and for a sign which shall be spoken against; (yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed." Luke 2: 24-35.

In the meanwhile Herod was waiting the return of the wise men; but they departed into their own country another way.

"And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.

"When he arose he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt." Mat. 2:13, 14.

The Death of Herod.

JOSEPH and Mary went down into Egypt with Jesus and stayed "there until the death of Herod that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet [Hosea 11:

1], saying, Out of Egypt have I called my Son." Mat. 2:15.

They had well made their escape without Herod's knowing about it. He was still waiting for some special news and information from the wise men.

"Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men.

"Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not." Mat. 2: 16-18.

It would not be surprising to learn that such a man as Herod spent his last days in great misery. It is said that after having been king for thirty-seven years, at the age of seventy he died a miserable death in Jericho. His feet

swelled, and his bowels had ulcers that gave him much severe pain. His physicians could not relieve his pains, and he removed to the other side of Jordan for a while, hoping to get relief in the baths of a city there, but he failed in the attempt. He died with but few, if any, friends.

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Return to Nazareth.

"BUT when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child's life.

"And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee; and he came and

dwelt in the city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene." Mat. 2: 19-23.

These things that were taking place concerning Jesus were just what the prophets had foretold many years before about the one who was to be the Messiah, or Savior of the world. They told about his mother, the place of his birth, the call out of Egypt, his home, and many other things.

Though the Jews had read what the prophets had said, yet few of them were willing to believe that Jesus was the one of whom the prophets had spoken; because the hearts of the Jews were full of unbelief, and no doubt they had formed ideas of their own conce:ning the way and manner in which he would make his appearance.

Early Life and Home Scenes.

THE Bible tells us but little about the early life of Jesus. However, enough is said to enable