The semi-weekly mountain Democrat., 1860-12-25
CArIstmas.


clusters all that is bright and beautiful
end fadeless. It is the birth day Of the
most illustrious and glorious character
that ever condescended to tread the earth.
That character, so noble, SO magnificent
end divine, IL no other than the all-glori-
ous and sacred Saviour Of the world"
"In contemplating so magnificent .
character" to use the eloquent language
and rich and beautiful imagery Of DR..
John EOnand, which we give in preference
60 anything We could write, eve are at
Ices for language sufficiently elevated 10
DO Justice to his immortal fame. The
melting story Of our SaviOur's sufferings,
Of our Rcdcemer's wrongs in the prelude,
and cOnsummatiOn on Calvary, what hu-
man fancy may delineate, what human
lAngUsge described The brilliant history
Of that unrivalled character exhibits the
deepest traits Of human nature that are
recorded on the pages Of fame, or enrolled
In the archives Of ages. Whether we
behold him in the temple or tribunal, in
solitude or society, in pleasure or in pain,
be is the same grand and glorious charac-
ter, the same benevolent and blessed be.
ing. He was emphatically the child Of
humility. Born in manger, Graded in
Obscurity, and bred to human industry,
he was an example, striking model Of
retiring mOdesty. We survey him scorned,
scOurged and tramplcd upon, without
complaining, and almost without reproof
meek e. the lamb beneath the knife Of the
butcher. And yet he was n God, the
King Of kings, whose power was omnip-
OteOt, and whose knowledge was unbound
cd; who could have shaken the throne
and dsrkened the destiny Of even the
tyFaMt that condemned him.
~Neither the TalInud nor the Koran,
nor any other doctrine ever promulgated
BY the mouth Of man, is SO replete in
mildOess and mercy, 50 full of grandeur
and glory, Of sublimity and song, as that
which our Lord and Saviour gave to .
dying world. The saint and the savage,
the philosopher and the fool, alike have
felt its influence and testified to the supe.
TiOr sentiments and living language which
it containS. Its influence, what telescope
eye can Ioresee, what human intelligence
Gecapitulate From that great and
gloomy though glorious era, when the
Saviour came to redeem q fallen world, it
he's Swayed the minds Of men, and its in.
Aue0ce will continue over millions Of men
unborn. The cold and treacherous assas-
siO, % he stole a. midnight to the couch
Of sleeping innocence, hath felt its power
when the undipped dagger fell from his
conscience stricken hand, and the savage
tOmahawk has found grave, by the &C.
cret and mysterious influence of its god
like power. It hath biddcn the stream Of
charity TO flow from the closed and with.
sred heart Of avarice, and it hath released
the grip Of oppression from the pale and
piteOus form Of penury. Yea, it hath
even soitcned the adamantine heart Of the
tyrAnt, and severed the chains which rat
lied on the arms Of the guiltlcss sons Of
Africa. The pale and penSive suicide
hath called upon It for aid, ere he lifted
the weapon to the tottering throne Of
reason, nor did he call in vain beneath
The influence Of its present balm, and
promised bliss, the troubled sea Of pas.
siOn subsidized, and the wrecks Of diSap-
pointed hopes broke with the next wave,
On the shore Of oblivion. Who hath not
seen the condemned, the out cast Of the
earth, whose hands we're still rceking
with the gore Of his fellow man, chained
IN the deep dark dungeon ? And who
hath not seen that dungeon become the
bappiest homo that had ever held that
Wrrtch, by the influence Of the gospel,
making his heart heaven, and casting .
sunshine even on the hour Of dreadful dis.
solutiOnf Who, then, but demon would
Sigh 10 See 90 glorious gift cut off from
the reach Of mani Lives there . wretch
who would wish to see the splendid sun
Of redemption 60 down forever in the
eternal night Of iNtidelityr Ay, what
nan, even friend to society, would smile
10 zee the flimsy and ianciful philosophy
Of infdelity, triumph over the ruins Of the
superb system Of Christianity Until
something more sublime, something more
eoNSOling and cOOCiIiatory, can be substi
tatsd IN the place Of the annihilating phi.
IOsOphy Of in6delity, let the ancient and
venerable temple Of Christianity still
tower over the fallen pyramids of pagan
superstition, the safeguard Of morals and
the haFbiOger Of hope and happiness
hereafter.
"OtheF characters have arisen, -four.
Sshed, and fallen-other conquerors have
shaken the world with the tumult Of their
triumpha, and daS1led the imaginations
Otmen with the brilliancy of their achiev.
~snts. and the rapidity Of their career
ether patriots have severed the chains
and dispelled the Gothic darkness Of
slavery, entered the temple Of fame and
recorded the freedom Of q nation; but