TEXT.— “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” Luke 2:14.
This song of the angels came at an interesting time. The words of the prophet, Isa. 9:6, were then fulfilled. The Child was born, the Son was given.
“And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them; and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not; for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you: Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” Chap. 2:7–14.
God so loved the world that he gave his Son to save man. It was a time to give glory to God. The time had come for all to respond, Glory to God in the highest. The angels gave him glory, as they sung this song in the ears of the shepherds. Glory belongs to God. It was given by the angels first. Glory to God in the highest! It was his due.
God’s goodness was manifested in a higher degree in the gift of his Son to redeem us. Glory to God in the highest! The greatest gift God himself could bestow was now given to restore fallen man. Let all join in response to the angels. Glory to God in the highest!
But was the Christian dispensation to be the period when peace should prevail over the earth? No. The angels, as they struck the glad note of “Peace on earth,” looked forward over the long period of the great controversy between Christ and his angels, and Satan and his angels, to the time when the final victory shall be gained, and the earth will be in the possession of his friends. Here our temporal-millennium friends make a grand mistake. The angels, as they struck this note, looked beyond this period of probation, to the time when Christ shall have subdued all his enemies.
“I have not come to send peace on the earth.” This is enough to lead any man to locate the period of peace on earth beyond this dispensation. He now sends rather a sword, and division, even to families, two against three, and three against two. This prophecy of peace on earth is sometimes so misapplied as to lead men to sacrifice truth itself for peace. Some have the impression that we may believe, or do, as we please, so that we live in peace one with another. It is a perversion of James 3:17, which says, “The wisdom which is from above is first pure, then peaceable.” Purity is before peace. Truth with a sword is always better than error with peace.
How proper for angels to begin this song with “Glory to God in the highest!” He is the Creator, both theirs, and ours. And we may join with them in the song, “Glory to God in the highest!” There are three Psalms which especially express this sentiment of praise. It may not weary you for me to read them.
“Praise ye the Lord. Praise ye the Lord from the heavens. Praise him in the heights. Praise ye him, all his angels. Praise ye him, all his hosts. Praise ye him, sun and moon. Praise him, all ye stars of light. Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens. Let them praise the name of the Lord: for he commanded and they were created.” Ps. 148:1–5.
In the work of creation alone there is enough to call for the praise of God.
“He hath also stablished them forever and ever. He hath made a decree which shall not pass. Praise the Lord from the earth, ye dragons, and all deeps; fire, and hail; snow, and vapor; stormy wind fulfilling his word; mountains, and all hills; fruitful trees, and all cedars; beasts, and all cattle; creeping things, and flying fowl; kings of the earth, and all people; princes, and all judges of the earth; both young men, and maidens; old men, and children. Let them praise the name of the Lord; for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven.” vs. 6–13.
How glorious is the name of our God. It alone is excellent. His glory is above the heavens. We should be very careful how we take that glory to ourselves.
“He also exalteth the horn of his people, the praise of all his saints; even of the children of Israel, a people near unto him. Praise ye the Lord.” v. 14.
“Praise ye the Lord. Sing unto the Lord a new song, and his praise in the congregation of saints. Let Israel rejoice in him that made him: let the children of Zion be joyful in their King. Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp. For the Lord taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation. Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds. Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand; to execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people; to bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron; to execute upon them the judgment written: this honor have all his saints. Praise ye the Lord.” Ps. 149.
The phrase, “all his saints,” embraces not merely the saints which are alive when the Lord comes, but all the saints, the resurrected ones, and the living also.
“Praise ye the Lord. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power. Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness. Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp. Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs. Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals. Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord.” Ps. 150.
God is our creator and preserver, and in the announcement of the angels to the shepherds, there is another grand event that calls for praise in the highest. The promised heir to David’s throne is born, the Son is given, and the angels are inspired to raise the song of praise, “Glory to God in the highest!” That song of praise from angels and from men belongs to God. He made us, and not we ourselves.
For life, and all its blessings, we should praise God. But when we consider man’s fallen condition—his lost estate, and the sacrifice that was made for him, and the gift of God’s own Son, we are led to conclude that Heaven knows no greater love than is here manifested. If praise to God for the gift of our Lord Jesus Christ was inspired in the bosom of angels, well may it swell the breast of fallen man.
I think we have not always looked upon this subject in its proper light. Christ thought it not robbery to be equal with God. It is not well to lower the dignity of Christ. By him God made the worlds. Heb. 1:1, 2. He was the divine Son of God. How he could become flesh and dwell with men, we may never know in this world—perhaps not in another. We may know what he has done; but there we shall have to leave the matter. He laid aside his glory, and lived a life of suffering, and finally upon the cross he died such a death as none of us can possibly die. Yes; the Father made a divine sacrifice in the gift of his Son. It is beyond the reach of language to express the nature of the gift.
He did all this to open a way for us to be washed from our sins, that we may be exalted to sit on his throne and reign with him forever and forever. No wonder the angels appeared to men and struck up this note of praise. When the work shall be accomplished,34when the conquest of his enemies shall be complete, then, indeed, there will be peace on earth. The multitude of the heavenly host, as they sang over the plains of Bethlehem, looked not only to the first advent, but also to the second. The prophets sometimes in a single verse describe both advents. Isa. 9:6, not only speaks of the birth of the Son, but of the government resting upon his shoulders.
