Page:SermonsFromTheLatins.djvu/91

 besides many  have  fallen,  many  have  deserted,  and many have  been  taken  prisoners  by  the  enemy. Once at least  in  a  lifetime  there  comes  to  every  soul  sufficient light  to  show  that  its  duty  is  to  be  up  and  doing in the  cause  of  Christ,  and  where  much  light  is  given much activity  is  expected. But very  often  the  most favored respond  less  promptly  than  the  heretic  or heathen,  so  that  the  first  becomes  last  and  the  last first. The Jewish  priests,  for  instance,  well  versed  in scriptural  lore,  had  little  difficulty  in  answering Herod's query  as  to  where  the  Saviour  should  be born. The entire  history  of  God's  intercourse  with man, the  figures  of  the  Redeemer  and  the  Messianic prophecies, had  been  the  study  of  their  lives,  yet when confronted  with  the  actual  event  they  not  only failed to  spread  the  light  but  even  tried  to  suppress the truth. In Bethlehem  of  Juda,  said  they,  the Saviour should  be  born,  but  though  assured  the  hope of ages  had  arrived  and  though  best  qualified  to  test the fact,  they  neither  stirred  themselves  to  investigate nor  deigned  to  set  forth  further  particulars  to guide  the  popular  judgment. They played  the  part of finger  posts,  pointing  the  road  to  Bethlehem  but failing to  lead  the  way. They, with  all  Jerusalem were troubled,  and  took  the  announcement  ill. What! turn their  backs  on  the  Temple  with  its  imposing sacrifices  and  time-honored  ritual,  abandon  the traditions of  their  fathers,  give  up  their  lucrative employment and  honorable  position  in  society,  forfeit the  good  will  of  Herod — and  all  for  what? To enlist, perhaps,  in  the  service  of  the  great  temporal