The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-12-23
CHICKERING HALL.
cHRIsTMAsTIDE THoUGHTs-sERMoN ny REV.
SAMUEL COLCoRD.

CHhISTMASTIDE THOUGHTS-SERMON BY REV.
SAMUEL coLCoRD.
Chickering Hall well filled yesterday afternoon
to listen 10 the Rev. Samuel Colcord preach on
.Christmastide Thoughts" The text taken
from Matthew. H.. 2-"Saying, Where is be that
is born King of the Jews for have seen
his star in the east and are come to wor-
ship him.. This is an inquiry. said the preacher.
that has been made by truth seeking of
all nations and at all times. They have looked to
the to seek the truth and the light They have
all like the shepherds who followed the and
finally to the stable in Bethlehem, in Judca to
find in manger the born King of the Jews.
1t is pregnant thought that the born King first
saw light in stable because there was no room
for him in the inns at Bethlehem. The rich
who had come to Bethlehem found room ut the
inns; the well-to-do Jews also found place i'll the
comfortable caravansaries but for the poor Mary
and her husband there was ROOM so the saviour of
mankind was born in stable dedicated to the CON-
fort OF beasts of burden In this the most eloquent
incident the life of Jesus Christ we find
deep Significance. He came to the world and
it knew Him not; in fact it seemed though He had
come where there was no rooIa for Him. Dear
friends. learn from the story of the nativity that
Jesus Christ came earth for the common people.
His mission was to the lowly and the depressed:
Had He for the proud and rich His father would
have ordained different place for Him to be
born in. But it not to be SO. for
His mission was TO the poor and common people In
His later life he was accused OF entertaining sinners
which shows us that before He came these people
ostracized and considered unfit to
ciate with. Besides preaching His gospel OF
mercy to the fallen, Jesus had to instruct
those who considered themselves righteous.
that they might know that He came to
lift up the degraded and cleanse sinners. For Him
none too low; He withheld not his healing
touch from the leper; He babe the Magdalen hope;
He made the blind to see, the deaf to hear,
and downtrodden humanity first saw a ray
of hope through His divine ministries. The
outcome of His teaching has been the elevation
of the human Men have been made more
charitable TO their fellows and to-day the very world
is dotted here and there, its whole surface with
churches and institutions for the amelioration Of
suffering and the reformation of the misguided
Have you made Jesus King over your hearts? Does
He reign in glory your souls and do you feel the
benign influence of His holy presence? Have
you opened your minds to the tender influences
He inspiresy Have your hands been extended in
charity to the needy Has any one been made hap
pier better through your influence Have you
given to any one brighter glimpse OF this and the
life to come :? Lastly and covering all questions,
have you yourself benefited by the noble example
He set mankind, ard have you honestly endeavored
by copying it to be better men and women Think
these questions at this time enter into the
spirit of the and you will be elevated and
nobled.