66

X.

The angel's song upon the birth of Christ.

SECT. Saviour, who is even Christ the Lord, that Illustrious sovereign, whom you have so long been Luke taught to expect, by the title and under the II. 11. character of the MESSIAH: He is even now born in the neighbouring city of David his royal father; and I call you to offer him your earliest homage. Go, therefore, into the town without any farther delay, and inquire after him: for 12 [this shall be] a sign unto you, by which you will easily know him: you will find him an infant in swaddling bands, lying in a manger belonging to

13

one of the inns.

a

12 And this shall be

sign unto you; ye shall find the Babe clothes, lying in a

wrapped in swaddling

manger.
13 And suddenly

ing,

And immediately, to confirm them in the belief there was with the of so strange a truth as that this illustrious Prince angel a multitude of heavenly host, should be born in such mean circumstances as the he had now described, there was seen with the praising God, and sayangel that spake to them a great multitude of the celestial army praising God, and saying, in the most cheerful and harmonious accents, 14 Glory be to God in the highest heavens, and let all the angelic legions resound his praises in the most exalted strains: for with the Redeemer's birth peace and all kinds of happiness come down to dwell on earth; yea, the overflowings of divine benevolence and favour are now exercised towards sinful men, who, through this Saviour,

1 Glory to God in the highest; and peace
on earth; benevolence and favour towards
men.] I am well aware of the ambiguity
of these words. I do not mean as to the
reading: For though the Alexandrian, and
other manuscripts, instead of doxia, give
it tudnias, as if the angels were proclaim-
ing peace to men of favour and good-will,
or unto those who were the objects of the di-
vine benevolence and complacency; (which
is a reading that has been approved by many
learned men, and in particular by Beza;)
yet I think the authority of that is over-
borne by the more general consent of the
most ancient manuscripts, as well as by the
versions of the oldest date, and the quotations
of the fathers in the most early ages, which
almost universally oppose it. (See Mill and
Grotius on the place.) But, taking the origi-
nal as it stands, Doğa ev visas Ow, xai in
ang sinin, ev avfqwnois tudoxia, we must al-
low it to be capable of different senses.—
Some chuse to render it Glory to God in
the highest, (that is, in heaven,) and on earth;
peace, yea favour, towards men: But then,
I think, instead of 41505, it rather would
have been evw; for so it is always
usual to express, in heaven and upon earth.
(Compare Mat. vi. 10. Luke xi. 2. 1 Cor.
viii. 5. Eph. i. 10. iii. 15. Col. i. 16. 20.

become

14 Glory to God in the highest, and on

earth peace, good-will towards men.

Rev. v. 3, 13.)-Others have given as the
sense of it, that the good-will, or favour,
which is now shewn to men, is the glory of
God in the highest, and is the peace or hap-
piness of those that dwell on earth: And
this indeed is an important sense, and the
original well enough will bear it. But thus
to change the doxology into a kind of pro-
verb or aphorism, seems to destroy much of
its beauty.-Irather think that they are all
to be considered as the words of a rejoicing
acclamation, and that they strongly repre-
sent the piety and benevolence of these
heavenly spirits, and their affectionate
good wishes for the prosperity of the Mes-
siah's kingdom. (Compare Mat. xxi. 9.
Mark xi. 10. and especially Luke xix. 38.)
The new translation that has been lately
published, where it is rendered, to men on
earth, felicity in the divine favour, does in-
deed express the sense of the two latter
clauses, but by no means with equal ar-
dour. The shouts of a multitude are ge-
nerally broken into short sentences, and are
commonly elliptic; which is the only cause
of the ambiguity here. As this beauty
could not be preserved in a paraphrase, i
have repeated the words, alter they had
been explained.

The shepherds come and find him in a manger.

15 And it came to pass, as the angels

another, Let us now

made known unto us.

the Babe lying in a manger.

known abroad the say

Child.

:

X.

67

Luke II. 14.

