Connecticut western news., 1878-12-25

the promise on the day 0! Pentecost, ana the successful ministry which follows. An application was then made to the present wants of the chuich. Al are not apostles. all are not minis; CTS, but God gives every Christian work to do, and to do 1t eff~c,- ually, we need the same preparation th' apostles had-the hapusm of fire.
 The subject for ntx. Sabbath morning will be ''Th, Birth of Christ" In the rv,- c, Insisting Ot singing and responsive Iead- iugs.
 AT CHRIST CHURCH.
 After morning prayer, at which the Rev, Mr. WhiItlesey assisted, the Rector preach ed from tbe gospel according to St. John, 3d chapter and 3nih verst. ''He must in crease tut must decrease" He sad tht career of John Baptist WAS sholt hut bis history full of stluction. Length ot lit and tulntss of history is no true test os in d. X of a man's Usef ulnt ss OT goodL ess. Tbls very brevi'y therefore and accompany ing iulness of instruction is sufficient Tea son for taking for the tt Xt to-day 1t" words spoken 6y the torelunner of oul Lord, as Inst Sunday prophecy concern ing him was chosen.
 The Advent season is closing. Christ mas is drawing near. The cry Ut the Baptist grows fainter as we retire from Bethany beyond Jordan, and go up towards Bethlehem. We almost begin to hear tbe first distant sounds of angel voices as they leave the portals of heaven to bear to earth the "Glad tidings ot great joy" From this day forward Christ demands our atteu- tion more and more. To-day the work ot preparation is about to end, the W oIk ot redemption is ready to begin. Tue words of the 1t Xt therefore express very suitably the spirit of the day. Christ must increase, John must decrease. John was the morn- ing star, Christ the Sun of Righteousness When the sun rises the Star seems to fade from view. So was it with Christ and John.
 If we were uttering such sentence upon ourselves, there would no Guubt, be some tlnge of sadness in ihe voice, but there WIS
 
 words. Rather by tb' n He expressed lhls fact: My work is done, my mission tul . flied, and 1 am coblent since God so wills it. Christ must carry out 10 perfection lhe work l am unable to oo. l could only pre- pare the way for Ills higher etf~rts. There Was no dccotion to se!f, tut of se!f to the Master. No thought of nvalIy to Christ ever entered the pure heart of John. Il would nave been as useless-naY. us dsas lrUus to his own claims as though the moon should se, k 10 rival the sun. By eciipsng the sun, the moon is deprived even of Der lesser light.
 What lessons then may we draw from these woids of John the Baptist and hIs spirit 0! humility as seen in th, ,ni2 First we must he wiling to decrease in order that Chiisl may il crease. St. Paul tells us to put if tue old man and to put on the new. That is, Let seif-the natural human self grow less, even to nothlngncss. Let Christ grow greater unnl he ahsorhs the whole man. 1ais is also meaut by "hte hjd with Christ ih God" This is our duty Cnrstw ard. Second, we learn a lesson ot duty to our neighbor manwald. When any one has doLe hls life work, has passed tine day of ust lulness; he must be willing to give place to another younger or strong CT or wiser, Who can culIy On the thing he has b, gun. Otherwise, progress will lt | stopped in the Wolld, aud eveu what W. l have 0one, bee one useless. The tounda- ton we have laid wli never have a building erected upon il, but only serve as mouu. tniGk a man, esp, Claily Uurs.Ivts, ipdis- ptnsable ip lhe world. IL IS not tue as q rule, tul God Ialsts up some cue to fil the vacant place, sDd complete the unfinished work. We all have special missions, but our work is part only of great whole That whole Is the lie Ot the ages and its story we call history. Fulf your part therefore. and do net spoil an otherwise useful life by ending it in spirit of envy in an att, mpt to rival or retard some one who Can carry on the worlds work better than you. II it ever bt tconats nt teessaly fol any of us to say with refert nce 10 some one else, ''He must Increase, Eu 1 must decrease let the spirit of him who frs, uttered tue words lule in our hearts. THE c NGRKGATIrNAL CHURCH.
 The visit of tue Magi Was the topic at EAst Canaan. WNo wtre the wise men What was the significance of their missiOl.i It was d marvellous attestation to the tx traoIdnary character of Christ's biIlh. It sh, light upon the character of Chris | Gospel. Tue shtpherds represented the Jews the wise men the genttles. It show. ed tue harm"ry between .,ature and K v- ela,ion. The star guided lh genties. and tbe ScnptuIes guided the Jews alike to | Bethlehem. It was wise men who sought the SAvom; they brought their best gifts; they showed great faith and great persever. ancr, and finding the ol j"ct of their search, r'joictd wi h exceeding great joy. R.ch, es. rank and leaning should tow to Christ. Christ is to be worshipptd, not Mary. The grand il quiry " th every sinful soul should hc: Where ie He that is born king of the Jews?
 Oh star of wonder, star of night. S,ar with royal beauty bright,
 Westward leading,
 | Still proctt ding,
 Guide us to the perfect light. ---