Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-12-20

the law of His kingdom as lie declared it,
and IL was to become supreme aud universal
on the earth. But to-day the old Oriental
nations near 10 the scenes where Christianity
had its advent and early triumphs are rest
ing only for moment from horrible inter
necne strife. with every probability that the
conflict is to be renewed on a far wider and
grander scale, sweeping into its horrible vor-
tex some Of the foremost nations of Europe.
And the remotest occidental nation occupy
ing a continent that was populated with
savages and wild beasts when the Redeemer
was born, but is now filled with the fruits of
industry aud civilization, is troubled with
internal distress and perplexity growing out
of the disregard of those primal principles Of
righteousness on which the safety of states
as well as individuals ultimately depends.
There is a wide difference between the ad-
vent of the Son of God into this world in
the humble guise Of the incarnation of Beth
lehem, and the advent of the same divine
person and power into the heart of an indi
vidual or of nation, as the ruling principle
and sovereign of life. The former is mere
outward event, full of grandeur and mys-
terry, worthy of the divine conception and
character, necessary also TO prepare for the
latter; but no one can doubt that the birth
of the Son Of God into the heart of man,
into life of the family or nation, is an event
still grander and more mysterious, fraught
with mighty results upon the history of the
individual and Of society. For the real and
potential birth of Christ is not into the hum
BILE abode of Nazareth or the manger of
Bethlehem, sublime as that theophany is,
but it is into the spirit and purpose of the
men of our race. II is into the brain and
heart of living men and women. Christian
ity may be thing utterly exterior to our
principles and ideas and lives, or it may be
power of life imbedded deepin our hearts ;
directing our thoughts, moding our purposes
and controlling our characters. If the birth
OF the personal Christ into the world is a
matter of universal celebration as an histor-
ical fact, it would seem as if the true and
vital Christmas was the advent Of the spirit
ual energy of His personal life into the hab-
it's ideas and principles of men. That were
a birth of higher sort and of which the
historical advent was merely anticipatory.
There is wide difference between the birth
of Aristotle, and the advent of that mental
philosophy which he first taught, and which
has ruled the thoughts of men in all the gen
erations since, and which like the theory Of
the circulation of the blood, or the law Of
gravitation, can never be superseded by
later discoveries. The birth OF Shakespeare
was one thing, and the entering of the great
poet into the thought and life of the world,
is quite another thing. And the true cele-
bration Of such an event as the historical
advent of person cannot be made, when
there is an utter ignorance or disregard of
the very truths and ideas which alone make
it worthy to be celebrated.
II would be worthy celebration OF Christ
mas this year, for our own people to revert
to the few practical principles which lie at
the basis of Christianity. The stability and
permanence of the nation depend on the adj
unyielding aud violent adherence to sup
posed rights is not law of Christianity.
Its code most strictly repels any such prin-
ciple in the conduct Of personal or political
affairs. Its teaching is that it is better to
lose what belongs to us than to gain unjustly
what is not ours, to give our cloak TO the
man who would fraudulently take away our
coat 1t is very simple and practical rule
TO submit to wrong rather than TO do wrong
TO sacrifice personal or party or political
ends rather than secure them at the cost Of
righteousness. Nearly all the strifes of his
tory, the bloody warfares of rival states and
rulers, have come from the disregard OF this
simple rule The arrogant assertion Of per
sonal or political rights lies at the root OF
most Of the wars of Christendom. 1t is this
self-assertion that has constructed all human
implements of destruction and put them tc
desolating uses. II is this has forged tn,
sword, the spear the rihed cannon, ant
ploughed the fields of industry with cannon
balls, and made them red with the blood o.
men. The birth of that unselhsh affection
into the hearts of men, Of which Christ wa
the incarnation, would be the best conceiv
able Christmas If Christianity should now
at the recurrence Of this festival, lay it
warm grasp on the hearts of men, rob then
o. their selfassertion, their arrogant pur
poses, their determination TO rule or ruin, t,
grasp political power at any cost of right o
any hazard Of national interests, and pro
duce in them some of the sentiments of tina
kingdom of which Christ was the Head an,
Of whose sublime laws lie was the revealer
then our nation, instead of listening at thi
time, to the harsh heralding screams of pc
litical yutures, would be giving ear 10 tn
angelic voices which rang through tn,
heavens at the birth of Christ.
And then, what angels of peace aud low
would sing in the hearts and homes Of GU
land at this Festival il only there were al
advent into them Of the real Christ Tn
legend Of the Christ-child is beautiful an
significant. II is the child-power that rule
this world. 1t is the power which the chill
evokes and commands that is noblest am
best the power which innocence and hell
lessness summon TO their relief the powe
which dependence charms to its aid tn
power which ignorance calls to its instruC
tom the power which weakness nvokes /
its suecor. 1t is the child that awakens an
cultures the great Self-denying and victoriou
powers of sympathy and love. Men Great
rivalry and antagonism in each others pre-,
ence. Their eyes are watcLful and fierc
and full of blood. But the child lays hi
hand on the name of the lion and the hea
Of the tiger and leadeth them whthersoevc
he will. In the presence Of the child III
strong passions of matured hearts are for
moment silent and hushed. And becaus
Christmas is the celebration of the birth c
the Wonderful Child, and the Child-Chris
is then remembered in all our homes-thS
Child who had no home and no place to la
Ills head--it calls forth, more than an
other, the gifts and offerings Of love an
kindness 10 children. And 80 it is PECULIAR
the children's festival, in memory Of til
child Of Mary. That advent lays its han
nm rVorv child II ,n.las avarv cb;Il a.