The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1866-06-14

pronounced with the most undoubtins
assurance, that they move, and hav
ever moved, with uuvarying constanc,
in the paths assigned them, when frs
the morning stars sang together, tha
the Hand that made them and the Power
that moved them was Divine.
OF these immense distances from the
earth, how could it be said Of allor any
OF them, that it went before anCindica-
ted to the Magi the cradle CT tie infant
Jesus7 especially, as we may a'd, when
their proper places in the heavens would
be more Than thirty degrees from the
zenith, as seen from Jerusalem or Beth
lehem.
AT this season Of the year, from the
house-top in Jerusalem, we well remem-
berto haye gazed with the deepest in
terest through the clear ether Of its sky,
on the glories of the heavens above and
aroundes; the bright orbs never seemed
so near, and in view of the gorgeous
planets and consultations to be seen,
fylt quite assured that David must have
composed the eighth Psalm at this
period of the year, with them in his eye,
but we would never have dreamed that
Star or Planet could so near approach
us as to indicate any one of the humble
dwellings of Bethlehem, or even its
large castle-conyent, in which we were
sheltered for several days. We know
thatthe teachings of tradition as met
in the Orient, are of little value, but
infer that if there had been any linger-
ing trace of the conjunction OF planets
as allied to the visit of the Nag, we
should not have had single star tadiating
the spot, on the floor, in the grotto,
under the church OF the NATIVITY in
Bethlehem, to indicate the very place
on which that wondrous event occurred, !,
according to the legens and teachings
Of the Romish and Oriental Churches.
On various grounds of astronomic cer-
tainty, the spocious theory OF Kepler
has not only been clouded, but totally
obscured, and it seems to us should not
be, at this day, advanced as sober ex-
planation Of the statement OF the Evan
gclist, and yet, with the authoritative
endorsement Of such eminent scholars
as DR., Lange, and his translator, DR..
Schaff, are, we apprehend that many a
Christmas sermon will be Illuminated
with its uncertain light.
The account is obviously narrated by
Matthew as one among the allied cate
cory Of miracles incident to the advent,
a specially appointed sign to specially
appointed witnesses, and visible to them
only. This, we think, is plainly to be
inferred. We more than assent to this
partially suggested view of recent
English writer These venerable "phi-
losophers' appear to have belonged to
that invisible company to whom it was
said, "coming from the East and the
West they shall sit down in the kingdom
of heaven" They had the FAITH, if they
lacked the outward sg, and seal Of the
literal children Of Abraham. Like him
they anticipated the Saviour's day, and
rcjoiced in it, and had Divine intima-
tions that the advent "of the desire OF
all nations" was at hand Others heed.
ed not, and sac not the light that illu-
minated their pathway to the land where
lions King was to be found and adored.
For reasons which prophecy and prov
idence alike required, and perhaps to
test afresh the faith of the Magi, they
seem to have lost sight Of their beacon
star, as they approached the National
Capitol. Else why do they repair to
Jerusalem, with the inquiry, "Whcre il
he that is born King OF the Jews?"
Jerusalem is all unconscious Of any
sign in the heavens, betokening His ad.
vent as at hand. Till then the fears ot
its old and jealous monarch, of such Q
rival to his throne, had not beer
awakened.
Tho Sanhedrim and sages of the ma
tion, have to be convened to indicate
from the prophetic record, the solution
of the inquiry, "and they said unto
him, in Bethlehem OF Judea." WhGr
thus instructed, resuming their search,
it would seem that on leaving the con
fines of the City, the Star that had
guided the Magi in all their journey
from the distant East, now re-appears
to them, "And when theysaw the Star
they rejoiced with exceeding joy, as i
went before them till it came and stood
over where the young child was" Ira
dition here steps in and says it reste(
round the head of the infant Saviour, a,
sublime halo, diffusing a dazzling radi.
ancc, This conception was taken "
by the old masters, and is skilfully por
trayed on canvass in the paintings o
the HoLY FAMILY, which occupy count
less places in the galleries of Europe,
+. ii.
10 IIWow street, Brookya Dec, 1865.