, he spoke of the taber
nacle of his body! Oh, how many sayings,
which, when spoken by his sacred lips, we un
derstood not, now rush upon us in all their mean
ing, proving to us that every step of his life was
foreknown to him; that he went forward to his
death aware of all things whatsoever that were
going to befall him !
But his resurrection w r as also foretold by the
holy David, when he said, "Thou wilt not leave
his soul in Hades, nor suffer thy Holy One to see
corruption; therefore my flesh shall rest in
hope!" Even his arraignment before Pilate,
Caiaphas, and Herod, was foretold by David,
when he said : "The kings of the earth set them
selves, and the rulers take counsel together,
against the Lord, and against his Anointed:" yet
the Lord saith, "Thou art my Son, this day I
have begotten thee." Also, my dear father, turn
to the Psalm xxii, of king David, and compare
the following words, which speaks of Messias,'
502 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
with what I have described in my
letters:
"My God, my God! why hast thou forsaken
me!" are prophetic words put into the mouth of
Messias when he shall come, and be forsaken of
God. You will find that in my letters I have told
you that on the cross Jesus uttered these very
words.
Again, king David makes Messias, a few sen
tences further on, to say, "Thev shoot out the lip
at me; they shake the head; they laugh me to
scorn. They say, 'He trusted in the Lord that
he would deliver him/ Thou hast brought me
into the dust of death."
All this shows that Messias, if he were to be
a king, was also to suffer, to be forsaken of God,
to be brought to death! and yet we rejected Jesus
as soon as he died! But, my dear father, read
the same Psalm of the holy king a little further,
and you will see these words, which were put by
the royal prophet into the lips of his future
Messias:
"The assembly of the wicked have enclosed
me. They pierced my hands and my feet.
They part my garments among them, and upon
my vesture cast lots!"
Read and compare these acknowledged
prophecies of Messias with the accounts in my
letters, dear father, and you will not only be con
vinced that Jesus is the Messias of the prophets,
and Christ of God, but you will perceive that his
humiliation and sufferings before _ Pilate and
Caiaphas, his agony on the cross, his death and
burial, instead, as we ignorantly conceived, of
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 503
being evidences that he was not the Christ, were
proof that He was the very Son of the Highest
the Shiloh of Jehovah foretold by the prophets
the Anointed King of Israel.
Oh, wonderful is all this! How marvelous
these things passing before our eyes! Yet how
have we been blinded how gross and dark our
minds that we could not, until He died, and has
arisen again, see in him, all that he was in his
sufferings and in his death the Divine Mes-
sias. Now all is dazzlingly clear! The prophets
are unveiled to our sight, and we see that these
things must have happened to him. Yet how
quickly was He deserted and faith lost in him!
How his disciples denied that they ever knew
him; and how we all were ashamed that we had
ever followed him! Oh, our darkness, our blind
ness, to have seen in the prophecies of Messias,
only the passages which speak of his glory and
power, and passed by those, which as positively
foretold of his humiliation, degradation, and
death! Read the prophets no longer, my dearest
father, with a veil before your eyes! See, in all
you read, Jesus as the end of the prophets, the
goal of all their far-seeing prophecies, the veri
table and sure realization of their prophetic
visions.
But you have said, in one of your late letters
to me, "that Elias must first come, ere Messias
appear on earth; and then you ask me, where is
Elias? Hath he come? Who hath seen him?
This question, my dear father, was also put by
some of the Jews to Jesus, He replied;
504 THE PRINCE OP THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
"Elias truly has come, and ye knew him not,
and ye have done unto him whatsoever you list."
"Who was he?" demanded several of the
scribes and priests, surprised at hearing this.
"He who came crying in the wilderness before
me, and who spake of me, and whom Herod hath
slain," He answered.
"But his name was John, master/' said they.
"But his spirit and power were those of Elias,"
answered Jesus. "In Elijah's spirit and power
he came, and thus was called the Elias that
should come. The reality is the man. John
w r as the Elias of Malachi the Prophet for pro
phetic eyes see natures independently of names."
