Chapter XXXV: Letter XXXVI: Achor’s Vale, February 16, 1819

Miss GRUMMANT.

MY DEAR YOUNG FRIEND,

I am quite grieved the Ancient Paper you was so kind as to lend me, has not been returned to me; if I was out from this place I could procure another, and will do so, God willing; but I will tell you every word of it.

A DESCRIPTION OF THE PERSON OF JESUS,

As it was found in an Ancient Manuscript, sent by Publius Lentulus,
President of Judea, to the Senate of Rome.

_There lives at this time in Judea_, _a Man of singular Character
whose name is Jesus Christ_; _the barbarians esteem him as a
Prophet_, _but his own followers adore him as the immediate offspring
of the immortal God_. _He is endued with such unparalleled virtue_,
_as to call back the dead from their graves_, _and to heal every kind
of disease with a word or a touch_. _His person is tall_, _and
elegantly __shaped_, _his aspect amiable and reverend_; _his hair
flows into those beauteous shades which no united colours can match_,
_falling into graceful curls below his ears_, _agreeably couching on
his shoulders_, _and parting on the crown of his head_, _like the
head dress of the sect of the Nazarenes_. _His forehead is very
plain_, _smooth_, _and large_, _his cheeks without a spot or
wrinkle_, _save that of a lovely red_, _his nose and mouth are formed
with exquisite symmetry_, _his beard is thick_, _and of a colour
suitable to the hair of his head_, _reaching a little below his
chin_, _and parted in the middle like a fork_, _his eyes grey_,
_bright and clear_, _quick and serene_. _He rebukes with majesty_,
_counsels with mildness_, _pleasant in speech_, _and invites with the
most tender and persuasive language_; _his whole address_, _whether
by word or deed_, _being courteous and friendly_, _elegant_, _grave_,
_and characteristic of so exalted a being_. _No man has seen him
laugh_, _but the whole world beheld him weep frequently_, _and so
persuasive are his tears_, _that the multitude cannot withhold theirs
from joining in sympathy with his_. _He is very temperate_,
_modest_, _and wise_, _in short_, _whatever this Phænomenon may turn
out in the end_, _he seems_, _at present a man_, _for his excellent
beauty and divine perfections_, _every way surpassing the Children of
Men_.

This is certainly a very pretty description of the human nature of our dear Lord, and I feel half inclined to suppose that our first parent Adam, was a little like him in person—this is only a carnal notion, I acknowledge, but I cannot forbear to indulge it. The psalmist David, said of Christ, eight hundred years before he came, “Thou art fairer than the children of men:” yet this dear visage and beauty was marred, spoiled, more than any man’s; grief had so affected him, that when but thirty, he looked like a man of fifty years of age. He was a man of sorrows, and his most intimate acquaintance was grief; he saw such an infinite evil in sin, the hourly insults poured upon God by the whole world; he saw Jehovah slighted, ridiculed, abused, hated, and opposed; his whole heart loved Jehovah, and this broke his heart, lay heavy on his spirits, and caused him to say, as in his own common prayer book, the Psalms, “Rivers of water run down mine eyes, because men keep not thy law.” He saw the dreadful state his own children were in, and what he had to endure to make an atonement for them. Every now and then one of his soul pangs took him; hence we read of his being troubled in spirit, agitated and troubled in soul. This was some time before his sufferings in the garden. But while we admire his outward beauty as man, what vast beauty possessed his mind—wisdom, prudence, chastity, holiness, zeal, understanding, faith, hope, love, and joy; in the principle—mercy, commiseration, pity, affection, patience, gratitude, and fidelity. Look at his actions, and they all correspond with the holy principles of his mind, and this holy nature was the image of God, the exemplar pattern and likeness of the new man of grace in the souls of God’s children; but Oh, what an exalted idea does the sacred pages give us of this blessed Jesus; he was, he is God-Man. His body was but the casket, his divinity the rich jewel it contained. He was united to the Son of God, to God the Son, who is over all, God blessed for ever. He is God-Man, he possesses every divine perfection; he is Jehovah, God and Lord; he is stiled, Jehovah 330 times in the old Testament; he is called God 90 times in the old Testament, and 25 times in the new. He has put away sin by his obedience and sufferings; he is exalted above the heavens. How truly beautiful and glorious he appears in the midst of heaven, wearing our nature, but shining brighter than a million suns—the delight of the Father and the Holy Spirit—the joy of saints and angels; and whatever was his appearance on earth, we can form no idea of his human nature in heaven. God bless you while young, with some very sweet views of him, that he may be dear to your heart in youth and age, in life and death.

So prays your affectionate well wisher,
_Ruhamah_.