This gospel, together with the ACTS OF THE APOSTLES, were written by St. Luke, the beloved physician and companion of St. Paul, who wrote, as did the rest of the evangelists, by the special direction and inspiration of the Holy Ghost; where we may profitable remark the wonderful wisdom of God, who,... [ Continue Reading ]
In this and the following verses, the Holy Ghost gives us. description of John the Baptist, who was the harbinger and forerunner of our Saviour Christ; he is described, first by his parentage, being the son of Zacharias and Elizabeth. This Zacharias was. priest, who had. course in the temple, or. ri... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, 1. The sweet harmony of this religious couple in the ways of God, "They both walked in the commandments of God." It is. happy match when husband and wife are one, not only in themselves, but in the Lord. Observe, 2. The universality of their holiness and obedience; "They walked, not i... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, 1. This holy pair, Zacharias and Elizabeth, were fruitful in holy obedience, but barren in children;. fruitful soul and. barren womb are consistent, and do oft-times meet together. This religious couple made no less progress in virtue than in age, and yet their virtue could not make th... [ Continue Reading ]
Here note, 1. That none but. son of Aaron might offer incense to God in the temple; and not every son of Aaron neither: nay, not any of them at all seasons, God is. God of order, and hates confusion no less than irreligion. And, as under the law of old, so under the gospel of this day, NO MAN OUGHT... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, 1. While the incense was burning, the people were praying; while the priest sends up his incense in the temple within, the people send up their prayers in the court without. The incense of the priest and the prayers of the people meet, and go up to heaven together. Hence learn, that i... [ Continue Reading ]
Whilst Zacharias was praying to God, an angel appears to Zacharias: When we are nearest God, the good angels are nighest us: they are most with us when we are most with him. The presence of angels with us is no novelty, but their apparition to us is so. They are always with us, but rarely seen by us... [ Continue Reading ]
It was partly the suddenness, partly the unexpectedness, and partly the glory, of the apparition, that affrighted this good man. Glorious and sudden apparitions do affright even the holiest and best of men. We cannot bear the sight and presence of an angel without consternation and fear, in this our... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, 1. How apprehensive this good angel was of Zacharias's surprising fear, and encourages him against it. The holy angels, though they do not express it in words, yet they pity our frailties, and suggest comfort to us. The evil angels if they might, would kill us with terror; the good ang... [ Continue Reading ]
Here the angel declares to Zacharias, what kind of son should be born unto him, even one of eminent endowments, and designed for extraordinary services. The proof of children makes them either the blessings or crosses of their parents. What greater comfort could Zacharias desire in. child, than is h... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, Zacharias being slow to believe so strange. message; asks the angel, by what sign he should know that this thing, so far above the usual course of nature, should come to pass? The angel answers, that he was dispatched by God as. messenger extraordinary, to declare this good news to hi... [ Continue Reading ]
The priest, during the time of their administration, had their lodgings in buildings appertaining to the temple. Zachary having ended his administration, leaves his lodgings, and returns to his house, where his wife Elizabeth conceiving, SHE HIDES HERSELF; that is, retires from company partly to pre... [ Continue Reading ]
In this history of our Saviour's miraculous and immaculate conception, we have several things observable, as, 1. The messenger sent from heaven to publish the news of their conception of the son of God, an ANGEL; an evil angel was the first author of our ruin;. good angel could not be the author of... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, 1. The virgin's question, HOW SHALL THIS BE? This question did not import her denial of the possibility of the thing, but her wonder at the strangeness of the thing; it proceeded rather from. desire of information, than from. doubt of infidelity. Therefore she doth not say, This cannot... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, 1. The visit made by the Virgin Mary to her cousin Elizabeth. The holy virgin had understood by the angel, that Elizabeth was no less akin to her in condition than in relation, being both fruitful in conception; she hastens into the hill country to visit that holy matron: the two wonde... [ Continue Reading ]
This is the first canticles, or song of praise, recorded in the New Testament, composted by the blessed virgin with unspeakable joy, for designing her to be the instrument of the conception and birth of the Saviour of the world. Where observe, 1. The manner of her praise; the soul and spirit bear t... [ Continue Reading ]
Two things are here observable, 1. The civil courtesy of the Virgin Mary, towards her cousin Elizabeth. She stays with her three months, probably till she was delivered and brought to bed, not leaving her just at the time of travail: for the angel told Mary, Luke 1:36, that it was then the SIXTH MON... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, 1. The circumcision of the child at eight days old, according to the commandment, Genesis 17:12. Where note, first, the act, CIRCUMCISING. Secondly, the time, AT EIGHT DAYS OLD. God commanded every male child to be circumcised; because the males by the foreskin, propagate sin, and c... [ Continue Reading ]
Here observe, 1. That no sooner was Zacharias recovered and restored to his speech, but he sings the praises of his Redeemer, and offers up. thanksgiving to God; the best return we can make to God for the use of our tongues, for the giving or restoring of our speech, is to publish our Creator's prai... [ Continue Reading ]
Here we have. short account of John's private life before he entered upon his public ministry, which was at thirty years of age; "He grew... [ Continue Reading ]