Together with the character of a Christian our Lord proclaims also,
II. His blessedness —
We are not to take a general view of this subject, but to consider it in that particular light, in which it is represented in the text.
The Virgin Mary, beyond a doubt, was the most highly favoured of women, in that she was honoured with bringing into the world her incarnate God. So the angel told her; and so she expected that all future ages would consider herb. But the true Chris- tian, whoever he be, is incomparably more blessed than shec.
1. He has a closer union with Christ than ever she had —
[The union which the Virgin had with Christ was that of a mother with her child. He was bone of her bone, and flesh of her flesh d. Yet this, close as it was, cannot be compared with that which subsists between Christ and his believing people: for " he is formed in their soulse ;" " he dwells in their hearts by faith f :" he in them is the hope of glory g:" and so inseparable is this privilege from the Christian character, that, " if he dwell not in us, we are reprobates11." She was one flesh with him: but believers are one spirit with him1. Her union was like that which universally obtains between parents and children ; but that which believers enjoy, resembles rather that which subsists between Christ and his heavenly Father k.]
2. He has a more intimate communion with him —
[Doubtless, till he attained to the age of thirty, she must have enjoyed many sweet seasons of communion with him under her own roof : and during the four years of his ministry, she must have had familiar access to him on many occasions. But, after all, this was no other fellowship than what every parent, and every friend, enjoys. She beheld him only as man; we behold him as God. She saw him merely as a
b Luke i. 28, 48.
c The Virgin, as a believer in Jesus, was doubtless a partaker of all the privileges that we enjoy through him : but, simply as his mother, she possessed none of them : and all our assertions respecting her must be understood with this limitation.
d Gen. ii. 23. " Gal. iv. 19. f Eph. iii. 17.
e Col. i. 27. n 2 Cor. xiii. 5. j 1 Cor. vi. 17.
k John xvii. 20 — 23.