ie ample (cf. Deut, xix. 15; eh. xviii. 16), Unbelief is as perilous as it is defence- less (see Deut. xvii. 6). 2, 'l'liey see him vei?ed in humanity. (1) His humanity was real. "The young Ohild." Born as other children, though very differently conceive~. •• With his mother." Nourished as an ordinary infant. (2) Note in the truth of the humanity of Jesus: (a) 'fhe reality of our interest in his mission and work. (b) The reality and perfection of his sympathy with us. (3) So let us be encouraged (a) to open ~l our anxieties to him; (b) to trust him with a perfect confidence. 3. They see Immanuel in humiliaeion. (1) He is the "King of the Jews;" but, in this humble dwelling, in what contrast to the magnificence of Solomon l Note: True grandeur is epiritual. , Mind is above matter. (2) How much greater still is the contrast 1 The •• King of the Jews,'' in the carpenter's house, attended only by his poor mother; and the King of glory, in the heights of heaven, attended by his myriad retinue of angels! (3) Let us read in this (a) how humanity is dignified in Christ; (b) how in him the Divine royalty of man is and may be asserted amidst circumstances of reverse. 4. They see a heavenly vision. (1) Whether God warned them by his Shecbinab or by his ;ingel, when in their dream or trance, in that revelation their faith was richly rewarded. (2) Their obedience to the heavenly vision also became a means to the important end of preserving Chri~t from the fury of Herod. So are faithful defenders of Christ and his cause still the honoured instruments of preserving hls life in his Church. (3) Their obedience secured also their own safety. For had they rather obeyed Herod and returned to him, they might have fallen victims to his tyranny under a construction of treason in acknowledging a rival King of the Jews. The way of duty is safety as well as honour. II. How no TREY wonsmP? 1. They worship Jt$us as tlie King of the Jews. (1) "They fell down," etc., put themselves into that attitude which Orientals are accus- tomed to assume in presence of royalty. (2) "Opening their treasures," etc. It was also customary in the East to bring gifts to kings. Note: (a) "The powers that be are ordained of God," and should therefore be religiously respected. (b) Kings exist for the order and happiness of states, and should therefore be religiously sustained in the due exercise of their functions, 2. They worship Jt$US as the Chrise of God. (1) They did not journey from the distant East to pay respect to an ordinary prince. The star had marked this prince as extraordinary and supernatural. Prophecy also had declared him to be Divine. (2) These Gentiles, in corning to the King of the Jews, claimed an interest in his kingdom. Thoy did not honour Herod as they honoured Jesus. Neither did they pay religious worship to Mary. (3) The humble circumstances in which they found the Christ did not discourage their faith. Now, since nations have con1e to acknowledge him, faith has become fashionable. 3. They worshipped him with gifts. (1) They presented themselves. This, in the first place, is most important. The living sacrifice. The reasonable service. (2) They consecrated their substance. "Gold," etc. (see Ps. lxxii. 10). Some will give to Chriat personal service, but withhold property. Others will give property, but withhold personal service. The Magi gave both. Christ is worthy of all homage. 4. Their worship was typical. (1) 'l'he mention of" gold and frankincense" refers us back to Isa. lx. 6, where the gather- ing of the Gentiles is foretold (see also Hag. ii. 8). "The respect paid to Christ by these Gentiles was a happy presage and specimen of what would follow when those who were. afar off should be made nigh by Christ" (Henry). (2) The shepherds of Bethlehem found Christ before the Magi found him. The gospel came " to the Jew first." But, though Bethlehem was but half a dozen miles from Jerusalem, the Magi do not appear to have been accompanied by any of the Sanhedrin or citizens. The Gentiles received the gospel when it was rejected by the Jews. Heathendom is accept- ing it as Christendom is rejecting it. "Those nearest to the means are often furthest from the end" (cf. eh. viii. 11, 12). 5. Their gifts were symbolical. (1) Some think the "gold" was given as tribute to the "King; " the " frankincense" in recognition of his Divinity, because God iii honoured with incense ; and the "myrrh" in recognition of his humanity, and that as man he should die, because myrrh was used in embalming (see John xix. 39). (2) Perhaps their purpose was to confess Christ as universal King. They presented themselves as rapresenting the "kingdom of men," and the whole animated creation at whose head m:m stands. The "frankincense and myrrh" would represent the vegetable kingdom. "Gold" in like manner would reiiresent the mineral. 66 THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW. [oH, n. 1-23.
Christ, who carried bis miracle-working into every kingdom of nature, ie destined to receive universal homage (see Epb. i. 10, 20-23; Phil. ii. 9-11; Col. i. 16; Rev. iv. 11). (3) Or perhaps they may have designed to express simply their faith in Jesus as the Christ. Thus they came seekiug the" King of the Jews," and now they give him "gold," or pay tribute to him as such. But then the King of the Jews is the King Messie.h. 'l'beir faith in Jesus as such would be expressed in the" myrrh," which was & leading ingredient in the composition of the holy anointing oil (see Exod. xxx. 23). The ointment in composition they could not present, for it would have been unlawful for them to compound it. But further, since all excellences in perfection existed in Christ, they would express this in their donation of "frankincense ; " for this wae a principal ingredient in the holy perfume, viz. that which common persons must neither compound nor use (Exod. xxx. 34). The Bridegroom, in the Canticles, is described as "coming out of the wilderness, like pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frank- incense, ·with all powders of the merchant" (Song of Sol. iii. 6). 'l'he cloud of the Shecbinah, the holy oil, and the holy perfume are here together associated to describe the qualities of Christ.-J. A. M.