The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1896-01-16
ruE BASAL THOUGHTS OF CHRIST.

TuE BASAL rHouGuts OF CHRIST.
The Christmas festival did not come fret
In tho thought OF the church. In the New
Testament there is no trace of 1t. and in the
later growth OF observnnces 1t seems like an
aiterthought suggested by the gospel story,
and doubly welcome as rounding out the
ceremonies Of the Christian year. And yet
there is no festival moro widely accepted In
the middle and the modern ages as distinct.
lively the Christian feast. aud mono which
expresses the essential message of our Lord
to the world moro fully and widely 90 those
who are not believers. 10 many, Indeed.
II Il the one delightful occasion which they
perforco associate with tho namo and work
OF Christ. Its message Is bencvolyuce, it,
atteinucc, "pcace upon earth, Good will
toward men - and those who feel the mellow
spirit o. the time feel something Of the put-
pose and essential spirit Of the King.
The melownc-s OF spirit which we all aa-
socHtc with Christmas time Is due in part, no
doubt, TO It's association with childhood. Tor
which our modern thinkin, has very tender
side. Yet this itself is no chance meeting ot
ideas. Its the promise OF good forctDld and
fulfilled in the life Of a little child ut which
we think at Christmas and the love and
care Of little childr, n'noycr found moro "N-
quisite expression than in the words uul acts
OF Jesus. The modern love ot childhood
comes from him who WIS uit
child Ia a sianl" ut lothloh"m Al the
good IN 1t. in whatever hearts developed
and by whatever gifts or self denial shown.
was suggested hy him AMI viii ho arouHwi-
edged hy him In the tine of Judgment. AMI
II tho Advent feast holds the attention ot tho
world because 90, keynote IS the simplicity ut
childhood, that itself means far moro than
appears upon the surface, rising TO prophetic
melodies Of strength and service Tor every
man and for mankind.
First of the great basal thoughts a.! Chris
ttstt
feast Is that of Gods search for man. ~.
ready, though no lics an infant, wrapped IN
swaIdliug clothes, In the box where tho
oxen eat, the angels call him saviour. II IS
Advent, not accident. which Wa roWrW-
her. llo whose birth We celebrate, alone Of
all mankind. 'Hn ~ a-surrlly, iu speaking
. OF his entrance into this worlds life. II au
comcN The world has had religions IA
abundance which expressed mans -oyktu.:
after God. Tho glory uf ChrisiiHuity - that
it, whole life depends upon th' Son 10 Gui
who came. moved hy Iii. love fer mon.
without this It l.. after all. nothing moro
than u splendid guess; great example Ot
. right living aud high thiuking. hut futile to
. redeem lost sinners. When no embassy could
reach tho heavens. the heavens ia luyo
stopped 20 reveal themselves TO men. The
new astronomy has only emphasized tho
isolation oi the earth ia space. 40 though.
. of man has been -u daring ~ 90 plan "a
hopeful route oi travel TO the nearest of the
planets. We hear much of the seas uud
continents of Mars, hut IL would b" far % rH
likely that those who live IN Mars should
come TO M, than that any skill or
knowledge which we POSSESS should enable
us to 60 to them. They may have power. oi
which we know nothing, but Wa know too
we'll the limitations Of our stat". Aud SEQ.
when We think sobcrly Ot Il the coming ~ the
divine 90 share the experience Of the human
10, after all, moro likcly than that any search
a Il ~ Ia
God. Christ- freely purposcd coming j. th,
glory of ChriStma-tlmc Not that Wa loved
him, but that he loved ". That bee chose {,
become Hs one Of us To begin life on tn.
eprth as n little helpless child, To study au'
80 o"d l"'"" ""A - di" ut last that n,
might rise again and make our heavenly
I dwellings rcady, y,nud come AGAIN IN thai NOR,
glorious advent 10 which tho faith of th,
church oph- forward.
And the second tasa! thought of thu
Christmas time j. that Of iNF IA -qrrlNu.
Pain ana grief urr not vet ouuo away. lr'
thoy are uy fnpWo. Christian Jos o. Ilg ir
sllte 81 -u'rIir..uuy, moro. because ui site.
rlUcc. When the apostle had enumerated
the rll- Of the early Christians hr added
OUT OF ms own experience, "NuN, Iu an tho,
thiuG- we are more thal ..fuuurut- through
him that loved u-.' The Wli, ul the eros, /.
th" way of glory .1ul tIo-r i- o.. other wlf.
"OuGht not Christ tp have s..Nrnrl th,.,
thius- AMI to 'l' ? into NI- glory. tlr Ma.
ter asks Of the Two with whom uo wake. Iu
the way. II is ou This -,d' that uur gifts %,
CHri-t'nt5 uu rb' somewhere Co uN,fr., tuH
quality Of the ON" greatest ciu. 1uu.ltI. ...
exchange ~ Mnrr iull..m.u' g % ru.ilI u...,
Is moaulngir~- our offerings gather Nulg. ir
precise proportion tu the measure of uur-r.gp.
which We put u'1 them, just u- Cnri.j- rIl
Is OF m"aeurc!'-e iwuurtuur" 90 tar world
because II included the uutu-aryei -,liIu.u
Cd t y. D. o.. Z 4 | d % D. q