to believe that the strong rejoiceth in the abuse of his strength, its first impression is terror at the idea of a power whose delight is alone in protecting the weak, and in blessing the innocent and thus it is that it submits itself to the degrading and intolerable yoke of superstition, and becomes the willing sport of her fantastic terrors. It belonged to Christianity to restore Religion to its true character of paternal love; and this, it appears to me, is finely expressed beforehand by those words of the Angel: "FEAR NOT." Can any communication, they seem to say, of evil import proceed from the abode of peace, of love, of blessedness? Can there be any thought of evil in "the mighty God," and his ministering Angels? If we descend here below, it is not to bring destruction hither. At times, indeed, for the promotion of virtue and the real good of mankind, to put an end to crime, and to obviate worse calamities, we have appeared as ministers of justice and messengers of extermination: but it is not to the peaceful inhabitants of the country, it is to the Sodoms and Gomorrahs of the world, that we are terrible. This day, the Angel continues, a far other office entrusted to my ministry, conducts me to these solitudes. An act of love, such as a Deity alone is capable of conceiving, even now blends heaven, "the powers" of which "are shaken," with earth, which lies yet in ignorance of this divine work. To you alone it is granted, to learn it from my mouth; and to your guileless lips, to spread it through the land, among all those whose hearts shall be enabled to unfold for the reception of the joyful tidings:-" FOR UNTO YOU IS BORN THIS DAY, IN THE CITY OF DAVID, A SAVIOUR, WHICH IS CHRIST THE LORD." Words worthy to engage our undivided attention!-and which, with the assistance of God's grace, will form the subject of another religious exercise :-Words which ought to produce in our souls, as they did in those of the Shepherds of Bethlehem, feelings of rapture and adoration! May we then again assemble together in this temple, disposed, in the spirit of true Christians, to celebrate the solemn festival now in preparation, and to receive, with faith, the Blessed Sacrament of the Lord! Amen. |