Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1899-02-03
JOYS OF CHRISTMAS.
What the Holy Babes Escape Means
to Humanity.
An Eloquent Holiday Sermon by DR.
Tnlmnge from the Lessons OF
Herod's Efforts TO Destroy
the Christ Child,
Washington,

Washington, -(CopyTight,
In most unusual way scene con-
necied with the nativity is emphasized
by DR.. Talmage in this Christmas dis
course: text, Matthew 2, -: "Herod
will seek the young cAild TO destroy
him." The cradle Of the infant Jesus
had no rockers, for it was not to be
soothed by oscillating motion, as are
the cradles of other princes, = II had no
canopy, for 1t was not to be lowered
over by anything so exquisite. 1t had
no embroidered pillow, for the young
head was not to have such luxurious
comfort. Though extraordinarily
the most erratic and seemingly ungov-
ernable Of all skyey appearances--had
been sent 10 designate the place where
that cradle stood and choir had been
sent from the heavenly temple to sere-
made its illustrious occupant with an
epic. yet that cradle was the target for
all earthly and diabolical hostilties.
Indeed ! give you as my opinion that
II was the narrowest and most wonder
full escape of the ages that the child
was not slain before he had taken his
first step or spoken his first word, Her
cd 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
trenchery, vengeance and sensuality
impersonated. As sort of pastime he
Slew Hyrcanus. the grandfather of his
wife. Then he slew Marianne, his wife.
Then he butchered her two sons, Alex
8nder and Aristobulus. Then he slew
Antipater, his Oldest son. Then he or
dered burned alive 40 people who had
pulled down the engle OF his authority.
lie ordered the mobiles who had attend
ed upon his dying bed to be slain, so
that there might be universal mourning
after his decease. From that same
deathbed he ordered the slaughter of
all the children In Bethlehem under two
years of age, feeling sure that II he
massacred the entire infantile popula-
tion that would include the destruction
CT the child whose birthplace astron-
omy had pointed out with its finger of
light. What were the slaughtered babes
TO him, and as many frenzied and be-
reft mothers? II he had been well
enough TO leave his bed, he would have
enjoyed seeing the mothers wildly
struggling TO keep their babes, and
holding them so tightly that they could
not be separated until the sword took
both lives at one stroke, and others,
mother and child, hurled from roofs of
houses into the street until that village
of horseshoe shape on the hillside be-
came one great butcher shop. To have
such q man, with associates just as
cruel, and an army at his command, at
tempting the life of the infant Jesus,
does there seem any chance for His es-
cape? Then that flight southwark for
so many miles, across deserts and amid
bandits and wild beasts (my friend, the
late missionary and scient ist DR.. Lam
sing, who took The same journey, said
it was enough to kill both the Madonna
and the Child), and poor residence in
Cairo, Egypt. You know how difficult
1t Is TO take an ordinary child success
fully through the disorders that are
sure to assail II even in comfortable
homes and with all delicate ministries,
and then think Of the exposure of that
famous babe in villages and lands
where all sanitary laws were put at de-
fancc, His first hours on earth spent
in room without any doors, and oft
times swept by chilled night winds;
then afterward riding many days I'M
der hot tropical sun, and part OF many
nights, lest the avenger overtake the
fugitive before he could be hidden in
another land!
The sanhedrln also were afronted at
The report of this mysterious arrived
of child that might upset all conven-
tionalities and threaten the throne OF
the nation. "Shut the door and bolt It
and double bar it against him." cried
all political and ecclesiastical power.
Christ on retreat when only few
days of age, with all the privations and
hardships and sufferings of retreat!
When the glad news came that Herod
was dead, and the Madonna was pack
ing up and taking her Child home, bad
news also came, that Archelaus, the
son, had taken the throne-another
crowned infamy. What chance for the
babes life? viii not some short grave
hold the wondrous infantT"
Put him TO DEATH" was the order all
up and down Palestine, and all up and
down the desert between Bethlehem and
Cairo. The cry was: Here comes an
iconoclast of all established order!
Here comes an aspirant for the crown
Of Augustus II found on the streets
of Bethlehem, dash him to death on the
pavement! II found on hill, hurl him
down the rocks! Away with himl"
But the Babe got home in safety and
passed up from infancy to youth and
from youth TO manhood and from car
penter shop to Messiahship and from
Messiahship to enforcement, until
the mightiest name on earth is Jesus,
and there is no mightier name In
Heaven.
What ] want TO call your attention to
is your narrow escape and mine and
The worlds narrow escape. Suppose
that attempt on the young child's life
had been successful! Suppose that del
egation Of wise men, who were to re-
port to Herod Immediately after they
discovered the hard bed in the Bethle-
hem caravansary. bad obeyed orders
and reported Suppose the beast carry
ing ihe Madonna and the Child In the
fight had stumbled and flung to death
its riders! Suppose Archelaus had goI
his hands on the babe that his father
hadssiled to andl Suppose that amoeg