New-York daily tribune., 1853-12-26
SKETCHES OF SERMONS
SERMON AT ST. PATRICKs CATHEDRAL.


SERMON AT ST. PATRICKS CATHEDRAL.
Br THE REV wN. STAIRS, D. D. VICAR GENERAL OF rm
DIOCESE
Yesterday In the absence of Archbishop Hughes owing
to ndsposition. the Christmas preached a.
above by the Rev DR. Stars. On ascending the paIpi
he said;
In the name of the Father and of the Son. and Of tho
Tie Gospel OF the day taken from the I'd chapter Of
st. Luke commencing with the chapter and ending viA
the 18th
This beloved brethren ia great festival festival AZ
strange and wondrous import On this day the Christian
Church throughout the universe celebrates with p,us er
ultaOn the glorious mystery of our Lord inca nation s
present soemny reminds you ot that great event which
Lad been anxousy expected by the patria chs and 90
beautifully oreiOd by the prophctsthat event in whA
human nature desd AMI united 10 the GOihsaa. Ia
rapturous astOnshment at h oyta occurrence the choir
Of heavenly spirits sang forth their hymns Of praise
Glory 10 God in the highest and on earth peace % ma,
"of good Will What glorious festival Ny ears re-
ceve the sounds of the shepherds their voices ascend
from their solitary Geds and mingle with the caascls
that I'll the sphere Of heaven Oh sublime decree Of
heGvcc oh, unuiterable goodness Man is raised oa
high Bethlehem IS exalted to the heavens rather the
heavens have come down to B,thleheml Where CD
commands Nature understands the duty Of Obe-
dience; He his wied this sabllmest Of eyelh
He has the power He is come; lie Is an1ny
rs; lie who substs, God from eternity, is born 10 ae
flesh Of a When, by the intoxcaon Of thsir vanity
tie angels fell from Heaven, no kedeener promised
them no provision made whereby they might recover
the friendship OF their God but this not the cass
with mankind no sooner had our first parents fallen
then He promised Redeemer and their promise lie re-
newed from time 10 time until al things we're disposed for
the accomplishment of the great event Four thousand
years om:he Creation had elapsed before the promised
Messiah had man been restored to grace
a. he had forfeited the right to it, he would not have been
conscious of the depth OF bA fall of the wheh Justly
entaledon him would the great mercy OF God have
appeared so eminently conspicuous
The adorable mystery Of the incarnation exceeds all the
systems OF our holy creed is the source and origin t
were of all the blessings and grace have received from
our Eternal Father Permit then this solemn this
grand festival to lay before you briefly the principal cir
cumslances Of this mystery, and the manner in which
has been accomplished II IS to DO enjoyed in raptures
rather than be expressed in words and angels sd
nire il for all eternity without being able TO comprehend
H. il is the Spirit of God, and that alone which
give any idea of Il and this the great apostle has
done. when he said God annhiated himself in tax
ing on Him the form OF a slave and q servant The
preacher here recapulaed the circumstances Of the Sa
vors BIRTH There can never be any proportion between
God and yet this God has become min and at the
same time lie is God not only did lie become but
took Him everything that IS mean and terrestrial anl
gross in man lie could have been born in spend,r and
riches but the world required not such edeemer.
