Middletown transcript., 1900-12-22
The Birth OF Christ /.
By REV. E.sW cAsWELL.

4 7<f7-f eFsS - y = =
NY dear children, our lesson to-day i
about the birth Of the Holy Child Jesus
Nearly nineteen hundred years ago, neal
the village 81 Bethlehem while some
shepherds were watching their f1ocks OF
9 cold frosty night, suddenly wonderful
light shone above them 50 dazzling thai
the shepherds we're greatly frightened.
And while they gazed in amazement at
the strange sight, myriads Of bright an
gel faces emerged from the cloud Of glory,
and approaching nearer to the shepherds,
one Of the angels in gentle voice ad.
dressed the shepherds, exclaiming
Fear not; tor bring you good tidings Of
| great ioy Mhieh shall be to all people.
4 For unto N0a Il born this day in the city
| Of David i sasiour, which is Christ the
Lord and this shall be sign unto you.
Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swad-
ding clothes, lying in a manger."
| Imnaediately, all the multitude Of the
Heavenly host began to sing-we know
only d part of the wonderful song, only
| just two lines
Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth, peace, goodwill towards
men,
Icannot tell ysu who the singers were,
but no doubt, many were in the com
pany who prophesied about the coming
Of the Saviour, such as Jacob, Moses,
Elijah David, Daniel and Isaiah. If we
had been III Heaven at that time don't
you think we would have been glad to
haye helped sing that first Christmas
song and to have listened to the first
/ ChIistfnas sermon from the angel?
goon all the angels and the Heavenly
hosh Arose in the cloud Of glory and as
cended back to Heaven, the astonished
shepherds, filed with wonder and awe
and the hope Of seeing the Infant Jesus,
left their focks and climbed up the rocky
sides Of the hill between them and
Be5hlehem, Passing through the town,
SAay came to the inn and found that the
was crestred out into man
- - E--shong the COWS and sheep
horses,atheir eyes fen upon the
kiful face Of the Holy Child Jesus.
gladdened shepherds told Mary
seph all about the Heavenly com
ho had visited them, and the par
Jesus were cheered BY the thought
ley had another evidence that their
abe was no less than the Son Of
Wilson, one Of the bright boys
class, was deeply interested in the
md ready with q question. Speak
N said. ''Do you think the shep-
understood who the little child was
n Not fully" replied. '"They
only looking for Redeemer to save
81 as nation, to break off the Ro-
yoke and place the promised Mes
upon the throne Of the Jewish
b and thus bring back the glory Of the
Of Solomon. The shepherds little
ghtIthat those tiny feet wouldone day
on the waves of the sea Of Galilee,
at those little fingers would touch |
eyes into sight and heal all diseases,
hat that infant voice would one day |
speak the dead to life; and still less did |
they think that cruel nails would one
day pierce those tender hands and feet
upon the cross, and that this little Babe
would die to save the world.
A little hand was now lifted and I
knew another question was coming.
"What is it, my dear?" The voice of
Florence Pelton spoke: think it would
have been nicer if Jesus had been born
in palace rather than in manger
among the ugly beasts"
1t may seem SO to you at first, my dear
but you must remember that
Tesus did not come into this world to en-
oy Himself; He could have been much
happier among the angels and Heavenly
inhabitants where He was worshipped as
ne One altogether lovely. But Jesus
vas willing to leave Heaven and come
Iown to this world to suffer and die to
ave as, His lost children. Coming from
he highest throne, He wanted to take
he lowest manger 50 thit no poor child
would ever open its eye. on more lowly
not than the Infant Jesls occupied, and
ii the poor children would know
hat Jesus was one just like 7
hem, and then they would not be
afraid to run to Him anil Chamber upon
ais knees that He mightbless them. If
,ur Lord had been born4n royal man
don, the shepherds lever would have
zen I1Tifr, Jun there M.e no locks or
ars or doors to shut them out Of Bethle-
ems stable. 9
Yes, Jesus's birth was lowly, like His :,
hole life When boy, He was the son :
poor working man; as youth, He !,
as carpenter; when man, He had no I
ONE; when others went to their homes, !;
Le often went to the mountains. He
ad not where to lay His head, unless =
[ary at Bethany, or John or some kind Y
lend invited Him. Once, when He !:
anted money for tribute, He sent Peter !, ],
catch a fish that had silver in its mouth. 4 !,
ur blessed Master who made the world q
as homeless wanderer; He was rocked J. !,
borrowed cradle and buried in Dor ! !
wed grave. No little, lonely waif in ! j
ckety garret was ever poorer than Jesus.
rent you glad that Jesus did not come 4
. great, proud king, but as meek and !
WY Saviour, 50 that whosoeyer will, !
e poorest child in the Sunday School, : :,
., everybody, may come to him and = 3
We him and be saved?
Let me- ask The entire class this ques- NJ
on: why did Jesus come into the
orld little babe instead Of a grown q
an like our first parents, Adam and "a
ye2a ] zee Mary Beaumont's hand is 3,
iSnd What III ~ n NFa,x,o tsco +bo+