away; and so the holy thoughts, the earnest longings, the almsdeeds, and every act of self-denial for which we covet the admiring gaze of man, will surely fade away.

It has been said of the candlestick of beaten gold in the tabernacle, which served for a type of the Church in the wilderness, that while it had its knops and its flowers, the flowers were folded, fair indeed as is the folded bud to look upon, but only the eye of Him who seeth in secret could as yet discern the hidden beauty of holiness in the folded Lily-flower; but in the temple which shadowed forth the Church in the age to come, it was otherwise, and there not only the cedar of the house within was carved with knops and open flowers, or, as you will find it in the margin of your Bibles, " openings of flowers," but we read also of openings of flowers upon all the walls of the house within and without. I need not dwell upon the lesson to be learned from this, or remind you that it is quite consistent with the injunction, to let our light so shine before men, that they may see our good works, and glorify (not us, but) our Father which is in heaven; or as St. Peter seems to expound the passage to us, "that they may by your good works which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation."

"Be thou there until I bring thee word," was the commandment unto Joseph when he was sent down into Egypt; and doubtless to whatever place the Lord might guide his steps, there, as at Nazareth and at Bethlehem, would he take up his abode, without a thought of moving until the pro

mised word was given; seeking only how best he might from day to day approve himself a faithful servant, and minister by the labour of his hands to the support of the young Child and His Virgin Mother. Probably the gold presented to the Infant King by the wise men from the East would prove a providential supply for the immediate wants of the Holy Household in a strange land; and surely they were highly favoured whose gifts the Lord thus condescended to use.

It was thus, then, that as strangers and pilgrims, Joseph and Mary were content to sojourn in the land of Egypt; and exiled as they were from home and kindred, and from the temple of the Lord, they could not be driven out from His presence who, in all places where they sojourned, was with them as a little sanctuary; and peace that passeth understanding, and joy unspeakable and full of glory, were still found beneath the roof that sheltered them. And is it not a fact which we do well to notice, that the very persons who most fully realise their pilgrim condition in this present evil world, are those who seem most readily to find a home in every place, whither, by the good providence of God, they are brought? Like the sparrow which hath found her a house, and the swallow which hath found her a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, they lack not a safe and quiet resting-place where they may fold their wings, and sing their even-song with a glad and thankful heart. And what is the secret of this rest in travel, so to speak, this calm abiding in the house of the Lord?

M

Is it not be

cause, having offered up their own selves unto the Lord, they live but in His will, and there is henceforth no room in their hearts for all those restless fancies, those pining desires, those fond, regretful memories of the past, and thankless, vain repinings at the present, and anxious forebodings of the future, which mar the happiness of others? True, they have here no abiding city; and the one they seek is yet to come: but everywhere the altars of the Lord of Hosts are their home, from whence the prayer and the praise of a contrite and a trustful spirit ascends unto Him, whom they rejoice to acknowledge as their King and their God; and "happy is that people that is in such a case; yea, happy is that people whose God is the Lord;" for His guidance is in the way of peace, and His governance is lifting up for ever; and His blessing maketh rich, and He addeth no sorrow therewith.

It is almost painful to turn our thoughts from the Holy Family in their exile and lowliness, to Herod in his palace, " clothed in purple and fine linen, and faring sumptuously every day" and yet it is well to mark the righteous judgments of the Lord, which sooner or later are sure to overtake the wicked.

It is related by Macrobius, that one of Herod's own sons was included among the children who were put to death at Bethlehem by his order; and that the Emperor Augustus hearing of it, said, "It is better to be Herod's swine than his son:" but it does not seem probable that Herod had at this time any child so young; and the story

may have arisen from his causing his son Antipater, who had conspired against him, to be put to death about this time. According to the Jewish historian, Josephus, he died in great torments before the feast of the Passover; and it is also related (though it may seem too dreadful to be believed even of this wicked king), that in order to compel the Jews, who hated him for his many acts of cruelty and oppression, to lament at his death, he ordered a number of persons from among their first and noblest families to be kept in prison, and put to death at the moment of his own decease. But the deceitful tongue that had loved all devouring words, and the hand that had wrought wickedness, were still and powerless ; and the cruel command was not obeyed.

And now, if we compare the miserable Herod, in all the might and majesty of his kingly estate, with the poor carpenter, toiling day by day to provide for the necessities of the Holy Child and His blessed Mother, do we not learn how God hath chosen the poor of this world, rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which He hath promised to them that love Him? And do not the pomps and vanities of this wicked world lose all their glitter and grandeur in our eyes, as we dwell upon the story of our blessed Lord, and of His chosen ones? Who, indeed, would covet to be rich, when they consider how hardly such an one can enter the kingdom of heaven? Who would wish to receive only such things as the world calls good in this life, when they remember how such shall receive their evil things in the world

to come? Who would desire to be great, and mighty, and wise, after the wisdom of this world, when, except we become as little children, we shall in no wise enter the kingdom of heaven? Therefore, "having food and raiment, let us be therewith content ;" and remember the song of the shepherd's boy, of whom Bunyan tells us that he had" more of the herb called heart's-ease in his bosom than he that is clad in silk and velvet."

THE SHEPHERD BOY'S SONG.

He that is down need fear no fall;
He that is low no pride;
He that is humble ever shall
Have God to be his guide.

I am content with what I have,
Little be it or much :

And, Lord, contentment still I crave,
Because Thou savest such.

Fulness to such a burden is,

That go on pilgrimage:
Here little, and hereafter bliss,

Is best from age to age.