9 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. "Came upon them," here means stood suddenly before them,-as in St. Luke xx. 1. Acts iv. 1: xii. 7, &c. 10, 11 And the Angel said 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. The first persons in the world who are apprized of the actual Advent of the MESSIAH, are the Shepherds of Bethlehem, who keep watch over their flock by night. A singularly honoured occupation, truly; to have numbered of old among those who pursued it, Jacob, (b) Moses, (c) and David; (d) all eminent types of CHRIST:-to have furnished our LORD, moreover, with an appellation in which He delighted; (e) and an image under which He conveyed some of His most solemn and impressive teaching!(f) 12 And this shall be a sign unto you; ye shall find the Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. Compare verses 7 and 16. This seems to show that on the day, or rather, on the very night of the Nativity, this wondrous vision of Angels was vouchsafed to the Shepherds. 13, 14 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. This, then, was the first "Christmas-Carol;"-where Angels were the Choristers, and Salvation was the theme, and Heaven and Earth bowed down to listen. What a jubilant Hymn must this have been, on the redemption of the whole Human Race, if one sinner's repentance can suffice to fill the courts of Heaven with joy! A single glorious Angel having communicated the joyous tidings, and so, in a measure, prepared the minds of these simple swains for what might follow,-“a multitude of the heavenly host" (g) are suddenly revealed to their wondering sight; and the heavenly strain which follows, breaks on their ravished ears. It was the birthday of the New Creation.(h) A new corner-stone was being laid. Well, therefore, may the Morning-Stars have sung together, and all the Sons of God have shouted for joy!(i) How much is left in Holy Scripture for the heart of man to realize! How brief and simple are its sublimest statements! How calm and unadorned its most wonderful descriptions! Consider such places as the following:-St. Matthew iv. 23, xvii. 2: St. Mark i. 13, xvi. 19. St. Luke ii. 51, 52, x. 18, xxii. 43, xxiv. 27 and 51, &c. &c. &c. See the note on St. Matthew iii. 5, 6. 15 And it came to pass, as the Angels were gone away from them into Heaven, the Shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the LORD hath made known unto us. 16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. Yet, even there, as He lay,-wrapped in swaddling bands, and reclining in that (b) Gen. xxx. 31: xxxi. 38-41. xxxvii. 13 and xlvii. 3. (e) St. John x. 11-16. Such also was the occupation of Jacob's sons;-see Gen. (c) Exod. iii. 1. (d) 1 Sam. xvi. 11: xvii. 15. (f) St. Matth. xxv. 32, 33: xviii. 12: St. Luke xv. 3-7, &c. (g) See Daniel vii. 10. Hebrews xii. 22. Rev. v. 11, &c. (h) See the end of the note on St. Matth. iii. 17. (i) Job xxxviii. 7. manger,-as GoD, He filled Creation. For "the Son of Man" which "came down from Heaven," was "in Heaven."(k) So Cowper, in a well-known Hymn: As much, when in the manger laid, As when the six days' work He made, And filled the morning-stars with joy. But the remark had been made 1450 years before, by Cyril, Bishop of Alexandria. In consequence of the repeated statement that a manger cradled the Infant SAVIOUR, (1) painters have loved to represent Him as reclining between the ox and the ass: and the prophecy in Isaiah i. 3, has been (somewhat fancifully, perhaps,) connected with the circumstance. "The Manger," (for so it should be rendered,) does in fact here denote that part of the homestead which was set apart for the cattle; and it seems a fitting thing that the second Adam should thus have been among the dumb creatures in the hour of His Nativity, no less than during the hour of His Temptation. See St. Mark i. 13. 17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this Child. They could not contain their rapture, for God had filled their hearts to overflowing. “My cup runneth over," saith the Psalmist. (m) 18, 19 And all they that heard it, wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. The indications afforded in the Gospel of this Blessed Woman's character, are exceedingly few. The present statement, (which is found partly to recur in ver. 51,) is one of the most remarkable,—namely, that she possessed "the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit;" which treasured up every intimation of GoD's Love, and brooded over the recollection of His many and unspeakable mercies, in the recesses of her own pure heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising GOD for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them. These "holy and humble Men of heart,"-Shepherds of Bethlehem,-were therefore the foremost who were chosen to do homage to the Infant SAVIOUR; therein taking precedence even of the Royal and the Wise !(n) To "bless the LORD,"-to "praise Him and magnify Him forever," is found to have been instinctively their occupation, on their return. 