UKE is thought to have been the same mentioned by the apostle Paul in the last chapter of his epistle to the Colossians, where he speaks of "Luke the beloved physician."

This Evangelist tells us some particulars about the birth of John the Baptist, which are not mentioned by the other three. That his father was a priest of the name of Zacharias-that his wife's name was Ezliabeth, and that she was sprung from the race of Aaron-that they were both very good people, and walked together in the holy ways of God-and that John the Baptist was born when they were "well stricken in years," or quite old.

This remarkable forerunner of Christ was born, like Him whom he was to honour and proclaim, in a very honourable and wonderful way. John's father, Zacharias, was burning incense in the temple, while the people "were praying without," when an angel appeared to him, and told him that his son should be born, and that he must call him John-a name which means, the grace and favour of God; and this was to show, that God's grace would be upon him in a very striking manner. He was to be separated from the world, like the ancient Nazarites (Numb. vi. 3), to drink "neither wine nor strong drink;" and God would bless his preaching, so that he should turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. He should have the

same holiness, courage, and zeal, as Elias, or Elijah, to turn the disobedient into the ways of wisdom. Zacharias, though a good man, doubted the truth of what the angel told him, and asked for some sign from which he might have better reason to believe that what he said would come to pass. The angel told him he should be dumb till the child was born, and this should be a sign, and, at the same time, a reproof for his doubting the message which God had sent.

The people wondered that Zacharias should remain so long in the temple, and when he came out he had lost his speech, as the angel had said. Elizabeth, his wife, at length had a son; and when he was to be circumcised at eight days old, he had his name given to him. It was usual to name the son after the father, and the friends and relations present would have had him called Zacharias, but Elizabeth having been informed in writing, by her husband, of all that had taken place,-in obedience to the command of the angel, would have him called John. The friends, however, asked the father what he would have him called; and he by signs asked for a writing-tablet, or little table made of brass, wood, or wax, used in those days, and wrote or scratched upon it, as they then did with an iron pen, "His name is John. And they marvelled all."

No sooner had Zacharias obeyed the divine command, than his tongue was unloosed, and he spake as before.

This event, which caused so great wonder among all present, was soon reported throughout the hill country of Judea, where they dwelt; and all that

feared God were filled with awe at this extraordinary child, and anxiously waited to see for what purpose he had been sent into the world.

His father, Zacharias, was then "filled with the Holy Ghost," or the Holy Spirit inspired him to prophecy about the coming of Christ. And John grew up, but loved retirement, and went into desert and lonely places, no doubt God holding sweet communion with his spirit, or talking as it were with his holy mind; and so he remained till he came to proclaim Christ's coming, "preaching in the wilderness of Judea," as we have already seen in Matthew.

The Birth and Early Days of Jesus Christ.

LUKE II.

About the same time that John the Baptist was born, Jesus was born also: John was born not more than six months before Christ. At this time Cæsar Augustus, who was the second Emperor of Rome, reigned over that empire, which had become so large from its conquests that it was called “all the world." Judea, you know, was then tributary to it, or paid taxes to the Roman Government. But a particular sort of tax was now determined on by the Emperor, which is called a poll-tax, or tax upon the head of every person; and to make sure of all the subjects in the empire, they were obliged to attend in person at an appointed place, and be enrolled, or entered in a book.

It is a remarkable fact, that the Emperor had resolved on this tax twentyseven years before; but disturbances in the empire distracted his attention, and it was only now, when all the world were at peace, that he had time to attend to it. See here how Providence overrules all things. Had he been able to carry his purpose into effect before, then the mother of Jesus would not have been there with her husband Joseph, and Jesus would not have been born in Bethlehem, but at Nazareth, where he was afterwards brought up. But if he had been born at Nazareth instead of Bethlehem, then the prophecy respecting him would not have been fulfilled, as recorded in the fifth chapter of Micah, and the second verse, and the fact that he was the true Messiah would have so far been doubtful. But here the ambitious views of a Roman Emperor to fill his coffers with money, were made to bring about the fulfilment of God's promise to his Church, by bringing the

parents of Jesus to Bethlehem, the place prophesied of, where he was born.

