Our Work: Napoleon on the Character of Christ

OUR WORK,

NAPOLEON ON THE CHARACTER OF CHRIST.

As the main subject under consideration in the meetings of the improvement associations during the present season's work is the Life of Jesus, his character and doctrines, anything that throws light upon this subject, or invests it with interest, will assist in the work of the associations. And beyond question the estimation in which that wonderful character which arose in Palestine some nineteen centuries ago, and which ever since has filled the world with wonder and with admiration — the estimation, we say, in which that character has been held by other great characters, will ever be of absorbing interest to those making a study of the life and character of Jesus. And of all great men who have left on record their views of the character of Jesus, those of Napoleon, emperor of the French, will be of greatest interest. Chiefly, perhaps, because these two. Napoleon and Jesus, are most antithetical, both as to career and character, motives and principles. One, the incarnation of force, the other, of love. One sought to influence men by an appeal to their selfish interests, or by playing upon their fears; the other by an appeal to their love, and the manifestation of a solicitude for their eternal welfare. One relied upon the power of the sword, the other upon the power of persuasion. The first founded a kingdom not only of this earth, but one that was supremely of the earth earthy; while the other founded the kingdom of heaven, wherein the law of love shall be supreme. The kingdoms which they founded, no less than their methods and their characters, are antithetical to each other; but the one has passed away while the other remains; and, like him from whom it had its origin, shall never see corruption and never know decay. But opposite as was this earth-monarch. Napoleon, to heaven's King of Kings, and no less unlike Jesus in his principles and character than in the nature of the work he accomplished — it will be of interest to hear what the Infinitely Less says of the Infinitely Greater; and this is what he says:

"From first to last Jesus is the same, always the same — majestic and simple, infinitely severe and infinitely gentle. Throughout a life passed under the public eye, he never gives occasion to find fault. The prudence of his conduct compels our admiration by its union of force and gentleness. Alike in speech and action, he is enlightened, consistent and calm. Sublimity is said to be an attribute of divinity. What name then shall we give