The New York herald., 1874-12-28
FIFTH AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH.

THE HEAVENLY GUIDING STAR OF BETHLEHEM.
"rbe Kings Starr formed the subject Of DR..
Armitage's discourse at the Fifth avenue Baptist
church yesterday morDing. The text was rom
the second chapter or Matthew, beginning with the
nrst vcrse-'.Now, when Jesus was born In Bethle-
hem Of Judea, In the days OF Herod the King. BE-
hold, there came wise men from The East to Jeru.
salem, saying. Where ls he that Is born King OF
the Jewss Tor We have seen his star In the East
and are come to worship him. The reverend
gentleman opened his discourse by portraying the
lmmcnsity OF the universe as illustrated BY the
time required by light TO travel from the sun and
from the nearer ana more remote fixed stars to
this planet Gould the dweers in those far-on
w0rlds with greater powers than we possess,
ana with more extended means OF knowledge
through the medium OF light, see the passing
events OF this world, not that which IS now
transpirlng would be revealed 10 them, but
what happened hundreds and thousands OF years
ago, according to the time required for the rays
oil light TO meet their VISION AS every point OF
time has its corresponding point OF space, per-
haps to some OF those far of mysterious beings
Prince or Peace, the anniversary OF which we at
this season celebrate. Aliusion was then made to
the various theories OF astronomers VINO desired
TO account upon natural basis for the appearance
THE STAR OF BETHLEHEM.
These theories are, first that 1t was meteor;
second, that II was pianet created especially by
the Almighty to herald the birth OF the Saviour,
and third, thatit was formed by remarKable Con-
junction OF toe planets Jupiter, Saturn aud Mars,
which made them appear as one. kepler, by care
iul calculation, ascertained that such a conjunc-
ton took place in the year TAT OF the Roman En-
pre-, from which he concluded that the birth
OF Jesus took place some SIX years earlier than q
generally supposed. This theory was beautifully
elaborated by the speaker who showed how the
movements Of these planets in their conjunction
would LEAD the Magi from distant Persia over the
vast tract which intervened until its light shOne
down upon the humble cabin which Contained
Him OF whom the prophets had sung and whose
ferred TO the new stars which have been dis
covered from time to time and which have disap-
peared again. and said, 81 cannot see why God
should not nave sent this star to accomplish the
work assigned 1t and then Withdrawn 1t into the
ilmtabe realms OF space as were those to
which have referred. This star, perchance
other stars, ior the especial purpose OF announcing
the birth Ol Him for whom anu by whom ali
worlds were mace; thus star wandering through
the immensely OF space threw It's lignt over mil
cabin OF the virgin mother, carrying the message
1or which 1t was created
TO TIE HIGHEST CULTURED IETELLECTS OF EARTH"
In orawlnQ lesson rom his subject the revc-
rend doctor showed how the 1rst appearance OF
the Saviour on Garth was illustrated by the mild
radiance OF o star: a faint lustrc at first. enough
the morning star and the u bril.lancy OF the greas
lumiuary, filling the heavens with lght. Thus tue
spirit OF Christ IrSt breaks upon the S0ai, but hon.
est men with faith like telescope to the eve,
bring nearer and nearer the sun ol righteousness.
until tEe night breaks away and the full light OF
day beams upon the heart. May the RAYS OF the
star which shone not alone for the Mag but Tor
the whole human race, fall upon your hearts this
morning; tnat star that had swept through the
heavenly arches, whose builder and maker Is COD,
turning to the right or let until Its rays fell
mother, the blood OF man In his VEINS and God In
carnate IN his nature.