CHRISTMAS DAY.* Morning Lesson, Isa. ix. 1-8. Proper Psalms, xix. xlv.lxxxv. Evening Lesson, Isa. vii. 10—17. Proper Ps., lxxxix. cx. cxxxii. COLLECT. ALMIGHTY GOD, who hast given us Thy only begotten Son to take our nature upon Him, and as at this time to be born of a pure Virgin; Grant that we being regenerate, and made Thy children by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by Thy Holy Spirit; through the same our Lord Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the same Spirit, ever one God, world without end. Amen. In the words of St. Chrysostom, "this is the most venerable and tremendous of all festivals, and the mother of all festivals; for," adds he, "the thing that was done this festival was more astonishing than all the others. For that Christ should die when he was a man, was a thing of natural consequence; but that being God, he should be willing to become man, and condescend to humble himself beyond all * Mass is an old Saxon word, signifying festival. thought and imagination, this is indeed wonderful and astonishing in the highest degree." The holy offices of this high and blessed day are admirably constructed by the Church to the glory and adoration of the divinity of our Lord, while she presents to us the wonderful spectacle of his humanity. That he was very God and very man is the fundamental doctrine of our holy religion, nor is it to be more implicitly believed, than joyfully and thankfully received. If Christ were not God or not man then are we still under condemnation, and all our hopes of salvation are vain,—we are still in our sins. God be blessed then for that mysterious union of the Godhead and of human nature, which secures our redemption, and consequently our eternal felicity. The Collect, with devout thankfulness, acknowledges this great truth, and implores the gift of the Holy Spirit that we may finally attain to the possession of that high glory which our Lord's humiliation purchased for us. It teaches us also that we must be daily renewed by his grace in contradiction of the erroneous notion that spiritual life can attain its full growth at once. In vain indeed are we regenerated if the spiritual life imparted at our Baptism be not nourished and fed by constant supplies of grace; the soul must perish as inevitably as the body, unless it receive proper sustenance, and be duly and carefully watched. The Epistle, in elevated terms, celebrates the divinity of Christ: the Church having carefully made selection of this portion of Holy Scriptures to guard against the possibility of a misconception of the nature and character of the Messiah. The Gospel is in perfect accordance with the Epistle, declaring in the clearest terms, the union of the divine and human nature of our Lord, and fixing our faith upon the eternal Word, the everlasting Son of the Father, made flesh and dwelling among us. The Lessons are entirely of the same exalted character, celebrating both prophetically and historically the mighty God, born a child, and taking human nature upon him. The whole service is calculated to fill us with the utmost gratitude to God, with love to our fellow-creatures, and with holy joy, for all other is a desecration of the day; and shows, to say the least, a lamentable misapprehension of the sacredness which characterizes it. The sociality and cheerfulness of family meetings cannot fail of being pleasing to Him who brought "good will to men" on this day; but as "glory to God" was also a part of His mission, it must needs be that we spend it as is consonant with that glory, and our own name as Christians. ISAIAH IX. 6. "For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given." Now is joy each bosom filling, Christ, the Saviour, Christ is born; Rapturous hail th' auspicious morn. Sweet companions long while parted, Lo! he lies in infant weakness Rightly let us sing of thee, Touch our lips and set them free. Thou the Father everlasting, Mighty God, the Prince of Peace ;, Thou hast stablished David's throne- Born to save our souls benighted, In a stable thou art lying, Brutes thy first companions are, Yet unseen are angels vying Who shall shew thee greatest care. Beauteous infant! Lord of heaven! For our ransom thou art given. Mark the rays of glory streaming While our hearts with joy are beating May we ask, "Didst thou then weep?" Didst thou give man's usual greeting To a world where thou shouldst reap Woe and sorrow, shame and slight, Friend's neglect and foe's despite ? |