Front matter
riass u,::~:i
Book
GpightW.
Preface
temptation in the wilderness, and victory over the powers of darkness ; and afterward the first miracle which showed his divine power, the expulsion of the money-changers from the Temple, the remarkable discourse at Jacob's well to the poor Samaritan woman, and the healing of the sick at Capernaum. The interest grows at every step as the striking scenes are unfolded — such as the delivery of the famous sermon on the mount ; the curing of all forms of disease ; the rebuke of the winds and waves on the stormy Sea of Galilee; the calling of the rugged fishermen to be Apostles, and those beneficent acts, astonishing miracles, and deeds of mercy which displayed a love and sympathy no less marvelous than the acts of his omnipotence.
Such teachings of Christ as the Golden Rule, the parable of the Good Samaritan, the pathetic story of the Prodigal Son, are both familiar and dear to the heart of the world. The words of the Great Teacher have affected human customs, laws, civilization, and have given character to nations. To unfold the meaning of the marvelous teachings is one of the main objects of this great work, and forms one of its most attractive features. The reader hears the lips that spake as never man spake repeating the words which have enlightened, cheered and blessed the world since the Heavenly Dawn of Christianity. No work ever before published has equalled this in gems of thought ; the rich and beautiful meaning delights the reader, and makes the Sublime Gospel story as captivating as if told for the first time.
" Star of Bethlehem " presents a most attractive and thrilling panorama of the closing scenes in the Life of Christ. You behold him in the crowded streets of Jerusalem ; at the little village of Bethany ; agonizing in the Garden of Gethsemane; seized by his enemies and condemned by Pilate; bearing his cross on the way to Golgotha; and wearing the crown of thorns. In startling pen pictures the awful scenes of the crucifixion are depicted, and these are followed by the rending of the tomb and sublime Ascension. It would
PREFACE vii not be possible for human pen to pro tray more vividly those majestic events, at once awful and fascinating, which form the closing part of Christ's life upon earth. There are single chapters in this unrivalled work which contain more to interest and instruct than many whole volumes. It is universally regarded as the most fascinating and valuable work upon this grand subject.
After an eloquent review of the life and doctrines of Christ, this part of the work closes with a brilliant statement of the nature of the Christian religion, the truths and principles it teaches, and its grand effects upon the individual, the home and the nation.
The " Life of Christ," comprehensive as it is, is only one part of this captivating volume. It is followed with the " Lives of the Apostles and Holy Women." These are graphic histories of those great characters of the Eible which surpass the loftiest creations of fiction. The reader is made acquainted with all the apostles, those valiant heroes and martyrs, " of whom the world was not worthy." Peter, James, John, Luke, Mark, Paul, and many others renowned in the glowing annals of the early church, with such devoted women as the Virgin Mother, Mary Magdalene and Mary, the sister of Lazarus, are pictured in a manner worthy of their renown.
The next part of " Star of Bethlehem " contains fascinating descriptions of " Old Testament Characters." From Adam to Daniel, including Abraham, Joseph, Moses, Ruth, Samson, David, Solomon, and many others, there are new surprises and entrancing discoveries at every step. Pathetic scenes, fierce battles and memorable victories, pass in rapid succession before the eye of the reader. Nothing is omitted that can furnish instruction and delight, and give absorbing interest to the Bible story.
The work would be incomplete did it fail to trace the spread of Christianity from the days of the apostles to the modern era. This is done in a series of Biographies of the
PREFACE,
" Early Christian Martyrs, Fathers, and Reformers," embracing a period from St. John to the Reformation, and showing how the truth was witnessed by these noble men.
No religious work, so full and comprehensive, and ranging over so wide a field, has ever been offered to the American people. Its high character is guaranteed by the fact that apart from the efforts of Fleetwood and the Editor, the book is the sum of the learned labors and researches of the most distinguished Biblical writers of the world, namely, Dr. William Smith, Dean Alford, Dr. Bevan, the Bishop of Ely, Dean Farrar, Dean Mil man, Dr. Browne, Mr. Layard, Dr. Milner, Prof. Marks and others, whose names are a sufficient endorsement of the work.
One of the great merits of this work is that it comprises, in one large volume, information which heretofore could only be obtained by perusing a large number of books. It is therefore in itself a complete library of religious literature. Nothing necessary to a full understanding of the truths of revealed religion has been omitted, and care has been taken not to burden the reader with matters merely speculative in their character.
