The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1826-12-27

The glorious epoch we celebrate is unlike
all other eras. The Parsonage we CONNIE m
morate bears little resemblance in his nativi-
", 1--we and death, as to their intrinsic nature
ana concomiiants, to any example of mere
human existence. Never was there such q
grand display Of the moral virtues-such hum
oneness o! mind-purity and noaleness--
magnaHimity and love-meekness and poor
ness OF spirit---patience, forbearaute. be-
nignity-sufferiEg and observation-disclosures,
piety and derotion--compassioa forgiveness
ofinjuries, and holiness OF life, Christ is IN all
things perfect model for the imitation Of his
followers. Truly his advent was glad tiding:
OF great JOY which shall be to all people. huw
many and rich blessings did the Jews, the once
favorite people of God, enjoy from the Saviour
OF the world dering his residence among them.
Many, deeply infected with the leprosy of sin,
received radical cure, and couid say thsiI
fellow sinners, - Jesus Christ nlaketh thee
sohole.''
Before his ascension, our Lord gave the
command TO his disciples, - Go preach the
gospel 10 eUery creature" and the light of the
gloriou. gospel carried, with amazing rap
idity, into all the then known nations by his
friendsand followers. Over the extensive and
delightful country of Asia, where the cruel and
barbarous Turks, the followers. Of Mahomet,
for nearly four hundred years, have erected
the standard of the crescent on the ruins Of the
cross, were the first Christian churches found
ed, and the Christian faith miraculously prop
agated and cherished, eye5 with the blood OF
innumerable martyrs. In this region was the
principal theatre on which the great apostle of
the Gentiles displayed his wonderful powers
IN preaching the unsearchable riches Of Christ.
Here he fought his good fight, and ran much Of
he lr in no rffcift
famed on the classic page for poetry and elo-
quence, he spread the saving knowledge of Je-
aus. Alas, poor Greece once illuminated
with the full blaze of the gospel, how are thy
celestial lights extnguished, and long night
OF thick darkness has covered thee the inf
del and Saraceu, the blind and relentless vo-
tarles OF Mahomet, have quenched the full orb
oil the sun OF Righteousness, and this renown-
ed land OF early churches and suffering Chris
tians is now suffering for lack OF vision Here
let our tender sympathies be excited, and our
christian coincidence be expressed. ''We will
not contentedly endure that the land to which
We Owe every thing, after religion, most valu-
aole-science, art, poetry and philosophy
that that land, with all its recolIectons, its
images OF beauty, its temples worn by the foot
steps Of heroes and of ChristiaDs--its sacred
mountains and poetic streams-should be left
desolate, prey to the ferocity of bsrbarians
without feelings to sympathize for depaIted
grandeur and exiled religion without gene
rosity 10 pardon the unsuccessful devotion to
patriotism; without pity to stay the slaughter
ing hand when despair pleads for mercy ~
But thanks be TO God, that the light of the
Star of Bethlehem again skirts the horizon of
this interesting and oppressed people. Al
ready the deep shades and horrible gloom fly
F1nff, do IT,
pei, which shall second time pour its efful-
gence on this sable land. Propitious times
are on the wing. Ethiopia stretches out her
hand to God, and the isles of the sea are
waiting for his law, aud to rejoice in the glad
news Of Saviour The Hindoo leaves the
waters Of The Indus and Ganges, and flies to
the blood If Christ for cleansing and the
Jews begin to look on Him whom their fathers
cruci6ed, and mourn The tawney sons of the
forest begin to put off the tiger, and shew the
mildness of the lamb. With us they rejoice |
an the Saviour, aud themselves bevot1airs--
the heralds of the glad tidings of the gospel
How many in our favored country are coming |
to worship at ImmsDuel's feet, and TO bring
the offering of penitent heart and ferYent
love to their Re,clq. found Saviour! What null
titudes are now singing and praising God for
the unspeakable gift of his Son, and are rejoic-
ing plight and day in the a. love OF Christ which
passeth knowledge!'' Having been Taught The
truth as ii is in Jesus, and in the school Of
grace learned thai s. goodness with content |
ment is great gain,' they are passing their pill
grimage, clad with heavenly armof, full OF the
joys and hopes OF the birth and the resurrec-
tion of Him who is the believers ligM and life.
and are so running the Christian race, as at
last TO obtain crown of immortal glory. From
e.,
our particular friends, connexions and acquaint-
aDce, we have been frequently constrained to
adopt the language Of those who have witness
ed the miraculous power and compassionate
love Of Christ, and exclaim, |" zoe haze seen
sirangs things 10 day 20
II becomes US to feel and express the most |
lively gratitude TO God for the Holy Bible, |
which has been the medium of communication
TO Es Of the ''glad tidings Of great joy whtch !
ShGH be 10 all people.n So remote in place and |
time from those astonishing exhibitions of d. |
vine mercy, how thankful ought we to be that |
an authentic record, full history of the old |
and new dispensation, the whole of the gospel !
Of Christ and the book of divine revelation |
have come to us in their original purity! that
the standard of the cross is here erected, and
that we find Bethlehem and Calvary wherey-
er we reside-Cbrist here in the midst of his
Holy Ghost descending
speaking with new tongues-and the gospel
becoming the power of God aud the salvation
Of God 30 many precious souls! How consol-
ing, and even electrifying. to hear and see the
surprising changes that are wrought by the |
of these ssglad tidings - This
galaxy of heavenly light spreads wider and
wider! To the north, in the east, in the south,
and 10 the west, the placid rays of the ever
lasting gospel fast gain on the darkness that I
has long brooded over tn. earth. Soon shall |
these morning stars usher in perfect dag, and |
these auspicious dawnings arise and expand. |
ill the whole moral horizon shall be in merid |
ian blaze. CHRISTMAS.