Condon globe. (Condon, Gilliam Co., Or.) 189?-1919, 1905-06-22
THE CHILDHOOD OF CHRIST.
ny Rsr. 7. Vincent Tvmms. D.

Text-"Aud tho child grew, ana
waxed strong In spirit. filled with
wisdom; and the grace OF God was
upon im."--Iuke na0.
Ry humblng Himself to wear the
likeness OF men the Son OF God be-
came Brother 10 the whole race Of
mankind, but at tho same time. He
entered into special family relations
by Ills birth OF Mary, lie became not
only Il son OF man. but II member OF
the family OF Abraham, scion of the
| royal house OF David, aud n near klns
man OF all Mary's kindred The goS,
| pels say little OF the feelings with
which He was regarded by these rela.
tlyes, but some facts are recorded
which are highly significant aud
worthy OF far more attention than has
usually been bestowed upon them by
the Christian church,
The verse before MS contains In
outline the story Of twelve years;
And the Child grew aud waxed
strong In spirit, filled with wisdom: and
the grace of God was upon Him"
| Apocryphal histories of the infancy
are full OF marvellous tales. but none
OF these is trustworthy. our informa.
tion concerning the earlier years may
be summed up In the statement that.
after the wise men returned to their
unknown country In the East, Jesus
was carried into Egypt, and presently
was brought back and placed IN one
OF the most beautiful and retired VII.
lagos OF Palestine. In Nazareth He
grew up In quletudc as II healthy,
happy child: dwelling In the home
which His heavenly Father had chosen
for Him. as the most suitable OF all
the homes then existent on the earth,
Artists have painted golden light
round the head Of the Holy Child, as
| II radiance were emitted from His
body The device we may accept as
a symbol OF the truth that the grace
OF God was upon Him." or. in other
words, that the beauty OF God was
seen shining through His daily deeds.
The true aurrola Is one which no
painters brush can show on canvas,
aud In childhood this light shines most
lustrously In the beauty az loving
and ohedIcnt spirit He who In the
zenith OF His manhood said. II am
meek and lowly In heart" was adorn,
cd with this same grace in His earliest
years. He would gladly listen while
Joseph and Mary kept the law OF
Moses by talking to Him, in the house
and by the waysIde Of Nil the works
OF God In the olden time, Like every
other child In Nazareth, He would ut,
tend the common school; and Just as
= strengthened to bear the heavy bur.
dens OF maturity, so boys and girls
may have their tasks llghtened and
their recreatlons hallowed by rcmem
berlng Him, who Is now the Lord OF
Glory, but was once subject to the
discipline which they are tempted ia
resent, and is able, as II sympathlzlnG
friend, to have compassion upon them
and to help them in every time OF
trouble or sorrow.
1t may be said, ana said with per
feet truth, that we can never be Hike
Jesus In all things. We have already
sInned much and grievously, and yet
thank God, we are taught that this
fact will not prevent our rising to 4
heavenly throne at last. Sin may, and
evidently must, dsqualify for sucl
functions and hOnors as are JoyfulLI
ascrIbed to Christ, but 1t cannot hin
der the reception OF His grace. Goo
will not remember the sins Of child
, hood against those whom He pardon,
in the name Of His Son. Yet surely
the holiness of Christ should teach III
what a deadly aud bitter thing sin il
even In the youngest child. Th,
stains Of evil may be washed away
the recording angel may blot out tn,
record from the book Of remembrance
but every wrong action will be
source Of weakness In after life
Would to God that the Holy Chill
> Jesus might be taken as pattern b,
all the little ones who hear of Hin
to-day! May the grace Of God be upol
. all who hear me now! May all VIII
= humbly strive to copy Him becom
more like Him day by day! May they
while striving faithfully, ever put thel
!, trust In Him and in the Transforming
: power of His Spirit. SO shall the
attain at last to His perfect likeness
and He will write upon them His nev
name.