A Christmas-day Sermon 2
Back to SERMONS Samuel Davies
Oh! what wonders does Jehovah perform, in prosecution of this method of salvation! What wonders of pardoning mercy and sanctifying grace! What miracles of glory and blessedness does he form out of the dust, and the polluted fragments of human nature! What monuments of his own glorious perfections does he erect, through all the extensive regions of heaven! From these wonderful works of his—the glory of his own name breaks forth upon the worlds of angels and men, in one bright unclouded day, which shall never be obscured in night—but grow more and more illustrious through the endless ages of eternity!
Of this, the choir of angels were sensible at the birth of Christ; and therefore they shout aloud in ascriptions of glory to God. It was especially on this account, that they rejoiced in this great event. And all believers rejoice in it principally on this account too.
"Glory to God!" is the first note in the song of angels: and "hallowed be your name;" that is, let your name be sanctified, or glorified, is the first petition in the prayer of men. The glory of God should always be nearest our hearts—to this everything should give way; and we should rejoice in other things, and even in our own salvation, as they tend to promote this.
Such is the disposition of every godly man—his heart is enlarged, and extended beyond the narrow limits of self; he has a generous tender regard for the glory of the great God; and rejoices in the way of salvation through Christ, not merely as it makes him happy—but especially as it advances and displays the divine honour! This is his disposition, at least in some hours of refined, exalted devotion. Self is, as it were, swallowed up in God! And friends—is this your disposition?
"Glory to God in the highest!" In the highest. That is, in the highest strains. Let the songs of men and angels be raised to a higher key, on this great occasion. The usual strains of praise are low and languid, to celebrate the birth of this illustrious prince. This is a more glorious event than has ever yet happened in heaven or earth; and therefore demands a new song, more exaltedand divine than has ever yet employed, even the voices of angels. At the birth of nature, the sons of God, the angels, sang together, and shouted for joy: but when the Author and Lord of nature is born, let them raise a loftier and a more ecstatic anthem of praise.
Or, "Glory to God in the highest" may signify—let glory be given to God in the highest heaven by all the choirs of angels. This celestial squadron call upon their fellow-angels, whom they left behind them in their native heaven, to echo to their song, and fill those blessed regions with the melody of new ascriptions of praise, as if they had said—though men receive the benefit, let all the angels of heaven join in the song of gratitude. Though men be silent, and refuse to celebrate the birth of their Saviour and Lord; though earth does not echo with his praise, though more intimately concerned; let the heavenly inhabitants sound aloud their ascriptions of glory, and supply the guilty defect of ungrateful mortals.
Or finally, "Glory to God in the highest" may mean, glory to God who dwells in the highest heavens: glory to the high and lofty one, who inhabits eternity, and dwells in the high and holy place, Isaiah 57:15; and yet condescends to regard man that is a worm, Job 25:6, and sends his Son to assume his humble nature, to lie in a manger, and die upon a cross for him. Glory to God—for this astonishing condescension and grace!
The next article of this angelic song is, "Peace on earth!"
Peace to rebel man with his offended Sovereign;
peace with angels;
peace with conscience;
peace between man and man;
universal peace on earth, that region of discord and war.
Peace with God to rebel man. The illustrious Prince now born, comes to make up the breach, and reconcile sinners to their offended Sovereign. He is the great Peace-maker, who shall subdue the enmity of the carnal mind, and reduce the revolted sons of Adam to a willing subjection to their rightful Lord. He will bring thousands of disloyal hearts to love God above all, which were accustomed to love almost everything more than Him. He will reconcile them to the laws of his government, and the practice of universal obedience and holiness. He will set on foot a treaty of peace in the ministry of the gospel, and send out his ambassadors, to beseech the rebels in his stead, to be reconciled to God.
He will also reconcile God to man, by answering all the demands of his law and justice, paying the debts of insolvent sinners, and making amends for all their offences. He will appear as an all-prevailing advocate with his Father, in favour of a rebel world, and turn his heart to them again. So that this revolted province of his dominions, shall again become the object of his love, and he will look down and smile upon the obnoxious sons of men.
Oh happy peace! Oh blessed peace-maker! who puts an end to so fatal and unnatural a war, and brings the Creator and his creatures, the offended Sovereign and his rebellious subjects—into mutual friendship again, after the grand breach, that seemed likely never to be made up, and indeed never could be made up but by so great and powerful a Mediator; a Mediator of infinite dignity, merit and authority, able to remove all obstructions in the way of both parties.
The Peace proclaimed on this grand occasion may also imply, Peace with angels; peace between the inhabitants of heaven and earth. The angelic armies, the militia of heaven, are always upon the side of their Sovereign; always at war with his enemies, and ready to fight his battles. And upon the apostasy of our world they were ready to take up arms against the rebels. But now, when their Sovereign proclaims peace, they lay down their arms, they acquiesce in the peace, and receive the penitent, returning rebels with open arms. These benevolent beings rejoice in the restoration of their fellow-creature man, to the divine favour, and shout forth their songs of praise upon the publication of the news.
