The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1866-12-27
Christmas I'm the Churches.

ST. PAUL's, (PRoTESTANT EPIsco-
PAL.)-The congregation of this
church observed the Christmas ami
versary with the celebration of the
Holy Communion, and a sermon by
the Rector, Rev. I'll. w. SPALD1NG,
from which we make liberal extracts.
The text was from St. Luke, II;
10 and H.
Behold I bring you good ,tidings of
great joy, iohich shall be TO all people,
for unto you this dag is born In The
city Of David a Saviour solsich IS Christ
the Lord. .--.-....-ss....z.---,-.
IF the angels of God filled the
skies of Judea with their bright
forms, and vocalized the night with
their anthems of joy; if they sent re-
yerberating through the arches OF
Heaven the heavy notes of praise,
one, m"a son born" one, :" a child
given" one, "a Redeemer's mission"
shall; those unto whom this son is
born" unto whom this child is given
shall the redeemed themselves be
wanting in strains of joy and graft
tude on this holy day? Surely, a race
thus saved must sound the note in re
Spouse to the angelic hymn ''Glory
to God in the highest, and on earth
peace, good will to men"-the first
Christmas carol, where angels were
the choristers, salvation the theme,
and heaven and earth bowed down to
listen.
When the foundations of the
earth, and the measures thereof were
laid" when the line of Almighty
wisdom was stretched upon it; and
the corner stone thereof" placed by
the Divine fiat, to bear witness to the
ages, and count the cycles of time, is
it recorded that the morning stars
sang together, and all the sons of
God shouted for joy?p But what
shall measure, or express the joy that
shall welcome in the new creation, and
be inspired by the laying of this new
corner stonep In Zion? Is there Joy
In Heaven over one sinner that re-
penteth? But what must have been
the joy, and the note of joy that rose
upon the revelation of the Divine plan
whereby the repentance of many sin
ners might be made availing in the re-
demption of the world by Christ?
Indeed, the . morning stars" and
sons of Cod held high festival over
the birth of universe, but they sang
not a Christmas Hymn. Long CEN
turtles gave the prelude to the hymns
of Redemption. The first, note was
struck in theTi'promisep made to Adam
and Eve, the note that should vibrate
to the ages, and meet warm response
in the hearts of old patriarchs and
proud kings, and bold prophets Of the
Lord, who should embrace the prom
Uses, see Christs day and be glad; to
be embodied in the song of the angels
and borne on in the refrain of the
Catholic Church of God, in the ''Mer-
~ Christmas" of the christian heart,
and In the carols and hymns of JOY
that should usher in this holy season.
throughout all time. 3H1
Then with what more appropriate
theme for our meditations, brethren,
can we come to you to-day then with
the words of the heavenly messenger: !.
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 Davidla Saviour which is Christ
the Lord.nn For to-day we consider
the 1,complete ufulfillmentf1of the
rapt visions and deep inspirations of
the prophet. nsmi 99Ii 3ai e. 90 am1
The people that walkedin darkness have
seen great light: they that dwell in the
land Of the shadow Of death, upon them
Thou hast multiplied the nation, and not
increased the joy: they joy before thee ac-
cording to the JOY in harvest, and as men
rejoice whenthey divide the spoil. 9d1
For thou hast broken the yoke of his
burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the
rod Of his oppressor, as in the day of
indian. q4.fCdiur -f.f.1ii;f III
For every battle of the warrior Is with
confused noise, and garments rolled in
blood but this shall be with. burning and
For unto us child is born, unto us a son
is given; and the government shall be upon
his shoulder: and his name shall be called
Wonderful, Councillor, The mighty God,
The everlasting Father, The Prince OF
We consider this, the voice of over
$50 years before the prediction was
verified in the event, and this but one
among thousand stretching from
the time when Adam was cheered by
the promise of Him to come who
should bruise the serpents head, to
the close of the Old Testament canon.
400 years before Christ. Then in
the, more sure word of prophecy,
we have full assurance that we cele-
brate not to-day cunningly devised
fables. The faith, and prayers, and
rejoicings, and doctrines, and customs.
and usages, and bright examples
handed down to US from the Church
Catholic In all ages, conspire against
the thought that the reioicings Of this
hour are the offspring Of dark super
stition or idle fancy based upon fable
and falsehood. Nay, more, our very
natures protest against the idea-our
own consciousness of what we are
and need, and in this mighty and mys,
terious instance of Divine mercy, have
gained, calls forth the fervent "God
forbidl"2 We have Redeemer. He
&c horn to-day tHoma with tha