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wrapped him in swaddling clothes," and with | gest, to elucidate the case; to secure possesthe humility and resignation becoming her sion to himself, and to erush every rival— destitute condition, "laid him in the manger," "He summons the chief priests and scribes of leaving it to Providence to unveil its own secret counsels and accomplish its own gracious purposes. And thus the Saviour of the world entered upon that state of depression, poverty, and suffering, which terminated only with his life.

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But the affectingly humiliating scene in the stable at Bethlehem of Judah is relieved by the glory of the Lord shining round about it. That Babe neglected, unknown, despised, outcast of men, is declared, by the concurring testimony of patriarchs and prophets, of angels and men, by the shaking of the heavens and the earth, of the sea and the dry land, to be "the Son of the Highest.' His parentage, his name, the time and place of his birth, the condition of his infant hours have all the seal of heaven upon them. For what end did Isaiah prophesy, Alexander conquer, and Augustus give laws, but to point out to the world the instant, the spot, the descent, the estate in which the Son of God assumed our nature, in order to enter on the work of our redemption?

Preparation is making in another quarter of the globe, to bring a tribute of praise to the Redeemer of mankind. The East is ready to contribute its gifts, is preparing its gold and frankincense and myrrh to lay them at his feet. The wise men of distant nations, occupied in the study of nature, and attentive to the signs of the times, are awaked to inquiry by a silent but shining monitor. The appearance of the starry heavens was well known to them, they can calculate the distances and revolutions of each little star that sparkles in the expanse of heaven; but in a moment all their science is confounded, all their experience is overthrown, by the appearance of a new created light, in motion and at rest by a law peculiar to itself, to fulfil a transitory indeed, but a most important purpose, and which having pointed to "the place where the young child lay," is blotted out of nature, and disappears for ever.

Now none of" these things were done in a corner." Christianity did not steal in upon the world, without warning; all characters and descriptions of men were called in to give testimony to it, and without acquaintance, concurrence, or co-operation they establish the same truth. The eastern Magi on their arrival at Jerusalem, and on explaining the reason of their journey thither, are not treated as visionaries, who dreamed of things that never existed, but are listened to and respected as reasonable men inquiring after important truth. The attention of Herod, and of all Jerusalem with him, is roused; that jealous and sanguinary tyrant, takes every precaution, sets on foot every inquiry that his reigning passions could sug

the people, consults them respecting the determinations of prophecy, as to the birth-place of the expected King of the Jews, he com pares their opinion with the report of the wise men, and acts upon the result of that comparison. A coincidence of persons and circumstances so striking, and all relating to one person and one point, must lead to the acknowledgment and adoration of that God, in whose hand are the hearts of princes, the deliberations of councils, the number and motions of all the host of heaven. "He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names; great is our Lo and of great power; his understanding is infinite." Augustus Cæsar, Herod, the Magi, the Jewish Sanhedrim, the inhabitants of Bethlehem, of Jerusalem, all concur to give witness to yonder Babe laid in a manger, and they involuntarily assist in demonstrating the certainty of those things wherein ye have been instructed: that ye might have strong consolation in having fed for refuge to the hope set before you.

But higher testimony still than that of the potentates of the earth is given to the Lord of glory. Angels descend with songs to meet him at his coming: the gloom of night is dispelled by celestial radiance; silence, well-pleased, hears the sweet melody of angelic notes chanting the glad tidings of great joy," unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord." The harmony of a thousand heavenly voices in chorus join to celebrate the advent of the Prince of Peace; to announce to a slumbering world Him in whose light they shine, by whose power they are supported, in whose praise they unite, to whose will they are devoted. What a wonderful contrast! A deserted, friendless mother, a helpless infant, a stable, a manger! What humiliation like this humiliation! A throne above the heavens, the homage of princes, the effulgence of a star to mark the way to his cradle, the adoration of the glorious host of heaven, the arm of the Lord revealed! What design but the salvation of a lost world, what event but the birth of a Saviour, what person but the Son of God, could warrant all this display of majesty and might? Christian, keep these astonishing extremes continually in sight. This is bone of our bone, and flesh of our flesh; “as children are partakers of flesh and blood, he likewise himself also took part of the same; verily, he took not on him the nature of angels, but the seed of Abraham. In all things it behoved him to be made like anto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest, in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people; for in that he himself hath suf

fered being tempted, he is able to succour
them that are tempted." The subject teach-glory." Amen and amen.