This work will be found especially valuable to parents and others desiring to instruct the young in the truths of religion.
Chapter I
Presage of the Birth of Christ — Prediction of the Birth of John the Baptist-* Salutation of the blessed Virgin by the Angel — Visitation of the Virgin Mary to Elizabeth — Birth of the Baptist..... .,.....„ 11
Chapter II
General Decree for taxation published — Birth of Christ — Declaration of the same to the shepherds — Circumcision and presentation of Christ in the temple — The wise men of the East worship the Holy Child — Flight of Joseph into Egypt — Massacre of the infants at Bethlehem — Death of Herod- Return of Joseph out of Egypt 27
Chapter III
State of our Lord's childhood and private life — His argument with the Jew- . ish doctors — Mission, character, and doctrine of the Baptist— Baptism of Christ, and visible descent of the Spirit on that solemnity 39
Chapter IV
Commencement of our Saviour's ministry — His temptation in the wilderness — Deputation of the Sanhedrim to John the Baptist— First miracle wrought by the blessed Jesus 0 ...., 4.Q
Chapter V
Expulsion of the profaners of the temple — Jesus visits and disputes with Nicodemus — Baptizes in Judea — Instructs a poor Samaritan — Heals a sick person at Capernaum — Retires again to Nazareth, and is expelled thence by his impious countrymen 55
Chapter IX
Our Lord proceeds in acts of mercy and benevolence — Adds Matthew to the number of his disciples — Casts out an evil spirit — Passes again through Galilee — Selects twelve from among his disciples, as his constant followers and companions, and harangues the multitude in an excellent discourse... 99
Chapter X
Continuation of our Lord's glorious doctrines, beneficent acts, and astonishing miracles wrought in confirmation of the divinity of his mission, and the extending of his heavenly kingdom Ill
Chapter XI
The character of John the Baptist cleared and justified by the blessed Jesus- Display of our Lord's humility and condescension, by conforming to the custom of the age and the place where he lived 115
Chapter XII
Miraculous cure effected at the pool of Bethesda — Reproof of the superstition of the Jews, in condemning the performance of necessary works on the Sabbath day — After doing many acts of mercy and wonder, our blessed Lord is visited by his mother and his brethren, and makes a spiritual reflection on that incident 121
Chapter XIII
Our Lord delivers many remarkable parables, and explains several of them — Returns to Nazareth and commissions the twelve Apostles, whom he had before selected as his constant attendants and followers, to disperse and preach the Gospel of the kingdom of God in clivers places — After the death of John the Baptist, the Apostles return to Nazareth 128
Chapter XIV
Our Lord adds to the confirmation of his mission and doctrine by working a miracle in the wilderness of Bethsaida — The people, struck with the power and grace of the blessed Jesus, propose to raise him to the earthly dignity of king — Peter, by means of his blessed Master, performs a miracle in walking upon the sea — Our Lord's improvement of the miracle wrought in the wilderness, introduced in a discourse delivered in the synagogue of Oapernaum 139
CONTENTS.
IS
Chapter XV
Pharisaical superstition severely reprimanded — The great Redeemer continues to display his power and benevolence, in the relief of several objects of affliction — Guards his disciples against the prevailing errors and fallacies of the Scribes and Pharisees — Proceeds on the works of his Heavenly Father 152
Chapter XVI
The blessed Jesus delegates a special power to Peter, one of his disciples — Pronounces the final judgment of the world, and is afterwards transfigured upon the mount 161
Chapter XVII
Our Saviour relieves a youth tortured with a dumb spirit — Conforms cheerfully to the custom of the country by paying the tribute — Reproves the pride of his disciples, and delivers some excellent moral precepts 166
Chapter XVIII
Our blessed Lord attends for the fourth time the celebration of the Passover at Jerusalem — Harangues the multitude at the solemn Feast of Tabernacles — Exempts the woman detected in adultery from the punishment annexed by the Jews to that crime — Escapes from the snares laid for him by the inveterate Scribes and Pharisees 1 75
Chapter XIX
Our Lord continues to work miracles in confirmation of his mission and doctrine — Calls forth and sends out seventy disciples — Preaches to the people of Judea by way of parables 191
Chapter XX
The humble Jesus resides with Martha and Mary, two obscure women of Bethany — Improves a circumstance which occurred at the Feast of Dedication — Prescribes a mode of prayer to his disciples and future followers — Revisits some of the Pharisaical tribe 205
Chapter XXI
Explanation of the origin and opinion of the different sects amongst the Jews — Our Lord teaches the multitude by plain discourse, and also by parable 218
Chapter XXII
Our Lord reproves the ignorance of the people in not understanding the signs which preceded his appearance — Pertinently replies to an ignorant question and inference concerning the Galileans — Teaches by parable — Relieves a distressed woman ; and is warned to depart the country, in order to escape the resentment of Herod 227
CONTENTS.
