the ineaxnatioQ of dmst Let us open our eyes to tiiie extent of our obligatioiui. Let ns learn from the example of Zacharias, to be more thankM.
We should notice, secondly, in this hynm of praise, bow mueh stress Zacharias lays an OocCs fulfilment of Bis promises. He declares that God has "visited and re- deemed his pe<^le," speaking of it in the manner cS. the prophets as a thing already accomplished, because sure to take {dace. He goes on to proclaim the instrument of this redemption, — "a horn of salvation," — a strong Saviour of the house of David. And then he adds that aU tiiis is done, " as He spake by the mouth of His holy prophet, — ^to perform tiie mercy promised,— to remember His holy covenant,-'-<ind the oath which He sware to our father Abraham."
It is dear that the souls of Old Testament believers fed much on God's promises. They were obliged to walk by faith far more than we are. They knew nothing of the great facts which we know about Christ's life, and death, and resurrection. They looked forward to redemption as a thing hoped for, but not yet seen, — and their only warrant for their hope was God's covenanted word. Their faith may well put us to shame. — So far from dis* paraging Old Testament believers, as some are disposed to do, we ought to marvel that they were what they were.
Let us learn to rest on promises and embrace them as Zacharias did. Let us not doubt that every word of God about His people concerning things future, shall as •urely be fulfilled as every word about them has been fulfilled concerning things past. Their safety ta secured by promise. The w(^id, the flesh, and the devil, shall never