66

heathen, having totally forgotten Him, worshipped idols of all sorts, graven images carved out of wood or stone, which they called Gods, and knelt to and prayed to. In some places they worshipped animals, birds, and even loathsome reptiles. And in others they sacrificed human beings to these idols, and even little children, making them pass through the fire to Moloch, one of their most horrible idols.

There

So the Gentiles became generally corrupt; in some places most atrociously so. were many good and well-disposed people among them; but without the knowledge of GOD and the practice of true religion, even these well-intentioned persons fell of course into error, though they were not so cruel or so terribly wicked as others.

And it pleased GOD, as on this day, to make His SoN known to the Gentiles, or heathen people of that time, whose descendants WE ARE.

Stars shone and Angels sang to celebrate His birth. Such testimonies were never heard or thought of in the world before or since. Angels hovering round the shepherds of Bethlehem sang such hymns as are heard in heaven only and a star, a new star, such a star as had never been seen in the skies before, shone far away from His cradle, far away into the East: where there were wise,

and learned, and good men, Chaldeans; a very learned race, who were accustomed to stay out in the open air at night to study and watch the stars, so wonderful in their motions, and who tried to learn about everything else from them; for they supposed that there were signs in the stars for everything that happened on earth.

The Magi were a very learned and wise people, and many of them very good people, who in their deep studies had learned all that people on earth could teach, but had not learned anything of the one true, real God; and so they knelt down to the sun or to fire, as their God. All these, and numbers more, were heathen.

There were three of these persons, good and just men, of very high rank, it is said, for they are called kings; of the deepest learning and high renown, for they are called prophets," Prophet-Kings." To them was known, it is believed, that prophecy of Balaam, uttered fifteen hundred years before this time, which you have read at page 17; and much did they question and inquire among themselves what this "star" and this sceptre" should mean, as year by year they watched the stars from the mountain tops.

66

However, there was then a general hush and expectation through the world; a prevailing idea, founded on the old prophecies, that about this time some wonderfully great

person should appear. And perhaps this expectation may have made these wise men more earnest and watchful. In those countries, it was usually supposed that if a new star was seen in the sky, it was an omen that any child born then should arrive at great

power.

Suddenly, one midnight, at Christmas, these earnest watchers were startled by a new wonder. There came out along the East, the gleam of a new star,-a star quite different from any they had ever seen in all their lives before. It was totally unlike other stars in every way. It was a thousand times brighter, and some persons have said it was in the shape of a Cross. And it began to glide and move as if it were borne by invisible hands (angels', perhaps) through

heaven.

This was, it may be, the most wonderful thing about it: for, you know, we cannot see the stars move. We are sure that they and the earth do so, because if we look at a star early in the evening, and look again some hours later, we shall see that it has changed its position; but with the naked eye we can never see them glide and move as this one did.

At once these wise men set out, and for twelve days and nights followed this star as it moved on before them; for it shone as wonderfully in the day as in the night. We can

not see the stars by daylight; and when GOD Almighty placed that wonderful pillar of fire to guide the Israelites through the wilderness, you will remember that though it was a bright flame by night, it looked only like a pillar of smoke by day. But this star shone in brightness by day as well as by night.

The pillar of fire and of smoke guided the Israelites towards their promised land, the earthly possession of the beautiful country of Canaan; THE STAR guided our forerunners, those three good but heathen men, towards our promised inheritance, eternal in heaven, through JESUS CHRIST, whom they sought out to worship.

When they came near to Jerusalem the star disappeared, so of course they thought their journey was ended. And entering the city they went at once to king Herod, saying, "Where is He that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen His Star in the East, and are come to worship Him.'

Then king Herod was in much trouble, for he greatly feared that he should have a rival on the throne: supposing, as people then did, that the promised SAVIOUR was to be a great king on earth, to deliver the Jews from the Romans and other enemies, and make Jerusalem great and glorious again, as it had been in the days of David and Solomon.

We know otherwise, because we have seen those events come to pass which the prophets

had foretold; but the Jews could not understand them then, and they, as well as the king, were very disturbed and anxious. The whole city was moved.

So king Herod consulted in private those learned men of the Jews who were most skilled in the Hebrew prophecies, and they told him that the child was to be born in Bethlehem Ephrata.

66

Hearing this the wise men quitted Jerusalem to go thither, when, lo! there was the glorious star shining again before them, and they rejoiced with exceeding great joy." They followed it of course, gladly, and in a while they saw it sinking lower and lower in the air, until most slowly sinking, it stood quite still near the earth, exactly over the spot where the young Child was.

King Herod had desired them to return to him under the pretence that he might wor ship CHRIST also, but, in reality, that he might kill Him. But being warned by GoD not to return thither, these good men went back to their own country without passing through Jerusalem. That is, after they had worshipped Christ. For they knelt down before Him and worshipped Him.

They knew by inspiration of God not only that this slumbering, innocent, helpless babe, was the promised "star" that was to rise out of Jacob, the "sceptre "that was to govern in Israel, the long foretold MESSIAH, but that