painter could not have described the star, nor a poet have expressed their feelings with a more vivid freshness, and with a more quiet and energetic simplicity, than the Apostle here manifests, when, combining We may also see that there are great both the painter's and the poet's office, he fluctuations in the experience of the Chrissays, in the graphic language of the text, tian at different times. He is not always in which at once revives the whole scene be- a state of exceeding great joy. The diffefore the imagination of the reader_" When rent changes of mind and feeling, through they saw the star they rejoiced with exceed- which the wise men passed, from the time ing great joy." The expressions in the ori- when first they saw the star, until they saw ginal are peculiarly emphatic, ixágnoav zagar him to whom the star pointed, afford a good yán poda. They denote an inconceiv- illustration of the variations which take place ably high degree of joy: a state of holy and in the experience of the Christian. Hope seraphic ecstasy, similar to that which the and fear, and expectation and anxiety, as apostle Peter speaks of as "a joy unspeak-well as joy, must have dwelt in turn within able and full of glory,” χαρᾷ ἀνεκλαλητῳ και their breasts. δεδοξασμένη.

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babe lying in the manger, Luke ii. 16; but when the wise men came, they found only Jesus and his mother. If it be asked how this difference is to be accounted for, it may be answered, that the wise men arrived at a time when Joseph was absent at his trade, earning by his labour the means of supporting Mary and the child Jesus, whereas the shepherds arrived at night. But notwithstanding the lowliness of the Saviour's condition, the wise men fell down and worshipped him, and in this we have a strong illustration of the efficacy of simple faith resting upon the word of God.

But we should not overlook this-that | Christ had been born in a manger, but here even a state of exceeding great joy is an we find him in a house. Perhaps he had imperfect state. In fact, any condition which to be removed in order t, make way for the implies an undue excitement of one feeling cattle that were kept in the stable. When above another, must be, so far, imperfect. the shepherds came to see the infant SaComplete happiness consists in the well-viour, they found Mary and Joseph, and the adjusted harmony of all the feelings. The state of the wise men, after they had entered the house, and saw- not the star, but Christ himself, was a higher state of felicity than that which the verse before us describes. When bending in the attitude of devout adoration before the infant Saviour, their feelings were all well balanced; and in their souls there was reverence, humility, and confidence, and faith, each in its own proper proportion, as well as joy. When they saw the star, their feelings were, more or less. agitated and excited; like the lake that, when ruffled by the tempest, reflects the light of the sun in fitful and unsteady rays. But when they entered the house, and knelt in homage before the new-born King of the Jews, their minds were composed into a state of peaceful joy, and of joyful peace; like the lake which, when the tempest has ceased to blow, reposing in still and motionless tranquillity, reflects from its smooth and placid surface the quiet brightness of the orb of day. Thus, when the wise men bent in homage before the Saviour, the state of their minds was, as it were, a reflection of the calm and peaceful feelings that dwelt within the breast of the infant Jesus.

11. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.

As God did not cease to guide the wise men until they had come to the very place where Jesus was, so they did not cease to persevere in their journey until they came into his presence. It is thus that he deals with sinners: he leads them by his grace; they persevere in following the leadings of

that grace.

After coming into the house, they found

We may consider the circumstance of the wise men presenting gifts to Christ as a providential arrangement of God to supply Joseph and Mary with the means of defraying the expense of the journey they were so soon to take into Egypt. It has been thought that there was an allegorical meaning implied by the nature and quality of these gifts. If there was, perhaps the following is the most rational-that by the gold was denoted the intrinsic value of the Saviour's work, resulting from the dignity of his person-by the frankincense, the efficacy of his work in satisfying the justice of God, to whom he surrendered himself as an offering and sacrifice for a sweet-smelling the healing influence of his work, as applied savour-and that the myrrh represented in the salvation of sinners. Whether it may be regarded as fanciful or not, to interpret the circumstance in this way, we know that the wise men presented the most precious and valuable articles which their country supplied. They did not worship Jesus by mere outward profession and ceremony, but accompanied their homage with a solid and substantial proof of the reality of their faith, and showed and testified their persuasion that nothing is too valuable to be devoted to the service of him who, though he was rich, yet for our sakes became poor, that we through his poverty might be made rich.

12. And being warned of God "the young child with Mary his mother." in a dream that they should not re

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flight into a foreign land, constituted no his faith might have given way under so small portion of that cup of sorrows which he began to drink, as soon as he left his throne of glory in the heavens. Whenever, therefore, we speak of the sufferings of Christ, which were endured as an atonement for sin, we should be careful to include the entire catalogue of the miseries which he underwent, commencing with his humble nativity at Bethlehem, and ending with his ignominious death on Calvary.

many repeated assaults, and therefore God, who never tries his people beyond what they are able to bear, annexes to the command a strong and imperative reason, which appealing to the affection and love which Joseph and Mary entertained towards the child Jesus, armed him at once with a prompt disposition to consult for the safety of the infant Saviour in the appointed way.

From the reason here stated for the command to flee into Egypt, we learn that God is fully acquainted with all the cruel and malicious projects of the enemies and persecutors of his people. What was said to Sennacherib was equally applicable to Herod

We may perceive what was the reason that Christ was not preserved by a series of miraculous interpositions. It was to demonstrate the reality of his human nature. If miracles had been employed for this purpose, we might have argued his possession" I know thy abode, and thy going out, of a nature superior to our own. But he was preserved in the ordinary way, and by the intervention of common means, in order to show that he was true and proper man, bone of our bone and flesh of our flesh. And yet we cannot fail to notice the watchful care which God the Father mani-young child and his mother by night, fested towards his only begotten Son. This and departed into Egypt:

was not only to preserve him in order that he might in due time accomplish the work for which he came into the world; but it was also that he might leave upon record a pattern and specimen of that providential custody which he exercises in behalf of all the Saviour's people. The same everlasting arms of mercy which protected the infant Jesus, are also the defence of those that put their trust in him.

