43
God. The hand of the Lord is a thousand times better than the hand of Herod. The one is weak, foolish, and uncertain ; car^g to day. and beheading to-morrow. The other is almighty, all- wise, and unchangeable. Where it holds it holds for evermore. Let us bless God that the Lord never changes. What He was in John the Baptist's days. He is now. What He did for the son of Zacharias, He can do for our boys and girls. But He waits to be entreated. If we would have the hand of the Lord with our children, we must diligently seek it.
Notes. Luke I. 57—66.
59. — [Eighth day.] This was in accordance with Leviticus xii. 3. If a child died uncircumcised before the eighth day, we find nothing in Scripture to warrant our saying that it was not saved. By parity of reason we may justly conclude that baptism is not absolutely necessary to the salvation of infants under the Chris- tian dispensation. It is not the want of ordinances, but the contempt of them that destroys souls. Of this contempt a little infant cannot be guilty.
62. — [Made signs.'] This expression seems to make it probable that Zacharias was deaf as well as dumb.