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 will on  earth  to  men,  and  peace,"  embodies  in  itself the  chief  characteristics  of  an  ideal  Christian  life.  It is  only  when  we  are  fulfilling  the  two  great  precepts of  love  for  God  and  our  neighbors,  that  the  peace  of heaven  inundates  our  souls;  or  possibly  the  meaning is,  that  peace  must  be  established  in  us  by  conquest  of ourselves  ere  we  are  truly  fit  to  give  God  glory  and good  will  to  men.  Brethren,  how  does  this  description of  a  Christian  tally  with  our  lives?  We  bow  our heads  beside  the  crib  of  Jesus  and  think  alas!  what Christmas  used  to  mean,  and  what  its  meaning  now is.  The  happy  Christmases  of  boyhood  days  are  but a  memory  fondly  cherished.  In  later  years  the  peace we  then  knew  fled.  We  thrust  the  Saviour  from  our souls, and  though  He  often  came  and  knocked  and begged a  lodging  there,  we  answered,  "  No! "  We even  slew  Him. As Herod  would  have  done,  we  did — we snatched  that  Infant  from  His  Mother's  breast, and nailed  Him,  scourged  and  thorn-crowned,  upon  a cruel  cross. We did  it  by  our  sins. And then  again sweet peace  came  back  when  we  by  tears  and  sighs and moans  did  penance  for  those  sins — when  we  went back to  Him,  as  did  the  shepherds,  in  simple,  humble adoration; when  we  offered  Him  the  richest  treasures of  our  hearts  and  souls,  as  did  the  Eastern kings. God grant  our  final  hour  be  like  that! God grant that,  holding  Jesus  to  our  breasts  as  holy Simeon did,  we  may  as  confidently  beg  to  be  dismissed in  peace! God grant  in  that  dread  hour  we may  look  back  and  see:  "  Glory  to  God,  good  will  on earth  to  men,"  written  on  every  page  of  our  life's  his-