The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-12-28


Christmas season was delivered Sunday
evening, at the First Presbyterian
church, by the pastor, Rev. D. A. Gun
ninEham, d. D, II was highly compll-
mented. and is presented this morning in
full. Dr. Cunningham said;
Haggar 9:7. "And The desire OF all ma
tions shall come"
The text 10 a glorious prophecy In
which we see the Divine finger pointing
our fallen world TO her coming saviour
And IL this wonderful event, dimiy unti-
cipated, could agltate and transport the
inmost spirit of patriarch and prophet,
/, flooding them with rapture, what should
be our emotions n1W--now when he hae
come; when we have seen ''the bright
ness OF the Fathers glory come forth
from the Father, and come into the
world" when he who, being Ia the form
Of God, thought II not robbery to be
equal with God" has made Himself OF
no reputation, and taken upon Him the
form OF a servant. and been made Ia the
likeness OF men, and being found In faBh-
ION as a man, has humbled himself and
become ohedIent unto death, even the
death of the cross" when we can say,
without controversy great lis the mys-
terry OF goodness, God has manifested in
The flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen Of
angels, preached unto the Gentlles, be-
lleved on In the world, received up into
glory" when with adoring confidence,
each of us can exclaim. This Is faith
full saying, and worthy OF all accepta-
ton. that Christ Jesus came into the
world to save sinners OF whom | am
chief" o what q stupendous deed OF
lovel Amid the ruins OF past uges, that
Transaction stands out in solitary grand
eur; and stand, II forever shall, amid
the waste Of future ages, the great epoch
in the cycles OF eternity, the master
piece of Infinite power and wisdom, and
love, 10 absorb our expanding souls long
after time shall be no more, Let us now
speak Of the tide here applied TO the Re-
deemer The phrase "Desire OF att ma
tons" may be regarded as referring 10
the whole human family.
Among the nations there has ever
existed q widespread expectation OF some
glorious one who would be a retlovator
OF the race. Those of You who are ac-
daainted with the literature Of antiquity
know, that In all ages, and among ma
lions most distant from each other, the
expectation of dellverer has been cher
ished. We pause not to ask whether
these ideas, drawing upon the mind OF
heathenlsm, may have been simply con-
lecture. 1t may have been the remnant
OF ancient tradition; but, be It from what
quarter 1t may, the fact Is obvious, that
in the two worlds OF llterature-the world
of poetry and the world OF history, there
was spread over the Gentle mind dis
tinct expectation OF some one 10 be called
''the Desire Of nations"
But we pass now TO the great advent
In Judea, and at the scene Of this amaz'
ing mystery, how Il everything In COM
motion, and from every quarter what
notes OF preparation Does the Hebrew
enter the temple or walk the streets OF
Jerusalem? He sees the most devout
and venerable Of his nation bending with
years, yet rejoicing that even their fad
ing eyes should behold the Consolation
OF Israel"
From out the dreary depths OF the Will
derness. and along the verdani banks OF
the Jordan, resounds perpetually the
voice OF a most extraordinary man. nm
austere herald, who has drawn all eyes
unon him as a prophet with the spirit
and power OF Gliasi," and who still utters
the startling cry. Prepare We the way
OF the Lord: make straight In the desert
highway for our God.
Nor, my hearers, was the sensation felt
by the inhabitants Of this earth alone
All heaven. we are expressly Informed
was filed with sympathy most thrill
ing and ecstacy, These glorious beings
had known man in Eden, and had loved
him with the love of a brother for n
young sister. The dismal hour Of his
fail, they had witnessed; nor can any tell
their emotions when. amid the bowers Of
Paradise, there rang that shrek, Death
death is In the worldl And now when
the brightness OF the Fathers glory
stoops to That world. and on such an err
rand, what wonder and rapture seize
their adjoining thoughts, All along their
radiant. countless flles, roll anthems OF
high exultation, and then, wheeling
down. they pour upon the listening ear OF
Palestine the music OF the skies
Yes, my brethren, not only on this
scene OF his love and grief. but in other
ana distant places were felt the com
munlcntlons OF unutterable Interest
when the Day-spring from on high visit
ed US. And II, when He came, the world
knew Him not, and honored Him not
He was not without honor, such as no
mere creature can receive. True. M
star formed by mSrta! haHds would ever
glitter Upon his breast, for he was to be
desplsed and rejected Of men; but star
made by eternal hands moves along the
heavens. and, STOPPING In reverence
showers tbs iHstre upon his cradle, Nc
troops OF admirlng courtlers welcome the
qncarnate God--O, mol Low lies HE
head in a nanger and among the herds
of the stall; but retnuc OF strong and
Immortal chefablm and seraphlm adore
the Lord OF glory, and shake the might
air OF Gdliloe with praisee for that birth
which would give glory to God in tho
highest, and on earth peace, good vii
toward men"
Christ Jesus has como into The world y
o what Belng Search creation
through, explore the universe, scale MI
heights. iathom all depths-no such oh.
feet can be found for the admlrlng, ador.
ing contemplatlons OF the mind, The
imnglnAtlonathe heart. do not wonder
that Paul wrote. HE that spared MOI
Ills own Son. but delivered Him up fol
us all, how shaii lie not with Him nlBs
freely give us all thing8?' Only eternity
will fully Illustrate ;ho boundless re.
sources Of tho Saviour In blessings fol
his followers Death IN only nm INTRO
ductioa Into Hgw world, nnw scenes
new experiences new NE, Wo are q
have marveB Of new music there, excel
ling al our Chrlsimne carols aud IN.