Thus, my dear father, has Jesus in all particu
lars proved himself to be the subject of all
prophecy the King of Israel. But you will
now ask, "Is He to re-establish the throne of
David, and live forever?"
Yes, but not in Jerusalem on earth. Oh, how
clear are all things to my apprehension now!
His kingdom, which I once believed to be the
land of Judah, is to be in a world beyond the
skies, which he has created for his followers, and
to which they are to pass, like him, through the
gates of death. The Jerusalem, in which His
Throne is to be placed, is heavenly, and the true
Jerusalem, of which the present one is but the
material type what the body is to the soul of a
man.
Jesus has talked with me since his resurrection,
and explained all this to me, and much more that
is wonderful and full of joy. It is now four
weeks since he arose, and during that time, he
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 505
has been not only seen by all the disciples, but by
hundreds of his followers. The seventh day
after his resurrection he appeared openly at
Nazareth, on the sea-shore, to Peter, John, An
drew, James, and other disciples, to his numerous
relatives, and many of the chief citizens of his
town, all of whom not only recognized him, but
marveled to see his crucified hands and feet. The
effect of this recognition, which was made by
many, who, being up at the Passover, had seen
him crucified, was to bring the whole population
worshiping at his knees. The only change in his
usual appearance, dear father, to the eye, is a
transparent paleness, which gives a soft radiance
to his whole aspect, and a certain majestic re
serve, which awes all who draw near to him ; so
that men speak in his presence in subdued whis
pers. His mother, happiest of women now, as
she was before the most wretched, ever sits at his
feet, and silently enjoys his sacred presence, sel
dom speaking, and looking up to him, rather as
a worshiper, to her God, than a mother upon her
son. That He is in the flesh in reality, and not a
spirit, He has proven to his disciples, by eating
with them; and in a remarkable way to an in
credulous disciple, called Thomas, who, not be
lieving that Jesus was risen in his real body from
the dead, was told by the Divine Lord to place
his fingers into his hands, and his hand into his
side; which Thomas in fact did do; when, falling
at his feet in amazement and adoration, he wor
shiped him as God.
It would take much time, my dear father, to
record the numerous instances in which the risen
32
506 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
Lord has been seen and spoken with, by persons
who knew him before his crucifixion; so that
there is no fact so fully established in the minds
of many thousands in Judah, as the resurrection
of Jesus from the dead.
And if fuller proof is wanted, it is to be had, as
Abram, the learned Pharisee, has been forced to
confess to Rabbi Amos, in the conduct of his
disciples, after their Master's crucifixion. For
they began their defection by denying him, and
deserting him; they fled in all directions, and
studiously concealed the fact of their former con
nection with him. They were not only moved
by fear to this concealment, but by shame being
sorely mortified at having been led away by him:
for they were honest, plain, sensible men, without
fanaticism or fanciful vagaries. They had be
come the followers of Jesus, because they saw in
him that moral purity and truth, which formed
the elements of their own characters. These
plain, homely men, these poor fishermen, and
humble countrymen, deeply felt how their false
position, among judicious folks, would now make
them appear, and so they hastened to bury their
disgrace and disappointment in the seclusion of
the fishing hamlets of Galilee ; and doubtless de
sired never more to hear spoken into their ears
the name of their crucified Master.
But what do we behold, within a week after the
resurrection is made known through the length
and breadth of Judah? They who had hidden
in dismay, from the face of day, came boldly
forth, and once more were with their Lord, for
given by him, and received by him again into his
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 507
holy confidence. They went with him wherever
He went, even to Jerusalem, from which they
had but a few" days before fled. They walked
with animated steps, and elevated faces, like men
no longer serving a defeated monarch, but like
men whose Master was Lord of heaven and of
earth.
To-day they are with him in the gardens of
David, at Bethlehem, where he is holding daily
a solemn council with the eleven, unfolding to
them the future glory of his kingdom, and open
ing their understanding to the clear apprehen
sion of all which the prophets have written con
cerning him. John, who is a member of this
divine council, says that the power of Jesus, the
extent and majesty of his kingdom, the infinite
results of his death and resurrection, are not to
be conceived of by those who have not listened
to the sublime revelations of his own lips.
