Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1817-01-14
From the n. Y. Commercial Advertiser.

oroduct;ou T.. A Christmas Thought" and
An Ode for Christmas'') had not BEEN
received in season to be published on the
d,y preceding that Of the Christian les.
tival to which they relate. They cai'I'ot
fail. hoa ever, TO BE- read, at any time,
with interest aud delight -
ACHRIsTMAS THOUGHT.
Bv a Young LADY of the Episcopal
Church.
.4nd they shall call his name Emanuel d!
God pita u.s.
The great advent i. accomplished !! The
promise. to the Patriarrhs. the D edlc-
tons IF the prophets Symbols q figures.
are now 'ultilled-glcrioOsly te- minated
in the coming Of the anonted.
Let w. accompany the wise men on
visit t. the Prince OF Peace humbly let
us rause and reflect whether We are not
in thus considering ourselves
as visitant> to this az .ust parsonage The
King Of Glory, the deliyere of his reo-
PIE,
II the gates of heaven arc 10 lift up
their heads, and the everlasting doors to
be lifted up to admit the Messiah, may
we not expect to find him with all the
grand Accomplishments attendant GA h;'
royal state /? Ok, knowing uurssiveS rebels
to his government, and delinqnen's 10 his
law, may we not expect to fad him sur.
with the embems OF his Just dis!
pleasure the land sounding trumpet,
the thick and threatening cloud the
awful thunder and terrific lightning
that caused the mountain to quake < oil
the people TO trenbic when OmniPutencs
revealed himself to his chosen ? his We
have uet to ap?rehend. The Saviour i.
not cone 4" give his people law. He Is
now come ITO give light to then r,at ii:
in darkness and the shadow of death. to
guide our feet in thernay of peace"
Therefore II we follow the parh Of thr
wise men to pa, the homage OF love and
duty TO him rho is sojustiy entitled to l..
vii! find him III torn 20 encourage our
spsroach Had ne appeared in the spI.n
dour connected with hi celestial state. il
would have required more than the vell Of
Moses to allow Of optics weakened nv in
& dinm'hSith worldly gla e,to behold the
day spring fros- on high. For us he has
laid aside the glow Of his kingdom for
us he has left the feiict Of hearen, and
that II may without fear app zach him.
he is come as the babe Of Bethlehem.
Here i. all earthly pride set at nOught,
ard human grandeur coItnunded. The
San ef God appears in maagsr: hi
hand wiaid> mt the royal sceptre. nei'hc
does impeia garments decorate the King
of I,rse Iii. hand extends the branch
Of pesce and love. aud h. is attired * the
soaddllng closihs Of merc AID recgn
citation. Thus Ia, tn. great Re;leem.r
accommodated circumstances 10 gu 81.
tuatien, lii adyen, is in an infant form,
still the power Of heaven demonstrates
that God is c0mp I, reside on cart1. i
star points out the place Of his nativity /:
and I, the hour OF darkness. eternal light
break, fort+ and a celestial messenger
descend, to proclaim =. good tidings If
great ioy," The portal unfolded, null
titu ? Of the heavenly hast join in pro-
claiming the blisstul strain, Glory to
God IN the highest, ash on earth peace /;
good will towards men"
Let man respond, 4" Glory to Ged who
offers peace and good will towards men
through the love Of his son." The tidiuss
of great joy are brought To US as we'll a.
to the Shepherds the star points to us.
as well as to the men Of the east. where
we may fled Him who is lsrae'ls Ming.
This star THE word Of Cody directs US to
aim, and declares the worship he delights
in. The FIRST visitors Of Emanuel are uor.
thy OF our example, The eastern sases
proved their faith on finding him whom
they so earnestly sought. They fell
down on their knees and worshipped him.
and when they had opened their treasure,
they presented unto him gifts; gold
frankinsehce and myrrh."
" we desire to render acceptable SCI.
vice to ou, God. we must devote to him
what is most desirable to US; we must
not place our affections on Babylonish
garment. or wrdge OF geld. What we
consider precions should be brought int
spbordinate estlRation, to the Still more
preciou. love of Christ. As to the Shep
herds, the tidipg, Of redemption have
reached US and we have equal cau,e
with them togloriiy and praise Gnd fur
what we have seen aud heard. Let u,
then demonstrate sur JOY in this great
festival. Let rs cut down branches, and
h il the Advent Of the son Of David, pro
" hosanna to him who comet
in the name of the Lord J" Let Us de-
cerate osr habitstion with the ever green