Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1891-01-02

greatest poet ever produced? Milton, the
Christian. Who was the wlsest writer on
law? Blackstone, the Christian Why is
IL that every college and university in the
land has chapel? They must have u
place for the wise men to worship. SO
Daniel Webster came TO the mangcr. Tho
wise men of the East followed by the wise
men Of the West.
Know also in this scene that it was
winter month that God chose for his Sons
nativity. Had il beer the month Of May
that is the season of blossoms Had he
been born in the month OF June-tha is
the season of roses. Had he been born in
the month of July-that is the season Of
great harvests. Had he been born in the
month of Septembor-that is the season Of
ripe orchards. Had he been born in tho
month of October-that is the season Of
upholstered forests. But he was born in a
winter month.
Notice also fact which no one seems 10
notice that this Christ was born among the
sheep and tho cattle, and the horses, and
the camels, in order that he might be an
alleviating influence 10 the whole creation.
1t means mercy for overdrycn, underfed.
poorly sheltered, CALLED and maltreated ami
NAL creation. Hath the Christ who COM
pared himself TO dove no care for tho
cruclties of pigeon shooting? Hath the
Christ who compared himself TO lamb no
care for the sheep that are tied and
contorted and with neck over the sharp
edge of the butchers cart, on the cattlo
train in hot weather from Omaha to New
York, with no water-iftcen hundred
miles Of agony? Hath the Christ whose tax
was paid by fish, the coin taken from its
mouth. no care for the tossing fins in the
A.
with his own hand the nerves of dog and
cat no indignation for the horrors of vivi-
section? Hath the Christ who said. "Go to
the ant, no watchfulness for the transfx-
cd insects? Hath the Christ who said.
behold the fowls Of the air." himself
never behcld the outrages heapol upon the
brute creation which cannot articulate its
| grief? This Christ came not only 10 lift tho
human race out of its trouble but to lift
out of pang and hardship the animal crea-
ton. In the glorious millennial time tho
child shall lead the lion and play with tho
cocliatricc only because brute and reptile
shall have no more wrongs 10 avenge. To
alleviate the condition Of the brute creation
Christ was born in the cattle pen. The first
bleat Of the lamb Of God heard amid the
tired focks OF the Bethlehem shepherds.
The white horse of eternal victory stabbed
in barn.
But notice also in this account the three
Christmas presents that are brought to the
manger. Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh.
Gold 10 Christ-that means all the aflluence
of the world surrendered 10 him. The gold
for Christ. the silver for Christ. the jewels
for Christ. Australia, Nevada and Col
conda for Christ. Tho bright, round.
beautiful jewel of a world set like "a soli-
taire on the bosom Of Christ
But | notice that these wise men also
took out from their sacks the myITh. The
cattle came and suuircd at IT, They did
not eat it because it was bitter. The pun
gent gum resin Of Abyssinia called myrrh
brought to the feet of Christ. That means
bitterness. Bitter betrayal. bitter perse-
cut.on, bitter days Of suffering. bitter
nights Of woe. Myrrh. That is what
they put into his cup when he was dying.
Myrrh That is what the AIarys twisted
in the shroud OF a crucificd Christ. Tho
myrrh Oh, the height the depth, the
length, the breadth of the Saviour
sorrow. Wei might the wise men Shake
out the myrrh.
But notice also from another sack they
shake out the frankincon3e Clear up 10
the raftcrs Of the barn the air is filed with
perfume, and the hostlers and the cau,el
drivers in the furthcst part Of the building
iuhale il. and il floats out on the air until
passcrs-by wonder who in that rough place
could have by accident dropped box OF
abalastcr Franlkinccnse. That is what
they burned in the censor in the ancient
temple. Frankinccnse That means
worship. Frankincense. That IS to fill
all the homes. and all the churches, and
all the capitals, and all tho nations. from
cellar of stalact.ted cave clear up 10 the
silvery raftcrs Of the starlit dome Frank.
incense That is what we shake out from
hearts today, 50 that the nostrils of Christ
once crimsoned with the hemorrhage OF
the cross, shall be flooded with the perfume
Of worlds alteration. Frankncense.
Frankincense in song, and sermon, and
ofTertory, and handshalIing, and decora-
ton. Praise him, mountains and hills,
valleys and seas, and skies and earth and
heaveu-cyclonc with your trumpets,
northern lights with your flaming en-
sign. morning with your castles of cloud
and evening with your billowing clouds OF
sunset Do YOU know how they used to
hold the censor in the olden times. and
what IL was made Of? Here is a metal pan
and the handle by which it was held. In
the inside OF this metal pan were put living
Goals, on the top or them a perforated COW
or. In a square box the frankincense was
brought TO the temple. This frankincense
was taken out and sprinkled over the living
Goals, and then the perforated cover was
put on, and when they were all ready for
worship. then the cover was lifted and from
this censor and from all the other censcrs
and the pcrfumCd smoke arose until il hung
amid all the folds and dropped amid all the
affairs, and then rose in great columns of
praise outside the temple, rising clear UP
toward the throne of God. So we have
two censers today, of Christmas franklin
cense. Here is the one censor OF earthly
frankincensc. On that we put our thanks
for the mercies OF the past year. the mer-
ces of all our past lives, individual mer-
cies. family mercics, social mcrcics nation
al mcrcies, and our hearts burning with
gratitude send aloft the incense OF praise
toward the throne of Christ Bring on
more incense, and higher and higher let the
columns OF praise ascend. Letthem wrcathe
all these pillars and hover amid all these
arches and then soar to the throne. But