admitted into their "perfect consummation and bliss." And we shall, if worthy, behold the unveiled Presence of "HIM THAT sitteth on the Throne, and of the LAMB." The time will soon come: let us join together now, and enjoy the happy foretaste of it: let us on earth fall down, and unite with the hosts above, and say, "Amen. Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our GOD, for ever and ever. Amen."" 1 Rev. vii. 2—12. Epistle for the Day. SERMON X. JOY IN CHRIST'S BIRTH. For Christmas Day. S. LUKE II. 10, 11. 1 "FEAR NOT: So deep and so full is the richness of blessing which the holy season of Christmas brings with it, that it, perforce, overspreads and keeps under, in some degree, the very world itself, on our right hand, and on our left, with a power which none may "be able to gainsay, nor resist." I say, in some degree, for while we see men thus constrained 1 The Morning Second Lesson. 2 S. Luke xxi. 15. H to confess the unearthly blessedness of this holy season, we cannot but see also, with sorrow, that many only confess it, because they dare not deny it. GOD forces HIS goodness upon them, and, while they are obliged to own the offer which He makes to them, they refuse to accept that offer. They cannot make bold to declare that they need not a SAVIOUR, but they will not condescend to accept One. Thus is GOD's "truth in all the world both hated, and believed.” Thus, in the full blaze of "the light of the glorious Gospel of CHRIST," "their eyes are darkened that they see not.' "Let favour be showed to the wicked, yet will he not learn righteousness: in the land of uprightness will he deal unjustly, and will not behold the majesty of the LORD.” 12 Surely this must be, to the thoughtful heart, matter for sad and startling consideration. Sad and startling; for "what further need have we of witnesses " against those who "are their own witnesses ?"4 this is the condemnation, that Light is come 1 Christian Year. "And 2 2 Cor. iv. 4; Ps. lxix. 23. 3 Isa. xxvi. 10. Evening First Lesson, Third Sunday in 4 S. Matt. xxvi. 65; Isa. xlvi. 9. Advent. into the world, and men loved darkness rather than Light, because their deeds were evil.” "If they were blind, they should have no sin, but now they say, We see; therefore their sin remaineth." It depends then on ourselves whether we will or will not close with the offers of pardon and peace which God of His sovereign mercy makes to each of us. Whether we will throw away or improve the means of salvation given to us, as Christians. Whether we will be the better or the worse, for having been chosen by GoD to be "blessed with all spiritual blessings in Heavenly places in CHRIST."3 And as these truths hold good at all times, so especially do they present themselves to our minds at this holy season. For does not the very name of Christmas bring even to the toiling world of business and disquiet thoughts of rest and repose? It falls across the glare and heat of the market-place, and the turmoil of the city, "as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land." The trader 1 S. John iii. 19. 2 S. John ix. 41. 3 Eph. i. 3. 4 Isa. xxxii. 2. Evening First Lesson, Fourth Sunday in Advent. "The must leave "the receipt of custom." tables of the money changers are overthrown." Mammon dares not to say "This is not the day which the LORD hath made; we will not rejoice, and be glad in it." Does not Christmas, too, make the toils of the husbandman to pause? Does it not wipe off" the sweat of his face," and turn it from the thorns and thistles towards the open gate of this house of GOD-" the gate of Heaven?" So deep, so holy is the joy of Christmas, that the boisterous and tumultuous world itself cannot but vouchsafe, in some sort, to make way for it, and to "declare the glory of God." Now, by common consent, we exchange good wishes and good feelings, one towards another, not after our usual wont, but borrowing our words from the sacredness of the season; as it were speaking with other tongues, as the SPIRIT giveth us utterance." Now, as it were a matter of course, at our hearths, and at our doors, we have "a new song put into our mouth," and the world is forced to tune 2 S. John ii. 15. 1 S. Matt. ix. 9. 3 Gen. iii. 19; xxviii. 17. 5 Acts ii. 4. |