Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1870-12-29
RUTLAND.
Christmas Services,
BAPTIST CHURCH-


preached yesterday an interesting and
impressive discourse appropriate to the
Joyous event which the day commemorate
ed. He introduced bis subject with the
remark that he should depart from the
course, which has been common in select
ing theme for the occasion, of consider.
ing the prophecies which foretell the
coming of Christ, and which establish the
truth of his mission, and would invite the
attention of his hearers to the contempla-
ton Of the nature of Christ's mission as
the great light of the moral world.
The text was selected from Luke ii:32 {:
"a light to Tighten the Gentiles, and the
glory of thy people Israel"
These words were the prophet tic utter
ance of good old Simeon as he held the
infant Jesus in his arms. Through pro-
phetic vision he was enabled 70 see in this
newborn child the Savior of the world.
There is not more striking or interest
ing event recorded in all history than the
circumstance of this old man holding in
his withered hands the infant Savior, and
uttering the prophethic words of the text
There is peculiar appropriateness in
these words of Simeon as symbolizing the
mission of the coming Savior. AS the
light of the sun scatters the darkness of
night. so the light of the Son of Right
eousness dispelled the moral darkness and
the spiritual blindness that brooded over
the world on the advent of the Savior.
Light in all ages and in all lands has
been used to represent knowledge and
through the advent of Christ came the
knowledge of the way of life.
The prophets who foretold the coming
of Christ agree with the inspired Simeon
in representing him as the light of the
world. The preacher passed from the ex-
position of his text to consider the rea-
sons why Christ may be properly regarded
as the light of the moral world
lat. The moral aspect of the world All
the TINA of the advent of the Saw
Tor indicate that he come as a great
light The world at this time was in
volved in moral darkness and spiritual
torpitude. The previous age was but the
imperfect dawn of the great light which
was to succeed
Then there came brighter day The
sacrifice of the priesthood and the ordi-
nauoes enjoined by the ritualistic service,
dimly foresAadowed the coming Savior.
They showed that the justice of God
could not be satisfied and sin atoued for
without the shedding of blood We &C
back TO the ages preceding the advent OF
/ the Savior, and we find evidence of q
superior civilization and high degree Of
culture. Yet there was a strange blind
ness pervading the minds of men. Nor
ally they CROPPED in darkness. We even
find in Athens, the seat of learning and
refinement, temple dedicated to the sun.
known God" In this idolatry and moral
corruption of the world we find evidence
of the spiritual darkness shat prevailed in
the ages preceding the coming of Christ
There was avlack of that virtue and in.
tegrity that characterizes even the lowest
and most degraded communities at the
present day. Not only was the evidence
of corruption displayed in the temples
and paintings and literature of that age,
L.. - H. degrading an4 a.,r,.---t...--
forms of idolatry which were prevalent,
forms which shock the intelligence not
less than the moral sense of the present
thine.
Such was its. condition, such the moral
aspect of the world, at the advent Of
Christ; so that we may take the language
Of the prophetic Simeon as a correct and
striking representation of its moral con-
dition.
The preacher passed on to consider in
the second place, the fact and nature Of
the light emanating from Christ as the
Sun of Righteousness. John the Baptist
testified to the nature of Christ's mission
as light that should dawn upon the
world, and the evidence of the Savior's
works confirmed this testimony. After
performing many wonderful works he
sent his disciples unto John to declare to
him all that he had wrought, He sought
to convince by his works, and not by his
words alone. The Savior said as though
in so many words, If ye seek for evil
denee of the truth of my mission, look at
raised"
But added to the wonderful works
of Christ, was the remarkable influence of
His teachings bearing evidence that He
came as light into the world. We see
man of high station coming to Him at
night to testify to his faith in Him; and
we find that the common people thronged
to listen to the wonderful words that fell
from His lips. There was an attraction,
personal magnetism, which surrounded
Him that drew men unto Him. And so
| it has been ever since. The leaders of no
false systems of religion can compare
with the Savior, in this power of personal
attraction. The nature of Christ's teach
ings, and the characteristics of His life
may very appropriately be summed up in
the language of the Apostle Paul: "He
abolished death, and brought life and i'm
mortality to light through the gospel.
Sd. Our relations to the great light
emanating from Christ. AS the sun is
the great source of all light to the natur.
al world--the moon and stars shining on
ly by reflected light-so Christ is the
great center of light to the moral world ;
and we should be, if the expression may
be allowed, moons or stars to reflect his
glery. We are under great obligations of
gratitude and thanksgiving to God for
the gift of ouch moral light as we have
in Christ Were it not for this, we should
be to-day where the people were at the
coming of Christ, We should continually
open our hearts to the rays which emanate