Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1884-12-25
THE ANGELS SONG.
Rev. Robert Collyer Considers
Christmas as a Time OF Peace
s,nd Goodwill.

When I fird myself that sort OF al
man that | call a liberal Christian,
1aid the preacher, it will be as easy toI
me as laughter is to little children
nn Christmas m lrning to summon up
IN my heart the blessings of peace, 20
excel else perfect good will toward
all the world. When Christmastide
comas around every year look back to
a Christmas long ago-sO long ago that
it almost see rs t. have been another
life when was casting my eyes across
the Atlantic in search of new home.
could not tell then whether / would
find a palace or a poorhouse. / have
found a palace but can put all the
egotism aside and say that it is all due
to the blessing and goodness of God
AID the love of Hin that kept in my
heart. But hold it true, as has been
said, that according to the love we
show for our fellow beings so strong is
he love OF God within US, and I know
that loving those who love me and do
ing good to those who d. good TO me In
no standard to measure my love for God
by. Love your enemies "There is the
great standard, that isthe great principle.
Yet it is the one stumbling block that
[ find 1t hard to get over, though l say it
3j5 times year. find it hard not to
hate the man that | know hates me.
Everything in me revOlts against it.
L car't e better than God" l say
10 myself, anr when some one says.
''TuSs your heart over t0 G. ID and all
the rest will follow" [ d0n'b dna the
solution s. e,sy. Perhaps 1 Can't Just
toss my heart over.
But whep Christmas time comes and
I see the child in the manger, when
see all the workings of the divine
love, say tn myself, surely God can't
love one man and hate another, aud
what n plnr thing nv heart is that
cannot mnld it af Al His. Taen | say
/ il time tn make soma effort. The
divine love for man is like the highest
ate in the melody snme surp tSsing
singer reaches when the Academy
dhwn there shakes with the thunder Of
applause am "A hunblPr vnice, IN
tepd hut must I not strive, encour-
A2ed hv that great xanple, to re' ch
some higher n nte than | have ever
Inucnrd before in the song which the
an lels sing f good will aud peace
pnacp and good will throughout The u
nivese
Ii | can't love the mali or woman
who has done me deadly injury, let me
ut least be sure do not hate them. Let
me keep in view the possibility that
may some day love them; let me be sure
hat | will help Them il they need It.
This universal demand for love and
peace is not of Thanksgiving but Ot
Christmas. Our Thanksgiving il found.
pd un Plymouth Rock, but Christmas
stands on the Rock Of Ages. When
bless the children OF friends, even
hongh they bp thousand miles away
they shine out to me like stars. get
more than give, and the best giving
is when expect no return. used long
ago To know nonSe mother who always
did her housecleaning just before
Christmas. She didn't care f,r the
rest of The year. but all should be
clean and bright for Christmas. Her
custom may serve me rs a parable. l
say To you hat you should brighten
the windows uf your soul at this holy
time so that love and grace may he seen
shining ont through them. You should
m, ke your heart clean aud pure, just
AZ She di I her hearth, and welcome to
it all mtmkinl, rs she did singers who
cam4 10 sing the carols of Christmas
morning. while The fire lit up the
whole place with its warmth and gen.
ial glow.