IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I.I l^lii 125 ■tt Uii 122 Sf |i£ 12.0 1^ IIIIIM lii^ 6" PhotDgraphic _Sdences Corpcration ST*', v\ 23 WIST MAIN STRUT WnSTIR.N.Y. MSSO (716)t72-4S03 '^ ) CIHM Microfiche Series (Monographs) ICMH Collection de microfiches (monographies) Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions / Institut Canadian da microraproductions historiquas (r\f% Ttchnical ■nd Bibliographic Notn / NotM tachniquts et bibliographiquas The Institute has attempted to obtain the best original copy available for filming. Features of this copy which may be bibliographically unique, which may ulter any of the images in the reproduction, or which may significantly change the usual method of filming, are checked below. L'Institut a microfilm* le meilleur exemplaire qu'il lui a M pouible de se procurer. 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Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent Atre filmte A des taux de reduction diffdrents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour Atre reproduit en un seul clich6, il est film« A partir de i'angle supArieur gauche, de gauche d droite. et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images nAcessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mAthode. 1 2 3 4 5 6 JESUS: CUIIJSTMAS SERMON ^ ^ 9 PREACHED ill \h UNITARIAN CHUriCII, jMoiilreal, ox CHRISTMAS DAY, 18:)l, «y JOHX CORDAKR. JESUS: ^^^% M>^ CimiSTMAS SERMON, PREACHED iu the UNITARIAN CHURCH. Moutreal, ON CHRISTMAS DAY, 1851, By JOU.^ COBD.UR. " Let therefbre our chier> eit endeavour be, to medU late upon the life of Jesus C.I. ' '• Wboioever would fUlly and reelinglr underitand the wordi of Christ, muil endeavour to ronform his life wholly to the life of Christ."— Di Jm, CAiiwi, C 1, MONTREAL : FKINTM Sr JOHM O. BKCKIT, do. 29, QRIaT ST. JAMBS STRKIT. £i Be the niv abli the Jud birti trea will; of h this othe told in Ii her ingc side, lofty temp] while JESUS: A CHRISTMAS SERMON. ■^ w ■ ■ i^ i ^y ,, - ^ . ^ w^^^ ^m. <^^<»»M»»»*N*^ " Ttao .hill crtl bb Mm. jBM.»_M.llh.w i. SI. ^Z" " Td": '"' " ""' '"' """ •'•'^ "»" "■• ""«■ « .1»7 . V ""'' "'^'•^ '"• "" h"™ «»■»« here tod.,-, the d.y ,c apart by .he common con«„, orChristendom .HheV .ble g,ft „h,eh ,t brought .„ „„r world. Hem. „ bj, he.v"„ rm, U.ed„me^yK„. child, .„d ,he .impie .h.pheni, irom TeTeldrof ing 01 tms saying. The son grew in tranquil beauty by his mother'- wh.l. hndlmg ,h.i, «u,ei.hme„. by hi. own ulm.nding „d ■Diwera. HMven-aent child ! He wm attending to bit Father*^ buainess. So be told bii aiotberi when ibe and her butband lought him Borrowing. We hear nothing more of him, save that he << increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man," until he was about thirty years of age. Then he came forth to preach, and submitted to baptism of John in the Jordan. At his baptism special testimony was liorne to his person. From the heavens the Spirit of God de* ■cended upon him visibly, and from on high came a divine utterance, pronouncing him the " beloved Son " of God. Now we Icnow that he is the Messiah — the long promised Messiah — publicly designated by God bimaelf. Now he enters on his mission, and scatters broad- cast that precious seed of truth which was to redeem nnd sanctify humanity, and change the face of the world. Never man spake as he did. Never man lived as he did. Never man died as he did. Never man rose as he did. He stood on the earth peculiar and alone. Tempted like those around him, yet without sin. Clothed in flesh, yet arrayed in heavenly glory. He stood before God as hia well-beloved Son and Messenger. He stood before man as his Saviour and Bedeemer. He stood before man as his Saviour, I say. We have an indica. tion of this in the name which was given to him. His name should be called Jesus, it was said, because he should save his people from their sins. And so was his name called. Jesus was not an uncom- mon