Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1849-12-27

throne OF His Father in heaven, and descended to
earth for the salvation Of the race Of Adam, pos
sessing all the Omnipotence of Himl who created
us, must he put to death, or idolatry must inme-
dlatoy crumbc beneath the onward march Of that
religion and Of those pure principles which lie in.
cucated, and for the dissemination Of which lie
labored most strcnuously on earth.
But the Scriptures must be fulfilled, and the end
OF Chris,s pilgrimage was rapidly approximatng.
A deed Of fearful darkness aud iniqui,y was to be
perpetratcd on Garth. YeIChrist knew it all
lie was not ignorant Of the future, and lie well
knew when the hour which was to close His exis-
tencs on earth would arrive. lie even charged
one Of His Apostles with treachery, and foretold
that another would soon deny all knowledge Of
Him.
When lie was first accused by the multitude Of
being an impostor, Plate refused to interfere in
the matter, but sent Him to Herod who was then
in Jerusalem. lie was at last, tried before Plate
and convicted and delivered into the hands Of a
,naddened and iniTiated popuaee for crciixion.
lie was insulted in the most abect manner, and
finally pat to death by the mob lie was even
jeered on the Cross, and mockingy called upon,
lie was the Son Of God, to come down. Here
it was that Christ offered that sublime and beau
,iful prayer, Father, forgive them, for they know
not what they do" The immaculate Son of God
was ignonimiously murdered on Mount Calvary
there was darkness on the earth, and nature her
self mourned over so terrible an event. What
sublime spot is that Mount ! Its moral height no
no man can measure. for though its base is on the
earth, its top is lost in the heavens The angels
hover around the dazzling summit, struggling in
vain to scale its highest point. which has never
yet been famed by even an immortal wing. Says
a writer, " Mount Calvary at the mention ofthat
name, the universe thrills with new emotion,
and heaven trembles with new anthem, in which
pity and exuliation minglc in strange yet sweet
accord. Glory and brightness are on that hill
top, and shall be to the end Of time but there
was morning when gloom and terror crowned it.
and heaven itself. all but God the Father gazed on
j, in WONDER il not in CONSERVATION.
All these events naturally come rushing into the
mind Of the contemplativc man on this day. We
look back with wonder on the humble birth Of the
Saviour we think OF His destitute condition, at
tracing but little attention,-and all that Kind Of
thing And then we lift the veil ,ha, shrouds
the future, and anticipate His second coming to
judge the world Attended by egions Of angels.
amid the wild flashes Of the ightnings Of heaven
and the loud Of the last terrific thunder, and
the confusion Of world on 6rc,---lIis visible
presence will be seen by Jew and by Gentle, by
Christian and by In6del.
With the annual return Of this day comes a
thousand hallowed assoc iations, dear, indeed, to
the Christian, but welcome even to all classes and
conditions. Aside from all sacred considerations.
it is joyous festival, harpy hol,day which is
always rendered memorable by some pleasing event
or hcartendearing occurrence.
Kind readers, VIC wish you all merry Christ
mas, long lives, and all imaginable happiness on
Earth.