The Epiphany.

THE BIRTH OF CHRIST GLORIOUS.

ISAIAH lx. 1.

Arise, shine, for thy Light is come, and the Glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.

Ar the last Review of the Book of Common Prayer, (in 1662,) it was thought advisable to add the explanation of the names of certain Festivals of the Church. Epiphany' is one of the names so explained: and in consequence, we never turn the pages of the Prayer-Book, without being reminded that on that festival, the Church celebrates the Manifestation of CHRIST to the Gentiles. Out of this announcement, certain considerations seem naturally to arise, which it may be worth while to set forth somewhat in detail.

The great Humility, in which our LORD and SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST, as at this time, deigned to visit us,' is indeed a remarkable circumstance; so remarkable, that it may well be dwelt upon, and made much of, by mankind.

To the humblest of our Brethren, the circumstances under which the Holy Babe was born at Bethlehem, the station of society to which His Blessed Mother and her wedded protector belonged at Nazareth,-may well prove a source of consolation unspeakable. Yet is it much to be feared that one aspect of this wondrous history is dwelt upon to the exclusion of another, which it equally concerns us to keep steadily in view. We must beware how we make too free with our CREATOR, REDEEMER, JUDGE. We We may not presume on His unspeakable condescension; and treat the narrative of His Holy Birth,—or Life, -or Death, with vulgar familiarity, because for our sakes He made Himself very poor. To speak of His having been born in a stable,' and being the son of a carpenter;' to say that He worked at the trade of His reputed Father;' and that He was a houseless wanderer;' and that He was attended by 'twelve poor fishermen :'- -sayings of this kind, though some of them may perhaps be true; and all of them perhaps are true in a certain sense,—are yet, one and all, liable to grave objections, when they are dwelt upon exclusively; and supposed to represent the whole of the matter. We venture, by way of contrast, to state the opposite side of the

case to say a few words concerning our Blessed SAVIOUR'S Birth, and Life, and Death, as we think the sacred story may, with equal truth, and far more profitably, be considered.

And first, to dwell on the estate of Poverty, as if it were in itself a kind of disgrace, is surely a somewhat unchristian proceeding; and shews a wondrous wrong estimate of that condition which CHRIST Himself pronounced 'blessed.' Neither ignorance, nor stupidity, nor vulgar sentiments, nor coarse expressions, nor low habits, nor filth, nor rags,-none of these things, (as every one who loves the poor knows very well,) none of these are the necessary adjuncts of Poverty. Exceeding munificence; perfect honesty; the very keenest sense of whatsoever things are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report; great proficiency in what GOD, speaking by the mouth of the wisest of mankind, calls wisdom,-(and we may suppose that the Author of Wisdom knows more about this matter than ourselves ;) added to the best natural gifts:-all these things are observed to be quite consistent with Poverty. We do not, of course, say that they are observed always to attend it: nothing of the kind. But they are not inconsistent with it. And thus much concerning the station in society to which

Joseph and the Blessed Virgin, (our LORD's reputed Parents,) belonged. Let us next think of the Nativity; regarding it with the eyes of Faith and Love, not in the cold carnal spirit which can see no splendour except in ermine; no nobility except in wealth.

The lowly pair, on reaching Bethlehem, find that there is no room for them in the Inn.' We have already dwelt on the grievous circumstance, in a separate sermon. Accordingly, they withdrew to that humbler enclosure where the cattle were provided with a shelter and with food. There, in all the helplessness of infancy, the Di vine Babe was laid, surrounded, (like Adam in Paradise,) by the brute creation: and there, (as painters love to remind us,) the ox will have known his Owner, and the ass his Master's crib, -though Israel did not know; though God's people did not considera.

Meanwhile, such a glorious spectacle as was never before revealed to mortal eyes, is passing in the immediate neighbourhood. Shepherds, who are keeping watch over their flocks by night, behold the Angel of the LORD suddenly stand before them,-girt about with that wondrous Glory which belongs to the Divine Presence.

a Is. i. 3.

After announcing to these lowly swains the SAVIOUR'S Birth,-suddenly, there is seen with the Angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising GOD, and saying,—Glory to God in the highest, and on earth Peace, good will towards men'!' It was the Birth-day of the New Creation, and the Morning-stars must needs again sing toge

ther

:

all the Sons of GOD must needs again

shout for joy.

The Holy Family had come up to the city of David,' to be enrolled, in obedience to the Imperial edict; and lo, when they are asked by the appointed officer concerning their descent, they make answer that they derive their birth by a double line from King David himself! That little Babe which slumbers on His Mother's pure breast, is the offspring of a long line of Kings. Poor, He is indeed. The family has declined since the day of Zerubbabel, ('him of the dispersion of Babylon,' as his name implies;) but they retain the written record of their lofty origin.-Can a prouder tale have been told by any?

The special event of to-day, is the adoration of the Wise Men, or, (as they are called in the Gospel,) the Magi. Eastern sages were they, of

b St. Luke ii. 8—14.

c Job xxxviii. 7.