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there has been no propaganda in such a doctrine. It does not beat back the boundaries of heathenism or stir men to the sacrifices that are necessary to the spread of religion.

The story of Jesus, the Son of God, has been translated into every tongue and has been read as if it were actually spoken in the language in which it is read. The story of a man-child named Jesus, if just a worker of magic or a self-deceived visionary, would not have survived the generation in which he lived.

To be a living, vital force, a civilizing influence, and a spiritual power, the Christian Church must be true to the Christ of the Bible; apostasy means death to the Church and despair to civilization, for civilization finds its only hope in the regenerating power of the blood that flowed from Calvary and in the illumination that comes from the heaven-born wisdom of "the only begotten Son of God."

III

THE VIRGIN BIRTH

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III

THE VIRGIN BIRTH

AS Christ, as the Bible says, conceived of the Holy Ghost and born

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of the Virgin Mary, or was He the son of Joseph or some other man? The differences of opinion on this subject do not turn on questions of evidence, because the evidence is all on one side.

In the first place, we have the record of Matthew, who says:

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a

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