heard crying in the wilderness, the forerunner of the Lord has begun his course, the Saviour comes. But other messengers, of whom we have not yet heard, precede him. Behold yonder comet glare in the eastern sky, it performs a track untrodden before, the wise men of distant lands are summoned to meet him at his coming, to lay their gifts at his feet; Augustus Cæsar, the sole regent of half the globe, is pressed into the ministering train, an unconscious, unintentional servant to the Prince of the kings of the earth.

Saviour. For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name. And his mercy is on them that fear him, from generation to generation. He hath showed strength' with his arm: he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. He hath filled the hungry with good things: and the rich he hath sent empty away. He But here we must once more pause and hath holpen his servant Israel, in remem- inquire, Is this a cunningly devised fable, or brance of his mercy; as he spake to our fa- a real history? Is it a fanciful representathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever." ." tion, or the simple truth? If it be a fine tisThe course of nature now takes place, and sue woven by a luxuriant imagination, say so at he who made man, the first man Adam, per- once, unbeliever, and renounce the fiction in fect at once, from dust of the ground, and whole, as a rule of faith, or as a ground of who is able of these stones to raise up chil- hope. Say unreservedly that the mission dren to Abraham, raises up first John and and message of the angel is merely a bold then Jesus in a way at once miraculous, and eastern metaphor: and the whole mere ornatural, according to the way of sovereign, dinary facts, related with somewhat more irresistible power, and according to the time than the usual pomp of diction, but to set of life. Glorious in establishing and support- forth only a man of like passions with ouring the laws of nature, glorious in suspend- selves, whom the credulous, prejudiced, and ing and dispensing with them, we behold illiterate are disposed to receive as a superior thee, O God, subduing all things to the coun- being-in a word, give up the evangelists as sel of thy will, that all should be to the praise plain men conveying, to plain men like themof thy glory. At the end of three months selves, simple matters of fact, and recur at more, Elisabeth, as it was predicted of the once to unmixed, undisguised deism. But angel, is delivered of a son; the name of are these things indeed so? Were angels John, as the heavenly messenger directed, sent from God to declare the approach of was imposed on him, the father's speech was what prophets had of old predicted? Did suddenly restored, and the first use which he the Son of the Highest vouchsafe to be born makes of it is to celebrate the high praises of a woman, and thereby become partaker of that God, who had made him such an il- of flesh and blood? David's son, yet David's lustrious example of both mercy and judg- Lord, then let earth prepare to receive its ment. He "was filled with the Holy Ghost king. Lo, the angels of God worship him. and prophesied, saying, Blessed be the Lord He is the Son of God, he is our Lord, and let God of Israel; for he hath visited and re- us worship him. deemed 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 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 which 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 righteousness 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."

And now the way is prepared, the voice is

This history assists us in correcting the false scale of human greatness. Here we behold the princes and the potentates of this world sinking to their proper level; Herod, Augustus Cæsar, and persons of their character and station are thrown into the back ground of the piece, while Zacharias, Elisabeth, and Mary are brought forward with honour, and to fill a higher destination than that of kings. Respect, by all means, the powers that are, as the ordinance of God, but respect with higher, with supreme veneration, Him who ordained them, to carry on the purposes of his wisdom and his love.

Learn, Christian, to make a just estimate of thy own importance in the scale of being. Thou art a creature of God, formed after his image, a partaker of immortality, destined to glory and honour. An origin so dignified confers true nobility; faculties so superior, prospects so extended, denote a being of high estimation in the sight of God, and who ought to be of high estimation in his own eyes. Defile not that fair temple, discredit not that

illustrious descent, dishonour not a father's name. But well does it become a creature so dependent, so frail, so fallen, so lost, to be clothed with humility. O man, thou standest in need of every thing; what possessest thou that thou didst not first receive? Thou hast been forgiven all; by the grace of God thou art what thou art. The religion of Jesus Christ alone effectually teaches a man to descend without degradation, and to rise without pride; reduces him to the level of his natural guilt and misery, and exalts him to the glorious liberty, and the heavenly inheritance of the sons of God.

We have here a preternatural, a miraculous conception. It reminds us of our common origin, of our common feebleness, of our mutual connexion and dependence. God "hath made of one blood all nations of men, for to dwell on all the face of the earth." Every man therefore is a brother, and bound to entertain the affections, and to perform the part of a near kinsman to every man. This consideration I press upon you in the words and the spirit of the Apostle of the Gentiles: "For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. For, as we are many members in one

body, and all members have not the same office: so we being many are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Having then gifts, differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophecy according to the proportion of faith; or ministry, let us wait on our ministering; or he that teacheth, on teaching; or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that showeth mercy, with cheerfulness. Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil, cleave to that which is good. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another!""Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. Be of the same mind one towards another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate”—“ If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men." "Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good."

The subject of the next Lecture will be the history of the nativity of our blessed Lord, and of the more remarkable circumstances which accompanied that all-important event. May what has been spoken become "profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness.” Amen.

HISTORY OF JESUS CHRIST.

LECTURE CXIII.

And it came to pass in those days that there went out a decree from Cæsar Augustas, that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, (because he was of the house and lineage of David,) to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her first-born son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were in the same country, shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them; and they were sore afraid. And the angel sad unto them, Fear not: for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you: ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.--LUKE H. 1—14.

