The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1857-01-02
CHRISTMAS.
BY J. GIERLow.

I
clearly supposes that in the councils
of heaven there was no way for men
to become the sons of God, but by
that God himself should become the
Son Of man-that the eternal Son,
the world and the wisdom of God,
should take upon Him one nature
and be made man. The very reason
of this is, not merely that our ma
tural facilities had to be acted on in
a new way and by special influences,
but that there must be an addition to
our nature Of something greater and
better than itself. And our nature,
the nature common to us all, being
thus redeemed and saved by its union
with the Divine in the second Per-
son of the Trinity, is the well-spring
and original cause of redemption and
salvation to the persons of men. So
that His glorifed humanity is the
source and principle of saving grace
and efficacy to as many as by the
methods of His appointing, are en-
grated into Him; it is through His
partition of their human nature that
they are made partakers Of His Di-
vine nature: He is the vine, they are
the branches; they have no life in
themselves; the current and circula-
ton of life is all from Him into them,
and proceeds by their vital inherit
ance in Him. Salvation, therefore,
comes to us, not so much in virtue
Of what he has said and done, or suf.
fered, as in virtue of what He is; it
flows rather from His Person as God
and man, than from any event that
befel Him as man. His Office as our
Savior and Redeemer stands not so
much in any work. wrought for us or
in our stead, as in the work wrought
in us, clothing and enriching our
perishable nature with superadditions
of God, as the germ and principle Of
a supernatural and Divine life, and
of celestial and eternal felicity. In
Him alone, as an original fountain of
life, resides the strength that is to
carry our nature through all the con-
ditions of its mortal state, seed of
immortality going with it through
the dark chambers of. corruption,
and rescuing it from the embraces of
death.
The Incarnation, therefore, is the
very centre of Christianity as sac
ramental religion. Here it is that all
its sacramento powers and efficacies
are concentrated. This is the original
and perfect embodiment and epipha-
ny of the sacramental principle
This is the one root whence grows
and proceeds its whole supernatural
character and effect, whatsoever dis
tinguishes its provisions from the
teachings of natural religion. Upon
this rock, this eternal and inexpung-
able basis, the Church Of Christ with
all it's sacramental ordinances and in
situations is built; from this principle
they all derive their life, meaning
and efficacy; they have Incorporation,
force or virtue but from this is as
the cause: this has no regular pro-
cess or operation but by them as the
means. '-' $50
Thus we may in some measure
conceive why the Incarnation should
be the source and argument of so
much joy to the angels. in heaven,
and Of so great and glorious hope to
men on earth. 1t was the Inaugural
ton of life and immortality to man;
in it was contained the principle Of
mans redemption and salvation from
the sower Of sin and death. Seeing
it in its true and proper significance,
all created beings in heaven and on
earth could not choose but break
forth into thanksgiving and songs of
gladness. This it is that makes our
sweet CHRISTMAS the day of all the
year the best. And therefore it is
that the Church celebrates the return
of this day with her best signifca-
tons Of love and delight, aceumulat-
ing into their highest expressiveness
whatsoever motives and circumstances
of solemn cheerfulness lie within her
reach that so our hearts may sing
themselves into an image and rehec-
ton of our holy and beautiful reli-
oion