POETRY Balm in Gilead, 146 Little Graves, 234 Little Willie, 263 Standing up to Read, 175 Nathan's Parable, (with Music) Storms and Tempests, 180 THE Children's Jewish Advocate. JANUARY 1, 1865. OUR NEW COVER. THE STAR OF BETHLEHEM-THE PALM-AND THE VINE. THROUGH David's town, as I am led, A light directs to one poor shed, It is; come let us all adore The stranger, meek and lowly, My Lord, my God, my Saviour! Our "Advocate" this year has a New Cover, and we wish to say a few words to you on the subject. It comes to greet you with wishes for the New Year, an old friend with a new face. Here is a view of Bethlehem. There is the Star which was seen in the East by the wise men, standing over where the young Child was: that young Child prophesied of so long before the seed of the woman, who came to bruise the serpent's head, the seed of Abraham, in whom all nations of the earth should be blessed. We have just passed our joyful Christmas time, we have remembered the birth of our blessed Saviour into the world, and many of us, we trust, have truly rejoiced in the sense of sins forgiven, and pardon sealed through the death of that same blessed Saviour. Have we thought who it is through whom the knowledge of this great blessing comes? Who was Abraham, the friend of God, the father of the chosen nation? The first Hebrew. Who was David, the son of Jesse, "of whom, as concerning the flesh, Christ came?" A Hebrew. Who were the Prophets who spoke so constantly of this coming? All Hebrews. Who was the mother of Jesus? A Hebrew maiden. All of the Hebrew race, all of that nation whom God chose and separated to Himself. How much then do we owe to this race! Through them has come to us all we know of God, of Christ, and of His prophets. The |