Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1915-12-21
CHRISTMAS SERMON.

Matthew II, z and IL: saying,
Where is he that is born King Of the
Jews? For we have seen his star In
the east, and are come to worship
him. - And when they were
come into the house, they saw the
young child with Mary his mother
and fell down and worshipped him:
and when they had opened their
treasures, they presented unto him
gifts; gold, frankincense and myrrh. "
Using the foregoing as text and
announcing his subject as christmas
Gifts" Rev. J. H Machen preached
an interesting sermon to his congre-
cation at the First Baptist church
Sunday evening, devoted to the great
Christmas festival that will be cele-
brated throughout the world on Satur-
day Of this week.
THE spirit Of Christmas is in the
very atmosphere, IN our very bones,
so to speak," said Mr.. Machen, "and
it Is hard to realize that another
Christmas IL upon US without think
ing of Christmas gifts.
What do these gifts mean? Where
did they start?"
He then related the story Of the
visit of the three wise men to the
stable where Christ was born; how
they had seen his star in the east, and
following its guidance to the manger
where the Christ-child was, they
stopped to worship him and give gifts.
II like to think Of our Saviour as
a rhild," said the preacher. Most
Of our thoughts of him are as the son
Of God. But I like to think Of him
as a little babe, 1t Is more impressive
at this time to think Of him as lit
tie child--it Is more human"
The celebration of Christmas Is
first recorded in the second century
and it Is a mistaken idea with a great
many people that it Is Divinely ap-
pointed feast day.
Jesus Christ was the first one to
receive gifts, and from this has grown
up the idea Of gifts. So we today,
whether wisely or unwisely, is ques-
tion. give gifts. The idea is to make
others happy. The gifts Of the wise
men to Christ must have made the
heart of his mother, Mary, bubble
over with happiness and Joy at the
receipt OF tho gifts. That same spirit
is in US today. 1T Is more blessed to
give than to receive that Is the ex-
perience Of every one. Giving brings
joy and happiness. We have heard
the expression, How would like to
have been one Of the wise men, You
do not have to go far to have the ex-
perience Of the wise men," said the
preacher. You have the opportunity
today. Christ said, If ye have done
it unto one Of the least Of these, ye
have done 1t unto me- Look around
you. Help somebody today"
tnn nlH n
indulge IN the Christmas spirit; 9TH
ers that the times are too hard. did
YOU ever find a man VINO found the
times too hard to indulge himself at
Christmas If he wanted to do so?
Times are never too hard for the self
ish man to refrain from his Christ
mas liquor. I must have my Christ
mas liquor they say. Christmas de-
rived its name from Christ. Think or
a church member calling himself q
Christian, ordering liquor to celebrate
the birth Of the Saviour! Think OF
linking the name Of Christ with
LIQUOR. Times are too hard for the
children's stockings, but never too
hard for the Christmas liquor. !
wonder how many members OF this
church, how many professed CHRIST
ians Of this town, have ordered their
Christmas liquor. santa Claus Will
certainly visit the children where there
are Christians in the homes, but where
there is three-X,' the visit OF santa
Claus is doubtful.
"Christ was the first great gift to
man. He was Gods gift to lost
world. He gave up his life for the
sinners Of this world, and all you
have to do to have this gift is to ac-
cept him rs your personal Saviour.
will you? When you give gifts give
them in the name of Christ"