name among the Hebrews. It has an equivalent in the term Joshua, and signifies Saviour. But, in the case of Jesus our Lord, it had a peculiar and exalted meaning. Having direct reference to man's sins, it took a more comprehensive sweep, and touched a far higher range of relations, than were ever indicated in any other case. In the case of the Lord Christ it reached into the spiritual realm, and embraced those relations which the soul sustains to God. « Thou ahalt call his name Jesus, for he shall save his people from their sins." — Salvation from sin ; this is Christian salvation. It la not from a single passage merely that we learn this, but from' the current language of the New Testament. "Behold the La' ib of God," said the Baptist, " who taketh away the sin of the world." ** God having raised up his Son, Jesus," said the Apostle Peter, « sent him to blesa you in turning every one of you from his iniquities." w from .11 i„i,„i,y, .„j purif ' „ !;5 -^ ' ^" ■" ■=■'«•■"«>«"• of good „„,k.> ^Vh, w"rk „r,K° r^' •'^''""P«'P'o«''o«<. Man .land, before God deHled h. .!„ .' ,?*"""« «"■' «genenii„„. •"•ven. Jmu. w.. „,;'r.* . \\ ""' ""'' """"Sl- tl>". 'nontM from '" .h. hu..n I\::" :t^.l''"''";>)''':'«'-e»More.J God and .inful J„, b " The Cdi.tV .k" ""'n """«" « '"'X Po:s;tzrb;t:;z^r.:r---^^^^^^^ d.«i-»or.H, and .pirhnal, de d-" e^ ZZ' """' '""•"""^ " enlen the loul Ilk* . ■>.?• . . '""I""*' nnd .in.." p-e.^.ndkin:'f„. tc :rirr:f'';;S''';r h"-- "'"»'•- there. The Holv Snlr.* . k- u 1 ^°° ^'"^h ought to be ..-.p-e de6..d ."n'^t:^: ': ^^7 '"'' "'" "»' •*'<" ■" « •»' .0 .-.. So „,„ch are w. .ol:;,d^:';: •"- "'^n '""'^^ ce.«d .0 look „po„ i, „id, .ba, .bb„^„,e 1^7 "'" '""« "•"' moral vhion i. injured. 1, iS.\ ' " '"'""'' ""• "«' o»r r.g.n.everya.,V.r,i„i; "p^^^ J-,7P;'f'o..e.«w..b,„M alwajr. lead u. .„ ,„ regard ii. u 7.0^ . '^T'"*"""" "•"« whioh prevails .„ exien'SveW ,„ I '' l* 'X " °" "" ""'"PP"'" Mnuca ,„ be, un.r„ ,„ hi. h g e. j J° f.' ^'u '"' ^"' •»'» <»»- Do Lee. brow elonded »itCo,r'a "d baVt"?"'^'"'''^- complaia, c„n.,.„dj, f„„ ,,,, ,„' ", „ . .h ,"" ''"«"■«« of -an ha. fi=,ed hi. love loo deeoiron .h .1 ""^ "''•''»• Tie 'be gr..i/ica«„„„f.he pal. hJif "":''• ''•'"f ""-ich -.ini«er.o city j. niarred. Hi. .pirH ", „!t ^f' h. "''"" """' <"•" '•™ ••" f«li- and when the object, rfh . ealv d, '"°"^'''''' "" ^P''^' of God, been c,.. fro™ .Lrpl.ct,orca„w".::^°'" *':<'"'"''•«* "•«' -an of old. hi, language, ,•„' el^ "^..•"7' "" '*» "■• Wol..re» obaerve di..™.. d.*ie.S':„ t^^::„re:' i„7b ""^f* '" "» ' •our* of n,.„ „i.b hi, fen,..„.., Ti r^r """.""^J-"- It 18 the effect of Bin. Tmth has been largely tbandoned, and lincerilj to a great extent forMken. Fabehood has been found to serve the short-sighted purpose of the hour, and men havu become fulse and insincere. Hence throughout a great portion of human intercourse, men feel that they are not to be mutual- ly relied on. Selfishness disturbs the balance of virtue, and where self- interest Is supposed to interfere, it is held peculiarly necessary to be cautious in extending our confidence. A current maxim of worldly prudence enjoins us to suspect every one. I do not dispute its apt. ness in the present condition of society. But, surely, it is not a maxim calculated to augment the ease or happiness of him who holdf it, and acts upon it. To proceed upon the idea that we are sc'round- ed by falsity and insincerity, is like making a journey in doubtlulnesa and the dark. We are always subject to uneasiness and alarm. It is in the broad sunlight of truth and rectitude alone, that we can have that confidence which brings felicity and cheerfulness. Do I per- ceive a fico in which the traces of sulTering are visible where the marks of unspoken pain are legibly drawn ? This, loo, it the effect of sin. The rightful sovereignty of reason and conscience has been overthrown in that soul. These have been cast from their place of eminence, and some