Chapter XXIII
The blessed Jesus accepts the Pharisee's invitation a third time — Delivers divers parables representing the requisites for admittance into the kingdom of God— The care of the Redeemer for every one of his people — The reception of a penitent sinner, and the punishment of misusing the benefits of the gospel 232
Chapter XXVII
Our Lord departs from his retirement— Declares the only way of salvation — ' Shows the duty of improving the means of grace, by the parable of the vineyard — Prediction of his suffering, and contention of the disciples about precedence in his kingdom 265
Chapter XXVIII
The benevolent Saviour restores sight to the blind — Kindly regards Zaccheus the publican — Delivers the parable of the servants entrusted with their Lord's money — Accepts the kind offices of Mary — Makes a public entry into Jerusalem 272
Chapter XXIX
Jesus pronounces a curse upon the fig tree — Expels the profaners of the temple— Asserts his divine authority, and delivers two parables..., 279
Chapter XXX
The blessed Jesus wisely retorts on the Pharisees and Sadducees, who propound an intricate question to him — Settles the most important point of the law — Enforces his mission and doctrine ; and foretells the judgment that / would fall upon the Pharisaical tribe 287
Chapter XXXI
Our Saviour commends even the smallest act proceeding from a truly benevolent motive — Predicts the demolition of the temple of Jerusalem, and delivers several instructive parables 20S
CONTENTS.
Chapter XXXII
Our blessed Lord is anointed by a poor but pious woman — The perfidious Judas consents to betray his Master — The humble Jesus washes the feet of his disciples, and foretells that disciple who was to betray him into the nands of his inveterate enemies 314
Chapter XXXIII
Jesus institutes the sacrament in commemoration of his death and sufferings — Settles a dispute which arose amongst his disciples — Predicts Peter's cowardice in denying his Master — Fortifies his disciples against the approaching shock — Foretells Peter's cowardice again — Preaches to and prays with his disciples for the last time — Passionate address of our Lord to his Father in the garden 326
The Roman Governor, for want of evidence, proposes to acquit and release J esus three several times, but at length, at the pressing instigation of the inveterate Jews, he condemns and delivers him up 867
Chapter XXXIX
The innocent, immaculate Redeemer is led forth to Mount Calvary, and there ignominiously crucified between two notorious malefactors — Reviled by the spectators— A phenomenon appears on the important occasion — Our Lord addresses his friends from the cross, and gives up the ghost 373
Chapter XL
The blessed Jesus is treated with indignity after his crucifixion — A pious person begs his body of Pilate, in order for interment 385
CONTENTS.
Chapter XLI
Two pious women go to view the sepulchre of their crucified Lord and Saviour — An awful phenomenon happens — A ministering spirit descends — The Redeemer bursts the chains of death, and rises from the confines of the grave... 38$
CHAPTER XLSI.
The angel addresses the pious women — Two disciples go to the sepulchre — Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene — Afterwards to a company of women — Peter meets his Lord and Master, after his resurrection 390
Chapter XLIII
Jesus appears on divers occasions to different disciples — Reproves and convinces Thomas of his unbelief — Shows himself to a great number of his followers in Galilee 398
Chapter XLIV
Our Lord's ascension — The resurrection of Jesus asserted and vindicated, against the objections of unbelievers — General review of the life and doctrines of the great Redeemer =. 400
Chapter XLV
Remarks on the peculiar nature of the Christian religion, the principles it inculcates, and its fitness to render men holy and humble here, and happily glorified hereafter 412
THE LIVES OF THE APOSTLES AND HOLY WOMEN.
