standings and qualities: the former were poor illiterate men, but acquainted with the true worship of the Creator, had an angel for their guide: the latter, learned philosophers, contemplating the creature, had a star for theirs.

Herod, resolving either by policy, or force, to destroy his supposed rival, immediately assembled the Sanhedrim, or Jewish council (Numb. xi. 16), and demanded of them, the place where the Messiah should be born. They readily answered, at Bethlehem in Judea, alledging the sense, though not the express words of Micah's prophecy, (chap. v. 1, 2.) Herod next privately sent for the astronomers, and carefully enquiring of them the exact time of the star's first appearance, dispatched them to Bethlehem, to make diligent search for the young Prince, and upon discovery, ordered them to bring him word to Jerusalem, that he might, (as he hypocritically said,) also go and pay him adoration. Having received Herod's instructions, they departed toward Bethlehem, and in their way thither, were surprised, and comforted, with a renewed appearance of the same miraculous star, that had conducted them to Jerusalem, and which directed them to the place where the holy family were lodged. Entering the mean abode, and finding the infant Saviour; with His mother; without

despising His poor appearance, the wise men fell prostrate to the ground and adored Him. And having brought with them, the richest products of their own country, they humbly presented to Ḥim gold, and precious odours of frankincense and myrrh. (Matt. ii. 9, 11.)

Lo! in the east appears a light,
In eastern skies unseen before;
The wise men hail the welcome sight,
And seek the mystery to explore.

These ancient sages, led from far,
Began their doubtful anxious way;
Nor rested, till the wandering star
Stood o'er the place where Jesus lay.

They came, they saw, and they adored;
Each costly treasure they unfold;

And offer to their infant Lord,

Their myrrh, their frankincense, and gold.

The eastern strangers, intended to have returned to Herod; but God, who knew that tyrant's heart, by a nightly vision prevented, and directed them into their own country by another way; and an angel informed Joseph of Herod's bloody design, ordering him to arise, and take both mother and son with him, and flee into Egypt,* and remain

* EGYPT, an ancient kingdom, situated in the north-east part of Africa. This country was formerly one of the most celebrated

there until further notice. (Matt. ii. 12, Joseph with his wife, and the infant Jesus, in diately proceeded on the journey of about hundred miles; the late present of gold, bein especial use in defraying their expences. Lord thus began, to take possession of His pro ed inheritance of the Gentiles, (Psalm lxxi for at their first arrival in Egypt, (as may be lected from Eusebius and Athanasius,) on being ried into a temple at Hermopolis, in the prov of Thebais, the idol gods fell down, like Da before the ark, (1 Sam. v. 3,) and remarkably fied the prophecy of Isaiah, (chap. xix. 1,) that Lord should come into Egypt, and the idols w be moved at his presence.

in the world; and is said to have contained 20,000 cities, now almost totally divested of its ancient grandeur, the inh ants being so degenerated, and sunk in such a state of ignora that we can scarcely believe it to have been once the seat of le ing, and the arts. The celebrated river Nile, runs throughout: south to north; and its overflowings cause a remarkable fert In lower Egypt, they have sometimes rain, but not often; so they principally depend on the water of the Nile for nourishing fruits of the earth. The air of Egypt is rendered unwholes in April and May by the blowing of the hot winds. Sev Christian states, besides England, have consuls, or ambassa at Cairo, the capital city; and since the Ottoman, or Tur emperors, have had dominion of this kingdom, they have gov ed it by a viceroy, who is styled the Bassa of Grand Cairo. inhabitants are a mixture of many nations, so that accuratel describe them would be impossible.

Herod, after having some time impatiently waited for the return of the eastern strangers; disappointed at finding his subtile designs destroyed, became violently furious, and resolving to effect that by open severity, which he could not accomplish by policy, he immediately sent forth his soldiers to Bethlehem, and the adjacent towns, to commit a dreadful massacre of all the children, that were two years old and under: thus certainly to include more than the whole time, from the first appearance of the star to the eastern astronomers; an action, surpassing in barbarity all belief, had not Herod been its contriver. This deplorable cruelty occasioned such lamentations and bewailings, that the Evangelists have mentioned the sorrows and bemoanings in Ramah,*

* Ramah lay near Bethlehem, in the tribe of Benjamin, the youngest son of Jacob; and who, with Joseph, were the only sons Jacob he had by Rachel. As soon as Rachel was delivered of Benjamin she died, being on a journey with her husband, from Bethel to Bethlehem; (Gen. xxxv. 16, 17,) on which account, the murder of the innocents is elegantly represented by the mourning of Rachel, as from her, the Benjamites of Rama sprang. In the road from Jerusalem, to travellers, is shewn Rachel's tomb, but certainly not the tomb first erected by Jacob, for it appears a modern Turkish structure. The Greek church, and Abyssinians compute 14,000 children to have been slain. This, and other barbarities of Herod to his own family, caused the Roman emperor Augustus to declare, that he would rather be Herod's hog than his son; for the religion of his country was a security for swine; but no religion

by Rachel, noticed by Jeremiah (xxxi. 15) concerning the Babylonian captivity, as having at this time a more eminent completion. (Matt. ii. 17, 18.)

We are not told in the Gospels, how long our Lord continued in Egypt; but only, that it was till after the death of Herod; however, let it be noticed, how God prevented the cruelty of that tyrant being exercised upon Him, by the retirement of the sacred family. Jesus was the only child he sought to kill; but was the only child that escaped his fury! Herod, did not long survive this barbarity to the innocents: for after his death, and settlement of the affairs of Palestine by Augustus; God recalled his Son out of Egypt, by an angel in a vision; informing Joseph of the death of Herod, who had sought the Child's life, ordering him to take Jesus, with his mother, and return into the land of Israel; thus fulfilling the prophecy of Hosea, (chap. xi. 1,) out of Egypt have I called my son. On arriving in Judea, Joseph being informed of the return of Archelaus from Rome, and of his governing that part of the country, and

could secure his child. Here is worthy to be noticed, the contrast of character between the Jewish king, and the above-named emperor, a heathen ruler; for when he heard of the appearance of a great prince, to whom all the world should pay adoration; he refused the title of lord then offered him, while the other tried the most cruel means to destroy Him!