wild passion, or ill regulated desire, has assumed sway. But conscience will not readily acquiesce in such a usurpa- tion. She puts forth her remonstrances, solemn, startling, and sharper thin any two edged sword. Her utterannes are given with the sanction of heaven upon them, and they make themselves heard and felt. Hence an inward warfare is established, painful above all others to him who is the subject of it. The voice of conscience, to- day assorting the right, leads him to make resolutions, which the power of passion, ruling in the wrong, induces him to break on the morrow. The pain felt in such trials none can understand, save those who experience it. It robs the soul of serenity and peace, and, however concealed, will inscribe its sad characters on the outward man. The happy and contented spirit assumes a happy and con- tented expression, which the vexed spirit, stung by its own sins, or borr.e down by earthly cares, can never make its own. At the bottom, then, of all human discontent, and complaining, and distrust, and suf- fering, lies sin. This is the root of all the evils which afflict oar race. This, the source of all our real misery. An exception may be taken to some of these remarks, founded on common observation. It may be said that many men who are avow- •diT c.«ie„ of .1, n„ -'b. ik.n,, nor will, .„y i„„J\2 "f "J-J'"'™.! which di.. '» 'rouble, .. o,h.r ™„T„, -. ' eV.' ; ■' ''"'° "'^'"' "» "" I»r.o„,,vho.™..,,..„j„„,.„,77^'« "•■ylo poi„„j „„, „r .v.. no,o,i„„.,, „,„.h .„j „.„f„,;"j,""'' *"["l. wl .hoy ,e.J "«• 'o d.n, ,h.. . h.ppi„«„ „,i,^, """■ '" '"^ «••". it «o„ld bo «"n. , Wha, can hi i,. cha™!, " "'"' '" '" '"""'» "d vioa.1,, depend, on Che de.d„elf,h.'Kn'"* " "* "'"""" -b- b« -O oxton, when ..„h,, rm/„ "ol " T"""" ' "''■»"™ reciude, love, pie,^, „ J diZl^r '^' '"■» " ' " '™'b. .ppr.oi.,.d, ,„ ve^i;i.«„ *::;~";" "- "-.-.-.ood and' fel.c..r where ,he.. „.re „„, ro.p." J*^ o^ '*. """ ""'"' ''« »» b. low in i.. characer, and con'ractd'in t '''"'""• "">"• ■»"« 'ba. i. i. p«oi.ely aimilar in ZTtll '""'■ ' *"' »»' "7 Bu.. ...uredly. i. doe. no. ..and a. far !^ [ ""k"own .0 .hem. «'efenci.ywhioh.prin,.fr„„ a,hlt..1n;'"'':" i' doe, Wou, be.ng. and ,0 .he heavenly di,ol„.Z"whi h ha?',*'"'"' '""■ "•"" He who i. loyal ,„ c„n,cienoe and ,0 »' "o-l of d.vo,io„, .0 keep hf .pirifTn Z™ °""' '"'' "'"■"'^ °«o.. 'b«i»«ni.ePa.h.r_„hopC. "„h ."".7" "" ■"■""• '"■' «•'>' otAe Highe... .oari,e .0 .he ..^e di "i VT'^ ""'' '«'' 'be belp beavenly do..i„y «,, before hi,^lenio/.^t """""' •"'' ".ch .he "•gbgen., .he..lfi.h, ,„d ,h. wicke^^' T""" "^ """"b 'be h' condi.ion of „,or,l bli„d„e.Tand .T","," I-"™ "" '=°"'=«P"on in •"■» b.^ by .he fao. of hie "S. h^ "J'J ^''""'- '"'' «■"••" P'n«.. The avenue, .hrough wh I'lh' „ '"'.,"P«i'3' for bap. •o«l .re in bi.n ob..ructed and ltd Th'" ■''"" """■" '<- 'be derwand or enjoy the bleMedne,, which -„ i "° """<" "»• •b... the deaf ™an can draw in.„ir«t„ r ' """*''"'"'• ""^ "o" derive deligh. fro™ .he b^ZyTXr S """"=' °' "" """" -'. ■lance, we have farther evidence of,!,: ' '" ""» ^'J' c™"".- «f am. I. nnderminea .he tnl^o of" T" *"'' ""P-^a'^nUy I en bn,. ,, ^^ ,„ ,^^ - o^. of ™a„., .r„e h.ppi„e...*.J >-.^ a wreck oral, .ha. ia high anri^J^ltlr. .^ ^ 8 trays him into a base contentment with the ruin. It robs him of the ' only bliss worthy an immortal being, and imposes a poor and perish- ing counterfeit in its stead. It was from the power of this evil that Jesus came to deliver us. This is the arch adversary — the Satan of the human race — whose dominion the Lord Christ came to overthrow. Who has not wit- nessed, and felt, the power of this tormentor ? Look abroad upon the world, ancient and moderny and behold it written in characters of fire, and blood, and woe, and desolation. Let any thoughtful and dis- cerning man look within, and contemplate the condition of his own soul, and he will speedily discover its blasting effects. Alas ! we do