cially fulfilled when she stood by the cross, and saw her Son dying there. Might not our lird be reminding her of this prophecy, when in that solemn hour He commended her to His disciple John, saying, ** Behold thy mother," — ^in order that she might have a Mend in her time of need ?
LUKE n. 36-40.
36 And there was one Anna, a pro- phetesB, the daughter of Phannel, of the tribe of Aser : she was of a great a^e, and had lived with an husband leyen years from her Tirginity ;
37 And she was a widow of about
gare thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake oi him to aU them that lookea for redemption in Jerusalem. 39 And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to four-score and four years, which de- their own dty Nazareth, parted not from the temple, but serred 40 And the child grew, and waxed Uod with fastings and prayers night strong in spirit, filled with wisdom : ind day. and the grace of God was upon him.
38 And she eoming in that instant
The verses we hare now read introduce ns to a servant of God whose name is nowhere else mentioned in the New Testament. The history of Anna, like that of Simeon, is related only by St. Lnke. The wisdom of God ordained that a woman as well as a man should testify to the fact that Messiah was bom. In the month of two witnesses it was established that Malachi's prophecy was fblfilledy and the messenger of the covenant had suddenly oome to the Temple. (Malachi iii. 1.)
Let us observe, in these verses, the character of a hoh/ iooman be/ore the establishment of Chrisfs Gospel. The facts recorded about Anna are few and ample. But we shall find them full of instruction.
Anna was a woman of irreproachable character. After a married life of only seven years duration, she had spent eighty-four years as a lone widow. The trials, desola- tion, and temptation of such a condition were probably