"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward
men." _Luke 2:14._
THE blessed Virgin Mary lived at Nazareth; but it was God's will that
the holy Son of God should be born at Bethlehem, the little town where
David used to live and keep his sheep. The Romans sent out orders that
everyone should go to their proper home to have their names set down,
and pay a piece of money.
So the Virgin Mary had to go, with a good man named Joseph, a
carpenter, who was to be her husband. Such a number of people had come
there that there was no room for them in the inn, and they had to go
to a stable--a cavern underground--where the oxen and asses were.
And it was there that the Holy Child of Mary, the Son of God, was born,
in the stable where the cattle were. The blessed mother wrapped Him in
baby-clothes, and laid Him in the manger, among the hay and straw.
[Illustration: THE BIRTH OF JESUS PROCLAIMED BY THE SHEPHERDS.--Luke
2:17.]
None of the people in the inn knew or cared; but there were shepherds
on the hill, keeping watch over their flocks by night. The angels came
down to them, and told them that to them was born that day, in the city
of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the LORD, and that He was a Babe
lying in a manger.
As soon as the angel had said that, many other angels, who were very
glad that poor men below should be saved, all began to sing, "Glory to
God in the highest, and on earth peace, good-will toward men."
So the angels and the shepherds kept the Saviour's birthday, and we
keep it upon Christmas-day.
[Illustration: PRESENTATION IN THE TEMPLE.--Luke 2:27, 28.]