The Pulpit Commentary — Luke — Volume 1 — Section 63

tbo issuo of it. Doubtless the hope that was in her purified her heart as so sacred 11 hope would do (1 John iii. 3), and made her life a lifo of reverence and prayer. It was good for her to think much of the purpose God was about to 11cc11mplish throucrh hor instrumentality; sbe would be the better fitted for that holy motherhood by which she wo.s to be BO highly honoured, and by which she WIIB to render so ineMtimal,le a service to her nation aud her race, The fact that she did keep and dwell upon these solemn and sacred mysteries may remind us of- I. THE THINGS THAT ABE MOST WORTH KEEPING. Theee are not moneys that may be kept in the bank, nor jewels that may be treasured in the cabinet, nor parchments that may be guarded in the strong box; they are none other than Divine thoughts which we can hold in owr hearts. And of these there are Di vine revelations. They may be of his holy purpose, such as Mary's heart held ; or they may be of hie own character or dis- position toward us his children, such as we may learn and hold ; or they may be revelations of our own true selves, of our character and our necessities and our possi- bilities; or they may be of the way by which we can approach and resemble God. There are also Di vine invitations-to return from our estrangement, to draw near to his throne, to accept his mercy, to walk by his side, to sit down at hie table. There are Divine exhortations to duty, to service, to self-sacrifice, And there are Divine promises, of provision and protection and inspiration here, of blessedness and enlargement hereafter. II. THAT WHICH CONSTITUTES THEm SUPREME VALUE. 1. They pertain to God himself, and therefore connect us with the Highest. 2. They affect us, ourselv~ur character, our inner life, our essential being. 3. They bring us into harmony with all things; for he that is right with God and true to himself is adjusted to all other beings, aud is ready for all other thing-S, 4. 'l.'hey render us fitted for life anywhere and in the distant future; so that death will be a mere incident in our history, not concluding our career, but only opening the gate into other and brighter spheres. Ill. THE DANGER WE ABE IN OF LOSING THEM. '!'here is a plausible philosophical theory that a thought once received into the mind cannot ever be wholly lost; once there it remains there, though it may be in the far background, unperceived, unem- ployed. But, as a matter of practical life, we know too well, both from testimony and experience, that the best and highest thoughts may escape our view; they may be only too easily lost sight of and disregarded. N e~lect, or an engrossing interest in lower or in more exciting subjec~s, will make them invisible, ineffective, useless. It is a most pitiable thing that in every generation there are multitudes of souls that once welcomed and cherished the lofties.t conceptions and the noblest aspirations, to whom these thoughts and hopos are now nothing whatsoever; they are gone from their mind; they have not been wisely "kept," but foolishly e.nd culpllbly lost. Therefore- IV. THE WISDOM OF A REVERENT MEDITATION. We do ourselves the truest service when, by pondering on them, we keep sound and whole within our hearts the great thoughts of God, The power of continuous meditation is one of the faculties of our human miture; but the ru.sh and strain of modern life constitute a powerful temptation to let this faculty rust in disuse, But as we love ourselves truly and wisely we shall resist and overcome the temptation. All souls that would do their sacred duty to themselves must think well and much on the things they know. If they would truly and thoroughly understand that of which they speak, if they wish Divine truth to have its own purifying and transforming power over them, if they aspire to build up a strong and influential character, if they wish to be "no longer children," bnt men in Christ Jesus, they must ponder in their hearts the doctrines they count in their creed, the language they take into their lips. It is the truth we dwell upon that we liw upon.-C. Vers. 25-30.-.A satisfied human spirit. There are few more exquisite picturCB even in Holy Writ than the one which is here drawn for us. An aged and venerable man, who has lived a long life of piety and virtue, and who has been cherishing an ever- brightening hope that before he dies he should look upon the face of his country's Saviour, directed l:y the Spirit of God, recognizes in the infant Jesus that One for whose coming he has so long been hoping and praying. Taking him up into his arms, with the light of intense gratitude in his eyes, and the emotiun of deepest happiness  54 THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. LUKE. [on, n. 1--52.