not require to force such introspection. Too frequently the painful experience of the human heart reveals these sad effects to us. The emptiness and uneasiness of spirit which we experience, even when the cup of earthly possession is full, — the felt want, and yearning, and sadness of heart, which come upon us, even where there is no bitter remorse for flagrant sin, — all this is the result of our alienation from God. Thanks be to Infinite Mercy, none of the world's idola- tries—not wealth, nor fame, nor fashim, nor pleasure— can fully satisfy the wants of the h- iman soul. In our most thoughtful hours, these appear to us but shadows and semblances, not substance and reality. At such times we cannot rest on them — we dare not rest on them. With the awful mysteries of the soul's nature and destiny pressing upon us, our heart and flesh cry out for something else— they cry out for the living God. And when this spiritual want is experienced, where shall we look for help ? When this cry is made, where shall we look for the ade- quate response ? To nature ? Nature, indeed, is wondrous and beautiful, and is not alow to proclaim her Author. But she is deaf to the heart's deepest cry — she speaks no word of sympathy or help. The sun rises and sets, the stars glisten and are hid again, the tides ebb and flow, summer and winter alternate — all this by virtue of fixed laws. But these laws bring no healing to the human heart, sick through sin. Nature, then, cannot give the needed help. Shall we look to the Mosaic economy ? Here we see law again, though of another order ; yet law still, fixed, inflexible, through which man may obtain a knowledge of sin, but no redemption from its power. Nor is its ritualism more effective. The blood of bulls and goats cannot take away sins, and give the required relief. The more conicientious 8 we are io our efforia to fulfil all riihteoMne- .k. diaeern how far „e f.U short wf r'^T ' ?'.""*• "'"''^ ""o "• requirements. co„de™„..r„ ha„^ I'T '."',* "" """" '" '"^ or escape. Wing a, his case Tn the I Ih' oft"* p "l T " '^'^ wretched and dead. No relief the. ^ ° l ' '^°"' '^^' '"«"«'' .hen. Shall „ei„„M . .„;::::;:tc. 1 1 fo u'r ^'-. •na sympathetic relation with „„" 'a^ T. ^ ''"""'''" """ «n.o tne all ye that lahor. and are heaT; ladl„ Tf "'" ^°"" "St." All man's „„„;. and mLe,7L„; ' it ' "' ' T ^°" from sin , rem a vitiated state of mi'dldta" TZlTt'"^' Stands alienated from Gc >nd is nlac^l ., "*'' ""'> ""^ work of Jesus, as Saviour s to ,. « ™™nce with him. The ".ove the viti. i„g eler„ 't^h h th'°" T' ""' '''"'• '° "■ .nee. and «co„l th™ « andt T"" °' """°'"'" '"^ ™"- .Wr between the two parUeT^His "°''- «««"<'» Medi- "..lady is of a moral and IrUual kind T"l '" ° "'" °»«- ^he ■ccomplished hy mon.1 LT:;!'',"!::^ '»""'°° '">"- " « .» •« .on'^": heT„„";„::n;n!r„: °^r ;'-'=^' -^ ««-• ^. «.».«. Nolongerisheenvelot?' !k '""''""""'ereign. as in .» in the Jewish dislsa^H '". ""'°''° "" "'"'■'' <"" ^i"". Jesus Christ. He TeTn T , t"^ "'"' '^'"^ '" ">« face of Father-he h." 'dtS ht h""' '" "°" """"'"" "i'" "« Through Jesus, „e «, ^^t Zi . T "«'" *'="«1 «». visible contact with otr^e inf.? T'^r""'""* "> «"'" '""• Tor the Infinite God h ms^ff' ■„ t"' ^'l " "" ""'""'' °' »''"« "• of salvation originated nGnd! T t '^""""'^- ^he method to the ..ce, fori watL vtible'r; ' "■" "" """» Saviour hovah. and his Mea^Ler .r h '^'"*'^"""™ »f "■« invisible Je. Father sent the SoZTe .V Saviou" Tt "' "^" "''"^ ^he did the Son reveal th hartce! o the 't1^ "T' u^"' '» ""'' the Son saw the Father .h . • ,. "' ""' "hosoever saw couidsee. r:^:^:::^:^'^^f^^^^<^.^.r human comDrehensinn ...» u . ' O'mself too vast for h».io„ Of mtrre'peTontft „:'•:? ;° ^h'" "PP- 10 offspring toward. himBolf. In this way did the Lord -e^k to Bave Swho wereloat, and re«to« them to the heavenly household and communion* H.D w.. impoten. to «»• Umwlf- Neither by n.t«rd taw, no, b, law K.»e.led. could he accomplish hi. own «il«t.on. S n h.d ipped the uoe life from hi, »ml. .nd l«.p«red it. power.. UndeN •tarng, wUl, .ffection.