Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-12-29


cr, looking for their shepherds. Ami
mails intultvcly know when something
unnatural is about to happen. The cat
tie can smell the blood long before they
are driven into the slaughter houses to
be killed When the South Carolina
earthquake shook Charleston few
years ago the dogs crouched at their
masters feet, and the birds lowered
around, uttcring shrill cries Of fear, as
though human beings alone could pro-
tect them. The horrible picture OF
Dore's flood, where loncss with her
whclps trcmblcs upon rock by the
side of IN affrightcd woman holding
In her arms n babe. is not n geological
absurdity. Animals in times Of danger
naturally seek the protection of man.
There is strange silence brooding.
The shepherds anxiously grip their
slaves and prepare for an unseen bat
tie, which they feel sure is about to
come.
The First Christmas Morn.
Suddenly star breaks from Its fas-
Jennings 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
a fishing smack or large express en-
ginc crash into hand car. The terror
stricken astrologcrs 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 tdings of great joy 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 mangcr.
Why did this message of my text
bring good tldings Of great joyT
First Christ came as a Saviour to q
sin cursed race and condemned world
lie came as an earthly ruler might
come to Il condemned murderer about
to cxpiate his crimes with his life, bear
ing news of pardon and liberty. II,
came as loving mother or father
might come to a son who had been bit
ten by a poisonous serpent, with an an
tidote for the deadly virus. Thus Chris
came. BY his vicarious sufferings he
took upon himself the condemnation
which was due us for our sins. HI
came as Saviour. that the human
race in him might live with him for
ever.
Shall we ever cease to look upon thu
message of the Nativity AS glad It'd
ings:" The world honors the memo
rieS of many of its heroes and heroine.
who have been saviors to their fcl
low men in a physical sense. Too mucl
praise cannot be given to the mcmor!
]
who was the savior of thousands up
/ on thousands of lives during the lat,
Spanish war in Porto Rico. Major Gen
eral Brooks had made the final ar
engagements of his troops before tn
Spanish intrenchments. The battle WA
about to open. Suddenly ut the sigma
station some miles to the rear of lii
L,. col. g. -,
began to tick. Lieutenant McIaugl
Inns face took on an anxious look Th
news was being telegraphed that tn
protocol had been signed between tn
Spanish and the American authorize
for the cessation of international strife
Hardly had the import Of the lncsSag
come when Lieutenant Mclaughlin RAJ
from the signal station and flung him
self upon u horse. He rode on and OF
at mad gallop. Though he rode fas
as his horses limbs could go. he onl
reached General Brooks side. as tn
first cannon was about to he touches
of and the bloody battle was to begin
But. though we may honor Iieutenan
Mclaughlin. who by heroic effort say
ed thousands of lives by preventin
bloody carnage. how mach more shoul
we today honor Christ for what he ha
done for the world in "A spiritual sens
by the atonement of the cross, Chris
being born in Bethlehem of .Iudae3
meant more than mer" physical saliva
ton. II meant the atonement of tn
cross, whereby Christ took upon hin
self the condemnation for our sin:
Ought not the redemption of the worl(
foroshadowed in the birth of Savior,
have been good tidinGs of great JOY
sin struck and condemned world?
Joyful word.
Some people seem to think that tn
birth of Saviour is not the time fC
outward manifestations of joy. but c
sorrow. Saviour is pathetic name,
wrote Joseph Parker. "lt is not a
official title; it is not an image you ca
robe in scarlet and bow down befor
on account OF its majesty and haught
ness. Saviour is an angel with teal
In his eyes. with arms mighty as II
lightnngs of God, but heart all ter
derness. Saviour is a complex wor,
1t has in it all human nature, all
vine nature. all the past of history, a
the possibilities of prophecy, all Il
mystery of apocalypse, tenderne'
outranglng the love OF woman. 4 ma
esty humbling the haushtiness
king" But. though the word "Sa'