Let us not give room to the devil in his white raiment! When he attempts to destroy the character of a brother, he assumes his white robe, and not his murdering garment, pretending to vindicate the glory of God and the cause of justice, asserting that the cause of religion must be cleared; while all this time envy rankles in his heart, notwithstanding his fair pretences, as when the Jews delivered Jesus to be crucified. It was his white garment that Satan wore in the court of Caiaphas, when he charged the true God with blasphemy. This garb, also, his servant Judas wore, when he displayed such zeal and sympathy for the poor, in the case of the ointment at Bethany. Let us ask grace, that we may be able to recognise the devil in his white raiment, as well as in his old black-red garb. He is not so easily distinguished in his borrowed white, as in his own proper suit. Let us cleanse out hypocrisy. Such is our instruction. V. THE YOUNG CHILD. HEROD said to the wise men, “Go and search diligently for the young child.” The magi immediately commenced their inquiries, according to the instructions they received. I see them approaching some village, and when they come to the gate they inquire, “Do you know any thing of the young child?” The gateman comes to the door; and, supposing them to have asked the amount of the toll, says, “O, three halfpence an ass is to pay.” “We do not ask what is to pay,” reply they, “but, do you know any thing of the young child?” “No; I know nothing in the world,” answers he; “but there is a blacksmith’s shop a little farther on; inquire there, and you will be very likely to obtain some intelligence concerning him.” The wise men proceed, and when they come to the blacksmith’s shop, they ask, “Do you know any thing of the young child?” A harsh voice answers, “There is no such thing possible for you, as having the asses shod now; you shall in two hours hence.” “We do not ask you to shoe the asses,” say they; “but inquire for the young child, if you know any thing of him?” “Nothing in the world,” says the blacksmith; “but inquire at the tavern that is on your road, and probably you may hear something of him there.” On they go, and stand opposite the door of the tavern, and cry, “Do you know any thing of the young child?” The landlord, thinking they call for porter, bids the servant attend, saying, “Go, girl; go with a quart of porter to the strangers.” “We do not ask for either porter or ale,” say the wise men; “but something about the young child that is born.” “I know nothing in the world of him,” says the landlord; “but turn to the shop on the left hand; the shopkeeper reads all the papers, and you will be likely to hear something respecting him there.”