by some to have been kings, or noblemen of high rank; while others believe that they were persons of great learning: certain it is, that they were of a higher order of men, and their arrival caused great surprise to the people in Jerusalem, because their home was a very long way off, and travelling in those times and countries was difficult and dangerous: travellers generally walked on foot, and loaded their baggage on camels or asses, which also they sometimes rode; but their journeys were very slow, and they had long dreary deserts to pass through, where there were not only no houses for their rest and accommodation, but not even water springs, nor fruits, nor pasture, to refresh themselves or their cattle; so it was no wonder the people were surprised when they

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heard that several men of rank and learning had left their home and their friends, and come a long and wearisome journey to a strange city, where they had never been before, and where they had neither friend nor home, nor, as it seemed, any affairs; and they naturally thought that the unknown object which could have induced them to do so must be something very important.

It was, indeed, a most important object which brought them to Jerusalem, as you shall hear.

A rumour had spread over the whole eastern world, that a mighty Prince was to be born about that time: very great and wonderful were the things he was expected to do; but who or what he was to be, was not precisely known: some thought he would be a mighty Conqueror, who should fight for

them against their enemies, and lead them to victory; others, that he was to be a great and glorious King, to reign over them, and make their nation rich and powerful; but none yet knew that he was to be the Son of God!not the King of Jerusalem, but the King of Heaven!-and to reign over not an earthly kingdom, but the hearts of all Christian people!

Now the Wise-men, amongst others, had heard of this expected Prince; and one night, as they were examining the stars, they observed one of an extraordinary brilliancy, and quite different from the rest; and after consulting together what it could mean, they agreed that it must have appeared to announce some great event; and then, recollecting the expected birth of a Saviour, and having probably read the

prophecies by which God had long before foretold that event, they concluded that the star was sent to inform them that he was actually born.

They immediately resolved to pay their homage to him; and for that purpose, according to the custom of the East, prepared their offerings, and set out in search of him. They knew that the Prince was to be born in Judea, and they naturally directed their first steps to Jerusalem, where, after many days' travelling, they arrived as I told you.

Here their first question was about the expected Prince; and they said,"Where is He that is born King of "the Jews; for we have seen his star "in the east, and are come to worship " him?" But the people of Jeru salem could give them no information,

as they had not heard of his birth, and they knew of no King of the Jews but Herod.

Now, such an event as the arrival of the Wise-men from such a distance, and on such an errand, was not likely to be long unknown; and it soon reached the ears of King Herod, who began to be very much alarmed for fear that the Prince who was born, and whom the Wise-men called "The King of the 66 Jews," should come to take away his crown, and reign in his stead: so he immediately sent for the chief priests and the scribes, whose peculiar duty it was to explain the Bible, and asked them where the Scriptures said that Christ should be born; they told him that it was written that He should come from Bethlehem of Judea.

As soon as he heard this, he secretly