The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-01-14
a Great GoaI.s Lowlincss.

4dI4s
A Great Goals LOwlincss.
This pointed out plain path for the
wise men: the end of their strange
search was at hand. only five miles
distant from Jerusalem, where they
now stood was Bethlehem, and they
eagerly FASTENED forth, after the
bloOdy-minded HerOd had extracted
from them what particulars of the
birth they possessed, and had laid on
them an injunction to return and tell
him all they found Such is the folly
of the wicked, that Herod never sent a
soldier or a spy to accompany the
strangers, to make sure that his ven
geance might strike certainly and
swiftly.
Not a Jew followed the wise men.
1t is strange, almost beyond belief, that,
despite the WOnderment which the visit
of the Nagi had created, and the gen
eral knowledge of their destination, not
a single person, not even a priest or a
devout student of the law, attached
himself to their train. Nor did the eff
to follow. Incredible heart-blind-
ness!
Only the wise men journey on, and
the goal of all their long and miracle
attended journey proved to be but
peasant home in an obscure village on
the outskirts of Jerusalemi
Wise Men at Babes Feet.
1t was not to the manger they went,
many beautiful pictures to the contrary
Notwithstanding. The circumcision,
with the legal eight days intervening
between the rite and the birth and
the presentation in the temple, which
occurred forty days after the birth, in
VOlving a journey to Jerusalem, and
the recognition of the Babe by Simeon
and Anna, had all elapsed since the
visit of the shepherds. The Scripture
plainly says that wise men came to the
house" where they found Jesus.
Doubtless Mary and Joseph and the
Babe were now residing with relatives
or friends; the sOjourn in the stable
could not have been long, for woman
heart is the same everywhere and at
all times; and it is unbelievable that
the women of Bethlehem would permit
the mother and newborn child long
to remain guests of the cattle in the
annex of the inn.
When the wise men came into the
house and saw the young Child with
Mary his mother they fell down and
wOrshipped Him Let none think
crowned, celestial Creature, such as
sacred art has loved to depict before
whom they Frustrated themselves. It
was only such a chubby, rosy, sleepy
babe as blesses a myriad homes in this
land today
Thus the wise men showed their wis
dom. Despite unimpressive external
appearances, they were great enough
70 see LudL III the EaDG COuIQ De the
Messiah whose advent had added a new
star to the sky, and had set the uni
verse in cOmmOtiOn. Any wise man
bows at the feet of any babe. fresh
from the mysterious realm where life's
springs first bubble forth; how much
the more should they adore this one
who was Christ the Lord!
Gifts for King.
UndOubting, rejoicing, satisfied, the
wise men poured forth Teasures-gold
frankincense, myrrh, in which the
church had delighted to see the sym
/ bols of the nature of the newborn
Child-gOld for his kingliness, frank
incense for his divinity, and myrrh. the
burial spice, for His humanity.
Very practical uses did these gifts
serve, for thereby the humble carpen-
ter Joseph, was enabled to take his lit
tie family, as directed in a dream by
the angel down to Egypt, there to So
journ until the sanguinary purpose of
Herod had been foiled, and the tyrant
had himself persisted.
Here the wise men drop out of sight.
/ one wonders what next. Whittier did
they go after wOrshipping the king?
/ Back TO their own country and to their
old ways? The Imagination loves to
/ linger here. Doubtless they returned;
but it was with a new joy, new in
spiratiOn, a new hope, and new
! life. Their names stand high on the
/ roll of the worlds successful ones, for
/ they mad been true to their highest i'm
pulse and opportunity; they had fol-
lowed their vision they had WOr-
shipped the new King. Thenceforth
/ His peace made endless music in their
1 hearts, and the expectation of meeting
| and adoring Him again. beyond the
stars, gave them a sufficient hope and
/ reward Life nevermore becomes
/ commonplace to a man who has done
a great deed or seen great vision.