the world of Herod, or have appeased his anger, or have rendered His divine Son invisible; but He adopted the ordinary means of safety, and His Son must fly. Reflect how derogatory this was to the dignity of the Redeemer, and how full of inconveniences. Thus God always treats those whom He loves best. Are you greater or better than the Son of God? Why, then, do you complain when His providence prepares crosses for you? You ought to consider them as marks of His affection; and this thought will render them not only supportable, but even agreeable.
II. God would not have His Son go to the Magi, where He would have been honored and adored; but into Egypt, a pagan nation, and ever hostile to the Israelites; far from home, from His relations and friends. Thus He deprives His Son, even in His infancy, of comfort, help, convenience, which He might otherwise have derived from His friends. Why, then, do you seek with such ardor for the esteem and service of others? Why do you think it hard to suffer inconveniences? If you really loved Christ, you would rejoice, and conceive it honor enough to be neglected and contemned and despised for His sake. " It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his Lord." (Matt. x. 25.)
III. As Christ would be born far from home, so would He be banished far from His own country. He intended to convey this lesson, that we should always consider ourselves in this world as strangers and exiles, and not as citizens of it; for we know " that we have no permanent city; but we seek one to come." (Heb. xiii. 14.) Those who were afterwards banished for His sake, or suffered anything for Him, might find comfort in His example. Learn to bear all this kind of crosses, and even banishment from your home or country, with pa-
