Milford chronicle., 1914-12-18

TT speaks the mind of Goo
-d who tells us ana would have
us know what God thinks. fol
if it were not for him we
could not know at ALL God did SO
love the world that he gave his own,
one Son, 10 be born at this time for us
to the end that all who trust in him
should not die, but have the life which
lasts for aye He came and "dwelt
with us" on earth that men might see
with their own eyes at least one pure
life, lived free from sin. He was made
flesh of our flesh" and bone Of our
bone" God with us" I'm truth, but man
no less. true man and true Coda child
like one of our own. That is the
strange thing, so deep that no man,
wise MS he may be. can quite take it in.
lie was to be God with u.s." but at
the same time "a worm and no man
less than a man I'm the grief and pain
and scOrn which he bore.
The texts take our thoughts back to
the birth Of this day. II is a birthday
for the whole world to keep. All men
can say: ITO US this child is born; to
US God gave this son Of his love.
have my share I'm it," And so we are
all glad Of heart and make our church
gay with plants and flowers and sing
our hymns OF joy and keep the feast
with gifts and good fare. 1t is the
birth day Of all our hopes. Now, It was
good news Of great Joy that the host
from on high brought to the herds who
kept watch on their sheep in the fields.
And it Is still so. For us, rs much as
for them. was born in that small town
one strong TO save, which is Christ
the Lord"
Ii is old news now, and / fear it falls
on our dun. cold hearts like some old
tale Of long past time which has lost
its charm. Oh. let us not shut our ears
to it as some of those first men did!
When he came to his own his own
would not take him in. They said
There is no room for him here"-no
room in the inn when he came to it.
1t was not an inn. you must know. like
one of ours. but n mere bare court
where those on the road might rest-a
khan" they call il in the east.
Does it not seem 10 us a sad and
strange sight that a young babe should
be shut out in the cold night-God in
want of house room? A poor place. at
best. as rude and rough as we can
we'll think, and. such as il was. quite
full with the crowd who had come first
The host Of the inn sends them off
He tells them there is cave at the
back of the inn where the beasts are
kept; they may find rest there. if they
will. That cave. where the birth Of
all time took place. is still shown in
the rock. A great church built there
marks the spot. Then. poor. mean and
cold it was the best place he could |
find to lay his head
The fox has his hole and the bird |
Of the air her nest. but the Son Of Man 1
hath not where to lay his head" So in |
that cave in the rock, the stall of the 1
OK and the ass. in the crib out of which /
they ate their hay. the newborn babe /
was laid Just think what all this /
means-God made flesh. God born as
man In this world of ours. that he .
might find a way to bring back man to
God! He hid his might, and men hid
their face from him. None but the
herds who kept their sheep saw OF
knew Of it till they fell to the ground
in great blaze OF light. and host Of
bright ones in the sky sang such
song as &c choir on earth has sung.
which gave praise to God on high,
''and ON earth peace, good viii to men"
Those herds had faith to 90 and seek
the child Of whom they were told. They
found him i'm the crib. and they saw
more than their eyes could see. They
knew that in that weak child was the
power Of God 10 save And so these
good men, when they had how'd down.
went back to their flock. struck with
awe, and gave praise to God for all
hey had heard ana seem
Shall we do less? Shall we not, too,
20 home and give thanks on our part,
with joy for what we have heard? And
N all our joy let us find room for the
me guest who should not-be left out
Dom in Odr hearts for him whose word