t lay his magic machine at his feet. For him the statesman
legislates, the scientist investigates, the author writes, the artist
paints and the singer sings. In an increasing degree Jesus is drawing
all men into his service, and they are laying their treasures at his
feet. The gold of the wise men was only the first gleam of the shining
heaps of wealth that his followers are now piling on the altar of his
service. This process will go on until the whole world will lie at his
feet.

Every generation sends a more numerous company to Bethlehem. With every
century worshipers arrive from more distant lands. From every quarter of
the circumference of the globe paths now run to the manger of this
Child, worn deep by millions of feet. The nations are beginning to come.
By and by these converging paths will be crowded and all the ends of the
earth shall bring their gold and shall worship at his feet.

What is the explanation of the mighty, worldwide, attractive power of
this Child? There is only one adequate explanation: "He shall save his
people from their sins." The world is tired of men who come to save it
with programmes only an inch long; who have nothing better to propose
than longer laws and cleaner sanitation; who, unmindful of the
experiment in Eden, would have us believe that if we were only placed in
a pleasant garden where we had plenty to eat and little to do we would
all be good. The weary world wants one who can go to the root of its
unrest, and it is finding out that this can be done by him who is mighty
to save people from their sins. All who put their trust in him are
blessed with purity and peace. In this great world, lost in sin and
beaten upon by infinite mystery, there is only one voice that comes like
music across our life with power to cleanse and comfort us; and this is
the Voice whose infant cry was first heard in Bethlehem. Let us now go
even unto Bethlehem while the song is in the air and see this Child and
worship at his feet.

XVIII. Was a Child the Best Christmas Gift to the World?

When we come to think of it, does not a child seem an insignificant and
disappointing gift for God to make to the world? After so long
preparation and so great promises and hopes, would we not have expected
some greater and more wonderful gift? But a child is so common; millions
are born every month; there is nothing unique and wonderful about a
child. Why did God not rather give some invention or discovery o