her proposed m11rriago with ,Joseph? or WIMI she to break with him? or w11s she t0 rlo nothing but wait? Gabriel directs her to wait passively in God's be.ads, and all he h11s promised will come supernaturally Rbout. Just as the Spirit overshadowed the old chaotic world, 11nd brought the c<>smos out of it, so would he overshadow Mary, and give her II holy Bon. Mary WBB to sit still and see the salvation of God. And here we must notice that it was R "holy Child" which the world required as a Saviour, one in whom the le.w of sin affecting tho rest of the race should be broken, who would be "holy, harmless, undefiled, and separate from sinners." David may se.y, "In sin did my mother conceive me;" hut no such language must be heard from the lips of Christ. This more.I bree.k, this exception to the general rule, is brought about by a supernatural conception e.nd birth. Is there not here e. lesson about leaving things sometimes in God's hands altogether? It is a great thing sometimes to sit still aud do nothing; to cultivate passivity. Like the Virgin, let us simply wait. As a further direction, Gabriel suggests a visit to Elisabeth, that her faith in God's power may be confirmed. The intercourse with her aged relative will do her a world of good in present circum- stances. There in the hill-country of Judma she will find increasing reason for trusting in God. 2. Mary accepts the situation with aU its risks. Her submission is an instance of the holiest courage. She cRnnot but become for a time an object of suspicion to Joseph, and to many more. Her reputation will be for a time at stake. It is a terrible ordeal to encounter. But she bows to the Divine will, and asks God to do with her aa he pleases. Faith alone could sustain her in such circumstances. God would. vindicate her character in due season. How much are we willing to risk for our Lord? Would we risk reputation, the most precious portion of our heritage, if God clearly asked us to do so? This was what Mary was ready to do. In other weeds, are we ready to put God before personal reputation? Is he worthy in our eyes even of such a sacrifice ? 1 • IV. NOTICE THAT WE HAVE HEBE AN INTIMATION HOW THE NEW CREATION MUST BEGIN WITHIN us. The angel-message comes to us, as to Mary, that "Christ" may be formed in us "the Hope of glory." What we have got to do is just to wait for the overshadowing as Mary did. It comes to the waiting and expectant souls. Not the waiting of indifference, but the waiting of expectancy, secures the great blessing. Let us cease from our own e1Iorts, let us be still, and we shall indeed see the salvation of Godl'-R. M. E. Vera. 39-56.-Inspirationa amid the hi1ls of Judrea. We already have seen the angel suggesting to Mary the propriety of visiting Elisabeth. We may reasonably believe that she had no mother at this time to whom she could communicate her mighty secret, and that Elisabeth is the most likely person from whom to get the sympathy she now required. For the four days' journey from Nazareth to the priest's city in the south she would need some preparation; but she made her arrangement& promptly, going" with haste," and reached the home of the dumb priest without delay. If she had any fear and trembling on the way as to how she would be received, it wu instantly dissip;ited through timely inspirations. And here let us notice- I. THE INSPIBATION GRANTED TO ELISABETH. (Vers. 42-45.) And here we may mark the directness oft.he inspired address. There was no lengthened introduction, no conversation about health, or weather, or news, but an immediate mention of the all- important matter which concerned the Virgin.3 1. Elisabeth assures Mary of her signal blessedness in being selected to be the mother of Messiah. Sh~ was to be the blessed mother C'f a blessed Son. How delightful a balm thi3 would be to Mary's anxious heart I Instead of suspicion, there is a salutation such as a princess might thankfully receive. 2. Elisabeth beautifully depreciates herself. It is the way the Spirit takes with those he indeed inspires. It is not boastfulness, but self-depreciation he implants wiLhin them. Elisabeth feels herself so unworthy, that she wonders the mother of Messiah deigns to visit her 1 A roy!Ll visit would not have been to the priest's wife such an honour. She is Mary's humble servant, because Mary is to be the mother of her Lord. In fact, had Mary been a queen, she could not have been more lovingly and reverentially treated. 3. A holy joy thrills through her from Mary'• advent. It 1 Cf. Arndt's 'Leben Jcsu,' el'!lter band, s. 24. • Ibid., a. 36. 1 Ibid., erster band, s. 29.
LUU. D 84 TBE GOSPEL AOOORDINO TO ST. LUKE. [OE. I, 1--80.