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THE MOUTH OF THE JUST BRINGETH FORTH WISDOM

69 his people. And hath-raised-up an horn of-salvation for-us in the house of his ser70 vants David; as he-spake by the-mouth of-his holy prophets, which-have-been-since71 the-world-began an' acros: that-we-should-be-saved from owτnptav e our enemies, 72 and from the-hand of-all that-hate us; to-perform the-mercy promised to oino ai 73 eλeos μeта our fathers, and to-remember his holy covenant; the-oath which he-sware 74 to our father Abraham, that-he-would-grant Tov dovval unto-us, that-we-being-delivered 75 out-of the-hand of-our enemies might-serve him without-fear, in holiness and righteousMARGINAL READINGS:-8 Child. A Salvation from, &c. To effect mercy with. Of which to give us. SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS.

68. visited-Israel in Egypt, Ex. iii. 16-God visiting man, Ps. viii. 4-visited his flock, the house of Judah, but Jerusalem knew not the time of her visitation, Lu. xix. 44, § 82-compare Je. xiv. 8-shall see him again when prepared to receive him, Zep. iii. 12-7.

of the prophets confirmed by Christ, Lu. xxiv. 26, .7, $94-by Peter, Ac. iii. 11-21; 2 Pe. i. 21-by the angel of Jesus, Re. xix. 10.

71. saved from-prediction, Is. xiv. 12; Je. xxiii. 6; xxx. 8; Eze. xxxiv. 25-the salvation was to be by him who first came lowly and riding upon an ass, Zec. ix. 9.

Redeemed-sent redemption unto his people, Ps. exi. 9-their redemption contemplated, Is. Ixiti. 1-13 72. remember-see Sect. i. pp. 2. 7, Zacharias'-joy of the redeemed people, Is. xxxv. 10; li. 11-promise to remember his covenant to Jacob, &c., Le. their Redeemer, liv. 5, 8-their redemption consummated in the resurrection, Ho. xiii. 14; 1 Co. xv. 54, .5. 69. horn, Ps. lxxxix. 3, 4, 23, .4; cxxxii. 17-see for this salvation, Zec. xii. 7-10; xiii. 1.

70. as he spake-Israel spake of the people who should enjoy the blessing of redemption, Ge. xlviii. 14-22-of their Redeemer to come of Judah, xlix. 8-10-Moses spake of the promised salvation, De. xxxiii. 26-9-David spake, 2 Sa. xxiii. 2-5-words

xxvi. 42-.5-with Jerusalem, Eze. xvi. 60-3-the Lord's remembrance of his covenant rejoiced in, Ps. xcviii. 3; cv. 8-11-see ver. 54, .5-confirmation, Ac. iii. 25, .6; Ga. iii. 15-7.

73. the oath-see Scripture Illustrations, p. 3, 'Elisabeth,' Ge. xxii. 16-.8-see Notes-confirm, He. vi. 13. 74. without fear-nothing to hurt or destroy, Is. lxv. 25-not learn war any more, Is. ii. 4; Mi. iv. 3confirmation, Ro. viii. 19-21.

NOTES.

09. An horn of salvation. The metaphor may be derived from horned animals, whose strength is in their horns: hence horn' was a term commonly used to denote strength, and thus became an emblem of power and principality.

[On each of the four corners of the altar there was an eminence, or small projection, called a horn. To this, persons might flee for safety, when in danger, and were safe, 1 Ki. i. 50; ii. 28. So the Redeemer may be called the 'horn of salvation,' because those who flee to him are safe.]

In the house. In the family, or among the de

scendants of David.

70. Since the world began. All true prophets, from the beginning of the world, bare witness to the coming Messiah. The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.'

72. To perform the mercy. To shew the mercy promised. The expression in the original is, to make mercy with our fathers.' Which seems to point forward to the great result of the work of redemption, through Christ, when all true believers shall sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of God.

His holy covenant. The word covenant means compact, or agreement. When the word covenant is used in the Bible, it means sometimes a command, sometimes a promise, sometimes a regular law, as the covenant of the day and night, and sometimes the way in which God dispenses mercy, or the old and new covenants. In the place before us it means the promise made to Abraham.

