The New York herald., 1876-12-25
TRE CRIB Al BETHLEHEM.
Yesterdays Sermons on the Child
Christ's Coming.
A STAR IN THE. EAST.
The Temples Of God Made Beautiful
with Evergreens.
WHAT Is THE LIVING CHRIST !
Why the Songs OF The Angels We're Heard
by the Shepherds.
WHAT Is THE LIVING CHRIST |!
A WREATH OF CHRIS TMAS PRAISES.
FIFTH AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH.

BABE OF THE MANGER.
AT tho Fifth avenue Baptist church, Forty y-six;h
street, Fifth avenue, yesterday morning, the
Rev DR.. Armitage preached .'Thc Babe OF the Man
GER the text being Luxe, H., ID Alter examining the
mystery OF the human birth and the Joy OF Christmas
tide, DR.. Armitage said:.
1t well becomes now to look at this 'sbabc In the
manEer' and ask ourselves, Who IS HcY Surely one
VINO could create such duties as have set before
you, anu move tue heart by every healthy incentive
10 discharge them, must be a divine child. The birth
OF an OBSCURE infant, IN nn obscure province Of the
world, who has filled all the ages with lum
elects and wno has created new civilization among
the powerful nations the earth. sharply cut.
ting oil all that is modern IRON all that was an
Gent, cannot be that Of an ordinary peasant child
Nearly two thousand years have passed since tbut
infant was born, ana yet, under the loest thoughts
and deepest feelings, the and adoring
rheeriuness OF The advent morning is transferred 10
this, as the whole race OF man. IN all its sweetness
beauty and splendor had been hidden in HIS bosom
and were living there still Since the hour Of that
huspcious birth every newborn babe OF Adams race
have preserved It's freshness by HIS
young pulse In Him the old creation and the new
meet. All that Is true and innocent and young both
Ha incnrnates into The human. Since He lay
That manger almost all things the world
not cnansed, il is only where tho power @ ., fns H,s
birth has not touched them. While the angels were
chanting the carol, Rome, the IRON despol, held
large portion OF this globe under her spell oi pagan
idolatry her government beng one OF mastery and
force. her manGates yipg hthcr and thther entirely
ignorant OF the baby hand which centuries was
10 crumbe the power of her edics and to her
cruel Coliseum INTO tempe for imseli. On that
natal day Druidsm absolute in Gaul and Britain
aud while the innocent victims OF Hcrod's wrath were
Nalng at Betbie the dark aitars Stoncheure
were quivering with human victims The black forests
Of Germany were tenanied by wild barbarian hordes,
rnsaved by the cruelest supcrstiiions Horrible rites
we're prevailing at that time IN undiscovered Mexico
aud savases peoped the New World throughout In
This savagery OF fearful sacrifice Ihe world knew
what was taking place IN that manger. But the birth
OF this tiny child has altered the condition OF MANKIND
The old gods OF Greece Rome Gaul, Britain Germany
Mexico and America have passed away like spectrcs,
and where that thraidon existed little child
leads the nations by bcnignant chain OF
love into potent freedom. When looks
~ tho wondrous conques,s achieved by this
babe IN 1000 years we can forgive the enthusiasm OF
bhe young Partisan who lost his balance. One of the
post eloquent OF French preachers dcscanting In
0ass rhapsody the Christ before 1000 people
j. Notre Dame, when the youth sprang his feet and
kilh a stcntorian voice demanded .three cheers Tor
1,sus Christi That was piece of rough earncstness
but II only specimen OF what Christendom bears
upon its heart to-day and will express at every resde
10 omorrow. For how can we keep the birthday with
Joy without iccing transport Tor the child born9
Wnle He IS stu present with us al the
festival s.ill turning the into VINE,
cannot be loyal without the gilt of love and the
hymn OF enthusiastic praise. Neither does the cele-
bration belong one people, bu' TO all ''peope and
kindred and tongues and especially may all the
young keep the chIdren's festival. To this end
Will tell the story 10 our children at the hreside by
procalmng that their elder brother is born. He is
your chd's brother by blood, perfect IN His tender
ness sympathy, lowliness and sanctity These arc
tho natural bonds which tie Him 10 them Tho
babe III tho manger is our knsmap In Him you meet
q humaEizing oil God ana deiiyng OF man. His name
Is Jesus a name OF love nefablc The worry name pro-
nounced by the angel, .'Ihough shalt call His name
Jesus for lie shall His people from their SINS"
calls mp vision Of beauty, majesty aud brightness.
The name chosen In heaven before 1t pro-
nounced at the manser Such names are realities
they speak OF persons. This name thrills through
you a consciousness that His counenance is radiant
IL opens character 10 you and feature together. 1t
kindles your sympathes and awakcns your affections
and makes you cling TO ''the Son given" You under-
stand what Bernard meant when he said that
The OF Jesus rs honey tho mouth,
melody IN the ear and medicine to the
sou.o Who wonder that children who have
yet dawDcd into early manhood sometimes OF
pge Ike among men in their strength and uness
D love 10 the "babe IN the mangeryn they have
pteh practised sclf-denial and ndexbie discipline
Rmsgtyng, In personal conservation and in suffering
Tor HIS sake. History tells of children suffering
martyrdom from love to Christ al the age OF four
deep inward when lies beyond this wori's
ken that calm and unmovoI coeciedness which alone
give birth 10 enthusiasm Ii Is just GOD clothing
himself once more human nature. By babe and
sucking the ancient God has 9 protected praisen BY
lhe mouth OF babe and sucking the omapotcnt
God has sted " the enemy ana the avenser' nav. out
OF the mouth OF babe and sucking, taken from
mapgcr lie has 'sOrdalned the streugth by which He
stills them. since Jesus lay the mahgcr, and Jesus
put little child INTO the midst OF HIS disciples, the
centre attraction the aposeship itself, the
world has learned that there Is more OF God in tho
owing prattle which attests HIS love Tor Christ
han Ia all the subtle pretensions of Pharisee and
Icrbe the wide world round Then make your children
happy tomorrow redeemed children. Show them
that you free gts.as the Babe In the mangcr
freely gave Himself, and seek out the poor hatess
Bhoeless boys and girls, with their keen-edged appe
lite and exposed limbs, to make them blessed. Dot
10 them ana you do II 10 the Babe in the manger
This is the best way to take the babe OF
nanger aud give Him warmer cradle, through HIS
own little ones heart OF hearts. Accept your
PASTORS heartfelt wish that each OF you may have
merry, merry, nay thrice merry Christmas