The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-12-26
PREACHED ON CHRIST'S BIRTH.
REV. DIR. JORDAN'S SERMON RELAT-
ED TO CHRISTMAS DAY.

Touching His WOrIx-'I Bring YOu
Good Tidings of Great JOY" the
subject.
Rev. John D. Jordan's sermon at the
First Baptist Church yesterday morning
dealt with the glad tidings that Christmas
brings A large congregation heard a
mastery review of the life and promises
of Christ, for whom the day is observed
Il bring you good tidings Of great joy" is
the passage from Luke ii:l0 from which
the sermon was drawn.
Christmas day is extensively observed
as the birthday of Christ" Rev. Jordan
said. ''While it is highly probable this is
not the anniversary of His birth, yet we
may utilize it as such and spend a while
thinking of the Christ of God, who was.
is. and ever shall be the most remarkable
character that ever dwelt among and in
fuenced the sons of men.
The day of His birth was an eventful
day. Before that day all generations long
ed for it. Since that day all ages have re-
joced in it. On that day the angels sang
for JOY. Touch history where you will
tons and you will find traces Of His in
fluence, through hope, promise, a re-
atty or a memory.
ITO Adam and Eve He was the prom
ised one whose seed should bruise the ser
penis head. In Genesis He is the Shiloh,
in Exodus the 4 Am, and in Numbers.
The Star and Scepter In Deuteronomy He
is our Rock, in Isaiah, the shadow of a
great rock is in a weary land To Joshua
He was The the captain of the Lords
hosts, and to Job He was My Redeemer
that Hveth and shall stand at the latter
day upon the earth. To old Simeon He
was A light 10 tighten the Gentiles,
and the glory of thy people of Israel.
To the Psalmist David, He was a shep-
herd, leading His sheep through pastures
green, by waters still. To the Apostle
John He was the good shepherd who lays
down His life for His sheep. IN Isaiah,
He is the wonderful counselor, the Mighty
God, the everlasting Father and Prince of
Peace; in Jeremiah, the Lord our right
eousness;' in Daniel the Messiah in Hag-
gal the desire of all nations while in
Malchi, He is the messenger of the cove
nant' and the sun of righteousness To
John the Baptist He was the Lamb of
Cod Whose blood taketh away the sin of
the world. To Zechariah, He was a
fountain from the house of David to
cleanse from sin and uncleanness. To
the Apostle John. He was the Son of
God whose blood cleanses from all sin,
and the way, the truth, the light and the
life. To Peter, He was the Christ of
Cod to believing Thomas He was my
Lord and my Cod To the poet He is a
dream, to the Prophet revelation, to the
philosopher hope, to the historian
wonder, to the artist an inspiration, to
the unbleving stone of stumbling, and
to the believer life for evermore. In
Matthew, He is the Lord Jesus Christ; in
Mark, the Son of Man; in, John, the Son
of God even God; in Deuteronomy,
prophet; in Hebrews, a priest; and in Rev
citation, a King forever more.
Think of Him as God God owned
Him as His Son in whom He was well
pleased. The angels of God sang of Him
as God, and worshped him as such. Mic
odemus and many others recognized that
He was from God, with divine power and
wisdom. He claimed to be the Son of
God. His teaching and works were super
human.
Consider Him as man. Born of wo-
man and grew up as other boys. Tempt
ed, suffered, hungered, thirsted and wept
as man.
1T is the duty Of a prophet TO reveal
present truth as we'll as to foretell coming
events His sermon on the mount, His
para bIss and other discourseS mark Him
a great preacher He foretold many
things that should happen to Him, His
associates and the city of Jerusalem. He
has left the promise that He will come
again. and we believe that it shall be so.
BE patient, therefore, brethren, till the
coming of our Lord
HE was a priest tc offer up sacrifices
for the people, and He offered Himself
ransom for the world. While He was
being offered up the Veil of the temple
was rent in twain from the top to the
bottom, and His heart, the future holy
of holes, was made bare to all who would
come unto Him. He became a priest for
ever and has no successor. With Him
the priesthood remains. There are apos-
ties, disciples, preachers, pastors, teach
ers and evangests, but no more priests.
Thou art priest forever He is our great
high priest whom each of us may APP
proach. We are no longer separated from
God by the officiating priest.
I'VE see in Him a king, not after the
worldly Sort arrayed in dazzling garments,
living in a palace grand, driven behind
fiery steeds, accompanied by cohort OF
soldiers, swaying a scepter of tyranny,
Boosting family name of terror, but
king of heaven, making, wearing plain
garments, living with the palmer people,
riding on an ass, accompanied by plain
men, bearing the scepter of peace, con-
tent to be the son of a carpenter; yet,
otter all, a king, the King of Kings and
Lord of Lords
He has a kingdom My kingdom IS
not of this world. His kingdom is in
che world, but not of the world. His IS
a spiritual Kingdom, composed of spirit
ual subjects. and He reigns in righteous
ness. He would be enthroned in every hui
man heart, in every home, church, COM
munity and country. He makes himself
one with His subjects, adopts them into
His family, divides the goodly inheritance
with them, suffers with them and desires
TO have them with Him to reign with
Him. His subjects are the aristocracy of
earth, the sons and daughters of God. His
is an everlasting kingdom Thy throne,
Q God, is forever and ever other king
doms snail fail and rulers shall cease, but
our King and His kingdom shall prevail
oil