73. The oath. This oath is recorded, Ge. xxii. 16-.8. 16, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for be cause thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son; 17, That in blessing 1 will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; 18. And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.' That oath was fully confirmed by the coming

of Messias, through whom the promised mercy will be fully bestowed.

[The oath and the memorial of the Lord do both express the same three things, as may be seen by comparing them thus:-The first name, Abraham, corresponds with the first part of the oath; the third name, Jacob, with the second part, which respects the supplanting of the enemy; and the second name, Isaac, is expressive of the third and concluding part of the oath, which speaks of universal happiness as ministered through the promised seed. Memorial of the Lord, Oath of my God, Ge. xxii. Zacharias, Elisabeth,

Ex. iii. 14, .5.

I AM THAT I AM.'
The LORD God of your
fathers.'

'The God of Abraham,'
The father of a great
multitude.

'And of Jacob,'

The supplanter.
Of Isaac,'

Laughter, or great re-
joicing.

This is my name for
ever, and this is my
memorial unto all ge-
nerations."

16-18.

By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not. withheld thy son, thine only son: That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; And thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies.

And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.'

74. Without fear. In the sure hope of God's eternal favour; fully confiding in his Almighty protection. God must be served with a filial, but not a slavish, fear without the spirit of bondage. Ro. viii. 15,

For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.'

PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS.

[69 ver. When Israel's redemption shall take place, an horn of salvation upon which the shedder of blood may lay hold, will be recognised by the Jew, in Him, who by wicked hands was crucified and slain.]

70 ver. Let us never neglect to recognise the unity of the prophetic word as testifying of Jesus.

[71 ver. When Jesus hath saved his people from their sins and brought Judah to the cross, he will also be their salvation from their enemies; and he

will remove from off them the hand that hath af flicted them.]

72 ver. The promised redemption to Israel reaches not only to the soul but to the body; not only to the children but the fathers.

[73 ver. Our Lord having visited his people was not to break, but to remember, his holy covenant, the oath which he sware to our father Abraham; of the promises made in which oath, we should be the Lord's remembrancers.]

REJOICE THE SOUL OF THY SERVANT.-Psalm lxxxvi. 4.

17

BUT THE FROWARD TONGUE SHALL BE CUT OUT.- Prov. x. 31.

IN THIS WAS MANIFESTED THE LOVE OF GOD TOWARD US, BECAUSE THAT GOD SENT HIS

76 ness before him, all the days of our life. And thou, child, shalt-be-called theprophet of-the-Highest: for thou-shalt-go before the-face of-the-Lord" to-prepare his 77 ways. To-give knowledge of-salvation unto-his people by the-remission" ev apeσe of 78 their sins, through the-tender mercy dia onλayxva eλeous of-our God; whereby ev ois 79 the-day-spring? avaroλn from on-high hath-visited us, to-give-light empava to-them that-sit in darkness and in the-shadow of-death, to-guide our feet into the way-of-peace. MARGINAL READINGS: All our days. m (Without the article of Jehovah). " In forgiveness.

Bowels of compassion.

P In which. 9 Sun-rising.

SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS.

75. holiness and righteousness-law to be written in the hearts of his united people, Je. xxxi. 31-3-he that remaineth in Jerusalem to be holy, Is. iv. 3-the people to be all righteous, lx. 21-confirmation, Ep. i. 4; iv. 21; 2 Ti. i. 9.

Lu. xv. 20, § 68-God commendeth his love toward us,
Ro. v. 7, 8-gave his only-begotten Son, Jno. iii. 16,
§ 12; 1 Jno. iv. 9-rich in mercy, Ep. ii. 4, 5.
day-spring-prediction, Mal. iv. 2-confirmation,
Jno. viii. 12, § 55; Re. xxii. 16.

