Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-12-21

old, from everlasting Did not the
prophet foresee my birth? Was not
iniraculously born, according to the
prediction?" Jesus would not have
been able to give this convincing an
swer II Joseph had not been the man he
was.
By a decree Of Rome in reference TO
the levying Of taxes Caesar Augustus
wanted to know how much money he
could collect from his provinces; there
fore lie ordered census to be taken.
All the people Of Palestine had to an
swer to that enrolment. But, though
Judaea was a conquered province, the
Roman law allowed itself TO he har-
monixed with the Hebrew law. In
other words, 1t allowed the Hebrew
people to be enrolled by families, as
they had always been accustomed to
do, instead Of by districts. Thus all
tile descendants Of David assembled at
the proper time in the Bethlehem vii.
lage, where their great ancestor was
born. And that was the reason Joseph,
the native of Nazareth, Travelled all the
way from the north to be enrolled in
Bethlehem 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 Ro-
man law a woman, unless she was a
property holder, did not have to an
swer the call Of the census. Mary was
no property holder. Mary in her crit.
ical state Of health would naturally
have stayed at home, but Joseph had
to 60 because he was man. And be-
cause he had no one with whom to
leave his wife Is the reason he took
her along. Thus We ind that this
important fact. fulfilling the ancient
prophecy. which would be so vital to a
jew, was brought about by the tender
ness Of Joseph, the husband Of Mary.
On such small matters do great events
hang. Is 1t not an impressive thought
that God plans all the events Of our
lives, as we sec in the arrangement Of
the circumstances that brought Jo-
seph and Mary to Bethlehem ut this
time?
why Joseph Went to Bethlehem.
Joseph, being descendant Of Da-
vid, was the cause of the Bethlehem
birth Of Jesus Christ. You in the same
way may be an essential factor for
the divine birth Of some immortal SOUL
You may say you are humble man,
as was Joseph. You may say you &C.
cupy only a mechanics position. You
may say you wear laborer's garments.
But your words and your acts are 60
ing to decide the eternal destiny Of
some immortal soul. 1t was the false
words Of a cowardly peasant guide at
Waterloo that sent Napoleon life ex-
lie to st. Helena. When the battle
ragged the fiercest the little Corsican
turned to the peasant who was tied to
the saddle Of his horse and said, lis
there any obstacle in the way for a
charge in yOnder directionY' The peas
ant answered, NO" With that Ma.
poleon ordered Marshal Ney to hurl
the Old Guard against the British pha-
lanxes, but instead of hurting the
French cavalry against the English
ranks lie led them OH a fatal gallop
into the ravine of Chain, where they
tumbled in and were slaughtered by
thousands. 1t was false guide that
destroyed the French army at Water
loo. Is 1t possible that you by light
words or by your inconsistent life may
become false guide to some seeking
soul? Be careful and strive rather to
be. like Joseph. faithful to the call of
duty. He it was who, obedient to the
divine direction, travelled to Bethle-
hem and SO made it possible for Jesus
to be born in the city of his ancestors,
according TO the word Of the prophet.
The protection and development Of
Christ during the days Of his helpless
infancy We're provided for by .Ioseph's
love and care. Christ had to have care
during his infancy, Just as any other
| newborn babe needs care. Christ's
childhood days were passed In much
the same way that other children live
out their earlier years. The baby Christ
had to be washed and dressed and fed.
He had to be taught to creep and run
and play. He had to be developed
physically and mentally. like any other
baby boy Now, is Christs boyhood
days were to be SO helpless, it was
necessary "for God to provide a pro.
tector for the helpless Mary and her
infant child" Thus God chooses this
humble carpenter and says: Joseph,
20 and look after my Son. You are to
stand in my place and be to him IN
earthly father" And Joseph in obedi-
ence to this command, went and stood
between Jesus and physical and men,
tai want. That ia another reason why
we find Joseph at the manger.
Joseph's Great Work.
DO you not glory in the fact that as
Joseph, the humble carpenter. paved
the way for Christ's advent. Joseph, the
humble carpenter. was the means OF
Chrlst's sustenance during the years OF
his childhood helplcssness? am glad
that God has work for his great men to
do. ! am glad that he has one place
FOR Moses, and another place for a
Joshua. and another for an Elijah. and
another for Paul, and another for q
John. and another for Luther. and an
other for Rowland Hill. and another
for n Calvin, and another for Wesley
and another for Lincoln. and another
for a John Bright and Gladstone.
do not begrudge any Of these men theil
prominent fields but I am also glad
that Cod has hia humble nlAcQs which