erer was to make his appearance; nor are there wanting evidences, that such an event was looked for, even in the gentile or heathen world.

But though the train of divine providence had all along tended to this object, the appearance of the expected Redeemer, as we shall see, was not to be marked by earthly pomp. On the contrary, as if God would show his utter disregard of what poor depraved mortals so highly esteem, the King of glory" was to be ushered into the world in the most obscure condition; while divine honor and heavenly attention were to supply the place of vain and empty worldly grandeur: the carnal and the highminded were to be disappointed in their calculations, while humble, pious souls were to rejoice in his salvation.

time, the angel Gabriel was sent to a virgin of the house of David, whose name was Mary; a poor young woman, promised in marriage to Joseph, a carpenter, who was likewise of the house of David; that royal family being, at this time, reduced to a low condition. Saluting the highly-favored virgin, the angel made known to her that she should bear a son, whose name should be called JESUS; that God would give him the throne of David, and a kingdom without end; and that this holy child should be produced by the power of the Divine Spirit; on account of which he should be called "the Son of God."

Shortly after this wonderful occurrence, Elisabeth was honored by a visit from Mary, who was her near relation, and both of them, in a divine rapture, rejoiced and As an introduction to the event about to praised God, on account of the approaching take place, an angel appeared to a priest visitation of mercy and grace toward his named Zacharias (while offering incense in people. Nor was it long before Zacharias the temple), informing him that he should witnessed, in the birth of John, the fulfilhave a son, who was to be called John : ment of the angel's prediction; and having that this child should be filled with the his tongue loosed, he straightway employed Holy Ghost from his birth; and that heit in divine praises, and in prophesying the should be the forerunner of the Lord from dawn of the gospel-day. heaven, in order to prepare his way. Zacharias, though a righteous man, being, with his wife Elisabeth, far advanced in years, seemed to hesitate through unbelief; whereupon the angel, declaring his name to be Gabriel, assured the priest that he should be "dumb, and not able to speak," till the fulfilment of this prediction; thus at once confirming the truth of the message, and chastising the unbelief of Zacharias.

In the sixth month from this period of

*The Gospel of St. Luke mentions the fact, that, about the time of the birth of Christ, an edict was issued by the Roman emperor to have an enrolment or census taken in Palestine. This is stated to have been done when Cyrenius (Quirinius) was governor of Syria. A chronological difficulty is found in connection with the statement of Luke, arising from the time when it is alleged that Cyrenius was governor, who, according to Josephus, entered upon his presidency some eight or ten years subsequently to the birth of Christ.

Several hypotheses have been offered for the solution of the difficulty referred to, i. e., the apparent discrepancy between the account of Josephus and that of Luke. But without giving these various solutions, some of which are very plausible, if not entirely satisfactory, it will answer the purpose of this note to refer to one approved by Dr. P. Schaff in the words following; viz., "the assumption that Cyrenius (Quirinius)

In the mean time, the angel of the Lord, appearing to Joseph in a dream, removed from his mind all suspicion with respect to the character of Mary his espoused wife; shortly after which, in consequence of a decree from the Roman emperor, for the taxing (or enrolling) of all his subjects, in the several cities of their respective families,* Joseph and Mary repaired together to Bethlehem, the city of David, to whose family they both belonged. The inn at this

was twice governor of Syria, once three years before Christ down to the birth of Christ (A.U. 750-753), and about six to eleven years after the birth of Christ (760). A double legation of Quirinius in Syria has recently been made almost certain by purely antiquarian researches from two independent testimonies, viz., from a passage in Tacitus (Annales iii. 48), as interpreted by A. W. Zumpt, and from an old monumental inscription discovered between the Villa Hadriani and the Via Tiburtina, which, according to the celebrated antiquarians Mommsen and Bergman, must be referred to Quirinius, and which teaches his second governorship."- Lange's Commentary on Luke, p. 32.

A. B.

† A city of Judah, situated on an eminence overlooking Tekoah, at the distance of nine miles south, and about six miles south-west, of Jerusa lem. It was also called Ephrath (Gen xxxv. 16-19) and Ephratah (Ruth iv. 11). Though a city of no great note, it was celebrated as the

of these celestial messengers, who was sud-received timely notice by an angel, and the denly joined by a multitude of the heavenly heaven-protected infant was now in Egypt. hosts, praising God, and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. This intelligence, thus wonderfully communicated, carried the shepherds in haste to view the infant, and produced a report which struck with astonishment all who heard it.

In conformity with the Jewish law, the child Jesus was circumcised, at eight days old, and, some time afterward, presented before the Lord, in the temple at Jerusalem. On this occasion, two memorable testimonies were borne to his character, as the Messiah. Old Simeon, a devout man, who waited for the consolation of Israel, took the holy infant in his arms, and blessing God, said, "Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word; for mine eyes have seen thy salvation!" - while Anna, an aged widow of great piety, coming into the temple at the same time, "gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem."

In the mean time a new and uncommon star had appeared in the heavens, which served as a signal that the star of Jacob had arisen upon the world, and as a guide to certain persons called "wise men, " who came from the East to Jerusalem, to inquire after him who was "born king of the Jews." When Herod the king had received information of these things, he determined, if possible, to crush at once the child whom he considered as the rival of his family. Accordingly, he requested of the wise men, that when they had found the object of their search, they should bring him word, that he also might join in paying him adoration.

