The Penn's Grove record., 1913-03-07
is OFFERED TO ALL
Holy Truth That Jesus Taught
Put the Stamp of Universal
ity on Christianity.

They were wise men indeed who.
after inquiring for the newborn king.
turned their backs on rich and gay
Jerusalem, and set their faces to the
o~bscurity and poverty of Bethlehem.
They were men of rank and wealth
and learning from the far east-rep-
resentatives of all that was best and
noblest in the civilization of the old
world. They had only the scantiest
opportunities of learning what was
the hope of Israel, and how it would
be realized; but they were earnest
men. They had studied the heavens
and the earth until their souls were
full OF God in his glory and majesty.
These men yearned to know if he.
who's glory is in the heavens, would
stoop to cure the ills of humanity.
They had heard of Israels hope, the
hope of a child to be born of David's
race, who would bring divine mercy
near to human need. They had a
vague idea that the time for thai full
hlment was drawing near; and as
they unused, behold a marvellous ap-
pearance in the heavens which
seemed to call them away to seek
him whom their souls desired. Hence
their long journey to Jerusalem, and
their eager departure for Bethlehem
And when they arrived at the house
they were not offended by the poverty
of the surroundings or the humble in
mates. They recognized in the little
Child the object Of their search;
they bowed before him and presented
to him gifts as tribute from the east
to the king of righteousness and love.
Were Men Truly Wise.
What a beautiful picture it makes.
this alteration of the wise men. Truly
they were wise men. with a wisdom
not of this world-wise to recognize
the hope of the future. not in a mon
arch surrounded by the worlds pomp
and luxury, but in the fresh young
life of the holy h~eaven-born Child.
Learned as they were, they had sim
pie hearth. They had had some
glimpse of the great truth that it 10
not learning the world needs so much
as life, new life. Would that all wise
men of the present day were equally
wise in heart. We thank God that so
many Of them are, who recognize that
there is no other hope for man than
the new birth, the pure, holy life.
which came into the world when
Christ was born. Here at the very
beginning of the Gospel we find the
true relation that should exist between
learning and the Gospel of Jesus
Christ.
Today the nations of the east are
on the march. and many look with ap-
prehension upon the unrest evident
among these mighty peoples. They
are marching towards Jerusalem. that
is, towards civilization, knowledge
and culture, and woe be into US If
we fail in u duty and opportunity.
It is ours to point them to Bethlehem.
1t is ours to show them the guiding
star that leads them to Christ. ManF
of them come in the supplemented
and humble spirit of the wise men of
Did. They have seen his star in the
east and are come to worship him.
They are ready to lay al his feet the
gifts which are most pleasing unto
him, the gold of allegiance and the
frankincense of alteration. May God
give US open eyes to see the open
door which he sets before the Chris
tan world of today, open T to hear
the cry of need of these people who
of old sent representatives to the
Savior's cradle, and open hearts to
fulfill the Masters last command. to
give the Gospel to all nations.
Meant for All Mankind.
Jesus put the stamp of universally
on Christianity. 1t was to be a uni
versal religion. not merely in the
sense that it should be open to all
who came to seek for it. but universal
in the that it should go out and
seek for men in their homes: a re-
ligion of conquest and progress in all
directions. 1t was to be a religion
that should be satisfied with nothing
short of having o over the whole
creation" the tribes of men of every
race and language. from the north to
the south, from the rising of the sun
to the going down thereof, until at
the name of Jesus every knee should
bow. and every tongue should confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory
of the Father"