PRICELESS PEARLS. PEARL I. THE NATIVITY-CHRISTMAS. Hark! the herald angels sing HE history of the little Child who was born this day into the world is one of the most deeply interesting, the most wonderful and absorbing, that ever was written: a history which it is imperative should be known and read of all men; a history whose importance cannot be estimated too highly, because upon our faith in its saving truths depends our everlasting salvation. Well may it excite our deepest interest, reverence, and awe! We will, therefore, examine with an earnest and truth-seeking spirit some of its most remarkable incidents; that, with the help of God, we may read it with advantage, and profit by the reading. B PRICELESS PEARLS. PEARL I. THE NATIVITY-CHRISTMAS. 26 Hark! the herald angels sing Glory to the new-born king; Peace on earth, and mercy mild; Joyful, all ye nations, rise; HE history of the little Child who was born this day into the world is one of the most deeply interesting, the most wonderful and absorbing, that ever was written: a history which it is imperative should be known and read of all men; a history whose importance cannot be estimated too highly, because upon our faith in its saving truths depends our everlasting salvation. Well may it excite our deepest interest, reverence, and We will, therefore, examine with an earnest and truth-seeking spirit some of its most remarkable incidents; that, with the help of God, we may read it with advantage, and profit by the reading. awe! B Various prophecies point to the birth of Christ; and the actual point of time at which it should take place had been so exactly predicted that the Jews were anxiously looking forward to the advent of the coming Messiah, who should deliver them from the bond of an earthly conqueror. Isaiah sang in verse of heavenly sweetness of the coming of the mighty King, and Daniel in his den among the lions was but a type, or prefiguration, of the trials and persecutions of the great Lord Jesus. What, then, cared these well-read scribes and pharisees— these men so learned in religion and so strict in the outward observances of the law and the prophets-of a poor mother and a little child—a little child born in a manger, "because there was no room in the inn ?" At this season- —more than eighteen hundred and fifty years ago Judea was a conquered country, subject to the Roman sway; the sceptre had departed, as had been predicted, and the Jews groaned under the yoke of a sore and bitter bondage: Augustus Cæsar was emperor of Rome, and Herod was appointed king or governor of Judea. To prepare the way of the expected Christ, God chose for the instrument of His purpose the humble Zacharias and his aged wife Elizabeth. Zacharias was a priest of the temple, and in his daily ministration it was his office to burn incense before the altar of the Lord, while the worshippers waited and prayed without. It was during the performance of his duties in the temple, that an angel appeared to him, standing by the altar of incense. And when the aged priest trembled and was afraid, the heavenly messenger comforted him, and said : Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elizabeth shall bear a son, and thou shalt call his name John. And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth. And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias to turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. |