-.ll we« d.,».g«l. No.h..g but . fi«h infadon of di«»e life could repair the d.m.ge, «"')»«*• ""W; And Ihi. mu-t come from God. It mu« come o God . grace, or ftlherl, favor, and not of human claim, for no .uch cla.m ex,.ted. It i. the free gift of loSnite Me«y, and came through Je«... He w^ the divine Word incarnate, and the fulle^ expr.»|on of the We Tcod that ever appe.«d in fle,h. « In him wa. 1, <• ...th St. T„h„ « and the life wa. the light of men." "By h.. life we .hall J: U" w^.« St.Paul. By the power »/ thi. life he came to sicken a world dead in tre.p.Me. and .in.. A. by followmg .n the 2^^^ the first Adam all had fallen and died, so by lookmg unto Christ, the last Adam, all may rise and hve. Hi. work was one of recoaciliation, and he wa. bim.elf the vi.ible symbol of his work. Jesus wa, the grand qrmbol of ro^no. ■•"o". God and man. hitherto apart, and at van.nce,are «en un.ted m h,m. In him we .ee the divine flowing into the human, and the human, landing clear of .in, coale«=ing with the divine. Jesu, wa. the Zine Man. He declare, that he and the Father are one. The vaUof «pa;.ion i. broken, and the Man of N.zareth and the "finite God are in intimate spiritual union. He call, on h,s d,».p^ rioin him in a like union, and through him to become onewrth God, r, hTw s His prayer to .hi, eifec. tbriilcd through their he.rU a. h , la.Tear.hly meeting with them in Jerusalem, and ..ha. vjbra^ throuuh the hearts of true believers everywhere, and m all age. since "Holy Father," he pray., "keep through thme own name tho«i whom thou hast given me, that they 7? »« °»«' " 7 ■"; Neither pray 1 for these alone, but for them also which .hall Mi«e on me through their word, that they .11 may he one, a. thou. Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they all may be one .n u. : that the world may believe that thou ha,t sent me. And the glory which thou gavert me I have given them ; that they may "e one, even « we a« one, 1 in them and thou in me,.h.. they may be made perfect ^ one." The divine life is in him, not as In a shut cistern, but a. 11 » Bave Id and Wf nor in had Under. I fresh world* ace, or existed. . He the life aith St. '6 shall came to g in the ng unto B visible Mliation* I in him. human I . was the J. The and the disciples vith God) hearts at vibrated all ages wn name 8 we are. iiich shall , as thoU) 1 us: that ury which 3, even as tde perfect irn, but as l°d*°""V.'r,r: "Vr '''"' """''^^ ">• fc^' idea of ,he Tj • ,. ""^ "'"*' ^^ "y'> " y« =« 'he branches." B, ab,d,„g ,„ h,„ .he branches i„ .he vine, .he true disciples parttke of .he dmne l.fe, and are affihaled .„ .he Fa.her-.o "hisFalher and .he,r Fa.her, his God and .heir God." They receive ,he adop ion bfe of .he,r hfe, .hey, ,oo, can cry AVba, Fa.her. " Behold wha! bTorafhi rlf ^r '"^ '--- "-- - '-«' -' ^o- p.bi^i:tsr.irh::7pi"r/"iiT "" -i^"' "°'- All If • .. proceeasf i make no such altemot i1 h „:. foTh ° ""^''T ,^^1:''^ ' ™'^' » p'- s^ws a. my I; '.r.r„? e' i^. a."::: -f t^'-iifr? '"''^ ^-"^ '-^ -^ K L . -""^ *'^^* "'6 IS to me nscrufable T brush away .he mo.h which is fre.ling .he garment. Ts e h'a. i 1 ves, but ,.s hfe is .„ n,e equally inscrn.able. And if .he 2 of he i r of G:r ' tTI "" "■"""""■ ■"""" "»"' "■- '-« ^'g - Jiie 01 trod be. This I can sav : that if »c Tk« c • . n».^r»k• A I . , "'"*)'> inaiiris. 1 he Scriptures assure it™^ .hf :ircr" '''•°^'''"" °^''' '«'»'» »^- - ^•• Christ, Ihe Saviour, has been mercifully offered to our accepianc. through h,m. Jesus mee.s a wan. of humanity which neither naturaT r„^'Y r '"^'^ """"Sh him. Yet man is placed under conditions. The mercy of God has furnished the means of salvation bu, man must use the means if he would reach the result. Whal shal „e do ,0 be saved ? Believe in the I«rd Jesus Chri t. wl must apprehend him by the contact of a living fai.h. A barrel assent of .he »nders..