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The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah Vol 1 - Predestination

The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah Vol 1 - Predestination

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<strong>the</strong> Son <strong>of</strong> God,' <strong>and</strong> that believing <strong>the</strong>y * might<br />

have life through His Name.' * <strong>The</strong> Christian • st<br />

John heart <strong>and</strong> imagination, indeed, long to be able<br />

to localise <strong>the</strong> scene <strong>of</strong> ooom.' such surpassing<br />

importance, <strong>and</strong> linger with fond reverence over<br />

that Cave, which is now covered by ' <strong>the</strong> Church <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong> Nativity.' It may be—nay, it seems likely—that<br />

this, to which <strong>the</strong> most venerable tradition points,<br />

was <strong>the</strong> sacred spot <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> world's greatest event.*<br />

But certainty we have not. It is better, that it should<br />

be so. As to all that passed in <strong>the</strong> seclusion <strong>of</strong> that<br />

^ stable'—^<strong>the</strong> circumstances <strong>of</strong> * <strong>the</strong> Nativity,'<br />

even its exact time after <strong>the</strong> arrival <strong>of</strong> Mary (brief<br />

as it must have been)—<strong>the</strong> Gospel-narrative is<br />

silent. This only is told, that <strong>the</strong>n <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>re <strong>the</strong><br />

Virgin-Mo<strong>the</strong>r * brought forth her first-bom Son,<br />

<strong>and</strong> wrapped Him in swaddling clo<strong>the</strong>s, <strong>and</strong> laid<br />

Him in a manger.' Beyond this announcement <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

bare fact. Holy Scripture, with indescribable<br />

appropriateness <strong>and</strong> delicacy, draws a veil over<br />

that most sacred mystery. Two impressions only<br />

are left on <strong>the</strong> mind: that <strong>of</strong> utmost earthly humility,<br />

in <strong>the</strong> surrounding circum-

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