Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1851-12-25
NRRklp OF THE TIMES.
THURSDAY, Dec. 25th 1851.

- This day should be ob.erved as
Shc holicst festival Of earth. because il
, eommemorates the birth of Jesus Chri't,
Who came to redeem tie human family
1 fnOs, the effects OF Sin, and TO he the
Mediator between man and his G'd.
The Catholic Church has always eel
e6fsted this day as one of her holiest
, spd most joyful festivals; The Church
\ Of England, or Episcopal Church, since
}. isa establishment, in the reign of Henry
VIII, Inns also observed this day in n
!, ksecming manner.
|, Eighteen hundred and Efly-one years
ago this day, during the reign Of King
Herod, Jesus Christ was born in Beth
: leliem Of Judca; the sure coming OF this
important event had been ioretold by
/, the prophets and wise men Of the east,
!. and Jerusalem, amid all her infideli'y
' and attachment to her ancient faith, was
already troubled with excitement. The
The King even gathered all the Chief
Priests and Scrib,s OF tie eople to-
ge,her, and demanded Of them where
Christ should be born; he bid his wise
men 60 and search diligently for The
ehild, and when they had found Him,
70 come and announce the fact, that he
also might worship Him. But the his
tory Of this matter is too we'll known to
our r, aders; Herod did not see the in
fant Saviour, and in his wrath he slew
all the children who were in Bethlehem
The angel OF the Lord had previously
appeared to Joseph in dream, and
warned him TO take the child and His
mother and flee into Egypt which COM
mand he obeyed.
: A ftcr this lime, all are familiar with
the varied and trying career Of Christ
through the world lie lived ihirty.sev-
en- years, and passed through all kinds
Of scenes. He had His followers and
from among them He selected His chos-
en- twelve to be always with Him, and
TO assist Him in His mission. He raised
the dead, healed the sick, caused the
blind to see, and performed innumerc-
bic miracles which were beyond the
comprehension Of mankind, and yet
lie was derided and denounced HIS
Apostles and faithful followers were Sc
iected from among the poor and un-
known fishermen Of Gal,ee these were
; the desplsed men whom the Son Of God
admitted TO His confidence. This was
the arislocracy that Omnipotence mark
ed as It's cwD, and acknow owlel, ed wor-
thy OF celestial honors.
None can be unmindiul Of the import
SA1ce Of Christ's mission, end the i'm
m ense benefits which res ,ltcd from l.. =
His Advent did not only affect secular
matters,-but the great object of His
'misson wns in regard TO the spiritu |
welfare OF man. He took upon Himself
our humanity, that He might be man
like uS, and be tempted, and sua.-, ..nd
;'die, like ,,s,--yet He retained His Di.
vinity, tl,at we might initiate His exam
ole, and that our lives and conduc,
.mighH be as pure and spo,Iess as His
own. He brought us immortality be-
yonl the grave, and He established II 8
Church by the Authority which lie
drought from His Father,-and when
He died, the mantle of that Authority
fell upon His Successor, to be transm it.
ted 10 future generations, until He should
ogain come in majestic power and glory
? 10 receive the fruits of His resurrection.
The birth Of Jesus Christ was God, the
Almighty's, bright and Perpetual rain
bow Of Hope which spanncd over a de-
graded and ruined world, lorminga ho-
iier covenant OF salvation with man than
that which was made after the wreck by
the Deluge. Shonld we not, then, COM
memorate, in an appropriate manner,
the anniversary Of a day which gave so
much TO man,-not the honors and cmol.
uments Of earth, but immortality beyond
the grave.
In conclusion, we extend to all our
readers the congratulations OF the season.