New-York tribune., 1879-12-22
TIE RIGHT SPIRIT FoR CHRISTMAS.


The Rer. Rebet CoEgy al e chueh u 0e Messiah tUni
tdraH.
The sermon Of the Rev. Mr.. Collyer at the
Church OF Mes lai yesterday morning adapted
to the Christmas season. The text was Matthew KILL
H.: Friend. now camest thou IN hither not having
wedding garment And he speechess."
Travellers IN the far is the preacher said, tell us
that used to he, aud still is the custom there for mon
archs aud noblemen of high rank to give TO each guest
AT Their festivals robe which Is rich in texture and OF
bright col0s You the robe in honor Of your host
and you offer HIN greater insult than TO appear
in lis presence IN Ycur ordinary sombre garments This
custom shows all the light that is necessary upon Christs
story OF the robe OF the wedding guest The robs was
ready for him. and oil that he needed 10 do was to put
II ON. Bat he chose to appear In mean attire and to
blot upon the fair scenc He brought no heart TO
grace the festival He could therefore, nave no part
in it, and he turned out Of doors.
The lesson s that II spirit must not crowd itself
into pleasures Of noble occasion. and noble spirit
will t Itself 10 make brighter such occasion. There
come times like the Christmas festival, bright AS men
can make them II can come into these festivities with
no spirit in sympathy with them must keep all this to
myself don't belong this good fellowship MY pres
ence like the coming OF the icebergs ON the ocean
which suddenly changes the calm Of a Summers
day in Paradise to the chilling cooness OF wet WIN
ters day. But Christ insists nat we can all OF US, wear
the bright wedding robe IL choose and that we shall
put 1t OIL ana fall line This is the true soul to bring
spirit, turn for believing aud expecting the
best; and the yines disposition for graphing with ell
The troubles thai come and rising superior 10 them Nor
can We fail TO what help there is In such disposi-
ton 10 meet the greatest difficulties
Nothing can be beautiful than that radiant spirit
OF the Pilgrims landed from the Mavfower In the
midst of Winters desoati0b IL shone through the dark
ness cf their SURROUNDINGS Dnd made them glad IL was
the midst OF such good cheer as we shal nave on
tins Cdrstinas; but doubt ever the wedding robe
shone with such beauty as II du on tat uleak coast on
yea,ed ,tseif during the sevoini,on We dwell on the
the trouble wander down into the by ways OF our his
tory learned tha the real spirit Of the nation
Ishman wni. yields to trouble nor II crushed
by difficulty So chcerfuness of the people bore MS
mn durng long civil struggle Ii the good heart
OF the that pulled us through. Catch tue notes OF
the wvrsons that were sung with snch enthusiasm oil
the Land as well as IN the camp and there Is not
one tinge of disbursement among them ALL
We can thus behind the parable and lind the spirit
thst Will wear ut al times and everywhere the bright
wedding robe; that VIII meet AL fortunes Mith III,
splrlt OF the Christmas anthem, Peace on earth good
Will 10 men" II ~ spirit that knows spell of won
Tor tue children VINO are sure To wake 80
early o Chr.smls morning. and for Older heads, 200.
thai opcn their hearts 10 the radiance OF the light
nroiud tbcu let the fires OF this cheerful
ness aud bnrn down TO the white ashes OF
dead discEtch must make the old tlnle blend with
the must wipe the slate can of old scores, and
wncn meet my fellows give good cheer 10 all. Iii Opau
nv heart the invitation 10 come TO tic least
and so e old embers oi other yeaIs shall glow in the
new plessei are they VINO expect nothing for they
shall not be appointed" Is txt out OF the dcvIP5
book Has the bloom gone out OF life for mel Well,
then bring bloom out of rcsOlute heart 10 dust the
e oJm away. Never fear but that II wear tins robe
woriblly shall get another when this Is worn out Do
like those | renieinherl Snail tnen say that
there shall be 10 more Cnrlstnases at all Tor
me II my dead ones could answer they would say
that this Cris ght be good as ever II we are
esoc and sick at heart let Us at all events hide the
dark robe away Tor tue sake OF tne OCCASION S Ihen
festival song.