21 And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the Child, He who came to fulfill the Law, (o) submits like every other descendant of Abraham to be "circumcised on the eighth day;" "so teaching us to be strict in our duties, and sparing in the right of privilege and dispensation." "He sheds His blood now, in drops; giving an earnest of those rivers which He did afterwards pour out for the cleansing all Human Nature, and extinguishing the wrath of GOD." And thereupon was bestowed that Holy Name at which "every knee should bow, of things in Heaven, and things in Earth, and things under the Earth."(p) His name was called JESUS, which was so named of the Angel before He was conceived in the womb. To have a name bestowed by GOD before the birth, is recorded to have occurred altogether in only four cases; that of Ishmael and Isaac, in the Old Testament, (q) -that of John Baptist and our Blessed LORD in the New. Of these persons, Ishmael was named after conception; Isaac and St. John, like our SAVIOUR, were named before. (k) St. John iii. 13. (n) See St. Matth. ii. 1, &c. (p) Philippians ii. 10. (7) verses 7, 12, 16. (m) Psalm xxiii. 5. (0) St. Matth. v. 17. (q) Genesis xvi. 11, and xvii. 19. 22 And when the days of her Purification according to the Law of Moses were accomplished, they brought Him to Jerusalem, to present Him to the LORD: This was at the end of forty days; (r) whence the Feast of "the Purification of St. Mary the Virgin," (which our Church wisely prefers to call 'the Presentation of CHRIST in the Temple,")(s) is celebrated on the 2d of February. The incident which follows, occupies sixteen verses of the Gospel; and is encompassed, as a great writer points out, "with a greater variety of circumstance and detail than any other of the recorded events of our SAVIOUR'S Infancy." 23 (as it is written in the Law of the LORD, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the LORD;) Reference is made to Exodus xxxiv. 19. 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the Law of the LORD, A pair of turtle doves, or two young pigeons. The Blessed Mother made the offering appointed in Leviticus xii. 8, for a poor person, unable to attain to the more costly offering which the Law prescribed to those who could afford it,—namely, a lamb of the first year.(t) 25 And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel: and the HOLY GHOST was upon him. "The Consolation of Israel" denotes the personal Advent of our SAVIOUR CHRIST, -to which many among the Jews were at this time looking anxiously forward. Compare the language of ver. 38. St. Mark xv. 43. St. Matth. xi. 3. St. John i. 19, 20. St. Luke iii. 15. 26 And it was revealed unto him by the HOLY GHOST, that he should not see death, before he had seen the LORD'S CHRIST. Before he saw Death, it was promised to Holy Simeon that he should see the LORD'S Anointed,-whom an Apostolic Father calls Life in Death." This announcement to Simeon may be regarded as the earliest streak of dawn,—the first harbinger of the coming day of the Gospel. 27, 28 And he came by the SPIRIT into the Temple: and when the parents brought in the child JESUS, to do for Him after the custom of the law, then took he Him up in his arms, and blessed GOD, and said, 29, 30 LORD, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace, according to Thy Word: For mine eyes have seen Thy salvation, How like to those words of Israel to Joseph,-" Now let me die, since I have seen thy face."(u) Not only had Simeon's eyes "seen," but "his hands had handled," yea, he had embraced and circumscribed in his arms, Him that filled all the World. Simeon, however, is bent on bearing testimony to God's faithfulness in keeping His promise: and so well satisfied is he with it, "that straightway he desires to live no longer; foreseeing that he should never more find comfort in any other object this world could minister." 31, 32 which Thou hast prepared before the face of all people; a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people Israel. The prophetic intimation, contained in this last verse, of the scope and purpose of MESSIAH'S coming,(x) is what has so endeared this brief, burning Hymn of holy (r) Leviticus xii. 2, 4. (t) Leviticus xii. 6. (8) See the Collect in the Book of Common Prayer. (u) Genesis xlvi. 30. (r) With which compare Isaiah xliii. 6: xlix. 6 and 1x. 1-3. Simeon to the heart of all Christendom. Holy Church, by the eye of faith, sees daily, in her second Lesson, that Salvation which Simeon beheld with his bodily eyes; and she pours out her thanksgiving in his own prophetic words. We have repeated this inspired Song so often, that our Spirits are scarcely stirred any longer by its sublimity: but with what ecstatic fervour must it have flowed from the lips of that favoured Servant of GOD,-conscious, while he uttered it, that he embraced in his arms the Desire of all nations,-Him whom all Creation groaned for, the Incarnate JEHOVAH! 33 And Joseph and His Mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of Him. 34 And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary His Mother, Behold, this Child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; CHRIST was to prove the occasion of falling to as many of the Jewish nation as should reject Him: but of rising “to become the Sons of GOD," to as many as should "believe on His name."