teacher of your soul. " For blessed is the man whom Thou shalt instruct, O Lord, and shalt teach him out of Thy law." (Ps. xciii. 12.)
III. Christ sat in the temple, amongst the doctors. Take care that you make your soul a " temple of the living God " (2 Cor. vi. 16), and not a temple of sin. Let it be a house of prayer, and not of worldly occupation, not "a den of thieves," that is, of vain thoughts, which rob God of the honor which is due to Him alone. Then, with all humility, fall at the feet of your teacher with Magdalen, and entreat Him to show you the ways of salvation: "For those who approach to His feet shall receive of His doctrine." (Deut. xxxiii. 3.) Lastly, approach Him with an eagerness to learn, a resolution to practise the lessons, which He will give you, lest He abandon you to yourself, as He threatened Jerusalem by the mouth of His prophet: "Be thou instructed, O Jerusalem, lest my soul depart from thee." (Jer. vi. 8.)
JANUARY 7, OR 8
Journey of the Wise Men.— I.
I. At the birth of Christ a miraculous star appeared in the East: and as the eternal Father revealed the birth of His Son to the Jews by an angel, He made it known to the Gentiles by the appearance of this star; for Christ was the Saviour both of the Jews and Gentiles. Congratulate the new-born Saviour, that His glory is made known to the most remote nations: and give thanks to God, that " He hath revealed His justice in the sight of the Gentiles." (Ps. xcvii. 2.) These Wise Men were the first-fruits of the Gentiles, and they were your representatives.
