LIGHT IN A DARK PLACE. BY THE EDITOR. IN Italy "the sky is so clear that you seem to see beyond the moon." And in Chaldea and Arabia the stars appear so large and bright, as if let down earthward, to invite you to study and love them. In the latter country the traveller is nightly tempted to learn from this twinkling book of the heavens. Till midnight would we often set on the camp-stools, before the door of our tent, devoutly studying the lessons of these lights of a dark and dreary eastern world. In the dark moonless sky they hang like so many living lanterns, as beacons to guide the ages to the Light of the world. "How beautiful is Night! A dewy freshness fills the silent air, No mist obscures, nor cloud, nor speck, nor stain, In this sky-volume the ancients stud'ed astronomy, devoutly seeking for Life and Light-for a starry path to Heaven. For, as Young says, "An undevout astronomer is mad." Shepherds on Arabian and Chaldean plains, then as now, watched the stars all night long, as they kept their flocks. In ancient times, knowledge and science, in the far East, were confined to a particular class. By exclusive family descent, the members. of this class were the prophets and priests of the people, the interpreters of dreams and the counsellors in political affairs. As the Levites among the Jews, and the Chaldeans among the Assyrians, so the Magi or Wise Men were the prophets and priests of Science and Religion. They wrote and had charge of the sacred books of the ancients, and interpreted their mysteries to the people. They were "the revealers of secrets," as were the Wise Men of the King of Babylon, of whom Daniel was made the chief. Dan. ii. 48. In a certain part of Arabia-it must have been Araby the Blest-some of these Wise Men lived about the time of our Saviour's birth. They were heathen men, groping after Light and Peace, amid the darkness of their idolatrous systems. They were uneasy, homesick, yet earnest men, knowing full well that they needed a divine Deliverer, but not knowing what to call, or where to find him. At that time already the Jews were scattered all over the East. They bore their faith and their reverence and love for Jerusalem and the Temple with them. A large number of the Ten Tribes, remained in the land toward the rising sun, at the close of their captivity. Many of them were wealthy and intelligent. In their intercourse with the Gentiles, they spoke much about their Law, about the prophecies and promises pertaining to their future prosperity as a nation. Much, too, was said about the promised Messiah-the great coming King of the Jews. For many years the report and impression had spread in the Gentile East, that about this time a great World Conqueror was to be born in Judea. Many earnest Gentiles longed and prayed for his coming; for they saw clearly that heathen gods could not save the world or them. Among these earnest Gentiles were certain "Wise Men." They must have been men of wealth and standing. The Catholic Church holds that they were three Kings-shiekhs or chiefs of Tribes. We know not for certain how many they were. They were astronomers, and had learned to see the finger of God in the movements of the heavenly bodies. As they were Gentiles and not Jews, the Messianic prophecies in the Scriptures could profit them little. But whilst these students and prophets of Nature could not understand God's written Word, they read his will in the starry heavens. The great Astronomer, Kepler, has discovered that in the year 747 after the founding of Rome (one year before our Saviour's birth) a very singular conjunction between the planets Saturn and Jupiter took place, in the sign of the Fish; and that the following Spring the planet Mars joined Saturn and Jupiter; and that a fourth star was most probably added to this conjunction. The great and good man, with reason, holds that this was "the star of the Wise Men." And Wieseler alleges that the astronomical tablets of the Chinese, report that a new star appeared in the year corresponding to that in which our Saviour was born (750 after the founding of Rome). How natural that these Wise Men by long and careful study familiar with the heavenly bodies, and nightly searching for light in this grandest field of study, should be among the first to see the new star. To their receptive minds, it was the finger of God-the shining of a light in a dark place. Was it conscience, learning, religious instinct, or some heathen prophecy that taught them: Up and follow this star "pilot?" Or perhaps some pious Jew had told them that "there shall come a star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel." Numbers xxiv. 17. Who precisely these Wise Men were, and how they lived, can not be accurately told. Possibly they lived at the court of some eastern king, like Daniel and his three companions, interpreting dreams and giving counsel in matters civil and religious. It is not unlikely that they lived in tents, at whose doors, one morning, their camels were made to kneel, inviting their masters to mount them. In the East, then as now, as a rule every man of means had a wife, and many had more than one. Without doing violence to the text, we can bring a group of women and children into this parting scene, embracing these long-bearded sages. To all of them it was a solemn parting. The men had discovered their need of a new King-a Prince of Salvation and a King of Souls. The star has heralded his coming. And now they must go to welcome his Advent. Precious gifts