The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1917-12-20
THE PEOPLES FORUM.
Christmas.


is upon US again. How we welcome it.
1t is a joyous season, chiefly because it
celebrates the birth Of the Christmas
Saviour Long ago the announcement
was made Thou shalt call his name
Jesus. for ne shall save his people from
their sins" What q difference we dis
cover when we contrast Jesus and
other saviours or deliverers. There is
scarcely room for comparison, so great
is the difference. The chasm between
them is so wide and deep that it cannot
be bridged.
The salvation provided by others was
to say the best, secular. That of Jesus
is spiritual
Theirs was accomplished by instru-
ments or agents, but Jesus was per
sonal. Nor did theirs extend beyond
local conditions and surroundings, but
the salvation of Jesus is universal.
Theirs was temporary, while His is
everlasting. There is all the difference
in the world then between them. He
was made flesh and dwelt among US. "
There is law in our country that no
man may be elected president unless he
| is born within our national boundaries
No matter how pure or even royal his
blood and breeding; no matter what
skill he may have as a diplomat, or
how great his mastery over men, to be
come the first man of our nation and
the supreme leader Of our Republic, he
must begin life among Us. He must be
one of US. So Jesus, though Son of
God and heir to the throne. must be
born even as we, and live among US.
But He bcautified the commonest cir
cumstances Of life by His own touch
H came to redeem life but TO do this
lie must first live it.
The greatest element of the rejoicing
of the season, is the fact that Christ's
reign is certainty.
Zachariah long ago said, "Rejoice
greatly 0, daughter of Zion, behold thy
king cometh unto thee" He did come,
just as the prophet said He would and
every prophecy that pertained to His
frs, coming has been literally fulfilled.
The ground Of rejoicing in His reign is
that His government is to be peaceful
Righteousness and peace shall prevail.
Do you ask is this the character of
His reign now. 1t is ia the hearts and
lives Of His people That IS what we
know as His spiritcal reign. His
authority is recognized bG His follow
ers. They worship and adore Him,
They serve and obey Him. But IS to
the world, why there satan has his
throne. He is the prince and the power
of the air. He is the ruler OF this pre-
sent worldly permission, if you
please, OF the supreme ruler of the uni
verse.
He came as a king. lie offered the
kingdom to His own nation but they re-
jected the kingdom and slew the king.
For the time He turned to the Gentiles,
greatly to our profit and honor, and out
of them He is gathering people pecu-
liar to Himself, which He calls his
church, his bride-which He will honor
greatly by exalting her to share His
glory with Him in the rulership of His
kingdom. But what kingdom? The
same that He would have established
when He came to earth but which hak
to be held in obeyance on account of
the rejection by His people. 1t exists
now and has ever since He was here,
but in mostery.
This fact is set forth by the parallels
of the 18th of Matt. Prophecy is be-
ing fulfilled now. and when the end Of
time is ushured in, and this may not be
far in the future, de will come for His
people, His bride and rapture her . the
marriage supper Ct the Lamb 10 the
heavenlies. Already Jerusalem has
fallen into the hands of the British