and let the whole earth be filled with his

es us,

Augustus, in the pride of his heart, and an abject world in flattery to him, prefixed his name to the age in which he lived-and let this piece of vanity have its scope. With the classical, philosophic scholar, let the Augustan age boast of a Cicero, a Virgil, a Livy, a Mæcenas; the humble Christian will rather

ven, which eclipsed all human eloquence and wisdom in their highest splendour, and, resigning to the schools their favourite historians, orators, and poets, will rejoice in revolving in their place the hallowed page of Luke, the beloved physician, and in listening to the fervid, native, inartificial eloquence of Paul of Tarsus, and above all, in attending to the dignified wisdom which flowed from the lips of Him who “ spake as never man spake."

1. How incompetent judges we are of the ways and works of God. Few events if any, correspond to our preconceived opinions of them. From the glimmering that we have, without any light at all save the sparks of our own kindling, we take upon us to arrange and decide, and to limit the holy one of Is-glory in its having produced light from hearael. Like Naaman the Syrian, we have settled the mode of cure in our own mind, dressed it in proper parade and ceremony, and fall out with the prophet because the simplicity of the process confounds the airy vision with which our imagination had amused itself. Not knowing the scriptures nor the power of God, the carnal Jews had dressed out, for Messiah the prince, a throne like Solomon's, of ivory overlaid with gold, had placed him at the head of armies, had surrounded him with guards, had crowned him with laurels. When the event belied their groundless expectations, with Naaman they turned away in a rage, saying, "Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel?" "Away with this man, crucify him, not this man but Barabbas."

2. Observe here in how many instances God writeth vanity on all the glory of man. In the pride of their hearts, the princes and potentates here mentioned, vainly imagined a prostrate world to be all their own. Every will must bend to theirs; to their pleasure every power and possession must minister; all the while they are the mere attendants on the royal state of the real Prince. Their names are indeed some of them still had in remembrance but their power is annihilated, their consequence is swallowed up, or if any remain, it is derived from the relation which it bears to the superior, the commanding, the undiminished importance of Him to whom they gave witness, and whose state, in spite of themselves, they continue to support. The empire of Augustus speedily fell under its own weight, and the downfal of Rome quickly followed that of Jerusalem, and both approved the truth, and power, and justice of God: while that child born, that Saviour: given, holds undivided empire, and exercises unbounded sway. Eighteen centuries have confirmed, not shaken his authority, and time has discovered another hemisphere, far more extensive than the former, and added it to his dominion. Let us again sing, "His name shall endure for ever. His name shall be continued as long as the sun and men shall be blessed in him; all nations shall call him blessed. Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, who only doth wondrous things; and blessed be his glorious name for ever,

3. Finally, this wonderful child born teaches us the value and importance of little children. What human sagacity could penetrate the thick cloud which shrouded his nativity! What but the spirit of prophecy could draw aside the veil which concealed his future eminence? Who but a Simeon could discern in him the salvation of God, and foretell that "this child was set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which should be spoken against?" And who but He who "declareth the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure; who but He knows what the infant, now drawing its first breath, is one day to become? What dormant powers may there lie hid! What a germ of wisdom ready to expand! What godlike faculties, which are at length to astonish, to delight, to bless mankind! Watch over the expansion. The precious seed is sown by the hand of the Creator. Mark its springing: mark its progress. God has done his part, parent, master, minister, see that thou dost thine. "It is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish."

The next Lecture will have for its subject the history of the infancy and childhood of Jesus Christ. May he who condescended to become a little child for our sakes; who, as He "went about doing good," encouraged the approach of little children, saying, "suffer them and forbid them not to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of God:" may he bless us with the spirit of adoption, and endow us with the lovely simplicity, the docility, the submissiveness of little children, that we may enter into the kingdom of heaven. Amen.

HISTORY OF JESUS CHRIST.

