The Emperors of Rome were so powerful, they could do as they pleased with all the people in the world. They thought they did as they pleased, but all the time they were only doing what God pleased, without knowing it. And all their plans were only the different ways by which God was working out his own will. They were instruments in his hands; but they knew as little of him as a spade or a hammer in your hands would know of you.

The Emperor who lived at this time, was called Cæsar Augustus, "and it came to pass in those days that there went out a decree," a command, from him, "that all the world should be taxed." How grand this sounds! How great a man must this Emperor have been thought, who could, by his single command, cause the whole world to be taxed; for there was no country, at that time known, that did not belong to him. But nobody could guess what was the principal use of this desire of the Emperor.

Verses 3-5. "And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; because he was of the house and lineage of David: to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, she being great with child."

And so the command of this heathen Emperor, who knew and cared nothing about God, caused his will to be done, and his prophecies accomplished. As all people were obliged to go to the place to which their families had at first belonged, so Joseph and Mary were obliged, at this time, when it must have been very inconvenient, to take a long journey of sixty or seventy miles, that they might go to Bethlehem, the city of king David. By this Mary was known to every body to be of the line or

because they were made by the Roman soldiers when they kept possession of this country, nearly 2000 years ago.

family of David, and her child was obliged to be born at Bethlehem, both of which things had been foretold by the prophet long, long before. It is from this year, in which was born the holy child Jesus, that we count our time.

If you were asked what year this is in which we are now living, you would at once answer it is the year 1849; perhaps you might even say it is the year of our Lord 1849, as this is a common saying. But are you quite sure that you know why it is 1849 ? Do you know that this means that one thousand eight hundred and forty-nine years have passed since your Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ was born at Bethlehem? From the time that God had first made Adam, the first man, and who had by sin lost the image of God, four thousand and four years had passed away. The world had grown very old, and plenty of time had been given for men to feel that not all their wisdom could make them wise, nor any law make them good. They had had time to find out how much they needed the long-promised Saviour, to make them either the one or the other.

But where was this Saviour born? Joseph had brought Mary to Bethlehem.

Verse 6. "And the days were accomplished that she should be delivered."

It was the Lord of glory, the King of heaven and earth who was going to be born; surely God his Father, who can do just what He pleases, would take care that the best house in Bethlehem, would be given up to Mary, for the time, that the wonderful child should be born there! We shall see.

Verse 7. "And she brought forth her first-born son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.” Who after this need care for grandeur? It could not be without a reason that God chose this humble birth-place for his

Son. It surely was to teach us, that all man thinks so much of, in His eyes is nothing. Need the rich man after this think much of himself, because he and his children sleep in fine beds and in fine rooms?

Need the poor man care that his bed is but a poor one, his cottage but small and ill-furnished? Even the wandering beggar is not worse off than God chose his well-beloved Son should be; for he was born in a stable! All our hearts are alike, and there is something in every one of us that hurts our feelings when we see ourselves neglected and put to one side because we are poorer, or in some way of less consequence than our neighbours, who are preferred before us: this is a natural feeling, but it never lasts in the heart of any one who makes the life of the Lord Jesus his study and delight. The reason why he was born in a stable was, that there was no room for his mother and Joseph in the inn. Crowds of all sorts of people had come to Bethlehem to be taxed, and the rich and the great ones had possession of the best places; but Joseph and Mary, being poor, were obliged to be content with what they could find. It is most likely that the stable in which the Lord was born, was some sort of place set apart for the use of the poorer travellers, where they and the beasts that brought them were sheltered together.*

After this, need we ever care if others are preferred before us, and we are obliged to be contented with the worst places? God seems in this history to say to us, 'Care for none of these things, they are of no value in my eyes, they need be of none in yours.'

Let me repeat once more the things you are to remember in

* This stable is said to have been in a rocky cave, and the place has never been lost sight of. A Roman Emperor, to bring it into dishonour, raised an idol's temple over it, but in time that was removed, and the Christians built over the place a Church, called the Church of the Nativity. It is still standing, and every year numbers of people still go to Bethlehem to see it, for it is generally believed to mark the spot where Christ was born.

this history. A law being made that every one was to go up to his own city to be taxed, Joseph and Mary went up to Bethlehem, and while they were there her son was born, and she wrapped him in swaddling-clothes, and laid him in a manger because there was no room for them in the inn.

Prayer.

O God! when discontent comes over my heart, because I see others better off than myself, or in any way preferred before me, help me to remember that thy holy child Jesus, the Lord of Glory, was born in a stable. There was no room for him in the inn, because the best places were given to those who thought themselves rich and great, and any place was thought good enough for him who alone can give the true riches. My Saviour, thou wouldst teach me by this how little I need care for worldly things-but the lesson is hard to learn-it is only by having my heart filled with the thoughts of thee and of all thy love, that I can learn it, and it is thy Holy Spirit alone who can so fill my heart. O Lord the Spirit, lift my affections and my desires above this earth, that its vexations and its trials may not have power to move me, and the peace of God may possess my heart unto my life's end, for the sake of Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen.

a secret.

IX.

Now that the Saviour was born, his birth must not be kept Sin had made the world full of sorrow, but now this was to be turned into hope and joy. Who was first to hear the good news? I told you in the last day's emperor who was king of the whole world.

reading of a great Surely it would be

No, it was

to him the news would first be sent, or to some of the wise and learned men who were the teachers of the people. to none of these, listen and I will tell you :

Verse 8, "There were in the same country, shepherds abiding, (that is, staying in the field), keeping watch over their flocks by night.”

For. in that country, wherever there was grass enough for flocks of sheep and cattle, there were sure to be wild beasts that would destroy them, and robbers who would take them away, so the shepherds were obliged to take it by turns to watch the fold through the whole night. And so it was, that on the same night that the Lord Christ was born in Bethlehem, a party of shepherds watched through the darkness—when, suddenly, from the skies there streamed down a bright and beautiful light,

Verse 9. "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."

They were terrified, when through the darkness of the night, in the middle of the glorious light which came flashing down from the skies, they saw an angel, bright and beautiful, so close to them that he seemed to come down upon them. No wonder then they were frightened, but the angel spoke to them—

Verse 10-12. "Fear not, he said, 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."

Thus spoke the angel—they heard his words-and in a moment they saw that the news he brought filled all heaven with joy, for suddenly a crowd of angels burst from the skies, singing and rejoicing, and this was their song of praise—

Verse 14. "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good-will towards men.”