For our being we should be thankful. That we are here alive this day calls for praise to God. Life, even under all our trials and discouragements, is a blessing. And we have an additional reason to praise God, to raise our voices to him, that when we were lost, he gave his Son to die for us, and that he is now with the Father to intercede for us. His great heart is reaching out to us. He is calling us to him, and entreating us to accept his salvation. Glory to God in the highest, is language none too strong to properly express the feelings of every created intelligence in the universe.
And then, what he has promised to do for us calls for our highest praise. He will come again and receive us to himself. In his absence he gives us another Comforter, the Holy Spirit. Let praise to God go up from every heart, that he created us, and that he sent his Son to die for us, and to plead our cause at the Father’s right hand, and that the Comforter has come to guide us, and console us, in our labors and our trials. Let us join with the angels in shouts of praise in the highest.
We say, then, that existence calls for praise to God, and that the gift of Christ, our eternal benefactor, calls for our praise. Has God bestowed upon us mental powers? Let us praise him. What have we that is not from God? It is robbing him to claim that our mental powers are our own. Have we physical strength? God gave it. Let his finger but touch us, and where is our strength?
Have you had your minds led to the truth of God? Has the minister of Jesus some freedom and power in speaking the truth of God? Let him, above all men, praise God. Are we kept from trials and dangers? Are we kept in the love of God? in the enjoyment of his Spirit? Do we feel an interest in his cause? For this we have reason to praise God. No matter how much knowledge, or piety, a man may have, it is of God’s mercy and care.
Peter speaks to his brethren thus, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again, unto a lively hope, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled; and that fadeth not away, reserved in Heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God, through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”
The apostle is writing to Christians. He is addressing the strangers scattered abroad. No matter whether they were to be situated in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, Europe, New York, or Battle Creek, wherever you are, you are kept by the power of God. Praise him for his protecting, guarding power.
Now I venture the statement, should God withdraw his sustaining grace from a soul, one single hour; should he say to his angels, Let him alone; the transition would be so great no man could endure it.
Should the Lord at once withdraw all support given to the mind by holy angels, Satan would come in with his forces, and the transition would be so great it would prostrate any mind.
Backsliding from God is not done in an hour. The present hour may develop the apostasy; but the apostate may have been for the last six months backsliding, so gradually does God withdraw his power, and the grace which keeps in the love of the truth.
We have all of us reason to praise God for the truth. I awoke this morning praising God. After I arose, I began to reflect, and to talk with Bro. Littlejohn on giving the glory to God. The season was profitable. We are in danger of taking the glory to ourselves. Self, self, self, is often made the subject of conversation, and of our efforts. I thank God that I have a disposition to love him. Why? Because God gave it to me. I never heard a more consistent evening prayer than that I have often heard Bro. Howland, of Maine, offer—that God would keep his faith while he slept.
It is dangerous for some to go to sleep. Should they lie down in faith and hope, Satan might steal it from them. We should pray in faith as we go to rest at night, that we may wake in the morning with our very being filled with hope and faith, and with the love of God. Oh! how much you have to praise God for. Have you life? Praise God. Have you hope? Praise God. Do the angels draw near when you pray? Does the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, warm up your heart in your prayer? Praise God. If the angels could praise God at the birth of Christ, how should you praise him, who have the truth of the first advent, and the glorious prospect of the second, near? There is glory in this subject. I’m getting happy. Glory to God in the highest.
We should avoid taking glory to ourselves. Especially those who handle sacred things should be careful. The minister who enjoys freedom in speaking the truth, should give glory to God. Has he done anything in the blessed cause? Let him praise that God who has given him power to labor. Have any a duty to labor in the church? Let them be careful to give the glory to God.
I read in Isaiah that God is jealous on this subject. Chap. 48:11. “For mine own sake, even for mine own sake, will I do it: for how should my name be polluted? and I will not give my glory unto another.” Let me repeat it. The men who stand in the desk and declare the word of God with freedom and power, should not take glory to themselves, neither should the people praise them. If the people love and approve the language they use, no matter what is accomplished, they should give the glory to God. Every one connected with the work is a co-laborer with angels, with Jesus, and with God. Bro. Andrews, feed the sheep. Bro. Bell, feed the lambs. God bless you. It is a privilege to labor in this cause. Suppose you are not appreciated, and that you receive no credit for much of your self-sacrifice. God knows you are working for him. Suffer on, toil on, bear on. There is a crown of glory for the faithful.
And be thou admonished, oh, my soul! The subject of this morning has searched me, and searched me. The influence of our talk, who can estimate it? But what power our talk has on ourselves! If our words have influence upon others, what power may they have upon ourselves! May God have mercy upon us all! Rather than receive praise from mortals for a moment, let us join in the song of the angels, and give glory to God. God help us to send our songs of praise up to him, whatever our position may be. In view of all he has done for me, the language of my heart is, “Glory to God in the highest!” Whatever my lot may be—whatever I may be called to pass through, to do, or to bear, may the language of my heart ever be, Glory to God.
This earthly court is a heavenly place to us to-day. A full tide seems to be setting heavenward. My spirit is triumphant in God. I cannot taper off this subject, but must leave it just where the angels began it, Glory to God in the highest! Amen.