Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-12-27
OLD-TIlNE RELIGION
w. A. GAMBLER

! and DlSSTuI as on the most memorial OF
nights, when, after centuries of eclipse, it
suddenly reappeared and shone round the
| astonished Shepherds. Well might the eff
| fulgent cloud now return, though in glad
| homage to the incarnation; for on this night
is born He who is to be His own church's
true pillar Of fire-cloud, to marshal her
through sea and wilderness into the true
promised land. Oh, since the day was as
night when Jesus died, let us be grateful that
the night was as day when Jesus Christ was
| born."-( George Dana Boardman.)
The God of heaven and earth is not theatric,
dvinely majestic in His manifestations of
| Himself. Hence, His revelations are not
startling spectacles, having aim object
beyond themselves; but they are sublime dis
| closures of His fatherly nature, and heavenly
| expressions of His redeeming purpose
corning mankind. This truth is exemplified
| in the words Of this angel: Behold I bring
you good tidings Of great joy, which shall be
to all people. For unto you is born this day
in the city of David, Savior which is Christ
| the Lord duke ii:1011.)
These glad tidings were a heavenly evangel
| proclaimng salvation to all people everywhere
and with personal application to the wonder
| ing shepherd: There Is born to you a Savior
which is Christ the Lord with emphasis on
! the personal pronoun you" The redeemng
| Christ brings redemption to all men because
| He provides salvation for every man. No soul
|
escape the gances of His loving eye. One
sinner who repeats gives joy in the presence
of the angels of Cod"
In celebrating Christmas many good people
who contemplate with profound satisfaction
the fact that the Christian religion, through
the atoning grace Of the atoning Savior, in
cludes all mankind within the compass OF
His love- fail to consider their own personal
relation to Jesus and their eternal
| interest in His incarnation. Their ears do not
| catch the joyous Ito you Is born this day in
the City of David a Savior which Is Christ
the Lord" No one can adequately measure
the meaning of Jesus to all men in general
until he takes account Of what the Christ
means to Himself. No human being knows
the vast significance of the birth Of "the
Babe of Bethlehem until he himself has been
born again. Deeply meaningful are the lines
of Johnson Scheffler:
Though Christ thousand times in Bethlehem
II He's not born in thee, thy soul is still
forlorn."
"And it came to pass, as the angels were
! gone away from them int oheaven, the shep-
herds said to another, Let us now go
even unto Bethlehem" Going thither let
which is come to pass, which the Lord hath
! made known unto u.s. (Luke ii:15.)
! In like mind and promptitude of faith let
| us also say one to another, Let us go now
| even unto Bethlehem" Going thither let
! each at this glad season of the Nativity find
; for himself the Savior.
{ within us, Babe divine,
| Be born and make us thine.
| Be born, and make our hearts
J Thy cradle and Thy shrine"
| If with the shepherds go on a quest
! of faith we shall find for ourselves the Re-
deemer whom they found lying in the manger,
and returning with them to the duties of
daily life we shall come "glorifying and
praisng God for all the glorious things that
J we have heard and SEEN"
| little town of Bethlehem!
How still we see thee lie
| Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by;
Yet in thy dark street shineth
The everlasting Light;
The hopes and fears Of all the years
Are met in thee tonight
How silently how silently
The wondrous gift is given!
SO God imparts to human hearts
! The blessings of His heaven
| No may hear His coming
! But in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive Him still
| The dear Christ enters in,
! 0 holy child of Bethlehem!
Descend to we pray;
Cast out our sin and enter in,
Be born in us today.
| We hear the Christmas angels
! The great glad tdings tell;
! come to us, abide with us,