The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1926-12-24
SERMONETTE
BY Rev. r. Ashley Cake
CHRISTMAS SERMONETTE
The Story of Bethlehem

/
tains, clap your hands We fields OF
the woods, let everything that has
breath praise the Lord for He haiti
done it"
What has He done? God so
loved the world that He save his
only begotten Son that whosoevcr
belieycth on Him should have ever
lasting lifaFi.
What has lie done? Jesus, who
thought it not robbery to be equal
with Cod left all the glory lie had
with the Father before the world
was, took upon Himself the form
of a servant, and for our sakcs
became poor that we migng through
his poverty De made ricn.'
What has He done? Jesus. return
| ing TO glory, has sent The Blessed
Spirit, the third person in the Holy
Trinity, to live and abide in the
hearts of the loWly humble con
trite. and today his presence
cheers us. in weakness, He
strengthens us, makes us partal-
ers OF the more abundant life that
we might be filled with joy, and
that his joy might remain with us.
We visit the birthplace of patri-
OTIS, we build monuments 70 the
dead. surely with no = much more
| feeling, interest and reverence,
should we visit Bethlehem the
scene of the greatest event in the
worlds history.
Let us go 10 Bethlehem aud see
/ this thing which has come To pass.
The Story Of Bethlehem is one that
should be received with gratitude
and JOY by every heart. All events
in history, taken together, and null
tiplied, are of less consequence
than the fact that Jesus came all
the way from heaven to earth, be-
came iDcarnate, suffered, died for
our salvation
Indeed this awful and merciful
mystery of the divine incarnation
is the greatest event in tho history
of all time. Today, not only in
! Bethlehem where the star first
| G RI ri Il ;,.s
world, but all over the world, in all
lands, among all people, the eX-
ceeding brightness of that star is
extending and sending its rays of
light manifested in the name of
Him to whose manger the shop
herds were led, until our own
hearts in their deepest depths and
darkest chambers are all lit up
with the light Of Him in Whom
there is no darkness.
AS the pilgrimage of the Shep-
herds to Bethlehem was long and
lonely continued for many days
over the wastes of Arabian deserts.
so oittimes in our journeying, we
become tired and weary, but when
we visit or read the Story of Beth
lehem our hearts become thrilled
with JOY that none but Jesus can
give.
Dear Readers: Lei us this Christ
mas visit Bethlehem and read the
Story. Let the mountains shout it,
LET the hills reeeho H. Let the val
lies feSOund il, let the rivers and
oceans carry it to the ends of The
earth, while we, in this land of
plenty, living in such blessed
| gospel diSpcnsation. let us help
ring all the bells. wreath tho most
beautiful garlands. sing the sweet
est anthems, for the terrible chaSm
between heaven and earth has been
bridgcd. The angelic song Of the
angels over the birth Of Jesus,
itpi ~ tIt y Itbi dlU
on earth good will and bsace TO all
mon" is still being sung, and mil
lions arc hearing the sweet refrain,
Many Of Us cannot bring costly
gifts as the Magi brought but with
deepest reverence. warmest affect
ions, we can give Him the franklin
cenSc Of our greatest joys, the
heart-throbs Of our Warmest affect
ions, with the prostration of our
sincere worship and praise In ex-
change. lie gives us the assurance
that in the humble lowly and con,
| trite He will forever abide.
The saints who are highest in
the sight of God
Are the least in their own eyes,
And the more glorious they are.
The more humble they are in them
selves,
Absecon, n. j. Christmas, 1926.
| -..>-
! -Jud Tunkins says he bankers
| for the old THANKSGIVING when