DESCRIPTION OF OUR LORD BY A CONTEMPORARY.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XVI, Issue 48, 22 March 1889, Page 11

DESCRIPTION OF OUR LORD BY A CONTEMPORARY.

[The following lettor was written by Fublms Ljntulus, predecessor of Pontius Pilatr as Governor of Judea. The unuinal Lttin is in possession of the Ceaarini family ot Kome. The tollowuig is a translation from the italun ,'ortic Jtr Maria, -the lialiau being taken from the oiigmal Latin J I HAVE learned, O Ca^ar, that it is t'iy wis'i to k-iow wh.it I will now relate to ihee — that ihere is a mau living Lciu ot grtai virtue, named Jesus Christ, who by the people is ealiui a prophet ; and his disciples hold him tor divine, and say that he is the Sou ot uod, the Creator of heaven and earth, ami oi all things tha' fir- the. mi :ind have been made. In tru«h, O Cesar, wondeiful things ,m- uuy day performed by this Cnmt. he raises the deal to lite and heals ail maladies by a single woid. A man of noble btatuio and ot veiy beautiful countenance, in which such majesty ru-uli-b tint tlu^e who look on hiru arc fore.d to admire him. H i tun- is tue Cjluur ot v fully ripe clustuut, and from his eais down bib bhoulncrs v i> ot the colour of earth, but f-himng. it is pai ted in the innMie ot iln i. nthead, after the manner ot the Na/uru.c . His iou-t.ead i> s nuot i and very serene, his face free fiom wrinkle or tpot, amt win, a slight colour. The nostrils and lips cau not be reasonably found tai.lt with. Toe beard is thick, and, like the ban, not veiy lon-: and divided in the middle. There is a look of terror in his giave ey^ ; tin- i}<s nre like the rays ot the suo, and it is impossible to look him s c idily m the face on account of thc.r bnl'iancy. When he reproves, be terrifies , wi en he r.dmoniahcs, he weeps , he makes himself lov. d, and is giavdy cliLCitul. It is sail that be was never seen to lau^h, but he was seen to weep. Ilia h.uids and arms are very beau'iful. In conversition he i>s charming, tut he seldom engages in it ; aud when he does converse he is vtiy modest, of countenance. In presence he is the most beautiful man mat could be seen or imagined,— just like his m ither, who is tue most beaut mil young person that was ever behell in these paits. But it thy maj-siy, O Ciesar, dcsiri-a to Fee him, as you wrote to raj in form _r letteib, make it kuown unto me, and I will t-ead bun to thee- at once. In learning he is an obj -ct of wonder to the entuo city ol Jerusalem. Ho never studied at all, and yet he ki-OAs all seieuc s. He wears sandals and goes bare-headed. Many laugh at so- i ig him, but in his presence and wbea speaking to him they tear aud tiumbl.-. It is said that such a man was never seen nor heard hi thc<e p.nts. In truth, as the Hebrews tell rue, tnere never were heard such ,ul vices, such sublime doctrine, as this CJhnst te.ich'S ; and many ot me Jews hold him for divine, and they belli ye in him, while many others accuse him to me as be ng contrary to thy M.ij -sty, O ( ,uui ' lam very much annoyed by thesi malicious Hebrew,, it, Haeiiii .w.e.iyel that he has never done harm to any one, but good : alt t jat kuow him and bave had dealings with him say that ih^y havr icccived from him benefits and health. But to thy Majesty, O C.c v, i, thy obedience. lam most devoted. Whoever tbou shalt coamiaiil mo will be executed. Farewell From Jerusalem, <he seventh indicuon, eleventh moon, of thy Majesty the most faitLful and mo3t obedient, PUBUUS LKNrULUd, (J over nor of Judja,