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drefs, and having removed all mifconceived apprehenfions, proceed to inftruct and comfort thofe to whom they are fent. "Fear not, Zacharias, "for thy prayer is heard, and thy "wife Elizabeth fhall bear thee a "Son*." Zacharias had prayed for the redemption of Ifrael by Messiah, and therefore was honoured by being made, in a wonderful manner, the father of his illuftrious forerunner. The priest was anxious for the welfare of the church, and the man was bleffed in his own private concerns. He fought "firft the kingdom of "God, and his righteoufnefs," and the bleffing of a fon was "added unto him."" Thy wife Elizabeth hall bear thee a fon, and thou shalt * Luke i. 13.

"call

"call his name JOHN," that is, being interpreted, the grace, or gift; "and

many fhall rejoice at his birth :" not only thou shalt rejoice, and Elizabeth with thee, at the birth of a fon fo long defpaired of, and fuch a fon too, but it fhall be matter of joy, at the time, to all who look for redemption; and afterwards, thoufands and millions fhall rejoice at the remembrance of it; the day fhall be kept as a festival throughout all generations; with joy and gladness shall it be kept, thankfgiving and the voice' of melody. Encouraged by the example of Zacharias, let the priests, the minifters of the Lord, be never weary of waiting for his loving kindnefs in the midft of his temple. Let it be the delight of their lives to exe

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"form *." The demand of Zacharias, however, was complied with, and a fign was granted him in the punishment of his unbelief. The ufe of that tongue, which, inftead of giving glory to God, had been employed in raifing objections, was taken from him, and a filence of fome months was impofed as a penance for the abuse of speecht.

But when the wonderful child was born, who, even before his birth, entered upon his prophetical office, and gave teftimony to his Saviour in the womb, then declaring, by his exul

*Rom. iv. 18.

+ Conticefcere paulatim oportuit omne Levitici apparatus Choragium, quod ominofo hoc Sacerdotis filentio prefiguratum eft; ut fola Meffiæ docentis et benedicentis vox in Ecclefiâ audiretur.-Witfii Mifcell. Sacr. II. 494.

tation,

tation, what he afterward did by words, "Behold the Lamb of God;" and Zacharias had acknowledged the GIFT of God, by directing that his name fhould be JOHN; then the mouth of the father was opened; and to fhew us the proper employment of the tongue, when heaven grants the ufe of it, he "praifed God." Faith restored what incredulity had taken away; "he believed, and therefore "he fpake." And his heart having been prepared, by filence and retirement, for the reception of celestial influences, he was now "filled with "the Holy Ghoft," and brake forth into that divine hymn, which shall be the fubject of the next fection...

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SECTION II.

Confiderations on the hymn of
Zacharias.

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ture, which notify the return of fpring, no one is more pleafing, than the exchange of a long and melancholy filence, for that melody which then refoundeth on every fide of us, in the woods and fields. lomon hath not forgotten this circumftance, in his fhort but lovely description of that delightful feafon. "Lo, the winter is paft, the rain is "over and gone, the flowers appear

on the earth, the time of the fing"ing of birds is come, and the voice "of

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