has blessed Israel in remembrance of His mercy, and that He has done as He promised to our Father Abraham, and his seed for ever! Let us learn from her example to lay firm hold on Bible promises. Promises are in fact the manna, the Heavenly food that we should daily eat, and the water that we should daily drink as we travel through the wilderness of this world We walk by faith, and this faith leans on promises, and on those promises we may confidently lean; they will bear all the weight we can lay upon them; we shall find one day, like the blessed Virgin, that God keeps His word, and that what He has spoken, He will in due time perform.

SECTION VI.

And he asked for a

Now Elisabeth's full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son. And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her. And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father. And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John. And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name. And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called. writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all. And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God. And fear came on all that dwelt round about them and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judæa. And all they that heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, What manner of child shall this be! And the hand of the Lord was with him. And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying, Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people, and hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David; as he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began: that we should be

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saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us; to perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant; the oath that he sware to our father Abraham, that he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteous ness before him, all the days of our life. And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest : for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways; to give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins, through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

Mary, after continuing three months with her cousin, returned home, and after a short time, as we learn from the passage of Scripture which we have now read, Elisabeth gave birth to a son, who was to be a burning and shining light to the Church; even the forerunner of Christ himself—John the Baptist. On the eighth day after the Baptist's birth, the appointed time for circumcision, a large company being assembled together, on its being proposed to give the child his father's name, his mother informed them that he was to be called John. His father being appealed to, wrote down his name "John," and the season of his correction being expired, he recovered his speech and hearing, and the first employment he makes of his restored faculty, is to praise God in the beautiful hymn which forms a part of the daily Church service. In this prophetic hymn he begins where the Virgin ended, with the testimony of prophecy, and declares the power of her son, and His descent from the royal house of David. He then addresses his own infant son, as designed to be the herald to prepare the way of the Lord; and he describes this salvation not as the temporal one anticipated by the nation, but as a deliver

ance from sin, the enjoyment of peace, and the power of obeying the Divine commandments, as they respect both God and man. This song of Zacharias is exceedingly beautiful. It expresses with elegance the great points of the plan of redemption, the doings of John, and the mercy of God in providing that plan. That mercy was great indeed, worthy of all praise, of our highest, loftiest songs of thanksgiving; for we were in the shadow of death, sinful, wretched, wandering, and the light arose, the Gospel came, and men may now rejoice in the hope of life eternal. As John As John grew in age and stature, he ripened for future usefulness. It does not appear that he was educated by the Scribes, or attended in the temple, but was until the time of his shewing unto Israel, in the desert, where he lived with great austerity, his clothing being the coarse habit which the poor wore, and which the rich occasionally assumed as a garb of humiliation or mourning. He was therefore in outward appearance a second Elijah, and much more so in reality, being endued as the angel had announced, and the last of the prophets had foretold, with the spirit and power of Elijah. Both were raised up in times of universal corruption, and both executed their commission with zeal and intrepidity. The abstemiousness, and rigour of the Baptist's life, were calculated to excite attention, and reverence, to reclaim the thoughtless, and to alarm the impenitent, and to prepare the world for the reception of his doctrine, Repentance, the forsaking of sin, and the fulfilment of their duties.

SECTION VII.

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph, her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife and knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son.

When

What a beautiful example of godly wisdom, and tender consideration for others, is here brought before us. Joseph found that his betrothed wife was with child, and probably heard from her a statement of her miraculous conception, confirmed, as we may suppose, by Zacharias and Elisabeth, he was, as a conscientious man, at a loss how to act, being unable to satisfy his mind of the truth or falsehood of her account; but he did not act hastily, he did not take the course which the law would have permitted; it was a case deeply affecting his happiness, his character, and the reputation and character of his chosen companion; he thought of these things, he waited patiently till the line of duty was made clear, and his patience was rewarded. God will ever guide the thoughtful and anxious, who trust in Him, and pray to Him for guidance. "In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths." In his perplexity he fell

asleep, and an angel was sent to remove his scruples, and to instruct him to take his betrothed wife to his home, it being the design of Divine providence to raise up, through human agency, a friend, and protector of the Virgin, and infant Saviour. This must have been a severe trial both to Joseph and Mary. Joseph was ardently attached to her, but her character was likely to be ruined. Mary was innocent, but how to satisfy her husband of that fact? How forcibly are we here taught to put our trust in God; He will ever defend the innocent. Let it be our aim to preserve a conscience void of offence, and God will guard our reputation. We may be assailed, and appearances may be against us, but in due time God will take care to vindicate our character, and save us from ruin. The angel, having satisfied Joseph's scruples, announces that the child shall be called Jesus, in fulfilment of the prophecy of Isaiah. In the prophecy the name of Emmanuel is assigned to Him. Now of the two names, the one describes His office, the other His nature. The name of Jesus signifies Saviour, the name Emmanuel clearly designates His Divine nature. Our Lord we know is called by several names in Scripture. But that of Jesus, the Saviour, is higher than any, even that of Creator. The others command our reverence, but this claims our gratitude, and that it may be honoured as it deserves, the Apostle tells us that the Father hath decreed, that, at His name, "every knee shall bow, and that every tongue shall confess that Jesus is the Lord." The angel goes on to explain the nature of the salvation. He shall save His people not in, but from their sins; from the dominion of them, as well as the punishments; for sanctification, or personal holiness, as well as forgiveness, and

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