76. go before the face of the Lord-as predicted, Is. xl. 3; Mal. iii. 1-confirmation, Mt. ii. 1-12; Mk. i. 79. to give light-prediction: the light, Is. ix. 21-8; Lu. iii. 3-6, § 7, vii. 27, .8; Mt. xi. 10, .1, § 29. the darkness, to become light, xlii. 16-thy light is come, 1x. 1-3-confirmation: Simeon's, Lu. ii. 26-32, 77. remission of sins-to be proclaimed, Je. iii. 12..3§ 4, p. 24-John Baptist's, Juo. i. 9, § 7-Paul's, Ac. -promised, xxxi. 34-to many, Is. liii. 11-confirma- xxvi. 23; 2 Co. iv. 4-6; Ep. v. 8, 14. tion, Juo. i. 29, § 10-Jesus exalted to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins, Ac. v. 31-preached to Cornelius, x. 43-proclaimed by Paul in Pisidia, xiii. 23-39-before Agrippa, xxvi. 18-through the shedding of blood. He. ix. 22-by faith, Ro. iii. 24, .5-according to grace, Ep. i. 7.

78. tender mercy the Lord's relentings over Ephraim, Je. xxxi. 20; Ho. xiii. 14-prayer for t. m., xiv. 8-confirmation: the reception of the prodigal,

shadow of death, Ps. cvii. 10, .4; Is. ix. 2-valley of dry bones, Eze. xxxvii. 1-14; Am. v. 8. guide-promised, Is. xlviii. 17-22; xlix. 10-they shall ask this guidance with true repentance, and their faces Zionward, Je. 1. 4, 5-and, asking, they shall obtain, xxxi. 9-taking heed according to the word, Ps. cxix. 1-confirm.: the good Shepherd, Jno. x. 4-16, § 55; 1 Pe. ii. 21-5; Re. vii. 17; xiv. 1-5.

NOTES.

75. In holiness and righteousness. In holy devotedness of heart and life towards God, and in all uprightness of conduct towards man.

Before him. Performed as in his presence, and with the full consciousness that God sees the heart. Such as God would approve.

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rising of the sun. God is its author, and through his mercy it shines on men. Christ is the morning light, the rising sun, Mal. iv. 2, But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. As the dawn or day-spring is the pledge of the coming glory of the natural sun, so is the birth of the Lord Jesus a sure pledge of the coming of the Sun of Righteousness-even the same blessed Lord, to reign in great power and glory.-See 76. And thou, child, &c. Zacharias predicts in this 2 Ti. i. 10, But is now made manifest by the appearand the following verses, the dignity and the employing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished ment of John; the subject and success of his preach- death, and hath brought life and immortality to light ing. through the gospel.']

All the days, &c. Not for a day or two, or only on festivals and sabbath days, as under the Jewish dispensation, but every day we live.

Face of the Lord. The Lord Jesus Christ,' whose prophet, harbinger, and forerunner, John was; and so is a proof of Christ being the Supreme, or Most High God.

[In this verse, and following verses, we have a remarkable prophecy respecting the dignity, office, and success of John; also describing the nature, privileges, and effects of the gospel, and foretelling its salvation both among Jews and Gentiles.]

To prepare his ways. This is taken from Is. xl. 3, The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.'

77. Knowledge of salvation. Knowledge of Jesus, who is the way of salvation; and of that manner of life unto which men are saved, who in truth are led unto the Author of salvation, who was then about to appear.

By the remission of their sins. The word remission means pardon. This implies that the salvation about to be offered, was that which was connected with the pardon of sin.

79. In darkness and in the shadow of death. Terms expressive of a sad and miserable condition. [2 Sa. xxii. 29, For thou... my lamp, O LORD: and the LORD will lighten my darkness.' Is. viii. 22; Ps. xliv. 19, Though thou hast sore broken us in the place of dragons, and covered us with the shadow of death." Job iii. 5; Ps. evii. 10, .4. 10, Such as sil in darkness and in the shadow of death, .. . bound in affliction and iron; 14, He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in sunder.' And Is. ix. 1.]

To guide our feet, &c. The figure in these verses is taken from travellers, who being overtaken by night know not what to do, and who wait patiently for the morning light, the rising of the sun, that they may know which way to go.-See Is. xlix. 9-12.

