Milford chronicle., 1904-12-30
The First Christmas Morn.

SOLlEs
The First Christmas Morn.
Suddenly a star breaks from its fas-
tenings and begins to tumble through
space. On and on it comes like me
teor. With frightful velocity it heads
toward this planet, ready to plunge into
it, as the human foot might crush an
insect. an ocean liner might run down
q fishing smack or large express en-
gine crash into hand car. The terror
stricken astrOlogers see it flying to-
ward the earth. Suddenly it stops and
seems to be watching something that
is happening in the little village of
Bethlehem. The angel who once stood
| at the garden of Eden's entrance now
unsheathes his sword and cuts the cur
tain of the night in twain. The waves
/ of light rush down and push the dark
ness to the right and to the left Great
multitudes of angels begin to sing. As
the glory of God shines around the
PROSTATE shepherds there sounds forth
the voice of an angelic messenger, say
ing, Fear not, for, behold, bring you
good tidings of great jOyw Such was
the advent of the angelic messenger.
Such was the message which he brought
to the shepherds on the first Christmas
morn, announcing the birth of the little
Child who lay in the manger.
Why did this message of my text
"bring good tidings of great joy?"
70
sin cursed race and condemned world.
He came as an earthly ruler might
come to a condemned murderer about
to expiate his crimes with his life, bear
ing news of pardon and liberty. He
came as a loving mother or father
might come to Il son who had been bit
ten by a poisonous serpent, with an an
tidOte for the deadly virus. Thus Christ
came. By his vicariOus sufferings he
took upon himself the condemnation
which was due us for our sins. He
came as a Saviour, that the human
race in him might live with him for
ever.
Shall we ever cease to look upon the
message of the Nativity as glad It'd
ings?' The world hOnors the memo
ries of many of it's heroes and heroines
who have been saviors to their fel-
low men in physical sense. Too much
praise cannot be given to the memory
Of the late Lieutenant Mclaughlin,
who was the savior of thousands up
on thousands of lives during the late
Spanish war in Porto Rico. Major Gen
eral Brooks had made the final ar
rangements of his troops before the
Spanish intrenchments. The battle was
about to open. Suddenly at the signal
station some miles to the rear of the
American lines the telegraphic machine
began to tick. Lieutenant McLaugh-
Inns face took on an anxious look. The
news was being telegraphed that the
protocol had been signed between the
Spanish and the American authorities
for the cessation of international strife.
Hardly had the import of the message
come when Lieutenant Mclaughlin ran
from the signal station and flung him
self upon a horse. He rode on and on
at a mad gallOp. Though he rode fast
as his horses limbs could go, he only
reached General Brooks side as the
first cannon was about to be touched
Off and the bloody battle was to begin.
But, though we may honor Lieutenant
Mclaughlin, who by heroic effort saw
ed thousands of lives by preventing
bloody carnage, how much more should
we today honor Christ for what he has
done for the world in spiritual sense
by the atonement of the crOssl Christ,
being born in Bethlehem of Judaea,
meant mOye than mere physical saliva
tion. 1t meant the atonement of the
cross, whereby Christ took upon him
self the condemnation for our sins.
Ought not the redemption Of the world,
foreshadowed in the birth of a Saviour,
have been good tidings of great joy to
a sin struck and a cOndemned world?
a Joyful Word.
Some people seem to think that the
birth Of a Saviour is not the time for
outward manifestations Of joy, but Of
sorrow Saviour is a pathetic name"
wrote Joseph Parker. 1T is not an
official title; it is not an image you can
robe in scarlet and bow down before,
on account of its majesty and haughti-
ness. Saviour is an angel with tears
in his eyes, with arms mighty as the
lightnings Of God, but a heart all ten
Saviour is a complex word.
It has in it all human nature, all di-
vine nature, all the past of history, all
the possibilities of prophecy, all the
the love Of woman. a NAL
esty humbling the haughtiness Of
king" But, though the word Say