called Jolin." "John? No relatb·e is called by this name I WhRt shall the father ilccide?" Then, to the amazement of all, the writing on the slate, " His name i1 John." It was the 11,ngel name; it was the Divine name, Note: God the Father in heaven has his special name-giving (see Rev. ii. 17), Blessed-oh, how blessed I - to have tbis name-the name written in the Lamb's book of life in which there is recorded "all that goes on in the depths of the heart between the inm~st self and Goel" I III. How THE PRIEST BEOOMEB THE PROPHET. The word is no sooner written than the _mouth which for months had been closed is opened, and the long pent-up tides of feeling burst forth. When God brings back the soul's captivity, the soul's lost capaci- ties are found. The tongue is loosed which unbelief always ties-tongue and ear as well. " Mine ears hast thou opened; then said I, Lo, I come; " 11 When I spe&k with thee, I will open thy mouth;" "We believe, and therefore speRk." It is a song of exalted praise, in some of its features resembling Mary's, which flows from the opened lips. See how, towards the end, borne alon!!; by the ever-rising inspirations of the Spirit, the song swells into a grand missionary hymn. The Dayspring from on high, that shall ,·isit Israel, will pour a light into the darkness that enwraps the earth, giving light to all that sit in it and in the shadow of death, and guiding their feet into the way of peace. Thus the father prophesied that the child should go before the face of the Lord. IV. WHAT IS SAID AS TO THE ClIILD WHOSE DIRTH AND MISSION HAVE BEEN THUS CELEBRATED. h not tl,e question di~cusscd in the bill-country (ver. 66) one suggested by a birth, by looking at the tiny infant? How wonderful a birth is! What shall he the manner, ty!J0 of mind, life-story, of the child? A being begun I A journ~y on and on for ever; but whither? 0 child I "God fill thee with bis heavenly light To steer thy Christian cour~e aright ; Make thee a tree of blessed root, That ever bends with heavenly fruit." "The child grew, and waxed strong in spirit." Blessed growth! High-spirited in the better sense of the word-the human guided l1y the Divine I The home far from the world, in the breezy uplands, where he could meditate in the Law of the Lord day and night, and realize the preparation for the work of the prophet of the Highest! Here we leave him for a little. For another Child haa been born-he who is called " Wonderful, Counsellor."
HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vere. 1-4.-0ertainties concerning <Jhrist. There are many things in connection with the gospel of Christ about which there is difference of view and some measure of uncertainty. But it is" those things which a.re most surely believed" that constitute the rock on which we rest, on which we build our hopes. We cannot live spiritually on uncertainties ; they may serve the purpose of speculation or discussion, but they do not bring peace to the soul; they do not minister to life. We may thank God most heartily that there are some certainties concerning Jesus Christ, on which we can con- struct our life as it now is, and on which we can rely for that which is to come. There i.e no doubt at all respecting- L TI!E cmcumTANCEB OF ouB LoBD's CABEEB. We have the testimony of "eye- witnesses," of men who could not have been mistaken, and who gave the very strongest essurances that they were not deceiving and misleading; we therefore know what were the scenes through which Jesus passed, what were the particulars of hie life. We know: 1. His character-how pure, how perfect, it was. 2. His thoughts-how pro- found, how practical, how original, they were. 3. His works-how mighty and how beneficent they were. 4. Hie sufferings and sorrows-with what sublime patience they were endured. 6. His death-under what awful solemnities it was undergone. 6. The great and supreme fact of his resurrection. Of all these things we are thoroughly 8,SIIUTOO, lI. 'I'BE OJ"YEB HE )(AKEB OF HIM8El,F AS OUR DIVINE REDEEOB. Jt is perfectly C'R. I. 1-80.) Tllf.: GOSPEL ACCORDING TO BT. LUKF:. 19