Te are naturally aftrighted at ſadden, and unuſual things; but eſpecially at any Divine appearances, whether God hinſclf takes a ſhape, or Authorizethan Angel to do it. So was Davie, Ch. 10. 5, 8, and Aanah and his Wite, Jud. 13. 20. and Pail, A#s g.for tho God doth not make theſe appearances to aitright us, yet ſuch is the Imbecility of our Natures,that we cannot but be ſhy at them, and ſtart from them; and it is but reaſonable, that God ſhould by this means, bath declare his own Glory,and Majeſty, and alſo humble his Poor Creatures, and make them more Impreſſive, and Receptive of his Divine Revelations. It is reaſonable God ſhould keep and declare his Majefty, tho we keep and declare out infirmity,
13 But the angel faid unto him, Fear not, 7 charias, for thy prayer is heard, and thy wife Eliza-
John.
Although the Great God uſeth ſo to ſhew himſelf to the be't of his own People,as to imprint upon them a ſacred aw of 1115 92j.its, yet he never ſutfereth the Souls of his People to fink under tho!: apprehenſions. The firſt Words, the Angel ſaith to Zuch1r:45 are, [ Fear not Zacharias } IT ar no bad Meſſenger to thee, but « goci Metſenger from God, to tell thee, [ Thy Prayer is beard | Thi: :: good news to any Soul. But of what Prayer the Angel here {p25 cth, is a little further queſtion.for it follows, [ And thy 1:72 E174 beth ſhall bear thee a Son. ] It is believed that the Pricti v ala hs Burned Incenſe,did offer up Prayers, but that he had now ores Prayers to God for Ifſue,is not ſo probable. conftidering that >9ti) hy and Elizabeth were well ſtricken 1n years, and probably pait Ch1!- dren. Some therefore think that thoſe Words, And thy it 7 tr zaheth, 7c. are given him only as a Sign, that his Prayers were card. And added to fignifie, that, asa further Mercy to him 0042 what he asked, Elzzabeth ſhould conceive. Nor do I fec any £0209 why we thould reſtrain the Prayer mentiones,to the Prayer he 12% -1y. made,and not expound 1t of thoſe manyPrayers which £4774 1145 had before made, which tho God had delay'd to Anſrver, Y** the Angel atſures him, ſhould now be anſwered with Relition 55 lilac, | And thou ſhalt call his Name John ] which is the ſem? With Foh:nan in the Hebrew, and fignifies Graciows. The Anzel dircttes 7:jeph to call Chriſts Name eſis, Becauſe he wss to ſave 115 #90 from their Sins ; and he ductteth Zacharias to call his Sons N wh Fohn, becauſc he was to open the Kingdom of Grace, and t& £15? the Grace of the Gy/pel, throvgh Jeſus Chriſt.
Ic of it} None ought to have fo mean thoughts of theſe Wores 0 *
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of 10:nc Emifcit Pertots vom God made great uſe of Thus it
Angel, as to think that they are only cxpreffive of that ce
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ple of the L O R D. Lev.ts,,,
Twice 1n the Day the Prieſts {whoſe Courſe it was to Miniſter,or wy
Lord, ſtanding or the right tide of the * altar of in-'i.3
beth ſhall bear thee a ſon,and *thou ſhalt call his name * 'e,
14 || And thou ſhalt have joy and gladrefs, 259... *:many ſhall rejoyce at his birth. thr?
Chap, iP.
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I ſ, 5 ſhall be filled with-the Holy Ghoſt, X* evan F Fg bie þ 1. 15 mothers womb.
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which commonly diſcovercth it ſelf in us whenGod giveth us Sons, eſpecially after 2 long Barrenneſs, but of a farther Joy and Gladneſs
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Parents ſhould have upon 4 ſpiritual account afterwards expreſt,
h1 . OD | l rett Many ſhall renyce at his Birth, | Fohn &. 36. they rejoyced in his
S LUMY
{;zht, the glad Tidings of the Meſtth being come into the World. Was b
Which he brought. The Papiſts think they have a ground here for their Holiday they keep to his Honour,and their apilh carnal rejoy- cing, which certainly was not fo valuabie a Thing,as for an Angel © foretcl. The Angel Speaks of tne great Acceptation with the People (Mary of them) which Fohn's Doctrine ſhould have; ſo that 45 our Saviour fait, From lu Tays the Kingdom of Heaven ſuffered Lilence, and the Vinlent did take tt by force. But he farther opencth Meaning 1n the following Verſes,
15 For he ſnall be great in the ſight of the Lord, and ſhall drink neither wine nor ſtrong drink, and he
hits
16 * And many Of the children of Iſrael ſhall he
turn to the Lord their God.