The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1899-01-21
JOYS OF CHRISTMAS.
What the Holy Babes Escape Means
to Humanity.
Am Eloquent Holiday Sermon by DR..
Talmnge from the Lessons of
HerOd's Efforts to Destroy
the Christ Child.
Copyright,

LII lnoSt uuuSudl way scene con-
nected with the nativity is emphasized
by DR.. Talmage in this Christmas dis
course; text. Matthew 2, ID: "Herod
will seek the young child to destroy
him" The cradle of the infant Jesus
had no rockers. for it was not 10 be
soothed by oscillating motion, as are
the cradles of other princes. 1t had no
canopy, for 1t was not to be 1overed
over by anything so exquisite. 1t had
no embroidered pillow, for the young
head was not 10 have such luxurious
comfort. Though meteor-ordinaril
the most erratic and seemingly ungov-
ernable OF all skyey appearances-had
been sent TO 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 hostiities.
Indeed | give you as my opinion that
it 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 denominations Of the world could
not afford TO have him born.
The Herod who led the attack was
treachery, 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
alder 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.
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 if be
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? If 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
of horseshoe shape on the hillside be.
came one great butcher shop. To have
such 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 rs.
cape? Then that flight southwark for
so many miles, across deserts and amid
bandits and wild beasts (my friend, the
late missionary and scientist DR.. Lam
sing, who took the same journey, said
1t was enough to kill both the Madonna
and the Child, and poor residence in
Cairo, Egypt. You know how Difficult,
it is to take an ordinary child success.
| fully through the disorders that are
sure to assail it even in comfortable
! homes and with all delicate ministries
and then think of the exposure of tina,
famous babe in villages and lands
where all sanitary laws were put at de.
fiance, His first hours on. earth spent
in a room without any doors, and oft
times swept by chilled night winds;
then afterward riding many days un.
der hot tropical sun, and part of many
nights, lest the avenger overtake the
fugitive before he could be hidden ir
another land!
The sanhedriK also were afronted al
the report of this mysterious arrive
of child that might upset all conven
tionalities and threaten the throne Of
the nation. "Shut the door and bolt il
and double bar ii against him." oriet
all political and ecclesiastical power
Christ on a retreat when only few
days of age, with all the privations ant
hardships and sufferings of retreat
When the glad news came that Herot
was dead, and the Madonna was pack
ing up and taking her Child home, bat
news also came, that Archelaus. tn,
son, had taken the throne-anothel
crowned infamy. What chance for til,
babes lifef Will not some short gIav,
hold the wondrous infant?"
PUT him to DEATH" was the order al
up and down Palestine, and all up an,
down the desert between Bethlehem ant
Cairo. The cry was: "Here comes al
iconoclast of all established order
Here comes an aspirant for the crow
of Augustus! If found on the street
of Bethlehem. dash him to death on tn
pavement! If found on a HILL hurl hin
down the rocks! Away with him!
But the Babe got home in safety an,
passed up from infancy to youth an,
from youth to manhood and from car
penter shop to Messiahship and fror
Messiahship to enforcement, unit
the mightiest name on earth is Jesu:
and there is no mightier name il
Heaven.
| What want TO call your attention I
is your narrow escape and mine an
the worlds narrow escape. Suppos
that attempt on the young child's If
had been successful Suppose that del