CHRISTMAS REJOICING. Placed so near the day on which we are accustomed to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, it may not be amiss to begin this work with some remarks upon that subject. There is no event in the history of the world. more worthy of our consideration, nor is there any better calculated, when rightly understood, to awaken in our souls feelings of holy gratitude and joy. When the Shepherds saw the angel who was sent to announce to them the birth of the Redeemer, "they were sore afraid." but "the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be unto all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord." And no sooner had the Angel delivered his tidings, than there were seen around him a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men." All heaven were joyful on the occasion, and they wished the inhabitants of earth to lay aside their fears, and join them in their hymns of thankfulness and praise. They regarded the entrance of the Saviour into our world as the beginning of a happier age for man, and as the introduction of a better state of things, in which the great Creator should receive the honours due to him, and men enjoy the happiness for which they were created. In all the prophecies in which allusion was made to the coming of Christ, there were the plainest intimations given that he should come laden with blessings for mankind; and wherever the rumour of his coming was spread, he was looked for with great and anxious hopes. When the Almighty promised him to our first parents, he gave them to understand that he should destroy the power of the Serpent, and do away the sorrows which his guile had brought into the world: "The seed of the woman shall bruise the Serpent's head." When God renewed his promise to his servant Abraham, he filled the Patriarch with joy; "And in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed." As the time drew nearer, the glorious objects of the Saviour's coming were made plainer. In the psalms and in the prophets he was foretold as a King who should reign over all nations, and by the wisdom and the kindness of his government give peace and joy to all the inhabitants of the earth. "He shall judge thy people with righteousness, and thy poor with judgment. The mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills bring blessings. He shall judge the poor of the people, he shall save the children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor. He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass: as showers that water the earth. In his days shall the righteous flourish; and abundance of peace so long as the moon endureth. He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth. All kings shall fall down before him: all nations shall serve him. For he shall deliver the needy when he crieth; the poor also, and him that hath no helper. He shall spare the poor and needy, and shall save the souls of the needy. He shall redeem their soul from deceit and violence: and precious shall their blood be in his sight. And he shall live; his |