OCR Text |
Show Blessings to the World in Christ's Birth. fly Umcs CjrJIrut tfiWwu. LU SAVIOK came down from Olieauni to shed light on that Illimitable world which lies r. t , beyond the tomb, and to re-J re-J 'J veal to us a new life which I J y y I begins with death. He bus made known to U3 our origin and destiny des-tiny and the means or attaining it. ilo has brought not only light to our Intellects, but also pence to our hearts, that peace which springs from the knowledge of the truth and the hope of the eternal life. Ho has given benediction to the homo by proclaiming the unity, sanctity sanc-tity ami the indissolubility of marriage. mar-riage. The wife Is no longer tho slave, but tho partner of her husband; she Is no longer a tenant at will, but the mistress of her household; she is no longer confronted by u usurping rival, but sho l.s tho undisputed queen of the domestic kingdom. Tlie aged poor are no longer at the mercy of heartless masters. They are not enst aside like a worn-out machine. Their life Is sacred like that of Infants, In-fants, and they are comfortably provided pro-vided for in Institutions now spread throughout Christendom. The tender and compassionate spirit of Christ lias caused orphan asylums and hospitals to spring up and bloom In every land. Theie Is no phasu of human misery and suffering that docs not find solace and relief In these establishments. es-tablishments. Human slavery lias, at last, melted nway beforo the elTiilgcn rays of tho gospel. To borrow witli n slight para-i para-i phrase the words of a distinguished writer, we cau say with truth that a slave stands icdcemed, regenerated and disenthralled as sunn as ho plants his fr.ot on the sacred soil of Christendom. Christen-dom. The gospel proclaims the dignity ot 1-bor, Judged by Its standard, every honest employment is honorable, now menial soever It may be. Christianity has beon a peacemaker to tho nations. Ily her beneficent Influence In-fluence she has inaclo wars far less frequent than they used to bu under pagan regime Let us not grow weary of the salutary salu-tary lestralnts or Christian life. Let ID not cast wistful glances toward ttgypt. from whose bonds wo havo been rescued, nor long .or Its flesh-pots. flesh-pots. I.ot us glory In our Christian heritage; and, above nil, let us not bo gulfty of tho mockery of leading pagan lives while making profession .r Christianity, recalling to mind what the apostle bald to our gentile fore-latheis: fore-latheis: "Ye were onco darkness; but n:i7 light In the Lord. Walk as the) chlldien of llgln." I I |