Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1850-01-03
NehPori, Dec. 26th, l949.


Ever ready to devote your time and tai
enis fr the pleasure and information of
others, please answer a social band, who
read your editorial Of the 25ih inst, why
he anniversary Of tho Ssviour's birth is
called +" Christmas" and upon what au-
shortly they are W know that the Sermon
Of Christ on tho Mount 4" embraces all the
tene,s Of the Christian religion. and poir,s
eu. the only mode Of salvation to man."
SUBSCRIBER.
The definition Of the word Christmas 10
thus given, in primitive times, BY the Holy
Cstholie Church, and the samo belief has
boen held by that Church to the prssen,
day. The Mass is the principal Office OF
the new Law in which, under the appear
anee ofbread and v inc, the Redeemu Of
the world 10 offered up in an unbloody man
ner upon the altars, ~ q true, proper and
propi.iary saeri6es for the living and tho
dead.
Tho word Mass 10 derived from tho Lat
in Mi,sa or Missio, which signifies sent, or
permission 10 retro. A in the sacrafice
offered by the primitive Christians to CON-
memorate the Eucharistic Sacrifice which
our Lord offered for the world, those Who
were no, TO psrtako Of Communion on the
occasion, were ordered by the Deacon ofiho
Church TO retire. On Christmas parlicu-
larly the word is most appropriate, as on
that day tho sacrifice Of the Mass is offered
up by each Clergyman three times, to
commemorate tho triple birth Of the Saw
Jour, viz His birth in tho bosom of His
Father from eternity His birth on that
day by the blessed Virgin Mary; His birth
by Grace in the hearts Of His Disciples
Hence the day 10 called Christie Msss, or,
Christmas.
Our correspondent desires further to
know upon what authority the world is to
k,ov TIM, the Sermon on the Mount en-
braces all the ,ensts OF the Christian relig-
ion, and points ou, the only mode Of saliva
,iou 10 man. In making uso Of this express
sion, we prcsupposed man to be sound IN
the doctrines of Christ's Church when
Chris, was on earth, He Himself was The
Church, d when He Left tho earth, His
faithful followers, and those who professod
Hi, faith composed His Church. We sup
pose man TO have Faith in God, and by
cons,an, prayer for Grace and tho aid oi
the Holy Ghost to enable him to live In ac-
cordancs with Divine requirements Ha'-
ing this Faith, and thus seeking aid IRON
the Source Of all Power, wo say that the
law of lifo is laid down in the Sermon on
tho Mount, and ,ha, therein il contained all
ha, is necessary TO guide US through this
world of sorrows. and to secure us ever
lasting bea,i,uds in the realms beyond the
skies. The Sermon on the Mount is SUD
lime moral code, yet man, without ra"h
and vi,hout Grace, could never reach
Hs,,on. because, Of himself, Ho could mol
comply with it's requirements, inaslnueh as
naturally, he could no. love his enemies
and forgive them who despiteiulIy uso him.
Hence the absolute necessity OF Faith 10
s.cu1e salvation, and hence the necessity OF
Grace 10 give u, Faith. Faith without
work. ia ain, and Charity without Faith
| is little worth.
In our article on Christmas, in speaking
Of the Transhguration on Mount Tabor
we said th,, the man put on the God'-
We did not mean by this to convey the
idea ,ha, Christ, previous to this time, had
been merely . flesh and blood man Tar
from il. lie had possessed the came
immaculate attributes, the Same 'rlune
mower of the Godhsad, all the while /; he
came to earth with them, and He retained
them all through His mission. And when
He ven, up to Noun, Tabor, the Goldman
je,us Chris, appeared to His disciples whs
were with Him, to their flesh and blood
eve,, in his human form,-but now meek
ness gave way to msjsssy, sadness to daz-
cling glory, tho look Of pity TO the grandeur
Of a God, and they TO. only saw Christ
in tho capacity Of man, working miracles
and giving all the evidences Of inward pow
er,s God but they also saw Him now
clothed in the outward majesty Of God here
On osr,h. Tha. scene of tho Tran'hgura-
ton of Christ possessed more sublime NOR
Al grandeur than any other tha, has ever
been i,nessed on earth.