"He hath shown us," said John, "how that his
true office as Son of God, and Son of Man, is to
be a mediator between both; that by his death
he reconciled the race of Adam to his Father,
having become our Lamb of sacrifice for the
whole world. He showed us that He, himself,
was the High Priest; his own precious body was
the victim, which He, himse|f, offered up to ap
pease the wrath of Jehovah against transgres
sions, and how that the Cross was the Altar of
this great world's sacrifice, pnd the Temple the
whole earth and heavens. He showed us how
that all the lambs which had bled since Adam's
r day, tvpified himself, the one only true and effi
cient Lamb, which God ultimately looked to, to
508 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
be sacrificed for sins! How wonderful, dear
father, is all this! He further teaches his disci
ples, that he will shortly ascend from the earth,
to enter upon his celestial reign; and that his sub
jects there are to be all who love him and keep
his commandments. It is a kingdom of holi
ness, and none enter there but the pure in heart.
He says further, that as we do now confess our
sins over the blood of the victim we sacrifice for
ourselves in the Temple, so henceforth, we must
look to him (by faith when we see him no
longer), slain a sacrifice for us, and confess our
sins to the Father for his blood's sake, which the
Father has accepted, in the one sacrifice he made
on the cross, once for all. Jesus has moreover
taught his disciples that the Gentiles are to share
equally with the children of Abraham the bene
fits of his death and resurrection; that this good
news shall be proclaimed to them by his disciples,
and that they will gladly hear it and believe.
That the gospel of redemption, no longer by the
blood of bulls and of goats, but by his blood,
shall in the progress of ages fill the whole earth;
when every knee shall bow to his name.
'The foundation of my everlasting kingdom,"
he saith, "truly shall be laid upon earth in the
hearts of men; but the building is with God
eternal in the heavens. The tomb through
which I have passed is the gate, and all who
would come after me, and enter in, must follow
in my foot-steps."
Thomas then asked his Lord whither he would
go, and the way? How he would leave the
earth, since he could die no more?
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 509
"Thou shalt see for thyself ere many days
pass," answered Jesus. "In that I have risen,
all whom my Father giveth me shall rise also
from the dead; and those whom I raise up, I
will take with me the way I go; for where I am
they shall evermore be with me also."
Such, dear father, is a brief account of what
John has told us, on visiting us, touching the
divine teaching of Messias, the Son of God, re
specting his kingdom. Yet much is still mys
terious; but we know enough to be willing to
trust ourselves to him for this life, and for that
which is to come. We know that all power is
given into his hands, and that he can save all
men who believe in, and accept him as the only
sacrificed Lamb, whom the Father hath accepted
for the iniquities of men. The sacrifices of the
Temple must henceforth cease.
What is remarkable, dear father, notwithstand
ing the Jews have heard that Jesus walks every
where through Jewry, yet no efforts are made to
lay hands on him. At his presence, crowds of
his enemies fly like the stricken multitude before
the advancing sirocco. His presence in Judea
is a present dread, like some great evil, to those
who fear him; but like a celestial blessing to
more who love him. Pilate, on the eve of mak
ing a journey last week to Bethel, before quitting
the city, dispatched couriers in advance to ascer
tain whether Jesus the crucified was on the line
of his route! Caiaphas having occasion to go to
Jericho, a few days after the Passover, hearing
that Jesus had been seen with his disciples on the
road, made a circuit round by Luz and Shiloh, in
5 10 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
order not to meet him. The gates of this city
are kept constantly shut, lest he should enter
within the walls : some of the chief priests fearing
greatly to behold his face, while others imagine
that he is engaged in raising an army, to advance
upon and take Jerusalem from the Romans.
And doubtless, dear father, were the kingdom of
Jesus of this world, he would in a few days lead
a countless host against the city, and make him
self master of Judea. But his kingdom is above ;
and all who dwell in the true Jerusalem, must
follow him thither through sufferings, humilia
tion and death.