St. Peter 425
St. Paul 456
St. Andrew 497
St. James the Great • 501
St. John the Evangelist '. 504
St. Philip • 511
St. Bartholomew 514
St. Matthew 516
St. Thomas 518
St. James the Less • 521
St. Simon the Zealot 524
St. Jude - 525
St. Matthias 527
St. Mark 528
St. Luke 530
St. BarnaDas .....o 532
St. Stephen : — — • 536
St. Timothy ».«.« 539
CONTENTS. 15
Titus > 541
The Virgin Maiy 542
Joseph, the Husband of Mary 548
Mary, the Sister of Lazarus 550
Joseph 553
Joseph of Arimathea . . 553
Nicodemus 554
John Mark 557
Clement 558
Mary Magdalene 559
St. John the Baptist 560
OLD TESTAMENT CHARACTERS.
Adam 567
Noah 573
Abraham 581
Isaac 593
Jacob 598
Joseph 608
Mc3es 618
Joshua 637
Ruth 642
Samson 646
Samuel 651
David 656
Solomon 674
Elijah 683
Daniel 691
LIVES OF THE EARLY CHRISTIAN FATHERS.
Ignatius 697
Polyearp '. . 699
Origen 701
Cyprian 705
Eusebius 707
Augustine 708
Jerome 710
Patrick 712
Peter Waldo 715
JohnWycliffe 716
John Huss 720
Martin Luther 722
John Calvin 730
THE HISTORY OF THE JEWS, FROM THE EARLIEST TIMES TO
THE PRESENT DAY.. 735
A CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE.
Showing the Principal Events of Jewish and Contemporaneous History,
From the Creation of the World 788
19 Synagogue of the Portuguese Jews.
20 Mosque.
IV— THE MOHAMMEDAN QUARIEE,
21 Khan and bazaar.
22 Mineral Bath.
23 Convent and Schools.
24 Institute for Blind Derrtsnes.
25 Hospital of St. Helena.
26 Reputed site of the House of the Kich Man.
27 Reputed site of the House of St. Varonica 23 Residence of the Turkish Pasha
29 Arch of the "Ecce Horn.. "
30 Place of the "Scala Sancta," the Holy Staircase.
31 Pilate's House.
32 Place of Flagellation.
33 Ruins of a Church. House of Simon the Pharisee.
34 Church of St. Anna.
35 House of Herod. Dervish's Mosque,
V.— THE MOORS' QUAKI2S,
a Armenian Convent. House of Caiaphas.
b American Burial Ground, c David's Tomb, d Place of "Waring of the JeTTg.
Just within Zion's Gate are wretched abodes of lepers
MODERN JERUSALEM.
I.— THE CHRISTIAN QUABT1B,
1 Goliath's Castle.
2 Latin Convent.
3 Church of Holy Sepulchre.
4 Greek Convent
5 Coptic Convent.
6 Ruins of St. John's Hospital.
7 Greek Church. St. John's.
8 Residence of the Christian Bishop,
9 Church of the Greek Schismatics.
10 Tower of IMppicus. David's Tower.
11 Supposed Site of the T<>wor of Phasaehs*,
12 The Frussian Consular-
15 Modern Evangelical Churcn 14 Hospital and Syrian Convent.
IL— THE ARMENIAN QUARTER.
W Armenian Convent, with the Church <* St. James.
The only building in Jerusalem whie*> presents any appearance of comfort,
16 Nunnery of St. George.
17 Barracks.
III.-THE JEWS' QUARTER
T7te most wretched in the city
18 Synagogue of the Shepardim
Star of Bethlehem
OR
THE HEAVENLY DAWN.
Chapter I
PRESAGE OF THE BIRTH OP CHRIST —PREDICTION OP THE BIRTH OF JOHN THE BAPTIST — SALUTATION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN BY THE ANGEL — ■ VISITATION OP THE VIRGIN MARY TO ELIZABETH — -BIRTH OF THE BAPTIST.
No event that ever did, or perhaps will happen, can more remarkably display the wisdom and power of the Great Jehovah, than the glorious manner in which he brought life and immortality to light, by the Gospel of his only Son, manifested in the flesh.
History, as it refers merely to human events, is a pleasing and ! instructing subject; but that which relates to our immortal interest, certainly claims our most serious regard.
If we survey the works of a stupendous Creator, we shall find that few arrived at perfection at once. This observation is amply confirmed by the various productions in the natural, and changes in the moral world. The Supreme Being, who conducts all his operations according to his infinite wisdom, appears to have retained the same maxim in the regulating of his kindest design to the sons of men. The Divine mind and will were not revealed to mankind, at first, in their clearest evidence and fullest splendor. The dawn, in a spiritual as well as in a natural sense, preceded the meridian glory; the former revelation was but a type or earnest of the latter, and, in eornnarison with it, intricate and mysterious.
