The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1912-12-24

At the time OF the birth Of our Saw
Tor, the Jews were not the only people
who were looking for the advent or
\ Ruler before whom all nations Of
the earth should bow. This expecta-
ton SENS to have been prevalent over
the then civilized world. 1t had found
q place among the naughty and con-
uuering Romans, and according to the
historians TacituS and SuetOnlus. II
was conceded by the SeerS of the day
tina the expected monarch Of the
world would be born in Judea.
SO strong was this impression in
the minds of men, that the mighty
Augustus Caesar himself, when the
ftoman senat decreed that Divine
honors should be paid him. consulted
the Sibyl Tiburtina to ask If he should
accept them. According to traditions,
the sibyl in reply warned the Emper-
or that his power was waning II
that a Hebrew child would shortly be
born who would have dominion not
only over temporal rulers, but over
The great Gods Of Rome themselves;
and that the kingdom established by
this Lord OF Lords would endure
throughout all ages. Another YER
sion Of this same legend relates thar
when Augustus consulted the Sibyl.
she meditated for several days before
itpiyiitS " HIS GutStlon. liiCh SihAAS
the emperor to q distant spot away
from his courtiers. she showed him an
altar near Tivoli. Above this altar.
the heavens opened. and q radiant Wis
ion or n beautiful virgin bearing in her
arms an infant. dawned upon the
sight of the wondering emperor, and a
voice from heaven was heard saying.
This is the altar Of the Son Of
God"
The awe-struck Augustus fell down
and worshipped the vision and In
commemoration OF the marvellous re-
velation made to him. erected on the
Capitoline Hill an altar on which was
inscribed these words: ARA Primo
geniti Del" On his spot there stands
today the Church OF Santa Maria
and in it Is a bas-belief describing
this legend which is one OF the most
ANCIENT traditions OF the Christian
church.
Not only are the books OF the Old
Testament filled with prophecies con-
corning the coming Of the Savior; but
and there the writings Of pagan phil
nsophers and poets are family illumi-
mated by the light which was soon to
dawn upon the world. Virgil, the
sweet singer Of the Golden Age OF
Augustus Caesar, forty years before
tue ADVENT VI CuIlSt. BdS6 W tHe
world this prophecy! 1.-The last Of
the Cumaean son now approaches
the great series Of ages begins again;
now return the Saturnian Kingdoms
now a new progeny is sent from high
heavenh Be but. -prepitious. Chastt
Lucina, to the boy at his birth
through whom the iron age will frs
cease and the golden age dawn upOr
the world. And forty years later
the prophecies, Hebrew and GENTLE
found their fulfillment In the angelo
message to the shepherds at Bethle
hem, Unto you is born this day II
Christ the Lord" And ever sine
that Christmas night many are tn
legends centering around the them
OF the nativity. OF these the trad1
tons dealing with the Magi who fol
lowed the Star till cit came and stoo'
over where the young child was ar
he most numerous. In Clara Ersk
inc Clements "stories Of the Saints,
the following interesting legend i
given. The wise men when they foun
the lOwly place where Jesus lay. bow
ed down before Him. and presente,
the gold in token hat the child wa
king: the frankincense In recognitiO,
OF His divine nature and the tn
myrrh as a symbol Of His mortality
In return for these gifts, the HOl
Child gave them charity for thei
gold. faith for their incense. n trut
and mekness for their myrrh.