Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/131

 the world  of  Herod,  or  have  appeased  his  anger,  or  have rendered His  divine  Son  invisible;  but  He  adopted  the ordinary means  of  safety,  and  His  Son  must  fly. Reflect how derogatory  this  was  to  the  dignity  of  the  Redeemer, and how  full  of  inconveniences. Thus God  always  treats those whom  He  loves  best. Are you  greater  or  better than the  Son  of  God? Why, then,  do  you  complain when His  providence  prepares  crosses  for  you? You ought to  consider  them  as  marks  of  His  affection;  and this thought  will  render  them  not  only  supportable,  but even agreeable.

II. God would  not  have  His  Son  go  to  the  Magi,  where He would  have  been  honored  and  adored;  but  into  Egypt, a pagan  nation,  and  ever  hostile  to  the  Israelites;  far  from home, from  His  relations  and  friends. Thus He  deprives His Son,  even  in  His  infancy,  of  comfort,  help,  convenience, which  He  might  otherwise  have  derived  from  His friends. Why, then,  do  you  seek  with  such  ardor  for the esteem  and  service  of  others? Why do  you  think  it hard  to  suffer  inconveniences? If you  really  loved  Christ, you would  rejoice,  and  conceive  it  honor  enough  to  be neglected  and  contemned  and  despised  for  His  sake. " It  is  enough  for  the  disciple  that  he  be  as  his  master, and  the  servant  as  his  Lord." (Matt. x.  25.)

III. As Christ  would  be  born  far  from  home,  so  would He be  banished  far  from  His  own  country. He intended to convey  this  lesson,  that  we  should  always  consider ourselves in  this  world  as  strangers  and  exiles,  and  not as citizens  of  it;  for  we  know  "  that  we  have  no  permanent city;  but  we  seek  one  to  come." (Heb. xiii.  14.) Those who  were  afterwards  banished  for  His  sake,  or suffered  anything  for  Him,  might  find  comfort  in  His example. Learn to  bear  all  this  kind  of  crosses,  and even banishment  from  your  home  or  country,  with  pa-