LECTURE CXIV.

And the child grew and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him. LUKE ii. 40.

comparing appear, the symptoms of passion become visible, love and aversion, desire and gratitude. The moral sense at length begins to dawn, and the man in miniature finds himself a limited, dependent, subject, accountable being; hence hope and fear, selfcomplacency and remorse.

Of all the wonders presented to us in the rent's heart is overwhelmed with joy. Now world of nature, man is the greatest wonder he can distinguish the face of her that suckles to himself. His body dust of the ground, him from that of a stranger, at least she flatand mouldering back to dust; reduced to the ters herself he can, while the soft murmur level of the beasts of the field; but that dust of infantine satisfaction expresses his gratianimated with the breath of life, a living soul, tude. The figure by degrees becomes erect, exalted to the rank of angels, an emanation every limb is in motion, the uncertain tongue from God himself. In him are blended, in attempts to imitate the sounds which strike a most wonderful manner, three distinct the opening ear, and the feet press downkinds of life, forming one glorious individual ward to the supporting earth; tremblingly formed "after the image of Him who created he totters into walking, and stammers into him." As the tree in the forest impercept- speech. The powers of recollection and ibly rises, increases from lowness and feebleness to stateliness and strength, and having attained full maturity imperceptibly decays, so the feeble infant gradually increases in stature, changes the grovelling into the erect form, rears his head to the vault of heaven, exulting in the greatness of his strength; he begins to verge towards decay, he bends to the ground from whence he was taken, and at length sinks into it again. But he is not like the plant rivetted to one spot, unconscious of existence, incapable of self-motion. With the other animals around him he feels himself among his fellows, he rejoices in society, he possesses consciousness, he is directed by motives, he aims at a determinate end. But he is not, like the beasts that perish, impelled by instinct merely, the slave of appetite and sense. To the animal, the goodness of the Creator has superadded the rational life, the faculty of contemplating that great universe of which he constitutes a part so essential, the capacity of rising from the effect to the cause, from the work to the Author: Man enjoys the gift of speech, whereby he is rendered capable of communicating his reflections and reasonings, of forming combinations of power which awe, control, and direct the subject world.

To mark the progress of a human being is an interesting and delightful employment; to observe how the limbs acquire firmness and strength, how the mental powers unfold themselves, and all the passions of the man, in succession, stand confessed. See the fond mother bending with delight over her infant, at first a little pliant lump of animated clay, every power lying dormant save one, that of drawing its nourishment from her breast. By and by the eye begins to feel and follow the light, the slender neck strengthens and sustains the reclining head; the babe smiles, and the pa

We are this evening to contemplate infancy and childhood in their loveliest and most attractive form, and in their most interesting and affecting circumstances. Look yet again to Bethlehem of Judea, and behold the nothingness of human greatness; the offspring of kings a stranger in his paternal city, the heir of David without a place where to lay his head, a Sovereign destitute of all things. When God, at the fulness of time, sent forth his own Son, as he was made of a woman, so was he "made under the law," subjected to all its rites and restraints however painful and humiliating, and the Saviour of mankind, that he might fulfil all righteousness, and become a perfect pattern of obedience, first pas sively submitted to every ordinance of religion, and then by an active and exact conformity, magnified the law and made it honourable.

The minuter circumstances of this period of our blessed Lord's life are not left on record; those excepted which relate to his public character and divine mission, for as to these Scripture is most exact and particular. Of the progress of his infant mind no traces remain; not a word is said even of the beauty of his person; though the general terms which the evangelists employ warrant us in thinking, that never in child born of a woman did such early dawnings of superior wisdom ap pear, that never was human form so perfect. The modest reserve of the historians of Jesus Christ, in this respect, seems to minister a severe reproof of the ridiculous details to be found, in modern biography, of infantine

