adventures, powerful talents to cope with them, memorable struggles, and
great destinies. We shall consider that the highest course of life is
the mere pursuit, not the enjoyment of good.

But when we think of this day's Festival, and what we commemorate upon
it, a new and very different scene opens upon us. First, we are reminded
that though this life must ever be a life of toil and effort, yet that,
properly speaking, we have not to seek our highest good. It is found, it
is brought near us, in the descent of the Son of God from His Father's
bosom to this world. It is stored up among us on earth. No longer need
men of ardent minds weary themselves in the pursuit of what they fancy
may be chief goods; no longer have they to wander about and encounter
peril in quest of that unknown blessedness to which their hearts
naturally aspire, as they did in heathen times. The text speaks to them
and to all, "Unto you," it says, "is born this day in the city of David a
Saviour, which is Christ the Lord."

Nor, again, need we go in quest of any of those things which this vain
world calls great and noble. Christ altogether dishonoured what the
world esteems, when He took on Himself a rank and station which the world
despises. No lot could be more humble and more ordinary than that which
the Son of God chose for Himself.

So that we have on the Feast of the Nativity these two lessons--instead
of anxiety within and despondence without, instead of a weary search
after great things,--to be cheerful and joyful; and, again, to be so in
the midst of those obscure and ordinary circumstances of life which the
world passes over and thinks scorn of.

Let us consider this more at length, as contained in the gracious
narrative of which the text is part.

1. First, what do we read just before the text? that there were certain
shepherds keeping watch over their flock by night, and Angels appeared to
them. Why should the heavenly hosts appear to these shepherds? What was
it in them which attracted the attention of the Angels and the Lord of
Angels? Were these shepherds learned, distinguished, or powerful? Were
they especially known for piety and gifts? Nothing is said to make us
think so. Faith, we may safely say, they had, or some of them, for to
him that hath more shall be given; but there is nothing to show that they
were holier and more enlightened than other good men of the time, who
waited for the consolation of Israel. Nay,