Daily Republican., 1885-12-30

their depression both may have grown
more intense, 30 that when the coming
of the Redeemer drew nigh, as among
the Jews, 10 among the magi the few
may have grown more spiritual, as the
many grew more earthly.
THEIR COUNTRY.
That Matthew knew their country 70
certain from his last words concerningI |
them /: "They did not return to Herod
but departed to their own country"
Matthew Q, 1, tells us there came wise
men from the East, and In the second
verse makes them say: I'VE have
seen his star in the East" In the first
statement he uses q plural noun, and In
the second singular noun with the |
article. DIR. Upham has said the whole |
truth has not besn given to these twoI
words, (anetolon and to anetole) for we |
have the same word In the plural and
singular form translated east.
Matthew meant something more when
he used the plural form from what he
did when he used the singular with the
article before 1t. He used these terms
geographically. The singular signified
the East, and the plural more than thel
East, or the far East.
Then we would read : There came
wise men from the Far East, saying,
where is he that is born King Of theI
Jews. for we have seen his star In the|
East"
The far East was Persia the East was
Baby lonia; the magi came from Persia,
but saw his star in Babylonia, where
they mounted the observatory to gaze
upon the wonders of the heavens.
Why were the Persian magi SO much
Interested in o Hebrew King?
The earlier conquests Of Persia led
them into the plains of the Tigris aud
Euphrates. Somewhere between these
1.-TWO rivers was the cradle of the human
race There was the home Of Abraham's
father and Major, his brother. In
Mesopotamia, or between the rivers, the
glory of the Lord was revealed to
Abraham. From this, his childhood
home, he went forth, wanderer with
out q continuing city. In his wander
ing, God led him to Canaan and prom
ised it to him and his seed after him.
When Abraham was old he said to the
eldest servant of his house go unto
my country and to my kindred, and
take wife unto my son Isaac. When
Isaac had blessed Jacob he sent him to
the land of his forefathars, and from
thence he brought Leah and Rachel.
When the Persians became masters OF
this land, Esther, q Jewess, was made
Queen by marrying Persian King, and
in com mmsmoration Of their deliverauce
the Jews established feast called
! Purim, which was observed for two
days in every year. When Nebuchad
nezzar took Jerusalem he led away
!. captives to Babylon, among whom was
Daniel. Thus the magi, who had been
drought from the far East, or Persia.
to the Kings court in the East, OF
Q Babylonia, the metropolis of the world,
:, met Daniel from the West, or Pales.
: tine. Here The Hebrew put the wiee
men of ACKNOWLEDGMENT court to the
Z blush, inasmuch as bis God, whom ht
served made known to him the dream
+. of the King and the secrets of the fu
y Iture.
II In open court the King answered thu
!. Hebrew: Daniel, your God is Coz
n of Gods and Lord OF Kings"
m This must have had great weigh
v with the magi Of that day. Also II
4 this kingdom the three Hebrew chill
n ldren were thrown into the fiery furnace
land delivered from 1t without the smell
4. Iof fire upon them.
Iel Nebuchadnezzar made an appeal Z
n every people, nation and language
"a rhera g na nad that can deliver afts
70 Here, in the presence OF the Wise men
a Daniel read the handwriting on tn
Is wall, and was proclaimed ruler In Tn
N Kingdom.
4 In Baby ylon, Daniel prospered in tn
reign of Darias and Tin the reign G
!. CYRUS. the Persian" The Lords SheI
~ herd, ""The Lords Anointed."
Who sent forth decree that tn
"A temple of Jerusalem should be re
a. built .,
Here and now, II never before, tb
= = Magi became acquainted with the He
,el brew God.
The prophecies Of Daniel were uttel
NJ. ed before them. He told them sevent
weeks were determined, or 800 year
Ia to seal MP the vision and prophecy an
he to anoint the Most Holy.
e May We not say such prophec
q. towards the Hebrews, such association
ve with the Hebrews, such knowledge
n the Hebrews, gave the Magi such q
ey Interest in the Hebrews hedeem'
as that We should not wonder that SON
Iot their number girded up their l0in
1Q hound on their sandals, bottled U
q their Myrrb, walleted their gold, seizs
rs, their staves, left the purple mountain
MS of Persia, CROSSED the swift Ttgris, pas
nd ed through Mesopotamia, were ferrie
ng over the broad, flowing waters OF Il
"a Euphrates, rounded the northern part
by the Syrian Desert, marched onward
or damascus, the Oldest city In the worl
alf an ancient city before ROmulus found
ate Romo or Homer sang of Troy, onwa
ler to Jerusalem, where the query "
oil raised, "Where is He that 10 born XII
,eu of the Jews? We have seen His st
in the East and have come to worsh
is Him."
ie-l Astrolgers, among whom were
Chaldeans and the MaRi, believed eve
king, and many great men had each
star or planet.
Thus Suetonius tells US at the dea
of CD ,ar, q hairy star shone continual
for seven days, rising about the clever
hour.
The Talmud says the life and porti
of children hang not on righteousne
but on their star.
Again :those born under the sun
Ibeauuiful and noble looking those Ok
under Venus. AmatOry; under M
!. lcury, strong in memory and wise
lder the moon, feeble and inoonstal
under Jupiter, just, and under Ma
fseeunate.
"a. We have men toned two classes
ian stars-good and evil. or the @
shakes peare speaks when he says, ~
of malignant and i'll l.bediDg stars"
,,anI OF the good, Addison writes, vi
the /" He blesses his stars and thinks
luxury"
.oa This belief was universal among
hets Jews and Gentiles.
Ere The prophecy of Bslaam, who vi
thal al1antIIe and a member OF this q