The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1895-12-27

i
ran down to the scene find that our world
| Is beautifully aud gloriously and maynifj-
Gently surrounded. Toe meteors are with
us. r9r one OF them ran to point down to
the birthplace. The heavens are with us
because at the thought of our redemption
| they roll hosannas out Of the midnight sky
on, yes, do not know but our world NAV
be better surrounded than we have some
times imagined AMI when Il child Is born
angels bring it, and when it dies, angels
rake 1t, aud when AN old man benos under
'De weight OF years. angels uphold him and
when heart breaks, angels soothe it, Angels
IN me hospital to take care of tbe sick
Angels in the cemetery to watch our dead
Angels in the church ready to fly heayel-
ward with the news OF repentant souls.
Angels above the world. Angels under tine
world. Angels all around the world.
tub the dust OF human imDeriections out
OF your eyes, and look into the heavens and
see angels OF pity, angels OF mercy, angels OF
pardon, angels OF help, angels crowned.
angels charioted. The world defended by
angels girdled by angels. cohorted by angels
CLOUDS OF angels. Hear David cry out:
The chariots OF God are 10000 Even
thousands OF angels" But the mightiest
angel stood not that night in the clouds over
Be 'hiehcm: the mightiest angel that plight
lay among the eattle-the angel OF the new
covenant.
AS the c'ean white linen was being
wrapped around the little form of that child
emperor. no; ~ cherub. not a seraph. not an
angel. nCt u wCr,d but wept and thrilled and
shouted. Oh. yes our world has plenty of
'ympathlzers. Our world is only u silver
run3 of II great ladder at the top of which is
our Fathers house. No more stellar solitari-
ness Tor our world, no othsr iriendless plan
els spun out into space to freeze. but world
in the bosom OF divine maternity. star
harnpssed to manger.
Again. remark that that night born In
that village barn was the offenders hope.
Some sermonizers may sny ought to have
projected this thought at the beginning o:
the sermon. Oh, no! 1 wanted you to rise
toward 1t. 1 wanted you to examine the car
nelians and the jaspers and the crystals be-
fore show you the Kohinoor-the crown
jewel OF the nSes. oh. that jewel had very
poor setting! The cub of bear is born amid
the grand old pillars OF the forest. the whelp
OF lion takes its first step from the jungle OF
luxuriaut leaf and wild flower. the kid OF
goat Is born in cavern chandeliered with sta
lactite and pillared with staiagmite. Christ
was born in a bare barn.
Yet that nativity was the offenders hope.
over the door OF heaven are written these
words: None but the sinless may enter
here" ooh, horror" you say. "that shuts
us all out" No. Christ came to tho world
in one door. AMI Ho departed through an
other door. He ctme through the door of
the manger, and He departed through the
door OF tho sspulcher, and His one business
was 80 to wash away our sin that after we
are dead there will be no more sin about us
IMAM 'toout the eternai Goa. know that is
putting 1t strongly, but that is what | un-
derstand by full remission. All erased, all
washed away. all secured out. all gone.
That unlergirlling and overarchine and ir-
radiating and imparadising possibility for
you. and for ne, and for the whole race.
that was given that Christmas night.
DO you wonder we bring flowers to-dayto
celebrate such an event? Do YOU wonder
that we take organ and youthful voice and
queenly sooist to celebrate it? Do you
wonder that Raphael and Rubens and Titan
and Giotto and Ghirlandajo aud all tho old
Italian and German painters gave the
mlghtieSt stroke OF their genius to sketch
the Madonnn, Mary, and her boy?
Oh! now see what the manger was Not
40 high the gilded and jewelei and embroid-
cred cradle OF the Henrys of England. or the
Louis of France, or the FrcdericNs OF Prus-
sia. Now find out that that Bethlehem
crib fed not so much tho oxen Of the stall as
the white horses OF Apocalyptic vision. Now
l lni the swaddling clothes enlarglng ami
emblazonlng into an imperial robs for a
conqueror. Now l find that the star of that
Christmas night was only the diamouded
sandal Of Him VINO hath the moon under His
feet. Now come TO understand that the
music OF that night was not q completed
song, but only tho strinSing OF tho iustru-
men;s for great chorus OF two worlds, the
bass to be carried by earthly Nations saved,
and the soprano by Kingdoms of glory won.
Oh. heaven. heaven. heaven! / shall meet
gone ] shall meet you there. [ look ont to-
dav. through the msts of years. through the
Fog that rises from the cold Jordan, TIN on gh
tho wide open door OF solid pearl to that re-
union. Icxpect to see you there rs certain
ly as / See you here. What n time we shall
have in high converse. talking over sins
pardoncd and sorrows comforted and battles
triumphant
Some OF your children have already gone,
and though people passing along the street
"a a. Reu ma ~ fhn lnn rI,nh
have said, 1T is only child" yot when tho
broken hearted father came TO solicit my
service, he said, Come around and comfort
us. for we loved her so much"
What Christmas morning it will make
when those with wnom you used to keep the
holidays are all around you in heaven!
Silver haired old father young again, AMI
mother VINO had so many aches and pains
and decrepitudes well again. and all your
brothers and sisters and the little ones
How glad they will ha to see you! They
have been waiting. Tho last time they saw
your face il was covered with tears and dis
trcss. and pallid from long watching, aud
ono OF them [ can imagine to-day, with
one hand holding fast the shining gate. and
tho other hand swung out toward you, say
ing:
steer this way, father. steer straight for
Here safe i'll heaven am waiting Tor thee "
On. thosa Bethlehem angels when they
went back after tho concert that night over
the hills. forgot to shut the door, All the
secret is out. No more USE OF trying to hide
from us th" giorioS to come. 1t is too late
TO shut the gate. 1t is blocked wide open
with hosannas marching this way, and halle
luiahs marching thai way. In the spIendor
of the anticipation 1 feel as if WAS dying
not physically. for I never was more well
but in the transport OF tho Christmas trans.
nguration.
What almost unmans mo is the thought
that it is provided for such sinners as you
and [ have been. Tit had been provide 4
only for those who had always thought right
and spoken right and acted right you and |