The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1903-12-25


from all sin. 1t may share in the
Christmas song and good cheer. but
of the true joy OF the day it is as un-
conscious as was the world when
Jesus came as a babe to Bethlehem.
What is this Christmas to you?"
asks the devout- Ruskin. what Light
is there, for your eyes, also, pausing
yet over the place where the Child
lay? / will tell you, briefly, what
Light there should be-what lessons
and promise are in this story, at the
least. There may be infinitely more
than / know, but there Is certainly
this: The Child is born to bring you
the promise Of new life. Heaven
grant to you the vision OF that sacred
Light, and ordain that more and more
in each coming Christmas it may be
said of you: When they saw the star,
they rejoiced with exceeding great
joy"
A ND z thu world knows not the true
n jog d Christmas, how may it come
into that realization and experience?
Is the true joy of Christmas always to
be the possession of the comparatively
few, while the great majority are un-
conscious of it's meaning and indiffer-
ent to its blessing? 1t is not Gods
purpose that it should be thus. Gods
gift Of a Saviour was to all the world,
not to few in the world. The joy
of the angels would not have been COM
plete If they had not been sent with
the message of good tidings to all
people" But earth's sin was not so
great, nor earth's sinners so many, that
sin could not be cleansed by Jesus
blood and every sinner saved. Jesus
began by curing the worst cases Of
disease, by cleansing the foulest sim
ners, by raising those who were dead
| and rotting in the grave. See His fol-
| lowers: Despised Galilean fishermen,
publicans. harlots; Mary, out of whom
| seven devils were cast; the man of
Gadara, who had been possessed of a
legion of devils, the scarlet woman of
Samaria, the thief on the cross. Think
Of those whom Jesus gathered during
His earthly ministry as His followers,
and see If it does not include all types
and grades and classes. There were
the proud and cultured Nicodemus and
the rich Zaccheus. The rich and
the poor, the cultured and the igno-
rant, found in Jesus deliyerance from
sin. And few years later the chief
est of sinners, Saul, was brought to the
feet of Jesus as he neared Damascus
gate. 1t is Gods will that all should
know the true joy of Christ and Christ
mas. And it may be known by that
act of faith and surrender which for
| cepts Christ as the only Saviour. Then
the first Christmas joy is the present
| Christmas joy, or, as Phillips Brooks
SO beautifully says:
I shall we not listen while they sing
| This latest Christmas morn,
| And music hear in everything
| And faithful lives in tribute bring
] To the great song which greets the King
w o comes when Christ is born?''
| MYTH the true JOY of Christmas in
w the heart. what should be the ex-
preston of it in the life? It must find
expression. AS well try to dam up the
Niagara or turn the suns light into
the darkness of night as to try to stif1e
the joy of the heart which is rejoicing
in Saviour born. Heaven could not
contain the Son of God because of His
great love and the love of His Father
for the lost human race. And the
I heart cannot shut up the JOY of Christ
mas which vibrates and thrills with
the message of a Saviour. 1t must find
| nd OF IN
to the song of the angels:
GLORY to God in the highest,
And upon earth peace
Among men good pleasure?'
A triple expression of that Joy: Praise
to God, the giver of the Saviouri Peace
through the Saviour upon the earth
Good pleasure among men by the op.
Grafton of that supreme spirit of love
and service which comes from fellow.
ship with the Christ If the world has
taken Christmas day by violence, anG
filled it's sacred hours with thought
less revelry, IL it has crushed in the
mire of its sin and pleasure it's bless
ed memories, let the Christian be MOI
dismayed or disheartened, but let hin
drink into his soul all the sacred, ten
} der joy of the Christmas time, of Sa
viour born, of a Saviour received. ant
give expression to that Joy, in way Sc
full and free that it must needs ex
ert It's influence upon all about. How
, shall we give? Give as God gives t.
thee. From Him come,
Christmas gifts for thee,
| Full and free!
Precious things from the Heavenly store
J | Filling thy caSket more and more;
Golden love in Divinest chain,
That never can be untwined again;
Silvery carols of joy that swell
| Sweetest of all in the hearts lone cell;
Pearls OF pence that were sought for the,
In the terrible depths of fiery sea:
, | Diamond promises sparkling bright,
Flashing in farthest reaching light.