The New York herald., 1872-12-23
BEDFORD AVENUE REFORMED CHURCH

Christmas Sermon by Rev. DIR. Porter.
Yesterday morning Rev. L. s. Porter, d. D., pas
tor OF the Bedford Avenue Reformed churcn,
preached an appropriate discourse anticipatory OF
the approaching anniversary OF the Advent Of the
Saviour OF mankind, taking for his text the M
teenth verse OF the ninth chapter OF Second Co.
rinthians-"Thanks be unto God for his unspeak-
able gift"
He said that at this period of the year Christian
izcd people devoted themselves exclusively to the
business OF making each other happy. By words
OF cheerful hope and deeds Of generous love the
world revived the memories OF Bethlehem In tho
Christmas joys which 1t sought to confer. 1t was
the week Of the advent Of Jesus, who came to our
poor suffering and sorrowing world to make It
glad The Christmas glow might not warm the
Winters noontde, nor melt the white frost on the
window pane, nor stop the uproar OF the rustling
winds, but it did put Summer into human hearts.
1t did bring the afrections Of the
OLD AND YOUNG,
OF the rich and the poor into such close relation
ship that the Advent week was, indeed, partial
paradise on earth, as II to show men that heaven
is love, and only loving hearts can ever ind there
q congcnial home. There the love Of God, and
that only, would be the fountain Of pleasures ever
more, and the "unspeakabe gift" would become
an everlasting portion. There were many to
whom Christmas was but day OF festive pastime-
only given over to oS ne and n o into All wno
tiousness and transformed an intended blessing
into positive injury they used used the day to in
and found their pleasures as they degraded them
selves. Others hailed the day chiefly as one OF
the religious festivals on the calendar, and tho
day to them fulfilled It's mission by the per-
formance of wearisome rites. There were. others
who hailed the return OF Christmas as the signal
walton Of friendly feelings and the gladdenfng or
the home circle by cheerful merry-making. They
ness ness and sympathy there night be m them. They
bestowed gifts costly or otherwise, which were
SYMBOLS OF FRIENDSHIP,
and in this they were family copying the example
OF Jesus christ who, though He was rich became
na we through M bsTS ts might ign be made
and churls To 60 through any day without
word OF Kindness or smile OF encouragement
man or woman; but to get through week that
was ringing with angel melodies, when the very
disc Of God, in narrow, cold, selfish exclusveness
must be hard for any one wishing to be self
respectful or to participate IN % the JOYS Of % our
brought tears from eyes unused TO weep and
poured stray sunbeam into natures that lived in
II commended itself TO our acceptance mainly as
glad tidings for poor the and needy. II is a life
n to
science and life force. One might know next to
SCIENCE OF CHEMISTRY,
and yet the food which he takes contributes by its
properly constituted. elements to support his ami
mai life He lives on the life force, which is more
than science The evidences OF Christianity were
to be seen in every institution intended for the re-
evidences were not IN books which wise men
had written, but were In the amelorations
that had been wrought by the spirit OF Christ,
as that spirit had trodden through the centuries.
The results OF the benencent influences or the life
force OF the gospel In aeviating sorrow and in
reconstructing human beings into the likeness Of
CONTINUED ON NINTH PAGE