Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1900-12-19
te~T AN s.>t,s eXon.

Topic Fer the Week beginning Dec.
23-COmment by Rev. s. II. Doyle.
Tcric - The CORY Of Christ. - John i, liza.
christmas seryiee.)
The prologue OF Johns gospel re-
minds Us Of the opening chapter of
Genesis. IN which THO creation Of the
world is described. 1t is fitting and
appropriate that it should be so. The
birth of the Saviour may well be intro
duced in tho same LANGUAGE as the be-
ginning of the creation. The prologue
begins with reference to the eternal
existence of the Creator; ii ends with
a reference To His glory~"And the
Word was made flesh and dwelt among
us land we beheld His glory. the glory
as of the only begotten of the Father
full Of grace and truth" This glory of
Christ manifested SO si@nally at His
incarnation, forms a worthy subject
for orr contemplation and study at
this Christmas meeting.
l. The glory of Christ was personal
glary We beheld His glory" The
Only becotten Son Of Ged would pes
scSs in Himself great glory. and this
glory was nut only particularly mani
Tested at the time of His birth. but all
through His life glory shonc around"
in His words. in His works and in His
life and character. 1t was the glory Of
Christ, the Son. that was seen in the
Old Testament diSpensation. God. the
Fathor. is Invisible 70 man in this life.
'There shall no man." says God, see
Me and live" 1t was therefore the
glory of the Son which appeared at the
burning bush. in the pillar of fire. on
Mount Sinai and at the dedication of
the tabernacle and the temple. Not
only here, but in heaven, Christ has
personal glory. as John saw in his vi
sion on the island of Patmos. To him
was and VIII be ascribed, blessing
and homer and glory and power" And
so to Christ the Son. should we as
cribe glory and honor by our words
and in our lives.
2. The glory of Christ was also the
glory of the Father. Christ has glory
Himself. but also a glory with the Fa-
Their. One of His missions in this life
Was 10 reteai ne rather. In Christ
"God was manifest in the flesh" He
that hath seen Me hath seen the Fa-
Their" He came as 1.-THE brightness Of
the Fathers glory and express image
of His person." and therefore manifest
ed in His life the glory of God the Fa-
Their, 1t was a yelled glory, to be sure,
and vet it WAS a truly divine glory, and
it should inspire in Us a strong desire
and earnest purpose to witness the IN
yelled glory of God. to see Him face 10
face and to behold His glory from the
viewpoint of His throne in heaven.
Not only Christ. but nature, reveals the
glory of God. The heavens declare
the glory of God. and the armament
showeth His handlwork.' As a patt
of Christ, as part of nature. we also
should in our words and lives set forth
the glory of God.
3. The glory of Christ was visible
glory. I'VE heheld His glory" John
beheld it, looked intently and earnestly
upon it. and none had better opportu-
mites than John to do so. He saw the
glory of His words and works. His glo-
ry on the Mount of TRANSPORTATION.
and had the great privilege of a vision
Of His glory as it appears around the
throne of God. But we also may be-
hold the glory of Christ. In the Cos
pels we may see His glory as manifest
ed upon the earth, by the eye of faith
we may have visions of His heavenly
glory, and if we are faithful and true
to Him In this life we may abide in the
presence of Him and His glory forever
Let us glorify Christ here in order that
we may behold His glory in the life TO
come.
THE PRAYER MEETING.
The prayer meeting should arrange a
special Christmas service. A Christ
mas song service expressing the glory
of Christ would be very appropriate
BIBLE READINGS.
lisa. xl. Is: Math. ii. LIP; xvii, 10;
xxi, Ill: Luke ii. 100: John ii, Ill;
ri. 3S-45: xxi. Ill; Heb. |, 1-3; II Pet
l. II; Rev. v. la; XIV, 3. 4.