drew thence and presented to the priest, then turning to her husband who stood beside her, she received from him the child for whom the sacrifice had been made, and ascending the steps entered with him the temple. Again they sought a priest to redeem their child, in memory of the deliverance of their nation from Egyptian bondage, but as they approached the altar, a venerable man, bending under the load of years, entered the temple, and after gazing a moment upon the group, stretched forth his arms as if to welcome them, and receiving the child into his bosom, broke forth into prayer and thanksgiving;—" Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word, for mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; a light to enlighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel!"

In mute but glad surprise the mother listened to this second acknowledgment of the holy child, and reverently bowed herself to the old man's blessing, who still holding the babe to his breast, now beating with all the warmth of grateful devotion, placed his hand upon the head of Mary, and with the fire of prophecy upon his lips, gave vent to the inspiration with which his soul was filled. "Behold,” he cried," this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against. Yea," he uttered mournfully, as the future broke upon his quickened vision, " a sword shall pierce through thine own soul, my daughter; but thereby shall the thoughts of many hearts be revealed."

While the hearts of the parents were yet throbbing beneath the influence of the old man's words, new praise and thanksgiving burst from the lips of another aged inmate of the temple, who coming in at that moment, yielded to the impulse which moved her soul, that she was in the presence of the Messiah; and proclaimed aloud to the wondering and listening throng, as she pointed to the infant Jesus, that "this was he, to whom they must look for redemption in Israel !"

How did the heart of Mary sustain itself amidst such exciting homage, as receiving back her child, she folded it to her bosom, and hid her face upon its infant head? Sadness and joy, affection and reverence, gratitude and submission, each by turn contended for dominion, till her own words of faith to the angel who had borne to her the will of Jehovah, "I am thine handmaid, be it unto me according to thy word!" were again breathed from her heart, and the

throbbings of her spirit were hushed to rest. Again the heavenly calm of holy trust and love diffused itself upon her features, and none that followed her retreating form, with the gaze of wonder or jealousy, of sympathy or suspicion, could have read there aught but "Glory to God in the highest."

VISIT OF THE MAGI.

All Jerusalem was awake, excitement dwelt on every face, expectation in every heart; the Messiah was at hand, for his star had been seen in the East, and its sages had come to worship him! The rumor had penetrated even the guarded abode of Judea's king, and had roused again the current of his jealous blood, which since the death of his murdered Mariamne had either stagnated in its course, or been lashed into fury by actual or suspected intrigues to deprive him of the crown, to gain and preserve which he had shed so much innocent blood. Apart in solitary state he sat, when word was brought him of the arrival of the strangers. In loyal terms was the message couched, for of Herod's own house they had deemed the heir was born, of whose birth the Lord of the universe himself had taken cognizance by placing a visible sign in the heavens. Cautiously did the monarch conceal his awakened fears, and calling for the Magi, they unfolded to him the cause of their journey. No human eye detected the contending passions of his soul, as, suppressing every outward emotion, he issued his commands for the assembling of the Sanhedrim, that of them might be learned when and where the Christ should be born. Nor would the most watchful have suspected in him any sentiment but reverence for the decrees of the Almighty, as he listened to their replies given with the simplicity of faith in their national prophecies ;-" In Bethlehem of Judea shall he be born for thus it is written by the prophet, And thou, Bethlehem in the land of Judah, art not the least among the princes of Judah, for out of thee shall come a governor that shall rule my people Israel."

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Once more the Eastern sages were alone in the presence of the king, listening to his anxious inquiry of "when the star first appeared ?" "While yet in our own country far away to the East, great Herod," replied the most venerable of the group, as thy servants read the book of fate spread out before the eyes of the

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initiated in the starry firmament, there appeared a star proclaiming an heir to the throne of Judah; and a voice came unto our spirits, saying, Arise ye, turn your faces to the west, and behold this star shall go before you until it shall bring you to him that shall be born king of the Jews.' And we arose, and followed the star, until it brought us to Jerusalem; for whither, O great king, could we have been led but to thee? And now-"

"Go now to Bethlehem.