[This song of Zacharias is exceedingly beautiful. It expresses with elegance the great points of the plan of redemption, the doings of John, and the mercy of God in providing that plan. That mercy loftiest songs of thanksgiving; for we were in the was great. It is worthy of praise; of our highest, shadow of death-sinful, wretched, wandering-and [78. Whereby the day-spring, &c. The word day- the light arose, the gospel came, and men may respring means the morning light, the aurora, thejoice in hope of eternal life.]

PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS.

[73, 4 ver. How kind is our God in assisting our remembrance, by writing his promises, not only in words, but in the names of himself and his people! Zacharias having paraphrased the name Jesus, the Saviour, now refers to his own name, 'memorial, or remembrance of the Lord,' and Elisabeth, oath of my God,' and then dwells upon that of his child. John, that is, grace, or what is granted or given of Jehovah."]

74, 5 ver. Let us earnestly seek to be favoured with the deliverance which is yet to be granted unto

18]

Israel, even that we may serve our God without dread of the enemy, in holiness and righteousness, before the Lord, all the days of our Life.

76 ver. If the ways were to be prepared for the Lord as coming in humiliation, how much more should we desire their preparation for his appearing in glory? That which John preached, the gracious manifestation of practical charity, is one of the best preparations for the coming of Him who gloried in this characteristic of his ministry. To the poor the gospel is preached,' Lu. vii. 22, § 29.

THERE IS NO RESPECT OF PERSONS WITH GOD.-Rom. ii. 11.

ONLY BEGOTTEN SON INTO THE WORLD, THAT WE MIGHT LIVE THROUGH HIM.-1 John iv. 9.

75. HOLINESS AND RIGHTEOUSNESS.

law to be written in the hearts of his united people :Je. xxxi. 31-3-see ch. xxxi. p (39).

he that remaineth in Jerusalem to be holy :-Is. iv. 3, 'And it shall come to pass, that he that is left in Zion, and he that remaineth in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, even every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem.' the people to be all righteous:-Is. lx. 21, Thy people also shall be all righteous: they shall inherit the land for ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified.'

confirmation:-Ep. i. 4, According as he hath chosen. us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love.'iv. 24, 'And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.'-2 Ti. i. 9, Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.'-See also p. (11), ver. 49, under 'the saints to reflect his holiness."

76. GO BEFORE THE FACE OF THE LORD.

as predicted:-Is. xl. 3, The voice of him that crieth,' &c.-Mal. iii. 1, 'Behold, I will send my messenger,' &c. confirmation:-Mt. iii. 1-12; Mk. i. 1-8; Lu. iii. 3-17, $7, pp. 49-54; vii. 27, .8; Mt. xi. 10, § 29.

77. REMISSION OF SINS.

to be proclaimed:-Je. iii. 12, .3-see ch. iii. p. (39). 12, 'Go and proclaim these words toward the north,' &c. promised:-Je. xxxi. 34, 'And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.'-For ch. xxxi. see p. (39). to many-Is. liii. 11, He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.'

confirmation:-Jno. i. 29, § 10. p. 69.

Jesus exalted to give repentance to Israel, and forgive. ness of sins:-Ac. v. 31, Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.'

preached to Cornelius:-Ac. x. 43, To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.'

proclaimed by Paul in Pisidia: -xiii. 23-39-see ch. xiii. p. (65). 23, Of this man's seed hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus,' &c.

before Agrippa:-xxvi. 18, To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.'

through the shedding of blood:- He. ix. 22, 'And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.'

by faith:-Rom. iii. 24, 5-see p. (2), ver. 6, RIGHTEOUS.' according to grace:-Ep. i. 7, In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.'

78. TENDER MERCY.

Is

the Lord's relentings over Ephraim:-Je. xxxi. 20, Ephraim my dear son? is he a pleasant child? for since I spake against him, I do earnestly remember him still: therefore my bowels are troubled for him; I will surely have mercy upon him, saith the LORD.'-HO. xiii. 14, I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction: repentance shall be hid from mine eyes.'

prayer for tender mercy:-xiv. 8, Ephraim shall say, What have I to do any more with idols? I have heard him, and observed him: I am like a green fir tree. From me is thy fruit found.'

confirmation:-the reception of the prodigal, Lu. xv. 20, § 68, And be arose, and came to his father,' &c.

