The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-12-29
|'S'TARTLING SERMON.
|,~ D. C. Garrett Gives Reason
lis Place in Religion.
IN N CHRIST. NoTIN cREEDs.
..,ss the True Meaning Of the Incar.
..tion-Christmas Sermons and
Services OF Song.

uerk,s church was filed to overflow
.-.terlay morning. "Hark, the Her.
! irreels singl" at Came Upon Mid
n clear and other Christmas music
.,nr by the choir. The sermon by
(. s.rsor. Rev. David Claiborne Garrett,
.rrropriate to the occasion, the sub
y ts;ns the meaning of the incarnation.
4. allowing is the discourse in full:
y =. IA loved the world that He gave His only
.estsu Son that whatsoever belieyeth In Him
x.s1 nos perish, but have everlasting life
Ts.se words have been said to contain
= ssesnel in nutshell. No text from the
~ Bible can tell us SO clearly as this
Z. .sfuaI meaning of the Christmas truth.
sxsr let us consider the meaning of
ms;,tss entering into the life of humanity.
~ 81 take up the threefold nature of the
s;..;un of the Son of Man as we have it
.r.ssided in the words of Christ himself:
e. i;od loved the world that He gave His
81, hpsotten Son that whatsoever beliey-
a N Him should not perish, but have
! ssssdasting life." Here we have the motive
JThr;st's mission-Love, the means of
living II. Faith, and the end, Eternal
| ~ first, the motive, $50 God loved the
s.sNp To sum up in one word
~ nature of the Infinite Being
z INST call it love. All creation is an
.suression of this love that pours forth
stbo;lt measure, as light and heat radiate
I'M the central sun. In love God made
an and in the same spirit He has been
,qi5:ng man out of the darkness of earth
sso he light of heaven. 1t was not as
saysional necessity. It was not to COR
" he disordered machinery of life. But
| hulnlmentof the divine purpose from
| Rr beginning, when man was ready for
a revelation, prepared to receive the
| ltoenition Of sonship, God sent forth One
| vhose perfect sonship in the Father could
| rsss the possibility of q universal SON.
| ihip for man.
ihey have an imperfect conception of
! he mission Of Jesus who regard the COM
hg Of Christ as q consequence of any
amisy between God and man. 1t was not
Ismsn race and the Heavenly Father that
krqht God down into the world. Be-
e,ase He loved us and longed to draw us
3 10 Him, the divine life that was
1Issdy manifested in the beauty
| "a glory of nature, was centered in
person that the world could not
hi( TO see, in an ideal that men could not
ninse 10 follow. Before the struggling
vuls Of men had turned half way toward
heaven, before the world had ever thought
Much thing as love for what seemed to
konly an overwhelming power, God loved
he human race and planned its full saliva
don. The remembrance of this motive of
Chrst's coming may be an incentive for
mto lay hold on what Christ now offers
10 the world. Here is man overcome by
kmptation. He is not member of the
church. Or, If he ever was he feeIs he has
% right to put in any claim for grace. His
ins have weighed him down to the dust.
b despair he dare not turn to God His
int impulse is to hide away, to dee from
The wratl to come. Now let that man
anre realize above all else that God loves
him Will not that give him courage? It
may be some one here today is heartsick
eser bis transgressions. So far this gospel
dlove has brought no message of hope.
The Christmas joys promise no
idings OF new birth out of the
Cd dull way of wrong into the
hight. happy kingdom of the
pirit Take today this one assurance, no
natter how often you in your weakness
nom you. You may play false to Him,
bat He can never be false to you. That
bse never changes, in sin or out of sin;
when you grieye Him by your hckleness
o. cause even the angels to rejoice over
your constancy, He loves you still
40 man need be afraid to come to God.
Ms church. His communion are open and
Eady for whatsoever will repent and come.
mere Is no one, however far astray, that
need altogether give up in despair. No
one, the drunkard, the thief, the gambler,
ae vile In heart, but can il truly
Nnitent cry, Lord l believe. Help thou
zine unhelief" Once as Jesus walked by
me seaside, poor heartsick woman came
sfth 70 meet Him, one who had no claim,
tcoIding to the rigid Jewish laws, to
VOC mercy or favor. She was not men,
eer OF the church. She likened herself to
aog that fed on the crumbs that fell from
.ne o,nodox table, but God so loved the
Mofia, not the Jews only, not that church
VI .nat sect. but the world, that Jesus
PoweF 10 saving this poor woman has
uceone ,ne type of the continuance and
universal salvation to man.
neafo not long since of woman poor
sna oiind who lost her only son, young
s ssi " nooie Character, on whom she de-
p I'al Tor her comfort and support. Such
$500, nss tnis poor woman's faith, even in her
s ~.siois grief, that she had these words in
~-sass on tne headstone over her boys
Hsi r., 9od hath taken my only son.
~ Aa'n gwen His only Son for me-"
Like cradle rocking, rocking,
silent, peaceful, to and fro
A4ns mothers sweet looks dropping
on the little face below
A1a'ss me green earth, swinging, turning,
vSnsisess, nolseless, safe and SLOW
MS Ihe light OF Gods face bending
pvWn ana watching us below.
ana as feeble babes that suffer,
auss and cry and will not rest,
",s tne ones the tender mother
nosus the closest, loves the best
Jpnhen we are weak and wretched,
~, ~ uui SINS weighed down, distressed
men u is that Gods great patience
nosus Us closest, loves US best.
y, great heart of Godi whose loving
v.,s,iluot numbered be nor crossed;
=" y. not weary, will not even
~ our death itself be lost
Ao ns'ea islne! OF such great loving,
oaiy mothers know the cost
N. 500 o. love, which love all passing,
~ oa'e Son 10 save the lost"
s. ~" the means whereby man can re-
s,sss she Christ who comes. 1t is ex-
D.. - tic one WORD, 1altn. All
fhis eslieve in Him shall not perish"
sni,: iMth is the moral and
H. , WA. power that pervades all
NJ, .l'lhgs of the New Testament. 1t is
Ar mething opposed 10 knowledge.
h ar are faith and knowledge different
n s. gree or compared as two phases of
IL v saiae condition. The distinction in
1as ses Testament is not between faith
90, knowledge, but between faith and
trsss oy faith is meant a perception of