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CIRCUMCISED on the EIGHTH DAY, and receiving the SUBLIME NAME expressive of HIS office, JESUS, (SAVIOUR). CHRISTMAS was CELEBRATED on 25 December, even in the EARLY CENTURIES, at least by the WESTERN CHURCH. Consequently the CIRCUMCISION fell on the FIRST of JANUARY. In the AGES of PAGANISM, however, the SOLEMNISATION of the FEAST was ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE, on account of the ORGIES connected with the SATURNALIAN FESTIVITIES, which were celebrated at the same time. Even in OUR OWN DAY the SECULAR FEATURES of the opening of the NEW YEAR interfere with the RELIGIOUS OBSERVANCE of the CIRCUMCISION, and tend to make a MERE HOLIDAY of that which should have the SACRED CHARACTER of a HOLY DAY.
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