to each should be ascertained ; and it being found that the first-born were two hundred and seventy-three more in number than the Levites, he ordered that they should be redeemed at the price of five shekels a-piece, (about \2s.6d. each,) and that the money should be paid to Aaron and his sons for the service of the tabernacle f, and from that time it was an esta- blished law, that every male which opened the womb should be holy to the Lordg; the clean beasts were to be sacrificed to him ; and the unclean to be redeemed with a lamb : but the first-born of men were universally to be redeemed ; his mercy to them, and his consequent property in them, being thus kept in everlasting remembrance11.
Now Christ, as Mary's first-born, came under this law ; and though his life had never been forfeited, yet, to fulfil the law, and cut off all occasion of offence, he must be redeemed in the same manner as others. For this purpose his parents carried him to the Temple, and presented him before the Lord, in the way that God had appointed.
But it may be asked, Did the blessed Virgin wish to exempt him from the peculiar service of her God ? No : she knew that he was sent into the world to be his servant, and that his ear was bored to the door-post as soon as he assumed our nature1: but she would omit nothing which the Law required, either at her hands or his: teaching us thereby to sink all personal con- cerns in a regard for the honour of our God, and the good of our fellow-creatures.]
2. What their compliance with the law in this instance may teach us —
[Loudly indeed does it speak to mothers. Behold the blessed Virgin taking her infant child " to present him to the Lord:" is not this the thing which you should do the very moment you embrace your new-born babe ? Should you not do it every time that you administer to its necessities, or supply its wants ? Methinks you should never draw out the breast to it, without lifting up your heart in prayer for it, and entreat- ing God to accept and own it, as a child of his. How can any of you endure the thought of bringing forth for Satan, and nourishing a child for him? Surely your prayer should often be ' Lord, I ask not for my child the things of this world ; (give him food and raiment, and I am content ;) but I ask for grace ; I ask for mercy ; I ask for peace ; I ask for all the blessings of salvation for him. I ask that thou thyself mayest be his
f Numb. iii. 39—51. s Numb, xviii. 15, 16.
h If the whole of the various passages cited upon this subject be not read, very large and copious extracts at least should be made, in order to lay the subject fully before the audience.
1 Compare Ps. xl. 6. with Heb. x. 5.