The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1888-12-22


far behind the curtain of time2
The answer comes as though il
were horne upon the wings of an
angel: This is the birthplace
of the first missionary" Who Is
this MISSIONARY OF whom ynu
speak? Again the angel comes in
b ighter form and answers: "'Tis
Jesus Chtlst. the Son of God"
Go with me, my audience to
this birthplace If Christ, and
sand in front of that rugged
cave in which the Savior was
born. Staining there, turn your
eyes upwards and see in the face
Of heaven, the bright and shining
star that announced to the world
the birth Of the first missionary.
As we gaze upon this star we
hear sweet strains of music. The
scene Is changed from that of q
beautiful star to a host of heavens
angels singing "Glory to God in
the highest, and on earth, peace,
good will toward men,.
My hearers, think of the gran
deur that is connected with the
first twelve years of our Savlors
life. The birth of this bless ell
one, may be lIkened to the glou-
Gus sun of day as II Uses above
the eastern horizon aed makes
clad all rature with rs rays of
light. The first twelve years of
this meme rable life may be
likened to the glorious sun Of day
I as it marks its course through the
heavens, sending its genial rays
to earth to give life and vigor TO
all with which they meet. The
going into the GaI!eean home
uDdcr the protection of his earth-
| ly pa,ents, may be llkcned to the
sun as it simks behind the western
skies to make G ad another rat on: /:
for as the poet has expressed 1t:
Beyond the sunsets raliant glow,
Thrre Is Il brighter world knpE,
Where golden gloriss ever slliue,
Beyond the reach of dty'r deelim ="
And as the King of Day goes
down to rise again, 81 it was with
the Son Of God. He goes INTO
that GaliIeean home for num-
Der Of yeas and comes forth
with renewed energy, preachin I
the Gospelsto all people, holding
in his hand the lamp of Truth
burning with the flame Of pure
love.
On he goes preaching repen-
tance, faith and baptism till foi
this cause he IS falsely accused
by his own people.
This brings us to one Of the
most touching scenes that arc
! found 10 the annals OF the world,
See the bIsssed Jesus as the
crowd of ruflians arrest HIM and
lead him away to be tired before
an unjust court; and hear th'
cries of the enraged multitude
as it clamors, for his life The
! t,ial is over. The sentence Il
passed. The victim has beer
committed to the hands of th,
rufiians, and they lead hun away
to the place of skulls, there t.
satisfy their cu;sed desire. SCI
| him as he goes with the cross
| upon his shoulder and a crown d
thorns upon his head. We iool
again, and 10 the Son of God Ii
hanging upon the cross with pier
ced hands and feet. and the thIrs
ty sands of G9lgotha aic drinkln.
his precious blood as it flow'
from his wounds.
His all over. Tic veil in th'
temple is rent in iwan. Th'
sun of heaven refuses to Civ
forth Its light. Inc earth quake
from pole to pole, and the son 0
God gives up the ghost s9yrng
sit Is finished"
A short time after, lie appear
ed TO his faithfnl followers AM
gave to them that great command
SEQ ye into all the world aat
preach the Gospel to every crea
ture.'' NY hearers, we who hav
succeeded our fathers, are com
nissioned to do the same.
Passing to the fifteenth cen
tury, when Ronlr Catholicism
seemed to have swayed the sccp
ter Of unlimited power, we fin
: John De WickIiffi.,a Roman Caths
lic priest Of great learning, array
! ed IN deferce Of true religion
Though he remained In the pppi
church, he preached the Ne
Testament Gospel with sue
power ard clearness, that ii
Catholics sought to slay hin
Through the merci.s of God /
escaped.
La the sixteenth century, "
end among those who had en-
q bl aeed the true faith that nob