The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1903-12-26

truly significant that Christmas 10 90
universally observed. The coming Of
Christ into the world was for the pur-
pose OF accomplishing great spirit
ual conquest over the hearts of men,
but through the influence Of that spir-
itual conquest has been wrought great
transformation In material things. The
influence OF the Christ Is felt upon
every hand. Civil and religious lib
erty, the safeguarding of life and
property, the exaltation and protec-
ton Of the home, and the elevation OF
womanhood and the deepening sense
of responsibility towards childhood
have come as direct effects Of the devel-
opment Of Christianity in the world
Practically all that the world possesses
of material progress and prosperity Is
the result Of Christ's advent Into the
world. do not wonder that the world
rejoices at Christmas time. even though
It does not realize the true message
OF Christmas and know its true and
deepest Joy. 1t has received untold
material blessings from the Christ,
even though It has refused to receive
the spiritual, and 1t is truly signifi-
cant, we say, that Christmas is 30 uni
versally observed. The world uncon-
sciously pays tribute to the One Who
has given 1t such great material bless
ing, and Who waits to become It's
Saviour and King.
A ND IL the world has missed the
~ true Joy of Christmas as pro-
claimed by the angels, what Is that
Joy? How may the world come to
know that Joy? What will be the
expression of that Joy? And first Of
all, what is that joy?- The angel said:
Behold. I bring you good tidings Of
great JOY" And all Heaven was filled
with the song Of that Joy on that
first Christmas morning. Never before
was such song heard. Never before
did Heaven pour forth her bright hosts
upon earth as 1t did upon the night
when Jesus was born. And what was
that Joy which filled all the heavens
and was to become known unto men
and in time fill all the earth? It was
not that superficial Joy which is de-
pendent upon the material senses for
realization. 1t was not that Joy which
echoes and reechoes around the world
at Christmas time. What was that
Joy, then? And to tell what that Joy
was, we must search out the source OF
that Joy. Joy does not exist solely
of itself It is the manifestation nf
something which lies behind Il and
which gave 1t birth. To appreciate the
quality and degree of your Joy one
must know the causes from which that
Joy arose. To understand the true Joy
of Christmas one must trace back to
its source that Joy and know the thing
upon which 1t depends. "A Saviour
born" was the burden Of the angels
message. Here was the reason for
the Joy of Heaven. Here was why the
earth should rejoice. The Joy OF
Heaven was great because the Christ
which It gave to earth was ita
best gift to man. The Joy of the
earth was to be great in proportion ns
1t received and appropriated the gift.
Christ was and is the source and in
spiration of true Christmas Joy. First
because of the supreme need of man
which brought Him to earth, and sec
ond. because Of His power to supply
and satisfy that need-thc disease and
the remedy; man lost in sin, Jesus
mighty to save. A disease without q
remedy is pitiable and distressing and
ends in death. A remedy unbestowed
is powerless for good; 1t abideth alone
But a disease. be It ever so desperate
to which Is applied a remedy which
Is able to cure, issues In health ant
brings unspeakable Joy. Men Of sci.
ence search for a lifetime for the rem.
edy for some distressing and fatal dis.
case and count 1t time well spent wher
they have succeeded, and joyfully give
their discovery to suffering humanity
Here is Joy profound and deep, bu
who can measure the Joy which
Heaven felt when 1t bestowed its rem
edy for sin. There was rejoicins
among the angels. and man was callet
to join in that song of Joy and praise
CHRISTMAS, then. reminds us OF I
- world lost in sin, and of Saviour
come to save. and the Joy of Christ
mas Is known when the Saviour's pow
Ter is tested and the sinners need sup
piled. Think of the world to which
Jesus came-a world lost in the depth
of sin. No home ready to receiv,
Him; forced to lie In manger. Few
hearts ready TO welcome Him; shu
out with His handful of follower
FROM the nation whose King He ha,
come to be. Alone in the wilderness
to fight His battle with the devil
alone at His trial when He IL con
damned; alone on the cross as H
cries in agony OF spirit as He bear
the sin of the world: my God! M,
God! Why hast Thou forsaken Me-?
This is the world to which He came
This is what He received from tn
world. And yet angels could sim
with Joy that filled the heavens. be
cause His coming and His sacrific
meant the salvation Of they world
Only few ready to share in the 10
of that first Christmas, because only
few were ready and willing to receiv
Him. The world did not hear IN
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