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 put off His Divine majesty, and appears as a Child to inspire us with more courage to approach his feet.

"He is born an Infant," says St. Bonaventure, "that neither His justice nor His power might intimidate you." In order to exempt us from every feeling of distrust, which the idea of His power and of His justice might cause in us, He comes before us as a little Babe, full of sweetness and mercy. "O God!" says Gerson, "Thou hast hidden Thy wisdom under a childish age, that it might not accuse us." O God of mercy, lest Thy Divine wisdom might reproach us with our offences against Thee, Thou hast hidden it under an Infant's form: "Thy justice under humility, lest it should condemn." Thou hast concealed Thy justice under the most profound abasement, that it might not condemn us: Thy power under weakness, lest it should torment." Thou hast disguised Thy power in feebleness, that it might not visit us with chastisement.

St. Bernard makes this reflection: "Adam, after his sin, on hearing the voice of God, Adam, where art thou? was filled with dismay: I heard Thy voice, and was afraid. [Gen. 3:9] But, continues the Saint, now, the Incarnate Word being made Man upon earth, has laid aside all semblance of terror: "Do not fear; He seeks thee, not to punish, but to save thee." Behold, He is a Child, and voiceless; for the voice of a child will excite compassion rather than fear. The Virgin Mother wraps His delicate limbs in swaddling-clothes: and art thou still in alarm?" That