Again; this proclamation of peace may include peace with conscience. When man commenced an enemy to his Maker, he became an enemy to himself: his own conscience took up arms against him, and is perpetually fighting the cause of its Lord. But now the guilt of past sin may be washed away from the conscience with the pacific blood of Jesus, and all its clamours silenced by his all-satisfying righteousness. And now the peace will be preserved, and the contracting of new guilt prevented, by the sanctifying influence of the grace of this new-born Prince. His grace shall change disloyal hearts, and reform rebellious lives; and those shall enjoy the approbation of their conscience, who were accustomed to sweat and agonize under its tormenting accusations. Thus, self-tormenting sinners shall be reconciled to themselves; and peace in their own breasts shall be a perennial source of happiness: a happiness
"Which nothing earthly gives, nor can destroy,
The soul's calm sunshine, and the heartfelt joy."
Farther; peace on earth includes peace between man and man. Now the Prince of peace is born; and upon his appearance let animosity and discord, contentions and wars cease; and let universal harmony and benevolence prevail through the world. Let the bonds of love unite all the sons of Adam together in the closest friendship. It was love which constrained him to put on the nature of man, and to change his throne in heaven—for a manger! Love is the ruling passion of his soul; love is the doctrine he shall preach; love is the disposition he shall inspire; and love is the first principle of his religion.
Therefore, let all the world be melted and moulded into love. Let the wolf and the lion put on the nature of the lamb; and let nothing hurt or destroy through all the earth. Let nation no more lift up sword against nation: let them beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks; and let them learn war no more. For of him it is foretold, that in his days abundance of peace shall flourish, so long as the moon endures. Psalm 72:7.
This, my friends, has already been accomplished in part: for peace and benevolence is the genius of Christianity; and wherever it has prevailed, it has introduced peace and harmony in families, in neighbourhoods, and among nations. Nor can the present disturbed state of things, the animosities, quarrels and wars, that are in the world, disprove what I say: for these prevail only so far as the Christian spirit does not prevail. Just as much as there is of these among men, just so much of Christianity is lacking; just so far the genuine tendency of the birth of Jesus fails of its efficacy. However, we rejoice in the hope, that our world shall yet see better times, and experience the full effects of this illustrious birth: when the kingdom of the Prince of peace shall become universal, and diffuse peace among all nations. Oh! when shall that glorious revolution commence!
The next article in the song of angels is, "Good-will towards men." That is, the good-will and grace of God is now illustriously displayed towards men, sinful and unworthy as they are. And may they dutifully receive it, and enjoy all the happy effects of it!
Thus the angels declared, foretold, and wished. They declared that even then glory would redound to God, peace be established on earth, and the good-will and favour of God enjoyed by guilty men. And they foretold that thus it would be more and more to the end of time, and even through all eternity. And they also wished that these glorious effects might follow, as agreeable to the high regard they had for the divine honour, and their generous benevolence to their unworthy fellow-creatures, men.
This suggests a question, and also an answer to it. The question is, since the angels were not redeemed by Jesus Christ, and do not share in the benefits of redemption, as man does, why did they thus rejoice and sing at his birth? This we can account for from their regard to the glory of God, and their good-will to men.
Their happiness consists in the knowledge and love of God: and the more he displays his perfections in his works, the more they know of him, and consequently the more they love him. Now the redemption of sinners through Jesus Christ gives the most upright and amiable view of the divine perfections: and on this account the inhabitants of heaven rejoice in it. They know more of God from this great event—than from all his other works of creation and providence.
Hence Peter represents them as bending and looking with eager eyes, to pry into this mystery. Paul also intimates, that the founding of a church in our guilty world, and particularly the gathering of the poor outcast Gentiles into it, was a secret even to the angels, until revealed by the event; and that the revelation of it revealed to them more of the wisdom of God, than they ever knew before. "This," says he, "was a mystery, which from the beginning of the world was hid in God;" but it is now revealed, "to the intent that unto principalities and powers,"—to the various ranks of angels, "might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God." Ephesians 3:8, 10. This cleared up many of the dark events of Providence, which they could not before account for: and enabled them to see farther into the designs of divine wisdom.
Methinks when Abel, or the first saint from our world, arrived in heaven, the glorious natives of that country were struck with agreeable surprise, and wondered how he came there. They were ready to give up the whole race for lost, like their kindred angels that fell; and could contrive no possible method for their recovery. And how then are these earth-born strangers admitted into heaven? And when they found, by the proceedings of divine Providence, that God had gracious designs towards our world, and that these designs were to be accomplished by his Son, must they not be agreeably perplexed and bewildered to find out the manner in which he would accomplish them? In what way could he satisfy divine justice—who was himself the judge? How could he die for sin—who was all-immortal? These and the like difficulties must perplex the inquiries even of angels.
But now all is made plain; now the grand secret is disclosed. The Son of God—must become the son of man, must obey the law, and die upon the cross; and thus he was to accomplish the great design, and restore guilty man to the favour of God. Angels must rejoice at this discovery, as advancing the glory of God, and increasing their own happiness.
