The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-07-05

1 wall Jackson. 1t was because n& was sucn
| lover and diligent reader of the Bible that
his sister presented him copy. When Gen.
| Hunter was in com mand of the Union forces
| during the rebellion he found it necessary,
as military measure, to burn down jack
sons residence. Clay Whitley, of Indian
apolis, was Corporal of the squad sent to do
the work It was June, 1864, at Lexington,
Va. When the building was in flames it
| occurred to the Corporal to get some relic OF
| the event. He seized On the family Bible
given to Jackson by his sister. Years after
ward he sent it TO the widow of Jackson.
She was very grateful for the return OF
treasure so dear to her late husband.
The Bible is the Book of the ages, and
cannot be neglected by one who would be
conversant with general literature. The
Rev. DR.. Wentworth, of Buffalo, once said:
"The Scriptures, were they read only as a lit
erary exercise, OF by hired readers, reaching
the ears of the people without note or COM
ment,' will find their way 10 the hearts of
the hearers"
There is no question but that the Bible is
too little read. There are truth and rebnke
as we'll sort of humor in the declaration
of the Atehison Globe: Though the print of
the Bible is finer than that of any other
book, no one ever heard of man who in
/ j
st. Matthew's Gospel.
Ernest Renan, in his work on the Gospels,
said that the Gospel of St Matthew, well
weighed, is the most important book of
| Christianity, and, indeed, the most fmpor-
| tant book that has ever been written"
| 1t was written by st. Matthew, one of the
Twelve Apostles written originally in He
brew, as being in special for use by Hebrews;
written first A. d. 81, at Jerusalem; re-
edited in Greek in the year AZ. He grouped
subjects without much attention to cbreno-
logical order.
| ST. Matthew.
Born about A. d. ], at Nazareth; uncer-
! tainty as to. tribe; fathers name Alpheus;
was, in first part of Christ's ministry, col
lecior of taxes; not known whether married !;
owned n house est. Luke, $3.50; said to
have been a mmstyr, slain by sword at Mad
dabar, Ethiopia; commemorated in Church
| Kalendar on Sept 81
Praise. Lord. for hin, whose Gospel thy human
| life declared. p
Who. worldly gains forsaking. thy path of suffer-
From ali unrighleous .n,ammon give US hearts
| sci free,
I That we, whate'er calling, mny rise and follow
thee. ~
SUBJECT: The VISIT OF THE MAeI TO THE
INFANT JESUS.
d. Data.
| The only Bible account is that given by
| st. Matthew, viz, g: liz. Bishop Phillips
Brooks, preaching on V. 1 of our lesson
said: AS we open once again this chapter
of the Gospel, there, always seems to come
some brighter, newer meaning into the
words which tell the story. It's words seem
to me to contain one of the meanings of the
Incarnation picturesquely described"
Time
| Tt has been thought the Wise Men went
to Bethlehem in July of the second year of
Christ. Benson, in his Chronology of the
Life of Christ" contends they went to Beth
| lehem q few weeks after Christ's birth.
| LANCE puts it before the Presentation of the
! Child at the Temple. Two reasons seem
against this: a. They would not have dared
| to take the Infant to Jerusalem when Herod
was feeling so murderous. b. Had it been
before the Presentation, Joseph and Mary
would have been able to make much
richer offering.
1t seems clear quite time must have
! elapsed. St Matt, 2:7. shows Herod ascer-
tanned very accurately the time of the ap-
pearing Of the star. We infer it appear, d
at the time of the birth. Then in ST. Matt
| .
| the infants one year younger and one year
older than the Infant Christ was found to
be, so as 10 be sure to include said Child.
| But one says, If the star appeared CO.
| incidently with the birth, how is it the
| Wise Men do not reach Bethlehem till about
one year afterward? There were several
| reasons for considerable delay.
a. When the phenomenon appeared per-
| haps it was not at first understood. The
Magi probably spent good deal of time in
seeking an explanation Of the stars appear
ance.
b. At length deciding it must relate to
the birth Of the expected Jewish King (viz
the Messiah), quite a time would be de-
manded in making preparations for a long
and difficult journey. There were no rapid
means of travel. Those journeying were
| obliged to 60 afoot or on slow beasts of
burden.
C. Then they stopped at Jerusalem to
make certain inquiries. A considerable
length of time might have interviewed there
d. In that very warm climate, md at
probably q warm part of the year. they
could not travel very rapidly. Most of the
journeying was probably done by night. If
they depended on the guidance of tie star
all the way, it would seem they went by
night. 1t is, however, possible the star
could be seen by daylight; or, if they trav-
eled at all by day, they might have pursued
in tho general direction Gi the star as seen
nights. Many hold the travelling was when
it was dark. Doubtless the journey from
Jerusalem to Bethlehem was at night for
the distance was so short as to require
direct specific guidance.
e. We notice, also, the Wise Men took,
seemingly, loads Of provisions and the arti-
cles for presentation to the infant King, and
there may thus have been an impeding some
what of progress.
f. We find it took Ezra to make practi-
cally, it weuld seem, the same journey alone
four months. Ezra, 7:9)
The trip was taken in the days of Herod
the King" ". II He had been King some
81 years. 80,
There is nothing to indicate how long the
Magi stopped at, Bethlehem. We would
suppose they did not remain q great while
from the fact Herod was impatient to hear
from them.
Wise Hen.
1t is supposed they came from Persia, a
distance of about 600 miles from Jerusalem
tradition declares that Zoroaster fore
saw the birth of Christ and told the emf
| nent Magi to be On lookout for Star which
was to appear, and directed them, on its ap-
pearance, to follow it and find the newborn
King. The Persians were worshipers of
| Cod uuder the symbol of fire and very oh