The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1902-12-26

love greater far than can BE- measured
by any human standard: love which
stretched out TO infnity, a love which
| embraces all mankind. We must free
our minds entirely from the SUPPOSE
ton that the Incarnation was forced
upon Jesus Christ by our sinful condi-
ton, or by anything external to Him
self. 1t was not. 1t YVES wholly vol
| untar!. If it were not so, then Christ
would belong to a lower order of being
than man, for man cannot be forced.
He is a free agent. But. if man is free,
then surely the perfect man must be
wholly free; hence the Incarnation of
the Son of God was in the fullest sense
a voluntary one. The motive, the i'm
polling power, was buried deep in the
heart of Christ: an unbounded love to
man, yearning for mans salvation; a
love so great that it was not hindered
by unlimited self-sacrifice. \ love too
great to be expressed by words Such
my friends, was the love of God, mani
| Tested by the Incarnation. AS st. Paul
said: We know the grace Of our Lord
Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich,
yet for Your sakes he became poor,
that We through his poverty might be-
come rich" rich in the Astounding love
of God.
Think of the nyTiads of worlds Whirl
ing through space, very many Of which,
no doubt, are peopled with men and
women, sinful as We are, tempted and
yielding; men of like capabilities: men
with the possibility of salvation written
in their being. Is it not possible that
Jesus Christ, the great revealed of God,
is to-day on some of those worlds in
human form, spreading joy and peace
wherever He goes, drawing all men to
Him, and in Him to the Father, mani
Testing the undying love of God?
think that it is more than probable. He
is still expressing the love of God as
when upon our earth.
Such was the Incarnation of the Son
of God. Its necessity, our sin; its mode,
God" written in human letters, the
word becoming flesh and dwelling
among u.s." its motive. infinite love.
To-day anthems of praise are rising
to heaven from thousands of assem-
bled congregations. They are caught
up by the angelic hosts and waited on
to the throne of God, Glory to God in
the highest and on earth peace, good
will toward men. For there was born
to us this day in the city of David a
Savior which is Christ the Lord The
heaven is rent in twain: the curtains
are drawn back: the wall of partition
between man and God Is cast down;
deity is revealed to humanity, God
takes upon Him the nature of man; He
raises humanity in Jesus Christ to
divinity. Let all the earth rejoice, Let
men vie with one another in thanks
giving!
OF all the days in all the year Chris
mas should be the gladdest More joy
full than our own birthday. for with
out God, without Christ, our life Is aim
less, is meaningless. He gives it its
power: He reveals to it its end. Open
your hearts and sing for joy! for unto
us God hath revealed Himself. unto
us n King is given" Christ the Lord
was born to-day
My friends, let Christ be born again
in this church to-day. Let us unite as
We never have before in carrying on
! the work Of this church. Let every one
! give literally; let every one lend q
helping hand: let each one feel that the
| interest of our church is his interest;
| let everyone strive to influence
other souls and build them up in the
spiritual life Thus will Jesus be born
again in this church and this church,
which has been such power in the
past will be still greater power in
the community. Let every member of
this congregation do his or her ut
most.
My friends let Christ be born to-day
in your homes, as He was born before.
| Let the family strife cease from to-day!
Instead of selfshnesS, let self-sacritice
be the ruling power Of the home! Let
| the exchanging of presents really mean
| something, let it mean the exchange of
peace, Of Joy, Of good will. Then will
Christ to-day be born In your home.
! My friends. let Christ be born in your
own heart to-day as he was never born
| before Let the power of His love
break down every barrier of sin, let it
| quicken into flame every high in
stinct and every noble longing, let it
open wide the doors of your heart to
| the full revelation of God. Then will
to-day truly be the happiest Christmas
of your life, a fitting type of the Christ
mas of heaven. / wish you all such a.
| Christmas.