Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1911-02-23
If Chris Had
Not Come
By DR.. JOHN A. EARL
Pastor Belden Avenue Church.
Chicago

TENTH I hal not come and spoken
unto them II had not done
among them the works which none other
did--John i5 "a
An innovation in ermon AZ deiiV
cred by the more modern ministers
was listened to by a large congrega-
ton the other evening when Doctor
Earl delivered his sermoa in verse.
- Jesus had not come 70 earth.
7, angels had not sung his birth.
II wise men had not seen his WORTH
How poor the world would be.
II Jesus had not said the word.
The Ike % which had ne'er been heard.
How sad FOR you and me-
n Jesus had not come from heaven.
Our sins could not have been forgiven.
And broken hearts With sorrows rven
Would hopeless beat and bleed
n Jesus never had been born
There would not be a Christmas morn
And earth % good things would Be-
shorn-
Things that We soreiy reed
No Christmas cheer would tighten hearts
Nor closing O.; our busy marts.
No Santa Claus whose rrindser startr
With f~insInS bells and sleigh.
No Merry Christina greeting glad.
All would De anxious troubled. sad.
No Sits for little lass and Lad
To s~ignailEe the day.
No Christmas tree. 10 ui.tietoe.
No stockings hanging n a row.
No good will reaching friend and Zoe.
Nc Christmas cards and sweets.
Nc family gathering round the board
"
No glad surprise for those adored.
No Christmas season treats
No hampers for the pocr who need.
No kindly word. NJ generous deed.
Nothing 20 save the worll from greed
A Chrtstless world. alas,
The poor would ca THEFT scarty fare.
Their faces pinched. thei- cupboards har,.
Ard men with plenty wogli not care
To ningis with the mAss
No house % God wouis grace the street
With open door. where Christians meet.
whose noble spire the heavens greet.
I, Jesus had not come.
Cathedrals never would have sprung
with valued roof ard .rcscoes hung.
War praises u the Christ are sung.
Where nothing can oe dumb.
But IN The place where church would
A srogshop would p-e-emo, the land.
And leave on men IT. uxiv brand
A ~erInkard's bloa;ed face.
And whore the hospital should n.
\ prison we hould likely see
Guarding the men who might be free
II Christ had not sought the race.
II Christ IN Paradise had STAYED.
II sins on him had no; been laid.
II ransom price he lad not paid.
Distress would be our lot.
No hope. no pardon. no release.
JOY. no cleansing and 10 peace.
our EroTing troubles never cease
We lose the battles fought.
~ Christ had kept himself awav.
How empty would our b~o7ksheive. s.sy
And poor indeed would be our Gay
% letters golden store
The gospels four would not appear
Testaments would not be here.
For lives q Christ we'd drop a tear.
And many. many more.
literature We must revise
" Christ remained above the skies.
From Chaucer 20 tho B-uwninrs wise.
For Christ inspired thelr pen
And songs shall lose their noble o
From Gregory 10 MsnfeIssohn.
Ard IN their place a hopeless moan
VIII I'll the world OF men.
The pictures from the walls row take:
Natonnas are n huge mistake
Ecce Homes longer make
II Jesus never came.
The letters p G. now destroy.
And A D never more employ.
For they are but a Rise aeeoy.
II Christ IS but a name.
But Christ has come. His day We hail,
Before his star all others pale:
His song transforms every wall
His uanger = a throne
And since He came TIE BURDENS Hight.
Death has 10 sting. the futures bright
We walk by faith and not By sight
And trust in Him alone.