THE BIRTH OF CHRIST.

A Deity appears on earth,

And choirs of angels hail his birth-
Glory," they cry to God in Heaven,
"And peace and love to man be given!'

THE glorious period now approached, when the great Redeemer of mankind was to appear in this lower world; and we find in the first chapter of Luke, that the angel Gabriel was sent from God to the Virgin Mary, with the joyful news that she should be privileged to be the mother of the promised Messiah. The angel addressed himself to the Virgin thus: "Hail thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. And she was troubled at his saying. And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found favour with God. And behold, thou shalt conceive, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus; he shall be

great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest," &c.

It was foretold by the prophet Micah, (chap. v. 2.)" That out of Bethlehem should come forth that Person who should be ruler in Israel" and we see this fulfilled; for Cæsar Augustus, the emperor of Rome, having at this time issued a decree, that all the Roman empire, and Judea as a tributary province, should be taxed, Joseph went with Mary, his espoused wife, to Bethlehem, to be taxed, where she was delivered of her first-born son, and called his name Jesus. (Matthew i. 25.) There was no room for Mary or Joseph in any inn, or house of entertainment; Jesus was therefore born in a stable, and laid in a manger, which bespeaks that his parents were poor, or we may suppose room would have been found elsewhere: and it also shows the condescension of the

Lord God our Saviour, that he should not only humble himself to visit our earth, but also come in such circumstances. Well may we say with St. Paul, "Though he was rich, yet for our sakes he became poor, that we through his poverty might be rich." (2 Corinthians viii. 9.)

The blessed intelligence of the Saviour's birth was conveyed to some shepherds, who were abiding in the fields, keeping watch over their flocks by night; to whom the angel of the Lord appeared, and gave this salutation: "Fear not: for behold I bring you glad tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people; for unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good

will toward men." (Luke ii. 10, 11, 13, 14.) These words are a rejoicing acclamation, which strongly represents the piety and benevolence of these heavenly spirits, and their affectionate good wishes for the prosperity of the Messiah's kingdom, and the redemption of mankind.

Never was a sweeter song, and never was there greater cause to praise Almighty God, for his unbounded love to ruined men. But why did angels sing? because they rejoice over the salvation of sinners; and if they had reason to sing, how much greater cause have we, for whom Christ was sent, by whom peace is restored betwixt God and man, and his good-will procured for those who deserved his wrath and indignation!