I wonder about how many of us here this evening, this beautiful word could be spoken – the sweet assurance that we love our Lord Jesus Christ. O but may there be that prayer tonight in each heart, young and old, that we might know this blessed, vital experience and that the love of Christ might be shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost, that it might truly be witnessed of us, “Whom having not seen, ye love.”

One thing a gospel minister does need to beware of: that is, continually repeating himself. Over the years there have been some most godly ministers who in their latter days have kept on repeating themselves. Now may the Lord ever deliver us from that. But beloved friends, there are occasions when repetition has been overruled and abundantly blessed. Now let me give you one instance.

This very simply, clearly tells us what the Christian life is. What an unspeakable mercy if this word is true of you and me here this morning: the life which we live! We have a life to live, a life which we live by the faith of the Son of God. So the subject really is, what is the Christian life, and how is it to be lived? So much of the Word of God is devoted to this subject.

This is a commentary on the chapter we read (Luke 2) and the Holy Spirit’s divine application of the truth in the chapter we read. So I would like you to have your Bibles open at the chapter we read, Luke and the second chapter. “And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Cæsar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.” It seems that this has nothing to do with rea