was conceived by the Iloly Ghost. The Holy Ghost was with him alwn.ys; for in the indissoluble union of the Divine Persons, the Holy Three arc One. But this was a consecration of the incarnate Bon, Gc-0 and Man, to his sacred office-a grand and heavenly anointing, visible to himself and to the Baptist. "I saw the Spirit," said John," descending from heaven like II dove, and it abode upon him." God anointed him with the Holy Ghost (Acts x. 38). God the Father consecrated his incarnate Son by this Divine anointing, Now he was revealed as the Priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek; the King to whom the Lord God would give the throne of his father David; the Prophet who would declare to the faithful all that we need to know, all that we can know while we are in the flesh, of that God whom no man hath seen at any time, "The Spirit descended like a dove;" it descended on him who was dove-like, holy, harmless, undefiled. It found a resting-place in the holy heart of Jesus, Still the blessed Spirit is brooding, dove-like, over the face of the world; still he descends, another Comforter, sent by the Father at the prayer of him on whom he now descended, on those who are learning of the Lord Christ to be themselves pure in heart, gentle, harmless, holy. With such he abides for ever, a gracious, willing Guest. Such men he consecrates wilh a holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. 4. The voice from heaven. The Father's voice was heard:" This is my beloved Son." How the heart of John the Baptist must have thrilled at the sound of the awful, holy words I It was the Christ indeed, the Only Begotten of the Father. John stood in the presence of the Most Holy One. So doth the Christian heart thrill now when the Lord Jesus Christ is revealed to the soul; when the believer feels that he is in the presence of God, alone with God-solus cum solo; when the heavenly voice is borne in upon his heart; when he knows that his Redeemer liveth. "This is my beloved Son," whom God the Father had loved before the beginning of the world, whom he loved now, always, with an eternal love; in whom he loves all those to whom the beloved Son hath given power to become the sons of God. In that beloved Son God was well pleased-well pleased always, well pleased now in the mysterious self-sacrifice of his incarnation, of his perfect obedience. Those who trust that they, too, being led by the Spirit of God, are in a true, though infinitely lower sense, the sons of God, must try to please him; it must be their highest ambition, whether present or absent, to be well-plea.sing in his sight, As they draw nearer to him, serving him with a. holier, humbler, obedience, the heavenly voice will grow clearer, more distinct, owning them to be his sons and daughters, the children of his love. 5. The revelation of the blesse<l Trinity. At the baptism of Jesus by the hand of John, the Holy Three were present- God the Son manifest in the flesh; God the Holy Ghost descending in a dove-like form; God the l•'ather speaking from heaven, recognizing in Jesus, God and Man, the only begotten Son of his love. It was a manifestation of the eternal mystery-the mystery before which we bow in the lowliest adoration of loving faith. In Christian baptism, the sacrament which the Lord Jesus Christ himselfordained, the Name of the blessed Three is by the Lord's commandment pronounced over thfl new disciple: "Baptizing them into the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." The Name is One, the Persons are Three. The doctrine of the blessed Trinity is enshrined in holy baptism. LESSONS. 1. Imitate the Lord Jesus; use all the means of grace; observe all the ordinances of religion. It becometh us to do as he did. 2. Heaven is opened to the eye of faith; it was opened to the dying Stephen. Steadfastly look up to heaven, Bee God in all his ordinances. 3. Pray earnestly for fuller gifts of the Holy Ghost. The dove-like Spirit is given to the dove-like heart. 4. Seek earnestly to be well. pleasing to God in all tb ings.
HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vera.1-3.-Preparation for <Jhrist. It was no accident that brought about the conjunction of the mission of John the Baptist with the advent of our Lord. A Divine providence, the purpose of which was declared in an ancient prophecy, connected the two events. 'l'he conjunction is shown by that prophecy not to be liko one of binary MATTHEW. G 82 THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MA'l'THEW. [cu. m.1-17.