Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-12-21
Calrnage
Sermon
BY Rev.
Frank De Witt Tslmaos, D. D.


a unique study Of the life and character
Of Joseph the carpenter, in whose OK.
ample the preacher finds lesson Of in.
SEPARATION for all husbands and parents.
The text Is Matthew l, 10, Joseph. the
husband Of Mary, Of whom was born
Jesus
Amazing It is to read the reviews Of
the latest books of our prominent nov.
elists. 1t seems as though we Are pc.
rusing the columns of homiletic re-
view or are reading the resume Of the
sermons Of ministers written in a re.
ligious weekly instead Of u summary
of the ina gInntive works Of our secular
writer's. The novelist's fad Of finding
his heroes and heroines among the cas-
tied walls Of chlvalric times has to a
great extent passed away. Our mod.
ern Bulwers are not searching among
the smoke and the totterlng walls Of
licentious Pompeil to seek out their
blinded Lydias. Our Charles Kingsleys
are not roaming about the edge Of a
Sahara to find the footprints Of beau.
tiful heather celbate, Hypatia by
name. Our brilliant Sir Walter Scots
are not turning the ruins Of Kenil-
worth castle into gorgeous banquet
hall where the rival earls Of a mighty
kingdom are rising side by side to
drink the health of virgin queen. But
a large percentage Of our modern nov.
elists are finding the scenic settings for
their most powerful chapters among
the Judaean hills or by the placid wa.
tiers Of lake Galilee or down among the
vine clad valleys Of a Samaritan CAPT.
tai
Yes, the Biblical historical novel is to
be reckoned with as among the most
interesting and popular Of all modern
novels. While thinking along this line
a catalogue Of one Of our public libra
ries was placed in my hand. As l
turned the pages I read the following
names of some of the great books Of
fiction: There were Joseph 1ngraham's
The Prince Of the House Of Davif'
and his pillar Of Fire, or Israel In
Bondage" there were Georg Ebers'
Joshua" and Florence Kingsley's '"Ti.
tus, a Comrade of the Cross" there
was Marie Corelh's "Barabbas," be-
sides a score Of other names suggestive
of Biblical lore, while Edward Everett
Hates I'm His Name" and Charles
Sheldon's "In His Steps, and Hall
Gaines christian" and Lew Wallace's
"Ben- Hur," and Nellie l.. Helms
when Jesus Was Here Among Men,"
all deal directly or indirectly with orr.
entail teachings and directly with the
life Of Jesus translated into modern
thought
But, though many Of the great char.
acters Of the Old and New Testaments
have been made to come forth out Of
their glsvcs and live and breathe as in
times of yorc, there is one Bible char
acter who has never, SO far rs / know.
been made the hero Of n historical nov.
elist's tale. Indeed, there is one Bible
character that has never so far as
know, been made the subject Of a SER
mon. The ministers seem to ignore
making a sketch Of this man, Just as
| do the historical novelists. allude
here to the character of Joseph. l do
not mean Joseph who was the sou Of
old Jacob or Joseph Of Aramathea, but
of Joseph Of Nazareth, Joseph Of Beth
lehem, Joseph the carpenter. Joseph
who was the husband Of Mary, Of
whom Jesus was born.
Now, as the annual Christmas Holt.
days are but a few days of thought
would preach sermon about Joseph
the carpenter. want 10 tell you why
he was at the manger. In other SER
mons you have heard why Mary was
there. and why the shepherds were
there and why the sheep and the cattle
and the horses were there Today
want to tell you why Joseph was there.
And Of all the characters Of the Bible
there is not one which appeals to me
in a more vivid way than does this
brawny, rugged. stout lmbed mechan-
ic. who passed so much Of his time
among the Zebulon hills.
Joseph came to the mangcr. In the
first place. to make it possible for Jesus
to be born in Bethlehem Of Judaea. He
came to the manger in order that the
words Of the prophet might be fulfilled.
He came to the mas ger because toward
Judaea all the Sage Of the Jerusalem
capital were looking for the expected
Son Of God to be born. He came to the
mnnger. for IL he had not come Mary
the Virgin would never have gone there
to give birth to her child, and the wise
men Of the east would never have been
able TO find there the infant Christ.
This being born in Bethlehem was alb
solutely essential for the fulfillment OF
prophecy.
The Stamp Of Divinity.
There were two ways by which the
stamp OF divinity was to be placed up
on Christ's life The first was by his
miracles. What do I mean by that?
Simply this: When the people began
to crowd around Jesus. and he said. II
nm the Son Of God: follow me-" the
people answered. "IIow do we know
thou art the Christi" He said II will
show you; como and see" Then be
Stooped down and made the crooked
limbs straight. Then he expectorated
upon the ground and made a salve Out
OF the spittle and dirt and rubbed II
upon the blind eyes, and they were
opened. Then he stopped by the bier
of the only son OF his mother. and she
widow, and he said. "Young man.
say unto thee, arise" Then he turned
to the people and practically said