God commendeth his love:-Rom. v. 7, 8. 7, For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8, But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.'

gave his only begotten Son:-Jno. iii. 16, § 12, p. 86.I Jno. iv. 9, In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.'

rich in mercy:-Ep. ii. 4, 5. 4, But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved.)'

DAYSPRING.

prediction:-Mal. iv. 2, But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness,' &c.-see Notes.' confirmation:-Jno. viii. 12, § 55, I am the light,' &c. -Rev. xxii. 16, I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.' 79. TO GIVE LIGHT.

walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that prediction: the light-Is. ix. 2. The people that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.'

the darkness to become light :-xlii. 16, ‘And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.'

thy light is come:-Is. 1x. 1-3. 1, Arise, shine: for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. 2, For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. 3, And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.'

confirmation:-Simeon's, Lu. ii. 26-32, § 4, pp. 24, .5. John the Baptist's-Jno. i. 9, § 7. p. 47.

Paul's-Ac. xxvi. 23, That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.'-2 Co. iv. 4-6. 4, the god

of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. 5, For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. 6, For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.'-Ep. v. 8, 14. 8, For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light. 14, Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.'

SHADOW OF DEATH.-Ps cvii. 10, 4. 10, Such,' &c.- see 'Notes.'-Is. ix. 2, The people that,' &c. -see above.

valley of dry bones:-Eze. xxxvii. 1-14-see p. (30). 1, The hand of,' &c.-Am. v. 8, 'Seek him that maketh the seven stars and Orion, and turneth the shadow of death into the morning, and maketh the day dark with night: that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth: The LORD is his name.' GUIDE.

promised:-Is. xlviii. 17-22. 17, Thus saith the LORD, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the LORD thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go. 18, O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea: 19, thy seed also had been as the sand, and the offspring of thy bowels like the gravel thereof; his name should not have been cut off nor destroyed from before me. 20, Go ye forth of Babylon, flee ye from the Chaldeans, with a voice of singing declare ye, tell this, utter it even to the end of the earth; say ye, The LORD hath redeemed his servant Jacob. 21, And they thirsted not when he led them through the deserts: he caused the waters to flow out of the rock for them: he clave the rock also, and the waters gushed out. 22, There is no peace, saith the LORD, unto the wicked.'-xlix. 10, They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun smite them: for he that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall he guide them.'

they shall ask this guidance with true repentance, and their faces Zionward:-Je. 1. 4, 5. 4,In those days, and in that time, saith the LORD, the children of Israel shall come, they and the children of Judah together, going and weeping: they shall go, and seek the LORD their God. 5, They shall ask the way to Zion with their faces thitherward, saying, Come, and let us join ourselves to the LORD in a perpetual covenant that shall not be forgotten.'

They shall come with weeping,' &c. and asking they shall obtain -Je. xxxi. 9-see p. (39),

taking heed according to the word:-Ps. cxix. 1-9, 'Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD,' &c.

confirmation:-'the good shepherd,' Jno. x. 4-16, § 55.-1 Pe, ii. 21-5, 'For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also,' &c.-Rev. vii. 17, For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.'xiv. 1-5.

E

80. GREW.

see the same of Samson:-Ju. xiii. 21, .5. 24, And the woman bare a son, and called his name Samson: and the child grew, and the LORD blessed him. 25, And the Spirit of the LORD began to move him at times in the camp of Dan between Zorah and Eshtaol.'

of Samuel:-1 Sa. iii. 19-21. 19, And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground. 20, And all Israel from Dan even to Beer-sheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the LORD. 21, And the LORD appeared again in Shiloh: for the LORD revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the LORD.'

Jesus: Lu. ii. 40-52, § 6, pp. 40-.2.

