only-begotten Son to take our nature upon Him, and has made Him obedient to the law for man, Here we see that Jesus is indeed the Gal. iv. 4. But what lessons shall we gather up from this? Let us learn, first of all, the sympathy of Jesus. The High Priest was taken from among men for a special purpose, Heb. v. 2. What a precious High Priest we have in Jesus, Heb. iv. 15. I am sure we may come to God by Him boldly, and know that all is well, Heb. iv. 16; Phil. iv. 6, 7, 19. Let us learn also to follow the example of Jesus. We see how He lived as the Son of man, 1 Pet. ii. 21. It is thus, by treading in His steps, that we may "be followers of God, as dear children," Eph. v. 1, 2. The Epiphany. "THE BRIGHT AND MORNING STAR." Learn, Rev. xxii. 14-17. Passages to be referred to for reading,-Num. xxiv. 15-19; Matt. ii. 1-12; Luke i. 68-79; 2 Pet. i. 16-21. "the TO-DAY we shall think of our Lord as Bright and Morning Star." It seems the title most suited for the Epiphany (explain). "By the leading of a star" God did manifest Him to the Gentiles, Matt. ii. 9, 10. here. Jesus is You know that But let us make no confusion Himself our star, Rev. xxii. 16. stars are employed to describe heavenly beings, Job xxxviii. 7; ministers, Rev. i. 20; princes, Dan. viii. 10; and so Jesus is prophesied to be the "star out of Jacob," Num. xxiv. 17; but this had nothing to do with the star which guided the wise men-that did not rise out of Israel, Matt. ii. 2. Jesus says, "I am the Bright and Morning Star." We shall find this to be true. First, In the history of the world. morning star? What is the It is not the sun, Mal. iv. 2. It is that which shines in the darkest time, just before daybreak, and tells us that the day is coming. How was it when Christ came? John i. 5. The Jews who had the Scriptures knew Him not, John i. 11. But how shall it be when Christ comes again in the day, as the Sun of Righteousness? Isa. xi. 9; Hab. ii. 14. At present, then, we have "the Morning Star," all the light that we need to guide us onward, John xii. 35, 36; Prov. iv. 18; 1 Cor. i. 30. It makes us quite sure that the fuller light of day is coming, 2 Pet. i. 19; Cant. ii. 17; 1 John v. 10; but then we shall have the sun in all the glory of meridian splendour, Isa. Ix. 19; Rev. xxi. 23, 24; Matt. xiii. 43. Secondly, In the history of our own hearts. Is not Jesus the Morning Star? It is He who promises to give the earliest light, Prov. viii. 17; Eccles. xii. 1; Mark x. 14. It is He who shows us how great is the darkness on every hand, John viii. 12; Ps. xviii. 28; Isa. i. 10; Eph. v. 14. It is He who makes us sure that the sun will rise, Eph. i. 13, 14; Gal. v. 5. It is He who makes us long for the perfect day, Rom. viii. 23, xiii. 11. I think, therefore, that from Jesus calling Himself "the Bright and Morning Star," He wishes us to learn how ready He is to enlighten, Isa. xlii. 6, 7. We may see it in His own words, John iii. 19; His commission to His apostle, Acts xxvi. 18; the blessed condition of His own people now, 1 Pet. ii. 9; and the promise He We have only to receive my sight," will be the result? Yet still our pre gives to them, Rev. ii. 28. pray, "Lord, that I may Luke xviii. 41; and what John ix. 25; Ps. xxxvi. 9. sent light is but a glimmer of what is coming, 1 Cor. xiii. 12; Rev. xxii. 5; and our prayer should ever be, "that we who know Thee now by faith, may after this life bave the fruition of Thy glorious Godhead." First Sunday after the Epiphany. "HOLY CHILD JESUS." Learn, Acts iv. 27-30. Passages to be referred to for reading,-Isa. liii. 1-3; Luke ii. 40-52; Prov. xxiii. 24-26; Eph. vi. 1-3; Col. iii. 20. "HOLY child Jesus" might perhaps be more properly rendered "Holy servant Jesus;" but we take the title as we find it in our Bibles, to lead you at this season of the Epiphany to the earliest manifestations of His life on earth. One glimpse is all that we are given of His childhood, but that is sufficient to show us that He was the Holy Child Jesus. One or two passages we may refer to as speaking of Him before His birth, which bear upon our subject, Prov. viii. 30, 31, cf. John i. 1-3. He was the delight of the Father, Isa. liii. 2. His growth was to be like that of a tender plant before God, Luke i. 35. The angel speaks of Him as "that Holy thing which shall be born;" these give, as it were, an anticipation of His childhood, but Luke ii. 40-52 is the only passage which gives any of the circumstances of His early life. We see there,— |