CHRISTMAS. 
447 
hills of Bethlehem, and borne onward from that hour through the 
lapse of ages, unbroken, unceasing, by every successive genera- 
tion of the redeemed : 
" Glory to God in the highest ; and on earth, peace, good-will 
to men." 
It is Merry Christmas, indeed ! Every beautiful festival we 
hold in religious reverence, is connected with this greater festival ; 
they all, laden with blessings and graces, follow in the train of 
this holy day. Ay, it is tlie rising of the Sun of Righteousness on 
Christmas morn, which has even softened the Jewish Sabbath, 
and given us, with every successive week, the milder, purer light 
of the Lord's day. "What better joy have w^e, indeed, from the 
first to the last hour of every passing year of life, which does not 
flow from the event we this day bear in fervent, thankful re- 
membrance ? Ever}'' mercy of the past dates from the advent we 
joyfully celebrate to-day. Every hope for the future looks to the 
same great mystery. Every prayer offered to Heaven, becomes 
an acceptable prayer only througli faith in the same ineffable 
Name. Every exalted anticipation of final release from sin and 
sorrow, of attainment to the unspeakable joys of purity and wis- 
dom, obedience and peace, is utterly groundless, save as it is con- 
nected with the Nativity hymned this day by the Christain Church 
Catholic. 
It is, in truth. Merry Christmas ! Peace on earth, good-will to 
man, sang the heavenly host ; and, as though even the solemn 
recollection of the holy words were accompanied by a blessing, 
we find that the sweet charities, the better feelings of the heart, 
become more active on this holy day. There is nothing more 
striking in the daily course of the world, than the recklessness 
