New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-12-26
THE INCARNATE CHRIST.
The Per Dr. o. H. tiffany at Saint Paurs Church Meth
FDfscoDdD,


The Fer Dr. o. H. tiffany Saint Paups Church lehodfSt
Epfseopan.
Services in celebration of the day were held
yesterday morning at st. Pau's Methodist Episcopal
Church. ut Fourh-aye. and Twentysecondst. The desk
and railing were trimmed with evergreen. The
music consisted Of Joyous Christmas carols and
anthems. The anthem which followed the ser
mon was composed for the occasion by Walter X
Johnston organst OF the church aud ELECTED warm ap
prevail from the large audience Dr. Tiffany delivered
DISCOURSE taking his text nom Revelations KILL lG;
the root and offspring Of David, and the bright
and morning star"
The Christian Church throughout the world. said the
speaker has set apart day which to celebrate the
birth OF Christ Its FOUNDER II matters not whether 1t
the actual anniversary OF the great event which gave
"A saviour a fallen We know there was night
when shepherds watched, and n morning when
angels sang While there is much IN revelation
that must he mysterious the declaration in the
text with reference to the incarnation is the simple
Affirmation OF His history by the Saviour OF men 1t is
shroudcd by ambiguity but the topic suggested by 1t
Is full ofmystery All lie snn ncomprehensDle mystery
and is greater wonder that Deity and human
ity could than that any life be. The mystery
OF the Incarnation Is the greatest OF all steries as
IL The most important Oi all f.cts. Tue divinity OF
Christ miracle, II was HIS inherent but
His humanity the one great Dirace-the wonder Of
ala angels It is the hope OF ali men, IL eOm
pee IN its execution "a II was wonderful III ITS object
and conception. His humanity mere halluclna-
ton lie made flesh In Nil respects like those He
came to save. Uuine the ideal which the illusions
prophecy lad he'd Israel To expect, sill how sur
passing IN glory all the yearnlngs OF humanity He came
10 savei The assunl ton or humanity was
Gods plan OF redemption; the work was
too grand for mere humanity. Only in Goa
power to encrclo the whole human family, 10 rea
all human woe. The race had perished once IN the
waters Of the flood, but thosr waters had never
cleansed Ms CUNT or purih'd MS leprosy. No
power tLat which made Us first and loved
us always could arrest our DOOM; aud go the Root
DAVID made nesh that our salvation mllht be
posSD.e ~ our existence was sure. TIE offspring OF
DAVID, by the Of God. became n man OF sorrows
and acquainted Win grief lie WAS as solitary IN tne
isolation of his purity as he was alone In the endurance
OF his suffering The people whose nation He homo Ell
III His birth, nay, tue race lie came To save deserted
Him. Alone He toll under His cross and died upOnit
the man Christ Jesus.
There Is terrible Impulse OF sympathy from the fact
OF a common manhood aud we learn to know that
who 50 suffered must know how TO sympathize with
those no suffer. and q feel 0r those VINO mourn Tue
mortality which subjects lis 10 suffering ami death nerds
help than human resolution, and higher power
than moTtal consolation. Sdch power the had
found although had questioned the stars and
sAed tne grave. AS the great representative OF human
NY. CHRIST entered most intimately mo all Mes sOr-
rows, and while He claimed TO be God proved
himself also 10 be man; az once the Root
aud Offspring Of David. The multitude Of the will
nOl lessen tue abundance OF His love, the Of
those who love Ham produce IN HIM diyidrd love Tor us
The world nee ded sucu being There and
tears wh,n he sui red III GethseWane aud died
Calvary; trusting heart Us hope a. the dalkcnIng
sEy grew sombre and rocking earth shuddcrrd in
pnin DAYS and nights passed. when 10 one rorning.
through sulen streaking the East the lusre Of
a star burst In sudden spiendOT upon silent world.
Ry the death OF Christ, the worlds hope
had been shTUuled In gloom; by His resurrection
and ascension the OF triumph transferred 10
Ine heavens Rising from tn grave, He dsDerses its
gloom lie leaves the sful world best with the tact Of
Ills aud gIOfied by all the splendor OF His
ascension umph lie shows us the fun prrieci-
ness Of earthly possibility aud drapcs our fraiy with
IN. garueut- OF immortal ovelucss. THIS the
which gives STABILITY and confidence to all our eHueca
tous- We needed higher con-ohton ana God sent HIS
own son; lOtiet example, and Christ came to guide
MS; purer sacrifice ana hnher pres,, ana Christ
was made ne,h. What a cOntr.stl Bstblehsns star
tho gteat Morning star; the one beaining In the mid
night and tue other dawning on the world with hope.
To-day we celebrate the one, and believe the hops IN
spired by the Otner.
II we make is Christina. day merely scene OF fes
lyIt day uuy Joy and graduation, tDen VIC shall
iaiI 10 realize hat II II the anny OF the
incarnation Of Christ. On rather let u.s. tho wise
men did give gifts God; let the she pherds did,
20 nnd see this wonderful tnng let did Mary.
IRE n-ure hcse thoughts hearts anu ponder them,
knowing that Saviour who Is Christ the King.