Had she and her husband loudly published all they knew and felt about Jesus, small and humble as was the circle of the spiritually-minded in whose affections the Infant was enthroned, it would not have been necessary for Herod to order a diligent search. More than rumours would have alarmed his ear. He and others around him who dwelt above the affairs of the poor would have been aware of the residence and circumstances of the holy family, and not have permitted the new-born Prince to remain so long unmolested. God, Who sent the Wise Men home out of the tyrant's way, would not leave Mary and Joseph unimpressed with the necessity of keeping for a season comparatively secret their knowledge and hopes concerning the Child in their charge.

Among the Gentiles as well as the Jews there were a few who, if they had not already correct notions of the Messiah's kingdom, yet were prepared meekly to learn its character. As the disciples of Christ thought He would be a temporal ruler, the Magi had dreamed that the coming King of the world would be a conquering warrior. With Simeon, Anna, and others, including the Virgin, they discovered that His kingdom was not of this world. Hebrew or Persian, high or low, learned or untaught, Christ's subjects are poor in spirit. It is possible to be a member of the Council, and not of the Church; to interpret prophecy, and not recognise its fulfilment; to quote Micah about the Messiah, and crucify the Ruler in Israel. Rich, the Magi confess that wealth is not wisdom; noble, that rank is not religion; learned, that education is not salvation. Because they found a cottage where they had expected a palace, and poverty where they had anticipated splendour, they did not say, "We will not have this man to reign over us," but, falling down before Jehovah's Anointed, with thank

fulness for the amazing revelation, seem to have been affected by the Star of Bethlehem, as Saul by the light near Damascus and the voice from heaven, which caused him to exclaim, "Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?"

Mistaking the order and essence of divine service, some offer material gifts to Christ before they surrender their spirits. The Magi teach us to worship Him first, and while so doing present our treasures, which are not the worship, but part of its expression, and only accepted in company with the heart. There are those who treat the King and Priest as if only and always a Babe: the Wise Men, knowing that the Infant was the Priest and King, did not mock Him with trinkets, but gave Him their best. Let the Magi be followed, not the magicians. Let not the Church keep fools for entertainment, but have wise men for exemplars. Let people adore the incarnate Lord, and not their own riches. Let none trust for salvation in the blessed sacraments, which are heaven's stars: the stars are not to be worshipped, but the Saviour to Whom they direct us.

In the simplicity of ancient times kings were called shepherds. Micah's prophecy speaks the tender watchfulness of the Redeemer's mediatorial sway. "Out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule My people Israel," -feed and tend them as a shepherd. Whether He conduct us by a pillar of cloud and fire, send angels to tell us the way, light us on by the shining of a wonderful luminary, or inwardly move us by His Holy Spirit, assuredly, if we do what we can, looking to Him for help, "He will be our Guide even unto death." The star may seem to leave us awhile; but this is mostly when we have daylight. Immanuel never forsakes us. If at night our lamp is

sometimes clouded, it is that God may lift the veil when He pleases, and show us Christ crowned with the star. We regard it the more thankfully on its reappearance for having been hid for a season. "When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy."

CHAPTER VII.

FLIGHT TO EGYPT.

"And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth

to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young Child and His mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word."-MATT. ii. 13.

WHEN the Magians were gone from their door, Mary and Joseph would converse and think about them and their words, and examine the rich presents they had left, and sleep would be scarcely possible. In the morning the startling news troubled them that their visitors had disappeared from the town; and they hardly knew whether to be glad or sorry on learning that they had not taken the road to Jerusalem. No doubt the good Gentiles had obeyed the guidance of Him Who had lighted them by His star to their dwelling; and perhaps, if the Child was in danger, as now they could not but perceive, it was a gain of needful time that they had not returned to Herod. Something must be done, or the king's hand would be on them; but what should they do? Having had no repose the preceding night, and exhausted with excitement, as we may believe, after offering a prayer for divine protection and instruction, they sought refuge at the wonted hour in slumber. The night had not far advanced when Joseph started to his feet, convinced that there was indeed reason for alarm, and that they had no time to lose. Warned in

the same way as the Wise Men had been, he told the mother his dream, and trembling they packed the treasures up which God had opportunely sent them, and prepared for immediate escape. In the middle of the night they left Bethlehem, which was happily several miles from the capital, and journeyed southwards, every step taking them further from the cruel king.

The day having passed, and the Wise Men not returned, Herod is disappointed. What the angel has said to Joseph is indeed his resolution. He cannot be at ease till that Infant is put out of the way; and it is his intention, so soon as the unsuspecting strangers bring him the information for which he is waiting, to send an executioner secretly, and have Him slain. Their delay increases his conviction that insurrection is in the bud. Either they are detained in Bethlehem by causes dangerous to his throne, or, to save themselves, without hindering the supposed conspirators, are on their way back to the East. Every hour gained by the Son of David is lost to the impatient tyrant. He congratulates himself that he ascertained exactly when the star appeared. The Child can scarcely have entered on His second year; and it will easily be found from the tables of births what infants of the same age are in Bethlehem. In so small a place there cannot be very many; and he knows of a net that will secure the one he wants. By directing inquiries to be made among the people, he might obtain every particular; but he dares not trust those who so hate his name that they would most likely be glad to conceal the Pretender or convey Him away. He must strike when he speaks. Is he so suspicious and passionate a ruler? He has caused his wife to be beheaded, and had sons of his own strangled. Affecting Jewish prejudice, he would not take the life of a hog; but he has no scruple against murdering