actions and sayings, the supposed prognostics | eyes to heaven, blesses God, saying, “Lord, of future eminence and distinction. We can now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, forgive a fond mother, nay love her the more according to thy word: for mine eyes have for the amiable weakness, when we hear her seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared repeat the pretty sayings, interpret the sig- before the face of all people; a light to lighten nificant looks, and describe the wonderful the Gentiles and the glory of thy people Isdeeds of her soul's darling; but it excites pity, rael." He then points him out to the byif not an ungentler feeling, to be told gravely, standers as the person spoken of by ancient from the press, of the insipid nothings which prophecy, "who should be set for the fall and a great man said and did, when he was an rising again of many in Israel, and for a sign ignorant and silly, perhaps a pert and petu- which should be spoken against;" a prediclant boy, who probably merited correction tion descriptive of the reception the Messiah where he obtained praise. should meet with from that world which he came to redeem. The same important truth is immediately confirmed by an ancient prophetess, who, coming in the instant Simeon had done speaking, gave public thanks likewise unto the Lord, and "spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem."

Of our divine Master we are told what was done to him, not what he did; what was said by others concerning him, not what he said concerning either himself or others. And thus was he early an instructer of parents to abstain from partial and excessive admiration of their children; and to little children to cultivate that modesty, docility, and humble- Thus He, whose birthplace was determined ness of mind, which are the real ornament many ages before, by prophetic illumination, and honour of their tender age. Behold in whose natal hour was announced by one him then, parents, children, a helpless infant angel, and celebrated by a multitude of the at the disposal of others. It is of importance heavenly host: to whose feet a company of to the world to know that, at the appointed shepherds is led, with their simple offering, period, the terms of the Abrahamic covenant by a voice from heaven, and to whom eastern were complied with, that the name of JESUS sages are conducted by an extraordinary star, was given him, according to the direction of is in the most public place of resort in the the angel; that as the first-born of his mother, Jewish metropolis, declared aloud, a few being sacred to God, he was solemnly pre-weeks after his birth, at a public religious sented to the Lord in the temple at Jerusalem; for these things admonish us of the divine truth and faithfulness in keeping covenant and promise with his people, and of the right which he has to expect and require faithfulness and obedience on their part; of the character and offices annexed to that sacred, precious, and venerable name, and of the self-dedication which not the first-born only, but even all owe unto God. On the eighth day, then, he was circumcised, and named, according to the commandment, and on the fortieth day he was presented with the accustomed offering in the temple.

Providence lays hold of this latter occasion to procure a noble testimony to the high rank and character of the Son of God. The spirit of prophecy had lately revived, and many in Jerusalem were "waiting for the consolation of Israel," and considered it as near at hand. Of this number was a just and devout man named Simeon, to whom it was communicated by a special revelation, that, old as he was, his eyes should not be closed in death, till he had seen the Lord's Christ. Heaven-directed he goes up to the temple, probably to entreat the speedy accomplishment of this gracious promise at the very instant when the ceremony of the law was performing, and the spirit that was upon him instantly points to Jesus as the fulfilling of the word in which God had caused him to hope. Filled with holy joy he takes the expected child into his arms, and lifting up his

service, by testimony on testimony, the accomplishment of God's great purpose of mercy to mankind.

While so many illustrious personages were producing their concurring evidence to the truth as it is in Jesus, exalting him to endless honours and universal dominion, one is cruelly plotting his destruction. Agitated by jealousy as groundless, as it was barbarously pursued, Herod determines to crush at once this pretender to a throne, whom so many signal and splendid appearances in heaven and earth were striving to display in superior glory. To make sure of his blow, his dark remorseless mind enlarges the circle of suspicion from a few days to two years, and from a single feared, hated individual, to all the male children of a great city. Humanity sickens at the thought of the dreadful tragedy of that day, when "in Rama a voice was heard, lamentation and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and refusing to be comforted, because they are not." By aiming at too much, the tyrant misses his aim altogether. The vigour of his pursuit exerted in one direction, confined to one object, might have overtaken it; but extending the sphere, dividing the pursuit, "the captive of the mighty is taken away, and the prey of the terrible is delivered, for thus saith the Lord, I will contend with him that contendeth with thee." And how was this deliverance effected? Providence employs not extraordinary means, to fulfil its designs,

wantonly and unnecessarily, but makes ordinary instruments to produce mighty events. The bloody intention of Herod is hardly conceived in the gloomy hell of his own breast, than it is seen of that eye which nothing can escape, and no sooner is it seen than prevented. In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth on men Joseph is admonished of the danger which threatened the child's life, and warned to shun it, by fleeing into Egypt. Thus at every stage of his life was the Saviour of mankind hated and persecuted of men; thus the all-wise Ruler of the universe knows how to deliver, and finds a way to escape; thus He "confounds the wisdom of the wise, and brings to nought the understanding of the prudent."