DESERTS.

the call to repentance and comforting promised to be given in the wilderness :-Ho. ii. 14, Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably unto her.'-Eze. xx. 35-7. 35, And I will bring you into the wilderness of the people, and there will I plead with you face to face. 36, Like as I pleaded with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so will I plead with you, saith the Lord GOD. 37, And I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant.'-Is. xl. 1, 3. 1, Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God.' 3, The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.'

confirmation:-Mt. iii. 1, &c., § 7, p. 50; xi. 7, § 29.

4. JOSEPH.-Mt. i. 18, § 2, p. 13.

'adding' or increase: -Ge. xxx. 24, And she called his name Joseph; and said, The LORD shall add to me another son.'

Bethlehem:-see Scripture Illustrations." 1, And the birth-place of David:-1 Sa. xvi. 1, 13. the LORD said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Beth-lehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons.' 13, Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah." -Ps. lxxviii. 70-.2. 70, He chose David also his serv ant, and took him from the sheepfolds: 71, from following the ewes great with young he brought him to feed Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance. 72, So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart; and guided them by the skilfulness of his hands.'

David's appearance in the camp of Israel was as conveying bread to his brethren there:-1 Sa. xvii. 17, And Jesse said unto David his son, Take now for thy brethren an ephah of this parched corn, and these ten loaves, and run to the camp to thy brethren.'

see as to Boaz:-Ru. ii. 4, And, behold, Boaz came from Beth-lehem, and said unto the reapers, The LORD be with you. And they answered him, The LORD bless thee.'-iv. 11, 'And all the people that were in the gate, and the elders, said, We are witnesses. The LORD make the woman that is come into thine house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the house of Israel: and do thou worthily in Ephratah, and be famous in Bethlehem.'

prediction:-Mi. v. 2. But thou, Beth-lehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.'

confirmation:-Mt. ii. 4-6, § 5, p. 32, Herod demanded of the chief priests, &c.-Jno. vii. 42, § 55.

EZEKIEL XIII. And the word of the LORD came 2 unto me, saying, Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel that prophesy, and say thou unto them that prophesy out of their own hearts, Hear ye 3 the word of the LORD; thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe unto the foolish prophets, that follow their own 4 spirit, and have seen nothing! O Israel, thy prophets 5 are like the foxes in the deserts. Ye have not gone up into the gaps, neither made up the hedge for the house of Israel to stand in the battle in the day of the 6 LORD. They have seen vanity and lying divination, saying, The LORD saith: and the LORD hath not sent them and they have made others to hope that they 7 would confirm the word. Have ye not seen a vain vision, and have ye not spoken a lying divination, whereas ye say, The LORD saith it; albeit I have not 8 spoken? Therefore thus saith the Lord GoD; Because ye have spoken vanity, and seen lies, therefore, 9 behold, I am against you, saith the Lord GOD.

And

mine hand shall be upon the prophets that see vanity, and that divine lies: they shall not be in the assembly of my people, neither shall they be written in the

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writing of the house of Israel, neither shall they enter into the land of Israel; and ye shall know that I am the Lord GOD.

