The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1902-12-26

NOBLE though numDle husband or pie
of straw pushed under her head by a
sympathetic stableman; no female at
tendant, unless that woman attendant
was the kind hearted hosters wife,
sister SO our second birth may have
been in the estimation of the world a
seemingly insignificant event. But if
we thereafter only make right use of
our lives their spiritual influence will
affect all time and eternity. The news
of our spiritual birth will be heralded
all round the heavenly kingdom. 1t
will set again the angels to chanting
a new song. Our second birth will not
only be heralded around heaven, but in
lions shall be gathered before the
throne the fact of that second birth
will summon forth Jesus, who was
born in Bethlehem of JudRa, our atom
ing Saviour to be our divine advocate.
Some Significant Events.
In the worlds history has it not Of
ten been revealed that the most insig-
nificant of causes can bring forth the
most tremendous and farreaching re-
suits? 1t seemed to be an insignificant
matter when, many years ago, a hum
BILE Puritan with his family and par
ty Of friends wanted to emigrate and
set sail for America. But when the
English officer at the little seaport town
refused to let that humble Puritan
leave the country of King Charles he
changed whole leaves in the book of
history. When Oliver Cromwell turned
his back upon the mighty waves of the
Atlantic ocean, he turned his face to-
ward Marston moor and Islip bridge
and Naseby and Preston Until at last
Oliver Cromwell became the ruler of
England and King Charles head fell at
the stroke of the public executioner's
ak. When little child was born in the
island of Corsica, 1t did not, from a
worldly standpoint, seem to amount to
much, and when that unknown and OBJ
scure young man. grown from that lit
tie boy, was for long time in doubt
whether he would enter the Italian ar
my or not that did not seem to amount
to much, but when that young man en-
tered the French army it meant the
overthrow of European thrones;
meant the tragedy of Moscow; it meant
the booming guns of Wagram and Wa
terloo; it meant the changing of the ge-
map of all Europe. Infinite
lu mora rnnmantO11S yUas tho oTnnrantlu
event of that birth in the
Bethlehem stable, for it was the start
ing of forces which are revolutioniZing
The whole world. In your second BIRTH
y man, who can tell what forces may
have their beginning affecting all time
md all eternity?
The manger Christ teaches that even
n the darkest days of an earthly Chris
JAMS life he is never out of sight of an
Fathers protecting care.
As we climb the rocky heights upon
which is builded the little village of
Bethlehem and walk along the deserted
streets in the midnight hour of the first
christmas day and see the little candle
light of stabeman's lantern fitting
bout the pale face of Mary the Virgin
We might at first think that God the
Father had deserted and left alone Je-
JUS the Divine Son. But did he? Could
Tesus during any time of his earthly
ife truly say that the Divine Father
lad forsaken him, as he once in dying |
gony asked upon the cross? Oh, no. |
Weeks or perhaps months before the
Nativity God had prepared a place by |
which the infant Christ should be able
o escape the murderous sword of the
,loody tyrant, Herod. Weeks or per
laps months before Jesus was born the |
TRANCE star appeared in the far east &!
That star even then had guided the |
hree wise men over the mountains and .
trough the villages and over the long, .
lot, thirsty desert that they should be
bile to kneel at the manger. 1t was
through the warnings of these three
wise men that Jesus would be able to
scape into Egypt. In the darkness of
hat Bethlehem night angel wings were
pread over that humble stable, angel
orms surrounded the virgin mother
nd angel voices greeted the newborn
Ionarch of the ages with a heavenly
ong. They sang so loud that the shcp-
erds upon the hillsides fell down in a
woon. And so in the darkest days Of
ur lives, when we feel that we are for
aiken by God and man, Gods angels
re watching us, Gods eyes are seeing
s, Gods ear is hearing US, Gods pro-
ecting love is all around us. We are
o more forsaken bt God than the man.
er of Bethlehem was celestially for
AIKEN on the night that Jesus was born.
The God who Loves.
The omnipresent God will not for one
lstant. even in the darkest of days,
i'm a deaf or an unheeding ear to the
.eakest and most helpless of all his
lildren. One day the baby boy Of a
father and mother was very
ok. When their little girl was about
, be put to bed on the night of the
isis of the disease she came to her
Ither. Then. in her sweet, girliSh way,
be said: Papa, won't you pray to
cd tonight that baby brother might
ct well? / am only wee little bit of
girl, and God might not be willing to
ear me pray. but God would always
ave time to listen to you pray. for you
re a great big, strong man" With
lat the sobbing father took his little
ri into his arms as he said: "Oh. my
lrling. God will have time to hear
ou pray for your baby brother. If
~ viii pray. my darling. for your
tile brother, though you are a little
t of a girl. God, II necessary, viii
I'm to the angels and say: Angels,
op that singing. Stop that singing,
ght away. For way down on earth