The nativity: "an act of sovereign mercy"

"There is a perceptible intent to fit the new things into the organism of the Old Testament History of Redemption. The nativity is connected with the house of God’s servant David, as was spoken by the holy prophets, [Lk. 1.69, 70]; it is the fulfilment of the oath sworn to Abraham, [vs. 73]; the prophecy of which it is the culmination extends from the beginning of the world, [vs. 70].

"In David, Abraham, the Creation, the dominating epochs of the Old Testament are seized upon; the chronological nexus is, as it were, the exponent of the one­ness of the divine work through the ages and of the divine purpose from the outset to lead up to the Messiah.

"The new procedure to be ushered in is throughout described as bearing a redemptive character. This is accomplished, first of all, by giving it, both in the objective announcement by God and in the subjective apprehension of those addressed, the background of a state of sin and unworthiness, and the corresponding signature of grace and salvation. God’s unique dealing with His people at this point is recog­nized as an act of sovereign mercy...There is no trace of the view that anything well-deserving has evoked this visitation of God, least of all anything resembling faithful observance of the law.

".... The source of all blessedness is sought in the berith (the covenant; crb), which is but another way of saying that it flows from the free promise of God. God fulfills what He promised to the fathers (the patriarchs) [Lk. 1.54, 55, 72, 73]." -- Geerhardus Vos, Biblical Theology, pp. 306,307

No "song so sweet as the song of Incarnation"

PyroManiac: Glory, Peace, Goodwill

Great quote from the Spurgeon Christmas sermon posted by Phil Johnson:

"...sing, sing, oh universe, till thou hast exhausted thyself, thou canst not afford a song so sweet as the song of Incarnation. Though creation may be a majestic organ of praise, it cannot reach the compass of the golden canticle -- Incarnation!

There is more in that than in creation, more melody in Jesus in the manger, than there is in worlds on worlds rolling their grandeur round the throne of the Most High." -- C. H. Spurgeon, "The First Christmas Carol"