The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1882-01-03 00:00:00

A CHRISTMAS SERMON.

On the evening of Chrietmas Day the pretty mac.
teary (Christ Church) situate in the East-road, Brid-
pork wee weil•lilled with worshippers. The sermon
preaoh.d by the Bev. T. Dougoty, curate in charge,
Was. most appropriate one. ib. text was taken from
Matthew i., 2.3—" Emmanuel, God with us."
" When man was Grater...bad in the Dieing Imago," said
the prnaker, " the ntuaiag stare sung together, and all the
son• of God shouted for joy. Bat hem S.jon was that
per feet image lost 1 hoe soon was be glory of man debased,
his crown thrown into the dust, and sacitc'oth and ashes
thrown over the fair face of creation r "No mass c mid
rvdsem his brother, net aernment to G d for him," for
411 were ischaded is the same condematttoe. Eves
sorrels, whose dupes; Interest was in man, care powariada
to help, ant amid but look on aghast at the wreck. Oh !
than, alto What delight did they, alter the *me of 4,000
years, renew their rapturous num, and proclaim the
retsina of Him who 'build re•tore to man Males; likeness
to God—the last image to him, of whcm it was said.
wham there w a norm other. "an own arm brought
titivation." then fins did the groat mol!itude of the
H ly Ho-t mace mom like up their Joyous strain. no
asan's Sahel, I It ors., sr at tole very time, that, bunting
on the sadness eta winter'• night, htstsvers'• oen angelic
units men their knit Ctti4cose carol ! and with what
holy mal and energy did tLey fan the loud acclaim and
seen the venltteg ch srus-- Glory to Got in the
Iligisett I and on earth peace, goodwill to garde men!"
Tog, had wept ever the wreck—w•li may they now
.hoot In praise of thy ransom I Who can at all
imagine the glorious mialc watch bunt from the
tooo.eade or +acetic vole's— woo cut describe the
tatiltlea melody of tie w c. a 441 Cho rs, which broke
upon the s Illness of the ui,r, .nd the ears of the
.h.pber.le OD B•lblehem's p.ii I 'rb• mann ml saes 12 bay
Yet treed on,. moo hy Gol'• merry, when, widt ra.
sorord, Chrstsse bars .n 1 ilhrlatan vole • re—ch s in
gladsome mirth toe ha. bore snot
_._ " "

-
totether t ep tee sir ear's birt-olay. and yo
=Y, ham wa•hed ioi "A Hippy Ch-istits m"-wish -d
it wit, .11 ir heart., fr a is it bicouteth us well to be
.Iful. No • -tn4 merit this well, too-ffe most need.
dory In toe argct•ii p.st all envying., end
b.a.t.daraidta-n is may rich and pear meet together-
now, ern wenn 7, may She fret he repaired, an I hia
iorimuoes CO forte, at they w 11, tor- ugh .ut the leogth
•3 I breerith of o ir 1 anii *Ol her col a t a 'to., 0 or
ad, maimed, the nalt, and the il-ni, t at tarn- c ararraud
✓ sutler fool m 41.• :heeded f awarrer an ItuOre
ale cheer. N,., ahoy, all tau. may we rem-mire our
tar athist's wants, iii prayers, in alma, .nri of p nom
worth. Cur:,- one wit-orat ierre were like the sun ..1•12 oh
iieht an I heat. In thi day of parlooi•ig let ui nit 0.
unforgtvins-in CA, • ay of gladneree It u. not •giresi
• adoese-in this day to sweet let ue hot fe har•h-in this
day ot peacrtoi rest lot n. not be arraltaul- in hie dee' in
which th-re ram- the Lord of all anti the wri err. let
maitre be conlesernaling to dor iu their servic• -tb's
day in which for our sate. the rich b•camep cir, let t or
who are able make the pry shrives of their bounty-en
this day, though we +Wiled not, came forth to Os tile gilt
-let us therefor- fersteW her alms..', tit se eh, salt In at)
of its. He, roes, won gave I, C m its
fiietivity 14 " Gird wols H • who cheers
us by His presence this divery winter- lane is "0 id
...admit ILI the 11-03." lie se bo warUsio inir hearts Wh n
•11- •uo liens c-al-I sad wintry winoe blow au ley chid
-tie orb I lighten. oar dw ',Mai with the light 'fl fe 14
"G 1 l-searnete 1' It is lid who ' h.- lc reite•med His
neap's." T ie C add t aet i• h .ro t a n•-tne S or at t . us
is gm.. thrl erdihty U id-tn. everleattnt sire-
n on in tame He far existed 'rout wernity, dwelling
an apt men !or • donna, pert -d in Gas esorlas history.
