The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1878-12-26
Christmas,

lions on Christmas offered by Mr.. Moody, in
Baltimore, las. week. We do this, that our
readers may be in some degree impressed
with the dignity OF this festive season, and
the nature of the rejoicings it celebration
should inspire. 1t is not amiss that the Sec
ular press should thus employ its columns,
for it is one of the agencies, il properly con-
trolled, which contribute to the elevation of
the tone of society and the observance of
those precepts in life which should regulate
the order and organism OF the social COM
pact To our mind, indeed, the secular
press has been rcmiss in duty in the dis
semination Of healthy Christian teaching.-
The splendid eratory Of Ingersoll, prostituted
to the incubation Of the most dangerous
heresies, fills the columns of many OF the
dailies and isread with morbid avidity by
inquiring minds, and it is we'll enough that
occasionally, at least, an antidote be offered
to the poison that is thus infused into the
public understanding.
We do not apprehend any lasting injury
to be inflicted upon society by the scoffings
and Recommendations OF 1ngersoll, for he is
merely repeating what has been SAID in more
imposing and lncisiye form by Voltaire,
Rosscau, Hume and Paine, whose teachings
have long since exposed them to the ridcule
Of the civilized world. His assaults upon the
Bible and its Diyine Inspiration his ridicule
of God and Christ as mythical creations, and
the religion of the Cross rs story of fic-
ton, will very little disturb the faith OF
those who accept the Word as the Book OF
Life, and its mysteries as the evidence of its
Divine authorship. Could we understand
the plans and purposes of God, and re-
concile them to human reason, we could not
accept them as of Divine origin, nor rever-
ence the infinite wisdom which devised the
great scheme of mans redemption. Inf
deity has assailed the Bible in all the forms
that the ingenuity Of intellect could devise,
from time imm emorial, yet it stands out as
the accepted Word of the Supreme Being,
its teaching harmonizing with the aspirations
of the soul, and its precepts leading to the
attainment of the most beautiful symmetry
in moral character. even as it affects this
life. Blot out the Bible, dscredit the Story
Of the Cross and the influences they exert
| upon Society, and the whole social structure
would fall into moral chaos, and the Demon
of Discord reign where the sweetest inspi-
rations of Love hold domain.
1t is well for the general reader to think
over these things occasi onally-more partic-
ularly at this time, when universal Christen-
dom records its recognition Of the Messiah
and his microscopy relations tofallen man.
We therefore present the reflections of Mr..
Moody, as pertinent to this occasion, in the
hope that they may draw some one at least,
for the instant to rational contemplation of
what Christmas festivities should be and
what they teach.
After reading a large portion of the sec
ond chapter Of st. Luke, relative to the
birth Of Christ, Mr.. Moody went on to say
Why is it that we are all so glad and joyful
at Christmas time Why, the very men,
ton of it sets the children to smiling. Why,
there's little girl over there who's smiling
as if Christmas was the happiest thing in
the world. Well, it is. Do you know this
blowing of horns by the boys is quite new
to me, and l like it. | never heard it in
city before, but think it's happy custom.
They seem to be declaring the tidings of
great Joy, telling of the birth of one who
dearly loved little children. UNLESS We be-
come as one OF these you cannot enter
Heaven" l guess if the truth were known
more boys blow horns out OF pure joy and
love OF the Christmas time than they do be-
cause other boys do it. This Christmas tells
Of glorious news. 1t tells of Christ who
4 has come to save the world from sin, / Of
ten wonder why there are people who seem
afraid of the Gospel, and put on as long faces
when it is brought before them rs il it were
death warrant.
lean tell generally whether people like to
hear. the Gospel or not by the way they look.
Now, presume, never met man or wo-
men who didn't like to hear good news
Well, there is no better news that mortals
can have than that Christ was born and died
and came to life again on earth, to save our
sins, and is now in Heaven, waiting fer us
tocome. AS He was born in that stable at
Bethlehem, so He wants to be born in each
of your hearts. This Gospel news is new
every morning and fresh every night. 1t
is not like the news in your papers that has
to be the latest and a constant change. It's
the same all the time, and is as fresh and
readable and viviG to-day as it was in the
time of the apostles. People can never get
tired of it. But it is heard one way by the
outward ear and another way by the inward
ear.
A man who understands science listens to
a scientific lecture with the greatest relish.
10 another man it is dull and meaningless.
To the man of the world the Gospel seems
to be mere words put well together but tothe
spiritually-minded man it is eloquent and
full of force.
THE REALITY OF CHRIST.
Jesus Christ is just what we make Him.
IL we make Him out small Saviour, He will
remain small Saviour to us !; if we make
Him out great Saviour, He will do great
things for us. There are many bitter enc
mics that He takes away. remember, as
boy, what horror of the grave l had.
thought how terrible it must be to be put
in hole and have the earth rattling on top
of the coffin, Now, can exclaim, 80
grave, where is thy victury!' Jesus Christ
went into the grave and measured its depths
and come forth to declare to me that !, too,
shall rise again. All that death can get is
this Adams coil. 1t can't get the better
part within me, which is all want to last.
A good many are not afraid of death who
have no fear of God. believe the reason is
because they do not think. don't suppose
a cow is afraid Of death until she realizes its
nearness. The fact is, a good many 60
through life heedlessly, and Co not stop to
think of the consequences of their acts. In
my native town it was the custom to toll the
bell for every dead person, striking as many
strokes as they had years of life. Well, |
always used to count, and when it struck
away up to seventy, used to think that was
long way off, and it.didn ttrouble me. But
when it struck ten, as it sometimes did, it
used to make me think. Isremember how
awful used to feel. | used to think I'd like
| to die with consumption, SO as to have a
good time, and then have plenty more time
to get ready in. But I've got over the fear
Of death now, and as exclaim 80 death,
where is thy sting! !" remember that it is
buried in the bosom of the Son of God.
THE STING OF SIN.
The hornet is as harmless as the fly, when
its sting is gone. Death is harmless without
its sting, and that sting is sin. l often used
to wonder how was going to get rid OF all
my sins; the sins had done in private and
the sins had done in public, and the sins l
had piled up to hide other tsins. used to
make good resolutions. I have made as ma