vessel for this new wine.
And so the mighty news was spoken in the incarnation of the Lord.

My Lord came as "life." "_In Him was life._" But not a mere cupful of
life, or even a cup running over. He came as "the fountain of life." Nay,
if I had the requisite word I must get even behind and beyond this. For He
was the Creator of fountains. "The water that I shall give him shall be
_in him a well_." Yes, He was the fountain of fountains!

The Lord came as "light." "_The life was the light._" True light is always
the child of life. Our clearest light comes not from speech or doctrine,
still less does it emerge from controversy. It is the fine, subtle issue
of fine living. And my light is to "shine before men" by reason of the
indwelling life of the Christ.

And my Lord came as "power." "_To them gave He power._" All the power I
need for a full, holy, healthy life I can find in Him. Every obligation
has its corresponding inspiration, and I am competent to do His will.

DECEMBER The Twenty-first

_THE LORD OF WORKING MEN_

LUKE ii. 8-20.

And so the good news was told to shepherds, to working men who were
toiling in the fields. The coming King would hallow the common work of
man, and in His love and grace all the problems of labour would find a
solution.

The Lord of the Christmas-tide throws a halo over common toil. Even
Christian people have not all learnt the significance of the angels' visit
to the lonely shepherds. Some of us can see the light resting upon a
bishop's crosier, but we cannot see the radiance on the ordinary
shepherd's staff. We can discern the hallowedness of a priest's vocation,
but we see no sanctity in the calling of the grocer, or of the scavenger
in the street. We can see the nimbus on the few, but not on the crowd; on
the unusual, but not upon the commonplace. But the very birth-hour of
Christianity irradiated the humble doings of humble people. When the
angels went to the shepherds, common work was encircled with an immortal
crown.

And it is in the Lord Jesus that all labour troubles are to be put to
rest. If we work from any other centre we shall arrive at confusion
confounded. "I have the keys."

DECEMBER The Twenty-second

_THE LORD OF THE WORSHIPPER_

LUKE ii. 25-35.

And so the good news was taken to the worshipper bowing within the gates
of the Temple. The soul of old Simeon was filled with holy satisfaction
and peace. The cravings of the heart were quieted,