The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1909-12-25
The Christmas iidings
BY Rev. ]. Morals Richards, B. D.. Con-
gregational church. Sandy, Utah,

BY Rev, J, Morals Richards, B. D., Con-
sregatonal church, Sandy, Utah,
Text-Luke H.. 10; And the angel
said unto them; Fear not; for, behold,
bring you good tidings OF great Joy, which
shall he To all people"
The great Joy of Christmas tidngs
came to the humble shepherds of Beth
lehem by angelic ministry. 1t came
amid the shadows of night. So it
soul amid the darker shadows of sin
and condemnation-th light of divine
presence, the help Of divine power, the
bliss of divine love-all shut out by
reason OF guilt What is true Of one
soul in this respect, rs true Of every
other-of the whole world. Man S re-
bcllion elfaced from his lnmost ma
ture the very image of his Creator
excluding alike all true Joy in the pres
ent, and all sure hope in the future
Remembering this as our unredeemcd
condition, we are prepared to consider
today the great Joy Of Christmas It'd
ings. Notice in the first place;
Flrst-The Joy is great as to extent.
The glory Of creative work was cele-
bratod by the morning stars and
''the sons of Cod Angels proclaimed
Redeemer and sang together their
''Gloria in Excelss.' Humble shep.
herds of Bethlehem's S plain, and all the
host of them who believe with their
experiences and proclaim anew, with
the holy angels the greater Joy of
Christmas Today men in every place
and station, children, youth and the
aged, are moved with it. The coming
ages of the world shall widen and
deepen this Joy The heaven of the
redeemed and God as we'll as the new
earth. shall ever proclaim the universal
Joy in the angelic song: 'Glory to
God in the highest, and on earth, peace,
good Will toward men. Notice in the
second place:
Sccond-The Joy is great as to quail
| ity. Many things and circumstances
give experiences of Joy in an inferior
sense. These even are regarded rs the
sweets of life, Yet they are all unsat.
| isfying: wavcring as the air around us
and feeting as the morning dew. But
tho iov of Christmas tidings is the all
satisfying. the all pervading sweetness
of the redeeming love Of God. IT is
| the emancipation from sin, the posses
sion of eternal life, the bliss of divine
communion. and the blessed assurance
of everlasting JOY in heaven. The JOY
is deeper than the perplexities of mind
and sorrows of heart, It is stronger
than the gloom of sin. and darkness Of
u
Of the soul sharing the divine love in
the newborn babe of Bethlehem. This
| 10Y remains with MS when all other
Joys are found empty and fade away.
Is this Joy today our ioy, or is it the
real iov of other people? The angel
said cit is for YOU and for me and
to all people. Notice in the third
| place:
Third-That the iov is great as to
purnose. The wonderful birth of Christ
-"G God manifest in the flesh makes
the plan of orr redemption with per.
fection. oh. this Joy is sufficient for
each and every man. 1t is sufficient TO
restore all that sin has ruined In its
very nature it promises and assures to
mankind the attainment of the highest
intellectual. moral and spiritual, stand
ard This Joy is true aud irresist-
lble revolutionary power to transform
the world into n new paradise, perfect
ing society and establishing universal
peace. IT is to make prevalent the
knowledge Of God--to subdue all things
to His will and give Him a rightful