„ding will „o. do. The foil aocep^nce ™ conve„.,o„al creed will no. do. No.hing shor. of a living fai h w I d"•' '» «». and the faithful use of all the mean" and in! 1^ 12 fluences which he has placed within our reach. He is revealed to u» as our Teacher, our Example, the Lord crucified, the rising Lord, and the Lord ascending and glorified. The word of truth which he taught» carries a cleansing and sanctifying power. Obedience thereto puri- fies the soul. The influence of his holy and benevolent life hath a saving efiect upon us. The sacrifice of his death was to put away sin. His resurrection, too, was for our justification and salvation. These are the direct statements of the New Testament.* What God hath joined together in this matter let not man put asunder. One portion, perhaps, may strike us with more force than another, accord- ing to our circumstances and temperament, but let us be wary in our enthusiasm, nor detach that portion from the rest as the only thing needful. Let us bewaie of detaching the life of Christ from bis deatb» or his death from his life. Let us beware of- running, the compre. hensive gospel which has been written by Evangelists and i^postles for our guidance, into the narrow mould of a conventional creed, and insisting on this partial gospel, as the gospel of salvation, instead of the full gospel of the Scripture. Rather let us receive the whole revealed Saviour, in humble waiting faith, and let us open our hearts to all the saving infiuences which come from his teaching, his life, his death, and his resurrection. If we do this, we shall know, indeed, that Christ is a Saviour to us. If we sit at his feet, like the grateful Mary — if we follow him from place to place as he went about continually doing good — if, like the faithful and devoted women, we stand before his cross — if, like them too, we visit his bursted sepulchre, — if in our thought and life we carry him with us as our constant friend and counsellor, — his spirit and life will flow into our spirit and life, and we will become reconciled, and redeemed, unto God. By the power of this spirit we will be cre- ated anew — heart and life will be regenerated. Then will this earthly life have a new meaning for us. Through the working of this spirit we will be led to live for higher and diviner ends. And when this earthly existence cones to a close, Jesus will be found by the bed of the departing spirit, infusing consolation and hope, speaking of the place in his Father's mansions which he went before to prepare, pointing the path, and leading the way, to the heavenly inheritance. * John XT. 3 : xvii. 17. 1 Peter i. 22. Rona. t. 10. Heb. jz. 21. Rom. it. 35. 1 Cor. zy. 17. 11 evealed to ut ng Lord, and ch he taughty thereto puri- t life hath a to put away nd salvation. ' Whai God inder. One )ther, accord- ) wary in our ie only thing om his death, the compre. and i^postles al creed, and n, instead of ve the whole en our hearts ;, his life, his >aviour to us. 9w him from I— if, like the ■if, like them and life we -his spirit and e reconciled, e will be cre- II this earthly of this spirit d when this by the bed of aking o( the re to prepare, r inheritance. , 23. Rom. ir. 13 Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift in Jesus ! He broke the power of sin, and took away the sting of death. It may be said, that, instead of resorting to the gospel method, God might, by a mighty miracle, have instantaneously redeemed the world from sin, and set his human offspring free of its power. But he is a wise Father as well za a loving one—a just God, as well as merciful. He would convince men of the sanctity of the divine law, and the weighty evil of transgression, by the magnitude of the method required to redeem. A Saviour is manifested— the well.beloved Son— sinless, yet suffer- ing, and suffering on account of human transgression. Here is some, thing to