The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1891-12-26
" UNTO us 4 CHILD is BORN. +"
An Able Sermon By the Rector of St.
Pau's Church.
Rev. G. a. ottman breaches on the
Changes Wrought Through the
Grace of Christ.

Grace Of Christ.
There was large congregation present
yesterday atSt. Paul's (Episcopal) Church
20 participate in the special Christmas
services. These were in keeping with
The character of the day--the anniversary
Of the birth of the Savior. The cosy
church was comfortably warmed, and
he altar and other portions tastefully
decorated.
The rector, Rev. G. A. Gilman, of1ici-
ated, and delivered a sermon of rare in
aerest and force. He spoke from the
lext: For unto us a child is born; unto
rs a son is given: and the government
shall be upon his shoulder. OF the in
crease of his government and peace there
shall be no end, upon the throne of David,
md his kingdom, to order it and to es-
Jablish it with judgment, and with just
ice from henceforth even forever. The
zeal of the Lord of hosts viii perform
his. Isaiah 9, part of verses 6 and Z.
Like bow of mercy, spanning the
clouds of a terrible and destructive
storm, were these words, spoken to the
ancient church for comfort in sore tribu-
alton, for strength in an hour of desperate
need. For multiplied and grievous
lransgressions, whose patient endurance
BY God only aggravated to greater
enormity on the part of His people,
Judah and her less favored, bat no less
guilty sister, Israel, were threatened
with fearful outbreak of divine wrath.
4 was to correspond in vehement yio-
.ence with the crimes which had pro-
voked, and with the majesty which ex-
ercised it. In vain should the ut
most strength Of the confederate
nations seek to stay its strength,
should stumble, fall, be broken, shared
and taken. The commissioned agent OF
punishment, with his hostile forces,
should sweep over the length and breadth
Of the land, PROSTATE its bulwarks, van
quish its defenders, and either destroy or
lead into captivity its wretched popula-
ton.
Sad, and much to be pitied, would then
be the condition and the prospects of the
people Of God. They would groan under
their calamities and fret beneath the chat
ing OF their heavy yoke. Passing through
their own land, sadly conditioned and
hungry, humbled, mortified and de-
iected, they would be tempted TO curse
their evil fate, while everything around
would present to their distempered vision
boding spectres of trouble, darkness and
anguish. y ct the prophet is careful to
add: God had not wholly forsaken and
cast OFT His people; still He regarded
them with tender interest, and, in their
behalf was devising uniathomable plans
Of love. What these plans were he pro-
Ceeds to announce, and to his rapt gaze
so glorious did they seem in their char
acter, so noble in their issues, that they
at once absorb his entire mind,
and fill the whole circle of his inspired
vision. Judah's calamity and IsraePs
Inisfortune-the naughty conqueror-the
ruin and disolation which followed in
his train, the trouble, anguish and dis
pair so touchingiy bewailed, all pass
iway as dream from his thoughts. He
traverses the intervening ages as though
their history had already been written
out and was familiar, and standing in the
presence of a new era and Of new events
he discourses upon them as though they
were the essence and the reality of his
theme.
a REMARKABLE PROPHESY.
The prophesy, of which the text forms
q part, is one of the most remarkable in
he Old Testament, and considering its
subject, style and the circumstances I'M
Ger which it was uttered, there are few
passages of Holy Scripture which better
deserve, or will more abundantly reward
careful study. Whatever ambiguity may
attach to particular expressions the gen
oraI scope and meaning are perfectly
clear. Especially can there be no mis-
take as to its proper application. Nc
argument is needed to show who is the
person and what the event intended to be
described. The simple reading of the
uropheSy will settle the question with
every candid mind and sufficiently de-
IaOnstrate that it can have no other than
Christian fulfllment.
With glowing language and brilliant
imagery Isaiah penetrates the very heart
If his subject, and surrounds it with a
full and radiant splendor. Like ST. John,
" ho, in the preface to his gospel, has evil
Gently caught the spirit and borrowed the
expressions of his evangelical prede-
cessor, he directs attention to the great
light, shining with a fuil-orbed bright
less upon the people walking IN dark
ess and dwelling in the shadow Of
CeaJh light powerful to dispel dark.
TESS and make the shadows fee affluent
il its capacity and prolific of bliss. Thou
O Immortal Light, hast multiplied the
ration and vastly increased its joy; such
joy, to use an apt but inadequate figure, as
the reaper feels when he bears his har-
est home. or such as swells the warriors
bosom when he returns with the spoils Of
successful warfare.
But though springing from conflict and
from victory, this IS no soldiers trophy
il were idle to look here for carnal
weapons, for the shout OF battle and gar
llents dyed in the blood of the slain-be-
lold a moral encounter, spiritual tri-
Umph, tending 10 sublimer issues, even
to the breaking asunder of the iron yokeS
Of
WORSE THAN EGYPTIAN BONDAGE
70 the destruction Of a mighty OPP.
Iressor's rod, and the badges of a CALLING
and ignominious servitude. For" ar
cues the prophet in an impassionatt
Hurst OF pious enthusiasm and eloquence
unto us a child is born; unto us a son is
Siven, and the government shall be upoI
Ills shoulder. OF the increase of his gov
ernment and peace there shall be no end
pom the throne of David, and upon his
Kingdom, to order II, and TO establish it
With judgment and with justice, from
Ienceforth even forever. The zeal Of the
Lord of Hosts VIII perform this
The most striking feature Of this mem
cradle prediction, that which chiefly eX
ats It's value and renders it worthy o
cur highest regard, is its clear, emphatic
and noble promise Of d Redeemer. l SAY
Iae Redeemer-for in this sacred wore
es its pith and scope. The throne o
David, the kingdom ordered and estab
shed upon IL, blessed with an ever-ln
cceasing prosperity, and destined to al
unlimited duration, when rightly under
stood neither conflict with nor detrac
The casting out of the devil