end of the world, whether they be high or low; and it is on no other.

51. He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

52. He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.

The Holy Spirit introduces those of low degree again. This expression is not repeated without just cause. The mighty are nothing in God's account, if their hearts do not stoop to him; as, alas! they seldom do. But though Mary was lowly, as well as poor, it does not follow as a matter of course, for these two are often far asunder. He overlooked the mighty to exalt a poor virgin.

53. He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.

He hath filled these destitute ones with himself, the best of all good things. So he always does. Those who hunger after him, are empty vessels, and hence they are capable of receiving him. The rich, that is, all who are full of themselves, and feel no want of him, he leaves to their own miserable emptiness. Let us not wonder that we do not know, and receive more of Christ, and his blessings, when the hunger of our souls is for something else.

54. He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his

mercy;

55. As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for

ever.

The seed of Abraham, are the heirs of his faith, who lay hold of the mercy that is offered to them, even the free forgiveness of their sins. But God, in virtue of all his promises, has Abraham's natural seed still in his all Israel shall be saved."-Rom. xi. 26.

eye.

"So

SECTION IV.

Chap. i. ver. 56-66.

THE BIRTH OF JOHN THE BAPTIST.

56. And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.

This was a visit of anticipation of spiritual blessings, both to themselves and to the world. Happy are they who seek to promote the spiritual happiness of many.Edit.

57. Now Elisabeth's full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son.

58. And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had showed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her.

It is our duty to rejoice with them that do rejoice, as well as to weep with them that weep.-Edit.

59. 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.

60. And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John.

61. And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name.

62. And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called.

63. And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all.

64. And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God.

Our tongues are our glory, and their proper employment is to praise God and to edify one another. Alas! how frequently have we reason to mourn the offences which we commit with this little member! May the Lord help us to

VOL. II.

M

give him praise with the best member that we have. -Edit.

65. And fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judæa.

66. 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.

Men in general regard not the work of the Lord, nor the operation of his hands. And Christians often forget the motion of those wheels of divine Providence, which cease not to turn, though no one regard them. All who heard these things seemed to have forgotten them in the course of thirty years. Let us not forget the promises of God respecting our heavenly inheritance, which will, with most of us, if we are Christians, be in part realised before long.-Edit.

SECTION V.

Chap. i. ver. 67-80.

THE PROPHECY OF ZACHARIAS.

67. And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying,

68. Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he hath visited and redeemed his people,

Can our hearts go along with Zacharias? Take notice that in this prophecy Zacharias had his eyes turned to Christ. The mercy of his having a son was, as it were, swallowed up in the much greater mercy of his being the forerunner of Christ, and the opener of salvation to all Does not this teach us, what that is upon which we should

have our eyes and our hearts fixed?

What are all private, temporal blessings in comparison of this salvation? Would it cut you to the heart, if you thought that you were to have no share in this redemption with which God has visited his people? But how can it be otherwise, if you do not seek after this, and make it the great end of your living?

69. And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David;

An horn of salvation, is an abundant, a mighty sal

vation.

70. As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began:

71. That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us;

That we should be saved from our spiritual enemies; that is, wicked spirits, our own lusts, death, and hell; from which none but Christ can deliver us.

72. To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant;

73. The oath which he sware to our father Abraham,

74. That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear,

75. In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.

us.

See here what a Christian is, and what Christ does for Under the sense of our deliverance from the wrath of God by him, and under this sense only, can we serve God continually, with willing and free spirits, and in the love of holiness.

76. 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:

77. To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins,

Here we are told what those ways are which John was

sent to prepare; even the ways of salvation. Do we ask what salvation is? The answer is here given; it is "the remission of our sins."

78. Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us,

79. To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

We become entitled to the remission of our sins, through the tender mercy of our God. We sit in darkness, and the shadow of death, we are lost and undone in ourselves; we are snatched as brands out of the fire. When we lay hold on this mercy, by the exercise of repentance and faith, "the dayspring from on high hath visited us;" the light of heaven hath come into our souls; Christ hath set our feet in the way of peace. May the Lord guide our feet into the way of salvation, and keep us in the way of peace!

80. And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.

John has been shown to you, in part, in this chapter; and will soon hear of him again; but to no purpose, you if he brings you not to Christ.

SECTION VI.

Chap. ii. ver. 1—12.

THE BIRTH OF CHRIST ANNOUNCED TO THE

SHEPHERDS.

1. And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Cæsar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. 2. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)