justification is included in the Gospel covenant. None can have a claim to the privileges, and consolation of believers, who are not humble, and grieved for their sins, and endeavouring, in reliance on God's help, to subdue them. The name Emmanuel is seldom used in the Bible, but it is scarcely less interesting to us than the name Jesus. It is the name given to our Lord as signifying His nature as God-man, God manifest in the flesh, God with us. It is of great importance to remember that there was a union of two natures, the Divine and human, in the person of our Lord Jesus Christ. We must never forget that our Saviour is perfect man as well as perfect God— and perfect God as well as perfect man. The name Emmanuel describes the whole mystery, Jesus is God with us. He had a nature like our own in all things, sin excepted, but He was at the same time very God! We read in the Gospels that our Saviour was often hungry, and thirsty, and weary, could weep, and groan, and feel pain like ourselves; in all this we see the man, Christ Jesus; we see the nature he took upon Him when He was born of the Virgin Mary. But we also read of Him as knowing men's hearts, and thoughts, as having power over Devils, as working the mightiest miracles with a word, as saying of Himself, "before Abraham was I am," and, "I and my Father are one;" in all these we see the eternal God, we see Him who is over all, God blessed for evermore, Amen.

SECTION VIII.

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Cæsar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And

all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judæa, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David :) to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

It is very interesting to observe the providence of God as regards the place of Christ's birth. The prophet Micah had foretold that the Messiah should be born at Bethlehem, yet Mary lived at Nazareth, some fifty miles distant from Bethlehem. God could easily have directed Mary to go to Bethlehem; but, instead of doing this, he caused circumstances to occur which compelled her to remove thither. He orders all things in Heaven, and earth. He turns the hearts of kings whithersoever He will. He even ruled the time when the Roman Emperor Augustus decreed that a census of his empire should be taken, so that Mary must needs be at Bethlehem, when the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. It was required that all persons should be registered in the city to which they belonged, and Joseph being of the family of David, went up to Bethlehem, the city of David. What an instructive instance is this of the indirect means by which the Almighty, without interfering with the free agency of His creatures, knows how to accomplish whatever He hath decreed. How little did the haughty Roman Emperor, and his deputy Cyrenius, think that they were only instruments in the hand of the God of Israel for carrying out the eternal purposes of the King of kings, that they were causing a prophecy concerning the Son of

God to be fulfilled, and that they were helping to lay the foundation of a kingdom, before which the empire of the world would one day go down, and Roman idolatry pass

away.

When Joseph and Mary arrived at Bethlehem so crowded was the place with the number of persons come up to be enrolled, that there was no room for them in the inn, and thus it happened that the holy babe was born in a stable, and laid in a manger. Thus He who for our sakes, though rich, made Himself poor, that we through His poverty might be rich, was pleased to commence a life of indigence; the beginning, the whole course, and end of which, exposes the vanity of earthly distinctions, ennobles poverty, and consecrates sufferings. Had our Lord appeared, as was expected, as a king, or even in a higher rank than He did, His example could not have been of the same extensive influence. He could not have exhibited a model of some of the more useful virtues, and the great and wealthy would have been still more tempted than they are now to look down upon their poorer brethren, for whom Christ died no less than for them! Had He come to save mankind with royal majesty, surrounded by His Father's angels, it would have been an act of undeserved mercy; had He chosen to dwell in a palace we should have had reason enough to wonder; but to become poor as the very poorest of mankind, and lowly as the very lowliest, this is love that passeth knowledge, it is unspeakable, unsearchable! Never let us forget that through this humiliation Jesus has purchased for us a title to glory. Through His life, and suffering, as well as His death, He has obtained eternal redemption for us. All through His life He was poor for our sake, from the

hour of His birth, to the hour of His death, and through

His

poverty we are made rich.

SECTIONS IX. AND X.-THE GENEALOGIES.

SECTION XI.

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flocks by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

We read yesterday of the remarkable circumstances under which our blessed Saviour was born into this world. His birth, however, though the place was humble, was marked by higher honours than have been conferred on any other. Unnoticed by the great, it was announced to

shepherds, who were watching their flocks by night (a practice necessary in a country infested by beasts of prey), and the announcement was made by an angel, who declared it to be a subject of great joy to all people; and the angel was joined by a vast multitude of the armies of Heaven, who broke forth into a chorus of praise to their Lord and ours, singing "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men," and well might they so sing. For the spiritual darkness which had covered the earth for 4000 years was about to be rolled away; the way to pardon and peace with God was about to be thrown open to all mankind; the head of Satan was about to be bruised; liberty was about to be proclaimed to captives, and recovery of sight to the blind; the mighty truth was about to be proclaimed that God could be just, and yet, for Christ's sake, justify the ungodly; salvation was no longer to be seen through types and figures, but openly, and face to face; the knowledge of God was no longer to be confined to the Jews, but to be offered to the whole Gentile world; the days of heathenism were numbered, the first stone of God's kingdom was about to be set up, that kingdom of which there is no end! These were glad tidings indeed! Having been apprised where they should find their king, the shepherds hastened to Bethlehem, to pay Him homage, and having found everything exactly as it had been told them, their simple faith received a rich reward; they had the glorious privilege of being the first of all mankind, after Mary, and Joseph, who saw with believing eyes the new born Messiah, and having seen, they returned to their flocks, glorifying, and praising God for what they had seen. May our spirits be like theirs. May we ever believe