Part 38 (2/2)

[143:9] See Anac., i. p. 560, and Geikie's Life of Christ, i. 559.

[143:10] See Ibid., and The Bible for Learners, vol. iii. p. 72, and Calmet's Fragments, art. ”Abraham.”

[144:1] Baring-Gould: Legends of the Patriarchs, p. 149.

[144:2] Calmet's Fragments, art. ”Abraham.”

[144:3] Farrar's Life of Christ, p. 52.

[144:4] Tacitus: Annals, bk. xiv. ch. xxii.

[144:5] Amberly's a.n.a.lysis of Religious Belief, p. 227.

[144:6] Bible for Learners, vol. iii. p. 73.

[144:7] Brinton: Myths of the New World, pp. 180, 181, and Squire: Serpent Symbol.

[145:1] Life of Christ, vol. i. p. 144.

[145:2] Matthew ii. 2.

[145:3] See Thomas Scott's English Life of Jesus for a full investigation of this subject.

CHAPTER XIV.

THE SONG OF THE HEAVENLY HOST.

The story of the Song of the Heavenly Host belongs exclusively to the _Luke_ narrator, and, in substance, is as follows:

At the time of the birth of Christ Jesus, there were shepherds abiding in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And the angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them, and the angel said: ”I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people; for unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.”

And suddenly there was with the angel a mult.i.tude of the Heavenly Host, praising G.o.d in song, saying: ”Glory to G.o.d in the highest; and on earth peace, good will towards men.” After this the angels went _into heaven_.[147:1]

It is recorded in the _Vishnu Purana_[147:2] that while the virgin Devaki bore _Crishna_, ”the protector of the world,” in her womb, she was eulogized by the G.o.ds, and on the day of Crishna's birth, ”the quarters of the horizon were irradiate with joy, as if moonlight was diffused over the whole earth.” ”_The spirits and the nymphs of heaven danced and sang_,” and, ”at _midnight_,[147:3] when the support of all was born, _the clouds emitted low pleasing sounds, and poured down rain of flowers_.”[147:4]

Similar demonstrations of celestial delight were not wanting at the birth of _Buddha_. All beings everywhere were full of joy. Music was to be heard all over the land, and, as in the case of Crishna, there fell from the skies a gentle shower of flowers and perfumes. Caressing breezes blew, and a marvellous light was produced.[147:5]

The Fo-pen-hing relates that:

”The attending spirits, who surrounded the Virgin Maya and the infant Saviour, singing praises of 'the Blessed One,' said: 'All joy be to you, Queen Maya, rejoice and be glad, for the child you have borne is holy.' Then the Ris.h.i.+s and Devas who dwelt on earth exclaimed with great joy: 'This day Buddha is born for the good of men, to dispel the darkness of their ignorance.' Then the four heavenly kings took up the strain and said: 'Now because Bodhisatwa is born, to give joy and bring peace to the world, therefore is there this brightness.'

Then the G.o.ds of the thirty-three heavens took up the burden of the strain, and the Yama Devas and the Tusita Devas, and so forth, through all the heavens of the Kama, Rupa, and Arupa worlds, even up to the Akanishta heavens, all the Devas joined in this song, and said: '_To-day Bodhisatwa is born on earth, to give joy and peace to men and Devas, to shed light in the dark places, and to give sight to the blind._”[148:1]

Even the sober philosopher _Confucius_ did not enter the world, if we may believe Chinese tradition, without premonitory symptoms of his greatness.[148:2]

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