The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1884-12-26
THE ANGELS SONG.
REV. ROBERT COLLIER CONSIDERS CHRISTMAS
AS TIME OF PEACE AND GOODWILL.

When l find myself that sort OF man that
call liberal Christian, said the preacher it
will be as easy to me as laughter is to little
children on Christmas morning to summon up
in my heart the blessings of peace, to exercise
a perfect good will toward all the world
When Christmastide comes around every year
look back to Christmas long ago-so long +,
ago that it almost seems to have been another
life-when l was casting my eyes across the
Atlantic in search of new home l could not
tell then whether / would find palace or
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 and
the love of Him that | kept in my heart But
l hold it true, as has been said, that according
to the love we show for our fellow beings so
strong is the love of God within US, and
know that loving those who love me and doing
good to those who do good to me is no standard
to measure my love for God by. "Love your
enemies" There is the great standard that is
the great principle. Yet it is the one STUN
bling block that l find it hard to get over,
though 1 say it S65 times year. l find it
hard not to hate the man that know hates
me. Everything in me revolts against it. ~
can't be better than God l say to myself,
and when some one says, "Toss your heart
over to God and all the rest will follow" /
don't find the solution so easy. Perhaps
can't just toss my heart over.
But when Christmas time comes and see
workings Of the divine love- say to myself,
surely God can't love one man and hate an
other and what poor thing my heart is that
l cannot mold it after His. Then say it is
time to make some effort The divine love for
man is like the highest note in the melody
some SURPRISING singer reaches when the
Academy down there shakes with the thunder
of applause. / am humber voice, indeed;
but must l not strive, encouraged by that
great example, to reach some higher note than
l have ever touched before in the song which
the angels sing of goodwill and peace-peace
and goodwill throughout the universe?
II can't love the man or woman who has
done me deadly injury, let me at least be sure
l do not hate them. Let me keep in view the
possibility that may some day love them; let
me be sure that will help them if they need
it, This universal demand for love and peace
is not of Thanksgiving but of Christmas Our
Thanksgiving is founded on Plymouth Rock,
but Christmas stands on the Rock of Ages.
When I bless the children of friends, even
though they may be thousand miles away,
they shine out TO me like stars. l get more
than give, aud the best giving is when e1-
pect no return. l used long ago to know @
house-mother who always did her houseclean-
ing just before Christmas. She didn't care for
the rest OF the year, but all should be clean
and bright for Christmas. Her custom may
serve me as a parable. say to you that you
should brighten the windows of your soul at
this holy time 30 that love and grace may be
seen shining out through them. You should
make your heart clean and pure, Just as she
did her hearth, and welcome to 1t all mankind
as she did singers who came to sing the carols
on Christmas morning, while the fire lit up the
whole place with its warm and GENIAL glow.