The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1899-02-02
1oYS OF CHRISTMAS.
vhat the Holy Babes Escape Means
to Humanity.

. uoauent Holiday Sermon by DR..
r.,~are from the LesaOns of
H.rod's Efforts to Destroy
the Christ Child.
washington. .-(copyrisht.
!. most unusual way a scene con-
..~.ed with the nativity is emphasized
!. Dr Talmage in this Christmas dis
.sur,e: : text. Matthew 2, 13: "Herod
IN seek the young child to destroy
sln y The cradle Of the infant Jesus
lad no rockers, for it was not to be
.oothed by oscillating motion, as are
Il. cradles of other princes. 1t had no
,.nopy, for it was not to be a9vered
oyer by anything SO exquisite. 1t had
g embroidered pillow, for the young
h..d was not to have such. luxurious
eomiort. Though meteor--ordinarily
tbe most erratic and seemingly ungov-
,rpable of all skyey appehrances-had
been sent to designate the place where
that cradle stood and a.choir had been
sent from the heavenly temple to sere-
n,de It's illustrious Occupant with an
euic, vet that Grad. '.e was the target for
ii earthly and diabolical hostilities.
Indeed give you as my opinion that
twas the. harrowest and most wonder
fol escape of the ages that the child
was, not slain before he had taken his
ffst step or spoken his first word. Her
od could not afford to have him born.
The Caesars could not afford to have
him born. The gigantic expressions
and abominations of the world could
not afford to have him born.
The Herod who led the attack was
treachery, vengeance and sensuality
impersonated. Az sort of pastime he
slew Hyrcanus, the grandfather OF his
wife. Then he slew Marianne, his wife
Then he butchered her two sons, Alex
ander and Aristobulus. Then he slew
Antipater, his oldest son. Then he or
dered burned alive 40 people who had
pulled down the eagle of his authority
! Hs ordered the mobiles who had attend
ed upon his dying bed to be slain, Sc
that there might be universal mourning
after his decease. From that same
deathb, d he ordered the slaughter o.
allthe children in Bethlehem under twt
yean Of age, feeling sure that it h
mastered the entire infantile popula
tion that would include the destruction
q the child whose birthplace astron
omy had pointed out with its finger O
light. What were the slaughtered babes
to him, and as many frenzied and be
reft mothers? If he had been wei
enough to leave his bed, he would hav
enjoyed seeing the mothers wildl.
struggling to keep their babes, ant
holding them SO tightly that they coul'
not be separated until the sword tool
both lives at one stroke, and Others
mother and child, hurled from roofs o
houses into the street until that villag
Of horseshoe shape on the hillside be
came one great butcher shop. To hav
such man, with associates just a
cruel, and an army at his command, al
tempting the life of the infant Jesu'
does there seem any chance for His es
cape? Then that fight southwark TO
. many miles, across deserts and ami
bandits and wild beasts (my friend. tn
hte missionary and scientist DR.. Lar
ding, who took the same journey, sal
Hwas enough to kill both the Madonn
aad the Child, and poor residence i
Cairo. Egypt. You know how Difficult
i 4 to take an ordinary child success
fnlly through the disorders that ar
sure to assail 1t even in comfortabl
homes and with all delicate ministries
and then think of the exposure OF ths
famous babe in villages and land
vAere all sanitary laws were put at d.
hance, His first hours on earth sper
n room without any doors, and of
times swept by chilled night winds
then afterward riding many days VI
der hot tropical sun, and part of man
nights, lest the avenger overtake th
fugitive before he could be hidden i
another land!
The sanhedrin also were afironted q
the report of this mysterious arriv'
O child that might upset all conveI
uonalities and threaten the throne {
The nation. shut the door and bolt
and double bar it against him." erie
% political and ecclesiastical powe
Christ on . retreat when only q fe'
days Of age, with all the privations an
aardships and sufferings of retreat
when the glad news came that Hero
was dead, and the Madonna was pacl
ing up and taking her Child home, ba
news also came, that Archelaus, ii
SON, had taken the throne-anothe
crowned infamy. What chance for til
oaoe's life? Will not some short graz
mold the wondrous infant?"
Put him to death!" was the order a
ep and down Palestine. and all up an
doWn the desert between Bethlehem an
Cairo. The cry was: "Here comes a
aconoclast Of all established order
mere comes an aspirsnt for the crow
oi Augustus! If found on the stree
q bethlehem, dash him to death on Il
pavement! If found on hill, hurl hi
aown the rocks! Away with him
Dus The Babe got home in safety al
n9eked mn frc,,, ;rfnn.