CHRIST—CHRISTMAS.
We have heard out of the law that Christ abideth for ever.—John, xii. 34.
We preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling-block, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.—I. Corinthians, i. 23, 24.
We preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord.—II. Corinthians, iv. 5.
Christ is all, and in all.—Colossians, iii. 11.
For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps;
Who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth:
Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when He suffered, He threatened not; but committed Himself to Him that judgeth righteously—I. Peter, ii. 21, 22, 23.
With force of arms we nothing can,
Full soon were we down-ridden;
But for us fights the proper man,
Whom God himself hath bidden.
Ask ye, who is the same? Christ Jesus is His name,
The Lord Zebaoth’s Son, He, and no other one,
Shall conquer in the battle.
Martin Luther.
Christ is a path,—if any be misled;
He is a robe,—if any naked be;
If any chance to hunger,—He is bread;
If any be a bondman,—He is free;
If any be but weak,—how strong is he!
To dead men life he is; to sick men health;
To blind men sight; and to the needy wealth;
A pleasure without loss, a pleasure without stealth.
Giles Fletcher.
He that alone would wise and mighty be,
Commands that others love, as well as He.
Love as He loved! how can we soar so high?
He can add wings when He commands to fly.
Nor should we be with this command dismayed,
He that examples gives, will give His aid;
For He took flesh, that where His precepts fail,
His practice as a pattern might prevail.
Waller.
In what torn ship soever I embark,
That ship shall be an emblem of Thy ark;
What sea soever swallow me, that flood
Shall be to me an emblem of Thy blood:
Though Thou with clouds of anger do disguise
Thy face, yet through that mask I know those eyes,
Which, though they turn away sometimes,
They never will despise.
I sacrifice this Island unto Thee,
And all whom I loved there, and who loved me;
When I have put our seas ’twixt them and me,
Put Thou Thy seas betwixt my sins and Thee:
As the tree’s sap doth seek the root below
In winter, in my winter now I go
Where none but Thee, th’ eternal root
Of true love, I may know.
Dr. Donne.
Without Christ all gain is loss,
All hope despair, that stands not on his cross;
Except the few his God may have impress’d,
A tenfold phrenzy seizes all the rest.
Cowper.
Father! in Christ we live, and Christ in Thee!
Eternal Thou, and everlasting we.
The heir of heaven, henceforth I fear not death:
In Christ I live! in Christ I draw the breath
Of the true life! Let then earth, sea, and sky
Make war against me! on my front I show
Their mighty Master’s seal. In vain they try
To end my life, that can but end its woe.
Is that a death-bed where the Christian lies?
Yes! but not his—’tis death itself there dies.
S. T. Coleridge.
Heaven is within of magnitude immense;
No human thought can its dimensions grasp;
Yet heaven has but one door. Christ is the way—
The only way—to God. Whoever seeks
By other ways to enter, must, ashamed,
Confused, and disappointed, see too late
The gates of hell expanded to his view!
No other name is published under heaven,
Wherein salvation can be found, but His.
Anon.
Some say that ever ’gainst that season comes
Wherein our Saviour’s birth is celebrated,
The bird of dawning singeth all night long:
And then they say no spirit walks abroad;
The nights are wholesome; then no planets strike;
No fairy tales; no witch has power to charm;
So hallowed and so gracious is the time!
Shakspere.
Sweet rest ye, happie Christians,
’Tis earlie Christmas daye,
When Christ our Lord and Savioure
Became the sinner’s staye.
Arise, and for such benefits
His precepts all obeye.
Joyful tidings let us singe,
Christ our refuge, Christ our kinge,
To hallowe Christmas daye.
In Judah’s lands, in Bethlehem,
The lovelie babe was born,
Upon a manger poorlie laid,
On Christmas happie morn.
God speed ye, merrie gentlemen,
And Christian grace adorn.
Joyful tidings let us singe,
Christ our refuge, Christ our kinge,
To hallowe Christmas morn.
Stuart Farquharson.
Hark! what mean those holy voices,
Sweetly sounding through the skies?
Lo! the angelic host rejoices;
Heavenly hallelujahs rise.
Listen to the wondrous story,
Which they chant in hymns of joy:—
“Glory in the highest, glory!
Glory be to God most high!
Christ is born, the Great Anointed,
Heaven and earth His praises sing;
O receive whom God appointed,
For your Prophet, Priest, and King!”
Cawood.