December 25

Unto us a child is born.—Isaiah, ix. 6.

ISAIAH, at least seven hundred years before the Redeemer's advent, uttered this delightful sentence, as though the event had already taken place. Christ's nativity had been long predicted,—the pious in Israel, had been intently waiting for its accomplishment. Generation after generation had passed away since the first intimation of it had been given. At length, the momentous crisis arrived,—the fulness of the times,—the period to which the purposes of God had referred, and now is realised the illustrious event; the long expected Messiah is born. Born in our nature, for he was truly a human child, made in all points like unto us, but without sin. Born at the time signified in Jacob's prophecy, when the sceptre was departing from Judah, and the law-given from between his feet. Born at the expiration of Daniel's weeks—Born in the place spoken of by Micah the prophet, in Bethlehem of Judea. Born of a virgin, as Isaiah had said, that "A virgin shall conceive and bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel, "God with us." Born in circumstances of poverty and humiliation, his first residence being borrowed from the beasts,—"Wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger." Born notwithstanding under circumstances of magnificence and glory, a choir of angels attesting the fact, and celebrating the event, in their anthems of joy. Born to be the world's illustrious prophet, the great priest of the human family, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Born for us men, and for our eternal salvation. The name of the child born, is Jesus, for he shall save his people from their sins.

"Celebrate Immanuel's name, The prince of life and peace! God with us, our lips proclaim, Our joyful hearts confess;

God is in our flesh reveal'd, Heaven and earth in Jesus join, Mortal with immortal fill'd, And human with divine."