God sent his Son to be the baby of a poor woman. This woman’s name was Mary. Mary had no little children. She was a good woman and loved God. God’s Holy Spirit was in her, and made her meek and gentle. One day an angel came to her. When Mary saw the bright angel, she was frightened: but the angel said, “Fear not, Mary; God loves you. He will send you a baby, that shall be the Son of God. You shall call his name Jesus. He will come to save people from Satan.” Mary was much surprised at what the angel said. She thought she was not good enough to have such a baby as the Lord Jesus. When the angel was gone back to heaven, Mary sang a sweet song of praise to God for his goodness. Mary said, My soul praises God, and my spirit is glad because of my Saviour. Mary called her baby her Saviour, for she knew that he would save her from hell. I wonder not that Mary fear’d When Gabriel to her appear’d: How could she know he came to bring So sweet a message from his King? Full long the Son in heaven had stay’d Since first the promise had been made To shed his blood for Adam’s sin, And happiness for man to win. But yet the Son had ne’er forgot, And what he said he changed not; The time was come he should be born, And in this world should live forlorn. Mary shall be the mother dear, Who in her arms the child shall bear; The angel came this news to bring, And Mary listen’d wondering. And did the Lord a poor maid choose— And all the great and rich refuse? High honors God delights to place On those who humbly seek his face. LESSON XIII. THE BIRTH OF JESUS. LUKE, ii. 1-7. MARY had a husband called Joseph. He was a good man, and very kind to Mary. Now before Mary’s baby was born, a great king said that everybody must have their names written down. So Mary and Joseph left their house, and went a great way off. At last they came to a town called Bethlehem. It was night. Where could they sleep? They went to an inn, and said, Do let us in. We have come from a great way off. But the master of the inn said, I have no room in my inn for you. What could poor Mary do? Must she sleep in the street? Mary said she would sleep in the stable, if the master would let her. So Mary and Joseph went into the stable. There were cows and asses in the stable. While Mary was in the stable, God sent her the little baby he had promised her. She knew he was the Son of God, though he looked like other little babies. She wrapped him in some long clothes, called swaddling clothes; but she had no cradle for him to sleep in, and she could not lay him on the ground, lest the beasts should tread upon him; so she put him in the manger, and she sat by him to take care of him. How dearly Mary loved this sweet babe! This baby had not a naughty heart, as other babies have. Jesus had no sin, but was quite meek and lowly. Yet other babies have cradles and soft pillows, while Jesus lay in a manger.