Evening journal., 1908-12-17
NOTES ON THE TOPIC.

Gods greatest gift to tho world was
His only hegotton son. This was the high
est expression OF His love. and in the
present--s5n OF this gift lie has made IL
plain that weary. wandering. sinful man
may turn unto Him and be set free from
the bondage of sin forever.
To understand why Jesus Christ came
into this world in human form we must
read the words OF Christ Himself. The
cause OF His coming was so rich and
wonderful that lie stated Il many times,
since no one statement could contain IL
all. Thus in our Scripture lesson He tells
us. ITO this end was / born, and for this
cause came ! into the world. that should
bear witness unto the truth Again lie
tells us lie came mot TO call the right
eous. but sinners. to repentance" Again
he came to seek and save that which was
lost. In another passage lie said 81 am
come a light into the world, that whoso-
ever believeth on Me should not walk In
darkness" The dark continents are those
that do not know Christ In another lie
said that lie came that His joy might be
in us, and that our Joy might bo fulhiled.
Everyone that receives Him knows what
that means. And in still another famous
/ passage lie said lie came that we might
/ have life. and have it abundantly. All
| Christian history Is n living comment on
| that statement
But 10 better understand and appre-
clato His coming. 81 might be well to
take the negative side Of the question and
consider what # would mean 20 ms and
consider what Il would mean TO us had
the King not been born. Think seriously
for a moment-suppose He had not come.
II Christ had not come'
strip from your home IFS comforts.
born Of our Christian civilization. Lay
bare the floor and destroy most Of the
furniture. Pull the beautiful pictures
from the walls and throw your books
into the ash-barrel Huddlo IN semi
darkness around an insufficient fire,
while YOU wonder whence the next meal
Is 20 come. Listen in trembling for the
step Of the cruel. ail-powerful tnN-col-
lector. and think OF your brother or your
husband. prisoner for an unjust debt, ly-
ing chained In loathaome dungeon.
II Christ had not come
Clothe your mother your wife. your
sister and daughter I'm the garb Of deg
relation. Lay on their backs unnatural
I burdens and sink into their souls un-
natural fears Breathe throughout Your
home the dread Of demons, the atmos-
phere Of gloom Tear from your boys
future all his falrest goals, his liberal
hopes and high ambitions. Fill your
girls future with the blackness and hor-
ror Of the tomb.
u Christ had not GOMEZ
Step forth and with one sweep of your
hand abolish the righteous courts and
all safety for the citizen Abolish the
free press. the liberty OF patriotic speech.
Erase from the soil aA public schools.
public libraries, the museums, art gal
/ lories and parks of the people. Blow to
atoms every hospital insanee asylum. and
home for orphans for soldiers. for the
| old and the poor; and I'm mercy destroy,
/ also their inmates. Substitute for the fair
nation you have ruined a land OF serfs,
cringing beneath the lash Of despots or
crushed by the wheels Of war.
II Christ had not come!
But Christ did come.
1t was impossible that He should not
come. From all ages. before ever tho
world was. it had been fixed that he
should come. For Love Divine is older
than creation, and the cross was founda-
tlons deeper than time The first day,
when God said Let there be light" was
the authentic Christmas Day. In the
very beginning was the Word the Advent
Song of God.
| JOY to the world. the Lord has come,
| Let earth receive her King.
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And Heaven and Nature sing.
/ JOY to the earth, the Saviour reigns,
Let men their songs employ.
While fields and fiocks. rocks hills and
plains
Repeat the sounding JOY.
He rules the world with truth and grace
And makes the nations prove
! The glorles Of His righteousness
And wonders Of His love.
News From the s7eietes.
The Eastlake Presbyterian Christian
Endeavor Society has elected the follow
| ip,v .,facerq. President James Stewart