Massachusetts Spy And Worcester Advertiser

Letter of Publius Lentulus to the Senate
of Rome concerning Jesus Christ.

It being the usual custom of Roman
Governors to advertise the Senate and
people of such things as happened in
their Provinces, in the days of the Em-
peror Tiberius Caesar, Publius Lentu-
lus, President of Judea, wrote the fol-
lowing Epistle to the Senate, concerning
our Saviour.

"There appeared in these our days a
man of great virtue, named Jesus Christ,
who is yet living among us, and of the
Gentiles is accepted for a prophet of
truth, but his own disciples call him the
Son of God—he raiseth the dead, and
cureth all manner of diseases. A man
of stature somewhat tall and comely with
a very reverent countenance, such as
the beholders both love & fear, his hair
of the colour of a chestnut full ripe, plain
to his ears, whence downward it is more
orient, curling and waving about his
shoulders.—In the midst of his head is
a seam, or partition of his hair, after
the manner of the Nazarites—His fore-
head plain and very delicate—His face
without spot or wrinkle, beautified with
a lovely red—His nose and mouth so
formed, as nothing can be reprehended
—His beard thickish, in colour like his
hair, not very long but forked—His
lock innocent and mature—His eyes
grey, clear and quick. In reproving he
is terrible—In admonishing, courteous
and fair spoken—pleasant in conversa-
tion, mixed with gravity.—It cannot be
remembered that any have seen him
laugh—but many have seen him weep.
—In proportion of body most excellent
—His hands and arms most delectable to
behold.—In speaking very temperate,
modest and wise,—A man, for his singu-
lar beauty, surpassing the children of
men."

PUBLIUS LENTULUS.