an advent of humiliation. That humiliation was to begin even from the time of His conception and birth.
Let us beware of despising poverty in others, and of being ashamed of it if God lays it upon ourselves. The condition of life which Jesus voluntarily chose, ought always to be regarded with holy reverence. The common tendency of the day to bow down before rich men, and make an idol of money, ought to be carefully resisted and discouraged. The example of our Lord is a sufficient answer to a thousand grovelling maxims about wealth, which pass current among men. " Though He was rich, yet for our sakes He became poor.'' (2 Cor. viii. 9.)
Let us admire the amazing condescension of the Son of God. The Heir of all things not only took our nature upon Him, but took it in the most humbling form in which it could have been assumed. It would have been condescension to come on earth as a king and reign. It was a miracle of mercy passing our comprehension to come on earth as a poor man, to be despised, and suffer, and die. Let His love constrain us to live not to our- selves, but to Him. Let His example daily bring home to our conscience the precept of Scripture : " Mind not higl^ things, but condescend to men of low estate.'' (Rom. xii. 16.)
We should notice, in the second place, the high privilege of the Virgin Mary. The language which the angel Gabriel addresses to her is very remarkable. He calls her " highly favoured." He tells her that " the Lord is with her." He says to her, " Blessed art thou among women."
LTTKBy CHAP. I. YEB. 26 33. 23
It is a weU-known fact, that fhe Boman Caiholib Church pays an honour to the Virgin Mary, hardly inferior to that which it pays to her blessed Son. She is formally declared by the Boman Catholic Church to have been ''conceived without sin.'' She is held up to Boman Catholics as an object of worship, and prayed to as a mediator between God and man, no less powerful than Christ Himself. For all this, be it remembered, there is not the slightest warrant in Scripture. There is no warrant in the verses before us now. There is no warrant in any other part of God's word.
But while we say this, we must in fairness admit, that no woman was ever so highly honoured as the mother of our Lord. It ia evident that one woman only out of the countless millions of the human race, could be fhe means whereby God could be ''manifest in the flesh,'' and the Virgin Mary had the mighty privilege of being that one. By one woman, sin and death were brought into the world at the beginning. By the child-bearing of one woman, life and immortality were brought to light when Christ was bom. ^o wonder that this one woman was called " highly favoured " and " blessed.''
One thing in connection with this subject should never be forgotten by Christians. There is a relationship to Christ within reach of us all,— a relationship far nearer than that of flesh and blood, — a relationship which be- longs to all who repent and believe. " Whosoever shall do the will of God," says Jesus, " the same is my brother, and sister, and mother." — " Blessed is the womb that bare thee," was the saying of a woman one day. But what ^as the reply P "Yea! rather blessed are they
24 sxKxsrroBT tnotoBrs.
that Lear the word of Ghod and keep it/' (Mark iii. 35 ; Luke xi. 27.)
We should notioe, finally, in these verses, the glorious account of our Lord Jesm Christ, which the angel gires to Mary. Every part of the account is full of deep meaning, and deserves close attention.
Jesus " shall he great," says Gabriel. Of His great- ness we know something already. He has brought in a great sadbration. He has shown Himself a Prophet greater* than Moses. He is a great High Priest. And He shatt be greater stQl when He shall be owned as a King.
Jesus '* shall be called the Son of the Highest,'' says Gabriel. He was so before He came into the world. Equal to Ihe Father in all things. He was from al) eternity the Son of Gk)d. But He was to be known and acknowledged as such by the Church. The Messiah was to be recognized and worshipped as nothing less than very God.
'^The Lord God shall give imto Him the throne of his fether David," says Gabriel, *' and he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever." The literal fulfilment of this part of the promise is yet to come. Israel is yet td be gathered. The Jews are yet to be restored to their own land, and to look to Him whom they once pierced, ad their King and their God. Though the accompfishment of this prediction tarry, we may confidently wait {or it. It shall surely come erne day and not tarry. (Hab. ii. 3.)
Finally, says Gabriel, " Of the kingdom of Jesus there ghall be no end.^ Bef(»« His glorious kingdom, the empires of this world shall one day go down and pass away. Xike Kineveh, and Babylon, and Egypt, and Tyre, and