The all-gracious God, as it seemed best to his unerring wisdom, was pleased, by degrees, to open and unfold his glorious councils : 2 17
IS
THE LIFE OF CHRIST.
and man gradually attained to the knowledge of the great plan of salvation, and the means used by its great Author to promote and establish it.
Some time before the incarnation of the blesSed Jesus an opinion prevailed, among the pious part of the Jews, that the Great Jehovah would condescend to favor them with a clearer revelation of his mind and will, by the mission of some eminent person qualified from above to instruct them in the same. This opinion was founded on the predictions of the ancient prophets, who had described, with the utmost beauty and clearness, the person, character, and glory of the Messiah, appointed by God, in his own time, to declare his eternal counsels to mankind.*
Relying on the fulfilment of these prophecies, the devout persons among the Jews imagined the time appointed by God at hand, and that the promised Messiah would shortly make his appearance, and therefore are said to have " waited night and day for the consolation of Israel These people, at that time grievously oppressed by the Roman power, and consequently anxious of regaining their liberty, as well as revenging themselves on their tyrannical oppressors, waited for the accomplishment of the prophecies with the most solicitous desire. But this opinion of the approach of a general Deliverer extended much farther than the country of the Jews; for, through their connexion with so many countries, their disputes with the learned men among the heathen, and the translation of the Old Testament into a language now almost general, their religion greatly prevailed in the east; and, consequently, their opinion, that a Prince would appear in the kingdom of Judea, who would dispel the mists of ignorance, deliver the Jews from the Roman yoke, and spread his dominion from one end of the world to the other.
*Dr. Wm. Smith, in his Dictionary of the Bible, writes as follows, concerning ithe Messianic prophecies :
" The earliest gleam of the Gospel is found in the account of the fall (Glen. hi. 15). Many interpreters would understand by the seed of the woman the Messiah only ; but it is easier to think with Calvin, that mankind, after they are gathered into one army by Jesus the Christ, the Head of the Church, are to achieve the victory over evil. The blessings in store for the children of Shem are remarkably indicated in the words of Noah, 'Blessed be the God of Shem ' f(Gen. ix. 26). Next follows the promise to Abraham, wherein the blessings to ■Shem are"turned into the narrower channel of one family. (Gen. xii. 2, 3.) The ipromise is still indefinite ; but it tends to the undoing of the curse of Adam by a blessing to all the earth through the seed of Abraham, as death had come on the whole <earth through Atdani.
While the eastern world was fraught with these sanguine hopes, the same angel who had appeared to Daniel, the prophet, with a certain information as to the period of the Messiah's coming, as well as his transactions in this lower world, was sent to Zacharias, while he was executing his office before God, in the order of his course (which was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord), to foretell that a child should spring from him and his wife Elizabeth, though they were stricken in years, who should be endowed with extraordinary gifts from heaven, and honored with being the forerunner of the Saviour of the world.
Zacharias, when he saw the angel, though he knew him to be of heavenly extraction, could not judge the subject of his mission, and therefore discovered a mixture of fear and surprise ; but the heavenly ambassador cheered his desponding soul with this kind address : " Fear not, Zacharias, for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elizabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John." That he waited day and night for the consolation of Israel he well knew, which is all we can understand by his prayer being heard ; for it was unnatural for him to think that he and his wife Elizabeth, w r ho were advanced in years, should have a son ; nay, he intimates his doubts concerning it in these words : " Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years." Besides, he was a rriest of the course of Abiah, whose particular office was to pray in behalf of the people for public and national blessings; so that it is very reasonable to think that on all occasions of public worship, he prayed most earnestly for the accomplishment of the prophecies relative to the appearance of the long-expected Messiah, who was promised as a general blessing to all the nations of the earth.
That this was the great subject of his prayer appears from the declaration of' the angel Gabriel:* The prayer thou hast directed with sincerity to an Almighty ear, concerning the coming of the Messiah, " is heard ; and behold thy wife Elizabeth shall bear thee a son," who shall prepare the way for the mighty Redeemer of Israel. The old priest, indeed, w T as as much astonished at the subject of the
* The word Gabriel, which is used as a propel name in Daniel viii. 16-ix. 21, and in Luke i. 19-26, is merely a term descriptive of the angelic office. According to the Jewish and Christian traditions, Gabriel is one Df the archangels, " but in Scripture he is set forth only as the representative of the angelic nature in its Vninistration of comfort and sympathy to man."
