THE GENERAL BAPTIST MAGAZINE. JANUARY, 1872. CHRISTMAS 1870.* BY THE LATE REV. T. T. LYNCH. CHRISTMAS, 1870, is the saddest and strangest Christmas Europe has had for many a year. There are always many people sad at Christmasseldom, surely, so many as on this last one; always some strifes that are not allayed-surely seldom a strife so bitter as that strife still going on in and around Paris. Sometimes Christmas is marked by the return of the absent, sometimes by the absence of the old familiar faces; sometimes by the breaking-up of former meetings, and sometimes by the commencement of new home parties and home circles. Many a home circle has been drawn this year that will be drawn, we hope, next year on a larger scale. But Christmas-day this year has to many been a day of special sorrow. Where are the lads who last year were at home? and when will there there be again such a home as there once was? Never, never! It is sad to look into the room, or even think of it, where last year the log flamed and the bright sparks were ready to fly forth with a touch; where the mistletoe hung, under which, to use Goldsmith's kind words, "if there was not more wit than at other times, there was more laughing, which answered the purpose quite as well;" where the piano was opened for the carol, and the group assembled round. Now the grate is fireless, the piano closed, and there is no mistletoe. Always there are reminiscences at Christmas of other days and departed friends,-touched these with that medicinal sadness which makes the heart better. And hearts do not get better unless kinder, more acquiescent with the Divine Will, more hopeful of a good end that will satisfy all the good wishes of the heart. Happy are we if we can begin the New Year with a faith in God that makes us tranquil, yet not dull; and the thoughts active, but without heat and hurry; and the life earnest, yet neither alarmed nor boastful. We need, indeed, such quieting and strengthening faith very specially this year; for 1870 has been a great disappointment to many, and a trouble to those whom it has not so much astonished. It was thought there would be no more war, or not much, at least not among the civilized. But a civilized man is one that is more clever without being more good. Great resources may be great temptations. If we have big guns, we would like to hear the noise of them and see the effect. If nations live in mutual distrust and jealousy, the outcome will be war. You cannot prevent this * Preparatory Notes for Thursday Evening Lecture, January 12th, 1871. VOL. LXXIV.-NEW SERIES, No. 25. by exclamation; wickedness there must be, or wars there would be none. One side wrong, possibly both, or if not both at the outset, probably before the close both will be so. Interest will not secure peace; passion makes light of interest; yet it is true that community of interest -and specially as the affections of peoples get engaged, and they understand one another better, and develop more of the life of mind in affairs will tend towards peace. But there is no peace to the wicked, men or nations; and wars will not cease till the moral life of man gets more intellectual and charitable, and till people really feel the domestic and general interests of their neighbours, their own too; not as contributions to their own merely, but as being their own. Differences should unite rather than divide, and ultimately will. That the Frenchman is not as the German should, and will, make him the German's friend, and so the German shall be his friend. But it is vain-and this must be repeated-to inveigh against war, as if invective would destroy it as cannons would beat down a rampart. Let men generally know what it really is, what it does and at what cost when it has done good; what evil it has done, how sure it is to rise under certain conditions, how terrible even when most needful, and what sore memories it leaves behind. It is, as it were, an insult to Providence, to be unmindful of what war has been compelled to do for the world; it shows an irreverent superficial mind if we will not read a divinely good meaning, an augury, written in red letters. Surely the warning is peremptory and impressive: Take heed that ye be not consumed one of another." Surely the denunciation is imperative : "They that take the sword shall perish by the sword." The judgments of God are in war, and these are delivering judgments for the world, even when penal for some city, kingdom, generation. Adequate force is provided to overthrow those who have sought to prevail only by force. The force that serves right is never more than servant; and if ever, as in Commonwealth days, sword and Bible go together, the sword will gladly be sheathed that the Bible may be opened opened more fully and studied more faithfully. Christmas is specially our festival of beginning, the genesis of the Christian year. But why sing anew of peace?" Peace, peace, when there is no peace." Is it better as a song than as an exclamation? At least, the beginning made at Christ's birth, though it led through disappointment and a depth of stormy sorrow, led to glorious issues. It is with seriousness, but not with despondency, that we should contemplate the beginnings with the sequel of Christmas before us. Is the Cross, then, the true Christmas tree? the old Thorn of the world, with its Christmas blossoming, out of which the Cross will be cut? It is certain that the blossoming youth of Christ led on to those days of sorrow quite inevitably, because it was so good and joyful. Our Lord's young heart must have been full of enthusiasm for his country, must have overflowed with reverent love for God; His eyes must have soon dawned with that sunshine that will make the day of life as lovely and pure as it is bright. The new true heart is always a reformer, it can only rest as it hopes and works. And Christmas, with its blessed beginnings, does not lead us on to the failure of a weary old man, whose memory we reverence, thinking of Him as a grave elder chiefly. He, our Lord, was cut off in the prime and bloom of His manhood; a great love offering made for mankind at the very age for perfect love. And He stands before us for ever as the Lamb slain. And of Him in us |