Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1875-03-25
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THE BIRTH OF CHRIST.


plain, simple style in the first part of the Sec
ond chapter of the gospel by Luke. The first
thing that arrests the attention of the reader
of that brief history, is the time sOhen the Sa-
uiour auas born. It. when Augustus Cesar
was at the head of the Roman government.
The combined forces of Anthony and Cleopa-
ira had been vanquished at the battle of Ac-
tium, and the undisputed dominion of Au-
gustus was established over all the world.
The sceptre had departed from Judea, and
the law-giver from between his feet. The
land of Palestine was reduced to subjection to
the Roman power. 1t was when decree was
issued by Caesar Augustus that all the world
should be taxed or enrolled 1t is more def.
nitely stated to have been when Cyrenius, or
Ourenius, according to his Roman name, was
for the first time made governor of Syria.
Cyrenius, or Qurenius, was twice governor OF
SYRIA. The first time, when Jesus was born,
and the second time about ten years after the
birth of the Saviour.
Jacob, on his dying couch, predicted that
Shiloh would come when the sceptre should
depart from Judah. The sacredotal tribe
amongst the Israelites was the tribe of Levi
Judah was the royal tribe Hence, to say
that the sceptre would depart from Judah, WAS
equivalent to saying that the Israelites would
cease to be an independent people. This
they had ceased to be, and the evidence of the
fact is, that the whole nation is ordered by a
foreign potentate to assemble at their respect
i've cities to be enrolled as component parts
of another government.
The circumstance of the Saviour's birth is
worthy of note 1t said, "there was no room
in the inn" for Mary and Joseph. They, by
the force of circumstances, were compelled to
take up their abode, during their temporary
stay in the city, in an ox's stall. This shows
the comparative poverty and obscurity OF
Mary and Joseph. Had they been rich, we'll
furnished rooms would have been provided for
them but since they were poor, no prepara-
tions were made for them. This simple Incl
dent should console the pious poor. He who
was, and is, and ever will be, the possessor Of
all things, made his appearance into this world
under most humiliating circumstances. Had
Jesus been born in the inn, the noise and con-
fusion would have proved great inconven'
ience to the pious medtations Of both Mary
and Joseph. The most honored position is not
always the best place for our souls. The cir
cumstance that Jesus was born poor, lived
and died poor should teach us that extreme
poverty, and very great piety, are not by any
means inconsistent. When Jesus died, his
funeral expenses were betrayed by kind
friends, and his lifeless body was laid in anoth'
er mans grave. Few are so poor as this.
What rebuke to grumbling Christians
The time and circumstances conspired to
make the birth of Jesus public Vast null
titudes had assembled from every section OF
the country. The arrival of the shepherd in
search of the infant Jesus, and the star hang
ing over his humble birth place, published
his birth by thousand tongues. The shep
herds told, no doubt, every one they met, what
thew had seen and heard whilst watching their
Aocks. We may we'll conclude that his birth
became the general and all absorbing theme
of conversation by all. Had herald beer
sent through the province, charged with the
duty of proclaiming the fact that Saviour
was born. it would not have been as rapidly
and as extensively circulated as it was. GOD
in this, as he is wont to do in everything, did
! the best