were secured and carefully packed. Gold, the most pre cious metal then known; frankincense and myrrh, both products of Arabia, and used in the incense sacrifices of the temple; these are taken along. Thus start they, freighted with costly treasures for the new-born King. A solemn caravan this was, more solemn and significant than any that ever had made pilgrimage to Jerusalem, or since then to Mecca. Servants led the camels, as their wise riders spake together about the mysterious star. Where shall they look for the child? Jerusalem is the Capitol of the Jewish nation, the home of its kings. In this home, in the palace of its ruling monarch, must they look for the child- heir of the Hebrew Throne. Surely, "not in a corner," nor obscure village, nor in an unknown private family could such a star-heralded king be born. It must take place in Jerusalem, in the palace of the King of Judea. At this time Herod the Great was king of Judea. He was an Idumean by descent, the son of Antipater. About thirty-five years before this time the Roman Senate had appointed him King of the Jews, or of Judea. But such was the hatred and aversion of the Jews to him, that it required three years before he could take possession of his throne. He murdered his wife Marianne, and his two sons, besides committing many other cruelties. A bad heart and a guilty conscience make cowards. At this time Herod must have been the most hateful and hated man in Jerusalem. The city had just been stirred to its centre by a collision between him and a certain class of Jews. Six thousand Pharisees refused to take the oath of allegiance, and these were the representatives of a much larger number of Jewish foes of Herod. At this time, too, every body spoke of a certain prophecy, foretelling "the divinely-intended transfer of the kingdom from Herod and his race to a favorite of the Jews." All this would naturally excite the nerves of even a better man than Herod. In the midst of these ominous forebodings, a messenger announces to the King the arrival of a caravan of distinguished men, asking for an interview. Perhaps the question occurred to him: "might not this be part of a plot to dethrone him? perhaps a cunning device of the Jews?" He hears their message. "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." A star! Surely these must be astrologians-star-gazers-who foretell future events by the appearance and situation of the stars. For all heathen minds, and especially kings, like Herod, consulted the stars before entering upon an important enterprise. Now the stars announce that a new king of Judea has been born. Where else but in Herod's family could this take place. And he knows nothing about it until these homesick men of the far East bring him the news. What can this mean? "He was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him." Herod, though a cunning politician and a shrewd far-seeing tyrant, was in some things a very ignorant man. A century before, the Idumeans were made Jews by a forced circumcision through Hyrcanus. In fact they remained Idumeans still, though circumcised-a sort of halfpagan barbarians. To this extent, too, Herod was a Jew by descent. But of the Law he was wholly ignorant. He consults the "chief priests and scribes"-the seventy members of the great council, all learned in the Law. Where should Christ be born? 66 In Bethlehem of Judea." is the reply. What can all this mean? "When did the star appear?" In the Go to Bethlehem and search for the child and bring me word again. It seems they had lost sight of the star for a season. Now it reappears, and guides them to the place where the young child was. East it is not unusual for people to travel by night, when the star would be visible. During the day it was out of sight. By night most likely, they journeyed from Jerusalem to Bethlehem. Two hours travel brought them to the gate of the town. Who could lead them to the house where the infant King lay? The star stood over it. Besides, certain shepherds, who had received a strange angelic message, called attention to the child. spread in the Gentile East, that about this time a great World Conqueror was to be born in Judea. Many earnest Gentiles longed and prayed for his coming; for they saw clearly that heathen gods could not save the world or them. Among these earnest Gentiles were certain "Wise Men." They must have been men of wealth and standing. The Catholic Church holds that they were three Kings-shiekhs or chiefs of Tribes. We know not for certain how many they were. They were astronomers, and had learned to see the finger of God in the movements of the heavenly bodies. As they were Gentiles and not Jews, the Messianic prophecies in the Scriptures could profit them little. But whilst these students and prophets of Nature could not understand God's written Word, they read his will in the starry heavens. The great Astronomer, Kepler, has discovered that in the year 747 after the founding of Rome (one year before our Saviour's birth) a very singular conjunction between the planets Saturn and Jupiter took place, in the sign of the Fish; and that the following Spring the planet Mars joined Saturn and Jupiter; and that a fourth star was most probably added to this conjunction. The great and good man, with reason, holds that this was "the star of the Wise Men." And Wieseler alleges that the astronomical tablets of the Chinese, report that a new star appeared in the year corresponding to that in which our Saviour was born (750 after the