The Yale expositor., 1903-12-18

~ INV " fFANFH NUuIAHs ANf AMIAg NMn-
sequcnt adherence OF the Eastern
church. and the unanimous acceptance
OF the whole and undivided church
make us as certain as anything can.
short Of mathematical demonstration.
Of the correctness Of Dec. % as the
true date OF the Nativity.
But | presume the most convincing
OF all arguments will be allowed To
be this: On the Cross Our Lord com
mitted the care OF His blessed Mother
10 His beloved disciple. St John. she
spent the closing years of her life at
81. Johns home. The Nativity was
celebrated many times during her life
time. II Is absolutely inconceiyable
that the birth OF her son could be cele-
rrated with her knowledge and con-
sent on wrong date. II never before.
she must have spoken to 81. John
after the ascension OF the night and
Incidents of the birth OF Him they
both loved so well. II IS incOncoiy-
able that 81. John could have cele-
brated the Nativity ON any other than
the day OF birth. 81. John lad dis
Ciple well known In history, Polycarp.
bishop OF Smyrna. lie celebrated the
Nativity, and 10 Is uncomfortable that
ho whose boast il was that what he
delivered he received from ST. John.
could observe the Nativity on any
other than the correct date. Now.
rolycarp had disciple named Ironeus.
and lrenCus claims that he delivered
the doctrines and customs as he re-
cciycd them from 50. Polycarp and
others. This lrcneus was made bishop
OF Lyons. and delivered 10 the Chris.
tians there the customs he had re-
ceiycd from 81. Johns disciple. lie
was martyred 2O2. Belonging TO the
same local church. the Gallican. was
ST. Martin. born GIG, and made bishop
of Tours In 37l. lie OF cource re-
ceiyed the customs as Ireneus dcliv.
cred them. His sister was the mother
OF ST. Patrick. apostle Of ireland. Tho
Irish church converted northwestern
Europe. The day observed by all
these as tie natal day OF Christ is
Dec. 25.
Who were the shepherds 10 whom
the angel OF the Lord appeared They
were not ordinary shepherds You re-
member two lambs were offered daily
In the continual burnt Offering on the
altar in the temple. In addition there
were special offerings. These sacrifices
required large nocks Shepherds were
needed 10 tend these lambs, types OF
the Lamb OF God" now born. The
pasturagc whore these lambs were fed
was the field OF Bethlehem. The
SHEPHERDS were a quasi sacred order
ufprior 90 the Leyltes. Their occu.
patioa was similar 10 Abels. Il was
10 these shepherds. lowly but God
fearing men, that the angel appeared.
and the glory OF the Lord shono round
about. They were engaged In dis
charming their duty, and 10 all doing
their duty TO God aud man will come
the glory Of the Lord and the message
O! peace good will 20 men.
The events Of Christ's slnless life
have not been recorded IN the annals
OF earthly history. nor emblazoned on
the rolls Of earthly fame. nor heralded
in pomp and state by earthly trum.
pets: for He loved To manifest His
spotless life among the nameless ones
Of the toiling and busy throng; yet
there Is a record kept OF that stainless
life in the pages Of the Book OF
Space. with precision passing earth.
ly effort and an exactItude which the
spheres alone could give.