The Example of Christ.

Brother Douglass:—Last evening, (March 31st,) I attended a religious meeting in this city. The pastor of the congregation gave a brief and pertinent discourse: his theme was, "Our obligation to do as Christ would do, if he were placed in our circumstances." He fervently exhorted the brethren and sisters to act every hour, in all the transactions of life, under the distinct and vivid impression—I am the representative of Christ.

The previous reading of the Bible, the prayers before and after lecture, the hymns which were sung, and the exhortations which some brethren gave, (one is a lawyer,) all concentrated on the same idea namely, We must act as CHRIST would act
, if he occupied our position, in the relations which we sustain to the universe.

Alas! how many professing christians will fail to do this at the coming Presidential election! With all their theory about Christ as our pattern, there is much reason to fear that thousands of them will rush to the ballot-box, with votes in hand, to be recorded for some Presidential aspirant who will promise to uphold the "Fugitive Slave" Enactment. How WOULD IT LOOK for "JESUS of NAZARETH" to do so?

Yours,

J. R. JohnsonJohnson, James Rawson

Probably the frequent correspondent of Frederick Douglass’ Paper, James Rawson Johnson, an African American abolitionist from Syracuse, New York. Johnson was a supporter of the Liberty party and the religious abolitionist cause, as well as hydropathy. FDP, 26 June, 11 September, 9 October 1851, 1 January, 12, 26 February, 25 March, 8 April, 20 May, 9 July, 15 October 1852; DouglassPapers, ser. 3, 1:582-84, 587-88, 590-92, 596, 599. .

Rochester, April 1st, 1852,