made much more public than it otherwise could have been; as the wonderful circumstances which attended it must have been known to all who were there at the time, who would naturally relate them in the different parts of the country on their return home.

So great indeed was the multitude gathered together upon this occasion at Bethlehem, that the blessed Virgin could procure no better accommodation than a stable, nor the divine babe than a manger. This is one among the very many instances we constantly meet with in the history of our Saviour, that whatever was conducive to the salvation of mankind, was by him preferred to any of the comforts and conveniencies of this world.

And here, let us not overlook the striking lefsson given us of condescension and humility: when we see the Son of God, the creator of the world, not disdaining to take up his residence in a stable, how abfurd must it make all the pomp and grandeur of this world appear! and shall man, weak man, after this be proud of the accidental advantages of riches and show. If he must be proud, let it be at the care and attention with which the Almighty still regards his fallen and finful race, making every different situation in life subservient to our everlafting happiness, if we do not counteract his goodness by our own obstinacy.

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"8. And there were, in the same country, shepherds abiding in the field, keep

ing watch over their flock, by night.

"9. And lo, the angel of the Lord " came upon them; and the glory of the "Lord shone round about them: and

Though our blessed Saviour had a manger for his cradle, yet nothing could be more grand than the manner in which his birth was made known: the heavenly hosts were sent to proclaim it. They were not sent to kings, princes, or to the rulers of the earth, but to simple shepherds. Their

OUR BLESSED SAVIOUR.

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narration could not be suspected of art, which might have been the case had the glad tidings been made known through the great or the learned.

And here it may be necessary to obferve, that the occupation of a shepherd, amongst the Jews, had, many centuries before, been confidered amongst the first employments, and that some of their greatest and wisest characters had exercised it; but, at the time of our Saviour, it was no longer so, but as in our own, and other countries, was confined to the lower orders of men; and from the nature of their employment they were generally confidered as ignorant, fimple, harmless people.

10. And the angel faid unto them, "fear not; for behold I bring you good

tidings of great joy which shall be to all people.

" 11. For unto you is born this day, in "the city of David, a Saviour, which is

"Chrift the Lord.

"12. And this shall be a fign unto you :

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ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, and lying in a manger.

13. And fuddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praifing God, and saying,

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14. Glory to God in the highest; " and, on earth, peace; good will towards

" men."

The nativity of our blessed Saviour was first published by one angel, but a multitude of the heavenly host joined in the celebration of it: they declared that this blessing was to be universal; not confined to any nation or people, but was intended for all people, and for every different nation upon earth. Well, therefore, may " all the dear-bought nations sing, rejoice " and give thanks."

The shepherds immediately set out, tho' it was night, to fee their new-born king and saviour. They found him in the humble fituation which the angels had described; and they, rejoicing, proclaimed

In the following verses, we are told that their relation of these transactions excited wonder in all who heard them; but that Mary preserved the remembrance of them and pondered them in her heart; and that the shepherds returned home, praifing and glorifying God for all the things they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

Any occurrence out of the common course of nature will produce wonder: but to make our admiration useful to ourselves, we must, like the shepherds, believe and be thankful; and, like Mary, ponder in our hearts on what we believe; fince we are all equally concerned in this myfterious transaction.

Would we derive from the holy Scriptures all the benefit they are meant to convey to us, we should consider every good or praise-worthy action which is recorded in them, as an example to ourselves, and to all future ages. In this light I regard the conduct of the shepherds; who, highly honored as they had been

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