by the Son." The Grace of these verses 2 seems contrasted with the moral, the Truth with the ceremonial Law. That indicated the disease which only Christ could cure: this shadowed forth the perfections whose substance and reality are only to be found in Him.3 The sight of God here spoken of does not refer to mere bodily vision, though in that sense also what is here said is true. It refers rather to that intimate acquaintance with God which no mere man ever had, and which the Only-begotten Son, the Ever-existent in the bosom of the Father," alone can have. What then it concerns us to know of God, that Christ hath set forth to us in His Gospel.

V.

AN ANGEL ANNOUNCES THE BIRTH OF JOHN

BAPTIST.

St. Luke i. 5-12.

There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judæa, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years. And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course, according to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense. And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of

incense. And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.

2

The History of our Lord involves the history of the Forerunner of the Lord. We have therefore, at this "beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ," an account of the memorable birth of John the Baptist. His father was "a priest, of the course of Abia." The Priests of old were divided into four and twenty courses, and one of these week by week ministered in his turn in the Temple. It is noticed of both his parents that they were "righteous before God;" observing as well the moral commands of God, as the ceremonial ordinances of religion. Zacharias was doing his duty when the Angel appeared to him. His particular duty at this time was to burn incense morning and evening upon the Altar in the Sanctuary, while the people prayed without in the Court of the Temple. He was thus doing his part, and the congregation theirs. When Zacharias saw the Angel "he was troubled, and fear fell upon him." We sometimes fear that which is meant to fill us with "joy and gladness." If we saw an Angel, we should be full of fear. Let us remember that Angels are round about us, though we see them not; and let us fear to sin, the only cause why we need fear.

VI.

THE SAME SUBJECT-continued.

St. Luke i. 13-17.

But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth. For he

1 St. Mark i. 1. St. Luke's introduction and dedication (i. 1–4) though most interesting and instructive, yet as addressed to an individual, and

referring to his particular Gospel, is omitted in this harmony or abstract of the four Gospels.

21 Chron. xxiv.

shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb. And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

The

Zacharias had prayed in former years that God would give him the blessing of a son. His prayers, like the prayers of Cornelius,1 have come up as a memorial before God. "Delays of mercy are not to be reckoned as denials of prayer." child is to be called John, that name of joy. With the ancient Nazarites,3 persons separated or set apart to the special service of God, he was to abstain from all strong drink; as Samson of old and Samuel. Who, after what is here said of the infant Baptist, can deny that infants even may be partakers of the Holy Ghost? The Angel alludes to the famous prophecy of Malachi. From this the Jews expected that Elias, i.e. Elijah of old, should re-appear before the coming of the Christ. The Angel announces that this is he; another person, but the same spirit. He it is who shall "turn the hearts of the fathers, i.e. of the Jewish nation, to the children, i.e. to the Apostles of Christ."5 Can we fail here to call to mind that Advent Collect of the Church, which, echoing the language of the Scripture, turns into a prayer the words of the Prophet as repeated by the Angel, and asks that the Ministers and Stewards of the Divine mysteries may likewise so prepare and make ready His way, before the Lord's second coming to judge the world?

1 Acts x. 2-4.

2 Henry.

3 Num. vi. 2-4.

4 Mal. iv. 5, 6.

5

Bp. Wordsworth after Theophylact.

VII.

THE SAME SUBJECT-continued.

St. Luke i. 18-25.

And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years. And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings. And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season. And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple. And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: for he beckoned unto them, and remained speechless. And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house. And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying, Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.

Still

Zacharias, who before was "troubled," grows now somewhat too bold. For a moment he stands in doubt, and demands a sign. But it needed only for the Angel to announce his name, Gabriel, one of the seven spirits which stand before God, to remind him that the things foretold by the same messenger to Daniel, in the days of old, are about to be fulfilled. It is the same Angel, on the same errand. he gives him a sign, which is at once a support of his faith, and a punishment of his passing unbelief. It is interesting to note that Zacharias does not forsake his work and proper ministry, notwithstanding what has happened. His duty is to offer incense, to intercede in prayer for the people. Neither natural impulse to carry home the joyful tidings, nor this Divine visitation, shall withdraw him from his duty. 2 Bengel.

Rev. viii. 2.

"Even under Divine chastisement it is good for us to go on with our work as far as we are able.

Thus our afflictions

His wife Elizabeth

may be sanctified to us, and abated."1 speaks after the manner of the Jewish women, each of whom hoped that she might be the one singled out to be the mother of the Messiah, and with whom to be childless was ever accounted a reproach. For five months she remains in retirement, meditating doubtless on the mercy shown her, and pondering all these things in her heart.

VIII.

THE ANNUNCIATION.

St. Luke i. 26-29.

And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.

The same Angel is sent again, and on a higher errand. Not now to the husband of an aged wife, but to a young maiden; betrothed, i.e. solemnly promised, though not yet actually married, to an husband. She and her future husband were both of royal race. The scene is not now the Temple at Jerusalem, but some modest house of Nazareth, a despised town of distant Galilee. What a wondrous event is there