does the Apostle Paul describe the Gospel, as joyful, or as dismal tidings, to each, according as it is received; "to them that do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; but glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile."

This festival is commonly reckoned a season for thoughtless joy and merriment; it is not unfrequently regarded as the proper occasion for reckless intemperance, or for frivolous dissipation and idle revelry; and God's proclamation of peace with man is commemorated by a more than usual disregard of his will, and forgetfulness of all that relates to Him.

This is as if

a body of rebels, to whom pardon had been offered by their king, should celebrate this announcement, and testify their grateful joy for the good-tidings, by fresh and more insulting transgressions of his laws, and defiance of his power.

But a Christian who deserves the name will deem it more suitable to this festival to inquire

of his own heart how far the occasion of it is truly a matter of congratulation to himself: how far the Gospel of peace is to him, good-tidings. The event we are this day celebrating,-the birth of Him who came to proclaim "peace on earth," and to "save his people from their sins," this event will be remembered by each one of us, thousands of ages hence, and for ever. Reflect then, in time, how it will be remembered by yourself in eternity; with what feelings you will look back to this day, and to all your other days spent on earth, when this earth shall have long since come to an end.

You must not, indeed, take for granted that because you are at peace in your own mind, and have a confident belief that you are at peace with God, therefore you are safe; for this may be the case with a man full of spiritual pride, uncharitableness, and other unchristian feelings. But you must compare your life with the pattern our Master has left us, and know yourself by your fruits; even the "fruits of the Spirit, which are love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, meekness, goodness;" in short, the bringing of every desire, and thought, and word, and work

into subjection to Christ, and conformity to his example.

If you are striving so to live as becomes the redeemed of Christ, and endeavouring and praying to become daily more conformed to his pattern, and more fit for enjoying his presence in a better world, then may you reckon the Gospel as, indeed, good-tidings to you; you may with reason" rejoice in the Lord always;" your joy at this festival will not be thoughtless, worldly, sensual, and profane, but such as the angels themselves can partake of; and you may be assured that they will rejoice with you, both now and for ever.

But if in any degree you find yourself differently-minded, reflect seriously how far your gladness may be vain and unfounded; and if your life and your heart, and your mode of celebrating this festival, be the reverse of all this, be assured that the tidings of the angels are, as yet, no good-tidings to you;-that you have as yet no reasonable ground for exultation, but have rather reason to fear that the devil and his angels rejoice over you; and that you may fall under the woe that Jesus denounced, when

He said, Woe unto you that laugh now, for ye shall mourn and weep!" May it please Him to awaken any of you who may be in such a state, while the strait gate is yet open, from your dream of senseless exultation, and to change it into sorrow now, to save you from mourning hereafter for ever; that you may fall down trembling to make the momentous inquiry, "What must I do to be saved?" that you may add to the joy felt, as on this day, by the angels, who rejoice," we are told, over one sinner that repenteth ;" and that "

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you may know the things that belong unto your PEACE, before they are hid from your eyes!"

SERMON II.

MATT. I. 23.

They shall call his name Emmanuel: which being interpreted is, God with us.

THIS prophecy of Isaiah, which the Evangelist brings forward as having reference to the birth of our blessed Lord,*-the event we this day celebrate-is the more especially remarkable from the circumstance that it was not fulfilled in that sense which, to an English reader, the expression would seem naturally to bear. The name given to him was, we know, not Emmanuel, but (by the express direction of the angel) Jesus, signifying Saviour. And yet neither the Evangelist himself, who records the name of

* This discourse was delivered on Christmas-day.