THE STAR OF BETHLEHEM. 19 young child was,” Matt. ii. 9. Great was their joy at this event; and, on reaching the memorable spot where the infant Saviour appeared, they "fell down, and worshipped him and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh," Matt. ii. 11. : The guide to these sages accorded well with the nature of Him to whom they were conducted, so far as the finite can shadow forth the Infinite. It is said that, in the hieroglyphics of Egypt, a star denoted the Deity. Thus God also reproved Israel, saying, " Ye have borne the tabernacle of your Moloch and Chiun your images, the star of your god, which ye made to yourselves," Amos v. 26. In like manner, the first martyr, Stephen, testified against them, "Yea, ye took up the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your god Remphan, figures which ye made to worship them;" and which were, therefore, doubtless considered appropriate emblems of the Divinity. Acts vii. 43. The figure of a star was used, according to the genius of Eastern language, to shadow forth the dignity of the Saviour's nature. "Great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh," 1 Tim. iii. 16. "The Word," says the beloved disciple, "was God. - And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we 20 THE STAR OF BETHLEHEM. beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth," John i. 1. 14. No wonder, then, that Jesus should say, "I and my Father are one," John x. 30. Never should this most important truth be overlooked. The Babe of Bethlehem, the Man of Sorrows, the Victim on Calvary, is the eternal God. He who created all things, whether visible or invisible; he who upholds them by the word of his power; he who will one day raise the dead, summon every individual of the human family to his bar, and pronounce on each one a sentence which shall never be altered—is the great and only Mediator. How worthy is he of our love and our confidence! His knowledge is unbounded, his wisdom cannot be fathomed, his power is almighty. All are in danger who are exposed to the shafts of his anger; none are insecure to whom he deigns to manifest his love. It is, moreover, our unspeakable happiness to know, that he is both able and willing to manifest himself to every one who humbly waits upon him. Of this we are assured in language suited to the present subject; for at the close of the inspired volume, the gracious proclamation is made to the world, "I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches, I am the root and the offspring of David and the bright |