Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1902-12-24

HltC lSO-.
THE angelsl not all
sent forth To m mister
mall be heirs OF saliva
Is lila.
Iytlr.ogy represents the
10y gods IF the planets as
coming TO eartE and performing
their deeds and bearing their mes
sages to man. The experience of
Paul and Barnabas at Lystra strik-
ingly illustrates what strong hold
these ideas had upon the mind Of the
heather world. Because of the mi
raculous blessing which Paul brought
10 the impotent man, the supersti-
tious people instantly concluded that
Paul and Barnabas must be gods
come to earth, and they named Bar
Iabas Jupiter and Paul they called
Mercurius, and would fain have done
sacrifice TO them. This idea of Wis
itors to earth from other worlds per
mcated the thought and literature of
the heather nations from earliest
times, and may have been borrowed
from the records of Gods Word,
which told of angel messengers come
To earth bearing communications
from the God of Heaven to man.
The blessed tread of angel footsteps
echoes all through the sacred pages
of Gods Word from the Heavenly
messenger with the flaming sword,
placed at the east of the Garden of
Eden to guard the way of the Tree
of Life, to the angel who visited
John on the isle of Patmos on that
rFnsa lNl. II d. Il Il
before his vision all the wonderful
mysteries of Gods will which he left
recorded in the Revelation. Angels
come to earth from the presence of
God as ministering spirits to com
municate to man Gods will and Gods
purpose for man.
We are treading on holy ground
when we come into the presence of
Gods angels. We may not gave with
the curious eye and seek to penetrate
the beautiful mystery of Gods move
ments, but if we remove the shoes
of our natural will and desires, we
may draw near to the burning bash
OF the angelic presence, and behold
many beautiful vision, may hear
many an inspiring message and learn
lessons that only the Divine finger
can trace on the fleshy tables of the
human heart. 1t was the Angel
Gabriel who came to the hand maid
en- of the Lord in Nazareth, of Cali
lee, and brought the message from
God That she was to be the mother
of the Christ. 1t was most probably
the same angel whose quick glad feet
trod the sward of the hillside over
looking Bethlehem until he stood in
the midst of the supplemented shep-
herds and announced to them the
good tidings of great JOY of Saviour
horn. 1t was two angels who Joined
the group of wondering disciples
as they stood on the brow of sacred
Olivet, gazing after their ascending
Lord, and who announced to them
that This same Jesus, which is
taken up from you into Heaven,
shall so come in like manner as We
have seen Him go into Heaven"
Glad messages of the angels! Let
us draw near and listen to the sweet
music of their words, let us drink in
the height and depth and the length
and breadth of their meaning, let us
appropriate the inexhaustible riches
OF Gods love which they pour at our
feet.
The Christmas-time air is filed
with the music of angel voices. The
song that burst from the angelic
choir over the hills of Judea that
first Christmas morning has not
ceased it's music. The hilIsides RANG
with the glad message, the mountain
peaks claPped their hands with iov
and sent echoing throughout the
world the glory to God i'm the high
est and on earth peace, good will
towards men" 1t comes ringing
over dale and hill to-day. bringing
JOY to the hearts of men. Not
Christmas bell can be rung. not
Christmas carol can be sung. that has
not caught its music from the melody
that burst from the multitude of the
Heavenly host as it lowered over
that entranccd group OF shepherds
and their gentle hocks Christmas,
Glad Christmas! Joyous Christmas.
Blessed, yea thrice blessed, Christ
Ess! Let all the earth rel oice.
Angel messengers from Heaven TO
earth with their reassuring words.
Fear not, and then the gates OF
Heaven open wide and the glory of
God streams forth, the Celestial mu-
sic bursts upon the world. the beau.
teous star guides to the IowIy man.
ger and there the world l. led To
Pay homage to the Eternal King. the
Saviour Of the world. TO pay HON
age but oh, it is so easy to bow the
knee. while the heart remains I'M
yielding and unmOvcI So easy TO
worship as tho wise men did. to paw
tribute as tbc wise men did OUT of
their treasure, ard then 90 depart
90 the Gown country" of the hearts