Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1896-01-03

Over the door az heaven are wntIen these
words; None hut the sinlsss NAV enter
here ''Oh. horror" you say. chat shuts
NJ all OUT No. Christ came % the world
in one door. aud He departed through AZ
other door. He came through the door OF
the mancer, and He defarted through the
door OF the sepulcher. and His one business
was 80 to wash away our sin that after We
are dead there will be no more sin about rs
than about the eternal God. know that i
putting Il strongly, nut that j. what ! I'M
dersiand by full remission. All erased. all
washed away. all secured out. all gone.
That undergirdling and overarching and ir-
radiuting and imparadising possibility for
YOU aud Tor me. aud Tor the whole race.
that was given that Christmas night.
DO You wonder We bring flowers to-day to
celebrate such an EVENT. DO YOU wonder
that We take organ and youthful voice and
queenly sOloiSt 20 celebrate ~ Do YOU
wonder that Raphael aud EuheBs and Titan
and Giotto aud Ghirlandaio and all the old
Italian and German painters gave the
mightieSt stroke Of their genius to sketch
the Madonna. Mary. and her bow
OH now / see what the Manager was. Not
so high the gildei and iewelei Bnd emhroid-
cred cradle Of the Henrys of England. or the
Louis Of France. or the Fredericks of Prus-
STA. Now hnd out that that Bethlehem
crib fed not SO much the oxen ot the stall As
the white horses of Aporalyptic vision. Now
find the swaidling clothes cnlarcing and
emhlazoning into AN imperial robe for I,
ronqueror. Now | find that the star Of that
Christmas right was only the diamOuded
sandal of Him who hath the moon under His
feet. Now come To- understand that the
music of that night was not completed
song. but only the striuging of the instru-
ments for great chorus Of two worlds, the
bass to be carried by earthly Nations saved,
IL A. - u
Oh. heaven, heaven. heaven | shall meet
Jou there. After all our imprrte'tions are
gone | shall meet You there. l look out to-
dav, through the mis,S OF years, through the
fog that rises from the cold Jordan. TIN ough
the wide open do0rof solid pearl 10 that re-
union. | expect 10 see YOU there as certain
~ rs | see YOU here What a time we shall
have in high converse, talking over sins
pardoned and sOrrOws cOmt0rted and battles
triumphant,
Some OF your children have already gone,
and though people passing along the street
and seeing white crane on the du1rhell may
have said. at is only child Yet when tho
broken hearted father came 90 SoIcit my
service. he said, Come around and comfort
US. for we loved her 50 much
What q Christmas mornin: il will make
when those with wnom You used to keep the
holidays are all around You in heaven,
Silver haired old father Young again. and
mother who had 81 many aches and plins
and decrepitudes we'll again. and all your
brothers and sisters and the little ones
How glad they will be To- sea You! They
have been waiting. The last time they saw
your face it was covered with tears and dis
tress. and pallid from long watching, and
one of them | can imagine to-day, with
one hand holding fast the shining gate. and
the other hand swung out toward you, say
ing
"Steer this way, father, steer straight for
me;
Here safe in heaven am waiting for thee"
On, those Bethlehem angels. when they
went back after the 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 the glorieS to come. II is too late
to smut the gate. II is blocked wide open
with hOsannas marching this WAY. and halle
luiahS marching that way In the spiendor
OF the anticipation | feel rs If | was DIVING
not physically, for | never was more we'll
but in the transport OF the Christmas trans
ncuration.
What almost humans me is the thought
that it is provided for -uch sinners as you
and | have been. II il had been provided
/ only for those who had always thought right
( and spoken right and acted right. ven and
/ would have had no interest in it, had nc
share in it; you and | would have stuck &c
the raft midOcean, aud let the ship sail by
carrying perfect passengers from II perfect
life on earth to perfect life in heaven. But
have heard the commander Of that ship is the
same great and glorious and sympathetic one
who hushed the tempest around the boat on
/ Galilee, and have heard that all the pass
engers on the ship are sinners saved 10y
grace. And SO we hail the ship, and it bear
down this way, and we como by the side %
it and ask the Captain two questions, "WhC
are Thou and "whencei' And He SAYS
II am Captain of Salvation. aud | am from
the manger." Oh, bright Christmas morn
4 ing Of my souls delight Chime all tn,
bells. Merry Christmas,
Merry with the thought OF sins forgiven
merry with the idea Of SORROWS comfortel
merry,with the raptureS to come. Oh, lift tina
Christ from the manger and lay Him dOwI
in all our hearts We may not bring to Hin
as costly present as the magi brought. bu
we bring to His feet aud TO the manger 10
day the frankincense Of our joy, the pros;ra
tion of our worship.
Down at His feet all churches, all ages. al
earth allheaven. Down at His feet the fou
and twenty elders on their faces. Down tn
great multitude that no man can number.
Down Michael the archangei! Down al
worlds at His feet and worship. GLORY t,
God in the highest. and on earth peace, goo,
will to men,