ALONE WITH GOD     

  In fulfillment of these predictions, Christ came the Sun of righteousness, and ushered in a clear day. "Weeping may endure for a night; but joy cometh in the morning." Nineteen centuries ago a babe was born in the stable of an inn, in the Roman province of Judea. At this time Caesar Augustus was an absolute sovereign. With unlimited power, he ruled over three hundred millions of people, comprising the Roman empire. Such power no mortal ever swayed before. Little did this proud ruler of all the world then known dream, as he sat upon his throne in gorgeous apparel, that a new born babe who was slumbering in a manger, in the town of Bethlehem, in far off Syria, and whose infant cries were mingled with the braying of donkeys, the lowing of cattle, and the bleating of goats—little, I say, did this mighty sovereign dream that this lowly infant was destined to establish a religion and kingdom before which all the glory and power of the proud Caesars would fade away. But, dear reader' it was so. At the birth of that babe the bells of heaven rang and all the angels worshiped. The glad news was at once wafted from heaven to earth that this was the "Savior, . . . Christ the Lord." Shepherds on the Judean hills heard the angels sing the glad refrain, " Glory to God in the highest. "

  " Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring [sunrising -margin] from on high hath visited us, to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace." Luke 1: 78, 79. The advent of the Savior was a beautiful sunrising. "The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up. " Matt. 4: 16. Christ himself was that light. He said, " I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. " Christ was not the light of one nation only, Israel, but the light of "the world." Yes, he was the "salvation" which God "hast prepared before the face of all people; a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel" (Luke 2: 25-32). "For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth." Acts 13: 47.

  Surely this was a glad morning to the inhabitants of earth, who for long centuries had sat enshrouded in the night of sin. Brilliant, transplendent light broke forth in the earth, salvation waters began to flow, and thousands were made to rejoice in a Redeemer's love. They could say, "The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. " Rom. 13: 12. The gospel message was like "a light that shineth in a dark place"; and as people accepted it, Christ entered into their life, like a beautiful "day dawn" and "day star" (2 Pet. 1:19). Oh, how beautiful, clear, and bright was the dawning of the gospel day!

  The gospel of salvation that Christ preached penetrated the dark places of sin and idolatry, like sun rays driving back the darkness of night. Wickedness in the hearts and lives of men gave way to grace and truth. Christ established his church. True holiness adorned her fair brow Unity and purity were her chief characteristics. Of her it is said, "Thou art all fair, my love; there is no spot in thee." S. of Sol. 4:7. And again, "My dove, my undefiled is but one." S. Of Sol. 6 : 9. Unity and purity are inseparable; one can not exist without the other. Holiness is the mainspring of all gospel truth. It is a golden thread which runs all through the New Testament. As long as the people of God possessed true holiness, they were one and were fortified against all apostasy. We read of the believers assembled on the day of Pentecost, "They were all with one accord in one place." After the church had multiplied to thousands, "the multitude of them that believed were of one heart, and of one soul" (Acts 4: 32). The reason of this was that "they were all filled with the Holy Ghost" and that "great grace was upon them all. " Judgment went forth against sin with such authority that " of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them." "And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things." Acts 5:11. "And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch. And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them. And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.) Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them. There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one." Acts 5: 12-16.

  Such was the church of God in her primitive glory. Clothed with the authority, power, light, salvation, holiness, and truth, of Christ, her great head, she went forth against the combined kingdoms of sin and darkness. The church shone in the earth, because it reflected the light of Christ to sin darkened souls. "Ye are the light of the world," he said to his disciples. Truly, in those days her light shone as the bright morning sun.