2 THE CANADA LUTHERAN. CHRISTMAS COMFORT. Matt. 1: 23--"Immanuel, God with us." Dark clouds of war and of sin enshroud the earth. We bow in grief and submission. "Whither shall I flee" is in the hearts of men. Yet, in the very trenches the Christian can say "Immanuel." This is the mystery which holy angels pry into--infernal devils envy--proud infidels reject with derision--humble sinners glory in--and which all the redeemed round the throne above are incessantly shouting, and everlastingly triumphing for. The Son of God came down from heaven, that we might receive the adoption of sons. Let us for a little while withdraw our minds from temporal things, and contemplate the mystery of our Lord's birth. "God with us." 1. He was "with us" in the eternal council and government and the divine covenant before time. There He had our persons in view, our case at heart, and undertook to be our Surety, our Jesus. Lovingly did the Father provide for us. 2. In the fulness of time, He be- came "God with us" in our flesh. Lo, He is born; see the Babe, adore the God; rejoice in "Immanuel."--Christ's cradle glows with a heavenly light. 3. He accomplished what in our nature, without which we must have been eternally damned, but for which we are everlastingly saved: namely, finished transgression, made an end of sin, for "sin hath no more dominion over us." He brought an everlasting righteousness; suffered the just for the unjust, to bring us to God, I Pet. 3: 18. This is sweet in the history; but oh, how much more so in the experience of the mystery! 4. "God with us," living in our hearts, hopes and affections by the Spirit, through faith. We know, we taste, we feel the reality, power and comfort of this truth, God in Christ reconciled, not imputing our trespasses to us, 2 Cor. 5: 19. Therefore, 5. "God with us" to oppose all who are against us. Well might Paul ask, "If God be for us, who can be against us?" Rom. 8: 31. May we not then stand forth, and challenge all the powers of sin, earth and hell, "Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect?" We are one in Christ, "I in them, and Thou in Me," says our Lord, John 17: 23. Hence, the dear Christ Child is in our midst, we meet in love. mutually embrace, and have fellowship one with another. Peace, peace, peace! This is the message the angels chanted. The Holy Child was the cause and joy the effect. This is the glory of Christ's nativity brought into our hearts. "Christ in us the hope of glory," Col. 1: 27. Beautifully, humbly and reverently let us kneel at the manger, yea "before the Lord our Maker," offer our prayers and our gifts, pleading for a return of "Peace on earth, good will to men." God grant it. Amen.--H. A. KUNKLE. - The "wise men" were journeying to the manger--we to the throne. They to see a babe--we to look upon the King in His beauty. They to kneel and worship--we to sit with Him on His throne. That trembling star shone for them' through the darkness of the night, lighting their way--Jesus is always with us, our star of hope; and the pathway is never dark where He leads; for He giveth "songs in the night."--A. E. KITTREDGE. The incarnation of God is a necessity of human nature. If we really and truly have a Father, we must be able to clasp His feet in our penitence, and to lean on His breast in our weary sorrfulness.--C. F. DEEMS. A MACEDONIAN CRY. From the "Church of the Redeemer,' our Lutheran Mission at Vancouver, B.C., the Rev. B. A. Sand, pastor, comes a stirring and touching appeal for help in time to save their church home. An appeal was printed in the September number of -"The Lutheran," and a personal appeal was received by Trinity, Hamilton, to which the members and friends of Trinity liberally responded, Sunday, Nov. 14. We trust many others heard this cry of distress and were ready to "throw out the life line," and help to "rescue the perishing," so that our brethren in the faith may retain their home and continue their noble work. One night, twelve years ago, Michele Frasca, a rough Italian, went to a mission service, held under a tent, his purpose being to break up the meeting. The congregation was singing "Just as I am." It so affected him that lie changed his mind and went away with a N. T. to read. His priest found him reading it, called it a "damnable book," and took it away from him. He went back to the mission, and he became an evangelical Christian. Then he went to Lafayette College, then to the University of Pa., then to Princeton Seminary. Last month (October) he was ordained as a Presbyterian minister.