The record-union., 1894-12-25
THE SERMON.

For them to Jesus quickly come,
They boldly say, mo room for Him."
o. men. ambitious worldly men,
What thus do you expect TO gain
When you reject the only nope
That's offered in this world OF sin?
But let US look where'er we VIII
For some attractive power in man,
Which, like magnet, unexplained,
Attracts whate'er comes close 10 him,
And naught we e'er shall find but Christ.
The Magi wise came from the East,
For in the West they saw a star
Which guided many weary mile
To BethlehemS stony manger.
Their destination being reached,
They fell before the Holy child
And offered gifts of gold and myrrh.
Magnetic power SeiZed hold OF kings,
For Herod hearing of these things
Demanded wnen and where this Christ.
Whom all men reverenced and adored,
Should e'er be born. + ear fell on all
Lest He should rend their kingdom, too,
And secretly devised plan to kill the child;
But Angels from the throne came down,
And warning Joseph in a dream
That herod sought the young chlld's life,
Made haste to Egypt's genial cline.
Ger barren wastes they march along,
Ger mountain pass, III canyon deep,
Through valleys broad and pastures green,
Neer stopping night nor day trow,
Until place secure was reached,
Where they might rest their weary heads
Without alarm or fear or dread.
'Twas thus, dear friends, that Jesus Christ,
The dear ncarnate son of God,
Began his mission here on earth
a mission noble, brave and grand.
DO we, whose teet have always trod
In gardens green and pastures fair,
Fer count the price our savior paid
To bring US back to peace with God?
Ah, when we've done our very best
To please our maker here below,
The gift he gave us is SO great,
Our Offering seems so very small.
The angels came with warning voice
To the W ise Men of the East,
ForbIdding them To tell the king
OF those great things they'd seen and heard.
old Herod flew into a rage,
And swore because they Knocked him so,
He'd slay all children in the land
OF two years Old and less.
An. mothers. you who know what love
\ ou bear to your own darling child,
Let bOsOmS heaVe IN sympathy,
Let hearts beat fast and eyes flow tears.
There is a child scarce one week old,
IN rage snatcned from its mothers breast,
And sword applied with keen edge sharp
An, look, the child is pale in DEATH
Another child in rage they seize;
This time son Of eighteen months.
Look youi They take him by the feet
And dash his brains out on the floor.
And thus the deadly work goes on,
Till all the families III the land
w ere made TO mourn a darling babe.
All. never did q smallpox scourge,
Nor yellow fever, leproSy.
Nor naught OF q malignant form,
Take of so many precious babes.
NOW, children, why was all this done?
'Twas naught except to kill that child
That after years upon the cross
Was crucified for you and me.
But while this wicked, vicious King
Was doing all within his power
To rid the earth of Him who came
To bring salvation to our race,
The hand OF God was over Him
Way down in Egypts barren plain.
And while some men would have Him killed,
Or baniShed from His native soil
Some others bowed with reverence
TO Him, whom God had made our Lord.
For look those angels from the throne
Descend in purest garments white,
Make known to shepherds on the plains
The great event that came TO pass
The shepherds fearing at the sight
The angels said to them: Behold
bring you tdings of great joy,''
When suddenly in joyful song
A multitude OF the heavenly host
Sang out their anthems in the air
Until Heavens dome from pole to pole
Re-echoed with "a child is born ~
When Christ was only eight days old
They took him to the temple, there
BY law To have him circumclsed.
When Simeon, that man of God,
Whose heart was Iilled with holy zeal
Because of promise made to him
That he should not see death before his Christ
Game to the temple, led of God.
He stood amazed with spirits power
And taking Christ into his arms, exclaimed:
1--WE seen the hight of my salvation,
Let Thy servant go in peace
O friends, some day we'll all behold
And recognize our blessed Lord.
May God then grant that we may saw
''Salva1ion's ligat, it saved mew
But we must hurry quickly on,
For should we tell of all His worth
Ah did say of all His worth?
That never could be done, although
We'd praise HIM through eternity
But should We tell of what we know
n volume more would il contain,
This child was called NaZarine
Because he dWelt in Nazareth;
And CT someone after it was asked,
'sCan any good come out of it?''
We're very sorry-sad, indeed
We know no more OF Him
Until at twelve he came to light
Conversing with those doctors old
VINO ever heard OF such youth
Before this Jesus, born of God?
Right here the question has been asked
Why Christ should leave his fathers train
And cause his parents grief and fear.
The answer comes from his own soul
''Wot ye not my fathers call?'
The youth went back TO Nazareth
The mother keeping in her heart
The words her son had said to her.
Not comprehending half their worth.
All. many things Christ has in store
We cannot truly understands;
But when we see Him face to face
Wen know Him then as we are known
AIethinks see the youth TO manhood grown
And subject to his fathers care,
He learns his fathers art and trade:
i see Him shove that heavy plane
For many and many weary hour
Until He's known by all around
AS the boy OF Nazareth-the carpenter,s son
For thirty years lie thus doth I1Ve
His mission then to all unknown
Till John the Baptist came to teach
Belief in God and Jesus Christ.
Prepare the way, make straight his path
For every valley shall be filed
And every mount ana hill brought low.
The crooked places shall be straight
And rough ways shall be smooth
This John was from the wilderness.
He taught a doctrine hard TO bear
(For certain Pharlsees and JewSl
For when they said what shall we do9,,
His answer was Love every man.:
A coat to him who hath no coat
And meat TO him who hath no meat
o, would to God that every one
W no bears the name of Christ to-day
Might have that tender charity
ssThat hides multitude OF sins-
But look, down there in Jordan's brink
You see that fearless man of God;
The people throng on every side
What means that multitude OF naent
They're waiting there for John 1 ne Baptist
Perchance to dip, or pour or sprinkle
But look again The Son of God
lie asks to be baptized of John-
AND see! The heavens open vide
And Gods own spirit like a dove
Deseends upon his only chilli;
-. that that power might come to-oay
Come, Holy Spirit, heavenly dove,
Win all thy quiekening power
Kfndle q flame Of sacred love
In these poor hearts OF ours
And now Christ looms in moral view
Like some high tower or forest pine
Ihat rises tar above all else.
The Devil came in awful power
CAS- oft he's come to you and mel
And used ms dIrest, darkest lies
TO tempt the o1nniscient Son OF God.
And first his appetite did TEMPT
FOR having tasted forty days
He was with hunger overcome
Bat Christ Wlthstood him, saying thus.