He had often dwelt with peculiar satisfaction upon the assurance that, while we cleave to God in faith and obedience, "neither death nor life......shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." And, no doubt, he proved this glorious truth. His family and friends would have preferred for him a death far less sudden. It would have been their mournful gratification, had time and ability been afforded him for bearing testimony to the sus taining presence of God in his last moments. But his eternal safety is not dependent upon their gratification; and, as they believe in the infinite wisdom and goodness of God, they bow with sorrowing submission to the sovereign will. They are consoled by the confidence they have that "the doors of the house of God on earth had scarcely closed upon him before the everlasting doors of heaven were opened to receive his spirit. At the close of the earthly Sabbath, he entered upon the everlasting Sabbath of heaven. From these earthly courts, with their imperfect worship, he went at once to see the King in His beauty,' to mingle with the ranks of the glorified, and to swell their mighty chorus of praise."

His remains were followed to their last resting-place, in the burialground attached to the Gomersal Wesleyan chapel, by a large concourse of relatives and friends, who sorrowed deeply, but not " as others which have no hope." A funeral sermon was preached on the occasion of his death by his dear friend, the Rev. Samuel Allen. The esteem in which he was held was manifested by a numerous and respectable audience, who listened with marked attention to the discourse, and to the records of his life and character which were read at its close.

HISTORIC INCIDENTS CONNECTED WITH THE BIRTH OF CHRIST.

AUGUSTUS CESAR issued an order for a general taxation, which involved an enrolment of the subjects of his empire. Being of the house and lineage of David, Joseph and Mary, in pursuance of that order, had to repair to Bethlehem. Arrived there, such was the concourse of strangers, they failed to secure lodgings in the inn, and were constrained to take refuge in a stable. Here the matchless Child, the hope of four thousand years, was brought forth, and cradled in a manger. That very night a company of shepherds were surprised by the appearance of an angel in radiance of Divine glory, who, after calming their fears, thrilled them with the joyful intelligence of Messiah's birth. About the same time, in all probability, certain eastern Magi, or astronomers, witnessed an extraordinary meteor, whence they inferred the advent of the illustrious "Star of Jacob," the Prince of Israel." 66 The transporting announcement to the shepherds was accompanied by a vision discovering "a multitude of

* Rev. William Hirst.

the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good-will toward men." The angels then departed, and the shepherds repaired to Bethlehem, veritied their intelligence, published abroad the glad tidings, and returned to their fleecy charge "glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them."

About forty days after, Mary, with her Babe, appeared in the temple at Jerusalem, to present according to the Mosaic law "a pair of turtle-doves, or two young pigeons." Here the venerable Simeon embraced the Infant, uttered prophetic language, and, having feasted his vision upon his incarnate Saviour, desired to die. At this instant Anna, a prophetess of extreme age, in the rapture of inspiration spake concerning Him to those looking for redemption in Jerusalem.

From the holy city the sojourners returned to Nazareth, and thence again to Bethlehem. About this time, the Magi, journeying from the east, arrived at Jerusalem, and sought direction to "the King of the Jews," whose natal star they had seen, and whom they desired to worship. The purpose of their visit being advertised, Herod became jealous for the safety of his throne. He summoned a council of the Chief Priests and Scribes, of whom he demanded where the Christ should be born. Having ascertained Bethlehem as the place, he inquired of the Magi the time when the star appeared. Satisfied upon these particulars, he sent them forth, charging them, however, to bring back tidings of their success, and artfully assigning as his reason an intention to worship also. Toward Bethlehem the sages bent their steps, and they were soon elated by the re-appearance of the star, which guided them to the place where the young Child was, and there it rested and blazed. They entered, adored, and, opening their treasures, presented a rich variety of gifts, comprising gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Being Divinely admonished in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they sought their own country by another route.

Upon the departure of the Magi, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, informing him of Herod's purpose to murder the young Child, and urging his departure into Egypt with his charge. He obeyed. But Herod, finding himself mocked by the wise men, indulged his fury in a general massacre of the children in Bethlehem and its environs, from two years old and under, according to the time indicated by the appearance of the star.

These incidents teach,

I. That the providence vindicates the truth of God.

1. This is illustrated in the manner in which the town of Bethlehem became associated with the birth of Christ.-Micah predicted that He should be born at Bethlehem in Judah; but Mary resided at Nazareth in Galilee, distant from Bethlehem more than eighty miles. How, then, was the Divine truth in this prediction to be vindicated? Little did Cæsar imagine himself the instrument of Providence for so great an end, when he decreed the taxing of his empire. But thus were Joseph and Mary compelled to repair to Bethlehem, they being of the

house and lineage of David. There was the Child of promise born. In another particular the hand of Providence vindicates the truth of God. A thousand oracles distinguished Messiah as "the Son of David." The identity of Jesus with the family of David now became indubitable. No less distant was it from Herod's intentions to render notorious the event of Messiah's birth at Bethlehem, when he convened the council to resolve the question of the Magi, or, subsequently, when he dyed his hands in the innocents' blood. Even the wrath of man subserves the purposes of Heaven.

2. In the preservation of Christ from the fury of Herod we have an additional instance of the wonderful manner in which the providence vindicates the truth of God.—It was predicted that Messiah should in person present a perfect model of life and conduct to human imitation, perform wonderful works, and deliver a system of holy precepts and promises, before He became a sacrifice for human redemption and salvation. The murderous purpose of Herod would have prevented this. Providence interposed. The Magi were warned not to return to the tyrant, by which time was gained; and Joseph was directed to flee with the young Child and His mother into Egypt. But how were the expenses of the journey to be defrayed? and by what means were the family to be maintained in a foreign land? That they were poor, appears from the circumstance that there was no room for them in the inn: had they been affluent, doubtless room would have been made. Another circumstance places this matter beyond dispute. The turtle-doves or pigeons presented by Mary in the temple were substitutes for the costlier sacrifice of a lamb, allowed by the law only in cases of poverty. (Lev. xii. 8.) But God never issues commands without furnishing means for their accomplishment. When the Magi opened their treasures, their gifts comprised gold, as well as frankincense and myrrh.