He is yet "Iw,otoa tielure all worlds." Rem. mho, t 1 le
se you watch beside the 01 40ger cradle, !elm. )06 l's
your Creator, car OU! from the abodes of men, s'int nt
trim the inn, where them wee room for the rich arid
lox trios*, there was no roorn for- Him. Toe Curter bath
creep i of th • a. ur- a remise-pare, awl her been re-
lewd. -, err Illath all thiii.. living *lila pleuteou.-
' Him liii, room bound. Tar birth of Jest' .as
V. m i rt fulfilment of many an an ient pr mh•cy.
1 The fira ja,Alla • 1 nos. for oar 'l.-ruin. I .t•iirlit War e
cne I to alio r aph cc which tell on the ear of our first
Parente ere ti y were haniehea Iran Else. "The eivd
1 of toe woman shall remise the head of the serpent." Fr=
the moment that prophecy we' spoken, there wee the
warrant given to look for ward to the event which occurred
when the Prior of Pere was horn of the Virgin Here in
the stable at Bethlehem. The hopes of believing pa-
triarchs were fixed upon thin seen', ani all the dealings
of God with lermel bat reference to toe oo•ning of Jesus.
Trareaghaer the whole inaUtution of Judaiern there was a
cootinuous and marked rearerense to the lime advent of
tee Sesnour. Oar after another of the goodly c mosey of
the propheto heralded the &apemen of the worad'a crest
D diverse., end, as time midyearsl, their predictions be-
came more and in,,. minute. The rage, the tribe, the
faulty from whims our Lied wee ti spring were pototem
Alt Toe 000di lo s of the ler, as • people, and the
Oar, prrtod, and manner of birth, were all
nterked out sibthe anent. ter rather of historic detail
tiro of prophetic outline, Wee, a multitude of medic.
ma would have Mau halal.' --how ninny prow...
woad have bee-n br Men-what innate -arable hop e would
hive be- n extinguietied, bad n 4alte e,ylaisa Ilt,en
verified. which related to Gm first • I• at of „lewd?
.ini what matter of r-j acing it 111 Slat in doe t in, every
prophecy did receive 41 NielqW9llll,tlloot I Not one thing
failed of all that the Lied 04 bad spoken. ice. appears
in lb. masers. Pr& and time which bail been foretold.
thourod linr of prophet? met awl blended in Him.
Surely the event, which fulfilled so many eater expects-
ti ins, se many atlowiog hope.,so many bright anticipa-
tions, may justly bs regarded as an event full of the
material for joy, and the taring' of the event may
larallt be lb materna as "tidinp of great hi to all
people. Until this time the knowledge of revealed
troth had been craned almost wholly to the Jews.
God had given to His chore people statutes and
ordinances our •-• bad beets given to no other nation.
r lag Grade world wee in comparative darker..
They Zeds mare. ead lords airy, bat were Ignorant
of Only tale U3l, an I lb, only right wel of 'election.
They were aliens front the cornea wealth of Israel, end
'inure, from the entrant of prouder& keret no hope,
and without Gall. the world." Saab was their condition
up to the nativity of Christ. Hear rears sad philoso-
phy had IMAM in vain, and to no 'torpor, to discover the
true God, or the right metboi of approach, awl the
furthest point to which unenlightened reason had att tact'
wee to erect (in the m lid of • thousand fair drills.
heeides) one altar Ii the '• unknown GA." Amongst Vi.
Jews Triage hal become grossly corrupted, and the
People bad shred the very ordinance wh-ch bed been
appointed for their welfare. What • blared comp Inuit
that have been which enlightened the Grade and
reformed the Jew I which scattered the darkree of the
heath. w aid, anal purified the corruptions of the pro-
firing Church of God I Tee coming of Immanuel is the
castral postal la the world'e history. for which all 61.0"
were preparatory. Did act Ahem, think you, during Ida
life, tell his Palma and his ehildred's children
the centred between Zdea's bloom and the there' and
thistles ad the earth--eureed few liis make. Think you not
that mid their woe (lying so heavily on his conscious') he
spoke ti them of she antagonist to that mortal foe, by
whom himself and the world in him wa, tell It he dii
not, how is it that the e fact. are witnessed by every
rallatioun evelein in which men her coped after the
tenth! They And • Wilson? in @were olierfielifid hinging 1
, of
from our geed, they r rh es of our bpi*, and drive the son
from our firmament. We believe.. Ham, because witha.ut
Ital, belief we cannot understand the pnenotn.na of the
w Merry-We Chabot nursed the inn linable web
1 of the put and Ito pins -ut • we cannot nude r.t ant bow all
satire agree in a cotragnunter of the world's fall,
and • desire for the workre re-toratiott ad was
tints prepense the way for the future manifestation
of His gm', ant only by • written 111.•111,1,iO4 but by a
promise gives to first patenee-a Promise clouded by
' erieretition-pret scut by idolatror rides of many a dark
hitation of rarity, yet, is the lord rovidenci of God,
never wholly boat sight of. Tr extrication of the cereal
' Jews was to be diaappointed, end human r •ason rind pridol
I were to be knrubled. Though the afte'" of all ottfmt
was to Orient Hie •ppearemse we, 10 be without form or
comelier., or "beauty that He searti be &enrol." He
err not to denial the imagination-to give object. to
; utnen pride, age stberei for human ambition, hot to find
' „wittier, among the meek, the 10.11, the loccifola tag
ormemskore. They wer • to obtain mercy : theirs wa. ii
I be the kingdom lii a.we sat up. Hoi who was to No `"
the sereent's heal, wide low. 01 world, and all desdly
„ sin-He in whom all rare were to be brawl, came to
1 purchase to Himself • kinsdom--• twenties* p .1)k.
