ist the Lord. And this
shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find a babe wrapped in swaddling
clothes, and lying in a manger.

"Be not afraid!" Sin has wrought such disorder in this world that the
thought of spirit visitors frightens us and heaven itself must not come
too near. There are great reasons for fear in this darkened world, but
the coming of Jesus into it is not one of them. His only mission is to
release us from the bondage and bitterness of sin and let us out into
the glorious liberty and joy of the sons of God. And Christ has in a
marvelous degree cast fear out of the world and poured joy through all
its channels, as the sun disperses the night and spills its splendor
over hills and vales.

The good tidings announced the birth of a Saviour, and this is the best
news this sin-stricken world can hear, for sin is the root of all our
fear and misery. Back of every bitter tear lies a guilty thought or
deed. This connection is often visible upon the surface and stabs us in
the face, and then it may lie hidden under many generations, but it is
always there. Sin is the disease that poisons all our blood and blights
our physical and moral and spiritual health and happiness. Cut this ugly
tree up by the roots and all its scarlet fruits and poisonous leaves
will wither; cure this disease and our human world will be transformed
into a new Paradise of God. A Saviour is the supreme need of the world,
and his birth was news good enough to bring singing angels to earth and
fill all the centuries with song.

Definite directions were given for finding the new-born Saviour in the
city of David, wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in the manger. The
angelic message was not simply a song in the air, a halo of celestial
light, a splendid but fading vision, but it bound itself down to
definite places and circumstances and left something solid. Again we
note that this thing, was not done in a corner and is not afraid of
facts. Jesus was a true human child and took upon him our form down to
his infant clothes. The Christ is a great wonder in his divine
personality, ever transcending our utmost comprehension, but we can
understand his swaddling bands. Christianity is not all mystery, but it
also comes down close around us and embodies itself in many plain facts
and duties. "Ye shall find the babe." The shepherds were not left to
wander around in uncertainty, but sent direct to the place. Christ is
not hidden from us, clea