I rejoice to see by your last letter, that you
may be expected to reach here the week after
next. Oh, that you were here now, that you
might be taken by John to see Jesus: for from
what he says he will not long remain visible
among us. Whither he goeth or how he goeth
away, no man can say. We are filled with ex
pectation of some great event, which will con
clude the brilliant and wonderful succession of
marvels, that attend his foot-steps and presence
on earth.
Faithfully, your loving daughter,
ADINA.
LETTER XXXIX.
Bethany, Forty Days after the \
Resurrection. J
Dear Father: with emotions that nearly de
prive me of the power to hold my pen, and with
trembling fingers that make the words I write
almost illegible, I sit clown to make known to
you the extraordinary event, which will mark
this day in all future time as the most worthy to
be noted among men.
In my last I informed you that Jesus after his
wonderful resurrection, which was declared to
all men by infallible proofs, gathered once more
his amazed and adoring disciples about him,
and taught them, with more than mortal wisdom
and eloquence, the great truths appertaining to
his kingdom, which he now appointed them to
extend throughout all the world.
On the fortieth day, my dear father, early in
the morning, he left the house of Mary and
Lazarus, where he had sat up with us all night,
512 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
(for none of us thought of sleep within the sound
of his heavenly voice), speaking to us of the
glories of heaven, and the excellency of heart and
purity oMife required of all who should enter it.
"Lord/" said Martha, as he went forth,
"whither goest thou?"
"Come and see," he answered. "Whither I
go ye shall know, and the way ye shall know:
for where I am ye shall also be, and all those
who believe in me/'
"Lord," said Mary, kneeling at his feet, "re
turn at noon, and remain with us during the heat
of the day."
"Mary," said Jesus, laying his hand gently
upon her forehead, "I am going to my Father's
house! There thou shalt one day dwell with me
in mansions not made with hands. Follow me,
and thou shalt know the way thither! Through
temptation I have first trodden it, through suffer
ing, through death, and through resurrection
from the dead. So also must thou and all who
love me follow me. To my friends, the gate of
the tomb opens into the world of life eternal."
Thus speaking, he walked slowly onward
towards the hill of Bethany, not far from the
place where Lazarus was buried. He was fol
lowed not only by Mary, Martha, Lazarus, and
John, my cousin Mary and myself, each of us ex
pecting from his words and manner, some new
and great event to take place; but by all the disci
ples, who had presently joined him near the
cemetery, at the foot of the hill. There were at
least five hundred persons in all, moving on with
him ere he reached the green hill-side beyond
THE PKINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 513
the village; for all followed him, expecting to
hear more glorious revelations from his lips of
the life beyond this.
"He goes to the hill to pray," said one of his
disciples.
"Nay," said Peter, "he prays not since his
resurrection as before. He has no need of
prayer for himself, who has conquered sin,
Satan, death, the grave and the world!"
"He goeth to show us some mighty miracle,
from the expression of power and majesty in his
aspect," said Thomas to me, gazing upon the
Lord with awe; for each moment as he ascended
the hill, his countenance grew more glorious with
a certain God-like majesty, and shone like the
face of Moses descending from Mount Sinai.
We all hung back with adoring fear, and alone
he proceeded onward, a wide space being left by
us between ourselves and him. Yet there was
no terror in the glory which surrounded and
shined out from him ; but rather a holy radiance,
that seemed to be the very light of holiness and
peace.
"So looked he," said John to us, "when we be
held him transfigured in the mount with Elias
and Moses/'
The hill, which is not lofty, was soon sur
mounted by his sacred feet. He stood upon its
apex alone. We kept back near the brow of the
hill, fearing to approach him, for his raiment
shone now like the sun, while his countenance
was as lightning. We shaded our eyes to be
hold him. All was now expectation, and look
ing for same mighty event what we knew not!
514 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
John drew nearest to him, and upon his knees,
with clasped hands looked towards him earn
estly; for he knew, as he afterwards told us, what
would take place; Jesus having informed him the
night before. Joy and yet tears were on his
face, as he gazed with blinded eyes, as one gazes
on the noon-day sun, upon his Divine Master.
