6. Who was Anna? and what great happiness did it please God to grant her?

7. What lesson may we learn from the history of Simeon and Anna ?

8. On what Festival do we celebrate the Presentation of our Lord? and why do we carry lighted candles in the Procession on that day?

"And presently, the Lord, whom you seek, and the Angel of the Testament whom you desire, shall come to His Temple."-Malachias iii. 1.

LESSON VIII.

THE ADORATION OF THE WISE MEN.

1. The long-expected Messiah had at length appeared on earth; but only a few pious souls rejoiced at His birth, whilst the greater number of the inhabitants of Judea were ignorant of the great things that had come to pass.

A time arrived, however, when it pleased God to reveal more widely the advent of His Son.

2. Three men of learning and of high station called Kings or Magi, came to Jerusalem from a distant country, situated in the direction of the rising sun.

They entered the city, asking, "Where is the new-born King of the Jews? We have

seen His star in the East, and are come to adore Him."

The arrival of the three wise men, as well as the nature of their enquiry, caused great astonishment throughout the city. King Herod was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

3. The aged monarch trembled lest he himself should be dethroned; for he believed, in common with all the Jews, that the Messiah was to be an earthly king, although the prophets had expressly foretold that His condition should be one of poverty and obscurity.

Our Divine Lord Himself declared constantly that His kingdom was not of this world.

As no one could reply to the question of the Wise Men, Herod assembled a council of the chief priests and scribes of the people, and he asked them, "Where is the CHRIST to be born ?"

At this time, and for many centuries after, the art of printing was unknown, and the few books that were used were written by hand. The scribes were writers who were employed to copy the Holy Scriptures.

The council replied that, according to the prophets, Bethlehem was to be the birth-place of the King of the Jews.

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"And thou, Bethlehem," had the prophet Micheas written, art not a little one among the thousands of Juda: out of thee shall come forth the Captain that shall rule my people Israel."

4. Then Herod, having secretly summoned

the Wise Men, enquired at what time they had seen the star; and, having learned it, he directed them to Bethlehem, desiring that when they had found the Child, they should bring him word, so that he also might come and adore Him. But he had no intention of doing this; having, on the contrary, resolved to seek the child secretly, and have Him put to death.

5. The Wise Men, having received the king's directions, set out, the same night, for Bethlehem, which is only a few leagues distant from Jerusalem. As soon as they had left the city, the thick clouds which, until then, had darkened the heavens, dispersed, and the star which they had seen in the east re-appeared, beautiful and brilliant as before.

It moved forward as far as the place where the Divine Infant lay, and there it stopped.

Entering, they found Jesus, with Mary, His Mother, and prostrating before Him, they adored Him. They then displayed their treasures and offered Him gifts,-gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Their hearts overflowed with joy at sight of the Child, and with gratitude to God, who had guided them to His feet.

6. At length they retired to rest, intending to return, at break of day, to Herod, and inform him of their success. But God, who knew the wicked designs of the king, warned them, in a dream, not to return to Jerusalem. They obeyed, and, praising God, took another way into their own country.

7. We should learn, from the example of the Wise Men, fidelity to grace, and obedience to the will of God, by whatever means He may please to make it known to us.

QUESTIONS.

1. What means did God employ to manifest the birth of His Son to the Gentiles?

2. In what words did the Wise Men enquire for the Child?

3. Why was King Herod alarmed?

4. What was his secret intention?

5. How did the Magi reach their destination?

6. Why did they not return to King Herod? 7. What may we learn from this history?

"A star shall arise out of Jacob, and a sceptre shall spring up from Israel."-Numbers xxiv. 17.

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Arise, be enlightened, O Jerusalem, for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.

"And the Gentiles shall walk in thy light, and kings in the brightness of thy rising.

"All they from Saba shall come, bringing gold and frankincense."-Isaiah lx. 1-3.

LESSON IX.

THE FLIGHT INTO EGYPT.

1. Herod awaited impatiently the return of the wise men, but, finding at length that he had been deceived, he became furious, and cruelly ordered that all the male children in Bethlehem and its environs should be massacred; believing he could thus ensure the death of the Child he so much dreaded.

2. But God, who knows all things, can read the hearts of wicked men, and when it so pleases Him, can prevent the success of their designs.

An angel appeared to Joseph in his sleep, and said to him, "Arise, and take the Child and His Mother, and fly into Egypt, and be there until I shall tell thee; for it will come to pass that Herod will seek the Child to destroy Him."

Joseph arose instantly, took the Child and His Mother, and, under cover of the night, fled with them into Egypt.

3. It was doubtless a severe trial thus to depart in haste for a foreign country, of which they knew neither the language nor the customs, and where they might even find it difficult to earn a subsistence. But God had so ordered; and Joseph and Mary obeyed, not only with submission, but with gratitude towards Him who watched over and protected them.