Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-12-28
Christmas In Montpelier.

being interpreted, God with u.s." He presented,
by way Of introduction the thought that the truth
implied in this name remains unalterable. God
with his people once in the person OF Jesus Is God
with them forever. And, therefore, now, as
always, Christmas comes to us as an anniversary
Of joy. For though we may approach 1t with
variety OF experimental one time with spirits
burdened with sorrow, or grief, or care, as at
another time with all the gladness OF happy cir
cumstances yet there is no burden which may not
BIO lightened, as there Is no gladness which may
not find an addition to Its joy, In the assurance
and the pledge that God ia with his people, We
fail altogether OF the deepest profit and the true
blessing Of this day. II 1t does rot signify that to
us. And this thought, which should always be
part OF our consciousness on this anniversary,
might fifty this year be given distinct and explicit
expression. We greet this Christmas day, there
fore, with joy, though 1t be joy in a subdued
strain, and call his name Of whose birth this day
speaks, in accordance with the voice Of prophecy,
Emmanuel, and gladly recognize that we have the
assurance, and the realization, that God is indeed
with his people. The literal truth involved in
this name OF prophecy, Of God manifest in the
flesh, was then set forth as shown in the per.
son and the work Of Jesus. 1t was his mission
to save his people from their sins. And so he
went about relieving misery where he could find
it; for misery, as we know and as he thus taught
us, is connected with sin; he bound up the
broken-hearted, for weeping has its place only in
world of sin; he forgave sins, for forgiveness to
the penitent Is necessary to give him hope and
heart in the struggle that he may sin no more; he
preached righteousness, instructing his people
what they should be, and setting before them in
his own example the beauty Of holiness; he taught
them of heavenly things and after he had prom
ised them the rewards Of the heavenly mansions
for obedience, and had warned them OF the awful
consequences OF obdurate wckedness, he suffered
death for rausgressors and, rising from the grave
and ascending visibly to the heavens, he brought
life and immortality to light, and gave evidence
that death should be swallowed up in victory.
Yet though he was God with men, he took upon
him the form OF servant. And in so doing did he
not lend sweeter and fuller meaning to the name
Emmanuel, than II he had appeared in awful state2
Does not that very circumstance itself declare the
mind of God ? But Christ is with his people still.
The assembled Jesus, in his heavenly exatation, is
still and forever the medium Of communion be-
tween the human and the divine. He is repre-
scented to us as the Lamb in the midst OF the
throne, having relations still to his people below,
as ever to his people above. He Is with US also
in the sense, that his work Of atonement for sin,
abides, as a work done, forever. And so, again,
whatever of power, of protection, Of comfort Of
identity of interest," is involved in the idea OF the
Almighty being with us, as it was manifested in his
disposition in the life OF the historic Jesus must
be thought of as existing still and always in his
immutable nature. He cannot change, for he Is
God And therefore, all that is implied Of his
disposition, in the gift of him who was called I'm
manuel, by this fact he gives proof that he still
retains, and in that sense is God with us for
ever. But, to be entitled to the fullness Of the
rejoicing which belongs to this day, it is necessary
that God be with us individually, and not merely
with us as a race; and that he be with us moi
merely potentially, but actually, through oul
taking such advantage Of his offer of grace al
shall secure us its full blessings. Jesusl EN-
| manuel Saviour! God with usi These names
must be hailed in their fullness; alteration ant
offerings must be paid to him of whom they speak
| II they would be anything but names to us. Blu
| II they are something more than names, II Jesu
| ia indeed our Saviour, and Emmanuel is indeed
| God with US, then with strong and joyous heart
we may go on our way. There is no weakness
but there is grace sufficient for it, II God Is in
deed with us; no grief but may be endured, ant
whose tears shall be wiped away, II God is will
us; no suffering but shall work out peaceabl
fruits IL God is with u.s. no difficulty or DANCE
| but may be overcome, II God is with us; nothini
In death nor life, nor angels, nor principalities
nor powers nor things present, nor things t
come, in height, depth, nor any other creature
to make us afraid, II God is with us. For If Co
be for us who can be against us? The sermo
closed with some words personal to the church
and the expression of the hope that in tn
coming year God would would be with it i
a peculiar manifestation OF his presence. Ii
our motto, our aspiration, our prayer, our 81
deavor be, EMANUEL, and the year will be cor
tinuous Christmas full of joy to ourselves
and of blessing from God lin tho evenin
a Christmas service of an exceedingly int
esting and appropriate character was partc
pated in by the Sundsy-school. The subject {
the exercise was "The Glories of the Chri
Child" 1t consisted of responsive readings fro
the Scriptures, showing, first, the glory befo
the world was; second, the glory of the creation
third, the glory Of the incarnation fourth, tt
glory of the redemption; fifth, the glory of Il
heavenly state, Interspersed with the reading
was the singing of appropriate hymns and carol
As the superintendent, teachers and differe
bodies of scholars, and the entire congregatit
took up their parts, the variety and succession
sounds in which the Scriptures were voiced, WI
: singularly pleasing The choir was strengthen
by a large chorus from the Sunday-school, al
the blending OF their voices was very sweet.
the close Of the exercises, after few fifth
words from the superintendent, Hiram Garlic
Christmas cards were distributed among Il
members of the school, Cards were also pl
scented by the womans Christian Temperan
Union to scholars under ten. The church W
trimmed simply, but appropriately, for the {
casion.
In THE CHURCH OF THE MESSIAH Christm
was celebrated in the Church of the Messiah wi
u varied exercises As usual, the children OF t
= Sunday school had their hour Of merrimenti in t
q vestry on Christmas eve, in which large numb
of adults participated. The vestry had be
y adorned with profusion of evergreens, and
variety Of Chinese lanterns illuminated the yes
% bue. Toothsome candies were for sale at
. table on one side OF the room, and In corner W
Is a tall Christmas tree, hidden from curious ey
70 till its candles were lighted, when the screen
70 removed, and its attractions revealed. Gifts w
found on it for all the younger scholars, and HI
II and there surprise for some adult. The II
70 did not supply this year Its usual yield OF sweet
10 but the deficiency was met by the appearance
10 Mr. Willis-(master Of one art at least II not :"
Is M.")-who pulled, in the presence of an adm
l. ing throng, expectant and open-mouthed, gr
mass of molasses candy which was soon dlstr
uted, and pronounced very good. The memb
of several of the classes chose the Christmas I'll
for testifying their gratitude for their teache
- faithful services, by giving them valuable pr
=. ents. d. The services in the church on Sumo
=, - were appropriate to the day. Mr.. Wrght's t
- in the morning was The Son OF man ca
u eating and drinking" Matthew xi leland
attempted to portray the Christs attitude
wards good-cheer, and urged that the usual 50
'e tation OF the day" A Merry Christmas! -
~ not combine homogeneous thoughts. He arg
that Jesus opposed the Pharsaical precision
no and that, with cordial appreciation Of John
Baptst's merits, he yet frankly and iearles
pointed out the contrast between his own cou
he and the forerunner's and that while there W
" many sorrows in his lot, Jesus did not frown u
DE- Joy, but recined at well filled tables and assis
ne in promoting the good cheer Of the MARI
nu feast. The preacher referred to the history
% asceticism-ong prevailing in the Christ
u" church, but not Christian,-and traced its or
'ss to the ancient idea that matter and therefore
'n- human body, was of evil origin, and attribu
'A- Its development partly to the fostering niue
- IIa