St. Paul daily globe., 1892-12-26
The Theme Of a PoWa pful
Sermon by Archbishop
ireland.
Spiritual Uplifting by the
Christmas Influence Con-
sideped.
Violation Of Moral, as Of
Physical Laws, Leads
to Death.
Splendid Ceremonies in Cath
Ollie Churches in Honor
Of the Day.

Archbishop Ireland's Christmas ser
mon, delivered at the cathedral last
evening, was mastery and eloquent
production. 1.-The Love of God for
Man" was the theme. behold. tidings
of great jov to all the people, he said.
was sung by the angles OH that Christ
mas morning when God gave his only
begotten son as proof of the depth Of
his love. Instlnctlvely and without
any reflection, pursued the archbishop,
OH the part of the people their hearts go
out Oh this blessed Gay III great rejoic-
ing. The whole world, the believing
and the unbelieving. thrills with Pc
culiar joy on Christmas day. The soul,
SO 10 speak, is buoyant and leaps up
ward even to the skies with the joys and
blessings bestowed. Verify, indeed, it
is Gay OF Catholics, and all hear the
voice Of the angels singing Behold, we
bring to you good tidings Of great JOY
which shall be to all people"
How grateful, pleaded the archbishop.
we should be to the Lord that He did
come down among us, and speak to us.
and tell us of His love and mercy. If
He had not, we would never have
known how much God loves us. Rea
son. in reading the works OF nature,
sees God supreme above us, and con-
tesses dependency upon Him. Reason
does not teach us that God loves us.
Indeed. reason would lead almost to the
contrary. How do we know that this
great being loves US? That He has the
love of the father for the child, and the
love OF the friend for friend?
-''lmpoSSible," the poor soul says. 81,
a-creathre 50 insignificant, loved ten
deriy and earnestly by Omnipotent
God?''
liearken to the voice of Jesus! "God
so loved the world that He gave TO it HIS
only begOtten son." and points to it as
the evidence of Gods love. He became
incarnate-even little babe-and pre-
sents Himself in the most amiabie fash
ion. and utterly helpless, to show how
He reduced Himself for the sake of the
people. No man can give greater proof
Of his love than to die for the one he
loved, and that is what He did. God
loves eacn child Of Adam. We look up
towards heaven and say. 1T is mine"
for the possessions OF the Father are the
possessions OF the child.
The question arising from reason is:
Does He love even after offended? Does
He forgive? Violate Gods command
ments, yield 10 passion and pride, and
as we study the universe we are led 10
believe that for sin there is no rems-
sion; that sin infallibly obtains its pen
atty. When the laws of the physical
world are violated the penalty is death
Violate physical laws and the BODY is
visited by iniirmities that lead to death.
TO violate the laws of the vegetable
Kingdom means death. Why does not
the same law obtain with the moral be-
Ing?
The mystery is in Gods forgiveness.
Happy the tidings, God loves us even
when we have strayed away. the babe
OF Bethlehem came not to seek the just.
but TO seek the sinner; not to forgive,
because sin pays It's own penalty; but to
pay the penalty in his own person.
After thirty weary years he died on the
cross at Calvary for the eXpiation of our
sins,