I would meditate for a little on the Gospel by Luke. It is impossible to read Chapters i. and ii. of this Gospel without feeling that heaven is opened, and opened very widely too, to the view of earth. Do you enjoy the thought of heaven bringing itself near to you? God is an intrusion to the heart that does not enjoy Him. We ought to read all Scripture with personal application. There was a very beautiful opening of heaven at Jacob's ladder. Again, it was opened to Stephen when he looked up and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. So in the beginning of Luke, we get the opened heaven communicating with earth, and we ought to have a welcome for such a sight, to be ready, as the little hymn says, to repeat:-
"Nearer my God to Thee, nearer to Thee."
We find things had been going on in a very homely kind of way, since the prophets. Then heaven opened with a witness. So it will be by-and-bye, though there may be a pause now. Zacharias had been serving the Lord in the Temple, as others, and the angel's visit was a surprise to him. He was not quite prepared for it. Listen to the angel's language: " Fear not." Does the thought of nearness to God awaken alarm in your soul? Very right that it should, in one sense. We are all revolted creatures, but how blessed to see God quieting such alarms! The angel speaks the mind of God, "Fear not." Can your heart let in the comfort of that? Do you know what it is to have alarm as a sinner, and then to have your alarm quieted? We must acquaint ourselves with the personal application of these things. Zacharias is not quite prepared, and he confesses it, and the angel rebukes him. There is comfort in this-let us examine it. Would it be happy to you if a person did not show confidence in you? Just so it is with the blessed God. So the angel expresses resentment; "I am Gabriel," he says'. "that stand in the presence of God." And why, beloved-why is your faith, too, challenged? Have you read the Romans with care? Why does God challenge your faith there? Would it be comfortable to you if God did not care for your confidence? It would riot be. so between friends. We do not read Scripture with sufficient intimacy of heart. We read it, as if we were acquainting ourselves with words and sentences. If I do not get by Scripture into nearness to God in heart and conscience, I have not learned the lesson it would teach me.
(Note.-The MS. from which this is printed, was sent to and pressed upon the Editor: it was only rough notes, perhaps, of Readings; but the matter is precious, and calculated to refresh souls. He commends it as a basket of broken fragments to the hungry and the thirsty of his brethren in Christ. As an article, it pretends to no finish. The truth it contains is certainly not ephemeral. Anonymous, it must stand or fall upon its own merits.-Editor.)
In the sixth month the angel goes up to a distant village of Galilee, to Mary-God still communicates with earth. Mary has a more simple faith than Zacharias. How often we see a poor unlettered soul that knows more of the simplicity of the truth of God than many who can talk much of the Bible. Again the angel's words, "Fear not." Do not pass that. What consolation in the fact, that a visitor from heaven had such words upon his lips I He then speaks largely of what God is about to do. And Mary answered, " Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word." Is that the echo of our hearts? What is the proper answer to grace? Faith. If a person shows you a kindness, you accept it. It is the only return you can tender. The grace of God shines out bringing salvation, and the sinner's duty is to accept it. The eunuch accepted it, and went on his way rejoicing. The joy of faith is responsive to the communication of grace. No element is more responsive to the Gospel than joy. I have mistaken the glad tidings if they have riot made me happy. If I have so listened to the Gospel as to find it glad tidings, my answer is, joy. So it was with Mary. Now we get Elizabeth and Mary coming together. I do not know that we find in Scripture a more beautiful sample of communion in the Holy Ghost than here. Elizabeth was the wife of the high priest; Mary, the betrothed of a carpenter. Perhaps they would never have come together but for this. Now they meet, not in the flesh, but in the spirit. Now, Elizabeth bows to Mary, as the more highly honored-" And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me!" Communion arises when people forget the flesh, and deal only in the spirit. There was no grudging on the part of Elizabeth, no pride on the part of Mary; Elizabeth holds herself meekly, Mary holds herself humbly. There is plenty of intercourse now-a-days, but too little communion, even among the people of God. Communion is according to relationship in Christ.
Now, we see a beautiful thing in Zacharias's mouth being opened. Unbelief had shut it-faith opened it. God does not afflict willingly, but purposely-with an end in view. It was very right that he should be put into silence for a time, but as soon as could be his mouth was opened, wider than ever he counted on.
