The record-union., 1897-12-27

as somber thing has some difficulty
with his vision. 1t must have been In
jured by sinful experience. The Christ
ian message says. Rejoice and be ex-
ceeding glad" When one comes with
in the pale Of the Kingdom Of Christ
he comes into realm which, compared
with any other, is a realm of gladness
and brightness, into a path that shin
eth more and more into the perfect day.
1t was wonderful message.
Wonderful because the tidings were
about Savior. This child that was
just born, was born to be more than a
leader of men. He was born to be more
than many of the eXpectant people look
ed for the Messiah to be. He was born
to be more than King. He was born
to be a Savior. For unto you is born
this day in the city of David. a Savior"
The message of Savior is a wonderful
message for a sinful world to hear. 1t
was a wonderful message for it referred
the shepherds to a place and a child
toward which all the past had looked
and back to which all the future would
look. o happy Christmas time, not be-
cause of the trees and festivals and
frolic, but because of the salvation that
comes through him who was born at
Christmas time long ago
Again, it was a comforting message.
1t began with the words, Fear not
The shepherds We're sore afraid when
/ the glory of the Lord shone round about
them, afraid when they and the earth
We're about to receive their creates,
blessing. 1t is so with us all at times,
we tremble before experiences that con-
1 tain very large blessings for us. But
the angel came not to startle not to
create wonder, but to bring joy. There
fore, he made it his first business to
calm their fears. Fear not. for be-
hold l bring you message that will
allay mans fears for all time to come.
And, oh how many fears have been al
layed by the coming work, life and
death of the Savior, whose birth the an
gel that morning announced. The mes
sage, to those who will receive it, still
| is, Fear not" Fear not" sinner. a
Savior is born; Savior able to save
to the uttermost them that come unto
God by him. Fear not, ye who are on
the westerning slope of life. a Savior
is born, who says:
E'e down to old age all my people shall
prove
| MY SOVeTclSu eternal, unch2ngeaDta love.
And, when hoary hairs shall their temples
adOrn
Like lambs they shall still in my bosom
| be borne.
Fear not, ye whose days on earth
are numbered, Savior is born who
says: "Whosoever hveth and believeth
in me shall never die
This startling, joyful, wonderful, COM
forting message was a message to the
Jews, not to them alone, for we have
seen it was to all people, but certainly
| it was to them. Devout Simeon when
this child was presented in the temple,
| in prophethic tones spoke of him as "a
| light to tighten the Genties, and the
glory of my people Israel" Mission
work among the Jews in our own and
other lands is meeting with some sue
cess, but Christ is far from being the
| glory Of Israel. But as Christ was
born into the world in bleak Decem-
Der, at a time when many were not
looking for him, SO when the world is
least expecting it, in Gods own wise
and wondrous way of working, Christ
may become the glory of Israel.
| The message was to the shepherds,
poor working people. Unto you," said
the angel, is born Savior. Not to
them alone, but certainly to them, low
ly, humble people, was Christ, the Lord,
born. Others would yet find
him to be their Savior. He
would be the Savior of all
| that come unto God by him. But the
world must know from the very hour
| of his birth that He was to be the Saw
ior of the lowly, Of the humble, of
shepherds and the like
| He was born unto us all to be a Saw
Tor. Unto YOU" said the angel, is He
born. Not unto God the Father He
was Gods Son before Not unto the
angels. He took not on him the nature
| of angels. Not unto Mary. She was
only a virgin, chosen of God for this
purpose, and thus greatly honored.
But unto you This Savior is born
unto the world for it's reception and
salvation. Rosn unto u.s." What will
we do with the child Jesus? What
will be His relation to us when He is
grown? What is His relation to us
now?
That was an honored angel that
brought the glad tidngs that Christmas
morning. Of all the angelic host there
was not one but would have been glad
to come on that errand. An honor
something like it is put upon us. An
angel was the first evangelist, but not
the last. We are all commissioned to
be bearers Of glad tidings to others.
| And the gospel is still glad tidings,
though we do not deliver it first hand.
1t is our privilege to help in sending
these glad tidings to all parts of the
world. 1t is our privilege by personal
work to bring these glad tidings home
to the hearts Of people right about us.
| oh, that we might put something of an
angelS earnestness and enthusiasm into
! this work! 20 Zion, that bringest good
| tidings, get thee up into the high noun
| tain; 0, Jerusalem, that bringest good
tidings, life up thy voice with strength.
! lift it up, be not afraid, say unto the
cities of Judeah, Behold your Cod"
Thus the kingdom of this Savior is TO
be extended in the earth. Unto an an
gel was given the honor of announcing
the Savior's birth, but unto men is
given the honor of carrying forward
His work.
And men are still singing of Him that
born.
| And hills are still ringing of that blessed
| morn.
| When angels first sang on the Rethlehe,n
plain
OF Glory to God and of peace among men
This song shall continue and ever he new
| Till Brahman and Buddhist and Moslem
and Jew.
rhea OH f,sflG Ch a fnf, 0f