Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1891-01-15

was the gysatestrslronomcr of the world? |
tho Lhristian. Who was the
greatest poet ever produced? Milton, the
Christian. Who was the wisest writer on
law? Blackstone, the Christian. Why Is
Il that every college and university In tho
land has o chapel? They must have q
place for the wise men to worship. So
Daniel Webster came to the Manager. The
wise men of the East followed by the wise
men Of the West.
Know also in this scene that it was a
winter month that God chose for his Sons
nativity. Had it been the month of May
that is the season Of blossoms. Had he
been born in the month of June-that 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 September-that is the season Of
ripe orchards. Had he been born in the
month Of October-that is the season of
upholstered forests. But he was born in .
winter month.
Notice also a fact which no one seems to
notice, that this Christ was born among the
sheep and the cattle, and the horses, and
the camels, in order that he might be an
influence to the whole creation.
It means mercy for overdriven, underfed,
UOUEAy SuC1VCKCuS 6dAASPO 0uu iu0AtACoVSA onA-
NAL creation. Hath the Christ who COM
pared himself to dove no care for tho
cruelties Of pigeon shooting? Hath the
Christ who compared himself to q lamb no
care for the sheep that are tied and
and with neck over the sharp
edge of the butchers cart, or the cattle
train in hot weather from Omaha to New
York, with no water-ffteen hundred
miles of agony? Hath the Christ whose tax
was paid by fish, the coin taken from its
no care for the tossing fins in the
fish market? Hath the Christ who strung
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 transfix-
ed insects? Hath the Christ who said.
Behold the fowls Of the air." himself
never beheld the outrages heaped upon the
brute creation which cannot articulate its
grief? This Christ came not only to lift the
human race out of its trouble, but to lift
on: of pang and hardship the animal crea-
ton. In the glorious millennial time the
child shall lead the lion and play with the
cockatrice only because brute and reptile
shall have no more wrongs to 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 flocks 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 to Christ-that means all the affiuence
of the world surrendered to him. The gold
for Christ, the silver for Christ, the jewels
for Christ. Australia, Nevada and Col
conda for Christ. The bright, round,
beautiful jewel of world set like a soli-
taire on the bosom of Christ.
But notice that these wise men also
took out from their sacks the myrrh. The
cattle came and snuffed 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 persc-
cution, 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 Marys twisted
in the shroud Of crucitied Christ. The
myrrh. Oh, the height. the depth, tho
length, the breadth of the Saviour's
sorrow. Well might the wise men shake
out the myrrh.
But notice also from another sack they
shake out the frankincense. Clear up to
the rafters of the barn the air is filed with
perfume and the hostlers and the camel
drivers in the furthest part of tho building
inhale it, and it floats out on the air until
passers-by wonder who in that rough place
could have by accident dropped a box of
abalaster. Frankincense. That is what
they burned in the censor in the ancient
worship. Frankincense. That is to fill
all the homes, and all the churches, and
all the capitals, and all the nations, from
cellar Of stalactited cave clear up to the
silvery rafters Of the starlit dome. Frank
incense. That is what VIC shake out from
hearts today, so that the nostrils Of Christ
once crimsoned with tho hemorrhage of
the cross, shall be flooded with the perfume
Of a worlds alteration. Frankinccnse.
F'rankincense in song, and sermon, and
offertory, and handshaking, and decora-
ton. Praise him, mountains and hills.
valleys and seas, and skies and earth and
heaven-cyclone 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 te
hold the censor in tho olden times. and
what it was made of? Here is metal par
and the handle by which it was held. Ir
the inside Of this metal pan were put living
Goals, on the top of them perforated GOV
err. In a square box the frankincense wa.
brought to the temple. This frankincenss
was taken out and sprinkled over the living
Goals, and then the perforated cover was
put on, and when they were all ready fol
worship, then the cover was lifted and from
this censor and from all the other censer
and the perfumed smoke arose until it hung
amid all the folds and dropped amid all tn
affairs, and then rose in great columns O
praise outside the temple, rising clear w
toward the throne Of God. So we hav,
two censers today, of Christmas franklin
cense. Here is the one censor Of carthl,
frankincense. On that we put our thank!
for the mcrcics Of the past year. the mcr
cies Of all our past lives. individual mer
cies. family mercies, social mercies. nation
Al mercies, and our hearts burning witt
gratitude send aloft the incense of prais
| thn ~ hr;e 81