The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1838-01-17

from the chaos Of the moral world, and say
TO the troubled ocean Of human passion, as
he once said to the stormy element, "peacel
be stll!" Nor did the world cry in vain
for its Redeemer. He came, and the lis
tening eur of midnight heard the sublime
song, "giory to God in the highest-and on
earth, peace good will toward men,"
Lon. enough had the world been hnrdened
with the dark and degrading idea that God
entertained hatred and jealousy toward
men; and while such an idea prevailed,
we'll might pence be absent from the earth.
Long enough had men cherished the insane
idea that their strifcs, and even their sins,
might rebound to Gods glory. And now
voice was coming from Heaven to teach
them that Gods highest glory demanded
both perfect peace on earth and good w'l'
toward men.
We have thus given general g'snce al
the state of the world when this annuncia-
tion took place, and considered generally
its appropriateness both to the spirit of the
scene and season in which It was made,
und the spirit of the religion which II u'h-
cred in. But when we come to examine
the annunciation itself more closely, ana
consider it more calmly and though'fully,
we shall 6nd that there is more peculiar
beauty, propriety and truth in thus bringing
together the ideas Of glory to God, peace on
earth and good will toward men, than, on
superficial view, we might imagine. It's
probable not only that the conncxion which
exists between these three things, Gods
glory, peace on earth and good will toward
men, is not appreciated by most readers of
the passage, but that the idea of such con-
nexion seldom enters the thoughts. II
would be one Of the best things that
could be done for the cause Of true Chris
.ianty, ii' that connexisn could only be
brought out in strong relief and mndc
palpnble to the minds Of men. One Of the
most excellent features Of the religion Of Je-
susis, that it sets forth how the highest glory
Of God can alone BE- promoted by pence on
earth and good will toward men, both from
one another and from their Maker. The
brightest revelation made by Christ was that
Gods highest glory lies in his goodness.
Before he came men had been disposed TO
place it in his power and his justice. And,
fancying that it was His wrath and not
their own sins which made the breach be-
tween Him and themselves, they were ever
seeking to make peace with him by some
ntonclneut or other, which might crafty, at
once, his thirst for vengeance and his love
Of glory. Men hnd felt in all ages-thcir
altars and their burnt offerings and their
penances showed it--ihey had felt that all
was not right between themselves and their
Maker; but they knew not where the dis
order lay, and instead Of sacrificing their
sins upon Gods altar, instead of making
the unholy imaginntions of their hearts u
burnt offering and thus purifying them
selves and making themselves worthy of the
love Of Him whose name is Love, their
whole aim and anxiety was to conrive some
way or other of appeasing his wrath or snt's-
flying his inflexible justice. Now it was tue
grand design Of Chris,'s mission 10 teach men
TIM, it was they who needed the atonemen'
|, not the " righteous Fatber"-that It was
! they who needed to be reconciIed to HIM,
mt lie to them, since He, without variable
ness or shadop Of turning, had nlway'
} cherished {" good will toward men'--he
T had created them in love-all bis dealings
, with them had been in love, and even his
darkest and most mysterious, IN mercy
8 I" Wherefore when he cometl' into the wo''e
he saith, in burnt offerings and sacrihce
y for sins thou hast had 40 pleasure, Lo,
, come tn do Thy will, o God" These wer'
a the glad tidings Of great Joy" ihey na'
n been forcshadowed under the Jewish DIS
e pensa,ion in the words Of the PsalmIst
!. {" Thou desirest not sacrifice, else would
' give 1.-THE sacrifices Of God are broke'
spirit q broken and a contrIte heart, I
9 God thou wilt not despise " But not t'l
!. the dawniug Of the sun Of righteousness
), was full light thrown upon the doctrine th'
/. Gods highest glory consists IN his mercy
= nor was the true connection between tha
!, glory and the character Of man rightly un
j. derstood, till the voice which said Of old
r 81 will have mercy and not sner'6ce," ""
i los, in the song of the angels" Glory 4
!, God 10 the highes,-and. on earth, peace
4 good will toward men"
:. We have considered these words 10 rel
!. erenee to the doctrine which they suyse'
r. But tho annuucia,ion Of the angel wa