he would mingle in the everyday scenes of human life, and by every means he would give men an opportunity of entering into the kingdom of heaven, and of escaping that place where there is continually weeping and gnashing of teeth. CHAPTER IX. FROM THE ANNOUNCEMENT TO MARY TILL JOHN THE BAPTIST'S FOUR of the apostles, under plenary inspiration, were employed to record Messiah's life. In ordinary cases, one inspired historian is deemed sufficient, but on account of the surpassing importance of his acts, that number were engaged in transmitting it to posterity. The preservation of the Old and New Testaments has been remarkable amongst enemies for many ages, who knew their truths would overturn their widely extended and powerful system. The mother of Luke i. 26-35; the As Mary, the humble daughter of the house of David, was in her home at Nazareth, angel Gabriel, nearest to the heavenly Majesty, was sent to her, as she was probably engaged in devotion, and, addressing her in terms of high gratulation, whilst kindly repressing her fears at his presence, announced to her that she should be the mother of Him who was expected and longed for by her nation during so many ages. The name she should call him he told her, which was expressive of his design in coming into the world; and that the Holy Spirit should come upon her, and the power of the Highest would be round about her, so that this son she should have, would be altogether free from sin, and on that account, as well as in another and still greater sense, would be called the Son of God. He would be great and mighty beyond their utmost expectations; and the Lord God would give to him the throne of his ancestor David, and father of his human nature. There would be no termination to his rule over the house of Jacob, for his dominion would be everlasting. Joseph was also a descendant of the family of David, which was reduced so low at this time, that he worked as a carpenter. He and Mary having been betrothed to each other, he now intended to put her away: whilst thinking about doing it, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream by night, and repeated to him, concerning Messiah, what had been said to her. The sacred writer adds that all these things were done to fulfil a prophecy, and quotes it. The fulfilment of the predictions contained in the Bible are so certain and so important, as establishing the truth of God, that the greatest events are spoken of as having taken place in order to fulfil them. The descent of the registers. Matt. i. 1-17; On account of the exact predictions regardcordance with ing the line of ancestry from whom Messiah was to descend, the Jews were very careful in Luke iii. 24-38. preserving genealogical tables. Many of the ancient nations likewise kept registers of influential families a custom which they no doubt derived, with many others, from the Jews. Two of the sacred historians give genealogies, proving to the nation the accurate agreement of the descent of the Lord Jesus Christ, with all the predictions of their expected Messiah. One of them traces it down from Abraham, to whom the first promise was made. This is the political and royal pedigree of Jesus. The other traces it back to Adam, showing he was of the same stock as the race he came to save. His essential i. 1-18. As, throughout the old Testament, every distinct declaration of the humanity of Messiah was accompanied by one as distinct of his Deity, so now it is luminously set forth by the apostle John, in a passage well known to the Church. John the Baptist earnestly declared to the Jews, who were numerously attending his ministry, that Jesus was he of whom he had been speaking to them; and was greatly more appreciated than himself, for, although his birth took place after his, he had an existence from an uncomputed eternity. John, the apostle and evangelist, as he wrote his words long after they were spoken, unites with him and all his brethren, in gratefully acknowledging the rich blessings they had received from this mighty One; for the law, which could only condemn them, was given by Moses; but pardon and favour, the fulfilment of all the promises, come by Jesus Christ. No man had seen, or could ever see God-an Almighty Spirit; an Infinite, All-pervading Intelligence, glorious in holiness; the only begotten Son, who is always in the bosom of the Father, has exhibited his perfections in human form; and so made known God in the way he can be best understood by mortals; on which account, before the incarnation, he was often pleased to speak of himself as having eyes, hand, arm-human feelings: "It grieved him at his heart," &c. His birth heralded by ii. 1-21. In one of the fields of Judea, the flocks were angels.-Luke penned for the night; their faithful shepherds were watching by them. To pass the tedious hours, they contemplated their brilliant Eastern sky, with its thousands of constellations, showing forth the power and glory of their Creator; and as they gazed, they beheld at one point of the heavens, a brighter light-it increased in size, and approached nearer and nearer, until an angel stood before them, enlightening the place around by his radiance. With words of the utmost kindness, he calmed their affrighted spirits; with delight he gave them the best tidings even an angel's tongue could bring —that for them, and all people, a Saviour was born; the long promised Messiah, He of whom it was said to the three patriarchs, on many occasions, that in one of their descendants all the families of the earth should be blessed. The angelic messenger had scarcely concluded his mission, when instantaneously a crowd of heavenly forms were seen, and their tuneful voices heard, singing an anthem, composed in heaven, full of adoration to God and love to The shepherds hastened to the spot where the infant Saviour was, and "found Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger," as they had been informed by men. |