It was but a little bit of the world that heaven had opened on. The great world lay, as we read in the second chapter, in the hands of Cesar. We will leave the big world for a moment, and come to the fields of Bethlehem. There is something here exceeding what we get in chapter i. We see the glory coming out of the opened heaven, and not one angel, but a host of them. When the poor shepherds tremble at the sight, we hear that word, unchanged on the lips of heaven, "Fear not." Again, and again, and again, heaven echoes its own words in speaking to trembling sinners. Do not pass them by as commonplace, necessary words, but drink them in. What title had the poor shepherds to them, that you and I have not. They were poor sinners. Faith entitled them to it. And the angel said, " Unto you is born a Savior." Not a judge or a lawgiver. The grace of God, as the Apostle tells us, bringeth salvation. The angels talked of salvation. From beginning to end of the book-from the woman's seed. down to " Whosoever will let him come," salvation is the burden. So here-"And this shall be a sign unto you-ye shall find the babe, wrapped in swaddling clothes, and lying in a manger." Though very easy to us, it cost Christ everything. It brought the Son from the eternal bosom, to be made flesh; and the beginning of the story of..His sorrows is here. The poor weak infant, lying in a manger. The moment He touched the flesh, the story of what His days were to be began to tell itself out.
Suppose I showed you a person, it might be only his back, and say, He did you a kindness once ' • you could not but look after him with interest. The Lord Jesus has done you a kindness, in the three hours of darkness, and if by faith you entertain the thought, you cannot but be interested in Him. It is a simple, believing mind we want, to bring our minds into contact with the person of Jesus.
The moment the glad tidings are announced, the hosts raise their anthem. Now, the word of the Apostle begins to be accomplished: " God was manifest in the flesh-seen of angels." The angels are deeply interested. In the Old Testament we get the Cherubic figures hanging over the ark, to express their desire to look into the things of Christ. That is the Old Testament form of the New Testament truth. The moment He is manifested, they begin to take up their attitude. The angels come to watch the path of the Son of Man. They are interested, and they have less interest in it than you have.
The next person that is introduced to us is Simeon in the Temple. We find him rehearsing his joy, as the angels and Elizabeth and Mary rehearsed theirs. The Holy Ghost gave him warning who the child was; and at once, without asking leave of any, he took Him in his arms for salvation. Have you ever acted the part of Simeon, and taken Christ in your arms for salvation? We are not indebted to Mary, to the church, or to the brethren. Faith refuses to be debtor to a fellow- creature. A brother may help us; a friend may comfort and cheer our spirits; but, as to the question of the soul and eternity, we know nothing but Jesus. What a wretched piece of sophistry it is that sets up Mary for our souls! When it comes to a question of salvation, Mary must stand by, and all the saints in the calendar. Then poor Simeon is ready to depart. " Whom He justifies, them He also glorifies." The moment the soul is introduced to the blood, it is made meet for the glory. It is very blessed to grow in knowledge, but the moment that by faith I have stepped into the kingdom of God's dear Son, that moment I am made meet for the inheritance of the saints in light. Are attainments to be my title? Attainments are very right, but the blood is my title. Would Christian watchfulness allow one carnal thought? No; but still, all that is not my title. The dying thief caught hold of the fountain, and his next step was Paradise. So with Simeon-salvation in his arms, the crown on his brow.
Next we come to Anna-the widow-hearted Anna. Her widowhood is over,-exchanged for nuptial beauty and joy. She talks of Him to all. If we were more familiar with these chapters, it would enable us to live much in heaven. Here "heaven comes down our souls to greet." Is there cloud, sorrow, defilement there? Look at the angels with joy and shining garments. There is joy and strength in His presence. Under the law, no priest had any more right there in sorrow than in pollution. If heaven is the place of unspotted holiness, it is the place of unchecked joy.
At the close of the chapter, we get a little bit ashamed of Mary. She is the only one that leaves a blot on these chapters. Zacharias did, but it was more than washed out by his returning faith. And this Mary is the one in whom men boast Oh the subtlety of Satan! He will place anything between the heart and Christ. " How is it?" said the perfect Jesus. Ah, none but Jesus! Commit your souls to none but Christ. Even when a gift exercises itself before me, I am to judge it; but where the committal of your soul is concerned, "I commend you to God, and the word of His grace." There 's a thing abroad in Christendom that tells me to commit my soul to the Church. Will I? By God's
help-never. May God acquaint our consciences with Jesus for sufficiency, and our hearts with Him for satisfaction. Amen.