than the star, which they had seen in the East, and which had for some time disappeared, came again ; and guided them, not to the city only, but to the house where Jesus was ; thus pointing out, with in- faUible precision, the very child whom they desired to find. On this occasion it is said, " When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy." Now, the terms in which their joy is here spoken of are so strong, as to be incapable of being- translated literally into our language. Their general import, however, is sufficiently conveyed in the words before us : '•' They rejoiced with exceeding great joy."
In speaking of this their joy, we shall find it profit- able to inquire. What it indicated in relation to them.
From this interesting portion of divine history we may learn,
I. The magnitude of the object which they pursued —
They sought to behold and to honour the new-born King. This was an object worthy of pursuit :
As viewed by them, it was of great moment —
[Supposing them only to conceive of him as born to a kingdom, yet, taking into consideration the miracle with which his birth was announced, and the prophetic declarations rela- tive to the place of his birth, they might well regard him as worthy to be served and honoured. And in proportion as we suppose their views of his character and office to have been enlarged, the importance of their object must, of course, have been magnified in their minds.]
With the additional light zohich we enjoy, it was an object the most important that any creature could pursue —
[We know that infant to have been " Emmanuel, God with us." Yes, he was "God manifest in human flesh:" and not a king of one nation only, but of the whole earth, even " King of kings, and Lord of lords."
To behold him in this his humbled state; to worship him, and glorify him ; what could the highest archangel desire more? This was an object worthy of ambition to every child of man : nor could any labour, any privation, any suffering, be too great to be encountered willingly, and sustained cheerfully, in the pursuit of it.]