from wolves and jackals which infested the plains around Bethlehem, and who, in a climate so mild as that of Palestine, could safely remain in the open air all night. Suddenly the angel of the Lord appeared to them, and a celestial glory shone about them which filled them with awe and terror. While they gazed in perplexity, "the angel said unto them, Fear not: 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. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

Obedient to the heavenly command the shepherds went to Bethlehem, and found the babe, as they had been told, loosely wrapped in clothes and lying in a manger. They told his parents what they had seen, and returned to their occupations glorifying and praising God.

When eight days were accomplished, the child was named Jesus, as the angel Gabriel had commanded. Jesus signifies a Saviour, and our Lord was called by

that name because he saves his people from their sins. Pursuant to the law of Moses his mother presented him in the temple and offered the customary sacrifice. There was at this time a prophet in Jerusalem named Simeon, to whom it had been foretold that he should not taste death till he had seen "the Lord's Christ." Christ is the same as Messiah or Anointed, that is, set apart by the will of God to be the Redeemer of Mankind; and Simeon understood by the prophecy that he was to see the mighty Deliverer of whom all the prophets had testified. By the inspiration of God he recognized the child as the Redeemer, and in the fulness of his joy exclaimed "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 lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel." The aged prophetess Anna was also present, and spake of the miraculous child to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.

But the birth of the mighty Redeemer had been made known in distant regions. A wondrous star appeared, and certain wise men came from their own country to Jerusalem, enquiring "Where is he that is born king of the Jews, for we have seen his star in

the East and are come to worship him?" Herod, who had acquired the kingdom of Judea by wicked means, was greatly alarmed when he heard that a king of the Jews was born, for he, and indeed the whole nation of the Jews were ignorant that the Messiah's kingdom would be spiritual. He sent to make enquiry of the priests and scribes, who told him that according to the prophets Christ should be born in Bethlehem. Herod sent for the wise men and commanded them, after they had visited Bethlehem, to bring him word where the child was to be found. After they parted from the king the miraculous star appeared to them again and guided them on their way, until it stood over the house where the young child was. They entered the lowly habitation, and falling down before the child worshipped him, and as tokens of homage made gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh. Being warned by God in a dream not to return to Herod, they went into their country by a different road from that which they had first travelled. Joseph was also commanded by God to flee with the young child and his mother into Egypt, as Herod was seeking to take the young child's life. Scarcely had Joseph departed when the wicked Herod, finding that the wise men had not obeyed his commands, gave