3. But even this marvellous power and generosity would not excite the passionate love of mankind, but for His _Humility_. Power may only awe; the merely generous Lord or Lady Bountiful, kind as they often are, are sometimes felt to do it in a spirit of patronage and self-pleasing; they like to be thought bountiful and kind, and have their reward in the grateful looks and even obsequious demeanour of the recipients of their bounty. But it is Christmas which really stirs the blood. That this powerful, generous Being should manifest His power and shower down His gifts was wonderful; but that He should give Himself--this was sublime! This is what stirred heaven to its depths--"Glory to GOD in the highest!" The crowning splendour of GOD was His Humility. He was great when He said, "Let there be light, and there was light." He was mighty when He opened His Hand and filled all things living with plenteousness. But He was greatest of all when He lay as a babe in the manger. Well may the adoring Christian look up at Christmas and salute this third revelation of the splendour of GOD: "Thou didst leave Thy throne and Thy kingly crown When Thou camest to earth for me.... Oh, come to my heart, LORD JESUS: There is room in my heart for Thee!" II. What, then, ought this belief in the splendid power, generosity, and humility of GOD to produce in us? 1. It must produce Praise. It must make us say: "Praise GOD in His holiness; praise Him in the firmament of His power." You have caught sight of Mont Blanc and you have seen Niagara, and you say quite naturally, "How splendid!" 2. It produces Hope. War, slaughter, misery, can't be the end, if such a GOD exists. It may be inevitable from man's lust, ambition, and greed; but it can't be the end--if GOD'S people work with GOD: there must be a kingdom coming at last in which dwelleth, not ambition, tyranny, or cruelty, but "righteousness, peace, and joy in the HOLY GHOST." 3. It produces Peace. Once believe in the splendour of GOD, and you get "the peace of GOD, which passeth all understanding." "Thou wilt keep him," says the prophet, "in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee." The world is not out of GOD'S Hand, as some people would persuade us, nor any individual in the world. "The very hairs of your head are all numbered," and "ye are of more value than many sparrows." 4. And it produces answering Sacrifice and Courage. What we want to-day is "the warrior's mind," which gives and does not heed the cost, which fights and does not heed the wounds; and we can only be nerved for this by the splendid self-sacrifice of GOD Himself.