The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1904-12-20


and enlightened nations Of the earth Oh
the fact of Jesus advent into the
world and His vicarious mission. We
speak of the Christian nations, and
mean those nations which have been
dominated by the enlightened spirit OF
righteousness and truth OF which
Jesus was the expression and expo
nent. The mustard seed has grown
to be the great tree, spreading Its
branches everywhere. and the nations
the birds Of the air-have found
lodgment therein. To-day the Christ
mas bells ring round the earth, and
peal forth their message Of Joy and
good cheer, even though the notes OF
its truest message often are not heard.
A large part OF the world to-day has
its Christmas, but has IL the Christ
1t celebrates the crowning event Of the
ages, but does It appreciate all that
that celebration should mean? Is II
the stable where the Christ has been
given place and welcome? or is 1t the
inn crowded, and busy. and resting In
ease and comfort with no place OF
provision made for the Christ? Oul
text suggests contrasts SO sharp and
painful that We cannot but be i'm
pressed by them as we mediate there.
OH. The stable and the inn. The one
for the beast, the other for man
The one poor and cheerless and com.
fortress, the other fitted at least with
the common comforts and convenience
which could minister to the needs o
man The one the only place where
| the Son Of God could find shelter, tn,
other the place which was so crowded
| snd filled that II shut out the Christ
| m HE fact that Christmas, the anniver.
l. sary Of the birth Of Christ, is cele
brated is not enough. One may shar,
IN all the activities and pleasures o.
the day. and still be an inmate OF tn,
inn, and a stranger to the true signifi
| canoe Of the birth in the stable. On,
| may hear the wonderful Divine myster,
| whereby the Son of God left Heaven anf
became flesh through the operation 0
the Holy Spirit, and still be blind to tn,
Divine light that filled the stable re
cesses- Think you not that the inn wa
astir next day with the news Of tn,
events which had ranspired in tn
stable? Think you not that every on
was talking Of the Babe in the manger
Of the story Of the shepherds and thei
visit in the early morning? Ere tn
mornings sun had climbed the Beth
lehem hills and gilded the distant noun
tain heights with its golden splendor
feel sure that the mighty secret of tha
stable became known not only to all fl
the inn, but to all In the little villag
OF Bethlehem. And so to-day the stor.
of the birth Of the Christ is known an
rehearsed among men, they celebrat
the event with eagerness and Joy, an
still the Christ Is absent, kept out b.
the crowded condition Of the inn. Tn
news OF the birth of Jesus has reache
the inn and 1t freely joins in the cele
bration Of the event, but the stabl
where room is found for Jesus is tn
place where the true celebration is hele
You may be content with the festivitie
OF the inn, and never care to enter int
the deeper joys of the stable wher
, Jesus is. As Of old, il is the questio
Of the stable or the inn. Where are yo
content to celebrate the Christmas fes
tival? verify believe the saddest da
in Heaven is Christmas day, because a
the angelic hosts look upon earth the
behold all manner Of revelry and fes
tivities In the name Of Jesus, while th
One Whose birthday 1t is is shut ou
No place for Him in the inn. There
too much going on. There are too man
plans laid. There are too many othe
friends to be entertained. And SO IL
the inn instead OF the stable. Tt
3 Christ Is shut out!