On leaving Jerusalem, the Eastern sages found, to their joy, that the star which they had seen before they set out on their journey, had again appeared! It now became their guide to Bethlehem, and stood over the house where the holy family at this time resided. Having worshipped the wonderful babe, and, according to the Eastern custom, made an offering of gold, frankincense, and myrrh; and being warned in a dream of Herod's bloody intention, "they departed into their own country another way. tyrant, thus baffled in his purpose, caused all the children to be destroyed in Bethlehem and the neighboring country, "from two years old and under;" but Joseph had

The death of Herod (who was succeeded by his son Archelaus) being made known to Joseph, by an angel he returned with Mary and the young child, and dwelt in Nazareth, a city of Galilee, where "the child grew and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon him." From this place Joseph, the supposed father, and Mary, the mother of Jesus, went yearly to Jerusalem, to the feast of the passover. On one of these occasions, when he was twelve years old, having accompanied them to the feast, he was left behind, on the return of his parents, who travelled a day's journey under the supposition that Jesus was in company with some of their relations.

When, however, after discovering their mistake, they returned to the city to make inquiry, he was found in the temple, "sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions," while the uncommon wisdom of. his youthful mind astonished all who heard him. "Wist ye not," said he to his parents, when they had thus found him, "that I must be about my Father's business?" He then went down with them to Nazareth, and was subject to them; "increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man."

While thus the early part of the life of Jesus was spent at Nazareth in Galilee, John, who was designed as his forerunner in the ministry, was raised to maturity in that part of Judea which was called the desert, or the wilderness. In this retired situation, in the reign of Tiberius Cæsar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judæa, Herod, tetrarch of Galilee, and Annas and Caiaphas being high-priests, John received a divine commission; in consequence of which, he went forth into the country about Jordan, preaching the necessity of repentance for the remission of sins; exhorting the people to the practice of righteousness; directing their attention to the Messiah, who was shortly to follow him; and baptizing all who gave evidence of the power of his doctrine on their hearts; hence he was called "John the Baptist."

"" The The appearance of this preacher, who was clothed in raiment of camel's hair, with a leathern girdle about his loins; the doctrines which he so earnestly inculcated; and the strict sanctity and self-denial of his life, ex

Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

cited great attention among the people, and drew crowds to his baptism. In the mean time, to the multitudes who attended his The infernal enemy, thus baffled in all his ministry, he failed not to declare the superi- attempts, was compelled to leave the con ority of the approaching Messiah; informing queror; angels came and ministered to his the people, that while he himself baptized wants; and Jesus went forth from his rewith water only, a mightier One would come tirement, to enter on the glorious work of after him, who should baptize with the Holy blessing, reforming, and redeeming lost Ghost.

While John was thus employed, Jesus, who had hitherto lived in retirement, being now about thirty years of age, made his appearance at the River Jordan, and claimed the ordinance of baptism at the hands of his servant. On this occasion, God was pleased to introduce his Son to the world; for upon his being baptized, and going up out of the water, the heavens were opened, the Holy Ghost descended upon him like a dove, and the voice of the eternal Father proclaimed, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

Immediately after this solemnity, Jesus was conducted, by an impulse of the Holy Spirit, into the wilderness, where, in a state of seclusion from the world, he spent forty days in fasting and communion with God, as a preparation for the great work of the ministry, which he was about to undertake. Here he was assaulted with three powerful temptations from the devil, each of which was repelled by an appeal to the written word of God.

man.

While the Redeemer was thus secluded from the world, the report of John's ministry and baptism having excited the notice of the Jewish council, messengers were sent from that body to learn who this strange character might be. To their inquiry on this point, John answered, that he was not the Christ, nor the prophet Elijah (who in their opinion was to revisit the earth); but that he was come as "the voice of one crying in the wilderness, make straight the way of the Lord"-according to the prophecy of Isaiah; declaring, at the same time, that there was one who had appeared among the people, the latchet of whose shoes he was not worthy to loose.

On the next day, Jesus having now returned from the desert, John saw him approaching, and took occasion to point him out to the people, under the character of

the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world ;" announcing him as the person of whose coming he had before given notice, and testifying, in plain and positive terms, that he was the Son of God. Again, on the following day, looking on the divine Saviour as he was walking at some little distance, he repeated his former expression, "Behold the Lamb of God!" in consequence of which, two of John's disciples attached themselves to Christ, and became his fol lowers.

First, he was tempted to turn stones into bread, that he might thus at once prove his power, as the Son of God, and allay his hunger. But he answered, "It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." Secondly, the devil requested that he would prove himself to be under the protection of Heaven, by casting himself down One of these disciples was Andrew; the from the pinnacle (or battlements) of the other, though not named, was probably John, temple; but Christ showed the wickedness who afterward wrote one of the Gospels, and of tempting, or rashly presuming on divine is distinguished by the title of "the beloved providence, by answering, "It is written, disciple." Shortly afterward they were Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God." joined by three others, viz., Simon Peter Thirdly, he was promised by this impudent (who is called Cephas); Philip, of Bethtempter, all the kingdoms of the world, if saida; and Nathanael, of whom Jesus testihe would fall down and worship him, to fied that he was an Israelite, indeed, in whom which, with holy indignation, Jesus answered, there was no guile. With these disciples Get thee hence, Satan; for it is written, our Lord attended a marriage in Cana* of

The hills in the distance are

* Cana of Galilee is a village, consisting grow there. of a few miserable huts. The ground rises gray and barren. The ruins of a church are gently toward the village: it is stony, and shown to the traveller: it is said to have been partially covered with short grass: olive-trees erected by the Empress Helena on the spot where

Galilee, where he wrought his first public | who accommodated the traders by changing miracle, by turning water into wine; thus money. Filled with holy indignation to see supplying the need of the guests, and confirming the faith of his disciples.