Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/116

 Christ; but,  having  informed  themselves  where  they might find  Him,  they  leave  the  city,  with  all  its  curiosities and  entertainments,  to  pursue  their  journey. Oh that you  would  seek  Christ  as  earnestly  as  they  did,  and not suffer  yourself  to  be  distracted  with  worldly  considerations. " And,  behold,  the  star  which  they  had  seen in  the  East  went  before  them." Thus, God  is  accustomed to  be  more  liberal  of  His  heavenly  illustrations, in proportion  as  we  withdraw  ourselves  from  the  trouble and noise  of  worldly  affairs. "The star  went  before them,  until  it  came  and  stood  over  where  the  child  was: And  seeing  the  star,  they  rejoiced  with  exceeding  great joy"  (Matt.  ii.  9),  especially  when  they  saw  it  point  out the place  where  they  were  to  find  the  object  of  their longing desires.

II. "And going  into  the  house,  they  found  the  child with  Mary  His  mother." Meditate on  their  admirable faith, which  was  not  diminished  by  what  they  saw — a loathsome  stable,  and  an  infant  lying  in  a  manger. Consider the tears  of  devotion,  which  the  humiliating  condition of  the  place,  the  poverty  which  was  exhibited, then the  beauty  of  the  Infant,  and  the  Virgin's  modesty, inspired. Reflect how  they  were  struck  with  admiration to  see  the  King  of  kings  and  Lord  of  lords  (as  they now  knew  that  He  was)  lying  in  a  manger,  on  a  bed  of straw!

III. "And falling  down  they  adored  Him." (Matt. ii. 11.)  They  prostrated  themselves  before  Him,  with  a most  profound  humility,  as  welt  interior  as  exterior:  and acknowledged their  own  unworthiness,  their  subjection to Him,  and  their  dependence  on  Him. They adored Him with  a  most  perfect  act  of  adoration,  as  their  sovereign Lord  and  God. This adoration  was  accompanied with an  entire  oblation  of  themselves  and  all  their  pos-