The whole tenor of the narrative recorded by the _Matthew_ narrator is the most complete justification of the science of _astrology_; that the first intimation of the birth of the Son of God was given to the worshipers of Ormuzd, who have the power of distinguishing with certainty _his_ peculiar star; that from these _heathen_ the tidings of his birth are received by the Jews at Jerusalem, _and therefore that the theory must be right which connects great events in the life of men with phenomena in the starry heavens_. If this _divine sanction of astrology_ is contested on the ground that this was an _exceptional_ event, in which, simply to bring the Magi to Jerusalem, God caused the star to appear in accordance with their superstitious science, the difficulty is only pushed one degree backwards, for in this case God, it is asserted, wrought an event which was perfectly certain to strengthen the belief of the Magi, of Herod, of the Jewish priests, and of the Jews generally, in the truth of astrology. If, to avoid the alternative, recourse be had to the notion that the star appeared _by chance_, or that this _chance_ or _accident_ directed the Magi aright, is the position really improved? Is _chance_ consistent with any notion of supernatural interposition? We may also ask the question, why were the Magi brought to Jerusalem at all? If they knew that the star which they saw was the star of Christ Jesus--as the narrative states[145:2]--and were by this knowledge conducted to Jerusalem, why did it not suffice to guide them _straight to Bethlehem_, and thus prevent the Slaughter of the Innocents? Why did the star desert them after its first appearance, not to be seen again till they issued from Jerusalem? or, if it did not desert them, why did they ask of Herod and the priests the road which they should take, when, by the hypothesis, the star was ready to guide them?[145:3] It is said that in the oracles of Zoroaster there is to be found a prophecy to the effect that, _in the latter days_, a virgin would conceive and bear a son, and that, at the time of his birth, a star would shine at noonday. Christian divines have seen in this a prophecy of the birth of _Christ_ Jesus, but when critically examined, it does not stand the test. The drift of the story is this: