the daughter of David; which brought the host of heaven to speak peace and joy to the simple innocence of shepherds; which interrupted the calm speculations of the eastern sages, and impelled them to follow a miraculous sign into a foreign land; seemed, to all outward appearance, to be nothing more than the birth of a child in some of the lowest circumstances of human fortune. "When they were come into the house (says the evangelist, speaking of the wise men), they saw the young child, with Mary his mother."

It is possible, my brethren, that this simple and unimposing form in which our Saviour is first presented to us, may operate with some minds to the prejudice of his religion: I shall, therefore, endeavour, in a very few words, to show that, on the contrary, it affords a strong confirmation of its truth; that it corresponds exactly with the wants and wishes of the human heart; and, finally, that there is a striking coincidence between this first appearance of our Lord, and the whole genius and spirit of Christianity.

In the first place, then, is it possible that any messenger from heaven could come before us in circumstances more completely inconsistent with the supposition of artifice or imposture?" When they were come into the house, they beheld the young child, with Mary his mo ther." What is there here to excite our most jealous apprehensions, or to afford a ground of suspicion to the most vigilant distrust? Is it possible that, in this simple domestic scene, the seeds of deception should be striking root? Was the mother mingling with her caresses the proud thought that her son was destined to lead after him a deluded world? or was the infant, while

he answered to her smiles, dreaming of the enterprise which lay before him? When we behold a dark-minded prophet issuing from the depth of solitudes and deserts, infusing a lofty enthusiasm into the minds of a barbarous people, and leading them on to conquest and devastation, we, who are beyond the sphere of the delusion, can at once affirm, notwithstanding the splendour of his success, that he owed it to hypocrisy and deception. How different the scene here presented to us! It is humble, and makes no pretensions; but it finds its way into our souls by the same passages by which truth is conveyed to them. When we are in the presence of "the young child, and Mary his mother," do not our hearts inform us, that the God of truth is not far from us?

In the second place, I affirm, that the very humility of this scene is the circumstance to which the human heart must be most attached, however it may disappoint some wandering irregularities of the imagination. When the children of Israel were terrified with those awful manifestations of the divine majesty which accompanied the promulgation of their law, their words were, "Let me not hear again the voice of the Lord my God, neither let me see this great fire any more, that I die not." This, my brethren, is the language of human nature. Encircled by the frailty of the flesh, man is afraid to hold any direct intercourse with the Almighty. It was then that, condescending to the infirmity of his creatures, God said to Moses, "I will raise them up a prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth." What the heart desires in a divine instructor is, that while he has the words of God in his

mouth, he should yet be raised from among his brethren of mankind. I need not inform you how remarkably this wish of the human heart is accomplished in the whole dispensation of Christianity, or how admirably the character and condition of our Saviour at all times correspond with the description of a prophet who, possessing the words of the living God, was yet subject to all the feelings and affections of a man, and was often severely "touched with a sense of our infirmities." I am only at present led to remark to you in what a pleasing manner this circumstance is corroborated by the little simple incident now before us, and the short glimpse afforded us of the infant years of Jesus, while he was yet an inmate in the house of his parents, and before he felt himself called upon to execute the mighty designs for which he was sent into the world. How beautifully is the awful character of a supernatural instructor, softened down by these means to our hearts and affections! Can we be afraid of approaching a child? Is there any thing in the house of Mary which can excite our apprehension and alarm?

My third remark was, that there is a very striking coincidence between this first appearance of our Lord, and the whole genius and spirit of Christianity. It is a remarkable characteristic of our religion, that while it is doing every thing for the good of mankind which can be done, it yet seems to be doing nothing. It resides in the hearts of the faithful, and silently influences the conduct of their lives. It flows in a quiet stream through nations and communities of men, and by an unobserved principle of improvement, refines and beautifies their manners and institutions. It is secretly, and by slow degrees, bringing in that "better kingdom,

wherein dwelleth eternal righteousness;" and yet, to the eyes of the world, every thing seems to be proceeding as it had done from the beginning. With this gentle and unobstrusive form, in which christianity at all times appears to us, the history of its introduction corresponds. The miracles which then accompanied its progress were exhibited to those only who could feel their value. No vain display of prodigies interrupted the course of na ture and the business of the world; no portents of terror shook the world at the descent of its Creator. When the eastern sages came with splendid offerings, in expectation of finding some royal babe, they were introduced to the lowly dwelling and the humble group of the text, "the young child, with Mary his mother."

Farther, my brethren, Christianity is the religion of love and mercy ;—and, therefore, its Author is first presented to us in the most amiable of all human forms. It is the religion of a pure and simple heart ;-and its Author first appears to us in the very shape and image of simplicity and innocence. "Suffer little children to come unto me (says he), for of such is the kingdom of heaven:"—and he himself accordingly first comes to us as a little child. When the law was given to the Jews, it was proclaimed with circumstances of terror corresponding to the nature of the institution. The voice of God was heard from Mount Sinai, speaking from the thunders and lightnings. The gospel of peace springs up to us from the cradle of an infant!-I forbear, my brethren, to pursue these reflections farther. Your own meditations will supply their deficiencies. Permit me rather, before I conclude, to suggest to your thoughts a few observations of a more practical tendency.

You are now, then, advancing to the contemplation of a scene altogether heavenly, and glorious, and joyful: no other than the union of heaven and earth,—the descent of the First-born from the bosom of his everlast. ing Father into the mortal arms of maternal love. You are advancing to behold whatever is pure, and simple, and wise among men, bending around the cradle of the infant Saviour; to behold the heavens opening, and a multitude of the heavenly host descending; and to hear that hymn of praise which has for ever encircled the eternal throne, now uniting to the strain of “ Glory to God in the highest," the welcome sounds of " peace on earth, and good will towards men." Such are the scenes of moral and celestial beauty which the church is now disclosing to you; and such the real magnificence, unpolluted by the vain additions of worldly splendour, with which, when she throws open her "everlasting doors," you behold" the King of glory enter in."

Other scenes are indeed behind. You must yet follow your Sovereign through his triumphant sufferings, and view him when he is crowned only with thorns, and elevated in agony on the cross. These scenes you are about to anticipate at the altar, and I pray to God that their influence may be felt on every heart. The cross, my brethren, will there remind you, that you have afflictions to endure, and sins to be repented of; but it will recal these recollections to your minds, accompanied with the powerful consolation, that one has gone before you who will strengthen you in all your sufferings, and who has obtained for you the remission of your sins. Persevere, therefore, in your Christian profession let not the cross of Christ be to you a "stumbling-block,"

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