in all our reflections on this deep subject. Let us ever regard it with holy reverence, and abstain from those unseemly and unprofitable speculations upon it, in which some have unhappily indulged. Enough for us to know that *' the Word was made flesh,'' and that when the Son of God came into the world, a real " body was prepared for Him," so that He " took part of our flesh and blood," and was " made of a woman." (John i. 14 ; Heb. x. 5 ; Heb. ii. 14; Gal. iv. 4.) Here we must stop. The manner in which all this was effected is wisely hidden from us. If we attempt to pry beyond this point, we shall but darken counsel by words without knowledge, and rush in where angels fear to tread. In a religion which really comes down from heaven there must needs be mysteries. Of such mysteries in Christianity, the incarnation is one.
Let us mark, in the second place, the prominent place assigned to the Holy Ohost in the great mystery of the incarnation. We find it written, " The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee."
An intelligent reader of the Bible will probably not fail to remember, that the honour here given to the Spirit is in precise harmony with the teaching of Scripture in other places. In every step of the great work of man's re- demption, we shall find special mention of the work of the Holy Ghost. Did Jesus die to make atonement for our sins P It is written that '' through the eternal Spirit He offered Himself without spot to God." (Heb. ix. 14.) Did He rise again for our justification P It is written that He " was quickened by the Spirit." (1 Peter iii. 18.) Does He supply His disciples with comfort between the
28 sxFOsnoBY thoughts.
time of His first and second adyent ? It is written thai the Oomfortery whom He promised to send is ''the Spirit of truth." (John xiv. 17.)
Let us take heed that we give the Holy Ghost the same place in our personal religion, which we find Him occupying in God's word. Let ns remember, that all that beHevers haye, and are, and enjoy under the Gospel, they owe to the inward teaching of the Holy Spirit. The work of each of the three Persons of the Trinity is equally and entirely needful to the salyation of eyery sayed soul. The election of God the Father, the blood of God the Son, and the sanctification of God the Spirit^ onght neyer to be separated in our Christianity.
Let lis mark, in the third place, ihe mighty principle which the angel Gabriel lays down to silence all objections about the incarnation, ''With God nothing shall bo impossible."
A hearty reception of this great principle is of immense importance to our own inward peace. Questions and doubts will often arise in men's minds about many subjects in religion. They are the natural result of our fallen estate of soul. Our faith at the best is yery feeble« Our knowledge at its highest is clouded with much infirmity. And among many antidotes to a doubting, anxious, questioning state of mind, few wiU be found more nsefiil than that before us now, — a thorough con- yiction of the almighty power of God. With TTitw who called the world into \>emg and formed it out of nothing, eyery thing is possible. Nothing is too hard for the Lord.
There is no sin too blac^ and bad to be pardoned. The blood of Christ cleanseth from all sin. — ^There is no