November 1826

I would write something worthily on the most affecting of topics, upon the personal char- acter and influence and upon the death of Jesus Christ, a being whose nature has divided the opinions of men more than did ever any ques- tion ; who was so great as to leave foundation for the idea that he was a portion of the Deity, and, in the opinions least reverent, that he was first of men ; a being who would be called re- nowned, did not fame and what men call glory sink before his majesty into things offensive and ridiculous ; a human being whose influence on the fortunes of human society — taking out of account all supernatural influence — has been far the most powerful foreign influence that ever acted thereon ; a being whose character was so pure and whose death was so sublime as, if no consequences had followed, would for himself have attracted the greatest admiration.