of David, the son of Abraham, answered all the expectations of the Jewish people concerning "him who should come," and "should redeem Israel." 9

2. Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren ;

3. And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar; and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram;

4. And Aram begat Aminadab; and Aminadab begat Naasson; and Naasson begat Salmon;

5. And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse;

6. And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias; 7. And Solomon begat Roboam; and Roboam begat Abia; and Abia begat Asa;

8. And Asa begat Josaphat; and Josaphat begat Joram; and Joram begat Ozias;

9. And Ozias begat Joatham; and Joatham begat Achaz; and Achaz begat Ezekias ;

10. And Ezekias begat Manasses; and Manasses begat Amon; and Amon begat Josias ;

11. And Josias begat Jechonias and his brethren, about the time they were carried away to Babylon;

12. And after they were brought to Babylon, Jechonias begat Salathiel; and Salathiel begat Zorobabel;

13. And Zorobabel begat Abiud; and Abiud begat Eliakim; and Eliakim begat Azor;

14. And Azor begat Sadoc; and Sadoc begat Achim ; and Achim begat Eliud;

There are some difficulties in this catalogue, compared with the history in the Old Testament. The best explanation is to suppose that "St. Matthew here recites it as he found it in the authentic register of the Jews; who, doubtless, had preserved some known and approved genealogy of their descent from Abraham, the father of their nation, in whom they so much gloried, and from whose loins they expected the promised Messiah."

15. And Eliud begat Eliazar; and Eliazar begat Matthan; and Matthan begat Jacob;

16. And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.

17. So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations.

Thus "with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day." The promise now to be fulfilled, had been made to Abraham more than eighteen hundred years before. Mean while, " many prophets and righteous men were anxiously desiring to see the things foretold: to understand more clearly the mysteries of which they spoke to unfold the volume which to themselves was sealed up, but was to be open to future ages.

The great body, indeed, of the Jewish nation were living in a manner unworthy of their high calling, and had no thought of any redemption except that which should deliver them from the yoke of Cæsar. So it had also been at the period of which St. Matthew makes mention, the carrying away into Babylon. Too many of "the children of the captivity" united themselves with their conquerors, remembered no more the land in which God had placed them, and willingly remained in the heathen city, even though the decree had been issued for their return. there were some, as we know, who remembered the promises, and were ardently longing for their accomplishment; like Daniel, who "set his face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, and prayed unto the Lord his God," that "he would cause

But

his face to shine upon his sanctuary, which is desolate."

1

And so at the present time, there were those who, like Simeon, were "waiting for the consolation of Israel:" were "looking for redemption in Jerusalem;" earnestly praying that God would "remember his holy covenant, the oath which he sware to their father Abraham," "to give knowledge of salvation to his people by the remission of their sins."3

And now, in the providence of God, the season was arrived when God saw fit to unlock the secrets of prophecy, and to show what lay concealed under Isaiah's encouraging words: "Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters; and ye that have no money, come ye, buy and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price." He should now appear in the world, who should realize this gracious invitation, and say, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."5 And it would be seen, that "heaven and earth might pass away," but not one of the promises of God should ever fall to the ground, till all be fulfilled.

4

2 Luke ii. 25-38.

Dan. ix. 3, 4, 17.

3 Luke i. 72-77.

4 Is. lv. 1.

5 Ch. xi. 28.

LECTURE II.

BIRTH OF JESUS.

MATT. i. 18-25.

18. Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.

St. Luke writes more fully: "The angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee, blessed art thou among women. And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary for thou hast found favour with God. The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of

1 Luke i. 26-38.

his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end."

19. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily.

20. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife; for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.

21. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.2

Such is the meaning of the name JESUS; a deliverer, a saviour: and it was given to the Son now born into the world, because it described the character which he should bear and the office which he should perform. To save his people from their sins, is mentioned as the purpose of his great undertaking, and of his long expected coming. And this purpose should be signified in the name by which he should be known: containing in itself, as it does, the fundamental doctrine of the gospel: implying the ruin of man through Adam's sin: the restoration of man through the atonement made for sin by Jesus Christ. "In Adam all died." By that "one man, sin entered

2 The word Jesus, or deliverer, was a name in frequent use among the Jews. It was particularly assigned to him who succeeded Moses in leading the people of Israel into the promised land of Canaan. He is usually called JOSHUA; but the name is written Jesus, Acts vii. 45, and Heb. iv. 8.