words, to inform us," that they had no child, because that Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well stricken in years*." They who stand highest in the favour of God, may therefore, during the greatest part of their lives, want the external and visible marks of it, and lie under the burden of "reproach among ment," as was the case of childless women in Judea. But these two pious persons, when their condition, in this respect, seemed desperate, were upon the eve of felicity. For of parents at their time of life John was to be born; that so the miraculous manner of his birth might excite the attention of mankind, and dispose them to listen to his voice when it should be heard in the wilderness; and also, that it might prepare them for that great event which was taking place, as the prophet Isaiah had foretold; "A virgin shall conceive, and bear a son." In circumstances parallel with those of St. John, were born, of old, Isaac, and Joseph, and Samson, and Samuel, all of them illustrious forerunners of Messiah, in one or other of his three characters, prophetical, sacerdotal, or regal. And did not God intend, by so often causing "the barren woman to keep house, and to become a joyful mother of children," to make that power known by which the incarnation of the Redeemer and the fruitfulness of his church were to be effected in the latter days, when, according to St. Paul, the prophetical injunction of Isaiah was obeyed, Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child†?"

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He who is employed in discharging with fidelity the duties of his calling, takes the surest way to obtain the continuation and increase of his heavenly Master's favours. A son was promised to Zacharias "while he executed the priest's office before God," as the ritual of the church enjoined," in the order of his course, and according to the custom §." The reflection of a pious writer upon this circumstance is no less just than beautiful. "One priest alone," says he, "intent on his duty, who diffuses the sweet savour of Christ, and is constant in prayer, draws down on the people more blessings than a great number of negligent priests. A man ought," continues he, "to dis

charge all the ecclesiastical functions with the spirit of the sacred ministry, as before God, and under his immediate inspection; to perform them in order, in his proper station, without ambitiously seeking a higher; to do nothing merely of his own will, but to observe the well-established customs, as being the necessary securities of peace. This is the truth which these shadows prefigured, and these the dispositions worthy a minister of the true temple, which is the church *."

The annunciation of the Baptist's conception happened at the time of incense, when his father, having put on the robe of honour, and being clothed, like the great Mediator whom he personated, with the garments of glory and beauty, entered into the temple, while the whole congregation of the people, assembled without, sent up their united prayers to be accepted at the throne of grace, through the intercession which was then making for them by the Levitical priest, acting in the name of him who was to " arise after the order of Melchisedek, and not to be called after the order of Aaront." While the joint prayers of priest and people were thus offered up with the blood of sprinkling and the sweet-smelling savour of the holy incense, an angel suddenly appeared to Zacharias as he was executing his office in the temple; that being the place to which those blessed spirits, when they visit these lower regions, ever delight to resort, as bearing the nearest resemblance to the happy mansions from which they descend.

But, whether it be that the glory of celestial spirits overpowers the faculties of human nature, or that man, conscious of having sinned against heaven, naturally trembles at the sight of a messenger from thence, we find the appearance of an angel had the same effect upon Zacharias, the blessed virgin, and the shepherds; they were all " sore afraid." Their minds must be first composed, and put into a capacity of receiving the heavenly tidings brought them by the good angels, who, like good men, manifest themselves by the gracious and encouraging manner of their address, and having removed all misconceived apprehensions, proceed to instruct and comfort those to whom they are sent: "Fear not, Zacharias; for thy prayer is heard, and thy wife Elizabeth shall bear thee a son." Za

* Father Quesnel's Moral Reflections on the New Testament.
↑ Luke i. 13.

Heb. vii. 11.

charias had prayed for the redemption of Israel by Messiah, and therefore was honoured by being made, in a wonderful manner, the father of his illustrious forerunner. The priest was anxious for the welfare of the church, and the man was blessed in his own private concerns. He sought "first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness," and the blessing of a son was " added unto him."-" Thy wife Elizabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name JOHN," that is, being interpreted, the grace or gift; "and many shall rejoice at his birth :" not only thou shalt rejoice, and Elizabeth with thee, at the birth of a son so long despaired of, and such a son too, but it shall be matter of joy, at the time, to all who look for redemption; and afterwards, thousands and millions shall rejoice at the remembrance of it; the day shall be kept as a festival throughout all generations; with joy and gladness shall it be kept, thanksgiving and the voice of melody. Encouraged by the example of Zacharias, let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, be never weary of waiting for his loving kindness in the midst of his temple. Let it be the delight of their lives to execute their office, every one in that order and station in which he is placed. So will God make them to hear of joy and gladness, and grant them to behold the success of their labours for the conversion of sinners, and the edification of his people. The church, like Elizabeth, shall bring forth fruit in her old age; and her friends shall rejoice greatly when they hear that the Lord hath showed mercy on her *.