Because, even because they have seduced my people, saying, Peace; and there was no peace; and one built up a wall, and, lo, others daubed it with untempered 11 morter: say unto them which daub it with untempered morter, that it shall fall: there shall be an overflowing shower; and ye, O great hailstones, shall 12 fall; and a stormy wind shall rend it. Lo, when the wall is fallen, shall it not be said unto you, Where is 13 the daubing wherewith ye have daubed it? Therefore thus saith the Lord GoD; I will even rend it with a stormy wind in my fury; and there shall be an overflowing shower in mine anger, and great hailstones in 14 my fury to consume it. So will I break down the wall that ye have daubed with untempered morter, and bring it down to the ground, so that the foundation thereof shall be discovered, and it shall fall, and ye shall be consumed in the midst thereof: and ye shall 15 know that I am the LORD. Thus will I accomplish my wrath upon the wall, and upon them that have daubed it with untempered morter, and will say unto you, The wall is no more, neither they that daubed 16 it; to wit, the prophets of Israel which prophesy con. cerning Jerusalem, and which see visions of peace for her, and there is no peace, saith the Lord GOD. 17 Likewise, thou son of man, set thy face against the daughters of thy people, which prophesy out of their 18 own heart; and prophesy thou against them, and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe to the women that sew pillows to all armholes, and make kerchiefs upon the head of every stature to hunt souls! Will ye hunt the souls of my people, and will ye save the 19 souls alive that come unto you? And will ye pollute me among my people for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread, to slay the souls that should not die, and to save the souls alive that should not live, by Where20 your lying to my people that hear your lies? fore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against your pillows, wherewith ye there hunt the souls to make them fly, and I will tear them from your arms, and will let the souls go, even the souls that ye hunt to Your kerchiefs also will I tear, and make them fly. deliver my people out of your hand, and they shall be no more in your hand to be hunted; and ye shall 22 know that I am the LORD. Because with lies ye have made the heart of the righteous sad, whom I have not made sad; and strengthened the hands of the wicked, that he should not return from his wicked way, by promising him life: therefore ye shall see no more vanity, nor divine divinations: for I will deliver my people out of your hand: and ye shall know that I am the LORD.

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ISAIAH XXXV. The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall 2 rejoice, and blossom as the rose. It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the LORD, and the excellency of our God.

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Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the 4 feeble knees. Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come 5 and save you. Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. 6 Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall 7 waters break out, and streams in the desert. And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water: in the habitation of dragons, where each lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes. 8 And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein. 9 No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there: and the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

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PSALM CXXVIII. Blessed is every one that feareth 2 the LORD; that walketh in his ways. For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shall thou be, 3 and it shall be well with thee. Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children 4 like olive plants round about thy table. Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the LORD. 5 The LORD shall bless thee out of Zion: and thou shalt see the good of Jerusalem all the days of thy 6 life. Yea, thou shalt see thy children's children, and peace upon Israel.

THIS IS THE LORD'S DOING; IT IS

80

(G. 8.) The residue of the private history of John the Baptist. Luke i. 80.
In the Wilderness of Judæa, East of Jordan.

And the child grew, and waxed-strong in-spirit, and was in the deserts till the-day of-his shewing avade.ews unto Israel.

SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS.

80. grew-see the same of Samson, Ju. xiii 24, .5of Samuel, 1 Sa. iii. 19-21-Jesus, Lu. ii. 40-52, § 6. deserts-the call to repentance, and comforting

promised to be given in the wilderness. Ho. ii. 14; Eze. xx. 35-.7: Is. xl. 1, 3-confirmation, Mt. iii. 1, &c., §7; xi. 7, § 29.

NOTES.

80. Strong in spirit. Has been supposed to mean, 'remarkable for strength of intellect and boldness of resolution, and his attainments in religious knowledge: but we are to recollect that John was to be filled with the Holy Ghost even from his mother's womb; and it is not unlikely that the truth of this prediction became more and more manifest.

by the prejudices of the Jewish teachers; and would moreover approach unto God, and seek that guidance of the Holy Spirit, which was indispensable to enable him to be the herald of the gospel.

His shewing, &c. [avade. Eows The word aradakis is used for the entering upon an office to which any one has been previously appointed.] Until his manifestation unto Israel, Le. viii. 33-5. Until he entered on his public ministry, as recorded in Matt. iii., § 7. That is, probably, until he was about thirty years of age.-See Luke iii. 23, § 8, of Jesus' age at baptism. GEOGRAPHICAL NOTICES.

In the deserts. The period of his retirement was probably when he would have strength of body and mind to bear that solitude, which for him was so necessary. In that seclusion he would not be warped

HILL COUNTRY OF JUDEA.-See Sect. ii., p. 14.

DESERTS.-See Wilderness of Judea,' Sect. vii. p. 50.

MARVELLOUS IN OUR EYES.--Psalm exviii. 23.