It was a scene, dear father, impressive beyond
expression. The hill-top was thronged with an
expectant, awe-stricken multitude, which knew
not whether to remain or fly from the glorious
majesty of the presence of the Son of God. The
blue sky spread out its illimitable concave above
the hills without a cloud. At the foot of the
eminence towards the holy city, slept the gardens
of Gethsemane, where Jesus loved to walk, and
where he was arrested. Jerusalem, with its
towers, pinnacles, palaces, and gorgeous Temple,
glittered in the distance; and Calvary, studded
with fresh Roman crosses, stood out boldly in
view, in the transparent air. The tall cypresses
which grew above the tomb of Joseph, where he
had lain, were also visible. Jesus seemed for a
moment to survey these scenes of his suffering,
of his ignominy and death, with the look of a
divine conqueror. He then turned to his disci
ples and said:
''Ye have been with me in my sorrows, and
you now shall behold my glory, and the reward
which my Father doth give me. To-day I take
leave of you and ascend to my Father and your
Father. Remember all things which I have
-taught you concerning my kingdom. Go forth
and teach the glad tidings of salvation to all men,
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 515
and baptize all nations in the name of the Father,
and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; and lo,
I am with you alway, even unto the end of the
world."
Thus speaking, in a voice that thrilled every
bosom with emotions indescribable, he extended
his hands above their heads and blessed them,
while we all fell upon our faces to the ground,
also to receive his blessing.
He then lifted up his eyes to the calm blue
depths of heaven, and said:
"And now, O Father, glorify thou me with
thine own self, with the glory which I had with
Thee before the world was!"
As he spoke, we raised our faces from the
ground, and saw him leaving the earth, rising
from the hill-top into the air, with a slow and
majestic ascension; his hands outspread over us
beneath, as if shedding down blessings upon us
all. The loud burst of surprise which rose from
five hundred voices at seeing him soar away into
the atmosphere, was followed by a profound and
awful silence, as we watched him rise and still
rise, ascending and still ascending into the upper
air, his whole form growing brighter and
brighter, as the distance widened between his
feet and the earth !
Upon our knees, in speechless amazement, we
followed his ascent with our eyes, not a word
being spoken by any soul : and hearts might have
been heard beating in the intense expectation of
the moment.
Then in the far off height of heaven, we be
held appear a bright cloud, no larger than a man's
516 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
hand, but each instant it expanded and grew
broader and brighter, and swift as the winged
lightning, it descended through the firmament
downward, until we beheld it evolve itself into a
glittering host of angels, which no man could
number, countless as the stars of heaven. As
these shining legions descended, they parted into
two bands, and sweeping along the air, met the
ascending Son of God in the mid sky! The rush
ing of their ten thousand times ten thousand
wings, was heard like the sound of many waters.
Surrounding Jesus, like a shining cloud, they re
ceived him into their midst, and hid him from
our eyes, amid the glories of their celestial
splendor.
While we stood gazing up into the far skies,
hoping, expecting, yet doubting if we should
ever behold him again, two bright stars seemed
to be descending from the height of- heaven
towards us. In a few seconds we saw that they
were angels. Alighting on the place Jesus had
left, they said to the eleven, "Why gaze ye up
into heaven, ye men of Galilee? This same Jesus
whom ye have seen go into heaven, shall so come
in like manner as ye have now seen him ascend!"
Thus speaking, they vanished out of our sight!
The above account, my dear father, of the
ascent yesterday into heaven of the Christ, our
Blessed Lord Jesus, I wrote the same evening,
while all the circumstances were present and
vivid upon my mind. Oh, what a sublime spec
tacle! What human language can describe it!
THE PRINCE OP THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 517
But one thing I have presented clearly to you,
dear father, and that is the fact that Jesus has
ascended into the heaven of heavens! Oh, amaz
ing reality! Overwhelming truth! What, oh
what is earth? What is Judea? What is man?
that God is mindful of Him that He should
so have visited him! And when He has visited
us when His Divine Son, the brightness of the
glory of the Father, has descended to earth, and
assumed our nature, to reconcile us to God, and
obtain an eternal life for us, how has He been re
ceived? Shunned for his voluntary poverty
despised for his humble human parentage hated
for his holiness tried before tribunals for crimes
unknown to him scourged and spit upon,
mocked, and buffeted, and crucified with thieves,
as if his enemies would render his death as ig
nominious as it was capable of being made!