Distrust of Providence and the accomplishment of its designs, when appearances are on the other side, will sometimes invade the hearts of the best of men; and Zacharias himself so far partook of the incredulous spirit which at that period had possessed the synagogue, that he "sought after a sign."-" Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years." How different, in a parallel case, was the behaviour of his father Abraham, of which St. Paul has left us the following exalted description :-" Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. And

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* Luke i 58

being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb. He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strong in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully persuaded, that what he had promised he was able also to perform." The demand of Zacharias, however, was complied with, and a sign was granted him in the punishment of his unbelief. The use of that tongue, which, instead of giving glory to God, had been employed in raising objections, was taken from him, and a silence of some months was imposed as a penance for the abuse of speech †.

But when the wonderful child was born, who, even before his birth, entered upon his prophetical office, and gave testimony to his Saviour in the womb, then declaring, by his exultation, what he afterward did by words, “Behold the Lamb of God;" and Zacharias had acknowledged the GIFT of God, by directing that his name should be JOHN ; then the mouth of the father was opened; and, to show us the proper employment of the tongue when heaven grants the use of it, he "praised God." Faith restored what incredulity had taken away; " he believed, and therefore he spake." And his heart having been prepared, by silence and retirement, for the reception of celestial influences, he was now "filled with the Holy Ghost," and brake forth into that divine hymn, which shall be the subject of the

next section.

SECTION II.

CONSIDERATIONS ON THE HYMN OF ZACHARIAS.

AMONG the alterations in nature which notify the return of spring, no one is more pleasing, than the exchange of a long and melancholy silence, for that melody which then resoundeth on every side of us in the woods and fields. Solomon hath not forgotten this circumstance, in his short

* Rom. iv. 18.

+ Conticescere paulatim oportuit omne Levitici apparatûs Choragium, quod ominoso hoc Sacerdotis silentio præfiguratum est; ut sola Messiæ docentis et benedicentis vox in Ecclesiâ audiretur.-Witsii Miscell. Sacr. II. 494.

but lovely description of that delightful season: "Lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone, the flowers appear on the earth, the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land *." The advent of Messiah was announced, in a similar manner, to the church; and we may say of it, in the words of the Roman poet, which, like those of Caiaphas, contained much more than he was aware of who uttered them,

Aspice, venturo lætentur ut omnia sæclo!

For now, the blessed virgin "magnifieth the Lord, and her spirit rejoiceth in God her Saviour:" the father of the Baptist "blesseth the Lord God of Israel, for having visited and redeemed his people:" the angels themselves descend in full choir, to perform an anthem in honour of their Lord and ours and old Simeon closeth all with his affecting farewell to the world; "Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word; for mine eyes have seen thy salvation." Thus did all break forth into joy, and sing together, because "the Lord had comforted his people, and redeemed Jerusalem;" because the Sun of righteousness, by his visitation of the earth, was putting a period to a dreary winter, and introducing, in its stead, a new and more glorious spring. And as spring is the morning of the year, Cowley's address to the material light, which is but a faint copy, may be applied to the great Original himself:

When thou lift'st up thy radiant head
Out of the morning's purple bed,

Thy choir of birds about thee play,

And all the joyful world salutes the rising day.

The hymn which we are at present to consider, is that of Zacharias. The occasion on which it was indited was the birth of St. John: the subject is the covenant of grace in Christ Jesus: the language is that of the Old Testament, old terms being transferred to new things: the speaker is a priest and a prophet, "full of the Holy Ghost."

During a tedious interval of silence, Zacharias had be

* Cant. ii. 11.