The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-12-25
LITTLE SERMONS.

And the Word was made flesh and
dwelt among US. John ia.
The thought of millions is on Jesus
this day. Whether it be the actual an
niversary of his birth or not, it is the
season when His name christens the
festive sensibilities of men.
From many points of view He will.
be discussed-Song, pulpit, pen will re-
port the refrain of His holy life and
blessed character. Just now His re-
lations to every day life impresses me
most.
Sometimes I fear we have put Jesus
too far from our actual living to get
the best results from His matchless
career. With worthy motive He has
been separated from men, apotheosized
and removed from the common cur
rent of life. One class denaturalizes
Him from an emotional standpoint,
! and He is only the object of aesthetic
devotion. Another class endeavors to
define Him in metaphysical terms and
produces an unnatural being. Anoth-
er still hides Him in what they would
call the sacred and allow Him no part
in actual everyday living.
In this way the full dominion of
| Jesus over men is delayed. A real
redeemer must tell on the real con-
slant life of men. RELOCATED to the
church-house, the stated worship and
the inner meditation He cannot be
controlling force in mems thought
about things. Exclusive theologic dog
ma as to His nature and work excites
dissent and withholds enthusiasm in
| His service. The scripture statement
that God was in Christ reconciling the
world unto Him, gives us the true pic
ture of Jesus and His place in thought.
He said of Himself: "And l, if l be
lifted UP, will draw all men unto me-"
He left His followers to lift him up.
Alas! Some of them have lifted Him
up so high that He is out of sight.
They have put him in such unnatural
pastures that the common everyday
man cannot know Him.
The study of the early day life of
Jesus is full of beauty, as well as in
struction. Its chief attraction is its
absence of circumstances. Self
conscious goodness was the chief
offense of the old Pharisee and is the
| blight of his modern successor. Jesus
just went about, lived and accomplish
| ed. No effort, no strain, no affection,
no display. AS a child the main feature
of his life was its simplicity. He sim
ply lived, loved and obeyed his parents.
| During the private period of his adult
years he was a plain workman. The
| growing into his Messiahship. 1t pre-
sents the picture of an average CALI
lean peasant at his work bench. PLANE,
saw and hammer in hand doing the duty
of the hour diligently and faithfully.
We do not always get their PHILOSOPHERS,
and much of the worlds greatest think
ing is done in the meditation of man.
ual labor. Much of those teachings Of
Jesus, which are Transforming the
world. were assimilated amid these
honorable but humble surroundings.
The same simple process is
manifested in the public ministry of
Jesus. Many a fiedgling pulpiteer or
unknown and to-be-unknown clergy
man of this day is full Of his work, his
mission, his influence than Jesus. His
life was centered so far away from
self that He never had time to think
on the tremendous Importance of His
calling. Majestic is His modesty True
the world never saw such wondrous
works, never heard such inspiring
words. never saw such magnificent liv-
ing, but II all came as naturally. as
the mountain spring gushing from its
home In the rocks with its ripping
song and merciful mission. No such
character ever was known, yet II was
only the unfolding OF a being as sim
pie az the bursting OF the rosebud.
The Christmas lesson OF the every
day Jesus Is be and let utterance and
action be but the expression OF the in
ner heart. Give all trying over. turn
aside from every form OF dispfav ana
live the natural life Of service 10 the
Eternal. The most necessary thing 10
human life ~ the beating 81 the heart
Who ever thinks whether his heart
beats or not7 You never know Won
have a heart till you get aick or er-
eifed 80 the natural Christ ne Ia
unconscious. Not the most fluent falk.
~ n holiness was me h0iiesf paraon
ever knew. No. che was "a
thoroughly pune GOOD true, loving poG.
~ nature. that would have bean sur.
prigef ana pained N you had called
her holy. The simple everyday me-
nena. buf flii ~ goodness. ~ NAY ~
b. via yea.