FROM the first instant of time until now, of his power, and pronounces every thing every instant has been displaying some new wonder, unfolding some new design of the Eternal mind. God gives the word. Light arises, the earth emerges out of ocean, the firmament is expanded, sun, moon, and stars appear, nature teems with life, man starts up out of the dust, rears his erect form to heaven, shines in his Maker's likeness; the Creator contemplates the progressive glories

good. The Lord gives the word, and ocean again covers the earth, chaos and ancient night resume their empire, the breath of every living thing expires. Again he sends forth his word, the windows of heaven are stopped, the seas retire to their appointed bed, the dry land appears, the bow is seen in the cloud, the sign of God's covenant of peace. The period of every event is settled

to a moment, the instrument is provided, the | vided, to a home from which he had been hand is prepared. But of all the events long exiled, and to visit kinsmen to whom which have taken place since the beginning he had become a stranger. of the world, the most illustrious and important surely is that recorded in the words now read. The moment of every child's birth, is highly interesting, at least to the mother. The birth of an heir, to a title, to an estate, to a crown, is felt by thousands, by regions, by empires.

vulsion of nations, the fate of worlds.

But this removal was wholly ordered by the supreme will of Heaven. The Son of David, who was to re-establish his throne, could be born no where but in Bethlehem the city of David. Thus the great Ruler of the world had willed, and thus prophecy had declared. And thus Cæsar was merely the Here we have the birth of the first unconscious, unintentional minister of the among many brethren," of "the heir of all Son of Mary; furnishing a link to the chain things," of "the Prince of the kings of the of evidence respecting the truth and divine earth.' Toward this eventful hour, time, original of Christianity, and exhibiting an from the first dawn of light, began to flow in illustrious instance of the sovereign control one rising, swelling tide, here it came to its which the great Jehovah possesses and exerfulness, and hence it began to bend its aw-cises over the counsels of princes, the conful course to lose itself in eternity again. Toward this, as to their common central We hasten from proud Rome to humble point, all the powers of nature are attracted; Nazareth, from a haughty despot to uncomfrom this, as from the sun, the central light plaining sufferers, from unfeeling power to of the universe, glory is in all directions patient submission. Behold that delicate diffused. In the birth of this wonderful woman, in the most delicate and interesting child, all the children of men who lived be- of all female situations, forced from home, fore, or who arose after it, have a serious, an constrained to undertake a painful and everlasting concern. Is it any wonder, then, anxious journey in a condition which renthat by so many signs in heaven and signs dered ease, and attention, and tenderness, on earth, that by the tongues of prophets, and the accommodations of sympathy, pecuthe decrees of princes, the revolution of liarly desirable. See her advancing by slow empires, the descent of angels, the finger of and distressing stages towards the residence God should have pointed it out to mankind? of her forefathers, once illustrious, but now The evangelist, at the beginning of the fallen into decay; to the city of her anceschapter, conveys us to Rome, the proud and tors, but not to receive the attendance of puissant mistress of the world; the enslaver royal state, not to usher into the world the of the nations, sinking, sunk herself into sla- heir of David's throne, amidst the prayers, very. From what particular motive we are and expectations, and kind wishes of the not informed, nor is it of much importance myriads of Israel: no, not so much as to to determine, Augustus Cæsar thought pro- enjoy the consolation and support which even per to issue a decree for making an exact the poor enjoy in such a case, to deposit the enrolment of all the subjects of his vast solicitude of approaching child-birth in the empire. A vainglorious monarch, who could bosom of a fond mother, or sympathizing exultingly call a subjugated hemisphere his friend; alas, not even to partake of the ordiown, might be prompted by pride to ascer-nary conveniences which a traveller has reatain the number of slaves destined to obey son to expect, the general hospitality, and him. As it was the boast of this magnifi- mercenary comforts of an inn:-but to know cent prince that he had found Rome a city of bricks, and was leaving it a city of marble, the splendour of the capital was no doubt extracted out of the ruins of the provinces, and enrolment probably was intended to precede taxation. However it was, and on whomsoever beside the decree of the emperor fell, it affected one little, poor family in circumstances of singular delicacy, and fell upon it with uncommon severity. Behold the messenger of Cæsar at the door of an obscure carpenter at Nazareth of Galilee, summoning him with all his family to repair to his native city, to be enrolled in their proper district: and as the commandments of kings require haste, and do not always stoop to consult the feelings of the humble and the miserable, he must depart on a moment's warning, with his tender companion, now in the last week of pregnancy, poor and unpro3 R

the heart of a stranger, to swallow down the bitterness of neglect, to feel the insult of the proud, and the merciless pity of the mean. "There was no room for them in the inn." Bethlehem was crowded with guests, but lo, the lineal heirs of the royal house of Judah, in the city of David, are so unconnected, so forlorn, so friendless, that not a door will open to let them in, not a tongue say, "God relieve you" as they pass by; and so poor that an apartment in the stable is all the accommodation which, by intreaty, or promise, or by presenting the face of misery, they are able to purchase.

The inevitable hour, to which nature at once looks with hope and shrinks from with horror, overtakes her; and unsupported, unassisted, as it should seem, she brings forth her first-born son; and is able at once to perform the earliest duties of a mother, 42*

she