Show 6 6 b i G 4 r ti IN INa N a place built like Betl Bethlehem in inmany inmany inmany many cases against the soft limestone rock it often happens that hat the existence of a cave where the he house was to be was a great attraction at at- traction since it offered a ready readymade readymade readymade made dry above ground cellar as aswell aswell aswell well as a specially suitable spot for forthe forthe the he household animals and for a storeroom It would seem that J Joseph Joseph Jo Jo- 0 seph was at last able to get room in in some such ba back k portion of a house and there we are told Mary bore her divine Son A cave below the high altar of the he Church of the N Nativity is now shown as the very place where this august event transpired a little re recess recess recess re- re cess shaped like a clam shell its floor loor of marble wrought into a star starin starin starn in n the center bearing in Latin the words Here Jesus Christ Was Born of the Virgin Mary A row of lamps hangs round the outer edge the right to attend to them being being beng be- be ing ng a jealously watched matter each of the ancient churches the Greek the he Latin the Armenian and the Coptic having one or more of these under its care The evidence for this site is is so BO strong that most persons accept it as sufficient reaching up as it does docs to within living memory of the days of the he apostles But even if this be an illusion the fact remains that in this petty etty village the Saviour of the world was made man for our re re- No wonder that we read of the anthem of the angels for surely nothing could draw forth the interest of the heavenly population like ike the exceeding grace God was showing to sinful unman man The scene of the visit of orthe the shepherds shep shep- herds is is pointed out as on a rough slope facing the village at some distance to the east last Bethlehem lying lyng ly- ly ing ng far above on its mountain seat One can follow the shepherds in their journey to see the unspeakable wonder They would go along the rich valley of Boaz and then up the terraced hill by a path still in use nor is it to reflect that hat while simple shepherds were led ed by angels to the manger the high priest and the great of J Jerusalem Jerusalem Jeru Jeru- eru- eru salem so near slept through that most illustrious night of all history quite unconscious of what had hap hap- But we know of it and may God Sod grant that if we cannot go with the shepherds to Bethlehem we may mayone mayone mayone one day go to the right hand of God and worship him there who that night lay a little child in Marys Mary's arms Dr Cunningham Geikie |