The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-12-26
0IHE DECEMBER CHRISTI

Rev. o. n. oliptAnt- Graphic Story
ofHis Birth and Results OF Christ's
Coming.
one OF the many excellent Christmas
sermons delivered In Wheeling pulpIts
yesterday was that delivered by the
pastor OF the First Christian church,
Rev. C. NJ. ollphant, to large congre-
cation yesterday morning. Rev. Mr..
oliphant's sermon was eloquence itself,
and was flatteringly commented on by
all who heard 1t. The sermon substan-
TALLY was as follows:
When the Great Am" melted out the
land and sea and hung over them the
sunllt arch Of heaven, the morning stars
sang together and the beautiful angels
1oyously shouted praises to the God Of
creation. That was a joyous hour.
Earth was in her prime; the universe
was there hung in the realms Of space.
More Joyous was the time when Bethle-
hem's star announced the saylour's
birth. More glorious the song Of the
angels, subllmer the music Of the
spheres, grander the bells Of the uni
verse, as they all rang out and sounded
the sweet refrain, GLORY to God In the
highest, and on earth peace, good will
toward men,"
= The first were songs of admiration
over a new world lust created; the sec
ond were grateful shouts of Joy over
that world so long lOst-mHu seeing the
star OF redemption. The heavenly mes
aengers now say, For unto you is born
this day in the city Of David Saviour,
who Is Christ the Lord" Good tidlngs
are now brought to the earth.
Christ Is d December Christ. We cell
CITRATE December IS as the birthday OF
Jesus. The exact date Of his birth is
uncertain. Yet Christ Is December
Christ.
What does December suggest? Dark.
ness sorrow and hopelessness.
What was the condition OF the world
before the time Of Chrlst's coming? We
read OF the fall Of Adam. Sinners were
sent forth. Men multiply sins increase.
In the midst of all little spiritual life
is preserved-like an evergreen with a
waste OF wintry season around It. A
venerable patriarch builds here and
there an altar. Time passes. The Hood
comes and destroys all OF the world but
eight souls. Ages pass, but few are
faithful. Still here and there an altar
Is built. Moses from Sinai gives law.
This only reaches few-the Jews.
Prophecies are spoken. Not yet full
filed. Four thousand years have rolled
away. One continual chain Of sorrow
with but little JOY. Man stlll sad and
hopeless.
There is a city in Judea called Bethle-
hem which means house OF bread" 1t
is the least OF cities. The people are
busy with their daily work. The streets
nre few, yet crowded with people. How
will all these feel when the Messiah will
come? The sun sets. The cool OF the
evening causes the throng TO retire to
their shelters. Twilight fingers about
the gates. Here is an inn. 1t is crowd
ed. Two strangers come from Nazar-
eth among the hills OF Galtlee, overlook
ing the plain. They have come great
distance. They seek shelter at the inn'
but It is crowded. They repair to sta
Bile. They remain there several days.
The noble cOuntenance Of the man is
softened with tenderness. The pale face
az the young mother Is serene with
holy beauty. In manger close By her
side sleeps her babe. This babe has
heavenly smile. 1t is an object OF
beauty and worship. The mother. as
she looks over her babe, wears a look
Of devotion and praise.
The shepherds are keeping watch over
their, flocks. An angel comes from
heaven and the glory Of the Lord shines
around them. They fear. The angel
speaks and dispels their fear. telling
them that the Saviour is born. He gives
them the sign. With the multitude Is a
heavenly choir singing. The shepherds
90 into Bethlehem and find the young
child. Wise men from the east have
seen the star They come and worship
the child. What means all this!
Heaven and earth move Hfouna this
young child. What 0 contrast Is here
presented? A child in a manager. yet
bearing the salvation Of the world; n
child feared and hated, yet lonSed for
and loved: child poor and despised,
yet hOnored and adored; beset by dan
ger, yet marvelously preserved; child
setting the stars Of heaven. the city OF
Jerusalem. the shepherds OF Judea. the
saRcs OF the east, all in motion, attracts
ing the best elements OF the world and
repelIing all that is dark and evil, turn
ing sorrow into Joy. despair into hope.
Who Is this child?
'Thou shalt call his name Jesus ana
ne shall save his people from their sins.
How shall this child gave the world?
BE grows to bOyhood and then to man
hood
His was a manhood Of love. HE
went about doing good" His blessed
ministries to the sick, his services to
the poor. his labor TO raise the fallen,
his compassion for the pitiable, his
cheer for the discouraged All these
indicate how he gave new Idea to the
value az man, While others care for
the great of earth he cared for sinners.
The mother. wan and pale with inces-
SAINT Vigils by the bedside OF n sick
child; the fireman, MANNED for life In
brnVely rescuing the inmates OF blaZ-
ing house; the 800 Spartans at the pass
OF THERMOMETERS: Howard. dying OF
fever caught in dungeons where he was
Fulfilling his noble purpose OF succoring
the oppressed-all these Instances OF
self-deyotion but shadow forth the
love OF him who laid aside divine glory
TO dispel the darkness OF sin and cheer
the pathway of man.
He made the sacrifice for sin. He
died upon the cross to redeem man from
ali the darkness and SORROWS Of sin and
beEet us into lively hope. The sacrl-
nee must he that of perfect man.
sInIess being. He was 1.-THE Lamb OF
God without spot and without blemish"
The incarnation OF the Son OF God
followed by his life OF Obed-
fence. his death Of Precipitation. his rcs-
direction In power. his ascension In
glory. prove Christ to be truly Decem-
"a light in the darEness-a wonderful
a babe in IN tho manager, the heir Of a king
From the palace Of God came guest IN
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