foretold centuries before that He should come q
humility peace and poverty, in order TO teach the world
that by the practice of those virtues alone they hops
to obtain everlasting happiness The time approach
ing an angelic messenger was sent 70 announce me dns
10 our humble Virgin SAINT John also was sent 70
prepare the way Of the Redeems OF the wohd. and
usher in the Son Of Justice The time at length arrived;
the ~ weeks of years foreold by the POple. Daniel
had almost expired the Roman brought to
conclusion the world at peace under Augustus, AMI
this was the time for the Redeemer to appea0 denote de
IN the highest The Virgin Mother chosen Of all 9th
ers because she was humble chasie table As the
Kedeemer chose Jerusalem for the theaer OF the Passover
He chose the small town Of Bethlehem for hs theaier
Of his birth The Almighty took the time of the universal
taxation ordered by the Roman Emperor rs the birth tine
of our Savior because il was commanded that al should
repair their native pace 10 be taxed and thus proof
was left on record that Jesus OF the house OF David
Tie was horn. and then the air was filed with meodoa
hymns and to whom had the angel announced the bfhf
Tone shepherds who watching their f0cks in the
feid nv piO them them
that the poor and humble are the only ayorites IN as
sight Of GOD He was born at mdnighs to show mat ne
came to dspel darkness, and illuminate the world OF
how we should rejoice How mpo5siblet Is to give utter
ance 10 the rapture should feel Let u.s. tncn, pour
forth our hearts in solemn hymns OF praise 70 O9d ne
Oice then this birthday OF your savior endeayof 70
celebrate Il with suitable devotion and love Inc voice Oh
exuaton should be heard in your tabernacle since Jesu
the Savior Of the World, is born for you.
Unite your hymns with those Of the heavenly host say,
ing, Glory TO God in the highest and on earth peace ana
good will 10 men,
entiou briefly to the object for which your contributions are
Nso,ed Oh this occasion. On this day. ON THIS solemn 's
tva you are called upon TO contribute your mite Eogau
the aid Of the orphan lums Of this City There are
nesent In those institutions about $50 orphans and these
depend altogether might say, on your chafity on your
generosity to their needs. must also say at Prose%
there not cent nthe treasury and they appear
10 Won with confidence this occasion On, yes ny
christian brethren these poor Little orphans appeal % you
with confidence; they know you will come iorxau 80
erOusly toward their support. Ihis Is no. mercy
Of charity, bat your duty also it Is your duy ooa cph
meuds every one to give to tho poor, to the orphaas
and if YOU refuse to give portion OF WAX ~
poesess on this earth you win be punished for nsreAr
while the performance of this command oi Ood "h 20 ~
warded in this life hundred fd, and also re"arasa GO -
the life everlasting The law Of nature the n" o. -
and the law of grace sl inculcgte this duty Inc M
deener tell. us II we refuse aid the orphans nere ne
will not honor us in lis Knglcm What 80 give 20 's
little ones in His name He considers as done iof
also He tells ms that cup OF cold water given 10 hh h.s
will not 20 without rev ard lie tells a. 20 give " .
roor what Is over aud above, and % give 's -
a portion Of what we possess here shi ~: ~, ~,
lie says that will be punished. hear tnen I,;,r
words: Beg0ne from you accursed, INTO eFeflss
"puuishment because when was hungry yon ga,Hs -
not te eat whom thirsty you gave me MOI - es
"vhen was naked you clothed me not Agein& ne ~ ~,
Come you blessed Of M Father, possess tle 80 -
.urepared iGp YOU from the foundation Of me "D'. -
cause, when was hungry you gave ne 70 sas va
l"was thirsty you gave me 10 drink. "hsh : "a
naked YOU clothed me, when l was sck enl - =.
"ursop you visited me, and when wa ..fsnse,, 70 70
"took me IN Some OF those orphans arc Oel1'g y III
Of these institutions is in your sight some Of lys "a
ladies' devoted 10 charity who have chafge o i 4,
aso before YOU and ali these things egpeai hat
vour hearts not only for temporary osierns
also for permanent id The body Of ne charis9s -, :,
NAV crufnble into dust but his soul VIII .in2 - IN
the bosom Of the God Of the widow ana .. Plan. :. 20
ocnelrie In the words of St. Augustine Uise VIZ" o..
acanpot retain and receive what you cannot ioo, -
portion of your substance in ms lIe anu 80 re
areturn crown OF immortal gicry wsss 1.h;S WI q,
/ amotb, which robbers cannot Lsy noA Vi' aA'1 -
+ man viii be able to take away Tomyoa
cupIsTuAs AT ROME, AND ROME Al
! CHRISfMAs-
I DY THE REV J. z. TBOAPsoN . ..