heart was so full of love to God, that she counted nothing a burthen that she could do for him. She determined therefore, as Jesus himself did in the instance of his baptism, to fulfil all righteousness to the utmost of her power. It may be asked however,]
What is this law to us ? [Doubtless, as to the ceremonial part of it, it is abrogated altogether : but, as to its spiritual import, it speaks as loudly to us as ever it did to the Jews. Humiliation and gratitude are the proper fruits of mercies received: I say, humiliation first, and then gratitude. This is not the order in which these feelings arise in the mind of a philosopher : but it is the order in which they rise in the heart of a Christian : a sense of unworthiness abases his soul in the dust, and enhances, beyond all expression, the favours conferred upon him. We appeal to every spiritual person for the truth of this : and we call on every one, whatever be the mercies he has received, to express his sense of them in this way. Certainly they who have been delivered from the pains of child-birth, have abundant reason to present such offerings to God : and we do not hesitate to say, that their expressions of gratitude should be diversified and enlarged according to the opportunities and abilities that God has given them. We must not however limit the subject to this particular deliverance ; for, whatever mercy God has vouchsafed unto us, we should endeavour to requite him according to the loving-kindness he has shewn us.]
Having thus considered the purification of the mother, let us direct our attention to,
II. The presentation of her Son —
Here is the same reference to the law, as before. We will state to you,
1. What connexion it had with Christ's presenta- tion in the temple —
[Upon the destruction of the Egyptian first-born, whilst not one of the first-born, either of men or cattle, that belonged to Israel, died, God claimed the first-born of Israel, both of men and beasts, as his peculiar property b; and required that the reason of his so doing should be transmitted carefully to the latest posterity0. Afterwards he accepted the tribe of Levi and their cattle in the place of the first-born and their cattle d; and appointed them, with very peculiar and impressive solem- nities6, to be consecrated to his service in their stead. He appointed also that the precise number of the persons belonging
b Exod. xiii. 2. e Exocl. xiii. 11 — 14.
<l Numb. iii. 11 — 13. e Numb. viii. 5—23.