(y) The Prophet Isaiah had declared as much, when he said of MESSIAH," He shall be for a Sanctuary;" (adding in the same breath,)— "but for a stone of stumbling, and for a rock of offence." (z) 35 (yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) Simeon is supposed to allude to the day of the Crucifixion; when the Mother, pierced with many sorrows, was a witness of the Cross and Passion, and precious Death of her Divine Son. (a) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed. It seems to be implied that the doctrine of CHRIST, no less than CHRIST Himself, --who had been likened, on this very occasion of His appearance, to a Refiner's fire, (b) was destined to prove a great test of individual character; a wondrous means of revealing what was in the hearts of mankind. "For the preaching of the Cross," says St. Paul, "is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved, it is the power of God." (c) So St. Peter, (d)—"Unto you, therefore, which believe, He is precious; but unto them which be disobedient a stone of stumbling and a rock of offence; even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient." St. Paul describes the Gospel, as, "a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."(e) While our LORD says plainly," He that rejecteth Me, and receiveth not My words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day."(ƒ) 36 And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: St. Paul, in like manner, declares of himself that he was of the tribe of Benjamin;(g) which shows how carefully, even to a late period, individuals of the Jewish nation preserved the record of their descent. But the case of Anna is the more extraordinary; since Aser (that is "Asher") was one of the ten tribes which the King of Assyria led away captive into Assyria,-and which had never returned. See 2 Kings xvii. 6. 37 she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity; and she was a Widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the Temple, but served GOD with Fastings and Prayers night and day. (y) St. John i. 12. (b) Malachi iii. 2. (2) Isaiah viii. 14. (a) St. John xix. 25. See below, the note on ver. 38. (c) 1 Cor. i. 18: and see all the rest of the chapter; also ii. 14. Compare 2 Cor. ii. 15, and St. John ix. 39. (d) 1 St. Peter ii. 7, 8. (e) Hebrews iv. 12. (f) St. John xii. 48. (g) Rom. xi. 1, and Phil. iii. 5. She had been a widow for 84 years, and was therefore upwards of a hundred years old. Her wedded life had been of but seven years' duration, and she had ever since dedicated herself to the service of GOD. She was therefore one of those "widows indeed," (as St. Paul speaks,) who are entitled to honour; and, as such, she won for herself this glorious mention in the Book of Life. "Now, she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in GOD, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day."(h) 38 And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the LORD, "The returns of prayer, and the blessings of piety," says an old writer, "are certain; and though not dispensed according to our narrow expectations, yet shall they so come,-at such times and in such measures, as shall crown the piety, and satisfy the desires, and reward the expectation. It was in the Temple, the same place where she had for so many years poured out her heart to God, that God poured forth His heart to her; sent His SoN from His bosom; and there she received His benediction." Contemptuous things are sometimes said of a congregation consisting of an old man and woman,-a poor man and his wife. Yet this was the very Congregation here assembled,-and CHRIST was among them! and spake of Him to all them that looked for Redemption in Jerusalem. It was thus then that the LORD, even the Messenger of the Covenant, suddenly came to His Temple,-as the prophecy of Malachi had foretold, (iii. 1.) How secretly and silently it was done! Consider in like manner the singular fulfillment of Hosea xi. 1, (in St. Matthew ii. 15,) of Jerem. xxxi. 15: (in St. Matt. ii. 18:) of Isaiah xi. 1, &c. (in St. Matt. ii. 23:) of Isaiah liii. 4, (in St. Matt. viii. 17.) Consider even the unlooked-for completion of Zechariah ix. 9, (in St. Matt. xxi. 5,) and of Malachi iv. 5, (in St. Luke i. 13 to 17.) Surely these unexpected fulfillments of ancient prophecies should make us very thoughtful. How know we but what unfulfilled prophecy may take us equally by surprise, and find us equally unprepared? See for example St. Matt. xxiv. 42,-a prophetic warning which is repeated in xxv. 13, &c. &c. See the note on St. Matthew iv. 14. 39 And when they had performed all things according to the Law of the LORD, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth. But first they went down into Egypt,-as St. Matthew had before explained. (i) It is the manner of the sacred writers, when they pass over an event in silence, thus to supply no hint of their omission. 40 And the Child grew, and waxed strong in Spirit, filled with Wisdom: and the Grace of GOD was upon Him. See the note on ver. 52. 41 Now His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. According to the requirement of the Jewish Law,-Exodus xxiii. 15, 17: xxxiv. 18, 23. Deut. xvi. 1, 16. 42 And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the Feast. 43 And when they fulfilled the days, as they returned, the Child JESUS tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and His Mother knew not of it. 44, 45 But they, supposing Him to have been in the company, went a (i) St. Matthew ii. 13-15. (k) 1 Tim. v. 5. |