their absence; but the'.\" r~solve to run the riAk H they can see the Siwionr. " Never venture, never win." Hence t.hey came with baste to Mary, and gaze with raptuM on her Ohilrl. '!'hey see 1md believe. They are ready to accept this "little Chil,I" aA tbe Saviour of the world. A Iii tie Child wa~ leading them I Next we find them b-com ing his wilnesBes. They toll o.ll who will listen to them what the angel said, and what they consequently hsd been led to Bethlehem to see. llaving found a personal t:iaviour, they co.nnot but proclaim him to others. One who listened lo their story and profited by it was Mary She r,ondered their Bayings in her heart. The shepherds have become important witnesses for the incarnate Saviour. So should all be who have really seen him by the eye of faith. Bnt yet again, the shepherds, like the ar,gcls, burst into praise. "They returned, glorifying and praising God for all the thing, that they had heard and seen, as it was told them." This is the real end of gospel preaching when it leads the audience up to praise. Hence this is represented as the chief employment of the redeemed. Experience is only perfected when God is praised. V. WE SEE HERE A HUMAN SUCCEEDING AN ANGELIC MINISTRY. It does seem strange that such a gospel should not be preached by angels. That they are anxious to do so appears from this narrative. We may be sure that they would esteem it highest honour to proclaim the message of salvation unto man. But after short visits and short sermons, the angels are withdrawn, and these poor shepherd.• spread the glad tidings, telling in a very humble way what they have seen and heard. It is God's plan, and must be best. It is those who need and have found a Saviour who are best adapted to proclaim him to others. A human ministry is more homely and sympa- thetic and effectual than perhaps any angelic ministry could be. Besides, a human ministry is less cavilled at and objected to than an angelic would be. We thus learn at Bethlehem important lessons _about prraching to humble audiences, and out of them manufacturing preachers. The angels were doubtless satisfied as they looked down upon the shepherds who had listened so eagerly to their story, and saw them becoming preachers in their turn. 'l'o multiply Christ's witnesses is the great work of preachers whether angelic or human.-R. M. E. Vera. 21-40.-The circumciltion and preBentation of Jesu.a. We pass now from the angel's sermon and the shepherds' faithful verification of it to the next notable events in the great life which embodies the gospel for mankind. And we have here- I. TiIE C'IRCUMCISI0N. (Ver. 21.) This was the admission of Jesus when only eight days old into the Old 'festament Church. It was a painful, bloody process, and as such it was the beginning of that life of suffering upon which God's Son had determined to enter in the interests of men. There are not the same details about this circumcision that there were about John's. The outstanding fact was that he received the name Jesus, indicating that he was to be the Saviour of mankind. Into the Jewish covenant, consequently, there has entered by this circumcision a Saviour, One destined, like his namesake Joshua, to lead the Lord's people out of all bondage into glorious liberty. This was a practical identification of him with the people of God, before he could, at least humanly, decide for himself. And there is nothing better for little children than to be thus early associated with the cause of God.1 II. THE PRESENTATION IN THE TEMPLE. (Vers. 22-24.) The circumcision consti- tuted Jesus a member of the old covenant, but his presentation in the temple was his formal dedication to the service of the Lord. The mother was directed, at the end of forty days from the child's birth, to appear before the Lord with two offerings-one for a sin offering, the other for a burnt offering. In Mary's case, because of her poverty, the offerings consisted of two doves or two young pigeons. The one sacrifice expressed a. sense of /tin, the other a sense of consecration, both bes.utiful in the mother of our Lord. The first was entirely out of place if she was "i=aculate," as some represent her. In addition there would be paid for Jesus the redemption price of five shekels, that be might be excused from temple service, and might dedicate himself to the Lord in another capacity. When we consider all his Messis.hship meant, it was really a payment that he might hs.ve the privilege of serving the Father as the Fulfiller of the ritual, and thus as the Abolisher of tho ritualism of the temple. It would have altogether confused matters 1 Of. Amdt's • Lfl';,en Jesu,' enter theil, s. 81 ; also Gerok'11 'Evangelien-Predigten.'
•· 102; also Wciaa's 'Lebon Jesu,' erater band, 1, 2-17, 60 TilE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. LUKE. [OIi, D. 1-62,