Sharp County record., 1891-01-08
But He was born IN

holstered forests. But lie was oorh III
a winter month. IT.
It was in closing DeceINber that lie
was lorn TO show that this is Christ
for pc ople in sharp blast, for people un,
der clonded sky, for people with frosted
hopes. for people with thermometer
below zero. That is the reason lie is SO
often found among the destitute. You
can find Him on any right coming on
the moors. You can see Him any nlght
coming throught the dark lanes OF the
citv You can see Him putting His shand
under the fainting head in the pauperS
cabin. He remembers how the "ino
wbistled around the caravansay IN
bethlehem that December night, and
He is in sympathy with all those who
in their poverty hear the shutters clatter
on cold night.
But notice also in this account the
three Christmas presents that are
brought to the manger. Gold trankin-
cense and myrrh. Gold to Christ-that
means all the affluence of the world
SUI rendered to Him. For lack OF money
no more asylums limping on their way
like the cripples whom they helped,
feeling their slow way like the blind
people whom they sheltered. Millions
of dollars for Christ where there are
now thousands for Christ. Railroads
owned by Christian stockholders and
governed by Christian directors and
carrying passengers and freight al
Christian prices. George Peabodys
and Abbott Lawrences, and James
Lenoxes no rarity, Bank Of England,
Bourse of France, United States Treas
ury, all the moneyed institutions OF the
world for Christ. The gold for Christ
Gold not merely paid the way OF Joseph
and Mary and the Divine fugitive into
Egypt, but it was typical of the fact
that Christ's way shall be paid all around
the world. The gold for Christ, the sill
yer for Christ, the jewels for Christ
Australia, Nevada and Golconda for
Christ. The bright, round, beautiful
level of world set like a solitaire on
the bosom of Christ.
But notice that these wise men also
shook out from their sacks the myrrh.
The cattle came and they shifted at it.
They did not eat it, because it was bitter
The pungent gum resin of Abyssinia,
called myrrh, brought to the feet OF
Christ. That means bitterness. Bitter
betrayal, bitter persecution, 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 they put under His head in tho
wilderness. Myrrh. That is what they
strewed His path with all the way from
the cattle pen in Bethlehem to the
mausoleum at Joseph's country seat.
Myrrh. Yea, says the psalmist: "All
Thy garments smell of my1rh." That
is what the wise men wrapped in the
swaddling clothes of the babe. That is
what the Marys wrapped in the shroud
of a crucifed Christ. The myrrh. Oh,
the height, the depth, the length, the
breadth of the Saviour's sorrow. Well
might the wise men shake out the
myrrh.
But I notice also from another sack
they shake out the frankincense. Clear
up to the rafters Of the barn the air is
filled with perfume, and the hostlers
and the camel drivers in=the furthest
part of the building inhale it, and il
floats out upon the air until passers-by
wonder who in that rough place coulC
have by accident dropped box of ala
baster. Frankincense! That is wha
they burned in the censer in the ancien
temple. Frankincense! That means wor
ship. Franllincense! That's to fill all th'
homes, and all the churches, and all tn,
capitals, and all the nations, from Gel
lar of stalacitited cave clear up to tn
slivery rafters of the stsrlit dome
Frankincense. That is what we shak
out of our hearts to-day, so that tn
nostrils of Christ, once crimsoned wit
the hemorrhage of the cross, shal
be flooded with the perfume of
worlds alteration. Frankincense
Frankincense in song, and sermon, an
offertory, and handshaking, an
decoration. Praise Him, mountains
and hills, valleys and seas, and skies, an
earth, and Eeaven-cyclone with you
trumpets, northern lights with you
flaming ensign, morning with you
castles of cloud and evening with you
billowing clouds of sunset. Do yo
know how they used to hold the cense
in the olden time, and what it was mad
Of? Here is metal pan, and the handle b
which it was held. In the inside Of thi
metal pan were put living Goals, on tn
top Of them perforated cover, In
square box the frankincenso wa
brought to the temple This franlsir
cense was taken out and sprinkled owe
the living Goals, and then the perfoi
atcd cover was put on, and when the
were all ready for worship, then tn
cover was lifted from this ccnser an
from all the other censers, and the pei
fumed smoke arose until 1t hung ami
all the folds and dropped amid all tn
altars, and then rose in great column
Of praise outside or above the temples
rising clear up toward the throne Q
God, So we have two censers to.da
Of Christmas frankincense, Here