Year: 1872

81 SeepnonB cnurch would take leading place IN
helping the fair. upon which too much generosity
could not be practised.


The preacher took his text from the Gospel OF the
day. and delivered an eloquent and lengthy dis
course on the nativity OF the Blessed Virgin.


An angel is sent to virgin, espoused to an hum
BILE man, whose name s Joseph, both OF whom re-
side In the obscure village OF Nazareth. An an
nOuncement Is to be made to the woman, and so
important Is the revelation conveyed that the
Almighty sends one OF His own special messengers
to bear It, The angel finds the object OF his MISSION
and addresses her with the salutatiOn "Hail, full
of grace, the Lord is with thee, blessed art thou
duction. An angel is sent from heaven, not to any
of the great of this world. but to an obscure
maiden, and announced that lie who had been
nations had been waiting for, was now about to
come; con 81 IL was 2 startling revelation that
to take nesh that while stiil remaining es lining
Gods own uncreated Word He should
become the gentle son Of the owly virgin. Scarcely
penalty that was to be inflicted for their sins than
He held out the glorious promise of another woman
OF whom another man should be born, who would
satisfy God for their transgresson. II was primi-
tive revelation, not confined to the Jew GENTLE,
to Gods faithful people or to the pagan world that
woman should be born who would be the dawn
ushering In the light OF the glorious day Of redemp-
tion La this lowly woman Of Nazareth this woman
is found and Gods own messenger declares it In
this wondrous sautation, "Hai, full Of grace, the
Lord Is with thee, blessed art thou among women"


IL Is not then, but In Keeping with Gods own
plan and in fuflment Of prophecy that we should
venerate this divinely favored woman; that we
should endeavor to fulfil in our own persons, the
children of prophecy, In arising to call her the
"blessed among women" 1t Is unnecessary for us TO
find our faith in the fragmentary records OF Scrip
ture. Our faith has been implanted in US by God as
natural impulse, aud our respect for the mother
OF God has existed in all ages by the divine power
and will that created the harmony or our religion.


1t is difficult to understand how those protesting
to be Christians so persstently refuse to honor
the mother OF the Saviour. They admit that the Son
OF God became man and was born of woman,
but they will not admit that the mother who bore
him was the mother OF God. The first four councils
OF the Church are admitted by Pr0testants, and in
these-especally at that Of Ephesus-it was clearly
declared that the mother Of Christ was the mother
OF God.


The respect and veneraton with which we
should look upon the mother OF the Saviour sug
gest themselves at every consideration OF the
SaviOurs love for US. 1t is reasonable to think
thai. that He who, in all the ages, has has
of Saints and who conlers SO abundantly
the greatest favors on those who love Him,
should not be wanting In love for His own mother.
1t Is unreasonable to think that Christ should not
wish to honor His mother, or that He should not
| wish that from the love man would bear to Him
| His mother should be venerated. He who desires


the love OF man so ardently and that supplication
| to Him should be incessant, could not refuse to
| receive the prayers of His mother In behalf OF
! those who had snned against Him. She is our
best intercessor and In her efficacy with her son
sinners find consolation that leads to sorrow for
sin and reconciliation with God.