THE

WESLEYAN METHODIST ASSOCIATION

MAGAZINE.

DECEMBER, 1847.

NATIVITY OF CHRIST, AND THE EASTERN MAGI.

CHRISTIANS must ever feel deeply interested in every fact recorded in the evangelic history concerning the advent, manner of life, miracles, doctrines, sufferings, death, resurrection, ascension, and mediatorial intercession and reign of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. In the month of December we are accustomed more particularly to direct our thoughts to events connected with the birth of Christ. This arises from the circumstance of the Romish church having fixed the 25th of this month as the day for the celebration of a Mass in commemoration of this most glorious event; hence it is called Christmas-day, which signifies Christ's-Mass day. Neither the day nor the month in which Jesus Christ was born is known; nor is this a matter of importance; otherwise it would have been recorded by the evangelists. Among other instructive and important facts connected with the advent of our Saviour, recorded by the evangelists, is, that of the worshipping of him by the Eastern Magi. This event is described by the evangelist Matthew in the following words-" When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying, 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." Dr. Porteus has made the following excellent expository remarks on this remarkable and important event.

The name of these persons, whom our translation calls wise men, is in the original Greek magoi, in the Latin language, magi, from whence is derived our English word, magicians. The magi were a sect of ancient philosophers, living in the eastern part of the world, collected together in colleges, addicted to the study of astronomy, and other parts of natural philosophy, and highly esteemed throughout the east, having juster sentiments of God and his worship than any of the ancient heathens; for they abhorred the adoration of images made in the form of men and animals, and though they did represent the Deity under the symbol of fire (the purest and most active of all material substances) yet they worshipped only one God: and so blameless did their studies and their religion appear to be, that the prophet Daniel, scrupulous as he was, to the hazard of his life, with respect to the

Jewish religion, did not refuse to accept the office which Nebuchadnezzar gave him, of being master of the magi, and chief governor over all the wise men of Babylon. They were therefore evidently the fittest of all the ancient heathens to have the first knowledge of the Son of God, and of salvation by him imparted to them.

The country from whence they came is only described in St. Matthew as lying east from Judea, and therefore might be either Persia, where the principal residence of the magi was, or else Arabia, to which ancient authors say they did, and undoubtedly they easily might, extend themselves, which, it is well known, abounded in the valuable things that their presents consisted of; and concerning which the seventy-second psalm (plainly speaking of the Messiah) says, "The kings of Arabia and Saba (or Sabæa, an adjoining region) shall bring gifts;" and again, "unto him shall be given of the gold of Arabia."

Supposing this prophecy of the Psalmist to point out the persons whose journey the evangelist relates, it will also determine what their station or rank in life was, namely, kings, "the kings of Arabia and Saba." Of this circumstance St. Matthew says nothing directly, but their offerings are a sufficient evidence that their condition could not be a mean one: and though there is certainly no proof, there is on the other hand no improbability, of their being lords of small sovereignties, which might afford them a claim, according to the ancient usage of that part of the world, to the name of kings. we read in Scripture not only of some small towns or tracts that had each of them their king, but of some also which could not be very large, that had each of them several.

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What number of the wise men or magi came to our Lord, is entirely unknown, and perhaps that of three was imagined for no other reason, than because the gifts which they brought were of three sorts. occasion of their coming is expressed by St. Matthew in their own words; "Where is He that is born king of the Jews? for we are come to worship him."

That a very extraordinary person was to appear under this character about that time, was a very general persuasion throughout the east; as not only Jewish but heathen writers tell us, in conformity with the New Testament. And that this person was to have dominion over the whole earth, was part of that persuasion, founded on predictions of the clearest import. I need produce but one, from the abovementioned 72d Psalm, which, as I before observed, plainly relates to Christ. "All kings shall fall down before him; all nations shall do him service." There were Jews enough even in Persia, and much more in Arabia, to propagate this doctrine, and show it to be contained in their sacred books; from whence therefore the wise men may well be supposed to have received it.

But their knowledge that he was actually born, must stand on some other foundation; and what that was, themselves declare, "We have seen his star in the east." This must plainly mean some new appearance in the sky, which they, whose profession (as is well known) led them peculiarly to the study of astronomy, had observed in the heavens. Now any appearance of a body of light in the air is called by