The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-12-27

here used comprehensively of the whole
man. 1t iacludcs the whole nature-soul
and body" for in all things it beloved
Him to be made like unto His own" He
had a human body, aud was therefore able
"to bear our sicknesses." He had hu-
man soul, and was therefore able "to car
~ our sorrows."
3. The Union Of Tie tro Natures in One
Person." The word was made flesh, and
dwclt among US )" "perfect God and per-
feet man, equal to the Father
as touching His Godhead, and inferior to
the Father as touching His manhood"
i The effect of this union Is to
make God known to men. All our
knowledge of God without reve-
lation must be derived from His
works. And yet to race of sinners whose
moral and intellectual faculties are blinded
by sin, how little is known of God in the
greatest and the noblest Of His works.
That which is finite and limited cannot set
forth that which is infinite and eternal. We
cannot read His faithfulness and truth in
the stars of Heaven, or in the flowers of the
field. Even His wisdom, and power, and
love are but family displayed to the car
\ nal mind in the works Of creation, and
providence. Hence, therefore, since God, !,
invisible as to His essence, can become
visible as to His attributes only through
some manifestation not found in His works,
"the Word was made flesh and dwelt
among u.s." and in Him We see God i'm
aged with the most thorough fidelity. He
has embodied the divine attributes in a
human form, and taught US the divine
character in His own life and actions.
awe have the light of the knowledge of
. the glory Of God in the face of Jesus
Christ"
Man has always felt the need Of q more
full and complete representation of God
than could be found in His works. \
The worship of images is but the effor, of
nature "to feel after God and to find Him."
The strong tendency TO idolatry in all ages
can be accounted for on no other princi-
pie. How soon did idolatry oversprcad
the earth after the fall and again after the
deluge! The history of the Jews is but
the record of continual struggle between
pure Theism, supported by the most terri
BILE sanctions on the one hand, and the
strangely facinating desire to have some
visible, tangible object of alteration on the
other, -*-* A philosopher might ad-
mire so noble conception as that of o
great Infinite Spirit, but the crowd turn ed
away in disgust from words which present
ed no imaqe to the mind. 1t was before
Deity embodied in human form, walking
among men, sharing their sorrows, leaning
on their bosoms, weeping over their graves,
bleeding on the cross, that idolatry with
its images fell PROSTATE in the dust.
And were it not that "the Word was
made flesh" we should this day, my breth-
ren, have been bowing down before beasts
and reptiles, and images of wood and stone,
instead of walking in the light of the
Lord" and "rejoicing in the hope Of the
glory of Cod" Oh, you have only to
think what q change would pass upon our
race had God left us to our guilt and our
wretchedneSs. Ignorant of God, and only
guessing at our own Immortality, we
should have been as mariners tossed on
wide ocean, and under tempoStuouS SKY.
Without chart or 4 compass TO direct our
way, we should have been strangers to that
blessed hope which gives to life its
best relish and takes from death its terror
and its sting.
To conclude: "Whcn the Word was
made flesh " the two extremes Of moral
and intelligent beng-God and man-were
united in one and the same person. The
highest and the lowest links in the scale OF
intelligent creation, embracing all inter-
mediate orders and ranks of being, we're
gathered up in one mystic circle OF
life and bliss. "Of Him the whole
family in heaven and earth is named"
The different members Of this family
angels and mcn-once separated by sin but
now retnited and made one in Christ Jesus,
derive a common dignity from their ma
tual relation to Him,
Angels, and living saints, and dead
But one communion make;
All ioin in Christ, their living head,
And of His love partake.
Again, when "the Word was made flesh"
what an honor was done 10 man The
Creator and Lord of all is our brother,
sand is not ashamed to call us brethren"
The great object Of His coming was to
make us the sons of God. And If the Son
of God became the son of man, " shall 1t
be thought thing incredible with us y
that the sons of men should become the
sons of GodY Behold what manner OF
love the Father hath bestowed upon US,
that we should be called the sons of God ~
Beloved, nOlr are we the sons OF God, and
it doth not yet appear what we shall be,
but we know that when He shall appear we
shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as
He is" And what shall we render unto
the Lord for all these benefits
Say, shall we yield Him, in costly devotion,
Odors of Edom and offerings divine,
Gems of the mountain or pearls of the ocean,
Myrrh from the forest, or gold from ths
mine7
yainly we offer each ample oblatioD,
Tainly with gifts would His favor secure;
Richer by far is the hearts alteration,
Dearer 10 God are the prayers OF the poor
81. James. - The decorations at thi.
church were appropriate and tasteful. The
galleries were festooned, as also were the
chancel ratings, while the pulpit and
chancel were dressed beautifully ana with
great taste. Mr.. Peterkin took his text
from the 9th chapter Of Isaiah, and por-
ton of the 9th verse "f and the
government shall be upon his shoulders
The following are the heads OF his sermon
According to all the predictions OF the
Bible, the promised Messiah was to III
three otiices-to accomplish these great
obiects-yiz: to teach, to suffer, and to
rule.
He has taught-TIis moral code is com,
plete. No human system Of moral philo.
sophy can supercede 1t.
He has suffered also. His own lips ut
tered the words, ait is finished"
, His atonement has been made. There
remaineth no more sacrifice for sin, TOR by
one offering He hath perfected forever
them that are sanctlhed.
He has also ruled, and is ruling millions