baptism of Jesus the heavens were opened, the Spirit descended and abode on Him and the Father said: "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." Well might John baptize for the remission of sins, because he did it by the command of Him who was come to earn forgiveness for sinners and who had the authority to institute new means through which to impart His forgiveness unto men.

After this One those priests and Levites ought to have inquired that they might have learned to know Him, but they did not. John's preaching was not pleasing to them, and they had no inclination to inquire after Him by whom John was

sent.

Art thou like unto them? Dost thou know Jesus Christ, or is He yet a stranger unto thee? He is thy brother, partaker of thy flesh and bone, and dost thou not know Him? He laid down His life for thee, becoming obedient unto the shameful death of the cross, and thou knowest Him not? He has earned for thy soul the cleansing from sin by His blood, and thou knowest Him not? He came to thee in holy baptism to establish a covenant of grace with thee, and dost thou not know Him? O haste, and employ all means to learn to know Him. Hear His Word, search the Scriptures, call on His name for the light of His Spirit, and thou shalt experience the blessedness, whereof He speaks in His prayer: "This is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." John 17, 3. And if thou knowest Him then confess Him before men, and strive to become ever more familiar with Him, and He will know thee and will own thee and will do for thee what He promised to His own, saying: "And I give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand." Amen.

CHRISTMAS.

FIRST SERMON.

TEXT: And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Cesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David): to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her first-born son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day, in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. Luke 2, 1-14.

The birth of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, by the Virgin Mary is the most important event which ever transpired since the world began, neither will it find its equal until time shall end. The night in which the Sun of righteousness arose in Bethlehem is blessed above all nights: blessed in the heavens above, blessed on the earth beneath; blessed in time, blessed in eternity. In that night shone forth the good will of the Father, the love of the Son, the benignity of the Holy Ghost. The deed which God did in that night is the astonishment of the angels, the terror of the devils, the salvation of men. In that night was brought in the First-begotten into the world, of whom it was said: "And let all the angels of God worship him." Hebr.

1, 6. In that night the wonder of wonders transpired: God Himself is become man. In that night a Child was born in whose tiny body dwelt "all the fullness of the Godhead bodily." The Almighty and Infinite is become an infant. The Eternal One, who alone inscribes the names of them that shall be into the book of the living and when the hour-glass of their time has run down blots them out again, did in that night insert His own name into the roll of mortals. In that night the Immaculate, before whom the heavens are not clean, took upon Himself the form of sinful flesh, and now we sinful mortals are called His brothers and sisters. In that night He was born who took upon His shoulders all the sins of all men and found a fount of righteousness copious enough to justify the world before God and the Father.

O an important night! a blessed night! a holy night! a night without an equal! The company of the elect together with all the hosts of the heavens, the cherubim and seraphim, the thrones and dominions, the principalities and powers from eternity to eternity shall sing of the deed done in that night and shall not sufficiently praise it. We, too, stammer infantile thanks unto Him for this amazing deed, and, though our highest praises are inadequate, yet we know that they are pleasing unto Him; for He has come to be our Savior. This is what I would to-day awaken in your hearts: faith, trust, confidence in Him as your Savior. But not only the great mysteries of His incarnation are qualified to enkindle our faith, specially attractive and edifying are also the smaller circumstances of His birth. Permit me to-day to picture to you:

THE KINDNESS AND LOVE OF JESUS CHRIST SHINING FORTH FROM THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF HIS BIRTH.

The life of our Lord Jesus Christ upon earth is very distinct from that of all other men. He alone could say: "Which of you convinceth me of sin?" John 8, 46. In the world's history many great ones of the earth are represented as men of sterling character and great deeds, but if we examine the various circumstances of their life, small events, and particularly

their conduct in private life, we soon find that those great men, famed for virtues, were by no means without faults, yea, perhaps were addicted to degrading vices. Not so with our Lord Jesus Christ. He came into the world to be the Savior of sinners, and not only the great and important events of His life demonstrate this, small circumstances, occurrences apparently insignificant, they all correspond with His office and contain sweet consolation for the sorrowing hearts of penitent sinners. He did not make a step, He did not speak a word, He did not do an act which does not tell us that He is the Friend and Savior of sinners. Indeed, if we examine the small occurrences of His life we are greatly strengthened in our faith and our hearts are made warm in love toward Him. Permit me to prove this from the history of His birth.

The journey of His parents from Nazareth to Bethlehem already contains a very comforting circumstance. According to the counsel of God this journey had to be performed, in order that the prophecy, Jesus should be born in Bethlehem, might be fulfilled; but whilst on other occasions God repeatedly sent command to Joseph by an angel it is remarkable that this journey was brought about by a decree of Cesar Augustus. Yet unborn Jesus subjected Himself to the command of the emperor, and thus indicated that He would be under the law. God could very easily have brought Mary to Bethlehem without its being done in obedience to the law, but it was to be in obedience to` the law that even from this small circumstance we might learn that this Child was to be under the law to redeem us from the curse of the law," that we might receive the adoption of sons.” He became a servant on earth, subject to human authority, that we might be made sovereign lords in the kingdom of heaven.

The infant in the stable was a prince by birth. His mother Mary, as well as His foster-father Joseph, were of the royal lineage of David. This is a proof that He is the One who had been promised; for unto David God had said: "I will set up thy seed after thee, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever." 2 Sam. 7. This promised eternal king is

Christ; for He sits on the throne of David abiding King forever. But He was a prince without any civil right to the inheritance of a kingdom and without the least prospect of ever obtaining scepter and crown; for his foster-father Joseph was a carpenter and not a king. He was not to be a worldly king, and never came to be one. But why was He a prince without a lawful claim to the inheritance of a throne? Surely, any one who is to be a king and does not inherit a kingdom must conquer one. Christ was a prince by lineage, but without a civil right of succession to a throne, betokening thereby that He came to establish a kingdom by conquest. And He did conquer a kingdom. He invaded Satan's kingdom and took from him his spoil, and now He rules as the King of grace with the scepter of grace over all those souls which hunger and thirst after the grace of God. In civil law He had no more any claim to the throne of His father Solomon, but He conquered a kingdom, and if He was strong enough to deliver our souls. which Satan had bound with such strong fetters, He is also able to preserve them unto life everlasting.

The child Jesus was a prince by birth, but a very poor prince indeed. Of the riches of Solomon nothing descended to Him. He was born lowly as ever a beggar's child can be born. What His poverty signifies, Paul declares when writing to the Corinthians: "Ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich." 2 Cor. 8, 9. We were poor, poor in our souls, poor in God, poor in heaven; and He became poor on earth, poor in money, poor in friends, poor in joy, to earn for us the fatness of His house, the friendship of the angels, the pleasures of the new Jerusalem. Through His temporal poverty eternal riches are ours. He brings us nor gold, nor silver; He brings us the white linen of righteousness before God.

Jesus was born in a village. At present the place numbers about 2,000 inhabitants and in all likelihood it was not very much larger at that time; for the prophet Micah 5, 2 says: "But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among