took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men.” Since He not only stooped so low, but suffered so much for us, shall we not be willing to endure any privations or persecutions for Him? Shall we not be ready to go through any sacrifices for the sake of the salvation of others? Is any distance too great or road too rough to go for Him who went all the way from Heaven to the cross for us? Is any burden too heavy to bear for Him who fell beneath the weight of the cross for us? Shall not we, following His example, “Be . . . therefore followers of God, as dear children; and walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself to us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour”? The Perversity When we consider all prophetical declarations about His coming: the promise of His coming and the accom plishment of it, the purpose of the Father in sending Him as God’s unspeakable gift; the wonderful provi dence of God and the methods by which that providence conducts its plans to completion; how impossible it is for the Scriptures to be broken; how the angels of God worshiped Him when He was “brought into the world”; how the truth of God was the pivot on which turned all events pertaining to His birth—we are amazed at the perversity of man. Great as is this thing which has come to pass, there are many who care not enough to take a step to see it. Even at the Christmas festival, which is the commemoration of the incarnation of Him to whom God hath given a Name which is above every name, many are found at any place or every place rather than at Bethlehem, More attracted are they to every trivial thing than to that glorious sight, for which the shepherds left their flocks and made haste to view: the sight which the Eastern sages came such a vast distance to behold, which drew all Heaven down to earth, is nothing to them. Some, while they observe the day of Christ’s birth by doing no work, not only neglect but insult Him_ and by riotous living and indulgence in the works of the flesh, revive the works of the devil, which the Son of God was manifested to destroy. Instead of fixing their eyes on the Star of Bethlehem, they give attention to the little, debasing, vexing, defiling things of the world. The iniquitous incongruities of many Christmas celebrations are abominations to be avoided. Wickedness instead of worship oft prevails. The Practice What do we mean by that? We mean that we should practice praise, purity, and righteousness. As Zacharias and Elizabeth were “righteous before God, walking in all the commandments . . . of the Lord blameless”—so let us be, and do. Let us not seek to be distinguished by worldly grandeurs, but to be great in the sight of the Lord. Looking upon the Babe of Bethlehem, the Desire of all nations, let us give Him the glory which is due unto His holy Name. Let us behold in Him God’s provision for our recovery from sin and sin’s ruinous damage. Let us look upon Him as the One most suitable to our wants— the most adequate to our relief. Since He is placed en tirely within our reach, let us embrace Him and exclaim: "Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the Lord; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.” And let us see to it that our zeal and our gratitude are equal to our joy. Let us follow the example of the shepherds not only in our going, but in our return. “And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.” And when we are “Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body,” we shall make known abroad many truths concerning Him who is the Truth. TH E K I NG ' S BUS I NE S S
The Premise “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins” (Matt. 1:21). In the incarnation of Jesus, we see how God, in a dis play of divine truth, has never broken any promise spoken. Here God verified His veracity, authenticated His word. This main pledge, this chief promise to man when he sinned in Eden’s garden, God fulfilled to the uttermost. "And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel” (Gen. 3:15). “The Seed of the woman”! God spoke of that when in Eden’s garden “Despair had pitched his black pavilions on man’s sterile and blasted estate.” Many years came out of the womb of Time and passed into the tomb of Time before the Seed of the woman appeared. But these passing years did not mean that God had forgotten to be gracious—that His promise had failed forevermore. God’s counsels of old are faithfulness and truth. The promise was that Christ should descend from a particular nation— the Jewish nation; a particular tribe—the tribe of Judah; a particular family—the family of David; a particular mother—a virgin. All events related to His birth, though seemingly loosely connected, were “links in an adaman- tean chain’’—the pivot on which the truth of God turned, the center in which God’s promises united, the end to which all referred. All of this testifies, as by a wise man stated, that God’s purpose is secretly, unthwartedly, yet uncontrollably moving on—and that instruments stamped with unlikeliness are contributing to its execution. The Preparation There was no newspaper to announce Christ’s arrival. Obscure and lowly was His birth. No trumpet testi fied to His advent. No welcome of any kind was given Him. “There was no room for them in the inn.” “The world was made by him, and the world knew him not.” The Christ who by cruel hands was thrust out from the world on the point of a spear, by cold hearts was received on a pallet of straw. Poor among the poorest was His mother. A cattle stall was His maternity chamber. A barn manger at which cattle munched hay was His cradle —in a land which had no room for Him. Yet whose birth was ever so glorious? But when, ye gods of earth, was ever first-born with whom you claim kinship so honored? When did ever new star sparkle over any king’s son? Ye kings of earth, when did Wise Men, miraculously guided, ever worship your first-born? When for the birth of heir to any earthly throne did ever angels from Heaven come down? When and where at birth hour of any other destined to be king did Heavenly choir sing? When, at the cradle of the richest, did spirit of prophecy breathe inspiration? When, as to the birth of any other, did a holy Simeon wait as for the Consolation of Israel? Of what other one did a righteous Anna speak to all those who looked for redemption? Though no preparation was made to receive Him, He Himself in His coming was a prodigy of benevolence. His coming was a love that passeth knowledge. He was rich, but He became poor. His own mercy, not our irierit, caused Him to come "out of the ivory palaces” of Heaven "into a world of woe”—to give His life a ransom for men. In this expensive undertaking, He despised world ly distinctions. Thus we are, by His example, urged not to seek great things for ourselves. Having food and raiment, we should be content. With humility we should condescend to men of low estate. With joy we should exercise self-denial in doing good. “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who, being in the form of God, thought it not a prize to be gained to be equal with God, but made himself of no reputation, and 8
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