The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1892-12-26
god WITH U.s."
The Doctrine Of the Incarnation of the
Savior.
Rev. G. A. Ottmann, Rector of st.
Paul's Episcopal Church, breaches
on the Birth of Christ.

The Christmas services at st. Paurs
Church yesterday morning were I'M
usually impressive The regular
morning prayer service was heightened
somewhat, the singing was excellent by
the choir, the selection of hymns choice
and the decorations about the altar were
tastefully arranged.
Rev. g. A. Ottmann prefaced his SER
mon by saying that the doctrine of the
incarnation was a subject too important to
be treated extensively in one sermon,
and that he could but touch upon its
more comprehensive points. He preached
from the text: "They shall call His name
Emmanuel, which is, being interpreted,
'Godwith us."-Matthew l., %.
st. Matthew, said the speaker, here re-
fers to the prophecy of Isaiah. when he
said: Therefore the Lord himself shall
give you sign: Behold, virgin shall
conceive and bear a son, and shall
call his name Emmanuel" These words
bring us lace to face with one Of the great
doctrines of the church, the doctrine OF
the incarnation; that IS, God, in the per-
son OF Jesus Christ, the son, taking upon
himself, clothing himself with humanity,
the form and nature of man. 1t was one
OF the most stupendous acts in the his
tory OF the universe. Suppose that the
incarnation were to come now-in the
full blaze of the nineteenth century
what a cOmmotion II would cause. How
men would be stirred and aroused by
1t. How all human interests would pale
before it, The chemist would leave
his laboratory, for all his experiments
could result in nothing to be COM
pared with this. The lawyer would
cast aside his brief, realizing that
4rih
compare in importance with one Of this
character. The merchant would forget
his wares in his eager anxiety to seek
after this pearl OF great price. Commerce
would stand still, for they who were in
terested in its various departments would
forget business and the getting of money
IN their desire to know more of this won
dertul thing.
The press, that marvellous instrument
for the dissemination of intelligence,
would forget all else and its entire work
would be the making known to the world
every item of interest in relation to this
matter which could by any means be
secured. Well, we are told that just this
has occurred. Doubtless you can all re-
call the entire story Of the birth of Jesus.
Out in the Judean fields, near to the city
of Bethlehem, some humble shepherds
were watching their flocks. The gentle
sheep were lying on the ground, peace
FULLY resting in the near vicinity of their
masters, who were doubtless resting near
a fire which they had made to temper the
chill of the air. Over all brooded the
stiffness of night, and the stars. the silent
watchmen of the heavens, looked down
with bright glances upon the sleeping
world.
But the scene changes; the darkness is
broken, and an unearthly and mvsteri-
GUS light shines round about the startled
shepherds. The gentle flock lift their
frsfr tot h.,,, sfrrl,=
in the light, the frightened beholders per-
ceive a form, not that of man, but the
form of one of the angelic servants of the
Almighty. In the stiffness they hear a
voice, more than earthly sweet, saying
unto them: Fear not; for, behold,
bring you good tidings of great Joy,
which shall be to all people. For unto
you is born this day in the city of David
Savior, which is Christ, the Lord And
this shall be sign unto you: Ye shall
ind the babe, wrapped in swaddling
clothes, lying in a manger."
And suddenly the light was greatly in
creased in its brightness, and there
was with the angel a multitude
of the heavenly host praising God
and saying, "GlOry to God in the highest,
and on earth peace, goodwill toward
men,"
When the angels were gone the shep-
herds FASTENED away to the city of David,
Bethlehem, to see this thing which the
Lord had made known to them, and they
came and found the babe lying in the
manger, and when they had seen it thew
made known abroad all that the angels
had told them concerning the child. Not
far from this time there appeared in Je-
rusalem, seeking the one that had been
born, whose star had appeared to them
and led them, three wise men. INQUIRY
satisfied them that in Bethlehem He
whom the prophet had foretold was to
nd HI i
by the star, they found the infant Christ.
and fell down and worshipped Him. and
presented unto Him gifts, gold and frank
incense, and myrrh. The news soon
spread abroad. All they that heard it
wondered. Even the ruler, Herod. was
moved to fear lest his kingdem was to be
overthrown. We can well believe that
every business ana craft was stirred by
the magnitude of it all.
But we have a feeling of disappoint-
ment as we recall all this. The story is
overlaid by centuries. 1t is sometime of
present vividness. 1t seems to be but a
memory.
Now, the general fact that Christ is in
the worId-that is, God with us''-can-
not subsist only as a memory. 1t is true
that efforts in this direction to keep it
alive that way have been made, as in the
Passion Play, Miracle Plays, Carols, ETC.,
which have lived for centuries. But
these are of little value Christ in the
world, God with US, must be made a
presently fruitful fact. 1t is compara-
lively easy to see how God gets into hui
nauity at large. 1t is accounted for by
what Matthew Arnold calls "a stream of
tendency" A proof that He does so is
the significant fact that all gods have left
the field before him; and the Apostles
would have esteemed this fact most sig
nal triumph. Men recognize generally as
fact that Christ is in the world, God with
US. But how does the incarnate God
touch each individual soul?
This question is met by three differing
views held by men concerning Jesus,
From the humanitarian view He was not
divine, that is, God, but only man. Those
holding this view acknowledge that it is
evident that He has changed the current
of human progress; that things are as we
find them, because OF Him. But this in
fluence was an influence in kind like that
of Gutenberg, Stephenson, Jenner.
Washington, though doubtless greater
farther reaching and more spiritual and
eXalting than the influence OF any of
these. This is palpably true, but made
quate. The New Testament Scriptures
take a much higher view, as because
you are sons, God hath sent forth the
Spirit of His Son into your hearts crying
Abba, Father, l am the vine, We are the
branches" "He that abideth in me and I
in him, the same bringeth forth much
fruit; for without me we can do nothingn
For as the Father raseth up the dead
and quickeneth them, even so the Son
quickeneth whom He will" He that
hath the Son hath life, and he that hath
not the Son of God hath not life.'' "But
We are not i'll the flesh, but in the spirit,
if so be that the spirit of God dwell in
you." 'hnow We not that We are the