The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-12-25
SERVICES YESTERDAY.

Sermon by DIR. Chaplin tho Birth Of
t. Our saviour.
AT Dr. Chapin's yesterday, owing to the storm, tho
attendance not large. Tho text selected by the
reverend gentleman was Luke it,, 11-'For unto you
Is born this day, tn the city OF David Saviour who is
Christ the Lord" To-day stand upon the threshold
ofthat sacred season which communicates the joyful
and great announced in the h Of secondary
Importance said he that arc uncertain ~ TO tho
time whsnthu Saviour was born 1t Is quits probable
that wss not in winter time whom tho grand chorus OF
the angels broke upon tho night air. But this very
uncertainty suggests fact which may especially
considerable fact that tho transcends all its
terna conditions 1t is not the tme It is the
but the ovcnt itself We may contemplate the advent Of
Christ as presenting at least thrccfold aspect may
e. iarhsr and say that there arc three advents Of
third historical. lie then went on to show that
Their. could be no doubt OF tho fact OF the per-
sonal sdvcn, OF Christ This event, recorded
in the gospels, ID necessary 10 explain the
results that followed Him. The advent Of Christ Is do
mandrd a. II was demanded by human need II find no
capacity of man which has not something answering TO
tho desire which has not something 70 satisfy il.
find in man strong desire to burst the bonds Of flesh
and cannot for moment believe that the
stons Of God confined to tho jews and from them
have como to the Christans that that vast Of
WAS entirely neglected OF God To tho Greek, for in
stance, was the mission OF truth and beauty TO the
Roman, tho mission OF law and civil organization But
recognize above all the mission TO tbs Jew receive
and hold IL tho idea Of Que God. But n the vail had
tho whole earth and the truth flashed upon all
that thero Is only God what good would this have
done had not another mingled with ir For men dlmly
sounding the way Of their spcculations Of nature
have arrived at the conclusion that there was God
many Of the hcathcns did BIT man needed Saviour,
mol merely teacher He needed help. He was over
whelmed by the power OF his evils Man
wanttd Saviour to lift him up out OF
his sins, and pluck HIM from the bond
age OF las inquty VIC recognize and celebrate at this
tho personal coming oil Christ But Is quite
important TO experience and recognize another ad
vent which We may call Tsp ritual advent This nd
vent takes place In our souls. When Ilis truth
takes POSSESSION OF minds, when His law supreme
n our spirits, when His Divine life and love 1.-Two in
all our hcirts-whcn have felt this then tho pro
clanaion may come 20 individually-"unto you Ii
born this day Saviour, which Christ the Lord" Ho
then spoke Of the historical advent Christ In
tho dcy cioplcnts OF the ages he whom Christi
anity was recognized tho religion OF tho Roman
church wherever right wherever truth. wherever good
triumph, there are manifestations and indications
Of the triumph Of Christianity and OF the coming Of
Christ. Christ has come national Affections lie
Inns through the darkness and thick smoke OF
civil Christ has in the jubilee touc that says
every chain has been ooscd and makes the Pacific
murmur the Atlantic, peace earth and good will
70 men lie closed by exhorins his hearers b, sin
core In their worship and la their rejoicing not 70 forget
charity.