How proper it is that Christmas should follow Advent. For him who looks towards the future, the Manger is situated on Golgotha, and the Cross has already been raised in Bethlehem.
Strive, the pains of death endure,
Peace eternal to secure:
For the faithful and the tried
Heaven’s Gates shall open wide.
(Archbishop J. O. Wallin, 1819)
“I will lay me down in peace, and take my rest; for it is thou, Lord, only that makest me dwell is safety.” (Psalm 4:9)
“Thou hast showed thy people heavy things: thou has given us a drink of deadly wine. Thou hast given a token for such as fear thee; that they may triumph because of the truth.” (Psalm 60:3-4)
Source: Markings, page 198. Dag Hammarskjold (1905-1961), Secretary General of the United Nations, was killed in a plane crash in the Congo, while on a peacekeeping mission. There is some evidence that the crash was not an accident. Markings, his personal diary, was published after his death. He wrote this entry on his last Christmas Eve. Johan Olof Wallin (1779-1839) was a Swedish poet, minister, and the Archbishop of Uppsala, Sweden.
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