"I know the rest," broke forth Herod. Ye have heard what the prophets have declared; go, and search diligently for the young child, and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may go and worship him also."

Obedient to the command, the Magi departed, the ignorant abettors of the tyrant's murderous purpose. Although they no longer trusted to the star for guidance, impelled by an unseen impulse they obeyed the declaration of the Sanhedrim, and journied towards the town of Bethlehem. Yet no sooner had they left Jerusalem, than lo! the meteor again beamed from the firmament and glided before them, even until it rested above the humble dwelling of the Saviour. Without a doubt, they entered, and there, cradled in his mother's arms, lay the object of their search. What but divine intimation could have satisfied the hearts of the way-worn travellers, that this was the "king of the Jews," this lowly child, clad in humble garb, seemingly born of parents obliged by hard toil to supply their daily wants; sheltered in a dwelling that, unless designated by the star, they would have passed unheeded in their search?

Again did Mary meekly receive the divine confirmation of her faith, as, prostrating themselves before the sacred child, these sages of the East poured out in rich profusion the treasures they had brought, and hailed her son the Messiah, the "king of the Jews!"

THE MURDER OF THE INNOCENTS.

Night had descended upon the weary world, and sleep reanimated the spirits exhausted by the excitements of the day. Deep though disturbed was the slumber of Herod, as, tossing on his uneasy couch, he muttered vengeance against the new-found rival to his throne. No voice whispered to him the will of the Supreme, admitting him to the Divine counsels, or making him to participate in plans for the redemption

of mankind.

All was dark and full of earthly passion within that soul; the voices of the unseen world found no echo within its depths the pure, the infinite had been erased by the ceaseless tread of human passions and of human crimes. And yet there were limits even to this ruthless despot's power of evil. The guardian spirit that had forsaken the monarch's pillow, hovered over the couch of the infant Jesus, and warned his earthly protector that danger was at hand. "Arise! Take the young child and his mother and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word, for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him." Such was the mandate that stole upon the ear of Joseph in the silence of the night; and ere the morning's dawn had awakened the sleeping world, these favored objects of Heaven's care were on their way to the appointed land of refuge.

Vainly did Herod wait for the return of his messengers, for not to the humble abode in Bethlehem only had the angel been sent that night with a message from on high. The sages too heard the command of Heaven, and obeyed; for, baffling the now revealed designs of the tyrant, they returned to their country another way. But, who shall describe the wrath of the incensed monarch, or conceive the plans of vengeance that filled his soul, when he discovered that his commands were set at nought! Or who shall paint the desolation of Israel, when those dread words burst from the lips of this fiend in human form-" Kill and spare not! Let the mothers of Judah be desolate, so that he that is born king of the Jews' escape not with life!" What tongue can tell the anguish of the mother in that horrid night, when startled from her slumbers by the shout of the armed soldier, she beheld the glittering steel pointed at the breast of her little ones; when no prayer, no entreaty could avert the savage deed, but forced to relinquish her frantic grasp upon the struggling babes, she beheld them butchered before her eyes! Then was a “voice heard in Rama, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning; Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they were not."

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Not long was this monster of cruelty allowed to cumber the earth. The angel of Death appeared to him in his darkest form, and he who had trampled upon every relation of earth longed at his death for one human tear to mourn his loss. Then to Egypt sped the watchful Gabriel. "Arise," he cried, as he again stood at the couch of the

sleeping Joseph, "take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel; for they are dead who sought the young child's life." And thither they journeyed, though they dared not yet to dwell in Bethlehem, now governed by the heir of Herod's kingdom and cruelty, but obeying the divine impulse, they sought the milder sway of Galilee, and returned to the village of Nazareth, a sacred place to Mary, for it was there that she had first listened to the voice of the Lord.

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