Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1908-01-04
She could not understand hi

not talk Of them then, but she stored
those testimonies up In her memory.
"sIary kept all these things and pom
dercd them In her heart"
But there was another feeling of
gratitude which crept over Mary when
ever she thought about the incidents
preceding and succeeding that first
Christmas morn. That was the thank
fulness In her heart because God had
cared for and protected her and her
dear family during all those days of
trial and ignominy. Never was there a
time when Gods eye was not watch.
ing them and Gods ear listening TO
them and Gods hand guiding them.
Some of us may think that Mary and
Joseph were forgotten of God merely
because Jesus was born in n manager,
but that Is not true. God was caring
for Mary just the same us God on this
Christmas Sabbath Is caring for us.
The Journey TO Egypt.
Then. again. there was that second
angelic messenger who appeared unto
Joseph at Bethlehem. saying. Arise
and take the young child and Mary.
his mother, and flee into Egypt. and
he thou there until ! bring thee word,
for Herod will seek the young child
to destroy him" God not only protect
ed Mary on her journey To Bethlehem
but he also continued the divine pro
lection over her and the young child
at Bethlehem TO ward of the murder
Gus designs Of n brutal king. Then
there was the long journey into Egypt,
again the dangers of travel. Now,
they certainly had to journey alone.
for they were fugitiyes from the royal
tyrant Then there was the money
which God sent them in presents of
the wise men 10 feed them and to pro
vide FOR them when they were exiles
In the foreign land Thus as Mary
looks over the scenes Of the past, can
she not see Gods protecting hand ev-
erywhere? Like the psalmlst of old,
could she not sing. Thou preparest a
table before me In the presence of
mine enemies; thou anolntest my head
with oil: my cup rcnneth over; surely
goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life and | will
dwell In the house of the Lord for
ever:'
But. II Mary had her divine protec-
ton through the past Christmases, has
not God protected and cared for us
in the same way during the many
Christmases that are gone? Has he
not fed you and clothed you and pro-
tected you? Has not his right arm al
ways been about you; As with Mary
has not God cared for you In the most
mysterious waysf John Knox. the
great Scottish reformer. used 10 tell
this wonderful story: For years at the
dinner hour he sat at the head of the
table. with his back 10 a certain win
dow One night there was Il strange
voice OF warning. bidding him to sit
elsewhere and not allow any one to sit
In his regular place Hardly was the
meal well under way than n bullet
crashed through that window. grazed
the chair al the head OF the table and
buried itself IN the candlestick. Had
John Knox sat IN his regular place
that night he surely would have been
killed, and the Scottish reformation. for
time at least, would have been halt
ed At once the Scottish reformer
dropped on his knees and thanked God
for protecting him and his dear ones.
AS we look over our past Christmases,
like Mary. like John Knox, we can see
how Gods hand has been guiding and
caring for US. Thus the divine protec-
ton has been manifested not only In
one. but In many. many ways. Can
you not. O man. on this Christmas day
ponder over Gods love and care as
did Mary when she looked over the
scenes preceding and Succeeding that
FIRST Christmas day. when Jesus was
born In Bethlehem OF JudeaI
A Way Through Trials.
But, lastly would turn YOUR atten-
ton 10 one more fact. When Mary
thought over the scenes of her past life
she certainly must have thought Of
those prosecutions ana bitter. heart
rendlng trials which made her take
that journey TO Bethlehem. so that
Jesus. in the fulfilling OF prophecy.
could be born in the place where David
lived. Ii was no doubt the bitter and
unjust attacks made upon Mary that
were the chief causes of preparing the
way for Jesus TO be born In Bethlehem
OF Judea And without doubt 1t is the
Misrepresentation and trials OF life
which are the chief causes OF driving
us TO that same manger. But few OF
us were ever led to bow TO and wor-
ship Jesus through the sunshine. Near
~ all Of us have come TO him through
shadows and storms.
Ike great Newman Hall. who for
many years spent his annual vacations
In mountain climbing used TO tell the
dramatic story Of Swiss channels
h,,n .ls... h..