lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Kacliel weeping for her children, and would uotue comforted, because thevare not.
rj But when Ilerod was dead, be- hold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,
20 Saying, Arise, and take the voung child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel : for they are dead which sought the young child's life.
21 And he arose, and took the
young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel.
22 But when he heard that Arche- laus did reign in Judaea in the room of his father Ilerod, he was afraid to go thither : notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee :
23 And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth : that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Naza- rene.
Observe in this passage, liow true it is that the rulers of this loorld are seldom friendly to the cause of God, The Lord Jesus comes down from heaven to save sin- ners, and at once we are told that Herod the king " seeks to destroy him."
Greatness and riches are a perilous possession for the soul. They know not what they seek who seek to have them. They lead men into many temptations. They are likely to fill the heart with pride, and to chain the affections down to things below. " Not many mighty, not many noble are called.'' *' How hardly shall a rich man enter the kingdom of God."
Do you envy the rich and great ? Does your heart say, '^Oh ! that I had their place, and rank, and sub- stance ?" Beware of giving way to the feeling. The very wealth which you admire may be gradually sinking its possessor down into hell. A little more money might bo your ruin. Like Herod you might run into every excess of wickedness and cruelty. '' Take heed, and beware of covetousness." " Be content with such thinsrs as you have."
Do you think that Christ's cause depends on the power and patronage of princes ? You are mistaken. They