^ Thomas Erskiue, The Brazen Serpent, 263.
ST. LUKE II. 7 9
to lay his head." And the solitude was all the greater as the end drew near. Jerusalem would have none of Him ; one of His own little company covenanted to betray Him. He went into the Garden that He might face all that was coming and be ready for it, taking the three to w^atch and pray with Him ; but in the last resort not even they could help Him : He must needs tread the winepress alone. And so the rulers compassed His destruction, ajid the Komans scourged HLm and delivered Him to be crucified, and at length He hung there upon the cross, isolated between heaven and earth, naked, forsaken and alone. Truly, while He was on earth there was no room for Him.
^ A marvellous great world it is, and there is room in it for ; many things ; room for wealth, ambition, pride, show, pleasure ; '^^ room for trade, society, dissipation ; room for powers, kingdoms, armies, and their wars ; but for Him there is the smallest room possible ; room in the stable but not in the inn. There He begins to breathe, and at that point introduces Himself into His human Ufe as a resident of our world — the greatest and most blessed event, humble as the guise of it may be, that has ever transpired among mortals. If it be a wonder to men's eyes and ears, a wonder even to science itself, when the flaming air-stone pitches into our world, as a stranger newly arrived out of parts unknown in the sky, what shall we think of the more transcendent fact, that the Eternal Son of God is born into the world ; that, proceeding forth from the Father, not being of our system or spliere, not of the world, He has come as a Holy Thing into it — God manifest in the flesh, the Word made flesh, a new Divine Man, closeted in humanity, there to abide and work until He has restored the race itself to God ? Nor is this wonderful annunciation any the less welcome, or any the less worthy to be celebrated by the hallelujahs of angels and men, that the glorious visitant begins to breathe in a stall. Was there not a certain propriety in such a beginning, considered as the first chapter and symbol of His whole history, as the Saviour and Eedeemer of mankind ? ^
2. What does the world offer in place of a room in the inn ?
(1) We build Him stat:hj material temples. — We expend boundless treasure in their erection. Art joins hands with architecture, and the structure becomes a poem. Lily-work crowns the majestic pillar. Subdued light, and exquisite line, and tender colour add their riches to the finished pile. And the soul
* H. Bushnell, Christ and His Salvation, 2.
lo NO ROOM
cries out, " Here is a house for Thee, 0 Man of Nazareth, Lord of glory ! Here is the home I have built for Thee." And if the soul would only listen there comes back the pained response, " Where is the place of My rest ? saith the Lord." " The Most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands," " I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit." The Lord of glory seeks the warm inn of the soul, and we offer Him a manger of stone.
(2) Or, in place of the home which He seeks, we build Him a fane of stately ritual. — We spend infinite pains in designing dainty and picturesque ceremonials. We devise reverent and dignified movements. We invent an elaborate and impressive symbolism. We engage the ministry of noble music for the expression of our praise, and we swing the fragrant censer for the expression of our prayer. Or perhaps we discard the colour and the glow. We banish everything that is elaborate and ornate. We use no flowers, either in reality or in symbol. We reduce our ritualism to a simple posture. Our music is rendered without pride or ostentation. Everything is plain, prosaic and unadorned. We have a ritual without glitter, and we have movements without romance. But whether our ceremony be one or the other, the soul virtually says, " Here is a ritualistic house I have built for Thee, 0 Christ ! Take up Thine abode in the dwelling which I have provided." And if the soul would only listen it would hear the Lord's reply, " My son, give me thine heart." He seeks the inn of the soul ; we offer Him a ritualistic manger.
(3) Or again, we build Him the massive house of a stately creed. — The building is solid and comprehensive. All its parts are firm and well defined, and they are mortised with passionate zeal and devotion. We are proud of its constitution. The creed is all the more beautiful that it is now so venerable and hoary. The weather-stains of centuries only add to its significance and glory. There it stands, venerable, majestic, apparently inde- structible, " Here is a credal home for Thee, 0 Lord ! I am jealous for the honour of Thy house. I will contend earnestly for every stone in the holy fabric ! Here is a home for Thee, 0 King." And if the soul would reverently and quietly listen this would be the response it would hear, "When the Son of man Cometh, shall he find faith on the earth ? " That is what the