At this time one Cyrenius was governor of Syria, which was annexed to Judea, and he had the management of the tax. And every one went to his own city where he was born, or the place where his inheritance lay; and as Joseph's family sprung from David's city, and, indeed, from David himself, though he was now a poor man, he had to go up to Bethlehem.

The city was so crowded that there was no room for the infant Saviour and his mother in the place called by us the Inn, though rather a sort of lodging-place only. He was, therefore, born and lodged in a place for the accommodation of cattle.

Now there were some shepherds in the fields near Bethlehem, who were lying out watching their flocks at night, to preserve them from beasts of prey, when an angel appeared to them, surrounded with a bright glory, and told them not to be afraid, for he came not to hurt them, but to tell them the glad news, that the long expected Saviour was born. And a multitude of other happy spirits joined the first messenger, and sang in the sweetest strains Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill towards men "—that is, glory be to God in the highest heavens, and let all the happy spirits there praise him, for peace is now to dwell upon earth in Christ, the great peacemaker between God and guilty men, and every kind of blessing will proceed from him.

And when the angels departed, the shepherds went to Bethlehem and saw Jesus, as the messenger had exactly described him, "wrapped in swaddling clothes," or bound closely up, as was the custom in England about a hundred years ago, instead of infants having their limbs free, as they are now, -and he was " lying in a manger." And they told every one they knew what wonderful things they had seen, and praised God for his great mercy in sending a Saviour into the world. Let us praise him too.

After this, Jesus was circumcised, a Jewish ceremony, by which he was, a member of the Church of God, and of the Jewish nation. Then he was redeemed, another custom of the Jews; for when God slew all the first-born of the Egyptians, he protected the Israelites, who, according to his command, given through Moses, had sprinkled the lintels and posts of their doors with the blood of the passover Lamb; and from that time he kept up the remembrance of this mercy, by demanding the first-born to be consecrated to him; "for," said he, by Moses, "all the first-born of the children of Israel are mine, both man and beast: on the day that I smote every first

born in the land of Egypt, I sanctified them for myself." Instead of giving them up, however, to the service of the tabernacle, which was consecrating them entirely to God, as the Levites were," the first born of man might be redeemed for five shekels," or about twelve shillings and sixpence of our money, which went to the service of the sanctuary. As no mention is, however, made here of the performance of this custom, it is supposed by some, that "in case of poverty, the priest was allowed to take less, or perhaps nothing." Our Lord's mother also presented her offering, a further custom usual on such an occasion. Had she been able she ought to have presented a lamb for a burnt-offering, and a dove for a sin-offering; but as she was poor, and not able to purchase a lamb, she took two turtle-doves; for so the Lord had ordered by Moses, "If she be not able to bring a lamb, then she shall bring two turtles, or two young pigeons; the one for a burnt-offering, and the other for a sin-offering: and the priest shall make an atonement for her, and she shall be clean." This custom was to teach the Jews, and us also, that we ought to thank God for all our mercies, and that when we do so, we should express our unworthiness of them by confessing our sins-we must present the sin-offering together with the burnt-offering.

While the infant Jesus was in the temple, there came in a good old man named Simeon, who had been anxiously waiting for the coming of the Messiah; and God having shown him by his Holy Spirit that the Saviour, whom his heart desired to see, had come, he took him up in his arms, and blessed God that he had lived to see him, and said, he could now depart in peace, since he had seen God's salvation. "One Anna, a prophetess," who was eighty-four years of age, also entered the temple, and " thanks gave unto the Lord, and spake of" Jesus "unto all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem."

After these things Joseph and Mary, with the infant Saviour, "returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth."

And the child Jesus was brought up at Nazareth, under the care of his parents, and he waxed, or grew," strong in spirit," giving signs of a wonderful mind, and of great piety, for "the grace of God was upon him."

When Jesus was twelve years old, his parents went up to the temple, to the feast of the passover, in remembrance of the deliverance from Egypt, and he went with them. Not that he had not been before, but something new occurred which made the Evangelist Luke take notice of him at this age. For when the feast was over, and they returned with a number of