Norwich bulletin., 1913-12-29
THE INCARNATION
 DIR. RIDDLES SUBJECT.
Scholarly and Helpful Sermon at Me- Kinley Avenue A. M. E. Zion Church.


 At the Mckinley avenue A. M E. Zion church the pastor. Rev. E. George Biddle, D. D.. preached Christmas sermon Sunday evening on the theme The incarnation, taking his theme from Micah 5: 9
 The idea of incarnation is as old as the world All the great religions of the world have in one form or another this doctrine of the incarnation of a life and power to save the world
 These various incarnations in the different systems of religion of the world may serve as a background on which to exhibit the blessed truth of the incarnation of the Son of God for the redemption of a lost world. Un- like these other incarnatoins, which only represented a part of the human family, Christs incarnation was for the whole of humanity
 The biblical record of Christ's human ancestry helps us to understand His incarnation, this great truth is in the Bible from the very first page like the golden thread in the finest fabric-the red streak of an incarnate. suffering Redeemer runs from Genesis to Reve- latiOnS.
 Every new word from God seemed to re-echo The Redeemer is coming" And as the ages flew by the cry grew louder and louder, and more and more distinct. the Redeemer is coming, un- til the angel choir gladdened the shep- herds with the song Christ Has Come.
 As prophesied. at the appointed time insignificant Bethlehem was proclaim ed as the birthplace of the worlds Re deemer.
 The prophecies in reference to the coming Redeemer increased in bright less from the beginning to the end First it is simply that the seed of the woman should bruise the serpent's head" then that he should descend fF-fAyl n from Abraham Then the particular tribe-Judah. Then the family of David. Then as in our text, the very town of his birth; and this was follow ed by the name of his mother and her husband
 The text asserts that the one to be born in Bethlehem existed from all eternity, Whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting"
 The words here used in reference to Christs life convey the very strongest assertion of infinite duration of which the Hebrew language is capa bIe.
 Our Incarnate Redeemer is also the Eternal Being, God the Creator and Upholder of all things. He laid aside His glory and majesty and became in carnate in human nature that he might save and redeem all fallen huma nity.
 All creation had been searched for one suitable to undertake mans des- perate case, but no one had been found worthy.
 In heaven. among all the angels, archangels, seraphim and cherubim, not one of them or Of any created in telligence was equal to the task On earth every nation, and almost every oribe had sought to bring forth a de- liverer. China presented her Confu- cius and Lao-tSe, Persia her Zoraster, India her Buddha, Rome pointed to her Seneca, Greece her Socrates; but all in vain, none could even save their own families
 This Incarnate Saviour. Redeemer, always was and always will be
 He walked in the garden with Adam. He talked with the Patriarchs. He personally went before His people as recorded in almost every book of the Bible.
 He personally led them out of Egypt, through the wilderness, into Canaan. His goings forth have been for the overthrow of sin and iniquity. Daniel and John saw His as the Ancient of Days, Isaiah saw Him travelling in the greatest of His strength as the Re- deemer of His people.
 From all eternity He has been marching towards the cross; His birth in Bethlehem was simply one of the steps towards His restored glory through Calvary.
 To be exalted on the cross as the self-sacrificing Redeemer He had to partake Of hunldn nature.
 He became incarnate in the flesh