But behold the issue! See, when he had paid
the debt of death for us, the change in all things!
He awakes to life! He bursts the tomb! He
walks forth from the sepulchre! Angels are his
servants! After forty days on earth, unfolding
to his disciples the mysteries of his gospel and
the splendor of his kingdom, he ascends visibly
to heaven at mid-day from Bethany, in the sight
of many hundreds, and is escorted by armies of
angels to the right hand of the majesty on high!
Such, my dear father, is the appropriate crown
ing event of the extraordinary life of Jesus, both
Lord and Christ! His ascent from this earth
into the heaven of heavens, not only is proof that
He came from God, but that God is well-pleased
with all that He has done in the flesh. If in any
518 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
one thing He taught, He spoke what was not
true, either concerning the Father or concerning
himself, he would not have received such a wel
come back to the heavenly abodes! All that
Jesus said of himself is therefore true! Jehovah
attests it! We must then believe, or we can have
no interest in the kingdom which He has gone to
prepare for us, and which we can enter only as
He has traveled through it, through humiliation,
suffering, death, the tomb, resurrection, and also
ascension! Thus did he truly say, "The way I
go ye shall know! 1 '
His kingdom is therefore, my dear father,
clearly not of this world, as he said to Pilate, the
Procurator; but it is above. To it he has
triumphantly ascended, attended by legions of
Cherubim and Seraphim, an ascent which David
clearly foresaw in vision, when he wrote:
"God has gone up with a shout, he has as
cended on High!"
Doubt, then, no longer, dearest father! Jesus,
the son of Mary in His human nature, was the
Son of God in His Divine nature; an incompre
hensible and mysterious union, whereby he has
brought together in harmony the two natures,
separated far apart by sin, by sacrificing His own
body as a sin-offering, to reconcile both in one
Immaculate body upon the cross. There is now
no more condemnation to them who believe in
Him and accept Him; for in His body He took
our sins, and with his precious blood, as that of a
lamb without blemish, cleansed them forever
away.
V But I cannot write all I would say to you, dear-
THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. 519
est father. When we meet, which you rejoice me
in saying, will be on the first day of the week, at
Jerusalem, I will unfold to you all that the divine
and glorified Jesus has taught me. Doubt not
that He is Messias. Hesitate not to accept Him;
for He is the end of Moses, and of the Law, and
of the Prophets, the very Shiloh who should
come and restore all things, to whom be glory,
power dominion, majesty, and excellency ever
more.
Your loving daughter,
ADINA.
[Here terminates the series of letters of the
Jewish maiden to her father, written during the
Procuratorship of Pontius Pilate, under the reign
of Tiberius Caesar, the Roman Emperor. They
cover a period of three years and six months, em
bracing all the events of the Life of John the
Baptist, and of the Holy Jesus of Nazareth, to
the day of His ascension into heaven.
The Roman Centurion, ^milius, it would ap
pear from history, became Procurator of the
Island of Britain in the West, and with Adina,
his noble lady, was the first to entertain the
Christian Apostle, Saul of Tarsus, otherwise
Paulus, on his visit thither to proclaim at those
ends oi the earth the gospel of Jesus the Cruci
fied, in obedience to the command left by Him
with His disciples, that they should preach His
gospel to every creature.
520 THE PRINCE OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID.
The history of the first establishment of the
faith of Jesus in this remote Roman barbaric
Province by the Jewish Apostle, and of its spread
throughout the island, are to be found written in
detail in certain letters, which the daughter of
^Emilius and of Adina wrote to her brother, a
Roman knight at Rome] .
Endorsement upon the original Letters of
Adina by the Roman Jewish Scribe,
ELIAS BEN EZRA.