The National tribune., 1885-12-17
SUNDAY MEDITATION.

SUNDAY MEDITATION.
THE International Committee leaves each school
to select its own lesson for Dec. p. IL being SO
near Christmas we suggest st. Luke, .: S-lI This
paragraph should first be read very carefully
We proceed at once to the practical thoughts.
/. We have reason for selt-congratulation III
the fact that angels are so interested IN human
affairs, so willing to bring US good news, and SO
disposed to help US.
=. We should cultivate for each other peace
fulness and kindliness-on earth peace. good
will toward men. large part of ChrlSts mis-
sion to earth was TO create unity and sympathy
and mutual service among mankind. christ
mas has always been season devoted to eX-
pressons and acts of kindness. We should be
at peace with God and men. Goodwill must
become universal.
g. Keep always in mind this thought: the
source of salvation is God. GLORY is therefore
TO be rendered TO Him.
4. We should praise God for the blessing OF
Christ's incarnation. Songs oil the Nativity
should be Oh our lips. Here is room and call
for carols and anthems Ii angels praise God
for human redemption, surely we ought not to
be wanting in songs of JOY and gratitude over
our own salvation.
5. Appreciate the fact you have personal
concern in Christmas Christ Is our savior
We are as interested in the scenes which oc-
l
tivity as were the shepherds.
q. BE not discouraged because you are OF
humble avocatiou. The tOiiers of earth have
been Gods favored men and women. Shep-
herds received the on V visit angels ever, as a
body, made to earth. and that, too, while those
SWANS were out at night employed among their
fiocks David was called from the fold TO the
palace. Elisha left the plow to take the
trumpet of prophecy. SITS. Andrew, Peter,
James and John practically took off tishermen's
coats To put Oh apostolic robes st. Matthew
went from his tax office to take his place III the
college of THE Twelve" God is just as apt
to enter the store, the field, the shop, the
kitchen, in his providental calls to human
promotion, as to ring the bell OF the mansion
! or to send his card to the palace.
| Providence proceeds very strangely, consld-
| cred from a human standpoint. We would have
| thought the angels would seek out some dis
| tinguished persons aad honor them by an
nouncing first to such the glad tidings In
stead, the Heavenly messengers told the joyful
| news TO some keepers o! ShecpioldS.
Providence went down among a sailor group
and brought up John Ruskin. He went into
! barber shop and called out Sir Richard Ark
wright, who invented the spinning machine
and aiterward became prominent as a national
/ character. Livingstone was at work IN SPIN
ming mill when God opened the way Tor his
promotion and gave to the world one OF Its
greatest travellers and discoveries. His re-
nowned successor, Stanley, was taken from
! Welsh poorhouse. DR.. Carey gave up his last
for his ministerial commlsSIon-went from ms
shoe bench to his foreign mission. Jenny Lind,
Albani and Nilsson were peasants children
| Whole chapters could be written i'll proof, God
| knows little of distinctions based simply on
money or position. Shepherds stand as good
chance with him as do the wealthy, the royal,
| the eminent.
Just SO of salvation. 1t is offered as freely
to the artisan as to Rabbi to the taxgatherer
as to the King for whom taxes are raised; to
! fishermen as to Members OF Congress or Parla-
ment who enact laws regulating the fishery
| question to tentmakers as to occupants OF
| palaces to carpenters as to those sitting on
thrones built by carpenters.
z. Be willing TO perform humble duties IN
the interests of humanity. Angels dclgn TO
come to earth, visiting rustic shepherds and
directing them to the rude manger. 1t does
not become Christians to be too iastidlous IN
their work of rescuing others from SID. BE
willing to labor at any Five Points, to visit
dangers, TO 20 through prison corridors, TO
enter heathen lands, to sacrifice feelings ana
tastes, to forego even national and social prlvi-
leges,-to do all these duties If need be, III
concern for souls requiring help. Reach down
where human beings are, and do your best to
lift them up to holiness and happiness.
LIES highest aim is to do Gods will;
Our duty to self aud mankind fulfill;
To bear anothers load,
And thus make brighter the Heavenly road:
/. | For this Is the path that the Savior trod,
And the only path that doth lead TO God.
ANY method which is successful in leading
| the evil to purity, is thereby rendered noble
and becoming in King or in rustic. Ask o
, God, with St. Paul, What wilt thou have me
, to dor" Be willing to do anything, every
, thing, to save your fellows from sin and perdi
. tion.
Here is grand principle which must govern
? u.s. No Christian has right to any pet notion
, pursuit, taste, affinity, residence, or practic,
S which conflicts with his greatest usefulness IL
. ! effecting the work of saving our world from
sin. We must learn to find our greatest hap
r ! piness in self-denial and sacrifice. When We
: once have mastered this principle we are pre-
G pared TO be saints on earth, or to cooperate
e | with angels from Heaven. The other life ma,
4 afford more chance for personal development
g in chosen lines of thought and practice. Wha
d is more probable is this, that in the life beyond
e we shall fall SO sympathetically into Gods pro
d gram that the plans of our Heavenly Fathe
= and our preferences shall fully harmonic
| We shall be as happy mission to shepherd
It as in concert of angels Here is a work TO
It the religion of Christ TO effect in our hearts
l. We are not in a high style Of piety until w
e are willing TO do anything, TO go anywhere o
Is TO anybody, at the suggestion OF our Father IL
= Heaven.
e aHSSio nave set uo d oSautiioi cAanlPie' ~
b one is too distant from holiness to be abaI
N doned by US. No one of us will ever have t
p go so far out of preferred walks to reach an
n save the evil as did Gabriel with his associate
~ on Nativity night.
rt Merry Christmas! Keep ever in mind tn
rs angel song, calling on us to glorify God and
As magnify mankind. These lines, from the Gel
D. man, give our closing thought:
IL Repeat the story hour by hour.
1f 1t keeps for aye its holy power
To guard Us when stray;
:. Through Summers long. through Winters long
u Repeat, repeat the Angels songI
of IT'S new for every day.