Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1907-04-19
EPWORTH LEAGUE.
Dee. 23i lessons of the Manager"
lChristmns TOpic.l
BY REV. WAITER ]. YATES, D. D.

BY REV. WALTER j. YATES, D. IL.
Luke H. 7-2o.-The worlds exclusion Of.
Jesus.-Verse Z. The lowly sign Of the
child Christ.-Verse H. The manifesto
ton of the child Christ.--Verse t.
There was no place for them in the
inn, not because any one intended to
crowd them out as a matter of malice
or i'll will. Simply this-every one was
busy about his own concerns and was
ignorant of the nature of this family,
their conditions and needs.
So it is at the present time. Multi
tudes are Indifferent to the claims OF
Christ upon them because they are
busy about other concerns and have
never been brought to think on re-
lgious matters. Their minds are pre-
occupied. Their time is wholly taken
up with other things. They are not
hostile to religion-they are simply not
thinking Of it, but of other matters.
They have no room for Christ because
full Of matters of different nature.
At this Christmas time how much
thought is given by the vast majority
to those things connected with Christ,
from whom il takes all its significance?
There is hurry and hustle and multi
tude of things doing JOY and present
making and giving, greetings and con-
gratulations. Watch the flow of the
tides of affairs and then tell yourself
how much after all there is Of Christ
in the Christmas which most people
know about. There is so much to be
thought of and done there is no time
or room for Him. Wait until Lent or
some revival time and then we will
think of Christ, but On Christmas, who
ever thinks Of that as a religious sea
son?
Where shall we find Christ now? 1t
was a strange thing for the Lord of
all worlds to make His bed in a man
ger. The wise men from the east
sought Him in the place which seems
most natural-in the palace Of the
king. But He was not there. There
was nothing in that palace or the per
sons living there which was like Him.
He was Prince Of Peace, but peace
never found a lodging place where
no home where such king abode. He
came to earth to save the poor in heart
and bring victory to the lowliest Of the
human race. Why, then, should He
find lodging anywhere other than
among the lowlyf Here was safety
also. II born in the palace, He might
have suffered the fate of some of the
best Of the kings sons, the very fate
which HerOd tried to inflict on Jesus
when he ordered the slaughter Of the
babes of Bethlehem. He is safer far
In the manger bed than in the kings
arms.
This is also sign TO us at the pres
emit time. Would. you find the things
Of Christ you must seek them not 80
much among the high and mighty Of
the world as among the lowly and
meek Do you understand this? Many
do not and never will penetrate the
mystery. They will still be wonder
ing why they may not find the sweet
and secret things Of God in the high
ways and in the busy marts Of men
and in the worlds own way.
There are births for which the ma
lions wait in eager expectancy and
which are heralded by roar of cannon
and bonfires and celebrated by carousal
and delirious joy. There are pomp and
ceremony, careful public attestation Of
legitimacy, scrupulous care. soft gar
ments, gems and ali earthly glory and
circumstances. And In 80 many cases
II is all needed for the poor thing
which comes into existence, for he has
no glory or power In himself. But in
this case what need, what place for
earthly trumpetings, what need Of hui
man attestation, what time for shout
ings and high rejoicing? This is not
his hour or his abiding place. He
owns all. He made all. He comes to
call all. but His kingdom Is not like
these others. Earth's wealth shall be
poured out for Him as never for any
other. He shall dwell among men as
men never before saw monarch live.
He shall claim and receive homage
such as no other one ever did or shall
receive He shall come into His own
and shall reign supreme, but not as
the Herods and Caesars. The manger
Is His sign.
Have you read His sign and found
Him?