The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-12-21
OPIc. Qua GIFTS No nUR KTNG.


men frem the east to Jerusalem,
.. Saying. where is He that is born King
of the Jews? for we have seen his star in
the east. and are come to worship him
g. When Herod the King had heard
these things, he was troubled, and ali Je-
rusaIem with him
l. And when he had gathered all the
chief priests and scribes of the people
together. he demanded of them where
Christ should be born.
s. And they said unto him, N Bethle
hem Of Judaea; for THIS il IS written by
the prophet,
6 And thu Bethlehem, in the land Of
Juda. art not the least among the princes
of Juda; for out of thee shall come
Governor, that shall rule my people
Israel.
= Then Herod, when he had privily
called the wise men, enquired Of them dill
igently what time the star appeared
s. And he sent them 10 Bethlehem, and
said. 20 and search diligently for the
young child; ana when We have found him
bring me word again, that I may come and
worship him also
.. When they had heard the King they
departed; and. To- the star which they
saw in the east, went before them, till 1t
came and stood over where the young
child was
10. When they saw the star, they re-
joiced with exceeding great Joy
IL And when they were come into the
house they saw the young child with
Mary. his mother. and fell down. and
worshiped him; and when they had open
ed their treasures, they presented unto
him gifts; gold. and frankincense, and
nyrrh.
L. AND being warned Of God in a dream
that they should not return to Herod,
they departed into their own country an
other way.
The Hymns
GOSPEL hymns No. 6-7S, 90, us. 1a8, III.
175, 197.
c. E. hymns %. 50, 81, l2o, 121 1l5.
1913.
Parallel Passages.
Samuel. i:2S; I Chronicles, xvi.2S-2 %;
II Chronicles, xxxii:23: Psalms. ii.175
Proverbs, xxiii:26; Matthew, v:2S-24: Nat
thew. xxti:S7; Matthew, Xxv:35, SO. 20:
Mark tx;41, Acts, xZ:35.
Analysis of the Topic
On stately stepping camels came the
first Christians. bearing the first Christ
mas gifts to the King on the first Christ
mas Dag. Today man and beast, steam
and electricity and all the modern dis
coveries Of science are kept busy for
weeks beforehand bringing gifts for 20
aas the beautiful Gus
.oday, of all the MIL
gifts bought and sold
myers how many are
zen who came from far,
ms. neither money nor
ore wanderings from store
personal sacrifice. nor hours
OF labor that the gifts may be all that we
wish-but amid it all do We not often for
get-tuI It is suddenly told Us in the
midst Of come church festivity, whose
birthday we are celebrating. and whose
should really be the gifts we BRING The
child Jesus gets very, very few o. the
presents at Christmastide in these days.
Il the wise men had come searching for
Jesus in the spirit of these times it is
likely they would have left their gifts,
costly and rare, with Herod, the reigning
King. strong in power, rich, courteous,
pretending to be interested in their eT-
rand. begging to be told where the new
King was to be found that he might 90
and worship him himself. But they were
guided by a star and followed it closely,
so that they were not dismayed when It
stopped over stable, and they discovered
their King in a manger wrapped in the
garb of the poor. Neither did they hastily
put aside the bundle containing their
treasures and get out some poor make
shift to give the little Lord Jesus, think
ing such would do for him, child of the
poor. No, they presented to him CT the
eosuiest of all they had brought
And is there a star today by which
through whom he has said, we may give
to him? les, 90, like the wise men, ask,
Where is he?" and the answer will come
always TO the willing heart, and the star
be sent to let you spow you are in the
way II matters not of whom you ask
Zen 4 Herod may have wise men to
point you the way to d Bethlehem where
The Lord hath need of your gifts. For the
little Lord Jesus asleep in the hay had
real need Of these gifts that day. \
dream was coming. 10 send his parents
on q long and expensive journey 20 save
salvation to the world and but for the
rich gifts that journey might have been
an impossible expense. Did il ever occur
TO you that the great God may have a
need for the rare embroidery the beaUti-
ful doll, me large sum you are planning
ID spend on a friend already possessed
o. bOuntiful share OF this worlds goods2
And what shall the gifts be TO our
king2 Shall We. too bring gold and
precious stones and sweet smelling
spices2 Yes. few to deck his little
ones, and his temple, but he has given Us
to know what he would like TO have as
well as we know how to buy gifts for
our most intimate earthly friends. He
wants ourselves, our love, our obedience
our time. our praise, even our joys and
sorrows. our money, of course-it IS al
ways included when We truly give our
selves, for it is d love Of self that holds
the purse strings tight.
And the secret OF it all2 The wise men
believed that Jesus was their King. Do
We? II we did, would We withhold our
gifts?
Applied Truth.
Mrs. Archer sits in her room sur
rounded by beautiful and costly objects
which she IS tying up with dainty ribbons
and labelling with Christmas wishes for
her friends There IS diamond sun
burst, a lovely ring. pin set with pre-