MAY 1.

The Child Born.

"Unto us a child is born."-Isa. ix. 6.

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The

ET us contemplate the child Jesus-the circumstances of his birth-and the persons to whom he was born. The child Jesus.-He was a promised child. seed of the woman was to bruise the serpent's head. Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel." He was a divine child. "God with us." "God manifest in flesh." "Being in the form of God, he thought it not robbery to be equal with God, but took upon him the form of a servant." He was a holy child. He is called "the holy child Jesus," and "the holy One." "He did no sin," and could challenge the world, "Which of you convinceth me of sin ?" Not only is he the Sun of Righteousness, but the Sun of Righteousness without a cloud and without a spot. He was an only child. "Only begotten and well beloved." Isaac was a type of him, and God commanded him to be offered in sacrifice; yet Isaac was spared, but God spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all. O my soul, wilt thou not go to Bethlehem, and see this holy child?

The circumstances of his birth.-Its time was remarkable. The sceptre had departed from Judah, and that kingdom had become a Roman province. The second temple was still standing, and the Lord must come into it, and give it, by his presence, greater glory than the first. Its place was

remarkable. Mary and Joseph lived in Nazareth, but the decree of Cæsar brings them to Bethlehem. The interest it excited on earth was remarkable. The wise men, guided by a strange star, come from a far country, and worship him, and present their gifts; while Herod the king was troubled, and slew the infants of Bethlehem. It also excited interest in heaven. An angel descended, and announced his birth to the shepherds; and a host of angels sung his praises, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good-will towards men." My reader, what interest does the birth of this child excite in thy bosom?

To whom was this child born."Unto us." He was born in our nature. He is bone of our bone, and flesh of our flesh; and every one may claim him as a brother. He was born our Saviour. "Unto you is born this day a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord." He is our gift from the Father. "My Father giveth to you the true bread from heaven." By invitations, commands, and threatenings, he is pressed on our acceptance. He is ours in possession by faith. As God's unspeakable gift to us, we must receive him, and claim him as our Saviour. Was the child Jesus born to save me, and shall I not hold him fast, and refuse to let him go? I take Jesus in my arms. He is "my

Lord and my God."

MAY 2.

The Son Giben.

"Unto us a son is given."-Isa. ix. 6.

HERE we have the Son of God-the Son given-and the Son given unto us.

The Son of God.-He is so called in respect of his divine nature. "And straightway Paul preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God." "All men

should honour the Son even as they honour the Father." "Say

He is so in respect of his mission into the world. ye of him whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, thou blasphemest; because I said I am the Son of God?" And this claim his enemies well understood, for they sought to take him and stone him. He is so in respect of his office as Mediator. "The Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world." And he is so in respect of his resurrection from the dead. "Declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead." How worthy is the Son of God of our confidence and our love! Let us "kiss the Son, lest he be angry; blessed are all they that put their trust in him."

The Son given.-He is given as a prophet. As such he teaches, enlightens, and reveals future events. Let us sit at his feet and learn of him, for he is greater than Solomon, and greater than Jonah. "Never man spake like this man." He is given as a priest. God's justice and man's sin rendered a propitiation necessary, and Jesus willingly made it. He laid his bosom bare to the sword of avenging justice, whose death-stroke might have fallen upon us; and by the sacrifice of himself he hath erected a new pathway to heaven, a new way to the holiest of all by his own blood. And he follows up his atoning death on earth by his all-prevailing intercession for us at the right hand of God. He is given as a king. As such, he reduces sinful men to obedience. He rules in them and over them, and defends them from all their enemies. As such, he governs the nations, and controls the designs of the mightiest kings on earth, and he must reign till all his enemies be put under his feet.

The persons to whom given.-" Unto us." He is given for our salvation. "He died for our sins, according to the Scriptures." For sinners, for the ungodly, for enemies, for

the unjust, God gave him up to die that they might live. May his death be my life! He is given by way of offer in the gospel. "My Father giveth you the true bread from heaven." This offer is sincere, earnest, free, and universal. How great does the love of God appear in the gift of his Son! May that love, whose radiance illuminates our gospel sky, attract my eye, inflame my heart, and influence my conduct!

MAY 3.

The Gobernment of Christ.

"The government shall be upon his shoulder."—Isa. ix. 6.

HERE we have the Governor-the kingdom governed-and the government administered.

He

The Governor.-He is the child born, and the Son given. He is divinely appointed to this office. "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.” "God hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name." To the office of Governor he is justly entitled as the reward of his sufferings. This was the joy that was set before him when he endured the cross. is well qualified for this office, possessing, as he does, “the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge, and of the fear of the Lord." And he is the sole Governor: "In all things he has the pre-eminence." There is but "one head over all things." He admits of no rival, no partner, no vicegerent, no substitute; for the vast building, composed of living stones, has but one foundation and one chief corner-stone.

The kingdom governed.-This is his church. All the kingdoms of the world have an earthly origin, and have been created by force, but the kingdom of Christ has a

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THE GOVERNMENT OF CHRIST.

divine origin, and is founded on love. Its nature is spiritual, for it sways the sceptre over the heart, and has existed and increased in spite of the opposition of all earthly kingdoms. It is eternal in its duration. "Unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever." Where is the Hebrew commonwealth? Where are the Assyrian, the Persian, the Grecian, and the Roman empires? All have passed away, while the kingdom of Christ remains, and extends, and will extend till the whole earth be his.

The government administered.—It extends over all his subjects. They are called out of the world, united to Christ by a living faith, and born again by his Spirit. His kingdom is within them, and his power and authority over them. All his subjects are guided by his laws. These all emanate from the Governor, are found in the Scriptures, and all Christian men regulate their hearts and lives solely by them. This government is administered by wise officers of his own appointment. He gave some apostles, and some prophets, and some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers. The expense of carrying on his government should be defrayed by his subjects. As the soldier has his pay, the vinedresser the fruit of the vine, and the shepherd the milk of the flock, "even so hath the Lord ordained that they who preach the gospel should live of the gospel." "Let him that is taught in

the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things."

MAY 4.

Christ wonderful in Himself.

"His name shall be called Wonderful."-Isa. ix. 6.

CHRIST is wonderful in his person. He is God, equal with the Father. His pre-existence, the testimony of prophets