founding of Rome). How natural that these Wise Men by long and careful study familiar with the heavenly bodies, and nightly searching for light in this grandest field of study, should be among the first to see the new star. To their receptive minds, it was the finger of God-the shining of a light in a dark place. Was it conscience, learning, religious instinct, or some heathen prophecy that taught them: Up and follow this star "pilot?" Or perhaps some pious Jew had told them that "there shall come a star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel." Numbers xxiv. 17. Who precisely these Wise Men were, and how they lived, can not be accurately told. Possibly they lived at the court of some eastern king, like Daniel and his three companions, interpreting dreams and giving counsel in matters civil and religious. It is not unlikely that they lived in tents, at whose doors, one morning, their camels were made to kneel, inviting their masters to mount them. In the East, then as now, as a rule every man of means had a wife, and many had more than one. Without doing violence to the text, we can bring a group of women and children into this parting scene, embracing these long-bearded sages. To all of them it was a solemn parting. The men had discovered their need of a new King-a Prince of Salvation and a King of Souls. The star has heralded his coming. And now they must go to welcome his Advent. Precious gifts were secured and carefully packed. Gold, the most precious metal then known; frankincense and myrrh, both products of Arabia, and used in the incense sacrifices of the temple; these are taken along. Thus start they, freighted with costly treasures for the new-born King. A solemn caravan this was, more solemn and significant than any that ever had made pilgrimage to Jerusalem, or since then to Mecca. Servants led the camels, as their wise riders spake together about the mys terious star. Where shall they look for the child? Jerusalem is the Capitol of the Jewish nation, the home of its kings. In this home, in the palace of its ruling monarch, must they look for the child- heir of the Hebrew Throne. Surely, "not in a corner," nor obscure village, nor in an unknown private family could such a star-heralded king be born. It must take place in Jerusalem, in the palace of the King of Judea. At this time Herod the Great was king of Judea. He was an Idumean by descent, the son of Antipater. About thirty-five years before this time the Roman Senate had appointed him King of the Jews, or of Judea. But such was the hatred and aversion of the Jews to him, that it required three years before he could take possession of his throne. He murdered his wife Marianne, and his two sons, besides committing many other cruelties. A bad heart and a guilty conscience make cowards. At this time Herod must have been the most hateful and hated man in Jerusalem. The city had just been stirred to its centre by a collision between him and a certain class of Jews. Six thousand Pharisees refused to take the oath of allegiance, and these were the representatives of a much larger number of Jewish foes of Herod. At this time, too, every body spoke of a certain prophecy, foretelling "the divinely-intended transfer of the kingdom from Herod and his race to a favorite of the Jews." All this would naturally excite the nerves of even a better man than Herod. In the midst of these ominous forebodings, a messenger announces to the King the arrival of a caravan of distinguished men, asking for an interview. Perhaps the question occurred to him: "might not this be part of a plot to dethrone him? perhaps a cunning device of the Jews?" He hears their message. "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." A star! Surely these must be astrologians-star-gazers-who foretell future events by the appearance and situation of the stars. For all heathen minds, and especially kings, like Herod, consulted the stars before entering upon an important enterprise. Now the stars announce that a new king of Judea has been born. Where else but in Herod's family could this take place. And he knows nothing about it until these homesick men of the far East bring him the news. What can this mean? "He was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him." Herod, though a cunning politician and a shrewd far-seeing tyrant, was in some things a very ignorant man. A century before, the Idumeans were made Jews by a forced circumcision through Hyrcanus. In fact they remained Idumeans still, though circumcised-a sort of halfpagan barbarians. To this extent, too, Herod was a Jew by descent. But of the Law he was wholly ignorant. He consults the "chief priests and scribes"-the seventy members of the great council, all learned in the Law. Where should Christ be born? "In Bethlehem of Judea." is the reply. What can all this mean? "When did the star appear? Go to Bethlehem and search for the child and bring me word again. It seems they had lost sight of the star for a season. Now it reappears, and guides them to the place where the young child was. In the East it is not unusual for people to travel by night, when the star would be visible. During the day it was out of sight. By night most likely, they journeyed from Jerusalem to Bethlehem. Two hours travel brought them to the gate of the town. Who could lead them to the house where the infant King lay? The star stood over it. Besides, certain shepherds, who had received a strange angelic message, called attention to the child. |