become the objects of his complacential de- SECT. light Echo it back, O ye mortal abodes, to ours! "Glory to God in the highest! on earth "peace! benevolence and favour unto men!” And it came to pass that, as soon as the angels 15 were gone away from departed from them, and returned back into heathem into heaven, the ven, the shepherds said one to another, Come let shepherds said one to us go immediately to Bethlehem, and see this go even unto Bethle- great thing which is done, even this wonderful hem, and see this thing and important event which the Lord hath so which is come to pass, graciously made known unto us. And, accord- 16 which the Lord hath ingly, with one consent, they came in haste, be16 And they came fore the night was over, leaving their flocks to the with haste, and found care of Providence; and, entering into the town, Mary and Joseph, and they followed the direction which the angel gave them, and quickly found Mary and Joseph, and the new-born Infant with them, just in the circumstance which had been described, lying in a 17 And when they manger. And, when they had viewed this scene 17 had seen it, they made of wonders and had attentively considered [it,] ing which was told they humbly paid their dutiful respects unto their them concerning this new-born Saviour; and having acquainted his parents with the marvellous vision they had seen, they immediately published abroad a full account of this remarkable occurrence, and gave a particular relation of the whole of that which had been told them, in so wonderful a way, concerning this Child. And, upon hearing this strange ac- 18 count there was a general surprise; and, though they were prevented, by the meanness of his birth, from shewing a due regard to one that made no better an appearance, vet all that heard [it] were astonished at those things which were related to them by the shepherds on this subject. But 19 Mary in particular treasured all these things, and carefully retained them in her memory; and though she did not blaze them abroad among the populace, or make any vain boast of such extraordinary favours and testimonies, yet she attentively regarded all these wonderful events, entering into the meaning [of them] in the secret reflections of her heart, and improving them all, as a further confirmation of what had been before revealed to her, and a foundation for the early acting of her faith and reverence towards her Divine Son.

18 And all they that heard it wondered at were told them by the

those things which

shepherds.

19 But Mary kept pondered them in her

all these things, and heart.

Entering into the meaning, &c.] I apprehend Elsner has abundantly vindicated

up

And

this sense of the word avμsoa, in his
note on this place.

68

SECT.

X.

Luke

Reflections on the birth of Christ.

20 And the shep

And the shepherds returned glorifying and praising God for all the things which they had herds returned glorifying and praising heard and seen at Bethlehem," so perfectly agree- God for all the things II. 20. able in every circumstance to the account they that they had heard had received but just before, as it was told unto and seen, as it was told them by the angel; admiring the mercy of God in sending such a Saviour and his condescen-sion in favouring them with such early discoveries of him.

21

Ver.

6,

7

And when eight days from the birth of this Holy Infant were fulfilled, (that is, when the eighth day was come,) his pious parents failed not, according to the Mosaic law, under which they were placed, to circumcise the Child, that so, though he had not any corruptions of nature to mortify, which was in part represented by that institution, he might nevertheless, in a regular manner be initiated into the Jewish Church and thereby be engaged to the duties and intitled to the privileges of a son of Abraham, according to that covenant. And his name was called JESUS that is, the Divine Saviour; a name by which the angel had called him before he was conceived in the womb of his virgin mother.

IMPROVEMENT.

unto them.

With what humble amazement should we contemplate this first appearance of our Incarnate Redeemer! Surely all the angels of heaven might justly have admired his condescension in assuming such a nature as ours and wearing a mortal frame, though it had been attended with all the ornaments and splendors earth could have given it. Though, at his entrance into our low world, he had been born of an imperial family, placed under a canopy of velvet and gold, or laid to repose on pillows of down, all this had been deep abasement in the eyes of those who had beheld the glories of his celestial throne and the honours paid him by cherubims and seraphims: But, behold, the Son of God, and the Heir of all things, is not merely in the abodes of men, but in a place destined for beasts, and, while, wrapped in swaddling-clothes, is laid in a manger!

n Which they had heard and seen at Bethlehem.] Joseph and Mary would, no doubt, upon such an occasion, give them an account of those particulars, which the sacred historians have recounted above, relating to the conception of this Divine Infant; and this interview must greatly confirm and comfort the minds of all concerned.

Yet,

o His name was called Jesus.] Grotius thinks there might be an assembly of most of the remainders of David's family on this occasion; but surely, had there been many of them inhabitants of Bethlehem, their kinswoman would not, in such circumstances, have been reduced to the necessity of lodging in a stable.

a Her

Reflections on the birth of Christ.

X.

69

Yet, O blessed Jesus, how much more venerable was that stable SECT. and manger, when graced with thy sacred presence, than the most magnificent palace, or most shining throne of earthly princes! Luke How ill doth it become thy disciples to seek for themselves great II. 21. things in this life, or to be proud of its pomp and grandeur! Give us, O God, the simplicity of children and make us willing to be conformed to the birth of thy Son as well as to his death!

Yet, mean as his birth might appear, his Heavenly Father did not leave him without witness. We see him, in this wonderful 9 account that the Evangelist hath given us, surrounded with a brighter lustre than a court or a crown could have afforded. Angelic legions are employed as heralds to proclaim the new-born 11 King. And to whom are they sent? To humble pious shepherds, 8 diligently employed in the duties of their proper calling and watching by night for the security of their flocks. Who would not gladly have shared in their poverty and fatigue, to have heard with them these good tidings of great joy?

