2　Peter　1：19。　They　had　been　seeking　the　knowledge　of　God
  more　than　all　hid　treasures；　counting　it　〃better　than　the　merchandise　of
  silver；　and　the　gain　thereof　than　fine　gold。〃　Proverbs　3：14。　And　the　Lord
  revealed　to　them　the　great　things　of　the　kingdom。　〃The　secret　of　the　Lord　is
  with　them　that　fear　Him；　and　He　will　show　them　His　covenant。〃　Psalm　25：14。
  It　was　not　the　scholarly　theologians　who　had　an　understanding　of　this　truth；
  and　engaged　in　its　proclamation。　Had　these　been　faithful　watchmen；
  diligently　and　prayerfully　searching　the　Scriptures；　they　would　have　known
  the　time　of　night；　the　prophecies　would　have　opened　to　them　the　events　about
  to　take　place。　But　they　did　not　occupy　this　position；　and　the　message　was
  given　by　humbler　men。　Said　Jesus：　〃Walk　while　ye　have　the　light；　lest
  darkness　come　upon　you。〃　John　12：35。　Those　who　turn　away　from　the　light
  which　God　has　given；　or　who　neglect　to　seek　it　when　it　is　within　their
  reach；　are　left　in　darkness。　But　the　Saviour　declares：　〃He　that　followeth　Me
  shall　not　walk　in　darkness；　but　shall　have　the　light　of　life。〃　John　8：12。
  Whoever　is　with　singleness　of　purpose　seeking　to　do　God's　will；　earnestly
  heeding　the　light　already　given；　will　receive　greater　light；　to　that　soul
  some　star　of　heavenly　radiance　will　be　sent　to　guide　him　into　all　truth。
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  At　the　time　of　Christ's　first　advent　the　priests　and　scribes　of　the　Holy
  City；　to　whom　were　entrusted　the　oracles　of　God；　might　have　discerned　the
  signs　of　the　times　and　proclaimed　the　coming　of　the　Promised　One。　The
  prophecy　of　Micah　designated　His　birthplace；　Daniel　specified　the　time　of
  His　advent。　Micah　5：2；　Daniel　9：25。　God　committed　these　prophecies　to　the
  Jewish　leaders；　they　were　without　excuse　if　they　did　not　know　and　declare　to
  the　people　that　the　Messiah's　coming　was　at　hand。　Their　ignorance　was　the
  result　of　sinful　neglect。　The　Jews　were　building　monuments　for　the　slain
  prophets　of　God；　while　by　their　deference　to　the　great　men　of　earth　they
  were　paying　homage　to　the　servants　of　Satan。　Absorbed　in　their　ambitious
  strife　for　place　and　power　among　men；　they　lost　sight　of　the　divine　honors
  proffered　them　by　the　King　of　heaven。
  With　profound　and　reverent　interest　the　elders　of　Israel　should　have　been
  studying　the　place；　the　time；　the　circumstances；　of　the　greatest　event　in
  the　world's　historythe　coming　of　the　Son　of　God　to　accomplish　the
  redemption　of　man。　All　the　people　should　have　been　watching　and　waiting　that
  they　might　be　among　the　first　to　welcome　the　world's　Redeemer。　But；　lo；　at
  Bethlehem　two　weary　travelers　from　the　hills　of　Nazareth　traverse　the　whole
  length　of　the　narrow　street　to　the　eastern　extremity　of　the　town；　vainly
  seeking　a　place　of　rest　and　shelter　for　the　night。　No　doors　are　open　to
  receive　them。　In　a　wretched　hovel　prepared　for　cattle；　they　at　last　find
  refuge；　and　there　the　Saviour　of　the　world　is　born。
  Heavenly　angels　had　seen　the　glory　which　the　Son　of　God　shared　with　the
  Father　before　the　world　was；　and　they　had　looked　forward　with　intense
  interest　to　His　appearing　on　earth　as　an　event　fraught　with　the　greatest　joy
  to　all　people。　Angels　were　appointed　to　carry　the　glad　tidings　to　those　who
  were　prepared　to　receive　it　and　who　would　joyfully　make　it　known　to　the
  inhabitants　of　the　earth。　Christ　had　stooped　to　take　upon　Himself　man's
  nature；　He　was　to　bear　an　infinite
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  weight　of　woe　as　He　should　make　His　soul　an　offering　for　sin；　yet　angels
  desired　that　even　in　His　humiliation　the　Son　of　the　Highest　might　appear
  before　men　with　a　dignity　and　glory　befitting　His　character。　Would　the　great
  men　of　earth　assemble　at　Israel's　capital　to　greet　His　coming？　Would　legions
  of　angels　present　Him　to　the　expectant　company？
  An　angel　visits　the　earth　to　see　who　are　prepared　to　welcome　Jesus。　But　he
  can　discern　no　tokens　of　expectancy。　He　hears　no　voice　of　praise　and　triumph
  that　the　period　of　Messiah's　coming　is　at　hand。　The　angel　hovers　for　a　time
  over　the　chosen　city　and　the　temple　where　the　divine　presence　has　been
  manifested　for　ages；　but　even　here　is　the　same　indifference。　The　priests；　in
  their　pomp　and　pride；　are　offering　polluted　sacrifices　in　the　temple。　The
  Pharisees　are　with　loud　voices　addressing　the　people　or　making　boastful
  prayers　at　the　corners　of　the　streets。　In　the　palaces　of　kings；　in　the
  assemblies　of　philosophers；　in　the　schools　of　the　rabbis；　all　are　alike
  unmindful　of　the　wondrous　fact　which　has　filled　all　heaven　with　joy　and
  praisethat　the　Redeemer　of　men　is　about　to　appear　upon　the　earth。