SECTION 4.-MESSIAH IS BORN AT BETHLEHEM; HIS BIRTH IS ANNOUNCED BY AN ANGEL TO THE SHEPHERDS; THE SHEPHERDS GO TO BETHLEHEM; HE IS CIRCUMCISED AND CALLED JESUS; THE GENEALOGIES OF CHRIST; HE IS PRESENTED IN THE TEMPLE; SIMEON AND ANNA BEAR WITNESS TO HIM. Matt. i. 1-18, 25; Luke ii. 1-38; iii. 23—38.

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(G. 9.) The Messiah born. Luke ii. 1-7. At Bethlehem.

And it-came-to-pass in those days, that there-went-out a-decree from Cæsar Augustus, 2 that all the world oкovevny should-be-taxed. (And this taxing was-first-made 3 when- Cyrenius was-governor of-Syria.) And all went to-be-taxed, every-one into 4 his-own city. And Joseph also went-up from Galilee, out-of the-city of-Nazareth, into Judæa, unto the-city of-David, which is-called Bethlehem; (because he was of the-house

SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS.

4. Joseph, Mt. i. 18-the name means 'adding' or 'increase,' Ge. xxx. 24- The LORD shall add to me another son.'

Bethlehem-Rachel died in the way to Ephrath, 'fruit bearing,' which is Bethlehem, house of bread' -there he who is the bread of life, Jno. vi. 48-51, § 43, was brought forth. It appears to have been

also the birth-place of David, who was chosen to feed Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance, 1 Sa. xvi. 1, 13; Ps. Ixxviii. 70-.2-David's appearance in the camp of Israel was as conveying bread to his brethren there, 1 Sa. xvii. 17-see as to Boaz, Ru. ii. 4; iv. 11-prediction, Mi. v. 2-confirmation, Mt. ii. 4-6, §5; Jno. vii. 42, § 55.

NOTES.

1. In those days. About the time of the birth of perty could have been made only where they were John and of Christ.

A decree. A law, commanding a thing to be done. Cæsar Augustus. [This was Caius Cæsar Octavianus Augustus, (Augustus-i. e., august, or honourable as a compliment to his own greatness; and from him the month August, which was before called Sextilis, received its name,) he was proclaimed Emperor of Rome B.C. 29, died A. D. 14. He had received the name of Cæsar from Julius Cæsar by adoption; and by that name were called, first, all those of the family of Augustus, afterwards the heirs of the empire, and finally the emperors themselves.1

All the world. The whole commonwealth. Jews called Judæa the earth of all the earth.

The

Should be taxed. Our word tax means to levy and raise money for the use of the government. This is not the meaning of the original word here. It means rather to enrol, or take a list of the citizens, with their employments, equivalent to what was meant by census. An enrolment per capita would necessarily require the Jews to repair to the places where their genealogical records were kept; a valuation of pro

residing and had possessions.]

[To decide upon its nature, or its object, regarded as a state measure of the reigning emperor, may be extremely difficult; but its use, in a providential point of view, is too obvious to be mistaken. The safest course is to understand the words of St. Luke, as a parenthetic admonition not to confound this amoypaph at the birth of Christ, with the much later, and much more memorable, àroypaph in the time of Cyrenius. Such an admonition was both necessary in itself, and justly to be expected from the accuracy of this Evangelist. In this case, the text must be rendered, This enrolment took place before Cyrenius was governor of Syria.'-See Greswell, vol. I. Diss. xiv. pp. 534-546.]

3. His own city. The city which formerly belonged to his family.

4. The city of David. Bethlehem, called the city of David because it was the place of his birth.-See Mt. ii. 1, § 5, p. 31.

Bethlehem. The House of Bread;' and he who was born there is called the Bread of Life.'

PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS.

(Lu. ii.) The movements of the mightiest empires are overruled so as that the words of God shall be fulfilled in their season. On account of the decree of the Roman Emperor, Joseph and Mary were brought to Bethlehem, where Jesus should be born.

1 ver. That which seems to be grievous oppression, as, in the circumstances of Mary's being compelled to make such a serious journey, God is able to overrule for the more effectual securing of our right, and procuring our deliverance.

BLESSED IS THE MAN WHOM THOU CHOOSEST &c.-Ps. lxv. 4.

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