from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary and Joseph and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying, which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the Shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. St. Luke ii.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only-begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.-St. John i.

PROPER PSALM, XLV. 3.

Thou art fairer than the children of men: full of grace are thy lips, because God hath blessed thee for ever.

PROPER PSALM, LXXXv. 10. Mercy and truth are met together: righteousness and peace have kissed each other.

PROPER PSALM, CX. 2.

The Lord shall send the rod of thy power out of Sion: be thou ruler even in the midst among thine enemies. In the day of thy power shall the people offer thee free will offerings with an holy worship: the dew of thy birth is of the womb of the morning.

HISTORICAL NOTICE.

It is remarkable that at the time of our Saviour's birth, there prevailed a general expectation of the Messiah both amongst Jews and Gentiles. Grotius tells us that the Jewish Doctors had given out solemnly not long before that He would come within fifty years: and hence arose Herod's great jealousy. Josephus says that "The Jews rebelled against the Romans, being encouraged thereto by a celebrated prophecy in their Scriptures, that about that time a famous Prince should be born among them that should rule the world." The Roman historian Suetonius says, "There was an ancient and general opinion, famous throughout all the Eastern parts, that the fates had

determined that there should come out of Judea those that should govern the world." We read too in Tacitus that "A great many were possessed with a persuasion, that it was contained in the ancient books of the priests, that at that very time the East should prevail, and that they who should govern the world, were to come out of Judea." -Christmas Day was kept solemnly in the ancient Church, as it is in the Church of England to this day. St. Augustine tells us that it was kept on the twenty-fifth of December. St. Chrysostom assures us that the day was celebrated from the times of the Apostles, and that the Church kept the true day. He says, that "It is a godly thing to keep this day, and that the keeping of it is one of the greatest signs of our love to Christ." He adds that the custom was in his time universal in all Churches, and this was doubtless the favourite season of children in those days as it is in our own.

Where is the cradle meet

For the Eternal Child?

It is within that sacred seat,

The lowly heart, with sorrow reconciled.

We ask no vernal bud,

Nor summer flow'ret wild,

Stern winter 'neath her rugged hood
Hath seen her Lord, and patiently hath smiled.

Christmas, when all things wear

The glare of earthly glee,

Not gladliest then the heart doth hear
The chime of thy sweet calm festivity.

But when life's joys have gone,
With sere and yellow leaf,

The winter of the mind doth own

Balm of all wounds, Creation's blest relief.

PRAYER OF A YOUNG CHILD.

O heavenly Father, Thou hast given Thine own Son to be born into this world for me. He left Thy glory, and became a little child for me. He lived and He died for me; and Thou hast made me Thine own child for His sake. O grant me strength to live for Him; that when I die, I may come to Thee. He hath left us a commandment that we should love one another. Do Thou give me a heart to love and obey my parents and teachers, and to love my brothers and sisters, and all around me. He hath commanded us to love our enemies, to pray for those who treat us cruelly, and to do good to them that hate us. I cannot of myself do these things. O give me Thy Holy Spirit, that I

may be able to do what He hath taught me: Take from me all hardness of heart; and do Thou make me holy in this life, that so hereafter I may live with Thee for ever, through Thy Son Jesus Christ, my blessed Redeemer. Amen.

PRAYER. DR. HICKES.

O God, who every year givest a fresh occasion to the devotions of thy Church, by the welcome festivity of our Saviour's birth, grant us, we beseech thee, with such devout affections to entertain this first humble rising of the Sun of Righteousness to us, as may better dispose and stronglier engage us to follow him through the whole painful course of his life, which, like a giant, he rejoiced to run, enlightening the world with thy truth, and inflaming it with thy love, till in the end we arrive at his eternal rest, through the same our Lord Jesus Christ thy Son, who with thee and the Holy Ghost, liveth and reigneth, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

COMMUNION SERVICE.

It is very meet, right, and our bounden duty, that we should at all times, and in all places, give thanks unto thee, O Lord, Holy Father, Almighty, Everlasting God: because thou didst give Jesus Christ thine only Son to be