  There　is　no　evidence　that　Christ　is　expected；　and　no　preparation　for　the
  Prince　of　life。　In　amazement　the　celestial　messenger　is　about　to　return　to
  heaven　with　the　shameful　tidings；　when　he　discovers　a　group　of　shepherds　who
  are　watching　their　flocks　by　night；　and；　as　they　gaze　into　the　starry
  heavens；　are　contemplating　the　prophecy　of　a　Messiah　to　come　to　earth；　and
  longing　for　the　advent　of　the　world's　Redeemer。　Here　is　a　company　that　is
  prepared　to　receive　the　heavenly　message。　And　suddenly　the　angel　of　the　Lord
  appears；　declaring　the　good　tidings　of　great　joy。　Celestial　glory　floods　all
  the　plain；　an　innumerable　company　of　angels　is　revealed；　and　as　if　the　joy
  were　too　great　for　one　messenger　to　bring　from　heaven；　a　multitude　of　voices
  break　forth　in　the　anthem　which　all　the　nations　of　the　saved　shall　one　day
  sing：　〃Glory　to　God　in　the　highest；　and　on　earth　peace；　good　will　toward
  men。〃　Luke　2：14。
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  Oh；　what　a　lesson　is　this　wonderful　story　of　Bethlehem！　How　it　rebukes　our
  unbelief；　our　pride　and　self…sufficiency。　How　it　warns　us　to　beware；　lest　by
  our　criminal　indifference　we　also　fail　to　discern　the　signs　of　the　times；
  and　therefore　know　not　the　day　of　our　visitation。
  It　was　not　alone　upon　the　hills　of　Judea；　not　among　the　lowly　shepherds
  only；　that　angels　found　the　watchers　for　Messiah's　coming。　In　the　land　of
  the　heathen　also　were　those　that　looked　for　Him；　they　were　wise　men；　rich
  and　noble；　the　philosophers　of　the　East。　Students　of　nature；　the　Magi　had
  seen　God　in　His　handiwork。　From　the　Hebrew　Scriptures　they　had　learned　of
  the　Star　to　arise　out　of　Jacob；　and　with　eager　desire　they　awaited　His
  coming；　who　should　be　not　only　the　〃Consolation　of　Israel；〃　but　a　〃Light　to
  lighten　the　Gentiles；〃　and　〃for　salvation　unto　the　ends　of　the　earth。〃　Luke
  2：25；　32；　Acts　13：47。　They　were　seekers　for　light；　and　light　from　the　throne
  of　God　illumined　the　path　for　their　feet。　While　the　priests　and　rabbis　of
  Jerusalem；　the　appointed　guardians　and　expounders　of　the　truth；　were
  shrouded　in　darkness；　the　Heaven…sent　star　guided　these　Gentile　strangers　to
  the　birthplace　of　the　newborn　King。
  It　is　〃unto　them　that　look　for　Him〃　that　Christ　is　to　〃appear　the　second
  time　without　sin　unto　salvation。〃　Hebrews　9：28。　Like　the　tidings　of　the
  Saviour's　birth；　the　message　of　the　second　advent　was　not　committed　to　the
  religious　leaders　of　the　people。　They　had　failed　to　preserve　their
  connection　with　God；　and　had　refused　light　from　heaven；　therefore　they　were
  not　of　the　number　described　by　the　apostle　Paul：　〃But　ye；　brethren；　are　not
  in　darkness；　that　that　day　should　overtake　you　as　a　thief。　Ye　are　all　the
  children　of　light；　and　the　children　of　the　day：　we　are　not　of　the　night；　nor
  of　darkness。〃　1　Thessalonians　5：4；　5。
  The　watchmen　upon　the　walls　of　Zion　should　have　been　the　first　to　catch　the
  tidings　of　the　Saviour's　advent；　the　first　to　lift　their　voices　to　proclaim
  Him　near；　the　first　to　warn　the　people　to　prepare　for　His　coming。　But　they
  were　at　ease；
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  dreaming　of　peace　and　safety；　while　the　people　were　asleep　in　their　sins。
  Jesus　saw　His　church；　like　the　barren　fig　tree；　covered　with　pretentious
  leaves；　yet　destitute　of　precious　fruit。　There　was　a　boastful　observance　of
  the　forms　of　religion；　while　the　spirit　of　true　humility；　penitence；　and
  faithwhich　alone　could　render　the　service　acceptable　to　Godwas　lacking。
  Instead　of　the　graces　of　the　Spirit　there　were　manifested　pride；　formalism；
  vainglory；　selfishness；　oppression。　A　backsliding　church　closed　their　eyes
  to　the　signs　of　the　times。　God　did　not　forsake　them；　or　suffer　His
  faithfulness　to　fail；　but　they　departed　from　Him；　and　separated　themselves
  from　His　love。　As　they　refused　to　comply　with　the　conditions；　His　promises
  were　not　fulfilled　to　them。
  Such　is　the　sure　result　of　neglect　to　appreciate　and　improve　the　light　and
  privileges　which　God　bestows。　Unless　the　church　will　follow　on　in　His
  opening　providence；　accepting　every　ray　of　light；　performing　every　duty
  which　may　be　revealed；　religion　will　inevitably　degenerate　into　the
  observance　of　forms；　and　the　spirit　of　vital　godliness　will　disappear。　This
  truth　has　been　repeatedly　illustrated　in　the　history　of　the　church。　God
  requires　of　His　people　works　of　faith　and　obedience　corresponding　to　the
  blessings　and　privileges　bestowed。　Obedience　requires　a　sacrifice　and
  involves　a　cross；　and　this　is　why　so　many　of　the　professed　followers　of
  Christ　refused　to　receive　the　light　from　heaven；　and；　like　the　Jews　of　old；
  knew　not　the　time　of　th