16Then Herod perceauing that he was deluded by the Sages, was exceding angrie: and sending ″ murdered al the men children that were in Bethlehem, & in al the borders therof, from two yaere old and vnder, according to the time which he had diligently sought out of the Sages. 17Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Ieremie the Prophet saying: 18A voice in Rama was heard, crying out & much wayling: Rachel bewayling her children, & would not be comforted, because they are not.
19But when Herod was dead, behold an Angel of our Lord appeared in sleep to Ioseph in Ægypt, 20saying: Arise, and take the child & his mother, and goe into the land of Israel. For they are dead that sought the life of the child. 21Who arose, & took the child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel. 22But hearing that Archelaus raigned in Iewrie for Herod his father, he feared to goe thither: and being warned in sleepe retyred into the quarters of Galilee. 23And coming he dwelt in a citie called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was sayd by the Prophetes: That he shal be called a Nazarite.
ANNOTATIONS
Chap. II.
1. Behold.] Our Lords apparition or Epiphanie to these Sages, being Gentils, their Pilgrimage to him, and in them the first homage of Gentilitie done vnto him the twelfth day after his Natiuitie, and therfore is Twelfth-day highly celebrated in the Catholike Church for ioy of the calling of vs Gentils. His baptisme also and first miracle are celebrated on the same day.
2. Starre.] Christs Natiuitie depended not vpon this starre, as the Priscillianists falsely surmised; but the starre vpon his natiuitie, for the seruice whereof it was created, Grego. Ho. 10.
2. Come to adore.] This coming so farre of deuotion to visit and adore Christ in the place of his birth, was properly a Pilgrimage to his Person; & warranteth the Faithful in the like kind of external worship done to holy Persons, places, and things.
4. Inquired of them.] The high Priests were rightly consulted in question of their law and religion; and be they neuer so il, are often forced to say the truth by priuilege of their vnction; as here, and after, they did concerning the true Messias.
11. Adored him] This body (sayth S. Chrisostom) the Sages adored in the crib. Let vs at the least imitate them: thou seest him not now in the crib, but on the Altar; not a woman holding him, but the Priest present, and the Holy-Ghost powred out aboundantly vpon the Sacrifice. Ho. 24. in 1. Cor. Ho. 7. in Mt. Ho. de sancto Philogonio.
11. Treasures.] These treasures are as it were the first fruite of those riches, and gifts, which (according to the Prophecies of Dauid and Esay) Gentilitie should offer to Christ and his Church, and now haue offered, specially from the time of Constantine the Great. As also these three Sages, being principal men of their Countrie, represent the whole state of Princes, Kings, and Emperours, that were (according to the said Prophecies) to beleeue in Christ, to humble themselues to his crosse, to foster, enrich, adorne and defend his Church. Whereupon it is also a very conuenient and agreable tradition of antiquitie, and a receiued opinion among the Faithful, not lacking testimonies of ancient writers, and much for the honour of our Sauiour, that these three also were kings: to wit, either according to the state