touch the heart and conscience, and move the sinner to penitence and return. And he calls on man to do his part in the great work— to work out his own salvation through the means which divine mercy has provided. Penitent and returning, he will re- ceive him. This is the condition which God demands. Jesus dis. closed the terms of reconciliation in his matchless parable of the pro- digal son. Therein behold the method of atonement. Thanks be to God, we say again, for his unspeakable gift in Jesus ! Are there any who slight the gift ? Men there were in a past age, and some there are in the present, who say that Christianity was before Christ. Their thought, here, is as shallow as their saying is paradoxical. Utterances of high moral and spiritual truth there were before the time of Jesus, both from Hebrew and Heathen, but there was no Christianity before Christ. Socrates and Seneca taught ex- cellent morals, but Socrates and Seneca could not save the world They did not exemplify the life of God upon the earth, and set forth his love and mercy to men. "Wihat mark have they left upon the world compared with that of the Man ol Nazareth ? Christianity before Christ ! Sunlight before the sun. The mists rolled away when the star of Bethlehem appeared.— The smoke and cloud of Sinai departed. The morning of a new era dawned upon the world. It is our privilege to live under the gospel dispensation. But do we search ourselves sufficiently to know what use we make of its gracious and saving disclosures ? Do we examine ourselves to understand whether its power, purity, and boundless love, are adequately felt and respected by us ? Ah our hollow, frivolous, and useless lives would me up, I fear, to condemn many of us. Jesus appeared as our Saviour— the bearer of God's message of mercy. He spoke his heavenly words, and wrought his 14 heavenly works, and lived his heavenly life upon (he earth, yet here we are, living for low aims-earthly-minded, when we ought to be heavenly.minded. When I think of what the gospel would make us. >f we only imbibed its holy truths aright-when I think of what we might be, all of us, young and old, and what we might do, if we had the spiritual Christ formed within us-when I think of the great and beautiful lives we might lead, fragrant with truth, wisdom, sympathy. holmess, and love, if we were only faithful to the message of Jesus- when I think of how such fidelity would surround the young with a moral beauty, lovelier and more lasting than the beauty of the stars., and of how it would surround the old with a glory brighter and more abiding than the glory of all earthly diadems-when I think of these things, and then think of what we are, and what we do, and for what we are living from day to day, I perceive a contrast sufficient to make angels weep. As year after year this Christmas season comes round with Its solemnities and cheerful festivities, should we not reflect on these things ? And if, on this day, we could resolve to look to Jesus as he was manifested, and earnestly study his divine life-if we could resolve henceforth to discard all hollowness, and selfishness, and fri. volousness, and strive, with simple and devoted hearts, after that spiritual sympathy, or oneness, with him to which he has called us— if we could thus resolve, and steadfastly act upon the resolve, the bpirit of God would help our eflTorts, and we should speedily become new creatures in Christ, and this Christmas day would be a day worthy of remembrance through life, through death, and through eler nity. ' .liMMiBlM; ySaHSiffi*?*^.- artb, yet here ought to be )uld make us, of what we 0, if we had the great and n, sympathy, ;e of Jesus — roung with a of the starn, er and more ink of these ind for what lent to make :ome8 round )t reflect on )ok to Jesus if we could ess, and fri. s, after that called us--> resolve, the lily become d be a daj trough eter. UiNITARIAN WORKS. '~*''«"*^^-»^»»»