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tuted. This remark brings our duty, as disciples of the Prince of peace, home to our doors and bosoms. In the circle immediately around us, we must be men of peace, and cherish kind and friendly sentiments, and exhibit conciliatory and courteous manners, and each one give his personal endeavor to preserve a peaceful neighborhood, parish and town. In a word, "let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evilspeaking, be put away from us, and all malice; and be kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ hath forgiven us."

But there is a peace among men, more dear to the Prince of peace, than a civil peace; I mean an ecclesiastical peace; peace among the churches; peace among all the professed disciples of one common master, by whatever shades of opinion, or diversity of ceremonies they be distinguished, or human names they be called. These shades and this diversity are perhaps unavoidable in the present imperfect state. Nor are they of much consequence, if they be not made the occasion of uncharitable censures and bitter alienation. Indeed they may be improved as occasions of exercising, strengthening and brightening some of the sweetest virtues and graces of the christian character. Let them be so improved, if we would please our blessed master. It is time, that Christ be no longer wounded in the house of his friends; it is high time, that the Head be no longer pierced in the unchristian strife of the members. We must learn to receive one another, but not to doubtful disputation; to

222 SONG OF ANGELS AT THE BIRTH OF CHRIST.

judge one another less by opinions, and more by the graces of a christian temper, and the beauty of holiness. It is time, at least within the fold of Christ, that the happy scene be realized, which was predicted in those lofty and metaphorical passages of Isaiah, considered in the body of this discourse; when the wolf and the lamb, and the leopard and the kid, and the young lion and the fatling shall lie down quietly together; and a little child shall lead them. And when this is done, I remark in conclusion, that one great step is taken towards that peace with God, which is the highest and ultimate object of the birth, ministry and death of his blessed son. Yes, our common Father, with grief and anger, beholds the contentions among his human offspring. And so many of them, as imbibe the spirit of his son, and study the things which make for peace, are pleasing to him; and he will receive them to his special favor. Let us Let us by this special means and every other way which the gospel prescribes, seek peace with our heavenly Father. By a deep repentance of our rebellion and sin, by a joyful acceptance of mercy proffered through that gracious Saviour, whose birth we this day celebrate, by a firm and indignant casting away of the weapons of our rebellion, and a joyful and grateful return to God, and peaceful and entire subjection to his authority, let us honor this memorable day. Then in the best sense and manner shall we sing, as angels sang, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." Amen.

SERMON XIX.

CHRIST, THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD.

LUKE i. 78, 79.

The day-spring from on high hath visited us, to give light to them that sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet in the way of peace.

He

This is a part of that sacred hymn, which the enraptured Zacharias uttered with holy enthusiasm, at the birth of his son, John the Baptist. It was an inspired hymn; for the evangelist tells us "that he was filled with the holy Ghost, and prophesied." glances an eye back through the Old Testament; notices what had been spoken by all the prophets, concerning the promised Messiah, and exults, that those predictions were now fulfilling, and that "God had raised up for them an horn of salvation, in the house of his servant David, to perform the mercy promised to their fathers, and to remember his holy covenant, the

oath which he sware to Abraham." He rejoices in the spiritual nature of that kingdom, which the Messiah was to introduce, that "being delivered out of the hand of their enemies, they might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him all the days of their life." He exults also with holy joy and gratitude in the high honor of being himself the father of a child, "that should be called the prophet of the highest, and who should go before the face of the Messiah to prepare his ways; to give knowledge of salvation unto his people, by the remission of their sins, through the tender mercy of our God, whereby the day-spring from on high hath visited us, to give light to them that sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace."

Let us make the sentiments of this grateful hymn our own, and catch some portion of the pious enthusiasm of the raptured prophet, on this anniversary of the birth of a Saviour; for unto us, as well as to the Jews, a child is born. Unto us a son is given; unto us, as well as to the descendants of Abraham and Israel, a Saviour is born, who is Christ the Lord. For he is a light to enlighten the Gentiles, as well as the glory of his people Israel; the light of the world" and whosoever followeth him shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life."

There is something unspeakably beautiful in hailing the infant Saviour, as the day-spring, the dawning of the gospel day; as the sun of righteousness was not yet quite risen, and there was to be a little space, be

fore he should spread abroad his beams and illuminate the earth. The scriptures of both testaments delight to speak of the Saviour under the figure of light. And what is there so grand, and beautiful, and cheering, and life-giving, in all nature, as light? Light in nature is that wonderful and diffused blessing, by which we discern natural objects, ascertain their relations, and learn their uses; and likewise select our path, and avoid those dangers and difficulties, to which we should be otherwise exposed. It is then an apt and striking figure, to exhibit the Saviour, through whose instruction we discern moral objects, learn their relations, and ascertain their infinite importance; and under whose infallible guidance we may shun dangers of a fearful aspect, avoid difficulties and troubles, temporal and eternal, and find the way to everlasting life and glory.

In pursuing the subject suggested by the text, I shall point out several respects, in which Christ is eminently the light of the world; and then suggest what improvement we should make of this divine light.

I. Our first point will the more strikingly appear, if for a moment we consider, how imperfect and unsettled was the knowedge of men, on the most important subjects, before our Lord's advent. The light of nature on moral subjects was but a dim taper; although sufficient, if duly improved, to conduct men to an imperfect knowledge of God and their duties. His existence and some of his perfections are inscribed upon his works, in characters which all nations should