The San Francisco call., 1903-12-20

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OF w-ondrous power. II has fasci-
mated sages OF the East and
A philosophers OF the West. It has
been discussed these 1900 years by men
OF varying minds with freshness that
never fails. It excites a glow OF fervid
love in the breast OF the saint. II
i1indles the dying embers OF hope in
the soul OF the sinner. II is the ray Of
heavens own light 70 the afflicted. 1t
beokons the prodigal back to the
Fathers home. II gives strength to
the living. II brings peace to the dying.
But though a mystery Of awe to
angels, il is a symbol OF love divine to
men. AS such it cannot fail to pro-
foundly interest every intelligent in
ouirer after truth. That we may the
better understand the subject and
more thoroughly appreciate the ways
OF God with man, I propose to treat
the subject under the following heads:
1. The star was a real, true, bona
hde stsr-not mere temporary mir
sculous creation for the specific pur-
pose. This, however, is the conten-
tion OF many very learned theologians.
BOundness OF such views.
First-God never works a miracle
except by natural law and through
natural phenomena, when such exist.
When he created life it was through
the media OF existing elements already
IN the waters. When he divided the
Red Sea Tor the Israelites to pass
through II was by means OF a strong
east wind, so piercingly cold as 10
freeze the waters on either side. These
instances viii suffice, although many
others could be adduced. It follows,
therefore. that God made use Of the
existing stars TO announce the nativity
TO the wise men.
Second-It IS allowed on all hands
that the magi, or wise men, were
learned. They would, therefore, make
use Of words and terms with discrim-
ination. But not only were they
learned, they were astronomers.
Hence, when they used an astrononi-
cal term, they would use the appro-
pirate word or phrase descriptive Of
the object referred to. They use the
word "aster," which means an ordin-
Gry and permanent star, not en- ex-
trsOrdinary and temporary one.
Third-The other words and
phrases employed by the evangelist in
writing about the star are astronomi-
cal terms, from which we conclude
that sster was used in its ordinary as
Economical sense.
Now, in the Bible star is used only
IN a twofold gniflcation-iiterally or
6guratively. In its figurative sense 1t
means a king or other civil ruler, an
ecclesiastical teacher, and perhaps an
angel. II is not used In its metaphor
zeal sense here. Therefore 1T means
q real star.
2. II was a star IN motion. II
changed its position in the heavens
Motion is characteristic OF all the
heavenly bodies, and the words Of
the sacred narrative are: THE star
went before them till it came" When
first they saw the star it occupied a
particular spot in the sky. Now, how
ever, IL has a different position, not
relatively because Of the change in the
field Of observation, but absolutely by
change OF location in the heavens. No
doubt the motion was a movement in
fits orbit. This viii appear more plain
ly from our next proposition.
Etice-it stood at a particular point in
the sky above them. The statement is
very distinct: "It came and stood
over where the young child was" The
word in the original is este" from
Sstemi, the Latin equivalent OF which
Is stare, 10 stand. Joined with Sol
(the SUM it forms solstice, an sstro-
nornicsl term applied 70 two positions
In the heavens, called the summer and
winter solstices. At these points the
sun stands for a few moments before
entering upon his return journey. In
the same way the star stood on the
meridian passing through Bethlehem,
which marks II as the true first meri-
dian OF the world.
4. II was a star that moved IN an
orbit had a periodic time. This
is a most remarkable statement We
ere told that Herod privately learned