Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1905-06-30
THE CHILDHOOD OF CHRIST.

BY Rev. 7. Vincent Tymms, d. D.
Iext-"And the child grew, an6
waxed strong in spirit, filled with
wisdom; and the grace of God wa:
upon hims"-Luke ii:4O.
BY humbllng Himself to wear the
LIKENESS of men the Son of God be.
came a Brother to the whole race OF
mankind. but, at the same time, He
entered into special family relations
by His birth of Mary, He became not
only a son of man, but a member of
the family of Abraham, a scion of the
royal house of David, and a near kins-
man OF all Mary's kindred. The COS,
pels say little Of the feelings with
which He was regarded by these rela.
tlves, but some facts are recorded
which are highly significant and
worthy of far more attention than has
usually been bestowed upon them by
the Christian church.
The verse before us contains In
outline the story Of twelve years:
And the Child grew, and waxed
strong In spirit, filed 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 n
or b most beautiful and retired vii
lagos Of Palestine. In Nazareth He
grew up in quietude as a 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 a golden light
round the head of the Holy Child. as
II a radiance were emitted from His
body. The device we may accept as
a symbol of the truth that 1.-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 aureola Is one which no
painters brush can show on canvas:
and in childhood this light shines most
l~ustrously in the beauty of a loving
and obedient spirit. He who in the
zenith of His manhood said, AZ am
meek and lowly in heart" was adorn-
ed 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 all the works
of God in the Olden time. Like every
other child in Nazareth, He would at
tend the common school; and Just as
men and women are comforted and
strengthened to bear the heavy bur-
dens of maturity, so boys and girls
may nave their tasks lightened and
their recreations hallowed by remem-
bering Him, who Is now the Lord of
Glory, but was once subject to the
discipline which they are tempted to
resent, and is able, as a sympathizing
friend, to have compassion upon them
and to help them in every time of
trouble or sorrow.
1t may be said, and said with ner-
rect truth, that we can never be like
Jesus in all things. We have already
slnned much and grlevously, and vet.
thank God, we are taught that this
fact will not prevent our rising TO n
heavenly throne at last. Sin may, and
evidently must, disQualify for such
and honors as are joyfully
ascribed to Christ, but it cannot hin
der the reception of His grace. God
will not remember the sins of child.
hood against those whom He pardons
In the name Of His Son. Yet surely
the holiness Of Christ should teach rs
what a deadly and bitter thing sin is.
even in the youngest child. The
stains of evil may be washed away.
the recording angel may blot out the
record from the book Of remembrance.
every wrong action will be n
source of weakness in after life
Would to God that the Holy Child
Jesus might be taken as a pattern by
all the little ones who hear of Him
today! May the grace Of God be upon
all who hear me now! May all WIN
humbly strive to copy Him become
more like Him day by day! May they.
while striving faithfully, ever put their
trust IN Him and in the transforming
power Of His Spirit. So shall they
attain at last to His perfect likeness.
and He will write upon them His new
name.