Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-12-28

propnesled.
For unto us child is born, unto Us a son is
given: and the government shall be upon his
shoulders; and his me shall be called Wonder
full. Counsellor, The Mighty God, The Eyerlast-
ing Father, The Prince Of Peace"
The birth Of the Son of God was most humble
BE was laid in a manger. because there was no
room for them in the inn" The sacred historian
graphically describes his advent:
And there were in the same country shep-
herds abiding in the field, keeping watch over
their flock by night And lol the Angel OF the
Lord came upon them and the glory of the Lord
shone around about them; and they were sore
afraid And the angel said unto them. fear not.
for behold, bring you good tidings of great joy,
which shall be to all people For unto you IS
born this day. in the city of David, Savior.
which Is Christ the Lord And this shall be a
sign unto you. Ye shall find the babe wrapped
in swaddling clothes, lying in 2 manger- And
suddenly there was with the angel n multitude OF
heavenly host. praising God. and saying, Glory
to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good
will toward men,"
Such is the brief but eloquent record of Him
who is the cornerstone of the religious faith of
the Christian world and to day wherever then
of Christ is known His birth is commensurated
with the same JOY that the sheperds of Israel
hailed his advent.
Christmas is day of rejoicing and why? It
halls the birth of the Goldman whose principles,
practically illustrated, nculcate on earth "peace,
good will Inward rnaa."
IL Nc were Christians in deed rs well as in
theory and profession, this anniversary of the
birth of the Prince of Peace would not find a
Christian nation embroiled in contention in strife,
in war We shonld not witness the unnatural
spectacle Of the fathers hand being raised in
deadly struggle against the son and brother
against brother.
Is it possible that the followers of the Prince
of Peace. who taught his disciples to ''resist not
evil, but whatsoever shall smite the on thy right
cheek. turn to him the other also" can advocate
war, human butchery. as the only arbiter of the
nations dificulties-the only means of deter
mining the differences between men of the same
nation, the same blood and the same faithf If
so, the teachings of the founder of Christianity
are at fault His hand was never raised in deadly
strife and he neither entertained or taught any
sentiment but ION earth peace, good will toward
men" In his sermon on the Mount, he said
'blessed are the peacemakers. for they shall see
the kingdom of God"
In COMMUNICATING to-day the birth of the
Prince of Peace, the Savior upon whose birth and
death rest the only hope for the redemption OF
fallen human nature, let US not forget to illus
trate in all the relations Of life the principles
which he incucated. If we did so, not only wal
but all occasion for war would cease, and to day
there would be no mourning over the thousands
and tens of thousands of fathers, brothers and
sons who have fallen sacrifices to the demon oil
war, in the households where to day should be
light and happiness If we believed
in Christ and what the Bible teaches
was his mission upon earth, this
Christmas would not witness the terrible scenes
which the fell spirit of war has covered the land.
Shall another Christmas-the day upon which the
birth of the Prince of Peace is commemorated-
find the terrible civil war now desoating the land
continued7 God forbid. Ere then may all
be able to unite in the anthem. "Glory to God
in the highest, aud on earth peace. good will TO-
ward men"