44 B. C. Fifty-second Medal, called the Link Medal. Cæsar murdered in the Senate House at Rome. that principally took place during the period of the last minor prophet Malachi until the birth of Christ. MURDERED IN THE SENATE CÆSAR HOUSE AT ROME. 2 B. C. In the Year of From the creation of Adam to this time, the the World History of the Bible furnishes us with a regular 3998. progression of stupendous events, and the Mosaic law or covenant was rigidly kept to serve all purposes, from its commencement, in the year of the world 2513, to this time; and mankind was properly prepared, throughout the civilized world, for the coming of Him who had been promised to our first parents whilst in Paradise. Rome had been built now about 752 years, and Augustus Cæsar was holding the sceptre of the Roman empire, and Herod the Great filled the dependant throne of Judea, when a priest of the name of Zacharias, during the time that he was in the act of burning incense in the temple at Jerusalem, was accosted in a very extraordinary manner by an Angel that suddenly stood by him, and told him, in a tone of religious cheerfulness, that his wife should bear a son, who should be great in the sight of the Lord; he should not drink wine, but at his birth he should be filled with the Holy Ghost, and his name should be John; and he should proceed on, in the spirit and power of Elias (or Elijah), to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. Of course, Zacharias the priest was filled with fear and trembling, but perceiving that the figure appeared (what was generally received) angelic, and not of mortal form, and knowing that his wife Elizabeth had always been barren, and had arrived at that period of life termed "stricken in years," he was the more troubled; but he summoned up confidence to ask for some sign that he might know and believe. The Angel said, Fear not; I am Gabriel, that stands in the presence of God, and am sent to speak to thee, and to show thee these glad tidings; therefore, fear not. But behold, thou shalt be dumb until the day that these things be performed, because thou believest not. Elizabeth was a daughter of the house of Aaron. The people had waited until Zacharias came out of the holy sanctuary, when he made signs that he had seen a vision, and had become dumb; and as the time of his ministry was completed, within a week, he returned to his own home. And Zacharias remembered the words of the angel Gabriel, telling him that his son should be the forerunner and prophet of the Messiah. Six months after this visit of the angel Gabriel to the priest Zacharias, God sent Gabriel to Nazareth, to a virgin named Mary, of the tribe of Judah, and of the family of David, through Nathan, his second son, by Bath-sheba, whom he saluted by saying, Hail, thou highly favoured of the Lord; blessed art thou among women. Mary was overwhelmed with awe and alarm. The Angel said, Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found favour with God: thou shalt conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest. Then Mary said to the Angel, How can this be, seeing I know not a man? The Angel answered, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee; therefore that holy thing that shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. The Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David, and he shall reign for ever and ever over the house of Jacob, and of his kingdom there shall be no end. And behold, thy cousin Elizabeth, she also hath conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month with her, for with God nothing shall be impossible. And Mary said, Be it unto me according to thy word. The Angel then departed. Soon after the angel Gabriel had left her, Mary determined to go and see Elizabeth without delay. She went to the hill country where Zacharias lived, when she was welcomed by Elizabeth with holy triumph, who assured her that whatever the heavenly messenger had told her would come to pass. Mary replied to her cousin Elizabeth in a similar way; and they resided together for about three months in peaceful harmony. when the time for Only a few days now remained to prove the completion of God's promise to Zacharias; and Elizabeth was, soon after Mary had returned to her own home, delivered of a son. On the eighth day after the birth of the child, circumcising him was come, they called him by his father's name, Zacharias; but his mother told them that his name should be John. Zacharias, although still dumb, wrote upon his tablets the word John, by which name the boy was agreed to be called; and immediately the string of Zacharias' tongue was loosed, when he offered a song of thanksgiving. Zacharias concluded his divine song with an exclamation to the infant Baptist, saying, And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest, for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord, to prepare his ways, to give knowledge of salvation unto his people for the remission of their sins. Mary had six months to come before she could bring forth; and it so occurred, as was the custom in those days, that she was already betrothed to one Joseph, whose ordinary abode was at Nazareth, and worked at some trade, which occupation was thought to be that of a carpenter; he was the son of James, and grandson of Matthew, and foster father of Christ. Joseph was a just man, and much afflicted to know that Mary was with child, fearing danger might come upon her, and was considering how he could privily place her away for a time. At the moment when he was going to carry this resolution into effect, a vision appeared unto him, and explained the extraordinary fact; which decided him to receive Mary, and to treat her with every deference, delicacy, and kindness. At that period the Roman Emperor Augustus held Judea rather as a province than an independent state, subject, in some measure, to Herod the Viceroy or King. The Roman emperor had ordered a census to be taken of the empire, and the edict included this province, where a census should also be taken; and persons of every family prepared to obey the edict. Joseph and Mary set out, with others, to be registered in the principal city of their tribe, which city was Bethlehem, the native town of David. The place was, of course, crowded with travellers, so that no accommodation could be found, except taking shelter in that part of the caravansary where the horses were penned, and there the blessed Virgin brought forth a son. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger. OF CHRIST, AND ADORATION OF THE A. D. The Nativity of Christ, and Adoration of the Wise Men. THE NATIVITY |