2. How important must be the knowledge of him —
[The very end for which John was miraculously given to the world, was to bear witness to Christ, and to commend him to the Jewish nation. Was then the knowledge of Christ of such importance to the Jews? Surely it is no less so to us: our salvation depends upon it, as well as theirs : and therefore we should all ask ourselves, ' What think I of Christ? What am I the better for him ? What hope have I in him ? ' In him alone can we find acceptance, and " by him alone can we be justified." To him then let us direct our most assiduous at- tention, and " count all things but as dross and dung" for the excellency of the knowledge of him."
Luke i. 35, 38. And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upo?i thee, and the pozver of the Highest shall overshadow thee : therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God .... And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it unto me according to thy word.
AS none can tell what devices Satan is plotting for their ruin, or what snares he may bring them into ; so none can tell what thoughts of peace and love God may have towards them, or what mercies he may speedily vouchsafe unto them. Little did the persecuting Saul think, when on his journey to Damascus, what God would do for him before he reached the place of his destination : and as little did the blessed Virgin imagine, when engaged in her do- mestic duties, what was in reserve for her, or what a single day should bring forth. The time fixed in the Divine counsels came at last, when the Messiah was to be brought into the world ; and the Virgin Mother was to be informed of God's designs respecting her. Methinks, at the first address of the angelic mes- senger, she was filled with surprise and terror : but having been fully instructed respecting that peculiar favour which God had prepared for her, she ac- quiesced in the Divine proposals, and committed herself with all her concerns, into the hands of her Almighty Friend.