SERMON XXVI.
FOR CHRISTMAS DAY.
" 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 Saviour, which is Christ the Lord." — Luke ii. 10, 11.
Behold, in effect, the grand tidings which, for four thousand years, the world had expected; behold the grand event which so many prophets had foretold, so many ceremonies had figured, so many righteous had awaited, and which all nature seemed to promise, and to hasten by the universal corruption spread through all flesh: behold the grand blessing which God's goodness prepared for men, after the infidelity of their first parent had rendered them all subject to sin and death.
The Saviour, the Christ, the Lord, at last appears this day on the earth. The over-shadowed brings forth the righteous; the star of Jacob appears to the universe; the sceptre is departed from Judah, and he, who was to come, is arrived; the age of darkness is accomplished; the promised sign of the Lord to Judea hath appeared; a virgin has conceived and brought forth, and out of Bethlehem comes the leader who is to enlighten and govern all Israel.
What new blessings, my brethren, doth this birth not announce to men! It would not, during so many ages, have been announced, awaited, desired; it would not have formed the religion of a whole people, the object of all the prophecies, the unravelling of all the figures, the sole end of all the proceedings of God toward men, had it not been the grandest mark of his love which he could give them. What a blessed night is that which presides at this divine bringing forth! It hath seen the light of the world shine forth in its darkness; the heavens resound with joy and songs of thanksgiving.
But, my brethren, we must participate in the blessings which this birth is meant to bring us, in order to enter into all the transports of delight which it spreads, through the heavens and the earth. The common joy is founded only on the common salvation which is offered to us; and if, in spite of this aid, we still obstinately persist in perishing, the church weeps over us, and we mingle mourning and sorrow with that joy with which such blessed tidings inspire it.
Now, what are the inestimable blessings which this birth brings to men? The heavenly spirits come themselves to make it known to the shepherds; it comes to render glory to God, and peace to men; and behold the whole foundation of this grand mystery laid open. To God, that glory of which men had wished to deprive him; to men, that peace of which they had never ceased their struggles to deprive themselves.
