Christ's Short Life on Earth.
HE whom Christians recognize as the Redeemer of the world, was only a youth. Whether his religion be regarded as a system of doctrines, or as a body of laws, or as a source of extraordinary influence, it is passing strange that he should have died in early life. His brief period of existence afforded no opportunity for maturing anything. In point of fact, while he lived, he did very little, in the common sense of doing. He originated no series of well-concerted plans; he neither contrived nor put in motion any extended machinery; he entered into no correspondence with parties in his own country, and in other regions of the world, in order to spread his influence and obtain co-operation. Even the few who were his constant companions, and were warmly attached to his person, were not in his lifetime imbued with his sentiments, and were not prepared to take up his work in his spirit after he was gone. He constructed no society with its name, design, and laws all definitely fixed and formally established. He had no time to construct and to organize—his life was too short; and almost all that he did was to speak. He spoke in familiar conversation with his friends, or at the wayside to the passers by, or to those who chose to consult him, or to large assemblies, as opportunity offered. He left behind him a few spoken truths—not a line or word of writing—and a certain spirit incarnated in his principles, and breathed out from his life, and then he died.—Young's "Christ of History."