I a -alone of good work*. Tb. kingdom wee to be an or v.
ia.tieg 'inn; hat, 00, of Wm world. lime eeranas were 1,
; neater by foe ecru., sail-.oda olt by roller their
' soialta, luioutuuel we• t he rarest in heart. aid how-.
wee to c unfort sad help the or teltoreeted ; up
Ater all, blaresrthe toggle inetriji aaiiiidei ,
oure
is:rts=. Thopsisee gm lifer -I; rah Of NERIWII

acquainted with grief. His mission was to comfort the
mourners and wisp, away dui from di all faces. There
will he • time when he wilt take the attributed which
reason would assume th be His, when on His vesture His
name sad titles shell be wriaten—" King of Kings—Led
of L3rds," and when He shall claim the adoration a •
tributol7 universe. There will come a time when,
seated on the clouds of heaven, min thousand times tea
thousand forming thi countless throng of His retinue. His
shall sweep in glorious pageantry over the circle of the
heavens, and summon to His feet an apostate world.
Well may we rejoice this day, and shout our " Alleluias
of praise, because it tails us there also will be time, who.
there shall be new heavens. and a new earth, wbsnia
dwelleth righteousness—when the kingdoms of the world
shall have become the kingdoms of our God and of His
Christ. He shall reign for ewer and ever. Such is the
toys/wiry of this birthday. God the weed —by
whom all things were suede, in order to deliver
min from eternal death, was Himself made
man, without diminution of His OWD glorious
majesty. DJ we &brays reoollact this union of natures, '
which is the foundatmn of our faith 1 Da we (eel that
Jesus was as couch perfect God when born • bribe at
Bethlehem as when He spanned the heavens and launched
the blazing eemetd in their courier I And do we feel that
He Is now es much perfect man sr linen He "increased
in wisdom and etatarr, sod in favour with God and man r .
Di we remember that on believing rightly the incarnatloa
oi our Lord Jesus our selvatiin depend., and that we could
net have life sternal were not the lion of Clod Man eternal?
Who will now say that it is • des:relation to do the mean-
est office for our brother men I "If then your Lord and
Masbr have washed your feel, ye ought els, to weal one
another'. feet, for I have given you an example that ye
shall do as I have done to you. DJ we condescend when
we enter the poor man's dwelling to minister t 3 his wants,
or to watch by his bed! Is it an act of humility to nether
In the little ones; to temh their lips to prey—to bring
them to Jesus? My brother, my stater, Wee is nothing
beneath thee in aught thou °snit do for the lowest of thy
kind, 'veto though thy brow woro • dteasand coronet, or
my shoulders ermine of loyal stets. He, by taking the
Poor Mated low e•l•te, list, given him the threat patent of
nobility. He, bia having no place to lay his heed, hath
siren aim to laS With Maces, even chit the Priam' of
His people. And not only hen our B n mutual stoopei dins
tow; but ea we do lie anonintedi al done to Himself.
'lnasmuch as ye bare dune it unto the twat of these. MY
brethren, ye hero dupe it unto ' Di we seek a
proof twat He is stall with us? L.t us Mid it in His
brethren. "V. have the p. or always with you. and
wiiens sever ye will ye rosy %o ahem good." 'Lien, dear
brethren, amidst your condertetils cheer, forget not
(Jurist's patior. The Holy Child once weathered welting
rest. Ho crave it now in the pervons of His little ones"
they nen briefing to Hira to find rest to their souls.
Reanerntiering Immanuei, your beasts will expond, and
your bands owe, your very isstlyily••• sweet re•union
of friends will b• saacutied. Immanuel will be • guest at
your table, and • emelt 43; yentheart, done," said the
&pestle, "have enter weed angels unaware.; but ye may
sabirtain the Lord of angels.' In this dam, led ad Imp
the rut approach thp Holy Table of the Lord Wu'. you
Veneer* In return to your owe, awl reerive Insutense
tato yeer nee% which will glow with love to Him, and,
loving Han, yoo will love Hu likeness in every poor,
, suffering men. Taus, brethren, would we who minister
wash you all • ...Happy Coriattna.." May your meeting of
! friends be too prolu 1, to • happier meeting above., whom
are Christmas joys, Christenas brightness, sad Christmas
tVe without (.:eremite therows. May your foeticide' be
but foretastes of the delight' of fecal boad, at welch al
is are greats) we shell be " manned with the hiker of
j and With those pleastwas which Sr. at God's right
Land to: evermore." Amen.