_Merson, Plate 8,_ has illustrated Luke 2:4-7. "And Joseph went up
from Galilee into Judea unto the city of David, Bethlehem, to be
enrolled, with Mary his espoused wife. And there was no room for them
in the inn." Darkness covered the earth and gross darkness the people
who refused lodging to such as Mary, but that night the glory of the
Lord was revealed. (Is. 60:2.)
[Illustration: Joseph and Mary, Arrival at Bethlehem.]
Plate 8. _Joseph and Mary, Arrival at Bethlehem._ Olivier L. Merson.
_Plockhoerst, Plate 14,_ illustrates Luke 2:8-11. And in the same
country were shepherds keeping watch over their flock by night. And
the angel of the Lord came and said unto them, "Fear not, I bring you
good tidings of great joy. Unto you is born this day in the city of
David a Savior which is Christ the Lord." The angel bears a palm
branch, symbol of triumph. (John 12:13.)
[Illustration: The Angel and the Shepherds.]
Plate 14. _The Angel and the Shepherds._ B. Plockhoerst, 1825-
_Hofmann, Plate 13,_ shows a company of the heavenly host praising
God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace,
good will toward men." (Luke 2:14.) They are the first to visit the
manger!
[Illustration: Bethlehem.]
Plate 13. _Bethlehem._ H. Hofmann. 1824-
_Lerolle, Plate 11,_ shows the shepherds who "came with haste and
found Mary and Joseph and the babe lying in a manger." (Luke
2:15-16.) The shepherds saw, evidently from some little distance;
for we have no record of their speaking to Mary or Joseph, only to
others outside, after the visit. (Luke 2:17-18.)
[Illustration: The Arrival of the Shepherds.]
Plate 11. _The Arrival of the Shepherds._ H. Lerolle.
_Correggio, Plate 9,_ has expressed that surprise and wonder of the
shepherds which they imparted to others when they told their story,
"for all that heard it wondered at those things which were told them
by the shepherds." (Luke 2:18.)
[Illustration: Holy Night.]
Plate 9. _Holy Night._ Correggio. 1494-1534.
_Bouguereau, Plate 10,_ adds to the story a dramatic touch. There are
ominous shadows in the background. Mary seems troubled by the
presence of the lamb, symbol of sacrifice. The angel had said "He
shall save his people from their sins." (Matt. 1:21.) Does Mary seem
already to behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the
world? (John 1:29.) One lamb is already slain, and lies in the
foreground. The shepherd with the lamb in his arms may unconsciously
illustrate the Christ (Is. 40:11), and the odd disk above the head of
the older shepherd, catching the light from the child, may be
prophetic of saintly glory.
[Illustration: The Nativity.]
Plate 10. _The Nativity._ (William) Adolphe Bouguereau. 1825-
_Mueller, Plate 12,_ gives us perhaps the prettiest, most sweetly
human group of all. Some of the shepherds have arrived, others are
coming; one with a lamb in his arms, another with his dogs, who seem
to sympathize with their master's joyous haste. The rose of the
hills, and the violet of the meadows are there as symbols of the rose
of Sharon and the lily of the valley (Cant. 2:1); "The ox knoweth his
owner and the ass his master's crib," and in this case the humble
representatives of Israel know also, and the people consider. (Is.
1:3.)
[Illustration: The Nativity.]
Plate 12._ The Nativity._ Carl Mueller. 1839-