The reason why Joseph was to flee into Egypt is here given – "for Herod will seek the young child's life to destroy it." God is not bound by any principles to state to his creatures the grounds and reasons of his commands, nor should they ever delay their obedience, in the expectation of his doing so. We should always resolve our inquiries as to the design, utility, or expediency of any command from God into an humble recognition of his infinite and infallible wisdom, and an unqualified conviction that our welfare and happiness is the great end of all his dealings towards us. If he should condescend to state the reasons of what he desires us to do, we should receive such an explanation as a spontaneous act of superabounding mercy upon his part, extended towards us in kind consideration of our weakness and liability to unbelief. In the case before us, Joseph had been already so much tried, that

and thy coming in, and thy rage against me," Isaiah xxxvii. 28. To a searching and omniscient God the designs of Herod were known long before.

14. When he arose, he took the

arose,"

Instead of the translation-" when he we should read" but he, having risen." Joseph evidently rose immediately for the express purpose of departing the very same night that he received the command. Those who respect the authority of God will pay instant and implicit attention to all his precepts and directions, knowing that the obedience which is not prompt and decisive is not worth the name. In what a wretched condition must Judea have been under the tyranny of Herod, when it could supply no place of refuge for the Saviour! Egypt was a place in which idolatry and enmity against the Jews prevailed, yet even this was preferable to Judea!

There is a tradition that Joseph and Mary with the child Jesus took up their abode in Hermopolis, in the country of Thebais, where he was brought, on his arrival, into a heathen temple, upon which all the statues of the false deities instantly fell down, like Dagon before the Ark, 1 Sam. v. 1-4. But this account is most probably fabulous, invented, in all likelihood, as the supposed fulfilment of the prophecy in Isaiah xix. 1—“ The burden of Egypt: behold the Lord rideth upon a swift cloud, and shall come into Egypt, and the idols of Egypt shall be moved at his presence."

15. And was there, until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called Son. my

embellished with those pure and heaven-born virtues which God commends and approves. instance was only surpassed by the perverse The obliquity of judgment displayed in this infatuation manifested in the rejection of him, to whom, of all that ever appeared in human flesh, the title of "Great," in its highest and most absolute signification, belongs.

Joseph and Mary remained with the child Jesus in Egypt, until the death of Herod. When God brings his people into a place of safety, he keeps them there until all danger has been removed: and it is always best to allow him to choose our position for us. This he will do, if we cast all our care upon him. If" in all our ways we acknowledge him, he will direct our path." During their stay in Egypt they were the objects of his most special providence: and of this they had in their company the dearest and the strongest pledge that God himself could give. They that have Christ abiding with them, possess every needful mercy. "He that spared not his own Son, but freely gave him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things!"

It is here said that Joseph and Mary and Jesus remained in Egypt until the death of Herod, "that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the Prophet, saying,

It is not clearly known how long they remained in Egypt. Some say that Herod died about seven years afterwards, others that he died within a few months. He was taken out of the way, and all his designs were frustrated, as soon as ever it suited the purpose of Him who doeth all things after the counsel of his own will: and in his history we have a striking example of the destiny of those who endeavour to impede the plans and intentions of God. The disease by which he died was one of a most painful and loathsome description. His agonies seemed only to stimulate and exasperate the cruelty of his temper. It is related, that on his deathbed he gave orders to have some of the chief of the Jewish people confined in prison, in order to be slain immediately after his own death, lest in the joy which he knew would be caused by his decease, mourners should be wanting at his funeral. Five days before he died himself, he ordered his son Antipater to be slain. His character is thus given by Josephus: "He was a man universally cruel, and of an ungovernable anger; and though Out of Egypt have I called my Son.' he trampled justice under foot, he was ever Some persons have thought that Matthew the favourite of fortune. From a private here refers to Numbers xxiv. 8, in which station he rose to the throne. Beset on every Balaam when speaking of Israel says. side with a thousand dangers, he escaped" God brought him forth out of Egypt." them all; and prolonged his life to the full But this is not likely, inasmuch as the boundary of old age. They who considered words which are here quoted by St. Matwhat befel him in the bosom of his own thew are materially different from those family, pronounced him to be of all men which occur in the passage in the book of the most miserable; but to himself he ever Numbers: and also because it is not likely seemed most prosperous, for of all his enemies that the Evangelist would have referred to there was not one whom he did not over- Balaam in the very same words in which come."-To the last part of this account we he elsewhere refers to those who were the must make an exception. When he waged fully and constantly accredited prophets of war against the Majesty of Heaven, he was God. Matthew evidently quotes from Hosea at once defeated: for he who fights against xi. 1-" When Israel was a child, then I the King of kings can never prevail. This loved him, and called my son out of Egypt." man received from the world the appella- The words there, however, appear to have tion of "GREAT;" for such is the estimate only an historical reference to the deliverwhich mankind in general form of the cha- ance of the children of Israel out of the racters of their fellow men, that they consider bondage of Egypt, and we should never, in that man to be more deserving of high and all probability, have referred them to Christ, noble titles of dignity, who is only remark- had not St. Matthew given us authority for able for splendid cruelties and successful doing so. Now whether the passage in tyranny, than the man whose character is Hosea is referred to by St. Matthew as a

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