On the Morning of Christ's Nativity

I'm going to ignore the irreverent reference to my 'blond' period below - though I was sure I had destroyed all those old videos...! On re-vewing them I notice they haven't aged well.

On another subject altogether, it's easy to be negative about Christmas if all you focus on is the busy-ness and the buying, but it remains the great occasion where the church in the West at least can command the attention of the world and speak openly and confidently about our Lord's incarnation. Just this Friday i had the privilege of speaking to over 500 business people - mostly involved in property - in the center of London. St. George's church Hanover Square was kindly loaned for the occasion (this is the church where Handel was the organist and as the organ thundered out the carol's I thoiught of his playing there and had goose bumps - but don't tell Carl Trueman I said that). Many, perhaps the majority, of those there were unchurched people, invited by friends to come and share in a traditional service of lessons and carols and hear a talk on the significance of Christmas - just straightforward, uncluttered evangelism.

We've been doing the same thing each Sunday evening in December in our church. Our 'Carols By Candlelight' services attract more and more people from the community each year, and its been really encouraging to see more and more young people come to sing and hear a clear gospel message and enjoy the best mulled wine in England. I'm just putting th finishing touches to my sermon for the last one of these services to be held this Sunday night - if the snow stops that is. I confess that I love Christmas and look forward to this month which we designate a 'mission' month because of the increased opportunities to get the gospel out. May God be pleased to use the proclamation of His word to draw people to Himself.

As I look forward to Sunday night there is one treat I am waiting for eagerly. We are going to hear a rendition of a beautiful setting of Milton's famous Ode 'On the Morning of Christ's Nativity.' It was composed in 1629 when he turned 21, and was his early attempt at handling the highest subjects in a way that is exalting and enthralling. Stella Revard writes that the poem 'marks Milton's coming of age as a Christian English writer.' He declared his ambition to a friend: 'I sing to the peace-bringing God descended from heaven, and the blessed generations covenanted in the sacred books, I sing the starry axis and the singing hosts in the sky, and of the gods suddenly destroyed in their own shrines.' The poem is worth some quiet relfection as we approach that special day:

On the Morning of Christ's Nativity

This is the Month, and this the happy morn
Wherein the Son of Heav'ns eternal King,
Of wedded Maid, and Virgin Mother born,
Our great redemption from above did bring;
For so the holy sages once did sing,
That he our deadly forfeit should release,
And with his Father work us a perpetual peace.

II

That glorious Form, that Light unsufferable,
And that far-beaming blaze of Majesty,
Wherwith he wont at Heav'ns high Councel-Table,
To sit the midst of Trinal Unity,
He laid aside; and here with us to be,
Forsook the Courts of everlasting Day,
And chose with us a darksom House of mortal Clay.

III

Say Heav'nly Muse, shall not thy sacred vein
Afford a present to the Infant God?
Hast thou no vers, no hymn, or solemn strein,
To welcom him to this his new abode,
Now while the Heav'n by the Suns team untrod,
Hath took no print of the approching light,
And all the spangled host keep watch in squadrons bright?

IV

See how from far upon the Eastern rode
The Star-led Wisards haste with odours sweet:
O run, prevent them with thy humble ode,
And lay it lowly at his blessed feet;
Have thou the honour first, thy Lord to greet,
And joyn thy voice unto the Angel Quire,
From out his secret Altar toucht with hallow'd fire.