Assured, then, that the providence will vindicate the truth of God, let us learn dependence upon that truth in all circumstances of our being. God holds the hearts of all men, and the purposes alike of the monarch and the subject are made subservient to the supreme will. Even the wrath of man He makes to praise Him, and the remainder of that wrath He restrains. He can select the inheritance of His saints, and by a way unknown conduct them from Nazareth, the place of separation and privation, to Bethlehem, the house of bread. Again If by His permission we, like the innocents, are exposed to suffering for the sake of Christ, His providence will verify His promise of eventual reward. Rachel weeps, but is not left disconsolate :-" Refrain thy voice from weeping, and thine eyes from tears : for thy work shall be rewarded, saith the Lord: and they shall come again from the land of the enemy." (Jer. xxxi. 16.) If He ordain that, surviving, we shall manifest His praise, He can by a resistless power frustrate the machinations of all our enemies, and sustain us even in a land of strangers.

The incidents teach,

II. That heaven and earth meet in Christ.

1. They meet, pre-eminently, in His own mysterious person.-There Divinity and humanity unite in a manner inexplicably intimate. No wonder, then, when He appeared, that the heavens should bow. Humble shepherds found themselves in communication with an angel of the Lord, and immersed in the sea of His glory. The shepherds regarded the information obtained from that bright messenger as communicated by the Lord; and the multitude of the heavenly host may remind us of the "twenty thousand" chariots of God, "even thousands of angels," who appeared with Him at Sinai and on Zion.

2. Heaven and earth meet when Christ is formed in the believer's soul.-The heavens are high above the earth; but the distance that sunders sinful man from God is greater still. Nevertheless, as when Christ was born heaven and earth came near, so, when He comes to inhabit the contrite soul, the distance is annihilated, and reconciliation is effected. Then does the Angel of the Covenant manifest His matchless charms, enabling us to walk in the glory of His love. Thenceforth, also, are we the peculiar charge of angels, who are ministering spirits engaged to sustain us in their hands, lest at any time we dash our foot against a stone. As we become Christ-like, the heavens encompass us more closely, until the death-bed of the saint is transformed into an angels' camp. There in readiness they stand, to bear upon their pinions the freed soul from earth to heaven. That soul shall yet return, and resume its body, now spiritual and glorious; and the union of the earthly and the heavenly shall never again be dissolved.

The incidents teach,

III. That Christ is differently esteemed in heaven and in earth. 1. In earth He is the object of aversion.-It was a glorious day for humanity when He appeared; for in His person it became associated with Divinity. Never did earth possess a palace worthy the residence of so august a Visiter. But how was He received? An humble room is refused Him at a public inn: He appears in poverty, and must content Himself with the accommodation of a stable. And is not this the fashion in which He is treated still? His church is His representative, and, because like Him in poverty, is of no reputation. The apology for the inn-keeper is his ignorance of the character of his guests. Be it so. And, doubtless, ignorance of the character of Christ and His church is the reason they are still despised. How far this plea will avail in the judgment, must be determined by the possibility of obtaining better information. But ignorance is not by any means the exclusive reason of the world's aversion: the selfishness and malevolence of the depraved heart also operate. Behold that gloomy monster, whose fancied knowledge of Christ fills him with apprehensions for the safety of his throne, for which he would murder his Saviour, and forfeit his soul! Is not he also the type of a large class, who murder every thought of Christ, lest He should demolish the lusts enthroned in selfishness and pride?

Yet in His birth Christ was not despised by all. There were the shepherds, representing a considerable number of sincere worshippers

among the poorer class, who paid Him homage. There were also the Magi, representing a number of the affluent and intelligent, who devoutly reverenced His sceptre.

2. In heaven He is the object of universal homage. The birth of a regal heir is usually published by some dignitary, and the intelligence thrills loyal hearts with gratitude. When the "Heir of all things" appeared in human flesh, proclamation was made by an angel of the Lord in audience of heaven and earth. "The morning stars" again sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy." The heavens were illuminated with the glory of the Highest.

The incidents teach,

IV. That the Gospel is not necessarily limited in its course by varieties of human condition or intelligence.

1. Its nature suits the requirements of every social rank.—The spiritual want experienced by the shepherd, is also felt by the sage; and by repairing to Christ both equally realize its supply. When the shepherd approaches, he finds everything so simple, that, without long preparatory culture, he may become "wise unto salvation." But the savant finds himself lost in profundities, until he learns the strange philosophy of becoming simple as a little child. Thus, on equal terms, the poor and the affluent, the wise and the unwise, become possessors of the true riches-durable riches and righteousness-riches which shall abide when the earth and all its works are burnt up.

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2. In awakening attention, regard is had to mental dispositions."And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock 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." (Luke ii. 8-14.) To unsophisticated shepherds God gave plain intelligence concerning Christ, and accompanied that intelligence with a glorious vision. And still He speaks plainly to the simple-hearted, and even vividly shows them His glories. To the Magi the same intelligence was communicated, but in a more recondite manner. They understood a star in heaven to be the emblem of a celestial Prince, and inferred from the preternatural phenomenon the rise of the illustrious Star of Jacob. It is a curious psychological fact, that the learned, conversant with mysteries, often place more confidence in enigmatical than in palpable things.

3. Mental habits determine the route to Christ.-No sooner had the angels departed, (mark, they would not linger a moment to detain a sinner from his Saviour,) than the shepherds said one to