See how they bend! see how they look!
Long had they read the eternal book,
And studied dark decrees in vain:
The cross of Calvary makes them plain.
—Watts
Again: the angels are benevolent beings, and therefore rejoice at the birth of Christ, as tending to the salvation of poor sinners of the race of man. The Lord of angels tells us, "there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repents." Luke 15:10. And how much more must they rejoice to see the grand scheme disclosed, by which numerous colonies were to be transplanted from our guilty world to people the heavenly regions, and perhaps fill the vacant seats of the fallen angels!
I may add, it is not unlikely that the angels may receive some great advantages, to us unknown, by the mediation of Christ; though they do not need a mediator in the same sense that we do. But I have not time to enlarge upon this.
You now see the reasons of the joy of angels on this occasion: and it is no wonder they sung, "Glory to God in the highest, for peace proclaimed on earth, and goodwill towards men."
But how ought WE to improve this subject more immediately for our own advantage? This is our great concern; for we are personally interested in it, which the angels were not; at least, not in the same degree. Hence then,
We may learn HOW we ought to celebrate the birth of Christ—celebrate it like angels, not with balls and assemblies—not with reveling and carousing, and all the extravagances that are usual at this season; as if you were celebrating the birth of Venus or Bacchus, or some patron of iniquity; not with the sound of bells, muskets and cannons, and the other demonstrations of joy, upon occasions of a civil nature. Some of these are not innocent upon any occasion, and have a direct tendency to make men still more thoughtless, and giddy, and to prevent the blessed effects of this illustrious birth. Others of them, though lawful upon seasons of public national joy, for temporal blessings or deliverances—yet are impious and profane, when practised in honour of the incarnation of the holy Jesus.
You will all grant, no doubt, that pious joy ought to be expressed in a pious manner; that the usual mirth, festivity, and gaiety of a birthday, in honour of our earthly sovereign, are not proper expressions of joy for the birth of a spiritual Saviour—a Saviour from this vain world—a Saviour from sin and hell.
Therefore, I say, celebrate it as the angels did: giving glory to God in the highest, in your songs of praise; giving him glory by dwelling upon the wonders of redemption, in delightful meditation; by giving him your thoughts and affections; and by a life of devotion and universal obedience. Celebrate the birth of this great Prince of peace—by accepting that peace which angels proclaimed. Give a welcome reception to this glorious stranger. Do not turn him out of doors, as the Bethlemites did; but entertain him in your hearts. Let every faculty of your souls open to receive him. "Lift up your heads, O you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in." (Psalm 24:7.) O let every heart cry, "Come in, you who are blessed by the LORD. Why are you standing out here?" (Genesis 24:31.)
He came to procure and restore peace between God and man; therefore I, his poor ambassador, "Beseech you in his stead—be reconciled to God." (2 Corinthians 5:20.) No longer continue in arms, rejecting his authority, trampling upon his laws, and refusing the offers of his grace: otherwise this peace will not extend to you; and war, eternal war, will continue between you and the omnipotent Lord God. But if the boldest rebel among you this day submits to his government, you shall enjoy the blessed peace, which angels proclaimed at his entrance into the world, and which he left as a legacy to his friends, when he was about to leave it. (John 14:27.)
Make peace also with your own conscience; and scorn to live at variance with yourselves. How ill do you take it, when others condemn you? and can you be easy, while perpetually condemning yourselves? Let conscience have full liberty to exercise its authority upon you, as Jehovah's deputy, and dare not to disobey its orders. Live in peace also with one another. Silence! you noisy brawlers: the Prince of Peace is born! Peace! be still! you contentious, angry passions: the Prince of peace is born! Away slander, back-biting, quarrelling, envy, malice, revenge—away to your native hell: for the Prince of peace has entered into this world, and forbid you to appear upon it! Thus, friends, celebrate the birth of the Saviour, and that not only upon this day—but everyday through all your lives: and thus you may have a merry Christmas all the year round.
To CONCLUDE. What encouragement may this angelic proclamation afford to trembling, desponding penitents? "Fear not! for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy; for to you is born a Saviour, Christ the Lord!" O! do not your hearts spring up within you at the news? I have somewhere heard of a crowd of criminals under condemnation, confined in one dungeon: and upon a messenger's arriving from their king, and proclaiming a pardon, they all rushed out so eagerly to receive the pardon, and see the publisher of the joyful news, that they trod and crushed one another to death. And shall there be no such pressing and crowding to Jesus Christ in this assembly today? Shall there be no such eagerness among us to receive a pardon from his hands? Alas! will any of you turn this greatest blessing of heaven—into a curse? Was it your destroyer who was born, when the angels sung the birth of a Saviour? Indeed, if you continue to neglect him, you will find him such to you; and it would have been better for you, that neither you nor He had ever been born! Even the birth of the Prince of peace proclaims eternal war against you. I therefore now beseech you in his stead to be reconciled to him. Amen.
Back to SERMONS Samuel Davies