Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1908-01-03

has not God cared for you In the most
mysterious ways? John Knox, the
great Scottish reformer. used to tell
this wonderful story: For years at the
dinner hour he sat ut the head OF the
table. with his back 10 a certain win
dow. One night there was 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 a bullet
crashed through that window, grazed
the chair at 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 Chrlstmases.
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 Judea?
A Way Through Trials.
But. lastly, would turn YOUR atten-
ton TO one more fact. When Mary
thought over the scenes of her past life
she certainly must have thought of
those prosecutions and bitter, heart
rending 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. 1t 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 it 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
ly all of us have come to him through
shadows and storms.
The great Newman Hall, who for
many years spent his annual vacations
in mountain climbing, used to tell the
dramatic story of Swiss channels
hunter who was one day crossing the
great glacier known as the MIer de
Glace. Suddenly his foot slipped and
he fell over the side OF an awful ere
vase. He slipped down only couple
or hundred feet, but he felt he was
lost. for ii was an impossibility for
him, expert climber though he was, TO
climb back. Turning his eyes from the
top of that mountain of ice. he saw a
stream of water flowing down at the
foot OF the crevasSe. lie knew he must
die IL he stayed where he was, so he
began to follow that stream. hoping
that IL might lead him to safety. Slip
ping here and sliding there and float
ing I'm the stream at times, he followed
its course. Suddenly he came to n solid
wall of ice under which the river dis
appeared. He knew he must move on
or die, so he plunged into the water
and swan as hard as he could through
the darkness. After awhile just able
TO keep afloat, he came out OH tho 9th
er side, where were the flowers and
the fragrant hayfields OF beautiful
valley. So * is with our troubles. We
must go through our surglng torrents
We must disappear into the impenetra-
ole darkness. We must have our times
OF trial, during which we seem to lose
sight of Gods face. But these times of
trouble are the means OF bringing us
TO the Manager, rs Mary's troubles were
the means of bringing her to Bethle-
hem OF Judea, where Jesus was born
according to prophecy. Thank God for
your troubles as wei! as for your pleas
ant sunshine. lie is guiding you with
his pillar OF cloud as well as with his
pillar OF fire, as he guided the children
Of Israel during the long pilgrimage in
the wilderness.
Presents Not All.
Thus on this Sabbath preceding our
Christmas festivities you have great
deal more to think about than simply
the presents which you are TO receive
and the tokens OF affection you are to
give TO your dear ones. II you are to
spend this coming Christmas Alright,
you must place alongside of 1t all the
other Chrlstmases OF your past life.
You must thank God especially for
that Christmas when Jesus first re-
vealed himself TO you as a personal
Saviour. You must thank God that lie
has surrounded you this Christmas
with great host of people who, like
the wise men OF the east and the shep.
herds, are ready to testify to you of
his love. You must thank God for
your trials and sorrows, by which your
heart has been made more tender to
him and to your fellow men. 1t is
right when you are thirsty to drink
Of the water that flows at your feet
But today, when we drink of these
streams of Christmas joy, we must as
wise men look up to the hills from
whence these streams come. The birds
battle their wings in the mountain
brooks, and as they battle they lift
their voices and sing their praises un-
to the God who has sent those brooks
gurgling down the mountain Sides Sc
may we lift our voices ON this Christ
mas morn and praise God for all his
manifold blessings to us and to our
dear ones.
And, friends, If there are any who
have not yet praised him and become
one with him, is there any better time
than on his holy Christmas day? 1 re-
member years ago when as a boy ]
was called to the door. 1t was Christ.
mas morning. l expected another
present was coming, but instead n
young girl came in crying, ooh, Frank,
papa is dead" Almost In a flash a