every day we have more mercies than we deserve. Let us look around us every week, as we travel through the world, and see whether we have not much to thank God for. If our hearts are in the right place, we shall never find any difficulty in building an Ebenezer. Well would it be if our prayers and supplications were more mingled with thanksgiving. (1 Sam. vii. 12. Phil. iv. 6.)

66

Let us mark, fourthly, the experimental acquaintance with God's former dealings with His people, which the Virgin Mary possessed. She speaks of God as One whose mercy is on them that fear Him,"-as One who "scatters the proud, and puts down the mighty, and sends the rich empty away,"-as One who "exalteth them of low degree, and filleth the hungry with good things." She spoke, no doubt, in recollection of Old Testament history. She remembered how Israel's God had put down Pharaoh, and the Canaanites, and the Philistines, and Sennacherib, and Haman, and Belshazzar. She remembered how He had exalted Joseph, and Moses, and Samuel, and David, and Esther, and Daniel, and never allowed His chosen. people to be completely destroyed. And in all God's dealings with herself,-in placing honour upon a poor woman of Nazareth,-in raising up Messiah in such a dry ground as the Jewish nation seemed to have become,—she traced the handiwork of Israel's covenant God.

The true Christian should always give close attention to Bible history, and the lives of individual saints. Let us often examine the "footsteps of the flock." (Cant. i. 8.) Such study throws light on God's mode of dealing with His people. He is of one mind. What He does for them, and to them, in time past, He is likely to do in time to

come.

Such study will teach us what to expect, check unwarrantable expectations, and encourage us when cast down. Happy is that man whose mind is well stored with such knowledge. It will make him patient and hopeful.

Let us mark, lastly, the firm grasp which the Virgin Mary had of Bible promises. She ends her hymn of praise by declaring that God has "blessed Israel in remembrance of His mercy," and that He has done "as He spake to our fathers, to Abraham and his seed for ever." These words show clearly that she remembered the old promise made to Abraham, "In thee shall all nations of the earth be blessed." And it is evident that in the approaching birth of her Son she regarded this promise as about to be fulfilled.

Let us learn from this holy woman's example, to lay firm hold on Bible promises. It is of the deepest importance to our peace to do so. Promises are, in fact, the manna that we should daily eat, and the water that we should daily drink, as we travel through the wilderness of this world. We see not yet all things put under We see not Christ, and heaven, and the book of life, and the mansions prepared for us. We walk by faith, and this faith leans on promises. But on those promises we may lean confidently. They will bear all the weight we can lay on them. We shall find one day, like the Virgin Mary, that God keeps His word, and that what He has spoken, so He will always in due time perform.

us.

NOTES. LUKE I. 46-56.

47.-[My Saviour.] Let us not fail to notice the Virgin Mary's expressions of need of salvation. It would be difficult to find

a more complete answer to the Romish doctrine respecting her, and especially the doctrine of the immaculate conception, than her language in this hymn.

51.—[His arm.] A remark of Whitby on this expression is worth notice. "God's great power is represented by His finger,—His greater by His hand,-His greatest by His arm. The production of lice was by the finger of God. Exod. viii. 19;-His other miracles in Egypt were wrought by His hand: Exod. iii. 20;-the destruction of Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea, by His arm. Exod. xv. 6."

LUKE I. 57-66.

57 Now Elisabeth's full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son.

58 And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her."

59 And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father.

60 And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John.

61 And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name.

62 And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called.

63 And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all.

64 And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God.

65 And fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judæa.

66 And all they that heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, What manner of child shall this be? And the hand of the Lord was with him.

We have in this passage the history of a birth, the birth of a burning and shining light in the Church, the forerunner of Christ Himself,-John the Baptist. The language in which the Holy Ghost describes the event is well worthy of remark. It is written that "The Lord shewed great mercy on Elisabeth." There was mercy in bringing her safely through her time of trial. There was mercy in making her the mother of a living child. Happy are those family circles, whose births are viewed in this light-as especial instances of "the mercy" of the Lord.

We Te see in the conduct of Elisabeth's neighbours and cousins, a striking example of the kindness we owe to one another. It is written that "They rejoiced with her.”

How much more happiness there would be in this evil world, if conduct like that of Elisabeth's relations was more common! Sympathy in one another's joys and sorrows costs little, and yet is a grace of most mighty power. Like the oil on the wheels of some large engine, it may seem a trifling and unimportant thing, yet in reality it has an immense influence on the comfort and well-working of the whole machine of society. A kind word of congratulation or consolation is seldom forgotten. The heart that is warmed by good tidings, or chilled by affliction, is peculiarly susceptible, and sympathy to such a heart is often more precious than gold.

The servant of Christ will do well to remember this grace. It seems a little one," and amidst the din of controversy, and the battle about mighty doctrines, we are sadly apt to overlook it. Yet it is one of those pins of the tabernacle which we must not leave in the wilderness. It is one of those ornaments of the Christian character which make it beautiful in the eyes of men. Let us not forget that it is enforced upon us by a special precept: "Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep." (Rom. xii. 15.) The practice of it seems to bring down a special blessing. The Jews who came to comfort Mary and Martha at Bethany, saw the greatest miracle that Jesus ever worked.-Above all, it is commended to us by the most perfect example. Our Lord was ready both to go to a marriage feast, and to weep at a grave. (John ii. 1, &c. John xi. 1, &c.) Let us be ever ready to go and do likewise.

own name.

We see in the conduct of Zacharias in this passage, a striking example of the benefit of affliction. He resists the wishes of his relations to call his new-born son after his He clings firmly to the name "John," by which the angel Gabriel had commanded him to be called. He shews that his nine months' dumbness had not been inflicted on him in vain. He is no longer faithless, but believing. He now believes every word that Gabriel had spoken to him, and every word of his message shall be obeyed.

We need not doubt that the past nine months had been a most profitable time to the soul of Zacharias. He had learned, probably, more about his own heart, and about God, than he ever knew before. His conduct shews it. Correction had proved instruction. He was ashamed of his unbelief. Like Job, he could say, "I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear, but now mine eye seeth thee." Like Hezekiah, when the Lord left him, he had found out what was in his heart. (Job xlii. 5. 2 Chron. xxxii. 31.)

Let us take heed that affliction does us good, as it did to Zacharias. We cannot escape trouble in a sin-laden world. Man is born to trouble, as the sparks fly upwards. (Job v. 27.) But in the time of our trouble, let us make earnest prayer that we may "hear the rod and who hath appointed it," that we may learn wisdom by the rod, and not harden our hearts against God. "Sanctified afflictions,” says an old divine, are "spiritual promotions." The sorrow that humbles us, and drives us nearer to God, is a blessing, and a downright gain. No case is more hopeless than that of the man who, in time of affliction, turns his back upon