in a dream to Joseph, and had told him to take Mary and the infant into the land of Egypt. Joseph did as GOD commanded. He took the young child and his mother by night, and went into Egypt. There they staid until Herod was dead. You will not be surprised to hear that he died soon after in the most dreadful suffering and misery. We do not read this in the Bible, but in a history, which was afterwards written by a clever man named Josephus. As soon as Herod was dead, GOD spoke again to Joseph in a dream, and told him to return to the land of Israel. When he found that Herod's wicked son was king, he was frightened to go near the part of the country where he lived. But GoD again spoke to him, and he turned aside into the parts of Galilee, and went to live at Nazareth.

Now there are three things in this history, in which God's word was shown to be true. The Prophet Jeremiah had said 600 years before, that many poor mothers in Ramah, (that was near Bethlehem) would weep and mourn for

their dear babies. (Jer. xxxi. 15.) And do you not think those poor mothers, whose darling little ones were killed by Herod, would cry bitterly? Oh! yes, they "would not be comforted, because their little ones were not." (Matt. ii. 18.)

Again, nearly 800 years before, GOD had spoken these words by his prophet Hosea, "Out of Egypt have I called my Son." (Hosea xi. 1.) And did not God call his Son out of Egypt when Herod was dead? And again, it was said by the prophets, "he shall be called a Nazarene." (Matt. ii. 25.) I have just told you that JESUS went to live with Joseph and his mother at Nazareth. I want you, dear children, to learn to love God's word for its wonderful truthfulness, as well as for the many sweet and precious things in it.

When JESUS was eight days old, and before He was taken away from Bethlehem, He was circumcised. Circumcision was used by the Jews, just as we use baptism. Abraham, you know, was the father of all the Jews. GOD had

commanded him to be circumcised, and every little baby boy among the Jews, after that, was circumcised when he was eight days old. At the same time the parents used to give their little boys a name. Perhaps you may remember, if ever you had a little baby brother or sister, that it was not quite certain for some time what its name would be. But at last, after talking about it a good deal, your parents fixed upon a name.

Do you think Mary would find it difficult to fix upon a name for her baby? Oh, no! And why? GOD had fixed that long ago. When the angel Gabriel came from heaven, to tell Mary that she should have a son, he said, "Thou shalt call his name Jesus." (Luke i. 31.) And after that, when God spoke to Joseph in a dream about Mary having this son, He said, "And thou shalt call his name Jesus." Now I want you to remember, that JESUS means a Saviour. Learn this little verse before we go on, "Thou shalt call his name JESUS, for He shall save his people from their sins." (Matt. i. 21.) Now

you will understand how it was that Mary called her child her Saviour. In her sweet song of praise, you know, she said, "My spirit has rejoiced in GoD my Saviour." What a sweet name this makes the name of Jesus, does it not, dear children?

We are not quite sure how long Mary remained with her sweet baby at Bethlehem. We know, however, that when He was about six weeks old, she took Him into the Temple at Jerusalem, "to present Him to the LORD." When a Jewish mother brought her baby into the Temple, she was commanded to offer to GoD a lamb, and a young pigeon. But if she was too poor to afford a lamb, she might bring two turtledoves, or two young pigeons. Mary was poor, so that was what she had to offer.

Now, there was a good old man living at Jerusalem, named Simeon. He had often read all that the prophets wrote about the coming of JESUS, and he longed, above all things to see the blessed day, when a Saviour should be born.

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GOD had told him too, by the Spirit, that he should not die until he had seen JESUS. This good old Simeon came into the Temple, just as Joseph and Mary brought JESUS in. Then took he Him up in his arms, and blessed GOD, and said, LORD, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, for mine eyes have seen thy salvation." He meant, let me die, now that I have seen my Saviour. Joseph and Mary were astonished at all he said. Simeon blessed them also, and told them that this child was born to do wonderful things. There was a good old woman, too, named Anna, who came into the Temple at that moment. She too knew that this infant was the promised Saviour. So she gave GOD thanks, and spoke of JESUS to all who were looking for his coming. When Joseph and Mary had done all that was commanded in the law, they went back to their own city.

And now you have had a very long Chapter, I think I must not tell you anything more at present.