The record-union., 1897-12-27

and earth that the plan Of thousands OF
years was accomplished, that time had
touched the eternal years, that the
worlds celestial were opened thence
forth to human endeayor and human
hope! There is hardly another word
more remarkable in all that wonderful
second chapter of Luke. 1t
is a chapter which irradiates the earth
Perpetual spring, full of fragrance and
song, abide with it in each believing
human heart. To it the thought of
childhood turns as to almost no other
part of Scripture. The dim eyes Of
age grow radiant as they read it, Out
OF it the poetry, the art and the life of
Christendom have drawn much Of their
sweetest inspiration. But to the paus-
ing, considerate mind hardly anything in
1t will seem more worthy to be more
carefully pondered than the poorly
translated words Of the angel, over
which we often pass without thought,
The sign shall be to you a babe Such
reversing of common and natural hu-
man expectation, such a surprising de-
parture from the method Of authenti-
eating Gods preceding and lesser in
terventions, such substitution of the
humble and the common for the rare
and the amazing as this proof of His
presence and His supreme action-it is
almost enough to verify the chapter as
record of facts"
The words of the angels brief mes
sage grew more wonderful as he pro-
ceeded. What a combination Of words
in that eleventh verse alone! Born"
babe born; this day." just now; ''in
the city of David" near at hand; "a
Savior" which is the Messiah which
is the Lord" Jehovah. DR.. McLaren
remarks upon this: Mark how steadily
his words climb upward as it We're,
from the cradle to the throne He be-
gins with the lowly birth, and then
rises, step by step, each word opening
wider and more wonderful prospect
to that climax beyond which there is
nothing, that this infant is the Lord
The full joy and tremendous wonder of
the first word are not felt until we read
the last. The birth is the birth of the
Lord"
The message was in accord with
prophecy. Seven hundred years before
the word of the Lord by the Prophet
Micah was But thou, Bethlehem
Ephratah, though thou be little among
the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee
shall He come forth unto me that is to
be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth
have been from Of old, from eyerlast-
ing" The expectant people had always
remembered this. During Christ's pub
lie ministry some of His enemies, not
understanding that He was born in
Bethlehem, but supposing that He came
from Nazareth in Galilee, said: Shall
Christ come out of Galilee? Hath not
the Scripture said, that Christ cometh
of the seed of David, and out of the
town of Bethlehem, where David was?"
Yes, that was what the Scripture said,
and that was where Christ was born,
though all of His early life was spent
in Nazareth. However startling the
announcement of the angel was, it was
in keeping with the prophecy. 1t was
Gods message, and consequently in
keeping with His previously spoken
word: Unto you is born this day, in
the city Of David, a SAVIOR In the
city of David'-in the right line and at
the right spot where prophecy bade us
look for Him, and faith accordingly ex-
pecued Him. How dear to us should be
these historic moorings of our faith
1t was a message for all people
Good tidings of great joy which shall
be to all people" This was not story
to be told and rejoiced in only within
the narrow confines of Palestine. This
Christian message is not narrow mes
sage to a small nation, but a broad
message to a world of people. When
heaven sent a Savior it sent him to
the world. The glad tidings of that
first Christmas morning were glad It'd
ings of universal Savior and a univer-
sal religion. This message was a far
reaching message. Had it not been it
would never have reached California
about as far distant from Bethlehem
as any point in the world. 1t was the
message of a broad religion. This story
can be told at this Christmas time by
the missionary to the japanese, by the
missionary to the Hottentot, by the
missionary to the Esquimaux, and by
the missionary to the American, and
they all rejoice in it equally because of
these few words in the messa ge, (which
shall he to all people" l am glad this
message was to all people," not only for
the sake of all people, but for our own
sake. If it had been only to the shep-
Jewish race, this Savior so wonderfully
announced would have been nothing TO
us. But he was born ito all people,"
and therefore to us.
1t was a glad message.
Behold, l bring you good tidings Of
great joy" Christianity is a bright
gladdening religion. He who always
paints religion in somber colors is not
the Lords artist. There are comber
things about the Christian religion, be-
cause it has to deal with somber SUBJ
jects. It has to deal with sin. and sin.
though not always as dark as the pit
is always dark. 1t has to deal with
death, and when we think of death we
think of the shades of night. But
Christianity itself is a joyful religion
Compare Christianity with any other
religion of the world, and there is moth
ing like it in the gladness that it pro-
duceS- 1t brightens childhood. 1T ele-
Yates and dignifies motherhood and wo-
manhood. 1t puts smile upon the face
of the aged. 1t reduces the wrinkles
of care. 1t wipes away the tear of sor-
row. We have no measure with which
to measure the joy that the religion of
Christ has brought into the world He
who looks upon the Christian religion