The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1911-02-23
f IfChrist Had
Not Come
By DR.. JOHN A. EARL
Pastor Bolden Avenue Church,
n Chicago

TEXT-Gf l had not come and spoken
unto them II / had not done
among them the works which none other
did.-John l5.22-2L
An innovation in sermons as deliv-
cred by the more modern ministers
was listened to by a large congrega-
ton the other evening when Doctor
Earl delivered his sermon In verse.
II Jesus had not come 10 earth,
n 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 like OF which had nc'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 riven
Would hopeless beat and bleed.
n Jesus never had been born
There would not be a Christmas morn,
And Garth OF good things would be
shOrn-
Things that we sorely need.
No Christmas cheer would tighten hearts.
Nor closing Of our busy marts,
No Santa Claus whose reindeer starts
With jingling bells and sleigh
No Merry Christmas" greeting glad.
All would he anxious. troubled. sad
No gifts for little lass and lad
To signallze the day.
No Christmas tree. no mistletoe.
No stockings hanging in a row,
No good will reaching friend and foe.
No Christmas cards and sweets.
No family gathering round the board
No presents brought from places stored
No glad surprise for those adored.
No Christmas season treats
No hampers for the poor who need.
No kindly word. no generous deed
Nothing 10 save the world from greed
Chrstless world. alas
The poor would eat their scanty fare.
Their faces plnched. their cupboards bare
And men with plenty would not care
To mingle with the mass
No house Of God would grace the street.
with open door. where Christians meet.
Whose noble spire tho heavens greet
II Jesus had not come.
Cathedrals never would have sprung
with valued roof and frcscocs hung,
Where praises OF tho Christ are sung,
Where nothing can be dumb.
But In the place whore church would
stand
\ grogshop would pre-empt the land
And leave on men It's ugly brand
A drunkards hloated face
And where the hospital should be
\ prison we should likely see
C1uQ riding tho mar, vtln rTtfsItf D..
II Christ had not sought tho race.
II Christ IN Paradise had stayed.
II sins on him had not been laid.
II ransom price he had not paid.
Distress would be our lot
No hope, no pardon no release.
No Joy, no cleansing and no peace
Our growing troubles never cease
We lose the battles fought
n Christ had kept himself away,
How empty would our bookshelves stay,
And poor indeed would be our day
OF letters golden store.
The gospels four would not appear.
New Testaments would not be here.
For Lives OF Christ we'd drop n tear.
And many. many more.
An literature we must revise
lf Christ remained above the skies,
From Chaucer TO the Brownlngs wise.
For Christ inspired their pen
And songs shall lose their noble tone
From Gregory to Mendolssohn.
And In their place a hopeless moan
WIN nl the world OF men.
The pictures from the walls now take:
Madonnas are hugo mistake.
No Ecce Homos longer make
II Jesus never came.
The letters B c.. now destroy,
And a. d. never more employ
For they are but n false decoy
II Christ s but a name.
But Christ hrs come His day we haill
Before his star Bll others pale;
Ills song transforms every vail
His mangcr Is n throne
And since He came the burdens light.
Death has no sting, the futures bright,
We walk by faith and not by sight.
And trust In Him alone