10

Let us observe with what delight these courtiers of heaven 13, 14 undertook the happy embassy to these lowly mortals. Let us with pleasure attend to the anthem of these benevolent spirits. Far from envying the favour that was done us, they ascribe glory to God for it, and take their part in the joy they give. Let this love of the whole heavenly host to us awaken our love to them and our longing for that blessed world where we and they shall surround our dearest Redeemer, not in such a form of abasement as that in which he here appeared, but clothed in that celestial lustre with which God hath rewarded the humiliations of the manger and the

cross.

In the mean time let our more intimate concern in this great salvation engage us more cordially to join with these blessed angels in their hallelujahs; ascribing glory to God in the highest for 14 this peace on earth, this good-will towards men, the great fountain of our present tranquility and future hope! Above all, if Divine Grace hath conquered all the foolish prejudices of our hearts against Christ, and taught us with humble faith to apply to him, let us, with the shepherds, bless God for the things which have 20 been shewn us, and make it our care to spread abroad the favour 17. of his name, that others may join with us in paying their homage and their praises to him!

SECT.

70

SFCT.

XI.

Luke

The purification of Mary;

SECT. XI.

The purification of Mary and her offering in the temple; where Christ is presented to God, and has a very memorable testimony given him by Simeon and Anna. Luke II. 22-39.

LUKE II. 22.

a

of

LUKE II. 22.

AND when the days of her purification, according to the law of Moses, were accomhim to Jerusalem, to plished, they brought present him to the Lord.

AND, after Mary had been thus delivered her son at Bethlehem, when the forty days appointed for her purification, according to the time limited by the law of Moses, (Lev. xii. 2,4) were fulfilled, Jesus was taken by his parents from the place where he was born, and, in obedienc to the divine command, they brought him to Jerusalem, there to present him as a first-born 23 son before the Lord in the temple: According as it is written in the law of the Lord (Exod. xii. 2. Numb. viii. 16, 17.) that " every eth the womb shall be first-born male shall be called holy to the Lord, called holy to the and shall be treated as devoted in a peculiar Lord.) manner to his service." Agreeably to this

a Her purification; natapoμsaving.] The Alexandrian, and some other manuscripts, read alwy; and, as it must be owned that both mother and child, for a while after the birth, were looked upon as ceremonially unclean, it might not be improper (with Erasmus and some of the most considerable expositors) to admit this reading, and to render it their purification, as referring to them both. For, notwithstanding it is true that Christ had no moral impurity, from which he needed to be cleansed, yet we may well enough suppose him, as he bore our sins, to have submitted to this ordinance as well as circumcision: and as he came into the world, made of a woman, made under the late, he would be ready to comply with any institution of the law, that he might thus fulfil all righteousness. But as the law that is referred to in this place, speaks only of the woman, and of the sacrifice that was appointed to be offered for her purifying, I have retained the common reading, and have made no alteration in the version.

The forty days—were fulfilled.] Mr. Whiston has supposed in his Harmony, (prop. xiv. p. 158, & seq.) that these forty days were not accomplished till their return from Egypt: But although this may give the easiest solution to ver. 39, it crowds so many events into that little space and so entirely depends on a precarious hypothesis, that Christ was born about a

precept

25 (As it is written in the law of the Lord,

Every male that open

month before the death of Herod (which I think Mr. Manne has entirely overthrown, in his Dissertation on the birth of Christ, p. 42--45,) that it seems evident upon the whole that the purification preceded the flight into Egypt, as most Harmonizers have thought. But whether the purification was before or after the visit of the wise men is not so plain: I have placed it before, chiefly that I might not interrupt the thread of the story; and partly because the meanness of the virgin's sacrifice makes in probable she had not then received the presents that were offered by the wise men. Nevertheless, I acknowledge it very possible that the purification might happen during the interval of Herod's waiting for the return of the wise men ; and that the holy family might go from Jerusalem to Egypt the very night after Jesus had been presented in the temple; as Garthwait intimates in his excellent Harmony (chap. xi. xii.) which is so accurately and judiciously composed, that, as far as I can judge, most of the faults in Le Clerc, Whiston, Wells, &c. may be corrected by it. It was first printed at Cambridge, 1634, and is almost entirely the same with that which was afterwards published under the name of Mr. Locke's Life of Christ. After all, I shall only observe that this is one of the many instances in which the order of the sacred story cannot be circumstantially determined with demonstralive evidence.

© They