The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1882-12-27
Pastor Cruran'. Christmas Sermon.
CHRIST TEE nARvEr OF HIsToRr."

CHRIST TIE NARyEL OF HIsToRY.''
The most wonderful life of all history is that of
Jesus of Nazareth. l. is characterized Throughout
by singular combination of humility and gran
deur of simplicity ard sublimity, and of the hu-
man and divine. Inthis it differs from all others.
Christ appears in the world as poor child, in
one of the smallest towns of a remote country. in
one Of the lowliest sTots in that town-a stable =
and goes out from thit stable helpless fugitive
from the wrath of a ruel tyrant. But Heaven and
Earth do Him honoras He lies there among the
animals IN helpless Weakness. This child sets the
angelic host the soltiers of Herod, the shepherds
ON the hillside, and he Wise Men of the East in
motion. He attIacs the best elements of the
world and aronses tie enmity of the worst
OF His boyhoOd w have but one glimpse We
see Him for a few hurs in the Temple question
inc Il doctors of tie law Of His YOUNG manhood
penter y But we know that lie was no unnatural
prodigy in those ealy years. There was nothing
forced or premature And yet there certainly was
a degree of wisdom an innocence and uurity an
intensity of religious feeling and interest, which
made Him marke youth. He was an obedient
son, and yet He filld His parents with sacred
awe.
Christ public liz lasted only three wears He
died IN the full beatty and vigor of early manhood
at an age when orunary men have not reached
maturity. He neyr became an old man Both
His person, His teachings, His work retain. and
always will retain the brilliance and vicor OF
youth. Other meis works and thoughts grow old
widowed and moody. Christ's grow fresher and
fresher with the cnturies. And yet, unlike other
men Of His years, Christ combined with the fresh.
ness and energy aid originality of youth, the wis
dom, moderation nd experience of age.
Christs short ministry contains more from a
purely historical oint OF view, than the longest
life Of the greatet and best OF men. II is prop.
nant with the deoest council Of God. and the DIES
tiny Of the race is the ripe fruit of ali proceed.
ING ages, and thefruitful germ of future ages; Il
is the end of Ioundless past, the center of I
boundless preser, and the beginning of a bound
less future. AM yet three short years bound hi,
lne-work. OthC men require long succession OF
years 10 mature heir minds and mould their sys
TENS Of thought and make a lasting impression on
the world. ButJhrist, in three short years lait
the foundation of a spiritual kingdom, which
stands TO this dy, and is every year extending il,
domain, and wi one day possess the world
Marx still anfher contrast between Christ aut
the other heroe of History: We should NATURAL,
suppose that sch an uncommon parsonage set
ting up such Astounding claims. and proposing thu
most extraordinary work, would surround himsel
with extraordinary circumstances, and maintain ;
position far abye the vulgar and degraded multi
tude around hun, We should expect somethin.
uncommon an striking in his look, his dress hi
manner, his node of fayors and rewards TO dis
pense. He vafan humble peasant without friend
or patrons in the Sanhedrin, or at the courts o
Herod or Cesr. he selected his disciples from
among illiter1e fishermen and promised them nj
reward IN Thu world, but part IN the bitter cur
of his own srferings. He dined with publican
and sinners, 'ithout ever condescenainc to thei
low habits AID manners. He was so poor that II
had no plac TO rest his head. He depended 70
the supply o his modest wants on the CHARITY o
friends. Without science and learning, be she,
more light o. things human and divine than al
philosophersand scholars; without the eloquenc
Of schools h spoke such words of life as wer
never spokenbefore or since. Without writing
single line Inset more pens in motion, and fun
nished more hemes for sermons, orations descrip
lions, Learned volumes, works Of art, and svee
songs Of prise, than the whole army of grea
men of ancenf and modern times Born in
Manager, and crucihed a malefactor, He no,
standS aloneand solitary among all the heroes o
history. H presents insovable problem
unless ne bw our heads, aud with the Roma
Centurion 81. ssutrrv TINS " Is 7tf,r S,c ~, Cr