By a strange, perhaps unaccountable direction of the supreme will, the land of Egypt frequently serves as an asylum to persecuted goodness, protects and cherishes the precious seed of the church. Thither Abraham flees from the pressure of famine, and is thence dismissed with riches and honour. Here Joseph finds refuge from the malice of jealous and cruel brothers; from hence Jacob and his starving family are repeatedly fed. Here sprung up Moses, in times of extreme danger and distress; here he was miraculously preserved, and reared to unexampled eminence and usefulness. Here Israel miraculously increases into a great nation, and from hence triumphantly departs; and here, finally, He whom all the rest prefigured, and in whom their several glory united as in their centre, sought and found protection from the rage of an incensed king. This too was ordered of Him who seeth the end from the beginning. He went down into Egypt that in his return the Scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, "out of Egypt have I called my Son." Surely, O Lord, the wrath of man shall praise thee, and the remainder of wrath thou shalt restrain."

A vail is drawn over the sojourn in Egypt, and it were presumption to attempt to draw it aside: neither is it possible exactly to ascertain its duration. The infamous Herod meanwhile paid the debt of Nature, leaving behind him a name loaded with the execrations of the age in which he lived, and with the detestation of every future generation to which the history of his enormities shall descend. His death was the signal of return to the land of Israel; but prudence suggested the retirement of the poor and despised town of Nazareth, as a residence more suitable to the circumstances of the times than the noise and hurry of a metropolis, the seat of faction and intrigue, or the suspiciously observed city of David, to which the jealous eyes of successive tyrants had been attracted by well known prophecies and by recent portents.

As the place of Christ's birth, so that of his up-bringing was prophetically marked,

not indeed by any particular text that appears in the sacred code, but by its whole spirit and tenor, which represent him as voluntarily submitting to every species of reproach and indignity; the carpenter's son, a Galilean, a Nazarene, can any good come out of Nazareth! It was in this obscure village, of a region of a conquered country, proverbially contemptible, that the childhood of Christ passed unseen, unnoticed of the great world; but carefully observed of an attentive mother, who, to the tender solicitudes of that relation, was inspired with hopes, and animated with prospects, and torn with anxieties which no mother before or since ever could know; there this wonderful "child grew and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom," exhibiting unequivocal signs of a superior nature, without courting the public notice, or attracting premature homage; and thus humility, from the beginning and throughout, marked the charac ter of the condescending friend of mankind, who became of no reputation, sought not glory of man, took on him the form of a servant; he "strives not, nor cries, neither doth he lift up his voice in the streets;" and from the return out of Egypt, which was probably not beyond his second year, up to the twelfth, history is entirely silent as to the particulars-but Ó how much is conveyed in the strong general terms employed by inspiration, to impress on our hearts the discovery and progress of these vailed ten years. May not the history of them be one of the precious arcana which "the Father hath kept in his own power," and reserved for the information, wonder, and joy of an im‐ proved state of existence, when things hard to be understood shall be fully explained; and things known in part shall be unfolded in all their connexions and dependencies; and infinite intelligence shall supply all the deficiencies of human understanding.

It was in that fameless village, and in those trackless years that the foundation was laid of a greatness which should eclipse all created glory; of a kingdom that should swallow up every other; of an enterprise which should extend its influence to the remotest ages of eternity.

The next Lecture will, if God permit, take up the next recorded period of our Saviour's history, his assuming for a moment a public character at the age of twelve years, and his sliding away from it again into silence and retirement, till his thirtieth year, the time of his final manifestation unto Israel, as the great "Prophet that should come into the world."

Shall I degrade my subject, by saying it suggests to parents many useful hints respecting the early treatment of their children? Be as tender and attentive as you will; listen to the voice of nature and learn

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