Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1905-12-23

to he the promised Messlah?" he could
answer. Because fulfill in my person
the predictions of your own prophets
and at the very beginning was that Ut
teronce of Micah the prophet, VINO
wrote over seven centuries ago, But
thou Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou
he little among the thousands OF
Judah. vet out Of thee shall ne come
forth INTO me that is to be a ruler IN
Israel whose golngs forth have been OF
old from everlasting Did not he
nrophet foresee my birth? Was l not
miracuously born, according 10 uie
nredictionP Jesus would not nave
been able to give this convincing an
swer If Joseph had not been the man he
was.
By n decree of Rome in reference 10
the levying of taxes Caesar Augustus
wanted to know how much money he
could collect from his provinces; there-
fore he ordered a census to be taKen'
All the people Of Palestine had TO an
swer TO that enrolment. But, thougn
Judaea was a conquered province tne
pomon law allowed itself to be mar
monized with the Hebrew law. III
other words, it allowed the HeDre"
people to be enrolled by families. as
they had always been accustomed 10
do instead Of by districts. mus all
the descendants OF David assembled AZ
tha nroper time in the Bethlehem VII
lage. where their great ancestor was
horn. And that was the reason Josepn'
tbe natiye of Nazareth, Travelled all the
way from the north to be enrolled III
Rethlehem at that particular time when
Jesus was born. Now, Mary would
not have taken this journey had Jo-
seph belonged to any other family than
that Of David. Why? Under the no
man law a woman, unless she was
nronertv holder, did not have to an
swer the call of the census. Mary was
no property holder. Mary IN her crlt-
ical state of health would naturally
have STAYED at home, but Joseph hau
IN 90 because he was man. Ana De-
oouse he had no one with whom to
leave his wife is the reason ne TOOK
ber along. Thus we find that this
imnortant fact, fulfilling the ancient
prophecy which would be so vital 10 a
lew. was brought about by the tender
ness of Joseph, the husband OF Mary.
On such small matters do great events
hang Is il not an impressive thougnt
that God plans all the events OF our
lives as we see in the arrangement OF
the circumstances that brought Jo-
seph and Mary to Bethlehem at thls
time?
Why Joseph Went to Bethlehem.
Joseph. being a descendant OF Da-
vid. was the cause of the Bethlehem
birth of Jesus Christ. You in the same
way may be an essential factor Tor
the divine birth of some immortal soul.
You may say you are humble man.
as was Joseph. You may say you oc'
cupy only mechanics position. You
may say you wear laborer's garments
Rut your words and your acts are go
ing to decide the eternal destiny OF
some immortal soul. 1t was the raise
words of cowardly peasant guide al
Waterloo that sent Napoleon life ex
lie TO st. Helena. When the battle
RACED the fercest the little Corslcar
turned to the peasant who was tied L
the saddle Of his horse and said, "l'
there any obstacle in the way for
charge in Wonder directiOnT The peas
ant answered. NO" With that Ma
, poleon ordered Marshal Ney to hur
, the Old Guard against the British pha
, lanxes. but instead of hurting tn
? French cavalry against the Englisl
, ranks he led them on a fatal gallol
into the ravine Of Ohain, where the.
, tumbled in and were slaughtered b.
> thousands. 1t was false guide tina
destroyed the French army at water
loo Is it possible that you by ligh
7 words or by your inconsistent life ma
h become false guide to some seekin
. soul? Be careful and strive rather [
;. be like Joseph, faithful to the call @
q duty. He it was who, obedient to tn
a divine direction. Travelled to Bethlt
q hem and so made it possible for Jesu
q to be born in the city of his ancestors
7 according to the word Of the prophet.
, The protection and development O
q Christ during the days Of his helples
a infancy were provided for by Joseph
q love and care. Christ had to have car
J. during his infancy, just as any othe
e newborn babe needs care. Christ
childhood days were passed In muc
10 the same way that other children lly
IS out their earlier years. The baby Chris
-e had to be washed and dressed and fe'
Ie He had to be taught to creep and ru
/. and play. He had 10 be deyelope
d physically and mentally, like any oth'
~ baby boy. Now, as Christ's boyhoo
d days were to be so helpless, 1t We
le necessary "for God to provide pr
Y tector for the helpless Mary and h'
re infant child" Thus God chooses tn
Sc humble carpenter and says: "Josep
N 90 and look after my Son. You are
It. stand in my place and be to him
b. earthly father" And Joseph, in obec
Of ence to this command went and stoC
between Jesus and physical and me
tai want That is another reason WI
le we find Joseph at the manger.
p Joseph's Great Work.
is DO you not glory in the fact that
t? Joseph, the humble carpenter, paw.
IN the way for Christ's advent, Joseph Z
II humble carpenter, was the means
he Christ's sustenance during the years
w his childhood helplessness? l am gl
Ill that God has work for his great men
he do. l am glad that he has one pla
ed for Moses, and another place for
ed Joshua. and another for an Elijah, a
ut another for a Paul, and another for
it John. and another for Luther, and
re other for a Rowland Hill, and anotI
er for n Calvin. and another for Wesl'