The first words which St. John heard uttered by the great voice out of the throne contain, under forms of speech carried on from the Old Testament, the simplest message of Christmas. By that tabernacling of God with men, which we commemorate to-day, we have sure knowledge of His perpetual presence and kingdom among mankind: and by that same faith of Christmas we learn to interpret that banishing of sorrow and death of which the voice goes on to give assurance.

On neither of these two themes do I propose to speak expressly to-day, but only on the third, to which they both lead, the utterance of Him that sat on the throne. Yet, while we listen to that word of His, it is well that the earlier verses should still be lingering in our ears. The Christmas joy renewed year by year, and that sorrow which is filling all our hearts to-day,1 are here joined together in one divine strain.