THE LIFE OF CHRIST.
mission as he was at the appearance of the messenger ; and esteeming it impossible that his wife, thus advanced in years, should conceive 2 son, weakly demanded a sign to confirm his belief, in the fulfilment of the promise, though he knew the authority of the angel was derived from the God of Truth. But as it is the lot of humanity to err, Zacharias had, for a moment, forgot, that nothing was impossible to Omnipotence, as well as that it was not the first time an aged woman was caused to conceive, and bear a child — the least reflection would have reminded him that Sarah conceived and bore Isaac when she was far advanced in years, and that Samuel was born of a woman who had been long reputed, and even called barren.
His curiousity was, indeed, gratified, but in a manner that carried with it, at once, a confirmation of the promise, and a punishment of his unbelief. As he had verbally testified his doubt of the fulfilment of the prediction of the angel, he was punished with the loss of his speech, which was to continue to the very day in which the prediction should be accomplished ; " Behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season."
Zacharias soon received an awful testimony of the divinity of the mission of Gabriel, who was no sooner departed than he was struck dumb ; for when he came to pray in the course of his office, during the oblation of his incense, he could not utter a word, and was under a necessity of making signs to the people that an angel had appeared to him in the temple, and that he was deprived of the faculty of speech, as a punishment for his doubting the fulfilment of an event of which he had been foretold concerning him.
Soon after Zacharias departed to his own house (the days of his ministration being accomplished), his wife Elizabeth, according to the prediction of the angel, conceived, and retired into a private place, where she lived five months in the uninterrupted exercises of piety, devotion, and contemplation on the mysterious providence of the Almighty, and his amazing goodness to the sinful children of men.
When Elizabeth was advanced six months in her pregnancy, the same heavenly ambassador was sent to a poor virgin, called Mary, ;vho lived in obscurity in Nazareth, under the care of Joseph, to whom she was espoused. This man and woman were both lineally descended from the house of David, from whose loins it was foretold tlje great Messiah should spring.
THE LIFE OF CHRIST.
This virgin being ordained by the Most High to be the Mother of the great Saviour of the world, was saluted by the angel in the most respectful terms : " Hail ! thou that art highly favored, the Lord is with thee ; blessed art thou among women I" Such an address from so exalted a Being, greatly alarmed the meek and humble virgin ; to allay whose fear, and encourage whose heart, the angel related, in most rapturous terms, the subject of his embassy, which was to assure her, That she was chosen by God to the greatest honor which could be conferred on a mortal, and which would perpetuate her memory : an honor no less than that of being the mother of promised and long-expected Messiah, who upon earth shall be caiieu Jseus, because he should save his people from their sins, be the restorer of human nature, and the procuring cause of eternal bliss to smners, who had forfeited the favor, and incurred the resentment, of an offended God : that this divine person was to be considered as the Son of the Most High God ; to whom should be given by his Almighty Father the throne of David, his earthly father, on which he should preside 5 and which, being the whole church of Christ, the house of Jacob, the spiritual Israel, or the kingdom of the Messiah, should continue for ever and ever.
The astonished virgin, unmindful, likewise, that Isaiah had long since prophesied, " That a virgin should conceive and bear a son/' 1 thought her virginity an insurmountable barrier to the fulfilment of the prophecy, especially as such an event had never occurred since the creation of the world, and therefore required of the angel an explanation of the manner in which such a circumstance could be effected.
This desire by no means implies her not remembering that with God all things were possible, but only serves to prove the weakness of her apprehension on the one hand, or her diffidence and sense of her own unworthiness on the other.
The angel, therefore, perceiving the goodness of her disposition, notwithstanding some little proof of human weakness and shortness of sight, vouchsafed an immediate answer to her inquiry : " The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall cover thee;" or, in other words, this miraculous event shall be brought about by the aid of the Holy Spirit, and wonderful exertion of the power of the Most High. As thy conception is effected by the immediate interposition of the Holy Ghost, " Therefore that holy thing which shall be born of thee, shall be called the Son of God."
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You’ve reached the end of Star of Bethlehem; or, The heavenly dawn, embracing the life of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and the lives of the holy apostles and evangelists.