state in which they found the heaven-proclaimed King. The queen of Sheba came from far to hear the wisdom, and see the glory, of Solomon. She accordingly heard his wisdom, and saw his glory: both beyond even her high-raised expectation. These men came from far to behold the King of the Jews. But in his appearance there was neither beauty, nor glory, that they should desire or admire him. They saw, they heard nothing, but signs of poverty and weakness. Great, surely, was their faith; and greater, one is tempted to think, must have been their knowledge of the divine dispensations, than we are aware of. Where the star rested, there was the person whom they had been directed to seek. They therefore entered, and adored; and the Gentiles acknowledged him, whom the Jews disowned and rejected. They offered to him the richest productions of the country from whence they came; such things as were most precious, and of highest use and signification in ornamenting and exalting the services of the temple and altar. "All they," says Isaiah, " from "Sheba shall come; they shall bring gold and incense, and," by so doing, "they shall show forth "the praises of the Lord"," while they thus devote themselves and their substance to his service. And since the Eastern Magi, as hath been before observed, are upon this occasion to be considered by us as the delegates and deputies of the Heathen world, the history of their journey and their oblations speaks the same language with that employed by St. John

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P Isa. lx. 6.

in the Revelation, concerning the Christian church: "And the nations of them that are saved shall walk "in the light of it; and the gates of it shall not be "shut at all; and the kings of the earth do bring "their glory and honour into it."

Some reflections on the subject naturally offer themselves, in the way of application.

And first, let us evermore, on this returning festival, give thanks unto our Lord God, for the revelation of that great mystery of mercy, the restoration of the Gentiles to the church, from which they had been, for so many ages, excluded; rather should we say, they had excluded themselves. The unhappy prodigal voluntarily left his father's house, the door of which was still open, whenever he should be disposed to return, and re-enter. But the time was long ere he came to himself, and thought of being again received into the family of the faithful. No sooner was that the case, than the father, as if he had all along been looking out, in hope and expectation of his child, saw him while he was yet a great way off, ran to meet him, embraced him with a parent's tenderness, brought him into his house, made a feast for him, and commanded that no voice should be heard but that of joy and gladness, because he that had been lost was now found, he that had been dead was alive again!" O sing unto the Lord a

new song; sing unto the Lord, all the earth. Sing "unto the Lord, bless his name: show forth his sal"vation from day to day. Declare his glory among

9 Rev. xxi. 24.

"the Heathen, his wonders among all people. For "the Lord is great, and greatly to be praised: he is "to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of "the nations are idols: but the Lord made the heavens. Honour and majesty are before him: strength and beauty are in his sanctuary!"

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Secondly, it may be remarked, that the persons who came at this time to Bethlehem, were the learned of their country, men particularly addicted to the sciences of philosophy and astronomy. They contemplated the heavens, and at length were favoured with the sight of a star, which led them to Him who made the heavens, and who was then descended from on high, to perform a work still more wonderful. Man was formed with an understanding, for the attainment of knowledge; and happy is he, who is employed in the pursuit of it. Ignorance is in its nature unprofitable; but every kind of knowledge may be turned to use. Diligence is generally rewarded with the discovery of that which it seeks after; sometimes, of that which is much more valuable. Human learning, with the blessing of God upon it; introduces us to divine wisdom; and while we study the works of nature, the God of nature will manifest himself to us; since, to a well tutored mind, "The "heavens," without a miracle, "declare his glory, and the firmament showeth his handy work."

Thirdly, from the example of the Magi,. let us learn to be very watchful and observant of those lights which at sundry times and in divers manners

r Psal. xcvi. 1, &c.

are vouchsafed to us. At the last day, when the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed, and the circumstances of our lives shall pass in review, it will then be seen, that God did not "leave himself with"out witness." It will appear that the sinner had many calls, both from within and from without, to which he might have hearkened; and to which if he had hearkened, they had been the means of correcting, instructing, and saving him. Above all things, how attentive should we be to the Scriptures, wherein are contained the words that must finally decide the fate of those who have them in their hands, and are capable of perusing them? In them shines, with pure and ever-increasing lustre, the sure word of prophecy, pointing always from the beginning to the Saviour of mankind, and at last marking out the very place of his birth; like the star in the east, moving onward in its sphere, "till it came and stood over "where the young child was." If we are not led by the one to seek after the Redeemer, surely they who set out for Judea, upon the evidence of the other, must rise up in the judgement against us, and condemn us.

Lastly, when we reflect upon the difficulties and dangers that lay in the way of these Eastern sages, and the unremitting perseverance which vanquished them all, we shall blush at the remembrance of those trifling obstructions in our Christian course, which we have so often been tempted to deem insuperable. Our faith, once fixed on the basis of its proper evidence, should never be shaken by the cavils of sceptical and licentious men. For when there is great

strength of argument set before us, if we refuse to do what appears most fit to be done, till every little objection is removed that metaphysical refinement can invent, we shall never take one wise resolution as long as we live. Let faith, therefore have its perfect work; let it go on, conquering, and to conquer, till we have thereby completely overcome the world. Though Herod should be moved, and all Jerusalem with him, let us follow our heavenly conductor, and, rejoicing with exceeding great joy, proceed directly to Bethlehem. There, through meanness, poverty, and obscurity, let us discern the King of the Jews, give him the honour due unto his name, acknowledge and adore him as our Lord and our God. And since we are commanded not to appear before the Lord empty, let us bring presents when we come into his courts. Let us offer to him of our substance, and the first-fruits of our increase; let us offer to him of the true riches with which he has blessed us ; faith, tried, precious, resplendent, as gold; devotion, ascending from fervent affections, like the smoke of frankincense from the holy altar; love, peace, joy, and the other graces of sanctification, fragrant, cheering, and diffusive, like "myrrh and aloes, with all "the chief spices and powders of the merchant." Let us offer to him our strength, our time, and our talents, our souls and bodies, all we have, and all we are, to worship and obey him this day, and every day which it shall please him to add to our lives. With these dispositions and resolutions if we now come to his light, and haste to the brightness of his rising, we shall hereafter behold him in his meridian