The Conservative Reformation and Its Theology - Saint Mary ...

toward men;" nothing but wrath seemed above him, and the pains of death
around him. In the gray stone walls of the cloister he shut himself up to
wrestle with dark doubts and agonizing fears.
Christmas after Christmas came. Some sunshine flickered in
successive years over the cell of the monk. The gentle hand of him who
came as the Babe of Bethlehem was touching and healing the heart
corroded with care. Gleams of indwelling greatness began to break forth
from the cloud in which he had been folded.
The turn of the autumn leaves of 1517 reminded children that
Christmas was once more drawing near; but on the gales which swept
those leaves from the trees was borne, through all Christendom, the first
sounds of a mighty battle for the right of the Babe of Bethlehem to sit upon
the throne of all hearts as the Saviour of the race. Years followed, but
Christmas and all festivals, and all waking and all dreaming thoughts of
men were directed to one great life-question, were absorbed in one
surpassing interest. In half of Christendom, as Christmas eve came on, the
soft light in children's eyes turned to a fierce glare, as lisping amid their
toys and echoing the words of the old, they spoke of the traitor to the
mother of the blessed Babe, the heretic who would destroy their Christmas
if he could. In the other half of Christendom the eyes of men grew bright,
and those of women were suffused with tears of gratitude, and children
shouted for gladness at the mention of the name of one who had led back
the race to the cradle, and taught them to bow there, as did the shepherds
in childlike trust--trust not in the mother, but in her holy Child.
All days were Christmas to the great Restorer. He had found the-
Christ, and when he was not kneeling with the shepherds, he was singing
with the angels. One Christmas he spent in his rocky Patmos, but a
starlight, as soft as that of Palestine on the mystic night, touched every
pinnacle of the old towers. The next Christmas passed in that circle of near
friends which loved and was loved by one of the greatest and warmest
hearts that ever beat in human bosoms. Battle