The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-12-21
THE WORLDS NEED.
Selected for The Times.J

Unto you is born u Saviour.
ST. Luke. Ill.
1.us is Just what the world wanted It
is what the world always wants Inc
world needs 1t all the more, that IN
,,,,,,-. scs it is not aware of its neces-
sity.
what does a drowning man want: ~
lecture on latation? How gracefully 70
Use his right or left arm? lie wants q
strong grip. but no reasoning. tlrst oi
all get him out and bring him into
safety.
Everything depends upon what We
w.nt. IN this sn-strcken world OF sof-
row. where shall we turn? To whom
car? We 20 unless ii be to the Saviour:
Hear the glad message: Unto you Is
born q Saviour
The world did not want an adviser.
The world had advised itself almost into
hell. They did not ask for. a Spectator.
Everything that man could. do had been
gone Men sat in the darkness Of their
cwn wisdom. 1.-THE world by wisdom
knew not God"
Tie world did not want Il raformeT;; the
reed was deeper than that. Inc world
Was compelled to have L Saviour. II
was the only hope. Saviour. 1t is
pathetic name. 1t is not an official ute;
il is not king robed in purple and scar
let. demanding homage to his majesty
and power \ Saviour is one with
tears in His eyes, arms lH.!ifted, and
mighty to save, with a heart full Of
divine pity and mercy. saviour is q
complex word. It has III it all human
nature: ali divine nature; all the past OF
history: all the mystery Of apocalypse;
Tenderness outlying all human love: n
majesty humbling the haushtiness OF
kings.
Look at the world as it then appeared
10 the eyes Of any earnest observer
What kind Of Il world was it? Men were
hostile to one another. None can deny
that fact. a spirit OF enmity was all
,,rryading. The great question was, Who
could BE uppermost:: Who could rule?
Who could plumber. overwhelm and de-
st1oy? That was the aspect presented
by one large section of the world There
was another section apparently refined
and cultivated, hut it had refined itself
nto weayiness- and cultivated itself to
surfsit, And everywhere and all around
i, was a. world given over to daily ana
unaccountable suffering. This suffering
world is before our eyes to-day, and
every day Every heart knows its own
bitterness Life cannot throw off its load
Even when we laugh we arc SAD; there
IS a whisper in the heart that will not
he stilIed Misery, aud sin, and sorrow
a1,fund on all Sides VIC see the child is
Giving; the heart is breaking: the home is
invaded by invisible, but mighty cnenlles
there is a canker even in tie purse; there
is rust OF the gold. Where shall we
turn? :,
This is the world to-day; what Will
vcu do with it? What does this kind OF
world want. It's crying need Is
Saviour" Christ addresses himself TO
IN. heart of the world; the heart that
has been broken: me soul that is III
agony; the life that has given up It's
last hope of selt-salvation. 1t IS a bold
step; a noble, glorious mission.
christianity has suffered much at the
hands of lis followers. Men would be
clever where clevcrness was a sin. Men
arc led into extremes by their own van
.tv and intellects q clever religion is q
bad re!ision Sirs! II would see Jesus
lie knows me. l can trust Lin ut
terly. He is my Saviour!
what then will guide us Alright. The
heart. What do You mean by the heart:
Three things, purity Of motive; tender
ness of feeling: self-cruciti&ion. There
is !, sense in which the heart separates
itself and becomes motive. emotion and
| sacrifice with 4 Christ-hke passion and
| agency. dominating. sublimating, glori-
| flying the whole life
We shall never have entire unity OF
| opiuion we have no unity OF opinion
| in business. or architecture, or even II
notifies. But this divergence Of opinion
| does not split up socisty; nor even en-
danger the government. Then why
! should it in religion?
Men may be patriots in whatever
narty they belong. It is not tho birth
right or heritage of any one party 4
touches a general sentiment, but at ths
moment Of common peril men fling dowr
their party banners. lift up their nationa
| ensign and are loyal to their country.
So it is with the great deliveranct
which comes to us to-day. We forget al
that is base and sordid, all that i
martial aud individual all that i
selfish and little. A common brother.
-ooa -tnds together as we hear
The blissful message brought us by the
angel choir. Our hearts. grow more ten.