Norwich bulletin., 1919-12-20
Sunday Morning Talk
EuLLNEss oE JoY.

Thers is no phase Of the Christmas season which aMdkenS a warmer re- SponSe wllnln the human heart than tie apounding JOY Wnich is the con- spicuous and constant feature of each recurring anniversary 0f the birth of the Christ child.
 The Christmas joy is one of Gods choicest gifts to suffering, sorrowing humanity, ana for it's origin we must look into the heart ot the eternal hath CT, whose love for His children tlnds it's beautiful and benehcent expres- sion III the exultant gladness Of His creatures as they celebrate the nativ- lLy pr Ills only begotten Son.
 T bring you good tidingS of great joy" said the angel who appeared to the shepherds at Bethlehem as they nocks by night on the hillside, and and these words have proved abund- dntly true through all the years that l have followed flom that day to this. The secret of the Christmas joy is | found in the presence of God, Wno was <, incarnate in the Babe Of Bethlehem, and who then revealed himself that he might save and redeemed his people 1 ItC4n lhelf S4n5. 1I4e .Oy tAat %,ta EelL 1 at the first Christmas and that has oe- come an abiding characteristic Of the Christmas is the fruit of the di-
 vine soodness. and is rooted in the | eternal love and mercy of God our Heavenly Father.
 The psalfnist caught the vision of this truth when he said Tn thy pres ence $ tdIllesS or Joy. 1t is un4y as God is present with his people there
 can be any true or lasting joy in their l hearts. But if he makes his abode
 with the human soul words cannot ex-
 press the bliss of that precious com panionship.
 The joy of the world at Christmas ts ir the birth of Saviour and King
 Those who have never acknowledged
 the severe gnly oI j Jes,.s II tAe.r hearts have yet to experience the true ioy
 which is the very heart Of the Christ
 mas celebration, and without whict
 the best part of human happiness i. lacking. Joy wss tfa it oe di7-=rr
 love at the first Christmas tide It t
 his disciples, for he said: q have spok- en unto you that fly Joy might remain
 in you, and that your joy might bt
 full"
 Joy is not only glad feature of tn, Christmas season; it is also a pernaa
 nent and abiding feature of the Christ
 'a,n fife. Y is as natural +o tte c1rist , ian to rejoice as for the bird to sing
 The heart that is filled with the apld ing. presence of Iesls hos 2 peace tha 1 is the spring of nerernial iov. an, that can no more be restrai1ed in 1t expression than moin+ain brock cal he checked from singing as it flows ol : it's way to the ocean.
 The mission of a Christian is no only to be iovf'7l but to sc9tte- u : Joy which f1's bis own. heart inf0 th [ lives of every one around him. Chris 2 tians should he livin.~ sunheams bring ing joy anS cladness into all the dar, , and saddened places of life Christ i : l the light of the world, and it is tn office of his followers to reflect tha s light everywhere that man is found. It was a beautiful o~oa+i~~ that fa on the ears of the shepherds on tha
 first Christmas mornin~, and tha
 greeting has been repeated with every
 incres sing volume as the veare hay g passed. May we all have a rThr1str,,p $ that shq1l he full of iav. rea oo cr ]. eisdneTs and nav the C'.~f4+-cb:l e who fo1rn1 lis hur,tla o~r 7ro ir : rnanger at BetVeher' frd vi-ri7 ev y cry heare a welcoroe tl,a+ ~"a'l err s throne him as Lord and King an Saviour of the world.