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I am bound to acknowledge that the claims of this class are not generally neglected amongst us. Were it not for the ready help of their richer neighbours, the poor of this parish could not have the same advantages they now have for securing a supply of clothes and fuel against the winter. No doubt too, much charity finds its way to their houses, of which none but the giver and receiver, with their common Lord, are cognizant.

And so far well. Still, for all this, there must be many who can spare nothing out of their ordinary means for rejoicing at Christmas. Many who, if not helped now by some friendly hand, must fare on that day, as they do on all other days, hardly enough.

The season

But I need not plead on their behalf. itself pleads for them. The season itself prompts us all, who have it in our power, to consider the poor.

He, too, prompts us, in whose honour the season is observed: His voice is, I believe, even now sounding in your hearts, and stirring you up to a generous rivalry in the service of His and your brethren-I have given you an example that ye should do as I have done to you. When thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind: for they cannot recompence thee; for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.

CHRISTMAS DAY.

THE ANGEL'S TIDINGS.

ST. LUKE ii. 10, 11.

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for behold I bring you tidings of great joy; which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

TO-DAY, brethren, our Church sounds her most joyful note. To-day she calls us to be of good cheer; to put off corroding cares and anxious thoughts, and to come before our God with a song of most exulting praise, to join with "angels and archangels and all the company of heaven in singing glory to our new born King."

Nor, as far as outward joy goes, are we backward in responding to the Church's call. To-day is to most of us a day of gladness. It is the one holiday, excepting Sunday, which the poor man has in the year. And we keep it as a holiday. There is better fare in our homes, a more cheerful spirit in our hearts, a sunnier look on our faces on this day than perhaps on any other. The very salutation with which we greet one another bears witness to our minds on this subject, shows what we think about Christmas.

And long may it be so! may no change of opinion or habit ever affect the good old custom of keeping Christmas gladly! May this day stand always as it does now in our calendar, as our great holiday. A day sacred from all common work. A day to be much observed unto the Lord in our generations! For to-day there is good news for us all, even what you have heard alreadyUnto you is born this day in the city of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

Yes, these are the tidings of Christmas-a Saviour is born into the world. But how born? Let us go to the spot and see. Let us go in spirit to Bethlehem and see that great thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known to us.

And what is it that we see there? A little child, wrapped in swaddling clothes, and lying in a manger. But though a child, helpless and dependent as any other newly-born infant, He is not a common child. There are many signs of His being some great one-there are people on their knees before Him-His very mother regards Him with awe. Lo in the distance-"upon the Eastern road” —a train of servants bringing gifts, gold, frankincense, and myrrh. All this marks Him out as already in His cradle unlike any mere child of man. And so, indeed, He was -for this is He so long expected, so ardently looked for -the desire of nations. This is He to whom belong the great names of prophecy, Wonderful, Counsellor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. This isto sum up all His titles in one-this is Emmanuel, which being interpreted, means God with us

!

That is the sight, which the shepherds looked upon so

many centuries ago in the manger at Bethlehem. That is the sight which this day, as it comes round, calls up to our minds we gaze this day upon the Son of God become man-upon the Holy Child Jesus.

And next consider what the sight teaches us, what it declares of God and of His dealings with us men. It declares, as could be declared in no other way so well, the love of God towards us.

God so loved the world, that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only-begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

How do all these passages of Scripture witness to us that the love of God was the moving cause of Christ's coming!

God saw the world perishing, and so He sent His Son to the rescue. God saw evil triumphing over good, the works of the devil everywhere getting the mastery, and so He sent one stronger than the devil, to lead him captive, and to break his yoke from off our necks. God saw that men did not understand Him, that they had false notions about Him, that He was feared rather than loved, and so He sent His well-beloved to undeceive us, to shew us what He really is like. For Christ, as we read in the Epistle to the Hebrews, is the express image of His Father's person. In Him God gives us to see, so far as it

is possible, what He is in Himself-not a God, as we had pictured Him, dark and terrible, bent only on our punishment, quick to destroy all who disobey Him-no, but a God full of compassion and mercy, long-suffering, unwilling for any to perish. A God that cares for all men, and does not readily lose a single soul, but Himself seeks out the wanderer, and Himself prepares the way for his return.

Is it not, then, as I have said? Does not the birth of Jesus Christ witness to us that God loves us? What more affecting proof could He have given us of His love, seeing He hath not withheld His Son, His only Son from us!

But again—and here is another cause for thankfulness-Christ, who was born as on this day in the city of David, to be our Saviour, tarried awhile with us in the world. He grew up from infancy to childhood, and from childhood to man's estate, as any other child might grow. He was not exempted from any sorrow, trial, or temptation which falls to the lot of man. The world to Him was a rough world, as it is to many of us. In it He had to undergo persecution, disappointment, illusage.

And why? For us men and for our advantage,—that He might be for us a merciful and faithful High Priest; that, not ignorant Himself of any of the many evils which flesh is heir to, tried and proved in the same fire which tries and proves us, acquainted by experience with all our griefs, He might know how to succour us; might be for us a sure refuge, our best example when beset by

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